Butterflies and the Sun Haori

That night, everything in Tsugikuni Kuuga's dreams was sweet. He felt like he was back in top form—wiping out every demon on Mount Fujikasane would be no problem.

Outside the Butterfly Mansion stood Kanae Kocho and Aoi Kanzaki. Shinobu Kocho alone was absent. The two girls were both puzzled, while Tsugikuni Kuuga was the only one who understood.

"Where did Little Shinobu go?" Kanae Kocho asked, looking confused.

"Never mind, it's almost time. Kuuga, this is for you!"

As she spoke, Kanae Kocho handed Tsugikuni Kuuga a haori. The haori was white overall, with Wisteria Flower patterns as its background. Blue butterflies and golden sun patterns adorned its hems.

"Aoi wove the haori, and I embroidered the patterns. I thought butterflies didn't suit boys, but Little Shinobu embroidered the blue butterflies onto it for you. I hope it brings you good luck!"

His heart raced and his hands trembled. Tsugikuni Kuuga no longer cared about anything else as he happily accepted the haori and put it on.

"Well? Do I look handsome or what?" Tsugikuni Kuuga said smugly.

"It looks great!"

"Very handsome!"

"Then I'm off. Wait for my good news!"

Tsugikuni Kuuga pushed open the Butterfly Mansion gates and headed toward Wisteria Mountain. What he did not know was that Shinobu Kocho had been quietly watching him all along. She had simply been too shy to come out.

When Tsugikuni Kuuga reached the headquarters' exit, Sanemi Shinazugawa stood leaning against a stone with his sword in his arms.

"What, you're not going to let me take the Final Selection after all?" Tsugikuni Kuuga grumbled.

"You promised me. After the Final Selection, you'll spar with me!"

Sanemi Shinazugawa left those words behind and headed out, since he had a mission today as well. But halfway there, he stopped, waved a hand, and said, "Don't die!"

"There's no way I'll die before you do!" Tsugikuni Kuuga said with a grin.

Perhaps because of their daily bickering, the two had become friends amid all their arguments. Sanemi Shinazugawa simply could not bring himself to admit it.

Watching Sanemi Shinazugawa's retreating figure gradually disappear, Tsugikuni Kuuga muttered, "What a tsundere white-haired bastard!"

Within a low mountain range, beautiful Wisteria Flowers bloomed everywhere. Cluster after cluster stretched as far as the eye could see, pale purple blossoms encircling the entire mountain like layers upon layers of steps.

Mount Fujikasane.

After climbing the stairs covered in Wisteria Flowers, Tsugikuni Kuuga reached the mountainside, where the flowers ended. Beyond this point lay the demons' territory.

At the end of the stairs was a small platform. Beneath the entrance torii stood a man with long golden hair, some of its edges dyed red. Tsugikuni Kuuga recognized him at once as the current Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjuro.

Why wasn't a pretty young lady handling the reception? Tsugikuni Kuuga found himself at a loss for words.

Ignoring the Flame Hashira, Tsugikuni Kuuga looked around. There were more than twenty people present, but one of them was someone he particularly hated.

It was Kaikatsu, the traitor who had willingly become a demon and driven his master to commit seppuku. Tsugikuni Kuuga remembered that damned bastard well. He had wanted to cut him down for a long time, and it seemed today was his chance.

Tsugikuni Kuuga had never wanted to kill someone before, but today might be the first time.

The people participating in the Final Selection all wore some degree of worry on their faces. No one spoke much.

As Tsugikuni Kuuga kept staring at Kaikatsu, the other man noticed him too. Seeing Tsugikuni Kuuga wearing a haori printed with butterfly patterns, Kaikatsu looked utterly disdainful.

"Why do you keep staring at me? And what kind of grown man wears a butterfly haori? It looks hideous!" Kaikatsu cursed under his breath.

Kaikatsu's voice was quiet, but Tsugikuni Kuuga heard every word clearly. Insulting something his family had given him was simply asking for death.

"Huh? Say that again if you've got the guts!"

As he spoke, Tsugikuni Kuuga charged forward and landed a heavy punch on him. Caught off guard, Kaikatsu fell to the ground.

"You can insult me, but you can't insult something my family gave me!" Tsugikuni Kuuga glared at Kaikatsu.

"What's so great about it?"

Kaikatsu was already thinking about how to kill Tsugikuni Kuuga, but he knew he could not beat him head-on. He had not even seen Tsugikuni Kuuga throw that punch.

Just as the tension reached its peak, the Flame Hashira's hearty laughter rang out. He swept Kaikatsu aside with one hand and held Tsugikuni Kuuga back with the other.

"You youngsters sure are energetic, but save that energy for the selection!"

The Flame Hashira patted both of them on the shoulders, then returned beneath the torii and began explaining the selection rules. It should have been Oyakata-sama's children's job, but this year, a Hashira had come instead.

"Everyone, you will now leave this sea of Wisteria Flowers and face real demons. Stay inside for seven days, and you will pass. Young juniors, may Martial Fortune be with you!"

At Rengoku Shinjuro's command, the swordsmen taking part in the selection rushed out of the sea of Wisteria Flowers and charged up the mountain.

Tsugikuni Kuuga followed the others up the mountain as well. While considering how to deal with the Hand Demon, two people wearing Fox Masks caught his attention.

At this time, Fox Masks... Could it be that he was in the same class as Giyu Tomioka? Just as Tsugikuni Kuuga was about to follow them, a demon pounced at him.

For the Demon Slayer Corps, the Final Selection was an opportunity to replenish its ranks with new blood. But for demons, it was also a rare opportunity, because hunting season had begun.

Sealed within Mount Fujikasane by Wisteria Flowers all year round, they saw every participant as an exquisite delicacy.

Tsugikuni Kuuga braked sharply and sidestepped, dodging the demon's attack. At that moment, a One-Horned Demon rushed him from behind, but Tsugikuni Kuuga still evaded it. The moment he entered, he had activated his Tai Chi Sense. A sneak attack from behind was impossible.

Before Tsugikuni Kuuga could attack, the two demons started fighting each other. They collided and began arguing.

The One-Horned Demon said, "I found him first, so get lost!"

"You say he's yours, and that makes him yours? Got any proof?" the Two-Horned Demon retorted.

"What, not convinced? Want to fight?"

"Fine, let's fight! You think I'm scared of you?"

Tsugikuni Kuuga was speechless. He had been completely ignored, so he decided to slip away. If he did not catch up soon, he would lose the two wearing Fox Masks.

Because he could not see their faces, Tsugikuni Kuuga could not be sure whether those two were Giyu Tomioka and Sabito.

Crack!

Tsugikuni Kuuga stepped on and snapped a dead branch. The two arguing demons turned toward him at the same time.

Tsugikuni Kuuga could only think of one plant: grass. What rotten luck!

"Are you trying to run?" the One-Horned Demon asked.

"Uh... How did those words come out of your mouth? If I don't run, am I supposed to stand here and let you eat me?" Tsugikuni Kuuga looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Damn it! How dare you look at me like that!" The One-Horned Demon grew angry.

After all, being mocked by food was not pleasant. It was like the chicken leg in your hand raising its middle finger at you and calling you a muggle.