After handing the white-haired demon over to Tamayo, Chiba Yo left the basement.
As soon as he emerged, he ran into Shinobu Kocho coming toward him.
Chiba Yo was not surprised. When Oyakata-sama had said he would send a Hashira to assist Tamayo, he had guessed it would be Shinobu Kocho. At the time, he had been a little worried about whether she could accept Tamayo and Yushiro.
But remembering how readily she had accepted Nezuko eased his concerns. Back then, besides him and Giyu, neither Shinobu nor Mitsuri had wanted Nezuko and Tanjiro executed, and Shinobu had even given Tanjiro medicine.
Although Chiba Yo was not surprised to see Shinobu Kocho, she was utterly astonished to see him.
"Yo-chan? What are you doing here? Do you know..."
Shinobu Kocho asked, puzzled and surprised.
Chiba Yo nodded.
"I met them during a mission. I caused quite a commotion in a crowd while hunting a demon, and Miss Tamayo helped me out.
"But I didn't trust them right away. I even nearly killed them both because Yushiro showed murderous intent toward me. Later, though, once I learned that Muzan was their enemy too, I spared them. I also learned quite a bit of useful information from them.
"The Master knows about this too. Since Miss Tamayo knows a great deal about Muzan, he had me write her a letter a while ago, inviting her to work with us and discuss a plan to deal with him," Chiba Yo explained in broad strokes.
Recounting the experience left Chiba Yo feeling rather reflective. If he had killed Tamayo and Yushiro without a second thought back then, he might never have learned so much about Sun Breathing, Yoriichi Tsugikuni, or Muzan.
Shinobu Kocho understood after hearing his explanation. She smiled at him and said,