Sanemi Shinazugawa

After leaving the Corps quarters, Chiba Yo planned to practice his sword techniques at the training grounds. Now that he had his Nichirin Blade, he would probably be sent on missions soon, and he wanted to improve his strength as much as possible.

Although every demon he had encountered so far had fallen to a single strike, there was no telling whether he might face an especially powerful one someday. Only by growing stronger could he fulfill his dream of exterminating all evil demons and protect more people.

Passing the Butterfly Mansion on the way, Chiba Yo saw Kanao Tsuyuri holding a large gourd and blowing into it. Shinobu Kocho stood beside her, offering guidance and encouragement, while three little girls cheered her on.

"Keep going, Lady Kanao!"

"You can do it!"

"The gourd's about to burst!"

The three little girls clenched their fists as they cheered for Kanao.

What are they doing? Is this another kind of training?

Curious, Chiba Yo stopped to watch them.

Kanao's face flushed with exertion. After a while, the gourd, which was half as big as a person, burst with a crack.

"She did it!" ×3

The three little girls jumped for joy, and Shinobu Kocho smiled as she patted Kanao's head.

"Wonderful. You've brought your Breathing Style this far in such a short time. You're more talented than I am, Kanao."

At Shinobu Kocho's praise, Kanao lowered her head shyly. Her efforts had also left her a little short of oxygen, so she needed to steady her breathing.

Then Shinobu Kocho noticed Chiba Yo watching them from outside the Butterfly Mansion's courtyard. Smiling, she called out, "Would you like to try, Yo-chan?"

Caught off guard by the sudden invitation, Chiba Yo startled. After a moment's hesitation, he entered the courtyard. He really was interested in Kanao's training.

"Hello, big sister Shinobu," Chiba Yo greeted her, and Shinobu Kocho smiled in response.

"Your Nichirin Blade has arrived too, I see. And you've got new clothes. You look much more lively," she said, noticing the blade at his waist and the clothes he wore.

"Master Rengoku gave these to me," Chiba Yo explained to Shinobu Kocho.

"I see. Mr. Rengoku certainly likes looking after others, especially since you're his Tsuguko," Shinobu Kocho said with a smile.

"And Mr. Rengoku thinks very highly of you. He said you're a genius who only comes along once in a century," Shinobu Kocho continued.

Chiba Yo hurriedly waved his hands, replying with some embarrassment, "No, no. It's only because Master Rengoku taught me so well."

Despite his words, Chiba Yo was delighted inside.

"Passing the Final Selection after just seven days of instruction takes more than good teaching from Mr. Rengoku.

"Would you like to try the training Kanao was just doing?" Shinobu Kocho asked Chiba Yo. She was eager to see his talent for herself and find out whether he really was as gifted as Kyojuro had said.

"Sure. Do I just have to blow into the gourd until it bursts?" Chiba Yo nodded and asked.

"Yes. Start with this one." Shinobu Kocho took out a gourd half the size of the one Kanao had just burst and handed it to Chiba Yo.

After all, Kanao had only reached this level after years of instruction in her Breathing Style. As far as Shinobu Kocho knew, Chiba Yo had only been practicing his for a short time, so she did not give him the half-person-sized gourd right away.

Chiba Yo accepted the gourd Shinobu Kocho offered. It looked quite sturdy.

This must be for training the lungs' breathing capacity.

Chiba Yo examined the gourd, then put his mouth to its opening and began blowing into it.

Bang!

An instant later, the sturdy gourd shattered.

That was... kind of easy...

Chiba Yo looked at the broken gourd in his hands. It had hardly taken any effort.

"That's amazing!" the three little girls with beady eyes exclaimed.

That looked effortless for him. He really is a genius, just as Mr. Rengoku said.

That was what Shinobu Kocho thought as she watched Chiba Yo burst the gourd with ease.

"A gourd this size isn't much of a challenge for you. Try this one," Shinobu Kocho said with a smile. She fetched a gourd from beside the Butterfly Mansion, the same size as the one Kanao had just burst, and handed it to Chiba Yo.

A moment later, with another bang, Chiba Yo burst the half-person-sized gourd in an instant too.

(￣ー￣)

Chiba Yo still looked completely at ease.

Can these things really help with training?

Chiba Yo had his doubts, but he kept them to himself. He had at least that much tact.

"It looks like Mr. Rengoku was right after all," Shinobu Kocho could not help marveling after seeing Chiba Yo burst even the largest gourd with ease.

Chiba Yo did not know what to say, so he simply stayed quiet. Just as he was about to say goodbye to Shinobu Kocho and head to the training grounds to practice his sword techniques, something happened.

A man with spiky white hair and scars covering his body, including his face, entered the Butterfly Mansion.

"You're back, Mr. Shinazugawa. What brings you to the Butterfly Mansion?" Shinobu Kocho greeted him with a smile.

Chiba Yo had not expected this rather fierce-looking man to seem embarrassed.

"Um... I'd like to visit..." Sanemi Shinazugawa began.

"Oh, you want to visit my older sister?" Shinobu Kocho asked, realizing what he meant.

"Yes..." Sanemi let out a relieved breath and nodded.

Then Shinobu Kocho led Sanemi Shinazugawa away.

"Who was that man just now?" Chiba Yo asked Kanao curiously. Clearly, he had asked the wrong person. Kanao merely smiled at him without saying a word.

"The man who left with Lady Shinobu is the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa. He's a very powerful swordsman." Aoi Kanzaki emerged from the Butterfly Mansion carrying bedsheets and answered after hearing Chiba Yo's question.

Chiba Yo had met Aoi Kanzaki, who had been cooking at the time, when he saw Kyojuro after returning from Mount Fujikasane.

"I see..." Chiba Yo glanced at Sanemi Shinazugawa's retreating figure, then rose to his feet. "I'd better go practice my sword techniques too. Goodbye."

Chiba Yo left the Butterfly Mansion and went to the training grounds. To his surprise, he ran into the boy with the mohawk he had met on Mount Fujikasane. The boy was swinging his Nichirin Blade over and over.

After a little thought, Chiba Yo decided to go over and greet him.

"Hello, I'm Chiba Yo. Now that we've both joined the Demon Slayer Corps, we'll be fighting alongside each other. There's no need to hold on to that little disagreement, right? Besides, I only stepped in because you were about to hit that child." As he spoke, Chiba Yo held out his hand to Genya.

Genya froze for a moment, apparently not expecting Chiba Yo to come over and greet him.

"I'm Genya Shinazugawa." Now that he had his Nichirin Blade, Genya was no longer as irritable as before. Still, he did not shake Chiba Yo's hand and continued practicing his swings.

Genya Shinazugawa, Sanemi Shinazugawa... Their names are so similar. Could they be brothers?

Seeing that Genya did not want to shake hands, Chiba Yo withdrew his hand. After hearing his name, he could not help connecting him to the Wind Hashira he had just met.