"Today I went out on another mission, but I still haven't found the demon with the metal folding fan who killed my sister."
"I go on far more missions than the other Hashira. I thought I could avenge my sister sooner, but he hides too well!"
"Today I saw another demon eating people. Demons are always like this, not only spouting lies, but always coveting my flesh."
"Friday, weather: cloudy."
"Sister, I miss you so much!"
"Did you know? Sometimes people's hearts are scarier than demons. So often, I save them, but they show no gratitude at all. Some even openly say they want to become demons!"
"I'm furious. I want to kill them! But I'm a member of the Demon Slayer Corps. I can't do that."
"Wednesday, weather: rain."
"Sister, today I found a demon who lives peacefully with humans. I thought you were wrong, but now I believe you."
"Her name is Nezuko Kamado, and she's as adorable as Kanao Tsuyuri. I entrusted your dream to his older brother."
"But I also met someone even more interesting..."
The page ended there.
Reading its contents, Su Chen deduced that the timing coincided exactly with when he had crossed over.
He just didn't know whom Shinobu Kocho was writing about.
He turned to the next page.
"But I also met someone even more interesting."
"His name is Su Chen. Sister, did you know? He's three years younger than me, the same age as Muichiro, but his talent is the best I've ever seen!"
"I managed to snatch him up at the meeting with Oyakata-sama. Sister, you have no idea how popular Su Chen is. All the Hashira wanted him! Luckily, your little sister outplayed them!"
"But he seems to have had quite a falling-out with Mr. Shinazugawa. They were clamoring for a fight!"
"Monday, weather: clear."
"Sister, you remember Su Chen, right? He's become so strong that he actually dares to flirt with me now!"
"And Kanao Tsuyuri seems to really like him. I thought that child wouldn't talk to anyone but you, Sister. I never expected Su Chen to open her heart."
"Tonight, I went to see Su Chen. He's still training very hard, and he's made tremendous progress!"
"I wanted to tease the boy, but Su Chen was surprisingly clueless about girls. He actually leaned straight toward me!"
"I was frightened. Doesn't that boy Su Chen know that you can't get that close to a girl unless she's the girl you like?"
"Sister, I passed my Breathing Style on to him. If possible, I'd like to take Su Chen as my Tsuguko."
"Sister, do you think Su Chen will leave the Butterfly Mansion in the end? I've realized that I seem to be quite fond of this boy."
"Tuesday, weather: clear turning cloudy."
"Sister, I suddenly feel like that boy Su Chen is a bit of a flirt. He's so young, but he acts so grown-up."
"Sister, I saw your shadow in him again. Even the way he uses a sword is so similar."
"Wednesday, weather: cloudy turning clear."
"Today I went to see Master. Master praised Su Chen, and I was very happy."
"I've always treated Su Chen as a younger brother, so having him receive Master's praise really is a wonderful thing."
"Tonight I went to see Su Chen again. Sister, did you know? That boy Su Chen actually created his own Breathing Style!"
"Bee Breathing! Such a nice name. My little brother Su Chen said it's a variation of Insect Breathing. Haha, I knew my Insect Breathing was amazing!"
"Sister, I'm planning to have Aoi send another raven to Oyakata-sama to tell Master the news. That way, Su Chen will get better treatment!"
Before long, Su Chen had finished another page of the diary.
The corners of his mouth rose unconsciously. He hadn't expected that this young woman, Shinobu Kocho, saw him this way.
She's always treated me as a younger brother?
She probably doesn't know my actual age is much older than hers!
When Su Chen read that Shinobu Kocho hoped he would receive better treatment, warmth filled his heart again.
What did she write next?
Su Chen turned to the next page.
"There's another mission today. Apparently, a Lower Rank demon has been discovered on Autumn Sky Mountain. It's very powerful."
"Mr. Tomioka isn't here this time, so Oyakata-sama has asked me and a few other members to investigate. Sister, wish me luck."
Snap!
Su Chen closed the book, his gaze deep.
A Lower Rank demon?
An ominous feeling suddenly rose in Su Chen's heart.
Five days had already passed since Shinobu Kocho left.
If it really was only a Lower Rank demon, someone of Shinobu Kocho's strength shouldn't have been held up for so long.
Could it be... an Upper Rank?
After living here for so long, Su Chen had grown attached to the Butterfly Mansion.
With Shinobu Kocho still not back after all this time, he couldn't help worrying.
"Su Chen, have you still not found it?" Kiyo's voice suddenly came from above.
Hurried footsteps sounded overhead immediately afterward.
"Su Chen."
Kiyo followed the route Su Chen had taken down into the basement.
She passed through the corridor.
Then she, too, pushed open the door to Shinobu Kocho's laboratory.
But there was no sign of Su Chen inside.
Kiyo scratched her head in confusion. "That's strange. Isn't Su Chen here?"
Meanwhile, in Kanao Tsuyuri's room.
Su Chen had slipped inside at some point.
Kanao Tsuyuri, who was cleaning her room, felt her heart give a thump when she saw Su Chen suddenly appear. "Su Chen?"
Su Chen smiled. "Kanao Tsuyuri, could you lend me your Nichirin Blade?"
As he spoke, Su Chen rested his hand on Kanao Tsuyuri's fingertips.
"I want to practice with a sword tonight. I'll return it tomorrow."
Feeling the touch against her fingertips, Kanao Tsuyuri trembled, her face instantly turning as red as a ripe apple.
"...Y-you... can," Kanao Tsuyuri stammered.
She handed the Nichirin Blade straight to Su Chen.
After taking the sword, however, Su Chen found that Kanao Tsuyuri had taken hold of his hand in turn.
Su Chen looked up and found the girl's eyes filled with concern. "Be careful... be careful."
Su Chen froze.
It looks like she knows too, but she still lent me her Nichirin Blade.
But Kanao Tsuyuri needed to stay behind to guard the Butterfly Mansion. To be safe, Su Chen couldn't take her with him.
Su Chen turned and gave Kanao Tsuyuri a hug.
The scent unique to a young woman drifted into Su Chen's nose. With his lips close to Kanao Tsuyuri's ear, he spoke so quietly that only she could hear him. "Wait for me to come back."
Kanao Tsuyuri's eyes widened, her small, fair hands waving about aimlessly.
Kanao Tsuyuri stammered even more. "O-okay... okay."
The speech she had finally learned with such difficulty failed her again.
At that moment, her mind involuntarily returned to the scene of Su Chen demonstrating Bee Breathing earlier.
She seemed to be a tiny flower, while Su Chen was the bee gathering nectar.
Savoring it like sweetness, hungering and thirsting for it.
Kanao Tsuyuri's face reddened again.
She wanted to try touching Su Chen's back, but just then, Su Chen had already let go of her.
Before you continue