"Mr. Su Chen, is that you?"
Aoi Kanzaki's voice came from the doorway.
She pushed open the laboratory door, but found no sign of Su Chen inside.
A puzzled look crossed Aoi Kanzaki's face. "Strange. I could have sworn I heard something down here just now."
Just then, another set of footsteps sounded in the stairwell.
Su Chen appeared behind Aoi Kanzaki.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Su Chen patted her shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of concern.
Aoi Kanzaki turned her head blankly and visibly froze when she saw Su Chen.
Huh?
Mr. Su Chen came down after me?
Su Chen gave her no time to react, immediately saying with a smile, "Let's talk upstairs. This is a laboratory, and the smell of chemicals is pretty strong."
Aoi Kanzaki nodded.
The two headed upstairs together.
As they walked, Su Chen asked casually, "Has Shinobu gone out on another mission?"
"She's already back," Aoi Kanzaki said after a moment's thought. "She's reporting to the Master right now."
"I see. Does Shinobu always go out alone, then?" Su Chen asked again.
At that, Aoi Kanzaki's expression immediately grew forlorn.
"Yes. Ever since Kanae passed away, Lady Shinobu has been like a different person."
"One day, it was pouring when Lady Shinobu came back from a mission, and she was soaked through. There were so many patients at the Butterfly Mansion then that nobody noticed her return."
"She went back to her room alone and quietly got herself cleaned up, then came out to help everyone again. Seeing how strong Lady Shinobu was being broke everyone's hearts."
As Aoi Kanzaki spoke, she could not hold back her sadness.
She sighed. "If only I could help Lady Shinobu too. Unfortunately, I can't even learn a Breathing Style, and I'm too scared to face demons."
"If Lady Shinobu hadn't taken me in, I'd probably be homeless by now."
Su Chen smiled. "Aren't you already helping Shinobu with what you're doing now?"
Aoi Kanzaki pressed her lips together. "But..."
"No buts. I think saving people is more important than killing demons."
"Without you and everyone else at the Butterfly Mansion, the Demon Slayer Corps might not even be able to exist. You do far more than those half-baked fighters on the battlefield."
Su Chen's words rang with conviction, every word reaching Aoi Kanzaki's heart.
Aoi Kanzaki stood stunned for quite a while.
He finally understood why even Kanao Tsuyuri was willing to speak.
Hearing those words, she felt as though she had been redeemed.
A subtle expression appeared on Aoi Kanzaki's face. "Mr. Su Chen, I understand now. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Su Chen blinked and smiled.
Soon, the two returned to ground level.
The sight before him immediately stunned Su Chen.
Patients were everywhere in the Butterfly Mansion, and all the beds reserved for hospitalized Demon Slayer Corps members were packed.
Su Chen frowned. "What's going on?"
Aoi Kanzaki sighed. "Demons have been appearing more frequently lately. Everyone's been struggling to keep up."
"And that alone would be manageable, but the demand for medicine is just too high. The Butterfly Mansion is almost out of money."
Su Chen asked in confusion, "Isn't the Butterfly Mansion a public department of the Demon Slayer Corps? Hasn't the Master sent it any money?"
"Mr. Su Chen, it's a long story. Since you want to know, I'll tell you everything I know!"
After handing Kiyo the medicine she had just brought out of the basement, Aoi Kanzaki slowly explained, "Someone delivers the medicine the Butterfly Mansion needs every month. As for money, we actually don't receive any."
"And when the Butterfly Mansion needs funding, it's allocated according to the proportion of Hashira stationed here."
Su Chen blinked. With his exceptional comprehension, he immediately understood what he meant.
"You mean Shinobu is the only Hashira stationed at the Butterfly Mansion right now, so it gets less funding?"
"That's more or less it."
Aoi Kanzaki continued, "Actually, public relations staff like the people at the Butterfly Mansion are paid less than ordinary Corps members, so life is a little harder for us."
"Lady Shinobu is a Hashira, so her salary is much higher than ours. She uses some of her money to fund experiments, then gives everyone the rest as wages."
"But funding is a tricky matter. Every Hashira has at least a few public relations departments under them, and the Master can't favor one over another."
Su Chen asked, "Does Oyakata-sama know about this?"
"No." Aoi Kanzaki shook her head. "Lady Shinobu is very proud. Seeing how the Master toils day and night, she doesn't want to trouble him."
Su Chen put a hand to his forehead.
Oh, Butterfly, Butterfly, surely you know how rich the Ubuyashiki Clan is?
The few grains you're saving wouldn't even fill a gap between their teeth.
Su Chen believed the Ubuyashiki Clan could certainly afford those few pennies of funding!
But Shinobu cared about saving face.
Su Chen couldn't just run up to them and say, "I'm Su Chen. Send money!"
So this had become a difficult matter instead.
"Mr. Su Chen, I have to go. Kiyo and the others are struggling to keep up."
Aoi Kanzaki ran off to make room for the patients. She planned to remove the bedding and quilt covers from the previous patients' beds and wash them.
In the vast Butterfly Mansion, Su Chen found himself unable to find anyone to talk to.
"I might as well practice my swordsmanship."
Su Chen found a wooden sword, then headed toward the courtyard behind the Butterfly Mansion.
He walked through the corridor.
A graceful, slender figure came into Su Chen's view.
Seeing Su Chen walk toward her, Kanao Tsuyuri gave a sweet smile that revealed two dimples. "Mr. Su Chen."
"What is it?"
Su Chen walked over to Kanao Tsuyuri.
Kanao Tsuyuri suddenly asked, "Mr. Su Chen, you're competing against Mr. Shinazugawa tomorrow, right?"
Su Chen paused.
He immediately worked out the dates in his head.
It did seem to be sometime in the next couple of days.
"What is it?" Su Chen asked softly.
Kanao Tsuyuri pressed her lips together and asked rather nervously, "After your match, Mr. Su Chen, will you... still stay at the Butterfly Mansion?"
"Of course. Where else would I go?" Su Chen said, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Sleep on the streets?"
Kanao Tsuyuri hurriedly explained, "Of course not! I was just worried you didn't like it here!"
"That depends on whether you welcome me, Kanao. If you don't agree, there's nothing I can do."
"I... of course I agree."
Kanao Tsuyuri lowered her little head, her face flushed red.
Her small hands kept a tight grip on the hem of her clothes.
Su Chen smiled and shook his head.
This girl blushes after just a few words. She looks like Guan Yu.
Su Chen slipped his hand into his pocket.
He took out a coin.
"Here, this is yours."
Before you continue