Kanzaki Kumo was just about to say something when Makomo pressed her index finger against his lips.
"I'm not saying this to complain, or to hear you make that promise again. I'm only explaining the basis for my guess."
"And that's not all. After all, that alone could be explained as a coincidence."
"What made me more convinced of that guess was Kanao's arrival."
"Although Kanao's past really does make you feel for her, she can't possibly be the only person in this world who had such a tragic childhood. Yet you brought back that particular girl."
"Even when she was choosing a surname, you didn't suggest your own. Instead, you recommended the one Kanae wrote down, as though that surname, or rather, the name 'Kanao Tsuyuri,' held some special meaning for you."
"Another example: I heard Kanae mention that you specifically reminded Shinjuro's child to bring earplugs on his missions, and he happened to need them on his very first mission."
"That wouldn't have meant much on its own, but you specifically asked about it afterward, and even looked relieved when you learned what had happened. That wasn't quite right."
Kanzaki Kumo tried to explain, but Makomo interrupted him again.
"That's not all. Your familiarity with those Upper Rank Demons is also surprising."
"Although you publicly said you extracted the information from Gyokko and Akaza, and everyone else in the Demon Slayer Corps believed that explanation, that excuse never really made sense."
"Leaving aside whether those two Upper Ranks were really that stupid, just consider the circumstances at the time. How could you possibly have extracted information from them?"
"Gyokko nearly killed me." Makomo's voice noticeably faltered as she said this.
Even after so much time had passed, the memory of being so close to death still left her