The next day, under the hopeful and worried gazes of the Zemu couple and Shinobu Kocho, Kanzaki Kumo and Kanae left the Butterfly Mansion together and headed for Mount Sagiri.
That was right. Kanzaki Kumo intended to introduce Kanae to Sakonji Urokodaki so she could learn a Breathing Style.
For one thing, Sakonji Urokodaki himself was an accomplished swordsman who could give Kanae excellent instruction and ensure she built a solid foundation.
For another, Makomo was also on Mount Sagiri. Over the past month or so, Makomo had formed a good relationship with the Butterfly Family. In particular, she and Kanae, who had a similar temperament, had become close friends who could talk about anything. With her there, Kanae would be able to adjust to her new surroundings faster.
Although Kanae had said she wanted to learn a Breathing Style from Kanzaki Kumo, Thunder Breathing placed considerable demands on the body, and girls were not particularly suited to it physiologically. By comparison, Water Breathing was the better choice for a beginner.
Mount Sagiri was not far from the Butterfly Mansion. Riding in a carriage prepared in advance, they reached the foot of the mountain in less than half a day.
And so, when Makomo, who had carried out a mission just last night and consequently slept until noon, groggily walked to the courtyard gate and saw Kanzaki Kumo and Kanae arriving, she instinctively thought she was hallucinating.
Makomo: Wasn't I away from the Butterfly Mansion? Why am I still seeing these two when I wake up?
Kanzaki Kumo and Kanae, who had been about to greet her, could not help laughing at her dazed appearance. Only after they briefly explained why they had come did Makomo hurriedly lead them inside, also calling over Sakonji Urokodaki, who was supervising Sabito and Giyu's training behind the mountain.
"Senior Urokodaki, long time no see." Seeing Sakonji Urokodaki return from behind the mountain, Kanzaki Kumo took the initiative to greet him.
"It's only been about a month since we last met. How does that count as 'long time no see'? Just get to the point, Kanzaki, boy. Oh, no, I should be calling you Lord Rumble Hashira now."
Sakonji Urokodaki's rather sharp tone left Kanzaki Kumo puzzled. He turned to glance at Makomo and found her dark green eyes equally full of confusion. Kanae, who stood slightly behind Kanzaki Kumo, could not help feeling a little worried about her future Breathing Style training.
Didn't Kanzaki-kun say this senior was easy to get along with? Kanae muttered inwardly.
Of course, Sakonji Urokodaki did not dislike such an exceptionally talented junior as Kanzaki Kumo. On the contrary, he was glad that the Demon Slayer Corps had someone so gifted.
The problem, however, lay with Kanae, who stood behind Kanzaki Kumo.
As an old man nearing sixty, Sakonji Urokodaki could tell that a man had taken up residence in his disciple's heart even without Makomo saying anything. Ever since she returned yesterday, he had noticed that she had fallen completely.
Given Kanzaki Kumo's talent and strength, Sakonji Urokodaki would originally have had no objection to Makomo ending up with him. But now, the way the girl behind Kanzaki Kumo looked at his back seemed to show signs of something too. That made the old man, who regarded Makomo as his daughter, uncomfortable.
Judging by their faces alone, Makomo and Kanae each had their own merits. But in terms of bearing, Kanae's gentle maturity clearly put her a cut above Makomo. As for their figures, there was even less to discuss: at fifteen, Kanae's curves were already beginning to take shape, while Makomo, who was a few months older, was so flat that one could not tell her front from her back.
With that comparison, Sakonji Urokodaki could not help fretting over his "foolish disciple," Makomo.
Naturally, Sakonji Urokodaki would not take his anger out on Kanae, whose first impression was that of a gentle, kindhearted girl. Instead, he vented it at Kanzaki Kumo.
Sakonji Urokodaki: It's all this brat's fault!
Kanzaki Kumo: *?*
"Senior Urokodaki, I came today to ask you to take on a disciple. Kanae Kocho, a member of the Butterfly Mansion. She has a great talent for swordsmanship. Just by watching the special training I gave Makomo before, she learned Water Breathing's First Form."
Although he did not know why Sakonji Urokodaki was somewhat angry, Kanzaki Kumo still chose to address the matter at hand first, not forgetting to finish with a compliment.
"With talent like hers, only a former Water Hashira like you could teach her properly."
"Oh?"
After taking a brief moment to compose himself, Sakonji Urokodaki had brought his emotions under control. Ultimately, matters between young people could only be resolved by the young people themselves, and it was not his place to say much.
As for the girl named Kanae Kocho whom Kanzaki Kumo had mentioned, if she truly possessed such talent, she was indeed a rare prospect.
Although her talent was nowhere near as terrifying as Kanzaki Kumo's, it might be somewhat greater than even Sabito's.
"Senior Urokodaki, it is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kanae Kocho. Having heard of your superb swordsmanship and extensive experience, I came to visit and humbly ask for your guidance in learning a Breathing Style."
"Master Urokodaki, Kanae is really nice, so you..." Makomo was also somewhat surprised by Kanae's talent, but this was not the time to discuss it in detail. She turned to Sakonji Urokodaki and began wheedling.
"All right, all right. I never said I wouldn't take her as a disciple. No Cultivator would turn away someone whose talent caught this Kanzaki brat's eye."
Sakonji Urokodaki waved a hand, feeling somewhat weary.
Sakonji Urokodaki: Silly girl, this young lady will most likely be your rival in love...
Still, he agreed to teach Kanae a Breathing Style. Whatever the circumstances, training Swordsmen for the Demon Slayer Corps was his responsibility as a Cultivator. Moreover, Kanzaki Kumo, the current Rumble Hashira, had come in person. For Sakonji Urokodaki, who placed considerable importance on seniority and rank, refusing was naturally even less of an option.
"Yay!" Before anyone else could say anything, Makomo cheered. After all, she was delighted that she would be able to continue spending every day with her close friend.
As for her worries about the dangers Kanae might face after becoming a Swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps, this was certainly not the appropriate occasion to express them. She could only find time to talk with her privately later.
Since formal apprenticeship ceremonies and the like were not customary in the Demon Slayer Corps, Kanae Kocho was already considered his disciple once Sakonji Urokodaki agreed.
Makomo excitedly pulled Kanae away to choose a room and put her things in order, while also discussing some "private girl talk," leaving Sakonji Urokodaki and Kanzaki Kumo, one old and one young, looking at each other in silence.
"Come with me." Leaving him with those words, Sakonji Urokodaki turned and walked outside.
Although Kanzaki Kumo found it rather baffling, he obediently followed.
"What are your thoughts regarding those two girls?" Upon reaching an empty clearing, Sakonji Urokodaki turned and stared at Kanzaki Kumo, the sharp gleam in his eyes falling on Kanzaki Kumo's face through his mask.
"What?" Kanzaki Kumo had yet to catch on.
"Don't tell me you can't see how they feel. Makomo has already given you her heart, and that girl named Kanae has feelings for you too. I just can't tell how far hers have gone yet," Sakonji Urokodaki said, somewhat angrily.
"And faced with this situation, where do you stand? What is your choice?"
Only then did Kanzaki Kumo understand why Sakonji Urokodaki had spoken so sharply when they first met. Faced with questions from the man who could be considered Makomo's adoptive father, Kanzaki Kumo set aside his irreverent, casual manner.
"I choose..."
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