Chapter Summaries

Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho took shelter from the storm in a cave, where he made a fire and helped her dry her clothes. Shinobu, feverish and exhausted, remained afraid that he would take her Older Sister away.

• Tetsu no Sosuke found dry firewood under a fallen tree and lit a fire in the cave.
• Tetsu no Sosuke noticed Shinobu Kocho had a fever and made a screen from his Haori so she could change privately.
• Shinobu Kocho was too weak to wring out her clothes, so Tetsu no Sosuke did it and hung them by the fire.
• Tetsu no Sosuke offered to keep watch while Shinobu rested, but she warned him not to think his kindness meant she would give him Older Sister.
• Shinobu Kocho mumbled that Older Sister was all she had left, and Tetsu no Sosuke assured her no one was trying to take her away.

Tetsu no Sosuke tried to reassure Shinobu Kocho that he wanted to care for her, not take Kanae away from her. As the rain continued, he stayed alert beside Shinobu and resolved to take her back to the Butterfly Estate the next morning.

• Tetsu no Sosuke told Shinobu Kocho that Kanae and he would both care for her, but Shinobu called his words disgusting.
• Tetsu no Sosuke worried about Kanae facing danger on missions and admitted he was not ready to face those dangers with her.
• Tetsu no Sosuke checked that Shinobu Kocho was awake and told her to cover herself with her dry clothes if she got cold.
• Tetsu no Sosuke listened to the rain and Shinobu Kocho's breathing, then decided to take her back to the Butterfly Estate in the morning.

Tetsu no Sosuke waited through the rain with Shinobu Kocho when a huge, horned demon appeared at the cave entrance. Trapped inside, he launched a powerful Breath of the Sun attack against it.

• Tetsu no Sosuke waited for dawn, and uneven footsteps approached through the rain.
• Shinobu Kocho woke and grabbed Tetsu no Sosuke's wrist as he prepared to investigate.
• A huge, scarlet-eyed demon with a broken horn thrust its head into the cave entrance.
• With the exit blocked, Tetsu no Sosuke used Breath of the Sun, Form Two: Direct Forging of Qiankun, and lunged at the demon.

Tetsu no Sosuke fought the hulking demon outside the cave while trying to protect the gravely ill Shinobu Kocho. A girl in black wounded the demon and collapsed, giving them a chance to attack as it weakened.

• Tetsu no Sosuke struck the demon in the nose with his hammer, then called for them to leave the cave.
• The demon seized Tetsu no Sosuke and tried to force him into its mouth, but he held his ground.
• A girl in black slashed a deep wound across the demon’s face, causing it to throw Tetsu no Sosuke away.
• Tetsu no Sosuke landed safely and helped the pale, shivering girl to her feet.
• The girl warned that the demon would weaken and said it was their chance, and Tetsu no Sosuke agreed.

Tetsu no Sosuke fought the poisoned demon with his hammer and Breath of the Sun. He crushed the demon’s arms, but had not yet found a way to finish it.

• Tetsu no Sosuke charged the demon while Shinobu Kocho watched in disbelief.
• Tetsu no Sosuke used Breath of the Sun, Form One: Gale Sun, to batter the demon’s arms until its bones broke.
• The demon lunged to grab Tetsu no Sosuke after its arms could no longer protect it.
• Tetsu no Sosuke used Form Two: Direct Forging of Qiankun to smash the demon’s reaching arm against the ground.
• Tetsu no Sosuke changed his breathing again because he could not yet use Swordsmanship to cut off the demon’s head.

Tetsu no Sosuke battered the demon and broke both of its arms, creating an opening. Shinobu Kocho forced herself to stand and prepared to attack despite her injuries.

• Tetsu no Sosuke hammered the demon’s flattened arm until it was nearly pulp.
• The demon lunged at Tetsu no Sosuke with its other hand, but he struck its joint and bent the arm in half.
• Shinobu Kocho recognized that the demon’s weakened state gave them their best chance.
• Shinobu Kocho gripped her Nichirin Blade, forced herself upright, and drew a deep breath.

Shinobu Kocho killed the demon but collapsed afterward, leaving Tetsu no Sosuke to decide how to get her to safety. He rejected carrying her through the cold, demon-haunted night to the Butterfly Estate and remained in the cave with her.

• Shinobu Kocho struck the demon's head five times, killing it without severing its neck.
• Shinobu Kocho lost consciousness, and Tetsu no Sosuke carried her into the cave.
• Tetsu no Sosuke considered taking Shinobu Kocho to the Butterfly Estate but feared she would not survive the cold journey or another demon attack.
• Tetsu no Sosuke decided not to risk carrying Shinobu Kocho through the rainy night.

Tetsu no Sosuke cared for the feverish Shinobu Kocho through a cold, rainy night in a cave. By morning her fever had eased, but he worried about explaining how he had wiped her down.

• Tetsu no Sosuke hesitated before undressing and wiping down the unconscious Shinobu Kocho, then wrapped her in his Haori and his own clothes.
• Tetsu no Sosuke moved Shinobu Kocho to a sheltered corner of the cave and used his body and her drying clothes to block the draft.
• Tetsu no Sosuke kept the fire going as the rain and wind continued through the night.
• After the weather stopped and the cave warmed, Tetsu no Sosuke felt Shinobu Kocho's forehead and found that it had cooled.
• Tetsu no Sosuke felt relieved, then wondered how he would explain wiping Shinobu Kocho down.

After the demon fight, Tetsu no Sosuke analyzed how Shinobu Kocho’s poison and Butterfly Dance: Frolic had defeated their enemy and concluded that he needed to improve his swordsmanship. At dawn, he discovered Shinobu had awakened and was staring at him.

• Tetsu no Sosuke checked that Shinobu Kocho’s clothes were dry and draped them over her before sitting watch at the cave entrance.
• Tetsu no Sosuke reviewed the fight and realized Shinobu’s repeated thrusts had weakened the demon with successive doses of poison until it died.
• Tetsu no Sosuke decided his best fighting style combined breaking defenses with a hammer and finishing with a blade, but recognized that he needed stronger swordsmanship.
• At dawn, Tetsu no Sosuke turned to check on Shinobu Kocho and found her awake and staring at him.

After Shinobu Kocho recovered from her fever, she weighed Tetsu no Sosuke’s actions and wondered why he had stayed with her. They prepared to head for the next village to buy food, but when she stumbled, Tetsu no Sosuke offered to carry her.

• Shinobu Kocho told Tetsu no Sosuke she could not free her hands, and he helped her out of the clothes he had bundled her in.
• Tetsu no Sosuke checked Shinobu Kocho’s forehead and confirmed her fever had gone.
• Shinobu Kocho changed into dry clothes and considered what to do about Tetsu no Sosuke, wondering why he had not left her.
• Tetsu no Sosuke returned without food because he could not hunt or find wild fruit.
• Shinobu Kocho suggested they go to the next village for rations, then stumbled as she stood.
• Tetsu no Sosuke crouched and offered to carry Shinobu Kocho, bringing his earlier talk of affection back to her mind.

After escaping the cave, Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho reached a Wisteria House, where they rested and received medicine. Shinobu’s fever subsided, and she told Tetsu no Sosuke she expected to recover by tomorrow, though she continued staring at him.

• Tetsu no Sosuke carried Shinobu Kocho out of the cave and returned along their original route.
• Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho found a Wisteria House, where a woman arranged rooms and brought them medicine.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Shinobu Kocho to sleep, then returned to his room and passed out from exhaustion.
• Tetsu no Sosuke woke at sunset, checked Shinobu Kocho’s temperature, and found her fever had gone down.
• Shinobu Kocho woke and told Tetsu no Sosuke she felt much better and should recover by tomorrow.

Shinobu Kocho and Tetsu no Sosuke made peace after their recent fight, and she acknowledged his courage and intelligence while still doubting his strength. She said she would accept his relationship with her Older Sister if he someday became a Pillar, leaving Tetsu no Sosuke uneasy about the prospect of being called the Iron Pillar.

• Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho realized they had misunderstood each other when she told him to take the chance to leave, then laughed together.
• Shinobu Kocho said she no longer thought Tetsu no Sosuke was trying to steal her Older Sister away.
• Shinobu Kocho declared a truce and thanked Tetsu no Sosuke for handling her condition and standing his ground against a Demon.
• Shinobu Kocho praised Tetsu no Sosuke's courage and intelligence but said he needed to become stronger and someday reach Pillar rank to earn her approval.
• Shinobu Kocho suggested Tetsu no Sosuke might become the Iron Pillar, and he privately preferred the name Hammer Pillar.

Tetsu no Sosuke worried about improving his swordsmanship and finding Iron Head's family while Shinobu Kocho offered to spar with him after they returned. Shinobu said they would head back to the Butterfly Estate before dark the next day, and Tetsu no Sosuke went to find food for them.

• Tetsu no Sosuke reflected that he needed to hone his swordsmanship before he could join the Demon Slayer Corps, and he still had no lead on Iron Head's family.
• Shinobu Kocho said Tetsu no Sosuke might not be able to beat Hazakura and offered to spar with him after they returned.
• Tetsu no Sosuke accepted Shinobu Kocho's offer, despite suspecting she wanted an excuse to hit him.
• Shinobu Kocho said she had sent a message to the Butterfly Estate and that they should be home before dark the next day.
• Tetsu no Sosuke went to find food after he and Shinobu Kocho realized they had not eaten for a day.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho returned to the Butterfly Estate after Shinobu recovered from her illness, though she still needed rest. Kanae welcomed them home, and Shinobu felt the warmth of having both Kanae and Tetsu no Sosuke there.

• Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho ate at the Wisteria House and slept before continuing their journey the next morning.
• Shinobu Kocho's strength failed on the way home, so Tetsu no Sosuke carried her back to the Butterfly Estate.
• Kanae welcomed them at the gate and said she had returned the day before.
• Shinobu Kocho felt ignored as Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae spoke, then went inside in a huff.
• Kanae took Shinobu Kocho's hand, and Tetsu no Sosuke joined them as they entered the Butterfly Estate together.

Tetsu no Sosuke told Kanae about his mission and Shinobu, then promised to train until he became a Pillar and could protect both sisters. Kanae trusted him and rested her head on his shoulder.

• Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae talked together, sometimes chatting and sometimes sitting quietly.
• Tetsu no Sosuke told Kanae everything about the mission, including what he had done for Shinobu Kocho on a rainy autumn night.
• Kanae accepted his explanation and said the important thing was that he and Shinobu had returned safely.
• Tetsu no Sosuke promised to train hard, become a Pillar, and protect Kanae and Shinobu.
• Kanae said she believed him and rested her head on his shoulder.

Tetsu no Sosuke and Kanae teased each other before retiring for the night. The next day, Shinobu Kocho began training Tetsu no Sosuke and showed him how easily she could defeat him, leaving him with a lesson about keeping his opponent in sight.

• Tetsu no Sosuke teased Kanae about when he first fell for her, and she playfully struck his chest before they made up and spent the evening together.
• Tetsu no Sosuke forged weapons for the Pillars in the morning, then followed Shinobu Kocho to the bamboo grove that afternoon for training.
• Shinobu Kocho dodged Tetsu no Sosuke's sword strike, kicked him, and threw him to the ground.
• Shinobu Kocho told Tetsu no Sosuke that his victories against demons had not shown real fighting skill and instructed him never to lose sight of his opponent.

Tetsu no Sosuke trained with Shinobu Kocho, learning to watch his opponent and avoid unnecessary attacks. After two months of practice, he faced Shinobu’s sudden strike in the snow and blocked it, but she vanished from his sight.

• Shinobu Kocho demonstrated how Tetsu no Sosuke left himself open, then explained how he could improve his movements and avoid risky kicks.
• Tetsu no Sosuke asked to continue training and resolved to practice until the necessary movements became instinctive.
• Two months passed as winter arrived and snow covered the bamboo grove.
• Shinobu Kocho launched a surprise attack on the motionless Tetsu no Sosuke, who opened his eyes and blocked her blade.
• Tetsu no Sosuke looked ahead after their swords clashed, but Shinobu Kocho had already disappeared.

After two months of sparring, Tetsu no Sosuke had improved enough to hold off Shinobu Kocho until she ran out of stamina. He credited his gains to the rewards from forging Nichirin Blades, but acknowledged that Shinobu would still defeat him in a real fight.

• Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho sparred in a bamboo grove until Shinobu was exhausted.
• Shinobu Kocho noted Tetsu no Sosuke's progress after two months of training together.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recalled that forging nearly all the Pillars' Nichirin Blades had earned him attribute increases, though the rewards had diminished.
• Tetsu no Sosuke said Shinobu's lethal swordsmanship would kill him long before he could wear her down in a real fight.

After two months of sparring, Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho returned to the Butterfly Estate still bickering. Tetsu no Sosuke remained unable to master Constant Concentration and realized the gourd-blowing method had not been invented yet.

• Shinobu Kocho praised Tetsu no Sosuke's progress but he dismissed her concern as grown-up business, making her draw her blade and chase him toward dinner.
• Kanae called Tetsu no Sosuke and Shinobu Kocho to dinner, and they stopped arguing to eat.
• After dinner, Tetsu no Sosuke continued trying to figure out how to maintain Constant Concentration with the Breath of the Sun.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recalled the Butterfly Estate's gourd-blowing method, but learned it was not yet available and realized it had not been invented.

Tetsu no Sosuke tried to blow up a gourd but failed despite his strength and breathing practice. He concluded that he still needed to improve his lung capacity and breathing.

• Tetsu no Sosuke searched the kitchen for a gourd, and Kiyo Terauchi fetched one from the cellar after mistaking him for a thief.
• Tetsu no Sosuke sat beneath the stars and repeatedly blew into the gourd, but it did not change.
• Tetsu no Sosuke considered his strength, constitution, and training, then wondered whether his lung capacity was insufficient.
• Tetsu no Sosuke recalled Iron Head's training to blow up gourds and decided he still had a lot to work on.