Kiyohiko as a Child

At the edge of the courtyard, several members of the Kakushi Corps, dressed in all-black uniforms with veils over their faces, were busy packing their gear. Sunlight poured mercilessly over the ground. To Kiyohiko, a demon, that warm light was as deadly as poison.

He had no choice but to hide in the shadow of a tree in the courtyard, watching his companions, who were about to be taken away.

"Tanjiro, Zenitsu... if I die, remember to burn some paper offerings for me on this day next year."

Kiyohiko looked utterly done with life, his tone as tragic as if he were on his way to the execution grounds.

"No, wait, there probably won't even be a body left. That evil woman... that Shinobu Kocho will definitely slice me up and conduct human experiments on me without end!"

Tanjiro looked puzzled. His clear, deep crimson eyes were full of confusion, as though he were looking at a delirious patient.

"Huh? Kiyohiko, what are you talking about? Miss Shinobu seems like a very gentle person."

Tanjiro thought back carefully. "She does have a faint smell of anger about her, but she offered to take care of you. That must be because she wants to cure you, right? You should be happy."

"Happy, my ass! She's hiding a knife behind that smile! She's a demon who's black to the core!"

"Shut up, you bastard! Quit complaining when you've got it so good!!"

A heartrending scream broke through the sadness of their parting. Zenitsu still had tears and snot running down his face, but his gaze was now filled with enough jealous fire to burn Kiyohiko alive.

"She's a beauty! A super-super-pretty big sister! Her voice sounds as lovely as wind chimes, and she smells amazing too!"

Zenitsu waved his arms and legs in excitement, pointing at Kiyohiko's nose as he cursed:

"I heard it! She leaned in and whispered in your ear just now, didn't she? That's how close lovers get, isn't it?! And you still dare call her a demon? I want a demon like that to turn me into a specimen too! I want her to lock me up too! Drop dead! Can't you switch places with me?!"

Seeing the look on Zenitsu's face, as though he wanted to swallow him whole and flay him alive, Kiyohiko's mouth twitched.

That's Zenitsu for you. He's like a different person when he talks about pretty big sisters.

"I can't agree with your perverted way of thinking."

"All right, all right, sirs, it's getting late."

A Kakushi Corps member came over carrying a specially made box that blocked out all light, interrupting the farce. He glanced fearfully at Kiyohiko, who was hiding in the shadows.

"Um... Lord Kiyohiko, although Oyakata-sama gave the order, the sunlight is too strong right now. We can't transport you directly. Could you please..."

"I know, I know. Get in the box, right?"

Kiyohiko took a deep breath and summoned the blood within his body.

With a faint sound of bones rubbing together and a puff of white smoke, the teenager's body rapidly shrank.

The smoke cleared.

The teenager, who had stood 180 centimeters tall, had become a "child version" of Kiyohiko, only as big as an eight- or nine-year-old. His loose hospital gown instantly hung over him like a sack, its long sleeves trailing on the ground, with only his two tiny hands showing.

"S-so cute..."

Tanjiro blurted out, his expression growing even softer.

"Eek!! Why is it so unfair even when he turns into a demon? Isn't this just to win girls' sympathy? That's so sneaky!"

Zenitsu grew even more frantic. He could practically see Shinobu Kocho holding the shrunken Kiyohiko and calling him "kawaii," and he completely lost it.

Kiyohiko couldn't be bothered with the raving Zenitsu. Clumsily lifting the overly long hem of his gown, he took little steps and climbed into the box the Kakushi Corps member had set on the ground.

"Well then... see you next time, Tanjiro, Zenitsu."

He poked his little head out of the box and looked at them one last time.

[Target's current Bond Level: Lv.2, Bond Value: 34]

[Target's current Bond Level: Lv.2, Bond Value: 21]

This is great. Just chatting and fooling around makes their Bond Values keep going up.

Not like that big fluttering moth.

"Make sure you both stay alive."

"Yeah! See you next time! Take care of yourself too, Kiyohiko!"

Tanjiro waved vigorously.

"If you haven't been turned into a specimen by the next time we meet, remember to introduce me to that beautiful big sister!"

Zenitsu was still shouting.

"Click."

The box door closed, plunging the world into darkness.

As the Kakushi Corps member hoisted the box onto his back and started running, Kiyohiko felt a gentle jostling.

In that cramped, dark but safe space, Kiyohiko closed his eyes.

For some reason, there in the dark, that purple figure and that soft "moshi moshi" once again surfaced in his mind, beyond his control.

Several dozen minutes later, the jostling finally stopped.

"Click."

It was the sound of the latch being undone. Then the tightly fitted wooden panel was slowly pushed open, and glaring daylight squeezed through the gap into the dark box. Kiyohiko instinctively drew back his neck and covered his eyes with his chubby little hands.

"Moshi moshi, it's time for your examination, Mr. Demon."

That voice, so familiar it made his scalp tingle, sounded above him. It held a trace of teasing and a touch of lightheartedness, like a delicate butterfly landing on his heart.

Kiyohiko moved his hands aside and narrowed his eyes. The first thing he saw was the haori, colorful as a butterfly's wings, swaying gently in the breeze. Then he saw that exquisitely flawless smiling face, which always sent a chill down his back. Shinobu Kocho was crouching in front of the box, her chin propped on her hands, staring without blinking at the little figure curled up inside. Her purple eyes shone with curiosity.

"Oh my, now that you're smaller, you look even more like a harmless little cub."

Shinobu Kocho reached out a slender finger and gently poked Kiyohiko's round cheek. Her voice was as soft as if she were coaxing a child. "Well? Were you comfortable in the box? Did you have any urge to eat your carrier?"

"Stop poking me. You'll ruin my face."

The child version of Kiyohiko swatted the restless hand away. His voice was so babyish that even he felt his old face flush.

"We're in the shade, right? I'm changing back. I'm not used to hearing my voice in this form."

As he spoke, the tiny body began to swell rapidly as though being inflated. With a faint sound of bones shifting and a thin puff of white smoke, the ridiculously oversized hospital gown filled out again.

When the smoke cleared, the teenager reappeared in the shade of the corridor. Having just returned to normal, his body was still a little stiff. His once-neat uniform had become somewhat crooked from his earlier shrinking and subsequent expansion, and the collar hung loosely over his shoulders, revealing a small patch of collarbone.