Although Kanae did not interact with Mizuki nearly as much as Little Shinobu, as Mizuki was her savior and because Kanae sought guidance on Snow Breathing, they still communicated many times.
Thinking carefully, her sister's gaze seemed off a long time ago, but she hadn't thought much of it at the time.
"We are about to have the final battle with Kibutsuji Muzan. I don't know if I will survive." Although Kochou Shinobu was younger, she displayed a maturity that Kanae lacked at this moment. "Therefore, I don't want to have any regrets."
You don't want to have any regrets?
Kanae's eyes held a complex emotion. She didn't know when her sister had become more dependable than herself.
While she was out slaying demons, Little Shinobu had already managed the Butterfly Mansion perfectly.
"Elder Sister, haven't you considered confessing to Mr. Shinazugawa?"
Kochou Shinobu's sudden remark completely stunned Kanae.
"Eh?"
"Ehh~"
"W-why would you say that?!" Kanae's eyes widened. Her reaction was almost identical to Kanao next door. Were they sisters, or what?
Kochou Shinobu said flatly, "You might not get the chance."
This wasn't a curse; they were people who constantly danced on the tip of a blade.
Soon, they would be engaging in the final decisive battle with Kibutsuji Muzan, and they should harbor no illusions of luck.
Whether or not they would have a chance was truly hard to say.
Kanae couldn't help but fall into contemplation, no longer caring about being shy or not.
After a moment of silence, she sighed and said, "You are right."
Kochou Shinobu smiled and turned her head away: "Although we all think Mr. Shinazugawa wouldn't make a good husband, if it is Elder Sister's choice, I, as her younger sister, will still approve."
"W-we?" Kanae was stunned. "How many people have been secretly talking about me behind my back?"
"How many people?" Kochou Shinobu seemed to be thinking, rattling off names like reciting a menu: "Mizuki, Tanjirou, Nezuko, Aoi, and..."
"Enough! Enough!" Kanae interrupted, wanting to cry but unable to. She couldn't listen anymore.
If she had known, she wouldn't have brought the matter up with Little Shinobu. Now she had become the center of attention instead.
Kanae covered her face, looking embarrassed and indignant: "Please don't discuss me in front of me next time."
Kanae felt her sister was doing this on purpose, retaliating for her initiating the conversation.
Kochou Shinobu casually humored her, "Yes, yes, Elder Sister is right."
Kanae turned away, facing away from Kochou Shinobu, wanting to cry but unable to.
She couldn't look Little Shinobu in the eye anymore.
Behind her, Kochou Shinobu revealed a sly smile.
Elder Sister is still too naive in this regard... The night passed without incident. Kochou Shinobu woke up refreshed the next morning, saw that her sister was already gone, tidied herself up, and left the room.
She happened to see Mizuki sitting on the porch, releasing a Kasugai Crow.
It seemed she had seen Mizuki sitting on the porch like this far too many times.
Every time she saw it, it gave her a feeling of loneliness and internal congestion.
So every time she saw Mizuki sitting there, she couldn't help but walk up and hit on her... ah, no, strike up a conversation.
She didn't want her to sit there all alone.
Kochou Shinobu walked over, sat down next to her, and asked, "What are you doing, Mizuki?"
Mizuki didn't reply, pointing to the two people fighting on the open ground in the distance.
Kochou Shinobu looked over; it was Zenitsu and Sanemi Shinazugawa.
Because the training hall had been smashed to pieces by Mizuki and Sanemi Shinazugawa earlier, subsequent training sessions were held on the open ground in front of the hall.
It was barely dawn, and Zenitsu, who had been fighting on the open ground for an unknown amount of time, was covered in injuries.
If it were the old Zenitsu, he would probably be wailing and crying now, loudly demanding a rest.
But the current him was only focused on attacking.
Even if he was knocked down repeatedly by Sanemi Shinazugawa, he would quickly get back up, showing the same tenacity that Tanjirou and Inosuke usually displayed.
"That Zenitsu guy..." Kochou Shinobu opened her mouth but couldn't say anything, finally letting out a long sigh.
This kind of emotional wound truly couldn't be healed just by having a good cry.
"Mizuki, you still haven't said what you were doing just now?" Kochou Shinobu realized she hadn't gotten Mizuki's response.
Mizuki replied, "I contacted Ubuyashiki, hoping he could buy some time with Old Master Kuwajima."
"Eh?" Kochou Shinobu blinked, somewhat confused by her meaning.
"The Old Gentleman plans to commit seppuku because he violated the Demon Slayer Corps regulations, and the reason the Demon Slayer Corps exists is Kibutsuji Muzan."
"As long as we defeat Kibutsuji Muzan and no one is harmed by demons anymore, wouldn't the so-called punishment naturally disappear?"
"As long as Zenitsu, as his Disciple, shines brightly in the final battle, the Master shouldn't be questioned by others, right?"
"If a Disciple turns into a demon, they are condemned. So, if a Disciple participates in killing Muzan, shouldn't they receive corresponding respect?"
Mizuki spoke in a calm tone.
Kochou Shinobu stared at Mizuki in a daze, wondering what she was thinking. After a moment, she shook her head and snapped back to reality.
"Is that possible?"
"I don't know either." Mizuki watched the activity in the distance and shook her head. "I was just annoyed by that Blondie waking me up so early."
Kochou Shinobu's eyes turned into dots, thinking about how this person always acted like this, and commented, "You are truly not honest at all."
She clearly cared about Zenitsu, yet she insisted on pretending that others couldn't move her.
Mizuki glanced at her: "What is honesty? Can it be eaten?"
"Speaking of which, I'm hungry." Kochou Shinobu rubbed her stomach.
"It should be time for a meal soon."
As soon as Mizuki finished speaking, Kanae and Kanao came out of the kitchen carrying lunch boxes and walked toward the open ground.
"Little Shinobu, come eat."
"Coming right away."
Kochou Shinobu quickly went to wash up and ate breakfast with everyone.
Zenitsu shoveled down his food, ignoring even Nezuko, whom he usually loved to cling to, focusing solely on eating.
His upper body was bare, covered in bruises—blue, purple, and black—and his hair was a mess. He was barely recognizable.
The surrounding team members looked at him with great respect.
To fight Mr. Shinazugawa like that without even crying out—this guy was practically a superman.
Of course, the most severe injury on his entire body was his somewhat uneven cheek.
It seemed quite swollen, noticeably higher than the other cheek.
Mizuki guiltily looked away.
Fortunately, Zenitsu was not focused on complaining right now, otherwise, Mizuki would truly have to endure his nagging.
She wasn't the type to make a fuss without reason.
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