Giyu stared at Kocho Shinobu standing before him, his throat tightening as if blocked by something heavy. A thousand words rose in his chest, but in the end, all that came out was a dry whisper. "Why are you here?"
Shinobu couldn't help but laugh, her brows curving in that familiar gentle arc—it was just like Kanae's smile. "Tomioka-san is still the same, huh? Always so straightforward."
Her laughter faded, replaced by a tender, complicated gaze. She reached out and brushed a strand of hair near Giyu's face—there, faint traces of demonic energy lingered, though it no longer carried the coldness it once had.
"Good thing you haven't changed completely," she said softly. "You didn't lose yourself after becoming a demon."
Giyu froze, instinctively pulling away from her touch, lowering his eyes in silence.
He couldn't tell Shinobu the truth. Muzan's blood had already begun to change him—from his indifference to evildoers, to his growing numbness toward life itself. Every shift reminded him that he was slowly turning into a true demon.
He didn't want her to see that. He didn't want her to feel disappointed.
"This place isn't safe," Giyu said quietly, his voice calm but laced with urgency. "Muzan could be watching me at any moment. You shouldn't be here. Go, now."
"I know it's dangerous," Shinobu replied, shaking her head, "but I had to come."
From her medicine pouch, she pulled out a small vial filled with pale-green liquid and held it out to him.
"This is the newest formula Miss Tamayo and I developed—'Cellular Illusion Serum.' It combines Lady Tamayo's and Yushiro-san's Blood Demon Arts to weave an illusion inside the Muzan cells within you. It'll trick him into believing you're still following his orders, hiding any irregularities. We've tested it on Yushiro-san many times—it's stable and effective. You can use it safely."
Giyu's pupils constricted slightly as he stared at the vial. He hadn't expected Shinobu and Tamayo to create something like this.
That meant he could now send information or meet the Demon Slayer Corps without as much risk.
Beyond surprise, he felt something deeper—something warm tightening in his chest. His throat ached again; he wanted to say thank you, but the words caught halfway.
"I'll inject it for you."
Before he could respond, Shinobu took his arm gently, wiping the dust from his skin. She slid the needle in carefully.
As the serum entered his veins, Giyu could feel the warmth of her fingertips through his skin. It spread slowly through his body, stirring his heart—the heart that had long been silent since becoming a demon—into a faint, unsteady beat. Like a stone dropped into a still lake, ripples spread within him.
When the injection was done, Shinobu withdrew the needle and pressed lightly on the spot with a cotton swab. "There. The effect lasts twelve hours. Tomorrow at this time, I'll give you the second dose."
She looked up at him, her eyes glimmering with a quiet excitement.
"By the way, do you have time tomorrow? Could you take me around the Entertainment District? I've never actually seen what it looks like."
Giyu blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected that request.
Looking into her eyes full of curiosity, he remembered how she used to follow Kanae everywhere, asking questions about everything. After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Alright."
"Yay!" Shinobu's eyes lit up instantly, like a child who'd just been given candy. "Then it's a date—tomorrow night at the entrance of Kyogoku House?"
"Mm."
Giyu nodded again, then hesitated before asking, "Do you have a place to stay? I can help you find a room if you don't."
He was already thinking about arranging the best one the district could offer.
"No need, I already found one," Shinobu said with a small smile, pointing toward a small inn nearby. "Over there—it's close, and the owner's kind. You don't have to worry."
She put the medicine pouch away, then waved at him lightly. "I'll see you tomorrow, Tomioka-san."
Watching her walk away, Giyu stood still for a long time. He pressed a hand to his chest—his heartbeat was faster than usual, and his skin still felt faintly warm.
"What… was that just now?" he murmured.
Her smile, the warmth of her fingertips, the way her voice lingered—it all replayed in his mind. Before he realized it, the corners of his lips curved slightly. It was the first relaxed smile he'd shown since becoming a demon.
…
The next evening, Giyu arrived at the entrance of Kyogoku House right on time.
Shinobu was already there, dressed in a soft pink kimono without her butterfly haori. The lighter colors made her look even gentler than usual.
Seeing him, she walked up quickly and pulled out another vial from her pouch. "Let's get this injection done first—just in case anything happens later."
Giyu obediently extended his arm, watching as Shinobu skillfully completed the injection. The warmth of her fingertips brushed his skin again, and his heartbeat quickened slightly.
"Alright, let's go!"
Shinobu grabbed his wrist and eagerly led him toward the bustling marketplace of the Entertainment District.
Her hand was soft, gentle to the touch. Giyu instinctively tightened his fingers before quickly relaxing again, afraid of hurting her.
The market was lively. Vendors shouted from their stalls while people laughed and talked all around them.
Shinobu moved like a curious child—one moment watching a sugar artist draw patterns with molten syrup, the next picking up a piece of light-blue fabric from a cloth stall.
She held it up against herself, looking at Giyu. "Tomioka-san, what do you think of this fabric? Wouldn't it make a nice haori?"
He looked at her, his eyes softening. "Yeah. It looks good."
"You didn't even look properly!"
She gave him a playful glare, though her eyes were full of laughter. "I remember your old haori was dark blue. This light-blue one would suit you better—it feels livelier. Next time, let me make one for you, alright?"
Giyu froze for a moment, then nodded, his voice softer than usual. "Alright."
They wandered the market until midnight before Shinobu tugged him into a small ramen shop and ordered two bowls of tonkotsu ramen.
As they waited, she suddenly spoke. "Tomioka-san, don't you think I've grown a lot since before?"
Giyu looked up at her and nodded seriously. "Yes. You're much stronger now—in both medicine and swordsmanship."
He paused briefly, then added, "And more and more like… Kanae-san."
Shinobu's movements faltered for a moment, then she smiled faintly. "My sister has always been my role model. The Demon Slayer Corps faces greater pressure every day now. I've redesigned my Nichirin Sword based on the advice you gave me before. Don't let my small size fool you—I'm about as strong as a Hashira now!"
She smiled at him again. "I want to be strong like my sister—strong enough to protect everyone… and to protect you too."
Then, with a light laugh, she picked up a piece of char siu and placed it in Giyu's bowl. "Eat while it's hot—it won't taste good when it's cold. Oh, by the way, since you became a demon, can you still eat human food? Doesn't it make you uncomfortable?"
"I can eat," Giyu replied after a moment, taking a bite. "But I can't taste much."
Even though the flavor was gone, something warm stirred inside him. "Still, eating with you… it feels nice."
Shinobu smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons. "Then I'll eat with you more often from now on. Oh—has Muzan asked you to do anything special lately? Any mention of the Blue Spider Lily?"
Her tone was casual, but her gaze was sharp—she was clearly probing for information.
Giyu understood and lowered his voice. "Muzan told me to look for new Upper Moons, but he didn't mention the Blue Spider Lily. Still, he's been tightening control over the Lower Moons. It feels like he's preparing for something."
"I see."
Shinobu nodded slightly, not pressing further. Instead, she began talking about the Corps. "Tanjiro and Tō have grown fast—they could probably take down a Lower Moon on their own now. Kanroji-san has been a big help since becoming the Love Hashira… Oh, and Zenitsu and Inosuke—ah, right, Tomioka-san, you probably haven't met them yet…"
Giyu listened quietly, sometimes giving small nods in response. Through her words, he could feel the spirit of the Corps—their drive, their unity, and Shinobu's deep care for everyone.
Watching her speak so passionately, a fleeting thought crossed his mind: If only things could stay like this forever.
No Muzan. No endless war between humans and demons. Just this—walking side by side with Shinobu, sharing a meal, and talking like ordinary people.
After finishing their ramen, they wandered through the lantern-lit streets until late at night before heading back.
At the entrance of Shinobu's inn, she stopped and turned toward him. "Thank you for keeping me company today. I'll come by again tomorrow at this time to give you another dose of the medicine—and maybe… share another bowl of ramen?"
"Alright."
Giyu nodded. He watched as she walked inside, standing there until her silhouette disappeared behind the door before turning away.
On his walk back to Kyogoku House, a faint smile lingered on his lips. He slipped a hand into his pocket, feeling the small piece of candy Shinobu had secretly given him earlier—the one she bought at the sugar-art stall.
She had said, 'Even if you can't taste it, keeping it in your mouth will still feel sweet.'
He knew this peace wouldn't last long. Muzan's shadow still loomed, and the war was far from over.
But as long as Shinobu and the others were out there, he believed he could endure it. Someday, he would break free from Muzan's control, become human again, and return to their side.