Butterfly Mansion.
Looking at the home she had once built hand-in-hand with her older sister, Kanae Kocho, and where they had lived together for quite some time...
The expression on Shinobu Kocho's face became somewhat complex as she softly murmured, "I'm home."
Everyone has a sanctuary where their soul finds rest. For Shinobu, the Butterfly Mansion before her was exactly that.
Perhaps because she had returned here, a glimmer of light involuntarily returned to the girl's eyes, which had long lost their color due to the death of her family. Even the fake smile she always wore as a disguise seemed to gain a touch of authenticity upon returning to the Butterfly Mansion.
At this moment, a girl with long, straight black hair came up to greet Shinobu. Her voice was gentle yet nagging as she hovered around Shinobu, chattering away like a long-winded mother:
"Oh my, little Shinobu is back?"
"Why were you out for so long this time?"
"Did the Demon Slayer Corps assign you another complicated mission?"
"I've told you before that I don't want to see you working so hard, yet you still push yourself so much. Honestly."
"But it's okay. As long as your big sister is here, you can safely act spoiled and rely on me anytime."
"Oh right, you must be hungry after just getting back, right?"
"I just checked the kitchen. Aoi prepared your favorite side dishes in advance, so dinner should be ready very soon."
"And then there's Kanao. Let me tell you, Shinobu, that child is really becoming less and less cute lately."
"Naho and the other girls have also been getting more and more boisterous. Last time you were away, they almost accidentally burned down the kitchen."
"You really need to discipline them properly."
"Also, also..."
The black-haired girl circled Shinobu, seemingly tireless, enthusiastically recounting the trivial matters that had happened at the Butterfly Mansion during her absence.
However, Shinobu turned a deaf ear to it, not even glancing at her.
Seeing this, the black-haired girl couldn't help but feel a bit deflated.
But she quickly noticed Su Yan standing behind Shinobu.
Her interest was immediately piqued again. She first glanced over Su Yan, then turned to Shinobu with a teasing look and said, "Oh my, little Shinobu actually brought a man back this time. How rare."
Yet the result was the same. Shinobu ignored her completely, treating her as if she didn't exist.
So, the black-haired girl turned her attention to Su Yan and said, "Hey, hey, mister, what's your relationship with my little Shinobu?"
"You look pretty handsome. You actually seem like a good match for her."
"How many people are in your family? Do you own a house? Do you have land?"
"No, none of that matters. As long as you marry my little Shinobu, this entire Butterfly Mansion can be considered her dowry. Aren't you looking forward to it?"
"So hurry up and tell big sister, how far have you two progressed? Have you kissed yet?"
"Let me tell you, even though my little Shinobu usually puts up a strong front, she's actually very sensitive inside."
"I remember when she was little, there was a thunderstorm one night. Shinobu came crying to my room, saying she was scared and wanted to sleep with her big sister."
"Well? Isn't Shinobu adorable?"
"Hey, hey, why aren't you saying anything?"
As she spoke, the black-haired girl, having received no response, couldn't help but slowly lower her head.
Yes, she had actually died two years ago.
It was only because she couldn't stop worrying about her younger sister that her departed soul continued to linger around the Butterfly Mansion.
No one could see her, let alone hear her speak.
But she had grown used to it.
Used to watching Aoi Kanzaki manage the Butterfly Mansion's affairs perfectly every day like a head housekeeper.
Watching Kanao sit quietly in the courtyard in a daze every day.
Watching the three little girls play around the mansion every day.
It was as if everything was still the same as before.
Except for her younger sister, Shinobu, whom she simply couldn't stop worrying about.
Since her death, Shinobu had started imitating her, wearing a mask of a fake smile.
Before she died, she had clearly urged Shinobu to leave the Demon Slayer Corps and live a normal life. To give up killing demons, get married, have children, and find the happiness of an ordinary girl.
Yet, right under her nose, Shinobu was drifting further and further away from the path she had hoped for.
"You're right, Shinobu is indeed quite cute," Su Yan nodded and replied.
"Right, right? Shinobu is the cutest in the world!" The black-haired girl instinctively replied.
Immediately after, she froze in place as if struck by lightning.
Her body began to tremble slightly involuntarily. She looked up at Su Yan, her face full of disbelief, and asked cautiously, "You can see me?"
"Mhm," Su Yan hummed softly in agreement.
"You can really see me?" But the black-haired girl still couldn't believe it. She tested him again, even shifting her position.
Only to find that Su Yan's gaze remained fixed on her.
The black-haired girl asked weakly, "So... you heard everything I just said?"
"I heard it all." Su Yan nodded at the girl, then emphasized, "Every single word!"
"..." The black-haired girl's voice carried a faint plea. "Could you forget what I just said?"
"No." Su Yan shook his head, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he teased, "It's not just Shinobu who is cute as a younger sister."
"Kanae, as the older sister, is also very cute when she's talking to herself around her younger sister."
Yes, the black-haired girl before him was none other than Shinobu Kocho's biological older sister, the Flower Hashira who was killed by Upper Rank Two two years ago—Kanae Kocho.
Even Su Yan himself hadn't expected this.
Originally, he had planned to search the area after arriving at the Butterfly Mansion to see if he could find Kanae Kocho's soul.
He hadn't expected that right after covering his eyes with a layer of aura and using the technique of Gyo...
Before he even had time to look for her...
She would just come right up to him on her own.
What was this? Delivering herself right to his doorstep?
Because of this, Su Yan could only stand quietly to the side and watch the touching scene of sisterly affection as Kanae Kocho fussed over Shinobu.
However, Su Yan could also understand why Kanae Kocho's personality seemed a bit different from the original story.
After all, unlike Makomo and the others at Mt. Sagiri, she was all alone at the Butterfly Mansion.
No one could see her, and no one could talk to her.
If she didn't talk to herself like this, she might have gone crazy over time, right?
"Ah?!"
Kanae Kocho's pale cheeks flushed red at a visible speed, as if the very air had grown scorching hot.
Inside her tabi socks, her toes awkwardly curled tight against her wooden sandals.
Her hidden side, as well as certain secrets between her and her sister Shinobu, had actually been discovered by the man in front of her.
And she had been the one to spill it all herself?!!
Social death!
At this moment, Kanae Kocho felt nothing but absolute social death!
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]