The arrival of Shinobu Kocho had already taken Kiriya Ubuyashiki by surprise—but when he learned that even her elder sister, Kanae Kocho, had also come, his astonishment deepened.
And along with it… a trace of nervousness.
As the son of the current head of the Demon Slayer Corps—and the one destined to inherit that position—earning the recognition of the Hashira was of utmost importance.
In the past, he had met them many times while accompanying his father. But standing here alone, facing one of them without that support, the pressure felt entirely different.
What if he had overlooked something?
What if he had made a mistake?
What if… their arrival meant he had already failed in some way?
Shinobu's expression was tight, her face serious as ever, but she calmly explained the reason for their visit.
It turned out that while treating Giyu Tomioka's injuries, she had witnessed firsthand his extraordinary resilience. Even without anesthesia, as she scraped away rotting flesh, he hadn't uttered a single sound—enduring until he finally lost consciousness from the pain.
That alone was enough to leave a deep impression.
From him, they had also learned that Sabito, who had taken the Final Selection alongside him, had died on Mount Fujikasane. And not just Sabito—other fellow disciples, all strong in their own right, had met the same fate.
Coupled with Giyu's recent performance in slaying demons, a lingering doubt had begun to form.
Was there something wrong with the Final Selection itself?
That question had ultimately led both sisters here.
Hearing Shinobu's explanation, Kiriya realized this was not about any mistake on his part. The tension in his chest eased slightly.
"After the incident with Sabito last time, my father ordered a thorough investigation of the mountain summit," Kiriya explained. "But nothing unusual was found."
When he first took over responsibility for the Final Selection, he had already reviewed those past records. In fact, even before that, he had heard rumors of the strange pattern surrounding Sakonji Urokodaki's disciples.
Each time one of them died, an investigation followed.
And every time, the conclusion was the same—nothing.
In the end, it could only be written off as coincidence.
After all, humans were fragile. Even the most well-trained swordsman could fall victim to misfortune.
But when the same "coincidence" happened again and again to disciples of the same teacher… it was difficult not to feel that something was off.
In the past, Shinobu might have simply dismissed it with mild suspicion—perhaps Urokodaki's students were lacking, or simply unlucky.
But after treating Giyu…
After witnessing that level of endurance and resolve…
Both she and Kanae had begun to reconsider.
Perhaps it wasn't coincidence at all.
Perhaps something was hidden too deeply to be easily uncovered.
Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, the selection had already begun.
"For now, everything appears to be proceeding smoothly," Kiriya continued, lowering his voice as he briefed Shinobu on the current situation. "But the same pattern as last time is emerging. I don't know if there's another swordsman like Sabito among the candidates…"
"Mm. My sister has already gone up the mountain," Shinobu replied. "If someone like Sabito truly appears, we won't let them meet the same fate as before."
"If that's the case… that would be a great relief."
…
That night, the summit of Mount Fujikasane grew eerily quiet.
The usual howls of demons that echoed through the darkness each night seemed to have vanished entirely.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, a demon burst out from the forest.
"We've spotted a demon!"
A swordsman shouted sharply, his voice carrying across the area.
"Wind Breathing users, intercept! Stone Breathing, engage head-on! Water Breathing, provide support! Flame Breathing—"
…
High above, perched lightly atop a tree branch, Kanae Kocho observed the scene below.
A gentle breeze stirred, lifting the hem of her haori and causing it to flutter softly in the moonlight, accentuating her slender, graceful figure.
Her gaze swept across the groups forming below—and a hint of surprise flickered in her eyes.
Normally, it was only during later stages of training that swordsmen would begin to develop a sense of teamwork.
And yet here…
One hunting team after another had already taken shape.
Most swordsmen who came to participate in the Final Selection usually fought alone.
And yet now, after observing the mountain summit for so long, Kanae Kocho had already spotted several demon-hunting teams.
Although these groups still had plenty of flaws—their coordination was rough, their teamwork far from polished—they had already begun to develop a sense of unity.
And under such circumstances, when swordsmen gathered together, the strength they could display was significantly greater.
In previous years, the trial at Mount Fujikasane required candidates to simply survive for seven nights amidst demons in order to pass.
But now…
Instead of hiding, these candidates had begun actively hunting the demons on the mountain.
"Why has such a change occurred…?" Kanae murmured softly, her brows knitting together.
It didn't take long before she noticed a pattern.
Within each team, there seemed to be a key figure—someone akin to a leader. After each hunt, when the teams rested, these individuals would go to meet a particular person. Soon after, they would all gather around a campfire, sharing food, discussing problems, exchanging ideas…
And without exception, they all seemed to trust that one individual.
At that moment, Kanae began to understand.
Unlike last time—when Sabito had single-handedly slaughtered nearly all the demons, allowing many candidates to pass through sheer luck—this time, the change had come because of one person who had guided everyone into forming teams ahead of time.
And yet…
The Final Selection had existed for so long, and never before had such a scene appeared.
Even when teamwork did occur, it was usually limited to just one or two small groups at most.
"How did he manage to do this…?"
Suddenly—
A sharp, chilling killing intent slashed toward her from behind.
Kanae's expression tightened slightly. With a light tap of her foot against the branch, her body shifted gracefully as her haori fluttered in the air.
Crack!
The blade, cold and merciless, cleaved straight through the branch where she had just been standing, splitting it clean in two.
"Who's there?"
As she evaded the attack, Kanae lifted her gaze—and what she saw was a petite figure, along with a pair of striking pinkish-purple eyes.
The girl's expression was cold, her movements decisive. Without hesitation, she swung her blade a second time.
"That's rather impolite, you know…"
Kanae's voice was soft, warm as a spring breeze. With a slight tilt of her body, she effortlessly avoided the second strike. At the same time, her hand reached forward, aiming to seize the girl's sword hand.
But the girl seemed to have anticipated her move.
The instant Kanae extended her hand, the girl lifted her leg and kicked out sharply.
"What keen perception."
Kanae smoothly shifted from grabbing to blocking, catching the kick with her palm before lightly striking the girl's ankle. The girl staggered for a brief moment.
Yet in the very next instant, she regained her balance, raising her blade defensively—ready to launch another attack at any moment.
"Come back, Kanao."
A calm voice sounded.
At once, the girl's icy aura faded. With a swift movement, she retreated, returning to stand behind the man who had just risen to his feet.
Her blade was already sheathed.
Kanae descended lightly from the tree, her haori drifting in the night breeze. Meeting the man's gaze, she offered a slightly apologetic smile.
"Ah… my apologies. It seems I've disturbed you."
As she spoke, she unconsciously brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Under the moonlight, her face appeared especially gentle and beautiful.
The man paid her little attention at first. Instead, he crouched down to check Kanao Tsuyuri's ankle. Only after confirming there was no injury did he seem to relax slightly.
"She's… very strong. I couldn't beat her," Kanao muttered softly, her cheeks puffing just a little as she spoke to him.
"I know."
Soma patted her head gently before turning his gaze toward Kanae.
"Kanao sensed someone watching and mistook you for a demon—that's why she attacked."
"It's alright. I should be the one apologizing," Kanae replied gently. "I hope I didn't interrupt anything important?"
"Not really."
Soma smiled faintly and gestured toward the campfire beside him.
"Why not join us for a bite? Though I'm afraid there's nothing fancy here—no fine sake or delicacies. Just a few rice balls."
"As long as there are rice balls, that's already more than enough."
Kanae Kocho smiled gently as she stepped forward, seemingly unbothered by the earlier attack, as though it had never even happened.
The swordsmen gathered around the campfire had already risen to their feet. From the moment they noticed the haori she wore—a garment reserved only for the Hashira—they had begun to piece together her identity. The realization left them visibly tense.
Kanae looked at the young, nervous faces staring back at her. Though she herself was still young, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia, as if she had been transported back to when she had first stepped onto the path of demon slaying—just like these boys and girls before her.
"It seems everyone's a little nervous," she said with a soft laugh, bowing slightly. "But I'm really not that scary."
Her voice was gentle, warm like spring sunlight, and her easygoing tone carried a hint of playful teasing. Coupled with the complete lack of any imposing air one might expect from a Hashira, her presence quickly eased the tension around the fire.
"Everyone, have a seat," Soma said from the side.
So Kanae joined them, sitting together around the campfire.
Makomo stepped forward and handed her a steaming rice ball wrapped in a lotus leaf, along with a bamboo tube filled with clear water. Meanwhile, Soma added apologetically, "Our conditions are limited—just rice balls and water."
"That's already wonderful. I only hope no one minds if I eat a little more," Kanae replied softly, her tone light and teasing.
Her demeanor was graceful and composed, gentle yet refined—nothing like someone who had slain countless demons. If anything, she seemed more like a noble lady from a distinguished family.
"Why would we mind?" Soma chuckled. "We were just discussing team coordination. It feels like—"
"My name is Kanae Kocho. You can just call me Kanae," she interjected softly, as if noticing his hesitation over how to address her.
The moment her name was spoken, the group around the fire froze in shock.
They had all come to Mount Fujikasane with the goal of becoming demon slayers—how could they not know of the recently risen Flower Hashira, the only female swordsman to attain such a rank?
Beside them, Makomo gazed at Kanae with undisguised admiration. A female swordsman of such rarity and strength was truly something to behold.
After all, women were generally considered to be at a disadvantage in strength, stamina, and even composure compared to men. To rise, as a woman, to heights that many men could not reach… it was nothing short of extraordinary.
Under the weight of their reverent gazes, Kanae actually seemed a little embarrassed. She unconsciously reached up to smooth the loose strands of hair at her forehead.
Fortunately, Soma spoke up at that moment.
"So it's Miss Kanae," he said with a smile. "We were discussing team coordination. There are a few issues we haven't quite figured out yet, and I imagine you might have deeper insights. We'd really appreciate any guidance you can offer."
"It's a discussion for everyone," Kanae replied gently. "I only know a little more perhaps, but whatever I do know, I won't keep to myself."
And so, Soma resumed the earlier discussion with the group.
When it came to coordinating in demon-hunting teams, everyone was still in the early stages of experimentation. There were countless problems, and most of the time, they had to figure things out through trial and error. Even Soma himself wasn't particularly knowledgeable—he had simply been working through it together with the others, discussing and refining their approach step by step.
But Kanae was different.
As the Flower Hashira who had slain countless demons and led teams before, she was able to see straight to the heart of their issues. She pointed out the fundamental problems in their coordination with precision, corrected their mistakes, and offered suggestions that were not only insightful, but also highly practical and immediately applicable.
Everyone listened intently, absorbing her words while quietly reflecting on their own shortcomings and experiences.
As Kanae Kocho spoke, her gaze would occasionally drift toward Soma, who sat off to the side, calmly eating his rice ball. By now, she had more or less pieced it together—the unusual situation unfolding on Mount Fujikasane, where candidates had begun forming coordinated teams, likely stemmed from this very man.
It was difficult to imagine how he had managed it… or how he had earned the trust of so many people.
If it were her, Kanae felt, she wouldn't have been able to do the same.
…
The campfire crackled softly as it burned, and the group gathered around it continued to raise questions, each one met with Kanae's gentle and thoughtful answers. Despite being a powerful Hashira, her temperament was remarkably kind, her voice soothingly soft. In such a short time, she had already won over the hearts of the young swordsmen, filling them with admiration and respect.
Perhaps this was precisely why Shinobu Kocho sometimes found her sister a little frustrating—whenever Kanae was around, it always felt as though everyone gravitated toward her instead.
As Soma ate quietly, his gaze would occasionally rest on Kanae.
This graceful, gentle, and beautiful young woman… before long, she would encounter Doma, one of the Twelve Kizuki, and meet a cruel end at his hands.
And after her death, Shinobu—who had always been known for her serious and composed demeanor—would begin to imitate her sister's smile, trying to carry on her warmth and gentleness… only to ultimately meet the same fate, falling to Doma as well.
Thinking of that future, then looking at the girl before him—tall and slender, with delicate features, a gentle voice, and a kind disposition—Soma couldn't help but feel a faint sense of regret.
Though his gaze was subtle, Kanae, as a Hashira, possessed senses far sharper than someone like Makomo. It didn't take much for her to notice that the way Soma looked at her was different from the others.
In truth, she had sensed his difference from the very beginning.
…
When the others gradually dispersed, leaving only Soma and Kanao Tsuyuri by the fading campfire, Kanae stepped closer.
"It seems… you know quite a bit about me?"
She leaned in slightly, a sweet smile on her lips, her voice warm like sunlight. Combined with her gentle beauty, it was the kind of presence that naturally drew people in, making them feel at ease.
For an innocent young boy, such proximity might have been enough to send his heart racing.
But Soma remained completely unfazed.
Instead, he lifted his head and met her violet eyes directly.
They were standing very close—close enough to feel the warmth of each other's breath brushing lightly against their faces. From his angle, he could even see the delicate flutter of her long lashes above those striking purple eyes.
"Why would you say that?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of genuine curiosity.
Unexpectedly, it was Kanae who faltered.
A faint blush crept across her cheeks as she hurriedly stepped back, turning slightly as if to add more firewood to the campfire. For a moment, she didn't quite know how to respond—what had started as her question had somehow become her own dilemma.
...
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