"So he really can't practice Sun Breathing… then perhaps Urokodaki-san can teach him Water Breathing instead."
Soma let out a quiet sigh.
He had truly hoped the boy could learn Sun Breathing. The sheer willpower he had shown was astonishing, and with that kind of determination, if he walked the path of a demon slayer, he might go very far.
"I'm afraid that may not be possible either."
Urokodaki Sakonji shook his head.
"I examined him yesterday. His physical condition is… quite poor, to put it lightly. I'm afraid even Water Breathing may be beyond him."
"He can't even learn Water Breathing?" Soma frowned.
"That's right. Water Breathing already has some of the lowest physical requirements among the Breathing styles, but even so, there are still standards that must be met—especially regarding the lungs. This child seems to have suffered some kind of serious trauma in the past, something that has limited his breathing capacity. And…" Urokodaki paused, his voice turning uncertain. "There's something else about him. Something… different from ordinary humans. I can't quite explain it, but it feels strange."
"If he can't learn a Breathing Style, then he can't fight demons." Soma lowered his voice.
"That means he was never meant to walk the path of a demon slayer."
"Yes…" Urokodaki sighed as well. "That child is clearly gifted for demon slaying. You can see it in him. But because of his body, he can't walk that road. It's a shame."
After a moment, he continued, his tone heavy.
"What I'm thinking about now is how to tell him once he's recovered. It's cruel, but there's no avoiding it. Still… perhaps it isn't entirely a bad thing. The path of demon slaying is a road of no return. If he can avoid stepping onto it, perhaps that is ultimately for the best."
"That's true."
Soma nodded, then asked, "By the way, Urokodaki-san, do you know this child's name?"
Yesterday, the boy's face had been smeared with blood, and Soma hadn't gotten a good look at him. But when he saw him again today, with the blood cleaned away, there was something strangely familiar about him.
Urokodaki thought for a moment before answering.
"Shinazugawa Genya."
"I thought so." Soma nodded in realization.
No wonder he had found the boy familiar.
This was Shinazugawa Sanemi's younger brother—the younger brother of the Wind Hashira.
And suddenly, everything made sense.
Even though Urokodaki had concluded Genya could not use Breathing Styles, that had always been true. Even in the future, Genya would still be unable to learn them.
"Urokodaki-san," Soma said after a pause, "are you planning to send Genya away after the Butterfly Mansion's physician arrives and treats him?"
"I have considered it."
"I think… you should let him stay."
Urokodaki looked at him.
"No matter what, at least give him a chance. Who knows—perhaps another path will appear in the future. Maybe…" Soma's eyes darkened with thought. "Maybe he can still become a demon slayer even without practicing Breathing Styles."
"Become a demon slayer without Breathing Styles?"
Urokodaki's brows drew together tightly.
He clearly didn't understand.
Without Breathing Styles, a human could never reach physical capabilities comparable to a demon's.
How could an ordinary person face monsters whose bodies were several times stronger than a human's?
How could they fight creatures that, aside from decapitation, were nearly impossible to kill?
How could such a person survive?
Soma answered with two simple words.
"For example… firearms."
Urokodaki immediately shook his head.
"I may not like firearms, but I can admit they are powerful weapons. Even a swordsman trained for years would struggle against one at a certain distance. But those are weapons for killing humans."
He looked at Soma seriously.
"When used against demons, they fall far short. Even if a bullet strikes a demon, it would do little more than wound it—and wounds mean almost nothing to demons. Once a demon closes the distance, when that child stands face-to-face with a monster several times stronger than himself… how would he deal with that?"
Soma was silent for a moment before finally saying,
"I haven't figured that out yet."
Of course, he couldn't exactly tell Urokodaki the truth.
He couldn't say that he knew Genya possessed the rare constitution of a "Demon Eater"—that by consuming demons, he could temporarily gain demonic power himself. That in the future, even without Breathing Styles, Genya would possess physical abilities equal to demons.
That secret could not be spoken.
At last, Urokodaki exhaled and waved the matter aside.
"Forget it. Let the Butterfly Mansion's physician come first and treat him. After that, we'll see."
His voice softened.
"I don't mind giving him guidance. If he wishes to learn, I will teach him with all my heart. But if, because of his physical limitations, he still cannot learn… then there is nothing anyone can do."
Seeing Soma remain firm in his belief, Urokodaki did not argue further.
"I'll speak to him about it when the time comes."
Soma nodded, then asked, "Should I start teaching these youths Sun Breathing today?"
Urokodaki shook his head. "Better to wait a little longer. I've observed the breathing rhythm of Sun Breathing myself, and it's… too overbearing. Take Takeo, for example—he practiced it for a period before, didn't he?"
"Yes."
Soma nodded.
"I could tell the child's throat had suffered some damage," Urokodaki continued. "His windpipe seemed irritated, likely scorched by the heat generated from practicing Sun Breathing."
"That's right. I noticed it back then as well, which is why I had him stop immediately."
"So my thought is to let these children improve their physical condition first. If their bodies become stronger, they'll have a better chance of enduring the violent energy Sun Breathing produces. And when the time comes, with a physician from the Butterfly Mansion nearby, any accidents can be handled at once."
"As expected, Urokodaki-san has thought of everything."
Soma said it sincerely, then asked with some curiosity, "By the way, which physician is the Butterfly Mansion sending this time?"
"It's Kocho Shinobu," Urokodaki replied. "A remarkably talented physician who has risen quickly within the Butterfly Mansion. Even severe injuries recover swiftly in her hands. And her elder sister is no ordinary person either—she has already become one of the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira."
Soma nodded, and before he could stop himself, muttered, "So it's the Hobbit… Kocho Shinobu."
"Hobbit?"
Urokodaki turned, clearly puzzled.
"I've never heard of such a people. Among the lesser-known ethnic groups I know of, there are the Ryukyuan people living around Okinawa, and the Ainu in Hokkaido. But Hobbits? That's a new one."
Soma blinked, then laughed awkwardly.
"I didn't expect Urokodaki-san to know so much."
"When I was younger, I traveled quite a bit," Urokodaki said with a small shake of his head. Then, still confused, he asked, "And where exactly do these Hobbits live?"
Soma coughed lightly.
"You misunderstand. I didn't mean it as an actual race. 'Hobbit' is… a local expression. A way of describing someone rather short."
"I see." Urokodaki nodded in realization.
"What a curious word." A voice suddenly drifted from behind them, carrying a tightly restrained anger.
"Really… such a wonderful word. Were you referring to me?"
Soma stiffened and turned.
A petite girl was walking toward them, a butterfly hairpin in her dark hair. Her steps were astonishingly light, almost soundless as they touched the ground.
She was delicate and refined, with long lashes, short hair styled in soft curls, and a small face drawn tight with displeasure. A medical case hung at her left side, while a Nichirin Sword rested at her right.
Kocho Shinobu.
The very "Hobbit" they had just been discussing.
Being caught mocking someone's height behind their back by the person herself…
Even Soma felt genuinely awkward.
Shinobu approached first and gave Urokodaki, still wearing his tengu mask, a respectful bow.
"My greetings, Urokodaki-san."
Then she turned.
Her beautiful violet eyes landed on the man who had been speaking ill of her.
He was tall—far taller than most people here, towering over her to an almost ridiculous degree. Standing before him, she could feel an inexplicable pressure.
And… annoyingly, he was handsome.
Very handsome.
Which somehow made him even more irritating.
"As a man," Shinobu said, staring directly at Soma, her tone sharp and far from friendly, "do you enjoy gossiping behind others' backs like some resentful housewife? Why doesn't this very tall swordsman put the energy he spends wagging his tongue into slaying demons instead?"
Soma gave a sheepish smile.
"My apologies. I didn't mean any harm."
"Is that so?"
Shinobu kept her eyes fixed on him, her expression utterly serious.
"Well, I do hope you never get injured."
There was something disturbingly gentle in her voice now.
"Because if you do, I may not be able to help giving you… some extra treatment."
Her smile deepened.
"A few more injections than necessary, perhaps. Or maybe a little more saltwater in the wound when disinfecting…"
She paused just long enough for the threat to settle in.
And somehow, despite the sweetness in her voice, it sounded terrifying.
As she spoke, the girl narrowed her eyes at him and asked, "What do you think?"
Soma gave a helpless shrug. "It doesn't sound particularly pleasant."
Then, with genuine resignation, he added, "What would it take for you to let this go? You know I didn't mean it."
Shinobu looked him up and down before asking in return, "Is being tall something to be proud of?"
Soma was momentarily speechless.
So there was no escaping this topic after all.
When a woman held a grudge over something small, it could be surprisingly terrifying.
Beside them, Urokodaki Sakonji had already quietly slipped away. Faced with a woman this aggressively poised for battle, he had clearly decided it was wiser not to remain long enough for the flames to spread to him as well. He knew very well that Kocho Shinobu possessed none of her elder sister's gentle temperament.
If anything, the two sisters were opposites.
One was warm as spring sunlight.
The other was like a sword drawn from its sheath, all sharp edges and exposed steel.
It was hard to believe two people with such utterly different personalities could be sisters.
"I really am sorry about what I said."
Soma could only apologize again.
Shinobu said nothing. Her delicate face remained expressionless, her gaze fixed on him without the slightest softening.
Feeling the atmosphere grow stiffer by the second, Soma could only forcefully change the subject.
"I think… treating the wounded should be more important right now."
Shinobu continued studying him through narrowed eyes. Only after a long moment did she finally speak.
"Take me to the patient."
Soma quietly let out a breath of relief and immediately led the way.
Before long, they arrived at a small room nearby, where Shinazugawa Genya was recovering.
Standing beside the bed and looking at the injured boy, Shinobu instinctively thought of the Wind Hashira—the same man who, before she had left the Butterfly Mansion, had dared lecture her sister with such self-righteous arrogance.
Looking at Genya, she could vaguely see traces of Shinazugawa Sanemi in his features.
And somehow, that made him irritating too.
"What is his name?"
Shinobu stepped forward, took Genya's pulse, then lifted her head and asked in a calm voice.
"Shinazugawa Genya," Soma answered.
At the name, Shinobu's eyes shifted slightly.
"And what is Shinazugawa Sanemi to you?"
There was a faint edge in her tone when she asked.
"My brother."
The moment his brother's name was spoken, Genya—who had only just calmed down—suddenly pushed himself upright in bed, staring at Shinobu with fierce intensity.
Shinobu ignored his gaze and asked evenly, "You intend to follow your brother into demon slaying as well?"
She paused, then continued, "To walk the path of slaying demons at his side?"
"Yes."
The answer came almost shouted, immediate and absolute.
Shinobu suddenly laughed.
A soft laugh—but one carrying unmistakable mockery.
She truly couldn't understand what gave the Wind Hashira the right to preach so grandly to her sister at the Butterfly Mansion.
His own younger brother wanted to walk the exact same bloody road.
So what right did he have to criticize her sister?
How she wished the Wind Hashira were here now.
She would have loved for him to see his precious little brother with his own eyes.
"Shall I send word for your brother to come?"
Shinobu narrowed her eyes, almost eager to see what expression that hot-tempered man—who had dared point fingers at her sister—would wear if he appeared here.
Genya's face instantly lit with emotion.
For a moment, it was obvious he desperately wanted to see his brother.
But after a long pause, he forced that excitement down.
"Not yet."
Then he lowered his voice, and when he spoke again, the words came heavy with stubborn pride and pain.
"I can't slay demons yet."
His fingers tightened against the bedding.
"And until I can… I'm not worthy of being my brother's younger brother."
...
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