"Love Breathing, First Form: Shivers of First Love!"
In the darkness, the thin blade flashed like a living thing, supple and fluid as it swept through the night and sliced across the demon's hardened neck.
Slash.
The demon's head fell to the ground.
Blood sprayed into the air.
Kanroji Mitsuri, drenched in blood, dropped to one knee, her chest rising and falling violently with each breath. Even the sturdy fabric of her uniform looked as though it might burst under the strain of her overly generous curves.
"Hah…"
She exhaled shakily, still trying to steady her breathing.
"Finally… I finally killed it."
Cool moonlight spilled over her flushed cheeks, illuminating her soft features. Her large pale-green eyes, each marked by a beauty mark near the corner, seemed brighter in the night. Her hair, pink at its roots and fading to grass green at the ends, was braided into three long plaits—two falling over her shoulders, one trailing down her back.
And of course, the most striking thing about her was impossible to ignore.
It was hard to imagine how such a slender waist could support such an astonishing figure, harder still to believe it somehow did not hinder her movements in battle.
Then, gradually, a foul stench spread through the air—the sickening odor left behind when a demon died.
Mitsuri pushed herself to her feet, only to suddenly wince.
Pain stabbed through her waist.
Looking down, she saw her clothing there had been torn open. During the fight, the demon's sharp claws had raked across her side, leaving a deep wound.
Silently, she pressed a hand against it.
Then she turned and looked toward the corner.
The man and woman she had saved were still huddled together, trembling in fear. Their terror of the demon still lingered plainly on their faces, but even so, the man continued holding his wife tightly, shielding her with his own body.
"Eat me instead… just eat me…"
His earlier sobbing plea seemed to echo in Mitsuri's mind.
"Please, don't eat my wife… please…"
Even though he had been terrified, even though his whole body had been shaking, he had still held onto her without letting go.
And seeing that…
Mitsuri felt her heart suddenly beat faster.
It always happened whenever she witnessed sincere, genuine affection.
It made her chest flutter.
"It's alright now," she said softly. "Everything's alright."
Then she waited patiently.
As the silence settled and the danger truly seemed gone, the couple slowly lifted their heads.
The monster…
The horrible demon…
It was dead.
Its severed head lay nearby, and at some point, a powerful swordswoman had appeared from nowhere, slain the demon, and saved them.
"The demon… the demon is dead…"
The woman spoke in a trembling voice.
"It really is dead…"
The man's face lit up with disbelief and joy. Then he turned to Mitsuri, his eyes overflowing with gratitude.
"Thank you… truly, thank you. Thank you for saving my wife."
"It's nothing."
Mitsuri waved her hand dismissively.
"Slaying demons and protecting people is what we of the Demon Slayer Corps are supposed to do."
But as she moved, the blood staining her waist became visible.
"My lady, you... you're injured!"
The man stared in alarm.
"It's no—"
Mitsuri had been about to say it was nothing, not to worry, but the rescued woman had already rushed forward, her face full of guilt and grief, pressing her hands over Mitsuri's wound.
"I'm so sorry, so sorry! You were hurt because you saved us…"
Tears streamed down the woman's face.
"Thank you… we don't even know how to repay our savior…"
The man lowered his head again and again, bowing repeatedly in thanks.
Faced with such sincere gratitude, Mitsuri became visibly flustered.
"Ehh... please don't worry about it," she said hurriedly, almost panicking. "It's nothing, really, it doesn't matter at all. I'm sorry if I frightened you. More importantly… the fact that you're both safe…"
Her eyes softened.
"That alone makes me so happy."
Hearing this, the man's eyes filled with tears.
"My lady… you're incredible."
His voice shook with emotion.
"We were so scared we couldn't even stand, yet you were brave enough to fight such a cruel monster..."
Mitsuri immediately shook her head, embarrassed. "I'm not that amazing…"
Being praised like that only made Kanroji Mitsuri more embarrassed.
"No, really… thank you so much," the man said, his voice still trembling with emotion. "If you hadn't appeared, I was so afraid Yeko would have been eaten by that horrible demon."
"I was just as worried about you," said the woman called Yeko, turning to look at the man she loved.
Mitsuri's heart softened at the sight.
Then—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Footsteps sounded through the night.
The couple instantly stiffened, shrinking back in terror, clearly thinking another demon had come.
"It's the Kakushi," Mitsuri said gently to reassure them. "There's no need to be afraid."
Only then did the couple relax.
Soon, three or four members of the Kakushi approached cautiously. Only after seeing the demon's remains did they finally let down their guard.
One of them stepped forward and bowed respectfully before Mitsuri.
"My lady."
"Take these two somewhere safe," Mitsuri instructed.
"Yes."
At once, two Kakushi members began escorting the couple away.
Mitsuri remained standing where she was, watching as the man and woman supported one another and slowly disappeared into the darkness.
Only after their figures were completely gone did she lift a hand and press it lightly against the left side of her chest.
Her heart was pounding.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Violently.
She envied them.
The man had been timid, weak, frightened—
And yet, at the edge of life and death, he had still found the courage to hold the woman he loved in his arms and protect her.
Mitsuri lowered her gaze, and a quiet longing stirred inside her.
She wished…
Someday, she too might have a strong husband who would protect her.
But as soon as that thought came, memories of her failed matchmaking meetings surfaced, and her eyes dimmed slightly.
"My lady, you're injured." A Kakushi approached, concern written plainly on his face.
"We should take you for treatment."
"It's unnecessary," Mitsuri said, shaking her head. "It's only a minor wound."
Then, after a pause, she asked softly,
"Where is Rengoku-san?"
"Lord Rengoku was pursuing another demon, though we don't know wheth—"
"That wicked demon has already been slain!"
Before the Kakushi could finish, a bright, hearty voice rang out together with approaching footsteps.
A man walked toward them, carrying a child in his arms.
He had yellow hair, thick dark brows, eyes burning with spirit, and over his shoulders hung a haori patterned like flames.
The child in his arms was giggling happily, clearly fond of the cheerful young man.
It was none other than the newly appointed Flame Hashira—
Rengoku Kyojuro.
"Greetings, Rengoku-san." Mitsuri immediately moved to bow, but Rengoku stopped her at once.
"You appear rather badly injured. You should receive treatment."
"It's really not that serious…" Mitsuri said in a small voice, feeling she could endure it.
"Go be treated," Rengoku said firmly, though still smiling. "We've been unable to track the demon wielding firearms for some time. You can return after you've recovered. It changes nothing."
Then his smile widened.
"And Miss Shinobu's medical skills are exceptional. Haven't you said several times that you wanted to meet her? This is a good chance to see your friend as well."
"I…"
Mitsuri opened her mouth, still wanting to refuse.
But before she could, Rengoku had already instructed two Kakushi to bring over a stretcher.
In the end, under Rengoku Kyojuro's unwavering gaze, Kanroji Mitsuri had no choice but to give in and allow the Kakushi to carry her away on a stretcher.
…
Lying on the stretcher, Mitsuri felt the wound at her waist throb with sharp, difficult pain every time the stretcher jolted. Each bump sent another wave of agony through her side, but she merely pressed her lips together and endured it in silence.
"I'm terribly sorry, Lady Mitsuri. We can't keep our steps any steadier."
One of the Kakushi seemed to notice her suppressing the pain and spoke while carrying the stretcher, his voice full of guilt.
"It's alright," Mitsuri said softly. "I'm the one causing trouble for all of you."
"Please don't say that, Lady Mitsuri. Being able to help you is no trouble at all. It's an honor."
There was nothing false in his voice, only sincere reverence.
"If I had the talent to become a swordsman, I truly would have wanted to walk the path of slaying demons just as you do. But I don't possess that gift. So being able to do even this for all of you… it means a great deal to me."
Hearing such heartfelt admiration made Mitsuri's heart begin racing again.
Unlike many swordsmen, who joined the Demon Slayer Corps to eradicate demons and protect humanity, her own reason for joining had been… embarrassingly frivolous.
She had entered the Corps hoping to find a husband she could rely on for life.
And every time someone thanked her.
Every time someone praised her.
She felt ashamed of that shallow reason.
And yet…
She truly loved being here.
She loved being part of the Demon Slayer Corps.
And she still believed that here, among these people, she might find someone she could love—someone who would love her in return.
Someone strong.
Someone who would let her lean against him like a little girl.
At the thought, her heart beat even faster.
She longed so much to find someone she loved… someone who would not dislike her, would not reject her for her enormous appetite.
"Lady Mitsuri, the carriage is just ahead," one of the Kakushi said quietly. "Once we reach it, the journey will be much easier. Then we can take you straight to the Butterfly Mansion for treatment."
"Mm."
Mitsuri nodded, but her thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
To the girl she had first met at the Butterfly Mansion.
Her first female friend within the Demon Slayer Corps.
A beautiful girl.
Skin white as snow.
Clear violet eyes.
A slender, delicate figure.
Strong and intelligent.
Cute, yet serious.
That had been Mitsuri's first impression of Shinobu.
And just thinking that she would soon see Miss Shinobu again made her wound seem to hurt less.
If only she could get along with Miss Shinobu even more warmly… if only they could chat together often…
That would be wonderful.
Recently, Mitsuri had quietly asked around and learned more about Shinobu's past.
And when she heard some of the sorrow Shinobu had endured…
Her mind had gone blank.
She had been unable to think.
She simply could not imagine someone as lovely and adorable as Shinobu having suffered something so tragic—watching her own parents be killed by a demon before her eyes.
Just imagining it made Mitsuri's chest ache.
She wanted, somehow, to share that pain for her.
…
"I really can't wait to see Miss Shinobu…"
By the time Mitsuri was settled inside the carriage, her thoughts were already painting scenes of their reunion.
Surely Shinobu would be busy treating the wounded, moving about with her usual capable seriousness.
And when it was finally her turn…
Mitsuri could tell her that this time, she had personally severed a demon's head.
Surely Miss Shinobu would be happy to hear that.
After all, Mitsuri remembered well—
What Shinobu liked most was hearing news of how many demon heads had been cut down.
Whenever such news arrived, Shinobu—whose face was so often taut with tension—would, on those rare occasions, smile.
And that smile…
It was truly enchanting.
Thinking of Shinobu, Mitsuri narrowed her eyes with quiet happiness.
The carriage began to move, leaving the trees on either side farther and farther behind. A soft breeze drifted through, and the rustling of leaves—sha… sha…—filled the night.