Nezuko had never expected Hinaki Ubuyashiki to make such a decision. She was deeply shocked.
"Really, there's no need to…"
Nezuko still wanted to persuade her, but Hinaki shook her head. "Please don't say any more, Nezuko-neesan. Before I came here, I had already made up my mind. I will not change it."
The girl's tone was firm.
Nezuko didn't know how to handle the situation for a moment.
"Nezuko-neesan, is there a quiet room nearby?"
Hinaki asked softly.
"Yes, there is."
Nezuko nodded and led Hinaki over while asking, "What do you need a quiet room for? Are you tired and want to rest?"
"No, Nee-san."
Hinaki shook her head, her head slightly lowered. "I just need to change my clothes."
"Mm, you should change. The clothes you're wearing now are indeed a bit… But I still want to tell you, Hinaki, you really don't have to do this. Soma has already left, and you still have a long life ahead of you…"
"There's no need to say these things, Nezuko-neesan. The moment Mother betrothed me to Soma, I became his wife. I have already decided to follow him for the rest of my life."
Looking at the girl's pale little face and her expression of unwavering resolve, Nezuko was momentarily speechless.
Soon, they arrived at a quiet room. Hinaki pushed the door open and walked inside.
Nezuko stood at the doorway, hesitating. She hadn't expected Hinaki to go this far. What was she supposed to do now?
Before long, Hinaki came out after changing her clothes. She was wearing a bright, beautiful outfit meant for a bride on her wedding day. However, the size was slightly too large for her slender frame.
"This…"
Nezuko hadn't expected Hinaki to come out dressed like this.
This was the attire a bride would wear on her wedding day.
"Today is both Soma's funeral and my wedding. Please allow it, Nee-san."
Hinaki walked out and looked at Nezuko. She placed her hands on her abdomen and bowed deeply in request.
At that moment, Nezuko truly wanted to tell Hinaki the truth, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
...
When Hinaki Ubuyashiki walked out dressed in bridal attire, everyone was shocked. No one had expected her to do something like this.
When Amane Ubuyashiki and Kiriya Ubuyashiki arrived and saw the scene, they were momentarily speechless. Especially Amane, as her mother, wanted to stop her. But seeing her daughter's determination, she knew she ultimately could not change Hinaki's decision and could only give up in the end.
The funeral proceeded as scheduled.
Hinaki stayed in the mourning hall in the capacity of a newlywed wife. Whenever someone came to pay their respects, she would stand up, bow respectfully, and kneel together with them to offer their respects to Soma.
During this time, not only Nezuko but many others tried to dissuade her. Yet Hinaki remained firm in her decision.
Every person who came to pay their respects was shocked upon seeing this scene. At the same time, they felt admiration and respect. This was something ordinary people would likely never be able to do.
...
From the moment Hinaki heard the news of Soma's death until she arrived at Mount Sagiri, the journey had been exhausting. On top of that, her body had never been strong to begin with, and her heart was filled with grief. Her once-beautiful face had already turned deathly pale, completely devoid of color.
Every time someone came to pay their respects and she stood up to accompany them, her body would sway unsteadily.
Some people urged her to stop and rest, but Hinaki refused every time and continued to persevere.
...
Given Soma's influence within the Demon Slayer Corps, a great number of people came to pay their respects. Wave after wave arrived, with almost no pause.
As time passed, Hinaki's body grew increasingly unsteady. Her head felt heavier and more muddled, yet she still forced herself to continue.
Nezuko stayed by her side the entire time, watching Hinaki with a complicated expression.
...
At night, the number of people in the mourning hall gradually decreased.
The incense and candles in front of the hall continued to burn. Dressed in her bright wedding clothes, the girl knelt in front of the coffin, holding paper offerings as she burned them. Smoke curled gently in the air.
By now, Hinaki Ubuyashiki had been keeping vigil for three days and three nights straight. Aside from eating a little of the food Nezuko brought her, she had spent almost the entire time kneeling here.
Her head grew increasingly heavy and muddled along with her body.
Throughout the day, Hinaki kept having the illusion that Soma hadn't actually died. Several times, she even felt as if he was watching her.
Every time she raised her head and looked toward the coffin, the man inside still lay there silently with his eyes closed.
Dead people can't come back to life.
The girl looked at the man lying there quietly, her eyes filled with sorrow.
I really wish he truly hadn't died.
Hinaki felt a deep ache in her heart. She had once imagined so many futures with Soma. She had thought about how she would be a good wife and a proper lady after marrying him. She had imagined many aspects of their married life, even the arguments they might have in the future…
She had thought about so many things.
Yet she had never imagined it would end like this.
She didn't even know why she had chosen to do this. But the moment the thought appeared in her heart, she had acted on it.
She stood up. Her body swayed as she slowly walked to the front of the coffin and looked at the man lying inside.
He was completely still.
There was no sound at all.
In the past, whenever she saw Soma, he had always been so gentle. His eyes had always been so captivating. Every time those eyes looked at her, her heart would beat faster.
But now…
Those gentle, warm eyes that had once made her heart race were gone.
She felt as if her own heart had turned cold along with them.
Her heart felt completely empty.
I really wish you would open your eyes, Soma!
The girl reached out toward the coffin and touched the large hand resting inside.
It was cold. Ice-cold.
Just like her heart at this moment.
Hinaki knew she probably shouldn't be touching him right now. She shouldn't be disturbing him.
But she couldn't help it.
She wanted to hold his hand.
She wanted to see his gentle smile again.
She even wanted to lie down inside this coffin together with him.
"Why did you have to die?"
"Why did you die?!"
"You were the strongest swordsman."
"Weren't you supposed to be the most perfect demon?"
"Why did you die so easily?!"
Her small hand gripped the icy large hand. Hinaki's lips trembled slightly. There were so many things she wanted to say, yet nothing could come out. She could only keep screaming in her heart.
She had once looked forward to their future with so much hope.
She had looked forward to accompanying him…
She had dreamed of a beautiful life together in the future.
All of that beauty had been ended by a single swordsman named Yuko Nishimura.
"Why were you so useless?! How could you be killed by some insignificant swordsman when you were supposed to be the most perfect demon?!"
"Soma, you're really… such a bastard! How could you be so useless?!"
The girl buried her head against Soma's chest. In her ears, she could hear her own choked, sobbing voice. She desperately wanted to hear the sound of his heartbeat.
But there was nothing.
Perhaps the only comfort — or perhaps just an illusion — was that she could still feel a trace of warmth while lying in his embrace.