Several days later, early morning.
Knock knock—
The sound of knocking came just as Aoyama opened his eyes. The faint system notification in his ears faded away.
He rose from bed and opened the door.
Standing outside was Kyojuro Rengoku alone.
No other Hashira.
Aoyama subtly exhaled in relief.
Thankfully it wasn't the entire group again.
Over the past few days—aside from Giyu Tomioka visiting once—almost every other Hashira had taken turns stopping by, all fishing for information about Muzan Kibutsuji.
Today, only Rengoku had come.
That alone felt rare.
Rengoku raised a hand in greeting, smiling brightly.
"Haha! Aoyama! The weather is splendid today! Would you like to visit my estate?"
Before Aoyama could answer—
A familiar voice chimed in behind Rengoku.
"Rengoku-san, are you trying to sneak Aoyama-kun away by yourself?"
Shinobu Kocho appeared, gently patting Rengoku's shoulder.
Rengoku turned, laughing heartily.
"Kocho! You've kept Aoyama here at the Butterfly Estate—are you planning to make him your Tsuguko?"
Rengoku was never one for subtlety.
Shinobu had cared for injured Tanjiro and allowed the uninjured Aoyama to stay. It wasn't strange for Rengoku to suspect she had intentions of taking him as a successor.
Aoyama's expression immediately turned complicated.
Tsuguko?
Absolutely not.
That had never once entered his considerations.
Shinobu covered her mouth and giggled.
"Rengoku-san, you're teasing. Look, Aoyama-kun's expression changed."
"Hahaha!"
Rengoku's laughter rang like a bell.
Aoyama ultimately agreed to the invitation and followed him out.
Behind them, Shinobu remained standing in place, her expression thoughtful.
A butterfly fluttered down and settled lightly on her shoulder.
Aoyama had assumed Rengoku invited him for another duel.
He was wrong.
Under a romantic canopy of blooming cherry blossoms—
Sat not elegant maidens—
But a gathering of burly men.
A whole cluster of them.
Aoyama stopped walking.
He briefly considered turning around and heading back to the Butterfly Estate.
Beneath the sakura tree sat every male Hashira except Shinobu and Mitsuri.
Giyu was conspicuously absent—clearly left out.
The concentration of male pride and testosterone here was overwhelming.
Rengoku gave Aoyama a hearty shove forward.
"Aoyama! Today we shall have a true man-to-man exchange! Hahaha! Surely then you'll share what you know about Muzan!"
Ah.
So that was it.
The wine wasn't the real purpose.
Aoyama swallowed back the urge to curse.
Even if they pressed him dry, he had little useful information to offer about Muzan.
Frankly, this "manly conversation" felt pointless.
As Zenitsu would say—
What's the meaning of conversation without cute girls?
Today, Sanemi Shinazugawa looked particularly different.
Because his hair had been shaved nearly bald at the top, he now wore a diamond-studded headband—courtesy of Tengen Uzui.
The result was…
Strangely comedic.
Sanemi noticed Aoyama's gaze and lowered his head, downing sake to avoid eye contact.
He was already regretting accepting Uzui's "gift."
Uzui, however, grinned proudly.
"Another flamboyant day! And today's Sanemi is even more flamboyant! Wahahaha!"
That did it.
Sanemi's face flushed red.
He ripped the headband off and slammed it onto the table.
"I don't need this crap! My hair will grow back!"
Uzui's expression darkened.
That headband was a token of his flamboyance.
To have it rejected?
Unforgivable.
Nearby, Gyomei Himejima paused while stroking a cat in his lap, tears streaming down his face.
"Ah… angry men. Shall there be a duel?"
Aoyama blinked.
Was he instigating?
Then he smiled faintly and poured himself a cup of sake.
An Uzui versus Sanemi duel?
That would be entertaining.
Just as hands drifted toward sword hilts—
Rengoku stepped between them.
"Have you forgotten why we gathered?"
His eyes landed squarely on Aoyama.
Aoyama calmly sipped his sake.
"I thought today's purpose was drinking and admiring cherry blossoms."
He gestured toward the petals overhead.
Rather than interrogating him endlessly about Muzan, perhaps they should go out hunting.
They might stumble upon a Twelve Kizuki before they ever find Muzan.
At the thought of Muzan, Aoyama's gaze sharpened.
That ambush would be repaid.
Sooner or later.
"—Tch."
A soft scoff came from Obanai Iguro.
Following his gaze—
There stood Giyu Tomioka.
Uninvited.
Unbothered.
Proof that Giyu had indeed been excluded.
The temperature under the cherry blossoms seemed to drop several degrees.
The first to stand and leave was Obanai.
He and Giyu had never seen eye to eye.
Next left Sanemi and Uzui—still annoyed over the headband dispute.
"Message! Message! Rengoku Kyojuro is to report to Master Ubuyashiki immediately!"
A crow landed on the cherry tree, calling loudly.
Rengoku stood at once.
"A mission awaits!"
He departed without hesitation.
Gyomei rose as well, tears flowing.
"Ah… another life taken by demons. I must pray."
Muichiro Tokito, who had been quietly staring at fallen petals, looked up, realized most had gone, and drifted away without a word.
Within moments—
The lively gathering dissolved.
Under the cherry blossoms remained only two figures.
Aoyama.
And Giyu Tomioka.
They sat facing each other.
Silent.
Awkward.
Very awkward.
To Read 130+ advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146