Aoyama had been staying at the Butterfly Estate for quite some time now.
With the Hashira constantly pestering him for information about Muzan Kibutsuji, he hadn't had the chance to properly explore the place.
Today, however—
No one came looking for him.
Perfect.
He decided to finally take a proper walk around the estate.
As he passed by the infirmary, Zenitsu's wailing echoed from inside.
No need to guess.
Either he was being beaten—
Or on his way to being beaten.
Aoyama continued down a quiet path, eventually arriving at what looked like a small garden.
In the center of the open space stood a girl.
Black hair with pink-tinted tips, tied into a single ponytail.
Purple eyes.
A green butterfly hairpin edged in pink resting above her temple.
White boots.
A pale cloak fastened with a pink ribbon.
Just from the hairpin alone, Aoyama already knew who she was.
Kanao Tsuyuri.
She had been at Natagumo Mountain as well, but Shinobu had ordered her to pursue Tanjiro and Nezuko. At the time, Aoyama had been holding Shinobu back so Giyu could assist.
They had never truly met.
Aoyama stood quietly, observing her.
Butterflies circled gently around her, some resting on her shoulders and fingers.
She stood completely still.
Then—
Kanao lifted her head.
Her purple eyes met his.
The butterfly perched on her finger fluttered softly but did not leave.
"I'm—"
Aoyama began to introduce himself.
"Aoyama."
Her voice was soft.
She spoke before he could finish.
"You know me?"
He was genuinely surprised.
This was their first real meeting.
At Final Selection, they had barely crossed paths.
He knew of her—
But she had no reason to know him.
And from what he understood, Kanao rarely spoke on her own.
Yet she had just said his name.
She knew because for days now, the estate attendants had been whispering about one person—
Aoyama.
Everyone in the Butterfly Estate, she had seen before.
Except him.
"Yes. I'm Aoyama. And you're Kanao."
He stepped closer.
Kanao blinked.
The faintest curve touched her lips.
Her finger shifted slightly, and the butterfly finally took flight.
"No mission?"
She asked softly.
He understood.
If there was no demon-slaying assignment, she simply stood here.
He nodded.
"Would you like to visit the marketplace outside?"
For a fleeting second, something changed in her expression.
Then she slowly shook her head.
Her past—
Sold by her parents.
Abused by traffickers.
The outside world left scars that never fully healed.
If there was no mission, she preferred to remain within the Butterfly Estate.
As Shinobu's Tsuguko, she trained hard.
But unlike Shinobu, she rarely spoke.
Sometimes days would pass without a single word.
People unfamiliar with her assumed she couldn't talk.
That quietness—
Made one's heart ache.
"Then… would you like to walk around the estate with me?"
Aoyama tried again.
If she refused, he would simply ask another time.
Instead of answering, Kanao reached into her pocket and pulled out a coin.
She tossed it into the air.
It spun.
Fell.
She caught it.
Heads.
Aoyama blinked.
Ah.
The coin.
She used it whenever she couldn't decide.
"Okay."
A small smile appeared.
Aoyama suddenly laughed.
"You even use a coin for something like this?"
The humor faded from his face.
His gaze turned serious.
"You don't have to do that."
He gently took the coin from her hand.
"A coin can't decide your life for you. When you face a choice, listen to what your heart says. Don't immediately look for this."
He closed his fingers around the coin.
"I'll hold onto it for today."
Then he turned to leave—
Only to feel a small hand grasp his sleeve.
He looked back.
Kanao stared at him.
Her purple eyes trembled faintly.
Few people had ever told her something like that.
All her life—
She obeyed orders.
Or flipped a coin.
And now—
This person, whom she had just met, had broken that pattern.
"Want your coin back?" he teased.
Ten silent seconds passed.
She shook her head.
"I want to walk around the Butterfly Estate… together."
This time—
The decision wasn't made by the coin.
It was her own.
Maybe this person—
Was different.
From afar, Shinobu Kocho stepped out of the infirmary and spotted them.
Kanao walking beside Aoyama.
Listening.
Even smiling faintly.
Shinobu's lips curved.
What kind of magic did this boy possess—
To make a girl who rarely spoke willingly walk and talk with him?
As they eventually parted ways, Kanao hesitated.
"I…"
Aoyama instinctively reached for the coin.
She shook her head quickly.
He waited patiently.
A faint blush colored her cheeks.
"Would you… like to train together tomorrow?"
Ah.
That was it.
He smiled and nodded.
"Of course."
He, too, wanted to see the Flower Breathing derived from Water Breathing.
And how powerful it truly was.
For the first time—
The butterflies in the garden seemed to flutter just a little brighter.
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