The training grounds were wide and empty.
Aoyama arrived right on time.
At the center of the field stood Kanao Tsuyuri.
The moment she lifted her violet eyes—
Aoyama felt it.
Pressure.
Kanao might not be a Hashira, but her strength was absolutely not something to take lightly.
She slowly drew her Nichirin Blade.
The blade shimmered in pale pink.
Holding it upright between her eyes, her gaze locked onto him.
Only then did Aoyama realize—
Her idea of "training together" was very different from his.
A gust of wind rushed toward him.
In the blink of an eye, Kanao was already charging.
Fast.
So fast that Aoyama had to sidestep instantly while drawing his own blade.
Clang—
Their swords collided.
A brief pause.
Then Kanao leapt back, creating distance.
Aoyama's lips curved slightly.
Her style flowed seamlessly—attack, defend, retreat.
Clean. Precise.
Her agility was astonishing.
Like a cat.
Gentle on the surface—
But hiding razor-sharp claws.
Her violet eyes remained fixed on him.
Those two consecutive strikes earlier—
Dodged and blocked.
"Kanao-chan," Aoyama said lightly, "my turn now. Be careful."
As he moved, his body followed his voice.
The moment his blade swung—
Kanao flipped out of range effortlessly.
"Total Concentration! Flower Breathing! Fifth Form—Peonies of Futility!"
Having withdrawn, she launched nine consecutive strikes from all directions, each targeting the same point like layered petals.
Aoyama's expression tightened.
He hurried to counter.
And suddenly—
He understood.
He had overlooked something crucial.
Tanjiro had his sense of smell.
Zenitsu had extraordinary hearing.
Inosuke had enhanced touch.
Kanao—
Had exceptional vision.
She wasn't merely fast.
She was predicting him.
Every movement, every shift—
She read them.
As her blade thrust toward him, Aoyama bent backward sharply, barely avoiding the strike.
"Total Concentration! Light Breathing! Third Form—Dance of Light!"
His unique footwork unfolded.
The movement neutralized her attack while gradually pressing forward, forcing her back step by step.
By deliberately altering his rhythm and masking his intent, he disrupted her predictions.
Soon, Aoyama gained the upper hand.
Kanao shifted into defensive strikes.
Then—
Aoyama leapt into the air.
Below him, Kanao's eyes sharpened instantly.
This was her chance.
She adjusted her blade's trajectory.
"Total Concentration! Flower Breathing! Fourth Form—Crimson Hanagoromo!"
She launched upward.
Two crescent slashes cut through the air.
Just a little closer—
Just one inch more—
Her blade would touch his neck.
Victory.
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on her usually calm face.
And in Aoyama's eyes—
A flash of light.
He had baited her.
He had intentionally leapt, knowing she would predict a downward strike.
But that wasn't his real move.
At the very instant her blade was about to connect—
"Light Breathing! First Form—Modified Flash!"
With explosive speed, he shot downward instead.
Simultaneously, he grabbed the edge of her haori and pulled her with him.
"Ah—!"
A startled cry escaped her lips.
Only then did it occur to him—
She was a girl.
He couldn't just slam her into the ground.
He wrapped an arm around her waist and twisted midair—
Taking the fall himself.
Thud—
A dull impact.
Aoyama hit the ground first.
Kanao landed on top of him, face buried against his chest.
He coughed lightly.
"Ahem…"
"Well now~ what's going on here?"
From Aoyama's angle, Shinobu Kocho appeared upside down in his vision.
Her tone sounded normal—
But beneath it lingered danger.
When had she arrived?
He glanced at himself.
His arms around Kanao's waist.
Kanao pressed against him.
Intimate.
Yes. That word fit.
Kanao slowly lifted her head.
Her cheeks were flushed crimson.
Without a word, she stood, grabbed her blade—
And fled the training ground.
Shinobu calmly walked over and sat cross-legged nearby.
Smiling.
Coldly.
Aoyama sat up, rubbing his sore back and scratching his head.
What was he supposed to say?
"It's a misunderstanding"?
Why would he be guilty?
It was a misunderstanding!
"Any time is a good time for training," he said lightly. "It's a training ground after all."
Shinobu shook a finger.
"No~ Aoyama-kun. That's not quite right."
She didn't ask directly.
She waited for him to explain.
Smart.
Very smart.
"Shinobu," he smiled, "do you want to train with me too?"
The word too slipped out naturally.
Shinobu's eyes softened.
She stood, hands clasped behind her back, leaning forward slightly.
"Not today. Next time."
That single word—too—had erased the doubt in her heart.
And perhaps something else.
As she left, Aoyama exhaled deeply.
Then froze.
He had forgotten something important—
Something he meant to tell Kanao.
He hurried off to find her.
But after searching the Butterfly Estate—
She was nowhere to be seen.
Stopping a cleaning attendant, he asked,
"Have you seen Kanao Tsuyuri?"
The attendant bowed quickly.
"Aoyama-sama! Lady Kanao just received orders and departed on a mission."
Too late.
He had missed her.
Next time.
He would tell her next time.
With that thought, Aoyama turned and walked away from her quarters.
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