Returning to the real world~
It was still that pitch-black cinema hall. By atomizing his blood into that air conditioning unit, Enmu had successfully made all the humans in the cinema hall ingest his blood, and through this activated his Blood Demon Art, forcibly plunging everyone in the hall into dreams.
This naturally included Kanae and Kyojuro.
Still sitting in her own seat, Mitsuba turned to look at Kanae beside her, who was sleeping deeply with a happy smile, somewhat puzzled.
"Who knows what good dream this girl is having, smiling so happily..."
Although she really wanted to personally enter Kanae's dream to see, considering she still had things to do next, Mitsuba dismissed this thought.
At present, all the humans in the cinema hall, including Akaza who had not resisted, had already fallen into deep sleep.
Mitsuba stood up and walked straight toward Akaza. She extended her index finger, directly inserting it into Akaza's brain, gently stirring twice.
"Yes, this should do it."
Akaza's amnesia originated from when he had first become a demon—Mitsuba had done something to his brain.
Wanting to lift this amnesia was actually very simple. One only needed to destroy Akaza's brain once, allowing his brain to recover to its original state on its own.
Though the method was simple, because of Akaza's exceptional strength himself, in the past three hundred-plus years, no Demon Slayer had ever been able to accomplish this.
And Akaza himself would never be so idle as to shatter his own brain.
Thus, Akaza had lived for over three hundred years with a brain that Mitsuba had tampered with, having lost his memories.
But now, this restriction had been lifted.
As the brain that Mitsuba had just destroyed gradually recovered, Akaza's originally sealed memories would also return to his mind, rapidly permeating into his current dream.
He would, in the form of a dream, together with Koyuki beside him, recall the events of that small town from over three hundred years ago.
[Good luck, poor little one.]
Looking down at Akaza who was still sleeping, gently holding Koyuki's hand, Mitsuba said softly in her heart.
"My Lady."
Behind her, Enmu suddenly appeared, respectfully bowing slightly to her.
"May I ask what else you require of this subordinate next?"
"Next, hmm..."
Mitsuba raised her hand to stroke her chin, thinking seriously.
"I recall you said before, Enmu, that your Blood Demon Art can excavate the deepest emotions hidden in people's hearts.
Allowing them in their dreams to go to the place their subconscious most wants to visit, to see the person they most want to see?"
"Yes, My Lady."
"In that case, use it on me too."
Mitsuba snapped her fingers, speaking with a smile.
"I'm also quite curious—just where is the place my heart most wants to go?"
"No problem, My Lady."
To this sudden request from Mitsuba, Enmu agreed very obediently. He didn't even ask how to handle the two Demon Slayers in the cinema hall.
As Lower Rank Two who deeply understood "Twelve Kizuki Workplace Survival Studies," Enmu couldn't possibly ask such a foolish question.
In fact, from the moment Mitsuba appeared in this cinema hall, he had already understood that all his actions and plans for tonight should be canceled.
From now on, everything that happened in this cinema hall would be decided by this Upper Rank One.
As for him?
He only needed to cooperate.
His mission tonight had already changed from "find a way to kill a Hashira" to "do everything possible to satisfy this Lady's every request."
Anything else no longer required his attention.
Enmu knew very well—as long as he did this well, satisfying this Upper Rank One's interests.
Even if he didn't kill a single Demon Slayer tonight, he would definitely be able to avoid the risk of being "laid off."
After all, power was always something held by specific people.
Since Upper Rank One could dissolve the Lower Ranks with a single sentence, she could naturally also fish him back with another sentence.
Everything followed her whim.
Did you really think this Lady cared about the lives of a few Demon Slayers?
Even if they were Hashira, to this Lady, they were merely trash that could be destroyed with a casual wave of her hand~
As long as this Lady was happy, he would definitely survive tonight. As for everything else, he didn't need to care about any of it~
Enmu truly understood the workplace.
Thus, Mitsuba, full of curiosity, sat back down in her seat. She closed her eyes and, following the guidance of Enmu's Blood Demon Art, slowly sank into dream.
Just what place would she dream of?
The Tsugikuni household? That small town's dojo? Her residence in Tokyo? Or the apartment where Shinobu lived?
In her long past of over four hundred years, just what place was the one her subconscious most wanted to visit?
Mitsuba was quite curious.
Thus, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Rice cakes~ Fresh and delicious rice cakes~"
"Hey! Miss! Come play my goldfish scooping game! One net for just one mon!"
"Keep going, young man! You'll definitely get that bracelet soon!"
As Mitsuba opened her eyes, the originally silent dream quickly came alive.
All around was bustling noise. Under the dark night, Mitsuba discovered she had arrived in a rather familiar town.
Colorful lanterns hung on both sides of the streets. Under the brilliant lights, crowds of laughing people could be seen everywhere.
[Where... is this?]
A strange sensation suddenly came to her cheek. Mitsuba subconsciously raised her hand and discovered she was actually wearing a mask.
A fox mask of Inari.
Her body swayed slightly. The scenery on both sides of the street continuously moved forward... No, it wasn't the street moving forward—it was she who was moving backward!
That familiar feeling in her heart grew heavier and heavier. Mitsuba instinctively looked down and only then discovered that at this moment, she was inside a large carrying basket!
The swaying sensation she felt came from this basket. Someone was carrying her on their back, walking along this street.
Her pupils instantly contracted to their limit.
Finally realizing just what place she had dreamed of, Mitsuba's expression became completely stunned at this moment.
Meanwhile, right behind her back, the person gently carrying her as they slowly walked forward, finally spoke at this moment as well.
"Long time no see, Mitsuba."
This voice carried a hint of a smile, as if happy about her arrival.
At the same time, it was so distant—so distant that Mitsuba had nearly forgotten it.
After all, four hundred and fifty-eight years had passed. Such lengthy passage of time was enough to blur anyone's memories.
But even so, even though the memory had blurred to near forgetting, the instant she heard this voice, Mitsuba still immediately recalled its owner.
Tears silently fell. She curled up in that swaying basket and lightly nodded.
"Long time no see, Butterfly."