This dream was the final night Mitsuba experienced as a human.
It was also the last fireworks festival she and Butterfly experienced together over four hundred years ago.
"Sorry, I didn't expect it would be here..."
Leaning her head slightly back, gently resting against Butterfly's back behind her, Mitsuba's gaze calmly contemplated the lively street scenes around her generated from her memories.
"I didn't expect it either—that there would still be a chance to meet you again, Mitsuba."
Butterfly's voice came from behind, exactly as she remembered it.
"Four hundred years have already passed. Since we parted, Mitsuba, you truly walked alone for a very long time...
How was it? Did you encounter any sad things during these years?"
"Not at all. I've lived these years happily to death."
Memories involuntarily began surfacing in her mind. Mitsuba smiled and replied:
"Although some regrettable things did happen, overall, it was quite good."
"Yes, that's good then..."
"But you, Butterfly."
Suddenly recalling something from very, very long ago, Mitsuba scolded:
"After we separated, you were always quite neglectful of your daughter, weren't you? Even though that little girl's health was so poor..."
"Ahaha~"
A very guilty laugh came from Butterfly's mouth.
"Sorry, because I was always busy fiddling with those flowers back then..."
"As a mother, to actually let your own daughter nearly die from depression, and in the end you still needed me to secretly take that child out to play and give her psychological counseling—what kind of mother does that in this world?"
"Stop scolding, stop scolding, I already know I was wrong..."
"It's just regrettable—that child's health truly wasn't good. Less than ten years after you left, Butterfly, she followed you and departed as well..."
Her tone suddenly becoming dejected, Mitsuba lowered her eyelids and spoke apologetically:
"Sorry, Butterfly. At that time I still didn't know how to share my Blood Demon Art with others. Otherwise, I definitely could have let that child live longer..."
"Mitsuba, you didn't do anything wrong, nor do you need to apologize to me."
Behind her, Butterfly simply shook her head lightly.
"And Shizuka."
Not paying attention to Butterfly's comfort, Mitsuba suddenly mentioned the mother of Kanae and Shinobu who had long since passed away.
"Sorry... After she gave that flower to little Shinobu, the gods immediately altered the karma threads on her body, advancing her death date. That's why I failed to perceive her departure.
Shizuka died because of me. I'm truly sorry..."
When she first saw the karma threads of Shizuka's death on the Butterfly sisters, Mitsuba was undoubtedly shocked.
Because in her previous observations, Shizuka shouldn't have departed so early, nor should she have died from that so-called sudden illness.
But the fact was that it happened exactly this way.
The gods' resentment toward the Butterfly family made Them so impatient.
Kanae had only just passed the Final Selection to become an official Demon Slayer, and They immediately killed Shizuka—who in Their eyes had already lost all value.
Clearly the Butterfly family knew of Their existence. Clearly They still needed to use the Butterfly bloodline to slay Their thorn in the eye.
Yet even so, They didn't even bother to consider whether Their such impatient actions, pushing forward Shizuka's death, would arouse suspicion from her two daughters or even trigger their backlash...
Given the urgency They displayed, Mitsuba had no doubt—if not for the flower Shinobu always carried with her.
With Shinobu's current fate trajectory that had completely deviated, They would certainly eliminate her as impatiently as They killed her mother.
"Mitsuba, how is your relationship with those two elder brothers of yours?"
Not taking up Mitsuba's words, Butterfly changed the topic.
"Yes, very good."
Obediently accepting the topic she offered, Mitsuba lightly nodded.
"Time flies. I made peace with both of them long ago. In recent years, even my brother Yoriichi let go of his obsessions and reincarnated."
"That's good. As long as you aren't alone by your side, Mitsuba, I can rest assured."
"How could I possibly let myself be alone? Butterfly, you know my ability to find friends—I have so many friends around me now~"
"Eh~ So amazing~ Then who was it that was so pitiful with only one friend when they were human?"
"Back then there were reasons for that~ Also, what do you mean pitiful?
A little traveling doctor being friends with someone like me, a great daimyo—that was clearly you rising above your station, alright?"
"Uwaa~ Quick, look! Whose tail is that in the sky, sticking up so high~"
"You're asking for death!"
As they chatted, the two suddenly laughed together. And after laughing, they simultaneously fell silent.
Curling up her body, gently leaning in the basket beneath her, feeling its slight sway, Mitsuba suddenly spoke softly:
"Butterfly, don't say anything. Let me just quietly lean like this for a while, alright?"
"Alright."
"Thank you..."
Without saying anything more, Mitsuba slowly closed her eyes along with Butterfly's walking sway, as if she had fallen asleep.
Butterfly likewise silently carried her forward like this, continuously forward, walking along this street that seemed to never end, that was forever bustling and lively.
Time quietly flowed. Those past memories began, at this moment, to clearly emerge in her mind bit by bit.
Mitsuba suddenly understood why the place her subconscious most wanted to return to was this street, this night.
The answer was actually very simple.
Because in that distant twenty-year human life, only this night brought her true happiness.
Only the person carrying her forward behind her could consistently and firmly choose her, could bring her true peace and joy.
This night of being carried on someone's back was the happiest night of her life, and also the only night in that life she most wished to end that she didn't want to end.
Turns out, back then she had also so hoped this street could be longer, this fireworks festival could last longer, the footsteps home could be slower...
Truly regrettable.
"Mitsuba, you should wake up."
Behind her, not knowing how much time had passed, just as Mitsuba was about to feel herself falling asleep, Butterfly finally spoke again.
"I didn't expect you would say that..."
Slowly opening her eyes, Mitsuba smiled and teased:
"I thought, Butterfly, that you would try every way to keep me here."
After all, dreams always hope to make people indulge in them.
"I won't."
Hearing this, Butterfly instead gently shook her head.
"Because, I have always hoped that you could cast off the burdens of the past and walk toward a new future. Even... even if that past is me."
Her tone was so calm—so calm that Mitsuba suddenly felt somewhat sad.
"But, you are fake."