The smile on Shinobu’s face stiffened for an instant before returning to its perfect curve.
“My, whatever are you talking about, Kanao?”
Shinobu tilted her head, her tone deliberately lighthearted.
“He is a demon, so naturally I must pay close attention to him.
After all, as the Insect Hashira, that is part of my duty.”
“It isn’t duty.”
Kanao shook her head.
“He is a demon,” she stated calmly.
“Master hates demons.
You hate them very much.”
Everyone at the Butterfly Mansion knew that.
Even Aoi Kanzaki understood that one should never speak positively about demons in front of Shinobu.
“But…”
Kanao tilted her head, her gaze piercing directly into Shinobu’s eyes.
“Master was genuinely happy just now.
You weren’t pretending.”
“And…”
She paused, seemingly struggling to organize her thoughts and describe the subtle feeling she had noticed.
“Master is angry too—but not the kind of anger that makes you want to kill him.”
“It is more like… the way you become angry when you argue with Aoi.”
That kind of anger carried the warmth of ordinary life.
There was a trace of grievance, a little helplessness, and a hint of embarrassed irritation from having one’s innermost thoughts exposed.
They were emotions one felt toward a person.
Not toward a demon.
For the first time, Shinobu found herself completely at a loss while facing Kanao.
She lowered her eyes, avoiding that excessively pure gaze.
She picked up her teacup, intending to take a sip and conceal her discomfort, only to discover that it was empty.
Slightly annoyed, she set it back down with a soft tap.
“That man… is an exception.”
Shinobu inhaled deeply and attempted to explain everything.
“Master Ubuyashiki has acknowledged him.
He saved many people during Final Selection, even at the cost of injuring himself.”
“From a rational perspective, he is undeniably different from ordinary demons.”
“As the Insect Hashira, I have a responsibility to supervise him and assess the danger he poses.
I am also… somewhat curious about the structure of his body.”
Her explanation was flawless.
It was logical, reasonable, and perfectly consistent with the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Kanao, however, did not nod.
Under that unwavering gaze, Shinobu felt increasingly uncomfortable.
The defenses around her heart began crumbling little by little.
She sighed and lowered her head.
Her dignified composure finally weakened, revealing a trace of the exhaustion and confusion belonging to an eighteen-year-old girl.
“I don’t understand it either, Kanao.”
Shinobu’s voice became quieter, carrying a hint of self-mockery.
“He is clearly a demon, yet he constantly does the most inexplicable things.”
“He is absurdly weak, yet he dared to grab my hand and lecture me.”
“My poison caused him so much pain, but he still transferred my wound onto his own body…”
She raised her left hand and stared at her completely healed palm.
“He is far too strange.”
“So strange that… I keep forgetting he is a demon.”
Yet now, an idiotic demon who knew absolutely nothing had suddenly appeared and begun pounding relentlessly against the door, determined to force his way inside.
The feeling frightened her.
At the same time, it had awakened an emotion toward Kiyohiko that she could not properly understand or describe.
“So I suppose I’m angry.”
She categorized the unfamiliar emotion as anger.
Shinobu raised her head and stared blankly at the ceiling.
“I’m angry because he doesn’t understand his own limitations.
I’m angry because he constantly interferes in matters that don’t concern him.”
“And I’m angry because…”
“I actually laughed at his idiotic behavior.”
Kanao listened quietly.
She did not fully understand such complicated emotional turmoil.
However, she understood one thing.
Kiyohiko, who crawled around like a gecko, was different to her master.
Kiyohiko: What do you mean, “like a gecko”?!
“I understand.”
“I don’t dislike him.”
Kanao spoke softly.
“If he can make Master smile… then I also hope he can remain by Master’s side.”
After saying this, she bowed slightly and left the room.
Shinobu remained alone at her desk, her cheeks faintly reddened by Kanao’s blunt declaration that she hoped Kiyohiko could remain beside her.
“When did that child learn to say such embarrassing things?”
Shinobu calmed herself and allowed her gaze to drift toward the window once more.
What was that idiot doing in his room?
Was he still angry?
Or was he planning something foolish again?
…
A long while later, Shinobu arrived at the kitchen.
The conversation had consumed a surprising amount of her mental energy.
Having her thoughts seen through by her own student was unpleasant—especially when Shinobu herself had yet to fully understand those feelings.
To settle the inexplicable restlessness in her chest, Shinobu decided to search the kitchen for some comfort.
To her, nothing was more calming than a plate of ginger tsukudani preserved to perfection.
The sharp spiciness exploding across her tongue could instantly drive away every trace of confusion and exhaustion.
“Aoi, is there any ginger tsukudani left today?
I would like—”
Wearing her signature gentle smile, Shinobu pushed open the kitchen door and lightly approached the small cupboard where her snacks were kept.
However, her hand stopped as she reached for the familiar plate.
The dish that should have been filled with ginger tsukudani was completely clean.
Not even a single drop of sauce remained.
“Huh?”
Shinobu blinked, her smile freezing upon her face.
Refusing to believe it, she searched the deepest parts of the cupboard.
Nothing.
It was truly gone.
Aoi Kanzaki, who had been washing vegetables beside the sink, abruptly stiffened when she heard Shinobu’s voice.
She mechanically turned around, nearly dropping the daikon in her hands into the water.
“L-Lady Shinobu…”
Aoi’s face had become slightly pale, and her gaze darted nervously from side to side.
She resembled a child who had broken a vase and been caught by her parents.
“Aoi.”
Shinobu turned toward her, still smiling.
“Where is my ginger tsukudani?
I seem to remember that the plate was completely full this morning.”
“W-Well…”
Aoi swallowed.
The kitchen knife in her hand scraped aimlessly against the cutting board several times.
Finally, as though gathering all her courage, she squeezed her eyes shut and shouted:
“I’M VERY SORRY, LADY SHINOBU!
THAT MAN TOOK ALL OF IT!”
“That man?”
Shinobu tilted her head, confusion flashing within her violet eyes.
A moment later, she understood.
“You mean… Kiyohiko-kun?”
“Yes!
That demon!”
At the mention of him, Aoi’s fear seemed to be replaced by anger.
She waved the daikon in her hands and began furiously listing his crimes.
“Earlier, he hung upside down from the ceiling like a giant gecko!
He nearly frightened me to death!”
“Then he started demanding raw meat and blood!
When I told him we didn’t have any, he stole the fish we were preparing…”
“And then…”
“He stole all of your ginger tsukudani too!”
I’m sorry, Kiyohiko-kun.
If Lady Shinobu learns that I gave it to you, I’ll be finished!
I promise I’ll prepare lots and lots of delicious food for you next time.
I’m truly sorry!
A tiny anger mark appeared on Shinobu’s forehead.
He had been crawling around like a gecko?
And he had taken her favorite food?
So that was what Kanao had seen him doing.
So that was the foolish scheme he had been planning.
“Hehehe…”
Shinobu released a light, bell-like laugh that nevertheless sent a chill down Aoi’s spine.
“If you eat someone else’s food, you must pay the appropriate price.”
“Ki—yo—hi—ko—kun.”
Standing nearby, Aoi trembled violently.
I’m sorry, Kiyohiko-kun.
[The Bond Value with Aoi Kanzaki has increased.]
[Current Bond Value: 10.]
“Huh?”
The system notification inside his mind awakened Kiyohiko from his sleep.
“What happened?
I was only sleeping, so why did Blueberry’s Bond Value suddenly increase so much?”
Kiyohiko attempted to think.
Kiyohiko attempted to understand.
Once again, Kiyohiko gave up.
“Whatever.
Maybe she suddenly realized how handsome I am.”
His mind remained completely clouded by sleep, leaving him incapable of proper thought.
After reaching an explanation so ridiculous that even he did not believe it, Kiyohiko turned over and immediately went back to sleep.
He had no idea what kind of drama was unfolding inside the kitchen at that very moment.