DS Chapter 98: The Insect Hashira May Embrace Death—But Shinobu Kocho Cannot
Shinobu froze.
The moment Ren lifted her chin, it felt as though a surge of electricity traveled from her jaw down her neck and through her entire body.
Burning.
Numbness.
Stiffness.
Leaning close to her ear, Ren whispered softly,
"You wrote it yourself in your diary, didn't you, Shinobu?"
"...That you like me."
"Pff—!"
Her face instantly turned crimson.
She snatched the diary from beneath Ren's arm and hugged it tightly to her chest.
"Give it back!"
"You're so annoying!"
Even through the thin fabric between them, Ren could hear the frantic pounding of her heart.
Does Ren... really like me?
Is that why he wants to stay?
Oh no...
That awful guy actually read my entire diary!
Doesn't that mean he knows everything I was thinking?
So annoying!
Stupid Ren! Idiot Ren! I hate him!
...
"Shinobu."
"Stop injecting yourself with wisteria poison."
His voice suddenly became serious.
The words struck like lightning.
Shinobu's body stiffened.
"You..."
"You knew all along?"
There was unmistakable shock in her voice.
Ren nodded.
"I know you've been preparing to kill a certain demon."
Silence.
"You think too much sometimes, Shinobu."
"You don't have to sacrifice yourself just to kill one demon."
"If you leave..."
"What about Kanao? What about everyone else?"
"Don't you think that would be too cruel for them?"
Her tiny body trembled.
Two crystal-clear tears slipped silently down her cheeks.
"I don't have another choice..."
She lowered her head, her tear-filled violet eyes reflecting nothing but helplessness.
Clenching her fists until they shook, she whispered,
"It's the only way I could think of."
"That demon murdered my sister."
"I have to make him pay."
Her normally gentle, melodic voice became hoarse with grief.
She cried openly.
"Ren..."
"Who wants to die?"
"But more than fearing death..."
"I want to kill the monster who murdered my sister."
"I want to skin him alive..."
"I want to pour every poison I've ever created onto his rotting corpse..."
"I want him to die."
Her clenched fists slowly loosened.
The hatred drained from her expression, leaving only exhaustion.
Her small frame looked heartbreakingly fragile.
"But..."
"I can't."
"I'm too weak."
"No matter how many poisons I create..."
"They're nowhere near enough to kill an Upper Rank demon."
"Ren..."
"I've already done everything I could."
"I really have..."
She raised her tear-stained face.
Her pleading eyes silently begged him for an answer.
Ren understood.
Deep down...
Shinobu had already begun relying on him.
Calmly, he said,
"I know who killed your sister."
The room fell completely silent.
Even the sound of a pin dropping would have echoed.
It felt as though Shinobu had forgotten how to breathe.
"...What?"
She repeated the word mechanically.
"Ren..."
"What did you just say?"
Hatred surged through her like a tidal wave.
Her entire body trembled violently.
Even her pupils shook uncontrollably.
"Tell me!"
She grabbed Ren by the collar.
Her face was flushed red with desperation and fury.
Tears streamed freely down her cheeks.
Grinding her teeth, she pleaded,
"Please..."
"Please tell me."
"This is the only thing I've ever wanted."
"I can't just stand by and watch you throw your life away," Ren replied quietly.
"No!"
"This is my responsibility!"
"You have to tell me!"
Her crimson eyes overflowed with tears.
Her delicate fingers clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Blue veins bulged across her forehead.
Neither of them noticed that the fragrance of wisteria filling the laboratory had become stronger...
Almost suffocatingly so.
Still clutching Ren's clothes, Shinobu slowly sank to her knees.
"I have to kill him..."
"You don't understand."
"My entire reason for living..."
"...is this."
"Ren..."
"I'm begging you."
"I'll do anything."
"As long as I can kill him..."
"As long as you tell me who that demon is..."
"I can calculate the correct dosage..."
"I can finally kill him..."
"Please..."
"Please tell me."
Ren remained silent.
His expression never changed.
Calm.
Steady.
Almost cold.
Only after a long pause did he finally speak.
Just two simple sentences.
"Shinobu."
"Don't cry."
"Even if you kill that demon..."
"What comes afterward?"
"The Insect Hashira may choose to sacrifice her life to slay demons."
"But..."
"Shinobu Kocho cannot."
"So..."
"Stand up."
"Stand up..."
"...Shinobu."
Everything went quiet.
She sat motionless on the floor.
His words struck deeper than any blade.
Moments later...
She slowly rose to her feet.
Then, without saying a word...
She wrapped both arms tightly around him.
Silent tears continued to stream down her cheeks.
She bit her lip hard, trying to suppress her sobs.
Ren gently stroked her back, patiently comforting her until her breathing finally steadied.
Only after she had calmed down did he speak again.
"The demon who killed your sister..."
"...is Upper Rank Two."
"Doma."
"One of the Twelve Kizuki."
"But don't worry."
"I'm part of the Butterfly Mansion now."
"And I'm a Hashira."
"I'll deal with Doma."
"Until then..."
"Stop injecting yourself with wisteria poison."
Shinobu nodded obediently.
"...But Ren..."
Before she could finish—
Ren smiled and gently patted her head.
"It's fine."
"Your annoying little brother is surprisingly strong."
Shinobu blinked.
Then quietly buried her face against his chest again, wiping away the last of her tears.
After a long silence, she spoke softly.
"Ren..."
"I didn't go watch your match yesterday."
"You're not angry with me... are you?"
Ren rolled his eyes.
"Actually..."
"I was."
"Huh?"
She immediately lifted her head in surprise.
"But..."
"You were the one who told me to rest."
Ren answered shamelessly,
"Maybe."
"But I'm still angry."
"Oh my..."
"So Ren really is upset?"
"Then..."
"If Shinobu apologizes..."
"Will you forgive me?"
"You like me the most after all, don't you, Ren~?"
Ren looked at her expressionlessly.
"No."
"Because someone just wiped all her tears on my clothes."
"R-Ren!"
Shinobu nearly exploded.
Could this man be any less considerate?!
As if girls didn't care about things like that!
Ren's answer, naturally, was no.
Absolutely not.
Shinobu circled around him twice before stopping directly in front of him.
She looked straight into his eyes.
"Mr. Ren..."
"I've noticed something."
"You've been awfully concerned about me lately."
She smiled mischievously.
"In that case..."
"May I take everything you just said..."
"...as a confession?"