Chapter 153: Shinobu: Ren, I Miss You
Shinobu's face blossomed into a radiant smile.
Hinatsuru also breathed a sigh of relief.
If someone hadn't cleared things up, she felt as though her heart would have shattered into several pieces…
Only Sanemi remained completely oblivious to the whole situation.
"So, what does any of this have to do with me, Shinazugawa?"
Shinobu gently patted Sanemi on the shoulder and smiled reassuringly.
"It's all right, Mr. Shinazugawa. You're a good person!"
Sanemi tilted his head.
"Thanks! But I can't shake the feeling that you're hiding something from me."
Shinobu covered her mouth and giggled.
"Hehe. Is that so?"
"Yeah…"
Sanemi felt as though there were countless secrets hidden behind her smile.
But even their Wind Hashira had to admit that he still hadn't fully understood what had happened.
After hearing Hinatsuru's story, he was just as confused.
So what exactly had happened?
Who exactly had come to the Kyogoku House?
Was it Ren or Sanemi Shinazugawa?!
It was making his head itch!
He felt as though his brain was growing!
Sanemi thought he couldn't simply let the matter go.
But after thinking about it again, he decided to put it aside.
If he couldn't figure it out, then he simply wouldn't think about it.
Would not understanding this matter prevent him from slaying demons?
If not, why bother wasting so much effort trying to understand it?
That was how Sanemi comforted himself.
Yet he kept catching Shinobu looking at him with the faintest smile, which made him feel increasingly uncomfortable…
"All right, back to the main subject."
Hinatsuru spoke again.
"Insect Hashira, Wind Hashira, although I wrote about Dragon Hashira in my letter…"
"You've been traveling this whole time, so you may not know what was written in it. I'll explain everything again."
Hinatsuru then carefully recounted the entire story of Ren's demon-slaying exploits.
This time, Sanemi finally understood.
You've got to be kidding me!
He understood the demon-slaying part perfectly well!
"You mean Ren slew Upper Five, then helped Tengen Uzui kill Upper Six and Upper Four?"
Sanemi's voice was filled with disbelief.
He genuinely couldn't believe it!
He had traveled all this way to provide reinforcements for Ren, only to be told that everything was already over and that he should hurry home!
Otherwise, he might not even have been able to afford a train ticket!
"Was Ren injured?"
Shinobu's expression became serious.
Hinatsuru shook her head.
"He was indeed injured during his battle with Upper Five, but he didn't suffer a single injury during the battle against Upper Four."
"No scars?"
The corner of Sanemi's mouth twitched.
What a joke.
Every time he fought a demon, he ended up covered in wounds before unlocking his Blood Demon Art and confronting the enemy head-on.
Ren had already reached the point where he could clear these battles without taking a single injury?
First defeating Upper Five…
Then defeating Upper Four…
And casually taking down Upper Six along the way!
Was this the extent of Ren's current strength?
Ever since Sanemi had lost to Ren the last time, he had constantly wanted to challenge Ren again. He had also repeatedly compared himself with Ren in his mind.
But now, Ren had once again left him far behind.
For Sanemi, that was a considerable blow.
He secretly resolved that next time, he would choose an even stronger Upper Rank opponent to challenge!
Only then could he prove that he was stronger than Ren!
Sanemi suddenly asked Hinatsuru another question.
"What about Tengen Uzui? Your mission should already be finished, right? Aren't you going back?"
Hinatsuru smiled.
"Master Tengen received a new temporary assignment and has already left. Makio, Suma, and I are still working here in the red-light district. We'll be leaving afterward as well."
"If you two had arrived even a little later, you might not have been able to see me."
"Mm."
Sanemi nodded.
"Got it. In that case, we should head back too."
Hinatsuru tried to persuade them to stay.
"Aren't you two going to stay and have some fun? The red-light district is quite famous."
Sanemi paused.
"I think… this place still isn't for me."
Shinobu smiled.
"After all, Mr. Shinazugawa doesn't really like this place. Especially the Kyogoku House, right?"
Sanemi said nothing and simply walked out alone.
Shinobu merely said goodbye to Hinatsuru before preparing to leave as well.
It wasn't that she didn't want to stay and have some fun.
It was simply that a Hashira's time was extremely precious.
No matter where they went, Hashira represented an extraordinarily valuable source of combat power.
They did this to minimize casualties among both the Demon Slayer Corps and ordinary civilians as much as possible.
Before leaving, Shinobu obtained the same return route from Hinatsuru, along with several train tickets.
Shinobu intended to follow the same route Ren had taken.
Perhaps she might even see Ren!
In the end, Shinobu still reminded Hinatsuru,
"Big Sister Hinatsuru, please tell Mr. Tengen not to take Ren to places like the Kyogoku House again. Thank you."
Hinatsuru smiled bitterly and nodded.
"All right, I understand, Insect Hashira. Take care."
And so, the three of them went their separate ways.
The two Hashira descended the staircase and disappeared into the brilliantly illuminated streets of the red-light district.
Shinobu suddenly felt a strange sense of melancholy.
So the world could be this beautiful.
If Ren hadn't been here at the time, perhaps none of this would have existed, right?
Shinobu didn't blame Ren.
If she had been in Ren's place, she would have made the same choice.
Because a Hashira was the embodiment of responsibility.
Anyone who carried the title of a "pillar" was someone with an unwavering will!
Shinobu stopped beneath the brightly lit street and looked up at the moon.
Her gaze drifted into the distance, and the corners of her lips curved upward slightly.
"The moonlight is so beautiful tonight."
Sanemi walked ahead of her.
He looked back at Shinobu but didn't approach or disturb her.
Even someone as dense as him knew about the relationship between Shinobu and Ren.
So he chose not to disturb the beautiful moment in her heart.
Beneath the moonlight and dim streetlamps, the girl's eyes sparkled.
Ren, I miss you.
"Achoo!"
Sitting aboard the speeding train, Ren couldn't help sneezing.
He immediately felt puzzled.
His body should have almost completely recovered by now.
How could he possibly have caught a cold?
Ren thought about it for a moment, then asked the attendant for a blanket before sinking into a deep sleep.
He was simply too exhausted.
He had fought four Upper Rank powerhouses in succession.
Even an immortal would be utterly drained after that.
Ren had done it.
His feat tonight was certain to make the Upper Rank demons tremble in fear.
Yet the young man's heart was not happy.
At first, Ren had practiced swordsmanship simply to survive in this dangerous world.
But things were different now.
He had taken up the Blade of Protection with only one thought in mind—
To protect Butterfly Estate.
And so Ren made a decision in his heart.
Eliminating all the demons was equivalent to protecting Butterfly Estate, wasn't it?
That was why Ren had continued striving toward this goal!
His only regret was that tonight, he had truly felt the gap between himself and Doma.
If he wanted to slay Doma, Ren's current strength was still far from enough.
In fact, Ren had realized this a long time ago.
Blood Demon Arts were stronger than Breathing Styles!
He had always been torn over whether he should use his Blood Demon Art frequently.
But if he used a Blood Demon Art, could he still be considered human?
No one would willingly abandon their identity as a human.
Ren was no exception.
Therefore, Ren decided that he would never use his Blood Demon Art again.
He wanted to live like a human being.
As these thoughts occupied his mind, Ren gradually fell asleep…