After hearing her sister's introduction, Shinobu's mind reeled, her expression dazed.
Shock, disbelief, and a chaotic swirl of "how should I even react" emotions surged, but rather than being overwhelmed, she began to question reality itself.
Picking up her dropped Nichirin Blade, she cautiously scanned her surroundings, wary of a sudden ambush from a demon in some illusory Blood Demon Art.
Shinobu's reaction wasn't unreasonable.
Put yourself in her shoes: you have a sister you've relied on since childhood.
Your sister is incredibly gentle, like the sun high in the sky, warming all with its radiant glow, so tender it's intoxicating.
No matter the moment, in her embrace, you have a tiny harbor untouched by anyone, where you can sleep in peace.
You spend every day together, sharing everything, inseparable, moving as one, with no secrets between you. Your bond is as perfect as it gets!
Your sister is the most cherished, precious person in your world!
Your only family!
Then, out of nowhere, one day, without any warning, your sister brings a strange man before you and says he's your brother-in-law.
So, how would you feel?
Shinobu's thoughts were simple and pure.
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
This has to be Upper Rank Two's Blood Demon Art!
To sap her fighting spirit with such a tactic—worthy of an Upper Rank demon unslain for centuries. Such a heart-stabbing scheme was sinister and cunning to the extreme!
Shinobu's brows furrowed, her rose-purple eyes, usually gentle and clear, now sharp as a blade.
As the saying goes, no one knows a child like their mother—er, big sister's like a mother, right~?
Seeing her sister's sudden wariness, Kochou Kanae instantly knew what was swirling in that little head of hers, shaking her head helplessly with a wry smile.
"Shinobu." Kanae reached out, amused, and patted her sister's head. "This isn't some Blood Demon Art illusion. It's the undeniable truth~!"
Her smile bloomed like a flower bud, her voice like a warm summer evening breeze, proving the woman before Shinobu was her sister, not a fantasy conjured by an outsider.
"But…"
But how could this be possible!?
A brother-in-law out of nowhere—how could Shinobu accept that!?
"I know it's hard to take in right away," Kanae said, gently stroking the girl's hair beside her. "But it's the truth. I don't want to lie to you."
This was her only family in the world.
"Sister!"
Like a kitten whimpering, abandoned in a downpour, Shinobu flung herself into her sister's chest.
It wasn't that she opposed her sister dating. What crushed Shinobu was realizing she hadn't known her sister already had someone she loved!?
And they were at the "talking marriage" stage!
The sense of a rift in their sisterly bond felt like an abyss, heavy emotions pressing down, knotting in her chest, threatening to burst like a dam against a flood.
"Shinobu, good girl, don't be mad~" Kanae's tender voice cooed like she was soothing a child. "I didn't hide it on purpose. Shiraki's identity is… special, and it's kind of complicated…"
With Shiraki's memories restored, how could Kanae endure Taisho-era Japan's hardships? No internet, no phone, no computer, no games—not even toilet paper!
Muzan Kibutsuji, you deserve to die!
If not for demons plaguing the world, Kanae would've already packed her bags to join Shiraki in the modern world!
For now, she had to complete the demon-slaying mission, avenge this world's parents, and only then could she leave without regrets.
Of course, how could Kanae abandon her constant companion?
It wasn't possible now, but with a golden-thigh-level Shiraki entering the mysterious space in the future, there'd surely be a way to bring others across worlds.
Then, Kanae would take Shinobu to the modern world!
So, in her current explanation, Kanae laid groundwork for potential future world-crossing.
She didn't want to deceive her sister, but some things couldn't be said outright—a bit vexing.
Kanae tightly hugged her sister.
An overwhelming pressure hit, leaving Shinobu gasping for air.
Noticing Shinobu's struggle, Kanae quickly loosened her grip.
Freed from the soft restraint, Shinobu panted, eyeing Shiraki. "Special identity? Complicated?"
The shocking revelation had crashed her brain, but she barely calmed enough to think.
First, Shiraki and Reverie clearly weren't ordinary.
From the name "Shiraki," her "brother-in-law" was likely from that nation across the ocean.
Sneakers, black casual pants, teal-blue hoodie—modern clothes alien to a Taisho-era girl.
Especially Reverie, with a black silk ribbon adorning her long hair and a black skirt cinching her slender waist. Even bloodstained, its quality shone through.
Shinobu had never seen such refined clothing.
The faintly purple-glowing objects nearby were likely their doing too.
Both had fair skin, no calluses, and an air of poised confidence—clearly noble-born.
Not just any nobles, perhaps the highest tier of aristocratic heirs?
Shinobu wasn't some naive girl.
Fighting demons in the Corps, wandering the world for years, from grand noble estates to beggar-ridden slums, she'd seen it all.
In a flash, her mind spun with tales of noble heirs—sibling rivalries, family feuds, forced exile, drifting to the East, meeting her sister…
It seemed… plausible?
Though whenever she and her sister discussed marriage, Kanae always brushed it off with "Rather than romance, I want to slay more demons that harm humans," when she met someone she loved, she couldn't resist her feelings.
In truth, Kanae had no interest in men or love, planning to stay single, using demon-slaying as an excuse to deflect her sister.
Shinobu's expression turned pensive.
Her sister was at marrying age.
Or rather, at 17, still unmarried, in a couple years, people would gossip.
Shinobu had urged her sister before.
"Slaying demons isn't a one-day task."
"If everyone thought like that, how would the Corps continue? Oyakata-sama married Lady Amane at 13 when she was 17."
Words like that.
Her sister would eventually leave to find her happiness—Shinobu had long accepted this.
She felt a twinge of loss, but more joy that her sister found someone to entrust her life to. The problem was…
Her inseparable sister hadn't told her anything!
Shinobu glared at her sister, fuming. "Sister, when did you get married? Why didn't you tell me!?"
"Don't look at me like that~!" Kanae blinked playfully. "Actually, we're not married yet."
"What, not married…" Shinobu sighed in relief, but then snapped her head toward Shiraki, eyes sharp.
Was this guy dragging his feet?
Before she could ask, her sister spoke, shedding her usual gentle tone for a resolute one.
"But it's settled. Your brother-in-law can only be Shiraki, no one else."
Shinobu paused. Her sister *really* loved this "brother-in-law."
"Hey, Shinobu. It's our first meeting, but Kanae talks about you all the time. You're her most precious sister, so you're my most precious sister too!"
Shiraki played along with Kanae.
"Hello, b-brother-in-law." Under Kanae's gaze, Shinobu gritted her teeth.
Then she shook her head, as if resolving something, and grabbed Kanae's hand, her eyes slightly red.
"No, no! Marriage can't be rushed. To marry you, he's gotta pass *my* test first!"
Shinobu hugged her sister, her rose-purple eyes fixed on Shiraki, earnest. "You need my approval!"
"Approval, huh…" The exasperated tone came not from Shiraki but Kanae.
Shinobu fell silent, glancing at her sister with a mix of grievance and complaint. Catching Shiraki's amused look, she whipped her head around.
"Of course! My sister's so gentle—I have to make sure you won't bully her after marriage!"
Shinobu put on a stern face, trying to look serious.
But she was too adorable. Shiraki and Kanae exchanged a glance, bursting into laughter.
As a sister, laughing at her sibling's protectiveness wasn't ideal. Kanae stifled her giggles, lips pursed, cheeks puffing.
In sync, Shiraki and Kanae reached out, patting Shinobu's head, cooing in unison like soothing a child.
"Alright, alright~ If Shinobu wants to test me, go ahead. Test as long as you like~!"
Shinobu glanced left at her sister, barely holding in laughter, then right at Shiraki's warm smile, feeling mildly offended.
As if she was the joke, totally superfluous.
With those two like this…
What was the point of her "approval"!?
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻