Chapter 9 – Verification
Hikaru slowly opened his palm.
The bluish-purple butterfly fluttered free into the night, carried gently by the wind, completely unharmed.
He watched it drift away before turning to the girl standing beneath the moonlight just a few steps in front of him.
"What do you think?" he asked, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Moonlight reflected off his eyes—calm, clear, unwavering.
Shinobu Kocho tilted her head slightly, placing her finger thoughtfully against her lips.
"Hmmm… That was impressive," she said with a soft voice. "But you do realize… that butterfly is poisonous."
"…Poisonous?"
Hikaru's expression froze for a moment. Then, he sighed lightly, regaining his composure.
"It's fine. I never touched it directly."
He raised his palm and held it out toward the Insect Hashira.
Shinobu leaned forward slightly to inspect it.
There was no trace of the butterfly's signature venomous hue—no lingering blue shimmer, no faint residue of toxin.
His skin was clean.
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
Indeed, he wasn't lying.
The butterflies of the Butterfly Mansion had been specially bred and coated with a diluted extract of wisteria toxin. Harmless to humans, but reactive enough to leave a visible mark if touched.
And yet… nothing.
He hadn't grasped it. Only trapped it—gently—in the narrow space of his palm.
Shinobu had sharp vision. Even in the dark, she could see more than most.
She had already noticed it earlier.
Still, she had wanted to confirm for herself.
Capturing a butterfly like that was difficult enough.
But to catch it without actually touching it?
That was extraordinary control.
"If I didn't use a Breathing Technique," Shinobu said, still smiling, "I doubt I could've pulled that off myself."
Was she surprised?
Yes.
But not entirely.
For the past half-month, she had been watching him from a distance.
And Shinobu Kocho was certain:
Hikaru wasn't running away from battle.
He wasn't avoiding demons.
He was sharpening something.
That's why she hadn't interrupted.
She had let him be.
Because she, too, wanted to see…
How far this young man would go.
— — —
Hikaru slowly retracted his hand and stood up.
But just as he rose—
Shinobu moved.
Her steps were light—but quick. One arm extended, slicing through the air toward him, reaching as if to catch him off-guard.
A gust of sharp wind followed her motion.
It was an attack without warning.
Hikaru's instincts flared, and he shifted sideways, narrowly avoiding her grasp.
But Shinobu didn't stop.
She stepped forward. Once. Twice.
Her pace was graceful, not aggressive.
Yet with each movement, Hikaru found himself stepping back.
She wasn't fast.
But her steps were impossibly fluid.
Her haori floated behind her, its butterfly-wing design glowing faintly under the moonlight.
She looked like a dancing butterfly, carried by the night breeze.
The faint scent of wisteria accompanied her approach.
——Calm Mind.
Hikaru refocused his thoughts, enhancing his perception.
But his back was nearly against the wall.
And Shinobu's outstretched hand was drawing closer.
No room left to retreat.
So he moved—forward.
With one swift motion, Hikaru caught her wrist.
It wasn't an attack.
It wasn't forceful.
Just a single, clean movement.
He pivoted. Shifted their center of gravity.
And just like that—their positions reversed.
Shinobu found herself pushed lightly against the wall.
But there was no impact.
No violence.
It was as if the current of his motion had absorbed her momentum, redirecting it like a stream catching a falling leaf.
The balance of her body gave in. Not because of his strength—
But because of the natural flow.
She looked up.
Before her—
A single finger hovered gently between her brows.
If it had been a blade—
If it had been a real enemy—
She would be dead.
"You lose, Insect Hashira-sama," Hikaru said softly.
Shinobu smiled.
"I suppose I do."
For the first time… there was a new glint in her eyes as she looked at him.
She understood now.
Without even using a Breathing Technique, she couldn't match his technical mastery.
— — —
But just then, Hikaru became aware of something… awkward.
Their position…
His right hand was still pinning her wrist against the wall.
From the outside, it looked—
Too close.
Too intense.
Too much like… a kabedon.
The realization hit him.
His breath caught.
The distance between them was… dangerously short.
He could see her delicate features clearly.
Feel her warm breath.
Notice the natural pink of her lips…
"S-Sorry," Hikaru muttered quickly, stepping back and releasing her hand.
His heart thumped erratically.
For someone who, in his previous life, had never even held a girl's hand—
Let alone one this close, this beautiful—
It was overwhelming.
Even Calm Mind cracked under the pressure.
He cleared his throat and looked away.
His face… was definitely warm.
Shinobu, still smiling, straightened her posture.
"It's fine," she said gently. "No need to overthink it."
But behind that smile…
Her eyes held something unspoken.
Something unreadable.
— — —
"Wowww~ What a scene!"
A bright, teasing voice called out from the side.
Hikaru instinctively turned, placing himself in front of Shinobu out of habit.
There stood another girl—tall, vibrant, with wild pink-and-green curls flowing down her back.
She wore the standard Demon Slayer uniform, though hers was… slightly more open at the chest.
Her skin was pale, her figure graceful, and her expression dreamy.
Mitsuri Kanroji.
The Love Hashira.
"This isn't what it looks like," Hikaru said quickly, his tone firm.
"It was just training."
He didn't want misunderstandings. Especially that kind. Things could spiral out of control fast.
"Oh, really?" Mitsuri tilted her head, peeking at Shinobu, who had just stepped away from the wall.
"Absolutely," Shinobu answered, still smiling calmly.
"Aww… That's too bad. For a second I thought I was witnessing a midnight love confession~"
Her eyes sparkled with over-the-top emotion.
Hikaru was already stepping away.
He could take a hint.
"I'll leave you two to it, then," he said politely, bowing before turning to leave.
He understood his place.
He was still just a rank-and-file Demon Slayer.
No matter how far he wanted to climb…
Respect came first.
Not submission.
Not arrogance.
Just the appropriate distance between soldier and commander.
— — —
"Is that him?" Mitsuri whispered as Hikaru disappeared into the shadows. "The one Oyakata-sama mentioned?"
"Yes," Shinobu replied softly.
"…He's handsome. Doesn't look like someone who hunts demons with a Nichirin Blade."
"True…"
— — —
Under the cold light of the moon, Hikaru walked quietly toward his quarters.
His steps calm.
The garden was silent.
The wind was still.
A soft glow fell on the wooden frame of his window.
And as he looked up—
A faint smile touched his lips.
He knew.
He'd made it.
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