They both nodded in satisfaction. Great minds—and lovers—truly did think alike.
Horitake stood up and stretched his stiff limbs, his joints popping and cracking like firecrackers.
"We really should. We've been cooped up in this lab for nearly half a month. Any longer and we're going to start growing mold. It'll be good to get some fresh air, find a few demons to slaughter, and see just how powerful this stuff is. Besides, a little trip might be a good way to clear our heads and just... let loose a bit."
Shinobu gave him a slightly wary look. "Let loose? Just what kind of 'letting loose' are you planning?"
Horitake looked her straight in the eye, his expression earnest. "I want to 'let loose' with you."
Shinobu's face flushed pink, and she quickly looked away. "You're completely hopeless! Be serious for once."
"Alright, alright. To be serious: let's head out, find some demons, and put this new poison through its paces. I humbly invite the most beautiful lady in the Corps to accompany me. What do you say?"
"That's better," Shinobu replied with a small, graceful smile. "Let's go."
They shed their lab coats, secured the vial of new poison, and stepped out of the research room.
The moment the bright, warm sunlight hit their faces, they both felt a sense of rebirth. It was as if they had been away from the world for a lifetime, making them realize just how much they had neglected their own well-being in the pursuit of science.
The first person to notice them was Kanao, who was practicing in the courtyard.
Seeing Horitake and Shinobu finally emerge, Kanao's usual stoic expression softened. She looked genuinely thrilled. Without even pausing to flip her coin, she hurried over and asked tentatively:
"Horitake-sama, Shinobu-nee... did you succeed?"
Horitake laughed and reached out to pat Kanao's head affectionately. "We did, Kanao. It was a complete success!"
Looking at her younger sister, Shinobu felt a pang of guilt. she stepped forward and pulled the soft, quiet girl into a warm embrace, offering a sincere apology.
"I'm sorry, Kanao. I've been so buried in research lately that I've neglected all of you. You should have received your Nichirin sword by now, shouldn't you? Have you been out on any missions? Have you encountered any danger? I worry about how someone with your personality will handle things out there on your own."
It was easy to forget that Kanao was part of the same generation as Tanjiro. Just as Tanjiro had passed the Final Selection, so had Kanao. She had received her sword recently and was now an official member of the Demon Slayer Corps.
However, Kanao simply shook her head in response to Shinobu's questions.
"Shinobu-nee, I am your Tsuguko and your subordinate," she explained softly. "While I am officially a member of the Corps, I cannot be deployed without orders from a superior. Therefore, I haven't been out on a mission yet."
Shinobu let out a long sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. With your temperament, I was terrified you'd run into trouble if you went out alone. From now on, you'll stay by my side. When I go on missions, you'll come with me. Under my care, you can slay demons, gain experience, and build your own merits safely."
Everyone knew Kanao's history and her current struggle. The girl suffered from a severe inability to make decisions for herself; she lacked autonomy and found it nearly impossible to make a choice without outside prompting. Such a person was far too easy for someone with ill intentions to manipulate.
Shinobu could never be truly at ease letting Kanao wander into the world alone.
Hearing this, Horitake had a sudden inspiration.
"Shinobu-nee, since we're heading out to test the poison anyway, why don't we take Kanao with us?" he suggested. "It'll give us a chance to look after her while giving her some real-world experience. She needs to see what a true battlefield looks like. She's a ranked member now; she can't stay sheltered forever. With the two of us there, she'll be perfectly safe."
Shinobu's eyes lit up. She found the idea excellent. "Yes, I think that's a wonderful plan. Kanao, what do you think? Would you like to come with us?"
Kanao froze. Deep down, the prospect excited her. She truly wanted to say yes, but...
As was her habit, Kanao reached into her pocket and pulled out her coin.
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