During dinner, Tendo ate absentmindedly—something he'd never done since childhood.
But the problem was that Shinobu hadn't come tonight, and his heart was uneasy.
With little appetite, he only managed half a bowl of rice before hastily leaving the Purgatory household.
He rushed to the medical department at top speed, wandering aimlessly in hopes of bumping into Shinobu.Alas, the heavens did not comply with his wishes. Not only did Tendo fail to see Shinobu, he didn't even get to meet Kanae.
So there he stood, like a door god, his face a picture of misery as he guarded the entrance to the medical department, startling the passing medical staff and wounded alike.
Gradually, the bright moon rose high in the sky. Tendo, resembling a heartbroken Tom Cat, sat outside the medical department's doors with his chin propped in his hands, sighing dejectedly.
"Sigh!"
"Where did Shinobu go?"
"Life is so dull!"
Just then, Kanae approached from a distant path, carrying a lunchbox. She spotted Tendo at once.
Suddenly, her eyes gleamed, and she jogged over to him.
"Tendo, are you sad because you can't see Shinobu?"
"I know where she is. Could you do me a favor?"
The moment Kanae finished speaking, Tendo perked up, rubbing his hands together with a bright smile.
"Kanae-san, please use me to your heart's content!"
Kanae tilted her head, feeling there was something odd about Tendo's phrasing.
"Shinobu is..."
After a moment, she explained her dilemma. Shinobu was too stubborn and was currently angry—so angry that even her older sister couldn't talk her out of it.
But Shinobu was only angry at herself. If anyone could still reach her now, it was probably Tendo.
"Kanae-san, do you have paper and a pen?"
"Huh?" Tendo's question caught Kanae off guard. What did he need those for? A love letter?
No, no, Shinobu was still too young. She needed to grow up a bit more first.
But Tendo was such a reliable person.
Sigh!
This was so complicated!
Tendo: "Kanae-san? ∑(′△｀)?!"
"Oh! Right!"
"Wait here a moment!"
A short while later, Kanae handed Tendo the paper and pen, saying something that left him utterly bewildered.
"Shinobu is still young. Wait a few more years!"
"Good luck!"
She patted Tendo's shoulder with an auntie-like smile and walked back into the medical department, leaving Tendo standing there, utterly lost.
I just wanted to sketch a design...
Shaking off his confusion, he cheerfully left the medical department.
The gentle moonlight draped over the Demon Slayer Corps like a silken quilt.
In a quiet clearing in the woods, Shinobu Kocho stood alone with her sword, relentlessly striking at a boulder before her.
A Breeder's training was progressive—first, one chopped wooden posts, then boulders. Only then could one sever a Demon's neck.
Unfortunately, Shinobu lacked strength. She struggled even to cut through wooden posts, let alone a boulder.
"Damn it, why won't it break?!"
Shinobu roared in frustration. She trained relentlessly day and night, all to catch up to her companions.
Tendo's appearance had altered the timeline, exposing Shinobu to too many outstanding swordsmen—especially Tendo himself.
Her sister had mastered Flower Breathing, and out of concern for her, had postponed this year's Final Selection. Obanai had created Serpent Breathing on his own, Kyojuro had mastered Flame Breathing, and their father was a Hashira.
As for Tendo, the one Shinobu had always chased after—he was the most exceptional of them all.
"Shinobu Kocho, you must not be trying hard enough!"
"You have to put in twice—no, even more effort!"
Gripping her training sword, the blisters on her hands burst, blood quickly soaking through the bandages. But she ignored it, gritting her teeth as she swung her blade again and again.
Compared to the suffering Tendo had endured, what was this pain of hers?
Shinobu was frustrated, angry, afraid—her heart in turmoil.She refused to fall behind others, frustrated by her own weakness and afraid she couldn't stand by her comrades' side.
She had always been that determined child.
Finally, exhausted, she slumped against a rock, tears welling in her eyes.
Small, pitiful, and helpless—it was heartbreaking.
Suddenly, the moonlight before her was blocked, and then something sweet was slipped into her mouth.
Tendo appeared like a mysterious little spirit, arriving quietly with a reassuring smile on his face, his eyes filled with concern.
"Shinobu, have some chocolate. I asked the old man to bring it back from the big city!"
Shinobu Kocho quickly turned her head away, not wanting Tendo to see her vulnerable side.
"Th... thank you!" She struggled to suppress her trembling voice and the bitterness in her heart, or else she really would have cried.
Tendo turned around without a word, silently waiting for her—just waiting.
Shinobu was a strong-willed person, and he wanted to give her time to compose herself.
As the quiet moment faded, Shinobu Kocho steadied her emotions and casually changed the subject:
"Tendo, why aren't you sleeping in the middle of the night?"
Hearing this, Tendo turned back with a serious expression and blatantly lied, "I ate too much, so I went for a walk!"
But the moment he finished speaking, his stomach growled in protest.
"Ah, fine, I only ate half a bowl of rice today!" Tendo scratched his head awkwardly and continued, "I'm just too idle, wandering around, heh!"
"Did my sister tell you?"
"No, no, absolutely not!"
"Okay, fine, she did!" Tendo lowered his head, extremely guilty.
Shinobu Kocho forced a smile and said, "You really can't lie, huh?"
"But thank you for coming to see me. I feel much better now."
Just seeing Tendo activated Shinobu's automatic healing mode.
"Mhm!"
"Then let me ask you a question."
"Go ahead!"
"Besides sunlight and decapitation, what else can kill a demon?"
Shinobu Kocho tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes as clear and deep as a tranquil lake, reflecting Tendo's face with a hint of confusion.
Because Tendo's question was silly—anyone in the Demon Slayer Corps would know.
Demons feared sunlight and wisteria, and Nichirin Blades could kill them.
"It's wisteria!"
"Right!" Tendo ruffled Shinobu's head playfully and teased, "Such a smart girl!"
Shinobu pouted and glared at him. "I'm not a child anymore!"
"Whatever Shinobu says goes."
"Then, second question—what are you good at?"
Without hesitation, she replied, "Pharmacology and identifying medicinal herbs."
"Mhm!" Tendo nodded. "That's Shinobu's strength."
"Medicine is medicine, but it can also be poison."
"Poison!" Shinobu's eyes widened in realization—Tendo was giving her advice.
Wisteria was poison to demons, so there was another way to kill them: poison, wisteria.
In truth, given Shinobu's intelligence, she would have realized this eventually. Tendo was merely guiding her, speeding up the process.
"Shinobu, congratulations!" Tendo clapped, genuinely happy for her.
Shinobu smiled. She felt hope in life again—perfect.
Just as Shinobu Kocho was excited, Tendo unexpectedly pulled her into a hug, his voice filled with tenderness as he said.
"Don't push yourself too hard, take care of your health. I'll always be here!"