How to face Kochou Shinobu's feelings, this question really made Haruto think for a long time.
A maiden's true feelings are the hardest to betray, especially when it's a maiden he watched grow up.
He had once marveled when he saw Kochou Shinobu practicing her sword in a flower garden, thinking that although Shinobu hadn't grown taller, her figure and demeanor were maturing day by day.
Perhaps because she lost her parents very early, or perhaps because the elder sister she relied on had a gentle nature, Kochou Shinobu's displayed demeanor was much more composed than her actual age.
But her inner self... Haruto only knew that because Kanae said she liked to see Shinobu smile more, Shinobu always seemed cheerful and smiling when interacting with people, but in reality, she was the easiest to get angry.
When she was angry, there was no smile in her purple eyes, yet her lips curved into a perfect arc, making her look particularly intimidating.
Her birthday is February 24th... Hmm, is she a Pisces girl?
Pisces girls are the hardest to understand.
So, in order to understand Shinobu's inner self, Haruto still decided to talk to her... Pushing open the door of the Butterfly Mansion amidst the sound of wind chimes, Haruto, with his long hair flowing, ran into Kanao, whose eyes were devoid of light.
Kanao's eyes showed no emotional fluctuation, and upon seeing him, she merely nodded slightly before preparing to pass by.
Haruto quickly stopped her: "Um... Kanao. Can you tell Shinobu that I'm outside after she's done working?"
Kanao looked at him expressionlessly, then nodded seriously.
Haruto looked at the busy Butterfly Mansion, sat cross-legged on the veranda, resting his head on the wooden railing. The flower-scented breeze blew across his cheeks, making him a little sleepy.
He didn't know how much time had passed; Haruto was almost drifting into light sleep when hurried footsteps finally reached his ears.
Haruto rubbed his eyes and looked up. Kochou Shinobu stood there, still wearing the white robe she hadn't had time to take off.
"That child, Kanao... she will complete things entrusted to her with a hundred times more seriousness."
The maiden smiled awkwardly at him, her hands behind her back: "She really waited until I was done before telling me."
"It's fine, that's what I meant."
Haruto raised his hands and stretched, hearing the crisp sound of his bones cracking.
Kochou Shinobu squatted beside him: "No mission today?"
"After Mei Jing died, the demons around here seem to have quieted down a lot. Recently, I've heard very few reports of demons eating people. Now, all I need to do is the nightly patrol of my jurisdiction."
This also made Haruto very confused; he worried that these demons were up to something else.
Hearing that name, which made her teeth ache, Kochou Shinobu let out a heavy sigh.
She stared straight ahead, and from the line of her jaw, it was clear that the girl was clenching her back teeth, as if she was getting angry again.
"What are you angry about?" Haruto playfully waved his hand in front of her: "I'm not that bad, am I! Is having a good impression of me such a troublesome thing?!"
Kochou Shinobu couldn't maintain her expression; her small face crumpled: "No, it's not!"
After saying "no," the maiden sat down dejectedly, unable to say anything else.
"Since you don't know what to say..." Haruto scratched between his eyebrows: "Then I'll say it.
Master Godo hopes I'll get married early... You know about this, right?"
"...Yes, I knew about it the first time my sister and I went to the Swordsmith Village."
Kochou Shinobu still remembered Godou River, who was smiling brightly yet forcedly at the time, as if her visiting elder sister was an unparalleled benefactor to their family.
But even with such a persistent elder urging him to marry, Haruto has remained single until now.
Not only is he not married, he doesn't even have a romantic interest.
"To be honest, I only found out the reason for the marriage urging a few years ago." Haruto's smile was a little helpless. He told Kochou Shinobu the secret history of the Takanashi Family that he had heard from Master Godo.
"...Being targeted by such a powerful Upper Moon Demon, you might not even see tomorrow's sun, so how could you have any thoughts of romance?"
Haruto smiled brightly with curved eyes: "Indeed, eradicating demons is the most important thing in my life. Only by eliminating all evil spirits can sunlight once again shine upon the earth.
And after that day, I already heard from Genya that Mei Jing mentioned my name has been remembered by an Upper Moon Demon... In such circumstances, having the leisure to fall in love and get married would be abnormal, wouldn't it?"
Why can he smile?
Kochou Shinobu was stunned.
After encountering such a tragic event, why can he still smile?
What is the threat to life to him? Is it something he endures every day, more common than air?
She recalled what Genya had said when he was studying pharmacology.
"Why do you study pharmacology?" The spiky-haired boy blinked with confused eyes: "Because my brother is always getting injured, because my teacher doesn't value his own life.
When they face demons, they act as if their lives aren't their own.
I hope that I, being closest to them, can help them heal their wounds after their arduous battles."
"Why don't you value your own life?" Kochou Shinobu lowered her eyes: "Because you think this damned world will take it away sooner or later?"
A rare trace of choked emotion appeared in the maiden's voice.
"You drink Tamayo's potions so quickly. Do you trust her medical skills too much, or do you trust your own fate too much?"
Haruto scratched the back of his head: "But someone has to test it, don't they? I..."
I still have a chance to regret it, how can I let others go?
"Slaying demons is not your sole responsibility, Star Pillar! Headquarters, other Pillars, all the swordsmen, the Kakushi, the Butterfly Mansion... there are so many people in the Demon Slayer Corps, everyone is willing to dedicate themselves to the cause of demon slaying!"
Kochou Shinobu gritted her teeth: "We hope to slay the Lower Moon, slay the Upper Moon, slay Kibutsuji Muzan, but the premise is not built on the sacrifice of our comrades!"
I'm not making a meaningless sacrifice... I just want to use my death to test out the best way to protect you all.
Haruto turned to look at the cherry blossom tree planted in the courtyard.
The great war in the black and white manga ended when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom; it should have been a beautiful spring.
But if only two Pillars remained in the headquarters, could that be called a victory?
True victory isn't the dead reuniting at the Sanzu River, isn't souls embracing and crying.
True victory should be the righteous side standing in the sunlight, watching the evil demons burn and dissipate into the air, holding hands and agreeing to go for a drink together after the war.
With only two people left, what kind of victory is that?
Haruto turned back, his misty blue eyes showing a warm smile in the sunlight.
"I'm fine, I don't feel tired at all."