"Personally, I also hope Ren can go!"
Ubuyashiki Kagaya nodded with a smile. Since Ren had single-handedly confronted three Upper Moons and successfully killed one over a month ago, Ren had become the sharpest sword in the Demon Slayer Corps in his heart. Furthermore, within the Corps, Ren was the only one with experience slaying an Upper Moon, and aside from Upper Moon Six, he had fought against all the others.
"However, the situation in the Entertainment District is unclear. Therefore, Mitsuri and Tengen, I hope you can go with Ren. Remember, your lives are the most important thing. If a task becomes impossible, do not force yourselves!"
"Yes!"
"There is one more thing. During the operation at Mt. Natagumo, Giyu successfully awakened the Slayer Mark. Now that both Ren and Giyu have awakened their Marks, it also means they may not live past the age of twenty-five, so..."
At this point, Ubuyashiki Kagaya suddenly looked at Shinobu and said solemnly, "Shinobu, I hope you can research a medicine to alleviate the side effects of the Mark. All funding will be provided by the Ubuyashiki family. The Demon Slayer Corps will never abandon a single comrade."
"As you wish, Master," Shinobu replied with a nod. In fact, since returning to the Butterfly Mansion, she had already been researching drugs to mitigate the side effects of the Mark. However, she had made no progress until now.
"Good. Then this Hashira Meeting is adjourned. I wish you all great success in battle!"
"Please take care, Master."
After bidding farewell to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, everyone left the Ubuyashiki estate. Immediately after leaving, Ren planned to head directly to the Yoshiwara Entertainment District; he never liked to procrastinate. The Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen, nodded heavily in agreement with his idea, and Mitsuri naturally had no objections.
However, just as the three were preparing to head to the district, Shinobu suddenly found Mitsuri and pulled her aside. Looking at the mysterious-acting Shinobu, Mitsuri asked in surprise, "What's wrong, Shinobu? Why are you being so secretive?"
"Actually... Mitsuri, I have a favor to ask you!" Shinobu's face turned red, and her speech became unsteady.
"What is it exactly?" Mitsuri said with a serious expression. "Shinobu, we are good friends! No matter what it is, I will help you!"
"Thank you. It's actually not a big deal, I just wanted to ask you..."
Shinobu's face was flushed, and she looked incredibly embarrassed. Mitsuri was dying of curiosity, but finally, Shinobu steeled herself and spoke through gritted teeth.
"I want to ask you to keep an eye on Ren for me. Don't let him go looking for those pretty girls in the red-light district to play with..."
"Oh?"
Looking at the blushing Shinobu, Mitsuri couldn't help but smile playfully. Remembering how she had previously said she would help Ren win Shinobu over, a plan formed in her mind. She intentionally acted confused.
"Why? It's just hanging out with some pretty girls. That shouldn't be a big deal, right? After all, Ren is so handsome. If he goes to the Entertainment District, there will definitely be many beautiful girls who like him. Shinobu, why do you want to stop him?"
"That... that's because..."
Shinobu was momentarily speechless, her face completely red as she stood there, looking utterly flustered.
Before she could speak, Mitsuri let out a mischievous laugh. "Could it be that you're jealous, Shinobu? You like Ren and don't want him to be snatched away by other girls? If that's the case, just say so! I can tell Ren how you feel—"
"Who, who, who likes him?! Mitsuri, don't talk nonsense!"
Before Mitsuri could finish, Shinobu covered her mouth, her face so red it was adorable.
"I... I was thinking that the women there aren't good people. I'm afraid Ren's mood will be affected by them, and I'm also afraid he'll waste money... Yes, exactly! I'm afraid he'll waste money, which is why I want you to watch him. It's not easy for Master to earn money, and that kid spends it so recklessly. So please, watch him and don't let him throw money away. Mitsuri, you must keep an eye on Ren, okay? That's all!"
With that, Shinobu fled as if escaping, leaving behind a grinning Mitsuri. Seeing Shinobu's shy and jealous appearance, Mitsuri was basically certain that there was something between these two!
'It seems like it won't be difficult at all to set Ren and Shinobu up, hehehe...'
Thinking this, Mitsuri ran back to Ren and Tengen, and the three of them set off for the Entertainment District. During their journey, Ren couldn't help but ask, "By the way, Miss Mitsuri, what did Miss Shinobu say to you just now?"
"Oh, Shinobu told me to watch you. She doesn't want you to be blinded by the pretty girls in the district, and she told me to make sure you don't waste money, especially not on women. However, in my opinion, those are just excuses. In reality, she's worried you'll be seduced by those beautiful girls."
Mitsuri sold Shinobu out immediately and laughed mischievously. "It's obvious that girl is already jealous! From that, we can infer she definitely has feelings for you! Ren, remember what I said? I'll help you win her over within a month. Now is the perfect time. I bet if you confessed to her right now, she'd be blushing like crazy, but she'd definitely say yes in the end."
"I've told you, I don't need you to play matchmaker, Miss Mitsuri. Miss Shinobu and I are truly just ordinary friends."
"Do ordinary friends hug each other?" Mitsuri muttered under her breath, unconvinced.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing! I just wanted to ask, Ren, what kind of girls do you like?"
'What kind of girls do I like?'
Ren was slightly taken aback. The moment he heard the question, Shinobu's smiling face was the first thing that flashed through his mind, followed by the memories of the two months he had spent getting to know her.
"Well..."
"Heehee, rather than your answer, I'm more interested in knowing who was the first person that popped into your head just now? It wasn't Shinobu, was it?"
"How did you kn—cough, don't talk nonsense, of course not!" Ren felt embarrassed and quickly changed the subject. "Let's not talk about that. I need to study the map and see how to get to the Entertainment District."
Ren quickly walked ahead. Looking at his retreating back, Mitsuri couldn't help but laugh.
"These two are so interesting. They clearly like each other, but neither will say it. Don't you agree, Brother Tengen?"
"Haha, I suppose so." Uzui Tengen smiled as he looked at Ren in the distance. "Personally, I think the two of them make a very flashy couple!"
"Right? That's why I have to bring them together!" Mitsuri said mischievously. "The more they struggle, the more exciting it will be to sneak a peek at their confession, hehehe!"
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]