On a distant hilltop, a dark figure stood beneath the night sky.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
Crimson eyes gleamed coldly.
Muzan Kibutsuji.
He had deliberately kept his distance from the demon woman, ensuring Aoyama wouldn't sense his presence. His plan had been simple—once she succeeded, he would immediately claim the boy's head.
But now—
He could no longer read her thoughts.
Which meant she had failed.
"Useless."
Muzan turned and disappeared into the darkness.
Footsteps and chatter gradually filled the hillside.
It was almost time for the fireworks.
People streamed up from the festival grounds to claim a good viewing spot.
Among the crowd were Zenitsu, dragged here by the sight of girls in yukata, followed by Tanjiro and a clearly reluctant Inosuke.
Tanjiro suddenly stopped and sniffed the air.
There it was—
That faint scent of ash.
"Ah! It's Aoyama-senpai and Nezuko-chan!"
Zenitsu's attention instantly shifted from the girls in yukata to Nezuko.
"Nezuko-chan is SUPER KAWAII!!!"
Whoosh—
He zipped forward, wriggling dramatically like an overcooked noodle.
Tanjiro sighed and walked forward with Inosuke.
Zenitsu stared at Nezuko in her pink yukata, heart blooming with delight.
"Hehehe… Nezuko-chan… too cute! Way too cute!!!"
Nezuko, overwhelmed, instinctively retreated behind Aoyama.
Zenitsu leaned closer, hands cupping his own face, eyes practically glued to her.
Aoyama rubbed his temple slowly.
This guy had zero memory when it came to keeping distance.
He raised his hand slowly, fingers curling into a fist.
The joints cracked audibly.
"Zenitsu," he said with a faint smile, "does senpai's fist look cute?"
Zenitsu snapped back to reality instantly and fled behind Tanjiro.
"Tanjiro! Look! Aoyama-senpai is being tyrannical!"
He dared not protest directly, only whispering complaints.
Tanjiro looked torn.
How was he supposed to control Aoyama-senpai?
And honestly—
Nezuko preferred staying beside Aoyama anyway.
Better that than letting her near Zenitsu's marriage-obsessed brain.
Inosuke stood nearby, bored out of his mind.
He didn't care about fireworks.
He just wanted to test his new blades on something. Preferably a demon.
"Aoyama-senpai, earlier here—"
At eleven o'clock sharp—
The fireworks erupted.
Tanjiro's words were swallowed by an explosion of color.
He had meant to ask whether there had been a demon fight here.
The ash scent lingered unmistakably.
But as brilliant fireworks filled the sky—
He let the question go.
He turned to look at Nezuko's face illuminated by shimmering light.
As the sky bloomed with color, Aoyama quietly took Nezuko's hand.
For just a moment—
He allowed himself to enjoy it.
Even Zenitsu's gaze was stolen by the spectacle.
At the Butterfly Estate—
On the rooftop—
Kanao sat alone.
Her gaze was distant as she watched the night sky.
They had all gone to see fireworks.
Were fireworks really beautiful?
Moonlight bathed her figure in silver.
A butterfly rested on her extended finger.
She lowered her eyes to look at it.
Soft footsteps sounded.
Shinobu appeared beside her and sat down.
"You could've gone with them," Shinobu said gently.
Kanao turned to look at her.
Something stirred in her eyes.
Shinobu sighed faintly.
She was still the same.
Only doing what she was told.
When they first brought her home—
She had been like a doll.
Even eating required instruction.
If no one told her to eat—
She wouldn't touch her food, even if she starved.
She had possessed no will of her own.
No initiative.
No self.
Shinobu gazed at the moon.
She thought of Aoyama.
Of Tanjiro.
Of Nezuko.
At the Hashira meeting—
Nezuko hadn't attacked anyone.
Aoyama had fiercely protected her.
Tanjiro had risked everything for his sister.
Even the normally detached Giyu had vouched for her.
Perhaps—
"Kanao… it's time we changed too."
Kanao's lips parted slightly.
The word "change" echoed in her mind.
Aoyama had said it too.
She took out her coin.
Flipped it into the sky.
Caught it.
It landed on tails.
She turned toward Shinobu calmly.
"…We should change."
Shinobu smiled softly and took her hand.
"Yes. Let's change together."
Inside the main residence,
Kagaya Ubuyashiki quietly listened as Sanemi Shinazugawa finished his report on recent missions.
"Sanemi," Kagaya said gently, "slowly but surely… victory will belong to us."
"Yes, Master."
Sanemi bowed deeply.
Kagaya turned toward the window, smiling faintly.
"The fireworks must be beautiful tonight."
Sanemi hesitated.
He hadn't watched any fireworks.
Kagaya continued softly,
"You are all my children. I hope you will see more of the world's beautiful things… on my behalf."
Sanemi lowered his head even further.
"Yes, Master."
In his heart, he silently wished for his master's health to endure.
Under the night sky—
Fireworks blossomed brilliantly.
For one fleeting moment—
The world felt peaceful.
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