Mount Fujikasane, Final Selection — Third Night.
Rain poured.
Sui stood beneath a tree, letting raindrops fall across her fingers, as if testing something.
"Hey! Woman! Hunt!"
Sanemi shouted, gripping his cleavers.
Sui waved lazily.
Rest tonight.
Sanemi clicked his tongue.
"Tch. So the pampered young lady doesn't like getting wet."
"Correct," Sui smiled.
"So I'll leave the demon slaying to you, Mr. Shinazugawa. Surely a lady deserves that much privilege?"
Veins bulged on Sanemi's forehead.
He had already realized—
He could not win against this woman in words.
He shook his head hard, flinging water from his hair, then leapt straight into the storm.
Sui watched him go.
…Still didn't understand why he bothered shaking his hair before running into heavy rain.
After a moment, she turned—
And walked in the opposite direction.
Back to where the aberrant demon had died.
Kuroba Chiyo was still there.
Collapsed against a rock.
Bandages soaked through.
Blood spread beneath her.
"Ah… it's you…"
She looked up weakly, lips pale.
If Sui hadn't come—
She would've died quietly.
Sui bent down and lifted her.
Light.
Too light.
Not small—
Fragile.
Ribs visible beneath skin.
A body that had never been allowed to grow properly.
She held her like a doll.
"…I've caused you trouble again, Sui-sama… I must be useless…" the girl murmured.
"Then live," Sui replied calmly.
"How else will you repay me?"
A cave.
A fire lit.
Warmth returned.
Sui removed the girl's soaked clothes, drying them carefully over the flames.
Kuroba curled up inside Sui's haori, watching her.
"…You're good at taking care of people," she whispered.
Sui paused.
"…Me?"
"Yes… gentle… safe…"
"…like a mother."
Sui gently stroked her head.
"I was taught."
"By who?"
"My adoptive mother," Sui said.
"A somewhat unreliable shrine maiden."
"Do you know the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto?"
Kuroba's eyes lit up.
"Of course! That's a great shrine! Is she… a high priestess?"
Sui thought for a moment.
That woman…
Yes.
Technically.
"…She is."
"Amazing…"
Kuroba's voice softened.
Then dimmed.
"…Sui-sama… would you like to hear my story?"
"Go ahead."
No parents.
Raised by a thief.
Sent out to steal.
Beaten when she failed.
I tried to escape.
Caught.
Again and again.
Three years later—
That man became a demon.
And was killed.
By Giyu Tomioka.
"I didn't want to go to an orphanage," she said quietly.
"I wanted to become like him."
So she trained.
Under Giyu.
Then under Urokodaki.
And came here.
The fire crackled.
Rain softened.
Kuroba's voice grew faint.
"…Are you investigating that demon?"
"Yes," Sui said.
"But no answers."
"…Maybe… Blood Demon Art…"
Sui still.
"…Go on."
"If it didn't know anything…"
"…what if its memories were altered?"
"…or erased?"
Sui smiled faintly.
"I'll remember that. Thank you, Chiyo."
The girl smiled, eyes closing.
"…I'm glad… I could help…"
Sui gently patted her back.
Slow.
Rhythmic.
A lullaby followed.
Soft.
Quiet.
The girl fell asleep.
Morning.
Kuroba woke suddenly.
Warm.
Safe.
Like she had been held.
But—
The cave was empty.
Only ashes remained.
And a haori.
Sui was gone.
Deep in the mountain—
Lightning flashed.
Two figures clashed through the trees.
"YOU DAMN WOMAN!"
Sanemi roared.
"My food! AGAIN?!"
Thunder cracked.
Sui landed lightly on a branch, holding a roasted rabbit.
"Think of it as repayment," she said calmly.
"You were saved by me."
"…Or would you prefer I tell everyone how you almost died during the Final Selection?"
Sanemi froze.
How—
How does she say something so shameless with a straight face?!
"Anyway," she smiled.
"Thanks for the meal."
She leaned back—
Vanished.
A flash of violet lightning.
Gone.
Leaves trembled.
Silence.
Then—
"YOU DAMN WOMAN!! I'LL KILL YOU!!!"
Sanemi exploded, shouting into the forest like a feral beast.