Staring at the Nichirin Blade thrust towards him without a hint of hesitation, Shinichi was stunned.
He had imagined many scenarios of their reunion, but none of them involved this situation!
Not daring to be careless, Shinichi quickly retreated to dodge Shinobu Kocho's strike while shouting.
"WAIT! Stop, Shinobu! It's me!"
But Shinobu's face was dark, the usual smile she always wore completely gone.
Instead, her teeth were clenched tightly in anger—what one might call "gnashing her teeth."
Missing her first strike, Shinobu simply raised her Nichirin Blade, lightly tapped her toes and leaped high into the air.
The butterfly-patterned haori on her body fluttered in the wind, making her look as light and graceful as a butterfly.
"Insect Breathing: Dance of the Butterfly: Caprice!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!...
Five rapid thrusts came at Shinichi in succession and the intensity made it clear she wasn't joking.
Shinichi had just steadied himself when he saw Shinobu attacking again.
Honestly, he was starting to get annoyed.
"Hey, little girl! Don't push it!" Shinichi grumbled in displeasure, gripping a wooden stick he had casually picked up from the ground.
A faint emerald glow shimmered over the stick and for a brief moment, the withered wood seemed to regain a vibrant green vitality—though it lasted only an instant.
Using the stick as a blade, Shinichi's left eye gleamed as he channeled a surge of life energy.
"Forest Breathing: Fourth Form—Dandelion Dance!"
In a flash, Shinichi's figure flickered, moving as lightly as a drifting dandelion, effortlessly evading all of Shinobu's attacks.
Snap!
Suddenly, a hand shot out and Shinichi firmly grasped Shinobu's wrist, freezing both of them in place.
With a mix of irritation and amusement, he said.
"Had enough fun? It's been so long since we last met—since when did you become so aggressive?"
Due to their height difference and Shinobu's lowering her head, Shinichi didn't see the delicate, pretty face now filled with sadness, nor the violet eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"L-Let go of me!" Shinobu's voice sounded strange.
Shinichi hesitated for a moment before instinctively releasing her—only for a sharp blade to flash before his eyes again.
Damn it! She's really mad now!
Veins nearly popping on his forehead, Shinichi didn't even care about the timid Demon Slayer Corps member hiding in the bushes watching the spectacle.
He unleashed his power. "Forest Breathing: Fifth Form—Soaring Bamboo Slash!"
A diagonal emerald slash erupted from the crude wooden stick, clanging as it knocked Shinobu's Nichirin Blade out of her hand.
Before she could react, a large hand seized the back of her collar and yanked her hard!
The scenery spun wildly before Shinobu's eyes.
By the time she regained her senses, she found herself firmly tucked under Shinichi's arm.
The air froze for a second.
Before Shinobu could even process what was happening—THWACK!!
A crisp sound instantly silenced the world for a moment.
From the bushes by the roadside, Tsuruko—peeking with wide eyes—gaped in shock.
Wh-what... was this something she was allowed to witness!?
Shinobu was equally stunned!
Thud!
Shinichi delivered another flick to the forehead while scolding her angrily.
"You little brat! Acting all violent! Attacking without thinking! You're a Hashira now, don't you know you should follow the corps rules?"
With every word, Shinichi mercilessly flicked her forehead—thud! Thud! Thud!
The sharp sounds rang out continuously, like knocking on a watermelon.
Finally, Shinobu moved.
Trapped in a passive hold (a reversed version of Tomioka Giyu's when he was holding shinobu) and with Shinichi's arm as unyielding as cast iron, no amount of struggling could free her.
"Stupid Shinichi! Stop it! You jerk!" The burning pain on her forehead finally forced Shinobu to shout.
But Shinichi thoroughly engrossed in his flicking spree showed no mercy—it really did sound like he was knocking on a watermelon, the rapid thwacks sound was painful to hear.
Slap!
Shinichi reacted swiftly, catching the small leg Shinobu suddenly lifted to kick him from behind.
Staring at the delicate shoe mere inches away fromhis face, he remarked mockingly.
"You should've hidden a blade in the sole."
Still holding Shinobu, he found and sat on a roadside rock, pinning her arms to keep her from flailing.
Having vented much of his frustration through the forehead flicks, Shinichi's grip now was just to calm her down.
"Alright, you little firecracker, charging at people with your sword without even letting them explain? At least hear someone out first."
"Did you misunderstand something after seeing me earlier? I can explain! If you keep being this hot-tempered, no one will marry you, you know that, Shinobu?"
Shinichi assumed she might have mistaken his demonized state during his battle with Douma.
Truthfully, he had mentally prepared for his identity being exposed—he just hadn't figured out how to explain it yet.
Gradually, Shinichi noticed something was off.
Despite his rambling, Shinobu hadn't responded at all, her head bowed in silence.
Then to his shock, a warm teardrop fell onto his hand, followed by faint but unmistakable sniffles.
Oh no! I screwed up! Went too far!
Sure enough, when he hesitantly lifted Shinobu's face, he was met with a beautiful visage streaked with tears.
Shinichi froze.
Even with two lifetimes of experience, he'd rarely made a girl cry.
What now?
Panicked, he clumsily wiped the tears cascading down her cheeks—large droplets quickly soaking his sleeve.
Between swipes, he apologized frantically.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Shinobu, it's my fault! I just wanted to tease you a bit, but then I couldn't stop! Please don't cry, I beg you, I was wrong!"
Perhaps girls really were made of water—once the tears started, it was like turning on a faucet, impossible to stop.
Just as Shinichi was at a loss, Shinobu lifted her tear-filled eyes to him.
Between hiccuping sobs, she finally managed a broken sentence.
"I... I thought... I'd never... see you... again..."
Thump!
Shinobu Kocho's small, dark-haired head suddenly pressed tightly against Shinichi's chest, her arms clutching his waist firmly as her quiet sobs turned into unrestrained wailing.
Tsuruko in the bushes: "!!Drama alert!!"
Shinichi who suddenly got hug by shinobu : "What's happening!!"
Other Demon Slayer Corps members arriving one after another.
"A ghost has come back to life!!"
After a long moment, the stunned Shinichi finally seemed to understand and slowly wrapped his arms around Shinobu in return.
In an uncharacteristically gentle voice, he whispered softly.
"I'm back."
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