Butterfly Mansion · Early Morning
Takumi and Kanao Tsuyuri stared at each other in absolute, crushing silence.
He sat politely on a cushion.
She stood stiffly, holding a small coin between her fingers.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
If a passing crow had entered the room, it might have dropped dead from the awkward atmosphere alone.
Takumi internally screamed:
"Say something, Kanao! Anything! Even 'kusa' would work!!"
Meanwhile, Kanao Tsuyuri looked at him with her usual expressionless eyes, thinking:
"…He gives off the same gentle aura as Lady Kanae… but also something very dangerous… Should I flip the coin?"
Takumi coughed lightly.
"Um… nice weather today?"
Kanao blinked.
Indifferent. Silent. Unmoved.
Takumi felt himself losing HP.
"This girl… her social battery is literally nonexistent!"
Just as he was about to say something else, the System chimed:
[Ding! Daily check-in complete. Congratulations, Host, you have obtained—Dimensional City Blueprint: Mobile Medical Pod (Prototype) × 1]
Takumi's eyes widened.
"Medical Pod? As in the sci-fi, put-you-inside-and-heal-everything kind of pod?!"
He mentally opened the item description.
Mobile Medical Pod (Prototype): A high-tech capsule capable of stabilizing life signs, healing severe injuries, purifying poison, and repairing tissue. Integrates with Dimensional Sub-Nodes. Suitable for battlefield triage and emergency world-saving missions.
Takumi nearly jumped up.
"System, you finally gave me something useful!! I forgive your past crimes!"
[The System does not commit crimes. Host is simply unlucky.]
Takumi: "…"
While Takumi celebrated internally, Kanao simply tilted her head, coin still in hand.
She quietly asked:
"…Lord Takumi?"
Takumi snapped back to reality.
"Oh—right! Sorry! I was, uh… breathing."
Kanao blinked again.
She genuinely didn't know how to respond.
Butterfly Sisters Return in Clean Clothes
At that moment, soft footsteps echoed down the hall.
Kanae and Shinobu Kocho entered the room—both dressed in fresh haori and uniforms.
Kanae smiled warmly.
"Thank you for waiting, Lord Takumi."
Shinobu, with arms crossed, eyed him with quiet suspicion.
"…You didn't bully Kanao, right?"
Takumi raised both hands defensively.
"Of course not!"
Kanae looked between them.
"Kanao, did Takumi do anything to you?"
Kanao shook her head.
"No… He just talked about the weather."
"…That's it?" Shinobu asked.
"Yes."
Takumi wanted to cry.
Breakfast and Butterfly Hospitality
Soon, Kanzaki Aoi brought trays of steaming breakfast.
Rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and pickled vegetables.
Takumi stared at the food.
"…Real food. Not Goblin Village improvised stew."
He took a bite.
Tears welled up.
"SO DELICIOUS—!"
The three girls stared at him.
Kanae giggled. Shinobu raised an eyebrow. Kanao blinked.
Takumi coughed, trying to regain his dignity.
"Ahem. Sorry. Haven't eaten proper food in a while."
Shinobu leaned forward.
"Lord Takumi."
Her tone was dangerously sweet.
"How did you kill an Upper Rank Demon alone?"
Takumi nearly choked.
"Uh… sword?"
Kanae smiled and came to his rescue.
"Shinobu, Lord Takumi's strength is simply extraordinary. Do not pry too much."
Shinobu clicked her tongue.
"Tsk. Sister spoils you."
Takumi: "…"
Kochou Shinobu at this age… is terrifying.
Dimensional City Node – Awakening
As breakfast continued, the System suddenly chimed.
[Sub-District Node synchronization complete. Installing features:]
Medical Pod Integration
Auto-Scan Zone (50m radius)
Spiritual Particle Purifier
Dimensional Distress Receiver
Takumi's eyes widened.
The Butterfly Mansion shimmered faintly with silver energy for a moment—so subtle that normal humans couldn't detect it.
But Kanae paused.
"…Lord Takumi?"
"Mm?"
"I feel… the air suddenly became clearer."
Takumi smiled.
"Maybe it's your imagination."
Of course, it wasn't.
Dimensional City had successfully rooted itself deeper into this world.
Training Ground – A Request from Kanae
After breakfast, Kanae approached Takumi.
"Lord Takumi… may I ask for your help?"
Takumi blinked.
"Help? What kind?"
Her eyes softened.
"I would like you to evaluate Kanao's combat talent. She rarely expresses her heart… but she works very hard."
Kanao stiffened.
"…Me?"
Takumi looked at the quiet girl holding her coin.
He remembered her fate.
Her tragic backstory. Her emotional suppression. Her eventual path of forced calm.
And he nodded.
"Alright. Let's train."
Kanao lowered her gaze slightly.
"…Yes."
Takumi vs. Kanao – The Silent Flower
In the Butterfly Mansion's courtyard, Kanao stood with her katana drawn.
Takumi stood across from her.
Kanae and Shinobu watched from the veranda.
Kanao flipped her coin. Caught it. Opened her hand.
"Head," she whispered.
Her posture changed instantly. Her eyes sharpened. Her breathing slowed.
Takumi smiled.
"Good. Come at me."
Kanao moved—
Fast. Precise. Silent.
A Flower Breathing stance.
But to Takumi…
She looked like she was moving in slow motion.
He sidestepped her slash gently.
Kanao blinked.
Her second strike came faster. Her third—faster still.
Takumi dodged them all without lifting a finger.
Kanae smiled proudly. Shinobu frowned deeper.
Kanao's breathing grew rapid. She stepped back. Coin flipped.
"Tail."
She froze in place.
Takumi chuckled.
"You're relying too much on the coin."
He approached gently.
Her shoulders tensed.
He tapped her forehead lightly.
"I won."
Kanao blinked.
"…I lost."
Takumi shook his head.
"No. You just haven't found your own will yet."
Kanao's eyes widened slightly.
Kanae clasped her hands together.
"Lord Takumi… you truly understand her."
Shinobu clicked her tongue.
"…Show-off."
Takumi pretended not to hear.
Dimensional Emergency Signal – New Regret Detected
Right then—
A sharp alarm rang in Takumi's mind.
[Warning: New Dimensional Tragedy Detected]
A holographic window appeared.
A young boy. Terrified. Crying. Covered in blood.
『Help… please… someone save Nezuko…』
Takumi's eyes widened.
"…Tanjiro."
Shinobu noticed his expression.
"Lord Takumi?"
Takumi clenched his fist.
"System. Location."
[Near Mt. Sagiri. Family massacre event approaching.]
Kanae gasped.
"A massacre…?"
Takumi exhaled slowly.
He had saved Kanae. He had eliminated Douma. He had altered the Kocho sisters' future.
Now…
It was time to save another iconic tragedy.
He turned toward the sisters.
"Thank you for the breakfast. But I have to go."
Kanae stepped forward.
"Lord Takumi, is someone in danger?"
Takumi nodded.
"A family… that shouldn't die."
Kanao looked at him.
"…Will you come back?"
Takumi smiled softly.
"Of course. I still have to teach you how to choose without a coin."
Her cheeks turned faintly pink.
Shinobu coughed sharply.
"Tch! Just go already!"
Takumi laughed.
Then he stepped into the air.
Linglong materialized beneath his feet.
Golden energy surged.
"Mt. Sagiri. Full speed."
[Confirmed. Launching.]
A burst of golden light shot across the morning sky.
The Kocho sisters watched him disappear.
Kanae whispered softly:
"…Please save them too, Lord Takumi."
And so—
Dimensional City's mission advanced to its next tragedy to rewrite.
The Kamado family's fate was about to change.