After leaving the Corps estate, Kazuki planned to head to the training grounds to practice his sword techniques. Now that he had obtained his Nichirin Blade, he would likely be sent on missions very soon. He wanted to strengthen himself as much as possible beforehand.
So far, every demon he had encountered had been slain with a single strike—but there was no guarantee that he wouldn't face an exceptionally powerful demon in the future. Only by becoming stronger could he fulfill his vow to eradicate all demons and protect more people.
On the way, he passed by the Butterfly Mansion.
Kazuki noticed Tsuyuri Kanao holding a large gourd and blowing air into it. Beside her, Kocho Shinobu was guiding and encouraging her, while three young girls cheered her on enthusiastically.
"Do your best, Kanao-sama!"
"You can do it!"
"It's about to break!"
The three girls clenched their fists, cheering with all their might.
What's this? Another kind of training?
Curious, Kazuki stopped and watched.
Kanao's face had turned slightly red from exertion. A moment later—
Pop!
The gourd, nearly half the size of a person, shattered.
"She did it!" ×3
The three girls jumped up in excitement. Shinobu smiled and gently patted Kanao's head.
"Well done. To reach this level in such a short time—your talent surpasses mine, Kanao."
Hearing the praise, Kanao shyly lowered her head. She was also a little short of breath and needed to adjust her breathing.
At that moment, Shinobu noticed Kazuki observing from outside the Butterfly Mansion courtyard. Smiling, she called out to him:
"Would you like to try it too, Kazuki?"
Caught off guard, Kazuki startled slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he stepped into the courtyard. He was genuinely curious about Kanao's training.
"Hello, Shinobu-neesan," Kazuki greeted politely. Shinobu returned the smile.
"Your Nichirin Blade has arrived too, and you're wearing new clothes. You look much more spirited," she said, noticing the sword at his waist and his attire.
"It was a gift from Rengoku-sensei," Kazuki explained.
"I see. Rengoku-san really does love taking care of others—especially since you're his tsuguko," Shinobu said warmly.
"And he speaks very highly of you," she continued. "He says you're a once-in-a-century prodigy."
Hearing that, Kazuki waved his hands awkwardly.
"No, no. That's just because Rengoku-sensei taught me well."
Despite his words, he couldn't help feeling happy inside.
"To pass the Final Selection after only seven days of instruction—that's not something teaching alone can achieve," Shinobu said with a smile.
"Would you like to try the training Kanao just did?"
She wanted to see for herself whether Kazuki truly was as extraordinary as Kyojuro had claimed.
"Sure. So I just need to blow the gourd until it breaks, right?" Kazuki asked, nodding.
"Yes. Start with this one," Shinobu said, handing him a gourd about half the size of the one Kanao had just broken.
After all, Kanao had trained her breathing techniques for years to reach that level. From Shinobu's understanding, Kazuki hadn't been practicing Breathing Techniques for very long, so she didn't give him the largest gourd right away.
Kazuki accepted the gourd. It felt quite sturdy.
So this is meant to train lung capacity and breathing control?
He examined it briefly, then put his lips to the opening and blew.
In the very next instant, the solid gourd shattered.
That was… pretty easy.
Kazuki looked at the broken gourd in his hands, feeling as though he hadn't exerted much effort at all.
"That's amazing!" the three wide-eyed girls exclaimed.
So it really is effortless for him… just as Rengoku-san said—a true genius.
Shinobu thought as she watched.
"This size poses no challenge for you, does it?" Shinobu said with a smile.
"Try this one."
She retrieved another gourd from beside the Butterfly Mansion—one the same size as the large one Kanao had just broken—and handed it to Kazuki.
The next moment—
Bang!
The half-person-sized gourd shattered instantly as well.
Kazuki still looked completely at ease.
Does this really even count as training?
He found himself wondering, though he kept the thought to himself—basic tact still mattered.
"It seems Rengoku-san was absolutely right," Shinobu said with a soft sigh of amazement.
Kazuki didn't know what to say anymore and stayed silent. Just as he was about to say goodbye and head to the training grounds to practice his sword techniques—
A man with spiky white hair, his body and face covered in scars, walked into the Butterfly Mansion.
"Welcome back, Shinazugawa-san," Shinobu greeted him with a smile.
"Did you come to the Butterfly Mansion for something?"
Kazuki hadn't expected the fierce-looking man to appear somewhat embarrassed.
"Um… I wanted to check on…" the man began.
"Oh—you mean to visit your sister, right?" Shinobu realized and asked.
"Yeah…" The man nodded, visibly relieved.
Shinobu then led Shinazugawa Sanemi away.
"Who was that just now?" Kazuki asked curiously, turning to Kanao.
Unfortunately, he had chosen the wrong person to ask. Kanao simply smiled at him without saying a word.
"The one who left with Shinobu-sama is the Wind Hashira," Kanzaki Aoi said as she stepped out of the Butterfly Mansion carrying folded bedding.
"His name is Shinazugawa Sanemi. He's an extremely powerful swordsman."
Kazuki remembered meeting Aoi earlier, back when he had seen Rengoku after returning from Mount Fujikasane.
"I see…" Kazuki murmured, glancing at Sanemi's departing back before standing up.
"I should go practice my sword techniques too. Goodbye."
With that, he left the Butterfly Mansion and headed for the training grounds.
To his surprise, he ran into a familiar figure there—the cockscomb-haired boy he had seen on Mount Fujikasane. The boy was now repeatedly swinging his Nichirin Blade, practicing relentlessly.
After a moment's thought, Kazuki decided to approach him.
"Hello. My name is Kazuki," he said calmly.
"Since we've both joined the Demon Slayer Corps, we'll be fighting together as comrades from now on. There's no need to cling to past misunderstandings, right? I stepped in back then because you were about to hit that child."
As he spoke, Kazuki extended his hand.
The boy froze for a moment, clearly not expecting Kazuki to approach him.
"My name is Shinazugawa Genya," he replied.
Now that he had his Nichirin Blade, Genya seemed far less irritable than before. However, he didn't shake Kazuki's hand, continuing to practice his swings instead.
Shinazugawa Genya… Shinazugawa Sanemi…
Those names are awfully similar. Are they brothers?
Seeing that Genya had no intention of shaking hands, Kazuki withdrew his own. Hearing the name, he couldn't help linking Genya to the Wind Hashira he had just met.
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