The Lower Rank Six…
Even without having suffered any serious injuries, just a few scratches and bruises on my joints.
I couldn't help but acknowledge how strong he was, and what would have happened if I had been slower, if I had hesitated, or if I hadn't been careful with my actions…
"Sigh…" I needed to get stronger.
The first thing that came to mind was the final evolution of my boots: Ever Forward, where I would become much faster than I already am.
Another thing I thought about was: what had happened to Takamasa in the original timeline?
Did he die fighting a Hashira?
Was he defeated while trying to climb the ranks?
Or did he anger Muzan enough to be erased?
He was monstrously strong for a Lower Moon, he just wasn't agile enough.
But that didn't matter now.
He was dead.
I exhaled slowly and let my body relax.
I closed my eyes for a few minutes.
I dozed off, which was kind of stupid to do out in the open in the middle of a destroyed battlefield.
But the rest didn't last long.
"Craa!! CRAA!!
"USAN!!!"
"USAAAN!!!"
After the shouting, I received a series of pecks and pinches on my nose, cheek, and chin that forced me awake.
I slowly opened my eyes.
Three dark shapes filled my vision at once.
Three little crow faces, trembling, their eyes watery.
Kuroha tried to keep her composure, but failed, trembling slightly.
Tsubaki turned to the side, hiding her face.
Hotaru broke down into tears of pure relief.
"I'm fine… good job, you three," I replied, sitting up.
That was when I noticed other shadows in the sky.
Two crows were circling above.
One dove down and landed on the ground, I recognized her.
It was Shinobu's crow.
The other crow flew away.
Before I could ask what the crow was doing there, two hands grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently enough to blur my vision.
"USAN!" Shinobu practically shouted in my face, shaking me like a doll.
"ARE YOU OKAY??!!!"
Her hands moved over my face, neck, and arms, searching for invisible injuries.
I tried to speak, but it was a bit difficult while my brain was being shaken.
"Shinobu… I'm fine…"
"I thought you… were on a mission…"
"I was," she cut in, not stopping her inspection.
"I was coming back when I found Hotaru screaming! I thought you had… that you…" Her voice faltered for a moment.
She finally stopped, holding my face with both hands.
I could see how out of breath she was, as if she had just run a marathon.
She stared at my face for a few seconds, then pulled me into a hug so tight it knocked the air out of my lungs.
Once I caught my breath again, I returned the embrace.
Her body sank into mine.
She buried her head in my neck, sniffling softly.
Shinobu trembled slightly, I could hear her heart beating at a rapid pace.
Shinobu then lifted her face, our gazes meeting.
Her face was wet with tears, but somehow she still looked elegant, even like that.
"Shinobu…"
She froze.
Her face gradually turned redder and redder.
Then she pushed me away and quickly turned her face aside, wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
"Idiot…"
Silence...
"…I'm glad you're okay."
I smiled, but didn't have time to respond.
Because a second later, something soft, warm, and absolutely crushing swallowed half of my face.
"USAN!!" Kanae's voice came out muffled.
"Thank God… thank God…"
She pressed me against her chest with so much force that my soul left my body for a moment.
I stayed there, my face buried in soft paradise, thinking that maybe this would be a good time to die.
Unfortunately, it didn't last long before Kanae realized what she was doing and let me go, a faint blush on her face.
The two spoke almost at the same time, asking what had happened.
I told them everything, pointing to the battlefield: broken pillars, craters, scattered stones, dust still hanging in the air.
Shinobu went back to examining me, Kanae followed, both ignoring my complaints.
They were so close that I could feel the warmth of their bodies, their soft hands moving over my arms, shoulders, and ribs.
It was a bit embarrassing, but I obviously didn't dislike it, nor did I push them away.
When we were about to leave, members of the Support Squad arrived, probably to collect the bodies of hunters and civilians killed by the Lower Rank.
Back at the mansion, I took a hot bath and collapsed onto the futon, passing out immediately.
─── ◆ ───
I woke up the next day with the door being thrown open without any ceremony.
"Good morning, Mr. Hashira," Shinobu announced, placing a tray on my lap with: rice, grilled fish, miso soup, vegetables, tea… and more rice, a lot of rice.
"Urgh, it hasn't even been made official yet, it'll probably take some time," I said groggily, rubbing my eyes.
"Hm... Details," she replied with a small smile, sitting beside me.
I ate as if I hadn't seen food in a week.
Then:
Knock! Knock!
Kanae knocked before entering, unlike her younger sister.
"Good morning, you two," she said with her usual gentleness.
"Usan, the Master is calling for you."
I stopped chewing.
"Already?"
"Yes," she smiled.
"There was already going to be a meeting this afternoon."
"And since you're not injured… it seemed like a good moment for your official appointment."
'Okay, that was fast.'
"He asked for you to come earlier," she added.
"Said he wanted to talk to you a bit before the other Hashira arrive."
Shinobu crossed her arms and made a face.
"Don't go doing anything stupid."
Kanae simply smiled even more.
"Alright," I murmured.
I quickly finished my meal and stood up.
"See you later."
Both of them smiled.
─── ◆ ───
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