Chapter 31: You People from the Butterfly Mansion Just Love Making a Big Deal Out of Everything
Two days later, Butterfly Mansion, afternoon.
"Sanemi-san."
Kocho Shinobu's voice sounded relatively calm, but if one looked closely,
one would find that her knuckles holding the bandages had turned slightly white, and the veins at her temples were throbbing.
"I believe I told you last time, didn't I?"
"If you don't take care of your body, even a man made of iron will break down."
"Although your muscle density is unusual, it's not meant to be used as a chew toy for demons."
Sanemi Shinazugawa sat on the hospital bed, bare-chested.
That body, covered in countless hideous scars, was like a map recording a history of brutal battles.
The newly added wound was located under his left ribs; the flesh was torn, and though the bleeding had stopped, it was still a shocking sight.
"Shut up already."
Sanemi Shinazugawa clicked his tongue impatiently.
"It's just a flesh wound. Just wrap it up. Why all the chatter?"
"You people from the Butterfly Mansion just love making a big deal out of everything."
"A flesh wound?"
Kocho Shinobu's eyebrows shot up, and her movements paused for a moment.
Immediately after, she used tweezers to pick up a cotton ball soaked in strong medicinal alcohol and pressed it mercilessly onto the wound.
"Sss—!"
Even a tough guy like Sanemi Shinazugawa couldn't help but suck in a breath of cold air.
His body tensed up instantly, and he whipped his head around to glare at Kocho Shinobu.
"Hey! You woman, you did that on purpose, didn't you?!"
"Oh my, how could that be?"
Kocho Shinobu's lips curled into a fake smile as she spoke her denial.
"Disinfection is a necessary step. Since you think it's just a flesh wound, Sanemi-san,"
"this bit of pain should feel like a mosquito bite, right?"
"Tch."
Sanemi Shinazugawa turned his head away, the veins on his neck bulging, clearly enduring the pain.
"Hurry up and finish. I have things to do."
Although Kocho Shinobu's movements became slightly heavier
as a way to vent her frustration at this man who wouldn't follow doctor's orders,
her professional skill as a healer still allowed her to wrap the bandages quickly and efficiently.
The white bandages covered those hideous scars layer by layer.
Kocho Shinobu lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting a shadow over her eyelids.
Her thoughts involuntarily drifted away.
Big sister...
Her movements slowed for a beat because she was distracted.
Today was the fifth day since her sister, Kanae Kocho, had gone on a mission.
It was supposed to be an ordinary demon-slaying mission.
Given her sister's strength as the "Flower Hashira,"
a mission of this level would usually be resolved in half a day.
Even including travel time, she should have returned by the night before last.
But until now, there had been no word from the Kasugai Crow responsible for delivering messages.
"What? Is your hand broken?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa felt her pause and asked gruffly.
Kocho Shinobu snapped back to reality and tied a knot in the bandage with a jerk.
She used so much force that Sanemi Shinazugawa nearly choked.
"If you have no use for your mouth, Sanemi-san, I can sew it shut for you."
Kocho Shinobu said crossly, turning to clear away the blood-stained cotton balls on the tray.
An inexplicable unease grew wildly in her heart like weeds.
Her sister was too gentle.
That was what Kocho Shinobu loved most about her sister, but it was also what worried her most.
In this world where demons ran rampant,
her sister always held onto the naive idea that "it would be wonderful if demons and humans could coexist peacefully."
Every time she heard her sister say that, she would puff out her cheeks and argue back, listing countless tragedies where demons had killed people.
But her sister would always gently pat her head and say with a smile, "Shinobu is still too strict, isn't she?"
Strict?
No, it was a vigilance toward this world.
"Hey."
Sanemi Shinazugawa moved his bandaged upper body. Though he grumbled, he had to admit
that this woman's bandaging technique was indeed top-notch. The pain at the wound had lessened significantly, and it wouldn't hinder his movements.
"That person hasn't come back yet?"
Kocho Shinobu's hand, which was tidying the equipment, suddenly froze.
She knew who Sanemi meant by "that person."
"...Sister, she's probably just tied up with some trivial matters."
Kocho Shinobu's back was to Sanemi Shinazugawa, and her voice was a bit tight.
"After all, Sister is always like that. If she sees an injured kitten or puppy by the road, she'll stop to take care of it,"
"or maybe she encountered a lost old lady..."
She was trying to convince herself.
Sanemi Shinazugawa looked at Kocho Shinobu's petite back, his brow furrowing slightly.
Although he had a violent temper, it didn't mean he was a fool.
On the contrary, the intuition honed from rolling around on the battlefield made him keenly aware that something was wrong.
The Flower Hashira, Kanae Kocho, though her personality was as soft as a ball of cotton,
her strength as a Hashira was unquestionable when it came to killing demons.
Delaying a return was extremely rare for a Hashira, unless...
"Hmph, that half-hearted gentleness will get her killed sooner or later."
Sanemi Shinazugawa snorted coldly, grabbed his uniform jacket from the bedside, and draped it casually over his shoulders.
"As a Hashira, to have no sense of time, really..."
"Please take that back!"
Kocho Shinobu whipped around, two flames of anger burning in her purple eyes.
She glared at Sanemi Shinazugawa like a little tiger protecting its food.
"Sister is not half-hearted!"
"Sister is stronger than anyone, and gentler than anyone!"
"Someone like you, Sanemi-san, who only knows how to solve problems with violence, doesn't understand Sister's greatness at all!"
"Ha?"
The veins on Sanemi Shinazugawa's forehead throbbed again.
He stood up, his tall shadow instantly looming over the petite Kocho Shinobu.
His scar-covered face leaned close to hers, his gaze menacing.
"Who are you saying only knows violence?"
"Eh?"
"In this world full of demons, what use is gentleness!"
"The only thing that can cut off a demon's head is a blade!"
"Only strength!"
"You—!"
Kocho Shinobu trembled with rage, her fingers tightly gripping the tray.
She hated Sanemi Shinazugawa's attitude of dismissing all gentleness the most,
as if there were no value in this world other than slaughter.
"Sister's gentleness is also a kind of strength."
"It's precisely because there are people like Sister that everyone can feel hope in the midst of despair!"
Kocho Shinobu glared back without flinching. Despite the huge difference in height,
she refused to back down an inch in terms of presence.
The air between them seemed to solidify, the smell of gunpowder ready to ignite.
Right then—
Bang!
The door to the infirmary was slammed open.
The two people inside turned their heads at the same time.
Two people were standing at the door.
One was a member of the Kakushi Unit in a black uniform, panting and covered in sweat.
And on his back, he was carrying a young boy.
The boy appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, wearing the Demon Slayer Corps uniform.
From his shoulders down, his arms were completely gone.
His sleeves swung limply with the Kakushi member's movements.
At his waist were two green Nichirin Swords.
Because he had lost his arms, the two swords were tied tightly to his belt with rope.
"Ma... Masashi?!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa's pupils instantly contracted like needles.
This was a disciple he had taken in not long ago.
Although his talent wasn't top-tier, his ruthless drive toward himself was very much like Sanemi's;
he was a promising youth willing to endure hardships.
Masashi also had an older brother. The two brothers had joined the Demon Slayer Corps together, swearing to slay all demons.
Masashi's face was now as pale as paper.
But the moment he heard Sanemi Shinazugawa's voice,
a flicker of light instantly erupted in his dull eyes.
"Sa... Sanemi... Master..."
Masashi struggled to get off the Kakushi member's back.
But having lost his arms, his sense of balance was terrible, and he stumbled forward as soon as his feet touched the ground.
"Hey!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa blurred and instantly appeared in front of Masashi,
grabbing the front of his clothes and lifting him up.
His gaze was fixed on Masashi's empty sleeves, his voice terrifyingly low:
"What happened? Where are your arms?"
"And where is your brother?"
"Where is that guy who's always following you around!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa's hand was trembling slightly.
Although he always called these newcomers useless,
and always told them to go die, he remembered every single member he had trained.
He remembered the way these two brothers sweated in the dojo,
and he remembered how they refused to beg for mercy even after he beat them black and blue.
Looking at the familiar and fierce face before him, Masashi's tears instantly burst forth.
"Master... Brother... he's dead! Waaaah..."
The boy's crying sounded heart-wrenching in the quiet infirmary.
"To protect me... Brother was caught by a demon..."
"Right in front of me... crunch, crunch... he was eaten..."
Masashi trembled violently, as if he had returned to that hellish scene; fear and regret were consuming his sanity.
"My arms... they were also cut off by that demon..."
"I was too weak..."