Then, Kanao pointed at the sleeping Kocho Shinobu.
Kocho Kanae understood and gently patted Kanao's hand.
Kanao realized she had been a little rude, so she let go of Kanae's hand and bowed repeatedly.
Kanae quickly waved her hands to indicate that everything was fine, and then pointed to a room in the house and whispered,
"Tomioka, that is Shinobu's room. Go and put her down."
Tomioka Giyu bowed slightly in gratitude, then carried Kocho Shinobu into her room.
When he saw the salmon doll on the bed, he smiled inexplicably.
It seemed that this salmon had replaced him these days.
He walked to the bed, gently laid Shinobu down, and tossed the salmon doll aside, thinking to himself,
'Thanks but you can rest now.'
After tucking the quilt around her, Tomioka stepped lightly—
But just as he was about to leave, Kocho Shinobu caught his wrist.
"Please don't leave. Stay with me tonight… okay…"
Tomioka turned around, looking at Shinobu's shy expression. His brain went completely offline.
In a voice laced with hesitation, he said,
"…What? I… I'll stay with you?"
"Is that… not okay?" Shinobu asked with slight disappointment in her eyes.
"I've been looking forward to your return all this time."
"Now that you're finally back… I don't want to be apart so soon. I'm afraid that when I wake up, you'll be gone again…"
Tomioka smiled awkwardly. It seemed he had overthought it.
"Of course it's okay. I'll hold you in my arms tonight and make sure you see me the moment you open your eyes tomorrow morning."
"Yeah!" Shinobu immediately brightened, scooting aside to make room.
Tomioka lay down beside her, and Shinobu snuggled into his arms like a kitten, a gentle smile blooming on her face.
Just as he was about to drift off, Shinobu whispered,
"I… I know what you were thinking earlier. If you want to… it's not impossible…"
Her voice trailed off so softly that if the room hadn't been completely silent, Tomioka wouldn't have heard the second half.
Now wide awake, he turned stiffly toward her and saw Shinobu gazing at him with deep affection.
Tomioka swallowed hard, blood rushing to his head.
However, the stillness of Water Breathing—honed through countless hours of training—was not in vain.
He calmed his breath and answered seriously:
"Shinobu, I understand how you feel. But let's wait until the day we're married."
"I want to be with you at the happiest moment of our lives, not rush this. When everything settles down."
Before he could finish, Shinobu's eyes were already wet with tears.
She embraced him again, whispering,
"Okay… I'll listen to you. You're so good to me…"
Tomioka gently kissed her forehead.
"You deserve that and more."
But at that moment, Tomioka suddenly realized…
If they really did get married, he might have to call Sanemi Shinazugawa his brother-in-law.
He felt like the sky was falling.
Soon after, both of them fell asleep.
Tomioka felt exhausted and wanted nothing more than to rest.
As for Shinobu, she had stayed up just to spend a few more moments with him.
The next morning, Kocho Shinobu woke up first.
She had no intention of moving or waking Giyu.
She simply touched his face, nose, lips, and ears gently with her fingers, as if to make sure he was really there.
She was too happy—and too afraid it was just a dream.
When happiness finally comes, people cling to it… and fear losing it.
That night, the two slept peacefully.
But the messenger crows were incredibly busy.
The first was Kanzaburo, Giyu's crow.
It was supposed to report to Ubuyashiki Kagaya that Giyu had awakened—
But he got lost and didn't reach the estate until dawn.
Not that it mattered—Kocho Kanae had made preparations.
Her crow had already flown to the Demon Slayer Corps Estate at midnight to deliver the good news.
Soon, eleven crows flew out from the estate, racing to reach Urokodaki Sakonji, Tanjiro, and the other Hashira.
In the mountains, Urokodaki Sakonji had just returned from chopping firewood.
Sitting on a log, he sighed heavily.
Since hearing of Giyu's injury, he had repeated this routine daily.
But today was different.
When the crow relayed the message, tears flowed freely.
"Thank goodness… Giyu is safe…"
Meanwhile, on separate missions, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke each heard the news:
"Brother Giyu…"
"Nezuko! Let's finish this mission fast! I want to go back and see Giyu!"
Even Zenitsu, far away on a mission, smiled from the depths of his heart.
"That's amazing! I'm heading back immediately!"
Unfortunately, his teammates grabbed him before he could run off.
Zenitsu wailed,
"I wanna go hoooome! I'm so loooonely! Tanjiroooo! Inosukeeee! Nezukooo~"
Inosuke, of course, was as boisterous as ever:
"Hahaha! I knew it! Tomioka Giyu would never die!"
"Time to finish my mission quick so I can challenge him again! Fierce Boar Rush! Fierce Boar Rush!!"
The Hashira each responded in their own way:
Tokito Muichiro remained stoic, walking silently, his thoughts unreadable.
Gyomei Himejima was standing beneath a waterfall, praying with hands clasped, tears flowing.
"There's no way Tomioka could die before purging all demons from this world… Namu Amida Butsu."
In a distant village, Sanemi Shinazugawa stood soaked in demon blood, grinning after a victorious battle.
"He's not dead after all. Wait for me, Tomioka…"
He gripped his sword tighter and rushed back toward the Butterfly Mansion.
Rengoku Kyojuro beamed with pride.
"Yosh! I knew it! With his strength, Tomioka wouldn't fall so easily!"
Uzui Tengen laughed flamboyantly.
"A gorgeous return from the brink of death!"
In the Swordsmith Village, Kanroji Mitsuri stood up from the hot springs, glowing with joy.
"Yay! Now Shinobu-chan won't be sad anymore!"
Iguro Obanai, after completing a mission at a shrine, crossed his arms and muttered,
"Hmph. That's how it should be."
All across Japan, the scattered swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps smiled with relief—
For Tomioka Giyu, the quiet yet resolute Water Hashira, had returned.
And in that brief moment of peace, a new dawn rose.
***
In the Butterfly House, Shinobu Kocho's actions still woke up Giyu Tomioka.
Tomioka Giyu turned over, hugged Kocho Shinobu again, and murmured,
"Don't make trouble, I'll sleep for a while."
Being held in his arms, Shinobu Kocho simply hummed. "hmm"
But soon, the ambiguous atmosphere was interrupted—the door was pushed open.
"Shinobu, it's time for breakfast. Kiyo made your favorite dish…"
The rest of Kocho Kanae's words were swallowed back into her throat because the scene in front of her made her blush furiously.
Tomioka Giyu and Kocho Shinobu sat up instantly and were about to explain when Kocho Kanae cut in, flustered.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I didn't know Tomioka hadn't left."
"Well… breakfast is ready, remember to come out and eat. I won't disturb you, bye!"
Kocho Kanae closed the door as if fleeing, and the sound of her footsteps grew distant.
Shinobu Kocho slapped Giyu Tomioka in annoyance.
"It's all your fault! You insisted on sleeping a little longer!"
Tomioka Giyu didn't refute, only ruffled her hair gently and said,
"Okay, it's my fault. Hurry up and get up to eat. I still have to go to the Master later."
"You're so annoying! You messed up my hair!" Shinobu huffed.
Then, seeing Giyu already dressed, Shinobu Kocho opened her arms and looked at him expectantly.
"I don't want to eat. Why don't we sleep a little longer?"
Tomioka Giyu smiled helplessly. How could he not know what she really meant?
This girl didn't want to sleep at all—she clearly just wanted to spend more time with him.
Instead of hugging her again, Giyu turned around and picked up the socks Shinobu had taken off.
Under her curious gaze, Giyu held her foot in one hand and slowly started putting the sock on with the other.
"Ah!! You… what are you doing?!"
"Uh, putting on socks."
As he spoke, Giyu had already slipped one sock on and was reaching for her other foot—but she quickly pulled it back.
Blushing furiously, Shinobu stammered,
"I… I know you're putting on socks, but… But whyare you helping me with that…"
"Oh, since you won't get out of bed, I can only help you. What's wrong with that?"
"But, but you can't…" Shinobu floundered, unable to find the words to refute him.
She grabbed the other sock and mumbled,
"I—I can put it on myself! I won't stay in bed anymore. Let's go eat now!"
Tomioka Giyu nodded with satisfaction, then put on his haori and looked at the bright sunshine outside.
Soon, Shinobu was dressed.
"Giyu, let's go!"
When they arrived at the table, they were a little late. Kocho Kanae and the others had already finished eating.
However, they had thoughtfully left some food that each of them liked.
Kocho Kanae looked at the two for a long time with a gentle smile, then got up, opened the door, and said just one thing:
"That's wonderful. Shinobu has found a good partner."
This time, Shinobu Kocho didn't hide anything. She nodded happily and smiled at Giyu Tomioka.
After breakfast, Shinobu Kocho handed Giyu Tomioka his Nichirin Blade.
"Here, go to the Master quickly. I'm going back to sleep for a bit."
After a quick packing, Tomioka Giyu left the Butterfly House and headed to the Ubuyashiki estate.
Regarding his disappearance and sudden return, he had to give some explanation to the Master.
Even if it was fabricated, it was better than pretending nothing had happened.
However, the one who received him now was Lady Amane—Ubuyashiki Kagaya's wife—as the Master's curse had progressed dangerously.
The entire conversation did not last long. Giyu Tomioka used the illusion of a divine encounter to explain his disappearance and return.
He then applied to go to the Swordsmith Village, stating that he needed to speak with Tecchin Tecchikawahara regarding issues with his blade.
After saying this, Tomioka Giyu hesitated, but eventually left the estate.
He had wanted to ask the Master for Tamayo's whereabouts.
Now that his Demon Slayer Mark had awakened, only someone like Tamayo, a medical genius and Muzan's most reliable opponent, could possibly offer help or insights.
But he had no idea where she was. Neither did Tanjiro.
Only the Master had contact with her—or at least clues about her location.
Even so, Giyu couldn't find a good enough reason to ask about her just yet.
"Forget it, once I finish things in the Swordsmith Village, I'll see if I can track Yushiro's cat."
While deep in thought, a Kakushi appeared.
"Tomioka, please cover your eyes. We'll escort you to the Swordsmith Village now."
That afternoon, as the sun began to set, Giyu Tomioka arrived at the hidden Swordsmith Village.
He first paid his respects to the village chief, and then visited Tecchin Tecchikawahara.
They drank and chatted until evening. Afterward, Giyu headed toward the hot springs.
After all, coming to the Swordsmith Village and not soaking in the hot springs would be a wasted trip.
Before that, he went to his temporary residence to change into a light kimono, then made his way to the springs.
After soaking for a while, a youth with a spiky cockscomb haircut walked in with his chest bare.
But upon seeing Tomioka Giyu, he froze, clearly shocked.
"Tomioka! Why are you here too?!"
Giyu looked at him and said with a hint of amusement,
"More scars again, Genya? I told you, don't copy your brother."
That's right—the youth was none other than Sanemi Shinazugawa's younger brother, Genya.
Genya had no idea how to respond, so he stood there awkwardly.
Giyu chuckled softly, "Alright, get in. The hot spring here is great in every sense."
He remembered first meeting Genya during one of his trips to train or challenge the Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima.
Back then, Genya hadn't paid much attention to him.
But as time passed, he became surprised when Giyu managed to steadily keep pace with Gyomei's offense.