Akira stood in the garden, breathing in the early morning mist. The Butterfly Mansion was quiet, calm, and washed in soft sunlight. It felt like the beginning of another good day.
He had many things to do today, but he was prepared. Completely prepared.
Then something hot suddenly pressed against his cheek.
"Kayyaaaa!!"
Akira jerked back with a startled shriek. When he spun around, Erika was standing there, laughing, holding two steaming cups of coffee. Judging from the mischievous smile on her face, she had definitely used one of them as a weapon to scorch his cheek.
"W-why did you do that!?" Akira demanded.
Erika laughed even harder. "That's your punishment for biting my ear yesterday."
"You started it," Akira shot back.
"I bite you all the time," Erika said proudly, as if announcing a divine right. "So I'm allowed to. You can't bite me."
"That's not true," Akira argued. "If you can bite me, I can bite you too!"
"No, that's not…"
Their bickering continued immediately, loud for the first thing in the morning, until someone cleared her throat sharply.
Both froze.
They turned to see Shinobu standing there with her polite, practiced smile… except today that smile had a dangerous edge. Under her eyes were dark, sleepless circles, evidence that someone had not enjoyed a peaceful night.
Akira blinked. "Oh, Shinobu. Morning. What happened? Did you not sleep well?"
"I was busy with something last night," she replied with her gentle smile that absolutely did not match her twitching eyebrow.
"But sleep is important, you know," Akira added innocently. "It's good to have proper rest."
A small vein popped on Shinobu's forehead.
She inhaled slowly, clearly restraining herself, then shifted back to business.
"I came to speak about our research. Tamayo-san will be here soon, after all."
Her tone softened a little. "So I wanted to ask, how far have you progressed with the blue spider lily?"
Akira nodded. "Right, that's true. I've already figured out how it works, mostly. But we need more samples for further research. I suppose I need to grow more of them."
Shinobu tilted her head thoughtfully. "What did you discover, anyway?"
"That flower basically induces cellular mutation," Akira explained. "It can do a lot more, but I need time and more data to understand all the effects. I'll explain everything during the meeting."
"Very well." Shinobu accepted that with a small nod and continued. "Anyway, Tamayo-san will arrive soon, and you also volunteered for the Hashira Training. Do you actually have a plan for how you're going to balance all that?"
Akira answered without hesitation. "Well, don't worry. I already have everything figured out. First, I'll finish the sword I was working on. Then I'll switch between research and Hashira training."
Shinobu raised a brow. "Are you sure it's a good idea to do both at the same time?"
"As far as research is concerned," Akira replied casually, "all I'm really going to do is write down the formulas and instructions and have you guys have to do all the actual work, and I'll be free soon. You know, like how I wrote down those poisons, speaking of which, did you manage to make them?"
Shinobu sighed softly, though her smile remained. "I did. They have… terrifying effects, especially for poisons that don't kill."
Akira nodded. "Well, if it were poisons that killed instantly, I'm sure the Upper Rank demons could overcome them. But these ones, they won't even know they were poisoned. By the time they realize it, it'll be too late."
Shinobu gave him a look that was equal parts admiration and exasperation.
"You're not wrong. Thank you for that."
Akira waved a hand. "Don't worry about it."
Shinobu straightened her posture, preparing to leave.
"I'll inform you when Tamayo-san arrives. Until then…"
She gave a polite little wave to both Akira and Erika before turning gracefully and walking away down the garden path.
Erika handed him the coffee with a small sigh.
"So… are you going to finish your swords now?"
Akira nodded. "Yes. I'll finish them soon."
"Really? How are you going to do that?" Erika asked, tilting her head. "Did you find a new forging method or something?"
"No," Akira replied casually. "It's just the plain old method."
Erika frowned. "But all the swords you made broke. None of them can handle your power."
"Don't worry," Akira said, a mysterious smile tugging at his lips. "I found a way."
"What way?"
"It's a secret," he said. "You'll see soon."
Erika sighed. "Whatever."
Akira then asked, "Are you seriously going to watch me forge? Won't you get bored?"
The day before, the two of them had decided what they would do for the next few days. Erika had claimed she had nothing urgent to attend to, so she would simply stay by Akira's side and support him.
Most of all, she knew she had been avoiding him lately; even if he hadn't said anything, she felt guilty. So she decided that, for now, she would stick beside him, even if that meant watching him hammer metal for hours.
I told you I would support you," Erika said firmly.
Akira blinked. "How are you going to support me during forging?"
"Moral support," Erika declared. "Or… do you not want me there?"
"No, I'd be happy if you were there," Akira said quickly. "I just thought you might get bored. Forging isn't that interesting."
"Don't worry," Erika said. "I'm curious about forging, too. And I want to see your secret technique."
Akira laughed. "In that case, after breakfast, we'll start."
Just as they were talking, Tanjiro walked out of the Butterfly Mansion, deep in thought about something. When he noticed them, he brightened and bowed politely.
"Good morning, Akira-san, Erika-san!"
Both Akira and Erika greeted him back.
Tanjiro hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer.
"Um… Akira-san, could I ask for your advice on something?"
Akira tilted his head. "Sure, what is it?"
"Well," Tanjiro began carefully, "there is someone who is always alone. How should I tell them… that they're not alone?"
Akira blinked. "…This is about Tomioka Giyu, right?"
Tanjiro stiffened. "H-How did you know?"
Akira shrugged. "Who else here is always alone? And after that stunt he pulled yesterday at the Hashira meeting… it wasn't hard to guess. Kagaya-san probably asked you to talk to him, right?"
Tanjiro nodded. "That's true. But… what happened yesterday?"
Akira sighed. "After the meeting ended, he just said, 'I am not like the rest of you,' and walked away without another word."
"Ah…" Tanjiro deflated.
"As for how to make someone feel less alone?" Akira continued. "I don't really know. I was always alone myself before meeting Erika. Well… I had my parents, but…"
"You were alone, Akira-san?" Tanjiro asked gently.
Erika answered for him. "Both of us were. For… certain reasons."
Akira nodded. "Yeah. See, Tanjiro, because we had magic powers even as kids, and children with unstable powers are dangerous… they basically locked us inside our houses until we were considered 'ready.' We were only allowed outside at seven years old. That's when we finally met."
Tanjiro's eyes softened. "That's… very sad."
"Don't be sad," Erika said. "They had their reasons. Akira was dangerous, you know".
Akira blinked. "Hey."
Erika continued, "The day after he was released, he almost flooded the entire city."
"What!?" Tanjiro yelped.
Akira said defensively, "Oh come on, I only did that because you said the sun was too bright."
Erika crossed her arms. "Yes. And the reasonable thing to do is to go inside the house or find some shade. Not cause a storm."
Akira said. "I was only trying to gather clouds! The rest was just… an accident!"
"It wasn't an accident," Erika insisted. "You just wanted to see how far you could go."
"Well…"
Selena's voice popped telepathically into both their heads, "Guys. Tanjiro is still here".
Both Akira and Erika froze.
Erika blushed red, and Akira coughed loudly, pretending none of that had happened.
"Ahem…Anyway," Akira said, regaining composure. "Tanjiro, the best thing you can do is pester him with kindness. Don't give up."
"P-Pester him?" Tanjiro repeated.
Akira said confidently. "Yeah. If you keep at it, he'll eventually come around. Bring him food he likes or something. I'm sure you'll get through to him if you don't give up."
Tanjiro's face lit up with determination. "I'll do it! Thank you, Akira-san! Thank you, Erika-san!"
He bowed deeply and ran off with renewed purpose.
Erika watched him go. "Will that really work?"
Akira stretched lazily. "I'm pretty sure it will. Giyu looks like a kind guy, honestly."
Erika nodded. "Then all we can do is wish him luck."
"Yep," Akira said. "That's that."
After finishing breakfast, the two of them headed to the shed Akira used as his forge.
Akira was nearly done with the twin blades; only a few final steps remained. Erika simply sat nearby, quietly watching him work. For her, it felt almost like watching a performance. Sure, it was just forging… but Akira had a way of turning anything he did into a performance.
When Akira finally lifted the completed blades, admiring their finished form, he looked up and froze.
Not only Erika… but Aoi, the three little girls Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho, Kanao, and even Nezuko were standing there, all staring at him with wide, sparkling eyes.
Their expressions were so focused that it was as if they were all in a trance.
Akira blinked. "…When did you guys arrive?"
Only then did everyone snap back to reality.
Even Erika, who hadn't noticed them at all, startled and said,
"W–When did you all get here?"
Aoi stepped forward, looking a little embarrassed.
"Well… we were playing, and we heard the sound, so we came to watch. It seemed… really interesting."
The other girls all nodded vigorously, their eyes still shining as if saying Yes! Yes!
Akira laughed softly, then straightened, holding the blades as if preparing for a grand reveal.
"Well, since you're all here…" His lips curled into a suspenseful smile.
"Get ready to witness my new magic."