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Asakusa—a luxurious mansion nestled in the city's quieter district.
Kaido arrived via sword-flight, following Kuroha's directions straight to Tamayo's residence. He slipped through a second-floor window into her room with practiced ease.
"Evening, Tamayo-nee! Beautiful night out, isn't it?"
"Ara, Kaido-kun—what a rare visit! What brings you here tonight?"
"Came to check on you. Oh, and to handle some official business."
"I see!" Tamayo's expression warmed. "Before we get to that, thank you again for the blood samples from those three Upper Ranks. My research has made tremendous progress—I should have results within the next few days."
"Glad I could help. Speaking of business..." Kaido pulled a sealed envelope from his jacket. "This is from Master."
He placed the letter on the table. Tamayo opened it carefully and began reading.
...
Lady Tamayo.
Forgive the intrusion. I am Kagaya Ubuyashiki, 97th leader of the Demon Slayer Corps.
I've asked Kaido to serve as my messenger today because I hope you'll join us in destroying Muzan Kibutsuji.
I'd intended to come personally, but the Corps demands my attention, so please forgive the proxy.
We have medical experts who understand demon physiology. I'd like to request your assistance investigating Nezuko's transformation and other related matters.
Therefore, I humbly ask you to visit the Ubuyashiki estate. Kaido will guarantee your safety, and I give you my word—no one will harm you.
—Kagaya Ubuyashiki
...
Tamayo's expression flickered with hesitation and internal conflict.
"Visit the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters... as a demon?"
"That's right, Tamayo-nee. That's my mission—and I'll stake my life on it. No one will hurt you."
"Let me... think about this for a moment."
"Take your time. I'll wait outside."
Kaido stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind him. He'd barely settled against the wall when Yushiro came storming down the corridor.
"What the hell are you doing here? Why were you in Lady Tamayo's room??"
"Keeping a promise, obviously."
"You... you're serious? You can actually keep Lady Tamayo safe?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down—she'll hear you!"
"Oh! Right, right..."
"Come on. Let's talk in the living room."
They settled onto the sofa. Kaido leaned forward with a calculating grin.
"Yushiro. I need to know—have you confessed to Tamayo-nee yet?"
"I—" Yushiro's face immediately turned crimson. He started fidgeting like a guilty schoolboy.
"Oho~ you're blushing! Come on, let me get a good look at you... wait, scratch that. Just tell me—did you confess or not?"
"N... no..."
BONK!
Kaido's fist came down on Yushiro's skull like a hammer. Demon regeneration meant he could take it.
"OW! What was that for??"
"You mom-obsessed idiot! All this time and you still haven't told her how you feel?? I should beat you senseless!"
"Wait, wait! Can we talk like civilized people instead of resorting to violence??"
"You're driving me insane! Fine—listen up. I've got a plan, but I need your help to pull it off."
"Anything. If it keeps Lady Tamayo alive, I'll do whatever it takes."
"Good. Here's what we're doing..."
━━━━━━━━
Several hours later, Tamayo made her decision. She'd join Kaido and travel to Corps headquarters. After all, destroying Muzan and claiming her revenge had been her lifelong goal.
She emerged from her room and found Kaido in the living room.
"Kaido-kun, I've made up my mind."
"Great! Leave everything to me, Tamayo-nee."
"Then I'll be counting on you."
"Grab whatever you need—we're traveling tonight while it's dark."
"Understood."
Within minutes, Tamayo and Yushiro returned with two medical supply cases. Chachamaru trotted along at their feet.
"Hand those over—they'll be awkward to carry while flying."
"Flying?"
Tamayo looked confused but complied. She and Yushiro passed the cases to Kaido, who—right in front of their astonished faces—tossed both into thin air where they vanished into nothing.
The two demons froze.
"Relax, it's a family technique. Nothing inside will be damaged."
"I... see."
Then Kaido pulled his greatsword from the void, letting it hover midair through psychic manipulation. Tamayo and Yushiro stood speechless, processing this second impossible feat.
"Yushiro, hold Tamayo and sit on the sword."
"I—" Yushiro's face turned beet red again.
Kaido felt his temper spike. He turned to Tamayo. "Tamayo-nee, I need to have a quick word with Yushiro. Give us a minute."
He grabbed Yushiro by the collar, dragged him into a nearby alley, jumped up—because he was too short to reach otherwise—and bonked him on the head again.
"Are you completely useless?? I'm handing you opportunities on a silver platter and you're choking! What's the deal—are you part tomato or something??"
"It's not like that! I'm not! Stop making assumptions!"
"Fine—here are your options. Either I fly Tamayo there myself and you follow on foot, or you hold her like I said and we all fly together. Your choice."
"I... I know what I have to do."
System: [Another victim of the host's influence.]
Kaido: [Shut up, you perverted system. All you think about is lewd stuff and getting me into dresses!]
System: [Thank you for the compliment.]
Kaido: [I... forget it. Not worth arguing.]
When they returned, Tamayo noticed something odd about Yushiro.
"Yushiro, what happened to your head?"
"N-nothing! Just... tripped and fell."
"Fell?" Tamayo looked skeptical. What kind of fall left a perfectly round lump on someone's skull?
"Tamayo-nee, we should go—time's running out. Yushiro, hold her and get on the sword!"
"Y-yes... Lady Tamayo, please forgive the presumption."
Yushiro carefully lifted Tamayo into his arms. His face turned an even deeper shade of red as he caught the faint, sweet scent of her hair.
'Pathetic,' Kaido thought with a mental eye-roll. 'Total mom complex. Unbelievable.'
With Tamayo seated in Yushiro's lap on the blade, the poor demon looked ready to pass out from overstimulation. His crimson face betrayed every flustered thought racing through his mind.
Kaido settled at the front of the sword, cradling Chachamaru in his arms. The cat purred contentedly, clearly preferring Kaido's lap to anyone else's.
Kuroha landed on his shoulder—then immediately realized his mistake and tried to take off.
WHOOSH!
The sword shot forward like a missile before Kuroha could escape, leaving only a few scattered feathers floating in the air.
"GYAAAAAAH!" Kuroha screeched like a crow strapped to a rocket, talons digging desperately into Kaido's clothes.
Down in the streets of Asakusa, pedestrians occasionally heard the bloodcurdling caw echoing from above.
"Is someone torturing a crow? That sounds awful!"
"Who knows? Come on, let's get back to drinking."
One man glanced up and thought he saw several small figures streaking across the night sky. He rubbed his eyes and looked again, but they'd already vanished.
"Hey, you okay?"
"I... I think I just saw people flying."
"You're seeing things before you've even started drinking? That's a new low!"
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