From Tanjiro's perspective, it wasn't that strange to see Nezuko become smaller—she was already younger than him, after all. It might be a bit surprising, but nothing more. If anything, it was her matured demon form that could make someone gasp in awe.
But with Chika, it was the opposite. His older sister suddenly shrinking down to child-size? That kind of visual impact was on a whole other level.
When Nezuko arrived and saw Chika, now smaller than herself, her eyes lit up like stars—she was practically trembling with excitement.
Chika, on the other hand, felt a little awkward. Just as she was about to be scooped up and treated like a living doll, a summons arrived from the Master. That call spared her from Nezuko's enthusiastic grasp.
Nezuko's eyes instantly filled with tears, and her lower lip trembled like she was about to cry. Panicking, Chika quickly comforted her, promising, "I'll shrink again later so we can play, okay?"
Nezuko sniffled, blinking away her tears. "Really?"
"Of course it's true! When have I ever lied to you?" Chika said, reaching out to pat her head—only to realize, halfway through, that she couldn't actually reach it.
After finally calming Nezuko down, Chika left the Butterfly Estate. As she jogged toward the Master's residence, her body gradually returned to its normal size.
This time, the Master had summoned only her. When she entered his room, she was met with the sight of his frail, smiling face.
"Forgive me for calling you so soon after you've woken," he said softly.
Chika waved her hands. "No, no, it's fine! I've been asleep for so long that I need the exercise."
The Master smiled faintly. Though his eyes could no longer see, he still radiated calm strength. His condition had worsened—his body frail, his health fading, and his coughs sometimes came with blood.
Such was the curse of his family—the price of being born in the same bloodline as Kibutsuji Muzan. No man in their clan had ever lived past thirty, even though they married shrine maidens each generation to try to purify the bloodline.
But Chika knew there was still hope. If Muzan was destroyed, so too would the curse end. Then, perhaps, their Master could live on in peace and health.
"I just wanted to talk with you," he said kindly. Behind him, his two children appeared, pouring tea for both him and Chika.
"Talk? That sounds nice," Chika said cheerfully. "You can call me anytime you feel like chatting!"
She took the teacup, even though she wasn't much of a tea person—there was no way she'd refuse the Master's hospitality.
Just as she raised the cup to her lips, expecting some light conversation about small matters during her absence—maybe some gossip or trivial news—the Master spoke again, voice calm but heavy.
"Chika, do you believe our generation can truly destroy Kibutsuji Muzan?"
Her hand trembled. The tea nearly spilled, and she hurriedly swallowed what she'd just sipped.
Wow, Master… starting with the final boss, huh?
Still, it wasn't a hard question. For Chika, there was only one possible answer.
"Yes," she said firmly. "In this generation—we will definitely destroy Muzan."
Though he could no longer see, the Master could feel the conviction in her tone.
Even if he asked the same question to the other Hashira, most would surely answer "yes." But what he sensed in Chika's voice wasn't ordinary confidence—it was something deeper.
A month earlier, when Rengoku had returned and reported the fall of Upper Moon Three, the Master had been so overjoyed he'd coughed up three mouthfuls of blood.
An Upper Moon, he had thought.
Those positions had remained unshaken for centuries. The Lower Moons came and went, but the Upper Moons? They were eternal pillars of terror.
For one to fall now—it was nothing short of a miracle.
If coughing blood could trade for more Upper Moon deaths, he'd gladly order his children to bring a basin next time.
And when Rengoku revealed that Chika had been the key player in Akaza's defeat, the Master could barely contain his joy.
He had always held high hopes for her, but even then, this outcome surpassed his expectations.
She had awakened the Crimson Blade.
An Upper Moon had fallen.
And for the first time in centuries—the possibility of Muzan's death had become real.
Though his eyes were clouded white, Chika could still see the fierce will burning within him.
He didn't want to die.
But he wasn't afraid of death either.
No matter what it took, this generation would be the one to end Muzan's reign—even if it cost them their lives.
After such a weighty topic, the Master finally shifted the conversation to lighter matters, chatting with Chika as they sipped tea.
She relaxed and matched his rhythm, thinking smugly, Okay, I'm in the zone now. Even if he drops another heavy question, I won't flinch.
"By the way," the Master said suddenly, "have you decided on your Hashira title?"
"........."
And with that, Chika nearly choked on her tea again.
Moments later, she practically fled from the room, her face burning.
My Hashira title? Seriously?
She sighed as she walked.
"If I go by the Fire God Dance—technically Sun Breathing—should I be the 'Sun Hashira'? Ugh, but that's so generic…"
Picking something unique, though, was a whole new nightmare.
Still muttering, she reached the Butterfly Estate's gate before realizing she'd arrived too soon.
Wait. If I go back now, Nezuko's probably still in playtime mode…
If Nezuko begged her to shrink again, she could probably resist for a bit.
But if Nezuko pulled out her ultimate move—tears—Chika knew she was doomed.
"...Better stall for time."
She nodded to herself. But stalling meant finding something else to do first.
As she wandered down the path, she thought aloud,
"After the Mugen Train arc, next up should be the Entertainment District arc, right?"
And that meant the next major Hashira to appear was—
"The Sound Hashira," she murmured with a small grin.
Just thinking of him brought that familiar, over-the-top voice to mind: 'My score is complete!'
The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui—a flamboyant ex-ninja with three wives and a flair for the dramatic.
Chika's eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Well then," she said, stretching. "Guess I'll go pay our flashy ninja a visit."