"Sister… don't go. Sister, don't leave me… Sister… sister…"
On the hospital bed, the young boy—still deep in a coma—suddenly began thrashing, his body trembling violently. His hands clawed at the empty air, as if desperately trying to grasp something that was no longer there.
Nearby, a young girl dressed in a nurse's uniform was cleaning the room. Startled by the sudden noise, she hurried over. Seeing that the boy—who had been unconscious for two days—was finally reacting, her eyes lit up with excitement.
"He's awake! He's awake! He's finally awake! Xiao Cheng, go inform Miss Shinobu—this patient is finally conscious!"
At her call, Xiao Cheng immediately rushed out of the room, while Xiao Sui cautiously stepped closer to the bedside.
"Qi An… Qi An… give… give me back my sister… Qi An… don't go… come back… Sister…!"
The boy's voice was hoarse and broken, each word filled with anguish.
The two nurses exchanged uneasy glances. They wanted to approach him, to check his condition—but the way he flailed, like a man possessed, made them hesitate.
"Do you think… he's gone mad?" Xiao Sui whispered.
"He must have. Who is this 'Qi An'? He keeps shouting about his sister…"
Xiao Sui puffed her cheeks, thinking hard.
"When Miss Shinobu brought him back, he was barely alive. Aoi said his entire village was slaughtered by demons… and he was the only survivor."
Her voice lowered.
"Maybe… this 'Qi An' is the one who took his sister."
"…Then how did he survive?"
"…Maybe even demons didn't want him."
"Don't say things like that—you're scaring me…"
Before they could continue—
"QI AN!!"
The boy's voice suddenly exploded from his throat, raw and inhuman, echoing through the room like a wail from the dead.
The two nurses froze.
They had never heard such a sound come from a human being.
"H-He's really lost it… Do you think he'll turn into a demon?!"
Just as the words left her mouth—
The boy's eyes snapped open.
He sat bolt upright.
Wrapped head to toe in bandages, his stiff, jerky movement made him look less like a patient—and more like a corpse reanimated.
The two nurses stared at him in horror.
Then—
"AAAAAHHH!!"
One fainted on the spot. The other bolted from the room, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"A corpse! A corpse has come back to life!"
Her terrified cries echoed throughout the Butterfly Mansion.
---
The boy remained seated on the bed, breathing heavily.
Slowly… his breathing steadied.
His mind cleared.
…A dream?
His gaze drifted around the room—white walls, sunlight filtering softly through the window, the faint scent of medicine lingering in the air.
"…Where… am I?"
His voice was weak.
"…Why am I here…?"
Fragments of memory surfaced—
Then—
Pain.
A splitting headache tore through his skull.
"Sister… sister… come quickly… my head hurts…"
He clutched his head, instinctively calling out.
But after the second time—
He froze.
Silence.
…She wasn't there.
The truth crashed down on him like a blade.
It wasn't a dream.
Everything… had really happened.
That man…
He had slaughtered everyone.
And took his sister.
The boy's expression twisted—confusion giving way to grief… then to burning rage.
He threw off the blanket.
Ignoring the agony tearing through his body, he forced himself out of bed.
Step.
Step—
His legs gave out.
He crashed to the floor.
But he didn't stop.
Gritting his teeth, he dragged himself forward—crawling, inch by inch, toward the door.
Behind him, the nurse who had fainted slowly regained consciousness.
Her eyes opened—
Just in time to see a bandage-wrapped figure writhing across the floor like something undead.
She fainted again instantly.
---
Outside, Xiao Cheng returned with Shinobu Kocho and the others.
They arrived just in time to see the boy crawl out of the ward, his body trembling as he dragged himself down the wooden steps—
Only for his hand to slip.
He tumbled down, landing hard in the dirt below.
"My, my… how lively," Shinobu said softly, observing him from a distance. "He was on the brink of death, yet he still has the strength to crawl this far. What an interesting child."
Beside her stood Kanao Tsuyuri, her expression calm and distant, eyes empty as always.
The other attendants hovered behind her, too frightened to approach.
"…He's not dead, is he?"
"Where's Xiao Sui? Don't tell me she got eaten by a demon—wah, Xiao Sui…"
As the nurse began to cry—
The boy moved.
His fingers twitched.
Then his body followed.
Slowly, stubbornly, he pushed himself forward again.
His bandaged face revealed nothing—but his eyes burned with fierce determination.
He crawled toward the gate.
As he passed Shinobu—
He paused.
That scent…
Wisteria.
Just like his sister.
And those eyes…
A deep, mesmerizing purple.
Shinobu's smile faded slightly.
For a brief moment—
Her expression turned serious.
Then, just as quickly, it softened again.
"…What a troublesome child."
A faint trail of blood marked the path he had crawled.
"Xiao Qing, Xiao Cheng—take him back."
Her tone was gentle, but firm.
"He'll need to be treated again."
As she turned and walked back inside, she added lightly,
"He really is quite a handful."
---
"Don't touch me! I'm going to save my sister! Let go of me, you bastards!"
The boy struggled violently as the two girls grabbed him.
"Bastards? He called us bastards!"
"We're adorable, you know! How rude!"
Xiao Cheng puffed up in anger and lightly smacked his head.
"Hey, don't hit too hard—Miss Shinobu said not to kill him."
"…Then let me try."
"…Hey!"
---
Two days later—
At the residence of Kagaya Ubuyashiki, Shinobu knelt respectfully before the veranda.
Standing in the shade was the master of the Demon Slayer Corps, his frail figure accompanied by his daughters, Hinaki and Nichika.
Despite the scars across his face, his smile remained gentle—like a calm spring breeze.
"You called for me, Master?" Shinobu asked.
"I heard you brought back a child from the mountains," Kagaya said softly.
"Yes. He was the sole survivor of a demon attack."
"And how is he?"
"His life is no longer in danger. However…" Shinobu paused slightly. "His mind has suffered severe trauma. Since waking, he has sat by the doorway for two days—without rest."
Kagaya smiled faintly.
"…Another unusual child."
He continued,
"It reminds me of when you first met Kanao. What do you think of him? Would you consider taking him as a Tsuguko?"
Shinobu blinked, then let out a soft laugh.
"Thank you for your concern, Master, but I already have Kanao. Besides…" she added with a playful tone, "the Butterfly Mansion is full of girls. Having a boy would be… inconvenient."
Kagaya chuckled.
"That is fair. Then what of his talent?"
"It's too early to say. But his physical resilience is remarkable—he may have prior training."
After a brief pause, Shinobu added thoughtfully,
"In some ways… he reminds me of Sanemi Shinazugawa."
"Oh?"
"They both fight as if their lives mean nothing."
Kagaya let out a soft laugh.
"Sanemi is… exceptional. But I would prefer fewer like him."
He then asked,
"And the child's name?"
Shinobu's lips curved slightly.
"Cold Cry."