The wind howled across the snowy mountain, carrying with it the faint scent of blood and something unnatural.
After changing into her mission uniform, Kocho Shinobu dashed across the frozen terrain, her haori fluttering behind her like butterfly wings. She moved lightly, her expression unreadable.
Beside her, Tomioka Giyuu, the Water Hashira, said nothing. His silent presence was as cold and calm as the winter air around them. They had received the same mission report.
The report had mentioned a possible demon sighting near a remote mountain village—and a survivor: a young woman named Yae.
But neither the snowy path nor the biting wind could slow the two Hashira. They moved in sync, weaving through the forest with practiced efficiency. The scent of demon blood was growing stronger.
Suddenly—
"Woof! Woof!!"
The frantic barking of a dog echoed from ahead.
Without hesitation, Tomioka's expression sharpened. In the blink of an eye, he surged forward, his feet smashing through the snow with force, revealing the stone path beneath.
Bang—!
Just as the demon lunged to snap the dog's neck, Giyuu appeared in a blur of motion, launching the demon away with a powerful strike that cracked the ground.
"Woof! Woof woof!!"
"It's okay, it's okay now." Tomioka crouched beside the trembling dog, gently placing a hand on its head. A rare, soft smile touched his lips.
"You've been helping me out for a while now. No way I'd let you get eaten by a demon."
Moments later, Yae arrived at the scene, breathless and snow-covered. Her eyes locked onto Tailu, the loyal dog she had raised since it was a pup—and for a moment, relief flooded her features.
But when her gaze shifted to the creature her dog had barely escaped from, the color drained from her face.
It was her father.
Twisted. Bloodstained. No longer human.
She raised her rifle with trembling hands, but her voice was steady.
"At least… let me kill you as a hunter, Father."
Bang—!
She pulled the trigger, firing cleanly and accurately. Her shot struck the demon's head with expert precision, but even as the creature staggered, it remained standing.
From behind, a quiet voice chimed in like a blade of ice:
"What a coincidence, Miss Yae."
Kocho Shinobu had arrived—silently, as always.
"I already told you," she said coldly, stepping closer. "You can't kill demons like that."
Giyuu stood up, holding Tailu securely in his arms, his voice calm but firm.
"Watch her closely, Shinobu," he said, glancing toward Yae, whose hands were still shaking from the shot.
"Oh? You don't want my help now?" Shinobu quipped lightly, though her narrowed eyes betrayed her concern. "My poison could end it instantly, you know."
Before Giyuu could answer, Yae stepped forward, desperation rising in her voice.
"Wait… wait a minute!"
Tomioka turned to face her, frowning slightly. "What are you waiting for? For that thing to eat you? Or Tailu?"
Yae clenched her fists.
"It's not 'that thing'—it's my father!"
Giyuu's tone hardened, his words slicing through the cold air like steel.
"It used to be your father. Now, it's a demon—a creature that devours humans without hesitation. You know that."
Yae's eyes brimmed with tears, but she didn't back down.
"He protected me… even after turning into that. I know he's still in there somewhere!"
Giyuu's expression didn't change, but there was a flicker of something beneath his usual stoicism. Pity, perhaps. Or understanding.
"Then be prepared to accept the truth," he said. "Because what's coming at you now… is not your father."
Without another word, Giyuu stepped forward as the demon, recovering from the earlier blow, roared and lunged again—this time with wild, frenzied strength.
But Giyuu's blade was faster.
Lowering his stance, he exhaled.
"Water Breathing, Fourth Form: Striking Tide."
A whirl of fluid slashes followed, graceful yet devastating. The demon was cut down in an instant, its body dissolving into ash that scattered into the wind.
The mountain fell silent.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then—click.
Giyuu turned slowly.
Yae stood there, trembling, her rifle aimed directly at his head. Her eyes were wide and wet with tears.
Giyu calmly looked at Yae, his gaze growing colder.
"Why?" she whispered. "Why couldn't you just let me do it?"
Kocho Shinobu noticed the motion a heartbeat too late.
"Miss Yae—!"
She dashed forward—but before she could reach her, Yae pulled the trigger.
Click.
Nothing.
The gun had jammed.
A second later, Shinobu's light form tackled her from the side, knocking her down into the snow. The rifle fell uselessly beside them.
Yae stared at the weapon in shock, then buried her face in her hands.
"Hah… why? Why now? I've been taking care of it for so long…!"
"Let me die," she sobbed. "I have nothing left… no home, no family… What's the point anymore?!"
Tailu whined softly and crawled over, licking the back of her hand.
The warmth startled her.
"T-Tailu…"
The dog didn't understand what had happened—he only knew that his master was in pain.
"Wuwuwuwu…"
Kocho Shinobu knelt beside her face devoid of emotion, yet her voice remained gentle but steady. "Miss Yae…"
Yae clutched Tailu tightly as the tears poured out. "I'm sorry, Taro… I'm so sorry…"
Giyuu, standing a few paces away, looked at the discarded shotgun. He spoke quietly:
"Before the demon died… before he died… he said: 'Live on.'"
Yae froze.
"I believe those words were meant for you," Giyuu continued. "And the reason you couldn't pull the trigger just now… wasn't because the gun was broken."
He looked her in the eyes.
"It was because your father wouldn't let you."
The snow drifted down gently around them, as if the mountain itself were mourning in silence.
After a long pause, Tomioka turned around and said calmly, "It's time to go, Shinobu."
"Okay!"
As they walked a few steps down the mountain, Shinobu looked back and called out, "Miss Yae, please be strong!"
"We were once like you…"
***
Down the mountain, the two headed straight for a ramen shop.
"Boss! Two bowls of your signature ramen! Oh, and one order of salmon with daikon radish."
After they sat down, Giyuu looked puzzled.
"How did you know what I like to eat?"
"Hmm?" Shinobu gave him a knowing smile.
"You ordered it every time while you were recovering in the Butterfly Estate. Honestly, it'd be weirder if I didn't know~"
"Uh…" Giyuu took a sip of tea and muttered inwardly that perhaps it was the influence of the original "Tomioka Giyuu," but the radish salmon really was delicious.
"Here we go~ Two ramen and one salmon with daikon! Thanks for waiting!"
"Wow! It looks amazing!" Shinobu beamed and turned to Giyuu.
"Can I try your salmon with radish?"
"Enm…" Giyuu vaguely nodded, still chewing.
After tasting a bite, Shinobu rested her chin on her chopsticks and said softly, "Mmm, not bad!"
"Oh, by the way, Tomioka, today's your treat. That's your punishment for breaking the road earlier."
"No problem. Is that enough for you? If not, we could order some snacks."
Giyuu offered without hesitation.
Shinobu blinked at him, surprised.
But she quickly waved her hand and said, "No, no, this is enough…"
Before she could finish her sentence, Tomioka suddenly stood up and stared outside.
"What's wrong, Tomioka?!" Shinobu asked, alarmed.
She turned to look but saw nothing unusual.
"Something flashed by. I'll go check it out!"
Without another word, Tomioka bolted from the ramen shop and disappeared at astonishing speed.
Shinobu frowned and waited a while—but he didn't return.
She glanced at the bright sunny weather outside and suddenly came to a realization.
Kocho Shinobu narrowed her eyes and was just about to sprint out after him when the shop owner stopped her.
"Miss, you haven't paid yet…"
Her smile cracked.
"…Ah."
She grimaced, then pulled out her wallet and paid for the two bowls of ramen and the salmon with daikon.
Though she wasn't short on money, she certainly wasn't as flush as Tomioka.
As she stepped out of the shop, her expression turned increasingly sour until she finally exploded:
"TOMIOKA GIYUU!! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU!!"
Her shout startled nearby pedestrians, who promptly picked up their pace to get as far away from the angry Insect Hashira as possible.
But then, a small girl walked straight toward her.
Seeing the cute little girl, Shinobu quickly composed herself, taking a few calming breaths before forcing a sweet smile.
"What's wrong, little one?"
"Are you Kocho Shinobu?" the girl asked in a soft, innocent voice.
Shinobu blinked, her frustration softening.
"Uh, yes. How do you know my name?"
"It was a big brother named Tomioka Giyuu who told me!"
The light in Shinobu's eyes faded.