Shinobu Kocho tidied her messy hair, a tiny spark of secret relief flashing in her eyes.
If it weren't for him stepping in earlier, her Sister Kanae definitely would've figured everything out.
That was close!
But she wasn't going to thank him. Absolutely not.
"Shinobu, remember to wash the teapot thoroughly. Don't leave any residue," Ryuya reminded her with a faint smile.
"I—I know! You talk too much!"
Shinobu huffed and carried the teapot back to the tea room.
"Shinobu has always been very obedient and gentle. She might just be in a bad mood today, so please don't—" Kanae said.
"No, I think Shinobu is quite cute when she's angry. Just like Miss Kanae—makes you want to tease her and dote on her." Ryuya said smirked.
"D-Dote on her?"
Kanae's face instantly turned red, like a sweet peach begging to be bitten.
What did he mean by that?
Did he… like her?
Kanae panicked, heat crawling up her neck.
Was that… a confession?!
Ahhhh!
Just as she grew more flustered and the atmosphere turned unbearably awkward, the door slid open.
"Tomioka-san!"
Kanae nearly jumped.
"Uh… did I interrupt something?" Giyu asked stiffly, clearly uncomfortable.
He decided not to dwell on it. If he interrupted them, so be it.
He straightened himself and delivered the message calmly:
"Um… I'm not sure how to say this, but Makomo has been tied up by the Wind Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi."
Makomo?
Shinazugawa Sanemi?
Tied up?
Kanae froze. She didn't know Makomo personally, nor her connection to Ryuya.
But Ryuya understood immediately—his gentle expression turning icy cold.
"What did you say?"
His crimson eyes locked onto Giyu.
They were the same shade as always, yet the fury burning behind them made even Giyu's breathing falter.
"Is it true?" Ryuya asked quietly.
"…It's true."
Giyu suddenly regretted bringing the message.
When he had gone to report Ryuya's situation at the Butterfly Mansion, Sanemi had been waiting outside.
Overhearing everything, the Wind Hashira had forced Giyu to deliver the provocation.
"He also mocked you," Giyu continued woodenly.
"He said you're a useless coward who can't even protect your own apprentice, that you're disgraceful and laughable… and told you to come to Ghost Mountain if you dare, or he'll enjoy watching a live joke."
Giyu sounded like an emotionless recorder, but the words themselves were vicious enough.
Kanae trembled as she imagined Sanemi saying them.
A cold chill wrapped around her heart, followed by a flare of anger.
Makomo was Ryuya's apprentice. Even she felt furious hearing this.
So how would Ryuya react?
Sanemi had gone too far this time.
Kanae, anxious, wanted to comfort him—tell him not to be impulsive, tell him she'd help resolve it.
But then—
She saw Ryuya's face.
No anger.
No killing intent.
No agitation.
Just a faint smile.
As if he didn't care about Makomo at all.
As if he had shoved every emotion deep down into a dark, unreachable place.
"Heh… interesting. Ghost Mountain, huh? Tomioka Giyu, take me there."
He sounded calm. Too calm. It unsettled Giyu even more.
"…Alright. Follow me."
Giyu led the way silently, already steeling himself to prevent a disaster if things escalated.
"The tea is brewed… Huh? Why did he leave?"
Shinobu returned holding the fresh pot, only to find Ryuya gone.
Oddly enough—she felt a trace of disappointment.
And unless she imagined it, Ryuya's aura had shifted in a way she didn't understand.
"Shinobu, stay here. Don't wander," Kanae ordered, her voice unusually firm.
Kanae's heart pounded with dread. Something felt terribly wrong with Ryuya.
She needed to inform the Master immediately—and then hurry after Giyu and Ryuya.
She couldn't let either Ryuya or Sanemi get hurt. That would be unbearable.
"Sister Kanae?" Shinobu blinked, confused.
Sensing the seriousness of the situation, she obediently stayed behind—but her heart raced with worry.
Why was she so worried about him?
Why was she concerned for that annoying Moon Demon she supposedly disliked?
Ghost Mountain
Dead trees loomed like twisted specters, wild grass rustled under the wind, and crows cried out eerily.
The whole mountain felt desolate and cursed.
Sanemi had chosen the perfect place—remote, avoided by Demon Slayer Corps members, a location where he could fight without interruption.
"Makomo, do you think your demon master will come?" Sanemi grinned, vicious and feral—more demonic than most demons.
"He'd better not," Makomo snapped back. "It'll just play into your hands!"
She had fought Sanemi earlier and been easily defeated. The Wind Hashira's strength was overwhelming.
She was embarrassed by her own weakness… and even more terrified for her master.
Master… please don't come here.
Makomo will only cause you trouble again…
Her eyes grew misty.
"Is that guy really such a coward? Hey hey, I've tied up his precious little apprentice. He won't seriously refuse to show up, right?" Sanemi teased, licking his teeth.
"He clearly doesn't care about you at all if he's not here yet. What a joke. You really picked a pathetic demon to call master."
"YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO INSULT MY MASTER!"
Makomo exploded—she had never hated a Demon Slayer Corps pillar this much.
"What kind of master? He's obviously a wimp!"
Sanemi yawned dramatically.
"Hey hey, why isn't he here yet? I'm going to die of boredom.
Maybe you're just not that important to him.
Or maybe he's just a hypocritical bastard."