"If I said the Kasugai Crow was just imitating me earlier, would you believe it?"
Kiyokawa Izumi pointed at the Kasugai Crow outside the window and said with a serious expression.
This little fellow was really too much!
To think it dared to slander the beautiful Shinobu-neesan; he had to take heavy measures and punish it severely.
This overly shameless display left Kanzaki Aoi, who was carrying the food, speechless.
She had never seen a Swordsman so disrespectful to a Hashira.
"Is that so?"
Kochou Shinobu wasn't a little girl who was easily fooled; she just stared at Kiyokawa Izumi silently.
He wasn't afraid of the fake smile on her face, but he feared her looking at him without any expression.
It made Kiyokawa Izumi feel a bit guilty.
"The Soda you wanted!"
A small hand hidden under a sleeve held two bottles of lemon Soda and placed them in front of Kiyokawa Izumi, as a familiar voice rang in his ears.
"I won't be putting honey in your medicine soup from now on. After all, what can I do since I'm a woman with a bad temper and a black heart?"
"Don't! I was wrong! I'll die if you don't add honey!"
Kiyokawa Izumi spoke subconsciously, putting on a pitiful expression.
That medicine was truly revolting!
But Shinobu-neesan only gave a slight smile and ignored him.
She came in a hurry and left just as suddenly.
"I can't believe you dared to speak ill of Shinobu-neesan behind her back, when she's so gentle."
Kanzaki Aoi set down the tray and couldn't help but put her hands on her hips to lecture Kiyokawa Izumi.
It was really too much!
"I admit my mistake, I'm guilty! I'll reflect on myself!"
Kiyokawa Izumi lowered his head submissively, not daring to speak.
He had just been complaining casually; he really hadn't expected to be overheard.
It was a bit embarrassing!
Seeing Kiyokawa Izumi's good attitude in admitting his fault, Kanzaki Aoi gave a light snort and didn't hold it against him further... "Kanoto Rank Team Member Kiyokawa Izumi, hear your orders: Recover from your injuries! Until you are fully healed!"
Only then did the Kasugai Crow fly cautiously into the room. Seeing no one else around, it spoke in a low, hushed voice.
The little fellow's words weren't complete, but the general meaning could be understood.
Kiyokawa Izumi was no longer a bottom-Rank Swordsman. Having risen two Ranks, he was only one step away from being a Hashira—specifically, one Lower Rank Demon away.
As long as he could kill one of the Twelve Kizuki, he would definitely become a Hashira.
See, isn't it simple?
It wasn't an exaggeration to say he was only one step away.
In this generation of the Demon Slayer Corps, there wasn't a shortage of Hashira-level Swordsmen, so it might not be easy to become a Hashira based on the merit of slaying fifty Demons.
"Kanoto Rank, huh—"
Kiyokawa Izumi rubbed his forehead with a complicated expression.
Looking at the Soda Kochou Shinobu had brought, his feelings were complex.
Why was there Soda in the Butterfly Mansion? Maybe it was because Kochou Shinobu liked to drink it, or maybe it was bought for Kanao.
Only then did Kiyokawa Izumi realize that he didn't actually know her that well.
Whether this young girl liked drinking Soda, he didn't know.
What she did when there were no missions, he also didn't know.
Kiyokawa Izumi gripped the cold glass Soda bottle and popped the cap. With a pop, memories of his past life were involuntarily stirred.
He tilted his head back and took a large gulp. The bright, sharp bubbles danced in his mouth, carrying the aroma and tartness of lemon. The slight stinging sensation as it slid down his throat made him incredibly nostalgic.
To be fair, the lemon Soda of this era actually tasted very, very ordinary.
It was far inferior to the Sodas he had drunk in his later life.
But Kiyokawa Izumi inexplicably grew to like this taste.
Perhaps it was because drinking it evoked memories of his past life.
After a brief moment of reminiscing, the cold reality told him that, ultimately, there was no going back.
Now, he was Kiyokawa Izumi!
"What I said earlier was indeed a little bit too much. It's all your fault, little fellow. You have to take the fall for me, you know?"
Kiyokawa Izumi gently stroked the Kasugai Crow's small head.
?
The Kasugai Crow looked up in confusion and shook its head impatiently.
Highly spiritual, it vaguely sensed that some kind of change seemed to have occurred in Kiyokawa Izumi.
That previous casual, "anything goes" attitude seemed to be gradually disappearing.
'Then let's try it!'
'Let's see just how far I, Kiyokawa Izumi, can go.'
It wasn't entirely because he was moved by this bottle of Soda.
He realized that ever since coming to this world, he had been suppressing himself. He had too many thoughts and too many worries; he always found it hard to make up his mind until he had no other choice.
'Just for this bottle of Soda, I have to try!'
I have these eyes, I have a self-created Breathing Technique that, while imperfect, fits me perfectly, and I have enough time to improve. My blade is not without its edge; why shouldn't I try?
Perhaps my limit is still far below Muzan's.
But what if I just want to save one person? What if I just want to change one person's fate?
Combat needs a reason to support it, and mental strength is also incredibly important.
He had always believed that to break through physical limits, mental strength was indispensable.
A tenacious will and firm determination, combined together, are how miracles are born.
___________
Extra chapter at 300 energy stones