"Transparent World, right?"
Faced with Saeko's challenge, Shuya killed the game with one sentence.
Saeko froze for a second. Then she reacted, lightly punching his chest with her pink fist, her eyes full of playful resentment.
"You little brat. You already knew the answer and you were just messing with me, weren't you?"
"Transparent World, huh? The name actually fits pretty well. I bet you already mastered it a long time ago, right?"
Shuya smiled. "So, Saeko-senpai, you admitting defeat?"
What he didn't say out loud was that if she hadn't reminded him, he probably would've forgotten all about Transparent World and the Demon Slayer Marks for a while. Sun Breathing was fun in this world, but compared to Nen it had way too many limitations. He'd only used the full technique once against Shinobu, and a few forms against Nezuko after that. As for Transparent World? His sword talent was actually lower than Saeko's. He'd only beaten her back then because becoming a Nen user had massively boosted his physical stats and reaction speed. After she awakened Nen too, he'd been too busy helping the other girls develop their abilities and had slacked on sword training, while she kept sharpening hers on zombies every single day. The gap between them had grown huge. Right now he hadn't even found the threshold for Transparent World, let alone learned it.
"Fine, fine, I admit defeat. Who told you to be my kouhai? Even if you cheated, I'll let it slide."
Saeko raised her hands in surrender.
"Saeko-senpai."
Shuya looked at her cute, loving expression and said heartlessly, "Even if you say that, I'm still not letting you off easy."
Saeko clicked her tongue. "You're really too much, kouhai."
Shuya answered with a straight face, "After all, I finally won against you for once. How could I just let it go?"
This little game between them had started after the zombie outbreak. Entertainment options were limited—no internet, no phones, no TV that actually worked. So besides training and fighting, the only real way they killed time was… well. Shuya had turned it into a system of challenges where the winner decided who got to be on top that night. It actually motivated everyone. Saeko swung her sword with extra fire, eventually slaughtering over seven figures worth of zombies in a single year. The other contractors got the same positive feedback and quickly awakened their own Nen abilities. Shuya was happy too. Not only had everyone grown stronger, but he'd basically unlocked every single "defeat CG" with the girls. Win-win.
"Whatever, whatever. You win this round. Let's go."
Saeko gave up cleanly once her little scheme was exposed. It wasn't the first time. She was used to it by now. She just didn't want to let him have an easy victory.
With that, she turned and started walking toward their residence inside Greed Island.
"Come on, little Makomo~"
Shuya turned around to call her—only to find that while he and Saeko had been talking, Makomo had started chatting with the two Snowball Beasts.
"Meow! Meow!"
"Meow? Meow!"
"Meow!"
Makomo was squatting on the ground, staring intently at the two fluffy creatures and meowing right back at them with complete seriousness. She even nodded every now and then like she was agreeing with whatever they were saying.
The sight left Shuya completely stunned.
No way… they actually started talking? You can understand Snowball-speak now?
Makomo was listening so seriously, nodding along, completely ignoring Shuya's calls. Even the two Snowball Beasts looked proud, like they were teaching a promising junior.
Shuya walked over and gently poked her forehead with his index finger.
When she finally looked up at him, he asked curiously, "Can you actually understand what they're saying, Makomo?"
"Not at all."
She answered with complete honesty.
Shuya sweat-dropped. "Then why were you listening so seriously?"
"Because big brother said they're my seniors."
Makomo pressed a finger to her chin, thinking hard. "I don't understand what they're saying, but I feel like they must have something really important to tell me."
"Meow! Meow!"
It was hard to imagine how two round white fluffballs could pull off such proud, "this child is teachable" expressions—but somehow they did.
"You two are impossible."
Shuya facepalmed at the sight of the serious girl and her two proud teachers, then ruffled Makomo's hair. "Come on. You missed the big feast Mr. Urokodaki made for Tanjiro and the others today, so I'll treat you to one instead. Consider it your welcome dinner."
"A feast?"
Makomo's eyes lit up instantly. She licked her lips, practically drooling. "Better than the candy?"
"Of course. This is just the beginning."
Shuya took her hand and started leading her after Saeko.
"Meow! Meow! Meow!"
The two Snowball Beasts suddenly panicked, letting out a flurry of urgent cries. Shuya didn't understand what they were saying, so he just assumed they were hungry and fed them a bit of Nen. They ate it, but their eyes stayed glued to Makomo the whole time.
If Makomo could actually understand them, she would've heard the warning loud and clear:
A feast? Did you already forget what we just told you? If you go with him, you're the one who's going to become Master's feast tonight. Unless you're a Snowball Beast too.
After two years living with Shuya, the Snowball Beasts knew exactly how he operated.
"Huh? Does that mean I get to eat some too?"
Makomo completely misunderstood, tilting her head and opening her mouth like she was about to bite Shuya's finger.
"Don't be silly, little Makomo. Let's go."
Shuya flicked her forehead lightly.
"Oh, okay."
Makomo nodded obediently.
The two Snowball Beasts watched with worried eyes as Shuya led her away. They already knew what kind of desperate cries they were about to hear from their new junior very soon.
Snowball Beasts: It's not that we didn't want to save you… it's just that Master really gives way too much.