In the Butterfly Mansion's courtyard, a cherry blossom tree stood tall. It was said that the first Flower Breathing swordsman had planted it, naming it "Certain Victory."
Under the cherry blossom tree, Kanao Tsuyuri practiced Breathing Styles seriously.
The techniques and methods taught by her two teachers flowed through her mind. She swung her sword quickly.
Creak.
The gate opened.
A beautiful young woman with a butterfly-patterned haori walked into the courtyard. She was tall and graceful.
Kanao Tsuyuri stopped practicing.
"Kanao!" Kanae Kocho touched her hair, smiling slightly.
Shinobu Kocho walked out of the house. She paused when she saw her sister, then hurried over.
"Sister, you're back. Mr. Aomura..."
Her voice trailed off, seeing her sister's sad expression.
"You didn't find him?"
Kanae Kocho shook her head gently.
Shinobu was silent.
Mr. Aomura had been missing for over two days.
He would have shown up by now if he was okay.
Kanae Kocho said, "I still don't believe something happened to Mr. Aomura. He might just be delayed. Maybe we'll turn around one day and find him behind us."
Shinobu's eyes widened, looking shocked.
Kanae Kocho said, "Of course, that's just an exaggeration. I mean..."
"Sister!" Shinobu interrupted her.
Kanae Kocho paused, then turned sharply, sensing something.
A young man stood under the cherry blossom tree. He had black hair, golden eyes, and was tall and handsome. His aura was unfathomable.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Don't you recognize me?" Aoki asked.
Kanae Kocho rushed to Aoki, her eyes full of emotion. "Mr. Aomura, it's really you! Are you okay?"
Aoki looked at her expression, then at Shinobu and Kanao. He thought. "Did you get bad news?"
Shinobu walked over with Kanao.
"Your Kasugai Crow came back to headquarters two days ago. It said you disappeared after meeting Upper Moon Three. It seemed like you fell into a trap set by Muzan."
Kanae Kocho calmed down a little. "Mr. Shinazugawa and Mr. Tomioka and I searched the area, but we didn't find anything."
"The Kasugai Crow!"
Aoki realized.
He hadn't seen the crow today.
He thought it had gotten bored and gone to play with other crows.
It wasn't a good place to talk outside.
They went inside. The four sat around a table.
Aoki listened to the three of them—mainly Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho—tell the story. "You're right. Those eyeballs were from Nakime, Muzan's new Upper Moon Six.
She controls Infinity Castle, a separate dimension. She can teleport the eyeballs anywhere with Infinity Castle."
"A separate dimension?" Kanae Kocho thought. "Mr. Aomura, were you in Infinity Castle these past two days?"
Aoki nodded. "Yes. Muzan wanted to trap me in Infinity Castle and kill me. Upper Moon Three was bait, as the crow said."
Mr. Aomura was sitting before them, unharmed. Muzan's plan had failed. But the Butterfly sisters were still worried.
"How did you escape, Mr. Aomura?" Shinobu asked curiously.
Aoki said, " 'Escape' isn't the right word. I walked into the trap."
"You walked into the trap?"
Kanae Kocho and Shinobu realized why Mr. Aomura had fallen into the trap, with his power.
But they were even more puzzled.
Why had he taken the risk?
"Demons want to kill me. I want to kill demons. It's hard to find Upper Moons," Aoki explained.
It had been worth the risk.
He might not have met an Upper Moon and completed Upper Moon's End without this trap.
Muzan had set two traps for him, but he hadn't killed him. He had helped him.
He had helped him complete Lower Moon's End last time. He had helped him complete Upper Moon's End this time.
He had achieved two "triple level-ups" with Muzan's help.
He was a golden support!
"The saying goes, help someone all the way. I hope Muzan sets another trap and delivers himself to me."
"Muzan set the trap himself?"
Shinobu stared at Aoki.
He had killed two Upper Moons while Muzan was there. Was that too crazy?
Aoki nodded. "Muzan made things take so long."
They understood what he meant. Their eyes widened slightly.
Kanae Kocho asked quickly, "Mr. Aomura, did you kill another Upper Moon?"
Aoki shook his head.
They looked disappointed.
Aoki held up two fingers. "Not one, but two! Upper Moon Three, Akaza, and the new Upper Moon Six, Nakime, are dead!"
"Huh?"
"Ah!"
Kanae Kocho and Shinobu Kocho were overwhelmed.
Could he really kill two Upper Moons while being attacked by Muzan and the Upper Moons?
But they knew Mr. Aomura wouldn't lie about this.
Shinobu recovered first, sneering, not hiding her glee.
"He tried to trick you, but he got tricked instead. Muzan must be furious!"
"I don't know if he's furious, but he's definitely angry," Aoki said.
"Serves him right!"
Shinobu said bitterly.
Competitive, quick-tempered, and direct. That was the real Shinobu.
Shinobu had become like her sister after Kanae Kocho died in the original story.
But Kanae Kocho was alive in this timeline. Shinobu wouldn't change.
"The new Upper Moon Six is dead. I was worried about the trouble she would cause when Master and I talked about it. I didn't expect..."
Kanae Kocho stood up quickly. "Oh, I haven't told Master you're back, Mr. Aomura!
I need to tell him about Upper Moon Three and Upper Moon Six too."
She looked embarrassed.
She had been too excited to see Mr. Aomura. She had forgotten everything else.
Kanae Kocho was about to leave when she remembered something.
"Mr. Aomura, Master said he's free anytime you want to meet him."
"Then tonight," Aoki said quickly.
That was one reason he had returned to the Butterfly Mansion.
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