At this moment, at the front of the train.
Several children were sitting in the narrow aisle. In front of them, a Hand with a split back and a human mouth on its back was placed face down on the floor. The words 'Dream' were visible on its back and fingers.
The ugly Hand opened its mouth and spoke, "Listen up, if you want to have good dreams, then do as I say later."
Just as everyone was about to respond, a terrified voice suddenly came from behind them.
"Wait, Miss! You can't go to the front."
The voice trembled, as if it feared something.
Mizuki ignored the Attendant's obstruction behind her, pushed open the carriage door, scanned the panicked children, and locked onto the strange Hand on the floor.
A clone?
Seeing no other option, the Attendant knelt on the ground in despair, and said to the Hand with a trembling voice, "I'm terribly sorry, I've tried my best to stop her, but she has a blade with her…"
"Please, whatever you do, don't take away my chance to see my wife and daughter."
The Hand spoke airily and magnanimously, "Don't worry, I'm quite reasonable."
"You've done well enough."
The Attendant was relieved, muttering numbly, "Thank you, thank you."
Mizuki frowned slightly, her right Hand on the hilt of her Nichirin Blade as she walked towards the Hand.
The Hand straightened, its mouth aimed at Mizuki: "Now, fall asleep."
A peculiar ripple emanated from its mouth, an invisible wave rushing towards Mizuki's face.
Mizuki paused. With just a slight sway of her body, she continued to advance.
"How is that possible?" The Hand's mouth was wide open, clearly unable to understand why its Blood Demon Art had failed.
"Fall asleep!" It retreated, the ripples continuously spreading from its mouth.
"Fall asleep!"
Wave after wave of ripples impacted Mizuki's mind, yet failed to stop her even a single step.
Clang~
The sound of the blade sliding against the inside of the scabbard echoed through the carriage like a death knell.
"Damn it!" the Hand yelled exasperatedly, "You all! Stop her for me!"
"Otherwise, I won't let you have sweet dreams!"
As the Hand's voice fell, the children who had been fearfully moving aside as Mizuki slowly drew her blade, gritted their teeth and rushed forward, attempting to tackle Mizuki.
Clearly, their strength was insufficient.
But even so, they clenched their teeth, overcoming their inner fear to grab Mizuki, blocking her in the aisle.
Are they being controlled?
Mizuki glanced left and right, only to find their eyes clear and pure, without any trace of daze or blankness.
These children were conscious.
Combined with what the demon had just said, Mizuki quickly understood the cause and effect of the situation.
She casually knocked out the Attendant who rushed up behind her, her expression subtly shifting: "idiot! Even the best dreams are fake; people must face reality."
A little girl, tears in her eyes, looked up and questioned, "What do you know?!"
"How could someone like you understand our pain!"
No, these children can't be reasoned with.
Mizuki's brows furrowed tightly, and she looked up at the Hand in front, her pupils slightly contracting.
While Mizuki was being held back by the crowd, the Hand had somehow leaped high into the air.
It was very close.
The mouth on its back opened.
"Blood Demon Art: Forced Sleep Hypnosis Whisper!"
"Fall asleep!"
A ripple several times more powerful than before instantly exploded, causing the air to vibrate and sweeping towards Mizuki's face.
Mizuki's clear eyes instantly unfocused, and the powerful impact even caused her head to tilt slightly backward.
Looking at Mizuki's stiff body, the Hand landed on a train table nearby: "Well, what terrifying mental strength."
"To actually be able to resist..."
"Woah!" The children clinging tightly to Mizuki suddenly cried out in alarm.
Mizuki pushed them away with her left Hand, her right Hand already raising her Nichirin Blade high.
"Impossible!" The Hand's mouth was wide open, completely unable to comprehend the situation before it.
Mizuki had no intention of getting entangled with a clone. Like a flickering black light, the dark blade slashed towards the Hand.
Just as the blade was mere inches from the Hand, about to cleave it in two, a childish voice suddenly sounded from behind Mizuki without any warning.
"Wait, Mizuki!"
Who?
Mizuki's heart inexplicably tightened, her heart rate quickening a few beats.
At the same time, a slight tug came from behind, and Mizuki subconsciously turned to look.
Her crimson eyes suddenly narrowed, and her entire body froze in place.
A child in black and white training clothes stood in the train aisle, frowning slightly as he tugged at her clothes.
Forgotten memories instantly gushed forth like a spiritual spring.
Michikatsu... Had she fallen for it? When?
In a daze, the brightly lit carriage instantly went dark, leaving only the child in front emitting a faint glow, and the surrounding scenery distorted.
At some point, her gaze was level with the child in front of her.
At some point, the crisp chirping of birds reached her ears.
Mizuki came to her senses and looked around, finding herself in a spacious courtyard.
Michikatsu, still a child, patted her shoulder: "Mizuki, what are you spacing out for?"
"Yoriichi is ready," Michikatsu said, pointing behind her.
Yoriichi?
Mizuki turned to look, and a child with a peculiar mark on his forehead stood opposite her, holding a bamboo sword.
Seeing her turn, the child's lips curved slightly.
"Mizuki, be careful, I'm coming."
Before Mizuki could figure out what was happening, Yoriichi attacked her with his bamboo sword.
Mizuki subconsciously swung her bamboo sword to block. The bamboo sword touched and immediately separated, and Yoriichi turned his body to change his attack direction.
Mizuki stepped back half a pace, pressed her wrist down, and with one move, knocked Yoriichi's bamboo sword flying.
Yoriichi rubbed his wrist and smiled, "Mizuki is so amazing."
Michikatsu also hurried over from behind, patting her shoulder: "Of course, Mizuki is our younger sister."
"You're really amazing, Mizuki. Not only did you defeat me, but even Yoriichi is no match for you."
Mizuki's expression was somewhat complex.
This was... her dream?
Mizuki's feelings were very complicated upon seeing the two again. Of course, she couldn't deny that seeing them again brought her more joy.
Even for Michikatsu, who later became a demon, she felt no hatred upon seeing him now.
But... what kind of scene was this trying to create?
Yoriichi was very fast, even more skilled than adults who had practiced martial arts for years. Her past self definitely couldn't have won against him.
But she had just easily defeated him.
Furthermore, Michikatsu would absolutely not be so magnanimous as to step forward and praise her prowess.
He would only be green with envy.
Most importantly, who the hell was slandering her?
She didn't have a competitive spirit at all, okay?
It made it seem like she dreamed of punching Yoriichi and kicking Michikatsu.
Is this reasonable?
Pure slander!
After all, this dream was not what she wanted to dream about.
Mizuki's face grew darker and darker... Suddenly, a gentle voice sounded: "Everyone, come and eat something first."
Mizuki's face stiffened, her breathing quickened a bit, and she stiffly turned her head.
A woman in a splendid kimono sat in front of the corridor, smiling at them.
Mizuki's crimson overlapping pupils gradually merged: "Akeno..."
Michikatsu affectionately flicked her forehead: "idiot, you should call her Mother!"
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