A look of astonishment appeared on the girl's face. The usual curve of her lips froze abruptly, her brow bone tensed like a tight string, and a faint flush spread from the roots of her ears to the side of her neck.
For a moment, she didn't even react, not realizing he was talking about her.
She still thought he was referring to someone else.
"Calling me 'Mother'... isn't that a bit too rude, Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi?"
Although she had reached the legal age for marriage, she was still an unmarried young girl and a Demon Slayer with a specialized profession. Being called "Mother" by a bastard not much younger than herself, one could imagine the shame and annoyance in her heart.
She didn't lose her elegant grace, simply looking at Kiyokawa Izumi quietly, seemingly hoping he could provide an explanation.
Facing the slightly moody Mother Shinobu, Kiyokawa Izumi looked up at the sky and couldn't help but remark.
"The weather really is quite nice!"
In the next second, his figure suddenly vanished from the spot.
Kiyokawa Izumi's choice was—Dark Breathing: Total Concentration!
He took off running, so decisively and so suddenly.
It was as if some terrifying beast were chasing him.
Run!
Dead legs, move!
Watching Kiyokawa Izumi disappear from her sight in the blink of an eye, Kochou Shinobu gave an expressionless chuckle.
"If you keep this up, you'll be as disliked as Mr. Giyuu."
The two figures moved quickly through the forest; Kiyokawa Izumi was running foolishly on the ground.
Turning his head, he seemed to see a gracefully fluttering butterfly leap lightly, landing steadily on a branch several meters high. Her purple eyes, devoid of spirit and light, stared at him silently.
Kiyokawa Izumi was quickly caught. It wasn't that his dead legs weren't trying, nor did he intentionally slow down.
It was simply that he couldn't outrun her.
'Is this the power of a thirty-seven-kilogram body?'
It wasn't a failure of skill; it definitely wasn't because he was too heavy.
That petite body was as light as a swallow. At this moment, Kiyokawa Izumi couldn't help but feel regret—not for his thoughtless remark, but simply for not running away immediately.
He had foolishly waited on the spot and only started running after she snapped back to her senses.
He really shouldn't have!
"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi, why are you running so fast?"
A slightly forceful right hand rested on Kiyokawa Izumi's left shoulder; the girl had already appeared beside him.
"Insect Hashira, I must criticize you. A Team Member needs our help. Please adjust your attitude and be more serious!"
Kiyokawa Izumi said with a straight face.
This upright expression and righteous words were truly more than Sister Shinobu could bear.
Kiyokawa Izumi was accustomed to turning things around and being unreasonable.
The right hand squeezing his shoulder couldn't help but tighten.
"Did you hear something? Like the sound of teeth lightly clicking... Could there be a mouse nearby?"
Kiyokawa Izumi looked around suspiciously—using his Breathing Technique to the fullest, he could hear faint sounds nearby, and his physical senses were more acute.
Of course, he certainly couldn't reach Piggy's level.
Piggy's Spatial Awareness was miraculous in his eyes.
How could someone find a demon from a distance just by closing their eyes?
Kiyokawa Izumi certainly couldn't do it; he could only hear the sound of teeth lightly clicking nearby.
"Did you know? A certain medicinal book mentioned that frequent teeth clicking can prevent cavities and dental bone degradation. So, I can understand."
It definitely had nothing to do with emotions.
This is the secret of why the Insect Hashira is so powerful!
"Boing!"
A crisp and obvious sound rang out. Kiyokawa Izumi clutched his forehead and stepped back—did this woman have to flick his head? Was she really this vengeful?
Wasn't it just a little comfort because he saw her mood was off earlier? Was it worth holding such a grudge?
Never mind if the method of comfort was right; wasn't the intention what mattered?
But she simply wouldn't accept it and even used her Breathing Technique to chase him with all her might!
Beneath her wide sleeves, Kochou Shinobu gently rubbed her index finger, though the expression on her face didn't change at all—why was this guy's forehead so hard?
It hurt a little, but she didn't show it.
"Let's go check on the Team Member in trouble."
Tacitly changing the subject, Kochou Shinobu, unable to smile, had a slight quiver at the corner of her mouth and could only speak calmly.
Sometimes, she really couldn't control the urge to draw her sword.
Unfortunately, the rules of the Demon Slayer Corps did not allow members to draw swords against each other.
"Roger!"
Kiyokawa Izumi gently rubbed his own forehead—her strength wasn't that great to begin with, yet he could feel a distinct pain. Since force is reciprocal, her finger must be hurting a bit right now too, right?
Tsk.
Wait, why are you running so fast?
Wait for me!
Watching Kochou Shinobu disappear into the distance, Kiyokawa Izumi couldn't help but fall into silence—he really couldn't catch up to her. In frustration, he could only comfort himself in his heart.
It's okay, her stamina isn't great!
...Less than an hour later, traveling at full speed under the guidance of the Kasugai Crow, they arrived at the foot of an unnamed mountain.
At this moment, a very disheveled Team Member was squatting by the roadside. Seeing them, he was both excited and fearful—two Hashira-level Swordsmen coming to support, wasn't this a bit too exaggerated?
Would he be severely criticized later?
But in this mountain, there really are Monsters!
__________
There's only a little left... maybe not a little, but I'm counting on you. Support me with energy stones.