Why does the world show a health bar? !

Kocho Kanae, now seventeen years old, carried herself like an adult. To Li Mo, the Kanae from last year was a gentle, older-sister type of girl. But now?

Now she had become someone he couldn't quite figure out.

At this moment, what was going through Kanae's mind was a complete mystery. What kind of mood was she in when she spoke? He had no idea. But just looking at her gentle eyes made his heart soften, leaving him with no reason to refuse.

"We weren't really discussing anything important, just reminiscing about the past. Are you really that interested, Kanae-san?" Li Mo asked.

Kanae nodded, her expression filled with curiosity. "Of course I'm curious. Li-san, when we last parted, you came here and met Makomo. You spent over half a year training here. What happened during that time? I'm really curious! Those few days we spent together with Li-san are still fresh in my memory."

To be honest, the time spent with the Kocho sisters was only about ten days. But the events that happened during that time left a deep impression. It was the first time Li Mo had seen someone die in such a tragic way right before his eyes. Thinking about it now, his mood grew heavy. Yet, looking at Kanae's smiling face, her gentle demeanor calmed him down.

Did she really remember how he had acted during those days?

"Ara, does Li-san think those days had a big impact on me? Actually, it's fine. The tragedy happened that day, but it's been over a year now, hasn't it? People should always look forward," Kanae said with a light laugh. "Both my mother and you have said that I look best when I smile, right?"

Li Mo blinked. "Did I say that?"

"You didn't?"

"Then let's just say I did. It's enough for Shinobu to be the grumpy one. Kanae-san, you look best when you smile."

"Thank you for the compliment. Also, I'll be sure to tell Shinobu about this," Kanae said with a mischievous grin.

"Please don't," Li Mo pleaded.

Makomo, hugging her knees and curled up, sat between the two, listening to their conversation. The familiarity in their words made her envious. How did Kanae manage to have such a close relationship with her junior brother?

She absentmindedly twirled her fingers, her thoughts wandering, but her ears continued to listen to their conversation.

"You could try begging me? Maybe I won't tell Shinobu."

Li Mo said, "Oh, gentle, kind, and beautiful Kanae-san, please have mercy on your loyal servant... Wait, I just realized it doesn't matter if Shinobu gets mad. I'll just talk to her myself later."

Kanae covered her mouth with her hand. "Oh dear, I forgot that Li-san loves teasing Shinobu. What should I do now?"

The two of them bantered back and forth like a comedy duo, laughing in unison. Only Makomo sat there, feeling like an outsider.

Shouldn't she have spent more time with Li Mo? Yet, why did it feel like they had so little to talk about?

"Makomo, why do you look so down? Is it because you can't keep up with the conversation and feel left out?" a certain cocky male voice said.

Makomo replied, "Junior brother, aren't you overthinking things a bit?"

"Huh? Really? But you just called us by our names earlier. Why do you suddenly sound so distant? Are you... mad? Should I do a backflip off the roof to cheer you up?"

Makomo looked at him skeptically. "You can try?"

Without hesitation, the man stood up, took a small running start, and leaped off the roof, executing a perfect backflip mid-air—one that even a gymnast would envy—before landing flawlessly.

"He actually did it..." Makomo was at a loss for words.

Kanae, meanwhile, called out, "Li-san, don't come back up. I have something I want to discuss with Makomo alone."

From the courtyard below, the man's voice replied, "No problem."

Makomo tilted her head, her expression calm as she looked at Kanae. "Kanae-san, what did you want to talk to me about?"

Kanae asked, "Makomo-san, are you troubled by something related to Li-san?"

"Yes. I feel like there's a distance between me and Li-san... I thought that after mastering 'Total Concentration: Constant,' I could get a little closer to him, but it seems like I'll have to become a Pillar first to do that?" Makomo spoke more to herself than to Kanae, as if using the opportunity to voice her thoughts.

Kanae had a certain charm about her. In her presence, it felt like you could let go of everything and share your worries.

"Ah, a sense of distance? Is that what's troubling you, Makomo-san?"

"Yes."

"Hmm... Do you think that I don't feel that distance with Li-san? Is that what you believe?"

Makomo said, "That's what I thought."

Kanae smiled. "Makomo-san, your expression is always so calm. I thought I might have been wrong. But that's not the case. I also feel a distance from Li-san."

She continued, "Li-san is just that kind of person. He keeps a distance from everyone, as if he doesn't quite belong in this world. Considering Li-san's foreign background, it's normal to feel that distance."

"Is that so?"

"That's how it is. Unless... Makomo-san, do you have feelings for Li-san?" Kanae asked.

Makomo looked up at the starry sky, no different from what she had seen as a child. "I don't know. As a Demon Slayer... there's no room for such thoughts. At least not now."

"That's true. Then let's talk about it in the future, when there are no more demons," Kanae said.

...

The conversation between the two girls continued. Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Mo watched as Shinobu sipped tea in the room, lost in thought.

After jumping off the roof, he didn't go back up. Instead, he returned to the house and saw this scene. Shinobu drinking tea wasn't unusual, but the way she drank it so gracefully was strange. Where had the tomboy he once known gone?

"Li-san, are you thinking something strange again? Be careful, or I'll hit you."

Ah, the crude language—this was the Shinobu he knew. Li Mo said, "I was just thinking that someone who drinks tea so elegantly couldn't possibly be the Shinobu I know."

"I'm angry," Shinobu said, her eyebrow twitching and her mouth quirking. "What's wrong with the way I drink tea?"

"Nothing, nothing. I was just感慨 that you and Kanae-san have some similarities."

Shinobu puffed out her cheeks. "We are sisters, after all!"

"But your personalities are so different." Li Mo exaggeratedly gestured with his hands to emphasize the gap.

Shinobu turned her head away. "I don't want to talk to you!"

"I'm just stating the facts... Unless one day you become just like your sister," Li Mo mused, stroking his chin. In his mind, he pictured Shinobu's future appearance.

—But for that version of Shinobu to appear, Kanae would have to be gone.

"Honestly, the Shinobu you are now is the best."

Shinobu retorted, "Li-san, if you're sick, go see a doctor. Also, if I ever become like my sister, it'll be after you're dead."

"Haha, I'll definitely outlive you," Li Mo said.

While the resting swordsmen chatted, the Kasugai Crows, burdened with their important duties, had no such luxury. The pitch-black crows flew through the night, delivering messages.