As time passed, the night slowly faded.
Outside the main hall, Doma—once infamous and having slain nearly a hundred Hashira over the past millennium—was now pinned to the ground with a Nichirin Sword.
Inside the main hall, a blazing campfire cast warmth and light into the surrounding darkness, with only the occasional crackle of burning branches breaking the tranquil silence.
At this moment, the two sat on the steps of the main hall, quietly watching the warm-colored fireworks.
"So, Takema-kun, you heard I was sent on a mission for the Demon Slayer Corps and rushed overnight, ran ahead of me, and defeated an Upper Rank demon?"
"Mm, I was anxious at the time."
Shun nodded, glancing toward Doma. "I was a bit scared, so I might've hit too hard."
"Pfft… Takema-kun, turns out you can be so sweet."
Kanae couldn't help but laugh as she saw his embarrassed expression.
She could imagine the worried look Shun must have had.
Because he was concerned about her, he rushed ahead and beat the Twelve Kizuki to death… It was truly amusing, but...
"It's a little touching."
Kanae looked at him gently.
"When I first met him, I was shocked. It was the first time I'd seen Takema-kun so angry. You were so ruthless it felt like you'd killed that demon a thousand times."
Shun blinked. In truth, he had slain the demon thousands of times while training for Total Concentration Breathing.
"Still, I didn't hate it. Because when Takema-kun looked at me afterward, your smile was so gentle."
As Kanae said this, her eyes showed a hint of surprise, and she softly said:
"It reminded me of how my father used to look at my mother when I was little."
Shun seeing her expression, felt a surge of emotion and reached out to embrace her.
"Here, Takema-kun…" Kanae's shy words were almost a whisper.
"Call me Shun."
He undid the ties of her cloak, wrapping them both together.
The unexpected warmth of the embrace made the girl's body go weak.
After all, Kanae, who was about the same age as Nagisa, was still a young woman unfamiliar with love. She was confused by Shun's actions, her ears turning crimson.
But most importantly...
She didn't dislike it.
In fact, since the beginning—when Shun chased her at the Butterfly Mansion—Kanae hadn't resisted; she was even a little happy.
Shun noticed this, too. He leaned close to her ear, breathing warmly and mischievously.
"Kanae…?"
Kanae seemingly drained of all strength, fell into his embrace.
"I… I'm too tired…"
Kanae murmured faintly, explaining guiltily in a soft voice as she rested against Shun.
"Mhm, but… you… you mustn't mess around."
"What?"
"It's… inappropriate here..."
Her weak protest sounded more like an invitation than a real attempt to stop Shun's mischievous thoughts.
It was like a small kitten trying to "meow," only making others want to tease it more.
Shun couldn't help but laugh.
He wrapped his arms tightly around Kanae's slender waist, holding her close.
At that moment, Kanae soft and supple, pressed against him like a little kitten.
The rapid heartbeat she initially felt gradually stabilized. Resting in his embrace, she was mesmerized by the rhythm of his heartbeat. It was like a lullaby from her childhood, slowly soothing her heart.
When the initial thrill of youth faded, an indescribable harmony and sense of security blossomed between them.
They embraced in the world's most intimate position, like a pair of lovers deeply in love.
They could hear each other's heartbeats, feel their body warmth, and their breathing gradually synchronized as if they had become one.
❀❀❀
As dawn's first light appeared, Doma—still pinned outside the main hall—instinctively shrieked in fear of the sun.
This time, however, Shun lifted the illusion blocking Muzan's mental hold on him, allowing Doma to face his end with full awareness.
'Who's next?'
'If no one else, it must be Kokushibo. A warrior likely to have mastered the Transparent World and trained for centuries… What an excellent whetstone!'
Hearing the commotion outside, Kanae—now understanding Doma's imminent death—felt utterly relaxed. She nestled her small head into Shun's chest, asking in a soft voice:
"Shun…"
"Hm?"
"I've always believed demons and humans are essentially the same, and I've felt sympathy for demons. I think hunting demons isn't just about saving the people they intend to kill, but also about freeing demons from their evil karma."
Kanae gazed at him with attachment.
"My thoughts have always been considered too soft. Is this right or wrong?"
This was the confusion Kanae had always hidden deep in her heart. She revealed her weakest side only to the lover beside her, seeking comfort and guidance from Shun.
"I think demons are similar to humans in some ways. However, I believe there are far more good people among humans. As for demons, I think only one truly deserves sympathy. The rest of the wicked demons deserve to die."
Shun gently stroked her hair.
"Kanae, let me take you to meet that one demon. I hope your beliefs can find validation in her."
"Oh? Who is it?" Kanae tilted her head curiously.
"Her name is Lady Tamayo. She's in Kyoto, working on developing a cure to turn demons back into humans. You two might get along."
Shun thought about this, looking into his private stash.
For precaution, he retrieved blood samples from Nezuko and the vials of blood he had collected from Rui and Doma.
If Tamayo succeeded in her research, she might be able to create a cure for her as well.
With that, her wish to become human again could be fulfilled. It would mark a significant departure from the original storyline, likely earning him more reward points.
Thinking of this, Shun released Kanae, slowly stood up, and looked toward the sunrise.
"After our trip to Kyoto, your time will come, Kibutsuji Muzan!"