Demon Slayer: The Tenth Hashira with Dōjutsu

"Return to Asakusa"

"Why do you still remember that? Forget it! Forget it immediately!" Shinobu Kocho cried, her hands covering her face.

Aoki stepped forward, grasped her hands, and gently pulled them away.

Their eyes met. Shinobu saw a hint of shyness, but mostly determination, in Aoki's gaze.

Zenitsu Agatsuma's Girl Pickup Technique, Rule 12: You gotta be bold.

Aoki gently embraced her slender waist, their faces close. For a moment, Shinobu forgot to resist.

Their lips met, time seeming to freeze.

Shinobu's mind went blank. Aoki was also nervous; his shyness on Earth had prevented him from dating or kissing anyone, making this feel awkward.

When their lips parted, Shinobu buried her face in Aoki's chest, softly weeping.

Aoki's hands moved from her waist to her back, gently stroking her head. He simply watched her, saying nothing. Shinobu did the same; words felt unnecessary.

Shinobu cried because she felt overwhelmingly happy—a happiness unimaginable before. Since her sister, Kanae Kocho, was killed by a demon, her life had been bleak.

When she first met Aoki, Shinobu's impression wasn't positive. At the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, he'd feigned weakness and timidity, a tactic likely to be disliked in a strength-oriented environment.

However, she later discovered he wasn't weak or timid. While somewhat unruly and nonchalant, he possessed a kind heart and treated those close to him with exceptional gentleness, never bullying the weak.

Shinobu was drawn to Aoki, not only for his humor but also for his unwavering kindness and gentle nature towards those he cared for.

Sanemi Shinazugawa was arguably Aoki's biggest adversary in the Demon Slayer Corps, but only superficially.

The evidence: Aoki, as a new recruit, defeated Shinazugawa, who had previously harassed him. Most would have taunted Shinazugawa, but Aoki showed him basic respect, even though Shinazugawa didn't need it. Aoki helping Shinazugawa to his feet demonstrated his lack of animosity.

Shinazugawa, while outwardly hot-headed, cared deeply for his teammates. When Aoki awoke from his injuries, Shinazugawa was the first to rush into the room, though things became unpleasant afterward.

"Shinobu, let's go to the city for a day. Now."

"Is it… a date?"

"Yes."

After some time, Shinobu carefully prepared herself. Aoki packed their Nichirin Blades—hers and his Yōgetsu—into a rectangular wooden box and slung it onto his back.

For this date, Aoki also made an effort to look presentable, though not as meticulously as Shinobu. A simple, natural style suited him.

Without informing anyone, they slipped out of headquarters.

Tokyo Prefecture, Asakusa.

Yoshiwara would have been a nice location for a date, but it was mostly destroyed two months prior. Aoki knew suggesting it would be disastrous.

So, where else?

Aoki didn't know. He'd been in this world for almost three years, mostly in remote mountains, rarely visiting the modern world, which he considered antiquated.

But this antiquated world had a certain charm.

He chose Asakusa, one of the few places he'd visited in the modern world. He remembered encountering Muzan Kibutsuji here with Tanjiro.

But it was daytime. Muzan Kibutsuji wouldn't dare show himself.

They walked hand-in-hand. Shinobu pointed out things she wanted to see or try, often leading to awkward moments due to their unfamiliarity, yet they felt content.

Aoki's most memorable moment involved a peculiar old man with glasses at a stall. They'd planned to look around when the old man started telling ghost stories.

Shinobu was captivated. The old man would gesture to Aoki at the climax of each story.

Aoki initially didn't understand, then realized the old man was asking for money.

Would Aoki pay? He wouldn't normally, but Shinobu wanted to hear the stories.

The old man gestured after each story, and Aoki, twitching his mouth, would pull out a steel plate from his bag.

The old man was a skilled storyteller. Aoki, who disliked ghost stories, found himself captivated, losing track of time.

Aoki ended up giving the old man seventeen steel plates—several months' worth of his living expenses.

Dating was expensive, but this was an absurd waste of money.

Perhaps noticing Aoki's darkening expression each time he paid, Shinobu suggested they leave. Aoki was relieved; his wallet was nearly empty.

Before they left, the old man offered some seemingly insignificant information: a church would be visiting Asakusa that evening.

It was apparently a well-known church called the Eternal Paradise Church.

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