Chapter 19: The Diverging Path of the Kocho Sisters

At the village exit—

"So, in the end, both of you want to join the Demon Slayer Corps?"

Zhou Yi looked at the Kocho sisters, Kanae and Shinobu, standing before him with their packs. He couldn't help but marvel at the corrective effect of restraint.

"Since Shinobu is joining the Demon Slayer Corps, there's no way I can let her go alone."

"After all, I'm her elder sister!"

"Nice to meet you formally. I'm Kocho Kanae," she said, flashing a sweet smile at Zhou Yi.

"Come on! Take us to learn demon-slaying techniques already! I can't wait any longer!"

Kocho Shinobu was still as impatient as ever. Last night's demon attack didn't leave a single negative impression on her; instead, it fueled her determination.

"If I encounter the same situation as last night, I'll never run away again!"

What a pure child! Unlike the original storyline, their parents were alive, and Kanae remained by their side. Right now, Shinobu was still an innocent girl.

"Alright, alright," Zhou Yi replied perfunctorily, ignoring her.

He turned to Kanae and took a light pink hairpin from his pocket. "It's our first meeting, so I don't have anything fancy to give you. Take this hairpin; I bought it on a whim."

"Huh? You...you're giving this to me?" Kanae's face suddenly turned bright red, and she hesitated for a long time, stammering.

This hairpin was the same style as the one on her younger sister's head. Although she really liked it, due to tight finances, she could only afford one for her sister. She had thought about it for a long time, never expecting it to end up in her hands like this.

"Do you not like it? Forget it then," Zhou Yi said, seeing her hesitation and assuming she didn't like the hairpin. He was about to take it back.

"No! It's not that! I just think it's too valuable... And no one's ever given me anything before," Kanae said softly, her voice barely audible.

"It's no big deal. That vendor thought I looked approachable and didn't charge me much for it."

"Here, let me help you put it on."

With that, Zhou Yi walked behind Kanae and skillfully fastened the hairpin.

"I specifically practiced hairstyling to help Senior Sister manage her hair. How is it? Not bad, right?"

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Kanae blushed and nodded. "It looks great. Thank you..."

Meanwhile, Shinobu immediately exploded.

"You dare bully my sister? I'll fight you!"

She swung her tiny fists at Zhou Yi, only to be tightly restrained by a flustered Kanae.

"Sister! Don't hold me back. I'll show him who's boss today!"

"Stop embarrassing yourself... He didn't bully me."

"He totally did! Just look at you! I'm definitely avenging you!"

"..."

While the two sisters bickered, Zhou Yi slipped away and stood next to Makomo.

"In just a few days, you've gotten even better at winning girls over, haven't you? Now you're even giving gifts!" Makomo said teasingly, examining her junior with interest.

"Not at all. It's all stuff I learned to please you, Senior Sister. Even the hairpin was something I bought while shopping for hair ribbons."

With a casual reply, Zhou Yi defused the trap hidden in her words.

"Hmph! Let's go," Makomo said with a pout, pulling him along to signal her acceptance of his excuse.

Kanae? Makomo didn't take her seriously. After all, she was only twelve years old. Zhou Yi wouldn't like her.

But...what if Zhou Yi, at 170 cm tall, was also just twelve? And Kanae wasn't alone—she had a sister too, right?

The group of four spent the next few days visiting two nearby trainers, requesting them to teach the sisters their techniques.

-------

The Next Day

Zhou Yi and Makomo finally returned to Mount Sagiri, planning to rest for a while.

But as soon as they reached the entrance, they saw a member of the Kakushi Corps waiting outside the house.

"Is this guy here to see Master?"

Regarding Makomo's confusion, Zhou Yi was also unsure.

The two, filled with questions, walked forward.

"You two, my name is Kondo, a member of the Kakushi Corps. I've been waiting for you for a while," Kondo greeted with a respectful bow before explaining his purpose.

"Urokodaki-sensei has gone out to find suitable disciples. Before leaving, he instructed me to deliver this letter to you both."

"And, there's something even more important. Lord Oyakata-sama has requested that you two head to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters; there's an important announcement to be made."

The masked Kondo spoke quickly, and before the words fully settled, he dashed off, disappearing without a trace. From a distance, his voice trailed off:

"Read it and call for me afterward, okay?"

"Ahhh! I finally finished talking fast! Urokodaki-sensei said I'd better run before you open the letter—why though?!"

...

"For Makomo and Zhou Yi, personally addressed."

That's what the envelope read.

"What could be so important that it couldn't be said in person? Why so formal?" Makomo was visibly unhappy; she had hoped to see her master.

"Maybe it's something he found hard to say face-to-face," Zhou Yi guessed.

Makomo opened the envelope and began reading carefully.

"When you see this letter, I will have already left to find new disciples.

"You two are my most outstanding students, especially you, Zhou Yi.

"And now comes the crucial part:

"From now on, the two of you can't live here anymore!

"I'm an old bachelor, and I can't stand the sight of you two being so lovey-dovey!

"Find yourselves a new place to stay.

"Zhou Yi, I'm entrusting Makomo to you. Treat her well from now on."

...

A heavy silence fell all around.

Even the air seemed frozen.

How could such a thing be said in person?!

He was kicking them out and even matchmaking them at the same time. No wonder it was written in a letter.

"Master always seemed so serious. I never thought he'd say something like this—it's so unexpected," Zhou Yi remarked nonchalantly, accepting it without much surprise.

As for Makomo?

After all this time, there's no way she could escape now! Too naive!

Crack!

Something seemed to shatter!

The letter in Makomo's hands froze into thin shards of ice before being crushed to dust in her grip.

"So, junior brother, what do you think of us building a small house nearby?"

She asked through gritted teeth, her tone low and menacing, causing Zhou Yi to shiver.

"Brilliant idea, senior sister!"

Like hell he could say no at this point!

"Good, we'll start building the house as soon as we return from headquarters!"

Makomo clapped her hands, her frosty expression melting back into a smile.

Zhou Yi glanced toward the bushes dozens of meters away, silently thinking:

"Master, may you take care of yourself!"

Hidden within those bushes, Urokodaki Sakonji was secretly observing his two disciples.

"Was this too harsh of me?"

"Forget it. It's better to send them off. Still, after Makomo lived here for so long, it's hard to let go..."