else to go, they live together here," Shinobu continues, explaining about the girls who reside under the butterfly mansion.

I hung my head low, feeling guilt........

"But neither I nor those girls harbor any resentment toward you for your family and the environment you were raised in," Shinobu continues steadily. "I also don't scorn your reason for joining the Demon Slayer Corps. Although, well, I was surprised when you first told me."

"Huh?" I lift my head, hearing a soft giggle at the end of Shinobu's statement.

Surprised, my eyes met Shinobu's lavender eyes, who was trying to suppress a smile as she usually would. The hard expression was slowly gone, and the insect hashira's usual smile beamed warmly towards me. "If all of us walked around filled with hate and sadness, licking each other's wounds, we'd never move forward. Your cheerful smile keeps us going, you know, Kanroji?"

"Sh-Shinobu......." I whisper out shakily, tears welling in the corners of my eyes. Shinobu's deep violet eyes were more beautiful than anything in this world, the same as the first time they'd met.

"So please don't lie to yourself or anything like that," Shinobu says. "I love you just the way you are, Kanroji,"

Without wasting another second I threw my arms around the small Hashira, tears flowing down my cheeks, "Shinobu, Shinobu, Shinobu, Shinobu!"

"Please excuse me for testing you like that, Hayami helped me with that," Shinobu apologises softly.

Shaking my head vigorously, "Uh-Uh! It's okay! It's totally fine!" I exclaim, my eyes met her own again while still clutching onto Shinobu.

I could hear a half-giggle leave Shinobu, "You'll make sure to eat properly from now on, yes?"

"Uh, huh! I'm gonna eat loooads! I'll eat so much and then I'll get even stronger!!!!"

Shinobu smiles meekly, "Iguro's also been worried about you, you know," She adds, in a gentle quiet voice, a little protectively.

"Yeah, I'll apologise to him too, and muichiro!" I cry, wailing like a child while feeling Shinobu patting my pat gently with a small hand.

"The truth is.......I've always been jealous of your physique, Kanroji......you and Hayami," Shinobu admits, with a whisper.

Pulling away I look at her in surprise, "Huh?"

"If I had muscles like you, if I was tall like you.....then....."

"Sh-Shinobu?"

Shinobu shook her head, "I've said too much, please forget that," She says dismissively, with a soft voice.

Wait, what has she been about to say after 'then'?

I could feel that hidden in that word was a though so powerful it was painful, a thought that burned even more brightly that anything else Shinobu had said. The only hashira who couldn't severe a demons head clean off. I couldn't imagine how she felt in that moment, before holding her a little longer.

"Misturi..........maybe speak with Hayami," Shinobu spoke up, as I pull myself away when she mentions the Dragon Hashira. "She's a wise woman, she's seen things she can't forget. She holds such insecurities herself as well, and cares for the hashira as if like a mother to her children. Maybe you need that right now........she was also very worried about you too......."

That's right, I must apologise.........

"I will, thank you Shinobu......" I smile through my shedded tears, wiping them away. ".....maybe that's who I need as well."

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