Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Later, Asuka, who was meditating in the corridor, sensed the movement above her head through her spiritual pressure.

"Um... why did you bring us here, Shinobu-senpai?"

"...You have suffered very serious injuries. My place is the best medical facility for recuperation."

Shinobu and Tanjiro's voices came from the rooftop, seemingly chatting.

Her voice sounded somewhat deep, and her tone was no longer as light: "...And also, I want to entrust my dreams to you."

"The dream of getting along well with ghosts—if it were you, you could definitely achieve it."

"...Senior Shinobu, are you angry?"

"Huh?"

"I always feel... that although you're always smiling, there's a sense of vitality emanating from you..."

Tanjiro noticed too? Asuka opened her eyes and thought it would be better to avoid this topic.

If it were him, he would also be unhappy if someone overheard things he didn't want others to know.

But just as he was about to get up and leave, Shinobu's voice came:

"...That might indeed be the case, ever since my beloved older sister was brutally murdered by a demon..."

Sister... is she that woman?

Asuka walked towards the Japanese-style room, but her mind was still on that dream from that day. Despite her usually swift movements, her steps slowed considerably.

"Whenever I see someone lose someone important to them because of a ghost, and I see those tears, cries, and pain, the anger in my heart keeps building up and swelling..."

"My sister was a gentle person, just like you, and even on her deathbed... she was still mourning for evil spirits..."

"...I can't think that way."

After closing the door to the Japanese-style room, Asuka withdrew her spiritual pressure perception, and that was all she heard.

He sat quietly on the tatami mat, recalling Muichiro's words once again.

There's always something holding you back, preventing you from truly giving your all in the fight...

"Everyone has a reason to fight demons, but I don't have that resolve..."

Asuka remained silent for a long time, gazing at the Asauchi Nichirin Blade before her.

"...Stop arguing. If all you want is revenge, to become stronger, just keep fighting..."

But when he recalled that night when his emotions were most intense and his fighting spirit most vigorous, or even earlier, that reckless and arrogant battle...

That feeling of unreservedly connecting with the monstrous emotions and unleashing the power of the Zanpakuto wasn't because of these reasons when I swung the sword.

He felt like he had found the answer, but he was also very uncertain, which made him, with his simple mind, somewhat irritable.

"What are you sulking about all by yourself after eavesdropping on me, Mr. Asuka?"

The bird, which was in distress, felt a sweet fragrance coming from its nostrils.

Without even looking, he knew that Shinobu Kocho had once again appeared in the house mysteriously.

"Moshi moshi, are you ignoring me?" Seeing that he didn't speak, Butterfly chuckled and sat down opposite Asuka. "Why didn't you listen to the whole conversation with Kamado-kun before leaving? Do you dislike me?"

"...No, I just didn't want to eavesdrop."

"Haha, Mr. Asuka has such awareness."

"Yes, I don't want to see you cry." Asuka said softly, meeting Butterfly's surprised and suspicious gaze:

"I felt that if you continued on that topic, you might start crying, so I left."

"..." Shinobu Kocho's forced smile froze.

Huh? Is Mr. Asuka really that straightforward? So suddenly?

Although she often teased the young swordsmen, it was always based on her status as a Pillar and her position as an older sister. This was the first time someone had said such a thing to her.

But how did he know what it looked like when he was crying?

Shinobu was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure of what to say. Asuka, sensing the strange atmosphere, but feeling that the conversation had already progressed this far, decided to continue:

"I think your sister... probably doesn't want you to get hurt, and doesn't want you to keep dwelling on this and crying all the time, which is why she wants you to leave the Demon Slayer Corps."

"How...how did you know?"

"I dreamt about it."

"A dream? Mr. Asuka, that's a bit too much..."

This is a claim that Shinobu Kocho finds hard to believe rationally.

But looking into Asuka's calm gaze, she knew this was not a lie.

Can such a thing really exist in the world?

As if her memories had been stirred, Shinobu Kocho's smile finally vanished.

"...You really don't know how to talk, Mr. Asuka." She spoke in a low voice, "If you said you didn't want to see me cry, then you shouldn't have brought it up in the first place, you idiot..."

"Is that so... I'm sorry."

"...This isn't your fault, I was just too angry."

She let out a long sigh of relief, as if it had been a long time since she had spoken so candidly without pretense.

Shinobu Kocho frowned slightly, her eyes hardening: "Ultimately, demons and such are truly repulsive!"

"Utterly irrational in their pursuit of self-preservation, spewing lies... relying solely on base instincts to survive and kill..."

"You killed someone and then act pitiful? You want to repent and ask for my forgiveness... Don't be ridiculous... It's best if this kind of thing is dead..."

At this point, Shinobu's eyes welled up with tears, and her slender hands clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms.

"I'm really tired... If it weren't for keeping my sister's favorite smile... I really..."

"Then let's kill them all."

"what?"

Asuka reached out and hooked her little finger with Shinobu's little finger, which had turned slightly white from exerting so much force.

Just like that day when Shinobu Kocho reached out her hand to him.

"I will help you kill that blood-stained demon wielding two fans."

"That way, you won't be so angry every day."

"I made a promise with you, and I will definitely keep it."

Asuka couldn't explain why he suddenly wanted to make such a promise to Shinobu, but he felt he should do it.

Just as Tanjiro would help others, just as Ubuyashiki no Kyoukai would do anything to fight against evil demons.

Such a promise made him feel that the knife he wielded would be more powerful, or rather, more valuable.

Shinobu's hands were trembling, not only because Asuka had confirmed once again that he had indeed dreamt of the details of his sister's death.

What Asuka said reminded her of many years ago—

That day, an evil spirit broke into the house and killed my father and mother.

If it weren't for Lord Stone Pillar arriving in time to slay the demon, I and my sister would probably have lost our lives.

I was sobbing uncontrollably, terrified.

Kanae Butterfly, her older sister also reached out her hand and gently hooked her little finger around Kanae's:

We must slay more evil spirits, endure!

We must never let this pain befall anyone else.

We made a promise.

pat.

A tear rolled down her cheek uncontrollably.

Butterfly lowered her head, her slender wrists trembling, but her fingers were tightly gripping the little finger of the bird.

".....Asuka....you're such an annoying guy."

"Saying things like that will make a girl cry..."

Tears streamed down her face, as if emotions suppressed for an unknown period of time had finally collapsed, making it impossible for Shinobu to look Asuka in the eye.

"It's a deal then! No one is allowed to die before that day!"

She trembled as she pressed her thumb heavily against the bird's thumb, her voice trembling with laughter amidst her sobs:

"Don't call me senpai anymore, we're not that much older than each other... just call me Shinobu."

"Shinobu? Isn't that very rude?"

"It's okay, we're good friends, Asuka."