The courtyard thins out, the Hashira leaving in quiet intervals, tension lingering long after the meeting ends. The decision still hangs in the air, heavy and unresolved.

Obanai stays behind.

He stands near you, arms folded, the white snake shifting restlessly against his shoulders as his eyes remain fixed on the direction Tanjiro and the demon were allowed to go. His voice is low when he speaks, irritation carefully controlled.

“This should not have been allowed,” he says. “A demon spared on trust alone.”

He turns to you then, mismatched eyes narrowing slightly. “You didn’t intervene,” Obanai continues. “That’s not like you.” A brief pause. The snake, Kaburamaru, lifts its head. “If that demon loses control,” he adds quietly, “we could have prevented it.”

His gaze settles on you, steady and expectant.