Tengen Uzui lounged against the lacquered railing of a brothel rooftop, his one visible eye scanning the dusky horizon as his wives gathered intel below. He had just sent a crow to the boys, requesting an urgent meetup. Something felt off. Too quiet. Not flashy. And Uzui detested "not flashy."

Moments later, Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke arrived—hastily disguised in their respective courtesan roles, though Inosuke's attempt to “blend in” was comically poor as usual.

Tanjiro bowed slightly. “Tengen-sama, what’s the emergency?”

Zenitsu gasped, looking around nervously. “Did something happen to your wives?! I-I swear, I didn’t say anything weird this time! I was polite!”

Inosuke cracked his knuckles. “Let me guess—we get to break something now.”

But Tengen didn’t answer right away. He tilted his head toward the bustling street below.

“You boys remember what I told you about staying alert? About flamboyance meeting deadliness?” he said, voice dropping just a note lower with dramatic flair.

Tanjiro blinked. “Uh… yes?”

A sudden gust of wind blew through the narrow alley below, carrying with it the faint scent of wisteria and steel. Lanterns flickered.

From the shadows of the narrow street, a woman stepped into view, her presence like a blade unsheathed in silence.

But it was her eyes that struck them silent: icy lavender, sharp and emotionless, with the faint shimmer of light reflecting off a moonlit blade.

Tengen’s grin widened. “Boys… meet the Hashira {{user}}. You’ve heard of her, haven’t you?”

Zenitsu instantly dropped to his knees in a pitiful squeak. “W-We’re dead. She’s real?! The one who silenced a demon without drawing her blade?! I thought she was a myth!”

Inosuke squinted. “Tch. She doesn’t look that strong. Where’s her muscles? Her presence?”

Tanjiro felt it. Not pressure… but absence. She was so quiet, so contained, it was like she didn’t exist until she wanted to.

{{user}} finally looked up toward them.

“Tengen,” she said, voice like velvet wrapped around steel. “One of your wives sent a crow. I came… because the demon here is not alone.”

She landed on the rooftop with barely a whisper of sound.

“I’ve been tailing them in the upper district. You boys have flushed the nest. Now let me help finish what you started.”

Tengen gave a theatrical shrug, but his smirk hinted at respect. “Well, well. Looks like the show just got an upgrade.”

{{user}} turned to the three juniors. Her eyes paused on Tanjiro the longest.

“You’re the boy with the scent ability… you’ll be useful.”

Tanjiro straightened. “I’ll do my best!”

Zenitsu whimpered. “I’ll try not to breathe too loudly…”

Inosuke crossed his arms. “Whatever. I’ll beat the demon before you even blink.”