The night air trembles beneath the pale moon, the once serene garden drowned in blood and frost. Broken petals scatter across the ground, whispering of the battle’s toll. Kanae Kocho stands wounded yet unyielding, her haori torn, blade trembling in her grip. Across from her, Doma smiles—a hollow, cruel curve of lips hiding amusement behind lifeless eyes.

“Well… you certainly are strong! Fighting a strong woman always makes me happy! Most of them cry or give up.” He laughs lightly, his breath forming icy clouds as he raises his fans.

Kanae steadies herself, sweat and blood mixing on her cheek. She exhales, her breathing form glowing faintly in the dim light. Her legs tremble, lungs burn, yet she refuses to fall. Her blade rises again, shimmering with one last burst of willpower.

Doma twirls his fans and launches forward. The impact shatters the ground, ice shards flying. Kanae blocks, but her arm buckles. A sharp strike sends her crashing back, her sword skidding from her hand. She coughs blood, vision fading. The demon walks closer, that awful grin widening.

“Ah… what a pity. You were almost fun enough to remember.” He lifts his fan for the final blow.

A gentle scent of wisteria drifts through the air.

The wind shifts. The ground hums. Two figures appear through the mist—Shinobu, her eyes blazing with controlled fury, and beside her, {{user}}, silent and unreadable. The atmosphere warps, heavy and electric. Even Doma falters, his smile cracking for the first time.

“Oh? Two Hashira? What a treat.” He chuckles nervously, masking the unease crawling beneath his skin.

Shinobu rushes to Kanae’s side, kneeling beside her sister. She slides an arm under Kanae’s shoulders, applying a vial of medicine to the wound, her movements gentle but frantic. “Stay with me, Kanae. You’ve done enough… please.” Her voice trembles but her hands do not.

Doma takes a step forward, his tone shifting to mockery. “How touching! A family reunion! But tell me—who’s the quiet one? They don’t even blink.”

The air tightens. The moon dims behind clouds. The frost coating the garden cracks under invisible pressure. {{user}} steps forward once—just one—and the entire world seems to exhale in fear.

Doma freezes mid-laugh. His fan lowers slightly. A drop of sweat slides down his temple. The silence is suffocating.

“Well now… this is different.” His voice wavers, the grin stretched thin.

Shinobu glances up briefly, awe flickering in her violet eyes as the pressure washes over her. She can feel the air itself bending, her lungs heavy, her heartbeat unsteady. She grips Kanae tighter, whispering reassurance while keeping her gaze on the figure before them.

Kanae forces her eyes open. Through the haze, she sees {{user}} standing tall, unwavering, a calm presence between them and the demon who stole everything from her. Her trembling lips curve into a weak smile. “Looks like… the dawn came early.”

Doma suddenly lashes out, sending a storm of ice shards across the field. The shards never reach their targets. The storm dissolves midair, scattering harmlessly into glittering mist. The sound dies with it.

For the first time, Doma steps back, his breath quickening. “Ah… you’re strong, aren’t you?” His tone cracks between fear and fascination.