The Kamado family was the last to leave the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, apart from Tanjiro's own family. Kanao left with Shinobu Kocho, and the level of affection between Kanao and Tanjiro wasn't high enough for her to go back to the Kamado family with him.
At least, that's how it appears on the surface.
After Kanao left the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters with Shinobu Kocho, the two returned to the mansion Shinobu had purchased outside the headquarters and opened a clinic.
During the day, Shinobu Kocho works as the attending physician, and Kanao works as her assistant to treat patients.
At night, Shinobu Kocho acts as a medical teacher, and Kanao acts as a student, listening to and learning medical techniques from Shinobu.
Kanao was born into an extremely poor family and grew up under the cold-blooded and ruthless domestic violence of her parents. Although Kanao constantly avoided the vital parts of her body from her parents’ punches and kicks with her “God’s Eyes” which were on par with Tanjiro’s, she was unable to save her brothers and sisters.
One after another, her siblings died under the violence of her parents. Because she would be beaten and kicked if she cried, she had no choice but to hide her feelings. In the long process of enduring this, Kanao became unable to express her feelings.
Until one day, she was sold to human traffickers by her parents.
As Kanao was being dragged along by human traffickers, she was getting infinitely closer to the abyss of hell. Fortunately, just as she was about to step into the abyss of no return, Shinobu Kocho and her sister Kanae Kocho happened to pass by. They not only rescued her but also took her back to the Butterfly Mansion to raise her. Even the name "Kanao" was given to her by the Kocho sisters later...
"That concludes today's lesson," Shinobu Kocho said with a sigh, closing the medical book in her hands.
This startled Kanao, who was sitting next to her studying, and she even felt a little flustered.
"Did I do something to displease Master? I will change..." Kanao raised her head and looked at Shinobu Kocho, saying somewhat anxiously.
Shinobu Kocho shook her head and turned to walk to the bookshelf in the corner of the room, where she pulled out several books.
"Do you think I can't see it? You've been a bit distracted since the first day you left headquarters. Your study efficiency is barely passable, but I think you should be able to achieve the learning goals I set for you faster if you put your mind to it," Shinobu Kocho said to Kanao while pulling books from the bookshelf.
Upon hearing this, Kanao lowered her head. No matter how well she pretended, she couldn't escape the older sister who had raised her since childhood.
"Tanjiro~"
"Um!"
At Shinobu's soft words, Kanao trembled and lowered her head even further.
Upon seeing this scene, Shinobu's 80% guess instantly turned into 100% certainty. Holding the books she had pulled out, Shinobu turned around and faced Kanao again, a smile appearing on her face.
"Oh my god~ I was right! My dear little sister actually got won over by the little brother from the Chika family, really~"
Butterfly said with a smile, and Kanao's already lowered head drooped even further, her face flushed red, like a ripe tomato.
Shinobu Kocho placed the book she was holding on the table next to Kanao and said, "Kanao, you don't have to stay by my side forever. Follow your heart and move forward. You're not the little girl my sister and I picked up anymore, are you?"
Kanao raised her head, blushing, and looked at Shinobu Kocho, who was smiling at her from the side. Memories of her first encounter with the Kocho sisters flashed through her mind.
[Sister! This child is completely unresponsive. If we don't say anything, she really won't do anything, even eating. If we don't say anything, even if her stomach is growling, she won't eat a single bite!]
[Hey~ Kanao, when you're alone, you probably decide what to do by flipping a coin, right?]
[Sister! What's this all about!]
[It's okay~ It's okay~ Given the right opportunity, people's hearts will blossom. One day, when she meets a boy she likes, Kanao will change too~]
"elder sister…………"
Kanao's sealed heart shattered completely at this moment, tears streaming down her face as she threw herself into Shinobu's arms.
Since that day, Kanao began to study medicine diligently. Although she had been learning quickly before, her learning speed after that amazed Shinobu Kocho.
From the beginning, when she was able to finish her studies ahead of time at night, it wasn't long before Shinobu began to test Kanao with questions from time to time during her daytime clinic hours.
Although Kanao was a little flustered at first, her accuracy in answering correctly increased rapidly after she calmed down.
After Shinobu Kocho said, "I've almost mastered the basics," Kanao successfully passed Shinobu's "beginner's test." Her medical skills will require time and self-practice.
Clearing this beginner level also foreshadows Shinobu Kocho allowing Kanao to go out.
The mountain where the Kamado family lives is called "Kumoriyama," and Shinobu Kocho had been to that area before, so she could point out the general direction.
As for concerns about Kanao's safety...
In this generation without demons, there are things that can threaten the elite Demon Slayer Corps, but they are really few. Even so, Shinobu Kocho still held up a finger and earnestly explained to them the things they need to pay attention to when they are out in the world.
As dawn broke and the sun rose, Kanao, carrying her luggage, walked out of the mansion.
"Sister, I'm leaving."
"Yes, I remember what I said last night."
Shinobu Kocho smiled and waved to Kanao, watching her depart. When Kanao disappeared from her sight, Shinobu Kocho pursed her lips slightly, closed her eyes, and sighed.
"It's time to go to the clinic."
Shinobu changed direction and arrived at her clinic. There weren't many people at her clinic that day, but that was normal. After all, it was a clinic, not an inn. Where would so many injured and sick patients come from in a small town? The "boom" at the beginning of the clinic's opening was only temporary.
Shinobu picked up the medical book in her hands, preparing to review it herself, when just then, footsteps sounded from outside to inside. Shinobu exhaled and put down the medical book.
She raised her head to look at the person who was walking into the clinic. She opened her mouth, about to speak, but was so startled by the person who entered that the words caught in her throat.
"Mr. Tomioka?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com