[ Can this even be called a Pyrrhic victory? The alleged culprit expressed no remorse, either, which begs the question of whether Zoe really is guilty or something more nefarious is at play. What's more, one of theirs will have to carry out the execution while everyone must face the guilt of what they've let happen.
Mitsuri barely even did anything. Tomioka and Shinobu were hard at work while she—what? Climbed a tree and chatted Kurashiki up? Everyone else worked their hardest. Shinobu, whom she deeply respects, is the last person who should have to shoulder this weigh alone.
Mitsuri reaches out to hold Shinobu's hand in both of hers. ]
The past can't be changed, Shinobu. But we can shape the future so that this doesn't have to happen again.
[ Ah. It is because Mitsuri is how she is that Shinobu feels a little of the weight on her shoulders lift, enough so that that her lips curve into something that can almost be called a smile.
Hadn't she called Mitsuri's personality something like salvation before?
Her smile is quick to fade, though, but she clasps Mitsuri's hands in return, gently, gratefully. ]
I know. I won't stop searching for a way to change what the future could be, but even if Zoe-san doesn't realize the full gravity of this situation....
There is still the mystery behind the other deaths to solve.
[ There sure are other murderers out there, not to mention finding out how this ritual came to be in the first place. ]
[ They have one week left to solve these mounting mysteries, the biggest of which has been around longer than they have on this island. The odds are bleak, but the Demon Slayer Corps isn't unused to such odds.
At the same time, the Demon Slayer Corps doesn't typically deal with the trial and execution of fellow people. These aren't demons. The toll this will take on them is not what they've hardened themselves to over the years.
Selfishly, Mitsuri doesn't want to lose Shinobu to these unfolding tragedies. She nods in a way that she hopes is reassuring. ]
Convicting Zoe doesn't mean we'll forget about the rest. We'll keep searching for those answers.
[ It was stupid of Mitsuri to say it like that. Now Shinobu's apologizing for something that isn't her fault while praising her in the same breath. Awful.
She's right, though. The three of them, including Tomioka, won't rest until this curse has ground to a halt. So to that Mitsuri gives an exaggerated nod once, then twice. ]
[ She gives Mitsuri's hands a gentle squeeze, hoping to be calming. ]
No. I have. Or at least I haven't done the best to my abilities. Instead of questioning Zoe-san, I could've focused on finding out who those second set of footprints were. Who pushed Marie-san? How did Wen Ning-san meet that fate? That fire... someone had to ignite it.
[ She sounds calm as she says this, her voice even and smooth, but someone with special hearing would be able to hear her discordant anger. It booms and claps and strikes, burning hotter than whatever set the ruins aflame. ]
More than that, we need to prevent more deaths.
[ The implication of the voice was that they'd all die, if they didn't participate in this ritual, but if they needed deaths, they should have simply killed them all from the start. ]
[ Dwelling on what-ifs can only take them so far. Mitsuri feels a twinge of regret that she didn't do more during the trial. One of Shinobu's strengths, though, is that she's forward-thinking. Not getting to ask those questions in detail before doesn't mean they'll forget about them now.
Still, it must be frustrating. After all those hours, it felt like they accomplished the bare minimum, if that. ]
About that . . . did we ever figure out what caused us to fall asleep at the same time?
[ It must've been the island's doing. If there's a way to combat such a spell, they'll need to find it right away. ]
[ How do they beat something like that? If it's going to happen on the same night of the week, they're on an even tighter schedule than she thought. There's no time to waste nor doubt.
This time, she squeezes Shinobu's hand. ]
If it's with you and Tomioka, we can do it. We won't lose to such evil.
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Mitsuri barely even did anything. Tomioka and Shinobu were hard at work while she—what? Climbed a tree and chatted Kurashiki up? Everyone else worked their hardest. Shinobu, whom she deeply respects, is the last person who should have to shoulder this weigh alone.
Mitsuri reaches out to hold Shinobu's hand in both of hers. ]
The past can't be changed, Shinobu. But we can shape the future so that this doesn't have to happen again.
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Hadn't she called Mitsuri's personality something like salvation before?
Her smile is quick to fade, though, but she clasps Mitsuri's hands in return, gently, gratefully. ]
I know. I won't stop searching for a way to change what the future could be, but even if Zoe-san doesn't realize the full gravity of this situation....
There is still the mystery behind the other deaths to solve.
[ There sure are other murderers out there, not to mention finding out how this ritual came to be in the first place. ]
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At the same time, the Demon Slayer Corps doesn't typically deal with the trial and execution of fellow people. These aren't demons. The toll this will take on them is not what they've hardened themselves to over the years.
Selfishly, Mitsuri doesn't want to lose Shinobu to these unfolding tragedies. She nods in a way that she hopes is reassuring. ]
Convicting Zoe doesn't mean we'll forget about the rest. We'll keep searching for those answers.
[ She squeezes Shinobu's hand. ]
You're not alone. Let me help you!
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Have I been so terrible as to make it seem you weren't a help? I'm sorry, Kanroji-san. What you found in the ruins has been helpful.
[ Even if it doesn't make sense for all three of them. It's a clue. It's something more concrete than any of the others have so far found. ]
We'll continue looking together. We both won't give up.
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[ It was stupid of Mitsuri to say it like that. Now Shinobu's apologizing for something that isn't her fault while praising her in the same breath. Awful.
She's right, though. The three of them, including Tomioka, won't rest until this curse has ground to a halt. So to that Mitsuri gives an exaggerated nod once, then twice. ]
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No. I have. Or at least I haven't done the best to my abilities. Instead of questioning Zoe-san, I could've focused on finding out who those second set of footprints were. Who pushed Marie-san? How did Wen Ning-san meet that fate? That fire... someone had to ignite it.
[ She sounds calm as she says this, her voice even and smooth, but someone with special hearing would be able to hear her discordant anger. It booms and claps and strikes, burning hotter than whatever set the ruins aflame. ]
More than that, we need to prevent more deaths.
[ The implication of the voice was that they'd all die, if they didn't participate in this ritual, but if they needed deaths, they should have simply killed them all from the start. ]
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Still, it must be frustrating. After all those hours, it felt like they accomplished the bare minimum, if that. ]
About that . . . did we ever figure out what caused us to fall asleep at the same time?
[ It must've been the island's doing. If there's a way to combat such a spell, they'll need to find it right away. ]
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[ That's the theory that makes the most sense to her right now. ]
What magic is imbued in it is likely cast on us to make this farce move forward in a way it favors.
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As long as it exists, we won't be able to protect anyone on those nights.
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That's why I hope we can make this ritual crumble into pieces.
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This time, she squeezes Shinobu's hand. ]
If it's with you and Tomioka, we can do it. We won't lose to such evil.
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[ As is written on their backs, as is written on their swords. ]
One way or another.
[ Even though Giyuu is set to behead someone who behaves like a child tomorrow. Or especially because of that. ]