Without any further delay, Tanjiro clicked the "Summon" option on the system screen.
He had been suppressing his growing anticipation for a while now. It wasn't every day you got to see an actual ghost, especially a very pretty one.
'I don't remember Kanae that well from the series, but since she's Shinobu's big sister, she's definitely as charming as her, right?' He couldn't help but think.
A few seconds passed, and he waited patiently.
Yet he still couldn't detect the so-called ghost anywhere around him.
'Hmm? That's…'
Only when his calm gaze drifted downward toward the two girls training below did he realize.
What had been two figures was now three, and he hadn't even noticed.
'Ohh, so I can't sense a ghost's presence even with my extrasensory perception, huh…'
Surprise and fascination filled his eyes as he stared at the tall ghost of a mesmerizing young woman.
Her ghostly body looked exactly like a normal person's; there was no difference at all.
With a pale complexion and cherry-like red lips, she simply stood quietly beside the others, observing Shinobu and Kanao. It was obvious they couldn't see her, since they hadn't reacted despite the close distance.
Kanae wore a serene expression as she gazed at Shinobu and Kanao with those emotional, pale purple eyes of hers, vibrant like amethyst.
One look was enough to tell that her love and feelings for those girls ran as deep as an ocean.
From her disposition, she seemed to have realized her current state already, showing no surprise.
'…Now what…'
Tanjiro focused his crimson gaze on her intently.
The reason was very simple.
Currently, Kanae was… well, she was completely naked.
She wore no clothes, and her long black hair rested over her bountiful hips.
Everything was revealed to his eyes in full display. Feeling no guilt, he lavished the mouth-watering sight before him with a smile.
Down below, Kanae had no idea whatsoever. She didn't know that rather than manifesting as a spirit, she had been summoned as a ghost by someone else.
She showed a gentle look as she reminisced inwardly.
'My, my, Shinobu is all grown up now~
And little Kanao looks so pretty when she's all serious… Mm, she's trained in Flower Breathing quite well on her own. What a talented girl~
Fufu, my death must have made them go all out.
Aw~ They love their big sister, mmm…'
After watching for a few minutes or so, she finally couldn't hold back her curiosity and began to observe her surroundings.
She looked at the beautiful cherry blossom tree the first user of Flower Breathing had planted nearby, the state of the Butterfly Mansion, and the small changes she could detect that had been made during her absence.
'Mm, I can't really tell, but it doesn't look like much time has passed since my death… A year or two, perhaps…'
Feeling nostalgic, she showed a sad look, but that was all. In her current state, she could neither shed tears nor feel heat or cold. She was like an observer, unable to do anything a living person could.
After releasing a sigh, her gaze finally landed on the mansion.
"…"
Then she saw.
A boy, devoid of any presence, roughly her height, was waving his hand at her with a smile.
Kanae turned her head to look behind her, but found nobody there.
She looked back at the boy and saw him holding back laughter.
'…Me? He can see me? How…'
Intense emotions instantly rushed to her face as she subconsciously moved toward him.
The moment she moved, her ghostly body defied gravity and she began to float in the air.
She didn't seem surprised.
Her mind told her it was normal.
While floating perfectly toward the boy, Kanae revealed a complex look on her pretty face.
If he could see her, maybe they could converse too!
If so, wouldn't that be wonderful?
From the depths of her being, she desperately desired to talk to someone.
After her death, she had felt nothing; her consciousness had been shut down.
The moment she came into existence again, an overwhelming feeling of loneliness had flooded her mind.
Although she had accepted her death after literally dying, her desire to be seen and known was simply too strong. Even Shinobu and Kanao, her dear sisters, could not see her, so when she noticed a random boy could do the impossible, she was left stupefied and extremely curious.
'Who might this boy be…? He's not wearing the Corps uniform and carries no Nichirin sword… But why is he wearing a basket, though?'
She thought.
Shortly after floating naturally through the air, she arrived beside the calm boy and landed on the balcony.
Now she was absolutely sure this strange boy could see her. He was clearly looking at her…?
'Mm, his eyes…'
She tilted her head down.
Before her eyes was her completely naked body, exactly like her past self.
Large breasts, slender waist, developed curves… even her private parts…
'Eh…'
Since earlier, her mind had kept telling her it was normal, but as a dignified girl who had once been alive, a sense of shame instantly erupted across her face.
Yet no matter how ashamed she felt, she didn't try to hide anything.
Her cheeks flushed deeply from embarrassment, but her mind remained calm.
Wasn't she already dead?
So being seen by a boy… did that even matter?
Kanae met the boy's gaze and said with a confident smile.
"You know, it's bad manners to stare at a girl's body… especially when she's wearing no clothes."
Her voice was melodious, like a gentle melody.
"Are you a bad boy, mm~?"
'…'
Tanjiro's mind froze for a moment.
Was she like this? The previous Flower Hashira?
He could see now where Shinobu had gotten that ridiculous teasing nature…
However, no matter how taken aback he was, how could he let a ghost get the upper hand?
Licking his lips, he nodded while staring at her enchanting light-pink nipples.
"Yes… maybe I am."
Kanae's eyes flickered with shame as she immediately covered her nipples and her hairy vagina with her hands.
Her cheeks flushed crimson.
"Ah, how can you be so shameless at such a young age?" she said, not sounding angry at all.
Tanjiro shrugged with a smile.
"Onee-san, I'm not the one standing, talking, or even flying around while completely naked, though…"
Kanae blinked. '…Eeh…'
Seeing she was silenced, he casually added, "And if I'm guessing right, you're not a living person… am I correct?"
He pointed toward Shinobu.
"You resemble Shinobu-san a lot. Are you perhaps related to her?"
A long silence stretched between them.
Kanae pondered. 'He figured it out so quickly… He's not a normal boy, after all.'
After a moment, she gave a resolute nod.
"I… I'm sure I was dead… My name is Kanae. And those girls over there are my little sisters…" she explained softly.
"Flower Hashira Kocho Kanae, who died over two years ago? You're her?" he said, putting on a fake surprised look.
At this point, he was used to faking expressions and voice. With his extremely controlled breathing and mental state, acting was simply too easy. He feared he could even fool himself after a while.
Kanae revealed a sad smile.
"Mmm… I'm dead now… like a ghost?"
'Her current ghostly state… I have to learn more about it later. Maybe it's not as simple as it seems.'
He touched his chin with a focused expression and replied after a brief pause.
"Ghost, huh… That's really unusual."
He gazed at her troubled yet cute face and jerked his head toward the inside.
"Let's move in. If your sisters saw me talking to myself, they'd think I'm crazy. Especially Shinobu-san—she wouldn't let it go."
Kanae blinked in surprise.
"Hehe, fine by me." She laughed and passed through the wood to go inside as if it was perfectly normal.
'…Right, she's a ghost.'
Thinking about the future, he exhaled loudly before retreating inside. His Selfless State remained active as always.
Meanwhile, Shinobu and Kanao didn't notice a thing. They continued training without realizing their dead Onee-sama was literally watching over them.
....
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