Aoi had already finished folding her futon and fixing her raven hair properly. She stood in front of the mirror, turning her body left and then right, checking for any spot she might have missed while grooming.
Finding none, she clapped her cheeks softly, steeling herself for the new day.
"Yosh, let's get to it…" she murmured to the air and was about to leave the room when a loud cry echoed from the hallway. The sound pierced her, terrifying her to the core.
'It's Shinobu-san's voice…!' Her brows furrowed, pupils wavering. 'W-What happened…?'
Heavy footsteps followed. She quickly slid the door open and caught a glimpse of Shinobu rushing toward the second floor with a flushed face.
'Ehh… what!?' Confusion flooded her mind.
'Did a demon attack!? No, no, that's impossible! Demons can never find this place. Then…'
Realizing Shinobu had come from the opposite direction, Aoi instinctively turned her head toward the bathroom.
'…'
She regretted it instantly.
A person stood there, running a hand through long, wet hair.
She should have focused on the face, but her gaze somehow dropped to the waist.
No, it was automatically drawn to the noticeable bulge poking against the only towel the person outside the bathroom was wearing.
'Wh-Wh-What…!? IS THAT… H-his Di—'
A blush as fierce as Shinobu's spread across Aoi's once serious, cold face.
"Ta-Tanjiro…" Her voice cracked despite herself.
Before she could process it, in just a split second the half-naked boy was already standing right beside her.
Seeing his calm, collected expression despite the utterly embarrassing situation left her completely speechless.
"Why are you stuttering, Aoi? Something wrong?" He tilted his head slightly, staring into her dark blue eyes with a genuinely confused look.
Aoi's mouth hung open, pupils flickering. She couldn't force a single word out.
'Shameless…! He's walking around so casually with, with… Ahh!'
Her heartbeat surged. Ignoring him entirely, she dashed toward the kitchen.
As sharp as she was, she immediately understood why Shinobu had cried out earlier.
'Shinobu-san must have seen his… in the bathroom…'
A strange emotion twisted in her chest. She paused for a second at the hallway's end and shot him one last narrowed-eyed glance before disappearing from sight.
Left alone, Tanjiro's confused expression vanished. His lips curled into quiet amusement.
He had caught the sharp scent of jealousy and lust from Aoi in that final moment.
'She sure saw a lot… and yet ran off just like that. What a greedy girl.'
....
Two hours passed gradually.
After a quick breakfast with everyone, Nezuko, Takeo, and the other siblings followed a flustered Aoi to the study room for their daily classes.
Their big brother Tanjiro sent them off with a gentle smile, one that caused their teacher, Aoi, to hurriedly turn her face away.
Meanwhile, Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho, the little helpers, were busy taking care of the injured Demon Slayers and handling cleaning duties.
On the other side, Mitsuri, stomach full to the brim, left with Kanao to continue their training. Yoru-san, the eldest, sat on the engawa, warming her body beneath the mild morning sunlight as she watched them go.
Up on the roof of the Butterfly Mansion sat Tanjiro and Nayuta. Tanjiro kept an eye on the two girls training below and occasionally called out instructions, while Nayuta simply had nothing better to do for the moment.
Shortly after, Nayuta's steady voice came from his side, noticeably different from the soft, childish tone she used with everyone else.
"I will start my training soon. You'll help me, right~?"
Tanjiro heard her and his mind instantly recalled Shinobu's earlier words:
Nayuta wants to be a Demon Slayer, please help me change her mind. I'm sure she will listen to you...
Even though Shinobu had been too embarrassed to face him after the morning incident, she still hadn't hesitated to ask that favor.
Not even a full day… and that girl was already so attached to Nayuta.
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
She acted this way even without knowing who Nayuta truly was. But if she ever found out that the little girl was actually her own big sister...
'Her reaction would be hilarious…' he thought.
Turning his head, he gazed at the girl with circular eyes.
"Your sister asked me to stop you…" With a small laugh he added, "Haha, from courting death. Seriously, your very first night with your sister, and you already tell her you want to slay demons as a ten-year-old who was just a normal shrine maiden until recently."
Nayuta's expression went blank.
Three seconds later she recovered swiftly and replied, "Mm, it's not like I'm asking to fight demons as I am now. After all, I'm just a ten-year-old… And anyway, wouldn't you be there to assist me?"
'Ohh.' His brow rose.
"Well… as long as you ask me nicelyyy…" he said with a teasing look.
Nayuta placed a finger below her lips, wearing a thoughtful expression before saying something that shook his very soul.
"Fufu, I'm not Kie-san, Tanjiro~ Even if I let you suck on my breasts for hours, it's highly unlikely that milk would come out…"
"…"
Nayuta flashed a faint smile with crescent-shaped eyes, silently watching his expressionless face.
'She knows… FUCK, SHE KNOWS!!'
His mind exploded. Slowly he turned his face forward again, avoiding her innocent yet piercing gaze.
'This little devil… She knew it all along and kept quiet as if she was enjoying my reaction… Wait, how much does she actually know?'
From her facial features and the emotions he was perceiving, he could read her thoughts. Yes, he could sense her emotions too. And he had already confirmed they could separate from each other now. Her old restriction had finally been lifted.
That aside, he quickly speculated she didn't know about the other things he had done with Kie.
After a few seconds of silence, he looked at her and spoke calmly.
"Alright. You win. I'll help you."
When she heard those words, a bright look appeared on her face.
"Hehe~ Thank you, Shishō~"
'Shishō my ass…' Though he thought that, his expression remained neutral. He silently thanked fate that she had possessed a body which cancelled out her supernatural powers.
He gave her a slight nod.
"For now, you can train with those two. Since I have a meeting with Oyakata today I'll be leaving shortly." Handing over his Nichirin sword, he added, "If I'm free later and you still have stamina to practice more, I'll personally train you. I'll also handle Shinobu for you. Is that good enough?"
'I don't need that sword. I have a better one. I'll just use that from now on…'
He waited for her reply.
Nayuta held the black sword in her hand and smiled immediately.
"Why are you acting like this, haha…" She covered her mouth cutely and continued with a funny face, "Let me tell you a secret."
Staying quiet, he listened. 'What is it… Don't you fucking tell me she has seen even more.'
However, unlike what he was thinking, Nayuta's lips curled up and she began to speak.
"You know, Shinobu also couldn't sleep unless she had mother's breasts for a while." She giggled lightly before adding, "And she was nine at that time. You two. Such a match made in heaven, hehe~"
'Okay she didn't find out other things. But what she said…' He touched his chin in thought. From his acute sense of smell, he knew she was telling the truth. But even though he understood that, he had a hard time believing her words.
'Well, she was a child… Doesn't matter.'
"Enjoyed enough?" he asked. She simply nodded along happily.
Afterward, he compared the extent of their Transparent World powers and taught her how to use it properly.
Additionally, he noticed that Mitsuri was lacking the talent and dexterity to devour the essence of Sun Breathing Style. As a result, he decided to decipher a new Breathing Style especially for her — one that would suit her body and complement her swift, energetic strikes.
'Hmm… Something both offensive and defensive, huh. I think I know just what kind of techniques would match her style… I'll teach her after the meeting with Kagaya.'
A few minutes later, he began to leave.
After helping Nayuta come down, he told them all, including the little girl herself, to practice Total Concentration Breathing until he returned.
They obeyed his command. Though Mitsuri and Kanao were a bit skeptical. Nayuta was also supposed to practice Total Concentration Breathing alongside them?
Did Nayuta-chan also aspire to become a Demon Slayer?
Once he'd given instructions, Tanjiro didn't delay any longer and left for the Ubuyashiki Mansion.
"Ah, almost forgot to invite Shinobu…"
Going to the lab, he suddenly looked up at the sky. A familiar crow was flying toward him.
"Shiori…" he recognized.
She landed on his shoulder.
"Caw, this lady's back!"
With a chuckle, he patted her small head. "Had a good rest?"
She nodded. "Absolutely! Caw!"
"Good. Let's move on then."
~~<>~~
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