'Oh well…'
'... Does she not realize her thoughts are written all over her face…'
Tilting his head slightly, he answered in a relaxed voice.
"I agreed to everything. Passing down Sun Breathing is necessary, after all. I only have twelve years left, so I need to start thinking about a family… no matter what's going on right now."
An unreadable look crossed Shinobu's face. "You… agreed?"
He nodded.
"Marriage to their four daughters seven years from now… and producing an heir for Sun Breathing as soon as possible with other girls."
The moment she heard that, Shinobu's mind went blank.
'W-what the hell…'
She knew the Ubuyashiki family started having children early because the curse cut their lives short. Still, she couldn't wrap her head around the fact that all four of Oyakata-sama's daughters were arranged to marry Tanjiro — even knowing he would father children with other women and die a few years after their wedding.
Was their determination to preserve the First Breathing Style really this extreme?
Awe flooded her entire body.
Now she could truly understand how much suffering and sacrifice the Ubuyashiki family had endured just to survive this long.
The thought alone was enough to overwhelm her.
But when she snapped out of her daze and returned to herself, the realization crashed into her.
'He… He's going to do it with other—' Her once lively complexion drained away. Her carefully maintained expression shattered.
Powerful waves of negative emotion rolled off her.
Tanjiro immediately sensed her jealousy, sadness, and helplessness.
'She's being so open now… Not even trying to hide her emotions anymore...'
Shinobu stared blankly at the ground, her eyes flickering rapidly as though tears might spill any second.
But in that moment, something shifted.
Before she could react, her body was lifted off the ground in one smooth motion and carried away from the paved path, deeper into the forest.
'E-Eh—!? W-what… what's happening!?'
Once she registered it, her startled gaze landed on the smiling face she desperately wanted to avoid.
'He… He's carrying me…' she realized.
Her heartbeat surged so fiercely that she could hear and feel it pounding even through the rushing wind.
'How fast is he running…' Even when she tried to focus, she could only catch fleeting glimpses of trees blurring past.
His speed was monstrous, far beyond what she had seen the night before.
"Let g-go… W-where are you taking me…" she managed to say, her voice nervous yet secretly thrilled to be held in his arms like this.
It was the first time anyone had carried her so intimately.
For some reason, she didn't dislike it at all.
The words had slipped out on their own.
Honestly, she didn't want him to let go. Ever.
His warm body heat alone made her unconsciously press closer.
Tanjiro simply enjoyed her reaction and replied, "Somewhere hidden from peeping eyes."
He saw her eyes widen and asked softly, "What? Do you not want me to?"
Almost instantly she shook her head hard, like a scared child afraid of being scolded.
Her eyes moistened in seconds.
Watching her reaction, he chuckled inwardly and came to a stop on the thick branch of a sturdy tree.
Shinobu felt the world turn still. Her mind raced as she searched for reasons he had brought her here, yet the fog in her thoughts refused to clear.
She felt his grip loosen and her body set down gently on the branch.
With one quick glance she looked around and saw only lush trees stretching as far as she could see.
A thin, clear stream flowed a few steps away.
'Back mountains…' She recognized the place. She had come here once a long time ago.
Her gaze shifted and landed on his face. The moment it did, her ears flushed bright red.
He was staring at her intensely with a cheeky smile.
"Wh-What!?" she murmured, utterly embarrassed, avoiding his eyes on instinct.
'You're not getting away, girl…' Tanjiro thought.
Next, he gently pressed her back against the tree while leaning in close, sealing off any escape.
"You looked devastated when I mentioned marriage and the rest earlier." He spoke in a persuasive tone, closing the distance between their faces. "Why is that, I wonder…"
Seeing those serious yet calm eyes and feeling his hot breath so near, Shinobu's face burned.
'H-He knows…!' she screamed internally.
Her knees weakened as an overwhelming sensation flooded her mind and body.
Was it anticipation? Desire?
She knew exactly what it was.
It was fear — fear of being ridiculed and rejected…
She turned her head down, too shy to meet his gaze.
From the start, not a single one of her emotions had escaped Tanjiro's notice.
Observing her shy state, he grinned inwardly.
He leaned close to her ear and whispered softly, "Shinobu… do you perhaps like me?"
Her body shivered at those words.
She closed her eyes suddenly.
'Why… Why am I…' She had been caught by Tanjiro. Her heart didn't know what to do. Her mind was lost.
Tanjiro gave her a little space, worried she might collapse from the pressure. When he pulled back slightly, he saw her eyes open slowly.
"So… what is it?" He smiled. "I won't know anything unless you tell me yourself, Shinobu…"
She stayed quiet for a few seconds, bit her lip, and gathered her courage.
With tears forming at the corners of her eyes, she gave a small nod. "Y-yes…"
Instant satisfaction surged through Tanjiro's mind, but he wasn't finished.
He leaned forward to her height, his ear next to her face. "I heard nothing, you know. Can you say it one more time?"
A small, delighted smile spread across his face.
'…'
Shinobu's brows twitched as she pouted.
A sudden calmness washed over her.
Letting her feelings out once had given her courage, but her heart was still pounding fiercely.
She looked into those captivating crimson eyes and confessed everything without holding back.
"I… I like you, alright!" Her face burned with shame and embarrassment. "Satisfied now?"
Taken aback, he looked at her in genuine surprise.
Then a happy smile bloomed across his face. "Not yet… There's still something I need."
'What does he—'
Before she could finish the thought, her eyes widened sharply.
'…mmmm!!!!???'
A warm, soft sensation brushed against her lips.
Her brain turned to mush.
'Tanjiro…
He… I… Ki-kissing!!!'