The next day at noon, after taking the warm medicinal brew, Taka leaned quietly against the outside of the room, gazing at the wisteria on the courtyard wall.
He attempted to lightly use his Breathing Style, but any slight exertion, any slight expansion of his lungs, brought a sharp, pulling pain.
'No good...'
Taka wiped the bloody froth he coughed up from the corner of his mouth, showing a rare expression of hesitation.
"Don't push yourself, child." Aunt Matsumoto was busy in the medicinal garden outside the room, also observing Taka's movements.
She wiped her hands on her apron and walked over with concern. "The wounds were just stitched. Doing that will make them burst open. You really don't know how to take care of your body!"
"....Thank you. How much longer will I be like this?" Taka, unaccustomed to dealing with good people who sincerely cared for others, could only reply softly and ask.
"Like this? You mean recovering? At least another month or so!"
Aunt Matsumoto's tone was stern, as if she had seen through Taka's intention to participate in the Selection while injured.
"Shinsuke and the others told me. Thinking about that now is far too early! Never mind the Selection, you can barely even run a few steps. Resting and healing is the most important thing!"
'A month?! By then, the Selection at Mount Fujikasane would be long over!' Taka's gaze grew hesitant again.
Driven by survival instinct, he naturally understood the importance of recovering his health. But he had made a promise to Tetsushin.
'Was I just going to give up like this?'
'Maybe tomorrow? The day after? Once I recover a little more, it should be fine. After all, sensei also said there are only minor demons in Mount Fujikasane. Even if I don't fight, just running away, I should be able to pass...'
With this thought, Taka fell silent, quietly continuing to stare blankly at the wisteria.
But as several days passed, although Taka's recovery ability was somewhat exceptional, the damage to his internal organs healed only slowly, not reaching the level he had hoped for.
Stubbornly, he began to prepare. While attempting deeper breaths, he strapped his Asauchi to himself, held onto the veranda pillars to stretch, and moved his somewhat stiff limbs.
Coincidentally, as the setting sun dyed the courtyard in a warm orange-red hue, Shinsuke's steady and powerful footsteps sounded from the entrance.
Since the Akanuma incident, he had been patrolling the area, checking the extent of the damage caused by the demon and searching for any lower-ranking demon servants that might have been under Akanuma's command.
As he stepped into the courtyard, travel-worn, he happened to encounter Taka, who was ready to leave.
Shinsuke was carrying a small bundle containing fresh fruit and rice cakes bought from the town. When he saw Taka's expression, he instantly understood his intention and gently placed the bundle on the ground.
"Taka, where are you going?"
Shinsuke, who had already briefly exchanged names with Taka, asked in a kind tone.
"...Just moving around a bit."
"Moving around?" He stepped closer, noticing that Taka was fully armed, and his brows jumped. "You want to go to Mount Fujikasane? No! Go back and lie down!"
He reached out, preparing to support Taka.
But Taka merely dropped his shoulder, his body swiftly pulling back half a step, and gently brushed aside Shinsuke's wrist.
Shinsuke's wrist went slightly numb, and he was surprised internally. He hadn't expected Taka's strength to recover so quickly.
His injuries were no joke! Shinsuke absolutely could not let him leave like this!
So, Shinsuke continued persistently trying to subdue Taka, while Taka, despite the sluggishness of an injured person, still relied on his rich street-fighting experience and physical reflexes to constantly evade Shinsuke's attempts.
During this, Taka occasionally burst into violent coughing fits, which made Shinsuke, trying to catch him, somewhat nervous.
But he was, after all, an experienced Demon Slayer Corps' member. Although Taka's movements were unexpectedly swift, with his injuries, he couldn't fully display his strength.
In a flash, Shinsuke clamped onto Taka's shoulder, firmly securing his body:
"Stop messing around!"
But before he could finish speaking, Taka's body dropped downwards. Enduring dizziness and surging blood and energy, he swept his left leg at Shinsuke's lower body!
At the same time, his right hand shot like lightning towards the Nichirin Sword hanging at Shinsuke's waist!
Shinsuke's pupils contracted. His breathing unconsciously grew heavier, and a gentle, prolonged blue airflow entered and exited his mouth and nose, allowing him to instantly burst forth with astonishing speed and power!
Thump!
He dodged the sweeping leg, knocked down Taka's hand, and tightly gripped his wrist.
This time, he had completely subdued Taka!
"Tch..."
An immense force came, rendering Taka unable to move. Although he wanted to struggle, the pain inside him was already warning that pushing further might cause injury...
Helpless, he gave up resisting, allowing Shinsuke to take away his Asauchi and Nichirin Sword, and sat back down under the eaves.
Aunt Matsumoto, watching from a distance, shook her head helplessly and went inside to prepare dinner.
Shinsuke placed Taka's swords aside and looked at him with a grave expression. "Taka, what exactly are you trying to do? Go to Mount Fujikasane and get yourself killed?"
"I can run, I can hide. Surviving seven days isn't that difficult... I made a promise to the old man to pass the Selection..."
"Then don't gamble with your life!"
Shinsuke's expression was exceptionally serious. Being older than Taka, he carried a certain sternness like an elder:
"The Selection can wait until next time! But if you lose your life, then everything is lost!"
"Taka, your talent is enviable, your strength is admirable, but the reality is that we are all human! We get injured, we die. If we don't know how to cherish life, even the weakest demon has a chance to kill us!"
"Listen to me. Even if we in the Demon Slayer Corps must die, we shouldn't die pointlessly! Go next time!"
These sincere advice left Taka silent, and he truly took them to heart.
'Yes, staying alive is the most important thing....'
"....I understand." Taka let out a long breath, rubbing his aching wrist. "You make sense. I won't go."
Seeing him like this, Shinsuke's anxious heart finally relaxed.
He nodded. "That's right. Rest and heal peacefully! The doors of the Demon Slayer Corps will always be open to someone with strength like yours!"
Night fell.
After dinner, Aunt Matsumoto went to rest early. Only Taka and Shinsuke remained outside the room, staring blankly at the moonlight.
"Your breathing... is different from mine..."
Taka suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
He looked at Shinsuke's calloused hands and asked with some awkward politeness, "What is that? It feels quite powerful..."
Shinsuke was startled, then smiled bitterly:
"...Powerful? Compared to true masters, I'm far too weak...."
He was silent for a moment, seeming hesitant, but finally spoke. "What I use is not the complete Water Breathing...."
A flicker of doubt crossed Taka's eyes.
Shinsuke rubbed his hands together, a trace of self-mockery appearing on his face:
"My talent is very poor... Back when I was with my instructor, I gave it my all, yet only managed to learn the first two forms of Water Breathing... My teacher said I lacked understanding of the Breath, and continuing to practice would be a waste of time. It would be better for me to learn some practical physical techniques and basic sword forms, and work in logistics or support...."
He sighed, his tone carrying deep regret. "Although I eventually stumbled through the Selection, compared to a genius like you... I can't even compare."
"You, alone, could kill a major demon like Akanuma. I... I really envy people like you."
As he spoke, tears glistened in Shinsuke's eyes, as if recalling some past pain and sorrow.
Taka listened quietly.
For kids his own age, he had only ever encountered Kenichi and Rika before.
This was the first time he learned that even behind powerful Demon Slayer Corps' members, there were such helplessness and limitations, that Breathing Styles were such difficult things to master.
"I'm not some genius, nothing to envy..." He said calmly, his tone much more peaceful. "It's just about survival."
Shinsuke looked at his calm face and nodded. "Yeah, survival...."
"You... what are your plans afterwards? Once you're healed, will you go back to Hayama, or...?"
Taka's gaze fell on the distant sky. He was silent for a long time.
'Go back to Hayama... Would Arasaki-sensei be disappointed?'
'I had promised to return alive, even if it meant returning in this miserable state... but at least I was alive...'
"Shinsuke."
"Hmm?"
"Take a message for me to Arasaki-sensei at Hayama..." Taka's gaze turned to Shinsuke. In those ever-vigilant eyes, a rare apology and unease showed through.
"Tell him... that Taka cannot participate in this year's Selection and has failed to live up to his expectations... I am truly sorry."