Time flew by. After a day of training with the Breathing Technique, Kurozawa felt his physique had grown a tiny bit stronger.
After all, he couldn't rely on Gray-White for everything.
He had decided that unless it was a absolutely critical moment, he would rely on himself more often.
A subtle sense of crisis had always lingered in Kurozawa's heart.
His strength came from Gray-White. If Gray-White were gone, what would become of him? Would he instantly fall from grace, revert back to his original state? Not necessarily. His numerous perilous battle experiences were preserved, and his understanding of skills like the Breathing Technique and Sword Form remained in his mind. His mental willpower was as tough as iron. None of this would dissipate with Gray-White's departure.
The experience and memories accumulated over lifetime after lifetime were his most valuable assets.
On the other hand, saving his Potential Points for more important things was a good choice.
Although training with the Breathing Technique without using Potential Points was a process of gradual accumulation, the progress was slow.
In the Demon Slayer World, while swordsmen could achieve a physique not inferior to ordinary Demons at their peak using the Breathing Technique, as they aged or accumulated more hidden injuries, their vital energy would gradually weaken and decline, causing them to fall from their peak state.
Eventually, the effects of Breathing Technique training were less than ten percent of what they once were.
However, for Kurozawa, he had the Immortal Body, unaffected by age or hidden injuries. His vital energy was always abundant and strong. Even without using any Potential Points, just persistently training with the Breathing Technique would allow him to temper his physique to an exaggerated and abnormal degree over time.
Although this would take a very long time.
As evening approached, the school bell signaling the end of the day echoed through the campus.
Kurozawa picked up his school bag and walked to the school gate.
Kana's teaching building was closer to the gate, and she had already arrived, chatting and laughing with a few other girls.
It seemed they were her friends or classmates.
Kurozawa had thought about blending into the crowd, pretending not to see her and just leaving, but Kana's perception of him was unusually sharp. She could always spot him in the crowded throng after school.
"Nii-san!"
Just as expected, Kana's eyes lit up, and she bounced over, waving at Kurozawa.
Kurozawa sighed helplessly, then walked closer.
"Kana, you don't have to wait for me."
"You can just go home by yourself first."
But Kana smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons, and said, "I'm afraid of meeting bad people if I go home alone, Nii-san. You can go with me."
Kurozawa nodded and didn't say anything else.
He walked ahead by himself.
Kana hurried to catch up. Since they were going the same way for a bit, her friends were also with them.
A long-haired girl with delicate features next to Kana secretly glanced at Kurozawa a few times, then blushed slightly and leaned into Kana's ear.
"Hey, Kana, want to go out this weekend?"
"I've agreed to go shopping in Akihabara with a few friends, you know, Fujii and the others, you know them all."
Kana thought for a moment and said doubtfully, "Akihabara? I thought you didn't like going to places like that."
"Didn't you use to say only otaku liked going to Akihabara?"
The long-haired girl faltered, then quickly explained, "Recently I've gained a deeper understanding of Akihabara's culture, so my interests have changed."
Kana nodded and agreed, "Okay, I happen to be free this weekend."
At this point, the long-haired girl secretly glanced at Kurozawa again, then casually said, "Want to invite your brother? I heard boys like going to Akihabara to see exhibitions."
Kana was about to ask Kurozawa, but suddenly her brows furrowed, sensing something was off.
She turned her head vigilantly, scrutinizing her best friend from head to toe. After a few seconds, she flatly refused: "No, my brother doesn't like going there."
Preventing arson, preventing theft, preventing best friends. She saw through the long-haired girl's little scheme.
The long-haired girl said, "How do you know if you haven't asked? I'll invite your brother directly."
"Maybe he'll agree."
A few meters ahead, Kurozawa's footsteps paused. Without turning his head, he said indifferently, "Kana is right."
"I don't like Akihabara."
"However, if you want to go to Kabukicho, you can call me. I'll seriously consider it."
The girls' eyes widened simultaneously, and they exchanged glances.
They had been speaking very quietly, whispering into each other's ears, thinking Kurozawa hadn't heard. Now, hearing Kurozawa's words, their faces all turned red.
Although they had never been to Kabukicho, they knew what kind of place it was from what they had heard.
Kana spat lightly, then trotted forward, staring at Kurozawa's profile, and pouted, "Nii-san, have you been there yourself?"
"That kind of place isn't clean. It's full of... full of disreputable women."
Kurozawa gently shook his head and said, "That's not the way to put it. People who work hard for money without stealing or robbing are all worthy of respect."
He paused, then showed a look of longing and added, "I haven't been there yet, but I heard the service there is very interesting."
"If I have some free time, I can go and see what it's like."
"Want to go together, Kana?"
To be able to say something like that openly, without feeling even a shred of shame, might make girls think he was a pervert.
But this was Kurozawa's goal.
If Kana really thought of him as a pervert and stopped treating him with that strange affection, that would be absolutely perfect.
Unfortunately, Kana's filter for him was simply too deep and too thick.
She bit her lip, then, her face flushed red, she said, "If you like that, Nii-san, I can learn massage. I can do it at home, no need to go to places like that."
As soon as she said this, all her friends froze in place.
They looked at Kana with suspicious faces, then at Kurozawa, their eyes darting back and forth, conveying the meaning of 'something is off with you two'.
Kurozawa: "."
Shaking his head, he no longer tried to change Kana's mind.
Just let things take their course.
Because of their relationship as biological siblings, Kana could often use the excuse of being his sister to welcome Kurozawa. And although Kurozawa deliberately maintained a distance, he couldn't be too cold; he wasn't a heartless person.
However, also because of their relationship as biological siblings, Kana had reservations. Although they were close, it hadn't reached the point where she would fully reveal her true feelings.
"When the Parasytes appear in large numbers and Kana senses more and more abnormalities, maybe she'll realize that everything is just her illusion and slowly change," Kurozawa thought to himself.
After two intersections, Kana's friends were no longer going the same way and had left. Only Kana and a silent Kurozawa remained. The two quickly returned home.
"Nii-san, what do you want for dinner?"
"Anything is fine."
After entering the house, Kana tidied up for a while and then went to the kitchen, putting on a light yellow floral embroidered apron.
She opened the refrigerator, her brows slightly furrowed as she selected the ingredients inside, finding that there were only a few kinds left.
"Are Udon Noodles okay? We don't have many dishes at home. Should I go buy some more now?"
Kurozawa was going upstairs to his room and said, "Udon Noodles are fine. I'll buy whatever we need tomorrow."
"Call me when the food is ready. I'm going to rest for a bit."
Open the door, enter the room, close the door and lock it.
Kurozawa put a hand on his forehead and finally let out a long breath.
He needed to find a chance to move out and live alone.
Raising his left hand, Kurozawa's gaze was deep as he said, "If you don't mature soon, I'm going to lose patience."
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