Chapter 74: A Gift for Sagiri
"Nishikino seems much happier now. Nishikino really loves music... Do you really plan to give up on your dream like this?"
Izumi Chihiro couldn't help but ask with emotion.
Nishikino Maki's expression immediately stiffened, and she replied with a stern face, "Please don't say such inappropriate things! Alright, I've fulfilled my promise to you. You should leave now."
Saying that, the girl got up from her seat and handed him the completed music score.
"Then I'll head back first."
Izumi Chihiro gazed at her, then took the items and pushed the door open.
"Whew..."
Nishikino Maki collapsed onto the floor as if she had lost something.
"I have no strength left..."
She lowered her head and murmured to herself.
"Nishikino, I'm going home."
Passing through the living room, he greeted Nishikino's mother.
"It's getting late. Won't you stay for dinner? That child has brought a boy... no, a friend over for the first time! I used to think she was disliked by people."
Nishikino's mother hinted.
"That won't be necessary. As for friends, I believe Nishikino will make a group of very good friends in the future."
He declined.
Then, holding the music score the girl had created, he calmly left.
"That's truly a shame."
Nishikino's mother sighed, her gaze suddenly falling on the item in his hand. The musical notes on the paper caught her attention.
"Is that child putting too much pressure on herself?"
Her face showed a thoughtful expression.
...
After Izumi Chihiro returned home, he placed the paper in a drawer for safekeeping, then opened his laptop and launched the writing software.
Working on two things at once, with progress on one, the other naturally had to keep up.
About half an hour later, it was dinner time.
The four family members—parents, brother, and sister—ate together at home, listening to their father talk about his day, occasionally interjecting a few words, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
He and Sagiri would occasionally chat about topics between them, such as the progress of their current work or any problems they encountered.
From an initial state of estrangement to now being as familiar and close as real siblings, only a little over a year had passed.
During that time, before Sagiri decided to become his illustrator, their relationship was actually just so-so; they could talk and playfully tease each other a little.
But now, compared to before, there was undoubtedly a new improvement; even actions like stroking her head wouldn't be rejected as they once were.
"Ni-san, has someone died again in the plot you're writing now?"
Sagiri put on a serious face.
She had asked a similar question a few days ago and had already learned about Genya Shinazugawa and Muichiro Tokito's heroic sacrifice, which had left her heartbroken for several days.
However, compared to before, she wasn't as angry.
"No, no, not that fast yet... Ah, I spoke too soon."
Izumi Chihiro stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing his mistake.
"Two aren't enough?"
Sagiri's expression was indescribable.
How many will it take, Ni-san, for you to be satisfied?
But the words, though on the tip of her tongue, were swallowed back after some thought.
After all, taking down Kokushibo, one of the Upper Ranks, had already cost two characters, so facing the Demon King Kibutsuji Muzan, whose power level was even higher, would surely result in more casualties.
The Demon Slayer Corps had spent hundreds of years, and even that man couldn't achieve such a great feat; how could it be accomplished so easily?
It wasn't a game of make-believe; it was all real.
Some people would inevitably be unlucky and fall on the battlefield, especially on such a brutal one.
Therefore, it made readers feel how precious and hard-won it was to protect those ordinary people and allow them to live normal lives.
After expressing her feelings briefly, Sagiri returned to her room and began to draw.
A portion of what she was currently drawing was the scene of Kokushibo fiercely battling the Stone Pillar and the Wind Pillar.
Kokushibo, having entered his second phase, wielded a long sword created from his own flesh and blood, unleashing Moon Breathing attacks. Overwhelming sword strikes, accompanied by crescent slashes, swept forth, leaving one dizzy and, for a time, suppressing the two top-tier Pillars, preventing them from getting close and leaving them at his mercy.
This was a grand scene, even more so than all previous battles, and required careful preparation to convey the power and oppressive feeling.
But Sagiri had also matured.
From initially disliking drawing battle and gore, she could now calmly face these bloody scenes and fully portray the terrifying sword forms of Moon Breathing.
She believed this, combined with the light novel's prose, would allow readers to better feel the emotions in the hearts of the Demon Slayer Corps members at that moment.
"Sagiri, well done!"
When Izumi Chihiro saw the completed illustration, he couldn't help but praise her, then stroked his sister's head.
"Hehehe... I told you, Ni-san, I won't hold you back!"
Sagiri giggled foolishly.
Receiving her brother's praise was what made her happiest.
"By the way, Sagiri, your birthday is coming up soon. What kind of birthday present would you like?"
Izumi Chihiro withdrew his hand, suddenly remembering this.
"Birthday present? Ni-san remembers my birthday?"
Sagiri looked up, a touch of emotion in her sky-blue eyes.
"Uh, Kasan told me about it."
Izumi Chihiro answered honestly.
"Oh, I see..."
Sagiri wasn't disappointed; after all, they hadn't grown up together since childhood, so it was normal for him not to know such information.
"I don't really need any special gift. I'll like anything Ni-san gives me."
Sagiri's gaze flickered slightly, her tone a little shy.
"Anything... aren't you making it difficult for me?"
Izumi Chihiro joked.
Casual, anything... such an answer would make it harder to choose, wouldn't it?
"Then... then, Ni-san, just give me a doll."
After much consideration, Sagiri chose this.
It was normal for elementary school students to like dolls, and Izumi Chihiro wasn't surprised. On Sagiri's birthday, he gave her a small teddy bear doll.
"Is this okay?"
He asked.
"Thank you, Ni-san, I love it!"
Sagiri smiled brightly, hugging the small teddy bear doll that was a third of her height.
The girl's smile seemed genuine, which also greatly relieved him.
When night arrived.
As Sagiri drifted off to sleep, she hugged the teddy bear doll tightly, muttering, "Ni-san..."