"Who are you?" the boy with a tear mole under his eye straightened up and asked him.
"Takeo." The girl in the pink kimono waved to him, and the boy named Takeo shrunk his head and went behind her.
"Sorry, the Kamado Family isn't selling charcoal right now." Tanjirou stood up and stepped in front of his younger siblings.
He flared his nostrils, catching a deeper, fresher scent amidst the cold, white snow.
Was it... the scent of the stars?
In any case, there was no malice.
"I just happened to be walking by," Haruto replied, "May I ask if anyone here witnessed the battle that took place nearby yesterday... or rather, in the early hours of this morning? My fellow disciple was injured here, perhaps..."
Tanjirou pondered for a moment and then nodded: "I smelled it."
"Smelled it?" Haruto raised an eyebrow slightly.
The dark-red haired boy showed a brilliant smile: "My nose is very sensitive!"
"Big brother's nose is better than a dog's..." Takeo had just opened his mouth when he saw his sister's gaze and quickly closed it.
Tanjirou rubbed Takeo's head and nodded decisively: "My nose is more sensitive than a dog's; I can smell many scents that others overlook. Last night, there was a foul smell fighting with two people carrying moisture. They only briefly passed through this area, and my nose couldn't pick up any more information."
Haruto nodded; his original intention wasn't to ask about that.
The bullet comments in his vision kept supplementing his lacking knowledge, for instance, the girl in the pink kimono was Nezuko, and the one who just spoke to him was Takeo... [So the Cat Demon discovered the Kamado Family living here? And was in a hurry to report back to Muzan?]
[Definitely, he's only been Lower Four for less than two years, so he has to grovel and lick the boss's shoes...]
[Nezuko... hehe... my Nezuko...]
[Isn't Tanjirou wearing his Nichirin flower paper earrings today?]
[Muzan's heart stopping earrings hhh]
[If the senior and second senior disciples hadn't ambushed and killed the Cat Demon, Muzan would have appeared here tonight.]
[After all, Yoriichi was Muzan's only shadow in his life; Yoriichi shattered Muzan's courage with a single strike.]
[Yoriichi Tsugikuni: Look me in the eye, you bastard! What do you take life for!]
Haruto was utterly confused by what he saw, and after ignoring the bizarre bullet comments, he remembered the two terms: Nichirin flower paper earrings and Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Also, so the Cat Demon really came to find Tanjirou under Muzan's guidance?
Why? What could a family that makes a living by selling charcoal have that Muzan would covet?
Even if the Cat Demon was slain, would this family still be safe here?
Haruto was heavy-hearted, but he showed no trace of it on his face.
Under Tanjirou's scrutinizing gaze, he reached out and pinched his arm, patting his shoulder: "Ha, what a strong boy!"
Tanjirou: ...ヽ(•̀ω•́ )ゝ!
If it were any other child, they would have been upset at being looked over repeatedly by a strange person in an unfamiliar situation, but Tanjirou, after a brief moment of surprise, proudly patted his chest: "Yes, I am indeed a strong boy!"
"Oh my, oh my, your arms are long, and your muscles are taut!"
"Yes, yes, my muscles are very taut! I train well every day!"
"A round head, very hard to the touch!"
"Yes, yes, my head is very hard!"
"A boy so suitable to be a swordsman, be my adopted son, and I will guide you to become an excellent swordsman!"
"Yes, yes... Wait," Tanjirou stopped smiling, pulled his head out from under Haruto's arm, and frowned slightly: "Sir, that won't do."
His personality is also very good. If I had said that to Genya in the past, I would have been greeted with a slingshot by now~
Haruto smiled and patted his pocket: "Don't worry, I'm not a swindler; I'll give you living expenses!"
Tanjirou shook his head earnestly: "No, sir, it's not like that." His eyes held a gentle smile: "Your appearance and attire don't resemble a swindler at all, and I am very honored to receive your praise and recognition.
But my family all lives here, and I will not leave here and go with you."
"Oh my, oh my, your family can move too. I'll find you a place to live, and maybe some other work, how about that?" Haruto waved his hand: "The Kamado Family has been making charcoal for generations, right? Times are changing rapidly, and the charcoal business won't last much longer."
The young woman walked out and embraced the younger children, a hint of vigilance appearing between her gentle brows.
Tanjirou flared his nostrils again, confirming that the white-haired swordsman was not emitting any malice. On the contrary, a soft benevolence enveloped his nasal cavity, making him feel warm.
"I'm sorry, this..."
"Haruto, just call me Haruto."
"...Mr. Haruto." He shook his head slowly but firmly: "Do you see, my father passed away not long ago, and he is resting peacefully over there."
He pointed to the grave mound beside the wooden house: "As a son, I must stay here and guard the ancestral property and graves."
He curved his eyes and showed a grateful smile: "Your recognition truly makes me very happy. This is the happiest thing that has happened to me this year."
What to do if he can't be persuaded to leave?
Haruto quickly scanned the bullet comments but received no constructive help.
He wanted to persuade the Kamado Family to leave here, and not just for Tanjirou alone.
If the demon's target was indeed Tanjirou, then the entire Kamado Family would be unsafe here.
Demons don't care about protagonists or supporting characters, whether it's a young widow or a baby in swaddling clothes. They would tear apart all living people in front of them, spilling their blood everywhere.
Moreover, the anime clips remaining in his mind also told him that the future Kamado Family would likely encounter such a thing.
"There will be wild wolves and bears in the mountains..." He pursed his lips, still wanting to try harder.
"Bears?" Tanjirou's eyes sparkled: "Before father passed away, he once slew a two-meter-tall bear, so there's no danger left in the mountains!"
...What are you doing, big brother?
He even slew a bear before passing away?
Haruto looked up at the sky, then let out a long sigh: "Are you really not coming with me? I will take good care of you all."
"Thank you for your kindness." Tanjirou shook his head.
Haruto had to face the cruel truth that his attempts to adopt a son were always rejected, and then he said to Tanjirou: "Do you have paper and a pen at home?"
After sitting cross-legged in the hall for a long time, Haruto left the cultivation method for Breath of the Stars on paper, as well as some body-training methods of Sakonji Urokodaki.
"Perhaps you can comprehend it, perhaps not. In any case, practice according to this, and even if you fall into danger, there will be a glimmer of hope."
The protagonist should have a higher talent than him, right?
Even without guidance, he should be able to understand the Breathing Technique manual, right?
Leaving behind enough money for them to get through this period, Haruto walked down the mountain path, still able to see Tanjirou waving to him from afar: "Goodbye! Mr. Haruto!"
Sora fluttered down onto his shoulder.
"Did you mark this location?"
The parrot nodded.
"Send a nichirin blade back later."
Haruto sighed: "The patrol strength in this area needs to be strengthened. I always feel..."
He turned his head and could still see the dark-haired boy in the ichimatsu-patterned haori standing there.
"...He's really a good kid."
If he were to continue the previous fate, that would be... too much.