"Yoizumi, you're awake."
"I'm really sorry about yesterday. I didn't know you couldn't drink."
As Yoizumi pushed open the door, he ran into Kanzaki Aoi. Seeing her guilty expression, Yoizumi shook his head.
"I'm fine. No need to apologize."
"I've made milk stew. I'll bring it over to Yoizumi once it cools down."
"Thank you."
After Kanzaki Aoi took away the bedding, replaced it with new ones, and left, Yoizumi's thoughts returned to yesterday. He walked with his head down, deep in thought.
Shinobu seemed to have said something to him.
His left pinky finger unconsciously hooked.
What agreement?
He couldn't remember anything.
Is alcohol such a terrifying thing?
No wonder Shinobu told me to stay away last time.
Suddenly, his hem was pulled hard. Feeling the tug, Yoizumi stopped, realizing he had almost bumped into a wall. He turned his head, saw no one, and then looked down to see Nezuko.
His expression softened, and he bent down to gently stroke his sister's soft hair.
"Thank you, Nezuko."
"Why are you here by yourself? Where's Tanjirou?"
Nezuko waved her small hands, biting her bamboo, making indistinct "Mmm~ Mmm!" sounds, which no one could understand.
Yoizumi nodded thoughtfully and picked up his sister.
"I see, Tanjirou went to train. Are you bored?"
"Mmm!" Nezuko nodded in agreement.
He carried his sister towards the courtyard, to see how Tanjirou and the others were doing with their training.
"Nezuko, do you know what happened yesterday?"
Yoizumi asked casually. He didn't really expect Nezuko to know anything.
"Mmm!"
Don't tell me, she actually knew a little.
Yesterday, after Yoizumi got drunk, he was taken away by Shinobu. Because she was worried, she followed behind with small steps. She didn't hear what her brother said later, but the atmosphere between them at that time, even Nezuko, intelligently sensed something was off.
She quietly peeked from behind a pillar, revealing her small head, her beady eyes fixed on them.
Then she saw Shinobu pulling her brother's collar. Nezuko instinctively raised her hands to cover her small eyes, but the gaps between her fingers were so wide that it made no difference.
Thinking of this, Nezuko's small hand pointed at Yoizumi's brow and eyes, looking at her brother's puzzled expression.
She thought for a moment, then waved her hands, making a gesture of spreading wings, indicating Shinobu.
Then she pointed to her own mouth, and again to Yoizumi's brow and eyes.
"?"
He still didn't understand Nezuko's actions, but Yoizumi, not wanting to disappoint her, pretended to understand and nodded.
What happened next, in Nezuko's eyes, was that her brother made Sister Shinobu cry.
Nezuko liked Shinobu very much because she always gently called her name, smiled at her, and sometimes even braided her hair.
Thinking of this.
Nezuko's angry small hands clenched into fists, frantically hitting Yoizumi's head.
Bad brother!
"???"
Did Nezuko discover that he was pretending to understand?
Indulging Nezuko, his head buzzed from the knocking, and he saw Kyojuro Rengoku standing with his hands on his hips in the hallway.
"What a unique way to get along!" Kyojuro Rengoku said with a smile, seeing this.
"How's the training going?" he asked, looking at the three people who were as energetic as if they had been injected with chicken blood.
"They are steadily growing. They are all excellent swordsmen!" Kyojuro Rengoku praised loudly and without reservation.
"Yoizumi is already a Hashira. Have you considered taking on a successor?"
Hearing this question, Yoizumi shook his head without hesitation.
"I can't teach people."
This was the truth. His combat abilities were all instinctive, the kind he could grasp at a glance. He really didn't know how to teach others such an obvious thing.
"What's more, Breath of Snow hasn't fully formed yet."
"Is that so? What a pity." In his opinion, Yoizumi's Breath of Snow was not inferior to any other style.
Yoizumi paused and spoke again.
"Kyoujurou, what do you think a Hashira is?"
Kyojuro Rengoku answered without hesitation, his orange-red eyes full of unwavering conviction.
"A Hashira is a pillar that supports the heavens and the earth!"
"Perhaps not everyone's answer is the same as mine."
"As a strong person, with the ability to protect the weak, I will continue to walk this path."
"As long as I can do it, I won't just stand by!"
"Everything is for justice!"
Supporting the heavens and the earth... Kyojuro Rengoku saw Yoizumi's confusion, raised his hand and patted his shoulder firmly, his loud and penetrating voice conveying his approval of Yoizumi.
"It's normal to be confused now, and don't worry because of your demon identity."
"I like you very much, Yoizumi. You are a trustworthy partner."
"As a Hashira, Yoizumi can live with pride and honor!"
Looking at Kyojuro Rengoku's gentle smile, as dazzling as the sun, Yoizumi nodded.
"Thank you."
"..." Nezuko, still in his arms, opened her beady eyes, a little confused. Her small head couldn't quite process it.
He also liked her brother.
But her brother and Sister Shinobu were already like that, he couldn't be a playboy!
So Nezuko pushed away Kyoujurou's hand that was on Yoizumi's shoulder, and under two puzzled gazes, she shook her head vigorously.
Was it because Zenitsu kept pestering Nezuko and corrupted her?
They couldn't be allowed to stay together anymore.
Yoizumi silently looked at Agatsuma Zenitsu, who was training, thinking this.
"Oh dear!"
"Huh? Sorry, Zenitsu, are you okay?"
Zenitsu, who was training, suddenly felt a chill. Carelessly, he was hit on the face by Tanjirou's bamboo sword during their practice.
It hurts!
Why did he feel a chill down his spine, as if he was possessed by a demon?
Zenitsu swallowed. Could there be ghosts in broad daylight?
..."Do you want to go play with the girls at the temple? Be careful then."
After Yoizumi reminded her, Nezuko ran off with small steps. Suddenly idle, Yoizumi didn't know what to do for a moment.
He wondered what Shinobu was doing.
Unconsciously, he arrived at Shinobu's room door. After much hesitation, Yoizumi knocked on the door.
"Shinobu, are you there?"
Inside the room, Shinobu, who had been unable to sleep all night because of her actions yesterday, was resting with her eyes closed, propping her chin on her desk. Yoizumi's sudden visit startled her, and she almost hit her head.
He wouldn't... Yoizumi wouldn't remember what happened yesterday, would he?
She stood up nervously and hesitantly, opened the door, and carefully observed Yoizumi's expression. It was as indifferent as ever, so he probably didn't remember. She breathed a sigh of relief and cleared her throat.
"What is it? Did you come to see me?"
Yoizumi's blue eyes looked at Shinobu in front of him. She seemed a little nervous?
And her dark circles were back. Had she not slept well?
"It's about what happened last night. I came to talk to you about it," Yoizumi said slowly.
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