No way!
Does Yoizumi remember?
Shinobu still couldn't lift her head, her fingers clutching the corner of her clothes at her side, not daring to look at Yoizumi.
"Shinobu?"
You weren't feeling well yesterday, Yoizumi said, bending down worriedly, his head slightly tilted as he looked at Shinobu's lowered head, gently placing his hand on her forehead and speaking in a soft voice.
"Are you uncomfortable?"
Her face is so hot, is she feverish?
She suddenly turned around, avoiding Yoizumi's hand, her ears so red they looked like they might bleed. Her voice was muffled, "I'm fine, just a little warm. What does Yoizumi want to talk about?"
He slowly retracted his hand, which had been suspended in mid-air, straightened up, sat down on the chair first, and tapped the table.
"Sit down and talk."
Sitting face to face, Shinobu's heart was pounding, her mind racing, wondering what excuse she could use if Yoizumi remembered.
Hmm... normal behavior between friends?
No, given his personality, he might actually do it to other people if he believed it.
Absolutely not!
"Shinobu, did you say anything to me yesterday? I don't quite remember."
Her tense mood suddenly relaxed. It's great that he doesn't remember!
Shinobu felt like she was back in control. Her expression returned to normal, smiling gently, as if she didn't understand what Yoizumi was talking about.
"I didn't say anything at all~"
"It was you, Yoizumi..." Shinobu paused, feigning embarrassment, covering her mouth, and slowly continued.
"Suddenly praising me for being cute really startled me~"
Her beautiful purple eyes looked at Yoizumi, trying to see a hint of panic on his face, but unfortunately, Yoizumi didn't react as Shinobu wished. Instead, he nodded.
"That's good. I thought you said something important, and it would be bad if I didn't remember."
"Shinobu... cute, I wasn't wrong."
Yoizumi didn't think he was wrong. Shinobu was wonderful; in his heart, she truly was a being worthy of all the beautiful things in the world.
"You..."
She tried to be clever but ended up shooting herself in the foot. Shinobu got herself into trouble. Don't say such things with such a serious expression!
Idiot Yoizumi!
The flustered person was now herself again.
"You..."
The 'you' got stuck in her mouth, swirling around without coming out clearly. Shinobu turned her body away in annoyance, glancing out the window.
"Is there anything else?"
Is she angry?
Yoizumi tidied his golden, spiky hair. Nezuko was the same; girls' thoughts were so hard to understand.
Speaking the truth isn't right, and speaking lies isn't right either.
Moreover, in front of Shinobu, he would only speak the truth.
Yoizumi sighed softly. He did have one more question he wanted to ask her.
"Shinobu, what do you think a Hashira is?"
This question was so broad that Shinobu didn't react for a moment.
Because she became a Hashira, but she couldn't understand what a Hashira's duty was... She picked up the teapot on the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and also poured one for Yoizumi. Drinking the slightly bitter, yet sweet, black tea slowly brought her scattered thoughts back into focus.
"Perhaps a being that can kill more demons?" she said, staring at the tea, which had become cloudy and dark red from prolonged steeping, her own reflection visible within it.
"A being that can reduce the number of people in the world who lose their family, friends, and loved ones."
"To put it simply, every house has load-bearing pillars. Without these pillars, the house would collapse. Does Yoizumi understand it this way?"
Yoizumi clearly saw the undercurrents swirling in Shinobu's eyes. Shinobu joined the Demon Slayer Corps because demons killed her family, didn't she?
So that no one else in the world would suffer the same fate as her.
That's why she wielded a nichirin blade with her slender hands.
He carefully placed his hand on her dark purple hair. Shinobu was slightly stunned, slowly raising her head, and saw Yoizumi's gentle smile.
"A house doesn't just have one pillar, does it? Many pillars support the weight of the house together."
"So, Shinobu," his clear, bright sapphire eyes gazed at her gently.
"Don't bear everything alone. I will share the burden with you."
"Try to rely on me a little. I will help you."
He said such things again. She shyly avoided his gaze. He always unconsciously said things that made her heart flutter.
It's so troublesome... but... I'm so happy.
Even so, Shinobu's words remained sharp.
"You dare to touch my head? How bold! If you mess up my hairstyle, is Yoizumi confident he can tie it back to how it was?"
"If you're willing to teach me, I think... I can."
Hearing this, Shinobu smiled, her soft voice taking a long time to respond.
"Then... I'll have to trouble you."
As for whether Shinobu agreed to rely on him or wanted Yoizumi to tie her hair.
Who knows... she herself wasn't sure... "Aren't you going to drink your tea?"
Shinobu pushed the teacup towards Yoizumi.
He silently averted his gaze. It seemed to be getting late, and he should leave.
"I... um, Kanzaki Aoi said she made me milk stew, and it'll get cold if I don't go back soon. I'm leaving now, goodbye."
After Yoizumi quickly left the room, Shinobu chuckled and drank the tea she had poured for him.
Isn't milk stew supposed to be cold?
She heard that black tea with sweet milk tastes very good. She'd let Yoizumi try it next time; he should like it.
Returning to his room, he ate the milk stew that was already on the table.
Combining the answers given by Rengoku and Shinobu.
Yoizumi thought.
Hashira means protection.
In this era infested with demons, merely protecting family and friends is far from enough.
He had to become stronger.
He had to completely eradicate the root of all evil.
Kibutsuji Muzan.
Although he was now a Hashira, since he was a demon, the Demon Slayer Corps' missions couldn't allow Yoizumi to act alone during the day.
He might be bundled together with Tanjirou.
It wouldn't be long before he received a mission.
Before that, he needed to intensify his Breath of Snow training and try to create new sword forms.
"Da da da."
Hearing that unique footsteps, Yoizumi knew it was Nezuko.
Nezuko ran over and hugged Yoizumi's leg. Looking at her bright pink eyes, Yoizumi thought that being carefree suited her best.
He brought his sister her favorite konpeito, and Nezuko smiled happily.
His family's smiles were also what he wanted to protect.
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