The breakfast at the Kanroji household had been warm and lively, but its conclusion signaled the inevitable arrival of the moment they had to say their goodbyes.
As the Love Hashira, Mitsuri bore the heavy responsibility of guarding her assigned territory. She needed to return to her station without delay. Horitake, holding the rank of the Sky Hashira, was similarly burdened with a myriad of complex duties.
After explaining the situation to Mitsuri's parents, Horitake and Mitsuri formally moved to take their leave.
Naturally, the Kanroji parents were loath to see them go. Their daughter and her partner had only stayed for a single night, and the couple felt they hadn't yet had the chance to properly play host to their daughter and her future husband.
Mitsuri's mother looked on with watery eyes, and even her father had cast aside his earlier grumbling and dissatisfaction. The two of them hurriedly tried to persuade the young couple to stay for just a few more days.
Horitake could only offer a polite smile and a firm shake of his head. "I am truly sorry, Uncle, Auntie, but we both have duties we must attend to. Mitsuri-chan, of course, has an area to protect and cannot be away from her post for long."
He paused, his expression turning serious. "As for me, an important operation within the Demon Slayer Corps is about to begin, and there are several matters I must personally oversee. Because of this, neither Mitsuri nor I can remain here any longer. However, if the opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly come to visit you both again."
Horitake's words were spoken with such sincerity and resolve that Mitsuri's parents found themselves unable to argue. With a helpless nod, they finally consented to let the pair depart.
There wasn't much to pack. After a quick tidying of their things, they were ready to leave.
All six members of the Kanroji family stood gathered at the genkan, lined up to see Horitake and Mitsuri off.
Partings are always difficult, draped in the shadow of lingering reluctance. Having finally made it home for a day, Mitsuri didn't want to leave so soon, but time was a cruel master. She looked back at her parents and her younger siblings, her eyes filled with a soft, aching longing.
Standing just outside the door, Horitake looked at the gathered family and bowed slightly. "Well then... Uncle, Auntie, everyone... goodbye for now."
Mitsuri's father hesitated for a moment before clearing his throat. "There's no need to call us 'Uncle' and 'Auntie' anymore," he said gruffly. "You can change how you address us."
Horitake's eyes lit up instantly. He didn't miss a beat. "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law... and to all my brothers and sisters, goodbye!"
Only then did Mitsuri's father nod in satisfaction. A bright, relieved smile finally broke through the sadness on her mother's face.
With a final bow and a chorus of farewells, Horitake and Mitsuri left the Kanroji residence. They walked away from her family, preparing to head in their separate directions to attend to their respective duties.
Before they truly split up, however, they had to return to the branch office where Mitsuri was stationed.
The reason was simple: Horitake had temporarily left his uniform and his Nichirin Sword at the station. If he was going back to work, he needed to be fully equipped.
Back at the station, Horitake changed back into his standard Demon Slayer uniform and strapped his blade, Majesty, to his hip. Once he was fully prepared, he turned to Mitsuri to say his final goodbye.
"Mitsuri, it's time for me to go."
Mitsuri, overwhelmed by the impending separation, couldn't help but wrap her arms tightly around him. She leaned in close, whispering into his ear, "Do you really have to go so soon? Is work truly that busy?"
Horitake held her gently, stroking her hair as he explained, "The workload isn't necessarily heavy, but it is complicated. Besides the daily task of refining medicines and going on missions, there are other things I need to handle. Mitsuri, you know that the biennial Final Selection at Mt. Fujikasane is about to begin. There are several people I know and care about participating this time, and I need to make some preparations for them."
"I see... the Final Selection," Mitsuri murmured, being the sensible girl she was. Hearing his explanation, she reluctantly loosened her embrace. "Then it can't be helped. Go on then, Horitake-kun."
Seeing her pouting, reluctant expression, Horitake chuckled.
He leaned in, cupped her face in his hands, and gave her a resounding mua of a kiss. "Don't look so sad," he teased. "Protect yourself, take care of yourself, and if I find the time, I'll come to see you."
Having taken his "payment" and said his piece, Horitake wasn't the type to linger in a messy, sentimental goodbye. He turned on his heel and walked away with a casual wave.
Mitsuri stood there with a bright red face, subconsciously licking her lips. she waved back at his retreating figure, her heart fluttering.
All in all, the visit to the in-laws had been a resounding success.
Once he was clear of Mitsuri's presence, Horitake's expression shifted. The romantic haze vanished, replaced by a focused, professional gravity. His mind became clear and cold.
The Final Selection was coming.
What did that signify?
It signified the start of the original story's main plot. It meant further bloodshed and direct confrontation with the upper echelons of the demons. It meant that the destiny he had been waiting for was finally arriving, and that the final reckoning was no longer in the distant future.
He had to be ready. Fortunately, his preparations were well underway.
With a steadfast gaze, Horitake marched toward the horizon.
Where was he going?
Two primary locations: first, Peach Mountain (Momoyama), and second, Mt. Sagiri.
Based on the distance and the route, he planned to hit Peach Mountain first to see how his junior, Zenitsu, was progressing with his training.
Regardless of how well Zenitsu was doing, Horitake figured the old man would likely "drive the duck onto the perch" and force the boy to participate in the Final Selection anyway.
After that, he would head to Mt. Sagiri to see his "little brother" Tanjiro, and more importantly, his fiancée, Nezuko.
Tanjiro wasn't a concern; as the protagonist of this world, he wouldn't drop the ball. His main focus was checking on Nezuko. The timing was about right; she should be waking up soon.
Once Nezuko was awake, it would finally be time to start cultivating their relationship.
Even though she wouldn't be human yet, and even though her mental state would be akin to a toddler's, that didn't stop Horitake from laying the emotional groundwork.
At the very least, he needed to make sure they were familiar with each other!
(Author's Note: There are three main heroines in this work. Mitsuri in the early stage, Shinobu Kocho in the middle, and finally Nezuko in the later stage.)
(I apologize for dragging it out this long; the truth is that Nezuko's romantic line is quite difficult to write. On one hand, she is still young, and on the other, she isn't human right now. Even in the original work, she barely has any lines, mostly making muffled sounds. How do you write a romance or a "conquest" in that situation? Regardless, the upcoming plot with Nezuko makes me feel a bit out of my depth, but I will do my best.)
With these thoughts in mind, Horitake traveled swiftly.
Within a few days, he arrived at Peach Mountain.
To his surprise, the moment he stepped onto the mountain, he was greeted by a "pleasant surprise"—quite the show, actually.
And who was providing this surprise?
Yae, of course.
As a brilliant junior disciple, Yae's progress was so rapid it even left Horitake somewhat speechless.
It was broad daylight when Horitake arrived. He caught sight of the old man, Jigoro Kuwajima, in the middle of training his two disciples: Zenitsu and Yae.
While the early stages of their training had focused on physical stamina, the current phase was centered on combat sparring.
Thus, the first thing Horitake saw upon his return was Yae absolutely pummeling Zenitsu.
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