Standing in the shadows of the corridor, Yoizumi quietly watched the snowy scenery.
From time to time, he would hear the three young girls from Butterfly Mansion playing in the snow.
He recalled Tamayo's letter.
Overcoming the sun, huh... Today's sun was not obscured by clouds; it only brought a warm and comfortable feeling when it fell on him, but Yoizumi couldn't feel it at all.
He tentatively raised his hand, exposing one finger to the sunlight. The moment it touched the sun's rays, an intense burning sensation accompanied by pain surged, making Yoizumi flinch and withdraw his hand, staring blankly at his festering finger.
In a matter of seconds, the flesh on his finger was completely burned away, leaving only white bone.
Was this really a slight sign of overcoming it?
Or was it that the time wasn't enough, or the area insufficient?
Yoizumi decided to try again.
This time, he rolled up his sleeve as far as it would go.
He extended his entire arm. The intense burning sensation stimulated his nerves, a bone-piercing pain. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Yoizumi's forehead as he gritted his teeth and endured.
He retracted his arm; his hand was burned beyond recognition, a mix of red and black, and incredibly painful.
It's not working... The regeneration in the areas burned by the sun has become slow.
It seems it will take some time to recover.
"Uh..."
As soon as he lowered his arm and looked up, he met Shinobu's dark gaze. Yoizumi belatedly hid his hand behind his back. He had endured extending his hand earlier without a change in expression, but now a rare look of panic appeared on his usually indifferent face.
Shinobu walked over with a low-pressure aura, her face grim, devoid of any smile.
"Give me your hand!"
Obediently taking his hand from behind his back, Yoizumi said cautiously, "Shinobu, I'm fine."
She frowned, her lips slightly downturned, looking at the mottled burns. Her purple eyes were filled with heartache, her tone heavy, yet her movements were careful, as if afraid of hurting Yoizumi.
"If you were in trouble, I wouldn't be acting this way," she said, gently stroking Yoizumi's arm.
"If I hadn't come, would you have just run out into the sun completely?"
"Doesn't it hurt? You idiot!"
Yoizumi knew Shinobu was angry because he wasn't taking care of his body. The pain in his arm didn't seem as intense anymore.
"It won't hurt if Shinobu blows on it for me."
"There's no such method," Shinobu said, but still held Yoizumi's arm, her warm breath caressing the regenerating wound, bringing a ticklish sensation.
"Mmm, it doesn't hurt anymore," Yoizumi lowered his head slightly, gazing intently at Shinobu.
"Don't you dare treat your body as if it's nothing!" Unable to apply force to his injured arm, Shinobu angrily pinched the soft flesh at Yoizumi's waist.
"...Okay."
..."Meow~"
"You're back, Chachamaru."
Tamayo put down the experimental data in her hand and took out Yoizumi's reply from her small satchel. Yushiro, who was diligently guarding his beloved Lady Tamayo, craned his neck, also eager to find out what it said.
"Thank you for telling me this. I will pay attention to Nezuko's condition and my own."
"I would like to invite you to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters to collaborate with the Insect Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. She is a medical practitioner skilled in medicine and pharmacology, and also deeply knowledgeable about demons."
"Together with her, research a cure to turn demons back into humans and an antidote to combat Kibutsuji Muzan."
"Additionally, I have another request."
"Shinobu is my lover."
"Her body contains a large amount of toxins. Could you please help find a way to remove them?"
"Thank you."
Go to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters?!
Collaborate with the Demon Slayer Corps?!
His brain must have short-circuited!
After reading the contents, Yushiro, the demon, was completely unsettled. How was this any different from a lamb entering a tiger's den?
Lady Tamayo definitely wouldn't agree!
Then he saw Lady Tamayo, whom he thought wouldn't agree, pick up a pen and write 'Good' on the letter.
?!
"Wait! Lady Tamayo!" Yushiro anxiously cried out to stop her.
"That's the Demon Slayer Corps! Who knows if they're playing a trick? Please reconsider."
"No! You shouldn't consider it at all!"
Yushiro pressed his palm onto the letter, preventing Tamayo from writing further.
"Yushiro," Tamayo looked at him seriously.
"I know you're thinking of me, but I trust Mr. Yoizumi. He is a trustworthy partner for us."
"Besides, this is an opportunity, an opportunity to get revenge on Kibutsuji Muzan."
"I have heard of that Insect Pillar; collaborating with her would be ideal."
Actually, Tamayo was quite surprised when she saw in the letter that Yoizumi wanted her to go to the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, and she couldn't help but feel nervous.
However, since Yoizumi said so, he must have already obtained the Master's permission.
There shouldn't be too many concerns, right?
..."I understand." Having been by Tamayo's side for many years, he knew her obsession. Kibutsuji Muzan was a thorn in Tamayo's heart.
Every beat of her heart would pierce deeply into her core, constantly reminding Tamayo.
Yushiro moved his hand away, stepped back a few paces, and looked dimly at Lady Tamayo, who was writing with her head down.
He knew that Lady Tamayo once had a husband and child, and she had never forgotten them.
Sometimes, when Lady Tamayo looked at him, it was as if she was looking through him at another being.
Was she seeing him as the child she couldn't raise to adulthood?
Yushiro didn't want to think too much.
"Go, Chachamaru."
"Meow~"
..."Okay, I understand."
"I agree to this collaboration."
"I will set off soon."
After putting away the letter, Tamayo would first be brought by Chachamaru to the Butterfly Mansion, and then go to the Headquarters with Shinobu.
This was one urgent matter resolved.
This was Yoizumi's fifth day awake.
Now Yoizumi had a question.
Where was his nichirin blade?
Counting the days he was unconscious, almost two months had passed, and a new nichirin blade had not been delivered.
"..." He silently looked at the paper he got from Saho, densely covered with 'unforgivable' and also...
"You and your brother are exactly alike!"
"I won't give you a sword!"
It seemed he had been resented... but he had only broken it once, right?
Was Tanjirou's share also counted against him?
"Mr. Haganezuka is very difficult to deal with," Saho said, looking up.
"Mr. Yoizumi can go to the Swordsmith Village to take a look."
"Swordsmith Village?"
"It's the village specifically for forging nichirin blades."
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