"Hmph~ I'm not the same as I used to be!" Zenitsu, for the first time, didn't fall directly to the ground under Yoizumi's attack; instead, he landed steadily. He even had the leisure to strike a cool pose towards Nezuko-chan.
"Ah! Zenitsu!"
Zenitsu only managed to hear Tanjirou's cry of surprise before his world spun, and a sharp pain enveloped him. By the time he came to his senses, he was sprawled on the ground, arms and legs outstretched.
Blinking, Zenitsu stared at the blue sky and white clouds above him when a face suddenly entered his vision. Yoizumi's cold, emotionless face almost completely filled Zenitsu's sight.
With a pout, Zenitsu angrily raised his hand and pointed at Yoizumi, his tone indignant.
"That's not fair, Yoizumi-nii, you ambushed me!"
His hard-earned chance to impress Nezuko-chan was ruined just like that!
"Whose fault is it for not paying attention?"
Yoizumi was unfazed by Zenitsu's accusation, his expression calm.
"The patterned clothing is lame!" Inosuke, wearing his boar mask, laughed gleefully.
Before the other Demon Slayer Corps members arrived, Yoizumi conducted a simple test for the three.
They had indeed grown quite a bit compared to a few months ago.
If Zenitsu could fix his unreliable bad habits, if Inosuke could learn to cooperate more, and Tanjirou… Tanjirou, seeing his older brother look at him, instinctively flashed a bright smile at Yoizumi.
"…"
Tanjirou was good in all aspects; he didn't need to change.
Yoizumi silently withdrew his gaze, thinking this.
After lunch, Tanjirou and Nezuko were nestled in Yoizumi's room.
"It's been so long since I've had Miss Aoi's cooking, I really missed it."
Tanjirou sat cross-legged on the floor, braiding his sister's hair. It had been several months since he last did it, so he was a bit rusty, but Nezuko was very pleased.
Yoizumi sat nearby, eating snacks made by Kanzaki Aoi, his gaze sweeping over the red Mark on Tanjirou's right forehead before he bit into a sweet pastry.
A massive stone that had been weighing on his heart was slowly settling. The only remaining concern was when Kibutsuji Muzan would launch his full-scale attack.
Counting the days, the puppet he had asked Ubuyashiki and Swordsmith Village about earlier should be on its way.
Yoizumi was very much looking forward to Kibutsuji Muzan's reaction when he saw that puppet.
"Hm?" Tanjirou looked at his older brother as if sensing something. Was he thinking about something?
There was a strange sense of anticipation emanating from Yoizumi-nii.
It must be a good thing, he thought.
Tanjirou smiled from the bottom of his heart.
"Tanjirou."
"Hm? What is it, Yoizumi-nii?"
"How's your training with Kyoujurou going?" Yoizumi recalled what Kyojuro Rengoku had said when he, Uzui, and Kyojuro Rengoku finished dinner last time. They hadn't met much recently, but Yoizumi could vaguely sense that Kyojuro Rengoku was in a very good mood.
"Mr. Kyojuro Rengoku is great!" When Kyojuro Rengoku was mentioned, Tanjirou's eyes lit up, revealing a look of admiration.
"Mr. Kyojuro Rengoku is really good at taking care of people! Whether it's training or daily life, he's truly amazing!"
Tanjirou's eyes curved into a smile. Among the Pillars, besides Yoizumi-nii, Mr. Kyojuro Rengoku was the one he admired most.
"Oh, right."
"Mr. Kyojuro Rengoku's father occasionally helps guide us too."
"Every time that happens, Mr. Kyojuro Rengoku emits a strong aura of happiness."
"It's great that the two of them have reconciled."
"I see…" Yoizumi smiled faintly, understanding. So that was the reason for Kyoujurou's good mood.
He took a pastry and handed it to his sister, who was lying on the table, then looked at his younger brother and asked with a serious expression.
"Tanjirou, do you think Kyoujurou teaches better than I do?"
"Eh?!" Hearing this question, Tanjirou was astonished, his eyes widening. Was Yoizumi-nii really someone who would say such a thing?
Although Yoizumi-nii's training was very effective, his methods were somewhat unconventional. The straightforward Tanjirou wouldn't lie, but meeting his older brother's sapphire eyes, Tanjirou stiffened his neck and spoke with a somewhat strange expression.
"I… I think it's equally… good!"
Observing his younger brother's expression, Yoizumi already had his answer in his heart. He knew full well that there was a significant difference between him and Kyoujurou, but for some reason, he just suddenly wanted to ask that.
Gently patting Tanjirou's head, he also put a pastry into his younger brother's hand. Tanjirou, seeing that his older brother had no objection to his answer, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Why does it feel like Yoizumi-nii is starting to lean towards Miss Shinobu's side… Is it just my imagination?
Tanjirou ate a bite of pastry, feeling a bit troubled… Yoizumi and Shinobu walked hand in hand in the headquarters' courtyard. A long, winding stone path paved with smooth pebbles stretched out, surrounded by many exotic flowers and plants.
Shinobu looked up at the slight smile that always remained on Yoizumi's face. She tilted her head slightly, her beautiful, superior profile exposed to Yoizumi's gaze, and her gentle voice was pleasant to hear in the quiet environment.
"Yoizumi is very happy, aren't you~"
"Yes, because Tanjirou came back today," Yoizumi nodded.
"Eh~ Does Yoizumi think seeing Tanjirou is happier than seeing me?" She playfully tapped Yoizumi's arm, feigning displeasure, and Shinobu let out a soft hum.
"…" This sentence sounded so familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere… Oh, he had said the same thing to Tanjirou this morning.
So he learned it from Shinobu.
Yoizumi couldn't help but smile, his eyes crinkling. Seeing this, Shinobu raised an eyebrow. Why was Yoizumi smiling even more happily?
But the next second, she heard Yoizumi's reply.
"If Shinobu is happy, then I am happy."
"So, will Shinobu be happy to see me?"
Why was the question thrown back at her?
"No interruptions!"
Yoizumi blinked innocently, then bent down, the smile on his face never fading, his eyes filled with tenderness meeting Shinobu's gaze.
"I'm not interrupting. Will Shinobu be happy to see me?"
Looking away shyly, with reddened earlobes and pink-tinged pale cheeks.
"Mmm… Yes."
Hearing the answer he wanted, Yoizumi remained noncommittal.
"Then I'm happy too."
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