While Kochou Shinobu was lost in confusion due to her personality issues, The Three Little Ones next door were fast asleep.
Although there were extra rooms available, the three still intimately huddled together.
Inosuke rolled twice on the bed, finally moving sideways, crossing his feet over Tanjirou, and sticking them right onto Zenitsu's face before stopping his rolling.
Zenitsu, meanwhile, furrowed his brow slightly, smacked his lips, and ate salted fish in his dream.
Nezuko was also quietly sleeping soundly in the corner.
Tanjirou, sandwiched between Zenitsu and Inosuke, had his brows tightly knitted, and his expression was unnatural... A simple kitchen appeared before his eyes, and Tanjirou's body uncontrollably poured boiling tea into the teaware and placed it on a tray.
He seemed to have had this dream several times before.
But unexpectedly, this dream was exceptionally clear; Tanjirou could even feel his own conscious will.
It was just like being pulled into a dream by Enmu on the Mugen Train, everything was clear as if it were truly happening.
Except that he couldn't control this body.
The body's owner looked towards the window, where a crescent setting sun hung in the sky, dyeing the air a deep orange-red.
After a distant glance, the body uncontrollably picked up the tray and walked outside.
Upon reaching the hallway, a distant red figure sitting in front of the main house came into view.
In previous dreams, he had also seen this person.
But the memory was not clear; every time he got close enough to see the face clearly, he would naturally wake up.
This time seemed different.
This body, holding the tray, walked toward that figure.
As the distance closed, Tanjirou finally saw the figure whose face he had never been able to make out in previous dreams.
What Tanjirou noticed first were the sun-patterned earrings dangling by the ears.
Miss Mizuki... No... Although the figure was sitting, it was clearly taller than Miss Mizuki.
Compared to Miss Mizuki, this broad-shouldered figure resembled Upper Rank One, who brutally defeated them in the Entertainment District.
The next moment, Tanjirou's gaze fell upon the Nichirin Blade placed beside the figure.
It was the Nichirin Blade of the Origin Breathing swordsman... which he had now inherited from Miss Mizuki.
Tanjirou suddenly recalled what Mizuki had told him about her older brother.
The creator of Origin Breathing, who was said to have had friendly interactions with his ancestor.
If he remembered correctly, the name should be... Before Tanjirou could think of the person's name, the body uncontrollably opened its mouth.
"Mr. Yoriichi."
Tanjirou's heart stirred. Mr. Yoriichi, the name Miss Mizuki had mentioned before.
The Origin Breathing swordsman... Miss Mizuki's older brother... What exactly was this?
"Please have some tea."
"Ah, thanks, Sumiyoshi." The red figure turned its head, a faint smile on its face.
It wasn't that monster; there was no Demon Slayer Mark on his neck.
However, the face looked exactly the same. If there were slight differences between Miss Mizuki and Mr. Yoriichi, then the only difference between this face and that monster was the Demon Slayer Mark.
But... Sumiyoshi?
Was that the name of his ancestor?
Tanjirou was slightly stunned. Was he dreaming of his ancestor's memories?
Or had he heard the story from Miss Mizuki, which was why he was dreaming of this?
Before Tanjirou could think further, Sumiyoshi carried a cup of tea and walked into the house.
"Miss Mizuki, please have some hot tea."
Before seeing anyone, Sumiyoshi had already spoken.
Tanjirou was stunned again. Just around the corner of the entrance, a figure was leaning against the wall.
Following his ancestor's memory, Tanjirou clearly saw the figure's face.
It was Miss Mizuki... But... she looked so weak, so uncomfortable... Miss Mizuki before him showed an uncharacteristic weakness. As she heard Sumiyoshi's voice and looked up, her slightly pale lips parted.
"Thank you for the trouble."
Sumiyoshi's voice was full of energy: "Don't mention it. Both of you are our benefactors, so these small things are what we should do."
"You're too serious, Sumiyoshi... Friends don't need to be so polite." Mizuki looked weak but managed a slight smile, which made Tanjirou feel a pang of sadness.
He suddenly remembered what the demon who looked similar to Miss Mizuki had said in the Entertainment District.
'You were dying at the time, this was the only way to save you.'
'I should have died then.'
So that was it... That's why Miss Mizuki had worn that expression back then.
"Friends?" Sumiyoshi's lips unconsciously curved into a slight smile.
Mizuki took the tea from Sumiyoshi's hand, blew on the heat, and took a small sip.
"Cough, cough..."
She started coughing violently, scaring both Sumiyoshi and Tanjirou.
"Are you alright, Miss Mizuki?" The words seemed to burst forth simultaneously from both his soul and the physical body.
But unfortunately, others could not hear him.
Mizuki groaned, suppressed the cough, and waved her hand at Sumiyoshi.
Sumiyoshi looked at her worriedly: "If you're not feeling well, please go rest in the inner room."
Mizuki managed a difficult smile: "...It's fine, I just need to rest a bit."
She was completely different from the current Miss Mizuki.
Too gentle... Although the current Miss Mizuki is also cold on the outside but warm-hearted, the one in the dream was excessively gentle... Even if she was unwell, she would endure the discomfort to comfort others and express her feelings more openly.
No... there hasn't been any change... in this gentleness.
As for Mr. Yoriichi outside... Sumiyoshi was facing Mizuki, allowing Tanjirou to clearly see that Mr. Yoriichi on the porch showed no reaction after hearing Miss Mizuki cough, merely drinking his tea silently.
Were they not getting along well?
That shouldn't be the case, right?
He could understand the Shinazugawa Brothers' situation, but Miss Mizuki didn't seem like the type to handle relationships poorly.
This was too painful.
Tanjirou really wanted to ask Mr. Yoriichi, but he couldn't control himself at all; he was merely an observer, only able to watch the events unfold.
Every action of the body belonged to this person named Sumiyoshi.
Tanjirou wanted to learn more about them, but noisy sounds began to reach his ears, and his consciousness detached from Sumiyoshi's body, gradually rising.
His vision blurred, and then everything went dark.
"You bastard Inosuke! How dare you put your foot on my face! You should commit seppuku to apologize!"
Zenitsu's angry voice rang in his ears. Tanjirou frowned and opened his eyes.
The ceiling... On the other side, Inosuke replied discontentedly: "Ha? Why should I apologize to you? You're the one who put your face there."
Zenitsu widened his eyes: "Nani? You actually said that?"
Left channel, right channel, dual enjoyment.
Seeing that Tanjirou was awake, Zenitsu shook his body: "Tanjirou! Tell us whose fault this is?"
Tanjirou stared blankly at the ceiling. He really wanted to dream a little longer...
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