After a long journey, Soma made his way up the mountainside, where his gaze fell upon a stretch of newly cultivated farmland.
"Sir, this was cleared by Urokodaki-sensei," Nezuko explained softly as she walked beside him, noticing that he had paused to look. "He said he plans to plant rapeseed flowers here."
"I remember you mentioning that in your letter," Soma replied, his tone thoughtful. "It's because Makomo likes rapeseed flowers, isn't it?"
As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward Urokodaki Sakonji, who stood nearby wearing his fierce tengu mask.
At the same time, Makomo also lifted her gaze, looking at the teacher she respected so deeply.
Beneath the tengu mask, the old man's face was uncharacteristically flushed. But the mask hid his expression from view.
If anyone could have seen it, it would have been rather amusing.
"I just felt like planting rapeseed flowers, that's all," Urokodaki huffed, turning his head away. With his hands clasped behind his back, he strode forward briskly, clearly unwilling to endure their knowing looks any longer.
Watching her stubborn teacher refuse to admit it, Makomo couldn't help the slight curve of a smile beneath her own mask. Still, her attention soon shifted to another newly cultivated patch of land nearby.
"If that one was cleared by Sensei," she mused aloud, "then this one must be yours, Nezuko. Are you planning to grow red beans?"
A faint blush crept across Nezuko's cheeks. She glanced shyly at Soma before lowering her voice and giving a small nod.
"…Mm."
Then, almost unconsciously, she murmured, "Red beans grow in the southern land… how many branches bloom when spring arrives…"
Makomo blinked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"The 'southern land'? What country is that? I don't think I've ever heard of it…"
Unlike Nezuko—who had once been puzzled by how many branches red beans would sprout—Makomo found herself more intrigued by the mysterious place mentioned in the verse.
"D-Does that place not exist?" Nezuko asked, a little uncertain now, her eyes instinctively turning toward Soma for help.
"Ahem…"
Soma cleared his throat, glancing ahead at Urokodaki, who had already walked quite a distance.
"Let's keep moving," he said quickly, stepping forward to catch up. After all, the "southern land" wasn't a place that existed here, and explaining it would only lead to more questions.
"Oh… okay."
Nezuko and Makomo hurried after him.
Left behind for a moment, Tanjiro stood there holding several large and small bundles they had bought along the way, watching as his sister stayed close to Soma's side the entire time.
His expression grew faintly resentful.
…
Before long, they arrived at a cluster of houses.
Standing at the entrance was a gentle-looking woman wearing a purple checkered haori over a white-collared garment. Her figure was slender, her demeanor soft, and she was accompanied by several children waiting eagerly by the door.
"Big brother's back!"
"Soma-san is back too, and Kanao-neechan!"
The children's faces lit up with joy as they ran forward, cheering, immediately gathering around Soma.
By the time Tanjiro arrived—arms full of packages—they quickly shifted their attention to him, surrounding him just as eagerly.
However, one boy, slightly younger than Tanjiro, remained where he was.
Kamado Takeo stood still, though the excitement was clear in his eyes. Unlike the others, he held himself back, not rushing forward like a child, instead giving off the impression of someone trying to act more grown-up.
Perhaps it was because Tanjiro, the eldest son, had been away. With him gone, Takeo had naturally taken on the role of the oldest male in the household.
Without realizing it, he had begun to see himself as a man.
For a brief moment, Soma saw a reflection of Tanjiro in the boy.
But in the original story, this child had been killed early on by Kibutsuji Muzan, leaving behind nothing more than the fleeting image of a young boy.
As Tanjiro finally approached, Soma reached into his pack and began taking out the items they had bought along the journey—most of them small toys meant for the children.
The moment the children received their gifts, their joy was written plainly across their faces. Laughter spilled from them—light, carefree, and full of life—and that bright sound carried across the quiet mountainside, making the warmth and happiness of the moment unmistakable.
Standing by the doorway, Kamado Kie watched the scene with gentle eyes. It had been so long since she had seen the children this happy that, for a moment, it almost felt unreal.
Soma made sure no one was left out. When it came to Kie, he presented her with a delicate hairpin.
"For me as well?"
She froze slightly at the sight of the gift, clearly unaccustomed to receiving such things. For a brief moment, she didn't even know how to respond.
Then, as realization set in, a soft blush touched her cheeks. With a mixture of shyness and quiet delight, she accepted it.
"Thank you."
Of course, Nezuko wasn't forgotten either. Her gift was a hair clip shaped like wisteria flowers.
"Thank you, sir." She accepted it happily, her eyes shining.
"I bought a lot of gifts too, you know!"
Beside them, Tanjiro suddenly spoke up, his tone almost a little sulky.
"What did you get, big brother?"
"Let me see!"
Hanako, Shigeru, and even Takeo quickly gathered around him, their faces full of eager anticipation.
Scratching the back of his head with a grin, Tanjiro began pulling items out of his bundle one by one. Each new thing he revealed was met with delighted cheers from his younger siblings.
Soma stood where he was, watching the children crowd around Tanjiro, smiling quietly.
It was such a warm, harmonious scene.
And yet… in the original story, this very moment had been shattered by Kibutsuji Muzan.
These siblings, who adored their older brother… this brother, who cherished them so deeply… and their gentle mother—all of them had been brutally slaughtered.
It was almost impossible to imagine what Tanjiro must have felt when he learned the truth. The despair, the devastation—it must have been overwhelming.
And yet, even that had not destroyed the kindness in his heart.
Honestly… that wasn't something just anyone could endure.
If it had happened to him instead… Soma thought quietly, he might have lost his mind entirely.
"Sir, please come inside."
Kie's gentle voice pulled him from his thoughts.
He nodded. "Alright."
Unlike the first time she had invited him into the house—when there had been hesitation, even fear—there was none of that now. She welcomed him naturally, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
In some subtle way, he had already become part of this family.
One could even say… like the male head of the house.
Though, of course, there was no real relationship to define it.
Inside, the house was spotless. Everything was neatly arranged. There wasn't much furniture, but the space felt warm and lived-in, filled with a quiet sense of comfort.
After a long journey, that kind of atmosphere brought with it a gentle, almost indescribable feeling of peace.
Soma sat down cross-legged in the main seat. Before long, Nezuko brought him a cup of hot tea.
Kie knelt nearby, softly asking about the journey. Soma answered briefly, recounting a few details.
As he sipped his tea, his gaze occasionally drifted toward the outside, where Tanjiro had already begun playing with his siblings. Laughter filled the air, light and unrestrained.
"For now… everything looks good," Soma said with a faint smile, taking another sip.
"It's all thanks to you, sir," Kie replied softly, her eyes resting on him with a subtle hint of reliance.
Without anyone truly noticing…
This demon had become an indispensable part of their family.
And if one day… things were to turn, if he and Tanjiro were to become enemies—if Tanjiro were to raise his Nichirin Sword against him—
Would his family…
Would his younger siblings…
Really be able to stand by and allow their beloved brother to strike him down?