"That's impressive."
Looking at her, Soma offered sincere praise. In such a short time, she had not only learned Sun Breathing, but had even mastered Water Breathing under Urokodaki's guidance. That was genuinely worthy of admiration.
"It's not that impressive," Nezuko said, lifting a hand to smooth the hair at her forehead as if trying to sound casual. "Just… average."
But while her words tried to downplay it, her little chin had unconsciously tilted upward, and the pride radiating from her was impossible to miss.
Combined with her fluttering, beautiful eyelashes and her naturally cute face, she was undeniably adorable—exploding with charm.
In person, it was even worse—no, far beyond that. Ten times, a hundred times more endearing than anything anyone could capture on a screen.
And for some reason, the thought made Soma momentarily lose focus.
Almost without thinking, as if guided by impulse, he reached out and gently pinched her cheek.
It felt as smooth and delicate as fine jade.
Unable to help himself, he pinched it again… and then once more, nearly tempted to knead that soft little face into a round ball.
Nezuko clearly hadn't expected such intimate contact.
Her eyes widened at once, and in the next instant, a rosy blush spread rapidly across her fair cheeks.
Soma immediately realized he had acted on impulse. He withdrew his hand at once, giving an awkward laugh. "Hah, it's just that you're so cute, Nezuko. I couldn't help myself."
"I-it's… fine."
She turned her face away, her voice so soft it was barely audible.
"Still, I should apologize," Soma said seriously. "Touching a girl's face like that was far too abrupt. It was rude."
Nezuko clutched at the edge of her clothing, lowering her head so he couldn't see her expression. Only the round little ear peeking through her hair was visible—
and it had turned completely pink.
"If… if it's you, sir…" she murmured, almost whispering, "then it's fine."
The girl looked so defenseless in that moment, so easy to fluster, that it stirred an inexplicable urge to tease her further.
Soma quickly shook the thought away and stood up.
And that single motion nearly sent Nezuko into panic.
Her mind flashed back to him pinching her cheek just now. He'd already touched her face… and now he was standing up…
Then didn't that mean—
In an instant, a scene played out in her imagination: her clothes being roughly torn, tears welling in her eyes, her skin being...
Her heart began pounding violently.
N-not yet... I don't want this... I'm not... not ready...
"S-Sir…"
Her voice trembled.
"N-no... you can't do that."
The sudden outburst left Soma utterly bewildered.
"Nezuko?" He blinked. "What's wrong?"
She looked up cautiously at his tall figure. From where she sat, it felt as though his shadow had completely enveloped her small body, the sheer presence of him pressing down on her until even her breathing turned uneven.
"S-Sir…" she stammered, "w-what are you going to do?"
"I was going to get another bowl of red bean porridge."He said it simply.
"…Ah."
Her face turned even redder.
"So… it's porridge. Not…"
"Not what?" Soma asked, looking at her in genuine confusion.
"N-nothing!"
She blurted it out and immediately snatched the empty bowl from his hand.
"I-I'll serve you another bowl!"
Without waiting, she rushed to the pot and began ladling porridge into the bowl, every movement betraying utter fluster.
Soma stood there watching her in silence.
In the wavering firelight, he could clearly see the pink tint on her ears.
At first, he hadn't understood why she had reacted so strangely.
But looking at her now…
He more or less understood.
She had clearly thought he was about to… lose control and do something to her.
That realization left Soma momentarily speechless.
No matter what, he wasn't about to do anything to Nezuko.
In Soma's eyes, Nezuko was still little more than a young girl.
Granted, in this world, someone her age might already be preparing for marriage. That wasn't unusual.
But he wasn't at the point of thinking that way.
Nezuko lowered her head and handed him the freshly filled bowl of red bean porridge. As she did, Soma caught a glimpse of her face when she briefly looked up.
Her delicate cheeks were red to an alarming degree—as though they might bleed from the color alone.
Holding the bowl, Soma hesitated.
After a long pause, he decided he really ought to explain.
"Well… about just now…" He fumbled slightly, trying to find the right words. "What I mean is… you don't have to assume the worst of me. I'm not so terrible that I'd do something inappropriate to a little girl…"
He meant it as reassurance.
But by the time it reached Nezuko's ears, it sounded like something else entirely.
A reprimand.
Yes—
surely he was scolding her.
Blaming her for overreacting.
And at that moment, a quiet sense of grievance welled up in her chest. Her teeth unconsciously caught her lower lip, but she didn't dare argue. She only nodded over and over.
"Sir… is right. Yes, you're right."
Not even married yet, and he was already lecturing her…
If they really married someday, how many rules would he impose then?
The thought left her feeling oddly wronged.
"You understood what I said?" Soma asked after finishing, looking at her carefully.
"I heard it all."
"And do you understand it?"
"I… I think I understand a little."
In truth, her mind was completely blank.
She hadn't understood a thing.
But she didn't dare ask. What if asking annoyed him? And if he got angry…
That thought alone was enough to make her nervous.
Looking at the dazed, muddled expression on her face, Soma scratched his head.
He had a sudden, sinking feeling that everything he'd just said had been completely wasted.
With a quiet sigh, he could only return to eating his porridge.
Talking to girls could be such a troublesome thing sometimes.
Half the time, he had no idea what was going on in their heads.
The room fell quiet.
Only the soft sound of Soma eating remained, while Nezuko stood nearby with her head lowered, hands folded naturally in front of her abdomen, looking almost like a little wife who had been unfairly scolded and was now sulking in silence.
After finishing two bowls of red bean porridge, Soma set the bowl down and looked at her still standing there.
After a moment, he said, "Come outside and show me the sword forms you've been practicing."
Each Breathing Style was paired with corresponding sword forms. Through those forms, a swordsman could draw out their strength in different ways—sometimes even amplifying it.
Sun Breathing alone had thirteen forms, each capable of tremendous power once properly executed.
"Alright."
Nezuko quickly gathered the bowls and chopsticks, set them aside, and followed him outside.
Once they reached the yard, Soma removed the Nichirin Sword at his waist and handed it to her.
Taking the sword, Nezuko stepped into the open space in the center of the courtyard. She glanced at Soma with a flushed face before lowering her head slightly.
"I'm going to begin."
"Go ahead."
Just as her mastery of Breathing had been impressive, her progress with sword forms was equally remarkable—so much so that even Soma couldn't help but marvel.
As Nezuko moved through the forms in the courtyard, wielding the Nichirin Sword, another figure quietly watched from inside.
Kamado Kie had opened the window just a crack.
Her gaze first fell on her daughter.
Sword practice was strenuous work, and before long, beads of sweat began forming on Nezuko's forehead.
Kie couldn't help but feel a flicker of worry.
But as she continued watching, she noticed something that eased her concern.
Nezuko showed no sign of pain, no trace of exhaustion.
If anything… she looked happy.
That alone let Kie breathe a little easier.
In truth, she had already noticed changes in her daughter during this period.
At first, Nezuko had been afraid of Soma.
Then, little by little, that fear seemed to fade.
At first, she rarely mentioned him—and when she did, it was often with a trace of annoyance or even dislike.
But gradually…
that no longer seemed to be the case.
And more than that, even without realizing it herself, Nezuko had begun talking about Soma more and more. His name surfaced constantly in her words. She had even started asking her mother to teach her things—how to mend clothes, how to manage household chores…
As though she were quietly preparing herself to be a good wife.
Thinking back to the beginning, when their family had been forced to submit under the threat of a demon, Kie could still remember those nights when she had wept in silence, imagining her daughter having to offer herself to a monster.
The thought alone had nearly broken her.
And yet, as time passed and they came to know him, she realized that this demon was nothing like the vicious creature she had first imagined.
In fact, he was almost the complete opposite.
And with his arrival, the Kamado family's life had changed beyond recognition.
She no longer had to worry about whether there would be enough firewood or food tomorrow. The children no longer lived under a constant shadow of fear. Smiles had returned to their faces.
Life had begun to grow warm again.
More than that—
it was, in some ways, even better than when her husband had still been alive.
Gradually, Kie came to feel that aside from the incidental fact that he was a demon—a fact that almost seemed secondary now—everything about him was nearly perfect.
At least, in her eyes, he was an exceptionally fine man.
A wonderful choice for a husband.
In all her years, she had never seen a young man who could compare to him. It wasn't only his tall figure or striking appearance—
it was his character.
And the way he treated women felt different from the men she had known here. There was respect in it. A lack of arrogance. He never carried himself above others.
At some point, the resistance she once felt simply vanished.
And in its place came an unexpected thought—
Perhaps having her daughter marry a demon… wasn't such a bad thing at all.
After all, he was gentle.
And from what she could see, Nezuko didn't dislike him in the slightest.
If the two of them truly came together, their future might be a good one. With his temperament, he would likely cherish her daughter, protect her, care for her.
For a mother, that was already enough.
In fact, compared to her own younger self, Kie couldn't help but feel Nezuko might actually be fortunate.
Only…
who could say what the future would bring?
Would he remain the same forever?
People changed.
Even good people.
Unconsciously, Kie's gaze shifted from her daughter to Soma.
And perhaps sensing it, Soma turned.
Their eyes met through the narrow crack in the window.
Kie startled so badly she nearly jumped, hurriedly sliding the window shut with a snap.
Soma looked at the tightly closed window, listening as hurried, slightly chaotic footsteps retreated inside, and then turned his attention back to Nezuko.
Whether it was the forms of Sun Breathing or Water Breathing, she had grasped them remarkably well.
If there was one thing lacking…
It was sharpness.
A certain killing edge.
A trace of murderous intent.
But that was only natural.
She had never truly used a Nichirin Sword to cut down a demon.
"Stop there," Soma said.
"Haa…"
Nezuko let out a light breath and came to a halt. She walked over and returned the Nichirin Sword to him.
"That was very good," Soma said with genuine approval.
Nezuko lowered her head, but the slight curve at the corner of her lips betrayed how pleased she was.
Soma lifted his head and glanced at the darkened sky.
"It's late," he said. "Get some rest."
"…Mm."
She nodded.
Soma said nothing more and turned toward his own room.
Its door was already open.
And standing there, graceful and still, was Kanao.
Soma stepped inside.
Kanao lingered at the doorway for a moment, her pinkish-purple eyes drifting toward Nezuko.
Just then, Nezuko happened to look up.
The moment their eyes met, a memory flashed through Nezuko's mind—the fear of being completely dominated by this girl before.
Her feet instinctively took a step back.
But almost immediately, she seemed to realize her own weakness.
No.
Not this time.
Summoning her courage, she forced herself to meet Kanao's gaze head-on.
Kanao blinked faintly, almost surprised.
This was the same Nezuko she had once beaten until she could barely fight back.
The same Nezuko she had nearly made cry.
And yet…
she dared look her in the eye now.
For a few quiet moments, Kanao simply watched her.
Then—
she slowly raised a hand…
and drew a finger across her own throat.
A throat-slitting gesture.
Nezuko's face instantly went pale.
She dropped her head in fright.
By the time she managed to gather enough courage to look up again, Kanao had already gone inside—
and closed the door.
Nezuko stared at the shut door, stunned.
Then, thinking of how she had been frightened into lowering her head again after finally finding courage…
she stomped her foot in place in frustration.
"So frustrating!"
...
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