The lid of the wooden box opened completely.
A small hand stretched out from inside.
Zenitsu's heart nearly stopped.
Inosuke clearly wasn't going to protect him. Tanjiro had been carrying the demon this whole time. And Senior Aoyama was sitting right in front of the box—with an expression of anticipation.
After a quick internal comparison—
Rely on heaven? Rely on earth? No. Rely on yourself!
Zenitsu immediately dove toward the wardrobe to hide.
Nezuko crawled out of the box in her mini form. Her pale pink eyes shimmered beneath long lashes. Standing against the wall, her body gradually returned to normal size.
Everyone saw it.
Aoyama and Tanjiro were already used to it.
Inosuke's brain simply stopped processing. He flopped back down.
Sleep. Fight tomorrow.
"Nezuko…"
Aoyama beamed.
Finally—some quality time.
Just as he reached out to take her small hand—
Nezuko ran past him.
She went straight to Tanjiro and gently patted his head.
Even inside the box, she had sensed things. Her brother was injured. The first thing she wanted to do was check on him.
Aoyama's hand froze midair.
He slowly lowered it.
The temperature of his gaze toward Tanjiro dropped several degrees.
"I'm fine, Nezuko! I'm fine!" Tanjiro laughed, taking her hand down.
Then he turned to introduce her.
"Zenitsu, Nezuko is my—"
He didn't finish.
Zenitsu stood in shadow.
He hadn't heard the rest.
"Hey… Tanjiro…"
His aura changed.
Crackling lightning seemed to flicker around him.
Tanjiro panicked.
What's happening?! Is he upset about the demon thing? That shouldn't be it…
"You… you're unbelievable!!!"
His eyes were bloodshot. His voice turned rough.
"Eh?!"
Aoyama rolled onto his side in his bedding, clearly enjoying the show.
"Yes, yes, Tanjiro really is something else."
Zenitsu's fury intensified.
"So you've been traveling with such a cute girl this whole time?! This isn't demon slaying—it's a romantic sightseeing trip, isn't it?!"
Aoyama clutched his chest dramatically.
"That's right. Zenitsu, this is the burden of seniority…"
"Senior Brother, stop talking!!!" Tanjiro shouted desperately. "Zenitsu, it's not like that—"
Too late.
Zenitsu lunged forward and grabbed Tanjiro's collar.
His arm strength surged abnormally—lifting Tanjiro off the ground.
"Give me back the blood I shed! I didn't suffer broken ribs so you could frolic with a girl every day!"
Tanjiro couldn't pry his fingers off.
"Senior Brother—help! Explain to him!"
Aoyama pretended not to hear.
He lay flat, pulled the blanket up, and closed his eyes.
"Demon Slayers aren't for casual fun! People like you must be purged! Immediately purged!"
Tanjiro burst out laughing mid-struggle.
"Zenitsu, didn't you say you joined to marry a girl?"
Thud.
Zenitsu released him and turned away.
Tanjiro relaxed—
Too soon.
Zenitsu half-drew his sword and pointed it forward.
"Now you've committed two crimes. Interfering with my marriage prospects—and sending Shoichi home when he could've protected me. I will now, on behalf of the Corps, purge you!"
The two began chasing each other around the room.
Meanwhile—
Aoyama slowly extended a hand from under his blanket and beckoned.
Nezuko obediently shuffled over.
She tilted sideways and curled onto Aoyama's bedding, closing her eyes peacefully.
"Don't underestimate the Demon Slayer Corps!"
Zenitsu swung wildly behind Tanjiro.
"C-Calm down, Zenitsu!"
The room was in chaos. Drawers overturned. Futons scattered.
"Anyone who mocks the Corps deserves hell!"
"Listen to me!!!"
A shadow appeared outside the sliding door.
"Is there something you require?"
Zenitsu instantly dropped his sword and dove under his blanket. The mound trembled violently.
"Sorry for the noise! We're going to sleep now!"
Tanjiro bowed quickly.
The elderly woman's footsteps faded.
After confirming she had left, Zenitsu slowly poked his head out—still glaring resentfully.
"Tanjiro. Apologize."
"Sorry! Nezuko is my sister."
Sister?
Blood-related sister?!
Zenitsu's face bloomed like spring flowers.
He covered his face with his blanket shyly.
It was his first time sleeping in the same room as a girl.
Even if she was on Senior Aoyama's bedding—
They were still in the same room.
"Ehehehe—"
BAM.
A pillow smashed into his head.
From beneath the blanket, Aoyama's low voice emerged:
"Sleep. Or I'll break your legs."
Instant silence.
Zenitsu flattened himself obediently.
Peace returned to the room.
At least… for tonight.
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