At the Butterfly Estate, Aoyama was arranged a rather comfortable private room.
Unlike Tanjiro—who had been placed in a shared recovery ward with Zenitsu and Inosuke.
Aoyama set the wooden box down, closed the door, and drew the curtains.
He tapped lightly on the lid.
"Nezuko, come out. I have something for you."
The lid slowly pushed open from inside.
A tiny hand reached out first.
"Heave-ho…"
Nezuko obediently crawled out in her miniature form.
With no outsiders present, she didn't rush to return to full size.
Instead—
She threw herself straight into Aoyama's arms and wrapped her short little arms around his waist.
"Mm!"
Thank you, Brother Aoyama.
Aoyama chuckled softly and patted her silky hair.
"So polite."
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one will hurt you."
"Mm! Mm!"
She pumped her tiny pink fists happily and toddled around the room in delight.
Seeing her so cheerful, Aoyama pulled something from his sleeve.
A pink ribbon.
He pointed to the one in her hair.
"That one's old. I bought you a new one."
On the way from Mount Natagumo to Headquarters, he had passed through a market and spotted it.
It reminded him of her immediately.
Nezuko froze.
Then her body gradually returned to normal size.
With the new ribbon tied in her long black hair, she looked even more radiant.
Her pale pink eyes shimmered beneath long lashes.
She couldn't speak—
But when she looked at you quietly like that—
It was enough to make anyone's heart tremble.
Aoyama suddenly felt… very aware.
Very aware of how adorable she was.
Dangerously adorable.
Knock knock.
The door rapped suddenly.
Aoyama exhaled sharply.
Too cute.
That should be illegal.
He steadied himself and opened the door.
Meanwhile — The Shared Ward
Tanjiro lay on his bed, still mortified over what he had blurted out in front of Master Ubuyashiki.
It wasn't wrong to want to defeat Muzan.
It was just—
"AAAH!"
He shouted into his pillow.
Then sat up too fast.
Crack.
"Ow—ow—ow—!"
Across from him, a small voice piped up.
"Tanjirooo, what's wrong?"
Zenitsu sat up.
Because of the spider poison, his body had shrunk slightly, and his voice had taken on a childish tone.
A string of mucus dangled from his nose.
He sniffed loudly.
Tanjiro grimaced.
"Zenitsu… maybe wipe your nose?"
Zenitsu shook his head.
The mucus flung outward—
Then he sniffed again and sucked it back in.
"It's fine! Doesn't affect anything!"
Tanjiro's eyebrow twitched.
If he says so…
He glanced toward the other bed.
Inosuke lay motionless.
Silent.
Unusually silent.
"Inosuke?"
Tanjiro called carefully.
"You don't have to," Zenitsu sniffed again. "He hasn't made a sound since we got here."
Tanjiro nodded quietly.
Inosuke had helped him find the spider demon mother.
He had fought bravely.
Even Zenitsu—
Who had been screaming in fear before entering the mountain—
Had gone in alone in the end.
Tanjiro smiled faintly.
They had all grown.
Back at Aoyama's Room
When Aoyama opened the door—
Standing outside were Shinobu Kocho, Kyojuro Rengoku, Tengen Uzui, Mitsuri Kanroji, Muichiro Tokito, Obanai Iguro—
And even Sanemi Shinazugawa.
They had all come.
Their purpose obvious.
Information about Muzan Kibutsuji.
Sanemi had even brought along a Kakushi with exceptional drawing skills—
Ready to sketch Muzan based on Aoyama's description.
Aoyama smirked.
Efficient.
Suddenly—
Nezuko rushed forward and spread her arms in front of him protectively.
Her cheeks puffed in fierce determination.
"Mm!"
In her mind—
These were the bad people.
Here to bully Brother Aoyama.
Aoyama gently patted her head.
"It's okay."
Truthfully—
It warmed him deeply.
Facing so many Hashira—
And she still stepped forward to shield him.
Mitsuri whispered shyly,
"Um… are we disturbing his rest?"
Uzui struck a flamboyant pose.
"We are making a flashy visit! Surely he won't mind!"
Aoyama gave him a look.
There were no words for that pose.
Just then—
Giyu Tomioka stepped forward.
He physically moved past everyone.
"I need to speak with Aoyama."
Silence fell.
The air dropped ten degrees.
Giyu walked inside.
Closed the door.
Left the rest of the Hashira outside.
…
Aoyama stared at him.
"…Tomioka-san, you know that's probably not helping your popularity."
Giyu blinked.
"What?"
Never mind.
Hopeless.
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