"I'm going to see the Master."
Obanai Iguro had already turned halfway when Mitsuri's soft voice stopped him.
"Iguro-san… won't you stay and have tea with everyone?"
Her pale green eyes looked at him expectantly.
Obanai's heart nearly leapt out of his chest.
"I—I'll stay for tea."
Punishing Giyu could wait.
Drinking tea with Mitsuri? That opportunity did not come often.
Obanai had always harbored quiet feelings for her, never daring to confess.
Inside the room, hearing footsteps retreat outside, Giyu glanced once at Nezuko before speaking bluntly.
"That wasn't Water Breathing."
He wasn't asking.
He was stating a fact.
During Aoyama's duel with Rengoku, Rengoku had clearly used Flame Breathing. But what Aoyama had displayed was something entirely different—something Urokodaki had never taught.
They were both Urokodaki's disciples. They should have used Water Breathing.
"Self-created."
Giyu was direct.
Aoyama answered just as directly.
To him, the system-granted breathing technique was no different from one he had created himself.
For the first time, a subtle shift appeared on Giyu's usually expressionless face. His gaze remained calm but sharp, studying Aoyama carefully to see if he was lying.
Aoyama met his eyes without hesitation.
"Water Breathing has ten forms. But didn't you create the Eleventh yourself? If you can, why can't I?"
After a moment, Giyu withdrew his gaze and turned to leave.
"You're leaving already?" Aoyama asked.
Giyu paused at the door and answered in the same even tone.
"They're having tea. I'm going too."
He had clearly heard Shinobu inviting everyone.
Since he had finished asking what he needed to ask, he saw no reason not to join.
The door closed behind him.
"…Eh?"
Aoyama stood there, stunned.
Tomioka Giyu was truly a fascinating existence.
He had just shut all the Hashira outside moments ago.
Now he was going to drink tea with them as if nothing had happened.
Aoyama sighed.
Some things were beyond saving.
As the light in the room dimmed, the sun clearly having set, Nezuko tugged gently at Aoyama's sleeve and pointed at the curtains.
"You're saying it's dark?"
"Mm!"
She nodded firmly.
Then she pointed toward the door, her brows knitting slightly in worry.
Aoyama understood immediately.
She wanted to see Tanjiro.
He smoothed her furrowed brows with his thumb.
"There's no sun now. No need for the box."
He took her hand and led her toward the shared ward.
Before they even reached the door, Zenitsu's wailing echoed down the corridor.
"AHHH! More medicine?! Didn't I just take some?!"
"Tanjiro! Tell them I already took it!"
Zenitsu's eyes were full of tears as he clung desperately to Tanjiro, hoping for support.
"Zenitsu… being scared is one thing. Why are you scared of medicine too?" Tanjiro asked helplessly.
"You don't understand how bitter it is!" Zenitsu cried. "If I drink that, I won't be able to eat dinner! It's horrible! I refuse! Absolutely refuse!"
The nurse looked completely overwhelmed.
"Please quiet down! There are other patients!"
Zenitsu's watery eyes turned toward Tanjiro again.
"Tanjiro…"
"Look at me," Tanjiro said firmly. "It's just medicine."
He tossed the pills into his mouth in one motion, lifted the cup, gulped twice, and swallowed cleanly.
Zenitsu ignored him completely.
Instead, he grabbed the nurse's hands dramatically.
"Miss! You care so much about my medicine—does that mean you like me? Will you marry me?"
"I can work hard! I'll farm one field, two fields—any field you want!"
He practically had heart-shaped bubbles in his eyes.
"Let go! Let go right now!"
The nurse finally broke free and slapped him hard across the face.
"Pervert!"
The sharp smack echoed in the ward.
"If you don't want the medicine, don't take it! The poison's still in your body—deal with it yourself!"
She stormed out in fury.
Tanjiro blinked, stunned. He had been about to intervene, but clearly the nurse didn't need help.
Zenitsu sat there with a bright red handprint on his cheek, sobbing louder than before.
The nurse nearly collided with Aoyama at the doorway, hurriedly apologizing before fleeing down the hall.
This ward had clearly left her traumatized.
Tanjiro looked up and beamed.
"Senior Brother!"
Zenitsu sniffled and looked up with tear-filled eyes.
"Aoyama-senpai…"
Then he saw her.
Nezuko peeked shyly from behind Aoyama.
Zenitsu's tears stopped instantly.
His expression transformed into radiant joy.
He leapt off the bed and ran forward with arms wide open.
"Nezuko-chan! Nezuko-chan!"
Just as he was about to reach her—
Aoyama silently raised a fist.
Zenitsu froze mid-stride.
Then, with astonishing speed, he dashed back to his bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and lay flat, leaving only his eyes visible.
Perfectly obedient.
Nezuko blinked in confusion.
Tanjiro burst into laughter.
And for a brief moment, the Butterfly Estate was filled with warmth instead of battle.
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