"Aoyama-senpai! Inosuke hasn't said a word. He's just lying there all depressed. What should we do?"
Tanjiro sat on his hospital bed, worry written all over his face.
Even Zenitsu—who had been giggling nonstop earlier—nodded in agreement.
Inosuke being loud and reckless was normal.
Inosuke being quiet?
That was terrifying.
"Inosuke! Say something!"
Tanjiro called out.
On the bed, Inosuke Hashibira shifted slightly.
"Leave me alone… Let me be…"
Tanjiro suddenly had an idea.
"Inosuke! Want to have a headbutting contest? We can properly compete right now!"
His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"…No."
The light in Tanjiro's eyes extinguished instantly.
Then—
He turned toward Nezuko.
Hope reignited.
He gently patted her head.
"Nezuko! Go cheer Inosuke up! Help him regain his spirit!"
Nezuko nodded obediently and toddled forward with her tiny steps.
"Mm! Mm! Mm!"
Go! Go! Inosuke, go!
She clenched her pink little fists and pumped them enthusiastically.
Aoyama lowered his head and covered his face with one hand.
Tanjiro assumed he was troubled.
"Aoyama-senpai, don't worry! We'll think of something together! We'll definitely cheer him up!"
Tanjiro even copied Nezuko's cheering pose.
Aoyama slowly lowered his hand.
"You think I'm troubled?"
Tanjiro blinked.
Had he misunderstood?
He glanced at Zenitsu.
Zenitsu was clutching his cheeks, face blooming like a flower.
His body swayed left and right.
"Nezuko-chan! I want your encouragement too~!"
"Hehehe, Nezuko-chan, look at me~!"
Aoyama's cold gaze slid over to Zenitsu.
He raised his fist slightly.
"Yes, sir!"
Zenitsu instantly straightened up, sitting perfectly upright like a disciplined soldier.
Satisfied, Aoyama turned back to Nezuko.
He hadn't covered his face out of worry.
He'd done it because Nezuko's cuteness had critically struck his heart.
He gently took her little fists and guided her aside.
"No need for all this. Watch."
Before Tanjiro could react—
Aoyama placed both hands under Inosuke's mattress and flipped it.
Inosuke was sent tumbling to the floor.
"Ah! Inosuke!!!"
Tanjiro panicked.
Zenitsu remained stiffly upright, praying he wasn't next.
On the ground, Inosuke slowly pushed himself up.
"I'm weak… Just leave me alone…"
Without hesitation, Aoyama grabbed the boar mask from Inosuke's head and yanked it off.
He held it high.
"Want this back? If you don't take it with your own strength, I'll burn it."
The boar mask—
Was everything to Inosuke.
As important as the loincloth bearing his name.
Tanjiro assumed Aoyama was bluffing.
Until—
The mask hovered above a candle flame.
The fire was inches away.
And Aoyama showed no sign of stopping.
Tanjiro rushed forward—
Only to freeze under Aoyama's warning gaze.
"One more step and it burns," that look said.
"Aoyama-senpai! Don't! That can't be burned!"
"Yes! Can't burn it!" Zenitsu chimed in quickly.
But Inosuke…
Still didn't move.
"Mm—MM!"
Suddenly—
Nezuko stomped forward.
Her face puffed up in fury.
She grabbed Inosuke by the collar—
And with shocking strength—
Threw him.
"AHHH—!"
Tanjiro stared in disbelief.
Nezuko, who treated everyone like family—
Just yeeted Inosuke across the room.
"Nezuko-chan is amazing! If you have time, throw me too~!" Zenitsu added helpfully.
Tanjiro shot him a look usually reserved for idiots.
"You—!"
Inosuke glared at Nezuko, stunned.
He'd just been thrown—
By a girl.
"Mm!"
She marched over, grabbed him again, and dragged him back in front of Aoyama.
"Mm! Mm! Mm!"
Her tiny fists waved left and right.
Translation:
Go get it back yourself! Or I'll keep hitting you!
She tried her best to look fierce—
But with her puffed cheeks and baby growls, she was overwhelmingly adorable.
Aoyama nearly laughed.
He barely held it in.
The boar mask lowered slowly toward the flame.
Just one inch left.
Tanjiro held his breath.
Come on, Inosuke! Do something!
"Mm!"
Nezuko punched him lightly in the face.
That did it.
A fire ignited in Inosuke's eyes.
Not anger—
Battle spirit.
"Boar… Boar Charge!!!"
He lunged forward, eyes locked on his mask.
He would reclaim it.
Aoyama quickly lifted it away from the flame.
He never intended to burn it.
He just needed to provoke him.
"You've decided to take it back? Then show me everything you've got!"
He kept the mask just out of reach.
He would return it—
But only after Inosuke's fighting spirit fully returned.
And judging by the wild grin spreading across Inosuke's face—
It already had.
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