Xander looked at the potion handed to him by Kocho Shinobu with a bitter smile. He knew that Kocho Shinobu was getting back at him for what happened the previous night. Noticing Kocho Shinobu's smile, Xander tilted his head back and drank the potion in one gulp.
"It doesn't seem to work," said Xander, pointing to the empty bottle in his hand.
Kocho Shinobu nodded and lowered her head, deep in thought. Seeing her lost in her thoughts, Xander cleared his throat and asked:
"Why were you at my house yesterday?"
"You asked me to help clean the mansion through Raven," laughed Kocho Shinobu, rolling her eyes. "Mitsuri happened to be there that day and offered her help. By evening, she had finished cleaning. I decided to stay the night since I'd already tidied up. But who would have thought you'd just come back, huh!"
Shinobu Kocho instantly transformed from a gentle older sister to a straightforward and cute girl. She showed this side of herself only to Xander. Shinobu Kocho raised her eyebrows, her face flushing with a blush, as if thinking about what happened the previous night.
Xander's heart raced from her gaze. He wrapped his arms around Kocho Shinobu's waist, lifted her chin, and kissed her passionately.
Xander's sudden move caught Kocho Shinobu by surprise. When she tried to push him away, her hands involuntarily wrapped around his neck.
After a long time, their lips parted. Xander looked into Kocho Shinobu's eyes and said seriously:
"Let me take care of you in the future."
Kocho Shinobu looked at this rogue she'd met when she joined the Demon Slayer Corps. Every time they met, he either teased her or comforted her. She didn't know when she fell in love with this guy.
The days when she met with Xander in the Demon Slayer Corps were the happiest for Kocho Shinobu.
Everything changed the day Kocho Shinobu saw a demon kill her sister, and Xander disappeared from her life. She, always serious and straightforward, began to smile like her sister.
Her sister's ideals became her own, right up until today, until Xander reappeared and informed her that he had developed a breathing technique to fight the demon that killed her sister.
At that moment, all the misunderstandings that had accumulated over three years dissipated. Repressed emotions surged forth, but Xander went on another mission. For more than a month, she was tormented with worry.
Yesterday's incident with his return, despite the embarrassment and anger, brought her relief. And when he kissed her, the feelings in her heart literally overflowed.
"Yes," Kocho Shinobu quietly replied, pressing against Xander's chest, feeling a sense of peace.
Xander held her tighter in his embrace.
After some time, Kocho Shinobu peeked her head out from under his arm:
"By the way! Tanjiro is trying to master Total Concentration Constant, and it seems two others are having problems. Shall we go take a look?"
"When did you start caring about them so much?" Xander was surprised.
Kocho Shinobu blushed:
"Didn't you ask me to help you train them? Of course, I take it seriously. By the way, Mitsuri often comes to help Tanjiro and the guys with training."
"Well, then I'll reward you," said Xander and bent down to her lips again.
Kocho Shinobu once again became a victim of his sudden attack and was taken aback.
Then Xander pulled a red-faced and embarrassed Kocho Shinobu toward the training grounds.
As they approached the training area, Kocho Shinobu abruptly pulled away from his arms.
"We shouldn't just walk around like this. If others and the rest see us, I'll lose my authority. And for the Demon Slayer Corps, it's not quite appropriate."
Looking at the shy Kocho Shinobu, Xander couldn't resist pinching her cute face.
"Alright, I'll listen to you."
Kocho Shinobu brushed his hand aside and glared at Xander.
But Xander didn't feel she was truly angry. He wanted to pinch her again.
Kocho Shinobu dodged his mischievous hand, opened the door to the training room, and walked in. Xander couldn't help but follow her.
Upon entering, he heard Zenitsu and Inosuke asking Kocho Shinobu what Tanjiro had been up to recently.
Kocho Shinobu patiently explained:
"Tanjiro is trying to master the technique Total Concentration · Constant. It requires maintaining concentrated breathing for 24 hours to enhance basic physical strength several times over."
Zenitsu and Inosuke exchanged glances, and from their expressions, it was clear neither of them understood.
Kocho Shinobu smiled:
"Let's try it now."
Under Kocho Shinobu's guidance, Zenitsu and Inosuke began to attempt Total Concentration · Constant.
But soon both fell to the floor.
"It's not working! It's not working at all!" Zenitsu could no longer hold back.
At that moment, Tanjiro entered the room. Kocho Shinobu looked at him and then addressed Zenitsu and Inosuke:
"Let Tanjiro tell you what to do."
Then Kocho Shinobu spoke to Tanjiro and asked him to explain to Zenitsu and Inosuke how to achieve Total Concentration · Constant.
Upon learning that Zenitsu and Inosuke wanted to master Total Concentration · Constant, Tanjiro immediately agreed to tell them how to do it.
Then Tanjiro sat down in front of Zenitsu and Inosuke and said:
"I can't maintain full concentration breathing all day without completely focusing." But you and Zenitsu, as well as Inosuke, definitely can.
Then Tanjiro explained to Zenitsu and Inosuke how to do it.
Kocho Shinobu turned to Xander, who was standing next to her:
"It seems the boys named Zenitsu and Inosuke recently received a good lesson."
Xander smirked:
"That's because you taught little Kanao so well."
Kocho Shinobu proudly lifted her head:
"Of course!"
Then Kocho Shinobu continued:
"It seems these two little guys need some encouragement."
Xander nodded:
"Right. Let's go."
Xander and Kocho Shinobu approached Tanjiro, and Xander shrugged:
"Forget it. It's more of an elementary technique than a basic one."
"Therefore, even though it's natural, you need to put in a lot of effort to master it," Kocho Shinobu continued.
Xander glanced at Inosuke:
"Even though it's natural, I thought Inosuke's words would be easy to follow. But you can't follow it now?"
"It's okay. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. Let's leave it as it is."