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Chapter 107 - 107: Takeo Vs Kyojuro

Boom!

The moment Kyojuro spoke, he charged forward like a blazing arrow, fire trailing behind him in a sweeping arc. His wooden sword, infused with the essence of Flame Breathing, cut through the air with blazing intensity.

Flame Breathing, First Form – Unknowing Fire

Takeo responded in kind.

Even before Kyojuro shouted "start," his twin swords had already stirred the air, slicing through with visible force.

With increasing mastery over charged attacks, Takeo's strikes had grown sharper, fiercer.

His blades crossed in a pincer motion, directly intercepting the incoming slash—

Wolf Breathing, Second Form – Lone Wolf's Last Stand!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three sharp clashes exploded in an instant.

They moved with such speed that even with wooden swords, the power of their techniques felt no different from that of actual Nichirin blades. Every blow carried weight and precision, and sparks of impact burst from the clashing weapons like flares of raw energy.

The wind and fire intertwined as the two clashed, exchanging blows in rapid succession.

Wooden swords collided, sparks flew, and both men leapt back before immediately crossing paths again.

Light and shadow twisted together in the open courtyard, the wind trailing behind Takeo's fierce strikes, and fire dancing in Kyojuro's blazing momentum.

Amidst this flurry of movement, their silhouettes flickered like phantoms within the whirlwind of battle.

Kyojuro's expression gradually shifted—his eyes sharpened with intensity, but his heart brimmed with pride.

He had trained many junior swordsmen over the years, but most couldn't endure his rigorous guidance and gave up halfway. Only two remained to the end.

One was Mitsuri Kanroji. The other—Takeo Kamado.

And both of them had risen to become Hashira.

Yet Kyojuro never took credit for their success.

He didn't believe they had become Hashira because of his training. Rather, it was because they already possessed the qualities needed to reach that level. The potential, the drive, the strength—it was already in them.

That was true for Mitsuri.

And it was true for Takeo.

Kyojuro didn't see himself as a mentor who shaped them, but as a senior who stood beside them—someone who shielded them, supported them, and hoped to guide them until they could stand tall as pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps.

That was how it should have been.

But the recent battle against Upper Rank One had changed everything. It left behind a deep sense of regret and shame in Kyojuro's heart.

In order to prevent Kyojuro from getting hurt, Takeo had deliberately stepped in front of him, blocking the fatal blow meant for him.

Kyojuro had never wanted that.

He didn't want a promising young man like Takeo—whose potential had yet to fully blossom—to sacrifice himself just to protect him.

To protect others had always been Kyojuro's belief.

But on that day, it was Takeo who protected him instead. Kyojuro had failed to protect the boy standing beside him.

He did feel thankful. Deeply so.

He even admired Takeo's actions.

But more than that, he felt ashamed. Ashamed that he had been protected. Ashamed that he hadn't earned Takeo's trust.

These past few days, Kyojuro had been reflecting on himself—wondering why Takeo had felt the need to shield him.

And finally, he understood.

He had been too weak.

Takeo had thought he wasn't strong enough to survive, that he needed someone else to protect him. That was why Takeo had done what he did.

If that was the case—then Kyojuro would simply have to become stronger.

Strong enough to make Takeo believe in him!

Strong enough that Takeo would never again feel the need to throw himself in harm's way for his sake!

Takeo should focus on surviving! On protecting himself!

On trusting that Kyojuro would endure.

That's why Kyojuro had brought up the idea of sparring.

He wanted Takeo to understand how he truly felt.

And nothing conveys one's feelings more clearly than the blade.

During their brief exchange, countless thoughts raced through Kyojuro's mind—but his hands didn't stop. In fact, they moved even faster and more fiercely.

The force behind his Flame Breathing strikes grew more intense, more powerful than before. Yet to his surprise, Takeo blocked every attack.

Takeo... had become stronger.

Stronger than when he first became a Hashira. Stronger than when they last fought Upper Rank One.

It was as if he was improving with every passing moment—just like Muichiro.

What an enviable talent, Kyojuro thought.

But instead of discouraging him, it only ignited Kyojuro's fighting spirit even more.

You may be strong—but I'm not weak!

Flame Breathing, Fifth Form—!

The duel escalated.

A blazing tiger burst forth from the flames, and the pattern on Kyojuro's haori burned even brighter with intensity.

—Flame Tiger!!

The tiger, wreathed in roaring fire, surged forward in sync with the sweep of Kyojuro's blade.

Wrapped in flames, Kyojuro's eyes revealed a fierce fighting spirit—an unshakable will and a deep determination to make Takeo understand his feelings.

Takeo's swords began to falter in the face of Kyojuro's blazing tiger.

And in that moment, he understood—through every clash of their blades, through every movement—what Kyojuro was trying to convey.

Go ahead and trust me.

Believe in me.

Trust me as much as I trust you.

Takeo could have countered.

He could have used a stronger sword form to block Kyojuro's Flame Tiger. He could have relied on his superior stamina and healing ability to prolong the fight and win by attrition.

But that kind of victory… wasn't what he wanted.

This match was never about winning.

Kyojuro had issued the challenge to communicate something that couldn't be put into words.

And now, that message had reached him.

"Roar!!!"

The tiger of flame surged forward, engulfing Takeo's body—but he neither dodged nor fought back.

And as the blazing beast dissipated around him, Kyojuro's wooden sword gently tapped against Takeo's neck.

Victory.

"…"

"…"

The duel came to a halt. The two of them stood silently, looking at each other. Kyojuro was the first to speak.

"Why didn't you fight back?"

"There was no need."

Takeo sheathed his sword and looked at Kyojuro with a complicated expression. It was hard to tell if he was deep in thought or simply lost in a daze.

After a long pause, Takeo suddenly asked:

"Mr. Kyojuro, do you know what Sun Breathing is?"

"Breath of... the Sun?"

"I'm not entirely sure what it is either. But the reason Upper Rank One came after me was because of Sun Breathing. So…"

Takeo took a deep breath and looked Kyojuro in the eyes, his expression unusually serious.

"Do you want to learn Sun Breathing, Kyojuro-san?"

He was actually offering to teach Kyojuro the Hinokami Kagura—the Dance of the Fire God.

_________

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