"The 'Mu' in Muichiro means 'useless'!"
This was the most heartbreaking phrase Muichiro had heard from his older brother Yuichiro in recent days.
Ever since their heated argument over whether to join the Demon Slayer Corps, the two brothers had barely spoken to each other for several days.
Each time, Yuichiro would only say Muichiro to eat or fetch water or chop firewood, but beyond that, there was almost no communication between them.
However, over the past couple of days, Yuichiro had found some relief in the fact that the cold-faced man and the beautiful woman had visited much less frequently, saving him a lot of unnecessary words.
Thunk!
With a single stroke, Yuichiro split the white radish in his hand, his mind gradually sinking into memories of the past.
On that stormy night, he had tried so hard to persuade Father not to go out to gather herbs.
Mother's illness was too severe—what difference would a few herbs make?
And Mother—he had advised her so many times not to overwork herself, so why...!
Thunk!
Another chop sent a large piece of radish rolling to the edge of the cutting board.
And then there was Muichiro, that naive kid.
Hadn't he listened carefully to what that woman said?
The legends about Demons were actually true, so how dangerous must it be to join the Demon Slayer Corps?
What did it matter that their ancestors were the first-generation Demon slayers?
Didn't their current poverty prove that being a Demon slayer was no good?
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
The radish was chopped into neat cubes.
Deep down, Yuichiro was soft-hearted.
Every time he pretended to be harsh and scolded Muichiro, his own heart ached too.
He didn't want a kind-hearted child like Muichiro to join the dangerous Demon Slayer Corps.
You could call him selfish, but all he wanted was for his younger brother to live a safe and peaceful life.
Thunk!
With the final chop, a plate of neatly cubed radish was ready.
The pot was already prepared with sauce—soon, he would cook Muichiro's favorite braised radish.
Yuichiro stuffed firewood into the stove and under the glow of the flames, his usually stern face softened for once.
Thinking about how he had once again told Muichiro this morning that his "Mu" stood for "useless," causing Muichiro to skip breakfast and go fetch water in low spirits, Yuichiro muttered guiltily.
"Sorry... I didn't mean it."
***
By the clear stream, two figures—one tall, one short—sat on a rock.
Shinichi broke a dorayaki in half and handed one piece to Tokito Muichiro, who glanced at it, murmured a quiet "thank you," and took it.
Shinichi smiled faintly but didn't eat his own half.
The kid's tastes were different from his, so he didn't bother with the bland treat.
Noticing Muichiro's subdued mood, Shinichi asked.
"Did you fight with your brother again?"
Muichiro hesitated but eventually nodded dejectedly.
"Brother's right," he said with a hint of self-loathing.
"I really am useless sometimes. Back when Father and Mother were still around, Brother was always the one helping them. He always said I was too clumsy to be of any use."
"Even after they passed away, he still treats me the same way, always saying I can't do anything right. Shinichi... do you think someone like me really is useless?"
Hearing this, Shinichi couldn't help but chuckle.
He reached out and patted Muichiro's shoulder, saying meaningfully.
"Some people have sharp tongues but soft hearts. Their kindness comes out as piercing words. Muichiro, remember this—sometimes your best friends may not be your family, but those who care for you most are surely your family."
"? I don't understand."
***
At noon, Muichiro carried water back home to find a plate of fragrant soy-glazed radishes on the table.
Yuichiro's expression had been gentle, but the moment he saw the dorayaki Muichiro handed him, his face twisted in anger.
Almost losing control, he roared at his younger brother.
"Didn't I tell you not to interact with them? What the hell are you doing, you idiot?! Stupid Muichiro! Useless Muichiro! You'll get yourself sold and still count the money for them!"
Muichiro who had been enduring it all, finally snapped.
Tears welling in his eyes, he kicked over the water bucket, spilling water everywhere, and shouted at Yuichiro.
"I hate you, brother!!"
Tensions rose between the brothers again and they stopped talking to each other, a silence that lasted until late at night.
Night fell, but the summer heat remained oppressive.
Even the breeze felt warm against the skin, and the sticky sweat made it hard to sleep.
Splash!
Unable to bear the heat, Muichiro got up from his futon and went to the water jar to cool down—only to find it empty.
He then remembered that the water he had fetched earlier had been spilled during the argument with his brother.
After a moment's hesitation, Muichiro glanced at his motionless brother before gritting his teeth and lying back down, though the sound of his dry swallowing was still noticeable.
Swish!
After Muichiro had drifted back into a restless sleep, Yuichiro suddenly sat up.
He looked at his sweating brother, then at the empty water jar and without a word, carefully got up and stepped out of the wooden house.
Picking up a carrying pole and buckets, he headed towards the stream.
***
Meanwhile, in the darkness, a pair of green, hunger-driven vertical pupils snapped open.
A hoarse, eerie voice rasped.
"So fragrant~ The scent of human flesh~ Ah, so delicious~ Slurp!"
Yuichiro walked silently with the buckets, soon reaching the stream.
As he crouched to fill them, an irritating voice suddenly reached his ears.
"Well, if it isn't what's-his-name's kid? What are you doing fetching water so late at night?"
Yuichiro looked up to see Shinichi perched cross-legged on a rock in the dark, his heterochromatic eyes gleaming as he grinned down at him.
Ignoring Shinichi, Yuichiro finished filling the buckets and turned to leave.
But at that moment, Shinichi leaped down from the rock, landing gracefully beside him.
"Hey, you little brat, do you have to be so rude? It's one thing with us, but treating your own brother like that? You have no idea how depressed Muichiro got after what you said. Not to nag, but you really should learn how to be a good brother. Constant disapproval isn't the way—encouragement is what matters more."
Shinichi kept chattering beside Yuichiro like a nagging old man.
Finally, a vein popped on Yuichiro's forehead as he shouted at Shinichi.
"Get lost! You're so annoying!"
"Tch!" Shinichi stopped in his tracks.
He shrugged and didn't say anything more, watching as Yuichiro walked away before muttering.
"Stubborn kid."
But Shinichi hadn't gone far when he paused, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked in the direction Yuichiro had gone.
"Something feels... off."
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