Wisteria bloomed, wisteria fell—time passed swiftly, and before anyone knew it, a year had gone by.
During this time, Tendo Kazama returned to Peach Mountain a few times to visit the old man, but the rest of his days were spent mastering the five foundational Breathing Techniques.
Fortunately, his efforts bore fruit—he learned them all, though far from achieving true mastery.
His initial plan was to reverse-engineer Sun Breathing from the five foundational techniques, but in practice, he realized it was nearly impossible.
After some thought, he changed his strategy: refining the five Breathing Techniques to their absolute peak.
If reverse-engineering didn't work, he would create his own Breathing Technique.
Each Breathing Technique had its own rhythm, and switching recklessly mid-use could damage the lungs—ranging from agonizing breathlessness to ruptured alveoli.
The twelve forms of Sun Breathing, when linked, became the thirteenth form to defeat Muzan.
Similarly, Tendo wanted to connect different Breathing Techniques.
Outside headquarters, beneath a rocky cliff in an open area, Tendo had found his training ground.
At this moment, his blade crackled with crimson-gold lightning as he activated Thunder Breathing, First Form—aimed at a massive boulder in the clearing.
In an instant, he became a streak of lightning, surging forward—but just before reaching the boulder, he switched from Thunder Breathing to Flame Breathing.
A faint flame flickered around the crimson-gold arcs.
Yet before he could unleash the sword technique, he coughed violently—blood spraying in a shocking arc through the air before splattering across the boulder.
At the same time, he felt an unbearable, excruciating pain spreading from his lungs, as if countless sharp needles were piercing through them.
Just moments ago, his alveoli had ruptured—he'd lost count of how many times this had happened this year.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!"
Air struggled to squeeze into Tendo's nostrils as he clutched his chest, kneeling on the ground in agony.
The sensation of alveoli bursting was unbearable. Even with his heaven-defying regenerative ability that allowed them to heal, the pain never lessened in the slightest.
Day after day, he subjected himself to this hellish training.
For no other reason than the conviction in his heart.
A year ago, Kagaya Ubuyashiki had seen right through Tendo's innermost thoughts.
Protect—he wanted to protect those around him. No matter how painful the process, as long as it made him stronger, it was worth it.
Tendo Kazama possessed talents and a physique far beyond ordinary people. Though he appeared lazy on the surface, he had always been pushing himself in secret.
Still not enough?
He staggered to his feet, looking as if a mere gust of wind could knock him over.
After catching his breath briefly, he muttered to himself with a careless laugh:
"Only a few alveoli burst this time. I can still train, haha!"
What Tendo failed to notice was the four figures hidden in the distant bushes.
"Sister, let go of me! Tendo's harming himself—he's even coughing up blood!" Kanae held onto her younger sister's hand while Shinobu Kocho struggled, glaring furiously into the distance.
"Nobody trains like this! Just because he has a special constitution doesn't mean he can throw his life away!"
"I'm so mad! He never tells any of us anything!"
Shinobu's cheeks puffed up in anger, her words sharp even as her hands trembled.
"Shinobu, don't disturb Tendo yet." Seeing she was about to lose her grip on her sister, Kanae quickly signaled Obanai and Kyojuro with her eyes.
Obanai shook his head—he'd be more than happy if Shinobu rushed out to stop that idiot.
What kind of friend keeps everyone in the dark while torturing himself?
If he wants to go all out, we'll go all out together!
"Let me handle this. If you're injured, you should rest." Kyojuro's gaze was firm. Knowing words alone wouldn't work, he pulled out a rope from behind his back.
If persuasion fails, then restraint it is—after which his mother could take over.
He turned to Obanai, brows furrowed in seriousness, and asked: "Shall we tie him up?"
"Exactly what I was thinking!" Obanai nodded in agreement, as Kaburamaru flicked his tongue.
Kanae, the only calm one present, could only sigh at her teammates' antics.
"Honestly!"
She facepalmed in exasperation, and in that moment of distraction, Shinobu bolted forward like an unbridled wild horse.
Coincidentally, Tendo coughed up blood again—another alveolus had burst.
"Tendo, stop this right now!" Shinobu's fury erupted, her concern overriding her judgment.
"Shinobu?" Forcing a smile through the pain, Tendo looked at her in confusion.
"Tendo, you..." All words caught in her throat as she took in his disheveled state. Her heart ached.
Approaching him, she spoke with rare gentleness, her voice trembling: "Why didn't you tell any of us?"
"Ah, it's nothing!"
"Just training! Everyone trains—nothing worth mentioning!"
"Here, Shinobu, have some candy. Smile for me?" Like a magician, Tendo produced a piece of fruit candy from nowhere.
"You idiot!"
"Idiot!"
"Biggest idiot ever!"
Finally, Shinobu could hold back no longer, tears streaming down her face like rain-soaked pear blossoms.
Compared to their first meeting, Shinobu Kocho had changed a lot. She no longer got angry so easily, and her straightforwardness was now tempered with gentleness.
Tendo froze, his usually resolute heart thrown into disarray. The words that normally flowed so easily from him failed him now.
"No... Shinobu... I... let me explain."
"You made her cry!"
"That's right, that's right! Mom says you shouldn't bully girls!"
Obanai and Kyojuro stood on either side of Shinobu Kocho, one making sarcastic remarks while the other played with a rope.
"Why are you two here as well?"
"Not just them—me too!" Kanae poked her head out with an unusually stern expression for her normally gentle demeanor.
Everyone knew Tendo's secret, but that didn't mean he could act recklessly.
"Kanae-san!"
Tendo guiltily lowered his head. Had he really been pushing himself too hard?
He couldn't help but wonder. He'd kept quiet just to avoid worrying others.
"Tie him up!" Kanae had originally planned to reason with Tendo, but Shinobu was already crying, and the boy showed no awareness of his mistake.
"Be gentle. Bind his hands and feet, then carry him to the medical wing!" Kanae reminded the eager Obanai and Kyojuro.
It was fine for Tendo to train, fine for him to worry everyone—but not fine to hide it from them.
"Got it!"
"Alright, alright, I'll go!"
"Can we not resort to force?"
"Hey, why are you starting already, Obanai?!"
"You bastard, you just want to mess with me, don't you?!"
"Cough, cough!"
"Tendo, be careful!" Shinobu wiped her tears, her voice filled with concern.
"Big bro, this isn't like you!"
"Ahahaha! This strategy was my idea, young man!" Kyojuro declared proudly.
Tendo: ㄟ(▔,▔)ㄏ
And so, Obanai and Kyojuro bound Tendo's hands and feet, carefully carrying him toward the medical wing.
"Tendo, you can train—but from now on, we'll do it together!" Kanae suggested with a smile.
"That's fi—"
"No!"
"Idiot!"
Before Tendo could finish, Shinobu pinched his cheeks, physically cutting him off.
"Shinobu, if you're this violent, no one will ever marry you!"
"None of your business!"
Under the setting sun, four small figures crowded around Tendo as he let out a scream akin to a slaughtered pig.