Outside, crystalline, diamond-shaped snowflakes drifted down from the sky.
Yuu Kamado extended his palm, catching a frail, delicate snowflake. The warmth of his body instantly melted it, leaving only a lingering chill.
"Memories of my past life are slowly awakening. Thinking carefully about it now, it's been sixteen years since I came to this world. "
"I vaguely remember that on the planet I lived on before, there were steel birds that could fly, aircraft carriers that could sail the seas. People relied on a power called technology, capable of reaching the skies and plumbing the depths—there was nothing they couldn't do. "
"But this world seems like early modern Japan, with very uneven technological development. Most regions are still like stumbling infants, and people's lives are quite difficult. "
"Still, exactly which world am I in right now? "
Yuu Kamado sighed. Over these sixteen years, he had asked people around him, but there was no useful information. The country where he had once lived showed no trace of existing.
The world he saw, heard, and felt had customs and habits very similar to his impression of the country, Japan, yet many details were different.
For example, people's hair and eye colors came in all varieties, and they were all natural. Take Yuu himself—he had red hair and crimson eyes.
At first, he thought he had transmigrated. Now he's not so sure since he has yet to see anything different, or per-say, magical.
"Brother Yuu, what are you thinking about? "
A gentle, clear voice, like a winter bonfire that could warm the heart, sounded beside Yuu's ear.
Yuu turned to look. It was a boy with deep red hair and crimson eyes, a scar on his forehead, and an earring on his left ear.
This was his younger brother, Tanjiro Kamado. On Yuu's right ear was an earring identical to the one on Tanjiro's left ear.
Their father, Tanjuro Kamado, had given these to them separately—family earrings that needed to be passed down.
Yuu and Tanjiro looked quite similar, about eighty percent alike, though Tanjiro's face and eyes were rounder and very cute.
Yuu was a head taller than Tanjiro, with a more slender face and narrower eyes. When angry, his eyes could sharpen like blades.
In this world, his name was Yuu Kamado, though memories of that previous world still occasionally surfaced.
In his past life, he was named Nathaniel Cole, half american-chinese who lived most of his life in China, but that name had gradually blurred.
The past was like the wind. it was gone and Now, he was Yuu Kamado.
"Tanjiro. Big brother was thinking that since this winter is so cold, we should be able to sell more charcoal. We can get new clothes for you and our other siblings. "
The Kamado family lived on a mountain. Their father, Tanjuro Kamado, had passed away early due to poor health. The family now consisted of their mother, Kie, three younger brothers—Takeo, Shigeru, and Rokuta—and two younger sisters, Nezuko and Hanako.
As the eldest brother, and with their mother Kie also in poor health, Yuu had shouldered the family's responsibilities early on, inheriting his father's former trade and making a living selling charcoal.
Tanjiro was very sensible too and had started accompanying him down the mountain to sell charcoal a few years ago.
Tanjiro smiled happily. "You're so kind, brother. But today, you shouldn't go down the mountain. I can go by myself. "
"Brother, you've been very tired lately, right? Don't push yourself. Let me handle it. "
His younger brother was truly extraordinary.
Lately, Yuu had been having a recurring nightmare. He couldn't remember the details, only that it left him feeling very sad, very pained, and filled with endless despair and rage.
Moreover, even while awake, he had a constant sense of an ominous premonition, though he didn't know its source.
This had left him in poor condition, but he had been hiding it.
You share good news with family, not worries. He didn't want his family to be concerned.
Yet, he hadn't expected that kid Tanjiro to see through his disguise. Then again, that was normal—Tanjiro had always surprised him.
"Tanjiro, how did you know? "
Tanjiro scratched his head sheepishly. "I smelled it. I could smell the scent of unease coming from you. I thought you must be tired. "
He smelled my unease? Tanjiro's sense of smell had been unusually sharp since childhood, far better than the best hunting hound.
He could even smell people's emotions. According to Tanjiro, when people's emotions changed, they emitted various distinct scents that were easy to tell apart.
Easy? It was clearly very difficult. This was almost inhuman.
Yuu patted Tanjiro's head.
"Right, big brother is just a little tired. Tanjiro, I'll have to trouble you this time. "
He didn't plan to talk about that dream. And though Tanjiro seemed honest and gentle, he was actually very serious and stubborn deep down.
To keep him from worrying, and because he really hadn't been feeling well lately. . .
This time, he'd have to let Tanjiro go down the mountain alone.
When Yuu had been sick before, Tanjiro had gone down the mountain by himself before. He was very clever and agile, and he'd hardly ever gotten hurt.
Yuu had full confidence in Tanjiro.
Carrying a bamboo basket filled with charcoal, Tanjiro's small body shouldered dozens of pounds of charcoal as he prepared to descend the mountain.
Though living conditions were poor in this world, people's physical functions seemed quite good.
"Brother Tanjiro, be careful! We'll be waiting here for you to come back. "
"Tanjiro, travel safely. "
Several adorable children waved their hands, and Yuu's mother, Kie, spoke to Tanjiro as he prepared to leave.
Yuu stepped forward and patted each of their heads.
"Nezuko, Hanako, Takeo, Shigeru, Rokuta, you don't need to worry too much. Tanjiro is very capable. "
Hearing this, Tanjiro blushed shyly.
"Brother Yuu, you're the most capable of all! Don't worry, I'll be back soon. You should all go back inside. It's windy and cold out here. Be careful not to get sick. "
With that, Tanjiro began his descent down the mountain step by step, leaving a trail of footprints imprinted on the accumulated snow, gradually being buried.
By then, Nezuko and the other younger siblings had returned inside. They were young and frail, and didn't dare stay out too long on a snowy winter day.
Mother Kie coughed, her gaze fixed in the direction Tanjiro had left, unwilling to go back inside.
Yuu gently tugged at Kie's sleeve. "Mother, let's go back. Tanjiro has gone down the mountain alone many times before. There's no need to worry. "
Kie smiled gently. "Yes, you and Tanjiro are both so sensible and mature, completely unlike children your age. Logically, I shouldn't need to worry. "
"But what mother doesn't worry about her children? It's just. . . you've all suffered so much because of me. I couldn't give you a better life. "
In his previous life, Yuu had lived alone, lonely and miserable. After entering society, he had seen all the harshness of the world, and his temperament had grown harsh and rebellious.
Fate had not only closed doors and windows for him but had also thrown a vicious dog his way.
He had no choice but to subdue that dog with bloodied hands and push open those doors and windows.
Those painful memories were something he could never forget, always afraid that one day he would return to those times.
But in this life, Mother Kie, their departed father Tanjuro, and his adorable younger siblings had all made Yuu feel the warmth of the world. They made him want to maintain the status quo, unwilling to let it change.
He craved this warmth, wanting only to stay with them forever.
Worried that Kie might get sick, Yuu supported her as they walked toward the house.
"Not at all. Being your son is the happiest thing I've ever experienced. "
"Hmm, you always know just what to say. "
"Haha, but I only say things like that to you, Mother. "
With these few words, Yuu escorted Kie into their home—a small wooden cabin standing firm against the wind and snow.
As he stepped inside, Yuu turned to look in the direction Tanjiro had left.
"Tanjiro, come back safe and soon. "
For some reason, as Tanjiro left, the ominous premonition in Yuu's heart grew stronger and more intense.
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