Yushiro sat before Haruto, looking with confusion at the white-haired swordsman who had suddenly fallen into a deep sleep and then abruptly woken up.
Haruto opened his palm, and the Kochou hairpin lay there.
The cold hairpin left a fiery red burn mark on his palm. Tamayo, holding an un-injected medicine, seemed to understand something: "It failed?"
Haruto didn't have time to answer him, reaching up to touch his eye sockets.
Only when he felt his eyeballs subtly moving beneath his eyelids did he let out a long breath: "Phew... it probably failed."
Yushiro looked utterly bewildered, shifting his gaze between Tamayo and Haruto.
What did that mean?
What failed?
They hadn't even started anything yet!
But Lady Tamayo put away the vial of medicine and spread her research notes on the table: "Tell me, what happened?"
I'm the one who should be asking you what's going on!
What infuriating tacit understanding have you two reached without my knowledge!
Lady Tamayo is not at fault; it must be this damned white-haired swordsman who has beguiled the beautiful Lady Tamayo!
Haruto tried hard to recall the sensations after the injection and the abnormalities that had occurred or might occur in his body.
...At the thirty-eighth minute, my eyeball fell out.
The tip of the pen in Tamayo's fingers trembled, leaving a blotch of ink on the paper.
Yushiro was shocked: What are you talking about? Aren't your eyeballs right there in your eye sockets!
[Thirty-eighth minute, eyeball detachment.]
Tamayo meticulously recorded on the paper: "Perhaps it's due to too rapid proliferation... I will appropriately reduce the amount of Genya's blood in it."
The discussion with Tamayo lasted an entire afternoon, with the pharmacist meticulously recording all of Haruto's sensations.
Yushiro's expression went from suspicion to shock, then to numbness and grief.
Tamayo, with a grim face, told Yushiro to see Haruto out. When he returned, he saw the beautiful woman close her notebook and gently press her temple with the pen cap.
"Yushiro, don't just stand there, we still have a lot to do."
Tamayo looked up, and Yushiro's face showed an expression of extreme misery and grievance.
"Lady Tamayo!"
...After thoroughly scaring Tanjirou, Genya felt much better.
He had to admit that this guy had good talent and was quite diligent, but his inherent kindness prevented him from striking at his targets with full force.
Only after his demonization subsided did Tanjirou let Nezuko out of the house to bring Genya hot tea.
"You'll scare Nezuko like that," Tanjirou whispered in his ear.
Lies.
The girl's eyes showed no fear at all; she clearly thought he was bullying her brother and wanted to rush over and flick his forehead.
"What was going on with you just now?" Tanjirou hesitantly asked him: "Why did it look so much like..."
"A demon," Genya completed his unspoken words: "It was a demon."
"A demon," Tanjirou repeated: "Is it really real?"
"They are not only real, they exist everywhere. Passing travelers, temple monks, even... your once beloved mother."
Genya stared blankly at the cup in his hand: "It will appear from anywhere, and then destroy your life, which you already thought was miserable enough."
"Do they kill people? Or destroy villages?" Tanjirou scratched his hair: "Besides you, I've never seen a demon."
"What a joke, I'm not a demon!" Genya turned his head and rolled his eyes at him: "I'm determined to follow in my teacher's footsteps and become the most special and strongest... second strongest... third strongest Hashira in the Demon Slayer Corps! Then I'll give myself a cool name, like Demon Hashira! The Hashira who slays demons completely!
Tsk, kill people? They'll tear human bodies to pieces and swallow them whole! That's how they survive and how they amuse themselves endlessly!"
"Demon Slayer Corps?"
"The organization my teacher belongs to, an organization not officially recognized, but dedicated to eradicating evil demons," Genya replied: "It's full of people with strange personalities, but overall, they are all good people."
"Are you among them?"
"..." Genya paused. Oh, right, after so many years of hard training, whether he could join the Demon Slayer Corps was still a mystery.
He couldn't practice Breathing Techniques, which was probably why his brother had always opposed him joining the Demon Slayer Corps.
The spiky-haired boy finished the water in his hand, hugged his knees, and remained silent.
It was an aura of sadness.
Tanjirou twitched his nose; a thick scent of sadness emanated from Genya. Someone important to him must have died at the hands of a demon.
"You're sad."
"What a joke, this is anger! I'm not sad at all!" Genya scowled fiercely and roared.
Tanjirou chuckled softly.
He leaned over and gave the stiff Genya a hug.
In the not-so-broad embrace, there was the demeanor of a big brother and gentle comfort. Tanjirou, with his red eyes narrowed, said: "People who say they're not sad all need a hug."
Alright, alright.
Genya admitted that he had indeed been a little sad just now.
Being seen through by this kid was truly embarrassing.
So he abruptly pushed Tanjirou away, roaring in anger: "Why are you making such a big brother expression! By seniority, I'm your senior disciple!"
"Eh? But by age, I'm a bit older than you, aren't I? Genya doesn't have to call me 'Brother,' and I don't have to call Genya 'Senior Disciple.' Can't we just be friends?"
"How can you be so opportunistic!"
Genya looked at his bright, spirited eyes and suddenly felt a little deflated.
That kind of look sometimes really resembled his teacher.
Perhaps if the two of them stood together, both using Breath of the Stars, they would look even more like master and disciple.
And himself... Genya lowered his head, looking at his calloused palms and knuckles, and sighed deeply.
Just then, he heard a flapping sound. Genya quickly looked up and, sure enough, saw Sora circling in the sky.
The white-feathered parrot squawked: "Shinazugawa Genya! Takanashi Genya! Genya! My good son... have you returned yet!"
It was his teacher's tone!
Genya scrambled to his feet.
"Teacher, I'm on my way back. I passed a pastry shop called Ryukou in Shouji, and their strawberry daifuku looked really tempting!"
Sora perfectly replicated Haruto's sad tone: "But Teacher, I forgot to bring money! I forgot to bring money!"
A hint of a smile appeared in Genya's eyes.
"You should secretly keep some from the allowance I gave Tanjirou, and bring me back some strawberry daifuku! Don't let him know!"
Genya looked back at Tanjirou's sparkling eyes, pulled out the money pouch Haruto had prepared from his pocket, and deducted some right in front of him.
"You really don't have to!"
Tanjirou, feeling greatly indebted to Teacher Haruto, quickly waved his hands, puffing out his cheeks: "I really don't need it anymore!"
"If I tell you to take it, then take it!" Genya slapped the money pouch into Tanjirou's hand, roaring: "Be obedient!"
Nezuko quickly ran out of the house, offering a package in her hands.
"Oh, that's right!" Tanjirou slapped his forehead, shoved the package into Genya's hand, and similarly roared in reply: "This is Minazuki my sister made herself! Although June has passed, I still hope Teacher Haruto and you can enjoy it!"
"Okay! I'll pass it on! I'm leaving!"
"Goodbye!"
The white-feathered parrot that had once delivered his nichirin blade circled overhead, following the spiky-haired boy's footsteps as he disappeared down the mountain path.
Tanjirou smiled and patted Nezuko's head.
"Don't worry, Nezuko. Teacher Haruto will definitely love your cooking."