[Name: Yoriichi Tsugikuni's Nichirin Blade]
That was it. And then there was nothing.
Suzuki Makoto drew the blade with some frustration. Seeing the mottled rust covering it, he sighed and slid it back into its scabbard.
He'd thought he might follow the usual tropes and find some legendary treasure or secret martial arts manual, but it turned out to be nothing more than a holy relic.
"This sword was inside your family's doll. It should belong to you."
He listlessly handed the sword to the boy, then started to reattach the doll's back panel.
"So why was this sword inside the doll's body?"
The boy stared blankly at the sword in his hands.
"Go back and ask... hmm, try asking the village chief."
"The chief probably doesn't know either. Why not hand it over to me?"
"Hm—huh? Who are you?"
Suzuki Makoto looked up, a bit bewildered, only to see a man dressed as an ordinary swordsmith.
"Who I am isn't important. But this sword... only I can make it shine again!"
The man in the Hyottoko mask sounded a little hesitant during the first half of his sentence, but when he spoke of the sword, his eyes burned with fervor.
"Huh? Mr. Haganezuka?"
The man jumped in surprise, whipping his head around to see Tanjiro Kamado, who had come over after hearing the commotion.
"Mr. Haganezuka, I was looking for you—"
"To forge a sword, right? Anyway, take this to make do for now. After I'm done polishing this blade, I'll forge yours!"
Hotaru Haganezuka carelessly shoved a new sword—one he had forged after long training in the mountains—into Tanjiro's arms, his blazing gaze fixed on the blade in Kotetsu's hands.
"What's the story with that sword?"
"I forgot. Mr. Suzuki, do you have time to spar with me for a few rounds?"
Muichiro Tokito wasn't lying; he truly hadn't been paying any attention to what was happening. The only things he cared about were fighting and his sword.
"Sure. Do you want to learn this doll's techniques? I can teach you."
"No, I need to train in the Breathing Style and forms of Sun Breathing. I've only just started and need combat practice. I figured this doll was the best way to do that. The techniques themselves don't matter."
A flicker of eagerness appeared in Muichiro Tokito's eyes.
"Finally, I feel like my efforts are showing some results."
"Wow! Lord Tokito, you're learning Sun Breathing too? Can we spar a little?"
"No way. You're too weak."
Rejected, a dejected Tanjiro Kamado lowered his head and happened to see the doll. Out of curiosity, he reached out and turned the face-down doll upright. The face, a third of which was destroyed, made him freeze.
"This face..."
"What is it, Tanjiro?"
"Mr. Suzuki, I think I've seen this face before."
This statement even took Suzuki Makoto by surprise.
"This is a doll of Yoriichi Tsugikuni, the creator of Sun Breathing. You're saying you've seen him before? Where? When?"
"No, no, it was in a dream. I think I saw this man's face in a dream."
Tanjiro frantically waved his hands to correct the misunderstanding.
"If you saw him in a dream, then it might be one of your ancestor's memories!"
Kotetsu explained to Tanjiro, casting a reluctant glance at the rusty blade in Haganezuka's hands.
"Huh, an ancestor?"
"Impossible! How could this kid be a descendant of a Sun Breathing user! Our Muichiro is the one!"
A Kasugai Crow furiously screeched at Tanjiro and Kotetsu.
Suzuki Makoto rubbed his chin with a peculiar expression. The crow's accent was surprisingly familiar, and it did seem to have a real talent for cursing people out.
"Alright, alright, it's fine."
Muichiro Tokito soothed his Kasugai Crow and turned to Suzuki Makoto.
"Mr. Suzuki, can we begin?"
"Let's go over there, so we don't damage anything else."
"Okay!"
The two headed for the training ground where Tanjiro and Suzuki had been earlier. Hotaru Haganezuka, satisfied now that he had the rusty blade, also left. And so, only the two boys and the doll remained.
"Kotetsu, let me help you take the doll back."
"Okay, thank you. You're a good person. That other guy is so annoying, and so is his crow! Hmph!"
A child's view of good and evil was always so simple.
"I believe in you! The descendant of that amazing swordsman must be a kind person like you, not someone like him! You don't have a proper sword to use right now, do you? Once Mr. Haganezuka polishes that sword, if it really is the one that great warrior used, I'm going to give it to you, not him!"
"Huh? But isn't that a sword that belongs to your family?"
"I don't have any talent! Not for fighting, not for smithing, I didn't even get to learn my family's ancestral craft of mechanical dolls. But I want to contribute to the Demon Slayer Corps too! Every single Nichirin Blade should be used to kill demons!"
Tanjiro Kamado looked at Kotetsu, deeply moved.
"Thank you, Kotetsu!"
"But before that, you have to beat that arrogant jerk!"
"Huh? You want me to fight the Mist Hashira?"
Meanwhile, on the other side of the training grounds, Suzuki Makoto had already begun critiquing Muichiro Tokito's movements.
"It's a good habit not to get stuck on your old techniques, but when you're just starting to practice these forms, you should still execute them with your full power. Really feel the force of each move and how it connects to the others."
"Stop relying on the wind from your blade! Feel the sharpness and power of the blade itself!"
"Good! Weaving in moves from your original Mist Breathing to link forms that otherwise couldn't connect is a great idea. But don't forget your Breathing Style; the breathing is the foundation!"
Muichiro Tokito panted, his eyes fixed on Suzuki Makoto's sword.
He couldn't keep up. He couldn't keep up at all.
Even the Kasugai Crow had shut its beak, watching Muichiro with a worried expression.
"Let's stop here for today."
"I can still go on!"
"Right now, eating is what's most important."
Suzuki Makoto sheathed his sword.
"It's already late. You're still growing, your body is still developing. Only by eating your fill will you have any hope of catching up to me."
Muichiro Tokito fell silent, but he sheathed his sword as well.
He followed behind Suzuki Makoto, walking towards the hot spring inn.
"Can I... really catch up to you?"
"Of course. When I was your age, I was nowhere near as strong as you are."
Suzuki Makoto guaranteed it with confidence.
His body before transmigration, at this age, would have been no match for the young genius before him.
"Ah! Mr. Suzuki, Lord Tokito! I was just about to come get you for dinner! I caught a lot of fish today, so I grilled some. I'd like you to try them!"
A cheerful Tanjiro Kamado was waving excitedly.
_____
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