Aoyama stayed on Mount Sagiri for nearly ten days.
During that time, there was one sentence he heard more than any other.
"When are you leaving?"
After finishing his meal, Aoyama put down his chopsticks and rubbed his stuffed stomach. Then he walked out of the room carrying the luggage he had already packed.
Seeing this, Urokodaki sensei paused in surprise and stood up.
"You're really leaving?"
Aoyama raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I'm leaving. You've been asking every day. If I still didn't go, I'd really be lacking in self-awareness."
Although he joked like that, the real reason was that the internal injuries in his body had mostly recovered.
It was time to go back.
Two letters had already arrived through the crow.
One of them was from Shinobu Kocho.
Just thinking about it made Aoyama 's head ache.
Shinobu, who was deeply knowledgeable in medicine, had seen his miraculous healing potion.
Naturally, she would be extremely curious.
"Sigh…"
He couldn't help but let out a long sigh.
Seeing him sigh suddenly, Urokodaki felt a small twinge of guilt.
Had his constant nagging actually hurt the boy?
His tone softened slightly.
"If you don't want to leave yet… you can stay a couple more days."
"No, no, no," Aoyama waved his hands quickly. "Your daily lectures—no, I mean your guidance—have already been more than enough. I think it's time for me to go."
He clasped his fists respectfully.
"I'll take my leave now."
With that, he turned and strode away.
Watching the brat leave without even looking back, Urokodaki stomped his foot angrily.
That ungrateful boy!
He had only been joking.
Still…
Watching Aoyama 's departing figure, Urokodaki quietly raised his hand and waved.
May your path in battle always be blessed.
Tanjiro returned from the training room, exhausted.
When he pushed open the door to the ward, a black shadow suddenly crashed into his arms.
"Ah—Nezuko! It's you!"
He quickly steadied his sister by the shoulders.
"Mmhm!"
Nezuko puffed up her cheeks angrily and pointed behind her.
There stood Zenitsu.
"Little Nezuko-chan! Let's just hold hands again! We already held hands before, didn't we?"
Zenitsu clasped his face with both hands, completely immersed in the memory.
The beautiful memory of holding Nezuko's hand.
Tanjiro's forehead filled with black lines.
His fist slowly clenched.
He marched forward.
"HEADBUTT!!!"
Bonk—
A dull, painful sound echoed as forehead slammed into forehead.
Just hearing it made one's scalp hurt.
Zenitsu's eyes spun with stars and moons as the impact sent him staggering.
Then he collapsed onto the floor with a thud.
Tanjiro was still not satisfied.
"How many times have I told you?! That was a dream you had on the Mugen Train! A dream! Why won't you listen?!"
Zenitsu twitched slightly on the ground.
"M-Maybe… dreams… still count…"
"Hah—"
Tanjiro's lips twitched.
Even after getting headbutted like that, Zenitsu still insisted on arguing.
"Mmhm!"
Nezuko was still angry.
She clenched her tiny fists and kept punching Zenitsu earlier until his face was swollen.
Even that hadn't stopped him.
Then Inosuke stepped forward in his usual big-brother pose and slapped Tanjiro heavily on the shoulder.
"You're all my underlings! You should get along! Listen to your boss!"
"AHHHHH!"
Tanjiro roared in frustration.
What kind of chaos was this?
Everyone was still trapped in the dreams the demon had given them.
Though… those dreams had shown their deepest desires.
The door opened again.
Aoyamastood at the entrance, rubbing his ear.
"How many times have I told you all? Stop shouting so loudly."
Hearing the familiar voice, Tanjiro turned around with tears in his eyes.
"Aoyama -senpai! You're finally back! They've been—"
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Nezuko—who had been angry just moments ago—suddenly run happily toward Aoyama .
Seeing Nezuko again, Aoyama smiled.
During the days he had been away, she was the one he had worried about the most.
His gaze fell on Zenitsu lying helplessly on the floor.
This guy must have harassed Nezuko again.
Otherwise Tanjiro wouldn't have used his headbutt.
The huge swollen bump on Zenitsu's forehead could only be Tanjiro's handiwork.
"Mmhm."
Nezuko tugged lightly on Aoyama 's sleeve.
She tilted her head with a bright smile and extended her other hand toward him.
"Ah—Nezuko! You can't do that!" Tanjiro said quickly. "You shouldn't develop the habit of asking Aoyama -senpai for gifts!"
Aoyama looked displeased.
He shot Tanjiro a glance, then pulled a small item from his sleeve and placed it into Nezuko's hand.
With a doting smile, he gently tapped the tip of her nose.
This little girl…
She was just too adorable.
"Aoyama -senpai… you can't keep spoiling Nezuko like that…" Tanjiro wailed quietly.
Aoyama shot him a sharp glare.
Tanjiro immediately shut up.
Of course he was going to spoil her.
Looking at Nezuko's happy face, Aoyama felt his entire heart melt.
Someone this cute deserved to be spoiled.
Especially when she was Nezuko.
Kind and adorable.
When Shinobu Kocho heard that Aoyama had returned, she immediately went to his room.
Aoyama had already expected her to come.
After changing his clothes, he stayed in his room waiting.
"Aoyama -kun?"
Shinobu leaned slightly through the doorway and called inside.
Aoyama took a deep breath.
What had to come would eventually come.
He turned around.
"Shinobu."
Shinobu clearly noticed his shoulders rise just before he turned.
He had taken a deep breath.
Did he… not want to see her?
The thought suddenly appeared in her mind.
The smile on her face slowly faded.
"W-What's wrong?" Aoyama asked, confused.
Just a moment ago she seemed fine—why had her mood suddenly dropped so drastically?
"It's nothing," Shinobu said lightly. "Aoyama -kun, are you busy right now? If you are, I can come back another time."
Before Aoyama could respond, she turned to leave.
Aoyama quickly grabbed her wrist.
Then he realized it might be inappropriate and quickly let go.
"Um… I'm free. I've actually been waiting for you."
"Pfft—"
Shinobu burst out laughing.
She turned back around, smiling brightly at him.
"And why exactly were you waiting for me?"
Her tone carried a playful curiosity.
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