After leaving Kanao behind, Tanjiro led Nezuko toward a certain location in the mansion as he could easily sense everyone's aura. Nezuko was new to such big places, so she just followed him like a kitten.
Shortly after, he dropped her off at the study room where Aoi was diligently teaching the others basic math and language. Because she had attended a top-level school before demons killed her family, Aoi was well educated and knew how to teach the little ones with familiarity.
Additionally, she was also ensuring they learned how to work as nurses to support injured members of the organization.
She herself, along with Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho, had been similarly trained in nursing duties by Yoru-san.
It wasn't much, just helping the injured by providing medicine and food on time, reporting any issues to Shinobu, and other small things that mattered the most.
'Better than doing nothing, I guess. They'll grow mentally after seeing those injured guys selflessly fighting for humanity… Well, as long as they're here, safe and sound, it's alright by me.'
Next, he still had one last thing to do, so he moved swiftly.
Leaving the mansion, he headed to Shinobu's lab, located in the backyard. He sensed her presence inside without even trying.
Knocking on the door, he asked, "Shinobu-san, I have something important to discuss. Are you free right now?"
Almost instantly, her soft voice came from inside. "Don't be so polite. Just come in, Tanjiro-kun."
Receiving her permission, he opened the door slowly and stepped inside.
A strong, mixed scent of medicinal herbs immediately hit his sensitive nose, causing him to frown.
He quickly adapted his breathing, cut off the airflow from his nose, and switched to his mouth.
His crimson eyes then scanned the decent-sized laboratory. Neatly built racks covered every wall, storing several jars of medicinal products with names and prescriptions pasted on their surfaces on one side, while the other side held glass equipment, some empty, some filled to the brim.
There was a large table in the center, on which many notebooks and pharmacist tools were placed neatly. There was even a microscope on the table.
The lights were on, and there was only a single hole in the corner for ventilation.
'Well, well, this place is nice for conducting demon experimentation… Heh.'
He thought.
Shinobu was sitting on the chair near the lamp, reading an old-looking manual. And the ghost of Kanae was hovering above her without a care.
Shinobu glanced at him with the fake smile she always wore. "Let me guess, it's about your mother's demon state, isn't it?"
Smart as she was, she had already foreseen it, or not.
Tanjiro gave a simple nod, busy looking around.
Shinobu tilted her head slightly. "Ara, you aren't even surprised… Mm, did Nezuko-chan tell you she asked me to help with her mother's condition last night?"
He ignored Kanae, who was making weird horns behind Shinobu's head, and replied smoothly. "No, not yet, at least. It must have slipped her mind… That aside, thanks for helping us out, Shinobu-san… If there's something I can help with, just let me know. I'll be there."
"Hmm?" Humming, Shinobu stood up and came to his side. She leaned her head in and gave a reassuring smile. "It's alright, we're like family. If I won't help, then what's the point of racking my brain with all this knowledge and research… And I also can't bear seeing Nezuko-chan's pleading look, haha~" At the end, she gave a playful laugh, which was genuine, he could tell by the scent.
"Ah, ah, she said it! You're like family to her! Tanjiro-kun, ask her out right now! This is the best chance you could get, I'm telling you!" Kanae's urgent shout rang next to his ears.
'No, it isn't!' He cursed mentally, ignoring her completely. 'Man, she's persistent. Not giving up at all…'
Kanae pouted cutely and began punching his shoulders in futile attempts.
Despite Tanjiro's internal struggle, his outer expression remained natural. He showed a thankful look and said impressively, "Shinobu-san… Have you already started working on my mother's case?"
In response to his question, she shook her head slightly. "No… Currently, I'm only rummaging through old, secured notes of previous researchers."
She went back to her seat and sat down, placing one small leg over the other.
"It will take some time, a few hours, likely… Hm, let's see, by the time you have shifted here from Oyakata-sama's house, hopefully I'll be done by then. We can officially begin our research afterward."
Tanjiro nodded. "Alright, we'll do it like that."
Shinobu gave a gentle smile. "Anything else you want to ask?"
Kanae became bored and quit pestering him. Yet what she did next caused his mouth to twitch in amusement. She went behind Shinobu and started to grope her breasts from behind, or at least tried to, while wearing a taunting smirk no less.
'What in the fuck is she doing…'
Not to lie here, his dick was starting to get worked up in his pants.
However, he controlled himself with ease. 'If that's the route you're going, fine by me.'
Next, he glanced at Shinobu's purple eyes with intense focus. "Yes… About earlier."
She tilted her head in confusion.
"The hug, I mean…"
Recalling the morning, the tight hug she received from him, Shinobu's eyes couldn't help but flicker with a never-seen-before emotion. She tried to hide it immediately with self-control, but how could she?
As her big sister who knew her so well, Kanae noticed the change almost immediately.
On the other side, Tanjiro instantly smelled the lustful scent that drifted off her for a split second, not to mention the little awkward shift in her body that he caught with his powerful senses.
'Whoa, seriously?' Both of them had the same thought at the same time.
Shinobu, unaware that her cat was out of the bag, faked a smile. "Yes, what about it…"
Tanjiro smirked inwardly. 'Heh, an easy catch… All I need is good bait.'
He walked toward her slowly until he stood before her. Leaning a bit forward since she was small and seated, he brought his face close to hers.
'Ehh, what's he doing?' Kanae gasped. She covered her eyes with her hands, peeking secretly.
Shinobu was taken aback, but was in no position to react in time.
She could only watch as his forehead touched hers and remained in contact for a few seconds before he pulled away.
Her eyebrows twitched in bewilderment as she said with her usual soothing voice, "Tanjiro-kun, can you please not come to other people's faces like that… And what were you even doing?"
Upon being asked, Tanjiro showed a relieved look as he stared at her narrowed eyes, which he found too attractive for his taste, answering: "How to say this… Hm, earlier when I hugged Shinobu-san, I found that your body heat had jumped way too high to be normal and your heart was also beating too fast in that instant… Not to mention, my nose caught a peculiar scent from you, one that I have never smelled before… So all this time I was worried that you were sick. That's why I was checking your body temperature just now." At the end, he revealed a gentle, caring expression, looking at her lovingly.
"You aren't sick, I checked… But the other symptoms are still present. I wonder why that is…"
She went quiet.
And so did Kanae. '…He's playing with her, with my more mature sister! Oh my god… He's just thirteen—don't tell me he's a natural…?!'
The tips of Shinobu's ears were crimson. Her body naturally released lots and lots of desiring emotions, which didn't go unnoticed by Tanjiro.
She tried to control herself, but failed miserably. "It's… N-Nothing. I'm… fine. There's no need for you to be worried…"
She turned her face to the other side, hiding it. "Now please, I must finish the notes on time. You should also hurry…"
"…"
Tanjiro and Kanae were shocked by her shyness.
Smirking inwardly, Tanjiro hummed, "Hm," before beginning to leave. "See you later then…"
He left the lab quietly without her realizing it. Kanae followed.
Inside, Shinobu peeked behind her and found him gone. She covered her face with her hands and blushed wildly. "What's wrong with me… AHH!"
On the outside, Kanae hovered beside him.
"Ara~ Flirting with my little sister like that… I didn't think you had it in you, fufu~! You proved me wrong…" Kanae mumbled in a teasing voice.
Tanjiro exhaled loudly. "Stop slandering me… Can't you see, I'm just an innocent thirteen-year-old."
"…"
Kanae had a strange look on her ghostly face as her lips twitched upon seeing his annoyed expression.
'Who are you fooling here, hmph!'
....
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