Hearing Ubuyashiki Kagaya's proposal, Hayashi nodded with satisfaction.
But just as he stood up, his body froze mid-motion.
It was still the same old problem—he didn't know how to get to the Butterfly Mansion.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya smiled gently.
"Wait here for a moment. I'll have someone escort you."
Hayashi gave an awkward laugh and sat back down.
To cover his embarrassment, his eyes wandered around the room.
Suddenly, something in the corner caught his attention.
Kagaya followed Hayashi's gaze and noticed he was looking at a wooden fox mask.
With some effort, Kagaya stood and picked up the mask.
"This is a warding mask carved by Sakonji Urokodaki—the former Water Hashira and current cultivator of Water Breathing.
Every child he has trained, once acknowledged by him, receives such a mask before entering the Final Selection on Mount Fujikasane.
As for this one—Urokodaki carved it specially for me many years ago, saying it would bring good health."
Hayashi accepted the mask silently.
Though called a disaster-warding mask, from his knowledge of the original tale, it was more like a disaster-attracting mask.
Nearly every child who wore such a mask during the Final Selection met a tragic end.
Sabito, Makomo…
It was only after Kamado Tanjiro slew the Hand Demon that the curse of those masks was finally broken.
Thinking of this, Hayashi turned to Kagaya and asked:
"May I have this mask?"
Kagaya blinked in surprise. He had not expected Hayashi to be interested in such an object.
But he nodded with a faint smile.
"Of course."
Hayashi tucked the mask carefully into his robes.
He had a different use in mind for it.
Not long after, a retainer arrived at Kagaya's chamber.
Hayashi turned and recognized the visitor—it was Momoki Haruko, whom he had already encountered twice.
Her bright eyes widened slightly in surprise when she saw him again.
Kagaya welcomed her with his usual warmth.
"Haruko, please escort Yoriichi san to the Butterfly Mansion. On the way, you may tell him about the Kamado family."
Haruko bowed respectfully. "Yes."
The two set off together.
As soon as they passed through the gates of the Ubuyashiki estate, Haruko stopped, bowed deeply, and said earnestly:
"Yoriichi san, thank you again for saving me back in Asakusa."
Hayashi waved a hand lightly. "There's no need for such formality."
But as Haruko straightened again, Hayashi noticed something subtle—her figure seemed slightly different than before, as if her attire no longer carried the same exaggerated curves.
Cough, cough…!
He quickly turned his gaze aside.
Haruko, however, merely thought he had been observing her clothes.
Then, noticing Hayashi's simple yellow kimono beneath his haori, she frowned apologetically.
"My apologies… it was my oversight. As your attendant, I should have realized sooner—you've yet to receive the Demon Slayer Corps uniform."
Hayashi shook his head.
It didn't bother him.
In truth, he had deliberately avoided changing clothes.
After all, when confronting Kibutsuji Muzan or Kokushibo, dressing as Yoriichi Tsugikuni was part of the performance.
Momoki Haruko's reminder struck Hayashi like lightning.
Since arriving in this world, although he had received money from Ubuyashiki Kagaya, he had never actually bought himself clothes.
How did he manage until now?
Very simple—every night he would sneak to a secluded place, wash his only set of clothes, and then use Breath of the Sun to forcibly dry them.
The weather was still cold. Normally, clothes might not dry overnight, but with Sun Breathing, he could generate heat and air currents to "blow-dry" them instantly.
Hayashi couldn't help but think to himself:
"I have to admit, Sun Breathing is ridiculously versatile… who would have thought its strongest application in this world is laundry duty?"
Just as this thought crossed his mind, he noticed something unexpected—
his restoration system had ticked up by another 1%!
His eyes widened in shock.
"Wait a second… Yoriichi Tsugikuni, you mean to tell me this was the correct way to use Sun Breathing all along? Laundry enlightenment?!"
Momoki Haruko, seeing his sudden change of expression, misunderstood immediately.
She bowed deeply, her voice sincere:
"Yoriichi sama, please don't worry. I'll prepare all your clothes right away. Since I neglected this, allow me to wash everything for you!"
Hayashi, who had always handled such trivialities himself, felt embarrassed. He tried to refuse, but Haruko bowed again, insisting:
"Please! Leave this matter to me!"
Faced with such earnestness, he could only nod reluctantly.
Meeting at the Butterfly House
As they walked together, voices drifted from the Butterfly House courtyard:
"Tanjiro! We need help here!"
"Hey, don't steal him! I need Tanjiro too!"
"Let me borrow him after you're done!"
Then a cheerful, determined voice rang out:
"It's fine! I don't need to rest, leave it all to me!"
Tanjiro Kamado, sleeves rolled up, was carrying baskets of coal as though they weighed nothing. His movements were quick, precise, and full of energy.
When he finally looked up, his eyes landed on Hayashi standing at the entrance. His gaze immediately fixed on Hayashi's ears—the same sun-patterned hanafuda earrings he wore himself.
Tanjiro froze for a heartbeat, then exclaimed:
"The hanafuda earrings… they're exactly the same as mine!"
His eyes went wide.
"Eh?! You… you're Yoriichi san!"
Hayashi simply smiled and nodded, instinctively reaching out to ruffle Tanjiro's hair. Hard, sturdy, and determined… this boy's spirit is the same as in the original history.
Tanjiro's excitement overflowed. He grabbed Hayashi's sleeve and pulled him forward.
"Everyone! This is Yoriichi san, the one who saved our family!"
Then, turning back, he added with a respectful bow:
"My mother has always wanted to thank you in person. Please, come with me!"
Hayashi felt a strange awkwardness rise in his chest. Thanking me in person? Oh no, don't remind me of that line I said back then… 'Madam, you don't want to…' He almost covered his face and fled.
But Tanjiro's sincerity left no room to refuse.
Encounter with Nezuko
Before meeting Mrs. Kamado, Hayashi noticed a girl in a pink kimono waiting quietly—Nezuko Kamado.
She tilted her head curiously when she saw her brother leading a stranger. But her eyes soon fell on the hanafuda earrings. Recognition flashed instantly.
Her lips curled into a bright, innocent smile, and she bowed slightly:
"Thank you very much, Yoriichi san!"
The heartfelt gratitude in her voice made Hayashi's stiff expression soften.
For a moment, he felt as though history itself was overlapping—
the boy who inherited Sun Breathing,
and the sister who carried an unyielding will despite being turned into a demon.
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