Hayashi looked at the siblings, and emotions surged in his heart.
My appearance really did change the fate of the Kamado family.
Nezuko did not turn into a demon.
Tanjiro doesn't have to risk his life again and again against those hideous creatures.
So—
As the one who twisted this fate, Muzan Kibutsuji must be dragged into the sunlight and destroyed as soon as possible!
After greeting Nezuko and Tanjiro, Hayashi finally met Kamado Kie.
She was still wearing her simple white square-necked long dress and the white headscarf of a mountain mother.
Seeing him, Kie Kamado immediately showed a look of relief and gratitude:
"Yoriichi sama, I'm so glad to finally meet you!"
She bowed deeply.
"I must apologize… at first I mistook you for… someone else. But the Kakushi here have already told us everything that happened."
"Thank you so much for saving my family!"
Turning back, she called warmly:
"Children, come here quickly—thank our savior!"
With the introduction of Kie Kamado, Hayashi finally recognized all of the family members.
Besides Kie herself, Tanjiro, and Nezuko whom he already knew, there were Takeo, Hanako, Shigeru, and little Rokuta.
The younger children rushed to his side, wide-eyed with admiration. Hayashi crouched and gently patted their heads one by one.
As he felt their warmth, the same thought echoed again.
Muzan Kibutsuji, why can't you just face the sun and perish quickly?
After chatting with the family for a while, Hayashi excused himself.
But as soon as he stepped out, Tanjiro followed close behind.
Under Hayashi's slightly puzzled gaze, Tanjiro finally voiced the question weighing on his heart:
"May I ask… why did you appear at our home that day? Why did you save us from that monster?"
Hayashi's eyes softened as he looked at the boy's Hanafuda earrings. He smiled faintly.
"Think of it as… a promise between me and your ancestors."
Meanwhile, in the Butterfly Mansion—
Tomioka Giyu sat stiffly in the treatment ward's corner.
"I am not injured. I do not require treatment," he said flatly.
"After receiving orders, Murata and I immediately headed to the train to investigate. But the demon had already fled, so there was no battle. Therefore, I was not injured and do not require treatment."
Across from him, Kocho Shinobu still wore her graceful smile—but a vein twitched visibly at her temple.
"You only need to explain it once. There's no need to repeat yourself," she said sweetly.
A rare flicker of doubt crossed Giyu's usually expressionless face.
Among all the Hashira, Shinobu was the one who often initiated conversation with him.
Yet after just a few exchanges, she always fell silent.
Could it be… just as Hayashi once suggested… that I am disliked?
After a long pause, he asked bluntly:
"Kocho Shinobu, do you… hate me?"
Her smile faltered into genuine surprise.
"You actually realized you're disliked?!"
Then, narrowing her eyes playfully, she added:
"Tell me, did Yoriichi san put that idea in your head?"
Tomioka Giyū nodded, though his face carried a faint look of puzzlement.
"Through my talk with him, I realized something… Just saying what's on your mind directly—that's what people call normal communication."
Shinobu Kōchō blinked.
She had only met Yoriichi san once, at the Hashira Meeting. Her impression was that he was a swordsman highly regarded by Oyakata-sama, whose strength even surpassed that of some Hashira like Sanemi Shinazugawa.
If she remembered correctly, she had also received word that he slew two Lower Moons during a joint mission with Sanemi Shinazugawa and Rengoku Kyōjurō.
Now it seemed this Yoriichi san wasn't just strong—he could even teach Giyū?
After subconsciously comparing her own efforts at "guidance" with Hayashi's, Shinobu gave a small nod.
"…That's true. If you just speak your mind, like Yoriichi san said, it might be better than what I tried teaching you."
Tomioka asked seriously:
"If that's the case, then why did you and Sanemi Shinazugawa react so strongly?"
A vein popped on Shinobu's forehead.
"Of course it's because you keep repeating yourself! As for Sanemi Shinazugawa… what exactly did you say to him?"
Tomioka thought carefully, then replied in a calm tone:
"He was saying some rather discouraging things. So I combined Yoriichi san's words with my own experience and told him: repeating discouraging things isn't good. Like when I say 'I'm different from you'—actually…"
For the first time, Shinobu heard from Giyū's own mouth the meaning behind his infamous phrase "I am different from you."
She was stunned, then muttered softly:
"…So that's what you always meant."
But a beat later, she snapped back to her senses:
"Wait! Even Shinazugawa San wouldn't pick a fight with you just for that. He'd probably just grumble to Iguro about it. You must have said something else!"
Giyū nodded gravely.
"Yes. I also gave him advice: 'If you're not good at it, practice more.'"
He then earnestly explained what he meant by "if you're not good at it, practice more."
CRUNCH—
The medical tool in Shinobu's hand bent under her tightening grip.
She finally grasped the true crux of Giyū's problem.
This man didn't lack communication skills—he lacked emotional intelligence!
To test her theory, Shinobu proposed a simple trial.
"…Let's do a test. Imagine we're standing outside a large crowd. Everyone's watching something inside, but we can't see it. I'm curious and want to look too. What would you do?"
Giyū thought deeply. His first answer nearly made Shinobu lose her composure.
"As someone short like you, you definitely can't see what's going on inside."
Suppressing her fury, Shinobu pressed on.
"So, what would you do then?"
Giyū lowered his voice with unusual gentleness.
"I know your haori is precious because it belonged to your sister. If I picked you up or lifted you onto my shoulders, it would wrinkle your haori. I can't allow that."
Shinobu froze. His thoughtfulness was unexpectedly… tender.
But then, Giyū added matter-of-factly:
"So I'll just grab you by the back of the neck and lift you up." (T/N: 😂😂😂)
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