"How are you, have you calmed down?" Tanjirou said to Agatsuma Zenitsu as the two walked along a country path.
Zenitsu touched his stomach and nodded, "I'm calm now, but I feel hungry."
Tanjirou took a rice ball from his clothes and handed it to him.
"Here you go!"
"Ah? Thank you."
He took a bite of the rice ball, a grain of rice clinging to the corner of his mouth. Zenitsu looked listless, while Tanjirou still seemed full of energy. Staring at the rice ball in his hand, Zenitsu asked,
"Aren't you eating?"
"Because there's only one left."
Zenitsu broke the rice ball in half and gave a piece to Tanjirou.
"Tanjirou, you eat too."
Tanjirou happily reached out to take it and thanked him.
"Wow, delicious!"
'It was from you to begin with, why are you thanking me?' Tanjirou is really strange, a bit too polite and serious, isn't he? Zenitsu thought, chewing the rice.
After finishing the rice ball, they continued on their way. Tanjirou looked at the dispirited Agatsuma Zenitsu, his gaze fixed forward.
"Zenitsu, I understand you're afraid of demons, but you can't let the sparrows be troubled."
"Eh? Sparrows, why would sparrows be troubled?" Agatsuma Zenitsu stopped, asking in confusion.
"Because Zenitsu is always unwilling to work, often flirts with girls, and snores very loudly. That's what the sparrows said," Tanjirou said earnestly, pointing to the little sparrow in his palm.
"Huh? You're lying to me! You can understand what sparrows say?" Zenitsu absolutely refused to believe it, until a voice suddenly came from the sky. He looked up in horror as a crow circling above spoke human words.
"Run, Tanjirou and Zenitsu, let's go together, to the next place!"
"Run! Run!"
Zenitsu's finger trembled as he pointed at the crow, then he fell to the ground, rolling around. "Eek! The crow spoke!!!"
… "Tanjirou, I can't go on!" The two had entered the forest. Tanjirou's expression was serious; the further they walked, the stronger the scent of demons became. A house appeared before them. Standing at the entrance, Tanjirou knew the demon was inside.
"There's the smell of blood!"
"Hey, Tanjirou, do you hear anything?"
"A sound?"
Catching sight of two children standing at the edge of the forest, Tanjirou walked over to them. As he approached, the children hugged each other tightly. Seeing how frightened they were, Tanjirou knelt down and said softly,
"Don't be scared, big brother has something nice to show you, okay?" He pressed his palms together, then opened them slightly, and a sparrow appeared in his hand, chirping and flapping its tiny wings.
"Ta-da! Cute, right?"
Seeing them relax, Tanjirou said seriously,
"Can you tell me what happened?"
The little boy cried, his body still trembling, his voice choked with sobs.
"A… a monster took big brother away!"
"Big brother was injured, and we followed the blood here."
"It's okay, we'll defeat the bad guy!"
"Don't worry!"
"Hey, Tanjirou, what exactly is that sound? It keeps ringing, it's so disgusting. Is it a drum?"
A sound?
Inside the room, a continuous drumming suddenly erupted, growing louder and louder. A figure flew out from the second floor and fell to the ground. Tanjirou rushed over and picked up the injured person.
"Are you alright! Please hang in there!"
The wound is so deep!
Blood overflowed from the man's mouth, his eyes unfocused, his expression filled with terror and unwillingness. "I finally… got out… I got out!"
"Am I… going to… die?"
Tanjirou sadly watched his life slip away, unable to do anything. He could only hold his body tightly at the end. He died… it must have been very painful, right? I'm sorry, if we had come sooner, we might have been able to save you.
"This person couldn't be…"
A huge roar accompanied by the sound of drums echoed through the mountains. The boy hugged his sister tightly. Zenitsu looked at the house in fear, while Tanjirou frowned.
"Is he your brother?"
"No… Big brother was wearing an earthy yellow shirt."
So several people were taken? We have to save them quickly!
"Zenitsu, we should go in!"
Agatsuma Zenitsu shook his head frantically. There was no other way. Tanjirou knew he couldn't delay any longer and turned his head.
"Eh! I'll go, just don't leave me behind!"
"If you don't want to go, I won't force you."
"Don't look at me like that, I'm going!!"
Tanjirou placed the wooden box from his back on the ground next to the siblings.
"Just in case, no matter what happens, they will protect you."
Entering the house, Zenitsu clung to Tanjirou's sleeve, unwilling to let go, his teeth chattering as he looked around fearfully.
"Tanjirou~! You absolutely must protect me!"
Tanjirou's face showed apology, and he said helplessly, "Sorry, Zenitsu, I broke my leg and ribs in the previous battle, and they haven't fully healed yet. I might not be able to protect you."
"Eh eh! Are bones supposed to break?!"
"A Tanjirou with broken bones can't protect me!"
"What do I do, what do I do, what do I do!!!" Agatsuma Zenitsu collapsed to the ground again, making strange, repetitive movements, his eyes bloodshot from fear as he clutched his head and wailed.
"Tanjirou."
A voice came from the doorway, startling Zenitsu, who immediately scrambled behind Tanjirou, not daring to look.
Tanjirou gripped his sword hilt. After seeing who it was, he forcibly dragged Agatsuma Zenitsu in front of the newcomer.
"Brother Yang Quan! Why are you out? It's still daytime! How dangerous!"
"To help you, your body isn't well yet." Yoizumi stood at the doorway, backlit, and glanced at Agatsuma Zenitsu. He had originally wanted to use Blood Demon Art: Rotation to heal Tanjirou, but this person was a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, and he wasn't sure if he could trust him.
"Hmm, but Brother Yang Quan, don't push yourself."
Tanjirou's acquaintance? Agatsuma Zenitsu bravely raised his head for a peek. After seeing the person's face, he immediately jumped back, pointing and shouting, "Ah ah ah! Where did this handsome guy come from!"
"How does Tanjirou know someone like this!"
"How can anyone look like that!"
Agatsuma Zenitsu tugged at his hair, gnashing his teeth with envy, jealousy, and hatred. They both had yellow hair, but how could they not be on the same level? Why, why, why!
Biting an unknown handkerchief, tears of jealousy welled up. All handsome guys should die! Bastards!
"Zenitsu, this is my brother, Yoizumi. Brother Yang Quan, this is Zenitsu." Tanjirou was somewhat bewildered by Agatsuma Zenitsu's behavior, but still introduced the two.
Yoizumi nodded. He had already seen too many strange people on his journey, so he was no longer surprised.
Faced with such behavior, Agatsuma Zenitsu felt a critical blow. What's with the aloofness! His anger made him turn and walk forward alone, ignoring Tanjirou's calls. He could be that cool too!
He forcefully pushed open a door, and with a "bang," Zenitsu didn't realize that Tanjirou and the other person behind him had disappeared. He was still trying to act cool, until after a while, seeing that they hadn't followed, he turned back. Not turning back was fine, but turning back nearly killed Agatsuma Zenitsu!
Looking at the empty corridor, Zenitsu covered his face with both hands, thunderstruck.
"Eek!! Isn't this the entrance? Where did a corridor come from!"
"Tanjirou! Where did you go!"
"Save me!"
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