"Yoizumi-nii, are you ready?" Tanjirou had changed out of his patient gown and into his Demon Slayer Corps uniform and green-and-black checkered haori, with his nichirin blade at his waist. He looked the same as two months ago, but even more vibrant and spirited.
"Yoizumi-nii can't move during the day, so I'll carry the nichirin blade." Tanjirou opened the familiar wooden box door. Nezuko had been waiting inside for a long time. She waved at Yoizumi, then patted the spot beside her with her small hand, just like before.
Handing the nichirin blade to Tanjirou, Yoizumi shrunk down and sat beside Nezuko. Tanjirou crouched down and leaned into the wooden box's opening.
"Yoizumi-nii, Nezuko... a new mission, let's complete it together!" Tanjirou's smile vanished as the wooden door closed. In the darkness, Nezuko picked up a star-shaped konpeito and put it into Yoizumi's mouth.
"Mmm~"
Their family would not be separated; they would always be together, no matter where they went.
When this mission was over, he would ask Tanjirou to take him home.
Yoizumi wanted to see the place where he had once lived.
"Go, go, go!"
"Pop!"
All three of them blew up their giant gourds. The young girls happily offered a basket of rice balls.
"Please defeat more demons!" × 3
"You guys must be so reluctant to part with me, I can stay here alone!" Agatsuma Zenitsu said reluctantly.
"Not at all!" × 3
"How can this be!" Zenitsu looked incredulous.
"Goodbye, Sumi, Kiyo, Saho!" Tanjirou said with a smile, seeing a few tears in their eyes.
"Goodbye, Tanjirou, Zenitsu, and Inosuke-san!"
"Oh, right!" The three of them walked to the wooden box on Tanjirou's back and leaned in: "Goodbye, Yoizumi-san!"
"Goodbye..." Only after receiving a response did the three of them smile happily.
"Alright, let's go!" Tanjirou and the other two strode away from the Butterfly Mansion towards their unknown mission.
"Have a safe journey!" × 3
... "Whoa! What is this!" Inosuke stared in shock at the massive train. It was something he had never seen before.
"It's not some kind of monster, is it! Is it sleeping right now? Then I'll launch a full-scale attack!" Inosuke crouched down, hands clasped, gripping his two nichirin blades.
"You..." Agatsuma Zenitsu didn't have time to stop him; Tanjirou spoke first.
"Wait, Inosuke, it might be the guardian deity of this land, you never know. A rash attack is not advisable!" Tanjirou said with a serious expression, while Agatsuma Zenitsu grumbled speechlessly.
"You two bumpkins, this is a train! A vehicle that carries people! Do you understand?"
"Hey! These three are carrying swords! Call for help!" A passing police officer was attracted by their voices and immediately became vigilant upon seeing them all carrying swords. Unable to do anything, Agatsuma Zenitsu could only drag Tanjirou and Inosuke to escape, hiding in a place where they wouldn't be discovered for the time being.
Although there was a small incident, everyone managed to board the train successfully.
"This is too fast!" Inosuke excitedly stood at the back of the train, shouting as he watched the scenery rapidly receding.
"Hey~ Tanjirou, is it really okay to bring them along? Wouldn't it be safer to stay at headquarters?" Agatsuma Zenitsu asked Tanjirou.
Tanjirou's fiery red hair was disheveled by the train's wind. His eyes were firm; he firmly believed that their family could do anything as long as they were together!
"Our family, no matter where we are, must be together."
"I don't want to be separated from anyone again."
The pain of separation and the ache of longing were both unbearable.
"I see, you're right, Big Brother Yoizumi is here, he's really strong." Agatsuma Zenitsu smiled faintly... "Huh! Why did it stop! Is it going to attack me now!"
"Hey! Quiet down, it's just a brief stop, the train will depart soon!" Agatsuma Zenitsu grabbed Inosuke's hat, not letting him move around.
"Ah! Yoizumi-nii, why did you come out?"
Yoizumi emerged from the wooden box, returning to his normal size, and surveyed the surroundings.
"It's nighttime now, so it's fine."
"Then let's go find Kyojuro-san together, he's here too."
"You go first, I'll catch up." Yoizumi jumped onto the platform and said, looking back.
"Please hurry, the train won't stop for too long!" Agatsuma Zenitsu reminded them, pulling Inosuke into the carriage. Tanjirou glanced at Yoizumi, wondering if he had something to take care of, and also entered the carriage.
Yoizumi called over the Kasugai Crow that followed them and handed it a letter.
"Please deliver this to Shinobu."
With the letter in its mouth, the Kasugai Crow couldn't even make a sound. It nodded its small head and flew away.
Looking in the direction the Kasugai Crow flew.
He hoped it would be delivered properly this time.
"Tanjirou, is that Kyojuro-san really on the train?" Zenitsu looked at the bustling train. There really were a lot of people.
"Yes, I met him at headquarters before, and his scent is on the train." Tanjirou casually opened the carriage door, and a deafening sound came through.
"Delicious!"
"Delicious!"
The three walked over to the person. Kyojuro Rengoku was eating his bento box bite by bite, loudly praising its deliciousness with each mouthful. His table was already piled high with empty bento boxes.
Agatsuma Zenitsu leaned into Tanjirou's ear and whispered, "Is this really a Pillar? Not some gluttonous demon?"
Tanjirou hesitated, nodded, and cautiously spoke to Kyojuro Rengoku.
"Um, Kyojuro-san?"
"Delicious!" Kyojuro Rengoku shouted, turning his head to look at Tanjirou and the others. Tanjirou blinked.
They had already fully understood that this bento was delicious.
"You're the one who was with the Master at that time."
Tanjirou nodded, stated his name, and introduced Zenitsu and Inosuke to Kyoujurou.
"Then the one on your back is that demon from back then, right?" Kyojuro Rengoku glanced at the wooden box. One demon was missing.
"Yes, inside is my sister, and my brother will be here soon."
Kyojuro Rengoku nodded, crossed his arms, "Since it's something the Master approved, I won't question it further."
"Sit down."
The three found seats and sat down. After asking, Tanjirou learned that the Flame Pillar also didn't know much about Hinokami Kagura. He even offered to take him as a tsuguko.
Although he was a strange person, he was a very kind person who took good care of others. Kyojuro-san had a strong scent of justice about him.
After a while, the train was about to depart, and Yoizumi also found his way there.
"Yoizumi-nii, sit here!" Tanjirou waved at Yoizumi. Now, Kyojuro Rengoku was sitting opposite Yoizumi.
Their eyes met, and Rengoku spoke first.
"You truly are an incredible demon."
"This is the first time I've seen anything like it!"
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