Backyard of the Ubuyashiki Manor.
"BLEEGHHH…!"
A voluptuous girl with long pink-and-green hair leaned against a tree, puking uncontrollably. The more she threw up, the more relieved she seemed.
Her sweaty clothes clung tightly to her skin, revealing her curvaceous figure in full display for the young man standing some distance away.
Although he had covered his eyes with a black blindfold, Tanjiro could feel everything with his overly sensitive perception despite his eyes being closed. In simple words, extrasensory perception.
The sunlight warmed the atmosphere mildly as constant bird chirps filled the morning air.
"Told you…" He tilted his head in amusement. "Only an hour has passed, girl. We still have two more to go."
He had a four-kilogram wooden sword gripped in his hand, resting on his shoulder.
Mitsuri let out a tired, exhausted groan, which only caused her to vomit even more.
He could only exhale sharply in pity.
There was a monster swordsman here as her teacher—possibly the strongest human alive on Earth—so why not try a bit harder?
'Forget it… She's just started. Let's focus on other things first…'
"What did you expect!? You, a Hashira, started a sparring match with a complete beginner. What's even more absurd is that she lasted this long against you even though you were clearly holding back. Just how…" Kanae's lecture came from behind.
Tanjiro remained impassive. He swung his sword a few times without moving from his spot, cutting the air with every swing and causing sharp sounds to reverberate in the surroundings.
Kanae marvelled at his monstrous strength and fell silent.
His quiet voice reached her. "She's gifted, unlike many. Can't let it go to waste."
Kanae suddenly came to a realization. 'Is that why she can eat so much… No wonder.'
A few seconds later, Mitsuri picked up the wooden sword again and returned to her position. From her stance and face, she looked completely exhausted.
Tanjiro stared at her determined yet tired expression and could only chuckle with a smile. "Alright then, let's end the sparring for today… We'll take a ten-minute break and continue with fundamentals."
A weird smile immediately blossomed across her lips as a few tears dropped from the corners of her eyes involuntarily. Her face looked unbearable, and she began to groan silently.
"W-Waa, you meanie… M-My limbs are numb, Wuuu…"
Swoo!
Before she could even realize it, her body was lifted off the ground and held in a tight embrace against a masculine chest.
"Ah…" She noticed Tanjiro's worried look up close, and her heart skipped a beat for a moment, leaving her enchanted.
His gentle and caring voice then brought her back to reality. "Forgive me, Mitsuri. I took things too far… If the pain is too much, tell me… I'll take you to Koyuki-san."
Hearing his concerned words, her heart felt at ease. But because she was being held by a boy for the first time—and so closely—she shook her head in embarrassment and responded swiftly with her eyes closed. "N-No… I'm only out of strength… And tired…"
Tanjiro gave a nod and brought her to the engawa, helping her sit down. Mitsuri accepted his care without a word.
He sat beside her before letting his body fall backward onto the wooden floor.
Staring at the sky, he spoke clearly. "This spar, I just wanted to show you what you're getting into by choosing to fight demons… Mitsuri-sa—hah, let's just forget the formality for now…" He turned his head toward her and asked seriously. "Mitsuri, do you really want to become a Demon Slayer?"
Kanae lay hovering just above the wooden floor, clearly interested in her answer.
After hearing his abrupt question, Mitsuri was surprised at first, but then she smiled brightly before lying on the floor too. "Yes! I want to save as many people as I can! Knowing that there are demons out there, killing and eating people, destroying families, it makes my heart really sad. So I want to be helpful to others, and I'm naturally strong too, fufu~"
Kanae smiled. "She's a good girl."
'…Heh. Oh really?' he thought.
Showing a smile, he asked further. "Hoh, is that the reason you wanted to become a Demon Slayer, to save others? Many in the organization became Demon Slayers because of revenge and hatred for demons… I, on the other hand, want to revert my mother to human. That's why I'm here…"
After hearing his words, Mitsuri suddenly recalled the actual reason she had wished to join initially, and her ears reddened almost instantly. 'I can't tell him that I hoped to find a suitable husband in the organization for my poor self, b-but… No, no, I definitely cannot expose this! How embarrassing, uhh…'
She just nodded a few times swiftly and closed her eyes in shame.
Tanjiro couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, perceiving her emotions. 'What intense feelings you're releasing, girl, haha… So she's dying to be loved, I see, ha…'
With a brief silence between them, his confident voice sounded next to her ears. "Rest assured, Mitsuri. I won't send you out there to get killed… First I'll make sure you're at Hashira level in both combat and breathing arts. Only then will I allow you to hunt demons."
Her eyes softened immediately as she flashed a bright smile. "Hehe, Tanjiro is so thoughtful."
He laughed out loud. "Not any less than you…"
"Hehe~" She giggled and turned her face toward him.
Tanjiro, with his shoulder-length hair tied in a bun and black blindfold on, looked very eye-catching and dashing, especially to a jovial girl like Mitsuri who loved to read people.
'Even though that's a really intimidating scar, it looks so attractive on him, kya… And wearing a blindfold as part of training, how cool~!' She shrieked internally.
Besides these two trainer and disciple, a ghost tried to pull Tanjiro's hair but failed miserably.
"Why are you flirting with other girls? Is my sister not enough?"
'…No.' He smirked inwardly.
"Hey…" Afterward, they started to talk about their past, how Tanjiro got his Mark, and the history of his sword forms, happily conversing with each other and forgetting about time.
Fifteen minutes passed before they knew it.
Since the break was over, Tanjiro showed a slow demonstration of his Sun Breathing's twelve mastered sword forms, captivating both Kanae and Mitsuri alike.
His figure seemed to rise even higher in their eyes, earning deeper respect and admiration.
After showcasing his sword forms, he taught her how to perform the first three sword forms of Sun Breathing, making her practice them continuously. Because she already had enough strength from the beginning, there was no point in making her run the courtyard hundreds of times. He would rather increase her stamina and endurance through sword training and sparring instead of wasting time on useless things.
Not to mention Total Concentration Breathing, which he planned to teach her thoroughly.
So, for the next seventy minutes, he remained beside her, training her at every moment and correcting all her mistakes with calmness and patience.
Until a few minutes later, he stopped her and ended today's training.
Mitsuri was confused but felt too tired to ask, so she simply enjoyed the treatment and lay down.
Before long, they noticed Amane-san approaching with light steps.
Tanjiro was fully aware of both her arrival and the reason behind it.
Nodding politely at the two, she said softly, "Oyakata-sama has returned."
'The leader's here… finally.'
....
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