Tanjiro lowered his head, remaining silent for a long time.
Aoyama asked again, "Want to spar? If not, then don't disturb my sleep."
The more he slept during the day, the more energetic he'd be at night when heading down the mountain. Judging by the timing, Final Selection wasn't far off. Nezuko should be waking up soon as well.
He had a small, selfish wish.
When Nezuko opened her eyes, he hoped the first person she saw would be him.
He wondered what that moment would feel like.
Tanjiro said nothing more. His strength simply didn't allow him that luxury.
Besides, even Urokodaki-sensei rarely said anything about this Senior Brother Aoyama.
"Senior Brother Aoyama… could you teach me how to maximize my strength?"
Tanjiro asked this because he still hadn't managed to split the boulder bound with thick rope. Meanwhile, Aoyama had casually cleaved his own stone in two long ago.
The very rock Aoyama was lying on now was one half of it.
"Why don't you turn what Urokodaki-sensei taught you into something that belongs to you?"
"Huh? Turn it into… my own…" Tanjiro muttered, then hurried forward. "How do I make it mine?"
Aoyama flipped down from the rock and lightly patted his shoulder.
"Wait. Someone will teach you. But it definitely won't be me."
With a sly grin, he turned and left.
It was about dinner time.
He wondered what delicious food Urokodaki had prepared today.
Tanjiro scratched his head in confusion.
On this mountain, there were only himself, Aoyama, Urokodaki-sensei, and his perpetually sleeping sister.
Who else could possibly teach him?
Two days later.
Still no success.
No matter what he tried, he couldn't split the rock.
Was he going to give up?
Was Nezuko going to die like this?
"AAAAAHHH!"
Tanjiro slammed his forehead hard against the boulder in frustration.
He couldn't understand it.
Senior Brother Aoyama had effortlessly split an even larger rock.
Why couldn't he do it?
"Shut up. You're annoying."
A boy wearing a fox mask suddenly appeared atop the boulder.
"A real man doesn't scream like that. It's pathetic."
Tanjiro looked up in shock.
He hadn't sensed when the boy appeared. Even his keen sense of smell hadn't detected any scent.
"No matter how painful it is, endure it in silence."
"That is, if you're a man."
"If you were born as a man."
The masked boy held a wooden sword as he stood. With a swift leap from the rock, he slashed downward and followed with a flying kick, sending Tanjiro tumbling backward.
"Slow. Weak. Immature. That's not a man."
He crouched low, enunciating each word clearly.
Not far away, Aoyama leaned lazily against a large tree, watching the scene unfold with a smile.
Just as expected.
Sabito had appeared.
Which meant Makomo would show up soon as well.
Tanjiro felt anger rise within him.
This boy had appeared out of nowhere and immediately attacked him.
"What are you doing?!"
Then suddenly—
A thought clicked.
Two days ago, Senior Brother Aoyama had said someone would teach him.
Could it be this person?
"Hey! How long are you going to sit there? Get into position. Come at me!"
Sabito beckoned with his fingers.
They had been watching Tanjiro from the shadows for a long time. Seeing him unable to split the rock, they had finally decided to step in.
Tanjiro gripped his sword tightly.
So this was the one Senior Brother Aoyama meant.
He readied himself.
Aoyama raised a hand to shield his eyes.
What came next would be Sabito effortlessly crushing Tanjiro. At this stage, Tanjiro stood no chance.
He spared Tanjiro one second of sympathy.
Not a second more.
When Aoyama lowered his hand, Tanjiro was already sprawled on the ground, thoroughly beaten.
"Tsk, tsk."
He probably should've come later—at least after Makomo appeared. Watching two grown men fight wasn't particularly entertaining.
Urokodaki seemed to have developed a bit of Aoyama's foodie tendencies. In the past, meals were simple—just enough to avoid hunger.
Now, if he didn't eat something decent for a day, it felt wrong.
That evening, he grilled fish Aoyama had caught from the river and simmered a large pot of meat soup. The entire house filled with a rich, savory aroma.
Inside the room, Aoyama sat beside Nezuko's bedding.
"Bean-chan, listen to me. It's time to wake up, okay? Sabito and Makomo have both appeared. You should wake up too, so we can start our happy demon-slaying life."
He had barely finished muttering when Urokodaki called from outside.
"Dinner!"
"Coming, coming!"
Aoyama answered, reluctantly placing Nezuko's small hand back beneath the blanket.
After eating his fill, Urokodaki suddenly realized something.
Tanjiro hadn't returned yet.
He looked at the nearly empty pot of soup and the two remaining grilled fish on the rack.
Would that even be enough?
Aoyama saw what he was thinking.
"Add some water to the soup and boil it again. I'll go get Tanjiro."
Thick meat broth would become thin meat broth—but at least it would fill the stomach with water.
That was the only option.
Urokodaki stood to fetch water.
Aoyama headed lightly toward the forest.
At this hour, Makomo should definitely be there.
Having eaten his fill, chatting with Makomo would be perfect for digestion.
He quickened his pace, a faint smile forming on his lips.