Muzan took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, then finally decided to make the call.
Beep… Beep…
"Hello? Who is this?" Kokushibo's voice came through the receiver.
"You don't even remember my phone number?" Muzan asked with obvious irritation, though he still restrained his temper.
"Are you coming home for dinner tonight?"
The moment he heard Muzan's voice, Kokushibo's mischievous side surfaced.
"No. I'll be home late tonight. Go to sleep without waiting for me."
With that, he hung up before Muzan even had the chance to respond.
Muzan nearly exploded with anger.
That wretched fellow… he really dares to treat me like this!
Before he could continue sulking, someone knocked on the door.
Muzan's gloomy mood instantly brightened.
Just as I thought… he's only teasing me.
After wiping away the moisture gathering at the corners of his eyes, he calmly opened the door.
Standing outside were Doma, Kotoha, and little Inosuke.
"…You're here. Come in."
Although Muzan hid it well, the disappointment in his eyes did not escape Kotoha.
As another woman, she could easily tell what Muzan had been expecting.
The moment they entered, Rui and Reiko heard that Inosuke had arrived and excitedly rushed over, dragging him away to play.
Looking at the pleading expressions on Rui and Reiko's faces, Muzan could only sigh with the helplessness of an overly indulgent parent.
"Don't stay out too late."
"Yes, Lord Muzan!"
The three children ran off happily.
Now only Muzan, Kotoha, and Doma remained in the room.
Both women quietly turned their eyes toward Doma.
"…Why are you both looking at me?" Doma asked with his usual cheerful smile. "Let's chat!"
Completely oblivious to the fact that the two women were silently plotting to send him away.
Kotoha immediately exercised her authority as the lady of the house.
"Go on. Go play with Inosuke for a while."
Without waiting for Doma to object, she ushered him out of the room.
Doma wasn't offended in the slightest. Instead, he happily headed toward the nearby park to watch the children play.
Only after he had left did Muzan finally relax enough to voice the grievances he had been holding inside.
At the park…
Two teams had already formed.
Demon Slayer Corps Team:
Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, Tengen Uzui, and Genya.
Demon Team:
Rui, Byakuya, Kamanue, Gyutaro, and Susamaru.
Meanwhile, a lively crowd gathered around the field to cheer.
"Go, Big Brother!" Nezuko shouted enthusiastically from the sidelines.
Not wanting to lose, Mei immediately joined in.
"Go, Brother! Beat them!"
Before the match even began, the competitive spirit between both teams was already overflowing.
With the ever-upright Kyojuro Rengoku serving as referee, neither side had any objections.
"Begin!"
The instant the match started, Zenitsu noticed Nezuko watching from the sidelines.
His motivation instantly skyrocketed.
"Thunder Breathing…"
"First Form!"
Thunderclap and Flash!
In one explosive burst of speed, Zenitsu dribbled the ball all the way into the Twelve Kizuki's half.
"Nezuko! Did you see that?!"
The moment he became distracted…
Rui effortlessly stole the ball.
At the same time, countless threads shot out.
Blood Demon Art: Cutting Thread Cage.
Zenitsu was instantly wrapped up like a cocoon.
"Referee! That's a foul!"
Zenitsu shouted desperately toward Kyojuro.
Kyojuro folded his arms and nodded seriously.
"Blood Demon Arts and Breathing Techniques are permitted during this match. Rui did not make illegal physical contact. Play continues!"
Zenitsu nearly cried.
Meanwhile, Rui calmly dribbled the ball toward the Demon Slayer Corps' goal.
A sliding tackle suddenly came toward him.
Rui flicked the ball into the air while releasing another web.
But it was merely a feint.
The true attackers were Tanjiro and Tengen, closing in from opposite sides.
Kyojuro and Akaza sat together in the commentator's booth.
Kyojuro enthusiastically narrated every moment.
"Tengen has regained possession! He's advancing toward the Twelve Kizuki's goal!"
"Byakuya and Kamanue are completely unable to stop him!"
"If this goes in, the Demon Slayer Corps will score the opening goal!"
"Gyutaro has intercepted him!"
"The speed of both of their legs is incredible!"
"The contest remains deadlocked!"
"The other demons are surrounding Tengen!"
"At this critical moment…"
"Tengen executes a spinning pass!"
"The ball has reached Tanjiro!"
"Hinokami Kagura Dance!"
Tanjiro unleashed the technique while performing an astonishing acrobatic kick.
Just as Kyojuro was about to passionately explain the sword technique in detail
Senjuro quietly covered his older brother's mouth.
"Brother… please commentate on the match only."
Akaza watched the game with a helpless sigh before taking out his phone.
Akaza:Koyuki, I'll be home soon. It looks like they're about to start fighting.
A reply came almost immediately.
Koyuki:Really? Then make sure nobody gets hurt.(Worried emoji.)
Putting his phone away, Akaza stared at the field with cold determination.
Anyone who delays me from going home…
…is going straight to the hospital.
If everyone ends up hospitalized…
…then nobody will be able to fight anymore.
At this point, not only the players on the field, but even the referee's stand and commentary booth were overflowing with killing intent.
It looked as though this match wouldn't be ending peacefully anytime soon.
Meanwhile…
At Muzan's residence…
Besides Muzan and Kotoha, several women had gathered for afternoon tea.
Present were Amane Ubuyashiki, Kasumi, Tamayo, and Tengen Uzui's three wives.
Muzan slowly sipped his wisteria tea, his expression filled with dissatisfaction.
"Ever since we got married, he's been coming home later and later."
"He doesn't even eat the meals I prepare anymore."
Kotoha gently smiled.
"We should be understanding. Men have many burdens outside the home."
Everyone unconsciously thought about their own husbands.
Kokushibo…
The Ubuyashiki family…
The Tokito family…
Every one of them carried responsibilities that ordinary people could hardly imagine.
Indeed…
They had plenty of pressure.
Even so, Muzan remained dissatisfied.
"But if this continues every single day…"
He trailed off.
Tamayo suddenly chuckled.
"Lord Muzan…"
"Could it be… you want a child?"
The question immediately made Muzan blush.
"W-Who said that?!"
"You're the one who wants a child!"
Tamayo smiled faintly before gently placing a hand over her lower abdomen.
"You guessed correctly."
Silence filled the room.
Everyone's eyes immediately turned toward Tamayo.
"Lady Tamayo…"
"Is it true?"
Suma and Makio asked with unconcealed excitement and envy.
Among everyone present…
The most envious person was undoubtedly Muzan.
His gaze remained fixed on Tamayo's abdomen, unable to hide the complicated emotions in his eyes.
After everyone had gone home…
Muzan quietly began preparing dinner alone.
Just then…
A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around his waist from behind.
"So…"
"Is Lord Muzan personally cooking dinner for me?"
Recognizing Kokushibo's voice, Muzan felt both relieved and annoyed.
He deliberately let out a cold snort.
"So… you decided to come home after all."
As he slowly turned around with an arrogant expression
He froze.
"…"
Kokushibo was dressed exactly like Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
Even the Hanafuda earrings had been perfectly recreated.
The resemblance was astonishing.
Kokushibo couldn't help grinning.
"Surprised?"
Muzan's pupils instantly contracted.
"Kokushibo!!"
"How dare you scare me again?!"
"You're finished tonight!"
"Get back here!"
"Don't run!"
Outside the room…
Rui and Reiko had quietly approached the door after hearing the commotion.
The two looked at each other before silently lowering their raised hands.
"…Let's go hide at Lady Nakime's place."
"Agreed."
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