The moonlight gradually climbed the branches, its frost-white weight seemingly heavy enough to press the boughs low.
Izumi Kiyowa handed the still-warm udon to Ume. The young girl lowered her head and accepted it with practiced care, her fingertips curling back slightly upon contact, like a skittish kitten startled by a sudden touch.
"Thank you..."
Ume's voice was barely a whisper, yet the blush on her cheeks remained clearly visible even in the dim candlelight.
"There's no need to be so polite. Even though it's summer, it's better to eat something warm in the evening," Kiyowa said with a smile. Watching her shy demeanor, he couldn't help but feel a sense of serene beauty in the moment.
To the side, Gyutaro sat with his arms crossed, holding a bowl of cooked porridge. He let out a soft huff. While he didn't repeat his earlier grumbling about "marriageable age," the vigilance in his eyes hadn't faded one bit.
Rengoku Wajuro, meanwhile, maintained his hearty grin. He continuously pulled dried sardines from a parcel and piled them into Gyutaro's bowl, his booming voice cutting through the lingering air of youthful romance.
"Taro! You must eat more! Look at you, you're far too thin! Your ribs are practically poking out! If you want to become an excellent member of the Demon Slayer Corps, a healthy physique is an absolute necessity!"
Staring at the ever-growing mountain of sardines in his bowl, Gyutaro looked helpless on the surface, but the corners of his mouth—hidden behind the steam of his porridge—slowly began to turn upward.
How long had it been since he had experienced the sensation of being cared for?
No... come to think of it, since the moment of his birth, it seemed as though no one had ever looked after him. His very existence was an accident. His mother had tried several times to abandon or kill him, though she could never quite bring herself to finish the deed. But a mother like that could never offer him genuine concern.
Though this feeling was entirely alien to him, it was... unexpectedly comforting.
As the steam from the rice porridge billowed up around him, Gyutaro told himself it was just the heat condensing on his face.
Ume sat kneeling on the floor, her legs tucked neatly together. Though she was positioned between Gyutaro and Kiyowa, her knees were pointed distinctly toward the latter. Rengoku Wajuro, being a man of keen intuition, naturally noticed this. His nose twitched slightly; the "sweet and sour" scent in the air seemed to grow even thicker.
"You two went into the surrounding woods to hunt wild boars and bears today?! Isn't that too dangerous?! Did you get hurt?"
Ume's voice rang out, laced with undeniable shock and worry. As she spoke, she instinctively reached out, wanting to check if Kiyowa's old wounds had reopened. However, halfway through the gesture, she realized how unrefined she was being.
Her hand froze in mid-air. Because of her outburst, the eyes of the other three men were now fixed squarely on her. Feeling the collective gaze, Ume felt her entire body flush a burning red. The look coming from her brother behind her was particularly piercing, like needles pricking her back.
Seeing her predicament, Kiyowa coughed lightly and began to unbutton his upper garment. Perhaps it was due to his practice of Sun Breathing, but his musculature had become sharply defined, looking as though it were carved from fine marble.
Ume watched, torn between the desire to look and the embarrassment of doing so. She settled for stealing glances out of the corner of her eye.
"The wounds have mostly healed. Mr. Rengoku did most of the heavy lifting with those large animals; I only assisted from the sidelines. I didn't exert myself much."
"Nonsense! You killed two boars single-handedly!"
"Since you're fine, put your clothes back on already!"
Wajuro and Gyutaro spoke almost simultaneously. Both Kiyowa and Ume shrank back slightly. Kiyowa couldn't help but feel that Gyutaro's presence was incredibly oppressive—not in terms of physical strength, but on an entirely different level...
Dinner was a full and satisfying affair. They chatted about the day's events: Ume asked most of the questions, Kiyowa provided the answers, Gyutaro glared with wide eyes, and Rengoku Wajuro happily enjoyed the spectacle.
By the time the bowls were empty and the pots had cooled, the moonlight had grown even more gentle. Rengoku Wajuro stood up and offered a soft instruction:
"The nights in Yoshiwara haven't been peaceful lately. Try not to wander about as much as possible. I have some wisteria flowers here; if you encounter a demon attack, light these. But remember, only use them in a dire emergency. These flowers are very effective against common demons, but for the more powerful ones—like the Twelve Kizuki—the effect is mediocre at best. Furthermore, demons share information. In some specific environments, they can even build a resistance to wisteria. In short... just be careful."
Looking at Wajuro, Ume asked worriedly, "If it's so dangerous outside, why must you leave, Mr. Rengoku? Stay inside the house. If we really run into..."
"If I run into one, it will be a stroke of luck," Wajuro interrupted. "Because if I meet a demon, even if someone must be sacrificed, it will be me and no one else! As a member of the Demon Slayer Corps, being able to trade my life for the peace of ordinary people is a fortunate thing! I feel only honor and joy in that!"
As he said this, Wajuro's mouth curled into a grin, revealing his bright white teeth. He gave a hearty laugh and then turned to leave without looking back.
Watching the retreating figure, Kiyowa hesitated for a moment before moving to follow. Instinctively, Ume reached out and grabbed the hem of his robe.
Just as she was about to speak, Wajuro's voice drifted back from the darkness:
"Your body hasn't fully recovered yet; stay there. Besides, you don't have a Nichirin Sword yet. You can't deal any effective damage to a demon without one. Following me now would only result in throwing your life away for nothing. You are a genius with immense potential. Rather than dying in a place like this, I want you to fulfill your talent and become a pillar of the Corps—a Hashira who can support a night sky free of demons for everyone. Besides, the time isn't quite right yet. There's no rush; those creatures won't move this early. Ease your mind. Instead of worrying about my safety, I think deciding what to eat for breakfast tomorrow is a far more important matter, don't you?"
The night was silent and the moon hung high. Suddenly, a sharp-eyed Kasugai Crow descended from the sky, bearing intelligence from Minami Nami.
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Demon Slayer: Starting by Snatching Daki(89 Chapter- Ongoing)
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