Chapter 125: I Only Need You
Hearing Kanao's question and noticing the subtle, crestfallen shift in Nezuko's bright eyes, Akira immediately pieced together what had happened. A soft, helpless sigh echoed in his mind.
"Thank you for trying so hard, Nezuko," Akira said, his voice gentle and steady. "Why don't you go rest with Kanae and Makomo for a bit?"
Nezuko gave a quiet nod, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she turned to leave with the two older girls. They all knew that whatever knot had tied itself in Kanao's heart, only Akira could unravel it.
Once the trio disappeared down the corridor, Akira turned his attention back to Kanao. The young girl stood perfectly still, her hands clasped obediently before her, her expression an unreadable mask of innocence.
"Kanao," he began softly, "we haven't visited the playground together in quite a while. How about I keep you company for a bit?"
A faint ripple of emotion finally broke through Kanao's placid gaze. She slowly raised a small hand, pointing toward his heavily bandaged right shoulder and the splint securing his arm. "But... your injuries..."
It was exactly because of those wounds that she had restrained herself from immediately diving into his embrace, choosing instead to stand quietly within arm's reach so he could comfortably pat her head.
"These scratches are nothing to worry about," Akira reassured her with a warm smile, shaking his head. "Come on. It's been far too long since I've properly spent time with you."
Reaching out with his uninjured left hand, he gently took her small fingers in his and led her toward the back mountain.
A subtle warmth blossomed in Kanao's chest. Simply being by his side was enough to make her happy. As for his injuries, she had already formulated a plan: she would simply guide him to a comfortable seat at the playground and keep him talking so he wouldn't strain himself.
The crisp mountain air greeted them as they approached the secluded clearing. The small playground, built specifically for her, was carefully maintained by the Butterfly Mansion staff. Not a single speck of dust marred the wooden swings or the climbing frames, despite her recent absence. True to her silent plan, the moment they arrived, Kanao tugged gently on Akira's hand, steering him directly toward a wooden bench situated at the edge of the clearing—a spot usually reserved for resting after a long afternoon of playing.
Noticing her rare initiative, Akira willingly followed the gentle pull of her hand, taking a seat beside her. The rustling leaves above cast dappled shadows over them.
"I'm sorry."
The sudden apology caught Akira completely off guard. The lighthearted conversation starters he had been preparing instantly dissolved in his throat. He looked at her downcast eyes, his brow furrowing in mild confusion.
"You haven't done anything wrong, Kanao. Why are you apologizing?"
"Because I couldn't become friends with Nezuko," she murmured, her voice barely louder than the rustling wind. She lowered her head, carefully leaning her cheek against his uninjured left arm. "I couldn't play happily with her... I failed your expectations."
"That isn't your fault at all," Akira replied softly, shaking his head.
He shifted his left arm slightly. Anticipating his movement, Kanao lifted her head just enough to allow his hand to find its familiar resting place atop her dark hair. She knew his habits perfectly; he always offered comfort through the gentle weight of his hand on her head.
"Friendship is something that has to happen naturally, from both sides," he explained, his fingers gently brushing through her bangs. "If you aren't ready or willing, then it is perfectly fine not to force it."
He applied a very gentle pressure to the crown of her head, coaxing her to tilt her chin up and meet his gaze.
"So, you see, you have nothing to be sorry for. If anything, the fault lies entirely with me." Akira's expression softened with genuine regret. "I didn't take your feelings into consideration. I tried to force a new friend into your life. It doesn't matter if my intentions were good. Ignoring your boundaries and making you uncomfortable under the excuse of doing what's 'best for you' was incredibly selfish of me. I am the one who should be apologizing to you."
"No... that isn't true!" Panic flared in Kanao's lilac eyes. She shook her head with sudden, frantic urgency, the motion so sharp that it dislodged his hand from her hair. "It isn't your fault, it's mine..."
"Alright, Kanao, easy now," Akira hushed her gently. He moved his hand down to cup her soft cheek, his thumb lightly brushing her skin to soothe her rising anxiety. "At this point, there is really no need for us to argue over who is right or wrong, is there?"
Human emotions were rarely black and white. In this particular situation, neither of them was truly at fault—or perhaps, they both shared a piece of the blame.
Akira had only wanted to expand her horizons. He wanted her life to be rich and fulfilling, hoping her world would grow beyond just him and the handful of residents at the Butterfly Mansion. He had envisioned her laughing with children her own age, ensuring she wouldn't be left sitting alone, staring blankly at the sky whenever he and the older girls were consumed by their Hashira duties.
Kanao, on the other hand, held no ill will toward Nezuko. She was highly perceptive and could easily feel the earnest, eager effort the Kamado girl was putting into befriending her. But her heart was fiercely guarded. She simply did not want any outsiders encroaching upon the precious, limited time she had with her brother.
Even when it came to Kanae, Shinobu, and Makomo, Kanao sometimes felt a twinge of possessiveness. If those older sisters hadn't showered her with unconditional affection and deliberately carved out private moments for her to be alone with Akira, she wasn't entirely sure she could have accepted them into her inner circle either.
Akira was her entire world. He was the one who had pulled her from the abyss. She might be capable of accepting Nezuko as a friend eventually, but not today. And certainly not during the rare, hard-won afternoons she finally had him all to herself.
"You know," Akira continued, breaking the quiet stretch of silence, "I don't think we've ever sat down and had a proper talk about this. I haven't asked about your preferences or what you actually desire. I've just been blindly handing you things I assumed were good for you."
He looked around the playground, a self-deprecating smile touching his lips. "Whether it was new clothes, toys, or even this new 'friend' today... I only ever provided what I deemed suitable. I never stopped to ask if you actually liked them, or if you even wanted them in the first place. As your older brother, I've been terribly negligent."
A heavy realization settled in his chest. Without even noticing, he had fallen into a classic trap—the exact same mistake countless parents and guardians in his previous life had made. He had projected his own ideals onto the person he cared about most, showering her with 'good' things while completely neglecting to ask if those things brought her any actual joy.
Take this very playground, for instance. He had commissioned it specifically for Kanao, pouring his heart into the designs. Yet, looking back, the one who derived the most genuine excitement from playing here was actually Akira himself. Kanao was happy, yes, but her joy didn't stem from the swings or the slides. Her happiness existed solely because he was by her side. She smiled because he was smiling.
"No," Kanao protested softly, her small hands gripping the fabric of his uniform. "As long as it is something you give me, I will always love it."
Akira chuckled, a warm, teasing sound. "You're lying to spare my feelings. For one thing, your current hairstyle isn't the one I originally picked out for you."
"Uhm..." Kanao's gaze immediately darted to the side. A faint blush dusted her cheeks, and for the very first time since he had known her, a genuinely guilty expression flickered across her usually stoic face.
Initially, Akira and the older girls had agreed to style Kanao's hair in a side ponytail—a nostalgic choice drawn from his memories of the original timeline. While the slightly playful, asymmetrical look heavily contrasted with her quiet, withdrawn nature, it had represented their collective hope that she would gradually blossom into a lively, energetic child.
But after enduring it for a short while, Kanao had stubbornly expressed her dislike for it. Her reasoning had been incredibly simple, yet deeply endearing: whenever she tried to lean the side of her head against Akira's shoulder, the thick knot of hair would get in the way.
Defeated by her logic, Akira could only offer a wry smile and change her hairstyle to a traditional high ponytail. Her dark hair, falling just past her shoulders, looked significantly cleaner and sharper tied back. Paired with her naturally quiet demeanor, the new style gave her a cool, somewhat aloof aura that suited her perfectly.
Of course, this completely defeated their original intention of making her look more playful, earning Akira a relentless barrage of teasing from both Shinobu and Makomo for caving so easily to the little girl's demands.
To Kanao, however, the aesthetics of the hairstyle were completely irrelevant. The only thing that mattered was that there were no longer any physical barriers preventing her from cuddling close to her brother.
Akira's thumb gently stroked her cheek again, bringing her attention back to the present. "So, Kanao," he asked, his tone laced with deep, unwavering affection. "Can you tell me? Is there anything you actually want?"
Kanao looked up into his eyes, her lilac irises completely devoid of hesitation.
"I don't need anything else," she answered, her voice ringing with absolute, crystal-clear certainty. "I only need you."
The finger lightly tracing her soft cheek froze. Akira's breath hitched in his throat. For a long, silent moment, he could do nothing but stare blankly at the earnest, devoted little girl sitting beside him, his heart swelling with an emotion too heavy for words.
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