Chapter 66 — Water Breathing!
The sound of impact.
The rhythm of strikes.
The echo of movement.
On the tennis court, two beautiful girls were locked in an intense rally, their bodies glistening with sweat from the fierce match.
At this point, the rackets in their hands no longer resembled ordinary sports equipment. The way they moved—sharp, fluid, and focused—was closer to that of swordsmen in combat.
The atmosphere around them kept shifting with every exchange.
On one side stood Busujima Saeko, a prodigy in the art of kendō who had been trained rigorously since childhood.
On the other stood Yukinoshita Yukino, a girl of natural talent who had recently mastered the basics of Water Breathing, using it to overcome her innate physical limitations.
Both of them had now entered a special state—where everything else faded from their minds.
There was only one thought left: the match before them.
"Water Breathing—"
A faint sound escaped Yukino's lips.
With her soft exhale, a thin veil of white mist drifted into the air.
Watching that scene, Yukinoshita Akira smiled faintly. Just as he expected, Yukinoshita Yukino was a natural-born genius.
If demons truly existed in this world—beings born from supernatural forces—then it was only logical for Demon Slayers to emerge as well, to maintain the world's balance.
Yet, after extensive investigation and collecting information from both the Busujima and Yukinoshita families, Akira had come to a firm conclusion: this world had no supernatural organizations, no mystical forces, no legendary figures.
But now that "demons" had begun appearing, while humanity remained powerless and unaware—it simply didn't make sense.
That realization sparked a theory in Akira's mind.
Perhaps these demons weren't natives of this world.
Perhaps they had arrived from somewhere else—another dimension, another reality.
And if that was true… then Demon Slayers hadn't disappeared.
They just hadn't been born yet.
Everything in existence balances itself.
When poison appears, nature creates the antidote.
Now that demons had surfaced, the world would soon call forth its own Demon Slayers.
If that was the case, then why shouldn't he be the one to create them?
Just as Tsugikuni Yoriichi once taught the Breathing Styles and helped form the Demon Slayer Corps, Akira decided—he would become the First Creator of this world's Breathing System.
And as fate would have it, Yukinoshita Yukino, the central heroine of this world, was surrounded by the glow of destiny and fortune.
This world was already calling out for a Demon Slayer—and every sign pointed toward her.
Akira wanted to see if an ordinary human could truly grasp the Breathing Techniques and awaken that hidden potential.
And now, he had his answer.
His efforts weren't in vain. Yukinoshita Yukino possessed talent far beyond ordinary limits.
A glimmer of water rippled in the air like a mirage.
For a brief moment, Busujima Saeko swore she saw droplets of water swirling around the speeding tennis ball heading straight for her.
Then came a sharp, resounding impact.
Her eyes widened as the racket in her hands cracked and split apart, while the ball was sent flying far beyond the court's edge.
"What… was that?"
Busujima Saeko stood frozen.
She had clearly seen water in the air—yet now, there wasn't a single drop.
Even Yukinoshita Yukino seemed stunned. She stared at her own hands and racket, unsure what had just happened.
Could that really have been her doing?
A soft clap echoed from the sidelines.
"Excellent. Very good, Yukino," Akira said with satisfaction. "You've successfully mastered the Basic Form of Water Breathing. Remember this feeling—you'll need it."
"So… this is the power of Water Breathing?"
Yukino turned to face him, then lowered her gaze to her hands.
A faint smile bloomed across her lips.
She had grown stronger—and the realization filled her with quiet pride.
"Water Breathing, huh… how enviable, Yukinoshita Yukino…"
From across the court, Busujima Saeko looked at Yukino with admiration—and just a touch of jealousy.
Meanwhile, Yuigahama Yui, who had been watching the match in confusion, still couldn't comprehend what she had just witnessed.
"Congratulations. You won this match," Saeko said calmly, accepting the outcome with grace.
She was not someone who refused to acknowledge defeat.
In the Busujima family, there was a saying passed down through generations:
Losing is not shameful. But fearing loss is fatal.
Once fear of failure takes root, the spirit of growth begins to rot.
"I didn't really win," Yukino replied softly. "If your racket hadn't broken, you would've returned that shot."
"No. A loss is still a loss. My weakness was what caused my racket to shatter."
Yukino fell silent.
In that moment, she finally understood why Busujima Saeko commanded such respect.
To accept defeat with composure, to remain humble even while standing tall—that strength of heart was admirable.
"Don't worry, Saeko," Akira interjected. "I've already prepared a Breathing Technique suited specifically for you. I'll teach it to you tonight."
"I'll be looking forward to it, Akira-kun," she replied with a small, genuine smile.
"Mm."
For now, Akira had no interest in recklessly hunting demons.
The effort it required simply wasn't worth the small results.
The number of demons in Chiba City had drastically decreased. Almost every traceable one had already been eliminated by his hand. The few that remained were hiding deep in the shadows, without any leads.
Since those hidden enemies couldn't be dealt with yet, Akira decided to put that mission on hold.
Instead, he would focus on training Yukinoshita Yukino and Busujima Saeko. This period of calm was the perfect opportunity.
"Eh? Isn't that Hikigaya-kun and Totsuka-san? They're back," Yuigahama suddenly said, pointing toward the court entrance.
Everyone turned to look—and froze in shock.
There stood Hikigaya Hachiman, supporting the slender figure of Totsuka Saika, who looked weak and exhausted.
Saika's cheeks were flushed, his expression shy and uncertain.
Together, they looked… strangely harmonious.
One was a loner boy often shunned for his cynical personality.
The other, a soft-spoken beauty adored by everyone—despite being a boy.
The combination was oddly perfect.
"Wait… they got that close already?"
Yukinoshita Yukino blinked in disbelief.
It had only been a short while since Akira's "setup," yet the two of them had already fallen right into it—no, they had dug themselves deeper with ease.
"You just don't understand true love, Yukino," Akira teased with a grin. "True love transcends gender. When it's real, even being the same sex can't stop it."
"Hmph. True love? Don't be ridiculous. That's clearly abnormal."
"Abnormal? Are you sure you're even more attractive and charming than him?"
"Ha!? Are you saying I lost to a boy? You've got to be kidding me!"
Yukinoshita Yukino's temper flared instantly.
Mocking her was one thing—but questioning her appeal as a woman?
That was unforgivable.
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