"Just apologizing isn't enough, is it, Lord Akaza?
"As the third uncle, can you really watch your own kid get bullied?
"You should make him as strong as you are~"
Doma, as always, was enjoying the chaos with a smile, clearly not afraid of stirring things up.
"Th-then… train with me, neph—nephew…"
Akaza clenched his teeth.
Forget it. I'll own it.
Who told me to be so damn handsy back then?
"Sure~
"Striped-basketball Third Uncle.
"I accept your apology.
"But Gonpachiro and Wenyi have to train with me too.
"My underlings must keep up with my pace!"
Inosuke stood up grinning and patted Akaza on the shoulder.
...
Night fell.
Moonlight flowed like water, spilling over the bluestone tiles.
What had once been a plaza for worshippers was now the training ground for three youths.
"Too slow! Lift your legs higher! Waist and stance as one!"
Akaza was no longer the janitor with a rag.
He had fully returned to the posture of a martial artist.
Bare-chested, short hair fluttering in the night breeze, his golden eyes swept coldly over the three boys before him.
"This is your resolve to become stronger? You can't even hold a basic horse stance steady!"
"Damn it! Striped basketball! Don't underestimate me!"
Inosuke was drenched in sweat. His mouth was stubborn as ever, but his entire body trembled uncontrollably.
"I-Inosuke-kun… should we… take a break…?"
After several days of vacation, even Tanjiro's body had grown a little slack.
As for Zenitsu—
Because he was too noisy, Akaza gave him special treatment.
"Waaah! I can't do it anymore! I'm gonna die!
"Why do I still have to suffer after coming to Inosuke's house?!"
Zenitsu was hanging from a tree, stones tied to both feet, doing crunches.
"Why is a demon teaching the Demon Slayer Corps martial arts?! This makes no sense at all!"
"Silence."
Akaza flicked a burst of fighting spirit, striking Zenitsu's abs with pinpoint accuracy.
"Since you've come here, you follow this place's rules.
"Inosuke said you'd train together, so I won't go easy on you just because you're weak."
His words were harsh—
But Akaza's heart was anything but calm.
He watched Inosuke pushing himself to the limit.
Watched those eyes that refused to give in even after exhaustion had long set in.
The scene before him began to blur.
He seemed to see a dimly lit dojo.
To see a frail old man with a gentle smile.
And a tattoo-covered boy, once deemed beyond redemption, being sternly instructed by that same old man.
"Koyuki… no—Hakuji. Strength is not for harming others. It's for protecting."
That voice…
So familiar.
Whose voice was it?
Hakuji—
...
Is that… my name?
Akaza clutched his head.
Deep within his mind, it was as if a lock had begun to creak open.
Sealed memories cracked, just a little, in response to the sight of the three boys training.
He looked at Inosuke—the kid who always called him "striped basketball."
For some reason, he felt that if, hundreds of years ago, he had met a boy like this—
Or perhaps…
If he had had a junior like this—
Would his life have turned out differently?
"…Ten-minute break."
Akaza suddenly turned his back, his voice slightly hoarse.
"You did… well."
"Huh? What did you say?"
Inosuke flipped up in one motion and dug at his ear.
"Were you praising me?"
"No.
"Go drink water."
"Everyone!
"Dinner's ready!"
Kotoha's gentle voice cut through the night sky, breaking the solemn air of the backyard.
"Yesss! Dinner!"
Inosuke was the first to dash off.
"I'm eating ten bowls!"
When everyone gathered in the warm main hall, the table was already filled with a steaming hot pot.
Tanjiro sat on his cushion, his nose twitching slightly.
In this hall full of Upper Rank demons—
At this very moment—
He smelled not a trace of killing intent or malice.
Only Aunt Kotoha's sunlight-warm scent, and the everyday warmth of people eating together.
"It's safe,"
Tanjiro concluded.
"Here, even demons feel like family."
The kid was sharp.
Last time he came, he hadn't dared let Nezuko out.
Only on this second visit did he feel safe enough.
He turned around and gently patted the wooden box on his back.
"Nezuko, you can come out now.
"Everyone here is a good person."
Creak.
The small door of the box slowly opened.
A tiny hand grasped the edge—
And then the bamboo-muzzled girl crawled out sleepily.
She even shrank herself a little to better match the room's height.
"Mm?"
Nezuko blinked her pink eyes, curiously looking at the strange circle of people around her.
Dead silence.
"WAAAH!!"
A scream shattered the quiet.
"She's so cute!!"
Mei threw her chopsticks away and rushed over like she'd seen a priceless treasure.
"Is she also little brother's friend?
"She's one of us!
"Why is she so small?!
"So cute! Like a doll!"
The murderous glint that usually filled Daki's eyes was replaced entirely by pink sparkles.
She scooped Nezuko up and rubbed her cheek against Nezuko's head over and over.
"Lady Kotoha, look! Look!
"Her hair is so smooth!
"And this bamboo tube—it's a little weird, but it's adorable too!"
Kotoha set down her ladle and came over with a loving smile.
"Oh my, so this is Nezuko-chan?
"I've heard about you from Inosuke.
"It's such a shame I didn't get to see you last time.
"You're really so well-behaved. Tanjiro-kun, you've taken such good care of your sister."
"Mm-mm!"
Nezuko seemed to love Kotoha's scent. Her eyes curved happily as she reached out and grabbed Kotoha's sleeve.
"Oh my god…" Daki clutched her chest.
"I can't take it.
"I'm dressing her up!
"I'm going to make her the cutest little sister in all of Yoshiwara—no, all of Japan!"
"That's a wonderful idea!" Kotoha's eyes lit up.
"I still have lots of floral dresses Inosuke refused to wear when he was little! And hairpins!"
The mood shifted instantly.
Dinner turned into Nezuko Miracle Makeover Time.
Daki brought out her treasured cosmetics.
Kotoha brought out beautiful kimono.
"Zenitsu! No peeking!"
Inosuke kicked the drooling Zenitsu straight across the room.
"She's my Underling Number Three!"
A short while later—
A completely transformed Nezuko appeared.
She wore a pink-and-white kimono, her hair styled into an elegant updo, with just a touch of light makeup from Daki.
"Mm!"
Nezuko ran over to Tanjiro and spun around, as if asking whether she looked good.
"You look amazing! Absolutely amazing!"
Tanjiro was so moved that tears streamed down his face.
"Thank you, Aunt Kotoha! Thank you, Miss Mei!"
"Hmph. Of course."
Daki lifted her chin, but didn't let go of Nezuko.
"She's mine tonight! I'm sleeping with her in my arms!"
From the corner, Gyutaro watched the scene—
Watched his sister Mei's smile.
Not the fake smile of an oiran.
Not a vicious grin.
But the smile of an ordinary girl who simply loved cute things.
"…That's really nice."
Gyutaro took a sip of soup, his hoarse voice trembling slightly.
...
At the head seat of the hall,
Doma held a cup of sake, quietly watching everything.
Watching Inosuke and Zenitsu wrestle over the last piece of meat.
Watching Tanjiro smile as he wiped Nezuko's mouth.
Watching Akaza, face stiff as ever, silently refilling everyone's bowls.
Watching Kotoha and Daki chat like mother and daughter about hair ornaments.
The scene was noisy.
Chaotic.
Yet strangely harmonious.
Doma had never understood before.
Born without emotions, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness were merely masks to him—
Performances copied to blend into human society, to deceive believers.
He thought human emotions were inferior.
A burden.
But now—
He looked at Inosuke.
That child was laughing loudly, stuffing the stolen meat into his mouth, cheeks puffed up like a greedy little pig.
In those multicolored eyes sparkled joy—pure, untainted.
That was his child.
Even without blood ties.
He had watched Inosuke grow from a crying infant into this arrogant, powerful boy—
One loved by so many.
Suddenly, Doma felt something strange in his chest.
Not the sensation of a heartbeat—
But something warm.
Like drinking hot soup.
Like standing under spring sunlight back when he was still human.
Even a little… sour.
"What is this feeling…?"
Doma murmured softly, fingers brushing the rim of his cup.
He thought of Muzan—
That constantly enraged, paranoid master.
Then he looked again at this Eternal Paradise Cult, filled with everyday warmth.
"…Ah."
The curve of Doma's lips was no longer the perfect, fake smile.
Instead, it lifted just slightly—
Soft.
Genuine.
"This kind of boring pretend-family game…
"Isn't half bad.
"If it could stay like this forever—
"Even if I stopped being a demon…
"Or even turned the Demon Slayer Corps into this kind of family…"
A dangerous yet intriguing thought flashed through his mind.
"If I can keep Kotoha and Inosuke smiling like this…"
At that moment—
A tiny seed began to sprout,
Quietly,
Within the heartless body of Upper Rank Two.
"Dad! What are you spacing out for?!"
Inosuke suddenly turned around, a bone still clamped between his teeth as he shouted indistinctly.
"Hurry up and pass the sauce! I'm out!"
Doma froze, then smiled as he picked up the sauce bottle and walked over.
"Coming, coming~
"Slow down, little Inosuke. No one's stealing it from you."
Outside the window, the moonlight was deep and bright.
It almost felt—
As though the years were gentle and still.
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