You Sleep Outside!

Mount Peach Town.

The town was as peaceful and serene as ever, unlike the Imperial Capital. Being a remote town, it didn't have electricity, and people lived by an early-to-bed, early-to-rise routine.

Prosperity had its own charm, and remoteness had its own simple life.

Hiruma walked through the town streets, feeling a sense of peace. He knew the people here, and this was also where his only family resided.

"Hiruma, long time no see!"

"Mm, I'm back, Grandma Shizuko!"

"Hiruma, want to work for me? I'll pay you double wages!" Uncle Yamamoto made his 870th offer.

"No!"

"Ah—"

"To be rejected so cleanly, it hurts so much!" Uncle Yamamoto clutched his head, looking regretful.

Rengoku Shinjuro had returned to the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters with Obanai Iguro and the Kocho sisters. Hiruma was supposed to go too, but he decided to come back and see his grandfather first.

After greeting familiar faces in town, he walked out, buying a large bag of snacks, thus spending all the money his grandfather had given him.

"Hiruma!"

In a daze, Hiruma heard a familiar voice, like a blazing fire, stirring his heart.

"Oh my, how could that be?"

"I must be hearing things, I must be starving!"

He muttered to himself, finishing the tempura shrimp in his hand in a few bites.

"Hiruma!"

Shinobu Kocho's voice rang out again. Hiruma turned his head to look and was stunned.

The distant sky was dyed orange-red and purple, like a massive oil painting.

The afterglow of the setting sun, like golden threads, descended from the distant horizon, scattering across the land. Each ray of afterglow carried a warm and soft radiance, illuminating everything around.

Under the gentle sunset stood a girl as delicate as a porcelain doll. She had her hands behind her back, her chest rising and falling slightly, apparently having run over.

Her purple hair tips fluttered in the wind, and a pair of lively purple eyes were fixed on Hiruma, a bright and straightforward smile on her lips.

It was Shinobu Kocho. As a devoted sister, she hadn't followed the main group to headquarters. Instead, she had quickly bid farewell and chased after Hiruma to Mount Peach Town.

She wanted to see the "mountains of peach blossoms flying" that Hiruma had described, and even more, she wanted to see his home.

"What, you don't welcome me to your home?" she asked, seeing Hiruma speechless.

Holy crap!

It's not a dream, Shinobu is standing right there, alive.

Hahaha! (??ω??)

"No, no, no!"

Hiruma waved his hands quickly, overwhelmed by the sudden happiness.

"Welcome, a warm welcome!"

"It's just that you came at the wrong season, the peach blossoms have already withered!"

"If you come again in autumn, you can eat peaches!"

They walked towards Mount Peach shoulder to shoulder. Hiruma chattered like a little sparrow, sharing everything about Mount Peach.

Shinobu listened like a quiet little lamb, only asking questions occasionally.

"By the way, can you leave Megumi?" Hiruma asked. Although they were the same age, Kanae was a few months older than him, so he naturally called her "Megumi-nee."

Shinobu crossed her arms and retorted, "Do I look like the kind of brat who can't leave her sister!"

"That's true, there's no doubt about that!" Hiruma nodded very seriously, speaking without realizing what he had said.

"Hm?" Shinobu clenched her small fists and glared at Hiruma indignantly. I left my sister to come find you, and you call me a 'brat who can't leave her sister.'

Damn it!

What did I just say? It's all the plot's fault! Thinking quickly, Hiruma chose to blame it on someone else.

"Iguro said you're Megumi-nee's shadow, a super sister complex!"

"It was all him!"

At that moment, Iguro Obanai, who was on his way, sneezed. He muttered to himself, That glutton Hiruma is secretly badmouthing me again, damn it!

Seeing this, Shinobu chuckled, her smile blooming like a flower.

"Then it's all Iguro's fault!"

"Right, right, right!"

"It's all Iguro's fault!" Hiruma nodded like a pecking chick. When there's no danger, that's how you use your bros.

As the saying goes, raise a brother for a lifetime, use him for a moment.

Before they knew it, the two arrived at the wooden house halfway up the mountain.

Kuwajima Jigoro was sitting in front of the door, leisurely smoking his pipe, which swayed rhythmically.

When his disciples came into view, Jigoro Kuwajima was overjoyed, though he didn't show it.

It wasn't until Shinobu Kocho walked out from behind his good disciple that the old man was so startled he fell off his recliner.

"Ouch, my back!"

The old man cried out in pain but paid it no mind. He only cared about one thing.

A girl?

How did his disobedient disciple come back with a girl after going out?

In Jigoro Kuwajima's imagination, Hiruma was a big bad wolf, and Shinobu Kocho was a weak, pitiful, and helpless little white rabbit.

After all, having lived together for so many years, the old man couldn't imagine anyone being able to take advantage of his disciple.

So, he had already made up his mind.

"Grandpa, are you alright?"

Shinobu Kocho, embodying the physician's creed of saving lives, helped Hiruma lift the old man.

"I say, old man, I know you missed me, but you don't have to get this worked up, do you?"

Hiruma's heart warmed. The old man still cared about him.

"You brat, how did you trick and lure that girl back here!" Jigoro Kuwajima greeted Hiruma with a roll of his eyes and a look of confusion.

"Grandpa, it's not like that. I came here willingly!"

"Please sit down, let me rub your back. My family has been in the medical profession for generations; it's very effective!"

Shinobu Kocho's sweet voice rang out, and the old man's heart bloomed. What a good girl.

Huh?

No, she came willingly.

He glanced at the confused Hiruma. Besides a sense of powerlessness, like a beautiful flower stuck in dung, there was also the pride of a child growing up.

Such a young kid, and he's already looking for a child bride.

Damn it, who taught him this? It certainly wasn't me.

Hiruma: "???"

Looking at the old man's extremely complex change in expression, he couldn't imagine what had happened.

"Grandpa, my name is Shinobu Kocho, and I'm Hiruma's friend!"

"Hiruma always talks about you. He misses you dearly!"

"Good, good, good!"

"So, you're a friend, excellent, excellent!"

Jigoro Kuwajima nodded with a look of relief. He looked at Hiruma and waved his hand, "What are you still standing there for? Go to town and buy some good food to entertain our guest!"

"Oh, oh, oh!"

Hiruma left with a dejected look. Had the old man been possessed by a demon? He was too kind, so kind it made him uncomfortable.

However, judging by how satisfied the old man was with Shinobu, he felt relieved.

A moment later, Hiruma returned to the wooden house with bags and bundles. He saw familiar bedding piled up at the door.

"Huh?"

"Isn't that mine?"

Just then, the old man came out carrying a pillow. He glanced at his disciple and said:

"You'll sleep outside tonight. That girl will sleep in your room!"

Hiruma: (′-﹏-`;)

Of course, the old man was just taking his bedding out to air it. He would never let his disciple sleep outside.

He just liked to say that.