Rengoku Kindergarten

Each stance and movement of Stone Breathing seemed to have been etched into Hiruma's mind. He did not know why himself; he had simply been born for the sword.

Given Himejima Gyomei's mastery of Stone Breathing, a sword form that should have taken only a minute to demonstrate took him five.

This was also a way of looking after Hiruma, the young man.

"Tendo, it's over!" Gyomei withdrew his stance and pressed his palms together. Chains coiled around his arms, while the Broad Axe and Meteor Hammer hung naturally at his sides.

Hiruma nodded. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and everything around him slowly settled into silence.

He was about to live up to Himejima Gyomei's expectations. His right hand gripped the hilt as he adjusted his breathing.

A swordsman had three fundamental foundations: heart, body, and skill.

Heart referred to one's state of mind. It was either forged through long years of training or innate from birth.

Body referred to physique. Aside from those naturally gifted like Kanroji Mitsuri, it required even more acquired effort, like Himejima Gyomei's.

Skill meant technique. For swordsmen, that meant a Breathing Style, and a Breathing Style was the fusion of breathing and sword techniques.

As for skill, Hiruma had maxed out his proficiency points.

After observing Himejima Gyomei's Stone Breathing, he grasped both its breathing rhythm and sword techniques.

After countless rehearsals in his mind, his blade moved with his hand, and his stance rose with his blade.

Three minutes later, Hiruma sheathed his sword. Just as he had said, one observation was enough.

"Forgive my poor showing!"

He dipped slightly at the waist and smiled, confident but not arrogant.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya did not understand sword techniques. He only felt that Tendo and Gyomei's demonstrations had differed slightly, while the rest looked about the same.

"Tendo, you truly are a genius!"

"Namu Amida Butsu!"

Gyomei cried out. Though he could not see, he was the most proficient user of Stone Breathing in the Demon Slayer Corps. He did not need to deliberately sense that aura.

In an instant, tears streamed down his face like a spring, yet the corners of his lips curled upward. It was a rather strange expression.

"It is only a pity that you are Senior Kuwajima's disciple. Otherwise, I would absolutely take you as my tsuguko!"

"Oyakata-sama, given time, Tendo will surely stand among the strongest of this generation. I am inferior to him!" Himejima Gyomei gave Hiruma the highest praise, his heart filled with joy.

The stronger the Demon Slayer Corps became, the sooner they could put an end to the Demons.

Hiruma scratched his head, then shamelessly accepted Gyomei's praise.

"Brother Gyomei, one day, I'll fight shoulder to shoulder with you. Just wait for me!"

"Hahaha!"

"I'm the number one genius of the Demon Slayer Corps!"

"Tendo, thank you for coming into my life!" Tears glistened in Ubuyashiki Kagaya's eyes as he ran over and embraced Hiruma.

In truth, Kagaya carried an enormous burden in his heart.

Since his father's death, by the time the Demon Slayer Corps had passed into his generation, its strength had weakened to an unimaginable degree.

There were only two Hashira-level swordsmen: Rengoku Shinjuro and Himejima Gyomei.

The talent Hiruma had displayed allowed him to see the future.

Hiruma broke into a bright smile. He patted Kagaya's back and said,

"No problem. Leave it to me!"

One month later, at the Rengoku Family residence.

Of course, the Rengoku Family could now be renamed Rengoku Kindergarten. There were simply too many children here.

Principal Shinjuro, the beautiful teacher Auntie Ruka, the senior class members Hiruma, Iguro Obanai, Kyojuro, and Kanae Kocho; the middle class member Shinobu Kocho; and the junior class member Senjuro, who was still sniffling.

Of course, only Hiruma lived here full-time. The Kocho sisters stayed in the medical division, while Iguro was studying under a Water Breathing instructor.

"Tendo, is that enough?" Ruka looked at Hiruma's special meal basin, which was already more than half empty, and asked with concern. She smiled kindly, as though she were looking at her own son.

"Auntie Ruka, I... burp... I'm really full!"

Hiruma burped. After all, there was a kind of hunger called "Mom thinks you're hungry."

"Mom, hug!" Senjuro ran over to his mother with his bowl in his arms, his big eyes blinking.

"Auntie Ruka, I'm done eating. Goodbye!"

Iguro arranged his bowl and chopsticks, glanced at Ruka, then left. Other than eating and sleeping, all he had in his eyes was training, so that one day he could stand beside Hiruma.

After eating, the Kocho sisters helped Ruka clear the dishes, then went off to study Breathing Styles as well.

In the small courtyard, Hiruma and Kyojuro sparred with wooden swords. Because of Hiruma, Shinjuro had begun teaching his son Breathing Styles ahead of schedule.

Perhaps it was because the principal of Rengoku Kindergarten had heard about Hiruma from Himejima Gyomei.

Over the past month, Hiruma had constantly been using Stone Breathing. He was working to fully integrate it, and in time it would become his own.

"Tendo, hit me harder!" Kyojuro was having a blast, and his wooden sword grew faster and faster.

Hiruma's expression became complicated. Those words sounded so strange coming from Big Brother.

We're sparring!

Under the eaves, Senjuro lay in his mother's arms. As a tiny version of Rengoku Shinjuro, he had inherited more of his mother's gentleness.

Beyond that, he was loved by three older brothers and two older sisters.

As the only junior-class student in Rengoku Kindergarten, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was showered with affection.

"Mom, when I grow up, I want to be like Big Brother and Brother Tendo!" Senjuro clenched his tiny fist and said in his childish voice.

Ruka rubbed her younger son's little head and said gently, "Then Senjuro will have to work hard!"

"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Senjuro nodded like a pecking chick and raised one fist high.

Charge!?(?ω??)=33

Just then, a hearty voice rang out.

"I'm back, hahaha!"

The gates of the Rengoku Family residence were pushed open. The often-absent principal of Rengoku Kindergarten had returned.

Shinjuro carried bags upon bags, filled with food, toys, and the medical books the Kocho sisters had requested.

Without realizing it, the fiery uncle had developed a more delicate side and become a qualified kindergarten principal.

The principal first rubbed the heads of Tendo and Kyojuro, who were "fighting," into bird nests. Then he picked up junior-class student Senjuro. Finally, in front of a bunch of little brats, he openly showed off his affection by kissing his wife.

"Uncle, can I learn Flame Breathing from you now?" Hiruma looked at the principal expectantly. His greatsword had long been starving for action.

"You've figured out Stone Breathing, kid?" Shinjuro pulled a letter from his robe and asked, "Oh, right. This is a letter from your master."

Hiruma took the letter and patted his chest. "I can do it. Cutting down Demons won't be a problem!"

"Fine. I know you're a genius, kid. Since we have a day off this time, I'll demonstrate it for you."

For Hiruma, the stronger the person demonstrating a Breathing Style was, the more essence he could learn from them. After all, a Hashira like Rengoku Shinjuro was thoroughly familiar with his own Breathing Style.

Thus, senior class at Rengoku Kindergarten began.

This time, Shinjuro's demonstration lasted a full twenty minutes. It could be said that he broke everything down and taught it piece by piece to little Hiruma.

Just as Ubuyashiki Kagaya had said, the Demon Slayer Corps needed a genius like this. He had long since asked Shinjuro to teach him.

But even if Oyakata-sama had not asked, Shinjuro would certainly have taught him with all his strength.

PS: Welcome to Rengoku Kindergarten, hehehe!

--Lingyou's ramblings, kisses! (*￣3￣)╭?