Rengoku Kindergarten

The forms of Stone Breathing seemed etched into Hiruma's mind, though he didn't know why. It was as if he was born for the sword.

Himejima Gyomei, with his mastery of Stone Breathing, should have finished his demonstration in a minute, but he took five.

This was a consideration for Hiruma, a young man.

"Oyakata-sama, I'm finished!" Gyomei stopped, clasped his hands together, the chains wrapped around his arms, his large axe and meteor hammer hanging naturally at his sides.

Hiruma nodded. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and the world around him slowly calmed.

He was going to meet Himejima Gyomei's expectations. Gripping the hilt of his sword with his right hand, he adjusted his breathing.

The three foundations of a swordsman: mind, body, and technique.

Mind was one's state of being, either forged through long practice or innate.

Body was physical condition, which, aside from those with talent like Mitsuri Kanroji, required more effort through training, like Himejima Gyomei.

Technique, for a swordsman, was the Breathing Style, a combination of breathing and swordsmanship.

Hiruma had maxed out his proficiency in technique.

Observing Himejima Gyomei's Stone Breathing, he grasped the breathing rhythm and sword techniques.

With countless repetitions playing out in his mind, his sword moved with his hand, his momentum rising with the blade.

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

"A humble showing!"

He bowed slightly, a confident, unpretentious smile on his lips.

Ubuyashiki Kagaya didn't understand swordsmanship. He only felt that Hiruma's demonstration had a slight difference from Gyomei's, but the rest seemed similar.

"Oyakata-sama, you truly are a genius!"

"Namu Amida Butsu!"

Gyomei exclaimed. Though he couldn't see, he was the most skilled in Stone Breathing within the Demon Slayer Corps. That aura didn't need to be consciously sensed.

Instantly, tears streamed down his face, his lips curved upwards, a strange combination of expressions.

"It's a shame you're a disciple of Senior Kuwajima, or I would absolutely take you as my successor!"

"Oyakata-sama, given time, Tendo will surely stand as the strongest of this generation. I am not his equal!" Himejima Gyomei gave Hiruma the highest praise, his heart filled with joy.

The stronger the Demon Slayer Corps became, the sooner they could understand demons.

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

"Brother Gyomei, sooner or later, I'll be able to fight alongside you. Just wait for me!"

"Hahaha!"

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

"Hiruma, thank you for coming into my life!" Ubuyashiki Kagaya, his eyes welling with tears, ran over and hugged Hiruma.

In truth, Kagaya bore immense pressure.

Ever since his father's death, the Demon Slayer Corps, passed down to his generation, had weakened to an unimaginable degree.

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

The talent Hiruma displayed gave him a glimpse of the future.

Hiruma smiled brightly, patting Kagaya's back, and said:

"Don't worry, leave it to me!"

A month later, the Rengoku Estate.

Of course, the Rengoku Estate could now be renamed Rengoku Kindergarten, there were too many children here.

The principal was Uncle Shinjuro Rengoku, the beautiful teacher was Aunt Ruka, the senior class members were Hiruma, Iguro Obanai, Kyojuro, and Kanae Kocho, the middle class members were Shinobu Kocho, and the junior class members were still sniffling Senjuro.

Naturally, only Hiruma lived there permanently. The Kocho sisters lived in the medical department, and Iguro Obanai was training with the Water Breathing instructor.

"Hiruma, is that enough?" Ruka asked, looking at Hiruma's nearly empty eating basin with concern. She smiled kindly, as if looking at her own son.

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

Hiruma let out a burp. After all, there's a saying: the hungriest one is the one whose mother thinks they're hungry.

"Mommy, hug!" Senjuro ran to his mother with his bowl, his big eyes blinking.

"Aunt Ruka, I'm done eating, goodbye!"

Iguro Obanai put down his bowl and chopsticks. He glanced at Ruka and then left. Apart from eating and sleeping, his eyes were only on training, so that one day he could stand beside Hiruma.

After eating, the Kocho sisters helped Ruka clear the dishes, and then they too went to study Breathing Styles.

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

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

Over the past month, Hiruma had been practicing Stone Breathing, integrating it, and in time, it would become his own.

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

Hiruma's expression was complicated. It felt strange hearing those words from his True Older Brother.

We're just sparring!

Under the eaves, Senjuro lay in his mother's embrace. A miniature Rengoku Shinjuro, he possessed even more of his mother's gentleness.

Beyond that, he was doted on by his three older brothers and two older sisters.

As the sole student in Rengoku Kindergarten, it was no exaggeration to say he was showered with affection.

"Mom, when I grow up, I want to be like Big Brother and True Older Brother!" Senjuro said in a childish voice, clenching his tiny fists.

Ruka ruffled her younger son's hair and said gently, "Then Senjuro must work hard!"

"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Senjuro nodded like a pecking chick, raising a small, clenched fist.

"Charge!" (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧

Just then, a hearty voice rang out.

"I'm back, hahaha!"

The Rengoku family's gate was pushed open, and the often-absent principal of Rengoku Kindergarten had returned.

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

Unbeknownst to them, the fiery uncle had developed a more thoughtful side, becoming a qualified kindergarten principal.

The principal first ruffled the hair of Shin and Kyojuro, who were "fighting," into bird nests, then scooped up the little student Senjuro, and finally, in front of a bunch of little brats, showed some public affection by kissing his wife.

"Uncle, can I learn Flame Breathing from you now?" Hiruma looked at the principal with anticipation, his greatsword long thirsty for action.

"Have you mastered Stone Breathing, kid?" Shinjuro Rengoku pulled out a letter from his pocket and asked, "Oh, right, this is a letter from your master."

Hiruma took the letter and patted his chest, "I have! I can take down demons without a problem!"

"Alright, I know you're a genius, kid. You have a day off anyway, so I'll give you a demonstration."

For Hiruma, the stronger the person demonstrating a breathing technique, the more essence he could learn, because Hashira like Rengoku Shinjuro were intimately familiar with their breathing styles.

And so, the advanced class of Rengoku Kindergarten began.

Shinjuro Rengoku's demonstration lasted a full twenty minutes, during which he painstakingly broke down and taught the technique to the young Hiruma.

As Ubuyashiki Kagaya had said, the Demon Slayer Corps needed geniuses like him, having already asked Shinjuro Rengoku for this favor.

However, even if Oyakata-sama hadn't asked, Shinjuro Rengoku would have undoubtedly taught him with all his might.

PS: Welcome everyone to Rengoku Kindergarten, hehehe!

—Ling You's ramblings, muah! (*￣3￣)╭?