Tie Him Up

Wisteria flowers bloomed and fell, time flew by, and a year passed in the blink of an eye.

During this past year, Tendo Hiruma visited the old man on Mount Peach a few times. The rest of his time was spent entirely on learning the five major basic Breathing Styles.

Fortunately, his hard work paid off, and he learned them all, though he was far from achieving perfect mastery.

His initial plan was to reverse-engineer the Sun Breathing from the five basic Breathing Styles, but in practice, he found it to be an almost impossible task.

After careful consideration, he changed his strategy: to hone the five Breathing Styles to their absolute limit.

If reverse-engineering wouldn't work, then he would create his own Breathing Style.

Different Breathing Styles had different breathing rhythms. If one were to switch between them carelessly, it would cause damage to the lungs. At best, it would lead to unbearable pain that made breathing impossible; at worst, the alveoli would rupture.

The twelve forms of the Sun Breathing, when linked together, formed the thirteenth form to deal with Muzan. Hiruma, however, wanted to connect different Breathing Styles.

Beneath a rock face outside the headquarters, in an open area, this was the special training ground Hiruma had found.

At that moment, his sword was wrapped in crimson and gold lightning arcs. He aimed at a large boulder in the clearing and activated Thunder Breath: First Form.

Hiruma transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot forward. Just as he approached the boulder, he switched Breathing Styles, from Thunder Breath to Flame Breathing.

In an instant, a faint flame ignited around the crimson and gold lightning arcs.

Before he could even swing his sword, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, which drew a shocking arc in the air before splattering onto the boulder.

Simultaneously, he felt an unbearable pain spread from his lungs, as if countless sharp needles were piercing them.

His alveoli had burst again. He had lost count of how many times this had happened this year.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Air painfully squeezed into Hiruma's nostrils. He clutched his chest and collapsed onto the ground in agony.

The feeling of ruptured alveoli was agonizing. Even with his incredible recovery abilities, which would eventually heal them, the pain remained undiminished.

Day after day, he subjected himself to this hellish training.

Not for any other reason than the conviction in his heart.

A year ago, Ubuyashiki Kagaya had seen right through Hiruma's heart.

Protection. He wanted to protect those around him. No matter how painful the process, as long as he could become stronger, it would be worth it.

Tendo Hiruma possessed extraordinary talent and physique. Although he appeared lazy on the surface, he had been working tirelessly in secret.

Is it still not enough?

He staggered to his feet, looking as if a mere gust of wind could blow him over.

After a brief respite, he muttered to himself, forcing a careless laugh:

"It wasn't that many alveoli that burst. I can still train, haha!"

What Hiruma didn't notice was that four people were hidden in the bushes not far away.

"Sister, don't hold me back! What Hiruma is doing is self-harm; he's already bleeding!" Kanae tugged at her sister's hand, while Shinobu struggled and glared angrily at the distance.

"What kind of training is this? Just because you have a special physique doesn't mean you can risk your life like this!"

"I'm so angry. Why doesn't he tell us anything!"

Shinobu's cheeks were puffed out, her words sharp, but her hands were trembling.

"Shinobu, don't disturb Hiruma yet." Seeing that she was about to lose her grip on her sister, Kanae quickly signaled to Iguro Obanai and Kyojuro.

Iguro Obanai shook his head. He secretly wished Shinobu would rush out and stop that idiot.

What's the point of risking your own life? Does he consider us friends?

If you're going to play, play together!

"Let me handle this. When you're injured, you need to rest." Kyojuro's gaze was firm. He knew his words wouldn't stop her, so he pulled a rope from behind him.

Since he couldn't convince her, he would tie her up and then let their mother handle the situation.

He looked at Iguro Obanai, his brow furrowed, and asked seriously, "Shall we tie him up?"

"That's exactly what I was thinking!" Iguro Obanai nodded in agreement, and Kaburamaru stuck out its tongue.

Kanae, the only calm person present, sighed helplessly. What kind of teammates are these?

"Sigh!"

She put her hand to her forehead in exasperation. In that moment of distraction, Shinobu broke free like a wild horse and bolted forward.

Coincidentally, Hiruma coughed up blood again, another alveolus bursting.

"Hiruma, you stop this at once!" Shinobu roared, her concern overriding everything else.

"Shinobu?" Hiruma endured the pain, confusion mixed with a forced smile.

"Hiruma, you..." Seeing the disheveled Hiruma, all her words caught in her throat. Shinobu's heart ached.

She walked forward, uncharacteristically gentle, her voice trembling with unshed tears, "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Oh, come on!"

"It's just training. Everyone is training, there's nothing to say!"

"Shinobu, have a candy, smile a little!" Hiruma produced a fruit drop as if by magic.

"You idiot!"

"Idiot!"

"Big idiot!"

Shinobu Kocho finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears.

Compared to when they first met, Shinobu Kocho had changed a lot. She wasn't as easily angered anymore, and her straightforwardness was now tinged with a bit of gentleness.

Hiruma was stunned, his usually firm heart thrown into disarray. He, who normally talked so much, was speechless.

"It's not like that... Shinobu... I... listen to me, I can explain."

"You made her cry!"

"That's right, that's right! Mother always said not to bully girls!"

Iguro Obanai and Kyojuro stood on either side of Shinobu Kocho, one making sarcastic remarks and the other fiddling with a rope.

"Why are you two here too?"

"It's not just them, I'm here too!" Kanae poked her head out, her expression serious. It was rare to see her like this, usually so gentle.

Everyone knew Hiruma's secret, but that didn't mean he could act recklessly.

"Megumi!"

Hiruma guiltily lowered his head. Was he really pushing himself too hard?

He couldn't help but ask himself. He hadn't said anything because he didn't want to worry others.

"Tie him up!" Kanae had intended to reason with Hiruma, but since Shinobu was crying and this kid hadn't realized his mistake at all, she decided otherwise.

"Gently, tie his hands and feet and carry him to the medical department!" Seeing Iguro Obanai and Kyojuro about to act, Kanae reminded them.

Hiruma could practice, he could make everyone worry, but he couldn't keep things from them.

"Got it!"

"I'll do it myself, okay?"

"Can you not use force?"

"Damn it, why are you starting, Iguro Obanai!"

"You bastard, you just want to mess with me, don't you!"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

"Hiruma, be careful!" Shinobu Kocho wiped away her tears and said with deep concern.

"Big Brother, this isn't like you!"

"Ahahaha, this plan was my idea, young man!" Kyojuro said proudly.

Hiruma: ㄟ( ▔, ▔ )ㄏ

And so, Iguro Obanai and Kyojuro tied Hiruma's hands and feet and carefully carried him towards the medical department.

"Hiruma, you can practice, but from now on, we can do it together!" Kanae suggested with a smile.

"Okay..."

"No!"

"Idiot!"

Before Hiruma could finish, Shinobu Kocho pinched his face, physically interrupting him.

"Shinobu, if you're so violent, you'll never get married!"

"That's none of your business!"

Under the setting sun, four small figures surrounded Hiruma, who let out pig-like screams.

PS: In response to everyone's enthusiasm, I'm adding an extra chapter. Even the donkeys on the production team wouldn't work this hard! (Feeling guilty).

Thank you all for your support. I'm doing a 360-degree spin and kneeling to thank you!

—Ling You's ramblings, mwah!