Comfort and Advice

During dinner, Hiruma was distracted, something he never did growing up.

But the problem was that Shinobu hadn't shown up tonight, and he felt uneasy.

With a poor appetite, he only ate half a basin of rice before rushing out of the Rengoku Family residence.

He arrived at the medical department at his fastest speed, wandering aimlessly, hoping for a chance encounter with Shinobu.

Alas, fate was not on his side. Not only did he not see Shinobu, but Hiruma didn't even see Kanae.

So, he stood like a statue by the entrance of the medical department with a dejected look, startling the passing medical staff and the injured.

Gradually, the bright moon hung high, and Hiruma sat outside the medical department's main entrance, resting his chin on his hands and sighing like a heartbroken Tom cat.

"Sigh!"

"Where did Shinobu go?"

"Life is so boring!"

Just then, Kanae walked over from a nearby path carrying a lunchbox. She spotted Hiruma at a glance.

Suddenly, her eyes flashed, and she jogged over to him.

"Hiruma, are you sad because you can't see Shinobu?"

"I know where she is, can you do me a favor!"

As soon as Kanae finished speaking, Hiruma became energetic, smiled broadly, and rubbed his hands together, saying:

"Megumi, please use me to your heart's content!"

Kanae tilted her head, feeling that Hiruma's words were a bit strange.

"Shinobu is..."

A moment later, she explained her predicament. Shinobu was too stubborn and was currently angry, to the point where even her sister couldn't persuade her.

However, Shinobu was angry with herself. If anyone could help now, it was probably Hiruma.

"Megumi, do you have paper and pen?"

"Huh?" Hiruma's question made Kanae pause. What did he need those for? Was he writing a love letter?

No, no, no, Shinobu was too young; she needed to grow a bit older.

But Hiruma was truly someone she could entrust him with.

Sigh!

What a dilemma!

Hiruma: "Megumi? ∑(′△｀)?!"

"Oh, oh, oh!"

"I'm here, wait for me!"

A short while later, Kanae handed Hiruma paper and a pen, saying some things that made his head spin.

"Shinobu is still young, wait a few more years!"

"Keep it up!"

She patted Hiruma's shoulder and walked back to the medical department with a proud smile, leaving Hiruma bewildered in the wind.

I just wanted to draw a design sketch.

Without further thought, he happily left the medical department.

The soft moonlight was like a cool silk quilt, gently covering the Demon Slayer Corps.

In a secluded forest clearing, Shinobu Kocho was continuously slashing at the rock in front of her with her sword.

The trainer's methods were gradual, starting with chopping wooden stakes and then moving on to giant rocks. Only then could one sever a demon's neck.

Unfortunately, Shinobu Kocho's strength was too small. She struggled even to chop through wooden stakes, let alone rocks.

"Damn it, why can't I cut through it!"

Shinobu Kocho roared in frustration. She trained frantically all day just to keep pace with her companions.

Hiruma's appearance had altered the timeline, causing Shinobu Kocho to recognize too many excellent swordsmen, especially Hiruma.

Her sister had learned Flower Breathing. Worried that she would give up on this year's Final Selection, Iguro Obanai had created Snake Breathing. Kyojuro had mastered Flame Breathing, and their father was even a Hashira.

As for Hiruma, whom Shinobu Kocho had always pursued, he was the most outstanding among everyone.

"Shinobu Kocho, you must not be trying hard enough!"

"You have to put in double, even more, effort!"

Shinobu Kocho gripped her training sword. The blood blisters on her hands burst, and blood quickly stained her bandages, but she paid no mind to it. Gritting her teeth, she swung her sword again and again.

Compared to the pain Hiruma endured, what was this?

Shinobu Kocho felt unwilling, angry, scared, and agitated.

She was unwilling to fall behind others, angry at her own weakness, and afraid of not being able to stay by her companions' side.

She had always been the strong one.

Finally, she ran out of strength and collapsed beside a rock, tears welling up in her eyes.

So weak, pitiful, and helpless, it was heartbreaking.

Suddenly, the moonlight in front of her was blocked, and then, something sweet was stuffed into her mouth.

Hiruma appeared like a mysterious little sprite, arriving silently with a reassuring smile on his face and concern in his eyes.

"Shinobu, have some chocolate. I asked an uncle to bring it back from the big city!"

Shinobu Kocho quickly turned her head away, not wanting Hiruma to see her vulnerable side.

"Th...thank you!" she said, trying her best to suppress her crying and the grievances in her heart, or she would truly start crying.

Hiruma turned around, not saying a word. He waited quietly for her, just waited.

Shinobu was a proud person, and he wanted to give her time to compose herself.

The silence was broken, and Shinobu Kocho, having gathered her emotions, pretended nothing was wrong and changed the subject:

"Hiruma, why aren't you asleep this late at night?"

Hearing this, Hiruma turned around and said something nonsensical with a serious expression: "I ate too much, so I was just taking a walk!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, his stomach protested with a loud rumble.

"Sigh, alright, I only ate half a basin of rice today!" Hiruma scratched his head awkwardly and continued, "I'm just too idle, just wandering around, hehe!"

"My sister told you!"

"No, no, no, absolutely not!"

"Alright, yes!" Hiruma lowered his head, feeling extremely guilty.

Shinobu Kocho gave a small smile and said, "Hiruma, you can't lie!"

"But thank you for coming to see me, I feel much better!"

Just seeing Hiruma, Shinobu Kocho would enter automatic healing mode.

"Mm!"

"Then I have a question for you."

"Go ahead!"

"Besides sunlight and decapitation, what else can kill a demon?"

Shinobu Kocho tilted her head slightly, her purple eyes as clear and transparent as deep lakes, reflecting Hiruma's face with a hint of confusion.

Because the question Hiruma asked was very simple; anyone in the Demon Slayer Corps would know.

Demons feared sunlight and wisteria, and a Nichirin Blade could kill them.

"It's wisteria!"

"That's right!" Hiruma ruffled Shinobu's hair, teasing, "Clever girl!"

Shinobu Kocho pouted and glared at him, saying, "I'm not a child anymore!"

"Whatever Shinobu says goes."

"Then, second question, what are you good at?"

Upon hearing this, she replied without hesitation: "Pharmacology and identifying medicinal herbs."

"Mm!" Hiruma nodded, "That's Shinobu's strong suit."

"Medicine is medicine, but it can also be poison!"

"Poison!" Shinobu Kocho's mouth fell open, and she suddenly realized that he was giving her advice.

Wisteria was like poison to demons, so there was another way to kill them: poison, which was wisteria.

In fact, with Shinobu Kocho's intelligence, she would have realized this sooner or later. Hiruma was just guiding her and accelerating the process.

"Shinobu, congratulations!" Hiruma clapped his hands, genuinely happy for her.

Shinobu Kocho smiled, feeling that life had regained its hope, perfect.

Just as Shinobu Kocho was getting excited, Hiruma unexpectedly hugged her and said with concern:

"Don't push yourself too hard, take care of yourself. I'm always here for you!"