Comfort and Advice

At dinner, Hiruma ate absentmindedly. From childhood to adulthood, he had never been like this while eating.

But Shinobu had not come tonight, and he felt uneasy.

With no appetite, he ate only half a bowl of rice before hurriedly leaving the Rengoku Family estate.

He rushed to the Medical Department as fast as he could, wandering around aimlessly in hopes of running into Shinobu.

But fate did not cooperate. Forget Shinobu—Hiruma did not even see Kanae.

So, like a guardian statue, he stood outside the Medical Department with a miserable expression, startling the passing medical staff and wounded slayers.

As the bright moon gradually rose high overhead, Hiruma sat outside the Medical Department's gates like a lovesick Tom Cat, propping his chin up with both hands and sighing again and again.

"Ah!"

"Where did Shinobu go?"

"Life is so boring!"

Just then, Kanae came down the distant path carrying a lunchbox. She spotted Hiruma at once.

Her eyes suddenly flickered, and she jogged over to him.

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

"I know where she is. Can you help me with something?"

As soon as Kanae finished speaking, Hiruma perked up. He rubbed his hands together with a bright smile.

"Megumi, please use me however you like!"

Kanae tilted her head, feeling that Hiruma's words sounded rather strange.

"Shinobu is..."

A moment later, Kanae explained her predicament. Shinobu was too stubborn and was currently angry—so angry that even her older sister could not talk her out of it.

But Shinobu was angry at herself. If anyone could still do something now, it was probably Hiruma.

"Megumi, do you have some paper and a pen?"

"Huh?" Hiruma's question caught Kanae off guard. What did he need those for? Was he going to write a love letter?

No, no, no. Shinobu was still too young. She needed to grow up a little more first.

But Hiruma really was someone worth entrusting her to.

Sigh! So conflicted!

Hiruma said, "Megumi? ∑(′△｀)?!"

"Oh, right!"

"I'm here! Wait a moment!"

A little while later, Kanae stuffed some paper and a pen into Hiruma's hands, then said something that left him utterly confused.

"Shinobu is still young. Wait a few more years!"

"Good luck!"

She patted Hiruma on the shoulder and returned to the Medical Department with an auntie-like grin, leaving him standing there in utter disarray.

I just wanted to draw a design sketch.

Without giving it much more thought, he left the Medical Department excitedly.

The gentle moonlight was like a cool silk blanket, lightly draped over the Demon Slayer Corps.

In a secluded clearing in the woods, Shinobu stood alone with a sword, continuously striking the boulder before her.

A trainer's lessons progressed step by step. First came wooden posts, then massive boulders. Only then could one sever a Demon's neck.

Unfortunately, Shinobu was too weak. Even cutting through a wooden post took everything she had, let alone a boulder.

"Damn it, why won't it break?!"

Shinobu roared unwillingly. She trained like crazy day and night only to catch up with her companions.

Hiruma's appearance had changed the timeline, causing Shinobu to meet too many outstanding swordsmen—especially Hiruma.

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

As for Hiruma, whom Shinobu had always chased after, he was the most outstanding among them all.

"Shinobu, you must not be working hard enough!"

"You have to put in twice the effort—or even more!"

Shinobu gripped her training sword tightly. The blood blisters on her hands burst, and blood quickly soaked through the bandages, but she ignored it. Gritting her teeth, she swung her sword again and again.

Compared to the pain Hiruma had endured, what was this little bit of suffering?

Shinobu felt unwilling, angry, afraid, and restless.

She refused to fall behind others. She was furious at her own weakness and afraid that she would not be able to remain by her companions' side.

She had always been a strong-willed child.

At last, she exhausted all her strength and collapsed beside the boulder, tears welling up in her eyes.

Weak, pitiful, and helpless—it made one's heart ache.

Suddenly, the moonlight before her was blocked. Then, something sweet was placed into her mouth.

Like a mysterious little spirit, Hiruma had arrived without a sound. A reassuring smile rested on his face, while his eyes were full of concern.

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

Shinobu hurriedly turned her head away. She did not want Hiruma to see her weak side.

"Th... thank you!" She desperately suppressed the tremor in her voice and the grievance in her heart, or she really would have started crying.

Hiruma turned around without saying anything. He simply waited quietly for her.

Shinobu was a strong-willed person. He had to give her time to sort out her emotions.

The silence faded. Shinobu composed herself and casually changed the subject.

"Hiruma, why are you still awake in the middle of the night?"

Hearing that, Hiruma turned around and solemnly made up nonsense. "I ate too much, so I came out for a walk!"

But as soon as he finished speaking, his stomach growled in protest.

"Ah, fine. I only ate half a bowl of rice today!" Hiruma scratched his head awkwardly and continued, "I was just bored, so I came wandering around. Hehe!"

"My sister told you, didn't she?"

"No, no, absolutely not!"

"Fine, she did." Hiruma lowered his head, feeling extremely guilty.

Shinobu forced out a smile. "Hiruma really can't lie!"

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

Whenever Shinobu saw Hiruma, she seemed to enter an automatic healing mode.

"Mm!"

"Then let me ask you a question."

"Go ahead!"

"Besides sunlight and severing their necks, what else can kill Demons?"

Shinobu tilted her head slightly. Her violet eyes were clear and transparent like deep lakes, reflecting Hiruma's face along with a trace of confusion.

Because Hiruma's question was silly. Anyone in the Demon Slayer Corps knew the answer.

Demons feared sunlight and Wisteria Flower. Nichirin Blades could kill them.

"Wisteria Flower!"

"That's right!" Hiruma rubbed Shinobu's little head and teased, "What a smart little girl!"

Shinobu puffed out her cheeks and glared at him. "I'm not a child anymore!"

"Whatever Shinobu says goes."

"Then for the second question: what are you good at?"

Without hesitation, she answered, "Pharmacology and identifying herbs."

"Mm!" Hiruma nodded. "That's Shinobu's strength."

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

"Poison!" Shinobu's mouth fell open as realization dawned on her. Hiruma was giving her advice.

Wisteria Flower was poison to Demons. That meant there was another way to kill Demons: poison—Wisteria Flower.

With Shinobu's intelligence, she would have realized this eventually. Hiruma was merely guiding her and bringing that realization sooner.

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

Shinobu smiled. She felt as though life had hope again. Perfect.

Just as Shinobu was growing excited, Hiruma caught her off guard with a hug. His voice was full of concern.

"Don't force yourself too hard. Take care of your body. I'll always be here!"