Heading to Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture

Tanjiro was a little surprised by the Kasugai Crow's words. "Huh! We're starting the next mission already?"

"Go now! Go now!" the Kasugai Crow repeated endlessly.

"We've had a night's rest. That should be enough. Let's go, Tanjiro," Lin Guang said.

Hearing Lin Guang's words, Tanjiro said no more.

"Yes, Senior Lin Guang."

After several days of travel, Lin Guang and Tanjiro arrived in Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture, at night.

Asakusa in Tokyo Prefecture was quite developed. Even at night, it was as bright as day, with colorful lights lining the streets and a lively bustle everywhere.

When they arrived in Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture, Tanjiro was utterly dumbstruck. The highly developed city, with its modern facilities and buildings, left the boy who had grown up selling charcoal in the mountains astonished.

"Cities have come this far?! It's nighttime, but it's so bright!" Tanjiro stood frozen amid the crowds streaming past.

Seeing how calm Lin Guang was in comparison, Tanjiro couldn't help asking him.

"Senior Lin Guang, how are you not surprised at all? I've never been to a city like this before! It's as bright as day here even at night, and it looks even livelier than during the day."

At that, Lin Guang put on a look of surprise. "Oh! There are so many people here! And why is it as bright as day?"

Tanjiro sighed at Lin Guang's utterly halfhearted display of surprise. "You could at least make it a little convincing."

"Oh? Really?" Lin Guang chuckled.

Lin Guang's joke helped Tanjiro relax considerably.

"Thank you, Senior Lin Guang."

Then Lin Guang continued, "We've been out for so long, and Nezuko hasn't come out once. She's had plenty of rest. Let her out for some fresh air."

"You're right. I wonder how Nezuko will react when she sees this place."

As he spoke, Tanjiro set the wooden box on the ground and called Nezuko out.

Nezuko opened her eyes and took in the magnificent sights of Asakusa, Tokyo Prefecture. Her eyes went wide, making her indescribably adorable.

"Nezuko is so cute." As he spoke, Lin Guang couldn't resist giving her a pat on the head.

Nezuko enjoyed Lin Guang's head pats so much that her eyes narrowed into little crescents.

Then Lin Guang took Nezuko's small hand. "Let's look around here. I'm hungry anyway, so let's see what snacks Asakusa in Tokyo Prefecture has to offer."

"Yes, Senior Lin Guang."

Tanjiro hoisted the wooden box onto his back, and the two humans and one demon began exploring Asakusa in Tokyo Prefecture.

Lin Guang bought some snacks and gave a portion to Tanjiro. Nezuko, however, couldn't taste any of them with the bamboo muzzle in her mouth.

And so Lin Guang walked ahead, holding Nezuko's hand, while Tanjiro watched from behind.

Watching Lin Guang, Tanjiro thought, Senior Lin Guang believed in Nezuko and me right from the start, and he's helped us so much. He's always looked after us like an older brother.

And from the way Senior Lin Guang acts, he seems to really like Nezuko. If...

"Tanjiro, what are you thinking about?"

Lin Guang's voice interrupted Tanjiro's daydream.

"Ahem! N-nothing! Senior Lin Guang, let's keep looking around." Tanjiro's face twisted into an incredibly strained expression as he lied.

Lin Guang chuckled and didn't press him any further.

After walking a while longer, Lin Guang and Tanjiro spotted a noodle vendor's cart beneath a streetlamp on a quiet side street. Several benches stood nearby for customers to sit and eat.

Perhaps because the spot was rather out of the way, there were no customers at the moment. Only the bald owner sat on a bench, leisurely smoking his pipe.

Lin Guang, Tanjiro, and Nezuko sat down on a long bench.

"Could we have two bowls of udon with grated yam, please?" Lin Guang asked the bald owner.

"Ah! Coming right up! Just a moment!" The owner snapped to attention, put away his pipe, and stood to prepare the udon for Lin Guang and Tanjiro.

As soon as they sat down, Nezuko leaned against Lin Guang's shoulder, bringing a faint smile to his face.

Seeing this, Tanjiro felt a little pang of jealousy, but it also strengthened the idea forming in his mind.

Just as I thought, Senior Lin Guang really likes Nezuko. If Nezuko could have him by her side, I think that would be a good choice.

"Well? Have you noticed anything strange?" Lin Guang asked.

"This is my first time in a place like this, and there are so many people, so..." Tanjiro said, a little embarrassed.

"It's fine. We're only here to investigate. If there's nothing, all the better. If there is, we'll just have to get to work," Lin Guang said casually.

Before long, the bald owner finished two steaming bowls of udon with grated yam and set them on the cart's serving counter.

"Your udon with grated yam is ready!" the bald owner called to Lin Guang and Tanjiro.

"Thank you very much."

Lin Guang and Tanjiro took their bowls, ready to enjoy a delicious meal.

Just then, Tanjiro's expression suddenly changed, and the bowl of udon slipped from his hands and fell toward the ground.