"I'm so tired!"
Zenitsu spoke as he walked listlessly toward the Butterfly Mansion.
He was surrounded by the same group of listless teammates.
After a day of arduous training.
Even Inosuke is usually very energetic, doesn't seem to have much drive anymore.
Fortunately, Inosuke didn't complain as much as Zenitsu.
After all, it's all for the sake of becoming stronger!
"Hey, Inosuke, when will this end?" Zenitsu turned to Inosuke and asked.
Upon hearing this, Inosuke raised his hand and flexed his muscles, "As long as I can get stronger, I don't mind continuing like this. One day I'll be able to defeat that Usui and the Bandage Monster."
Zenitsu sighed, "Sometimes being this stubborn doesn't seem so bad."
Inosuke twisted his body and glared at Zenitsu, "Huh? Who are you calling a blockhead?"
"I said I'm single-minded," Zenitsu replied.
Inosuke nodded upon hearing this and turned his head back.
"I see. You really are a bit stubborn!"
Not only is he stubborn, but he's also not very bright!
Zenitsu thought to himself.
But how long will this continue?
Looking back now, going on missions back then doesn't seem entirely unacceptable.
After all, the pain is only temporary when you're on a mission, but the training now means you're in pain every single day!
Oh, heavens! Oh, earth!
Give me a task!
Zenitsu prayed silently; this was one of the few times he felt like doing a mission.
"By the way, I wonder what Mr. Kato wanted Tanjiro to stay behind for today, Inosuke?" Zenitsu asked.
"Hmph, Tanjiro, that weakling, must be too tired from training and couldn't keep going, so he asked for leave to not come!"
"Hehe, if this continues, I'll soon be able to leave him far behind!" Inosuke said with some delight.
Upon hearing Zenitsu, Zenitsu immediately perked up and looked at Inosuke with some eagerness.
"What? Tanjiro took leave? I didn't know it was possible to take leave?"
" Tanjiro probably didn't ask for leave, right?"
A voice came from the side.
Zenitsu turned his head and saw a teammate with a middle-part hairstyle.
" Murata, how did you know?" Zenitsu asked.
Murata began to explain:
"It was Mr. Kato who asked Tanjiro to stay today, so it shouldn't be that Tanjiro asked for leave on his own!"
If Tanjiro asked for leave himself, wouldn't it be better if Tanjiro just didn't come?
Zenitsu nodded.
Murata's words seem to make a lot of sense.
However, Zenitsu's face immediately fell.
Ultimately, it still comes down to not being able to take leave!
"It's not impossible to ask for leave if needed," Murata added.
Zenitsu's spirits lifted again upon hearing this.
"Really? How do you know? Did you ask for leave?"
Murata shook his head, then added under Zenitsu's disappointed gaze:
"I haven't asked for leave before, but if I'm injured, I should be able to take leave."
Like daily mountain climbing training.
If you accidentally fall and injure yourself.
In this situation, even if you wanted to continue training, it wouldn't be possible, right?
"Huh? I see!" Zenitsu somewhat disdainful.
But after thinking about it carefully, I'm starting to get a little tempted.
Compared to the grueling daily training, getting injured doesn't seem entirely unacceptable.
The problem is that the severity of the injury from the fall is difficult to control.
While Zenitsu in thought, everyone quickly returned to the Butterfly Mansion.
After returning to the Butterfly Mansion, everyone went their separate ways.
Zenitsu and Inosuke walked towards the courtyard behind the Butterfly Mansion.
I want to see if Tanjiro is there.
The two soon arrived at the courtyard behind the Butterfly Mansion.
Looking at the figure in the courtyard, Zenitsu nudged Inosuke.
"Hey, Inosuke, I think I'm so tired my eyes are blurry."
I actually saw Mameko in the sun!
Do you think I can use this as a reason to ask Mr. Kato for leave?
Inosuke ignored him and walked straight toward Nezuko.
In the courtyard.
Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho were standing in front of Nezuko.
"Yes, Nezuko- neechan, I'm Naho Takada, remember that, I'm Naho Takada!"
Naho stood in front of Nezuko, her two small hands gently clenched into fists and placed in front of her chest, looking at Nezuko with an expectant expression.
"High... high..."
Nezuko tried to say Naho's name, but while the first syllable was fine, she couldn't pronounce the second one.
" Naho, your name is too hard to pronounce! Nezuko can't possibly pronounce such a complicated name anymore! Let me do it!!"
As Qing spoke, she pushed the Naho apart.
" Kiyo Terauchi, I am Kiyo Terauchi, you can just call me Kiyoshi!"
Come on, Nezuko- neechan, repeat after me!
clear!!"
Nezuko tilted her head, looked at the little person in front of her, and opened her mouth.
"Clear!"
It's definitely easier to practice one word than several.
Nezuko read it out on her first try.
Upon seeing this, Qing jumped up with joy.
"See? Naho, Sumi, Nezuko read my name!"
Seeing this, Cheng quickly stepped in.
"Me too, me too!"
Nezuko- neechan, my name is Sumi Nakahara, you can just call me Sumire.
Cheng!
"Sumiko!" Nezuko called out.
Seeing this, Cheng jumped up happily.
"Yay! Nezuko called my name too!"
Only Naho was pouting her little mouth.
"Oh no, how could this be? I should have had a one-character name too!"
"It's... it's okay, I... I'll... learn a little more... and I'll be able to... say... your... name...!" Nezuko stammered.
Naho nodded excitedly, "Yes, Nezuko- neechan, it's a deal!"
"Um... it's a promise!" Nezuko nodded seriously.
Out of the corner of her eye, Nezuko saw someone approaching and looked towards the figure.
Nezuko laughed at the familiar Boar's Head.
He raised his hand and waved.
"Welcome... home!"
" Inosuke!"
"Why?"
Nezuko, looking somewhat puzzled.
" Inosuke!" Inosuke repeated, clenching his fists.
Seeing this, Nezuko began to understand.
That should be his name; he probably wants me to call him by his name.
Nezuko opened her mouth.
"Ee... Ee..."
Bang!
Inosuke was kicked away.
Zenitsu screamed at Inosuke's flying figure:
"Ah!!!
Do you know what Inosuke?
You actually stole Nezuko from me!
Unforgivable!!
You are absolutely unforgivable!!!