Horitake gave the matter some serious thought and realized that Master Urokodaki's concern wasn't just possible—it was probable.
Once Nezuko woke up, if her beloved older brother wasn't the first thing she saw, a full-blown tantrum was a distinct possibility. After all, in her current state, Nezuko's mental capacity was roughly that of a toddler.
Horitake fell into a contemplative silence.
If she really does wake up and start wailing, what do I do? How do I soothe her? Can she even be reasoned with?
These were the questions keeping him up at night.
He tried to recall the original timeline. When did Nezuko wake up in the story? If he remembered correctly, it was right as Tanjiro returned to Mount Sagiri after surviving the Final Selection. She had kicked the door of Urokodaki's house right off its hinges and sprinted into her brother's arms.
Looking at the still-slumbering Nezuko, Horitake felt a bit helpless. He scratched his head and looked at Urokodaki.
"Well... I don't have a foolproof plan. We'll just have to wait and see. We can't be sure how she'll react until it happens. Who knows? Maybe she'll take a liking to me right away."
Urokodaki's voice was dry, laden with skepticism. "Do you truly believe that?"
"I think it'll be fine. I'm pretty good with kids—I should be able to keep her calm until Tanjiro gets back."
Urokodaki didn't have a better suggestion, so he simply let it be.
And so, following Tanjiro's departure, Horitake remained at Mount Sagiri. He lived alongside Master Urokodaki, spending his days looking after Nezuko and keeping a watchful eye on her condition.
Time began to slip away, day by day.
Horitake kept a mental tally of the calendar. If everything was going according to the original script, Tanjiro should have reached Mount Fujikasane a few days ago and begun the week-long trial. Right now, at this very moment, the boy was likely fighting for his life in a forest swarming with demons.
In a few more days, he would hopefully emerge victorious and make his way back.
Of course, those "ifs" relied on everything going perfectly. Horitake knew all too well that "accidents" were a staple of this world. He could only offer a silent prayer that the Final Selection would remain relatively stable and that Tanjiro would pass on his first try.
One afternoon, while idling away the time in the cabin, Horitake was once again keeping Nezuko company.
With Tanjiro gone, Horitake had become even more shameless. Whenever he was bored, he'd find himself poking or lightly pinching Nezuko's fair, soft cheeks. It was, by all accounts, a bit much.
But he couldn't help himself. Nezuko was simply too beautiful, too "moe," and far too adorable.
However, mid-pinch, Horitake noticed something unusual.
Beneath her closed eyelids, Nezuko's eyes were moving—darting back and forth rapidly.
Horitake froze.
This behavior usually signaled one of two things: either she was having an incredibly vivid and intense dream, or she was finally, finally about to wake up.
The moment the second thought crossed his mind, Horitake pulled his hand back. He leaned in closer, his breath held, observing her every movement with rapt attention.
His instincts were sharp; it seemed the latter was true. Nezuko was stirring!
Amidst his excitement, a flicker of confusion crossed Horitake's mind. Wait, in the original story, she didn't wake up yet. She's early by a few days. Why the sudden change?
Don't tell me... did I poke her cheeks so much that I actually stimulated her into waking up early?
Uh... well, it's not impossible.
He quickly shoved those chaotic thoughts to the back of his mind and stared at her with bated breath.
Nezuko's elegant brows knitted together in a slight frown. Then, at long last, her eyes fluttered open.
She revealed large, watery eyes as deep and dark as ripe grapes. She blinked slowly, looking at her surroundings with a profound sense of confusion as she tried to move her stiff, leaden limbs.
Having slept for nearly two years straight, her disorientation was only natural.
Horitake sat beside her, his heart hammering against his ribs in a mix of nerves and anticipation. What would her first move be?
Nezuko remained lying under the covers for a moment, blinking at the ceiling. Then, slowly, she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her long sleeves trailed behind her as she raised her arms and let out a soft, silent stretch.
She was in that hazy, half-awake state where the world felt a bit like a dream. But as the fog cleared, her brain began to register reality.
Finally, after a long moment of adjusting, she was fully awake.
With the bamboo muzzle still held firmly in her mouth, Nezuko blinked her wide eyes and scanned the room. The environment felt familiar.
Oh, right... this is where I fell asleep. And now I'm awake in the same place. Everything is okay. Mmm!
Then, she noticed the person sitting right next to her. She tilted her head to the side, looking at Horitake with a questioning gaze.
That single, curious tilt of the head struck Horitake like a physical blow to the heart.
Good heavens! So cute! Nezuko is top-tier!
Horitake couldn't say for certain if Nezuko was the "most beautiful" girl in the world, but he was absolutely convinced she was the most adorable. Seeing her like this, his "maiden heart" practically did a somersault. He felt a wave of pure, healing warmth wash over him, his pulse racing with excitement.
He scrambled to introduce himself, his voice a bit frantic as he tried to remain gentle so as not to startle her.
"Nezuko? Do you... do you remember me? I helped you and your brother before. I'm your friend. My name is Horitake. You recognize me, right?"
He watched her carefully, holding his breath.
Nezuko studied him with an earnest intensity. She tilted her head again, an invisible question mark practically floating above her hair, before her eyes suddenly lit up. The "question mark" seemed to pop like a bubble.
She made a series of soft, muffled sounds:
"Hmm? Mmm... Mn!"
Based on her tone and the bright, happy expression on her face, Horitake knew she had recognized him.
Seeing her smile at him with those kind, sweet eyes sent a surge of adrenaline through his system. She remembers me! She actually remembers me! The "Opening Act" was going much smoother than he had dared to hope!
But the real surprise was yet to come.
Nezuko seemed genuinely delighted to see him. She let out a soft hum, waved her arms a little, and then—without warning—she reached out and lunged forward, throwing her small, soft body directly into Horitake's chest.
Is she... is she asking for a hug?!
Horitake's heart soared as he instinctively caught her, pulling her into a warm, soft embrace.
He was beyond thrilled. He was ecstatic.
Nezuko's very first reaction upon waking up was to hug him? It seemed his "Affection Points" were much higher than he'd realized!
He never imagined that anyone other than Tanjiro would ever receive such a high-tier treatment.
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