"It's alright, Zenitsu. I've already asked Mr. Suzuki. The three of us will go to his dojo to train together tomorrow."
"Really! That Mount Natagumo guy really agreed to duel me!"
"Inosuke... Mr. Suzuki said it's training, not a duel..."
The boar didn't care what Tanjiro said. The boar just wanted to cheer for now.
"Alright! Time for bed! I have to be in top condition to face him tomorrow!"
Inosuke Hashibira jumped into bed, instantly lay down, pulled up the covers, and started breathing evenly.
"Zenitsu, let's go together tomorrow."
"Yeah, let's go together."
Zenitsu seemed to have cheered up a bit and also lay down on his bed.
Tanjiro Kamado suddenly remembered that Zenitsu's ears were just as sensitive as his own nose. Perhaps Mr. Suzuki would like him too?
"Zenitsu, you can hear sounds, right? What does Mr. Suzuki's sound like?"
"I can't hear it clearly."
"Huh?"
"I can't hear that person's sound clearly! It's like a lake; even if I can see the ripples, I can't hear what the sound actually is. But I know that guy is super, super, super strong! He won't allow anyone else to try and spy on his secrets—but he's not a bad person."
Zenitsu said with some frustration. This was the reason he was always both respectful and afraid of Suzuki Makoto, as he had never encountered such a situation before.
Tanjiro thought to himself. The reason he could smell something was probably because Mr. Suzuki hadn't completely hidden everything about himself.
"Tanjiro, aren't you going to sleep?"
"Mr. Suzuki asked me to do something for him. I'll be back to sleep in a little while."
The boy turned and left. He still had to go to the side of Shinobu Kocho's cottage to see if he could smell wisteria flowers.
Tanjiro tiptoed closer to the cottage and soon frowned, because the scent from inside was so strong it seemed as if the cottage was piled high with blooming wisteria flowers.
It's probably because of the workshop, right? After all, they have to extract so much wisteria poison for the Corps members to use.
Tanjiro remembered that Mr. Suzuki had mentioned the tea, so he wanted to get a little closer.
A Nichirin Blade, gleaming with a cold light, instantly appeared before Tanjiro's neck.
"Eek!"
The boy was startled. He stood frozen in place, and looking up, he saw Shinobu Kocho's Tsuguko, Kanao Tsuyuri, standing before him with a blank expression.
"Please don't tell Master Shinobu! I have a reason for being here!"
Kanao didn't speak. Instead, she took out her coin with her other hand, tossed it, and caught it.
"What are you here for?"
"Mr. Suzuki sent me. He told me to check if there was a wisteria scent in Master Shinobu's tea."
"Wisteria?"
"Wisteria."
"Wisteria!"
The girl blinked. Recalling some of Shinobu Kocho's strange behavior she had observed before, she felt a sudden panic for no reason. She immediately sheathed her sword and rushed into Shinobu's cottage.
Tanjiro was completely dumbfounded, not knowing whether he should follow her or go back first.
It wasn't just Tanjiro who was confused. Shinobu Kocho, who was already inside, was also baffled. She saw Kanao rush in and thought something was wrong, only to see her pour a cup of tea from her teapot and then hurry out of the room again.
"Was she worried that child, Tanjiro, was thirsty?"
As a Hashira, she had of course noticed Tanjiro's approach, but she had only assumed the boy was taking a walk.
But seeing Kanao's urgent expression... could it be that she had made friends with Tanjiro?
Mistaken for looking after a friend, Kanao Tsuyuri rushed to Tanjiro with the tea and handed it to the bewildered boy.
"Is this... the tea Lady Shinobu drinks?"
Kanao nodded.
Tanjiro sniffed it and let out a sigh of relief.
"It's just normal tea. There's no wisteria scent."
Kanao also sighed in relief, took the cup back, and turned to leave.
"Ah, that's right. Thank you for your help tomorrow too, Miss Kanao!"
The girl nodded and returned to the cottage.
Shinobu Kocho watched with amusement as Kanao returned with the cup, then she too was stunned.
Why wasn't the tea drunk?
"Kanao, wasn't Tanjiro thirsty?"
Kanao froze. She realized she should avoid this question, but being poor with words, she didn't know how to 'deceive' her sister in that moment.
In a panic, the flustered girl drank the entire cup of tea in one gulp.
Shinobu Kocho: ?
Is... is she in her rebellious phase?
But she didn't press the issue. As long as Kanao could make new friends, it was fine. Tanjiro Kamado was a good kid, too; he wouldn't be a bad influence on her little sister.
The next day, Tanjiro Kamado brought Zenitsu Agatsuma and Inosuke Hashibira to Suzuki Makoto's residence.
The four of them changed their clothes and sat inside the dojo.
"Tanjiro Kamado's family has a set of forms passed down through the Kamado family. After Tanjiro and I organized them, we discovered they are the forms of the original Breathing Style, Sun Breathing. The reason I've brought you all here is to ask if you would like to observe and learn these forms."
"I don't get it! Let's just have our duel first!"
Inosuke Hashibira stood up and drew his twin blades.
"Once I beat you, I'll be the true King of the Mountains! Come on!"
Tanjiro and Zenitsu only felt a gentle breeze pass by, and Inosuke was already clutching his head and wailing.
"Did you see my movement just now, Inosuke?"
"No! What was that?!"
"Then wait until you can see my movements clearly before you challenge me again."
Suzuki Makoto nonchalantly retracted his hand-chop.
"Now, sit down and listen carefully."
"Yes."
Inosuke obediently sat down. Zenitsu, seeing Inosuke instantly become compliant, cautiously asked a question.
"Mr. Suzuki, are you looking to take on a Tsuguko?"
"Hmm, not to the extent of a Tsuguko. During this time, I need to organize this new Breathing Style and all its forms and submit them in writing to the Demon Slayer Corps so that this lost Breathing Style can be restored to the world. Therefore, I have some time to guide you. If you want to learn, I will teach you new forms. If not, I can give you pointers on the forms of your own Breathing Styles."
"Then..."
"I want to learn! You got this strong from learning this, right?! If I learn it, I can be as strong as you!"
The boar immediately raised his hand.
"I want to learn too."
The good boy Tanjiro also raised his hand.
Now only Zenitsu was left.
"I..."
"Zenitsu, I will not be succeeding the Thunder Hashira. You don't need to worry about that."
"Yes! Thank you, Mr. Suzuki—I just want to continue learning Thunder Breathing!"
Zenitsu Agatsuma stood up and bowed deeply to Suzuki Makoto.
____
🔥 Success Unlocked! New Content Awaits! 🔥
Yesss! We accomplished it together! 🎉 We didn't just reach 80 backers—we surged to 90!
Claim your 5 additional episodes for all ongoing works, as promised! 📚✨
✅ Secure instant entry to up to 40 advanced episodes of ALL tales!✅ Receive private materials and priority updates!
Our next community challenge:
🎯 100 Powerstones = One extra Free Chapter for all users🚀 140 MEMBERS = Five additional episodes for ALL WORKS!
The director is on a spree—expect me to debut 4 new projects (maybe more!) by the end of this year!
Our new objective is 140 Loyal Supporters!
We deeply appreciate all the enthusiasm! <3
👻 P - Walnutchan