Holding Nezuko's hands in both of his, Aoyama felt his heart overflow with happiness.
He had finally held her hand for real.
"Um… Nezuko, I'm—"
Before he could finish his excited introduction, Tanjiro suddenly lunged forward, aiming to smash his notoriously hard forehead straight into Aoyama's skull.
Catching it from the corner of his eye, Aoyama immediately released Nezuko's hands and stepped back, widening the distance between them.
Tanjiro's head was famous for being rock-solid.
He had no intention of testing it head-on.
"Who are you?! Don't touch my sister!"
Tanjiro spread his arms wide like a mother hen protecting her chick, shielding Nezuko behind him.
Clearing his throat, Aoyama replied, "I'm Aoyama Ren. Urokodaki-sensei from Mount Sagiri sent me to escort you two."
Tanjiro slowly lowered his arms, the tension in his heart easing as he let out a long breath.
"Let's get moving," Aoyama continued. "Catch up to me. Urokodaki-sensei has a test for you."
The moment he finished speaking, he seized the opportunity—before anyone could react—and scooped Nezuko up in a bridal carry, sprinting toward the mountain path.
Tanjiro froze for half a second, then grabbed his axe and bolted after him.
For a brief moment, he had the strange feeling that this Aoyama Ren wasn't here to escort both siblings.
He was here for his sister.
At last, they arrived at the wooden house on the mountain.
Aoyama gently set Nezuko down and enthusiastically introduced the place.
"Ol— I mean, Nezuko-chan, this is where our happy life together begins!"
Inside the house, Sakonji Urokodaki stepped out. Seeing only a girl, he was just about to ask where Tanjiro had gone—
When a panting figure stumbled into view.
Tanjiro collapsed to his hands and knees before the house, gasping for breath.
"I… I… did I pass… the test…?"
Aoyama grabbed Nezuko's hand and started walking inside.
"Let's go in and rest. The rest is between those two rough men—it has nothing to do with us."
Urokodaki's expression twitched slightly.
"Are you not also a rough man?"
"You're mistaken, Urokodaki-sensei," Aoyama replied proudly. "I am the dashing, elegant, invincible Aoyama."
Urokodaki clicked his tongue, unsurprised by the answer. Turning to Tanjiro, he said, "Put your things down. Follow me. Your test begins now."
"T-test?"
Tanjiro glanced toward the house, finally realizing that when Aoyama told him to catch up earlier, that hadn't been the real test at all.
Urokodaki was already walking away.
Though worried about his sister, Tanjiro had no choice but to follow and face the trial.
With the extra person gone, Aoyama and Nezuko sat facing each other.
Looking into her soft pink eyes, he felt as though he were sinking into them—about to drown in overwhelming happiness.
"Nezuko, I'm Aoyama—your future husband. The two of us will…"
"Hey, hey—Nezuko? Wife? Darling?"
"Don't fall asleep! Or fine, sleep—but at least let me finish talking first~"
Nezuko had tilted over and fallen asleep against his lap.
Aoyama felt like crying, yet there was nothing he could do.
He knew well—Nezuko replenished her strength through sleep.
Not long after abandoning Tanjiro on the mountain, Urokodaki returned.
Seeing the girl asleep on Aoyama's lap, he asked sternly, "What did you do to her?"
"I wish I'd had the chance to do something. I barely said two sentences before she fell asleep."
Aoyama gently picked Nezuko up, laid her on the bedding, and tucked her in.
Just before dawn, a battered and bruised Tanjiro staggered back. Using the last of his strength, he collapsed at the doorway.
"I… did I pass…?"
"You passed."
Upon hearing those words, Tanjiro finally lost consciousness and fell flat to the ground.
For once, Aoyama kindly dragged him inside.
"You're trying to kill him," Aoyama muttered. "He's been traveling day and night carrying his sister, ran into trouble, didn't get any rest, and you sent him straight up the mountain."
Urokodaki snorted coldly.
"This is nothing. When you face real demons, you'll understand—what you're experiencing now doesn't even begin to compare."
Aoyama shrugged.
He knew that was true.
The Twelve Kizuki—and above them, the ruler of demons, Muzan Kibutsuji—were monsters among monsters.
…
Winter passed. Spring came. Winter returned once more.
Urokodaki taught Tanjiro everything he could.
The rest would depend on him.
Tanjiro trained tirelessly every day without needing reminders—leaving early, returning late, practicing each technique again and again with unwavering diligence.
As for Aoyama—
When Tanjiro trained, he lay down.
When Tanjiro practiced sword swings, he lay on his side.
When Tanjiro navigated the mountain traps blindfolded, Aoyama slept soundly.
"Senior Brother Aoyama, this isn't good," Tanjiro said earnestly one day. "Urokodaki-sensei told us we must train diligently. Only then will we have the confidence to face man-eating demons!"
Aoyama rolled over atop a massive rock and sat up, rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Are you lecturing me? Want to spar?"
Tanjiro's expression immediately stiffened.
A certain painful memory resurfaced.
The last time he had sparred with Senior Brother Aoyama…
The beating he received—
Better not to mention it.
Some memories were made entirely of tears.