Chapter 45 "Hold on tight."

—Aori had never seen Sabito and Giyu express their killing intent so openly.

Those who practice the Breath of Water are usually calm and reserved like water, with occasional ripples, but at this moment, they seem to have been completely enraged, stirring up a raging storm.

In her confusion, she could clearly sense the undercurrents surging beneath the turbulent waves—the unspoken care and sincerity they showed her.

A sudden warmth filled her chest, sweeping away the heaviness hidden deep within her heart that she had deliberately ignored. It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved.

Although the system-issued task brought them together, Aori genuinely treated everyone with sincerity, especially Giyu Tomioka and Sabito.

000 said that her situation was "immersive task completion," but Azhi didn't quite understand what she meant and just clumsily explored it step by step.

It seems to be working quite well now, or to put it bluntly, it's working too well!

000 gritted its teeth. It only helped Azhi with the progress of the mission and provided her with some suitable methods. As for interpersonal relationships, it didn't care much unless there was a possibility of threatening the host's life.

Feelings, especially romantic love, are a major taboo when doing tasks.

000 has seen other systems fail on missions, and most of them are due to problems with the host. However, Azhi's mission is a bit special and may cause big trouble.

Given that Kokushibo has already shown signs of this, and since the girl doesn't know him at all, plus 000 is "stirring things up" in the middle, Aori, who has only been in contact with him for a few days, is probably just confused about him.

But Giyu Tomioka and Sabito are different; they are the ones most closely connected with Ori, and during the observation just now, 000 noticed that they also had this ambiguous meaning.

So how did things develop to this point when we met so few times and spent so little time together?

Human emotions are truly inexplicable, baffling the system, and 000's heart is unusually weary.

Fortunately, Azhi's slowness of perception offered it some comfort.

Azhi was unaware of 000's current frustration. She wasn't very good at handling such delicate emotions, and after thinking for a while, she managed to squeeze out a meager sentence, "Don't be angry."

She slowly pried open the swordsman's hand, which he had been holding tightly for some time. He had used a lot of force, and if he wanted to, it was something that A-Zhi couldn't change.

But the moment Aori touched him, before she even started to pry, Sabito's fingers loosened as if he couldn't resist, and he sighed inwardly.

The atmosphere warmed up again, and Azhi smiled, suddenly realizing that her answer hadn't highlighted the key point. In addition, she had a flash of inspiration and thought of a more suitable reason.

She added hastily, "That Upper Moon One is a demon who doesn't eat people, just like Nezuko, and he doesn't seem to be with the other demons."

Because Kokushibo doesn't eat people, she returned safely. As for that annoying Upper Moon Two, Doma, Kokushibo gave him a good beating so that they wouldn't have the idea of ​​"killing Kokushibo."

It's not that she's unilaterally protecting the Upper Moons; Aori is more concerned that she doesn't want the two swordsmen to do anything dangerous because of her.

Despite the setbacks, she is fortunate to be alright, so they don't need to provide any additional compensation.

Ah Zhi belatedly began to regret it, even wanting to tap her not-so-bright head, thinking that saying it this way would have been more appropriate.

The girl's soft, long black hair cascaded down. She stood there, enveloped in soft light, her clear black and white eyes staring intently at them with a serious expression.

The two short sentences contain a great deal of information, and there are many aspects worth exploring.

Sabito and Giyu Tomioka exchanged a glance, their pupils contracting slightly. They could both see the undisguised surprise in each other's eyes.

They could naturally understand the meaning hidden in A-Zhi's words, but they did not follow the girl's wishes and change their original ideas.

Treachery and cunning are synonymous with demons, and Upper Moon demons are among the best. Perhaps what Aori said was all an act by Upper Moon One, Kokushibo, to deceive her and make her his own...

Thinking this, the two of them started to feel pain in their temples, and their faces involuntarily darkened.

The rabbit paused briefly, then smiled and subtly changed the subject: "Alright, we're about to set off."

When the girl looked over, he gently patted her head and said in a gentle tone, "Tanjiro was very worried about you."

Thanks to timely support, no one died in the battle against Upper Moon Six. However, after they returned and were examined, it was discovered that the three little ones, who appeared to have only suffered minor injuries, actually had internal fractures.

They're all staying at the Butterfly Mansion to recuperate now, so if Aori goes back, she'll run into them.

********

The excitement of their reunion gradually faded over time. Not wanting to waste any more time, Sabito immediately thanked the farmer who had helped Aori and offered to give him some money as a reward.

Murashita naturally declined outright, but after some back and forth, he had no choice but to symbolically take a few coins from the determined-looking flesh-haired swordsman.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the tall swordsmen standing guard beside Aori cast their shadows, which intertwined perfectly with the girl's. An aura seemed to emanate from them, an aura that no one else could penetrate.

It's not hard to see from the observation just now that the girl and they have a very good relationship. Although it's a bit strange, there's nothing to worry about now.

Murashita waved goodbye and got into his car and left.

Whether it was just her imagination or not, Azhi felt that there was something strange hidden in his eyes when he looked around at her at the end...

The cart gradually disappeared into the distance on the road.

Azhi went in the opposite direction. She poked 000 and asked with some concern, "Didn't you say you were going to Sheyun Mountain first?"

【。】000 popped up, its electronic voice slow and leisurely, as if it didn't care about the matter at all. 【It's okay to go later.】 It would wait until it could come up with a suitable reason to trick Azhi into giving it some free labor.

Azhi scratched her head, not quite understanding.

The system's core is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.

After a brief discussion, Giyu Tomioka and Sabito decided on the shortest route back, while Kakuya, who had been standing aside and had little presence, went to where they were supposed to go.

After the three of them were left, Azhi also realized a problem.

Unlike the agile and well-trained Demon Slayer Corps members, Ori was firstly wearing a kimono that hindered her movement, and secondly, she couldn't run. :)

The fact that she was the only burden in a team of three made Azhi nervous. She started acting unreasonably towards 000: "Give me another speed boost, so I can run like the wind."

That way she wouldn't be a burden.

000 used high-tech methods to measure Azhi's temperature in less than a second, and said with extreme doubt: "She doesn't have a fever."

Azhi was hurt: [...]

While she was joking around with the system, Giyu Tomioka had already knelt on one knee. He hunched his back slightly, put his hands behind his back in a gesture to carry her, and looked over with his deep blue eyes full of urging.

Azhi was a beat slow to understand what he meant, and a blush crept onto her face. Naturally, she was too embarrassed to have someone carry her.

But she also knew that if she tried to be strong now, she would only slow down Giyu Tomioka and Sabito.

Azhi hesitated for a moment, then resigned herself to her fate.

She parted the hem of her kimono slightly, then slowly leaned onto Tomioka Giyuu's back. Her slender, white ankles drooped down, seemingly a little nervous, her rounded toes shyly tangled together.

The movements were not very skillful, and there was a lack of necessary common sense.

Sabito removed the girl's shoes from her raised toes and carried them in his hand to prevent them from being lost during the journey.

Actually, A-Zhi realized what was happening when he was helping her take off her shoes, but she didn't have time to stop him. She grabbed the black-haired swordsman's shoulder with one hand and reached for Sabito's hand with the other.

As if to tease her, Sabito stretched out his arm to the side, watching as the girl's pink and white fingertips weakly swished a few times in the air, without touching her at all.

"Sabito!" Aori was so angry she almost fainted. She was already out of breath after just a few blows. She grabbed Tomioka Giyuu's clothes and looked to him for judgment, "Look at him!"

The area that had been gripped felt itchy, as if scratched by a kitten. A soft panting sound came from beside his ear, and Tomioka Giyuu's throat tightened inexplicably. He lowered his brows and shifted his gaze slightly, "Ori."

Azhi thought he was going to tell her something, so she leaned closer and her soft, warm breath brushed against the black-haired swordsman's ear. "What's wrong?"

Feeling the softness on his back, Yoshiyuki Tomioka stiffened for a moment, then said expressionlessly, "Hold on tight."

He stood up. The girl's weight was negligible, not even a fraction of the weight he carried during training. Tomioka Giyuu couldn't help but wonder if Aori was eating properly.

But now is not the time to dwell on that.

Giyu Tomioka carried the girl in front, with Sabito following closely behind. To maintain optimal speed, they would take turns carrying the girl for the rest of the journey.

From a distance that was neither too close nor too far, he saw Azhi lowering her neck and talking to the black-haired swordsman. Her back was slightly bent, making her lines appear exceptionally soft.

Sako pursed his lips and continued on his way with peace of mind.

During this time, all A-Zhi did was use the corner of her sleeve to wipe the sweat from the forehead of the man carrying her.

—It's quite comfortable.

Halfway through the journey, Aori suddenly remembered something strange that she had forgotten to share with 000. It was definitely not because she was afraid that she would fall asleep peacefully while Giyu and Sabito were so tired.

She said in a tone that clearly wanted attention: "I'm telling you, I dreamt that I saw you when I was a child."

000 wasn't really keen on cooperating, but was afraid that Azhi would pester it, so it slowly and perfunctorily typed a question mark: 【? 】

When A-Zhi fell asleep on the swaying cart, she actually had another dream, but it wasn't the kind of dream that was completely illogical and left no impression on her after waking up.

She never knew that dreams could be connected.

In front of that same remote, cramped, dilapidated house, and with the same "target" whose face was obscured, the little boy expressionlessly reached out his hand to her. In her dream, Azhi hesitated for a moment, then also reached out her hand.

Her hands were much rougher than hers, a little scratchy, yet they were burning hot in the cold night. Almost the instant she held them, Azhi couldn't bear to let go.

The target's hands weren't particularly large, but they could still easily envelop Azhi's entire hand, the warm fingertips against her palm feeling like a hand warmer.

This idea suddenly popped into Azhi's mind.

In the darkness, the only thing she could rely on was the little boy who was leading her; his small body seemed to possess a calming power.

Azhi gradually relaxed, slowly following behind, and heard herself innocently asking the system in her mind: "Are you called 000?"

【…………】

The system didn't answer immediately, and Azhi waited patiently for a while. Just when she thought she wouldn't get an answer, the electronic voice suddenly became incredibly irritable.

It stated: "Yes, 000 is at your service."

…………

Then she was woken up by the noise.

It was only because she was being carried and was getting a little bored that she vaguely remembered this matter.

Azhi became intrigued and eager to kill time, so she decided to recount the entire series of dreams: "I dreamt that you took me on a mission back then."

"Then the target of the mission was a young master... and at the end I even asked if your name was 000." She rambled on for a while, finally adding, "Isn't it interesting?"

000: 【！！！！！！！】

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Author's note: 000: I was terrified at the time.

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Title: The main theme is becoming everyone's wife

Work ID: 6106824

Star and Moon is a detective game developed by the Suzuki Foundation.

Marin Minamino is an important NPC in the game.

As a "Watson" figure to all players in the game, she is closely related to each player.

"I'm Marin Minamino. May I ask if I can be your assistant?"

This is the beginning of the story.

Some people, while investigating a case, end up playing a game of raising a daughter, buying gifts for NPCs like crazy.

New clothes in the shop, buy them! New gacha pool, spend money!

【Marin is my precious daughter!】

There are also some people who are crazy about anime characters.

[Damn it, when will this wedding card finally appear?]

---

Marin Minamino is very popular. The detective who was drugged and turned into an elementary school student by a certain black organization knows this. His childhood friend has a chibi-style keychain on her schoolbag, dolls in her room, and a phone case specially made for Marin Minamino by her childhood friend's friend.

Only after shrinking did he truly feel the sensation of being surrounded by Minamino Marin.

A man in a blue hoodie carrying a guitar bag walked by and dropped an acrylic keychain that was only available to beta testers.

At the bomb disposal site, a man with medium-length hair was squatting in a corner, holding a transparent phone with a transparent card inside the case.

The officer following behind Inspector Megure, wearing black sunglasses, was muttering some mystical formula for the new gacha pool.

Even the mixed-race guy at the new coffee shop downstairs is wearing an apron with felt dolls of girls on it... Even though the owner said today is a real day, why don't you resist decorating with those at all!

The little detective has seen through this world surrounded by Minamino Marin!

He decided to go and find out.

later,

It smells so good.

Deduction Game (X) Romance Game (√) Food & Lifestyle Game (√)

Everyone loves anime characters, maybe it's because of industrial saccharin?

Some keep wives, others keep daughters.