Chapter 59 "I want to see the one who awakened me..."
Aori was stunned by this direct attack. She stared intently at Yoshiyuki Tomioka, lost in self-doubt: [Was I being too obvious?]
000's tone was flat, but the meaning behind her words was completely different: "Not obvious, just enough for him to notice."
So it couldn't stand watching any longer, so it urged Azhi, since she was just overthinking and doing useless things that drained her energy.
As everyone knows, the girl is very easy to understand; in fact, she is easy to understand because you can tell just by looking at her expression or her actions without her having to say a word.
During the time that Giyu Tomioka took Aori down the mountain, he sensed several times that the girl seemed to be mustering up the courage to say something, but for some reason, she would quickly sigh and give up.
Giyu Tomioka was confused about this.
He wasn't very good at guessing what others were thinking, and he was always straightforward in his dealings with people, so Giyu Tomioka didn't hesitate to ask directly, saving the girl from further hesitation.
"…………"
Azhi's gaze went blank, and a look of confusion gradually appeared on her pretty face. She seemed to be in a daze for a moment, before finally managing to ask, "So... what are your plans for the future?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Azhi realized that her question was too broad, and that the answer to the question was far from what she really wanted to know.
She quickly added, her tone revealing a hint of expectation: "Is there anything you'd like to do? I'll see if I can help?"
The girl's eyes were bright and beautiful, her eyelashes were long and black, and she was smiling as she stared at him without blinking.
Her fair cheeks had somehow gotten a bit dusty from the mountain, and she rubbed them off without realizing it, leaving three neat marks like a kitten's whiskers.
Yoshiyuki Tomioka was genuinely surprised by Ori's question. She usually had many wildly imaginative ideas, so her sincere question left him momentarily stunned.
A gentle warmth flowed through my heart.
The black-haired swordsman's eyes flickered. He pressed his warm, rough palm against the girl, covering half of her face with one hand, and gently caressed her.
Azhi didn't try to dodge; instead, she gently nuzzled against me, her soft cheeks puffing out, making her look incredibly cute. Her voice was soft and gentle: "Really? I'd like to help too."
This statement truly comes from the heart and reflects genuine feelings.
Although Azhi is not very intelligent and is quite handy, making her seem like a little good-for-nothing by comparison, it doesn't matter because she has the clever 000 to help her.
In her mind, no matter how difficult the situation, with 000 around, there will always be a solution.
000 replied: Thank you so much!
The black-haired swordsman suddenly spread his arms and pulled Azhi into his embrace. The petite girl was completely encircled, with only the top of her fluffy hair showing.
Unlike his usual comforting or protective hugs, Giyu Tomioka simply wanted to do this; his unsettled heart prompted him to make this seemingly inexplicable decision.
He simply couldn't control himself, so he simply didn't try, letting himself immerse himself in satisfaction.
Giyu Tomioka and Sabito share the same idea: if possible, girls should stay away from the Demon Slayer Corps' conflicts with demons, since their original intention was to protect ordinary people like Ori.
Therefore, in his opinion, there was absolutely no need for Azhi to be troubled.
His brows furrowed slightly, his deep blue pupils devoid of any extra emotion, and his voice was clear: "There's no need to be bothered by such things."
The sound of Giyu Tomioka's regular breathing reached her ears. Unlike his cold demeanor, Aori shifted her gaze and suddenly noticed the earlobe, hidden among the black-haired swordsman's sideburns, which had turned crimson at some point.
He seems to be very hot right now.
Azhi wanted to touch his forehead to see if he was sweaty, but as soon as she extended her fingertip, she found that Tomioka Giyu had returned to his usual self and retreated to a safe distance.
He asked, "How did Yoriichi Tsugikuni wake up?"
Knowing full well that this question was coming, Azhi wasn't flustered. She shook her head solemnly, indicating that she didn't want to talk about it.
Rather than lie, she chose to remain silent.
In Tomioka Giyuu's view, this meant that the girl didn't know either, since the bewilderment and helplessness that Aori showed when they arrived earlier were definitely not an act.
In response, 000 said: Who understands? Sometimes, Azhi's silence is more effective than her words.
Azhi has learned to face failure with composure. She gave 000 an embarrassed smile, clenched her little fist, and promised, "I'll try harder next time."
000 suddenly couldn't be critical anymore. What else could it do but be understanding? 【Go for it!】
Those around them only saw the black-haired swordsman briefly hug the girl before quickly letting go.
Tanjiro Kamado, having already helped the Hidden Sect settle the red-haired swordsman, beamed with a wide smile upon seeing this: "You've made up! That's wonderful!"
Zenitsu Gasai rolled his eyes and retorted, "They weren't even arguing, were they?!"
After getting ready to go, Azhi also took on the important task of carrying a flashlight, like a mascot, illuminating the way back.
The flashlight's beam was limited, but it still cast a dim glow on her, making her slightly disheveled hair, which had been running around all day, look warm and cozy in the light.
It attracts people who are drawn to light and warmth, making them unconsciously want to get closer.
Sabito's fingertips twitched slightly. He hadn't disturbed Tomioka Giyuu and Aori until they finished their conversation, then calmly gave his orders.
Aori was squatting in a small corner with her legs drawn up to her chest. Because Yoriichi Tsugikuni had a history of suddenly sitting up, she was still afraid.
She shifted her body, trying to get as far away from the red-haired swordsman as possible, listening to the sound of the wheels rolling far into the night.
As the sun begins to appear in the distant east, darkness is dispelled, its rays spread across the land, and the dawn of hope shines directly into everyone's heart.
Despite having worked all night and being exhausted, everyone felt surprisingly relaxed, especially after seeing the door to the Butterfly Mansion.
Azhi got off the cart ahead of time and followed the group closely. The moment she pushed open the door, she saw many, many people.
She wasn't exaggerating; it really was a sea of people.
The courtyard was filled with members of the Demon Slayer Corps, as if all those who weren't on missions had gathered at the Butterfly Mansion by unspoken agreement.
Some were using crutches, some were supporting their backs, and some were holding their arms wrapped in bandages...
In short, it seemed that everyone who wasn't unconscious or bedridden rushed out all at once, making it seem like there wasn't even a place to stand in the yard at first glance.
They all stared wide-eyed, craning their necks to look ahead, trembling with excitement.
"Is it really...that person?"
"That's what Kato said..."
"My God, how is this possible?"
"I don't know either..."
"…………"
They tried to keep their voices down, but there were so many people discussing it that A-Zhi inevitably overheard some of what was being said.
It was from this moment that Aori truly realized how profound and important the name Yoriichi Tsugikuni had been for the members of the Demon Slayer Corps.
********
Yoriichi Tsugikuni was temporarily placed in the Butterfly Mansion.
There are complete medical facilities and experienced doctors here to monitor his condition while he is in a coma.
After a preliminary examination, the doctor arrived at a conclusion that reassured the Demon Slayer Corps—the swordsman from the Warring States period was indeed in good health, and his current coma was due to his body's self-protection mechanism.
He was already strong and healthy, and as he gradually regained his strength, it was only a matter of time before he regained consciousness—that was an undeniable fact.
Perhaps one morning, the Demon Slayer Corps will see him standing before them.
This day certainly came very quickly.
This is the third time in the past six months that a meeting has been held outside of normal hours. However, the members of the group who rushed back from various places all knew very clearly who they would be meeting.
The result was exactly as expected.
Sarutobi was the last to arrive. He was on a mission in a remote area when he received the message from Kasugai, so it took him quite a while to get back.
Someone was guarding the door. When they saw him, they pushed the door open and gestured for him to come in. Sabito went straight in and found an empty seat.
The tall swordsman had his hair tied up, and the markings on his forehead were clearly visible. He was not sitting in the center of the Japanese-style room; his broad, strong back was straight, and his gaze was naturally lowered.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni remained expressionless as he listened intently to Kagaya Ubuyashiki recount the Demon Slayer Corps' history over the past few centuries, nodding occasionally in response, but rarely speaking.
Nevertheless, he easily became the center of attention.
That legendary figure, passed down through generations, now appeared vividly before the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps.
It was clear how excited the young lord, who was usually so composed, was. A faint blush appeared on his pale, sickly face, and he spoke much faster.
…………
This was destined to be the longest meeting they had ever held.
Even though the content had been greatly simplified, the meeting still lasted from day to night, as it involved telling Yoriichi about more than 300 years of history to fill the gaps in his memory, with the addition of supplements from the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps.
The story ended with Kagaya Ubuyashiki nodding in agreement, but the real challenge had only just begun. The relatively peaceful situation between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons had been broken, and the real show was about to begin.
The companions were all agitated, yet they were suppressing the turmoil surging within them. It was easy to guess why they were acting this way.
Sabito and Giyu Tomioka naturally wanted to learn from the founder of the breathing technique, which would surely benefit them greatly, improve their swordsmanship, and play a greater role in future battles.
The air fell into an unnatural stillness.
As if sensing something, Sabito stopped his inner thoughts and looked directly at Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
The red-haired swordsman's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile, his eyes deep and calm. He turned his head toward them, his face half-lit and half-shadowed by the candlelight.
"I want to see the girl who woke me up."
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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2023-06-26 23:09:51 and 2023-06-28 09:51:22!
Thank you to the little angel who launched the rocket: 1 like from an old friend;
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: Duanjiujiu (1 landmine);
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Duan Jiujiu, 2 bottles;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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