Demon Slayer: My breathing technique went awry after Nezuko pushed me down.

The little lord may seem ordinary, but in reality...

I was almost scared to tears.

Meanwhile, the gentle Tanjiro, bursting with a sense of justice, immediately put aside his resentment towards Shirakawa Yu and stepped forward to 'friendly' defuse the situation.

(He snapped Shinazugawa's forearm.)

After that, things were relatively simple.

Assign Kasugai crows, select tamahagane ore for forging Nichirin swords, carve useless registration marks on your hands, and collect your team uniform.

With that, the final selection process has ended, and it's time to go our separate ways.

At the crossroads on the way down the mountain, Kanao stopped and turned to Shirakawa Yu.

This time, she didn't take out a coin.

She raised her head, her light purple eyes gazing quietly at Bai Chuanyu, and then spoke softly.

Her voice was still gentle, but it carried a hint of reluctance.

Goodbye, Kawabata-kun.

When Kanao took the initiative to speak to him, Shirakawa Yu smiled.

And he shook his head unsatisfiedly, "In my hometown, when we part, we can't just say goodbye."

Kanao tilted her head slightly, indicating her confusion.

"I do need a hug." Shirakawa Yu opened his arms, his smile open and honest.

Tanjiro rolled his eyes furiously, mouthing, "Here we go again! Can't you come up with a different routine, senior?!"

Kanao was stunned, and her fair cheeks flushed a light pink at a visible speed.

She instinctively reached for the coin again.

Shirakawa Yu didn't stop her, and just quietly watched her flick the coin.

But just as the coin reached its highest point and began to fall—

Bai Chuanyu narrowed his eyes, seized the opportunity, and swiftly reached out to grab the coin in mid-air!

Under Kanao's surprised gaze, he extended his fist in front of her and then slowly opened it.

The coin lay there quietly.

—Face up.

“That doesn’t count…” Kanao subconsciously wanted to refute that this was unfair.

But she didn't finish her sentence.

Bai Chuanyu stepped forward and gently embraced her.

I was completely enveloped by that familiar and comforting warm feeling.

Kanao's body visibly stiffened.

She could feel the warmth from his chest and hear his steady, powerful heartbeat.

Shirakawa Yu lowered his head, inhaling the girl's fragrance, and whispered in her ear in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Actually, when a person flips a coin, they already have the answer in their heart."

He hugged her tightly, then pulled away, looking at her flushed little face with a mischievous smile in his eyes, and asked softly:

"When the coin flew up just now...did you hope it was tails, or...heads?"

After saying that, without waiting for Kanao's reply, he took two steps back, smiled, and waved.

He turned and walked toward Tanjiro, who was equally stunned and at a loss for words by Shirakawa Yu's boldness.

"Let's go, Tanjiro! Time to go home and see Nezuko!"

Shirakawa Yu ran away after flirting, but Kanao stood there blankly, still holding the warm coin in her hand.

"I already knew the answer in my heart..."

"Do you... want it to be the opposite, or the positive?"

Shirakawa Yu's words... lingered in Kanao's ears.

Just now... the instant the coin flew up...

That fleeting thought of mine was...

A strong sense of shyness welled up in my heart without warning.

Kanao suddenly recalled Kanae's gentle smile from years ago, and the words she uttered when she placed the coin in her palm.

"Given the right opportunity, people can open up, so it's okay..."

"If one day you find a boy you like, you'll change too, Kanao~"

Do you...like...?

Do you like... Kawabata-kun?

Kanao's already flushed cheeks suddenly turned bright red and hot.

Steam even rose from above their heads.

She didn't know... what it felt like to like someone between a man and a woman.

All she knew was that just now... she hoped... after the coin fell...

...It's the front!

......

The journey back to Mount Sagiri was quite lively, with Tanjiro's constant "denouncing" and Shirakawa Hajime's witty banter.

Thanks to the 'unexpected' presence of Shirakawa Hare, Tanjiro was not injured by the Hand Demon.

Although these seven days were also quite chaotic, they were far better than the chaotic return to the mountain depicted in the original drama.

The two hurried along the way and finally arrived back at Sagiri Mountain just as the sun was setting.

In the distance, you can already see a wisp of smoke rising from the mountainside.

The two quickened their pace without prior arrangement.

Just as the two of them came to within 20 meters of the cabin.

A muffled "bang!"

The door of the cabin collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Pink kimono, black haori.

With a kick of his calf, he violently opened the door.

"Ah~! Nezuko, you're awake!"

Chapter 29 The Battle for Nezuko, Round Two!

Tanjiro's exclamation caught Nezuko's attention.

Those beautiful pink eyes slowly turned, their gaze stopping the moment they met Tanjiro's.

Then, with his short legs, he started running.

Tanjiro's fatigue vanished instantly, and a radiant, gentle smile bloomed on his face. He opened his arms and went to meet her.

However... just as Tanjiro rushed over to reunite with Nezuko, Shirakawa Yu placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him in his tracks.

With his other hand outstretched towards Nezuko, he uttered a gentle call.

"Nezuko, come to me~"

Nezuko was stunned, tilting her little head slightly.

She looked at Tanjiro, then at Shirakawa Yu.

It seems... that they are hesitating.

Whom should we pounce on?

At this moment, Tanjiro, belatedly realizing the situation, finally understood Shirakawa Yu's purpose.

He turned and met Shirakawa Yu's eyes; a crackling light flashed where their gazes met.

The battle for Nezuko!

Round two!

it has started!

Tanjiro took a deep breath, his eyes burning with the determination that he would not lose this time.

Shirakawa Yu's lips curled into a smile. He withdrew his hand, crossed his arms leisurely, and glanced sideways at Tanjiro, his eyes clearly saying: Bring it on.

"You are not allowed to use the Breathing of Color!" Tanjiro said in a low voice, stating the "rule".

"What a joke," Shirakawa Yu scoffed, "That's my ability!"

"Then you must not bleed him!" Tanjiro recalled the painful lesson he had learned before.

“Okay.” Shirakawa Yu nodded. “Then you’re not allowed to use ‘flashback’.”

Tanjiro hesitated for a moment, glanced at Nezuko whose eyes were still somewhat blank, and nodded vigorously, "Alright! Gentleman's agreement! It's a deal!"

The next second—

Tanjiro instantly switched modes, his expression as warm as a little sun. He bowed slightly, opened his arms, and called out in a gentle and reassuring voice.

"Nezuko, come here to your brother."

His tactic was to use gentleness and familiarity to awaken his sister's dependence on her brother!

Nezuko is clearly susceptible to this.

After Tanjiro spoke, she took small steps and ran towards Tanjiro without any hesitation.

Tanjiro's face was filled with blissful joy. "Yes, that's it, Nezu—"