With things settled with Kagaya, the first thing Kagerou did after leaving the Ubuyashiki estate was, of course, light his kiseru.
As a thin stream of smoke slipped past his lips, the tension in his chest eased almost immediately.
It wasn't addiction. Nor was it dependency. It was simply a habit.
Whenever his emotions threatened to spill over, whenever they grew too loud, too sharp, Kagerou would reach for his kiseru. The slow burn, the drifting smoke, the steady rhythm of breath helped dull the edges, keeping his emotions from clouding his mind.
"…Haaa~"
He exhaled again as he walked along the road, smoke trailing lazily behind him.
The streets were lively, overflowing with sound and movement. Morning had already given way to noon, and ordinary people were at the height of their daily bustle. Merchants called out to passersby, children ran between stalls, and the world moved forward without pause.
For Demon Slayers, however, this was rest time.
Which was exactly why Kagerou wanted to get home as soon as possible.
He should have returned yesterday. But a minor(?) matter had delayed him until today. At this point, if he took even a little longer, his family would definitely start imagining the worst.
'I hope nothing acc-'
"Kagerou-kun?"
His steps froze.
'Oh shit...'
Kagerou recognized that voice instantly.
But he didn't turn around.
Because the moment he did, it would turn into a conversation. A conversation meant wasted time. Wasted time meant getting home late. Getting home late meant Shinjiro and the boys would start thinking something had happened to him, which would then require explanations.
And explanations took even more time.
"Hello? It's you, right, Kagerou-san?" the voice continued, drawing closer. "Why are you just standing there? Are you trying to ign-"
He didn't have a choice.
Kagerou brought the kiseru to his lips once more, took a slow drag, then turned around with the best smile he could manage.
"Oh~ Kanae-chan," he said lightly, smoke slipping from his mouth as he faced her. "What a coincidence, meeting you here"
---
Kanae was already old enough to leave the orphanage.
Now that she had officially joined the Demon Slayer Corps, she could support both herself and Shinobu. In theory, there was nothing stopping her from moving out immediately.
But reality was never that simple.
It had been almost a month since she joined the Corps, and in that time, Kanae had been busier than ever. Missions, training, reports, her days were packed to the brim. Leaving now would mean leaving Shinobu alone, and Kanae wasn't willing to do that yet.
At least in the orphanage, Shinobu knew people. She had familiar faces around her. It was safer for her heart, if nothing else.
So Kanae decided she would endure it a little longer.
Just until she saved enough money.
Just until she could finally make her dream come true.
For now, she would stay.
Today, however, she was especially busy.
The person who usually handled supply purchases had fallen ill, and the other administrators were tied up with their own responsibilities. As one of the oldest children in the orphanage, Kanae had no choice but to step forward.
Not that it bothered her.
This wasn't the first time she had done something like this.
Still, with demon activity increasing, the number of orphaned children taken in under the Demon Slayer Corps had risen sharply. More mouths to feed meant more supplies to buy and today, the load was far more than two hands could comfortably carry.
Kanae adjusted her grip on the bundles in her arms.
Then...
Her nose caught a familiar scent.
Tobacco.
It wasn't unusual. She had smelled it plenty of times before. But this scent, this particular blend was unmistakable.
Only one person came to mind.
Kanae lifted her head.
A thin trail of smoke drifted through the air ahead of her. Following it with her eyes, she found its source almost immediately.
There he was.
"Kagerou-kun?" she called out without thinking.
The figure ahead of her stopped.
But he didn't turn around.
That alone was enough confirmation.
'…So it really is him'
Her brows knit together slightly.
'But why isn't he turning around? Is he… trying to ignore me?'
She took a few steps closer.
"Hello? It's you, right, Kagerou-san?" she said, her voice carrying clearly. "Why are you just standing there? Are you trying to ign-"
"Oh~ Kanae-chan" He finally turned around, smoke slipping lazily from his mouth as he faced her. "What a coincidence, meeting you here"
Kanae stared at him.
That smile.
It bothered her.
Not because it was rude, but because it felt forced. Like something carefully placed over whatever he was actually feeling.
And the way he said her name only made it worse.
Kanae frowned.
"What's with that smile?" she asked bluntly. "Are you not happy to see me?"
"What? Why would you think that?" Kagerou replied easily. "I'm very happy to run into you here, you know, Kanae-chan?"
"And don't call me 'chan'," Kanae said at once, irritation clear in her voice. "I don't like it"
"Yeah~ yeah, got it," Kagerou said with a light chuckle. "I'll stop, Kanae-chan"
Very clearly, he had no intention of stopping.
Kanae shot him a look, but before she could retort, Kagerou's gaze dropped to her hands, both occupied with heavy-looking bags.
"Need a little help there?"
The moment the words left his mouth, regret followed immediately.
Kanae glanced down at what she was carrying. She could manage it on her own… but honestly, a bit of help wouldn't hurt.
"Sure," she said after a brief pause, extending one of the bags toward him. "I'll take you up on that. Thanks in advance"
"…Yeah," Kagerou replied, a fraction too slow, already imagining the explanations he'd need to give his family later.
With a bag now in his hand, he fell into step beside her.
"…How's Shinobu-chan?" he asked.
"She's fine"
"Oh. I see"
"…"
"…"
"…Have you received any missions these past few days?"
"No"
"I see"
"…"
"…"
"…Do you want to ask me something?"
"No. Nothing"
"…"
"…"
"…Did I do something that upset you
... Maybe?" Kagerou asked carefully. "I thought we already cleared up that misunderstanding before, right?"
"We did"
"…Then?"
"Then what?"
Kagerou stopped walking.
"Then why are you like this, Kanae-san?!"