Seeing Kocho Shinobu in this state, Ren felt distressed and said, "Miss Shinobu, you'd better rest. As the saying goes, one must strike a balance between work and rest. Sometimes going out for a walk to broaden your horizons might give you a sudden enlightenment, and it will be helpful for your research too."
"Hmm... that makes sense. I'll go out for a walk then." Shinobu nodded, agreeing with Ren's idea, and then asked Giyu, who was standing to the side. "What about you, Mr. Tomioka? Do you have any plans today?"
"I'll still protect you from the shadows..." Giyu said indifferently, maintaining his poker face. Ren was helpless against his cold personality and attitude.
"In that case, let's head out."
Saying this, Ren took Shinobu and left the inn. While walking and talking, they left the Tokyo urban area and headed toward Tanjiro's new home. Meanwhile, Giyu secretly followed behind them like a perverted stalker to protect them.
Tanjiro's family didn't live far from the city. Over the past month, Tanjiro and Nezuko had been writing to Ren, keeping him updated on their address and how their lives were going.
After walking for about two hours, the three left Tokyo and arrived at a small border town. Following the address in Nezuko's letter, they arrived at the front gate of a detached house.
Although it was a rented house, it was managed very exquisitely. The snow-white marble walls looked exceptionally beautiful against the backdrop of snowflakes.
It was currently late winter, with about half a month left until spring. On the lawn of the courtyard, many tender green shoots were beginning to sprout. There were also several apple trees planted in the courtyard, which would surely bear many bright, juicy apples come autumn.
Aside from that, three children—two boys and a girl—were running and playing in the courtyard, their faces beaming with happy smiles.
Ren recognized the three of them immediately; they were his younger siblings: Kamado Takeo, Kamado Shigeru, and their sister, Kamado Hanako.
Just then, Hanako, who was chasing her two brothers, suddenly looked back and happened to see Ren standing outside the gate. She immediately cried out in surprise.
"Brother Ren!"
Hanako immediately abandoned her two brothers, opened the large iron gate, and threw herself into Ren's arms with a powerful leap, weeping with joy.
"Brother Ren, you're finally back! I missed you to death. I thought, I thought I'd never see you again..."
"Hehe, silly girl, Brother missed Hanako too."
Ren raised his hand to rub Hanako's little head and smiled gently. "Alright, silly child, stop crying. Aren't I back now? If you cry and ruin your face, you won't look good when you grow up."
"Huh? I don't want to ruin my face!"
Saying this, Hanako turned her tears into a smile and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her clothes.
At the same time, Ren greeted the two brothers nearby. "Takeo, Shigeru, long time no see! How have you been this past month? And where are Tanjiro and Nezuko? Why don't I see them?"
"Brother Ren!" Takeo shouted affectionately, then explained, "Brother Tanjiro went up the mountain to chop wood. As for Big Sister, she's inside coaxing Rokuta to sleep."
"Is that so? Tanjiro, that guy, back to his old trade again."
Ren smiled helplessly. Although this was a small town, it was close to the Tokyo urban area, so the cost of living was definitely high. Leaving everything else aside, the rent for this modest detached house alone must be very expensive, so Tanjiro had no choice but to sell charcoal to alleviate the family's financial pressure.
Fortunately, when Ren came over, he saw quite a few bathhouses in the town. These places required large amounts of charcoal to heat water, so Tanjiro's business should be quite good.
"Takeo, Shigeru, what happened? Why did I hear Hanako crying?"
Creak. The door inside the house opened gently, and a very beautiful girl walked out. It was Nezuko.
Having heard Hanako crying with joy earlier, she had come out to check the situation. When she saw Ren, a joyful smile instantly appeared on her face, and she quickly ran up to him.
"Brother Ren, welcome back!"
"Yeah! I'm back, Nezuko!" Ren smiled faintly, then gently patted Nezuko's little head. Nezuko seemed to enjoy the head pat very much.
Watching the scene of the family laughing and talking happily, a smile also appeared on Kocho Shinobu's face. While she silently blessed Ren in her heart, she also felt a bit lonely, because she too once had a happy and fulfilling family...
At this moment, Nezuko noticed Kocho Shinobu standing to the side and asked with a smile, "This older sister is so beautiful!"
"Thank you, Nezuko, you're very beautiful too!"
"Sister came back together with Brother Ren, could it be..."
In an instant, Nezuko seemed to be possessed by Detective Conan as she analyzed the situation with great seriousness. "Sister, are you Brother Ren's girlfriend?"
"Eh???"
As soon as these words came out, Kocho Shinobu's cheeks turned completely red. She froze on the spot, at a loss for what to do.
Meanwhile, Hanako and the others gathered around, speaking excitedly.
"Wow! So older sister is Brother Ren's girlfriend! So pretty!"
"To have such a beautiful girlfriend, Brother Ren really has good luck with women!"
"Idiot, still calling her older sister? You should call her Sister-in-law. Wishing Big Brother and Sister-in-law a happy marriage and the early birth of a son."
"Eh! Sister-in-law? Happy marriage, early birth... ah no, I'm not, we're just ordinary..."
Shinobu's face was flushed, and she was completely flustered, unable to speak clearly.
"Alright, you little rascals, stop messing around. Miss Shinobu and I are just ordinary friends. Don't play matchmaker here."
Ren spoke up in time to save Shinobu from the situation; otherwise, seeing her state, she might have fainted from shyness.
"Ah? Just ordinary friends..."
"No, what exactly are you all disappointed about?" Ren was speechless looking at their disappointed expressions.
"Okay, no more jokes. Brother Ren, Miss Shinobu, come in quickly, it's too cold outside."
Nezuko was the first to react, quickly pulling the two into the house and making tea for them.
After entering the house, Ren smelled the aroma of food. It was evident that Auntie Kie was cooking in the kitchen. For a moment, a delicious fragrance filled the air.
Nezuko shouted loudly, "Mom, come out quick, Brother Ren is back!"
"Eh?! Ren is back?"
Amidst a cry of surprise, Kamado Kie quickly ran out of the kitchen. Seeing the safe and healthy Ren, a happy smile immediately appeared on her face.
Ren also greeted her affectionately, "Auntie Kie, I'm back!"
"Good child, it's good that you're back, it's good that you're back..."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]