Everyone looked over.
Is this the benefit of living a long time?
You get a little bit of everything.
Seeing the subtle expressions of the crowd, Mizuki quickly waved her hand and explained, "It's my good-for-nothing older brother."
Kochou Shinobu was slightly stunned, understanding Mizuki's meaning, and a hint of worry reappeared in her eyes.
She had almost forgotten that Mizuki and her brother had almost the same fate as Zenitsu and Kaigaku.
"Kaigaku became a Demon, betraying his master and the Demon Slayer Corps."
"And my older brother also betrayed the Demon Slayer Corps, even abandoning his wife and children back then just to follow Yoriichi's footsteps."
"After he became a Demon, he bisected Yoriichi when the latter was old."
Mizuki seemed unaffected, merely stating the facts simply.
"Wife scattered, children gone, brother killing brother—he was disloyal, unjust, and unfilial, possessing all five poisons."
Mizuki smiled at Zenitsu and said, "Thinking about it this way, isn't your Senior Brother a little better?"
It was impossible to imagine that she was stating a tragic fact, given her kind eyes.
Zenitsu was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously nodded. Although it was a similar betrayal by an older brother figure, Young Miss Mizuki's experience seemed even worse than his.
Thinking about it this way felt a bit demonic.
Mizuki asked again, "I heard Mr. Himejima mention Kaigaku's matter. I suppose your relationship with him isn't good anymore?"
Zenitsu retorted, "I really wanted to be friends with him, but that guy always had a smug look on his face, mocking me for only knowing the First Form."
"Yet, he's even more of a Trash who couldn't even learn the First Form."
Everyone: "???"
Sanemi Shinazugawa felt a headache coming on and couldn't help but ask, "Are you saying that you only know the First Form of Thunder Breathing, while he only knows the other forms?"
"Exactly." Zenitsu nodded proudly. "I don't know how a Trash who couldn't even learn the First Form dared to jump around in front of me."
Everyone broke out in a sweat, shaking their heads inwardly.
No, no, no, you two useless individuals are practically six of one, half a dozen of the other.
How can anyone be that incompetent?
Mizuki nodded slightly: "So, what we can do now is send those two disloyal, unjust, and unfilial scoundrels to the Western Paradise."
"Your master... no, your grandfather, probably hopes you'll do this."
She wasn't actually good at lecturing, because even killing Kaigaku wouldn't bring Mr. Kuwajima back to life.
But she also couldn't save Mr. Kuwajima, because that was his own will.
Whether he could clearly understand the connection depended entirely on Zenitsu himself.
"No, it's Hell." Zenitsu calmly shook his head, his eyes becoming resolute. "I will personally kill that guy with my own hands."
Just as Mizuki was about to nod with satisfaction, Zenitsu's eyes dimmed again.
"But Grandfather..."
This was a problem without a solution.
Compared to Kaigaku, who became a Demon, Zenitsu cared more about his grandfather.
He was about to lose his grandfather, and since this was his grandfather's own will, he couldn't change it.
Mizuki offered comfort: "Crying it out will make you feel better."
Zenitsu saw a group of people staring at him and his mouth twitched, "How am I supposed to..."
As his face twitched, a sharp pain shot across his cheek, forcing a few tears out.
"Wuwu..." As if a fuse had been lit and a faucet had been turned on, Zenitsu burst into tears.
Mizuki nodded: "See? Just cry a little more, and you'll be fine."
There is no mood that cannot be fixed by crying for a while; if there is, then keep crying.
Until you cry so much you don't want to cry anymore.
Zenitsu covered his face, looking distraught and indignant: "No! It hurts so much!!!"
Kochou Shinobu observed him, leaned close to Mizuki's ear, and whispered, "It's swollen."
Mizuki: "...My apologies."
"Zenitsu-san, you haven't eaten anything all day. Have some rice porridge first to settle your stomach." Nezuko said, placing a bowl in front of Zenitsu with a look of concern.
"Little Nezuko, it hurts so much~" Zenitsu suddenly hugged Nezuko, snot and tears everywhere, and rubbed his face against her.
Mizuki's eyebrows twitched repeatedly. Was this kid doing it on purpose?
Absolutely, right?
If Nezuko herself hadn't refused, Mizuki guaranteed she would have swollen Zenitsu's other cheek too.
Nezuko didn't mind at all; instead, she reached out gratefully and gently stroked his head.
"There, there..."
Mizuki glanced at Tanjirou and noticed his eyes were filled with softness.
Huh?
Has he already gained the older brother's approval?
Thinking carefully, it wasn't surprising. After all, although Tanjirou was a sister complex, he wasn't a pervert.
And although Zenitsu was sometimes a pervert, he was essentially a reliable person.
He had gone through life and death alongside Tanjirou and Inosuke; there was nothing more to say.
While Mizuki was lost in thought, Kochou Shinobu suddenly grabbed her hand.
"What's wrong?" Mizuki turned back, looking confused.
Kochou Shinobu shook her head: "Nothing, I just wanted to hold your hand."
Mizuki froze for a moment, unsure what to say.
While everyone was distracted by Zenitsu and Nezuko, only Kanae noticed her younger sister's strange behavior.
Kanae subtly withdrew her gaze, secretly deciding that it was time to have a serious talk with Shinobu.
Kochou Shinobu gently kneaded Mizuki's hand, her eyes full of heartache.
Zenitsu had the comfort and care of Tanjirou, Inosuke, and Nezuko, but what about Mizuki?
She remembered that Mizuki hadn't met Young Miss Tamayo back then. So, after Mr. Yoriichi died, who comforted her?
Just as Mizuki said, would crying it out be enough?
Kochou Shinobu suddenly realized she didn't understand Mizuki at all, even though she knew a lot about Mizuki's life experiences from Mizuki herself and from Young Miss Tamayo.
But she had never heard the story of the heavy past Mizuki carried.
Kochou Shinobu declared generously: "Mizuki, let's sleep together tonight."
The others didn't react much. Not to mention, girls naturally liked sleeping close together and could chat all night about any topic.
Especially Kanroji Mitsuri, who had pulled the Kocho Sisters into countless late-night talks by candlelight before.
Everyone else was already used to it.
But this time, Kochou Shinobu didn't get her wish.
Kanae said with a smile, "Little Shinobu hasn't slept with me in a long time. How about sleeping with your older sister tonight?"
Kanao, sitting in the corner with zero presence and eating her food in small bites, widened her eyes and subconsciously looked up at the two of them.
Mizuki understood the confusion in the child's eyes.
What about me?
Hmm, this child had been staying with Kanae recently.
"...Sister." Kochou Shinobu knew her older sister's personality too well. She most likely wanted to talk to her, which was why she said that.
"Of course."
She had no reason to refuse; it was just one night, anyway.
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