...
Musashi was speechless, feeling Obanai's resentful gaze.
Phew...
Musashi took a deep breath, then ignored everything and quickly began to eat.
Thump!
A moment later, Musashi placed his bowl and chopsticks back on the table.
"I'm done! Thank you for the meal!"
After saying that, Musashi immediately stood up and said to Obanai, "Mr. Iguro, isn't it a bit crowded where you're sitting? I've finished eating, why don't you sit here?"
Obanai was sitting next to Stone Hashira and Sound Hashira, both of whom were quite large, so his space was indeed a bit small.
And now Musashi understood that as long as Obanai and Mitsuri's relationship wasn't confirmed, he would definitely continue to feel resentful, especially since Mitsuri's personality was very outgoing and warm to everyone, and Obanai absolutely couldn't stand Mitsuri having any contact with other men.
Therefore, Musashi decided to try and set them up; otherwise, not only he, but all male members of the Demon Slayer Corps might have to endure Obanai's resentment.
But to be honest, with Obanai's jealous personality and his love for such a carefree girl, Musashi even felt a little sorry for him; he probably gets angry all the time.
Obanai was stunned when he heard Musashi's words; all the resentment on him dissipated at that moment, and his gaze towards Musashi was full of friendliness.
That change of expression was too fast...
Musashi silently complained in his heart when he saw Obanai's change.
"Hmm... it is a bit crowded." Obanai said, getting up and walking over to Musashi's spot. Musashi had already left the seat. Obanai sat in his place, then looked at Musashi with an almost affectionate gaze.
Then Obanai turned his head and looked at Mitsuri with a gentle gaze, continuously placing food from the table in front of Mitsuri, while barely eating himself.
This is exhausting...
Musashi sighed in his heart, then walked out of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters' dining hall.
Originally, he planned to go to the training ground to practice sword techniques, but after only a few steps, he saw Giyuu sitting alone on the steps in front of the Corps quarters.
At this time, Giyuu was eating alone from a lunchbox, which contained radish and salmon.
Even while eating, he still maintained a poker face.
"Mr. Tomioka, why aren't you having dinner with everyone else? Instead, you're sitting here alone eating?" Curious about Giyuu's behavior, Musashi walked over and sat down beside him, asking.
Hearing Musashi's words, Giyuu swallowed the food in his mouth, then slowly and expressionlessly said, "I... am not alone."
!
Tomioka's words surprised Musashi; there was no one around him, so wasn't he alone?
Sigh, never mind.
Giyuu's single sentence made it impossible for Musashi to continue asking, so he no longer dwelled on the issue and suggested to Tomioka, "Mr. Tomioka, I think you should try to be more sociable and interact more with everyone. After all, such opportunities are rare. If you continue like this, more people might dislike you."
!
Upon hearing Musashi's words, Tomioka uncharacteristically showed a somewhat shocked expression, turned to look at Musashi, and then said to him, "I... am not disliked!"
!!!
Mr. Tomioka... isn't he too dense! Does he really think that?
Musashi felt that the conversation couldn't continue, and at the same time, he found Tomioka's denseness somewhat unbelievable.
Obanai and Wind Hashira had been so obvious, especially Obanai who had directly said it, yet he still didn't know.
"Uh... hmm... you... never mind..."
Musashi tried several times, but in the end, he couldn't think of anything to say. He even started to sweat. Talking with Tomioka made him feel immense pressure, a feeling no demon he had encountered had ever given him.
Musashi considered his emotional intelligence to be quite good, but facing Tomioka Giyuu, he truly didn't know what to say. Giyuu always managed to block every word you were about to say with just one sentence.
Suddenly, a name flashed through Musashi's mind. He thought of a topic that might be able to continue the conversation, so he immediately asked Giyuu, "Mr. Tomioka, do you know a young man named Tanjirou? He also uses Water Breathing, and he's a friend I met during the Final Selection."
Upon hearing that name, Tomioka finally reacted, nodding and saying, "Yes, I introduced him to a trainer to join the Demon Slayer Corps."
It's just as I suspected!
Giyuu finally replied with a somewhat normal sentence. Musashi felt a bit invigorated. Giyuu's behavior had stirred a strange competitive urge in him; he vowed to talk with Giyuu for a while today.
"I didn't expect that. Then you must be Tanjirou's senior disciple, right? Is Mr. Tomioka's teacher also Urokodaki-Sensei?" Musashi continued to ask Giyuu.
Ever since he knew Giyuu was Water Hashira, Musashi had guessed that he and Tanjirou must be related, as trainers were usually retired Hashiras, and Hashiras who managed to retire were very few, requiring not only great strength but also good luck.
Since Giyuu and Tanjirou were not far apart in age and both used Water Breathing, the probability of them being taught by the same trainer was very high.
"Yes." Giyuu replied, confirming Musashi's guess.
"Then how did Mr. Tomioka and Tanjirou meet? And for what reason did you guide Tanjirou to join the Demon Slayer Corps?" Musashi continued to ask Giyuu.
He had no other topics to discuss with Giyuu at the moment, so he could only keep bringing up Tanjirou; otherwise, their conversation wouldn't be able to continue at all.
Giyuu also felt a bit happy to be able to talk with someone. He thought for a moment and replied, "I met him during a mission in winter. His family was killed by a demon, and his sister..."
Giyuu paused there, then continued, "Then I told him to go find Urokodaki-Sensei."
...
Although Giyuu's explanation was a bit unclear, and he seemed to have omitted some details, Musashi generally understood his words.
The same encounter as most Demon Slayer Corps members: happy lives destroyed by demons, leading them onto the path of demon hunting.
"Is that so..."
His family was killed by a demon, yet he could still show sympathy for the demon's plight. Such a tolerant heart was indeed rare. More importantly, although he showed sympathy for the demon's situation, he showed no mercy when dealing with demons who had already killed humans.
Kind but not foolishly benevolent, gentle yet strong—this was the feeling Tanjirou gave Musashi.
"Let's go, it's time for the afternoon meeting." Giyuu said to Musashi, standing up at the same time.
"Oh... okay... huh?"
Musashi responded, but he immediately looked up in surprise.
Just now... Mr. Tomioka initiated a conversation with me?