After strengthening his resolve, Tanjiro still looked uneasy.
"Aoyama-senpai, could you—"
"No."
"Ah?! I haven't even finished my sentence!"
Tanjiro grabbed his hair in despair.
"If you broke the sword yourself," Aoyama said calmly, turning away, "then you face Haganezuka-san's storm yourself."
Tanjiro froze on the spot.
He really shouldn't expect anything from Aoyama-senpai.
Memories of their first meeting surfaced—the infamous scissor hold Haganezuka had locked him in. The trauma was still vivid.
Swallowing nervously, Tanjiro decided it would be safer to wake Inosuke and greet the swordsmith together.
Strength in numbers.
Not far from the estate, two figures approached.
Haganezuka walked in front, still wearing his fiery hyottoko mask. Beside him was another swordsmith from the same village—Kanamori—the craftsman who forged Inosuke's blades.
"Please try to stay calm when you see Kamado-dono," Kanamori said cautiously. "The sword breaking wasn't intentional."
Haganezuka's mask puffed angrily.
"Intentional or not, my swords do not break!"
Aoyama, sensing the impending chaos, found himself an excellent vantage point.
He crossed his arms and waited for the show.
Tanjiro and Inosuke bounced toward the gate cheerfully.
"Over here! Haganezuka-san! Thank you for your hard work!"
Inosuke stood behind him, boar mask twitching with excitement.
The moment Haganezuka saw Tanjiro—
The culprit who broke his masterpiece—
He shoved his belongings into Kanamori's arms, drew a short blade from his sleeve, and charged.
"Calm down, Haganezuka-san!" Kanamori tried to restrain him.
Too late.
Tanjiro's smile froze as he saw the blade.
He barely managed to dodge.
"W-Wait! Haganezuka-san! Let me explain—!"
Haganezuka's voice exploded like a furnace.
"You broke my sword! Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!"
Fury practically burst from behind him.
Tanjiro trembled.
This time was worse than last.
"I was injured! I nearly died! The enemy was extremely strong!" Tanjiro pleaded while dodging desperately.
From his tree branch, Aoyama jumped down leisurely and unsheathed his own blade with deliberate emphasis.
"My sword," he mused aloud, "is still perfectly sharp."
Haganezuka froze mid-swing and glanced at Aoyama's blade.
He had forged that one too.
Then he looked back at Tanjiro.
The mask's beak flared with rage.
"That has nothing to do with it! It's your fault for being weak! My blades don't break! YOU broke it!"
He lunged again.
Tanjiro howled.
"Aoyama-senpai, you can't just stand there!!!"
Shinobu arrived just in time to witness the chaos.
She stood beside Aoyama, smiling faintly.
"You're being a little mischievous, Aoyama-kun."
He sheathed his blade calmly.
"If you break someone's hard-forged sword, you deserve a beating."
She laughed softly.
After a moment, she tugged lightly at his sleeve.
"Kanao told me you helped improve her Flower Breathing forms. She thanked you, didn't she?"
Aoyama stiffened slightly.
So Kanao told her.
"…Yes," he answered.
Shinobu nodded happily.
"That's good. I was worried she might forget to thank you. Otherwise, I would have had to thank you on her behalf."
"Ah?"
Aoyama's eyes widened slightly.
She would… thank him too?
Seeing his expression, Shinobu tilted her head.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head silently.
There had been a misunderstanding.
When Kanao said she had "thanked" him, she meant the kiss.
Shinobu, however, interpreted it as an ordinary verbal thank-you.
Two entirely different understandings.
After thoroughly venting his anger on Tanjiro, Haganezuka finally calmed down—somewhat.
Tanjiro sat rigidly, bruised and terrified.
Kanamori smiled gently.
"Please don't take it to heart. Haganezuka-san is… passionate."
Tanjiro nodded stiffly.
"He loves swords more than anyone. Even among swordsmiths, few match his devotion."
Tanjiro glanced nervously at Haganezuka behind him.
"Ah, I should introduce myself," Kanamori continued. "I'm Kanamori. I forged Inosuke-dono's new blades. I hope they serve him well in future battles."
Outside, Inosuke lifted his newly forged swords high.
As the blades reflected the light, their color deepened—
A rich blue-gray hue, heavy and fitting his wild nature.
Tanjiro stared enviously.
His own blade—
Behind him, Haganezuka continued grumbling, still dissatisfied with Tanjiro's sword color.
Nearby, Aoyama remained silent.
His black blade rested at his side—
Calm.
Sharp.
Unwavering.
To Read 150 AHEAD advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146