Adapt. // kny x insert m!reader

05 - BREATHING.

So, Muichiro eventually decided to just jump straight to the breathing technique instead of teaching Y/N how to hold a proper katana. The older boy didn't have any objections, but he seemed very lost in thought when he heard that, he remained silent about his thoughts, though- which was a rare occurrence for the (h/c)ette. He tended to speak his mind a lot when he thought something, but only around other people. The ravenette noticed that he is very talkative around Shinobu, as he is very comfortable around her. That kind of made Muichiro wonder if his tsuguko actually wasn't comfortable with him. Clearly, he was not, but the teal-eyed boy kept forgetting to ask him about his thoughts, so no progress was made in their relationship. The Insect hashira had pestered both of the boys about getting along, yet they seemed to meet a dead end outside of training- it was kind of unbearable. So, the young pillar decided he would write a reminder on his hand to help himself remember to ask Y/N about what's been on his mind and learn more about him. He wouldn't do this if the butterfly girl wasn't being so pushy about them getting along and if the boy weren't his tsuguko, but he assumed that it was necessary.

"I'm giving you a day off today." Muichiro said as he sat on the grass, looking up at the sky. His student had approached him as he had woken up his usual time, but the Mist hashira sensed an angry aura emitting from the other boy. "Shouldn't you be happy you get to rest? Training's hard.." The mint-eyed boy averted his eyes from the sky to Y/N, who was pouting angrily at the statement; interesting. "But tomorrow all my muscles will be stiff and I'll be hurting everywhere.." The e/c boy said, sitting beside his sensei, his arms crossed to his chest. "They shouldn't. And if they do, I'll put you back into shape, so don't worry too much." The ravenette answered, his eyes still glued to the older boy. "If you say so.." Y/N just sighed and looked at the ground, inspecting the grass. Silence fell upon the two- it was awkward, but only because both wanted to talk fo eachother but felt like they couldn't. They were so close, but felt so far right then. As if they were living in different worlds. Muichiro suddenly glanced at his hand, and looked back up at the sky, remaining silent for a bit longer.

"I've been meaning to ask you a few things." The mint-eyed boy finally admitted, his attention still on the clouds above him. "Ask away, I guess." Y/N just shrugged, his attention was still fixed on the ground too, but he wasn't embarrassed or disinterested, this was just his way of focusing on his hearing sense. "I've noticed how when I talk to you about Mist Breathing you always seem to be thinking about something. I'd like to ask what you have in mind. You know your body better, so if you have second thoughts about the training, let me know. I wouldn't ask this normally, but you're a special case,, y'know.. with your joints and all." The pillar spoke nonchalantly, awaiting for the latter's response. The other boy froze for a second. He never thought that Muichiro was actually considering his opinion and thoughts on the training, so he was taken aback. "Ah.. Well, I've been thinking that maybe I could create a breathing technique and base it off of this? I've had a few things in mind, but... I'm not quite sure yet. I don't know who to consult about this, and while I know you've created your own form in Mist breathing, that all happened within the confinement of the breathing technique itself. And I feel like I will need to know more about breathing techniques in general before I attempt something. If you'd like to hear what I do have in mind already, you can ask away, but I don't quite have all my thoughts in place yet.." And there he was; rambling again. This was probably the most Y/N had ever talked to his sensei, so the teal-eyed boy's interest was peaked. "Sure, tell me all about it."

For about 30 minutes, Y/N went on to explain what he was thinking. Turns out, he had a very hard time putting all his thoughts in order, Muichiro gave him his time. They agreed on him mastering Mist Breathing first before he goes on to create a variation of it. It seemed pretty logical. The younger also informed him that he could probably consult the Love and Insect pillars, as they were the ones among the Hashira who had made their own breathing techniques. The older boy actually felt bad for not talking about this with his sensei sooner, but it was good that they had that talk that way in the end. Basically, Y/N was thinking that he could dual-weild and maybe even hide blades inside his shoes, since he tends to weaponise all of his limbs. Dual-weilding gave him the options to attack and defend ar the same time, to have way deadlier attacks or to have way stronger defenses. Nichirin blades on the side of his shoes could be used by him since he uses his legs a lot when he fights- it could prove very useful. He also explained that he liked the element Mist Breathing had to hide the way his muscles and joints move, for his attacks to be unpredictable, so he was willing to keep that element and also use an oversized uniform in the future. The conversation went on for a while, discussing strategies, with mostly Y/N talking, but it was alright, because they were enjoying this.