𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐛𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐨𝐧 𝐮𝐬 - 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐛𝐮 𝐊𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐮 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐

A/N: First and foremost, I would like to apologize for having not uploaded anything for almost two months. My mental stability was all over the place and at some point, I forgot my duty as a Wattpad writer. In my head, I was just a passerby replying to your comments, not the one writing the story as a whole. Anyway, we're past the first year anniversary of this book (22nd April) and I'd like to thank each and every one of you for reading, voting, and commenting. You all mean so much to me <3

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For the first few days, Shinobu would take the boys to the main rehabilitation exercise hall to help them restart their training process and restore their stamina. Although I wasn't too involved with it—since I had my own areas to patrol and take care of— I tried to help the girls out as much as I could to my own limits. 

"Zenitsu-san has recovered enough, and Shinobu-sama says we can allow him to join our training already. We're starting tomorrow," Aoi reported, her hands busy rolling up the massive mat. 

"Tanjiro-san and Inosuke-san have started looking a little more withered, don't you think?" Naho chimed.

"Hm? What do you mean?" 

"Sometimes they go back to their rooms like they were raised from the dead. They look so exhausted and their faces are so pale," Kiyo said, "Sumi-chan says it makes them look like they haven't eaten in years."

"That's just because they haven't gotten the hang of it yet. I'm sure they'll be a little more active in our activities when their bodies have started readjusting to the training," I smiled, "Has Shinobu-san eaten?"

"No, not yet. I've prepared the food on the counter, and I'm sure it's still warm enough for her. I'll take it up to her room right no-"

"That's alright. You can finish up here, and I'll take the food up to her. I have some things to discuss with her anyway."

Placing down the equipment, I rushed out the door and scurried down the long hallways and wooden floors to the kitchen, where her food was ready on the counter. Walking up the black tray, I peeked over and took a short scan of her meal tonight. On the top left was the small bowl of rice she usually had, and below it was the ginger tsukudani she always enjoyed, served in a generous portion. Right beside the ginger was a small portion of radish to neutralize the strong sweet and spicy flavor of ginger mixed with mirin, and above that was a covered bowl containing soup. Two sticks of tempura sat in the middle with the small box of sauteed mushrooms. Her tea was outside her box, sitting comfortably warm right on the circular wood.

'I better take this to her before it gets cold', I thought.

Carefully picking up the tray, I made my way to the small shrine where Kanae's memorial sat with all her pictures and other items. I knocked on the shoji door, to which a soft "Come in" replied. Shinobu sat there, gently kneeling in a post-prayer position with her hands on her lap and her back towards the entrance. This is where I wrote my letters to Kanae asking her for advice whenever I had my doubts about taking care of the girls in the mansion.

"Shinobu-san, I brought your dinner."

"Alright, you can place it down right there. Thank you," She said, with her usual gentle voice. That's the most she's said to me in a week, and still, it sounded like my presence was unwelcomed.

"Shinobu-san, I wanted to talk about the night at the Natagumo mountain," I said, my eyes gluing themselves to the floor, "I made a mistake, and I wasn't thinking clearly. I acted on my first emotions without understanding the situation and that shouldn't have happened. Shinobu-san, I'm sorry."