A pretty moon

Kanao: An unexpected visitor

"Tanjiro?" I said in puzzlement, as I saw a familiar face outside as I opened the door. 

"I hope you are doing well, Kanao!"

Tanjiro looked very different from when he did during the fight between Muzan and the Demon Slayers nearly two years ago. He had grown taller, and was starting to grow leaner- he wasn't as chubby as he was when he was fifteen. His hair had also grown much longer, and he had taken to wearing it in a ponytail which touched his shoulders. However, he still wore his green-and-black chequered haori, paired with a crème-coloured kimono.

"I'm doing wonderful, thank you! I just didn't expect to see you today. Were you supposed to have a checkup today?"

"No, not really! I actually..." It could have only been my imagination, but I could see his cheeks slightly getting pink. "I actually wanted to check up on you."

He wanted to check up on me?

"Ohh! Sorry for making you wait out! Come in, please!" I stood aside for Tanjiro to come in. I noticed something in his hands, a small basket. Before I could close the door, three other figures rushed in- Tanjiro's friends and his sister, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko.

"I'm really sorry Kanao-san. I tried to stop them," Nezuko had an apologetic frown on her face, as she bowed down in an apology.

"It's fine! The more the merrier, I guess..."

Zenitsu and Inosuke also looked very different- well, at least Zenitsu did. Zenitsu's hair had also grown much longer, but he was also starting to build some muscle, and he was growing much taller. Inosuke still had his boar's mask on and he was as bulky as ever. But he has also started to cover his body more often. Currently, he sported a dark blue kimono with white stripes. But he did keep the opening to his chest as wide open as possible. Currently, the two teenagers were grappling on my floor, apparently trying to snatch something away from each other's hands.

"Inosuke! Stop it!"

"BUT I GOT IT FIRST, MONITSU!"

"Guys! What are you doing here?" Tanjiro looked behind to find the source of chaos, and was astonished at finding his best friends causing havoc. He ran towards them, along with Nezuko, to stop the fight. "And what are you guys fighting over?"

After a lot of effort, the two siblings managed to pry Zenitsu's body away from Inosuke. In the process, Tanjiro discovered what the two were fighting for. He quickly grabbed it away from Inosuke's hands, apparently flustered, and hid it before I could catch sight of it. 

"What were you doing with this?"

"But it was really shiny, Gonpachiro!"

"Tanjiro," Zenitsu jumped in, "I tried to take it from him! Saying it was probably important to you. But he just would not listen! I tried to take it away from him and was planning to run over and return it to you, but this block-head grappled me into Kanao-san's house."

Tanjiro sighed heavily, and apologized for all the trouble he caused me, so did Zenitsu, Nezuko, and Inosuke. I naturally forgave them, saying that there was no trouble, and that I now have more guests to entertain. They sat down by the table and waited patiently until I brewed some tea and got out some dango for them to snack on.

"I really find it sweet that you came all the way here just to check on me!" I told Tanjiro with a smile.

"Mmm! It's nothing, really." For some reason, he wouldn't meet my eyes. "Since you're the only one living in this house all alone, I kinda thought you'd be all alone, so I decided to come. Also, now that all of us are here, we'll have more fun. Ohh!" He suddenly remembered the basket he was carrying with him and gave it to me. "I didn't want to show up empty handed to your house so I decided to make a little something. Though I'm not really that good at cooking, I hope you like it."

I delicately took the basket from Tanjiro. He took the effort to make something for me?

"You didn't really have to, but thank you anyways!" I set the basket aside, so I could savour it for later.

Zenitsu and Inosuke had started to fight over something again. "Ohh god, you guys!" Tanjiro grumbled and went over to intercept the two. As the three friends were busy strangling each other, Nezuko filled in the very awkward silence.

"So, Kanao-san, how is Aoi-san? The last I heard, she was living with you as well."

"Ohh! Aoi-san decided to leave to the city to further practice as an accomplished doctor."

"Why didn't you join her then? You are wonderful doctor and physician!"

"I kind of like staying in a small village. Also, when I leave, who will tend to the boys for me?"

Nezuko giggled lightly. "True. These boys are really hard to manage. Tanjiro's doing pretty good disciplining them, but who will put them in check when he's also gone mad?" I laughed a little at that. It's hard imagining that disciplined boy prancing about like Zenitsu or Inosuke.

Nezuko suddenly leaned in and started whispering. "Good luck!"

I was confused. "For what exactly?"

"I'm sure you may not need it, because my brother's an easy person to convince!"

Before she could elaborate, Zenitsu suddenly dragged Nezuko over to the fight. She was pretty annoyed and was giving the three of them a terrible lecture. But I was too occupied with what Nezuko just said. What did she mean, Tanjiro is an easy person to convince? What has she seen that I am not aware of?