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Ohagi

Miyuki's POV

As I made my way through the training grounds, I noticed Zenitsu sitting atop a large boulder, looking lost in thought. Tanjiro was already there concerned he asked, "Zenitsu, did you move this boulder?"

Zenitsu glanced up, shaking his head. "No, I didn't. Why would I move it?"

Tanjiro furrowed his brows. "Just checking. We're heading to my next training session. Are you okay? You haven't spoken much lately."

Sensing the tension, I approached with a gentle smile. "Zenitsu, you don't look fine to me. Is something on your mind?"

Zenitsu sighed, but the sight of me seemed to ease his tension slightly. "I'm okay." Tanjiro took a step closer. "If something's bothering you, we're here to help."

Zenitsu shook his head, his expression distant. "Thanks, but I've come to understand what I must do. I just need to figure it out on my own."

I stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on his head. "You don't have to force yourself, Zenitsu. It's okay to take your time. We're here for you, no matter what."

Zenitsu looked up at me, his eyes softening at my understanding,

Tanjiro reluctantly turned to leave, heading towards his next training session. He paused, looking back at Zenitsu one last time. "Take care of yourself, Zenitsu."

Time Skip~~

"Is Zenitsu going to be all right?" Tanjiro asked, glancing back through the dense thicket of the Thousand Years Bamboo Grove. 

The bamboo trees towered above us, casting playful shadows in the early morning light. "He'll be fine," I said confidently, giving Tanjiro a reassuring pat on the back. "Either way, he'll survive."

"Do you know something?" Tanjiro looked at me, eyebrows raised in surprise.

I sighed, nodding. "I heard from Tomoe that Zenitsu's master, Jigoro Kuwajima, died because of seppuku—disemboweling himself." I winced as I said it, knowing how bizarre it sounded out loud.

"What? Why?" Tanjiro asked baffled.

I explained, "He killed himself because his other pupil, Kaigaku, became a demon. To show remorse for his pupil becoming a demon despite being a demon slayer, he killed himself." 

We paused walking, watching Tanjiro's face go through an entire theater of emotions—shock, disbelief, and then sorrow.

Silence stretched between us, broken only by the gentle rustle of bamboo leaves swaying in the breeze. I reached over and grabbed Tanjiro's hand, intertwining my fingers with his. 

His hand felt rough, scarred from endless battles, but warm and familiar. "Don't worry," I said softly, "we'll see the end of all this."

Tanjiro nodded, his eyes softening. But there was still that crease of worry on his forehead. "And Nezuko... Is it really okay to leave her behind for so long? I wonder if she's feeling lonely."

I shook my head and smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Nezuko's tough! I bet she's probably enjoying her peace and quiet without us around to bother her."

Tanjiro smiled, but the worry didn't entirely leave his face. "Yeah, but... Nezuko's probably lonely, right? All alone in that box. What if she gets bored and tries to play hide-and-seek with the sun?"

"Knowing Nezuko, she'd probably win." I laughed, squeezing his hand gently.

Tanjiro chuckled softly, but then his eyes went wide as he glanced around, looking lost. "Wait, huh? Uh... where are we? I'm here... This should be the area where Giyuu-San is, right?"