TO SEE YOU SMILE

Chapter 9: Favor

It was already midnight when Tanjiro and Muichiro came back to the village. Everyone was still awake, waiting for them so Tanjiro hides behind Muichiro when he realized that he's been receiving glares by most of them. Shinobu and Mitsuri walked closer to Muichiro and gave him a hug.

"We're glad that you came back safe!" Mitsuri declared.

"We were so worried about you!" Shinobu added.

Sanemi looks so done with the two girls.

"Come on, he wasn't even missing for 24 hours. It was not a big deal."

Tokito saw Obanai wanting to bury Tanjiro alive so he hides him behind his back even more.

"Tanjiro didn't do anything wrong. We just got home by now because the rain was pouring so hard earlier." He explained.

Obanai's expression instantly softened when he heard Tokito's answer. He slightly smiled.

"Okay. I see, I understand." He said.

"You don't need to hide from us Tanjiro, we're not mad at you." said Giyu who held Tanjiro's arm to drag the guy out from hiding.

He said that he isn't mad but he's been holding his arm a little bit harsh.

Tanjiro silently winced from pain.

"Why are the four of you so worried about Tokito-kun?"

Everyone cares about Muichiro, but these four worried about the guy more than anyone does.

"Because Mitsuri and Obanai are Muichiro's married parents, while Giyu and Shinobu are his divorced parents." Tengen answered Tanjiro's question without minding the four people who suddenly got flustered by his words.

"Yeah, that's true... But I'm Muichiro's biological dad." Gyomei commented making everyone—except Muichiro, frowned.

Without showing any reactions, Tanjiro held Tokito's hand and pulled him closer so they could turn their back to go outside together.

"Let's just go outside again, Tokito-kun," He told him.

It was supposed to be only a whisper, but it didn't escape everyone's ears so they glared at him again.

"TANJIROOO!"

##

U

nfortunately, Muichiro got a fever. It's as if his body just realized how tired he was for the past years of working as a slave. Everyone takes care of him. Tanjiro also wants to take care of Muichiro but Giyu and Obanai adviced him to just let Mitsuri and Shinobu to do it.

However, Tokito keeps on looking for Tanjiro. He keeps on asking if the guy is okay because he might have caught a fever too.

"Tanjiro is fine, Mui. You don't have to worry about him." Mitsuri replied while wearing a half smile.

She doesn't want to keep Tanjiro away from her son. It feels like she's taking her son's happiness away. Obanai wanted to comfort Mitsuri so he offered his shoulder to be her shield if ever she'll cry. Shinobu's reaction is just the same and Giyu grabbed the chance to nudge and tease her.

"You can cry on my shoulders too, Kocho." Giyu whispered. As expected, he received a shoulder slap from the girl.

"You're going to get a slap from me if you talk to me again."

Giyu rolled his eyes.

"What a sadist,"

##