"Shut up! I was going to say I missed you, but now you don't deserve it, you old fart!"
"I'm not old!" He playfully digs his knuckles into your head and jabs your side. "You little brat! You should be speaking to me with more respect!"
"But you star...
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The sun had barely dipped below the horizon, casting a soft golden hue over the Butterfly Mansion. The peaceful evening was interrupted only by the soft chatter of the caretakers and the distant rustle of leaves. You sat on the veranda, absently sipping from a cup of tea as your thoughts wandered. As the days passed since your last mission, you couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The atmosphere around the estate was... different. It wasn't like the usual banter or routine. It was subtle at first—tiny things, like the way people exchanged knowing glances or how conversations seemed to pause whenever you walked into a room. You chalked it up to your imagination, but it felt like everyone was acting strangely.
Even Tanjiro, usually the most open and warm, seemed to be holding something back. He was the first to immediately catch your attention. He had been unusually fidgety around you all day, his bright smile not quite reaching his eyes. Every time you caught him looking at you, his gaze would shift, and he would awkwardly cough as if trying to suppress something. It was strange, and you could sense that he was trying to hide it because he was horrible at lying or keeping secrets—his face and eyes always gave him away.
Zenitsu was similarly acting oddly, which isn't too out of the ordinary, but still...
His usual loud energy was subdued, though he'd smile a little too widely when you looked his way, his hands nervously adjusting his hair. Inosuke was less apparent, making you question if you were just imagining things. Still, his typical behavior was a little exaggerated, as if he were trying to be extra... well, Inosuke. He would not leave you alone; if you didn't know any better, it almost felt like he was trying to distract you. He kept challenging you to a spar, stole your food, and poked at you. You couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at him, but you didn't say anything. It was Inosuke, after all.
But that wasn't the oddest part.
Even Mitsuri seemed to be acting a little distant, which was unlike her. She'd pause mid-conversation with you as if deciding whether or not to say something and then change the subject. What were they all up to? They were always so open with you, yet they seemed to be hiding something today. You leaned against the wooden railing of the veranda, watching the sun dip lower in the sky as you tried to piece together what was going on. Were they planning something? Was it a mission? No, that didn't feel right.
You set the tea down, the cup clinking lightly on the wooden table to the side. The more you thought about it, the more it gnawed at you. Something was going on. Something that they weren't telling you. You tried to dismiss it—after all, it was probably nothing, right?—but that nagging feeling wouldn't go away. Just as you were about to stand and head inside to ask Aoi about the odd behavior, the sound of footsteps broke the quiet. You turned to find Uzui and his wives approaching, smiling brightly as if there wasn't a care in the world.
"Hey, kid!" Uzui called, his grin wide and his voice boisterous as usual. "We were just talking, and we thought you could use a little change of scenery!"
