AFTERMATH OF THE BATTLE — CHAPTER #15 — GIRLS! GIRLS!

"..."

"..."

"..."

"OKAY! WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT?!"

"...Eh?" You tilted your head in confusion, a naive smile still adorning your face, oblivious to the anger and frustration radiating from Goto.

"Don't 'eh' me! What's wrong with you?! You insulted a Hashira and acted like it was nothing! Are you suicidal or something?! Because I'm not! You could have gotten me killed back there! God! Every inch of me is trembling! How could you be like this!?" Goto vented, his voice filled with exasperation and concern.

You simply responded with a cheerful, "Me don't understand you." Completely unaware of the gravity of the situation and the impact of your actions. Fatigue was starting to take its toll on you, and all you wanted was some much-needed rest to escape from the overwhelming problems around you. Sulking, you rested your head on Goto's shoulder, yearning to see your friends and find solace in their presence.

Goto, despite his harsh words, was more worried than anything else. He was on edge due to his fear of the Hashira but didn't genuinely hate you. However, his frustrations were building up, leading to his outburst. Nonetheless deep down, he still had concern for your well-being. After a while, you and Goto arrived at the Butterfly Estate. He shouted to announce your arrival, but received no response. "Jeez, no one really attends this place." He muttered, feeling a sense of frustration. He decided to take you to the yard instead.

"How are you feeling, kid?" Goto asked, genuine concern evident in his voice.

"...Tired." You replied honestly, feeling the weight of exhaustion weighing you down.

"Damn, bad for you... hope you get better."

You quietly responded with a simple "...Thank you." appreciating his concern. The conversation died down as you both made your way to the yard.

"Hello? Is anyone- shit! Why is Master Tsuyuri still standing there?! Doesn't she has a life?" Goto, no need to be so harsh. "Hello Master Tsuyuri. I was ordered to bring another patient here by Master Koucho. May I have permission to enter?"

"..." She only smiled.

'Okay, I'm not going through this shit again.' Goto thought to himself, frustration really evident. He scanned the area, searching for the girl with piggytails.

"Huh? You again?" Aoi's voice cut through the air, interrupting Goto's thoughts. She looked behind him and noticed you there, gazing at her.

'Ah- I can't say anything. I'm nervous again. My soul has been cleaned. My eyes have been purified. It's Aoi, ladies and gentlemen!' You thought, feeling overwhelmed by her presence.

"You've brought another injured person? Can she walk?" Aoi inquired, her attention shifting to you.

"Um, I don't think so-" Goto began to respond but paused as he glanced at you. You hopped off his back, standing there with a beaming smile on your face.

"EH?! YOU CAN STAND?! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO?! MY BACK HURTS FROM PIGGY-RIDING PEOPLE!" Goto exclaimed, feeling both surprised and annoyed by your sudden display of mobility.

"...Tired." You replied simply, giving him a peace sign as if to reassure him.

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT CRAP! UGH, SCREW YOU GUYS, IM GOING HOME!" Goto stormed off, clearly exasperated by the situation.

...

"Anyways, follow me, um..."

"(Y/N)."

"Thank you. My name is Kanzaki Aoi. Follow me, (Y/N)." You eagerly nodded, despite the aches and pains in your body. 'Wait, why was that... super cute?' Aoi thought, feeling a sense of confusion as she observed you. She sighed and decided to ignore her own thoughts. Aoi was about to walk away, intending to take you to the room where the other patients were staying. However, she noticed that you weren't following her.

"(Y/N)? What's wrong?" She asked, concerned by your hesitation.

"...Sorry. Body hurts..." You apologized, feeling guilty for being a burden.

"What?! Then why did you stand up in the first place?! You can't force your body like that!" Aoi scolded you, genuinely worried about your well-being.

"...Sorry." You murmured, feeling even worse for causing trouble.

"Don't apologize." Aoi reassured you, not questioning your broken and unconventional Japanese. "Kanao, could you please help me here?"

'GAH! I totally forgot Kanao was here...' You thought, mentally berating yourself for the oversight.

"... Okay." Kanao responded quietly as she approached you. Without even asking for permission, she gently lifted you by your legs, carrying you in a bridal style.

"AH! W-WAIT!" You exclaimed, your face turning bright red with embarrassment.

"Is something wrong?" Aoi asked, her arms crossed.

"Heavy! Me heavy!" You tried to explain, flustered by the situation. While you didn't mind a boy carrying you, having a girl, especially someone as pretty as Kanao carry you, made you incredibly self-conscious.

"Don't worry. You're not heavy." Kanao replied with a neutral smile, her calm demeanor putting you at ease.

"But-"

"You're not heavy." Kanao stated more firmly, her smile now accompanied by closed eyes.

"Okay..." You relented, realizing there was no point in arguing.

"Well, let's go now!" Aoi declared, leading the way as you and Kanao followed her into the estate

'Damn, I feel awkward.' The three of you continued your walk in silence, the distance to the room feeling quite long. You pondered whether you should try to initiate a conversation with Kanao, since she was the one closest to you, as Aoi was further because she was the one leading us. As you glanced up, you caught Kanao looking at you. Startled, you quickly averted your gaze, seemingly trying to avoid eye contact.

You couldn't help but be taken aback. 'WHAT?! SHE WAS LOOKING AT ME?! AM I UGLY?! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! AHHHHHH!!!' Your mind raced with self-doubt and confusion.

Meanwhile, Kanao was lost in her own thoughts. 'She was worried about her being heavy, but... she's not weighty at all. Actually, she's... very small...' A faint smile tugged at the corners of Kanao's lips, but it was not noticeable at all.

...

...

'...cute...' Her heart skipped a beat, but she maintained her stoic expression, making it difficult for you to discern her true thoughts.

"You can hold onto me." She suddenly spoke up.

"H-Huh?!" You stammered, caught off guard by the unexpected offer.

"You can hold onto me, that's what I said." Kanao repeated, her gaze fixed ahead.

"Um, you sure...?" You questioned, feeling a mixture of surprise and gratitude.

"Yes." She affirmed with unwavering certainty.

"...Thank you..." You hesitated for a moment before wrapping your arms around her neck, seeking support. 'W-WHAT'S HAPPENING?! I HOPE MY BLUSH IS NOT NOTICEABLE AT ALL!' You panicked internally, unaware that her flushed cheeks were quite noticeable to those paying attention.

"Hmh?" Aoi turned around in response to your voice, her eyes widening as she noticed your flushed face. Concern etched across her features, she hurried over to you. "Hey, do you feel bad? Do you have a fever?" Her gentle touch reached your forehead and then your cheek, checking for any signs of illness.

"N-No... just... hot." You stammer, desperately trying to come up with an excuse for your blushing cheeks. You hope your weak explanation will suffice and divert her attention away from your embarrassment.

Her expression softens, relief evident in her eyes. "Oh, I see. Don't worry. The rooms here are kept cool, and I'll provide you with comfortable clothes so you can rest better." She reassures you with a warm smile. It's a side of Aoi that surprises you, as she appears much softer and caring than her usual fiery demeanor. Perhaps she's more tenderhearted towards girls than boys.

...

'GAHHHH!!!!! KANAO IS CARRYING ME AND AOI JUST SWEETLY SMILED AT ME! THESE GIRLS ARE GOING TO BE THE DEATH OF ME!'

————————————————————

...

"I'm relieved to see that you two are alive... thank goodness." Tanjiro murmured with a hint of worry lingering in his voice. The trio had finally settled down in their beds, the weight of recent events beginning to sink in. However, amidst the exhaustion, a sudden realization struck him, causing him to jolt upright from his resting position.

"WAIT, where's (L/N)?" His concerned gaze darted between Zenitsu and Inosuke, hoping that one of them had an answer. The intense nature of the hashira meeting had momentarily caused him to forget about your whereabouts, but now he couldn't shake off the worry for your safety.

"N-No, shut the hell up! I thought you knew something! I was about to ask if you had seen her!" Zenitsu's voice quivered with genuine concern. Unlike Tanjiro, you had never slipped from his thoughts. He had been preoccupied with thoughts of your sudden disappearance in the forest, constantly wondering where you were. The two boys turned to Inosuke, hoping for some information.

"I haven't seen my minion either..." Inosuke admitted, his usually confident demeanor faltering as he joined in the growing unease.

"FUCK! DAMN IT! I CAN'T STAND NOT KNOWING! I'M GOING TO LOOK FOR HER! I'M STILL TIRED, BUT I WON'T BE ABLE TO SLEEP WITHOUT KNOWING IF SHE'S SAFE!" Zenitsu's determination surged as he sprang up from his bed, making a beeline for the door.

"ZENITSU, WAIT!" Tanjiro called out, trying to stop his impulsive friend from rushing out without a plan. "WAIT FOR ME! I'M COMING TOO!" Or not.

Just as the boy stood up, Inosuke raised from his bed.

"I-Inosuke?!"

"I wanna... look for her too..." He chimed in, his concern for you outweighing any desire to rest.

Just as the trio prepared to venture out in search of you, the door swung open, revealing a sight that left them speechless. Aoi, Kanao, and there you stood, a mix of surprise and relief washing over your face as you laid eyes on your dear friends.

"(L/N) / (Y/N)!!!" The collective exclamation of your name echoed through the room, a mixture of joy and worry filling the air. Tears welled up in your eyes as you took in the sight of your friends, a wave of emotions crashing over you.

"Tanjiro! Zenitsu! Inosuke!" You cried out, your voice filled with genuine relief and happiness.