Chapter 17: The end of the training

Notes: Part 5 of the Rehabilitation Training Arc.

On the tenth day since he started mastering Total Concentration: Constant, he finally saw the results of his efforts.

'I can keep up with Kanao.' he thought, 'I can actually keep up with her. I have to stay really focused, or I won't be able to do my breaths for the whole day. But the longer I'm able to use Total Concentration breaths, my base stamina increases. My body has changed! I wanna wield my katana now. My Nichirin blade. With these hands!'

With his hand, outstretched, his mind focused, he grabbed Kanao's wrist.

There was a moment of disbelieving silence and then Tanjirou and the girls shouted out in joy.

With the cups it went similarly.

He grabbed a cup, Kanao covered it. She grabbed a cup, Tanjirou covered it.

"It's a good match! Do your best!" Sumi-chan called encouragingly.

'Uwaaaaahhh! Don't loosen up now! I can do this!' Tanjirou thought to himself, pulling a cup before Kanao could cover it, 'I pulled it out! Goooo! ' only to freeze mid-throw, 'Ah, but this medicinal tea is stinky. If I poured it on her I'd feel bad.' he realised, setting the cup on Kanao's head instead.

"He won!" Kiyo-chan shouted happily.

"Did he really, though?" Naho-chan wondered happily.

"Well, placing it on her head is as if he poured it on her." Sumi-chan replied.

"I did it!" Tanjirou said happily, as he and the three girls laughed.

He glanced over at Kanao, and chuckled as he saw she had yet to take the cup off her head.

"You can take it off your head now, you know." he said, catching his breath at last.

Then he noticed Zenitsu and Inosuke at the door.

"I did it!" he called enthusiastically, "Did you see?"

The two boys silently nodded.

"Don't worry. I'll help you train so you can do it, too." he smiled, kindly.

The next morning, he tried to teach Zenitsu and Inosuke how to do it.

"You go like this," he drew in a deep breath, "and then do that…" he tried to explain, faltering at their blank expressions.

He…quickly realised he was a horrible teacher.

He thanked everything Shinobu kept an eye on them and intervened.

"What Tanjirou-kun mastered is the technique called Total Concentration: Constant." she said, landing behind Tanjirou, one hand on his shoulder, "By doing Total Concentration every minute of every day…your base stamina drastically improves. And well, it's a basic move…a beginner's technique. So it's only reasonable to think you can do it. But mastering it requires a considerable amount of effort." she smiled. Then, she walked up to Inosuke and patted his shoulder, "Well, it's only reasonable you can do it. But if you can't, there's nothing to be done about it. Nothing at all."

"HAAAAAH?! Of course I can do it, if I want to!" Inosuke exploded, "Don't look down on me! I'll rip your breasts off, dammit!"

"Inosuke!" Tanjirou exclaimed softly from behind Shinobu, who had turned towards Zenitsu now, holding his hand.

"Please, do your best, Zenitsu-kun. I'll be cheering for you the most." she said sweetly.

Zenitsu turned red.

"OKAY! I'LL DO IT!" he exclaimed in a high pitched voice.

He spent the next nine days cheering them on during their training, while either training with Shinobu or getting used to combined Breath Styles.

"WOOOOH! WE DID IT!" Inosuke shouted.

"I GOT THE MOST CHEERS!" Zenitsu added.

The next day, Tennouji and another crow landed besides him.

"Caw! Yours and Hashibira's swords should be arriving shortly! Caw!"

"Ah! That's great, Tennouji and, uh… I am sorry what's your name?"

"Dongurimaru." the crow replied, "I came to deliver the news to Hashibira Inosuke, but I think this is safer."

Tanjirou raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask. He could make an educated guess, knowing his friend.

"Thank you for delivering the message. Here, have some seeds." he smiled at the crows, before running towards the doujou, to find Inosuke, "Inosuke! Inosuke! Our swords are arriving today!"

"You serious?!"

"Yeah! The crows just told me!" he beamed, running for the door, Inosuke close behind, "Hurry! Hurry!" he said, excitedly, Inosuke matching his spirits.

At the door, he saw two figures in the distance, immediately recognising Haganezuka-san.

"Haganezuka-san! Hey!" he called out waving his hands, "It's been so long!" he saw the man hand his hat and parcel over before starting to run towards Tanjirou, "Have you been…" Tanjirou noticed the knife in his swordsmith's hands, "…well…?" he finished his question, just before he avoided the first attack, "Gyaah! W-Why?!"

"I can't believe you broke my blade! How dare you?!"

"I'm sorry! But actually, I…I was about to die! My opponent…was super strong!"

"I don't care!" the man shouted, poking Tanjirou's cheek mercilessly with his finger, "This has nothing to do with it! It's your fault! It's all your fault!" he shouted, "My sword broke because you are a weakling! Otherwise, it wouldn't have broke!" he raised his knife, "I'LL KILL YOU!" he screamed, tears streaming down his mask's eyes.

Tanjirou avoided his swordsmith's second attempt before bolting inside the Estate's yard, chased by the man for an hour.

"Shinobu-san!" he called once he spotted the Insect Pillar and diving behind her, "Stop being amused and save me!"

"Now, now, Haganezuka-san. This is no place for games like this. You are threatening to harm my patient." she smiled.

"Calm down, Haganezuka-san." a new voice said, "You'll scare the boy away."

The swordsmith huffed, putting the knife away and, after taking his hat and parcel back, shoved the sword in Tanjirou's hands.

"Don't you dare break it again." he threatened the boy.

"Maybe some tea will calm you?" Shinobu suggested, "Tanjirou, will you lead them to the sitting area? I'll ask Aoi to bring the tea."

"Of course! This way!" he smiled.

"Well, Haganezuka-san is a very passionate artisan." the other swordsmith said, after the three of them had sat down at the back room overlooking the backyard, "His love for his swords is second to none." he said, "Ah… I'm Kanamori Kouzou." he added, realising he hadn't introduced himself yet, "I was told to forge the swords for Inosuke-dono. I'll be glad to know they served you well in your battles." he said, as Inosuke unsheathed the swords and watched them change color, "Ah, they're beautiful. The indigo-grey color has a faint glow. An elegant, somber color, befitting a katana."

"That's great." Tanjirou said, happily, "Inosuke's blades were terribly chipped."

"How do they feel? It's actually my first time making swords for a dual-wielding fighter." Kanamori-san explained.

They watched as Inosuke walked off towards the small pond and started picking rocks, while Tanjirou patiently bore Haganezuka-san's jabs, punches and pinches, accepting his swordsmith's punishment.

"Inosuke-dono?" Kanamori-san called, perplexed.

They watched in horror as Inosuke chipped his swords intentionally.

"Perfect." he said.

"I'LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS, YOU THANKLESS BRAT!" Kanamori-san raged, trying to charge Inosuke, only for Tanjirou to hold him back.

"He's sorry! He's really sorry!" he tried to calm the swordsmith down.

After that, the two swordsmiths left, Kanamori-san more angry than Haganezuka-san.

Tanjirou and Inosuke saw them off, Inosuke holding on Tanjirou's top, as the red-head bowed in apology.

And then, two days later, they too pass their training with Kanao.

During those two days Tanjirou kept up his training with Shinobu, while she helped him with his combined Breaths.

Of course he didn't win once. Didn't come close to even graze her.

On their last day, Shinobu did a last check-up, to make sure they had indeed recovered completely. The previous night Tennouji had told him and his friends to meet Rengoku-san the next morning for a mission.

"All right. Your body seems to have fully healed." Shinobu said, sitting back.

"Thank you for taking care of me." Tanjirou smiled, "I regret not spending more time training with you. I'm a long way from reaching your level."

"You're getting closer." she smiled.

"Don't lie." Tanjirou chuckled, "We both know I did not get closer at all. For that to happen, I'd have to spent more time training with you." he stretched, "How about I stop by after each mission? If you are here, too, we go a round or two?"

"You're really set on that, huh?"

"Eh, if I can win against you, the others won't be that much of a problem."

Shinobu stared at him for a moment, then chuckled.

"Thank you." she said.

"Hm? For what?"

"Believing in my abilities so much. It's certainly a confidence boost to hear that from a user of the Breath of the Sun."

"You need to be stronger than anyone to be a Pillar that defeats demons with poison. Sure, some demons are difficult to cut their heads off, but that is the easiest way to defeat them. But you are far stronger than all of us combined, Shinobu."

The Insect Pillar stared at him.

"Thank you, Tanjirou."

The younger Slayer smiled at her.

"You know I can't lie, Shinobu. And I am never going to even think of trying when talking to you."

Shinobu hugged him.

"As long as you are here, I think I can feel strong enough." she whispered.

Tanjirou held her tightly.

"I'll be back after this mission. Will you train with me again?"

"Whenever I am available."

On his way to get ready, he caught a familiar scent. He moved aside to make room, only for the guy to bump into him anyway.

'I moved aside, but he purposely bumped into me. Huh? Wait…' Tanjirou thought, turning back to look in recognition, 'Isn't that Genya? He grew up so quickly… Why is he here? His scent… What's up with his scent?'

"It's been a while! I'm glad to see you're doing well, Genya!" he called.

The other boy ignored him.

With a sigh, Tanjirou went to his room to change in his uniform. Then he went around the Estate, looking for Aoi, Kanao and the girls to say goodbye.

"So, you're leaving then?" Aoi-san said, "Our time together was short, but it was great it to share it. Good luck and be careful!"

"Yes. Thank you for all your help." he bowed, "You took good care of us, even while you were busy."

"No need to thank me." Aoi-san replied, continuing with hanging the sheets, "I just do my job. Compared to you guys, I don't do much. I survived the Final Selection due to luck and I'm afraid of joining any battles."

"That doesn't matter." Tanjirou smiled, "You've treated so many slayers, me and my friends among them. You've become a part of us. Your thoughts and emotions go out to battle along with us." he said, kindly.

Aoi turned to look at him in surprise.

"I also never thanked you for helping Shinobu with medicines so much. I was…barely an adequate aide." he chuckled softly to himself, "Please, take care of me if I get injured again!" he waved as he walked away.

Next was Kanao.

"Ah, Kanao! There you are. I came to say goodbye. Thank you for all your help." he bowed in thanks.

Kanao just smiled.

"Um…Well, I also wanted to tell you that I'm very happy to know you are Shinobu's Tsuguko. We're going to do our best, too."

Kanao flipped a coin.

"I only did what my master told me to do, no need to thank me." she said, "Goodbye."

"That's Kanae-nee's coin, right?" Tanjirou sat beside her, "Shinobu had told me a bit about you."

"I use the coin to decide what I will do when I am not ordered. Heads was 'I won't talk' and tails was 'I will talk'. It came 'tails' so I talked. Nothing matters to me, so I can't decide on my own. Goodbye."

Tanjirou looked at the sky.

"I think everything matters in this world. It is important to follow orders, yes, but I think that your heart's voice is just very tiny." he said in thought, "And Kanae-nee was a very kind and romantic person, but also very sly. I think…" he turned to Kanao, "Can I borrow it for a moment?"

"Uh? Yes…" she handed over the coin.

"Thanks!" Tanjirou took it and stood before her, "Let's flip it and decide."

"Decide what?"

"Whether or not you'll start listening to your heat's voice." he flipped it too high, "Gaaah! I flipped it too high! Too much power!" he said in panic, "Heads! I call heads! If it comes up heads…you'll start living by your heart!" he said, excitedly, hopping around, trying to see the coin and catch it, "Aah! Where did it go?! Ah! I got it! I got it! Kanao!" he ran up to her, "Let's see." he revealed it, "IT'S HEADS!" he exclaimed happily, "Kanao! The heart is the driving force of people. So your heart can get infinitely stronger! I am sure Kanae-nee wanted to help you do that with that coin." he said, placing it in the girl's palms, holding them reassuringly, "Good luck. I know you can do it. You are Kanae-nee's and Shinobu's little sister, after all." he ran off, "So, see you around!" he waved.

"H-How did you make it land on heads?"

Tanjirou looked back.

"Pure luck." he smiled, "But even if it wasn't heads, I'd've kept flipping it until it did. I am sure Kanae-nee would approve. Take care."

And with those words, he left.

He joined Zenitsu and Inosuke at the door, where Kiyo, Sumi and Naho came to see them off, giving them rice balls for the road, all of them crying as they said goodbye.