I looked at Tanjiro and tilted my head. "Are you sure?" I asked, and he smiled warmly.
"I am sure. I feel a little guilty about taking your food, so I want to do this much," he replied, rubbing the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"Okay," I said, and Tanjiro's smile brightened.
"I'm Kuro," I said, extending my hand.
Tanjiro looked at it and shook it firmly. "I'm Tanjiro Kamado."
---
[Kamado Household]
"Hello, everyone. This is Kuro. Today, he's going to eat with us, so let's not tease him too much. He's a bit nervous," Tanjiro announced with a friendly grin as he introduced me. I stepped out from behind him.
"I'm not nervous," I said, bowing slightly to Kamado's mother, who returned the gesture.
"I'm sorry we don't get many guests. I apologize for the late food, but I only started cooking now," Tanjiro's mother, Kie Kamado, said apologetically.
"I can wait, Miss Kamado. You can cook with ease," I replied, but everyone stopped and looked at me with a long, curious gaze, making me slightly uneasy as if I had said something wrong.
"What's wrong?" I asked, feeling self-conscious.
Kie Kamado chuckled and said, "You're quite the gentleman," as she smiled and patted my head. I looked down and accepted the gesture calmly. Being petted was a foreign feeling but being touched by a beauty was not a problem for me.
'It feels like she's treating me like a child, not an adult. I guess I understand why—because I'm not an adult.'
"He's blushing, look," the little bald brother of Tanjiro pointed out with a laugh, and everyone joined in, laughing at my "embarrassed" face.
---
Tanjiro and his family joked with me throughout breakfast, making me smile or feel slightly "embarrassed". When the food was ready, we all ate together, laughing and enjoying the meal.
Afterward, Tanjiro wanted to continue his usual work—cutting down trees, burning dry wood, and letting the wet wood dry. I wanted to help to repay the kindness they had shown me, so I tagged along with Tanjiro.
"Give me the axe," I said. Tanjiro handed it over, and I tested its weight by swinging it a few times.
"I've been trying to cut down this tree for so long, but it doesn't budge," Tanjiro said.
"Let me try," I offered. I took a firm stance, inhaled deeply, and with a powerful swing, I struck the tree.
*BOOM!!*
*SCRREECH*
*THUD*
Tanjiro stared at me in disbelief.
---
Throughout the day, I helped Tanjiro with his work. In the evening, while Tanjiro was away selling coal, I hunted a deer for the family to eat for the next few months.
A little to ease their burden for food, I also made a drying rack for them and cut pieces of meat to make dry meat jerky in order to preserve it more, and coated some with salt.
As night fell, I sat with the little kids and told them a story about a blue robot cat with a pouch on its belly while we waited for dinner.
"Everyone, dinner is ready. Please make some space so we can eat," Kie Kamado announced gently, smiling at the kids who were still engrossed in the story.
"But Mom, we still don't know what happened to the blue cat after it went into the drawer," Hanako Kamado said impatiently, trying to convince her mother.
"Hanako, you can ask Kuro-kun to finish the story tomorrow. Right now, it's time to eat," Kie said. Hanako pouted.
"…But he's going to leave tomorrow," she said, holding back tears.
After hearing this, all the kids looked at me, and Tanjiro and Nezuko exchanged awkward smiles. I looked at the children and sighed. I placed my hand gently on Hanako's head and smiled.
"Don't worry, I'll come back some other time and finish the story for you, okay?" I promised.
Hanako pouted and looked down, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "…Stay," she whispered.
I hesitated, my heart "aching" at Hanako's tearful plea. I knelt down and gently took her hand.
[New Skill achieved, [Acting, Lvl 1]
I coughed.
"Hanako, I really want to come back and finish the story," I said softly. "But I have to leave tonight. I'm sorry."
[Acting has leveled up]
Cough!
Hanako's eyes filled with more tears, and she clung to my hand. "Please stay. Just for tonight."
Kie Kamado, seeing the distress on both Hanako's and my faces, stepped in. "Kuro-kun, if it's okay with you, why don't you stay the night? We would love to have you with us. It's been such a pleasure having you here."
Tanjiro nodded in agreement. "Yes, you've been a great help today. It wouldn't be a trouble at all for you to stay."
I looked around at the Kamado family, their kind expressions and genuine offers making it hard to refuse. Despite my original intentions to make the Kamado to like me, so that I can learn their sun breathing dance, I felt a sense of warmth from them.
"But I don't want to impose," I said.
[Acting has leveled up]
COUGH!!
Kie smiled warmly. "It's no trouble at all. We have plenty of room, and it would make Hanako and the others very happy."
Tanjiro added, "And it would be nice to have some company. It gets lonely sometimes out here."
Hanako's face brightened slightly, and she looked up at me with hopeful eyes. "Please, Kuro-kun. Stay with us."
Seeing their sincere expressions and feeling the warmth of their hospitality, I made up my "mind". "Alright, I'll stay."
The Kamado family cheered, and Hanako hugged me tightly, her earlier sadness replaced with joy.
"We'll make sure you're comfortable," Kie said as she guided me to a guest room. "Thank you for staying with us."
As night fell, I joined the Kamado family around the hearth, where we shared stories and laughter. The warmth of the fire and the comfort of their home made me feel like part of the family. Hanako eagerly awaited the continuation of the story, and we all enjoyed a pleasant evening together.
By the time I went to bed, I felt a deep sense of belonging. The Kamado family had welcomed me with open arms, it was a little uncomfortable feeling from their kindness.
I turned to other side as I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.