Seeing Tanjiro looking worried, Souta spoke up to reassure him:
"Don't worry. She'll wake up soon. If you're really concerned, I can force her awake, but that might startle her consciousness."
"No, no need," Tanjiro shook his head. "I trust you."
"Let's eat," Urokodaki reminded them.
Souta nodded, picked up a piece of mushroom from his bowl, and popped it into his mouth, chewing a few times.
"Ahaha! It's great, right?" Tanjiro quickly patted him on the shoulder, cutting him off mid-sentence.
In his mind, Tanjiro let out a relieved sigh—that was close! He hadn't forgotten how blunt Souta was at the tavern, calling the food disgusting, chewing for a second, then spitting it out with zero tact.
Clearly, Souta didn't think twice before speaking, regardless of the situation.
If he dropped another blunt critique here, the whole mood would freeze, and Urokodaki's pride as the cook might take a hit.
Souta looked at him, puzzled by the sudden interruption.
"Souta-san, how's the hotpot?" Tanjiro asked softly.
"It's fine. Way better than that tavern food," Souta nodded, giving a fair assessment. "But honestly, it's just okay compared to—"
"Ah! Right," Tanjiro suddenly raised his voice, "Now that I think about it, how come Nezuko's still not awake? Haha..."
"...I get it," Souta said, giving him a helpless look. "Don't worry. I made sure your master didn't hear it. Back in the tavern, you think the owner didn't come at me with a knife because I was polite?"
So, you do have some self-awareness.
Souta glanced toward the bedroom and muttered:
"Timing-wise, she should've woken up by now... Why hasn't she?"
Just as he finished speaking, a thunderous crash came from the room.
A wooden door came flying straight at him, rapidly growing in size in his view.
Tanjiro and Urokodaki instinctively dodged, while Souta casually ducked his head.
The flying door soared over him and smashed into the iron pot cooking their meal, spilling soup and ingredients all over the floor.
Souta looked toward the source of the noise.
There, a black-haired girl stood with one leg raised, clearly having just kicked the door down.
Because of the angle, he caught a glimpse under her kimono—smooth, pale thighs and a bit of white cloth...
So this is what underwear looked like in this era?
'Come to think of it,' Souta recalled, 'in the original, when Nezuko woke up, she kicked down the front door. Guess the bedroom door gets the same treatment this time.'
He could already imagine Urokodaki's expression turning dark.
Sure enough, he glanced toward the "former Water Hashira." Despite the Tengu mask, Souta could sense the man's inner turmoil loud and clear.
The spilled hotpot and destroyed door clearly left him a bit rattled.
Souta thought for a second, then waved his hand. A flash of divine power later, everything was restored to how it was.
Urokodaki watched in surprise, increasingly convinced that Souta was a deep and mysterious being.
Tanjiro wasn't fazed—he'd already seen enough miracles to be used to it. His gaze remained fixed on his sister.
The black-haired girl walked over to the three of them, looking each one up and down.
Then, without a word, she threw herself into Tanjiro's arms.
Seeing the innocence in her eyes, Tanjiro's nose stung. He hugged her tightly and said:
"Seriously... Why did you fall asleep like that? And stay asleep for so long? I thought you were dead! How much more did you want me to worry?!"
He practically yelled those words, like he was scolding her.
But his expression—full of joy and vulnerability—made it clear he wasn't angry.
No doubt, these past two years had built up an immense pressure in his heart.
"Thank you for fulfilling my disciple's wish, divine one from another world."
Urokodaki approached Souta and bowed deeply.
Despite Souta being nothing like the solemn image of a god, Urokodaki still addressed him with full reverence.
"Nezuko is Tanjiro's last remaining family. He's been holding himself together all this time, but now... he can finally rest a little. All thanks to your grace."
Souta waved a hand. "Don't get so formal. I'm not great with serious vibes. Just call me Souta."
Hearing that, Urokodaki smiled gently beneath his mask.
"You're truly a god worthy of respect."
"Oh, that reminds me," Souta suddenly said. "Speaking of gods... Urokodaki-san, you're kind of a big shot in this world, right? Ever heard of anything about the afterlife? Like Hell?"
"Hell?" Urokodaki shook his head. "Only in myth and stories. Why?"
"Well, your world's got some issues," Souta said, glancing around.
"When people die, their souls don't disappear. They linger in the living world. It's weird. I saw a few wandering spirits on Mount Fujikasane."
He remembered how, in the original story, Tanjiro and Nezuko had been saved multiple times by the spirits of their deceased loved ones.
Without that, they might not have made it through the Hand Demon, Rui, the train, or the Entertainment District.
Was it just some souls that stayed? Or all of them?
Either way, if souls stuck around, reviving the dead became much easier.
If Nezuko could trigger a "resurrect family" wish-type quest, completing it might be a breeze.
Souta's words made Urokodaki fall into thought.
Do souls really remain after death?
If so... could his fallen students still be near him, even now?
While Urokodaki was lost in his memories, the Kamado siblings finally calmed down after their emotional reunion.
Tanjiro let go of Nezuko and walked over to Souta, thanking him over and over.
Souta, long used to it, just smiled and accepted it quietly.
The three of them sat around the steaming hotpot again. Nezuko walked over, patted Urokodaki's head like she was caring for a little brother.
Behind the mask, Urokodaki's expression turned slightly awkward.
A grown man, being patted on the head by a young girl like a child—it definitely threw off the generational balance.
Souta laughed at the sight.
You're the one who suggested she should view humans as family, he thought. Now you've hoisted yourself with your own mess.
But his laughter didn't last.
Nezuko came over and started vigorously rubbing his head, messing up his carefully styled hair.
Being mistaken for a human by a former demon girl—should he feel honored?
"Nezuko, be polite! Polite!" Tanjiro called out.
But the black-haired girl ignored him and kept ruffling Souta's head.
Souta tried to scoot away, but she chased him relentlessly.
"Sorry," Tanjiro said awkwardly. "She's still under the spell maybe, so..."
He tried to pull her off, but Nezuko was way stronger. As the struggle continued, she let out a low growl, wrapped her arms around Souta's head, and started aggressively rubbing—clearly dead set on mussing him up completely.
Tanjiro looked helpless. He couldn't even bring himself to meet Souta's eyes.
Souta, hair now a wild mess, sighed.
"This suggestion... is not great. If she runs into some pervert one day, she might get taken advantage of. I'm canceling it."
Urokodaki nodded. "Now that the hunger's gone, the suggestion is no longer necessary. I'll remove it—though it'll take a bit of time."
Souta snapped his fingers, and golden light burst from his fingertips.
Immediately, Nezuko's abnormal mental state vanished.
She paused mid-head-rub, then quietly let go of Souta, didn't even look at him, and shuffled over to stare at the hotpot.
Wow. That was... brutally honest.