UGB Chapter 118 Kurihana Kanao
Chapter 118 Kurihana Kanao
In the days that followed, the garden of the Butterfly Mansion was divided into two quiet training grounds. Shinobu Kocho tailored completely different training courses for Tanjiro and Nezuko, and everything proceeded in an orderly manner in accordance with the resolutions of the Pillar Meeting.
When Tanjiro meets the "teacher" who has been assigned to be his mentor.
He felt as if he were nailed to the spot, his whole body stiff, his eyes wide open, his mind blank, and even his breathing subconsciously paused for a beat.
The girl standing before him was dressed in a clean white and purple kimono, with an exquisite butterfly hair ornament in her hair. Her eyebrows and eyes were delicate, and her expression was calm and undisturbed. It was none other than Kanao Tsuyuri.
Shinobu Kocho looked at Tanjiro, who was dumbfounded and looked completely at a loss, and then turned to look at Kanao, who was still expressionless and calm beside her.
A knowing smile immediately flashed across her eyes, and a sly yet gentle curve appeared on her lips.
She walked slowly to Kanao's side, leaned down slightly, and whispered a few words in the girl's ear in a low voice, her words so soft that only the two of them could hear them.
Kanao's originally empty and calm eyes trembled slightly after hearing Shinobu Kocho's words, and she was clearly stunned for a moment.
After a brief moment of surprise, she maintained her upright posture, bowed slightly to Shinobu Kocho, and uttered two words clearly in a soft but extremely respectful voice.
"Yes, Master."
"Tanjiro, from today onwards, you'll be learning diligently from Kanao!"
Shinobu turned around, smiled, and gently patted Tanjiro's stiff shoulder, her tone slightly teasing.
"Kanao is my most beloved stepson, so keep it up!"
After saying that, Shinobu Kocho said no more, turned around and walked away from the courtyard. Her skirt fluttered lightly, leaving behind a gentle silhouette, and she soon disappeared at the end of the bamboo path.
In the empty bluestone courtyard, only Tanjiro, with a blank expression and stiff body, and Kanao, who remained standing still with a cool and aloof expression, were left.
【W-How could it be Kanao-san?!】
Tanjiro screamed wildly in his heart, his mind a jumbled mess, countless memories flooding back, making his cheeks burn and leaving him unsure of what to do with his hands and feet.
He still vividly remembers how Kanao was ordered to hunt him down after they left Natagumo Mountain.
At that time, he was being chased so badly by Kanao that he had very little chance to fight back. He always felt a sense of awe and fear towards this quiet but powerful girl.
【Miss Shinobu, are you really serious? Having the person who almost killed me become my teacher and teach me breathing techniques? Won't this turn into a fight halfway through the lesson?!】
Tanjiro stood there blankly, his gaze cautiously falling on Kanao, but he dared not look directly at her for long.
She could only steal a glance before hurriedly looking away, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions, but outwardly she could only maintain a stiff expression, utterly at a loss.
What puzzled him even more was that his usually proud, superhuman sense of smell, which allowed him to discern all emotions and malice, was completely ineffective when it came to Kanao.
No matter how intently he tried to smell her, all he could detect was the faint floral fragrance emanating from her.
And a pure, utterly tranquil peace, without waves, without emotions, without murderous intent, without panic, without tension, without disgust, without expectation, nothing at all.
Time passed slowly, and the sunlight gradually moved from the east side of the courtyard to the center, warming the bluestone ground. Kanao and Tanjiro remained in their original poses, neither of them uttering a single word.
Kanao simply stood there quietly, her back straight, her hands hanging naturally at her sides, her eyes calmly gazing ahead. She neither looked at Tanjiro nor offered any instruction, as if she were merely a delicate but lifeless puppet.
Tanjiro stood opposite her, torn between his inner turmoil and utter embarrassment. He wanted to greet her, but didn't know what to say.
Wanting to inquire about the teaching content, yet afraid of disturbing this aloof master, they could only stand frozen in place, letting silence spread between them.
[What should I do? Staying silent isn't a solution... But Kanao-san shows no sign of speaking. Should I speak first? Should I say "Nice to meet you"? Or should I say "Hello, teacher"? But she was so fierce when she was chasing me, and now she's so calm. I'm even more nervous!]
Tanjiro's heart was like boiling water, bubbling with panic. Fine beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead, and his cheeks flushed slightly with nervousness and embarrassment.
Just when Tanjiro was about to break down from the endless silence, Kanao finally moved.
She slowly raised her hand, her slender fingers pointing to a flat bluestone in the center of the courtyard. Her movements were gentle and without any unnecessary flourishes. She still didn't speak, but gave her first instruction through her actions.
Tanjiro was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized what was happening. He nodded hurriedly, walked to the blue stone and stood still with his feet shoulder-width apart. He tried to calm his turbulent emotions and adopted the most standard breathing posture.
Kanao slowly walked up to him, no more than three steps away. Her cool aura gently enveloped him, causing Tanjiro to hold his breath instantly, not daring to even breathe loudly.
"slow."
Kanao uttered only one word, her voice cold and flat.
Tanjiro realized what was happening and quickly tried to slow his breathing, but the more he tried to slow it down, the more erratic his breathing became, his chest heaving unevenly and his breath coming in short bursts.
He could clearly feel the energy within his body surging wildly through his meridians, completely out of control. Not to mention maintaining normal breathing, even keeping his breathing stable became extremely difficult.
[Oh no, oh no, I'm so nervous, my breathing is all messed up! Will Ms. Kanao think I'm stupid? Will she think I can't even do the basics right and don't deserve to learn breathing techniques? Ms. Shinobu entrusted me to her; if I can't learn it, wouldn't I be causing trouble for everyone!]
Tanjiro's inner turmoil intensified, his breathing became increasingly erratic, and more beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto the bluestone ground.
Kanao looked at his disordered breathing and tense expression, but remained expressionless. She simply stepped forward again.
"Inhale, into your abdomen."
Her voice was still very soft, but it carried a strange calming power, which inexplicably soothed me a little.
He gritted his teeth, trying to clear his mind of all distractions. He stopped thinking about who the person in front of him was, the past pursuit, and the awkwardness in his heart, focusing only on the breath on his nose.
The first attempt was still chaotic; the breath stagnated in the chest and couldn't sink down.
The second time, it improved slightly, but it was still intermittent and unable to maintain rhythm.
The third time, the fourth time, the fifth time...
Kanao stood quietly in front of him the whole time, without urging, blaming, or mocking him. She only uttered a word or two of instruction when his breathing went off track.
Her teaching style, like herself, is aloof, silent, and extremely precise. She doesn't say much, but every step she takes hits the most crucial spot.
Tanjiro gradually calmed down from his initial panic and began to focus on breathing itself.
He could clearly feel that, under Kanao's guidance, his originally restless aura gradually became more mellow and composed.
The rhythm of his breathing that vanished into thin air during his battle with Sanemi Shinazugawa has gradually reappeared in a blurry outline through repeated practice.
His sense of smell finally shifted away from the floral scent on Kanao and began to perceive the flow of energy within his own body, the direction of the wind, the temperature of the sunlight, and the free-flowing energy in the world, merging with his own breath.
Time slips away quietly, from dawn to noon, and then to the setting sun.
Tanjiro repeated the basic breathing exercises over and over again, while Kanao stayed by his side without leaving for a moment, quietly guiding and silently correcting him.
Tanjiro's inner monologue gradually shifted from initial embarrassment, tension, and panic to shock, admiration, and ever-growing focus.
[So... Ms. Kanao's teaching is this amazing! She barely says a few words, yet she accurately pinpoints all my problems. She's much more reliable than I imagined!]
When she was chasing me before, she was so fast I couldn't even see her movements. Now she's instructing me on breathing, but it's gentle and precise. It turns out she's not cold-hearted, she's just not good at talking...
[This breathing rhythm is slowly aligning with the tempo of the Hinokami Kagura! The demonic power within me is flowing in sync with my breath, without conflict, but rather becoming more docile!]
Tanjiro looked at his silent yet powerful, cool yet gentle teacher, bowed deeply, and spoke with respect and sincerity, no longer showing any embarrassment or panic:
"Kanao, thank you... I think I've learned to breathe again."