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After several days of heavy, torrential rain, the snow made a silent appearance to bring the rainy season to an end. That night, before dawn, the temperature gradually dropped, and the rain turned to sleet, eventually blanketing everything in snow. The next day, the first thing Tanjiro feels upon waking is a biting cold that makes him shiver from head to toe. It has been a long time since he last felt the cold of the snow—a climate that also transports him back to that fateful moment when his entire world changed completely and for which, to this day, he continues to fight toward the goal he strives so hard to achieve. Though bitter memories haunt him, ready to strike, he stays positive so as not to let sadness take him down.
During his stay at the Butterfly Masion to recover his strength and heal his wounds after a grueling battle with one of the Upper Moons, Tanjiro is now more snug than ever, thanks to the girls and Aoi, who came to give him extra warmth while he rests in bed. He isn’t the only one recovering there; two Pillars who were also fighting—Mitsuri and Tokito—are doing so as well. Tanjiro knows that Mitsuri has already left, that her wounds have fully healed, and that Shinobu has given her the okay to return to her estate.
However, Tanjiro is surprised to see that Tokito has chosen to stay a couple of extra days at the Butterfly Estate despite being the first of the three to fully recover. The Mist Hashira hasn’t wanted to explain why he’s extending his stay, but the truth is that the change in him is noticeable because he now spends his afternoons with Tanjiro. Since the end of the battle that resulted in the hunters’ victory, Tanjiro could sense in Tokito’s scent that something had changed, and even while still badly wounded, he could tell that change when Tokito thanked him.
During his stay at the Butterfly Masion to recover his strength and heal his wounds after a grueling battle with one of the Upper Moons, Tanjiro is now more snug than ever, thanks to the girls and Aoi, who came to give him extra warmth while he rests in bed. He isn’t the only one recovering there; two Pillars who were also fighting—Mitsuri and Tokito—are doing so as well. Tanjiro knows that Mitsuri has already left, that her wounds have fully healed, and that Shinobu has given her the okay to return to her estate.
However, Tanjiro is surprised to see that Tokito has chosen to stay a couple of extra days at the Butterfly Mansion despite being the first of the three to fully recover. The Mist Hashira hasn’t wanted to explain why he’s extending his stay, but the truth is that the change in him is noticeable because he now spends his afternoons with Tanjiro. Since the end of the battle that resulted in the demon slayers’ victory, Tanjiro could sense in Tokito’s scent that something had changed, and even while still badly wounded, he could tell that change when Tokito thanked him.
He doesn't dare ask because Tokito has a higher position than him, and Tanjiro thinks it would be rude to pry into his private life. Despite that, he's happy with the change, and he also notices the way Tokito's eyes sparkle—so bright and radiant. Now his voice and the way he speaks sound sweeter compared to the first tense conversations they had; he seems more cheerful and more alive than ever.
One particular afternoon, while the sounds of Naho and Kiyo playing with Nezuko can be heard in the corridors of the estate, Sumi keeps Tanjiro company to show him a book. Of course, Muichiro is with them as well, sitting as close as possible to Tanjiro’s bed. Although the estate has many books on medicine, the human body, natural poisons, and healing herbs, there are others that cover a variety of topics. On this occasion, Sumi enthusiastically recounts how she found the book she has brought and how Shinobu ended up reading her a bit of the content about a particular section that caught the girl’s attention.
“Look, Tanjiro,” the girl says, bringing the book closer to the boy. He leans in to get a better look. “Miss Shinobu read this to me and explained it: the eskimo kiss.”
“An Eskimo kiss?”
“There are lots of meanings behind this gesture, you know? It says so right here in the book,” explains Sumi, pointing to the text with her little finger. “The meaning I liked best was sharing the breath of the person you love.”
“Sharing breath?” Tanjiro asks again. Tokito, on the other hand, doesn’t say a word and just listens to the conversation.
Sumi nods vigorously, a smile on her face.
“When you press your nose against the other person’s, you’re gently touching the tip of their nose, like this,” and the girl makes the gesture, moving her head from side to side. “By being so close, you’re also breathing in that person’s breath, which symbolizes the bond of life that connects you.”
Upon hearing the explanation, Tanjiro suddenly feels his cheeks grow warm as he realizes what it means and a specific memory comes to mind at that very moment. Embarrassment quickly washes over him, causing him to lower his head slightly.
“Tanjiro, is something wrong?” asks the Mist Hashira, pointing at his face. “Your face is red.”
“Ah, n-no, it’s just that…” he replies nervously, “something makes sense now…”
“What is it?” Sumi asks curiously.
“I’m not entirely sure, but I think… I think I once saw my parents do that,” Tanjiro admits, scratching the back of his neck, “the… eskimo kiss,” he clarifies.
The girl’s expression grows even more excited, bringing a slight flush to her pale cheeks.
“That must be so beautiful and romantic,” she sighs. “What about you, young master Tokito? Have you ever seen it?”
The boy falls deep in thought, staring at the ceiling as he tries to dig deep into his memories, his fingers cupping his chin as he ponders. After a few seconds, he shakes his head, a small, disappointed smile on his face.
“I don’t know,” he replies. “There are still memories I can’t quite recall, but I’m sure my parents could have done that. Maybe I was too young to remember.”
Just then, two little heads peek into the room, their faces beaming with excitement, interrupting the conversation. The three of them turn to look at the little intruders.
“Sumi, come play!” Naho invites.
“Let’s play in the snow, Miss Shinobu has let us go out with Nezuko.”
“I’m coming!” Sumi exclaims enthusiastically. She closes the book and waves goodbye to both boys. “It was nice talking to you guys, see you later!”
“Have fun in the snow, Sumi!” Tanjiro says, smiling.
Both boys can hear the cheerful laughter of the younger girls, along with Nezuko, as they run excitedly down the hallways to go outside and play. Although silence settles comfortably in the room, they can hear the soft echo of the innocent laughter of those who have gone out into the garden to play in the snow, to shed their responsibilities for a moment and enjoy their childhood.
“How have you been feeling today?” Muichiro asks in a soft voice. “I hope your wounds are healing properly.”
“I’m feeling better and better. I can’t wait to get back to training as soon as possible to get stronger,” Tanjiro replies enthusiastically. “By the way, you’ve already recovered, haven’t you? I heard that Miss Shinobu discharged you first.”
“Yes, that’s true, but I decided to stay a few more days.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I thought it would be nice for you to have some company,” Muichiro says with a kind smile. Tanjiro is touched by such thoughtfulness, but at the same time, it feels so strange coming from him.
“Thank you very much, Toki…”
“Call me by my first name; there’s no need to be so formal.”
Tanjiro is taken aback by the sudden and deliberate openness the Pillars are showing him. He feels a little self-conscious, nods, and clears his throat.
“Ah! Well, thank you very much… Mu-muichiro.”
“That sounds much better to me,” says the Pillars. His expression suddenly changes and his gaze hardens slightly. “Anyway, I’m planning to return to my quarters in two days. Our master has requested a meeting this week now that Nezuko has gained immunity to the sun.”
“It’s true, the situation has changed, and it wouldn’t be surprising if Muzan starts making moves to get closer to her.” Uttering that despicable being’s name causes Tanjiro to clench his hands, which are resting on the thick blanket. His cheerful expression shifts drastically to a more serious and bothered one.
“Tanjiro,” Muichiro calls out, and he looks up, noticing the determination radiating from the boy’s expression. “Let’s do our best to defeat Muzan.”
***
Habituated to missions under the moonlight to eliminate demons roaming around, Tanjiro struggles to fall asleep. He tosses and turns in bed, searching for the perfect position to get some rest, but it’s all in vain, and he can’t even regulate his breathing to calm his body. Thoughts swirl through his mind, making it even harder for him to get some rest. He lets out a frustrated sigh and sits up in bed listlessly. Peace and calm reign at the Butterfly Mansion; everyone seems to have gone to sleep. The atmosphere feels warm despite the freezing temperatures outside due to the heavy snowfall not long ago. In the dim light, Tanjiro tries to find something to think about so he can fall asleep, but soon the conversation he’d had with Sumi about the eskimo kiss comes to mind.
“When you’re close, you’re also breathing in that person’s breath, which symbolizes the bond of life that unites you.”
A wave of heat flushes Tanjiro's cheeks as he thinks about it more deeply. Until now, breathing has been vital for battle—to maintain his rhythm in combat and sustain his stamina. He instinctively associates it with a basic necessity and with fighting to defeat demons; however, the idea that breathing might carry a sentimental connotation in love throws him off balance. He also understands why his mother used to do this so often with his sick father, before his condition worsened: they were sharing the breath that bound them together, a very subtle way of saying they were everything to each other and that, without one another, they couldn’t breathe. That is the conclusion he has reached.
Amid his jumble of thoughts, he hears strange noises coming from the estate’s garden. Tanjiro immediately goes on high alert and, hesitant to get out of bed—because he doesn’t want to face scoldings from Aoi and the girls, much less from Shinobu herself—he debates whether he should go check it out. He knows Shinobu is on the estate, but as the noises continue, he feels a curious urge to check, even if only for a few brief minutes. Unfortunately for him, there isn’t a window nearby in the room to allow for a quick peek, so he finally gives in to his curiosity, getting out of bed as quietly as possible.
The moment his foot touches the cold wooden floorboards, a chill runs through his entire body. Tanjiro silently complains about the freezing cold in the middle of the night, regretting having left his warm bed. He tries to walk on tiptoes, attempting to ignore the cold of the floor until he finally reaches one of the room’s windows; the glass is fogged up from the cold, so Tanjiro uses the sleeve of his pajamas to wipe it clean and take a look outside.
His surprise grows when he sees Muichiro’s figure walking through the snow, in a sort of shy dance, admiring the beauty around him—the white blanket beneath a full moon shining brightly high in the night sky. Tanjiro watches the Pillar’s face, radiant with happiness, his eyes sparkling and his cheeks slightly flushed from the cold outside. He notices that every so often, the Pillar’s breath is visible and dissipates almost instantly. The scene leaves Tanjiro spellbound; he finds it adorable that the young Pillar is playing in the snow even though he doesn’t seem to be dressed very warmly for it. He startles a little when he sees him scoop up a generous handful of snow and toss it into the air to make it look like it’s snowing again. The soft laughter of the boy that Tanjiro hears strikes him as melodious, warm, and beautiful as a heavenly song.
A tender smile spreads across his face as he continues to watch Muichiro in silence. Now he sees him crouched down, perhaps shaping the snow that’s piling up in front of him. Tanjiro’s gaze soon focuses even more intently on Muichiro’s breath and that pale nose, which has turned slightly red from the cold. Sumi’s explanation comes back to his mind more vividly, causing his heart to race. Tanjiro wonders why, all of a sudden, he feels that there is something about Muichiro that he likes so much.
Maybe because he’s a prodigy, and despite being so young, he’s a Hashira who Tanjiro has deeply respected and admired ever since he saw him in the blacksmiths’ village, demonstrating his skill in combat. Perhaps it’s because he now seems sweeter and kinder in the way he speaks; his gaze no longer seems empty, and he even seems to have a better expression. It’s also likely that spending time with him in the afternoons has allowed her to get to know him a little better and empathize with the many things she’s discovered they have in common. Maybe it’s a mix of all that, and besides, Muichiro is very handsome.
The truth is that Tanjiro can’t take his eyes off him now, taking in every detail and gesture he makes while his heart pounds fiercely in his chest and a burning heat has already settled on his cheeks, making him forget that he was cold at first.
“When you’re close, you’re also breathing in that person’s breath, which symbolizes the bond of life that unites you.”
The echo of those words returns once more to Tanjiro, as if to give him a clue about what he now sees in Muichiro. However, he knows it’s too soon and doesn’t want to rush things because he doesn’t want to scare him. Beyond being afraid of rejection, he has no intention of overwhelming him with these wild conclusions he’s drawn from his conversation with Sumi. Still, at some point in his thoughts, Tanjiro imagines the gesture of an eskimo kiss with him, something that makes him very nervous.
So, for the moment, he decides not to say anything about it and to keep his relationship with the Pillar exactly as it is so as not to arouse suspicion.
***
The last two days of Muichiro’s stay at the Butterfly Mansion pass without incident. The boy’s visits to Tanjiro’s room do not arouse any suspicion regarding that night when he silently watched him while he was outside innocently playing in the snow. In fact, Tanjiro is too confident that Muichiro didn’t even sense him watching through the window, because that’s what he concludes when they talk normally the next day. Thus, the day Muichiro must leave arrives sooner than expected.
There won’t be an afternoon visit that day because the Mist Hashira must leave before lunchtime. Tanjiro admits he’s going to miss his presence, the casual chats, and the company he’s provided while Tanjiro recovers from his fractures, but he understands that Muichiro must attend to other matters, such as the aforementioned meeting the Head has called for all the Pillars now that Tokito and Kanroji have recovered. Before Muichiro leaves the estate, Tanjiro manages to get Shinobu, through Aoi, to let him get out of bed so he can see the Pillar off, accompanying him out of the mansion.
“I hope you get well soon,” Muichiro says kindly and gently as he walks with Tanjiro toward the estate’s exit.
The Pillar has already said goodbye to the others living there, so Tanjiro is the only one left, and he’ll be the one to see him off at the edge of the property; thus, the boy is already bundled up warmly to head out into the snow. It’s still freezing out, but the sun has warmed things up a bit and slowly melted the snow, so compared to the first day, the accumulated inches of the white blanket have been decreasing.
“I’ll recover,” Tanjiro says with determination, “and I’ll train to become stronger.”
The young Pillar can’t help but let out a little chuckle.
“I like that you’re always so optimistic.”
As they step outside, a gentle, icy breeze greets them, causing Tanjiro—despite being bundled up—to hug himself. You can hear the incessant dripping of melting snow from the roof, and not far away, the laughter and chatter of the girls playing in the garden, watched over by Aoi. Not too high in the sky, you can hear the horrible cawing of the Mist Pillar’s crows and the demon slayer’s, insulting each other and fluttering about. Both boys head toward the estate’s entrance, where they stop abruptly: Muichiro turns to face Tanjiro.
“It’s fine if you leave me here; you don’t need to walk me out of the estate,” he says.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course,” the Pillar nods. “Besides, you’re not fully recovered yet after the last battle; I wouldn’t want the cold to ruin your recovery process.”
Tanjiro still finds this surprising, but Muichiro is right: staying out in the cold for too long could delay his recovery. There’s something on the tip of his tongue—something he wants to say—but he’s not sure if it’s appropriate to bring it up right now.
“Is there something else you want to tell me?” Muichiro asks suddenly, tilting his head slightly. The gesture catches him off guard, and the young man’s nerves are on edge.
“Huh? Why do you ask?” Tanjiro asks back, a little nervous.
“Your face is giving you away.”
“Oh, I see…” He clears his throat a little and swallows hard. “Well…”
“It’s okay,” Muichiro interjects, smiling confidently. “You’re not good at hiding things.”
It takes Tanjiro a moment to connect the dots of what the young Pillar has said. As if by reflex, his face flushes red almost instantly.
“How did you see me?” Tanjiro says now, a bundle of nerves. “I thought I hadn’t aroused any suspicion.”
“You didn’t do it to the ones who were sleeping,” Muichiro clarifies, with a teasing tone, “but I felt someone watching me through the window.”
“I’d forgotten that he’s always alert to his surroundings even when he seems distracted,” Tanjiro recalls the moment when, while at the blacksmiths’ village, the Upper Moon appeared in the room and the one who reacted fastest to her presence was the Pillar. Now he understands why the boy didn’t say anything about it, yet the guilt for spying on him for a few minutes doesn’t go away. Before continuing his train of thought, Tanjiro startles slightly when he realizes Muichiro is closer to him. It’s the first time he’s dared to invade his personal space.
“Don’t worry, it doesn’t bother me at all if it’s you,” the Pillar pats Tanjiro’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort. “Besides, you were just curious, weren’t you?”
“Yeah,” the boy admits, scratching the back of his neck as he looks away, embarrassed. “I couldn’t fall asleep, and I heard some noise in the garden at the time.”
Before he can say anything else, Tanjiro startles as he feels timid caresses on his nose. A quick, brief shiver runs down his spine from the chill of that first touch, but it is soon replaced by a comforting wave of warmth that spreads throughout his body and envelops his very being. For a moment, he stops being aware of his surroundings, focusing his attention on that tingling sensation, on those gentle caresses that seem to last an eternity. He allows himself to breathe in this new air, the same air that has mingled and is shared with the Pillar—this air that keeps them alive and unites them. A second after blinking, Tanjiro realizes that Muichiro has returned to his original position before the eskimo kiss; he notices that his cheeks have taken on a very slight blush, but at the same time wonders if it’s due to the prolonged time spent in the freezing weather or the embarrassment of the moment.
“Since… since when?” Tanjiro asks, breaking the silence. He knows Muichiro will understand what he means by that question; the gesture and the intention have been all too obvious.
“I suppose since the defeat of that Upper Moon,” Muichiro replies, without much hesitation. “Or maybe since I was able to remember some things from my past.”
At that moment, when everyone gathered after the defeat of that Upper Moon—a demon with many emotions—Tanjiro always had the feeling that Muichiro was thanking him for something he hadn’t done—at least not directly. He hadn’t wanted to ask him why, and Muichiro certainly hadn’t clarified it for him to this day, so the issue had apparently been resolved. He assumes it was something Muichiro must have mentioned before the battle and that it meant much more to the Pillar.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit quick?,” Tanjiro asks again, still incredulous about the situation.
Muichiro stares at him with a stoic expression. Then his cold expression softens like snow melting in the sun, and he ends up flashing a kind smile. The sparkle in his eyes grows.
“I know, I’m aware of that,” Muichiro replies with a sigh. “But what’s going to happen from here on out is a complete mystery; we don’t know how long we’ll have this peace before the final battle arrives.”
The Mist Pillar pauses briefly: his gaze lifts slightly toward the sky, taking in the clouds drifting across the sky, yet not blocking the warmth of the sun and its rays. Another sigh escapes his lips. His eyes return to Tanjiro’s serious yet nervous face.
“I’m sure of what I’m doing because these are my feelings,” the young Pillar continues, placing a hand over his chest, where he feels his heart beating. “If something were to happen now… at least I want to do things I won’t regret in the end.”
Swallowing hard, Tanjiro looks a little perplexed. His heart pounds hard in his chest at a rapid pace; the words have caught in his throat, forming a knot he can’t untie beyond trying to say something and parting his lips slightly. Then, Muichiro turns his back on him, beginning to walk away.
“You don’t need to say anything; it’s better to leave it at that,” he murmurs.
“W-wait, Muichiro!” Tanjiro finally exclaims, reaching out with one arm to grab the boy.
His fingertips barely touch the shoulder of the Pillar’s uniform, but the contact is enough to make Muichiro turn around with a look of surprise and confusion. So, once the boy has turned, Tanjiro takes him by the shoulders, leans in slightly, bringing his face closer, and their noses brush gently against each other. A shiver races through his body once again.
“Tanjiro?” Muichiro whispers, his voice barely audible.
Nervous, Tanjiro decides to abruptly close his eyes, which leads him to brush the Pillar’s nose with his own. Unlike Muichiro’s, his touches are somewhat rough, a bit forceful, without a consistent rhythm. He can feel the Pillar’s breaths gently hitting his face and mingling with his own, so once again Tanjiro decides to inhale this air. He ends the eskimo kiss by pulling away quickly, a little anxious about the boldness he’s shown in getting too close to the Pillar. For a few moments, he’s afraid to open his eyes and look the boy in the face, but Tanjiro has taken the initiative, so, with great care, he decides to lift his gaze and open his eyes.
To his surprise, he finds an expression very different from what he had imagined—one that, in some way, leaves him even more stunned than he already is. Unlike the look of discomfort and unease that Tanjiro initially imagined etched on the Mist Hashira’s face, the reality is that he is met with a radiant, glowing expression—warmer than the sun itself melting the snow around them—and a smile he had never seen on Muichiro’s face before.
Neither of them says anything because they don’t need to speak. A strong scent of happiness reaches Tanjiro from the Pillar, sweetly mingled with the very same feeling he shares with him. They both know it: they know they feel the same way, that any doubts about it are dispersing like fog, that they don’t need words to confirm it. And if at some point they want to express it, time will likely decide when that will be. So they just look at each other; Tanjiro admires Muichiro’s warm smile while Muichiro gazes fondly at the surprised expression of the person who has restored the memories he once lost.
The moment Muichiro’s crow lands on its owner’s shoulder, the bubble bursts, as the bird declares that it’s time to leave and stop wasting time at the estate. With its chest puffed out with pride, the bird looks down haughtily at the hunter, who is standing far too close to its master for its liking. That simple fact annoys him, and just as he’s about to peck, Tanjiro notices Muichiro’s crow’s aggressive attitude, stepping back a little further to avoid getting pecked by the bird.
“That was close,” Tanjiro murmurs in a whisper, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“Too close, you scumbag!,” the crow screeches in protest, glaring at the hunter angrily.
Tanjiro can’t help but feel a little hurt and offended by the cruel words and the haughty way the crow looks at him, not quite understanding why the bird treats him this way and speaks to him like that. However, Muichiro gives him a compassionate look, trying to convey that he shouldn’t let himself be swayed by his crow’s cruelty, knowing that she holds him in such high regard and doesn’t want anyone to take away her position as his favorite—though in reality, it was taken from her long ago; Muichiro simply doesn’t want it to be too obvious—so Tanjiro soon feels comforted.
“It’s time to go,” announces the Pillar, turning his back on the young hunter. “I hope you recover soon, Tanjiro.”
As the boy walks away, Tanjiro offers a sad smile.
“Have a safe journey,” he says, waving his hand in farewell.
There are many swirling emotions that Tanjiro must process little by little, but he has a feeling that something has already changed in his relationship with the Mist Pillar. He already misses his presence and the peaceful afternoon chats that make him forget he’s in the midst of recovering from his wounds. But the truth is that from now on, everything is shrouded in uncertainty, and both of them must continue down the same path toward their shared goal: defeating Muzan.
His gaze rises toward the partly cloudy sky, with a plea he decides to keep completely silent; hoping to see Muichiro again and be able to tell him how much he matters in his life and to speak to him of those feelings he knows are mutual.