It was a rare, peaceful afternoon for the Demon Slayer Corps — a moment of calm in a world that so often wasn't. The four of them had found a quiet meadow just beyond the village, surrounded by tall trees swaying gently in the breeze. The sun hung warm in the sky, casting dappled light across the clearing.

Zenitsu was running in circles, screaming dramatically as Inosuke charged after him, shouting some nonsense about strength and dominance. The usual chaos.

But Tanjiro was far removed from it all.

He sat cross-legged in the grass, his expression soft and calm. Resting in his lap was Adrian, her head gently nestled against him as she slept. Her long lashes brushed against her cheeks, and her breathing was steady — the kind of sleep that only came when she felt safe.

Tanjiro smiled, a light blush touching his cheeks as he looked down at her. Carefully, he ran his fingers through her hair, brushing it away from her face with a tenderness that made his heart ache in the best way.

“Inosuke,” he said quietly, yet firmly, not wanting to wake her. “Stop yelling… Adrian’s asleep.”

He glanced back down at her, his fingers still gently stroking her hair.

“She’s been pushing herself too hard lately,” he murmured to himself. “She deserves this moment.”

Nezuko, curled up nearby in her box, stirred slightly but didn’t wake. The field was filled with the sounds of wind, birdsong… and the distant shrieking of Zenitsu being tackled yet again.

But to Tanjiro, everything else faded away — all that mattered was the girl sleeping in his lap, and the quiet feeling in his chest every time he looked at her.