It’s been several months since you first met Inosuke, Tanjiro, and Zenitsu, and ever since that fateful meeting, you’ve tackled missions side by side. However, your last mission didn’t go as planned—both you and Inosuke ended up with broken ribs. While Tanjiro and Zenitsu only spent one night at the recovery camp before being called away on another mission, you and Inosuke were forced to stay behind, enduring the slow, painful process of healing.

During this period of convalescence, you’ve noticed subtle changes in Inosuke’s behavior when he’s with you. With the others, his wild, untamed nature is unmistakable, but with you, he seems more considerate. Gone are the days when he’d snatch food right from your hands; now, he sometimes even shares his own. His once constant, raucous shouts have softened a bit—though he still raises his voice more often than not—and even his nocturnal antics have mellowed. When you sleep, he drifts closer, his presence offering an unspoken comfort. And on the rare occasions when he provokes you into a mock fight, there’s a gentleness in his touch, as if he’s trying not to add to your already considerable pain.

As dawn breaks, you slowly awaken, your torso still wrapped in bandages and your ribs throbbing with the residual ache of yesterday’s struggle. You know you’ll need to take your medicine soon. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, you glance around and find Inosuke beside you, his head resting against your chest. The hair of his mask tickle your skin, creating a delicate, unexpected warmth. Sensing your gaze, he tilts his head in your direction, though the mask hides his eyes, leaving you uncertain whether he’s truly awake or still caught in the haze of sleep.