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Chapter 34

The song mom would sing us? What was it again...?
It's been so long since I've heard it.

"Komoriuta?"

He perked up.
"Yes! Please, Nee-Chan."

I smiled.
"Ok, ok."

I took a deep breath and hummed softly, already seeing his eyelids droop.
"Hushabye, hushabye, my good baby, sleep."
My hand slowly runs through his hair.
"Where has my boy's babysitter gone?"
"Beyond that mountain, back to her home."
"As a souvenir from her home, what did you get?"
By now, he's fast asleep, snoring quietly.
"A toy drum and a shō flute."

I feel like I've woken up from a terrible nightmare...
Something's missing , though.

I sigh and go outside, a sudden roar above startling me. Looking up, I recognized the six-legged creature.
"Sky... bisons...? When did we have sky bisons?"

Did  we have sky bisons?
I must've forgotten...
Well, Ame's asleep, so I should go do some chores around the house.

As I'm waiting for my tea water to boil, carefully putting away plates and bowls, I knock over the kettle. In a panicked reflex, I hold my hand out, the kettle loudly making impact with the ground, but... the water didn't.

Did I just... waterbend?
Since when can I-!

"Tanjiro!"
I shout and drop the water, looking around.
Nobody's nearby but me. Why did I shout? Am I going mad?
"What... What's going on...? Who's Tanjiro...?"

I shake my head and breathe slowly.
I'm just tired, right? That has to be the answer, right?

But, Tanjiro... Tanjiro...? Tan-ji-ro...
Why does that name seem so familiar?
I swear, I know it from somewhere.

"Damn it, I should clean this up."
I grab a cloth, carefully picking up the kettle and settling it on the counter before wiping the spilled water away.

In the faint reflection of the water, I can see myself, startled by what happened next.
"Wake up!"

It's me...? But... Why are my eyes white?

"Wake up soon! Please, Y/N! They're under attack! You have to help them!"

I can't draw my eyes away.

"This is a dream! This is all a dream, Y/N!"

That...
That's right...! That's right! I'm not- I'm not at home! I'm on a mission!

"Wake up and fight!"

My head suddenly aches, and I shut my eyes, yet when I open them again, my reflection is back to normal, the cloth still in my hand.

Time slipped from my mind in an instant, and suddenly I'm training at the temple, stone discs thrown my way rapidly. I fail to dodge one, falling down as it hits me in my stomach.

I didn't wake up?

"Y/N, dear? Are you alright?"
Kana-Sama asks me, and I nod slowly, getting up.