Chapter 51: Haru's return

"A coward didn't even die? I heard you fainted the moment you saw a demon, and in the end, someone had to carry you. You're really a burden!"

At that moment, a boy who didn't think much of the cowardly Zenitsu stepped forward and mocked him.

Zenitsu didn't get angry at the mockery. Instead, he calmly replied, "Aren't you all just like cowards too? Hiding in the safe zone marked by Haru-senpai? If it weren't for Haru-senpai, all of you would be dead by now!"

"You brat, if you have the guts, come and fight me!" The boy who mocked Zenitsu immediately became furious upon hearing Zenitsu's words.

"You're a coward, aren't you itching for a fight?"

"Dammit! You're so arrogant! Don't stop me, I'll beat him so bad he won't know where his teeth went!"

Many boys, angered by Zenitsu's words, jumped out and started surrounding him.

Seeing this, Zenitsu quickly shrank behind Tanjiro and asked for help, "Tanjiro~ These guys actually want to fight! You can't just ignore it!"

"Zenitsu is right, you guys have no right to talk about him!" Murata Shinji, who was with them, stood up and defended Zenitsu.

Tanjiro, seeing the situation getting out of hand, also stepped forward and said, "Are you all just going to bully the weak? If you're so tough, why don't you go fight demons?"

Tanjiro's words immediately shut up the aggressive boys.

Of course, the boys weren't intimidated by Tanjiro himself but by Haru. Since Tanjiro and Haru were from the same faction, they didn't dare to disrespect him.

"Oh, seems like it's getting lively here!"

At that moment, Haru's voice rang out.

Everyone turned to look, and there was Haru, who had somehow appeared and was walking toward Tanjiro and the others.

When the aggressive boys saw Haru approaching, they instinctively took a few steps back in fear.

"Haru-senpai!" Tanjiro greeted him joyfully. After so many days, Haru had finally returned.

Zenitsu, seeing Haru, immediately clung to his leg, "Haru-senpai, you're finally back! If you hadn't returned, they would've started hitting me, Tanjiro, and Shinji!"

"I know. You can let go now," Haru replied indifferently.

As soon as Haru spoke, Zenitsu quickly let go and stood behind him, sticking his tongue out at the aggressive boys.

The boys, seeing Zenitsu's smug expression, felt incredibly frustrated, but with Haru right in front of them, they didn't dare to act up.

"Looks like you've all recovered well. You even want to fight, huh? Should I find a few demons for you to practice with?" Haru glanced at the boys.

Upon hearing this, the boys immediately awkwardly declined.

"Haru-senpai, you're joking! I still have some injuries that haven't fully healed, so I'll pass!"

"Yeah, my leg isn't fully recovered yet, so I'll sit this one out!"

"Right, we're not fully recovered yet either."

——"Then get the hell back and behave!"

Suddenly, Haru shouted, startling the aggressive boys so much that they quickly retreated into the crowd, sulking in defeat.