Starting a fire was not difficult for them, but finding something to burn took a lot of time.
Jotaro really didn't have that kind of leisure. A thought crossed his mind, and a diesel generator appeared at his feet.
In his hand, he also held an electric kettle. In just a few minutes, the water was boiling.
Having long been used to Jotaro producing things out of thin air, Shinobu and the others were no longer surprised. But bizarre and unfamiliar tools still opened her eyes.
"So fragrant! Jotaro-san! It smells even better than food at home." As the seasoning packet was opened, a strong aroma spread out. Tanjiro exclaimed in awe.
Jotaro, hearing this, gave a faint smile.
Cup noodles only feel novel the first time you eat them, how could they possibly compare to a meal cooked by one's mother? Eat too much of this stuff, and it just becomes cloying.
But for someone eating instant food for the first time, Tanjiro's reaction didn't surprise him.
"Put the lid on and wait a few minutes." Seeing Tanjiro eager to dig in, Jotaro gave a reminder.
"Ah?" Tanjiro resentfully halted his movement.
Feeling a soft sensation on his arm, Jotaro turned his head and looked at Nezuko beside him. The girl tilted her head left and right, examining the situation.
"I have a question, Nezuko doesn't eat or drink. Is that really okay?"
In his impression, ever since the girl woke up, she hadn't eaten anything, not even a sip of water. To endure for so many days like that, he couldn't help but find it odd.
Shinobu tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, blew on the steaming noodles, and replied, "Don't worry, I've examined her. There's nothing abnormal with Nezuko's body."
Hearing her answer, Jotaro temporarily relaxed.
"Delicious~"
Having not eaten for nearly ten hours, a mouthful of hot noodles and rich broth filled the stomach and warmed the whole body.
Shinobu covered her mouth with four slender and tender fingers and sighed in satisfaction.
Tanjiro took a bite too, letting out a long sigh of relief.
Glancing at Nezuko, who was staring at them with longing eyes, his gaze dimmed slightly, and he quietly said, "If only Nezuko could turn back into a human… I really want her to taste this kind of delicious food."
After the meal, Jotaro stood not far from the car, smoking a few cigarettes. Kibutsuji Muzan, he wanted to eliminate that bastard as soon as possible.
During this time, he had learned from Shinobu that as long as Muzan's main body died, all demons born from his cells would die as well.
In other words, once Muzan was defeated, his mission in this world would be complete.
But… after Muzan is defeated, what will happen to Nezuko? Will she die with him? Or continue to live as a demon?
Jotaro speculated that although Nezuko had turned into a demon from Muzan's blood, she had likely already broken the connection between them.
If Muzan were destroyed, Nezuko might very well continue living.
But that was just speculation, he didn't dare take the risk.
"Yare yare…"
Extinguishing his cigarette, Jotaro sighed and stopped thinking further.
Before finding Muzan, it was best to think of a way to turn Nezuko back to normal. He didn't want to hold back against that bastard Muzan because of some uncertainties.
The SUV had a lot of interior space. Once the back seats were folded down, it could easily fit three people lying side by side.
Tanjiro slept on the far left. Nezuko and Shinobu moved slightly to the right.
The spacious interior made it unnecessary to squeeze too tightly. The clever design made everyone marvel.
Jotaro sat in the front seat, leaning back to rest with his eyes closed. It was only close to dawn when he took a brief nap.
A soft door-opening sound reached his ears, making him slightly open his eyes.
Shinobu had woken up at dawn and was outside alone practicing Ripple.
After several days of training, Shinobu finally managed to gather a trace of golden Ripple on her hand.
That faintly flickering Ripple gave off a weak sensation. Such a tiny amount might only cause a burning effect on demons, not even light injury, let alone a fatal blow.
Although Breathing Techniques and Ripple both relied on breathing, their training methods were entirely different.
That strange rhythm, Shinobu could never grasp it. Sighing, a bitter smile appeared on her lips. She returned to the car and took out Jotaro's notebook to read.
It not only had written explanations of Ripple, but also Jotaro's personal insights.
"What does this mean?"
Shinobu frowned, unable to understand Jotaro's descriptions.
Glancing at the still-closed eyes of Jotaro beside her, she really wanted to ask him, but it didn't feel appropriate to disturb him right then.
"Breathing method." Jotaro spoke calmly, without opening his eyes.
The sudden voice startled Shinobu. She said apologetically, "Jotaro-san, I must have woken you up. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it, I've been awake for a while."
Jotaro adjusted his seat upright and sat up.
"The purpose of Breathing Techniques is to fill the body with large amounts of air to boost cell activity."
"But Ripple is different. Taking in too much air doesn't improve Ripple, in fact, it interferes with your ability to sense the rhythm between breathing, blood, and cells."
Jotaro had gifted the Ripple technique to the Demon Slayer Corps, and in return, they had given him gifts.
Many ancient Breathing scrolls were given to him by the Master, along with several fine Nichirin Blades.
After reading those texts, Jotaro sharply observed the differences and similarities between Ripple and Breathing.
Breathing Techniques violently absorb air to speed up metabolism and increase strength.
Ripple is much gentler, it doesn't require a large amount of air, just the right amount.
Both rely on breathing, but the method differs.
Shinobu's slow progress with Ripple was largely because she hadn't broken free from her habitual thinking with Breathing. She believed the more air she absorbed, the stronger the Ripple would be.
That was wrong. Ripple is a coordination ability, the balance of all parts of the body allows Ripple energy to be used more effectively.
Jotaro's explanation made Shinobu realize something.
It was like a sudden enlightenment, but when she tried to apply Jotaro's method, the Ripple she produced was no different from before.
"Maybe the way Full Concentration Breathing changes your lungs caused some kind of alteration."
"To correct that, you'll need time. In any case, remember the strange feeling at the diaphragm."
Changing a habit is difficult, it requires the person's own hard work. Jotaro could only offer suggestions.
Shinobu asked, confused, "The diaphragm? What's that?"
She had never heard such detailed biological terms before.
Jotaro wasn't well-versed in medicine either. He only felt a strange sensation in a certain part of the lung when using Ripple, which made him believe that was the diaphragm's location.
He pointed to his chest and said calmly, "It should be here, you get a feeling of expansion and contraction when you breathe."
Of course, he couldn't feel it personally, but Star Platinum could sense it naturally.
Shinobu tried several times and failed. She asked, "Jotaro-san, could you point it out more precisely? I don't feel the diaphragm where you pointed."
"Maybe women's bodies are structured differently from men's."
The location that Star Platinum pointed to was exactly the same as his own. Since she couldn't find it, this was all he could guess.
Shinobu deeply agreed. As a doctor, she knew more about this than Jotaro.
Men's and women's bodies had many differences. Maybe even the diaphragm's position varied.
After trying for a while herself, she asked, "Can you really feel that expansion and contraction sensation?"
"Star Platinum, which can do microscopic operations, can."
Wanting to quickly master this power to avenge her sister, Shinobu showed a conflicted look for just a moment.
Her cheeks flushed, and biting her lip tightly, she asked with difficulty, "Jotaro-san… can you use Star Platinum to find the position of my diaphragm?"
"I can, but…" Jotaro glanced at her, face unchanged.
The meaning was clear, to find the precise point where the diaphragm affects breathing, he needed to feel the expansion-contraction sensation.
And to feel that required touching the girl's body.
Shinobu's cheeks turned red. She turned her head aside and stammered, "It… it's okay."
"Yare yare daze…"
Though he didn't know why she wanted to become stronger, Jotaro could understand her strong desire for strength.
Shinobu, hands slightly trembling, unbuttoned the front of her clothes, revealing the white, tender, porcelain-like skin beneath.
Jotaro's face darkened as he said, "What are you doing?"
He immediately pulled her clothes back together.
"Even through clothes, Star Platinum can sense the changes inside your body."
"Huh?" Shinobu's mouth opened slightly. She was so embarrassed she wanted to disappear.
She blushed and growled angrily, "Jotaro-san, why didn't you say that earlier?"
She had even mentally prepared herself to let someone see her body.
"Yare yare daze~"
Jotaro turned his face away. Star Platinum had already appeared beside him. Its thick palm slowly moved toward Shinobu's chest.
Even though she had prepared herself, when a distinct sensation spread across her body, Shinobu was still incredibly shy.
She couldn't see Star Platinum, but judging by the sensation of its palm, it was totally a man's hand.
'Star Platinum was Jotaro-san's Stand. Could they feel the same things?'
Just thinking about this made Shinobu blush from head to toe. Breathing slightly, she closed her eyes and asked, "Jotaro-san… is it done yet?"
"Don't speak." Jotaro's voice was devoid of any emotion.
The diaphragm is located at the base of the lungs. It separates the abdominal cavity from the chest cavity, it's a membrane-shaped muscle.
The part that most affects Ripple breathing is just a small spot on top. Once the exact location was found, Star Platinum applied slight pressure.
Shinobu clutched her chest, coughing painfully.
"I've emptied the air from your lungs. Remember this sensation."
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