"Kagaya," Amane Ubuyashiki said, pushing open the door and seeing Kagaya Ubuyashiki sitting by the veranda.
She walked over and gently placed her hand on her husband's shoulder.
"They've left?"
Kagaya gazed at the swaying wisteria in the courtyard, turning his face slightly to reveal a gentle smile.
"After choosing their Nichirin Steel and receiving their uniforms, the three gentlemen collected their Kasugai Crows.
Somewhat unexpectedly, Mr. Takanashi received a parrot, white interspersed with soft blue, the same color as his hair."
"A parrot? Indeed, like him, he is an extraordinary person." Kagaya paused, then smiled, "Amane, you can call him Haruto; he prefers to be called by his name."
"Alright.
Kagaya and Haruto's relationship seems very close?" Amane recalled the bright smile Kagaya Ubuyashiki had when she walked in with the food box.
It had been a long time since she had seen such a happy smile on her husband's face.
"Quite the opposite." To her surprise, Kagaya shook his head.
"Although Haruto and I met early, we haven't met many times, and our relationship isn't particularly close.
However, he is different from others; even after only a few meetings, he makes one feel very comfortable entrusting emotions to him."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki fell into reminiscence: "He is a very wise and magnanimous person, extraordinary from a young age.
The first time I met him, I was six and he was five, and from then on, I felt that he and I were kindred spirits.
It's just that my magnanimity and maturity were feigned; in reality, I was still a timid child inside, forced to summon the courage to sit in the Master's position.
But Haruto is different; his early wisdom and maturity are evident in his actions and words, which is truly enviable."
Amane poured him a cup of water.
She didn't often hear Kagaya talk about his past, so she listened with great interest now.
"He never called me Master, even though he always lived in the Swordsmith Village, following his Master, Godo-sensei, as a swordsmith apprentice.
However, I heard he didn't have a talent for swordsmithing and had been carrying charcoal and transporting materials for Godo-sensei since he was a child.
He called me 'Ubuyashiki kid,' then 'Ubuyashiki youth' when he was a bit older, and only today did he call me Master for the first time."
Kagaya Ubuyashiki couldn't help but chuckle: "But I distinctly felt him gritting his back teeth."
"Mr. Takanashi Haruto seems to have a very large appetite."
Kagaya paused, looked at Amane, then broke into a wide laugh, laughing until he started coughing violently.
Amane quickly patted his back, and it took a while for Kagaya to catch his breath.
"What do you mean 'seems to have a large appetite'…" Kagaya raised his voice: "That guy is a glutton! He once ate three hundred nigiri sushi in one meal! Godo-sensei almost abandoned him because of it!"
…Takanashi Haruto, who was almost abandoned, was about to return to Mt. Sagiri with Sabito and Giyuu.
The three youths had grown quite close from fighting side-by-side, and with Sabito, a very gentle young man, mediating, Haruto also changed his initial impression of Giyuu.
Although the black-haired youth always had little expression, he was simply poor at expressing himself, kind-hearted, and a bit timid.
Visiting the Water Pillar, Sakonji Urokodaki, at Mt. Sagiri was not a sudden whim for Haruto.
In fact, finding a true cultivator to identify and correct his mistakes in Breathing Technique was something Haruto had always wanted to do.
Although he hadn't met Mr. Urokodaki in the Swordsmith Village, swordsmen who practice Water Breathing are generally calm, steady, kind, and gentle, which led Haruto to decide to suggest going to Mt. Sagiri with them.
"That's how it should be." Sabito nodded: "You saved my life; I certainly won't refuse these small favors.
However… may I ask you for one thing?"
"Please do."
Sabito glanced at Giyuu and said, "Master loves us very much, so he carves a protective mask for each of us disciples before we leave."
Haruto shifted his gaze to the fox mask he was wearing on his side and immediately understood what he was going to say.
If Mr. Urokodaki were to know that all the disciples he sent out were targeted and devoured one by one by the Hand Demon because they wore the protective masks he personally made… that would be too cruel.
"Don't worry, I won't mention this matter once we reach Mt. Sagiri."
A grateful smile appeared on Sabito's face: "…Then I thank you."
Tomioka Giyuu let out a soft breath: "You are very smart."
It was an abrupt statement, with a slightly condescending tone; if not for the sincerity on his face, Haruto would have suspected he was provoking him.
"No one expresses gratitude in that tone, Giyuu."
The white-haired youth patted him on the shoulder: "If you communicate with others like that… people will dislike you."
Giyuu's face paled, showing some bewilderment.
[Senior Brother: I am not disliked!]
[Sabito's smile is so doting…]
[You are very smart… How did Senior Brother say that hhhh]
A row of bullet comments floated before his eyes, making even Haruto laugh.
"Is he always like this at home?"
"Yes, Makomo always says he's a brother who 'doesn't understand the art of conversation.'"
"…I can talk."
"It's not that you're physically mute, it's that you're mentally mute."
"Mr. Takanashi…"
"Just call me Haruto."
"Haruto-sensei…"
"It's Ha-ru-to—"
The three youths, who had just undergone a life-or-death trial, walked down the wisteria path, and for the first time in a long while, the boisterous chatter of youths echoed along the way.
Sabito held the hilt of his broken blade, and a breeze carrying the scent of wisteria blew across his face.
Before him, a serious Giyuu chased Haruto, telling him he wasn't lacking in emotional intelligence, while around them, sunlight streamed down on vegetation filled with birdsong and insect chirps.
Hmm? What's going on?
A unique feeling welled up in his heart.
Why did his heart… create an illusion of new life?
It was as if he was embraced by sunlight after a very long time… He scratched his pink hair, no longer overthinking, and chased after them: "Hey! Slow down!"
…Mt. Sagiri foothills.
Makomo pushed open the door and saw her Master, Sakonji Urokodaki, standing in front of the house, looking up towards the mountain path.
Under that unchanging great tengu mask, who knew what expression he wore.
"Teacher…" Makomo called softly.
Sakonji Urokodaki turned around: "You're awake?"
"Don't worry, Teacher, Sabito and Giyuu will surely return safely."
The long, dark-green haired girl tilted her head, smiling brightly: "They are the best swordsmen on Mt. Sagiri besides Teacher Urokodaki."
Sakonji nodded, and at that moment, a flapping sound suddenly came from beside his ear.
It was Sakonji Urokodaki's Kasugai Crow, now hoarsely flapping its wings: "They passed! They passed! Sabito and Giyuu both passed the selection!"
After decades, Sakonji finally heard the good news from his disciples.
His shoulders slumped slightly, and facing Makomo's surprised smile, he let out a long sigh of relief.
"That's wonderful, finally…"
"Sabito and Giyuu are bringing a friend back! Go prepare food! Go prepare food! Go prepare food!
Sabito said that kid named Haruto—is—es-pe-cial-ly—hungry!"