Hiru stared at Sabito without expression. "How do you explain that?"
"He just wanted to join our conversation," Sabito said, raising a hand to cover his face. "I told him before that if he wants to join in, he should pick up from the last thing someone said… Please, forgive him."
Giyu's gaze wavered slightly. "Was that wrong?"
Looking at Giyu's blank expression, Hiru's face shifted into something complicated. "Can you just be quiet?"
"…I'm not mute." Giyu's expression was earnest. After a moment of thought, he added, "I like talking."
Hiru: …
"Ahem—anyway! Hiru, what brings you here?" Seeing the vein pulsing at Hiru's temple, Sabito changed the subject at lightning speed. "I thought Yoriichi's jurisdiction was in Kantō?"
"I'm here to have my sword reforged after it broke. I figured I'd visit my hometown during my leave," Hiru said, pulling his gaze away from Giyu and speeding up his steps. "Then I ran into a demon."
"Huh—don't tell me the demon you mentioned was up in those northern mountains after leaving town…"
"Mm, close enough." Hiru nodded. "My brother and I just came from there."
"Wow—seriously, you bastard, that was my mission—" Sabito sighed. "I heard there's a Swordsman always stealing missions and making everyone else waste a trip. Don't tell me that's you?"
Hiru looked away.
"He gets lost," Giyu said, watching Hiru. "It's impressive."
Hiru rolled up his sleeves. "…Sabito, I'm telling you—Giyu's getting a beating today."
Giyu halted and stepped back to Yoriichi's side. "I didn't say anything wrong."
Yoriichi gave Hiru a small smile, then reached out to ruffle Giyu's hair. "Don't worry, Hiru is just talking. And he wasn't lost—he just doesn't pay attention."
Giyu looked up at him, serious as always. "He pays attention to nothing."
"Brother, move aside! I'm beating him today no matter what!"
Yoriichi only found it amusing. "It's not something you can't say."
"Hahaha! For once, Giyu said something I don't need to translate."
"Sabito!" Hiru threw his uniform toward Yoriichi and charged. "You're dead!"
"Hahaha! Catch me first!"
Yoriichi caught the uniform, watching the two already far ahead with the same helpless yet gentle expression as always. "Honestly… Come on, Giyu."
"Mm." Giyu withdrew his envious gaze and looked at Yoriichi. "I want to be chased too."
"If I chased you, I wouldn't be able to keep an eye on Hiru." Yoriichi shook his head, lifting his mask slightly to look at the bright morning light. "And then you really would get beaten."
"…Let's practice swordsmanship."
"Alright." Yoriichi ruffled his hair again. "Show me how much you've improved."
"Mm."
The farce ended with Sabito being chased until he collapsed laughing, out of breath and begging for mercy.
The next day, after inviting Yoriichi and Hiru to visit Mount Sagiri when they had time, Sabito departed with Giyu toward their new mission site. Hiru followed Yoriichi to Kantō. During the day, Yoriichi located the demons, and at night, the two split up to act independently.
Those with Blood Demon Arts were turned into pigment stones, while those without were dismembered with the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, their limbs boxed and sent to the Wisteria House.
Hiru remained his usual absentminded self—fond of strawberry daifuku, constantly wandering off.
Yet Yoriichi noticed that in Hiru's new sketchbook, instead of landscapes, it was filled with scenes from their childhood.
[He really was affected.]
Yoriichi didn't know how to comfort him, so he simply stayed quietly at his side.
About a month later, Yoriichi saw Hiru toss the memory-filled sketchbook into the fire, silently watching the flames consume it. The next morning, he asked to take his leave.
[Big brother, don't worry about me. I'm fine now. Next time, I'll definitely hold him off.]
Yoriichi remembered Hiru smiling when they parted, but the smile never reached his eyes.
"Are you… truly alright?" Yoriichi sighed, looking at the demon that had turned to ash before him. "You really do make me worry."
"Caw! Sun Hashira Yoriichi! The Hashira Meeting will begin in seven days! Be sure to head to headquarters! Caw!"
"Understood. I'll arrive the day before." Yoriichi raised his hand for the Kasugai Crow to land. "Thank you for coming."
"Caw! Not at all!" The crow perched firmly on his arm. "It's said that two newcomers have reached Hashira standards this time!"
"Oh?" Yoriichi blinked. "Hiru should be ready. And there's another?"
"Caw! Indeed! According to the other Kasugai Crows, it seems to be the Wind-Breathing Swordsman who passed the trial three years ago!"
"That does make me curious…" Yoriichi surveyed his surroundings, his gaze settling in a certain direction. "Return to the Wisteria House and rest. There are still two man-eating demons nearby. I need to find them before they kill again."
"Caw! Wishing you victory!"
"Mhm, thank you."
Watching the crow fly away, the expression beneath Yoriichi's mask grew cold. His figure flickered, and he rushed toward the direction he had sensed.
...
Compared to the growing strength of the Demon Slayer Corps, Muzan had been feeling increasingly uneasy.
For some reason, ever since Kokushibo returned from the Infinity Castle last time, Muzan could no longer read his thoughts—and he had yet to find an opportunity to reclaim the authority he'd granted him.
Kokushibo's attitude remained respectful, but Muzan could clearly sense a strange, probing look in his eyes.
If it were only curiosity, Muzan would tolerate it. But Kokushibo now hovered around him constantly, hovered around the other Upper Moon, and when he approached, he did nothing—just suppressed his aura and stared quietly.
Aside from Doma, who found it delightful, the others were deeply uncomfortable.
And today, Kokushibo had even contacted him first, saying he wished to speak privately.
Muzan did not want to see Kokushibo—because the two of them were twins.
Though Kokushibo had altered his appearance afterward for Muzan's sake, growing two extra pairs of eyes and adapting to six-eyed vision, and though he no longer needed Muzan's supervision to manage the Upper Moon or gather information, still…
Muzan exhaled sharply, suppressing the unease twisting in his gut as his expression grew vicious. Fortunately, Tsugikuni Yoriichi was dead—along with that infuriating puppet brother of his.
"Muzan-sama."
"Ko—!" Muzan nearly suffered cardiac arrest when he turned, but quickly composed himself, forcing a stiff smile. "You changed your appearance again."
It was indeed Kokushibo. He still wore long sideburns and a purple serpent-pattern kimono, but he had shed the six-eyed form, now bearing only two crimson eyes—without the words [Upper Moon · One].
"Yes." Kokushibo kneeled before him. "Because… I've come to understand… a few things."
Facing a man with Tsugikuni Yoriichi's exact face made Muzan's stomach twist, but he kept smiling. "Oh? Sounds like something good happened. But it's rare for you to seek me out. What is it?"
"I've come… to say farewell." Kokushibo bowed his head, a pool of fresh blood rising in his palm. "Please… reclaim… your blood."