"Muzan didn't show himself. After ambushing you and taking a slash from me, he escaped."
Hiru's expression went blank for two seconds.
"…Escaped?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. That was my oversight."
"But from the moment I was trapped to when I broke free, it couldn't have been more than thirty seconds, right?"
Hiru held the picture frame, his expression dazed. "How many moves did you exchange? Ten?"
Yoriichi thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"Less than ten. He withdrew very decisively."
"Then what about the other two demons?"
"The pink-haired demon reacted quickly. I failed to finish him in a single strike. Because of that lapse, the white-oak-haired demon managed to rescue him."
"But with Brother's strength, even if there was a mistake, there's no reason they should have gotten away so easily—"
Hiru suddenly stopped.
He looked down at the painting in his hands, fell silent for a brief moment, then spoke again.
"…Was it because of me?"
"It was my own inadequacy." Yoriichi reached out and gently ruffled his younger brother's hair. "It has nothing to do with you."
"…Still, it's such a waste."
Hiru lowered his head.
"It was such a perfect opportunity."
"For me, protecting you is more important than killing Muzan." A faint smile appeared at the corner of Yoriichi's lips.
"Besides, I've memorized the fluctuations of that Spatial Blood Demon Art. If there's another chance, I'll enter it and search for Muzan and that demon. It's not as if we gained nothing."
"…Next time, Brother, you should just ignore me." Hiru turned his head slightly aside.
"If Muzan devoured me, you'd be able to find him easily. And if you then devoured Muzan, with your talent you could quickly track down our eldest brother. Everything would finally come to an end."
"Didn't I tell you already?" Yoriichi laughed softly and ruffled Hiru's hair again.
"As long as you're still my younger brother—still Hiru—I'll stake everything to protect you."
Hiru lowered his head and smiled faintly.
"…Sometimes, I really am glad that the first person I met after becoming a demon was you."
"Alright, let's head down the mountain." Yoriichi withdrew his hand and looked at the surrounding ruins. "There's no presence left anywhere nearby. Muzan probably won't come back."
"I provoked him that much, and a thousand-year-old demon still managed to hold back…"
Hiru gathered up the scattered crystals but didn't head downhill. Instead, he found a flat spot and sat down.
"I really don't know what to say… In the end, I'm the one who lost the most. It looked like a gain, but I'm completely drained… Damn these instincts. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to save up energy?"
"I can share my blood with you." Yoriichi crouched down and extended his hand. "After that, shall we ask the Oyakata-sama to help look for wild animals?"
"Better not." Hiru grabbed Yoriichi's wrist, his nails pressing lightly into the skin as he began to draw blood.
"They seem to be promoting animal protection lately. Getting caught would just mean a huge hassle."
"Then we'll find a butcher."
"Looks like that's the only option." Hiru released his grip, still keeping his head lowered.
"I'm not that hungry anymore, but I'm still so tired… And we'll have to go catch demons again later. I really want to rest…"
Yoriichi looked at the dejected Hiru, a hint of laughter in his voice.
"Then how about shrinking down and taking a break under some pretext?"
"Huh?" Hiru looked up in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"You can rest properly while you're small, recover your strength, and even help look after Yuichiro and Muichiro." Yoriichi smiled gently. "Leave the demon-slaying to me."
"…Oh. Right, I can do that."
Hiru clutched his head, his expression tinged with alarm.
"Even now, I'm still thinking about work. I've definitely been brainwashed by that Ubuyashiki guy. He even planned this far ahead? No wonder that family has been disgusting Muzan for a thousand years—impressive."
"You're just too impatient, Hiru." Yoriichi straightened up. "Even though demons don't need sleep to stay energetic, constantly doing things you're not good at will wear you down. Take this chance to rest properly."
"You're right. I'm resting."
Hiru immediately shrank down, muttering indignantly,
"Why does Muzan get to live a comfortable life while I, also a Demon King, have to work myself to the bone like some underpaid employee…"
Watching Hiru struggle inside his oversized uniform, Yoriichi laughed helplessly.
"You could have waited until we were closer to the foot of the mountain before changing."
Hiru hugged the picture frame and turned his head away.
"…No. I'm too tired to move."
Yoriichi didn't point it out. He simply shook his head with a smile, crouched down again, and opened his arms.
"Come on. Let's head down."
...
"Sorry I'm late."
Sabito came to a stop, panting, lifting one hand to wipe away sweat.
"What's the situation?"
"There's no movement for now. Let's rest while we can." Makomo handed him a water flask. "Your area isn't exactly close. Did you rush here the whole way using Breathing Techniques?"
"No, I came in intervals. I'm in good shape."
Sabito took the flask and gulped down a large mouthful.
"Where are the others? Why are you the only one at the Wisteria House?"
"Yoriichi and Hiru are on the mountain. Giyu and Kanae split up to guard the surrounding ridges."
"Then I'll head up the mountain now."
"Brother Yoriichi said that just the two of them are enough up there." Makomo reached out to stop him. "He told us to stay below and guard against Muzan sending demons to attack the civilians."
"…I see."
Sabito fell silent for a moment.
"Understood. Then where should I go?"
"Mm… the defenses around this area are still a bit thin." Makomo studied the map. "Could you handle this section?"
"Yeah, leave it to me."
Sabito nodded and set the flask down on the table.
"I'll head out—"
"No need. Have everyone come back."
Both Sabito and Makomo turned their heads.
Yoriichi was walking in slowly, holding something in his arms.
After a brief pause, Sabito spoke up.
"Did you finish it?"
Yoriichi shook his head slightly.
"He got away."
"He got away?" Sabito froze.
"Why?"
"What else could it be?" Hiru replied flatly. "He was scared off by Sun Breathing."
Only then did Sabito and Makomo notice the shrunken Hiru.
Sabito stared in disbelief, pushed his mask aside, and rubbed his eyes.
"You shrank again?"
"Yeah. After turning into a demon, I overused my Blood Demon Art." Hiru sighed. "If I'd known Muzan would be scared off by a single slash, there's no way I would've used it like that."
"Then did Brother Yoriichi gain anything from this fight?"
Makomo stood on tiptoe, peering at Hiru wrapped up in the oversized uniform.
"Ah—shrunken Hiru really is as cute as Sabito said~"
"As for gains…"
Yoriichi smiled slightly at their curiosity.
"I've more or less grasped the pattern of that Spatial Blood Demon Art. If we meet again, I'll try to break through it directly and confront that demon."
"For the details, let's wait until the next Hashira Meeting. I'll write to the Oyakata-sama and see if we can make an exception to hold one sooner."
"The Oyakata-sama will probably agree." Sabito stroked his chin.
"Everyone's already been alarmed, and it concerns Kibutsuji Muzan himself. Still… he actually ran away. Are we sure it was the real Demon King? Could it have been a fake?"
"I encountered Muzan before I joined the Demon Slayer Corps. It was definitely him."
Yoriichi's voice carried a trace of regret.
"I didn't expect him to retreat so decisively either…"
"This Demon King really has no presence, huh?" Sabito leaned back with his hands clasped behind his head. "Don't you think so, Hiru? How can a Demon King be this unimpressive?"
Hiru shot Sabito a cold look, shoved the picture frame into his hands, then grabbed Yoriichi's collar tightly.
"How would I know? And you creep—don't touch me."
"Even if this trip was a bust, seeing you like this made it worth it, hahaha—"
Sabito placed the frame on the table.
"I'll go notify Giyu and Kanae now. If the Oyakata-sama agrees, we'll head to headquarters together. If not, Yoriichi, you'll have to brief us first."
"Alright." Yoriichi nodded. "I'll write to Oyakata-sama now."
"Then I'll go inform the other Hashira."
Makomo tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"After the news spread earlier, everyone started heading this way."
"Then I—"
"Hiru, come with me to inform Giyu and Kanae."
Sabito extended his hand, his gentle face now wearing a mischievous smile.
"It'll be easier to explain with someone directly involved. Don't you think so, Yoriichi?"
"That is true,"
Yoriichi said with a smile, pointing at his own collar.
"But I don't think Hiru will agree."
"Come on, Hiru. Even Brother Yoriichi says it makes sense."
Sabito leaned closer, grinning.
"As a reward, I'll treat you to dessert afterward. How about it?"
Hiru responded with a [friendly gesture] he'd learned from Sanemi.
"I'll treat you three times."
"…"
"Five times."
"…Deal."
Hiru finally let go of Yoriichi's collar.
"But I need to change clothes first."
"Just like that? Will that really be convincing—"
"Do you think I'm that kind of person?"
"Add five more times."
"…For the greater good, I suppose it can't be helped."
Hiru extended his hand.
"Let's go."