"Sorry! We kept you waiting!" Hiru said, holding a Kasugai Crow in one hand and a food box in the other. "I ran into another demon on the way, so I had to double back."
"Then this…" Yukinashi pointed at the food box in Hiru's hand. "That's from the dessert shop over in Ginzan, right?"
"Yeah. I was planning to eat while traveling, but I didn't have the time at all." Hiru released his grip, letting the Kasugai Crow flap off to the side, cawing angrily. "Want to eat together?"
Yukinashi waved his hand. "Thanks, but I don't eat sweets…"
"What about Rengoku-san?"
"Then I won't hold back!" Rengoku said cheerfully.
Yukinashi watched as the two of them polished off an entire box of assorted sweets in less than ten minutes, to the point that a cloying sweetness seemed to rise in his own mouth.
[Is it really okay to eat like this?]
As someone who didn't eat sweets, that was the thought that crossed Yukinashi's mind.
"If I didn't still have patrol duties tonight, someone my age really wouldn't dare eat this much dessert after a meal, hahaha!" Rengoku Shinjuro wiped his mouth. "But these wagashi are excellent—eating them has actually made me hungry!"
"I didn't expect this shop to have so many varieties either, but their strawberry daifuku sells too well. I couldn't get any at all." Hiru swallowed the food in his mouth. "Alright, now that we're full, it's time to get to work!"
"W-wait," Yukinashi covered his mouth. "Hiru, you're not actually treating this as dinner, are you?"
"Yeah. There's only so much food my body can digest in a day. If I ate a proper meal, I wouldn't have room for this."
Shinjuro's expression froze.
"…This wasn't dessert?"
"…Won't eating like that lead to malnutrition?"
"It's fine. I'm pretty healthy." Hiru brushed the glutinous rice flour from his palms. "I've never done a formal patrol before. How should we proceed?"
"The simplest way is to divide the area into three sections—one person per section," Yukinashi answered honestly. "But to be frank, because of certain rumors, I'm a bit worried about Hiru…"
"…Throw those useless rumors out of your head."
"Hahaha, that really is Hiru's style!" Rengoku Shinjuro laughed loudly. "If you don't mind, why don't I handle the assignments?"
"I'm fine with that."
"Agreed—"
Seeing that neither objected, Rengoku Shinjuro took out a map.
"Then I'll cover the eastern sector, Aoba will take the northwest, and Hiru the southwest. Bring signal flares, and stay in contact through the Kasugai Crows at all times."
"Rengoku-senpai, I can also—"
"This was originally my jurisdiction. You two definitely aren't as familiar with it as I am." Rengoku Shinjuro waved his hand. "Besides, having rumors like this appear in a territory I handed over to juniors is frankly embarrassing. Leave the entire east to me."
"But—"
"Alright, you need to trust your senior!"
Yukinashi let out a sigh. "Alright… if you insist."
Hiru stared at the map for a moment before speaking.
"Then I'll be responsible for the southwest?"
"Right. How about it, Hiru? Any problems?"
"Well… in short, don't be too surprised if you see me showing up in your patrol areas…" Hiru covered his face. "Honestly, I don't have much confidence when it comes to patrolling a fixed area…"
"Hahaha, that's fine! Just make sure you rush over as soon as you see a signal flare!" Rengoku Shinjuro said as he handed signal flares to the two of them. "If you encounter something you can't defeat, signal immediately and focus on delaying it. Remember that."
"Yes, Rengoku-senpai."
"Understood."
Yukinashi raised his hand to summon his Kasugai Crow. "Then I'll head out first. See you later."
"I should be going as well." Rengoku Shinjuro nodded, then smiled and patted Hiru on the shoulder. "Do your best, Hiru."
"Yes—"
Hiru watched the two of them leave, then looked up at Kitaro, who was still standing on a branch and clearly ignoring him.
"You should come down about now, shouldn't you?"
"Caw! I won't work for you again until you apologize!"
"Sorry."
"Hmph! I knew you wouldn't—caw?"
"In any case, I'm really sorry. Can you come down now?" Hiru looked up at the Kasugai Crow, then crouched down and picked up a stone, his expression turning unfriendly. "If you don't come down, I'll have to use force."
"Caw! Still completely unrepentant!"
With Kitaro's extremely reluctant cooperation, Hiru spent five days combing through the entire southwest region. Aside from a handful of demons who had come out to hunt only to run into him by sheer bad luck, there was no sign at all of the so-called samurai.
"There haven't even been any related rumors these past few days… Was it just villagers spreading exaggerated stories?"
"Maybe he isn't in this area… caw…"
"…Are you alright? You sound completely drained." Hiru glanced at the Kasugai Crow perched on his shoulder. "Since we're done patrolling anyway, how about I take you to the Wisteria House to rest?"
"That would be wonderful, caw…" The crow drooped its head. "When I get back, I'm definitely applying for another member to be assigned with me, caw… Why did I have to be paired with a swordsman who's a physical monster like you, caw…"
"That's not something I can control…" Hiru stretched his body. "Anyway, let's check other areas. Those two probably aren't searching as fast as I am."
"Who could possibly keep up with you, you tireless monster…" The Kasugai Crow still looked exhausted, but in the next moment it lifted its head, spread its wings, and shot up into the sky.
"What is it?"
"Caw! A signal flare has gone up to the northwest! Hurry to provide support! Hurry to provide support!"
"Yukinashi's position?!" Hiru immediately followed the direction the crow was flying. "Can you still hold up?!"
"I'll take you near the battlefield, caw! A fight involving a Hashira isn't somewhere I can approach, caw! Be careful not to die! Caw!"
"Thanks!" Hiru kicked off the ground and leapt onto a tree branch. "Which exact direction?! I'll go on my own! You go notify Rengoku-san—he's too far away and might not notice!"
The Kasugai Crow flapped its wings hard and flew ahead of Hiru. "This way! Straight ahead, caw!"
"Got it!" After confirming the direction, Hiru pulled out a strip of cloth. "I'm going at full speed now! You leave too!"
"Caw! Be careful! May your martial fortune flourish! Caw!"
After watching the Kasugai Crow fly off, Hiru didn't cover his eyes. Instead, a gray hue spread across his pupils, and his speed increased by more than double.
As the marks of his demonization spread further across his body, his pace grew even faster.
Aside from the direction he was fixated on, the surrounding scenery had already blurred into indistinct afterimages. The wind pressure created by his speed made it difficult to even keep his eyes open.
Yet Hiru kept his gaze locked firmly ahead, his lips pressed into a tight line.
[Is it you… Kokushibo?]