"No need to talk about gratitude," Hiru said, waving it off as he stood up with a smile. "Just try not to get overly emotional when the time comes, Rengoku-san."
"Thank you for going to such trouble," Ruka said calmly as she lifted her head. "If it's too difficult, you really don't have to—"
"Ruka!"
Rengoku suddenly grabbed her hand, pressing his forehead against her shoulder. His face couldn't be seen, but his posture made it feel as though he were on the verge of breaking down. "Don't say that. Please… don't say that."
"I understand how you're feeling right now," Hiru said quietly.
He crouched down again and looked at Ruka.
"When someone precious to you is about to slip away, and you can't do anything about it—it's unbearable.
"So even if it's painful, please endure a little longer, for Rengoku-san's sake. And because you're part of the Rengoku family, I will save you no matter what."
Ruka could feel it clearly—although Hiru was speaking to them, his gaze seemed to pass through them, fixed on something far away.
Hiru then turned to Rengoku. "And you too, Rengoku-san. Please pull yourself together. There's no hard evidence, but a patient's state of mind is important. Rengoku-san's wife wouldn't like seeing you this dejected, would she?"
Faced with the stunned couple, Hiru straightened up again. "Alright then. I'll do my best to persuade my friend to come and treat Rengoku-san's wife as soon as possible."
"Is Brother Hiru leaving already?"
Kyojuro, who had been standing quietly by the doorway, looked up at him. "Won't you stay a little longer? Last time Brother Yoriichi came, he sparred with Father for a long time."
"Don't put me on the spot," Hiru said, rubbing Kyojuro's hair. "If I took my sword out to spar with Rengoku-san, it'd just be embarrassing."
"But isn't having strong swordsmanship what it means to be a Hashira?"
Hiru: ...
Hiru, thoroughly irritated, grabbed Kyojuro's neatly tied little braid and messed it up. "You really are an annoying little owl!"
"…Owl?"
Hiru turned and saw Rengoku staring at him in confusion.
He coughed lightly. "Anyway, I'll be back as soon as possible. Goodbye! No need to see me off!"
Watching Hiru vanish in a blink, Ruka couldn't help but laugh softly.
Rengok looked at her. "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing," Ruka said, beckoning to Kyojuro, who stood at the doorway holding Senjuro awkwardly. "I just thought… he really does resemble one. An owl."
"What's so funny about that?" Rengoku said, though he smiled as well. "Should I go catch an owl for you?"
"Wouldn't that be pitiful for the owl family?" Ruka laughed as she tidied Kyojuro's hair. "Besides, I already have three little owls. How could I possibly ask for more?"
"That's fine, Ruka." Rengoku rested his forehead against hers and smiled gently.
"Whatever you wish for is what I should strive to give you."
Kyojuro, his hair still a mess, looked at his smiling parents and broke into a huge grin himself. He didn't really understand why everyone was smiling—but seeing his father and mother smile made him happy too.
[Umu! Next time I see him, I'll be sure to thank Brother Hiru properly!]
Kyojuro thought to himself.
…
After leaving the Rengoku residence, Hiru first went to the nearest Wisteria House to contact his Kasugai Crow, then immediately set off toward the Kanto region.
He was going to find Tamayo.
And he knew exactly what it meant to bring Tamayo into a Hashira's household.
But he couldn't bring himself to ignore the plea for help from the descendants of Rengoku Tetsushiro.
Perhaps it was gratitude—for Tetsushiro once pulling his brother out of despair. Or for Tetsushiro's unwavering composure. Or for the fact that, after learning everything, Tetsushiro had been the first to accept Hiru's existence and stand firmly on his brother's side.
In any case, Hiru was grateful to Rengoku Tetsushiro.
"Hey, Kitaro."
"Caw?"
"Helping a friend take care of their kid is such a pain."
Kasugai Crow: …This guy really says incomprehensible things all day long.
"Why are you going to Kanto again, caw? Weren't you furious last time after being schemed against, caw?"
"Schemed against? Oh, that thing with Chijin and Niko?" Hiru shook his head. "Strictly speaking, that wasn't really a scheme. But this time's different—I'm going to invite someone."
"Caw?"
"Don't ask. Just guide me there properly. After that, you can take a short break."
"What about your mission, caw?! You don't seriously expect me to go kill demons for you, do you?! Caw!"
"I'll still kill demons. I just won't be capturing them for now," Hiru replied casually. "By the way, how far is it to Tokyo?"
"Caw! Just follow me quietly! Asking won't make us get there faster, caw!"
Two days later, Hiru arrived in the city where Tamayo was staying. Using the excuse of delivering a message to the Flame Hashira, he sent Kitaro away.
Since he arrived at night this time, Hiru made sure to knock properly.
Before long, Yushiro's slightly irritated face appeared.
"Visiting during someone's dinner time—have you never learned manners?"
"That's human etiquette. What does it have to do with demons?" Hiru walked straight inside. "And you'd better be polite to me, kid. Otherwise I'll cut you with a Bright Red Nichirin Sword."
"Hmph!"
Once inside, Hiru caught the faint scent of blood in the air and looked toward Tamayo, who was seated at her desk.
"Rare blood? Looks like you got yourself some decent food."
"It's blood from a previous patient's surgery," Tamayo replied, setting down her pen. "It was indeed very helpful. So, what brings you here, Hiru? Do you need more medicine to conceal your aura?"
"No. Actually, I want to ask you to make a house call—to save someone from the Demon Slayer Corps."
Tamayo looked surprised. "You tend to go off-track in pharmaceutical research, but your diagnostic ability is hardly inferior to mine. And the Corps' physicians are no slouches either. Why come to me?"
"There are several reasons," Hiru said as he found a seat.
"The Demon Slayer Corps has already examined her. It's an internal condition that requires extensive medication, and the patient is a woman.
"My treatment methods mostly involve direct application and medicinal steaming. That requires undressing and close observation. I don't mind, and I have absolutely no interest—romantic or otherwise—in someone that much younger than me. But she and her family definitely would mind.
"And I really want to save her. So the only option left was to come to you."
"I see… What kind of illness is it?"
"Likely a respiratory condition. My preliminary diagnosis is chronic respiratory failure or pneumoconiosis. She fell ill after prolonged exposure to bonfires during winter while pregnant and close to delivery. What do you think—can she be treated?"
"A lung disease…" Tamayo pressed a hand to her forehead. "I became a demon because of a lung illness myself."
"Miss Tamayo, please have some tea," Yushiro said, bringing over a cup and glaring fiercely at Hiru.
"If Miss Tamayo doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to! I'll stay with you no matter what!"
"Thank you, Yushiro." Tamayo accepted the cup and smiled gently at him. "But I think I should at least go and see her. If I can help, then she won't have to endure the pain I once did."
"Miss Tamayo is far too kind!"
"But since you came to invite me so solemnly," Tamayo said, looking back at Hiru, "the person must be quite special. Otherwise, judging by your usual methods, you would've treated them first and then erased their memories. Could you tell me who she is?"
"She's the wife of the Flame Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps."
Tamayo: …?