"Our family can provide you with a dedicated pharmacy and compensate you for your closure losses. Would it be convenient for you to temporarily relocate here?"
Upon hearing this, Tamayo couldn't help but glance at Rengoku. Her pale violet eyes studied him for a moment before she spoke.
"Let's discuss this matter later. After all, rather than staying here, I'd prefer to have the noble lady come to my clinic for treatment."
"Hmm… How about relocating the clinic to a nearby town?" Hiru propped his chin up. "Wouldn't that be more convenient?"
Tamayo ignored Hiru.
"Gentlemen, please step outside. I need to conduct some private examinations to further assess the progression of the illness."
After a moment of silence, Rengoku rose.
"Hiru, let's step outside to talk."
"If you're going to lecture, please include me in the conversation."
Rengoku paused mid-step, glancing back at Tamayo before fixing his gaze on Hiru.
"Come with me."
After watching them leave, Ruka turned to Tamayo.
"It seems you didn't come here willingly?"
Tamayo sighed.
"From my position, it would be difficult for you to understand the anxiety I carried when I came here."
Ruka cooperated with the examination, letting out an almost imperceptible sigh.
"…I see. Thank you for your trouble."
"No. If I can cure you, perhaps I might find some redemption myself." Tamayo helped Ruka settle back onto the cushion and closed the medicine box. "I understand your condition now. Please rest assured. Whether I stay or leave, I will prepare a treatment plan."
"Thank you for your concern."
Tamayo simply smiled and walked out with the medicine box.
"Have you finished examining her?"
Tamayo looked toward the youth holding an infant nearby. After a brief pause, she closed the door.
"Yes. Where are Rengoku and Hiru?"
"Father said he needed to discuss matters with Brother Hiru and went to the training grounds. He told me to wait here for you and escort you to the reception room once you came out."
"I see…" Tamayo thought for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Then I'll trouble you to guide me. I also need some time to think over the prescription."
"Yes! You… um, you…"
"My name is Tamayo."
"Hello, Doctor Tamayo! I'm Rengoku Kyojuro!" Kyojuro let out a relieved breath, then lowered his voice. "About my mother's condition…"
"Fortunately, it remains within my capabilities."
"That's wonderful! Thank you so much!"
"There's no need for that. I'm simply fulfilling my duty as a physician."
"No, you don't know how much your words mean to our family." Kyojuro shook his head. "Ever since Mother fell ill, I've been terribly uneasy.
"With each doctor arriving only to shake their head and leave, both Father and Mother changed. Our whole home grew silent. I was truly worried.
"Father even resigned from the Demon Slayer Corps… Ah, sorry, I've said too much. You probably don't know about the Corps, do you?"
"…I know," Tamayo said quietly. "And then?"
"Then Father brought Brother Hiru home. That day, both Father and Mother smiled—not the kind of forced smiles meant to reassure others, but genuine, heartfelt smiles."
Kyojuro smiled.
"And today, even though I don't know what happened inside, hearing your affirmation instantly calmed me. Thank you so much."
Tamayo watched Kyojuro's smile, her expression softening.
"You're welcome."
"Ah, this is the reception room. Please take a seat for a moment—I'll go fetch paper and pen for you!"
…
In stark contrast to this harmonious atmosphere, the mood between Rengoku and Hiru, who had left earlier, was far less pleasant.
Rengoku led Hiru into the indoor training hall. After dismissing everyone else, he lowered his voice and snapped,
"When did you start associating with demons?!"
"Well… we've always known each other?"
"What were you thinking?!" Rengoku pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You're a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. What if the lower-ranked members or the Kakushi saw you being so close to a demon?!"
"Don't worry. I've been careful to avoid it." Hiru stroked his chin. "Besides, didn't you compromise in the end, Mr. Rengoku?"
"…That's true. I was also at fault." Rengoku frowned, hands on his hips as he sighed. "As a former Hashira, I shouldn't have concealed a demon's existence… And the proposal I made earlier was rather abrupt.
"Hiru, you really are good at giving people difficult problems."
"Haha, I'll take that as a compliment." Hiru laughed. "But compared to arranging a dedicated pharmacy, I think persuading Miss Tamayo to move in and conducting regular checkups for Lady Rengoku would be easier."
"But demons eat people. I…" Rengoku ran a hand roughly through his hair. "If something like that happened near my home, how could I face my ancestors…"
"Miss Tamayo doesn't eat people."
"That's impossible. Is that supposed to be a joke?"
Hiru folded his arms.
"It may sound unbelievable, but Miss Tamayo only needs blood left over from surgeries, as well as occasional donations from nearby residents, to maintain her sanity and survival."
"There's no such demon."
"…You know my brother's stance on demons."
Rengoku recalled how Yoriichi had wiped out over half the demons in the Kantō region in just half a year.
"…Does Yoriichi know about Tamayo as well?"
"Yes. Or rather, it's precisely because my brother spared her that she's still alive today." Hiru's expression grew serious.
[Though that happened hundreds of years ago.]
"A demon even Yoriichi could trust…" Rengoku pinched the bridge of his nose again. "This is giving me a headache."
[Looks like revealing my identity will have to wait. It's probably too much of a shock for them.]
Hiru glanced at Rengoku's troubled expression and recalled the reactions from the day he had revealed his own demon state.
[So was it because I stood in sunlight that they accepted it so quickly back then?]
The two stood in the training hall, each lost in thought. After an unknown amount of time, Rengoku finally broke the silence.
"I will conceal her existence—but only this once. I've faced too many demons to believe they are capable of reason or restraint."
"That's enough," Hiru said, snapping back to reality. "Our positions are opposed. I don't expect you to trust her. But there's one thing I hope you understand."
"What is it?"
"She's a demon who broke free of her chains."
Hiru watched Rengoku's stunned expression as he turned and walked toward the exit.
"Just like my older brother. They aren't bound by Muzan Kibutsuji."