"You're sick."
Sabito brushed Tomioka's hand away, his tone tinged with helplessness.
"I'm not sick."
"You are," Tomioka insisted.
"There's a reason I say that," Sabito explained with a grin. "Hiru was hit by a Blood Demon Art and turned back into a child. He doesn't remember anything now—he's all soft-spoken and obedient. We just agreed to go out tonight to slay demons and see if it helps him recover some memories. Giyu, want to come along?"
"…Mm. Sure."
"Honestly, I'm kind of looking forward to it—"
"To what?"
"When I arrived earlier, I saw the Kakushi lining up to ask Hiru for blessings. He stood there seriously giving every single person a blessing, no impatience at all."
Sabito slung an arm around Tomioka's shoulder.
"You know how it is—Hiru can be sharp-tongued sometimes, but he looks completely harmless, and he's terrible at refusing people's goodwill. If Yoriichi didn't block some of it for him, and if Hiru himself didn't disappear so often, his popularity would be terrifying."
"…So?"
"So do you think, if he runs into a demon while he's lost his memory, he'll get scared and cry? Will he grab our sleeves and ask for help?"
Sabito sighed dreamily.
"I'm honestly jealous of Yoriichi—being clung to and spoiled by his little brother like that…"
Tomioka fell silent for two seconds, then tugged lightly on Sabito's sleeve.
"…Like this?"
"Hahahaha—Giyu, don't do that with such a stiff face!" Sabito burst out laughing. "I meant a soft, well-behaved kid crying and asking for help—like last time at Sagiri Mountain, when Genya was hung from a tree by Sensei and begged for mercy because he was starving."
He laughed even harder.
"And if we could record Hiru's behavior now and show it to him later, his expression would be incredible. Just thinking about it gets me excited."
Tomioka looked past him.
Standing at the corner at some point, already changed into his uniform, was a smaller version of Hiru, staring at them in shock.
After a brief pause, Tomioka turned to Sabito.
"I think you're done for."
Sabito followed his gaze, then stiffened.
"No—wait, Hiru, listen to me, I—"
Hiru raised a hand, stopping Sabito from coming closer. His expression was solemn.
"I understand that people have their own… preferences. Truly. So there's no need to explain. And please don't come near me."
"Then don't hide so far away!" Sabito wilted instantly. "Seriously, you changed clothes way too fast… and of all things, you only heard the last part…"
Tomioka glanced at the dejected Sabito and lifted the food box.
"For you."
"This is…?"
"Strawberry daifuku I bought."
"Ah, thank you, but wasn't that expensive?"
"No. I have money."
As he spoke, Tomioka handed both food boxes to Hiru.
"They're souvenirs."
"Ah…"
Hiru held the two boxes. After a brief moment of blankness, he smiled.
"Then thank you, Giyu. Let's eat them together after we finish slaying demons."
"Okay."
[His way of speaking is a bit strange, but compared to the other one, at least he's normal.]
Holding the food boxes, Hiru thought this silently.
"Honestly, Hiru, you're my nemesis," Sabito muttered as he put his mask back on. "Every time we meet, my personal black history increases."
He straightened up.
"Give the food to the Kakushi and let's go. Three Hashira acting together… I wonder which unlucky demon we'll run into."
"Very unfortunate," Giyu said while checking his sword. "It's a shame he isn't here."
"Yeah, otherwise it'd be four Hashira. Just imagining it makes me laugh."
Tomioka kept a straight face.
"Mm."
[I take that back. These two are equally strange.]
Hiru handed the food boxes to the Kakushi who had followed them, his expression blank.
[Is there something wrong with my head? How did I end up becoming friends with people like this? No—what kind of life did I live to make friends with people like this?]
[Am I really not dreaming? I've been lulled by how kind the Kakushi have been these past few days. I really should stay on guard…]
"By the way, Hiru, can you still use your original weapon?" Sabito asked.
"Yes. It seems my physical abilities were retained."
"Ehh—" Sabito dragged out the sound. "I'm jealous."
"Let's go."
Hiru followed behind them.
"How do we find demons? Or rather, how do we identify them? I heard from the Kakushi that demons used to be human. Wouldn't that make them hard to tell apart?"
"No, no. Most demons can be recognized at a glance," Sabito replied. "Only very powerful ones can disguise themselves as humans."
[So it's normal that a Demon King disguised as a human wasn't discovered?]
Hiru touched his chin.
[No… it's normal that two Demon Kings disguised as humans weren't discovered?]
"But don't get scared, Hiru," Sabito added cheerfully. "Demons are very scary—"
The suddenly looming mask made Hiru take two steps back, allowing Tomioka to move between them.
"I'll act within my limits."
"Shouldn't getting smaller make you more childish?" Sabito sighed, hands behind his head. "Why did you end up more mature instead? This is no fun."
"You two don't suspect me at all?" Hiru asked.
"No need," Tomioka said, turning his head slightly. "It would be strange."
Hiru: …?
"What Giyu means is that Blood Demon Arts have all kinds of effects," Sabito explained out of habit. "So suspecting you because of this would be strange. Also, the biggest difference between demons and humans is that demons can't walk in sunlight—they'll die."
Hiru: …If you put it like that, I genuinely don't know how I'm supposed to explain anything.
The rest of the journey was carried almost entirely by Sabito's attempts to liven up the mood.
Tomioka only responded when spoken to directly, while Hiru maintained a very clear, very deliberate safe distance from Sabito.
As a result, when they finally encountered a demon, Sabito was so moved he nearly cried.
"This is great! You finally showed up!"
Hiru watched the demon's expression visibly turn confused, then glanced at Sabito.
[There's really something wrong with this person.]
"Come on, Hiru, this is a demon. How does it feel? Anything at all?"
"…It looks kind of disgusting."
"…That's it?" Sabito asked.
Hiru looked at the demon again, which was on full alert.
"…There's also a very subtle sense of irritation. I can't really explain why."
Tomioka had already drawn his sword.
"Capture it first."
Hiru watched as Tomioka rushed forward at incredible speed, severed the demon's legs, and kicked it straight down the slope. Sabito immediately followed up, cutting off its arms and stepping hard on its back to pin it face-down, then looked back over.
"Limbs are gone. Want to get closer and take a look?"
[There isn't much blood despite the limbs being severed. Demons must have very strong control over their bodies.]
Thinking this, Hiru walked over and crouched down in front of the demon.
Veins bulged on its forehead, its eyes were bloodshot and darting, its skin deathly pale with strange patterns etched across it. Sharp fangs protruded from its lips, still stained with blood, and a faint stench of iron lingered in the air.
[It's my first time seeing one, but I'm not afraid at all…]
[Just that strange irritation again. Why?]
Seeing that Hiru showed no fear while carefully observing the demon, Sabito relaxed slightly. He turned to Tomioka, who was sheathing his sword.
"Check the area. There's blood around its mouth—someone was probably killed."
"Got it."
Sabito looked back down at Hiru.
"Well? Did anything come back to you?"
"No," Hiru said, standing up and shaking his head. "If anything, I'm even more confused."
"Then how about you try biting the demon?"
"…Do you even know what you're saying?"
"Of course I do. You have the constitution of a demon-eater, don't you?" Sabito pressed his foot down harder, firmly pinning the demon's spine. "The kind where eating a demon turns you into one. Maybe the Blood Demon Art only works on humans, and turning into a demon again would break it."
Leaving aside the question of how someone who was already a demon would become one again—
Hiru looked down at the demon still writhing on the ground, covered in dirt and emitting an unpleasant odor.
[Please. Spare me.]