"Now, now, don't be so tense." Hiru raised both hands to show he meant no harm. "I was just passing by and happened to step in when I saw something unfair."
Sanemi glanced down at the wound on his left arm, which had already been neatly bandaged, then looked back at Hiru with even sharper suspicion.
"Who are you?"
"Come on, didn't I say already? I'm just…"
"Please don't let your guard down! He may be standing in the sunlight, but he's a demon!"
Tanjiro's shout immediately made everyone who had just begun to relax tense up again. It also made Hiru's expression grow even more helpless.
"Hey, hey, that's a little much. Whose side are you on, kid? I'm helping you here."
Tanjiro endured the pain in his body and dragged the box containing Nezuko behind him, shielding it protectively. He looked extremely nervous.
"Then how do you explain that sharp, choking smell on you? It's almost no weaker than Muzan's!"
Hiru froze. He looked at Tanjiro's guarded expression, then at the Hashira, who all had their swords in hand, and finally realized something was not quite right. Even so, he had no intention of hiding it.
"No… there's no need to explain that. After all, I'm another Primordial Demon after Muzan, so it can't really be helped if I smell strongly of demon. But if you compare me to Muzan again, I'm going to smack you hard on the back of the head. That's not something you say to insult people, got it?"
"A Primordial Demon who overcame the sun? Pretty flashy." Tengen stayed half-crouched, one hand raised to grip the hilt of the sword on his back. "So what is this Primordial Demon doing here? Don't tell me you really just happened to pass by."
"Mm… but in terms you'd understand, I really did just happen to pass by. Still, as expected, this really won't do."
Hiru lifted a hand to cover the lower half of his face. His gaze shifted away, and his expression gained a hint of distaste.
"I really can't accept your sense of style. Why can't you just dress normally? What a waste of that face."
Tengen: …What's that supposed to mean? Was that a personal attack?
"You seem very familiar with us… You even called out the name of that deceased child." Ubuyashiki faced Hiru's direction, his smile gentle. "Could it be that you have been secretly watching the Demon Slayer Corps all this time?"
"Rather than watching, it's more like I stayed here for quite a while… Wait. Deceased child?"
Hiru's expression sank.
"What do you mean?"
As the pressure radiating from Hiru grew heavier, the Hashira became even more tense. Ubuyashiki, however, remained perfectly calm.
"Yes. The child named Sabito died five years ago during the Final Selection."
Hiru fell silent for a moment. He remembered hearing Sabito say on Mount Fujikasane that he would work hard for the sake of more people, and the dark shadow that had appeared behind him afterward.
Was it the decision I made back then that affected fate…? If the changes started then, then the people who aren't here…
"Haa…"
Hiru let out a long breath.
"So… that means no one is missing from today's Hashira Meeting, right?"
"Yes. All nine Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps are present." Ubuyashiki could also feel the oppressive presence coming from nearby, but he remained calm. "Perhaps you would now be willing to tell us who you are?"
This time, Hiru stared at Muichiro in a daze for a long while before turning back to Ubuyashiki.
"…Tsugikuni Hiru. Just call me Hiru."
"I see… Then, Hiru, what brings you here today?"
Hiru looked at Ubuyashiki's smile, peaceful no matter the circumstances, and turned his head away in irritation.
"Forget the reason. Even if I told you, none of you would believe me… That Tamayo-san. Did she make this drug specifically to get back at me? Well, I guess I can't really say that, since it was meant to target Muzan in the first place. Messing with the mind is only natural… Tch, this is so annoying. Hey, Shinazugawa, let me bite you."
A vein bulged at Sanemi's temple, and his teeth ground audibly.
"Try it if you dare."
To his surprise, Hiru really did stroll over without the slightest caution and grabbed his arm. Then, while everyone was still stunned, Hiru bit down.
His Adam's apple bobbed only once before he let go. Then he began bandaging Sanemi with practiced movements.
Everyone: …?
"Just as I thought. Whether this is an illusion or not, Shinazugawa, your blood really does taste good." Hiru unconsciously licked his teeth. "The ten-odd years in Hell were fine in every other way, but having no sweets was honestly enough to give me a nervous breakdown. Thinking about it that way, Tamayo-san's drug really is useful. I was about to forget what blood comparable to two hundred people tasted like…
"Not good. After one sip, my appetite is completely awake… Maybe I should go make some trouble for Muzan. I don't know which complaint of mine this illusion was generated from, but based on past experience, killing Muzan should wake me up.
"Hmm… where do the Twelve Kizuki live again? The closest ones to here should be that entertainment district brother and sister, right? No, no, I should still catch Doma first. This time I'll just kill him directly instead of wasting words on him… But isn't Akaza on the train too? Maybe I should kill him first?"
Sanemi looked at Hiru, who had started muttering to himself after drinking his blood, then lowered his gaze to the right arm Hiru had just bitten.
…That's it?
To be honest, the amount Hiru drank in that one bite was less than the blood Sanemi had spilled from his earlier cut. Hiru's restraint made Sanemi doubt his Rare Blood constitution for the first time.
Doubt was one thing, but Hiru's speed just now had undoubtedly sounded the alarm for every Hashira present. Gyomei even pressed his palms together and began silently chanting something.
Hiru immediately jolted, stopped thinking, and turned to look at Gyomei.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't do something stupid and use your Slayer Mark. If you really want to kill me, even if all of you attacked together and I didn't resist, it would still take at least a full day and night to cut me down… Hey, Ubuyashiki, hurry up and do something! Do you know how badly you'd lose out by fighting me?"
"Everyone, please calm yourselves for a moment." Ubuyashiki's pale eyes turned toward Hiru's direction. "I am very interested in the 'Hell' and 'hallucinations' Hiru mentioned just now. The surname Tsugikuni also sounds somewhat familiar… Would you be willing to explain?"
Hiru swept his gaze over the Hashira, who were gripping their swords and watching him with extreme wariness, then looked at Gyomei, who had calmed down but still stood firmly in front of Ubuyashiki to shield him. He shrugged.
"Sure. I've got plenty of time anyway… But I can tell you first why the surname Tsugikuni sounds familiar.
"It's because the first Breathing Style swordsman was named Tsugikuni Yoriichi. He was my aniue."