For the first time, Giyu saw a mocking expression on Hiru's face and froze in place.
Hiru picked up the last strawberry daifuku on the plate and stood up. "Alright. Since you're awake, I'm heading out."
"Where?" Giyu snapped back to awareness. "I'll come with you."
"I'm going to Kyoto for the new mission the kasugai crow mentioned. They say there's a powerful demon there, and all nearby Swordsmen are being called in." Hiru popped the daifuku into his mouth. "I gave you the antidote, but the drug's effects haven't worn off. You're too sluggish to be any help. Besides, you need to learn to be on your own sometimes."
Giyu was silent for a moment before speaking. "You'll get lost."
Hiru: "...Are you doing this on purpose?"
Seeing Hiru's expression grow increasingly dangerous, Giyu quietly shut his mouth. But as Hiru reached the doorway, he couldn't stop himself from calling out, "Be careful."
Hiru paused, turned back with a small smile, and waved. "Relax. No one in this world can kill me. You focus on resting and getting back on your feet."
Giyu silently watched him leave. Feeling the weakness of his own body, he pressed his lips together, sank back down, and murmured with a muffled voice, "...He really is different."
...
They say that once you take on a role, you should fulfill its duties—and Hiru wholeheartedly believed in that.
So, to make sure he arrived at the mission location on time, he simply grabbed the kasugai crow and used it as a guide. To show sincerity, he even closed his eyes so he wouldn't accidentally look around. The crow—unable to beat him and unable to escape—could only reluctantly [crossed out] enthusiastically lead the way.
Kyoto's streets were far livelier than those in Ishikawa. Hiru could barely restrain the urge to wander. Seeing that no other Swordsman had arrived at the meeting point, he naturally walked into a nearby dessert shop. Under the shopkeeper's predatory stare, he ordered ten strawberry daifuku and sat down to eat.
[I wonder who I'm supposed to be assisting… and with what exactly…]
Chewing on the daifuku, Hiru's gaze drifted toward the gathering point at the street corner.
[Whoever it is, I just hope it's not someone who can't hold a conversation like Giyu.]
By the time he had wiped out the shop's entire daifuku stock, he finally saw someone in Demon Slayer uniform approaching with a kasugai crow leading him.
The newcomer was tall, with short black hair, wearing a pea-green haori printed with the words [Namu Amida Butsu]. His steps were steady and swift.
But as he drew closer, Hiru noticed his features—and was genuinely surprised.
His facial structure was ordinary, but a fierce horizontal scar stretched across his forehead. His eyes were a pale, unfocused white, clearly unable to see. His expression carried a grief so heavy it seeped into others—just looking at him was enough to feel your heart sink.
This monk-like Swordsman pressed his hands together, gently turning a string of red prayer beads. Judging by their worn sheen, they were clearly a close-kept item.
Still, no matter how Hiru looked at him, the man felt unmistakably like a chanting monk—even though his exposed forearm showed the hardened muscle of someone who trained constantly.
He stopped at the street corner. A new crow landed on his shoulder, replacing the other. After slightly tilting his head to listen, the monk-like Swordsman walked straight toward the dessert shop.
Hiru stopped observing, paid his bill, and stepped out.
Though unable to see, the man possessed remarkably sharp senses. The moment Hiru came within three meters, he halted, pressed his hands together, and bowed slightly. "You must be the Swordsman assigned to assist."
"Mm. Hello." Unsure of monastic customs, Hiru mirrored the gesture with a small bow. "My name is Hiru. I'm a Mizunoto-rank Swordsman who just arrived from Ishikawa."
"I am Himejima Gyomei," the man straightened. "A Hinoto-rank Swordsman."
Seeing he didn't intend to elaborate further, Hiru spoke first. "Well, Mr. Himejima, do you know the details of this mission? The crow that notified me didn't say anything."
"There's no need for honorifics. Simply call me Himejima or Gyomei." Himejima murmured a Buddhist chant. "I only know that a demon believed to be one of the Twelve Kizuki has been attacking civilians in this area."
"Twelve Kizuki, huh…" Hiru clicked his tongue. "I hope it isn't another man-made situation."
"Man-made?"
Hiru briefly described what he encountered during his first mission.
Tears spilled from Himejima's pale eyes. "Ah… how tragic. With so much suffering already in the world, why must humans still harm one another…"
"Right? It's hard to understand." Hiru sighed. "By the way, is it really just the two of us? The crow said all nearby Swordsmen were coming."
"Caw—They are gravely injured from the previous battle and unable to fight, Caw!" croaked the crow on Himejima's shoulder. "But they are on standby at the nearest Wisteria House! If a battle becomes unavoidable, they will rush to help, Caw!"
"I see… but is the Demon Slayer Corps really that short on people?" Hiru tilted his head. "I saw plenty of people taking the entrance exam. And if not for me and my brother this year, there would've been even more recruits, right?"
"In truth, if you only count those who can actually fight demons, the Corps has only a few hundred members. Some may pass the exam, but their fear of demons overwhelms them, rendering them unable to fight. They are transferred to logistics." Himejima no longer shed tears. His hands remained pressed together at his chest. "Compared to the number of demons, the number of capable Swordsmen is far too small."
"No wonder they even need someone like me who can't use the Breathing Styles…"
Himejima: …?
"You cannot use the Breathing Techniques?"
"Mm. I've tried everything, but I just can't learn." Hiru nodded. "My brother's Breathing, Urokodaki-san's Breathing—none of it works for me. What about you, Himejima? Which Breathing Style do you use?"
"Amida-butsu. I am the successor of the Stone Breathing… Hiru, your journey to becoming a Swordsman must have been incredibly difficult."
"Not really. I'm naturally strong—cutting off demon heads is easy. I've got that going for me." Hiru glanced at Himejima again. "By the way, I didn't see your sword…"
"I do not use sword techniques. I wield a chain hammer with a blade attached at one end. Because it draws too much attention, I've left it at the Wisteria House for now. I'll retrieve it before sunset."
"What a coincidence!" Hiru patted Himejima on the shoulder, cheerful. "I don't use sword techniques either!"
Himejima: …Has the standard for becoming a Swordsman fallen this far?