When Hiru and Aoba finally found the three little ones, the kids were busy discussing how to climb out of the pit.
Aoba's pits were peculiar in their own way—not the usual straight up-and-down holes, but ones with wide bellies and narrow openings. Without tools, anyone lacking real skill would find it nearly impossible to get out on their own.
"Are you seriously that bored?" Hiru jumped down and lifted the children out one by one. As he brushed the dirt off them, he complained to Aoba, "Do straight pits somehow offend your eyes or something?"
"That kind of pit lets prey escape too easily," Aoba replied as he smoothed the children's hair. "I don't come to the back mountain every day. If the prey runs off, wouldn't all my effort be wasted? Besides, it's only because I wanted to catch them alive that I didn't put spikes down there…"
"Then you're lucky you still have both hands attached."
Hiru's tone was calm, and he was still gently soothing the children, but Aoba felt a chill shoot straight from his tailbone to the top of his head.
[With so many kids at home now… maybe I should find time to fill in all those pits. And I'll have to spend some effort tracking down the wild boars too…]
That was what he was thinking.
In the end, he didn't even get the chance to act. That very day, Hiru went into the mountains, and by early the next morning, he returned with an entire family of wild boars, successfully upgrading everyone's meals for several days.
Hiru's skill at entertaining children also won enthusiastic approval from the three little ones. Whenever Hiru was around, Muichiro would tug Yuichiro and Kanao over to have rabbits, butterflies, and other small animals painted on their hands.
Since Aoba absolutely refused to let Hiru touch the few remaining flowers, Hiru simply set his sights on leaves of all shapes and colors instead, without the slightest disruption to his child-soothing routine.
By the time Aoba's courtyard had been repaired as much as it possibly could be, it was once again time for the Demon Slayer Corps' Hashira Meeting.
Aside from the Water Breathing lineage gaining another powerful addition among the Hashira, there were no major developments at this meeting.
After it ended, Hiru went, as usual, to see Ubuyashiki for treatment. Yoriichi and Himejima offered their congratulations before leaving separately. Uzui Tengen clearly wanted to say something as well, but seeing that most of the people present were connected to Mount Sagiri, he only scratched his head and followed after Yoriichi and Himejima.
"Hmph—" Sanemi looked down at Makomo, who was a full head shorter than him. "You're really an embarrassment for someone from the same generation."
"Well, I can't help it if I never run into any of the Twelve Kizuki," Makomo said with a troubled look.
"And after killing a demon, I still need to recover my stamina before the next fight. I can't compare to stamina idiots like you and Giyu who can fight nonstop."
She sighed. "I'm honestly jealous."
"I'm not an idiot."
Sabito laughed. "Makomo's praising your stamina."
Tomioka thought about it for a moment, then looked up. "Then Sabito is an even stronger stamina idiot than me."
Sabito: …Fine. At least he can finish his sentences now.
"Giyu really hasn't changed at all," Kanae said with a gentle smile. "But Urokodaki-san really is amazing at teaching disciples."
Sabito burst out laughing, looking happier than if he'd been the one praised. "Haha, well, he is Urokodaki-sensei!"
"Speaking of which," Makomo said, turning to Kanae, "I heard from our teacher that you and Shinobu adopted a child. Is she doing well now?"
"She's staying with the former Wind Hashira for the time being. I've heard she's doing much better than before…" Kanae's expression dimmed slightly. "It's just that Shinobu and I really don't have any time to accompany her."
"Come to think of it, didn't Hiru also take in two kids?" Sabito lifted his mask and looked in the direction Yoriichi and the others had left. "Wasn't Yoriichi rushing off to see them just now?"
"This is the first time I've ever seen Yoriichi space out like that," Sanemi said with his arms crossed. "What's so special about those two kids?"
"I've heard they're extremely talented…" Kanae rested her chin in her hands. "According to the former Wind Hashira, in just a little over a month, those two had already surpassed him in swordsmanship alone—and that was without him teaching them seriously…"
"That's insane," Sabito said in shock. "What about their progress with Breathing Styles?"
"It seems they haven't been taught any Breathing Styles. I heard Hiru doesn't plan on letting them join the Demon Slayer Corps."
"What on earth is that directionally challenged guy thinking?" Sanemi said, looking at Kanae. "Geniuses like that should be in the Corps, shining where they belong."
Tomioka looked at Sanemi. "Then Genya should join too."
"Huh? What did you just say?"
"He probably means that Hiru's feelings toward those two kids are the same as your feelings toward Genya," Sabito said, pulling Tomioka behind him as he smoothly changed the subject. "That aside, Kanae—what you mentioned during the meeting… is it really true?"
As soon as Sabito said that, Sanemi forgot about Tomioka entirely and looked at Kanae with concern. "If demons have really formed a cult like you said, that's no small matter."
"That's exactly why I have to investigate carefully," Kanae said, worry also showing on her face. "But what concerns me most is this—if it's true, how are we supposed to deal with the civilians who worship demons?"
"There'll be a way," Makomo said as she stepped forward and linked arms with Kanae. "Hiru and I will both help you. With three Hashira working together, we'll figure something out."
"It's precisely that directionally challenged guy being involved that makes me uneasy," Sanemi muttered, scratching his head.
"I heard from the Kakushi before that when he gets serious, he doesn't care who's in front of him. Even if it's a civilian blocking his way, he'll break their legs on the spot—sure, he heals them afterward, but this time it's not just a few people blocking the road. I'm worried he'll lose his temper and really go too far."
The smile faded from Sabito's face. "Demons eat people and kill people, yet there are those who desperately protect them… and we're supposed to protect the people who protect demons. Hah. That really leaves a bad taste."
Everyone fell silent.
Tomioka glanced around and felt that this might be the right moment to speak.
"Don't be angry, Sabito."
Everyone looked at him, their emotions momentarily thrown off by the sudden comment.
Tomioka looked at the slightly stunned Sabito. "Hiru said that when something happens, you should reason it out first. If reason doesn't work, then use force."
"…No, wait, Giyu," Sabito said, covering his face. "Some of what Hiru teaches is useful, but you can't learn everything from him."
"Learning that from a directionally challenged swordsman," Sanemi said with a twitching mouth, "you wouldn't have enough lives to survive."
Makomo also looked thoroughly exasperated. "I've seen Hiru spar with Yoriichi. Even though it has no clear form, that level of attack would cause serious injury from just a single hit."
"That's true," Kanae nodded. "Aside from Yoriichi-kun, I've never seen anyone make Hiru-kun back down. So, Giyu, you really shouldn't learn Hiru-kun's way of handling things, okay?"
Tomioka: …?
"Could you at least discuss me somewhere farther away?" Hiru walked over with a helpless look. "And why exactly can't people learn from me?"
"That whole 'physical negotiation' style of yours doesn't really feel like something a heroic character should be using," Sabito sighed. "But your timing is good. For that investigation—are the three of you really enough?"
"Relax," Hiru waved a hand. "More importantly, can I leave this year's assessment task to you?"
Sabito shrugged. "You can count on me."
Hiru nodded, then looked at Makomo and Kanae. "You two head to the district first and wait for me. I need to take care of something at the Rengoku residence. I'll join you afterward."
"But what about the plan?" Kanae still looked uneasy. "We should at least have a rough outline, shouldn't we?"
"There's no need for that," Hiru said, crossing his arms. "With me in front, just charge ahead."