"Hiru really dumped a huge problem on me…"
Sabito walked behind Yoriichi with his head lowered.
"I thought things would finally get easier after watching the assessment."
"Was watching the assessment really that exhausting?" Makomo asked, hands clasped behind her back as she looked at him. "It's rare to see you this dejected, Sabito."
"Not exactly…"
Sabito rubbed his chin.
"It's the demon-hunting assignment list afterward that gave me a headache."
"What kind of assignment list?" Yoriichi turned his head slightly. "Hiru never mentioned it to me."
"I wasn't clear on it before either… but this time, they want at least forty demons captured before next year's assessment." Sabito let out a sigh. "If I run into forty demons in a year, that's already pretty good. But capturing forty? How did Hiru even manage before?"
"Hiru and I do have an easier time locating demons than you do," Yoriichi said calmly. "Unfortunately, neither his method nor mine is something that can be easily learned."
Sabito looked at him. "Would it be possible for you to explain them?"
"There's nothing inconvenient about it."
Yoriichi shook his head.
"Hiru uses medicines to test and distinguish them. He also carries drugs that can lure demons, but they're all highly toxic. For anyone unfamiliar with pharmacology, they're far too dangerous to pass on.
"As for me, I rely on aura. I can tell whether someone is human or demon the moment we meet."
Sabito and Makomo exchanged glances, both clearly confused. "Aura?"
"Yes. That's something I plan to explain to you during sparring later."
Yoriichi smiled faintly.
"All things in the world possess their own aura. Surely the two of you have experienced moments in battle where inspiration struck—where you foresaw an opponent's next move and countered it?"
Sabito nodded hesitantly, still unsure. "But that's just intuition, isn't it?"
"Yes—and no." Yoriichi shook his head lightly.
"What people call intuition is the embryonic form of aura that emerges once one's martial training reaches a certain level. Those premonitions don't enter the physical eye, but the mind's eye, and that's what moves the body to respond."
"Could you explain it more simply?" Sabito pushed his mask up, his face twisted in frustration. "The more you explain, the more confused I get."
"Hmm…"
Yoriichi thought for a moment.
"Do you remember how Himejima, despite being unable to see, still moves freely? That's one example of an early mastery of aura in practice."
"Gyomei…" Sabito folded his arms, frowning. "I feel like I understand, but also like I don't…"
"There are many ways to use aura," Yoriichi said gently. "You only need to find the one that suits you best. During the upcoming training, I'll explain it as simply as I can and help you grasp it."
"Every time I feel like I've gotten closer to you, Yoriichi, the gap just seems even bigger the next time we meet…" Sabito sighed, hands on his hips. "I must've been out of my mind to ever think I could surpass you."
"Yoriichi and Sabito, you two head to the training grounds first," Makomo said with a laugh, covering her mouth. "I'll go inform Kanae and Giyu, then come join you."
"Alright, thanks."
Makomo smiled and turned to leave, but Sabito couldn't help asking one more thing. "You said you'd train us to deal with that physical-combat demon—how exactly is that going to work?"
"By sparring with me, of course."
"No, I mean the method. The way demons fight is different from humans. Even you can't completely replicate that, can you?"
That doesn't need to be replicated… Yoriichi brushed the thought aside and shook his head. "As I said before, the closer martial arts approach the pinnacle, the more similar they become. But you've reminded me of something. Later, I'll have you train with black cloth covering your eyes."
"To simulate nighttime conditions? That does make sense…"
Along the way, Sabito asked many questions about swordsmanship, and Yoriichi answered each one after careful thought.
When they reached the training grounds, Sabito obtained black cloths and unsharpened swords from the Kakushi and began adjusting on his own. Yoriichi removed his haori and stood quietly in the center of the field, recalling his brief exchange with Akaza that day and mentally reconstructing Akaza's fighting style.
Before long, Kanae and Giyu arrived with Makomo. After asking about the training method, Makomo immediately covered her eyes with black cloth and took up a practice sword, adjusting to the darkness.
Kanae instinctively stopped Tomioka when he was about to do the same.
"Is this really alright? We'll have weapons, and Yoriichi-kun will be unarmed…"
Tomioka shook his head. "He's strong."
After securing her blindfold, Makomo carefully walked over. "This is your first time sparring with Yoriichi, right, Kanae?"
"Yes…" Kanae watched as Tomioka methodically covered his eyes as well, her expression uneasy. "Even with impaired vision, someone with a weapon has an advantage over someone barehanded. Especially since we're used to fighting at night…"
"It's fine." Makomo waved her hand. "I thought the same at first. But… you'll understand soon enough."
"Are you ready?"
"Over here!" Sabito raised his hand. "I'm ready!"
"Alright. Sabito, you go first. Makomo, you two prepare yourselves," Yoriichi said with a light smile. "I'll gauge your abilities first so I can guide you more effectively."
"So I'm first?"
"Yes. Come." Yoriichi nodded slightly. "Treat me as a demon that specializes in physical combat."
"Got it!" Sabito kicked off the ground, iron blade in hand, charging straight at Yoriichi. The tip of his sword aimed directly for Yoriichi's head.
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Droplet Ripple Thrust!"
Kanae couldn't help gasping—but in the next instant, she saw Yoriichi tilt his head slightly, evading the thrust. He bent his knees and closed the distance, his right hand clenched into a fist with the middle knuckle slightly protruding, striking straight into Sabito's jaw.
The impact disrupted Sabito's breathing for a moment, but he reacted instantly, pivoting on his foot and reversing his blade into a downward slash, trying to force Yoriichi back and buy himself time.
"Good reaction," Yoriichi said with a hint of amusement.
He shifted his body, raised his elbow, and caught Sabito's descending blade with his bare hand. The fist that had struck Sabito's jaw shifted into a loose grip around his throat.
"But your opening attack was too reckless."
Sabito withdrew, rubbing his jaw.
"Barehanded blade-catching is one thing, but countering like that too… how is anyone supposed to handle that?"
"A demon's joints are even more flexible. That first exchange alone would've been enough for a demon to capture you alive."
"I guess I relaxed a bit since it was just sparring." Sabito coughed lightly. "It won't happen again. Let's go one more time!"
"Alright."
Kanae was still standing there, her shock yet to fade.
Makomo stepped up and patted her shoulder. "See? Yoriichi's strength surpassed ours long ago. This sparring is nothing but instruction."
"B-but this is…" Kanae's mouth fell slightly open. "Is it the same when he spars with Hiru?"
"He uses even more force when sparring with Hiru," Makomo said, watching Sabito get restrained again. "Yoriichi is very protective of Hiru, but he's extremely strict during training."
Kanae covered her eyes and adjusted to the darkness. "How far does it go?"
"I only heard this from the Kakushi," Makomo said, watching Sabito charge in for the third time. "Apparently, their most intense session destroyed three training grounds in a row. Hiru couldn't land a single counter and just kept running."
"That intense?"
"Of course—" Sabito limped over, clutching his shoulder and baring his teeth. "Switch, switch. I don't even have visible injuries, but everywhere he hit hurts and feels numb."
"Isn't that because you rushed in too hard?" Makomo said, watching Tomioka silently step onto the field. "If you ask me, Giyu will do better than you."
"Hey, want to bet how many moves he lasts?"
"No way. He'll definitely do better than you."
"Fair enough." Sabito laughed. "He figured out his own sword technique before I did. Makomo, you can't fall behind either."
"I don't have the talent or stamina you two have to develop new techniques," Makomo said, shaking her head slightly.
"Look—Giyu's starting."
On the field, Tomioka's figure flickered, multiple afterimages appearing as they all raised their blades and rushed toward Yoriichi.
Facing the overlapping figures, Yoriichi simply sighed. "Stop. Your footwork is wrong."
Tomioka halted just before reaching him, standing still with his sword in hand. His voice was calm and distant.
"What's wrong?"
"That was Water Breathing's Third Form, Flowing Dance." Yoriichi walked over. "The essence of that technique is fluidity, but you're forcing it too much and losing its core. Get into position."
Tomioka obediently assumed the starting stance and looked up at Yoriichi.
"Left foot a bit farther out. Lower your center of gravity. Then—"
Watching Yoriichi correct Tomioka's form, Kanae couldn't help asking, "Yoriichi-kun knows Water Breathing too?"
"He does. He's incredible," Sabito said, watching Tomioka rush forward again after receiving instruction.
"That idiot—charging head-on like that. Did he not see what happened to me?"
"And you say that so casually…" Makomo sighed, then looked back at the field. "Giyu's about to lose."
The moment her words fell, Yoriichi struck Tomioka's wrist with his palm, disarmed him, and placed the blade against his neck.
Tomioka froze for a few seconds, then turned to Yoriichi.
"Again."
"Alright." Yoriichi released him.
"But just now, your wrist was too stiff. Reduce the force slightly—it'll be more effective."
"Understood." Tomioka flexed his numbed wrist, accepted the sword, and nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Good. Then again." Yoriichi stepped back, then looked at Makomo and Kanae. "You two should prepare as well."
"Okay~"
"Yes."