After another bout of sparring with Yoriichi, Himejima stepped aside.
Uzui, now wearing a black cloth and already adapted to the altered field of vision, refused to believe the outcome and strode forward to test his fists against Yoriichi as well.
The result, however, was the same five times in a row—defeat on the ninth move every time.
"If you can't conceal your aura, your movements become easy to read," Yoriichi said calmly, watching Uzui put his joints back into place.
"Unless Uzui understands how to use [Aura], no matter how many techniques he has, he won't last ten moves against me. And this is only sparring—don't use techniques that damage your own body, like forcibly dislocating your joints."
"It's fine. The training I've gone through is far harsher than this. This doesn't even count as an injury," Uzui said as he rolled his shoulders. "Still, fighting without my usual weapons really throws me off."
"You're allowed to use weapons, Uzui."
"And doesn't that mean I, the God of Festivals, would be showing weakness to you? No chance!"
Yoriichi let out a faint sigh, smiling gently.
"Very well, then. But Uzui, you still need to pay closer attention to your Breathing technique."
"No need! Give me a few more rounds and I'll see right through you! Then you'll kneel—flashily—before the God of Festivals!"
"I see…" Yoriichi's smile did not change. "Then I can't afford to let my guard down."
"Take this!"
Standing under the eaves, Hiru felt as though he had just watched another farce unfold.
"What exactly was that guy's reason for dragging me here…"
"Because you locked yourself away for two days and two nights already," Sabito said, sitting beneath the eaves and tilting his head back. "Getting some fresh air is good for you. Want to go grab something to eat later?"
"That's true. You did say you'd treat."
"Haha, go easy on me."
"Namu Amida Butsu…" Himejima turned his head slightly. "What do you intend to do next, Hiru?"
"I was originally thinking of taking a break—going to Aoba's place to help take care of the children," Hiru sighed softly.
"But… after being driven off this time, Muzan will likely start searching for anything related to Sun Breathing. I'll probably investigate the successors of Sun Breathing."
"If it's Sun Breathing, isn't Yoriichi your answer?"
"It's not the same."
Hiru shook his head.
"My brother comprehended it on his own. What I'm talking about are people connected to Sun Breathing who were passed down through the generations hundreds of years ago."
"Isn't that like looking for a needle in a haystack?" Sanemi glanced over. "In your current state, don't go getting yourself trafficked again."
"Can't that bandit face of yours say something decent for once?"
"Sanemi, that's out of line." Tomioka finally looked away from the training ground.
"Even if traffickers caught Hiru, he'd still get away. Or rather, they probably wouldn't even be able to keep track of him properly."
Sanemi rubbed his chin and clicked his tongue. "Fine. I'll give you that one."
"Namu Amida Butsu… hard to disagree."
Hiru: …
Sabito simply smiled, though his ears twitched slightly as he turned to look at the Kakushi running toward the training grounds.
"Is something wrong?"
"Greetings, Hashira!" the Kakushi bowed, his voice faintly trembling with excitement. "Lady Amane has arrived and sent me to ask when everyone would be available for a meeting."
The group exchanged looks, no one answering right away. Hiru stepped forward.
"Lady Amane doesn't have the same physical constitution as us swordsmen. After such a long journey, she must be exhausted. And we Hashira have all been focused on training and aren't in our best condition either. How about tomorrow morning instead?"
"I agree. Attending a meeting in this sorry state would be far too disrespectful," Sabito said, raising his hand first. "Let Lady Amane get some proper rest."
Sanemi nodded. "No objections. I want to train a bit more too."
The Kakushi glanced at Himejima and Tomioka. Seeing both nod, he bowed again and hurried off.
"Even though it's called a meeting, the main point is that Yoriichi wants to teach us how to use [Aura], right?" Sabito scratched his head, looking toward the training ground. "But I honestly can't wrap my head around it at all."
"All of that doesn't matter," Sanemi snorted, glaring at Tomioka. "What really annoys me is this guy. He's the closest to understanding it, yet no matter what, he just can't learn. It's infuriating."
Sabito let out a quiet sigh and said nothing.
After a moment of thought, Hiru stepped forward and tugged on Tomioka's sleeve.
"I need to talk to you."
Tomioka nodded, took off his shoes, and followed him.
After walking some distance, Hiru stopped and turned to him.
"Are you truly unable to use [Aura], or are you holding back because of Sabito?"
"…I really can't."
"I see." Hiru shook his head heavily. "Then it seems Sabito is going to be disappointed."
"…Why?"
"Do you really think Sabito can't learn [Aura]?"
"No. Sabito is very capable."
"Then do you know why he still hasn't mastered it?"
Tomioka shook his head.
"It's because of you."
Tomioka frozen.
"You always use Sabito as your standard, so you keep denying your own worth," Hiru said, pointing at him.
"Sabito is doing this because he wants you to step out of his shadow. Just like how you created a new form of Water Breathing before he did—he wants you to recognize your own value. But if things continue like this, I'm afraid he's bound to be disappointed."
"How pitiful—he wants his brother to take another step forward, yet that brother keeps holding himself back out of consideration…"
"Isn't that the same for you?" Tomioka asked quietly. "Yoriichi is always pushing you to train."
"…Our situations are different." Hiru faltered for a moment before continuing. "Even someone as dense as you should have noticed by now. Sabito is always looking at you with worry in his eyes. And Makomo too. What do you think they're worried about?
"Do you really think they're only concerned that you don't speak much, that you always misunderstand others? In any case, think about it carefully."
Tomioka stood there for a long time, watching Hiru walk away.
[Is that really how Sabito feels…? Have I been holding him back again? And does Makomo feel the same way?]
"This can't continue…" Tomioka clenched his fists, his gaze slowly firming as he turned back. "I have to work harder. I can't let Sabito's feelings go to waste."
When Sabito saw Tomioka return with a troubled look, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"…I'll work hard."
"…Huh? Oh. Sure. Let's do our best together."
"No." Tomioka pressed a hand against Sabito's shoulder. "I will work hard."
Sabito: …?
[No—what exactly are you going to work hard at? Say it clearly!]