When Nezuko returned after tending to her injuries, she walked straight into chaos.
Hashibira Inosuke—the boy they had run into during the mission—was pinned flat on the floor by a thoroughly exasperated Tanjiro, shouting at the top of his lungs. Takeo was trying to mediate, but Inosuke refused to listen.
Meanwhile, the other swordsman from the mission—Agatsuma Zenitsu—was curled up in a corner, staring at Tanjiro in sheer terror, looking like he was questioning every decision that had led him here.
Nezuko pressed a hand to her forehead and stepped inside. She crouched in front of Inosuke.
"Inosuke, could you calm down? Everyone's hurt and needs rest. We shouldn't be making so much noise."
"Huh? Why should I, the mighty King of the Mountains, listen to you?! Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a woman!"
Zenitsu, still huddled in the corner in full despair mode, instantly flared up.
"What did you just say to a girl?! That's so rude, you wild boar!"
"Hah?!" Inosuke shot him a glare. "Say that again?!"
"Eek—! Takeo's brother, keep holding him down! Don't let go! Whatever you do, don't let go!"
"My name is Kamado Tanjiro! Just call me Tanjiro!"
"Kamado Gonpachiro! Duel me!"
"Who's that?!"
"It's you!"
"That's not my name!"
The room plunged even deeper into chaos.
Through it all, Nezuko simply smiled and reached out, gently patting Inosuke's head over and over. Under her quiet reassurance, Inosuke gradually, almost miraculously, calmed down.
Tanjiro finally dared to let him go and exhaled deeply.
"Whew—Nezuko really is amazing."
Nezuko kept smoothing Inosuke's hair, a small smile on her face.
"Well, Rokuta was always a lively child too."
Tanjiro sighed.
"Yeah… I wonder if Hanako and Shigeru can handle him properly now that Nezuko isn't home…"
At the mention of family, Takeo joined in as well.
Meanwhile, Zenitsu was growing more and more unsettled.
Leaving aside the question of how two humans and a demon could chat so naturally about their family, just how long was Inosuke planning to lie there shamelessly?!
That was Nezuko's head pat! He wanted one too! Couldn't this guy hurry up and move so it would be his turn?!
Zenitsu glared resentfully at Inosuke, who was sprawled on the floor in suspiciously obedient silence. The barbarian—who, annoyingly, was prettier than most girls—looked more irritating by the second.
Just as Zenitsu was plotting how to earn a head pat for himself, he heard a familiar, terrifying sound.
He shot to his feet, eyes wide as he stared toward the door. In one smooth motion, he grabbed the Nichirin Blade propped against the wall and set his hand on the hilt.
Sensing the sharp spike of tension from Zenitsu, Tanjiro closed his eyes and carefully sniffed the air. Recognition dawned on his face.
Before he could say anything, however, Inosuke sprang up, snatched his Nichirin Blade, and bellowed, "Boar Rush!" as he charged straight outside.
It happened so fast Tanjiro couldn't stop him.
"What just happened?" Takeo stared at the paper sliding door, now completely knocked off its frame, utterly baffled. He grabbed his Nichirin Blade as well. "Did something happen?"
"Don't worry. It's Hiru-san," Tanjiro said, holding Nezuko back as she tried to stand. "He's probably here to see me or Takeo."
"Y-You know that guy?!" Zenitsu's voice shook uncontrollably. "Th-That guy—"
"What's wrong with this kid?"
A gentle, slightly puzzled male voice drifted in.
The instant Zenitsu heard it, his entire body locked up. He darted back into the corner like a startled rabbit.
Tanjiro, meanwhile, broke into a smile as he looked toward the doorway, where Hiru stepped inside, holding the unconscious Inosuke by the collar.
"Hiru-san, long time no see."
"Mm. I came to tell you about your next mis—"
Hiru stopped mid-sentence when he noticed Zenitsu trembling violently in the corner.
"You're here too."
In that instant, the dreadful ringing that had been echoing in Zenitsu's ears vanished.
Or rather—Hiru no longer made a sound at all, at least not to him.
Zenitsu swallowed hard as he watched Hiru set the unconscious Inosuke down on the futon and then turn to walk toward him. Instinctively, he flattened himself against the wall.
"D-Don't come any closer! I-I-I—"
"After this mission ends, go back to Momoyama and spend some time with your master."
"…Huh? Gramps?"
Zenitsu froze. Then he suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Hiru's sleeve, panic thick in his voice.
"Did—did something happen to my Gramps?"
"Kaigaku is dead. I arrived too late. I couldn't save him."
Zenitsu's eyes widened slowly. His pupils expanded, then tightened. His fingers clenched harder around Hiru's sleeve.
After a long silence, he looked up, his voice dry.
"…He's dead? When? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
"About a month and a half ago. I received intelligence, and the Corps began large-scale investigations into demon activity. Swordsmen were reassigned frequently.
"Ten days ago, Kaigaku was dispatched on a mission. Unfortunately, he ran into a Twelve Kizuki he couldn't handle."
Hiru said nothing more. He simply reached out and gently ruffled Zenitsu's hair.
"By the time I arrived, it was already too late. I regret that I couldn't save him."
"…How did he die?"
"He was killed by a demon. But he fought until the very end. He did not disgrace the name of the Thunder Hashira."
Zenitsu still did not let go.
He looked straight at Hiru and asked again.
"How did he die?"
This time, Hiru said nothing.
Tanjiro could only watch as the silence stretched tight between them. He saw Zenitsu's expression change—grief giving way to disbelief, then settling into something hollow and still.
At last, Zenitsu let go of Hiru's sleeve.
The air around him shifted. The sharp sting of shock and fear lingered, edged now with anger—something darker beneath it.
But the tears that had hovered at the brink were gone.
Zenitsu lowered his head.
"…Thank you."
"You're perceptive," Hiru said quietly, crouching so he could meet Zenitsu's reddened eyes. "But perceptive people tend to carry more than they should. Let this be our secret, alright?"
"…Mm. I'll keep it to myself."
Zenitsu scrubbed at his eyes.
"Thank you. After the next mission, I'll go back during my recovery leave."
In that moment, something within him shifted.
He bowed deeply to Hiru, then picked up his Nichirin Blade and left the room without another word.
Tanjiro watched him go, worry etched across his face, before turning back.
"Hiru-san… Zenitsu…"
"That boy's made up his mind," Hiru said with a faint smile, shaking his head as he looked at Tanjiro and the others. "Anyway, I actually came to see you."