The mission ended, and Rengoku Shinjuro left Hachijo Island with the two boys.
He wrote a letter to the Master of the Demon Slayer Corps explaining everything that had happened. The Master gladly accepted the two new recruits.
On the way back to headquarters, Shinjuro gave Iguro Obanai sword training and physical guidance.
Two weeks later, the three arrived in the outskirts of the Imperial Capital.
"I want to eat! Real food, not dry rations!"
Yukito clutched his stomach dramatically. It had been three whole hours since his last meal.
"Obanai, do you still have anything to eat?" he asked hopefully.
Obanai, his mouth partially wrapped in bandages, glanced at him coldly.
"Yukito, are you a rice bucket? You already finished all my rations, idiot."
Despite the insult, Obanai pulled out his last piece of dry ration.
Years of imprisonment had left him with the habit of storing food.
This truly was the last piece.
For anyone else, he would never take it out.
For Yukito, he did.
Yukito snatched it like a starving ghost and swallowed it in a few bites.
"Waaah! So delicious! Obanai, you're truly my good brother!"
"I'm not close to you, rice bucket," Obanai muttered, though a faint smile tugged beneath his bandages.
"Lads, there's a town ahead!" Rengoku Shinjuro called out excitedly.
"Finally, we can eat properly!"
Yukito instantly appeared beside him.
"Uncle, really?"
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, eyes sparkling, already imagining food.
In the next second, they vanished down the road in a cloud of dust.
"Eat!"
"Eat!"
"Delicious food!"
Their synchronized shouting echoed behind them.
Obanai stood alone.
He stared at the empty road.
"Sigh. Is the Demon Slayer Corps really a proper organization?"
He stroked Kaburamaru and followed.
Soon, he found them inside a restaurant.
Seven bowls were stacked beside Rengoku Shinjuro.
Forty-five bowls were stacked beside Yukito like a small mountain.
Obanai's worldview shattered.
"Boss, another bowl! Money isn't a problem!" Yukito called out.
Everyone in the restaurant stared.
When Yukito noticed Obanai, he waved happily.
"Boss, make that two bowls. My friend's here!"
All eyes shifted to Obanai.
He glared at Yukito.
Fortunately, Kaburamaru was hidden in his clothes.
Who casually wore a snake around their neck in public?
He sat down opposite Yukito.
One cheerful, one permanently displeased.
"You two eat well," Shinjuro laughed. "I found a wisteria crest house in town. We can rest there afterward."
"What's that?" Obanai asked.
Yukito swallowed a mouthful and explained, "It's a house marked with the wisteria crest. Families helped by the Demon Slayer Corps open their homes to members for free lodging and support."
Obanai nodded slowly.
After eating their fill, they headed to the wisteria crest house to rest.
That evening, Obanai continued pestering Shinjuro for sword training.
Shinjuro happily obliged. Though Flame Breathing did not suit Obanai, basic sword principles could still be taught.
As for Yukito, whom Obanai labeled lazy and gluttonous, he had disappeared again.
The town lit up as dusk fell.
Dim streetlights glowed warmly.
Food stalls lined the road, quiet but cozy.
"Boss, I'll take all your sanshoku dango!"
Yukito suddenly appeared at a stall, slapping money down.
The vendor jumped slightly at the sight of a sword-carrying child.
"Young man, please wait a moment."
"Don't worry, I'm a good person," Yukito said seriously.
"Yes, yes, of course," the vendor replied nervously.
Suddenly, someone in coarse clothing bumped into Yukito.
Because of his training, Yukito barely moved.
The other person fell instead.
Before he could help, a slender figure dashed past him.
From behind, it looked like a small girl clutching wrapped herbal medicine.
Three rough-looking men chased after her.
"Stop right there! When are you paying back the money you owe? If you don't pay, we'll sell you off!"
"Young man, don't get involved," the vendor warned. "Those men have connections. Even the authorities don't interfere."
"Oh." Yukito nodded casually.
He had only wanted snacks.
But then he heard it.
"Kochou Shinobu, stop right there! If I catch you, I'll beat you to death! And your sister too!"
Yukito froze.
Shinobu Kocho.
He definitely heard it.
Shinobu Kocho.
"Young man, your dango!"
"Boss, wait for me a moment!"
Before the vendor could react, Yukito was already moving.
In a flash, he appeared behind the three bullies.