After leaving the Demon Slayer Corps, Hiru began teaching Yoriichi how to capture the ashes left behind when a demon dies.
Despite his considerable talent, Yoriichi failed to succeed even once over the course of two years.
Hiru eventually realized that Yoriichi was rejecting his experint in a gentler, more subtle way. So he stopped bringing it up, though he continued researching the dicine to restore humans.
Yet, whether by fate or so other force, Hiru only managed to create several types of dicine that were prohibitively expensive to mass-produce—yet exceptionally effective against demons. This setback struck him far harder than Yoriichi’s initial refusal of his Primordial Oni experint.
Hiru shut himself inside his box for a full half-month before Yoriichi finally coaxed him out.
“Speaking of which,” Hiru murmured, perched on Yoriichi’s shoulder beneath the star-filled sky, “have you ever considered passing down your own Breathing Style?”
“Why bring that up now?” Yoriichi scanned the surrounding traces. “Besides, haven’t I already passed it on?”
“I’m not talking about those derivative Breathing Styles. I an your own, original one.” Hiru poked Yoriichi’s cheek. “Wouldn’t it be a sha if such brilliant and powerful sword techniques were never passed down?”
“Those who exhaust the Way return to the sa place.” Yoriichi walked at a steady pace. “Hiru, in the eyes and hearts of the world, I’m not as important as you think.
We’re rely fragnts of history—transient passers-by. Perhaps even now, sowhere in the world, a child with greater talent than mine is being born. Soone will inevitably reach my level, or even surpass .
So, it’s best to simply let things take their natural course.”
“Is that so…” Hiru’s gaze lingered on the faint smile at the corner of Yoriichi’s mouth before shifting away. After a pause, he changed the subject. “Hmm. Speaking of which, we’ll be heading to distant lands to slay demons soon. Should we write to Tetsushiro to say goodbye? After all, unless sothing unexpected happens, we’ll probably never et again.”
“It seems you hold Mr. Rengoku in high regard, Hiru.”
“Yes.” Hiru swung his legs gently. “Though that owl swordsman is rather noisy and bad with words, I like people who are open and straightforward. More importantly, he truly acknowledges my brother.
Unlike the other swordsn, he genuinely respects you—perhaps even admires you.”
“Yes, Mr. Rengoku is a kind man.”
“Brother, do you have soone you want to say goodbye to?”
Yoriichi paused slightly. “Indeed… there is soone I want to bid farewell to.”
“You an that overly enthusiastic charcoal burner, right?” Hiru sighed. “That guy is just plain stupid—utterly stupid!
He saw eating in my demon form, yet after thanking for saving him from the bear, he asked if I had so strange illness and suggested I rest at his house! How was I supposed to respond to that?!
And seriously—why did he get chased by a bear while cutting wood just because he found honey? Then he climbed a tree like a monkey and hid so well!
But the most baffling part—Brother, you saw him, didn’t you? You definitely did it on purpose back then!”
“Hmm, I just didn’t look up,” Yoriichi said with a small laugh. “But Mr. Sumiyoshi really was frozen in shock when he found out you were a demon.”
“He deserved it! And then later, when he was walking ho at night after selling charcoal, he actually started feeling sorry for demons! What kind of place produces such do-gooders?” Hiru pressed his hand to his forehead. “He’s lucky he didn’t die—thank goodness he brought the anti-demon dicine with him!”
“Yeah, Hiru’s dicine really works well.”
“I’d rather it didn’t…” Hiru muttered, slipping into gloom again. He slid down from Yoriichi’s shoulder to sit on top of the box, curling into a ball. “Not getting what you want is torture.”
“…I’m sorry, Hiru.”
Hiru imdiately understood what Yoriichi ant. Standing atop the box, he patted his brother on the back of the head. “It’s fine. Just rember to watch the sunrise with .
Honestly, whenever I recall my human life now, it feels so distant. Thinking about it, even as a demon, dying at that mont would have been a peaceful end.
And it would be incredibly romantic—on a high cliff, with the cool morning breeze and dew, finally turning to ash under the first rays of dawn… No, I can picture it now! I have to sketch this out!
Beautiful monts should be preserved!”
Then Yoriichi heard the sound of quick footsteps and the creak of the box opening.
“Honestly…” Yoriichi shook his head helplessly, a gentle smile tugging at his lips. “Looks like I’ll be hunting demons alone today.”
“Call when you find one!” Hiru’s muffled voice ca from inside the box. “And I need more paint! I’m almost out of black!”
Yoriichi sighed softly. “Yeah, got it.”
Yes, once the decision was made, there was no turning back.
But… he truly couldn’t match Hiru’s composure. It felt as though he were breaking their promise—condemning Hiru to death with his own hesitation.
【Lacking any resolve, hesitating at every turn, unable even to deliver a clear refusal.】
【Tsugikuni Yoriichi, you are too weak—so weak that your younger brother has to comfort and indulge you. How utterly, utterly pathetic.】
Yoriichi tightened his grip on the sword hilt, sorrow clouding his eyes.
【I’m sorry, Hiru, for making you bear with soone as selfish as . But rest assured—no matter what lies ahead, whether heaven or hell, your brother will always walk beside you. I will always walk with you.】
Taking a deep breath, Yoriichi’s eyes grew distant as he quickened his pace toward the direction where the demonic traces spread.
...
The next day, Yoriichi entered a town, bought paper and ink from a shop, and together with Hiru, began writing letters in their inn room.
Hiru wrote to Rengoku Tetsushiro and Ubuyashiki Asahi. His letter to Rengoku mostly contained everyday trifles, while the one to Ubuyashiki detailed how to be a proper leader, along with various new dicinal formulas and ratios he had developed.
Yoriichi, on the other hand, wrote a single letter addressed to the entire Demon Slayer Corps. It contained detailed records of his insights into the Breathing Styles and descriptions of the Blood Demon Arts of the demons they had encountered recently—all written in a formal, official tone.
After folding the letters neatly, Yoriichi rested at the inn until evening. Then he checked out, visited a Wisteria House, and asked them to have the letters delivered through the Kakushi.
When the Wisteria House staff asked for a return address, both Yoriichi and Hiru said they did not require a reply.
Without stopping to rest, they continued on their journey to Kumogakure, where Sumiyoshi’s family lived.
Sumiyoshi was overjoyed to see Yoriichi again, but when he heard the reason for the visit, his expression froze.
“Eh? You ca to say goodbye because you’re traveling far away and won’t be coming back?”
Yoriichi nodded. “Yes. You’ve helped many tis, so I thought I should co and tell you personally.”
“Why so suddenly…” Sumiyoshi’s face grew anxious. “Did sothing happen?”
“No, nothing.” Yoriichi shook his head slowly. “It’s just a simple farewell. I’ll be traveling to other distant places to slay demons. And… I’ve long wanted to thank you, Sumiyoshi-kun.”
“Huh? Thank ? For what?” Sumiyoshi leaned on his axe, puzzled.
“I wanted to thank you for accepting Hiru, even after knowing he was a demon.”
“Haha! The dicine Hiru-san gave saved my life! If anything, I should be the one thanking you more!
But I won’t be sympathizing with any other demons besides Hiru-san again—last ti was way too close!” Sumiyoshi laughed, his eyes a soft shade of red that radiated warmth and kindness. “Since you’re leaving, why not co to my house? Let throw you a farewell feast! You can’t set off on such an important journey without a proper send-off!”
“But…”
“Co now.” Sumiyoshi grabbed Yoriichi’s hand and led him toward his ho. “It’s been a while since we last t. When you visited before, my daughter Sumire was still a baby—now she’s grown and can talk!
Oh, and my second child was just born! This ti it’s a boy! And even though he’s a boy, he’s much quieter than Sumire, who’s a girl! Sotis I even wonder if the gods made a mistake, haha!”
Yoriichi tried to decline again. “But—”
“Mr. Yoriichi.” Sumiyoshi turned back suddenly, eting Yoriichi’s gaze with firm eyes. “Since you ca to bid farewell, that ans you already consider a friend, right? And as friends, there’s no need to be so hesitant!
Seeing a friend off is the most natural thing in the world—especially when that friend has been slaying demons nearby and keeping us safe!”
Yoriichi looked into Sumiyoshi’s earnest eyes and finally gave in, nodding slightly.
“All right. I’ll take you up on that.”
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