Haruto came down from the mountain, his haori draped over him.
As he passed the area where the boys were practicing their swordsmanship, preparing to call out to Genya, he suddenly heard voices from among the peach trees.
He peered through the gaps in the trees and saw three young swordsmen, including Genya, coming down a small path.
Kaigaku walked in front with a cold expression, eating a peach as he effortlessly stepped over a suspicious-looking patch of grass.
Genya followed behind, also noticing the grass. He didn't step on it rashly but easily crossed over it like Kaigaku.
Zenitsu, with a few new scratches on his face, walked at the very end, sighing as he walked, completely oblivious to the actions of the two in front of him.
Sure enough, that patch of grass was just a diversion.
The moment Zenitsu's foot landed on it, he lost his balance and fell into a trap.
Haruto heard a faint grinding of bones, and the blond boy cried out in pain, his mouth agape.
"Help! There's a trap here, I twisted my ankle~"
Tears mixed with the dust on his face, making him look very disheveled.
His senior disciple, Kaigaku, however, did not come to help him as he expected. Instead, he frowned, looking very annoyed.
Probably unable to stand Zenitsu's spinelessness and incessant crying, Kaigaku suddenly turned around and threw the peach in his hand hard at Zenitsu: "Shut up!"
The peach, heading straight for Zenitsu's head, was shattered mid-air by a kick, juice splattering everywhere.
Genya looked disdainfully at the fruit residue on his shoe, then glared at Kaigaku.
"If you don't want to help, you can just leave and not look back. No one is forcing you to pay attention to him."
"What's it to you?!" Kaigaku frowned, glaring at Genya: "Who the hell do you think you are? Do I have to report everything I do to you?"
He had thought the successor brought by a Pillar-level Swordsman would be exceptionally talented!
He never expected him to be a useless person who couldn't even use a Breathing Technique!
Even more useless than that other useless person!
Grrr... Genya gritted his back teeth, slightly raising his face, revealing a ferocious expression identical to Sanemi Shinazugawa's.
"I... have... had enough of you..."
"Bang!" Kaigaku threw a kick directly at Genya's chest, which Genya quickly guarded with his arm, only being sent back a few steps.
"Where do you think this is? Your house?" Kaigaku licked his lower lip, a fierce glint in his eyes.
Oh, they're going to fight.
Haruto did not step forward; instead, he deliberately concealed his presence.
He wondered how much Genya's pure physical prowess had grown over the years and if he could beat Kaigaku.
The boys' fight was about to erupt.
Genya lunged forward, his fists and elbows aiming for Kaigaku's neck, waist, and other vital points, showing no mercy unlike when he fought Tanjirou.
Kaigaku was no ordinary opponent; a Thunder Breathing swordsman's speed would be exceptionally fast. In an instant, he parried Genya's punches and kicks, then swung his sword to strike Genya's face.
Genya reached out and grabbed Kaigaku's sword blade. As they were locked in a stalemate, Kaigaku decisively drew his long sword and held it before his chest.
The blade gleamed brightly, making the boy's gaze appear even colder.
Genya paused, "Weapons? Are you serious?"
Kaigaku said nothing, only the slight tremor in his sword-gripping hand betraying his inner unease.
Genya sneered, tossing his scabbard aside, and drew the double-barreled shotgun from his waist, aiming it at Kaigaku's head.
"Bang," the rooster-haired boy muttered softly, then grinned and said, "Senior disciple, which do you think is faster, your sword or the shotgun?"
"..."
Cold sweat trickled from Kaigaku's forehead. He stared intensely at Genya's face, as if he wanted to devour him whole.
Cool, Genya! Haruto watched gleefully as his disciple used a shotgun to bully a swordsman.
That's how it should be! Why use another's strength against your own weakness!
As the boys faced off, Zenitsu, who had fallen into the trap and twisted his ankle, pitifully crawled out, limping on his already swollen right foot to stand between the two, his face mournful.
"Senior disciple, Genya, please don't fight anymore... Grandpa and Mr. Haruto will be unhappy if they find out..."
Whether Mr. Kuwajima would be happy or not, Haruto was certainly happy.
"Don't call me senior disciple!" Kaigaku roared: "You can't even find the simplest trap, what right do you have to call me senior disciple!"
He wanted to return his sword to its scabbard, but found the scabbard lying at Genya's feet. He could only angrily grip his sword and stride away.
Haruto narrowed his eyes, glanced at Genya and Zenitsu, then followed in the direction Kaigaku had left.
"Genya... thank you." Zenitsu wiped away tears from the corners of his eyes, squatting down to pick up Kaigaku's scabbard.
"...You're still going to return the scabbard to him?" Genya frowned: "He clearly doesn't want to see you for a second."
"It's okay, I don't mind." Zenitsu forced a smile and shook his head, indicating he was fine.
After all... this is what Grandpa wanted to see most... after all... Kaigaku was his senior disciple.
They would slowly become special people in each other's hearts, and then together, they would shine in the Demon Slayer Corps.
"...If Tanjirou were here, he'd probably say something weird like 'everyone who says they don't mind needs a hug'."
"Tanjirou... who's that?"
"He's the person with the hardest head in the world." Genya smoothed his rooster-style hair: "He's my junior disciple... Wait, don't get so close to me!"
"Genya Genya I twisted my ankle, help me~"
"Are we that close? Climb down the mountain yourself! Get lost!"
"Genya~~~"
...Haruto trailed behind Kaigaku for a long time without being discovered, so he deliberately snapped a dry branch, which made Kaigaku turn his head alertly: "Who?"
Seeing Haruto standing behind him with his arms crossed, the boy couldn't help but think of Genya, who had just been clashing with him, and his expression was somewhat unpleasant.
"Mr. Haruto." He nodded briefly, as a greeting.
The white-haired swordsman, who usually appeared approachable in front of the boys, did not return his greeting this time.
"I saw everything you just did."
Kaigaku's eyes darkened. Was he trying to get back at him for Genya?
But Genya hadn't suffered any loss. If anyone should get back at him, it should be the old man helping him.
After a quick thought, Kaigaku still lowered his head: "I'm sorry, Mr. Haruto..."
"No, no, no, I'm not trying to cause trouble for anyone, nor am I trying to investigate who was right or wrong in your actions just now..."
Haruto shook his head, his eyes distant, as if contemplating something.
"You remind me of when I was younger.
It was about four or five years ago, I was only fourteen or fifteen then.
That's when I met the first Pillar-level Swordsman who is still active today. His name is..."
Haruto leaned closer to Kaigaku, a gentle smile on his face.
"Gyomei Himejima."
With a clatter, Kaigaku's sword dropped to the ground.