"You actually managed to pull that off?"
Tanjiro kept pace with the man, his expression serious.
"That's impressive."
"Right? And honestly, if you want to become a Hashira, you need at least that level of strength…"
"So how many of you are there, and how many Hashira?"
"Hmm… Non-combatants are hard to count, but combatants number less than eight hundred." The man led Tanjiro around several corners. "As for Hashira, there are fewer than ten."
"Eh? That few?"
"What do you think Hashira are—cabbages?"
The man glanced at Tanjiro as he set the charcoal down by the doorway.
"Just stack it here. You remember the way back, right?"
"Yes. No problem."
"Good. I'll go get the money… By the way, how much charcoal is left on your cart?"
"There's a little over thirty kan left," Tanjiro replied after a brief glance. "I'll round it down to thirty."
"Thirty kan, huh… Then the price should be—"
After moving all the charcoal and using the money he earned to buy medicine for his father, Tanjiro pushed the now-empty wooden cart back toward home.
Yet the familiar scent lingering at his nose continued to bother him. When he reached the foot of the mountain, he finally couldn't help turning toward the direction where the scent was strongest.
"Um… excuse me," he called out. "Are you following me because you need something?"
He waited a moment, but still didn't see anyone.
"Um, even though I can't see you, I can smell that you're nearby… Is there something you need from me?"
"You can smell me?"
Tanjiro suddenly felt the wooden cart grow heavy. Before he could react, Hiru's figure abruptly appeared in front of him. He startled, but after a brief moment of surprise, quickly steadied himself.
Looking up at Hiru standing atop the cart in his Demon Slayer Corps uniform, Tanjiro nodded.
"Yes. My sense of smell is very sharp."
"A keen sense of smell, huh…" Hiru stood steadily on the cart, looking down at him. "How far does it go?"
"I can tell apart people's individual scents, and different emotions as well…"
"You can distinguish everyone's scent?" Hiru frowned slightly. "What about mine? Did you notice anything unusual?"
"Um… you smell very sweet and gentle, but…" Tanjiro tilted his head, puzzled. "There's also a kind of aggressive scent I've never smelled before. I can't really describe it."
"What a troublesome nose… just like Urokodaki's." Hiru sighed, sounding resigned. "The father has innate vision, and the child has an innate sense of smell… Don't tell me the mother has something too?"
"My mother doesn't have anything like that…" Tanjiro thought for a moment, then added, "Ah, although she once knocked out a charging wild boar with her head to protect us."
Hiru: …Leaving aside how hard her forehead might be, that reaction speed alone is already beyond normal human limits, isn't it?
Seeing Hiru's expression, Tanjiro couldn't help smiling. But that smile soon faded, replaced by worry.
"Um… this probably isn't something I should ask, but… do you and my father have some kind of misunderstanding?" He hesitated. "That day, it looked like you didn't part on very good terms…"
"There's no misunderstanding," Hiru replied calmly. "But you're right—it's not something you should be asking."
Hiru studied Tanjiro for a moment, his gaze lingering briefly on the scar at his forehead.
"Does that scar have anything special about it?"
"Oh, this?" Tanjiro touched it lightly and smiled. "My little brother knocked over a kettle while playing. I got hurt protecting him… Even though it left a scar, my brother was unharmed. That's the best outcome."
"Your whole family is nothing but trouble…"
Hiru crouched down, looking helpless, and poked Tanjiro's forehead.
"What am I supposed to do with you now? Maybe I should just use you to threaten Kamado Tanjuro."
Sensing no malice at all, Tanjiro simply smiled, unconcerned.
Hiru let out another sigh.
"For now, put everything else aside. You must remember that aggressive scent you picked up from me. If you encounter it again, avoid it immediately."
"Huh?" Tanjiro froze. "Why?"
"Because there's something filthy mixed in." Seeing Tanjiro's half-understanding expression, Hiru clicked his tongue and pulled several small medicine packets from his robe. "If someone carrying that scent approaches you, don't think about talking. Just throw one of these at them first—aim for the face if you can."
"No, I can't take these!" Tanjiro shook his head urgently. "And how can you treat someone you've just met like that? That's too much!"
"I'm giving them to you. Take them."
"That's not how giving things works," Tanjiro protested, still trying to refuse even as the packets were forcibly stuffed into his hands. "And calling people filthy is way too harsh!"
"Enough. Just remember it." Hiru took out a box of wisteria incense. "And this. Light it by your window every night. It should last for about half a year. I'll have more sent when it runs out."
Tanjiro still tried to hand everything back.
"Why are you giving me all this?"
"Why…"
Hiru's mouth twitched as he recalled Kamado Tanjuro's two unhesitating axe swings. "Because we'll end up fighting, of course."
"Why would we—ugh! Ow!"
Tanjiro cried out, clutching his head as the items scattered across the ground.
"You ask too many questions, kid…"
Hiru withdrew his hand, exasperated.
"If you want answers, go ask Kamado Tanjuro. I don't want you misunderstanding things because of something you heard from me. Go home early—walking at night attracts demons."
Tanjiro held his head, wanting to say more, but when he looked up again, Hiru was already gone.
He could still smell him nearby, but Hiru clearly had no intention of showing himself again. All Tanjiro could do was crouch down, gather the scattered items, and push his cart home, his mind full of questions.
Only when his own house came into view did he finally smell Hiru's scent fading into the distance.
[He's a stubborn but kind person…]
Tanjiro looked toward where the scent disappeared.
[There really must be some misunderstanding.]
"Big brother!"
"Brother's back!"
Tanjiro snapped back to reality as his younger siblings ran toward him. He opened his arms and smiled gently.
"Yeah. I'm home."