Tanjiro looked at Kanae for a long moment before smiling again.
"Thank you. I feel a lot better now."
Kanae returned the smile and lowered her gaze, continuing to bandage Inosuke's wounds.
Sanemi had half a mind to drag Tanjiro off for a quick spar, just to see how strong this demon really was. But seeing him busy comforting Nezuko, he couldn't bring himself to pull him away from the girl. In the end, he stood behind Kanae like a gate guardian, keeping watch over their surroundings.
After a while, several Kakushi made their way over and reported to Sanemi and Kanae about Hiru's situation.
Hiru had discovered many innocent civilians on the other side whose bodies had been altered by a Blood Demon Art. He was preparing medicine and directing the Kakushi to handle the aftermath, so he wouldn't be regrouping with them.
Kanae didn't hesitate. Once she confirmed the direction, she immediately set off to assist him. As for Sanemi, more suited to combat, he decisively led Tanjiro and the others down the mountain toward the Wisteria House.
"Um, we still have another companion somewhere in the mountains," Tanjiro said, securing Takeo on his back and carrying Nezuko in his arms as he followed behind Sanemi, who had Inosuke slung over his shoulder.
"After I get Nezuko and the others down safely, could I come back up once more? My sense of smell is sharp—I'll be able to find him quickly."
"After you split up, the three of us split up as well. That kid's with Hiru. You don't need to worry." Sanemi shot him a sidelong glance. "Isn't your whole obsession protecting your family? You haven't known that brat very long, have you?"
"Well… how should I explain it? He did save my life once."
Keeping pace behind Sanemi, Tanjiro explained how earlier that day Nezuko and the others had run into a demon with a Blood Demon Art that manipulated space.
When they went in to fight it, he had stayed hidden in the shadows outside, planning to guard the injured in case something happened.
But Inosuke had noticed him and nearly dragged him out into the sunlight. In the end, Zenitsu had saved him.
"…Are your siblings out of their minds? What were they thinking?" Sanemi clicked his tongue. "At the very least, one of them should've stayed with you. Wouldn't it have made more sense for one to fight and one to hold position?"
"Yes…" Tanjiro lowered his head. "I'm truly sorry. I've already spoken to them about it. It won't happen again."
"Wind Hashira-sama, it's not Brother's fault…"
Nezuko's face flushed as she bowed her head.
"I was supposed to stay outside with him. But I was worried Takeo and Zenitsu wouldn't manage on their own, so I went in first to assess the situation. I meant to come back out and send a report through the crow…
"I didn't realize it was a Blood Demon Art that manipulated space. I got lost almost as soon as I stepped inside. I'm the one who should apologize."
"I remember your trainer was the former Wind Hashira, wasn't he?" Sanemi curled his lip. "Among all the Hashira in history, his tactical sense was one of the best. Back when he was just a corps member, he was known for being cautious and methodical. His swordsmanship, though, was second-rate. You two somehow managed to keep the worst and miss the best."
Nezuko lowered her head even further, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm sorry. It's because I'm not skilled enough… I'll train harder."
"I just speak bluntly out of habit. I wasn't saying it's your fault…" Sanemi looked away, awkward. "Hey—you're not crying, are you?"
While Sanemi worried about making the girl cry, Kanae had already reached Hiru.
She stopped at the sight of the cluster of human-headed spiders surrounding him.
"Oh my…" She stepped closer, covering her mouth. "Are these all people affected by a Blood Demon Art?"
"Mm. Yes." Hiru wiped the poisoned sores from his palm and rose from among the spider-bodied victims. "But this is closer to a toxin than a Blood Demon Art. The medicine I'm using is strong—it may leave side effects. If we wait too long, they might never return to normal. Now that you're here, Kanae, it's perfect. Let's go over the best approach."
"Have you already broken down the toxin's components, Hiru-kun?"
"Yes. I'll walk you through it…"
Meanwhile, Zenitsu, who had fought a demon here earlier, sat by a tree root with his knees hugged to his chest, watching Hiru and the beautiful Kanae discuss how to treat the victims.
[Are they seriously not scared at all?]
He shivered, goosebumps prickling across his skin.
[I'm definitely going to have nightmares. Absolutely. Ahh… I want to see Nezuko-chan. I want to tell her about how I fought. She'll praise me, right? She has to…]
He sighed and looked down at his tightly bandaged calf. He still couldn't quite believe he had killed a demon.
He remembered fainting in terror when a human-headed spider suddenly appeared in the tree. By all rights, he should have been turned into one of them.
But when he woke up, the demon was already dead. His whole body ached—especially his calf muscles, torn in several places. According to Hiru, if it happened a few more times, his leg would be finished.
[Can I really do the things he can do?]
Zenitsu pressed his lips together.
[Why can't I remember anything? It was the same during Final Selection. I'd faint from fear, and when I woke up, I'd be somewhere else, covered in dirt. Was it really me who fought?]
"Hey. We're leaving."
Zenitsu looked up at Hiru, then craned his neck to glance at Kanae, still surrounded by the human-headed spiders.
"You're just leaving? You're seriously going to leave that beautiful lady alone with those spider-people?"
"Mm. She's better suited for this than I am." Hiru grabbed him by the collar and hauled him upright, already heading down the mountain. "What? Got something to say?"
"You bastard…"
"…What?"
"You're leaving such a beautiful, delicate lady alone in a place this terrifying…" Zenitsu tilted his head back, looking aggrieved. "You've never been in love, have you? Definitely single. Ahh… not everyone can appreciate the beauty of women. How tragic. Why are you staring at me like that?"
Zenitsu crossed his arms over his chest, panic flashing across his face.
"I only like soft, sweet girls! Even if you're stronger than me, you can't force me!"
Hiru: …
Hiru raised a hand and knocked Zenitsu out cold.
As he averted his gaze, his expression turned complicated.
[Did that old man take him in as a disciple because he's this weird?]
Hiru decided he needed to seriously reconsider Kuwajima Jigoro's standards for accepting disciples. If it was a coincidence, fine. But if there really was some bizarre selection criteria at work, it would be better to fix it sooner rather than later.