Upon hearing Hiru's words, Uzui's expression froze for a full two seconds. Then his face darkened with irritation as his hand returned to the hilt of his sword.
"What did you just say? At a time like this, shouldn't you be thanking me in a flashy way?"
"I said having you as a descendant would be too embarrassing." Hiru looked away. "Your actions did move me, that much is true. But turning you into a descendant… no. The more I think about it, the more I feel death would still be easier to accept."
"…I'm warning you. I really will cut you down. Even if Yoriichi is watching."
"This is a matter of principle," Hiru replied, his face full of open disdain. "Do you take me for some tasteless lowlife like Muzan, turning people into descendants wherever he pleases? Who do you think I am?"
He snorted lightly.
"Even as a demon, I'm quite famous among humans. Yomi and Asahi are both names associated with me. And you expect a top-tier painter like me—a demon obsessed with aesthetics—to accept someone whose sense of beauty completely clashes with mine as a descendant?"
He waved a hand dismissively.
"You might as well kill me instead."
"What about Yoriichi?"
Hiru didn't even glance at Giyu. Instead, he called out Sabito's name directly.
Sabito, who clearly hadn't intended to speak, quietly turned his head aside.
"Giyu is asking why, if you care so much about aesthetics, you turned Yoriichi into a demon…"
"Ah… right." Hiru's expression darkened. "Why did I turn my brother into a demon…"
He paused for a moment.
"In the end, that was the first time my brother ever deceived me."
Yoriichi remained silent, merely turning his face slightly to the side.
"At the time, he said he needed blood for medical research. So he took two bottles of highly concentrated blood from me. But he only gave one bottle to the pharmacist."
Hiru exhaled softly.
"He kept the other and disappeared with it… And when he came back, he was already a demon."
He looked up at the sky.
"When I saw my brother—who had already grown old—suddenly appear before me looking young again… I was genuinely shocked. I couldn't even tell whether I was dreaming or awake."
He shook his head faintly.
"Even now, when I think about it, it still feels unreal."
"W-Wait—?" Mitsuri covered her mouth in disbelief. "Mr. Yoriichi actually chose to become a demon on his own?"
"Mm… Hard to believe, but it's the truth." Hiru glanced toward Kagaya. "But putting that aside… it seems I've narrowly avoided another crisis. Is that really acceptable?"
"I already said I'll be keeping an eye on you," Uzui replied. "So prepare yourself to be flashily worked to the bone until the day you die."
Kagaya gave a small nod.
"It seems we will have to trouble Hiru for a while longer. Would you be willing to act alongside Uzui for some time?"
"I understand. I'll cooperate." Hiru returned to a half-kneeling posture and lowered his head. "But since you've decided not to dispose of me, please proceed to the next matter."
"Yes, the next matter is also quite important." Kagaya's expression remained gentle.
"However, rather than explaining it myself, it would be better to speak with the person involved directly."
He raised his voice slightly.
"Tanjiro? Are you outside the door?"
As his words fell, faint footsteps sounded behind the Hashira. Soon afterward, a boy's gentle yet slightly flustered voice answered.
"Yes… I'm here."
Every Hashira except Hiru and Yoriichi turned around at once. Their expressions looked as though they had seen a ghost—though, in a sense, they really had seen a demon.
Under the intense scrutiny of so many Hashira, Tanjiro froze where he stood, clearly flustered.
"Um… I'm really sorry for causing trouble for everyone at a time like this…"
"As you can see," Kagaya said, gesturing for Tanjiro to step forward, "this child overcame the sunlight through sheer willpower."
He then turned to Rengoku.
"Kyojuro, please explain what happened during that mission."
"Yes! I will recount everything that occurred that day without omission or bias!"
"Wait!" Sanemi suddenly grabbed Rengoku by the shoulder. "Before that, explain why this kid doesn't have any detectable presence at all!"
"Mm! That's exactly what I was about to explain!" Rengoku declared. "That day, I was on a mission together with the Kamado boy—"
"Damn it, he's already started talking again…"
Sanemi shot Tanjiro a fierce glare, but ultimately fell silent as Rengoku began recounting the events of that day.
Tanjiro nervously knelt behind Hiru and Yoriichi. As he listened to Rengoku's explanation, he couldn't help glancing at the two of them.
He had actually arrived with them earlier, but hadn't entered the room. Instead, he had waited outside the door in a state of Transparent World, waiting to be called in. From that distance, he had naturally heard the earlier conversation and its conclusion.
He never expected that the revelation of Hiru and Yoriichi's identities would cause such turmoil.
Although the outcome hadn't turned out too badly, Tanjiro still felt extremely uneasy. He couldn't help recalling a conversation that had taken place a few days earlier at Miss Tamayo's house.
At the time, Hiru had told Yoriichi about his plan for today.
He had even mentioned the possibility that he might sacrifice himself.
At that moment, Tanjiro—who had rarely sensed emotional "scents" from his teacher even while training beside Yoriichi—suddenly smelled an overwhelming scent of anger that made his entire body tremble.
It was the first time he had ever trembled simply from sensing someone else's emotions.
After that, although his teacher never voiced any objection, that cold scent of anger had never fully disappeared.
[Even though the scent has faded a lot… Sensei is still very angry…]
[Ah… this is partly my fault too. That day I was so frightened by his presence that I didn't dare say anything. I didn't even properly ask about the Transparent World…]
Tanjiro lowered his head.
[If I had helped the two of them communicate properly back then, maybe we wouldn't be stuck in this awkward situation now…]
[You're really useless, Tanjiro. You didn't help at all.]
Just as Tanjiro was sinking deeper into self-blame, something suddenly struck the back of his head with a solid thud.
His body lurched forward and he collapsed face-first onto the floor.
"I asked you a question. Why are you spacing out again?" Hiru's voice followed immediately.
"Huh? Huh?! Sorry!" Tanjiro scrambled upright and sat properly. "I was just thinking about Sensei! What was the question?"
Muichiro quietly reminded him,
"Everyone wants to know how you overcame the sunlight… and why your presence can't be detected at all."
"I'm not really sure how I overcame the sunlight," Tanjiro answered honestly. "As for why my presence can't be tracked… it's probably because I still haven't fully mastered the Transparent World."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause trouble. I always end up troubling everyone…"
The Hashira—every single one of them who had studied the Transparent World but still hadn't mastered it—
…?
Kid.
Do you even hear what you're saying?