Two corpses lay on the ground. Someone in the crowd let out a terrified scream, and the people gathered around the shop scattered in panic.
Cough, cough…
A faint gasp came from behind.
"Chitoshi!"
Ren dropped the bloodied glass shard and rushed to Chitoshi's side. His voice trembled, his blood-stained hands brushing Chitoshi's cheek, leaving streaks of red. "Chitoshi, how are you? Hold on, I'll get a doctor!"
He hoisted Chitoshi onto his back and ran to the nearest clinic. The doctor, startled by Ren's blood-soaked appearance, hesitated but, driven by duty, examined Chitoshi's injuries.
After a moment, he stood, sighed, and shook his head at Ren. "I'm sorry. You should prepare for your brother's passing."
Ren froze. His brother had only been beaten by those Corps members—how could he be dying?
To Ren, it was as absurd as a thief being sentenced to death for stealing a wallet.
"What did you say, you quack?" Ren grabbed the doctor's collar, teeth gritted. "I'll give you one more chance. Check again and say that again!"
"Your brother's injuries are too severe! His organs are damaged beyond repair. Only a god could save him!"
Ren staggered back, his face drained of color.
"Brother…" Chitoshi's weak voice broke through.
"Chitoshi…" Ren turned, gently cradling his brother's hand.
His eyes, sharp as ever, scanned Chitoshi's body. Beneath that gaze, he saw the truth: Chitoshi's organs, horribly mangled.
The doctor hadn't lied. Chitoshi was beyond saving.
Ren had seen the extent of the damage from the start, but he'd refused to accept it.
In that moment, he cursed his eyes—these eyes that saw everything so clearly.
"Brother… am I… done for?" Chitoshi whispered faintly.
"What nonsense! You'll be fine with me here."
Chitoshi struggled to lift his hand, touching Ren's face. "Brother… you have to… live well… on your own…"
"Shut up, you brat! How am I supposed to live well without you? I'm still waiting for us to make our shop the best!" Ren fought to hold back his emotions, but tears streamed down uncontrollably.
Chitoshi forced a weak smile. "I… won't be able… to stay with you… Brother…"
"Quiet! You need rest. I'll find a way to save you, Chitoshi. Trust me, I can do anything. You'll be fine, just wait."
"Brother…" Chitoshi's trembling hand rested on Ren's, tears sliding from his eyes. "Go find Lord Yoriichi… The Corps… they'll come for you…"
"Your hands can't hold heavy things. Take care of yourself… If it's too hard, find a wife. You're great at killing demons, but in life, you're like a kid who never grew up. Without me… find someone to look after you."
He paused, his voice breaking. "Brother, thank you… for all these years. I know… you're not my real brother. My real brother died long ago. But I thank the gods you came to me. You gave me a home again. These years with you… I was so happy. You know, Brother, I wanted to live with you forever… to see you marry, have kids… Brother, I don't want to leave you… I don't want to die… I really don't want to die…"
"Brother…"
As he spoke, Chitoshi's raised hand slipped from Ren's cheek. In his final moment, his eyes held only Ren.
Ren collapsed over Chitoshi's body, sobbing uncontrollably, his emotions shattered.
"Why… why… why!"
Ren stared at Chitoshi's lifeless form, his eyes hollow and vacant.
Why?
It felt like the heavens had played a cruel joke on him.
Why, just as he resolved to live as an ordinary man with Chitoshi, was their life torn apart again?
Why?
Why was it not a demon this time, but members of the Demon Slayer Corps?
Time seemed to freeze. After what felt like an eternity, Ren rose stiffly, his movements mechanical and heavy.
With trembling hands, he carefully lifted Chitoshi's cold body, holding it close as if to preserve its last trace of warmth.
He turned slowly, his gaze empty, like a soulless husk, and shuffled toward the door.
The doctor cowered in a corner, trembling, lips sealed, not daring to breathe loudly.
Ren, like a walking corpse, muttered endlessly, "Chitoshi, Brother's taking you home…"
He stepped out of the clinic, blood still wet on his body, the stench of it nauseating.
His blood-drenched, terrifying appearance sent bystanders into a panic. They parted, none daring to approach this harbinger of death.
Those who had witnessed Ren's brutal killing stood pale, shrinking to the sides of the road, silent as cicadas in winter, their breaths hushed, fearing to draw his attention.
"Brother's taking you home, Brother's taking you home…"
Cradling Chitoshi's body, Ren trudged forward, step by heavy step.
Snow fell in thick flakes, soon piling on his shoulders.
Yet he seemed oblivious, moving mechanically onward.
His frail, lonely figure looked so desolate in the snowy veil, as if abandoned by the world.
Pristine snowflakes landed on his face, melting into droplets that slid down his cheeks, as if the heavens wept for his endless sorrow.
But as he pressed on, a deep confusion stirred in Ren's heart.
Home?
Where was his home?
With Chitoshi gone, the warm, laughter-filled home they'd shared was shattered.
From now on, he was alone, adrift in a cold, unforgiving world, with no place to belong.
--
T/N: F why did I choose to translate this...