Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
As promised, Iguro Obanai arrived — and he brought someone with him:
the Love Hashira, Kanroji Mitsuri.
However, Yōsuke immediately noticed that Obanai's expression suggested he wasn't at all pleased about Mitsuri's presence.
Sensing Yōsuke's gaze, Mitsuri broke into a nervous sweat and hurried to explain:
"Since there haven't been many missions for the Demon Slayer Corps lately, things at headquarters have been so boring! Then I happened to overhear that Iguro-san was going on a mission with Yōsuke-san, so I asked Oyakata-sama for permission to come along!"
Obanai quickly pulled Yōsuke aside, his tone stiff and uncharacteristically formal as he said,
" Yōsuke-san."
It was the first time he had ever addressed Yōsuke that way.
Then, with some hesitation, he asked:
"Could you please… not tell Mitsuri that this trip to Hachijō Island has anything to do with me?"
Yōsuke glanced from Mitsuri — who was watching them curiously — back to Obanai, who looked almost bashful. Suddenly, it dawned on him.
"Ah, I see. You two are a couple, aren't you?"
Obanai's face turned beet red.
"N-no! Not at all! We're just comrades! That's all!"
Then his voice softened, tinged with quiet self-loathing.
"I'm the descendant of a vile clan — people who killed to satisfy their own desires. I'm scum. I don't deserve Mitsuri…"
Seeing the shame in his eyes, Yōsuke spoke gently.
"No one is born tainted. If you never speak your heart, you may go your whole life without being understood. Is that truly what you want?"
Obanai shook his head stubbornly.
"Unless I die once — shed this filthy body and blood — just being near Mitsuri makes me feel unworthy to live."
Yōsuke fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I understand."
And so, the three of them set out for Hachijō Island together.
Hachijō Island was small and close to the mainland.
Its people lived simply, surviving by fishing.
Modern civilization hadn't yet reached the island; its architecture still carried the rustic charm of the old days.
Perhaps because outsiders rarely visited, when Yōsuke and his companions arrived that night — just as the fishermen were returning from sea — many locals turned to stare curiously at the strangers.
Obanai led Yōsuke and Mitsuri through the narrow paths of the island.
Though years had passed since he'd last been there, he still moved with the familiarity of someone who knew every turn.
Mitsuri tilted her head in curiosity.
"Hmm? Iguro-san, you seem awfully familiar with this place!"
Obanai hesitated, then stammered out an excuse.
"I-I once… had a mission here. So I remember the routes."
"Ah, I knew it!"
Mitsuri accepted the explanation completely, satisfied with her own guess that his familiarity came from a past mission.
She looked around the island, wide-eyed with curiosity and wonder.
Obanai let out a quiet sigh of relief, grateful she hadn't noticed anything suspicious.
But her next question nearly made his heart stop.
"So what kind of mission are you and Mr. Yōsuke on this time?"
Before Obanai could think of an answer, Yōsuke stepped in smoothly.
"I'm the one who needed to come here. I'm investigating something — I didn't know where Hachijō Island was, so I asked Iguro-san to be my guide."
"Oh? What kind of investigation?" Mitsuri pressed eagerly.
Obanai quickly followed Yōsuke's lead.
"It's about the Priest Clan. Oyakata-sama mentioned we should look into them, remember? There were once priests on this island, so Yōsuke-san wanted to investigate."
Mitsuri leaned in close — far too close — until her nose was almost touching Obanai's, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Heehee! Yōsuke-san? That's new! You never used to call people so politely, Iguro-san!"
Flustered, Obanai turned his face away, cheeks burning.
"P-people can change, can't they?!"
Mitsuri giggled, still skeptical.
"Really? You've changed quite a lot,Iguro-san."
After the little exchange, the trio continued deeper into the island.
Suddenly, an old man stepped out to block their path.
"You three… you're not from Hachijō Island, are you?"
Mitsuri answered brightly,
"That's right! We're not locals, Grandpa. Is something wrong?"
The old man looked grave as he said,
"If that's the case, listen to an old man's advice — turn back while you still can. Leave Hachijō Island at once."
Yōsuke asked politely,
"May I ask why?"
The elder's face was tense with worry.
"This island doesn't welcome outsiders. Whenever strangers arrive, it puts us all in danger — not just you, but every islander. If you value your lives, go home while you can."
Obanai frowned.
"What do you mean by that?"
The old man hesitated, clearly torn, but the determination in their faces finally made him sigh heavily.
"All right… I'll tell you. Our island worships the Serpent God. It's because of that deity that our seas are bountiful and our people can live in peace."
At the mention of the Serpent God, Yōsuke's thoughts immediately flashed to what Obanai had told him before — about the serpent demon.
Obanai whispered quietly to him,
"The night I escaped, that serpent demon chased me down. I was moments from death when the former Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjurō, appeared and slew it. I saw it with my own eyes — the demon burned away under the sun. There's no way it's still alive."
Mitsuri asked the old man curiously,
"But Grandpa, if this Serpent God blesses your island with good fishing, it must be a kind god, right? Then why say we'd all be in danger if we stay?"
The old man's face darkened.
"The Serpent God despises outsiders. When strangers land on Hachijō, the god demands punishment. The outsiders become live sacrifices… and even we suffer the consequences."
"Live sacrifices…?"
Obanai's face grew pale, old memories flooding back — of that cruel island, that monstrous hunger.
The old man's voice trembled.
"Yes… every few days, the Serpent God devours a living sacrifice."
Mitsuri looked bewildered.
"But there can't be more than a few hundred people on this island. If it eats one every few days, how could you possibly sustain that?"
The old man's eyes darted away.
"You needn't concern yourselves with that. I've said all I can — I only wanted to spare you from dying needlessly. If you still refuse to listen, there's nothing more I can do. I've done my part."
And with that, the old man turned and hurried away, disappearing into the night.