"Another letter for me?"
Hiru glanced at the Kakushi beside him, while casually slicing the demon beneath his feet clean in two to make it easier for the Kakushi to pack it up and transport it.
"Let me see—oh, it's from Bandit Face... But didn't Makomo say he couldn't write?"
But as soon as Hiru unfolded the paper, he realized he'd been too naive. The page was filled with symbols like a demon's scrawl, completely impossible to decipher.
After a couple of seconds of silence, Hiru decided that, as a Tsuchinoto, he simply couldn't make sense of this kind of postmodern art. He turned to the busy Kakushi beside him for help.
"Take a look—what's this supposed to mean? Am I just out of touch?"
The Kakushi stared at the page covered in scrawls and fell silent as well. After a while, he looked up at Hiru with a serious expression.
"I don't think it's your problem."
"How far is Mount Sagiri from here?"
"Only about twenty kilometers."
Relieved, Hiru folded the paper and tucked it away.
"Then I'll pop over for a bit and find someone to translate this letter. You all can handle things here, right?"
"Um... could you please break his limbs again..."
Hiru picked up his weapon and, under the demon's terrified gaze, gave it a few more chops. After watching the Kakushi finish packing the demon away, he went to find Kitaro and had him lead the way as they left.
His sudden visit took Urokodaki Sakonji by surprise as well. Once Hiru explained why he'd come, Urokodaki nodded.
"Genya just went up the mountain to train. Go find him yourself. Want to stay for breakfast?"
"That would be a big help."
"Mm. Go on, and while you're at it, make sure Genya finishes his training."
"Genya isn't even ten yet, is he?"
Hiru watched Kitaro, who had already flown into the house to rest.
"If he's using the same training method as Giyu and the others, someone's going to die."
"I've already changed it."
Urokodaki turned and went into the house.
"Quit loitering and get going. Then come back and eat."
"Stubborn old man..."
Hiru muttered, heading up the mountain.
When Hiru finally found—no, discovered—Genya, the boy was huffing and puffing, trying to jump out of a two-meter-deep pit.
"Mr. Hiru!"
Hiru stood at the edge of the pit, covering his face, unable to bear watching.
"This level shouldn't be enough to keep you down there, right?"
Genya just grinned sheepishly.
"I can't jump up."
"Then climb."
"But I'll get my clothes dirty. Master works so hard washing them."
"Weren't they already dirty when you fell in?"
Genya froze for a long moment, then lowered his head, face flushing red. He obediently climbed out.
"Alright, I came to talk to you about something."
"What is it?"
"This. Your brother wrote it to me."
Hiru handed the letter to Genya.
"Translate what he's trying to say."
Genya unfolded it and looked it over. After a brief silence, he lifted his head with a blank expression.
"Brother is inviting you to visit the largest Wisteria House in Aichi Prefecture."
Day frowned, staring at the scribbles.
"...How did you even get that out of this?"
Genya's expression stayed dull.
"Brother can recognize characters, but he can't write them properly, so he uses different symbols to represent the sounds."
"...In a sense, isn't that even more amazing than just knowing how to write?"
"Hehe... I think my brother is amazing too! At home, only me and Mom can read it!"
"Alright, hurry up and finish your training. I'm waiting to freeload a meal."
"Okay!"
After enjoying a hearty free meal, Hiru set out for Aichi Prefecture with Kitaro, snagging a few more demons along the way to deliver to nearby Wisteria Houses.
Because demons were rarely captured in Aichi, when Hiru showed up at a Wisteria House with a demon in each hand, he gave quite a scare to a number of the Kakushi.
"No need to be so cautious. I've already cut off their upper halves. Right, put all the limbs together. Stop there; put the torso in a different crate..."
After directing the Kakushi to finish packing up the demons, Hiru asked where the largest Wisteria House in Aichi was.
"In Aichi... the Wisteria House in Nagoya should be the largest. Do you have business there?"
"Yeah, I was invited as a guest, but he only said 'the largest Wisteria House in Aichi.'"
Hiru took out the letter.
"This is the invitation."
Kakushi: ...Is this really an invitation? Some people would think it's a provocation.
The Kakushi stared blankly up at Hiru, thinking this young Hashira had a remarkably good temper.
"Then I'll get moving. You can handle sending these two demons to Mount Fujikasane, right?"
"Ah... ah! Yes, leave it to us!"
When Hiru finally arrived at the Wisteria House in Nagoya, what greeted him was a Sanemi Shinazugawa wrapped up like a zombie.
"You didn't go through all this just so I could see you trussed up like a rice dumpling, did you?"
Hiru stood at the side of the bed with his arms crossed.
"If you did, I have to admit I am a little pleased."
"What are you spouting?"
Even lying in bed recuperating, Sanemi was as energetic as ever.
"How's my little brother?"
Hiru gave him a simple rundown.
"In short, his stamina's improved, but his brains haven't. Seriously, if you're that worried about your brother, go see him yourself or just write him a letter. What's with this roundabout strategy?"
"Hmph—none of your business."
"So what did you call me here for?"
Hiru leaned on his hand.
"If it was just to ask about your brother, I'd break your bones and make you lie here for a few more months."
"Huh? Didn't I tell you I was going to introduce you to someone?"
"That kid never mentioned it."
Hiru frowned.
"You didn't write a bunch of extra nonsense, did you?"
Sanemi's gaze wandered for a moment before returning.
"Hmph—who told you to be illiterate?"
"I'd have to be a demon to read that kind of gibberish! Honestly, demons probably write better than you!"
"Shut up! I just can't learn to write—what are you gonna do about it?!"
"Sounds like you really do want to stay in bed for a few more months."
Hiru stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and smiled kindly.
"If I hit your legs and arms, you won't be able to move. So how about your ribs? How many should I break?"
"You're insane, aren't you?! Cut it out right now!"
"Ah, Hiru?"
Hiru's hand paused mid-swing, and he turned around.
"Ah, Kanae. What are you doing here?"
"Because this mission was assigned to me and Shinazugawa together."
Kanae walked in carrying a lunch box.
"Thanks to him, I barely got hurt this time."
"Did you run into a tough demon?"
"Yeah. While we were investigating the cave, we ran into a demon that could manipulate stone."
Kanae set the lunch box on the bedside table. After briefly recounting what had happened to the two of them, her expression dimmed.
"All I did was hold everyone back..."
"You did your best, Kocho. And in the end, didn't you carry me out and give me emergency first aid?"
"But Shinazugawa wouldn't be this badly hurt if he hadn't blocked the attack for me..."
"Hey, you two calling each other by your family names is way too formal. We're basically old acquaintances at this point."
Hiru propped his chin on his hand, eyeing Sanemi suspiciously.
"I can understand Kanae being polite, but you acting all stiff is just weird. Aren't you supposed to be the prickly one?"
"None of your business!"
"Hehe... that's true enough. Then let's call each other by our given names from now on. What do you think, Sanemi?"
"Ahem, whatever works. I'm in your care from now on, Kanae."
"Yeah, I'm in your care too, Sanemi."
Hiru: ...?
What is with this strange extra atmosphere?