Muichiro remembered nothing. Even forgot his own name.
When I went to visit him, his whole body was wrapped in bandages. Lay quietly in bed.
Eyes clear and bright like mint stared at the ceiling beams. Face wore an expression dazed as if sleepwalking.
He heard footsteps. Struggled to turn his head. Saw me—expression still unchanged. Like looking at a stranger.
Kagaya said he was badly injured. Feared he'd need to recuperate for most of a year to recover... As for when his memory would return, even the doctor couldn't say.
I thought again of Yuichiro at home, still unconscious. Didn't know how he'd face the current situation after waking.
When returning home, Koyuki came to greet me. Asked about Muichiro's condition. Also very worried.
"Tokito-kun still hasn't woken. Don't know what the problem is. Should we ask Miss Tamayo to come look?"
I was also considering whether to ask Tamayo to take a look. Walked with Koyuki to outside Yuichiro's room.
Pushed open the door. A "weapon" came flying straight at my face.
I pulled Koyuki aside to dodge. That vase smashed into the courtyard. Made a crisp shattering sound.
I thought with relief—good thing I didn't display those antique vases. This was one I bought cheaply on the street.
Peeked into the room. Yuichiro had retreated to the wall. Hand still holding another vase. Face full of vigilance glaring at me.
"Who are you? What is this place?"
His gaze fell on me. Still as vigilant as looking at a stranger. Gave me a bad premonition.
"Do you still remember who you are?"
Yuichiro had a moment of confusion. But quickly tensed his arms again. Said with a fierce tone: "Anyway, this definitely isn't where I live! Who the hell are you!"
He also forgot past events.
When Koyuki was transformed into a demon by me, she also didn't remember the past.
Was it because they were both severely injured at the time? Or was there another reason?
But given more time, Yuichiro should also slowly recover his memories.
I walked into the room empty-handed. Told him: "You were very seriously injured. I saved you. Brought you home."
Yuichiro stared at me half-believing. Seemed to sense no hostility. Only then slowly lowered his hands: "Is that so?"
Good that he could calm down. I told him some things from the past. Mentioned he still had a twin brother.
Yuichiro immediately covered his chest. An expression of confusion flashed across his face. Then looked down at his heart's location.
"Ah... What you said doesn't seem wrong. I... do have a familiar feeling."
Good that he could accept it.
I spoke of Muichiro's current state. Also mentioned the changes in his body. Yuichiro silently looked at his own hands. Also silently accepted reality.
Aside from memory loss, he had no other discomfort. Waking meant he'd recovered his health.
I said I'd take him to see Muichiro. But he looked resistant. Firmly shook his head.
"Didn't you say that person doesn't remember me? If so, no need to mention me to him either."
His expression was complex with a trace of conflict. I thought of each time Amane went—the two brothers' completely different attitudes.
When we didn't know, these brothers had a big fight. Even if they didn't remember, that awkward emotion still lingered in their minds.
Yuichiro didn't want to see Muichiro. No one could go against his wishes. So no one mentioned this older brother to Muichiro.
Wait until someday Muichiro remembered. Or this older brother figured it out. Took initiative to see him.
Either way, good that they survived.
Yuichiro quickly adapted to his new life. He was excellent at work. Always helped Koyuki with chores.
Koyuki was very happy to have another companion. Cared for him like a younger brother. Seeing he was illiterate, began teaching him to read and write in her spare time.
And Muichiro recuperated until winter. Though his memory still showed no recovery, his body had mostly healed.
From the moment he could get out of bed and move, he actively requested to learn swordsmanship. Every day held a blade practicing desperately. Wouldn't stop until exhausted.
Everyone worried about his physical condition. Feared he'd leave hidden injuries on his not-yet-healed body. All tried to dissuade him. But no one could stop this child.
After I heard of this, thought briefly. Then sent Ritsuka over to guide his training.
Starting from ancestral blood relations, she and the Tokito brothers could also be considered relatives.
Hearing she still had a distant relative, Ritsuka was first stunned, then excited.
She enthusiastically went to the Ubuyashiki estate. Unlike others who gently dissuaded Muichiro from overtraining, went up and gave him a punch.
Well... that works too. As long as the goal was achieved.
Ritsuka used skillful force. Didn't hurt Muichiro at all. Just made him pass out.
Don't know why she was so excited. Happily carried Muichiro back to his room.
No one knew what they said in the room. But the next day Ritsuka began guiding Muichiro's training.
Muichiro, who'd been desperately swinging his blade, actually settled down. Followed her instructions for rehabilitation training. Never overtrained again.
Sabito believed Ritsuka definitely used violence to force a confession. Attempted to use her favorite udon noodles as bait. Extract the truth.
But Ritsuka didn't fall for it. During sparring pinned Sabito to the ground and beat him. Proudly mocked him for still not awakening his Demon Slayer Mark. Was a noob among noobs.
So the two erupted into battle again. Busy arguing. Threw this question to the back of their minds.
Should I say—worthy of being those two brothers' descendants?
Muichiro's talent was terrifyingly astonishing. His first month holding a blade, self-taught and developed his own Breathing Style.
Second month, he slayed a Lower Rank demon. Naturally became a new Pillar.
At year's end Pillar meeting, there was one more small new figure.
This meeting, Ritsuka also came along.
Though she still didn't take the Pillar title, Kagaya also gave equal rights. Allowed both her and Sabito to attend Pillar meetings.
Before going out, I asked Yuichiro whether he wanted to come to the meeting with me.
Yuichiro vigorously shook his head refusing. But after a while awkwardly shoved over a gift box. Asked me to pass it to Muichiro.
These two brothers also quite loved being difficult.
I brought the gift along. Several Pillars had already arrived early. Only Giyuu was nowhere to be seen.
Ritsuka stood behind Muichiro. Over her uniform wore a light red haori. Spacious sleeves draped over Muichiro's shoulders.
Both her hands rested on Muichiro's chest. Almost held him in her arms. Height just a bit taller than the small boy. Could rest her head on top of his.
Muichiro's expression remained blank as always. Gazed at clouds in the sky in a daze. But didn't struggle out of her embrace.
Their accustomed state made me have a vision of Koyuki teaching Yuichiro to read.
Each time he properly recited an article, Koyuki would always stroke his head. Watch his consistently awkward face reveal a shy, proud smile.
Though there were many trials, what befell them wasn't entirely misfortune.
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