Do You Believe in Fate?

Iguro Obanai stretched in the shadows, deep confusion in his eyes as he complained:

"Staying out in the middle of the night just to fool a girl? You damn pervert!"

"Hiss, hiss, hiss!" Kaburamaru nodded his snake head in agreement.

He could tell at a glance that Hiruma was faking illness. He had thought something had happened to that guy and worried for nothing.

To find out what Hiruma was up to, Iguro Obanai followed him from afar.

After weaving through a maze of narrow alleys, Shinobu Kocho and Hiruma stopped before a dilapidated thatched hut on the outskirts of town.

Hiruma looked over the ramshackle hut that seemed like it could be blown away by a gust of wind and sighed quietly.

Honestly, seeing where the Kocho sisters lived broke Hiruma's heart. He had never expected Shinobu to be living so poorly.

If only he had met her sooner.

"It's a little shabby. Please don't mind it!" Seeing Hiruma frozen in place, Shinobu thought he was looking down on their broken hut. Someone who could buy so many dumplings in one go surely would not be short on money.

"No, no, no!"

"It's great. I don't mind at all, really!"

Hiruma waved his hands repeatedly, practically wanting to die. After all, who did not long for a better life?

"Mr. Tendo, you're strange. Why are you so flustered?"

"I know!"

Shinobu did not quite understand. She could vaguely sense that Tendo Hiruma was always extremely careful around her, as if he were afraid she might come to dislike him.

"I'm not..."

Before Hiruma could explain further, a very weak voice came from inside the hut. Yet even illness could not suppress its distinctive gentleness.

"Shinobu, do we have a guest?"

"Or did you get into trouble again?"

There was concern mixed into the sickly frailty of the voice. Shinobu's expression immediately darkened, and she hurried into the hut.

"Big Sister, I didn't cause trouble!"

"And lie back down. I'll go brew the medicine right away!"

Hiruma walked inside. The hut was filled with a stale smell, and the lighting was dim.

He looked around and found the furnishings exceptionally sparse: only a battered old wooden table, a straw mat, and some bedding.

The Kocho sisters' lives were even worse than he had imagined. Thinking about it carefully, how well could two little girls without parents possibly be living?

On the straw mat beside them sat Kanae Kocho, who had just risen. Her illness had drained all color from her face, yet that pale face held a resilience and maturity beyond her years.

Of course, this young girl should have been happily doted on by her parents. Circumstances had forced her to grow up.

"Sir, did Shinobu cause you any trouble?"

Seeing Hiruma carrying a sword, Kanae panicked. Like a mother hen, she shielded Shinobu behind her and asked in a trembling voice.

"No, no, no!"

"I'm not here to cause trouble!"

Somehow, he had been mistaken for a bad guy again. Sigh!

"Eh?"

"Doesn't your stomach hurt anymore?" Shinobu suddenly asked, making Hiruma extremely awkward. He inwardly cried out in alarm; he had forgotten all about that.

"Uh, well... I actually feel much better. Maybe it's because I've been different from ordinary people since I was little. Ahahaha!" Hiruma scratched his head helplessly and gave a foolish laugh.

Hearing that, Shinobu let out a sigh of relief. It was good that he was fine. From beginning to end, she had never suspected that Hiruma was faking his illness.

"Right, since I'm here, I'll help you brew the medicine!"

"You two talk first!"

Hiruma took the medicine packet from Shinobu's hand and rushed outside. On his way here, he had seen a medicine pot outside.

"Big Sister!"

"Mr. Tendo may carry a sword, but he isn't a bad person. He helped me!" Shinobu hurriedly explained to her sister. As she spoke, she smiled again. Kanae noticed it sharply but said nothing.

She did not know what had happened, but she was certain that the boy their age carrying the sword posed no threat.

Outside the thatched hut, Hiruma sat beside the medicine pot with a dejected look, sighing repeatedly.

It seemed like she disliked him. He should not have brought his sword.

Sob, sob! (╥_╥)

"Damn pervert, did they kick you out?"

"You faked being sick just to..."

Iguro Obanai appeared beside Hiruma at some point. With his arms folded, he began mocking him mercilessly.

Hiruma reacted quickly, immediately covering Iguro Obanai's mouth and leaning close to whisper in his ear:

"First, I'm not a pervert!"

"Second, give me a chance. Don't expose me!"

Hiruma used the toughest posture to say the most cowardly words. Iguro Obanai nodded, and only then did Hiruma release this elusive old man.

Iguro Obanai stood to one side with his arms folded. Hiruma smiled one moment and sighed the next, making him think the guy had gone stupid.

This kid was seriously sick in the head!

Just then, the hut door opened, and Shinobu helped her sister outside.

"Mr. Tendo, I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding just now!"

"Thank you for saving Shinobu!"

Kanae Kocho looked at Hiruma apologetically, sincerity shining in her eyes.

Though she wore coarse clothes covered in patches, every movement of hers carried the air of a refined young lady.

After all, the Kocho sisters had been born into a well-off family of doctors, and their upbringing was ingrained in their bones. Kanae's grace had not been worn away by hardship.

"It's fine. This guy just likes meddling in other people's business. Don't mind him!"

"My name is Obanai Iguro. I'm his friend!"

Iguro Obanai introduced himself. He did not understand why Hiruma wanted to get close to these sisters, but he trusted Hiruma unconditionally.

"Hello, I'm Kanae Kocho!"

"If you two don't mind, shall we treat you to something?"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

As she spoke, Kanae coughed a few times. She had endured her illness to come outside.

Thus, fates that should never have crossed met because of Hiruma's presence.

The future Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps came to know one another in this way.

"By the way, we're all about the same age, so stop calling me 'sir' all the time."

"Tendo Hiruma. People close to me call me Hiruma!"

"And the medicine is ready!"

"Wait for me. I'll handle it!" Shinobu supported her sister as they headed back inside.

As soon as the Kocho sisters went in, Iguro Obanai asked calmly, his expression indifferent:

"Do you know them?"

At Iguro Obanai's question, Hiruma's hand trembled, and he nearly dropped the medicine pot.

Iguro Obanai became even more certain. The look in Hiruma's eyes when he first saw him had been much the same as it was today.

It was the look of someone meeting an old acquaintance, an unguarded glimpse of genuine emotion.

"Do you believe in fate?" Hiruma suddenly asked something mysterious. At that moment, the medicine poured into the bowl, and a layer of white steam rose to obscure his eyes.

"Maybe I met you all in a dream!"

"Hahaha!"

"Of course, how could that be possible?"

"I just like meddling in other people's business!"

Hiruma said with a laugh.

Iguro Obanai froze for a moment, then smiled beneath his bandages without saying anything.

If this was fate, it seemed like a rather good fate.

Fate had also allowed him to meet a good person and given him a sword worthy of atoning for his sins.