Hiruma held Giyu by the shoulders, looked him straight in the eyes, and said with utmost seriousness:
"Listen to me, all right?"
"Mm-hm, mm-hm, mm-hm!" Giyu nodded repeatedly. It was the first time someone had been so eager to talk to him, and Hiruma was automatically categorized as a good friend.
When he noticed Sabito's Disaster Averting Mask hanging from the other boy's head, he naturally hung his own Disaster Averting Mask on the other side.
The sudden gesture caught Hiruma off guard. Giyu recognizes me now?
I haven't even started yet, okay?
He sighed imperceptibly, no longer in the mood to tell stories, and simply asked:
"Did your sister save your life because she wanted you to die?"
"If you don't care about your own life, then what was the point of your sister's efforts?"
"If Mr. Urokodaki, Makomo, and Sabito knew you'd always had thoughts like this, wouldn't they be heartbroken?"
The three questions left Giyu stunned. He stared at Hiruma in disbelief, unable to understand why he knew him so well.
Amid his shock, Giyu lowered his head in shame and could not help questioning himself.
Sister, was I wrong to do this?
Hiruma patted Giyu's shoulder and said earnestly, "Giyu, people who wallow in the past can't grasp the future!"
"Your future isn't just yours. It belongs to your sister too, and to the people around you."
"Think about it. If you die, they'll be sad."
As he spoke, Hiruma pointed at Sabito and said, half coaxing and half threatening:
"If you die, Sabito might stop wielding a sword. He's a deeply loyal person, after all. Your best friend's death would inevitably hit him hard!"
"You said it yourself—Sabito is incredible. You don't want him to become depressed because of you, do you?"
Giyu stared blankly at Hiruma. What he said made a great deal of sense. If that happened, it would be terrible.
"Also, didn't I save your life?"
"Mm-hm, mm-hm, mm-hm!" Giyu nodded like a pecking chick. "Thank you!"
"So if you keep refusing to cherish your life, it'll put me in a difficult position!"
"Sigh!"
Hiruma lowered his eyes, looking utterly heartbroken.
"I'll work hard to train myself, then do my best not to die!" Giyu said with complete sincerity, his eyes blazing as though he had found his purpose in life.
"Very good!" Hiruma nodded in satisfaction. After clearing his throat a few times, he said, "So, can I borrow your rations to eat?"
"Your good buddy here is starving to death!"
"Please, help yourself!" Giyu handed over his pack without hesitation, obedient as a little lamb, while the phantom of a sly gray wolf seemed to rise behind Hiruma.
He had said everything that needed saying. As for how much Giyu had taken in, Hiruma was going to eat now.
"Rations!"
"Rations!"
"Long live rations! o(￣▽￣)o"
Holding his Nichirin Blade, Giyu murmured:
"I'll work hard to become stronger. I absolutely won't let my friends and master down!"
"I'll grasp the future, carrying Sister's share with me."
The next morning, Sabito felt that something about Giyu was different, though he could not say exactly what it was.
In any case, it seemed like a good change.
After killing the Hand Demon, everyone completely let loose on Mount Fujikasane and began searching everywhere for demons.
Out of a hundred demons, not one survived, except those that had hidden in places no one could reach.
Before long, it was the night of the seventh day. The Final Selection was nearly over.
A group of boys sat around the bonfire and began bragging about their achievements.
"I killed fifteen demons in total this time. What do you think? Impressive, right? Hahaha!" Kyojuro stood tall and proud like a lion.
"I killed fifteen too, but one of mine was the strongest Hand Demon!" Sabito patted Kyojuro on the shoulder, wearing an expression that said, "Buddy, you still need more training."
"Wow, amazing! (??????)??" Kyojuro gave him a thumbs-up and suggested they have a match. Sabito gladly accepted.
Before long, water and flames clashed violently. Hiruma hurriedly used his body to shield the grilled fish beside the bonfire. He rolled his eyes at the two of them and complained:
"Hey, go fight somewhere else! Don't ruin my fish!"
"Hey! How many demons did you kill, anyway?"
Iguro Obanai stared fixedly at Hiruma as he asked. He had personally cut down twenty demons and had nearly wanted to dig three feet into the ground to find more.
Hiruma scratched his head. He did not really want to compete with these guys, but while helping Sabito fight the Hand Demon, he had accidentally killed ten demons in one go.
He scratched his head and laughed it off. "Only thirty or so, hahaha!"
"I'm eating fish. Help yourself!"
"Wait, eat later. How about you and I spar?!" Iguro Obanai's mouth twitched slightly as he dragged the shouting Hiruma aside.
"Wait!"
"I'm not full yet! Are you a masochist or something?!"
"Let go of me!"
"Mom said fighting isn't what good kids do!"
"You're an orphan. You don't have a mom!" Iguro Obanai mercilessly twisted the knife, nearly making Hiruma spit blood.
Listen to that. Is that something a human being would say?
"You're jealous! You're jealous of how strong I am!"
Under the starry sky, the four boys bickered noisily, while only Murata and Giyu sat quietly beside the bonfire.
Murata felt like a bronze-ranked player who had somehow wandered into a king-level match. His head was about to split as he muttered inwardly:
Are these guys even human?
Are demons really this weak?
Seeing that Giyu had remained silent, he leaned closer and asked, "Giyu, how many demons did you kill?"
"I forgot. Maybe a dozen or so."
Murata was dumbfounded.
No, are you guys here for the selection, or are you stocking up on merchandise?
Were there really that many demons on this mountain?
Murata was deeply shaken. Like an eggplant wilted by frost, he silently shifted away and wallowed in his misery alone.
Giyu glanced at the figures flashing about in the distance, then looked at Murata and asked:
"Should we spar?"
Murata stared at Giyu in disbelief. You and me?
You're not joking, are you?
"Why?"
"Because it would make me fit in better."
Murata shook his head wildly and refused at lightning speed. Sparring with these people would get him killed.
Suddenly, a gust from a blade swept over them, overturning the bonfire and scattering it into sparkling embers.
Murata was so frightened that his heart nearly stopped beating. He went completely numb.
I never should have shamelessly stuck with these people!
Mom, save me!
I want to run away so badly!
Before long, Murata shook his head. He did not want anyone to look down on him.
Meanwhile, Giyu calmly ate grilled fish, even remembering to save a few pieces. He remembered Hiruma saying that he was not full.
Exhausted from fighting, the others lay sprawled across the grass and fell asleep.
Giyu held a grilled fish and quietly gazed up at the stars.
Murata, meanwhile, silently stood watch over this group of freakishly strong people.
As the eastern sky turned pale, the first ray of dawn pierced through the clouds and fell upon the quiet Mount Fujikasane.
The Final Selection had ended.
Before you continue