Rustle.
Sakonji Urokodaki opened the cabinet and fell silent as he looked at the two Fox Masks on the bottom shelf.
The White-Haired Swordsman passed by the window and poked his head inside. "Oh? Disaster-Repelling Masks."
Genya and Tanjiro looked up from packing their bags. "What?"
Sakonji reached in, took out the masks, and turned to hand them over.
Both Fox Masks were exquisitely crafted. The one for Tanjiro had a sun pattern on its forehead where his scar was, while the one for Genya had an arrow stretching across it, just like the long scar on his face.
"These are... Disaster-Repelling Masks," Mr. Urokodaki answered. "I cast a spell on them. They'll protect you from harm."
"Sabito, Giyu, Makomo, and I..." Haruto smiled and pointed at his own nose. "We all have one. Master Urokodaki carved them himself~"
"With your current abilities, you should have no trouble passing the trial," Sakonji said calmly. "But you mustn't get careless..."
As though recalling something unpleasant, his voice grew subdued. "If you find yourselves in mortal danger, run first-don't worry about embarrassing your teacher. His pride isn't worth much."
The boys both looked at Haruto, who actually nodded too. "Yes! What's a little pride compared to your lives?"
"Oh, right." He suddenly remembered the letter from the Butterfly Mansion a little while ago. "Kanao will be taking this trial too. You two..."
"Don't worry, Teacher!" Tanjiro puffed out his cheeks and said earnestly, "We'll take good care of Kanao!"
Haruto paused, then looked up at the sky. "Oh~ I meant that even if you can't measure up to Kanao, don't fall too far behind her..."
Take care of Kanao...
Just don't end up needing Kanao to take care of you...
Genya grinned at Tanjiro, then turned back and said, "Zenitsu will be