With Hashira-level missions dwindling to the point that Haruto had nothing to do but patrol, he began traveling between the Swordsmith Village and Mount Sagiri more often.
Hotaru Haganezuka hated seeing Haruto in the Swordsmith Village.
"Has something gone wrong with the blade I forged again?"
"No, it's sturdy and exceptionally sharp."
"Then why do you keep wandering around here?" Hotaru Haganezuka gave him a look of disgust. "Now that they trust you and you don't need the Kakushi carrying you back and forth, you've decided you can do whatever you want?"
Haruto looked him up and down, baffled.
"Because... my home is here."
"Your home... oh." The hot-tempered man in the Hyottoko Mask scratched his nose awkwardly. "Oh, right. Yes, you do live here."
Watching Hotaru Haganezuka turn and stride away, Haruto didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Seriously! Don't tell me you've already forgotten I'm from the Swordsmith Village!"
Still, Hotaru Haganezuka and Kotetsu had been hanging around together a lot lately. Haruto really couldn't understand what a man in his thirties had to talk about with a seven-year-old.
Godogawa was another person who found Haruto's presence annoying. Haruto could practically picture the expression beneath his Hyottoko Mask.
"If you have nothing to do, deliver a blade for me."
As he spoke, Godogawa placed a standard Nichirin Blade on the table.
"Deliver a blade?" Haruto asked in surprise. "Master, didn't you stop making blades for Swordsmen ages ago?"
"This is a personal request from Jigoro Kuwajima, who lives on Mount Momiji. He's taken on a new apprentice who needs a suitable Nichirin Blade." Godogawa drew the blade halfway out of its sheath. Beautiful black-and-yellow cord wound around the grip over the Nakago.
"You mean the former Rumble Hashira, Mr. Jigoro Kuwajima?"
"That's right. Haven't you wanted to