Not long after Kanzaki Kumo and the other two stopped in their tracks, the man ahead seemed to sense something and turned, meeting Kanzaki Kumo's eyes.
"Long time no see, Mr. Haganezuka... Haha..."
Kanzaki Kumo raised his uninjured left hand and waved, his voice trembling uncontrollably.
At that point, Makomo also realized why Kanae and Kanzaki Kumo had suddenly stopped. She had heard about how Haganezuka had nearly chased Kanzaki Kumo down to kill him when he had only just become able to move around on his own.
The next instant, Haganezuka charged straight toward Kanzaki Kumo. Had he not seen that Haganezuka had no blade in his hands, Kanzaki Kumo would have taken to his heels.
"Tell me! Did that blade's tip shatter, forcing you to change your move, before the enemy finally broke it from the side?"
"Uh... Ah, yes!"
Haganezuka's fierce questioning left Kanzaki Kumo stunned for a moment.
He was also somewhat surprised that Haganezuka could deduce how the Nichirin Blade had broken from the recovered pieces alone.
But after Kanzaki Kumo answered, Haganezuka stood rooted to the spot. With his mask in the way, none of them could tell what he was thinking. They could only hear his breathing grow heavier.
The hearts of Kanzaki Kumo and the other two rose and fell along with Haganezuka's breathing.
Haganezuka stood before Kanzaki Kumo like that for over a minute, until sweat began to break out on Kanzaki Kumo's back.
Just as Kanzaki Kumo was about to ask him something, Haganezuka finally spoke again. "I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
Haganezuka's sudden apology stunned all three of them.
"I'm sorry. The blade I forged wasn't tough enough. You blocked the enemy's attack, yet you were injured because the blade broke."
"Uh... It wasn't really your fault, Mr. Haganezuka. I wasn't