Traveling through the deep of night had long since become second nature to Soma and Kanao. For Shinazugawa Genya, however, it was anything but easy.
At the beginning, he managed to keep up through sheer willpower, gritting his teeth and forcing his body forward step by step. But as time passed, his stamina began to give out, and the strain grew harder and harder to bear.
A Kasugai crow flapped overhead, its sharp cry cutting through the night as it delivered news of the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Shinjuro's death.
Soma came to an abrupt stop.
He stood there, staring blankly as the crow disappeared into the distance after delivering its message.
In his memory, Rengoku Shinjuro was supposed to remain alive for a long time, albeit in a state of self-imposed degradation. It wasn't until after his son, Rengoku Kyojuro, had died, and Tanjiro had delivered his final words, that the broken man had finally risen again. Under that influence, Shinjuro had regained his resolve and, after the Master's passing, returned to serve as a protector alongside Uzui Tengen.
That had been his future.
But now… he was dead.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Ever since Soma's arrival, things had been changing. The future he once knew—events that should have unfolded—might no longer come to pass.
A faint unease stirred in his chest.
"Ha… ha…" Genya seized the chance to rest as Soma paused, bending slightly as he gulped in air, his breathing rough and uneven.
The sound snapped Soma back to the present. He turned his head and looked at the exhausted boy.
Sensing that gaze, Genya immediately straightened his back, forcing himself upright and trying to steady his breathing, as though everything were perfectly fine.
"Can you still keep going?" Soma asked gently.
"I can."
The answer came without hesitation.
But his ragged breathing betrayed him completely.
Seeing this, Soma understood. After a brief pause, he said calmly, "I'll carry you."
"There's no need, sir. I can keep up."
Genya clenched his teeth. He didn't want to disappoint him.
"I'm not doing this out of pity," Soma replied evenly. "If we encounter a demon in your current state, you won't be able to fight. So how exactly do you plan to face one?"
"I…"
Genya faltered, shame creeping into his voice, leaving him at a loss for words.
"Come on. I'll carry you," Soma said again, his tone calm but firm.
Genya hesitated for a moment as he looked at the broad back in front of him.
For some reason, it brought back a distant memory—of when he was small, being carried like this by his older brother.
After a brief pause, he stopped resisting.
…
They continued their journey through the night.
With only a rough idea of their destination, they had to search as they moved.
At first, being carried like dead weight made Genya burn with embarrassment. He felt useless—like nothing more than a burden.
Soma and Kanao moved swiftly, covering great distances with effortless leaps and strides. The night wind rushed past, brushing against Genya's face as they sped forward, and gradually, his thoughts began to drift.
It felt like he had returned to the past.
…
When had it been…?
Back when their father was still alive, Genya had never once been held in his arms—never even received a single smile. His father had always been reeking of alcohol, prone to violence, lashing out at both their mother and the children.
Genya had never longed for his father's affection.
All he had wanted was to stand beside his older brother and help care for their younger siblings. That alone had been enough.
As the second eldest son, he believed it was his responsibility.
The memories grew clearer, pulling him back to a day he could never forget.
He had made a mistake back then and, believing he had found a place where no one could find him, hid himself away.
But in the end… his brother still found him.
"Genya, I knew you'd be here."
"B... Brother..."
He looked up at Sanemi, his voice filled with reluctant resignation, before quietly following him home.
The road back home was a long one.
"It'll be dark soon. Let's head back—Mother isn't angry with you," his brother said.
Hearing that, relief flooded his chest. He had been so anxious, so afraid of what awaited him… so having his brother come to find him like this made him genuinely happy.
But acting like an excited puppy, wagging his tail and rushing home beside his brother—that wasn't what a "real man" would do.
So he forced himself to stay quiet. Perhaps it was just his pride at the time, but he always felt as though he should be able to shoulder more responsibility than his brother. And yet, in truth, his brother had always borne far more than he ever did.
"Genya… you hit the landlord's son because he mocked Sumi, didn't you? He said that poor people shouldn't have so many children, right?"
At those words, Genya nodded.
At the time, when he saw his little sister on the verge of tears from the cruel taunts, his mind had gone blank. He hadn't thought about consequences at all—
He had simply lashed out and beaten the boy without holding back.
That was why he had hidden himself afterward.
It had been a serious mistake. Because of what he'd done, their entire family might be driven out by the landlord.
What would they do then?
Only after the fight did the reality of it all hit him, filling him with fear—so he had run and hidden, hoping to avoid facing it.
At that time, he couldn't stop thinking that his brother must be disgusted with him… disgusted with a younger brother who never thought before acting.
"Since the landlord's son was the one who mocked Sumi first, then you didn't do anything wrong. There's no need for you to hide."
His brother's gentle voice made him lift his head.
"Genya, you protected your little sister like a proper older brother. So why would you think you made a mistake? You did well."
"Brother…"
He looked up at him—and saw him smiling.
Sanemi didn't smile often, but when he did, it was incredibly gentle, just like their mother's. Both he and his younger siblings loved that smile more than anything.
"Let's go home. Mother's worried about you."
Only then did Genya finally feel at ease, quietly following behind as they made their way back.
He still remembered it clearly.
The sun hadn't fully set yet, and the evening glow painted everything in deep shades of red—including his brother's back as he walked ahead.
Watching that figure, Genya—who always tried so hard to act like a proper man—felt a rare urge to act like a child.
After all, he almost never got the chance.
As the second eldest, he was always busy helping care for the younger ones. Even with their exhausted mother, he rarely allowed himself the luxury of being spoiled.
"…Brother… carry me."
He stopped in his tracks and, for once, made a simple, childish request.
His brother paused, turning back to look at him. Then he crouched down, placing a hand on Genya's leg as if checking whether he had been hurt.
That reaction made Genya's face flush with embarrassment. He wasn't injured at all—and yet here he was, asking to be carried like a little kid. It felt unbearably shameful, and in his panic, he nearly turned to run away.
"Come here."
His brother called out to him, then turned his back and bent down slightly, his voice warmer than the evening sun.
"Just for today, alright?"
At that moment, seeing his brother crouched there with his back to him, Genya felt an overwhelming mix of embarrassment and awkwardness. A "real man" like him… acting spoiled like a child—it made him feel like he was worse than a girl.
And yet…
He was so, so happy.
In the end, he climbed onto his brother's back.
It was broad and steady beneath him—warm in a way he would never forget. And after that day, he would never again experience the feeling of being carried like this.
"Mom made a lot of good food today."
His brother's voice came from ahead, calm and reassuring as he carried him home.
"Really?" A spark of excitement lit up his voice.
"Yeah, quite a bit. Teiko and Sumi were helping."
"So that's why you have a nice smell of food on you, brother."
"A nice smell of food? Do I?"
"Yeah. I feel so hungry all of a sudden!"
That moment stayed with him—lying on his brother's back, chatting idly about small, ordinary things, laughing without a care.
And then, little by little…
A thought surfaced.
Because he was the younger brother, he could act spoiled.
But… who could his brother rely on?
Sanemi was their mother's greatest support. Even though he was still just a child himself, he worked tirelessly and looked after all of them—the troublesome younger siblings who depended on him.
Their father was there, but he was never someone they could rely on.
So…
Who could his brother lean on?
Who could he act spoiled with?
…Brother…
...
The wind brushed past his face, snapping Genya back to the present. The sensation of being carried stirred those old memories so vividly that, before he realized it, tears had begun to fall.
A few drops slipped from his eyes, landing softly against Soma's back.
Genya stiffened in embarrassment.
At that exact moment, Soma came to a stop and gently set him down.
Genya hurriedly wiped his eyes with his sleeve, trying to erase any trace of it.
"You're crying?" Soma frowned slightly, looking at him. The first time they had met, this boy had been drenched in blood without uttering a single complaint. And now, right before facing a demon, he looked like he was on the verge of tears?
"I've already found the demon's trail," Soma continued calmly. "If you're afraid now, we can stop here."
Genya's face flushed bright red.
He understood instantly—he'd been misunderstood. The realization made his chest tighten with embarrassment.
"No, sir. I'm not afraid."
The denial came out almost immediately.
Soma studied him for a few moments, as if weighing his words, before finally nodding slightly. Still, he asked once more, "Have you truly prepared yourself to walk this path of hunting demons?"
"…Yes."
"Even if it means dying on this road?"
"…Yes."
There was no hesitation this time—only firm resolve.
Soma looked straight into his eyes, searching for even the slightest trace of doubt. Finding none, he nodded again, stepping forward to pat the boy lightly on the shoulder before pointing ahead.
"There's a demon just up ahead. You've already thought through how you'll deal with it, haven't you?"
"…Yes."
Genya tightened his grip on the double-barreled shotgun in his hands, then instinctively touched the Nichirin Sword at his side.
"I won't disappoint you," he said quietly, though his voice carried unmistakable determination.
Soma paused for a moment, then let out a small chuckle.
"You don't need to worry about disappointing me. Just make sure you don't disappoint yourself. From here on, I won't interfere in your fight at all. Even if you're killed by the demon, I won't step in. If you die while hunting demons… then you die."
"I understand."
Genya nodded without hesitation.
Then, gripping the shotgun tightly, he stepped forward—into the darkness ahead.
...
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