43 Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

Sanemi's eyes widened. "...Huh?"

Oh, wow. This guy's got some nerve.

Especially with those bloodshot eyes, the veins popping along his temple, and those scars crisscrossing his face and body—it's a look that could give even demons a run for their money.

Honestly, who's scarier—him or the demons?

Haruto cleared his throat. "Let me ask you something. Have you ever straight-up asked Genya if he hates you?"

"No."

"When you were spying on him, did he ever say anything like that?"

"...No."

"Then why the hell do you think he hates you so much that he'd want to sever ties?"

Haruto gave him a withering look, his patience clearly running thin.

"What goes on in that thick skull of yours? You spend all your time imagining nonsense!"

Sanemi clenched his fists tight, then suddenly leapt to his feet and started pounding his fists into the trees along the mountain path.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Haruto flinched at the sudden outburst, catching a stray persimmon that fell from the impact.

Huh? Well, that's unexpected.

He bit into it, only to spit it out immediately. Still bitter.

"How could he not hate me?!" Sanemi roared, fists slamming against the bark until his knuckles bled. "How could he not resent me? I abandoned him when he needed me the most!"

His voice cracked as he shouted. "How could he just… accept being abandoned like that?! Is he an idiot?! What's wrong with his brain, that fool Genya!"

THUNK!

A green persimmon flew through the air and hit Sanemi square on the head.

"Hey!" Haruto barked, locking an arm around Sanemi's neck. "You're so damn weird, you know that?

You sneak around, spying on Genya because you're worried about him, but then you go and say the most hurtful crap. You're a walking contradiction!"

"I'm not worried about him!" Sanemi snapped, wrenching free. "He's safe with you—that's all I care about!"

"Ha! Are you thanking me or insulting me? You're even weirder than Tomioka." Haruto sighed dramatically.

Sanemi crossed his arms, his voice harsh.

"Isn't Genya supposed to be useless? He can't even learn breathing techniques! Just let him grow up, kick him out once he can fend for himself. I'll work hard and pay you back for the trouble!"

Oh, so that's what this is about…

Haruto's expression darkened.

"Don't talk about your little brother like that. You care about him, but you spit out words that cut like knives. What's your deal?

Are you trying to convince me that Genya's worthless? Trying to make me believe that all his effort, all his training, is pointless?"

Sanemi flinched, his hands twitching like he wanted to explain, but no words came.

Haruto took a step closer, his voice firm.

"Let me tell you something. Your brother, my apprentice, Genya, is no failure.

He's a rare talent—a prodigy with the ability to consume demons. He'll have a brilliant future ahead of him, standing shoulder to shoulder with the best of the Demon Slayer Corps. Together, we'll avenge your mother and siblings."

Sanemi's defenses crumbled at those words. He dropped to the ground, trembling, his voice breaking into a raw, anguished scream.

"I don't want that! I don't want him to be a prodigy!" Sanemi's fists pounded the dirt. "I don't want him in the Corps! I don't want him anywhere near those monsters!"

The silver-haired boy buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

"Genya should… learn a trade, get married, have kids. He should live a normal life. Not like me… not consumed by hatred."

Tears streaked down his face, though he stubbornly refused to let anyone see.

"I want to kill every last demon in this world, so they'll never get near him. Mom's gone… my brothers and sisters are gone. Genya's all I have left…"

Haruto froze.

So that's what it is…

It wasn't hatred. It wasn't disgust. It was desperation—a desperate attempt to push Genya away, to protect him from this cruel world.

Haruto exhaled deeply, trying to quell the knot in his chest.

"But… that's impossible."

Sanemi looked up, startled, as Haruto shook his head.

"He was there that night, wasn't he?"

That terrible night when their mother turned. Genya had been there too—closer than anyone. The scars on his face matched Sanemi's, left by the same monstrous hands.

"He saw it all, just like you."

Haruto crouched down, resting a hand on Sanemi's trembling shoulder.

"I don't believe in fate, but… Sanemi, some things are unavoidable.

Most of us who walk this path—we didn't choose it. It chose us."

Sanemi let out a broken wail, his bloody fists pounding the ground one last time. Tears and blood soaked into the dirt, mingling with the sweat of his little brother who trained so hard on this very spot.

"Not going to say goodbye?" Haruto asked as Sanemi stood, brushing the dust off his clothes.

"No," Sanemi replied, shaking his head. "Knowing he's doing well… that's enough for me."

He hesitated, then added, "I don't want him to see me like this. He'd just worry himself sick."

"Do you have a mentor?" Haruto asked, considering the boy's raw potential.

"I don't need one," Sanemi said stiffly. "Masachika Kumeno from the Corps introduced me to a trainer. And… please, don't tell Genya I was here. It'll only distract him."

Haruto sighed, watching Sanemi's silver hair vanish down the mountain path.

"Tch. Who needs another student anyway?" he muttered, scratching his nose.

As he returned to the cabin, three pairs of eyes turned to him.

"What happened? Why'd you take so long?" Sabito asked, setting his Nichirin Blade aside.

"Oh…" Haruto waved a hand toward Genya. "Saw your brother."

Genya froze, the cloth in his hands slipping. "My… brother?"

"Yeah. That spiky-haired hedgehog of yours was lurking around, watching you train."

Genya's face lit up, his grip tightening on the towel. "He was here? He was watching me? That means… he still cares!"

"And now he's gone," Haruto added dryly, scratching his head. "What kind of brothers are you two? You're both impossible to understand."

He shook his head and headed for the kitchen. Whatever. First things first—food.

As for that stubborn silver-haired brat who rejected him so flatly…

"Hmph! He thinks I'm keeping this a secret for free? Fat chance!"