*CawCaw
"Report… report to… caw… Okutama headquarters… caw… in six days…"
Makomo listened carefully and nodded.
Meanwhile—
Jin's parrot was sitting silently in a nearby tree.
Staring at him.
'…What is wrong with this parrot?'
After the crow flew away, the parrot glided down and landed on his shoulder.
"Head to Toyonaka City immediately."
*Squeak
"Multiple deaths reported every night."
"Demon suspected."
*SquawkSquawk
And just like that—
It flew away.
'Finally…'
'Some action.'
Jin felt a spark of excitement.
Ever since the hand demon, nothing had challenged him.
Sparring… wasn't the same.
He turned—
And saw Makomo.
Looking down.
Quiet.
He sighed and walked toward her.
"Why the sad face?"
She looked up at him—
But said nothing.
"…Alright."
Jin scratched his head slightly.
"How about this?"
"I'll come visit you in Okutama after my mission."
'Can't exactly tell her I already have work there…'
Makomo's eyes lit up.
She grabbed his hand.
"Promise?"
Jin smiled.
"I promise."
-
Evening
Jin stood outside the hut.
Wearing his dark brown Demon Slayer uniform with a dark green shawl around his neck.
A pouch tied at his waist.
Sword resting on his back.
Makomo stood beside him.
Her uniform was neatly worn, with her purple haori flowing lightly.
"Take care of yourself."
Urokodaki hugged Makomo first.
Then—
unexpectedly—
pulled Jin into a hug as well.
"You too, Jin."
"…I will."
Jin replied awkwardly.
Makomo giggled.
They left together.
She kept turning back—
waving at her master.
-
After Two Hours
They reached a small town station.
The train to Okutama was already there.
15 minutes to departure.
"I hope we get missions together."
"We're both Rank 10… so probably."
"…Um…"
"You want to say something?"
Makomo hesitated.
Then spoke slowly.
"When my brother died… I was lost."
"He was the best among us… and still failed."
"Everything felt… meaningless."
"But when I was about to die…"
"You saved me."
"So… thank you."
"For saving me…"
"For becoming my friend…"
"And… for giving me a reason to keep going."
Jin looked at her.
A bit surprised.
'Did I really do all that…?'
'I just did what anyone would do…'
'And honestly… I gained more.'
'Training under a former Hashira… that's huge.'
He scratched his cheek.
"I already told you…"
"Anyone would've done the same."
"And as for being friends…"
A small grin appeared.
"Who wouldn't want to be friends with a cute girl like you?"
Makomo froze.
Then quickly turned away—
covering her face.
'He thinks I'm cute…'
*Whistle
"Train's leaving. You should go."
"Yeah… and be careful on your mission."
"Relax."
"You know how strong I am, right?"
*Whistle
"Last call!"
"Okay, okay—wait, what's that?"
"What?"
Jin turned—
Nothing there.
Then—
Something soft touched his cheek.
He froze.
By the time he turned—
Makomo was already on the train.
Smiling brightly.
Waving.
"Don't forget your promise!"
"Bye!"
Jin touched his cheek.
A faint smile appeared.
'…This silly girl.'
He turned away.
'I should get going too.'
-
Toyonaka City
The city felt… wrong.
Too quiet.
Too empty.
A few people walked around—
But no one spoke.
No one interacted.
Jin approached a man carrying firewood.
"Excuse me—"
"What do you want?"
"…Why is the city so quiet?"
The man stared at him.
"Oh… you're new."
"Then listen carefully."
"This city… is full of murderers."
"At night… people kill anyone they see."
"And in the morning…"
"They act as if nothing happened."
"So if you want to live…"
"Leave."
The man hurried away.
Jin stood still.
'…What?'
'That's ridiculous.'
'They're suspecting each other…'
'No…'
'This is the demon's doing.'
'Some kind of control…'
-
Night
Jin stood on the tallest building.
Watching.
Waiting.
'Midnight…'
'Still nothing.'
"Aaaaaahhhh!"
A scream cut through the silence.
Jin's eyes snapped open.
A man—
Holding a bloody knife—
Standing in front of a crying girl.
The girl begged.
The man raised his hand—
'He's not in his right mind.'
'Total concentration.'
'Wind breathing.'
Jin jumped.
The wind gathered around him—
In an instant—
He reached the ground.
*BOOM
Dust scattered everywhere.
When it cleared—
The girl was gone.
Jin stood in her place.
Staring at the man.
He had already moved her to safety.
'Good… controlled the impact.'
'Otherwise… he'd be dead.'
*Grrr
Jin narrowed his eyes.
'There's… demonic aura.'
'Very faint.'
The man lunged.
Jin sidestepped—
And struck his neck lightly.
The man collapsed instantly.
"Sorry."
Jin tied him up and placed him on a bench.
Then—
He returned to the rooftop.
-
Later
Another person.
A woman.
Trying to break into a house.
Same thing.
Knocked out.
Tied.
Then another.
After a while—
Jin stopped.
'The aura… is fading.'
He checked the earlier victims.
Gone.
'So the control… is temporary.'
He sat down.
Thinking.
'What's the motive?'
'They're not eating the victims…'
'Bodies are returned…'
*Silence.
Then—
A realization.
'…No way.'
Jin stood instantly.
And dashed forward.
-
Graveyard
He arrived within minutes.
His vision shifted.
Grey.
Everywhere.
Death aura.
'Just like the corps headquarters…'
'Dead bodies release it…'
He walked toward the recent graves.
And stopped.
They were empty.
No aura.
Nothing.
"…So that's it."
Jin's expression darkened.
'First… control people.'
'Make them kill.'
'Then… dig the graves.'
'And devour the corpses.'
A slow smile formed.
'Smart.'
'Very smart.'
'Hunting without being seen.'
'Eating without suspicion.'
He looked around.
Eyes sharp.
'But you got greedy.'
'And now… I see you.'
A pause.
'To flush you out…'
A faint grin appeared.
'I'll need some help.'