"That… that's a pretty good dream, I guess."
The other children also felt Sadayo's dream was a bit too small, but to avoid upsetting Sadayo, no one said anything.
"When the time comes, you have to make me a beautiful hair ornament, okay?" The little girl with a hair tie smiled and said to Sadayo.
"Mm! I'll make one for everyone!"
Her dream affirmed, Sadayo also seemed very happy, saying joyfully.
"I'm a boy, I don't want one."
"Me neither."
Several boys quickly said after hearing Sadayo's words.
"Hahahahaha…"
The other little girls laughed after seeing their reactions…
…
The laughter and joy from that time still seemed to echo, but the people from the past were no longer all there.
Because he mistakenly believed Sadayo had lied at the time, and those children didn't listen to him and fled from his side, for these past few years, Gyoumei had only considered everything from the past to be the children's lies.
Now knowing the truth, Gyoumei recalled the past again, and tears couldn't help but fall from his eyes once more. However, because he often cried, tears were already difficult to represent his emotions, but at this moment, his heart was indeed extremely unsettled.
Actually, this bracelet was not what Sadayo intended to give Gyoumei. She had made a larger rosary bracelet for herself, planning to give it to him after meeting Gyoumei. This current bracelet was smaller; Gyoumei could barely wear it on his arm.
"Musashi, can I buy this bracelet?" Gyoumei asked Musashi.
Musashi smiled upon hearing Gyoumei's words and said, "I bought so many intending to give them to everyone anyway. If you like it, just take it."
Although Musashi told a small lie initially, he did indeed intend to buy them to give to everyone, as he certainly couldn't use so many by himself.
"Thank you." Gyoumei didn't stand on ceremony and accepted the rosary bracelet.
The child with the smallest dream had now fulfilled her dream. This bracelet had nine prayer beads, one of which was larger than the other eight. The eight smaller beads represented the eight children at the time, and the larger one represented Gyoumei. This was Sadayo's habit; she hoped everyone could stay together forever.
Sadayo didn't include Kaigaku because she knew that Kaigaku had let the demon in that night, and everyone had previously driven him out because Kaigaku had stolen things. She didn't consider Kaigaku their companion.
Holding the rosary bracelet in his hand, Gyoumei also sensed the number of beads and that somewhat conspicuous large bead…
Is that right… Everyone… always together…
Gyoumei guessed the meaning represented by this bracelet. He gently ran his fingers over each bead…
"Teacher!"
"Gyoumei-sensei!"
"Teacher…"
"…"
Every time he touched a bead, a child's voice echoed in his mind. Memories he had once tried to forget now surfaced effortlessly, all transforming into his most cherished memories.
He didn't know what these children looked like, only trying his best to imagine their appearances through the memories of his past interactions with them.
Cute, handsome, gentle, resolute, confident…
Though their appearances varied, their faces all bore happy, joyful smiles, sincere smiles…
After touching the last large bead, Gyoumei smiled.
We… are together…
Although they were now thousands of miles apart, even separated by life and death, their hearts were closely connected. He had once let his heart leave the children due to a misunderstanding, but now his heart was reunited with them, and this time, it would never be separated…
"Here, Musashi." Gyoumei handed the wisteria flower sachet and cloth bag to Musashi, keeping only the bracelet for himself.
Musashi took the cloth bag and sachet, thought for a moment, and then asked Gyoumei, "Aren't you going to see Sadayo?"
Since Gyoumei knew the content of that letter, he must also know that Sadayo wanted to see him. He could have asked Sadayo these questions in person, but Gyoumei chose to ask him, which made Musashi feel that he didn't seem to plan on seeing Sadayo.
"Hmm…" Gyoumei nodded at the words.
Musashi felt a bit confused, but before he could ask, Gyoumei explained.
"It's enough for me to know she's doing well. The demons haven't been completely eliminated yet, and I can't waste time on these matters. However, I will find someone to write a letter back to Sadayo on my behalf later, telling her not to blame herself for what happened back then.
As a Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, if I were to see her, I might even bring trouble upon her."
Gyoumei's words were not without reason. In the past, Shinjuro had driven Lower Moon Two to a dead end but hadn't killed it. After Lower Moon Two became Lower Moon Two, when it encountered Kyojuro, it vented its anger towards Shinjuro onto Kyojuro. However, it was ultimately decapitated by Kyojuro, making him a Hashira.
"If… if all demons can be eliminated in the future, I will go find her," Gyoumei added.
"That day will come," Musashi said.
Gyoumei nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
…
After bidding farewell to Gyoumei, Musashi put the remaining purchased accessories back at his residence, and then left the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters. Because this mission came rather urgently, Musashi didn't have time to visit Kyojuro, but he learned from Kanzaki Aoi when he left that Kyojuro was already able to get out of bed and walk.
…
According to Kagaya's description, Musashi arrived at the location of this mission. However, this time there was no precise location, requiring him to find the demon's hiding place himself.
Walking on the street, Musashi couldn't see anything unusual here.
It's really hard to find anything during the day, and I don't know where to start looking…
Musashi sighed inwardly. His previous missions had always involved directly encountering demons and immediately slaying them. This time, it wasn't as easy as before.
But if I wait until night to look for clues, people might get hurt…
Just as Musashi didn't know where to start, a commotion ahead caught his attention.
A group of police officers had gathered at the entrance of a pottery shop, arresting a middle-aged man.
"It really wasn't me! It was that pot! Those people were all killed by the pot! Killed by the monster hidden in the pot!"
The arrested middle-aged man looked terrified, shouting loudly.
"Don't argue! Those dead people didn't buy your pottery, and your ceramic pots were found in their homes. Can that be a coincidence? Say whatever you have to say when we get to the station. For now, you have to come with us!"
The police officer holding the middle-aged man yelled at him, then he and the other officers took him away.
The surrounding crowd discussed animatedly.
"This shop owner is too deranged. He kills people if they don't buy his pots, and even shoves body parts into the pots."
"Looking at him just now, his mind is clearly not normal, like a madman."
…
Musashi listened to their words and felt that this was very likely the work of a demon, and walked towards the pottery shop…