Yuichiro, Muichiro, and Kanao—the three little ones—ended up staying at Aoba's residence just like that. Along with them was Hiru, who remained under the excuse of "helping look after the children."
It certainly became lively.
So lively, in fact, that Aoba felt that if this kept up, he wouldn't have many years left even without ever going out to slay demons.
In his own words, it was like having a large, completely uncontrollable monkey; a quiet puppet who somehow worried about everything; a cat that bristled at the slightest thing yet loved to cling; and, on top of that, an over-energetic puppy constantly running circles around him.
The latter three were manageable enough. As long as he assigned them training tasks, they would behave for a while.
Hiru, on the other hand, went on missions from time to time and moved about as unpredictably as a ghost. If Aoba took his eyes off him for even a moment, there was no telling which patch of flowers or plants he might be eyeing next, ready to pounce.
"I'm saying this seriously—you should really be leaving my place soon, shouldn't you?" Aoba said, watching Hiru grind flower petals in a medicine mortar. "You've always liked wandering around. Stop clinging to my place."
"The kids just arrived in a new environment. I can't help but worry," Hiru replied, glancing over at Aoba. "Besides, you have too many good things here. I can't bear to leave."
"My garden is practically stripped bare by you," Aoba said helplessly. "They're not rare varieties, sure, but you could at least leave me a few. What kind of garden doesn't have a single flower left?"
"Alright, alright. After the next Hashira Meeting, I won't have time to stay here anyway." Hiru dipped a small brush into some pigment and began painting on the back of his hand. "The demons have been unusually active lately. Looks like it's about time to get busy."
"You even have time to keep track of demon movements?"
"Mm. When I'm constantly on the move, it's hard to notice. But once I settle down somewhere, it becomes much clearer," Hiru said, still focused on his painting. "No matter their rank, the demons seem to be deliberately searching for something. After the next meeting, I'll apply to investigate."
"Any guesses what they're looking for?"
"Just a few possibilities. I already have a rough idea. When the time comes, I'll request the intelligence and head straight to the destination." Hiru raised his hand and smiled at the pattern on the back of it. "What do you think? How did I do?"
Aoba leaned over and looked at the butterfly on Hiru's hand, wings spread as if ready to take flight. His expression turned complicated for a moment.
"…Yeah, it's pretty. But is it really appropriate for you to be drawing something like this?"
"…What are you thinking? I'm planning to draw it for Kanao."
"Oh? Then that does make sense. Are you hoping this will help Kanao express her emotions a bit more openly?"
Hiru nodded as he poured the paint into a small porcelain bottle.
"Yeah. No matter what, she's still just a young girl. She'll probably like pretty things, right?"
"Heh, you don't look like someone who's that fond of kids."
"Well, once people get older, they naturally start liking children more," Hiru said lightly. "Don't you think so?"
"Cut it out. You're not that old," Aoba laughed. "Still, you're being thoughtful. Kanao has real talent with the sword. If she can truly grow into it within the Demon Slayer Corps, she'll definitely become a major force."
"So, since you know I'm just trying to make a child happy, then—"
"Stop right there. Absolutely not. That would hurt too much." Aoba extended his hand. "You wouldn't want the drawing you carefully prepared for someone else to be snatched away, would you?"
"…Tch. So that won't work either."
Seeing that Hiru, though clearly displeased, didn't continue pressing the issue, Aoba finally let out a breath of relief. Then, unable to help himself, he laughed.
"No matter how many times it happens, it still feels amazing."
"What's amazing?" Hiru finished tidying the table and stood up. "Hey, your smile is disgusting."
"I'm saying you're amazing, Hiru."
"…That doesn't sound like a compliment."
"I mean your personality," Aoba said with a laugh, following alongside him. "When you first arrived, you kept saying you'd steal my flowers when I wasn't paying attention. After that, you were always eyeing them like you were itching to pick them—but until you got permission, you absolutely never touched them."
"Well, obviously. Taking without asking is theft. I don't do things like that," Hiru said with an annoyed look. "And showing respect is important, isn't it?"
"That's true," Aoba replied, still smiling. "That's probably why, no matter how much you argue with people, you never end up being hated."
Hiru: …
The amusement in Aoba's voice was impossible to hide.
"Don't look at me like that. Don't you argue with Uzui at every single Hashira Meeting?"
"That's because his sense of aesthetics is a crime against the eyes! Who dresses like some kind of ornament rack?!"
"Isn't it just because the two of you are too similar? You know—like repels like…"
"…Say one more word and I'll dislocate your arm right now."
"Alright, alright, my fault," Aoba said, glancing at his own arm. "Still, I really didn't expect you could achieve all this with just woodworking. It's incredible. Could it be the blessing of a god of craftsmanship?"
"Divine blessing?" Hiru snorted. "If I hadn't found them early, that entire family would've starved to death in the middle of nowhere."
He swept his gaze around the surroundings.
"People keep talking about revering gods and Buddhas, saying they bring miracles. But all I ever see are humans using their own hands to create those so-called miracles. I've never seen any gods or Buddhas."
Hearing that, Aoba couldn't help but give a bitter smile.
"Never having seen gods or Buddhas… That's a pretty painful thing to hear."
"It's just the truth. Gods and Buddhas are nothing more than imaginings people attach to things they don't understand. Even if they really do exist, they're born from human worship. Once humans forget them, they should disappear as well."
"…Sometimes, listening to you talk is genuinely frightening."
"I'm not wrong," Hiru replied. "By the way, where did you send those three to train?"
"No training today. They probably went to play in the back mountain," Aoba said, stroking his chin. "Muichiro mentioned he wanted to catch butterflies for Kanao."
"…There aren't any dangerous animals up there, right?"
"There used to be wild boars."
"…What about traps?"
"There are pits I dug back then to catch the boars…" Aoba hesitated. "But it should be fine, right?"
"How many did you dig?"
"…Around ten."
"…"
"…"
The two exchanged a look, then bolted toward the back mountain at the same time. Hiru's voice echoed from afar.
"If anything happens to my kids, Aoba, you'd better be prepared!"