By this point, Kazuki already had a guess in his heart.
That shadow was very likely Genya's mother.
After all… to someone who had just turned into a demon, the flesh and blood of their own kin was the most irresistible of all.
Sure enough, Genya's next words confirmed Kazuki's suspicion.
"At the time, my mind went completely blank. I didn't think at all—I just blurted it out, questioning why my brother had killed our mother, screaming at him that he was a murderer…"
Genya's clasped hands trembled violently as guilt and remorse surged over him once again.
"My brother didn't say anything. He just stood there for a while… then turned and left.
"When the sun rose, Mother's body turned to ash. My younger siblings' bodies grew cold, never to respond again. Only then did I finally understand—the shadow that attacked us was Mother.
"To protect us, my brother fought that monster with his life at the break of dawn. When he forced it out of the house and realized it was our mother… what must he have felt then?
"And after killing his own mother with his own hands, when his mind was already shattered—how did he feel when the younger brother he protected with his life hurled cruel words at him?
"It's all because of my stupidity and ignorance… I forced my brother to bear everything alone. He must hate me deeply, right? That's why he refuses to acknowledge me as his brother. And that's only natural, because—"
"No. That's not it. Absolutely not."
Kazuki interrupted him, looking straight at Genya with a serious expression.
Genya froze, then slowly raised his head to look at him.
"If your brother is really the gentle person you say he is, then he would definitely understand your situation back then," Kazuki said firmly.
"You didn't know the monster was your mother at the time. Even if your reaction hurt him, there's no way he would deny you because of that alone.
"The reason he refuses to acknowledge you must be something else."
Kazuki's words struck Genya like a flash of lightning.
He had been drowning in guilt and self-blame for so long that he had simply assumed his brother rejected him because of what happened back then.
But now that he thought about it—
His brother was the gentlest person in the world. How could he deny him for that reason alone?
"Could it be… that he refuses to acknowledge you because he wants to push you away?" Kazuki voiced his guess.
"Push me away? Why?" Genya asked, confused.
"Sanemi-san is a Hashira, right?" Kazuki said calmly.
"The enemies he faces are undoubtedly extremely powerful demons. If he acknowledges you as his brother, then you'll inevitably get dragged into his battles too. That would be incredibly dangerous for you."
Hearing this, Genya slowly began to understand.
"You mean… my brother is refusing to acknowledge me because he doesn't want me involved in danger?" Genya asked.
Kazuki nodded.
"Exactly. Didn't he also tell you to leave the Demon Slayer Corps? That had nothing to do with your conversation. He suddenly said that because he doesn't want you to face danger as a demon slayer."
The more Kazuki spoke, the more convinced he became of his own reasoning.
When he had met the Wind Hashira earlier at the Butterfly Mansion, Sanemi hadn't been nearly this harsh.
"Is that really it? My brother… doesn't hate me or blame me?" Genya's voice trembled as emotion welled up again.
If this were true—if his brother still cared for him—then everything else didn't matter.
As long as their hearts were still connected, any problem could be solved eventually.
"Based on everything you've said, that's the most reasonable explanation," Kazuki replied.
"You yourself said your brother is a very gentle person. It makes perfect sense that he wouldn't want his younger brother to be in danger."
Genya clenched his fists, eyes burning with renewed determination.
"If that's the case, then I'll go explain everything to him right now! I'm not afraid of danger—as long as I can stay by my brother's side, that's enough for me!"
As he spoke, Genya sprang to his feet, ready to go find Shinazugawa Sanemi immediately.
Kazuki's mind went blank for a moment.
He genuinely hadn't expected Genya's first reaction to be this. Anyone with common sense could tell that charging in right now was the worst possible choice!
Snapping back to himself, Kazuki grabbed Genya by the arm.
"If my guess is right, and you go to Sanemi-san right now," Kazuki said helplessly,
"he definitely won't acknowledge you. He might even treat you even more harshly just to force you out of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"…You're right," Genya muttered, finally calming down.
"Then doesn't that mean I'll never be able to reconcile with my brother?"
As soon as he realized this, Genya's mood sank again.
If Sanemi's goal was to keep him away from danger, then he would never acknowledge him as long as demons existed.
"Of course not," Kazuki shook his head.
"One day, when all the demons in this world are gone, Sanemi-san won't need to stay in the Demon Slayer Corps anymore. At that point, he can acknowledge you openly. The Corps itself might even disband."
...
The air suddenly fell silent.
A few seconds passed.
Kazuki also realized that this condition was… a little too distant.
He coughed lightly and continued,
"Of course, there's another way. If you can make your brother feel at ease—if he no longer worries about your safety—then the two of you should be able to reconcile."
Compared to the previous idea, this one was far more realistic.
Genya nodded firmly.
"So what I need to do now is become stronger. Strong enough for my brother to acknowledge me. And if I go even further—if I can become a Hashira—then I'll be able to see him often."
"Exactly," Kazuki said with a smile, feeling a quiet sense of accomplishment as he watched Genya regain his spirit.
"If I'm going to get stronger," Genya continued after some thought,
"then I need a powerful teacher. Do you know who the strongest person in the Demon Slayer Corps is?"
"The strongest?" Kazuki recalled Rengoku's words.
"According to my teacher, that would be the Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei. I heard he lives in the mountains over that way—though I don't know if he's currently on a mission."
He pointed in a direction beside the Corps estate.
"Then that's it!" Genya said decisively.
"I'm going to find Himejima-san and ask him to take me as his disciple!"
The moment he got the answer, Genya couldn't sit still anymore. He jumped up and ran in the direction Kazuki had pointed.
After a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned around, and waved.
"Thanks for today, Kazuki."
With that, he turned back and ran off.
They really are alike…
Well, they are brothers after all.
Kazuki watched Genya's retreating figure, thinking to himself.
"Caw! Caw! Caw!
South-southwest! South-southwest!
There are traces of demons to the southwest!
Kazuki, hurry up! Run! Run!"
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