Demon Slayer: Rise of the Third Brother-Chapter 121: Uzui Tengen Dislikes Newcomers

Uzui had been watching that unfamiliar black-haired boy for quite some time.
The youth had delicate features, yet his expression was rigid and unsmiling. He wore a dark crimson haori, and by Uzui’s standards, his looks could even be considered flashy. Yet from the moment he arrived, the boy had simply stood quietly in a corner—no greetings, no small talk—just silently keeping to himself.
【Is he just too introverted?】 Uzui stroked his chin. 【This is exactly the kind of moment where I, the flashy God of Festivals, should enlighten a mortal trapped by worldly concerns!】
With that thought, Uzui strode over.
“Yo, kid!”
The black-haired youth looked up. His clear blue eyes met Tengen’s gaze. He merely nodded without saying a word, then silently stepped even farther back into the corner.
Uzui: …(╬—皿—)凸
【What’s with this brat? Is he ignoring me, the God of Festivals?!】
Uzui narrowed his eyes and was just about to walk over again when someone else rushed toward the boy even faster.
“Hahaha, Giyu, not bad! You caught up already! My pressure just shot up all of a sudden!”
“Sabito? You know this kid?”
The youth in a white haori and a tortoiseshell-patterned kimono pushed his mask aside, revealing a gentle face and a bright smile.
“Oh, it’s Tengen-ge. This is my younger brother—Tomioka Giyu.”
“Huh? Isn’t your surname Urokodaki?” Uzui crossed his arms and looked down at the two of them. “And your looks aren’t similar at all. Completely different kinds of flashiness, huh!”
“Giyu and I aren’t biological brothers,” Sabito said, still hooking an arm around Giyu’s neck. “My little brother isn’t very good at talking, so please take care of him in the future.”
“What do you mean he’s not good at talking?” Uzui suddenly bent down, leaning close to Giyu with a look of displeasure. “That’s just plain rude! I greeted him as a senior and he nodded and walked off? Isn’t that disrespectful?”
“Hahaha, that really is my fault!”
“Hey, don’t apologize on his behalf!”
Tomioka continued to observe Uzui for a moment before suddenly speaking.
“You look like him.”
Uzui straightened, a vein popping on his temple.
“Hah?”
“He probably means you look like Hiru,” Sabito said quickly, raising a hand to signal Uzui to calm down. He then turned to Tomioka. “You—don’t skip your self-introduction just because I already introduced you.”
“…Next time.”
“Do it now!” Sabito reached out and ruffled Giyu’s hair. “If you’re a man, say it loudly! And don’t leave anything out!”
Tomioka turned his head toward Sabito. After a brief silence, he raised his voice.
“I will definitely introduce myself next time.”
“That’s not what I told you to say!” Sabito covered his face, on the verge of tears. “How am I supposed to explain this to Master and Makomo during the New Year…?”
Tomioka tilted his head and chose silence.
“You really have it rough,” Uzui said sympathetically. “Protecting your little brother all this time—and somehow surviving it.”
“Haha, yeah. He’s completely impossible to relax around—”
“But saying I’m like Hiru… I absolutely can’t agree with that!” Uzui rubbed his chin. “That guy’s just a stubborn child who never grew up. I refuse to accept that flashy me has anything in common with him!”
Sabito’s mouth twitched.
【You’re both equally childish.】
“Amida-butsu.… It seems new blood will be joining us again this year. That truly is reassuring.”
“Ah, Himejima—aren’t you still getting taller?” Uzui gestured with his hand. “I remember last time we were about the same height.”
“I haven’t paid attention to such things,” Himejima Gyomei replied calmly. “And with my eyesight gone, I can’t see clearly. But I imagine you’ll catch up to me soon enough, Tengen.”
“That’s a given! I’m the flashy God of Festivals! How could I lose when it comes to height?!”
Himejima Gyomei chuckled, then turned toward Sabito.
“How has the patrol of your jurisdiction been?”
“Very smooth!” Sabito replied with a smile. “I’ve taken over and adapted without issues. This time, I’m planning to apply for an additional nearby jurisdiction.”
“That’s excellent news. Congratulations,” Himejima said, reciting a Buddhist chant before finally turning to Tomioka. “You must be the new blood.”
“I am Tomioka Giyu… You look like him.”
Himejima Gyomei: …?
“Amida-butsu.… My name is Himejima Gyomei. I wonder what Tomioka means by ‘look like’…?”
“Sorry—Giyu probably means you resemble Brother Yoriichi. You feel very reliable,” Sabito said with an awkward laugh. At the same time, he locked an arm tightly around Giyu’s neck and lowered his voice. “Didn’t I tell you to greet properly and use honorifics before introducing yourself?! Say it correctly!”
Himejima rolled his prayer beads.
“Amida-butsu.… My strength is far inferior to Yoriichi’s. Such praise is undeserved.”
“No, you really do,” Tomioka said, struggling to pry Sabito’s arm away as he looked up at Himejima Gyomei. “I like it.”
“What is with this kid? The way he talks is really annoying,” Uzui complained again. “Why am I the one who’s like Hiru, while Himejima’s like Yoriichi? You’ve definitely got something against me, don’t you? You definitely do!”
Tomioka’s blue eyes shifted back to Uzui.
“I like you too.”
“…What’s wrong with you?! That’s seriously gross!”
“Sorry, sorry. For certain reasons, Giyu can’t really speak properly right now,” Sabito explained as usual. “He doesn’t mean any harm.”
“Amida-butsu.… Speaking like that outside could easily cause misunderstandings,” Himejima said with a compassionate expression. “It seems Sabito really has it hard.”
“It’s fine, I’m used to it!” Sabito said as he ruffled Giyu’s hair. “I’m the older brother, after all. Taking care of my younger brother is only natural.”
“Well said, young man! It seems Urokodaki-san taught you well!”
Everyone turned toward the voice. Sabito led Tomioka in a bow.
“Rengoku-san.”
“There’s no need for such formalities. After all, we are both Hashira—of equal rank!” Rengoku Shinjuro said with a broad smile as he approached. “I heard from the Lord that a newcomer had also reached the level of a Hashira, but I didn’t expect it to be another Water Breathing user! Urokodaki-san truly is an outstanding cultivator!”
Sabito immediately covered Tomioka’s eyes as they lit up, clearly about to say something.
“Thank you for your praise. My teacher would be very happy to hear that.”
Uzui clicked his tongue and chose not to pursue the matter further. Instead, he glanced around with boredom.
“Speaking of which, Oyakata-sama still isn’t here. He’s usually early. Don’t tell me something’s wrong with his health? That’d be worrying—he’s still just a kid, younger than me.”
“Amida-butsu.… He is likely just delayed by some matter.”
“Now that you mention it, Yoriichi, Hiru, and Aoba aren’t here either.” Uzui leapt up onto the roof, frowning slightly. “Being late isn’t flashy at all. If anything, it’s seriously concerning.”
Rengoku Shinjuro was silent for a moment before finally speaking.
“…In fact, something really did happen.”