Ever since Kanae passed away, everyone changed. Uzui doesn't joke around as often as he used to. Sanemi became much colder and distant to everyone. Shinobu forces a smile often, gradually picking up Kanae's personality.

Yuna was currently burying her face on her pillow. She probably couldn't breathe but that's not important. After she visited Kanae's grave and bawled her eyes a few days ago, she continued to be in this state, only coming out from her room to eat or shower.

Sanemi was busy with his Pillar duties. Because they lost a Pillar, everything was in shambles. He had to cover Kanae's region before another Pillar was appointed to it. He has no time to take care of his depressed pupil. And he tried not to care.

"Caww!!!"

Yuna moved her face to the side, watching her crow flew into the window and landed beside her head. She reached out to the letter tied around her crow's leg.

"Caww! Stupid! Eat first before you read! Master Hiroto's order, caww!!"

"I'm your fucking master."

"Stupid!"

If she could choose her own Kasugaigarasu, she certainly will not pick this one.

Yuna reluctantly stood up and walked out from her room. She went into the kitchen and came out with a simple rice ball in hand, chewing on it.

After she finished it, she reached out to her crow, but he flew away from her.

"Drink first- GAWKK!!"

She strangled his neck and ripped the letter off from his leg before releasing it. She walked into her room, closing the door behind her and trapping her crow outside. He had to leave the house and fly into the window to Yuna's room.

Yuna read the letter from her cousin. He returned immediately after accompanying her to Kanae's grave because he had some work to do. He sent letters every day, mainly telling her to eat and to cheer up. And not to do anything reckless.

It's not like she wanted to die and follow everyone to heaven. She already made a promise to keep living with her cousin.

But she doesn't want to live to. Living seems so pointless to her because she can't do anything. She said she would become a demon hunter and save everyone, yet she let someone dies in front of her eyes.

"What a bullshit..." She scoffed.

She folded the letter neatly and placed it into her drawers. Then she laid back down on the floors.

It's been days and all I did was laying around and doing nothing... I should start to train more.

Then again what good will doing pushup and swinging my sword do? Even if I do it for a thousand time, I won't get stronger.

Yuna snapped out of her thoughts when she heard a door opening. She could hear Sanemi's footsteps leading him to the bathroom and back to his own room. When was the last time she saw his face?

"Oi..."

Yuna blinked once when she heard Sanemi's groggy voice. She pushed herself up from the floors, looking at his silhouette from behind the paper sliding door.

"I know it's probably not the best time to tell you this but Oyakata-sama wants to see you."

Why would the head of Ubuyashiki want to see me? Does he want to reminisce about Dad with his daughter?

"Just ask your crow to lead you there as soon as possible."

I guess it's better than laying around.

Yuna stood up and opened the door. Sanemi was just about to walk into his room when he turned around with his half opened eyes.

He frowned and his hand instinctively reached to his non-existent blade on his waist.

"Who are you?"

"... Do you seriously not recognize me with my hair down?"

After Sanemi rubbed his eyes he let out a sigh after realizing it was only Yuna. He must've been really exhausted to the point he started seeing things.

"I'll go now." Yuna said to Sanemi.

"Remember to show respect to Oyakata-sama. Drop on your knees and ask how he's doing. Mind your language and- Don't fucking leave when I'm talking!"

Yuna was already walking out from the house, her crow flying above her. She stopped a few steps away from the house.

Should I really meet him now? I should've worn neater clothes. Should I just wait until I get my uniform? But I can't let him wait for me too long.

Since when did she become someone who overthink about something like this?

She sighed and ruffled her hair before walking away. She continued walking for a few minutes. She stopped at a tea house, staring up at the building.

She recalled when she and Uzui met Sanemi and Kanae there.

"Oh? Good afternoon, Kisaragi!"

Yuna turned her head to the door. Rengoku just walked out from it, a smile on his face as always.

"Rengoku-san..." Yuna muttered.

"It's been a while since I last saw you. How are you doing?" He asked.

"Well..."

"Do you want to come over to my house?"

"... Why?"

"It seems Senjurou really likes your presence! And it looks like you are in need of someone to listen to you." Rengoku smiled.

That's true but I can't possibly tell him what's in my mind. We're not even that close to each other.

"Oh also... My father asked me about you."

"Huh?"

"It seems our fathers were acquaintances."

Yuna thought about it for a moment. She nodded at Rengoku and both of them walked to his house together. Maybe she could learn something about her father before she reminisce about him with Oyakata-sama.

"Welcome home, Brother. Ah, Yuna-san."

Senjurou greeted them with a smile when they arrived. He was too bright, she could even feel the darkness around her vanishing away.

"Are you here to train?" Senjurou asked.

"No, we're not." Rengoku patted his brother's head. He turned to Yuna, "I'll check on my father first."

"Oh, please wait here! I'll make some tea!" Senjurou exclaimed.

"I'll help you." Yuna said.

"You can't! You're a guest, Yuna-san!"

"It's fine. It's the least I can do."

Senjurou stared at her with worry and turned to his brother. Rengoku simply smiled at him before walking away. Senjurou led Yuna into the kitchen.

"Um, Yuna-san? Is something wrong?" Senjurou asked and Yuna tilted her head at him. "You look really down today. You're very different from the first time you came here."

"... How do I look back then?"

"Um... You look happier." Senjurou smiled.

"Oh, I didn't mean to impose or something, please excuse me!" He quickly bowed.

"No, it's fine." Yuna shook her head.

Was I happy before all of this happened?

The two of them worked in silence and walked into the main room. They sat down, waiting for Rengoku to return. The room's air got more awkward with each second.

"Oh yeah! Congratulations on passing the Final Selection!" Senjurou grinned. "Brother said that he's sure you will pass because you're strong."

"... Thank you..."

I'm not strong.

"Actually... When I saw you training with my brother I can't help but think..." Senjurou trailed off while Yuna was staring at him.

"It'd be nice if I can be like Yuna-san."

You shouldn't be like me though.

"It was the first time I saw someone other than brother's successor who can go up against him." Senjurou smiled. "I trained hard with brother but I can't be as strong as you two... I can't even use breaths."

"I... don't have any confidence in myself... Even my father doesn't acknowledge me." Senjurou trailed off, a small, apologetic smile on his face.

"But I'll still try hard no matter how many times I fail! I have to get my father's approval!" Senjurou exclaimed. "That's what brother said to me."

Ah, so bright... Yuna commented as she stared at Senjurou's smile.

"Um... I-I'm sorry for talking too much..." Senjurou shrunk at his place.

"You're already strong now." Yuna spoke, earning a confused look from the younger boy.

"If I were you, I don't think I would keep trying."

Senjurou's eyebrows furrowed in worry. The layer of depression around her was too thick, he couldn't do anything. He was thankful when his brother came into the room. But when he saw his father behind him, he froze.

Yuna looked at the old man behind Rengoku. She stood up and bowed at him.

"Good afternoon, Sir." Yuna greeted him.

"Is this her?" The man asked Rengoku.

"Yes, father." He answered.

The man kept glaring at Yuna, making her uneasy. But she wasn't bothered by it. She couldn't feel anything right now.

"Oh, are you my father's friend?" Yuna asked.

"I know him." The man replied. "He killed fifteen demon hunters in his own group for no reason."

Yuna stared at him with a raised brow.

The hell is this man talking about? There's no way my father would do such a dumb thing. He was one of the hunters, why would he kill his own subordinates?

"What do you mean?"

The man grunted in response. He crossed his arms and with a disgusted look, he spoke.

"Your father wasn't a human."

•••

Dragging her feet to where her crow was leading her, her head was throbbing from all the confusion.

She made her way into the headquarters and stopped right at the stone garden. She looked at the young man with black hair, sitting inside the room while looking at her.

Before he could speak, she cut him off.

"Please..."

Every single words of Sanemi telling her to show some respect were forgotten. And her crow was silently taking notes so he could report it to Sanemi.

"Tell me about my father."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya simply smiled.

He wasn't going to tell her about it. He just wanted to have a nice chat and some tea with her, and then he wanted to apologize for dispatching his men to force her into the corps.

But it seems fate wouldn't allow him.

"Please come in, Yuna." His calm voice spoke.

"I will tell you everything."

Ubuyashiki Kagaya raised his head up to look at the sky, his eyes becoming distant as he recalled that nightmarish night.

That stormy night, a young man of brown hair stumbled into his house, drenched in rain and blood. His dilated pupils looked at him in horror.

That man was one of his most trusted hunters. He couldn't describe the feeling inside his chest when he realized he had become a demon.

"Youhei..." Ubuyashiki Kagaya called.

The young man cried in agony as he dropped on his knees. He choked on his tears as he spoke.

He ate his wife, he claimed.