Asumu
Please sit in a well-lit room, at a comfortable distance, when watching.
Fierce Spirits' Rousing Howl.
I have one last favor to ask.
Please make Adachi and Kiriya your apprentices.
What's wrong?
Aren't you coming?
Asumu.
Kyousuke.
Yes!
Haruka tooku no chiheisen kara From the distant horizon
Hikari afurete kuru you ni The light overflows
Kimi no mirai wa hajimatta bakari Your future has only just begun!
K
a
m
e
n
R
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d
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Dare mo isogu michi A road that everyone hurries along
Kimi dake ni mieru asu he hashire Run to the tomorrow that only you can see
Oozora ni ao daichi ni inochi The blue of the sky, the Earth full of life
Senaka wo osu kaze unabara ni nami The wind at your back, the waves in the sea
Kurikaesu hibiki… This recurring resonance...
Ima, hajimari no kimi e Passes now to you, at the beginning!
Volume Forty­Two
Raging Monsters
Both Asumu and Kyousuke at once?!
Yeah.
Wow.
And they get to be your first apprentices, Hibiki.
Those two sure are lucky!
But... is it okay to have two at the same time?
Well... I gave in to their zeal.
From now on, we'll see whether those two are suited to be Oni.
Speaking of which... is it really okay for Akira to quit being an apprentice?
Well, that's the answer Akira came up with herself.
We've got to support that.
People starting... and people quitting.
There's all sorts.
Just focus on your apprentices' training for now, Hibiki.
Ibuki and I will take care of the Makamou somehow.
In training, the beginning is crucial.
Yeah.
I appreciate the sentiment, but I can't just do that.
They're two different things.
Oh, right. Where's the boss?
He's still at Yoshino. Seems the meeting got extended.
Adachi?
Morning.
What's wrong? Don't tell me you're running to school?
I thought I'd train a bit.
Why the sudden interest?
No particular reason.
Really? Actually, I started something too.
What?
It's a secret.
What's that mean?
No! It's a secret. A secret!
Wait up!
It really is thanks to you, Akira, that we could become Hibiki's apprentices.
It's because your passion got through to Hibiki.
I didn't do anything.
But... I'm really happy for you.
Nothing's started yet, though.
But I'm already super excited.
I feel the same way.
I've got to do my best... so I don't end up like Amami.
What does that mean?
Isn't it obvious?
So I don't end up a dropout like Amami.
How can you say that?
What?
You don't have to say it like that.
It's okay. Please stop.
I'm fine.
I made the decision myself, and I'm fine with it.
Good luck, both of you.
I'll be rooting for you.
The whole thing with Akira...
I thought you'd be depressed, but it looks like you've gotten over it.
Yes.
Akira decided how to live her own life for herself.
I think that shows she's grown up.
The ramen here is pretty good.
I agree.
Hey, Ibuki.
Y'know...
I admire you.
I admire you as a master who worked hard for his apprentice.
I think Akira trained with a great person.
For you to say that...
It makes me happy.
Really?
I'll treat you today.
That's great.
I see... so Hibiki has finally taken an apprentice?
Yeah!
After all the stuff he said, Hibiki seems to be getting pretty into it.
Makes you want to root for Asumu and Kyousuke.
What's that?
We're using their first names now?
Well... they're my juniors.
I've got to stick to the proper hierarchy between us now!
A hit!
What?!
Todoroki!
A plague of Makamou?
That's the phenomenon called Orochi.
I thought it was mere legend passed down from ancient times...
That forest you all encountered recently, called the Kodama's forest,
is the harbinger of Orochi, as revealed by the ancient documents at Yoshino.
That really surprised me!
That enormous thing moving around like that!
So Orochi has already begun?
We can't tell yet.
But considering the Makamou that Todoroki encountered...
that possibility can't be denied.
No way! What should we do?! If their numbers keep increasing from now on...
Settle down.
There's no actual proof that the Orochi phenomenon has occurred before.
Perhaps it really is nothing but a legend.
Boss.
What's the worst-case scenario?
Everything would be destroyed.
And all humans...
would be devoured by the Makamou.
Hello?
Hey. Have you heard from Hibiki?
No...
Not yet...
Me either.
What's wrong, you two?
Turn those frowns upside down.
Please start our training soon!
I want to become an Oni as soon as possible!
Kyousuke.
Didn't I tell you a man shouldn't be impatient?
Umm... I don't understand.
What, you too, Asumu?
Like I said, our training...!
What do you two consider "training"?
Isn't that for you to decide, Hibiki?
I should decide?
Right.
Then first...
let's eat some dumplings.
What's with that attitude?
What is Hibiki thinking?
Maybe he lied about making us his apprentices?
No, no, no. Hibiki isn't a liar.
Maybe... he has some kind of plan?
Like what?
What kind of plan?
I don't know.
You're way too carefree.
Do you really want to become an Oni?
Isn't it normal to think our time is being wasted like this?
Forget it.
I have another errand, so you should go home first.
I see... you made those two your apprentices?
Yeah.
But is it okay to have two?
Oni training is usually​ done one-on-one.
I'm thinking of eliminating one of them eventually.
Not just anyone who wants to can become an Oni.
Being cut out for certain things...
There are all sorts of people.
This is bad!
What if Orochi really has begun?
I hope there's a good way out of it.
Ibuki!
For now, it'll just be us defeating Makamou!
Defeat them!
Defeat them all!
Ibuki, are you listening?
Hibiki is busy with Asumu and Kyousuke.
We've got to manage on our own somehow!
Todoroki is really into this.
He's so happy there's people younger than him, seems he can't help it.
That...
That's not true!
I just...
We're tired of playing around with you lot.
Die, you damn Oni.
Ibuki!
Todoroki!
Zanki!
Zanki, are you okay?!
I'm fine! Go after them!
But!
Just go already!
Todoroki.
Right.
Sorry. Forgot it was feeding time.
What is it?
What are you thinking about?
Nothing really...
It's just...
What exactly are we?
What are we living for?
It suddenly occurred to me.
Hibiki!
Yo.
Not "yo"! Why are you only training yourself?
Hurry and teach me too!
I feel the same way, Hibiki!
Asumu!
Y'know...
The training's actually already started.
What do you mean?
No contact...
Impatience... unease...
It's important to stay calm despite these feelings.
It was a bit hard to understand, I guess.
Alright.
Then let's start the standard training, Asumu, Kyousuke.
Okay.
I really can't say that this is good...
I told you before to never become an Oni again,
if you don't want to shorten your lifespan.
Alright.
Today I want to check your basic physical strength.
Fifty meters in one minute, thirty times.
And then 100 meters in two minutes, fifteen times.
Ready to swim?
Yes.
Ready...
What's wrong, Kyousuke?
Kyousuke... could it be you...
N-no! My leg just cramped!
So... you heard about it too?
About Orochi?
Yeah.
It sounds kind of scary.
It's fine. It'll work out somehow!
Oh yeah...
Umm...
When the Orochi matter is resolved...
won't you join me... and go to a h-hot spring?
You mean... umm... staying overnight?
Of course not!
It'll be a day trip! A day!
Oh! That's kind of disappointing...
Eh?!
No! Nothing!
A hot spring sounds great. I love those.
All right! I'll do my best!
I'm off!
Take care!
Alright. That's it.
Alright.
What's the matter, Kyousuke?
I'm sorry. My hand cramped.
Alright.
Okay, next!
Alright, switch!
One, two. One, two.
What's wrong?
Where's the cramp this time?
Hibiki...
What's the point of doing this stuff?
Isn't Oni training more mystical​?
Mystical, huh?
Climbing these stone steps one by one.
That is Oni training.
Alright, let's continue.
I'm going ahead.
Hibiki!
Armed Hibiki.
It really is Orochi!
We've got no choice but to defeat them!
Alright.
Fierce Spirits' Rousing Howl!
Zanki!
Todoroki!
Todoroki.
Todoroki!
Wake up!
Hey!
Todoroki!
Raging Monsters
I'm quitting. From now on, I quit being your apprentice!
It seems that there's no hope of recovery.
Todoroki is an Oni to the core.
Being an Oni is everything to him.
Ibuki.
Volume Forty­Three
Unchangeable Body
Volume Forty-Three: Unchangeable Body.