Promotion

At the foot of Mount Sagiri, Genya came out of the house, looked at the darkening sky, and went over to help Makomo prepare dinner.

After living here with a group of Water Breathing swordsmen for almost two years, Genya had mellowed a little from the mohawk kid who scowled at the slightest provocation.

Of course, just like his mohawk, which still stood straight up, he would bristle when the occasion called for it.

Only Makomo and Giyu were in the courtyard. Sabito was out on a mission, while Mr. Urokodaki had gone to headquarters to hand over his duties.

Every Hashira had their own patrol territory. With the Demon Slayer Corps desperately short of Hashira, even though he was handing over his duties in preparation for stepping down, he would probably have to keep patrolling for a while.

Genya looked around, then quietly asked Makomo, "Where's Teacher?"

"Haruto went into the mountains to train. The stars are very bright tonight."

Every so often, Haruto would visit the summit. Just like the mountains around the Swordsmith Village, the wilderness at night always brought him inspiration.

As usual, he lay down on the meadow. The grass always felt damp on autumn nights, but he paid it no mind. He took a few deep breaths of its scent, then closed his eyes to commune with the stars.

He could lie in the grass without a care because he had complete confidence in Mount Sagiri's safety.

Within the range of his Starry Sky Perception, not a single demon could slip past the Stars' watch and enter Mount Sagiri.

More than half a year had passed since he returned from Tamayo's residence in Asakusa, Tokyo. He had spent that time researching how to incorporate his blood's advantages into his Star Breathing forms.

Tamayo was an excellent person to exchange ideas with, and an outstanding physician. Had she not been a demon, she could even have studied modern medicine in this century and become a giant in the field.

Haruto often exchanged letters with her through Cang Kong. Tamayo needed his blood for her research, and sometimes he sent her an extra vial to drink.

Though Tamayo never said so, she was very interested in the sensation of fragmented time crashing into her mind.

In return for his blood, Tamayo often sent things back as well-her own flesh and blood made into pills, for Genya to keep on hand in case of emergencies.

After Tamayo suggested making an enhancement drug from Haruto's blood, he began researching his breathing forms.

Besides the four forms he already knew, he developed two more sword forms over the course of half a year.

He raised his hand toward the night sky. Scar after scar crisscrossed his pale palm.

Ugh, that's the downside of blood-based abilities. You always end up covered in scars.

During his missions over the past six months, he had tried coating his blade with his own blood when fighting enemies.

Much like enchanting a weapon, the wounds inflicted by his Nichirin Blade allowed some of his blood to enter the demons' bodies.

But because the amount of blood smeared on the blade was too small, the effect was nowhere near as good as it had been in his fight against Byōha.

With a sigh, Haruto let go of his fixation on his techniques and decided to think about nothing, simply gazing quietly at the sky above.

The autumn wind in the wilderness was so quiet, brushing coolly through the loose strands of hair atop his head.

All that remained around him was his own strong heartbeat, and the soft song he kept low in his throat.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you."

Today was his birthday. After today, he would be seventeen.

Seventeen. He was no longer a child.

Haruto sat up, rubbed his eyes, and raised a hand to summon Cang Kong.

The last time he had seen Kagaya Ubuyashiki was, well, the last time.

In the courtyard of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, Kagaya was playing with his two daughters. Amane sat to one side, cradling her swollen belly with a faint smile on her face.

"Hinaki, Nikka, say hello to Uncle."

The two girls looked very much alike. They wore the hair clips Haruto had given them, one with a red cord knot and the other with a yellow one.

At two years old, they had only just learned to toddle, and their speech was still unclear. All they could manage was a clumsy, "Hewwo, Unca."

Haruto approached with a smile, only for his face to fall. "What's that supposed to mean? I haven't even held a girl's hand yet. How did I become an uncle?"

"If you'd rather have them call you Big Brother, I don't mind," Kagaya replied serenely.

"..." Haruto shot him a glance. "Trying to put yourself a generation above me?"

Kagaya raised an eyebrow and changed the subject. "How have you grown taller again?"

Haruto took in the scars on his face, silently sighing.

He kept growing, while Kagaya's health worsened with every passing year.

Two boys of roughly the same age-one was growing up, while the other was heading toward death.

Haruto had come to fulfill their agreement.

At this time last year, Kagaya and Haruto had agreed that he would return to headquarters after a year to be promoted to Hashira.

"Finally done turning me down?"

"As if turning you down would help." Haruto's lips curved into a helpless smile. "Besides, someone has to do certain things."

"We're desperately short of Hashira. Sabito and Giyu on Mount Sagiri are improving quickly, but they still need the experience of killing fifty demons or one of the Twelve Kizuki before they can truly stand on their own."

[Waaah, the Demon Slayer Corps really had it rough at this point.]

[Thank goodness they've got Stone Bro and Star Hashira Bro. Otherwise, there'd be a real gap between the older generation and the new one.]

Haruto declined Kagaya's suggestion of holding a Hashira Meeting for him. "Let the seniors save their strength for slaying demons." He gently rubbed Hinaki's and Nikka's little heads, one with each hand. "Grow up quickly, okay? Once you're grown, you can..."

Kagaya's eyes flickered, and he looked at Haruto.

"Once you're grown, you can go visit Kagoshima. Uncle went there last month. There were huge crabs everywhere, and lobsters as thick as your arms. The sea urchins by the shore were all spiky, but when you opened them up, they were golden inside. Spread that over rice with soy sauce, and it's delicious..."

Hinaki and Nikka had no idea what Kagoshima was, but they knew crabs. The two little girls babbled in Haruto's ears, drooling as they held their hands beside their faces and shuffled sideways like crabs.

"And there's more! There are seals on the rocks. Do you know what seals are? They pat their bellies when they call..."

Kagaya and Amane exchanged a glance, and both broke into radiant smiles.

Let it end. Let it end with this generation. Don't leave the demons for Hinaki, Nikka, and the others.

Let them go to the seaside in summer and see the snow in winter, just like normal children. Don't let Muzan Kibutsuji's dark clouds blot out their sky the way they have ours.

Around noon, Hinaki and Nikka went off for their nap, and Haruto put on his haori, preparing to leave.

Amane braced her lower back and stood up with some difficulty.

"Won't you stay for lunch?"

"Sorry for the trouble, but I'll pass." The white-haired boy shook his head. "This year's trial ends today, doesn't it?"

Kagaya looked at the calendar hanging on the wall. "That's right. Why, is someone you know taking part?"

"Mm." Haruto nodded lightly. "You could say that."

The Kocho Sisters had both taken part in this year's trial.