The Hashira Gather

"All right, I understand. Thank you for your hard work," Chiba Yo replied.

With his heart weighed down, he felt no joy at the news.

He had already expected a promotion. Kyojuro had explained the Demon Slayer Corps' promotion requirements to him before: to become a Hashira, one had to slay fifty demons or one of the Twelve Kizuki. He now met those requirements.

"It was no trouble at all!"

The Kakushi member waved his hands repeatedly, feeling rather excited.

A Hashira actually showed concern for me!

The Kakushi member thought excitedly.

After helping the Kakushi member finish taking care of matters there, Chiba Yo started back toward the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.

He still had not quite recovered and hoped to find someone he could confide in.

Since it's a Hashira Meeting, my teacher should be coming back to attend too...

Chiba Yo thought as he hurried along.

Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters

A woman with long, cherry-pink braids tipped in grass green was the first to arrive.

She was Mitsuri Kanroji, the Demon Slayer Corps' Love Hashira.

"I didn't expect to be the first one here." Mitsuri looked around and found that none of the other Hashira had arrived yet.

"Come to think of it, this Hashira Meeting is a little earlier than usual."

Hashira Meetings were generally held once every six months, and every Hashira was required to attend. They discussed areas where demons appeared, Muzan Kibutsuji's possible whereabouts and movements, and matters such as the Demon Slayer Corps' overall discipline and balance of strength.

A little while later, Shinobu Kocho arrived as well.

"Shinobu!"

When she saw Shinobu Kocho, Mitsuri ran over with a happy smile, and the two embraced.

"You're here so early, Mitsuri," Shinobu said with a smile.

As the only two women among the Hashira, they were very close.

"Well, the area I patrol is pretty close to headquarters," Mitsuri told Shinobu Kocho with a smile. Then she asked, "By the way, Shinobu, do you know why this Hashira Meeting was moved up? Wasn't it supposed to be a little later?"

Shinobu Kocho shook her head. "I'm not sure either. Perhaps there's something important to discuss."

Just then, a man with a white snake coiled around his neck arrived. His left eye was green, his right gold, and bandages covered his mouth.

They were Obanai Iguro, the Demon Slayer Corps' Serpent Hashira, and Kaburamaru.

"Oh, it's Mr. Iguro." Noticing the Serpent Hashira entering the courtyard, Mitsuri waved to him, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Mr. Iguro, how have you been?"

Mr. Iguro is as handsome as ever!

Obanai's mood brightened immediately upon seeing Mitsuri. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he walked over to her, though the bandages on his face kept Mitsuri and Shinobu Kocho from seeing his expression.

"Pretty well. How about you?"

He naturally took his place beside Mitsuri, looking at her with gentle eyes as he spoke.

"Me too! I've been working really hard to protect people! A family I saved a few days ago even treated me to sakura mochi. But I was afraid my hair might turn an even stranger color, so I didn't dare eat too many. I only had fifty before saying goodbye and leaving."

Mitsuri told Obanai this proudly, then looked at her braids with a hint of sadness.

After eating a hundred and seventy sakura mochi every day for eight straight months, her hair had turned this color. Someone she had met for an arranged marriage had even mocked her for it.

"That's wonderful. But don't hold yourself back like that anymore. If you want to eat them, go ahead. Your hair color is beautiful. If anyone dares mock you, I'll teach them a lesson for you!" Obanai first praised Mitsuri, then reassured her.

"Mr. Iguro... you're so kind!"

Moved by Obanai's words, Mitsuri threw her arms around him.

Her sudden embrace left Obanai at a loss for what to do. His normally supple body went completely rigid.

Kaburamaru flicked his tongue twice with a hiss, then turned his little head away.

Left out beside them, Shinobu Kocho smiled and turned away as well.

Fortunately, Mitsuri released Obanai after a little while, so the situation did not last too long.

Obanai breathed a sigh of relief, though he also felt a little disappointed.

The next to arrive was a stern, black-haired young man wearing a haori with different patterns on each side over his Demon Slayer Corps uniform.

He was Giyu Tomioka, the Demon Slayer Corps' Water Hashira.

The moment he saw Giyu, Obanai spoke up in displeasure.

"Tomioka, aren't you a little too slow?"

Giyu merely glanced at him without a word, then walked over to a spot some distance away from them and stopped.

When Mitsuri and Shinobu Kocho greeted him, he only nodded.

"Heh. How arrogant..."

Giyu's behavior naturally angered Obanai, but the Corps' rules kept him from resorting to violence.

Meanwhile, Chiba Yo also reached headquarters and encountered Kyojuro as soon as he arrived.

"Teacher!" Chiba Yo immediately ran up to Kyojuro.

Kyojuro had spotted Chiba Yo as well and told him loudly, "I've already heard the news! You slew Lower Rank Two! Excellent work! From now on, you're a Hashira swordsman, just like me! You don't have to call me teacher anymore!"

Kyojuro looked at Chiba Yo with eyes full of pride. He had known that Chiba Yo's talent would make him a Hashira sooner or later, but reaching that rank in such a short time still surprised him.

After a Kasugai crow informed Kagaya Ubuyashiki that Chiba Yo had slain a Lower Rank, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, knowing that Chiba Yo was Kyojuro's Tsuguko, sent another Kasugai crow to deliver the news to Kyojuro as well.

Chiba Yo froze for a moment at Kyojuro's words, then said firmly, "No! You brought me into the Demon Slayer Corps and taught me everything you knew without holding anything back. No matter what happens, you will always be my teacher."

In his heart, Kyojuro had long since become the person he respected most.

Hearing Chiba Yo's words, Kyojuro looked at him and smiled.

"Let's go!"

The two entered the courtyard together, and Chiba Yo saw Obanai, Mitsuri, Giyu, and Shinobu Kocho, who had already arrived.

Of those present, however, he only knew Shinobu Kocho. He had never met the others.

"Mr. Rengoku!" Seeing Kyojuro, Mitsuri waved happily in greeting.

Shinobu Kocho was slightly surprised to see Chiba Yo beside Kyojuro, but she quickly formed a guess.

It can't be... He only joined the Demon Slayer Corps less than a month ago...

She found that possibility hard to believe.

"Yes, you're all here early!" Kyojuro replied, then introduced her to Chiba Yo. "She was my Tsuguko before, and now she's the Demon Slayer Corps' Love Hashira. She's a very kind and powerful person! Her name is Mitsuri Kanroji!"