A meal together

Chiba Yo clenched his fists, feeling miserable about letting everyone down. He desperately wanted to tell them how to awaken a Demon Slayer Mark, but the problem was that he had no idea himself.

"I'd really like to tell everyone how to awaken a Demon Slayer Mark, but the mark on my forehead has been there since birth. I don't know what conditions would make it appear..."

Chiba Yo spoke helplessly.

"I see..." Kagaya sounded a little disappointed after hearing Chiba Yo's explanation.

"I'm sorry for letting you and everyone else down, Master..." Chiba Yo said, blaming himself.

Kagaya smiled at Chiba Yo's reaction.

He's a kind child who thinks of others, just like Kyojuro...

"You don't need to apologize. This was your own power to begin with. The fact that you're willing to share it is already enough." Kagaya smiled and reassured Chiba Yo.

Then he continued:

"Origin Breathing is also known as Sun Breathing. The Breathing Style you developed yourself is called Sun Breathing as well, and you possess the Demon Slayer Mark that once appeared on users of Origin Breathing. Perhaps all these coincidences are the work of fate.

"This may also be an omen. Back in the Sengoku era, the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps nearly succeeded in killing Muzan Kibutsuji. In this generation, now that the Demon Slayer Mark has reappeared, Muzan will surely be slain!"

Kagaya's voice was filled with an inspiring power. His firm tone made everyone believe his words would come true. Chiba Yo even overlooked the question of how Kagaya knew the name of his Breathing Style.

"Yes!"

Inspired by Kagaya, the Hashira answered in an invigorated chorus.

The Hashira Meeting then officially began. The Hashira followed Kagaya into the residence, exchanged intelligence, and discussed problems within the Demon Slayer Corps.

The issue brought up most often was that the swordsmen of this generation were too weak. Barely any of them could truly fight demons and slay them.

Of course, they excluded Chiba Yo from that criticism. After all, his talent could be considered the greatest among all the Hashira. He had become a Hashira a month faster than even Muichiro Tokito, who had held the record.

"Thank you for your hard work, everyone. It's noon now, so please head back and rest."

Time passed, and before they knew it, lunchtime had arrived. Kagaya addressed the Hashira.

A Hashira Meeting generally lasted several days. This was also one of the few opportunities the Hashira had to take a short break, teach their Tsuguko, or train on their own.

After saying goodbye to Kagaya, the Hashira left the residence.

"Why don't we all have a meal together? We finally have a chance to get together, and once the meeting ends, we'll be too busy to see each other again."

After they walked out of the residence, Mitsuri smiled and made the suggestion, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Yes! An excellent suggestion! Count me in!" Kyojuro answered loudly.

"I agree too," Obanai said after a moment's hesitation.

Although he very much wanted to eat with Mitsuri, he would have preferred to eat with her alone. Since this was a group meal, the other Hashira would naturally join them, which left him a little disappointed.

"Sounds pretty good. Then I'll flamboyantly agree as well," Tengen Uzui said flamboyantly.

"All right." Chiba Yo nodded his agreement too. He wanted to get to know the other Hashira better anyway, since there was a good chance they would fight side by side in the future.

Shinobu Kocho, Gyomei Himejima, Muichiro Tokito, and Sanemi Shinazugawa raised no objections either.

"Wonderful!"

Seeing that nobody objected, Mitsuri was delighted.

Just then, Giyu left on his own.

"Huh? Aren't you joining us, Mr. Tomioka?" Mitsuri called after him when she noticed.

"No."

Giyu paused to give that brief answer, then walked away in silence.

Failing to invite every Hashira left Mitsuri a little less happy.

"What an irritating guy. He wears that 'woe is me' look all day. Just looking at him pisses me off."

Giyu's behavior had clearly angered Obanai, who voiced his complaints about him.

Almost every Hashira present had a tragic past, but Giyu wore his misery on his face all day, which really rubbed Obanai the wrong way.

"Amitabha. Perhaps Tomioka is simply too awkward with words? Maybe he doesn't enjoy crowds," the Stone Hashira said, pressing his palms together.

Chiba Yo didn't quite understand Giyu's behavior either. They were only having a meal together. Surely there was no need to avoid them.

He uses Water Breathing just like Tanjiro, but their personalities are so different.

Chiba Yo thought as he watched Tomioka's retreating back.

Tanjiro had struck him as quite easy to talk to, but Giyu...

From the moment they met until now, the only complete sentence Chiba Yo had heard him say was his response to being greeted: "You don't need to greet me. I'm different from them."

And his expression had never changed either.

"If Tomioka doesn't want to come, let's go without him!" Kyojuro said loudly.

Chiba Yo then went to eat with the eight other Hashira, excluding Giyu. Once the meal began, however, he started to regret it.

"Tasty! Tasty!" Kyojuro shouted as he took huge mouthfuls.

Sanemi silently pulled a plate of Hagi Mochi in front of himself and ate without a word. Tengen Uzui picked only the most flamboyant-looking food. The Mist Hashira would take a couple of bites, then stop to ponder whether he had eaten anything. Gyomei Himejima shed tears even while eating. Shinobu Kocho, at least, was perfectly normal.

But none of those things were a problem. The real issue was Mitsuri and Obanai...

"Yo-chan, try this. It's delicious!" Mitsuri spoke between bites, putting food into Chiba Yo's bowl as well.

Quite a few spotless plates already sat in front of her, but her eating pace hadn't slowed in the slightest.

Meanwhile, Obanai, who sat opposite Chiba Yo, hadn't eaten anything. He stared fixedly at Chiba Yo, radiating intense resentment.

Perhaps out of a desire to look after her junior, Mitsuri had sat beside Chiba Yo for the meal and occasionally placed food in his bowl.

Because of that, Obanai had kept staring at him from across the table without eating a single bite. Under that stare, Chiba Yo hadn't eaten a single bite either.

Chiba Yo now understood one thing: when you gazed at Mitsuri, Obanai gazed at you; when Mitsuri gazed at you, Obanai still gazed at you.

If Chiba Yo suggested changing seats now, he might make Mitsuri uncomfortable. But if he didn't, Obanai's relentless stare would make it impossible for him to enjoy his meal.

"Um... Mr. Iguro, could you stop staring at me?"

Chiba Yo had no choice but to lift his head and appeal helplessly to Obanai.

He was starting to think Giyu had made a wise decision by not joining them.

"Heh heh heh heh. Aren't you full of yourself? When was I staring at you?" Obanai said, then looked away from Chiba Yo.

"Uh... all right."

Since Obanai was no longer staring, Chiba Yo said nothing more. He lowered his head to start eating, but before he could even pick up his chopsticks, he felt Obanai's gaze on him again.

Although Mitsuri was now so absorbed in eating that she had no time to put food in Chiba Yo's bowl, Obanai still stared relentlessly at him.