Hashira Meeting

Three days later.

The courtyard at headquarters.

Nine figures-the nine Hashira who stood at the pinnacle of human strength-rested silently like nine peerless, deadly blades of differing shapes in the gaps between the shadows of hanging wisteria and the pale sunlight.

Sanemi Shinazugawa stood with his arms crossed, his knuckles bone-white from the force of his grip. His eyes sat deep in their sockets, their blood-red irises fixed unblinkingly on the courtyard gate. Every harsh breath rasped like grinding steel, holding back a molten surge of violence ready to erupt at any moment.

Kyojuro Rengoku stood straight as a pine, his flame-patterned haori utterly still.

Shinobu Kocho's lips curved into a perfect smile, gentle as flowing water, yet none of that warmth reached the unfathomable frozen lake in her eyes.

Giyu Tomioka was still as placid water. Clouded tears slipped silently between Gyomei Himejima's clasped palms. Obanai Iguro lurked in the shadow of a veranda pillar, the mismatched eyes exposed above his bandages flickering with the vigilance of a venomous serpent's tongue. A trace of unease crossed Mitsuri Kanroji's pink-and-green eyes. Muichiro Tokito's gaze pierced the dust of the present world and sank into an illusory abyss. Tengen Uzui's flamboyant mask reflected fractured sunlight, concealing depths as inscrutable as a dark pool.

"Caw-!"

The Kasugai Crow gave a piercing cry.

"-Sapphire Star-has arrived-caw!!!"

Footsteps sounded.

A tall, upright figure appeared in the moon gate.

Dazzling sunlight poured over the strange, ferocious armor she wore, casting a cold, almost living metallic sheen that seemed beyond anything made in this world.

Slung diagonally behind her shoulder was a viciously shaped blade of absurd proportions-the Fatalis Demolisher. A visible, pale chill streamed endlessly from it, like the icy breath of a living creature, quietly spreading and settling around her.

Sapphire Star walked into the center of the courtyard, her inner monologue running:

So these are the legendary nine Hashira swordsmen... They really are something else.

That scar-faced hedgehog guy looks terrifying.

That handsome guy who looks like a red owl has such presence!

Why is there a guy playing with a snake perched in a tree...?

She made a show of sweeping a steady gaze over the nine silent, human peaks in the courtyard.

At last, her eyes settled on the man seated in the place of honor, and she gave a slight nod.

"Mr. Ubuyashiki."

The smile on Kagaya Ubuyashiki's face was as warm as the first breeze of spring.

"Welcome. Everyone, this is Sapphire Star."

"The strength and resolve Sapphire Star has shown have lit a new torch for the Demon Slayer Corps in our hour of peril. I have gathered you today to formally introduce this light from a foreign land, who has drifted here from across the ocean yet bears the same night upon her shoulders as we do..."

His words had barely ended-

Whoosh!

A piercing rush through the air tore apart the brief calm!

A streak of black lightning, charged with savage, violent force, ripped through the stagnant air with a shrill whistle. Carrying scalding heat and enough power to shatter bone, it shot straight toward Sapphire Star's calm face.

It was a cup of piping-hot tea.

Holy shit, a projectile!

Sapphire Star had not even sat down before a blast of hot air hit her head-on.

"Foreign woman!" The Wind Hashira's harsh shout came with it, like a beast's low snarl.

"Tell us who you really are!!"

Fast! Faster than the eye could follow!

Without any warning, the teacup was already upon her!

In that split second, Sapphire Star-

Smack.

Sapphire Star caught the hurtling teacup firmly in her palm!

Fuck, is this hedgehog nuts? Good thing I've got quick reflexes!

That was what Sapphire Star thought.

But she could not abandon her manners. She was an outsider, after all; even if she had to fake it, she needed to look composed.

Then she respectfully drank the tea.

It was fucking hot, all right, but as a hunter, she could bear it.

"Who I really am?" she repeated, as though weighing the meaning of the words, blinking and squinting away the tears brought on by the heat.

This hedgehog guy drinks tea this hot? Isn't he worried about cancer?

"If I said I was just someone from elsewhere who ended up here by accident, would you believe me...? I happened to see monsters slaughtering swordsmen on Mount Fujikasane, so I stepped in to help. That's all."

The veins at Sanemi Shinazugawa's temples throbbed, and the hand resting on his sword hilt shook violently from the force of his grip.

He glared fiercely at Sapphire Star. The tea she had so easily caught and drained, along with that casually spoken "that's all," which struck his heart like a heavy hammer, seemed to have blocked every outlet for his fury.

Beside him, Mitsuri Kanroji had been startled by the Wind Hashira's sudden attack and the sound of the teacup cutting through the air. She instinctively let out a little "Eek!" and covered her mouth with both hands, her pink-and-green eyes filled with lingering fright. She looked at the Wind Hashira, then at the unruffled Sapphire Star, her little face paling slightly.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle voice sounded at just the right moment, like a warm breeze brushing lightly over the taut air:

"Sanemi, Miss Sapphire Star is our guest."

He called to the Wind Hashira with reassurance rather than reproach in his voice, merely shaking his head gently to signal that he should calm down.

Then Ubuyashiki turned his gaze to everyone in the courtyard, his voice clear and composed:

"Everyone, this is Sapphire Star. Though she comes from a distant land and her strength differs greatly from ours, her resolve is no different-we all seek to protect the flame of life struggling to survive in this dark night."

He looked at Sapphire Star with sincere approval in his eyes.

"You offered aid in a time of peril. Your strength can be relied upon, and your heart has proven itself. Sapphire Star is an ally of our Demon Slayer Corps, sharing our duty to slay demons and protect lives."

He paused, drawing this brief but tense meeting to a close:

"You have only just arrived here, Sapphire Star, and will need time to become familiar with your surroundings. Please feel free to stay at headquarters for now. If you need anything, you need only ask."

"Understood." Sapphire Star gave a slight bow in return, then turned and left.

Wisps of cold coiled around the enormous Fatalis Demolisher behind her shoulder, leaving a faint, icy trail in her wake as she walked.

With things settled, Sapphire Star hurried to make her escape, terrified that eight more teacups might come flying at her next.

After all, these nine Hashira... Well, aside from those two pretty ladies, none of them looked easy to deal with.

In the courtyard, the nine Hashira's eyes still followed her retreating figure. Only after she left did the air seem to begin moving again.

But the heavy atmosphere, laden with scrutiny, appraisal, and a trace of complicated emotion, did not immediately dissipate.

"Hmph! You actually believe that nonsense fit for children?!"

Anger broke the silence. Sanemi Shinazugawa still had his face turned aside, his chest rising and falling slightly. Veins bulged across the back of the hand pressed against his sword hilt. He was clearly still seething over his earlier attack, which had felt like throwing a heavy punch into cotton.

"Sanemi, that was far too rude! Far too rash!"

The Serpent Hashira, Obanai Iguro, emerged slightly from the veranda pillar's shadow, turning his bandaged face toward the Wind Hashira.

"The Master was still speaking, yet you attacked without warning. If she truly meant us harm, this courtyard would already be a bloodbath."

Gyomei Himejima's brows knitted tightly.

"Sanemi's concerns are not unfounded either. Master, I do not question Sapphire Star's strength or the kindness she showed in helping us! But allowing a foreigner of unknown origins, whose combat techniques are entirely different from ours, to stay at the heart of headquarters less than two days after arriving..."

He paused, his voice growing graver.

"Is this not too great a risk? Headquarters is the heart of our Corps. If her power runs out of control, or demons exploit her, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

His concerns were blunt and forceful, voicing what many of the Hashira present felt.

Mitsuri Kanroji seemed not to have fully recovered from her earlier fright. At the Stone Hashira's words, her little face grew paler still, and she wrung her hands uneasily.

Muichiro Tokito stood quietly to one side, his vacant gaze resting on a blooming wisteria in the corner of the courtyard. It was as though the heated discussion around him had nothing to do with him, his thoughts already drifting to some unknown, distant place.

Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat in the place of honor, his gentle smile unchanged as he patiently listened to the Hashira's doubts. Only after Gyomei Himejima finished did he slowly speak:

"Sanemi's urgency comes from his sincere concern for the Demon Slayer Corps' safety. I understand." He first soothed the still-furious Wind Hashira, then looked at everyone.

"Himejima's concerns are also reasonable. Caution is an indispensable foundation of our struggle against Muzan."

He paused briefly, his gaze passing over the courtyard as though recalling the past:

"However, when judging a person, strength is certainly important, but deeds and intentions often matter more. Had Sapphire Star not intervened in time on Mount Fujikasane, the casualties in this Final Selection would likely have been far beyond our imagination. The demon she slew was the Hand Demon, who had lurked there for years and devoured countless swordsmen."

"At the Sunshine Mountain Ore Vein, she ventured into danger alone and, in less than a day, eliminated the demon obstructing ore shipments and threatening the miners' lives. That demon has been confirmed as Koyuki, Lower Rank Four of the Twelve Kizuki."

Ubuyashiki's voice was clear and firm as he listed the indisputable facts. "The strength she has displayed does indeed defy common sense and inspire astonishment. But from beginning to end, her actions have served a single purpose-to protect the weak and slay demons. Her intentions are open and honest, her conduct upright, without the slightest trace of sinister scheming."

He looked at Gyomei Himejima, his gaze gentle but firm:

"As for her different powers... Strength itself is neither righteous nor evil. What matters is the heart of the one who wields it. She can freeze demons with the power of frost, yet she can also catch Sanemi's angry strike barehanded without damaging the cup in the slightest. Such control is ample proof of her composure. If she truly had ulterior motives, with her strength, she would have no need to offer us aid, much less remain openly under our watch."

Ubuyashiki's gaze passed over the other Hashira. "Keeping her at headquarters is both an act of trust and a chance to observe her. Allowing her to become familiar with our people and affairs also gives us the opportunity to understand this ally more deeply. Having her before our eyes is better than letting her wander beyond our sight, inviting needless suspicion and uncertainty."

Finally, he looked at Mitsuri Kanroji, who still seemed somewhat uneasy, and his voice softened further.

"Mitsuri, you need not worry too much. Though Sapphire Star possesses great strength, her words and actions do not suggest someone violent or bloodthirsty."

Oyakata-sama's explanation was clear, well-reasoned, and supported by evidence. He acknowledged that the Hashira's concerns came from their sense of responsibility while using facts and logic to resolve their central doubts.

Gyomei Himejima's tightly knitted brows gradually relaxed. He was not a man who stubbornly clung to his own views, and Oyakata-sama's analysis had tipped the scales in his heart. He nodded emphatically.

"Amitabha! Master, you have considered everything thoroughly! I failed to think it through!" He frankly admitted his own impatience.

Obanai Iguro's gaze flickered above his bandages, but he said nothing more, tacitly accepting Oyakata-sama's judgment. Though Sanemi Shinazugawa still wore a grim expression and gave a heavy "Hmph," his grip on his sword hilt finally eased. He merely folded his arms and stared darkly at the ground.

Under Oyakata-sama's gentle yet firm explanation, the tense atmosphere in the courtyard finally began to ease.

Their doubts had not vanished completely, but that intense rejection and unease had given way to rational consideration and the beginnings of trust.