At Kagaya's call, two boys in loose Demon Slayer Corps uniforms stepped out from behind him. They had identical faces and waist-length black hair tipped with mint green. Their demeanors, however, were completely different.
The boy on the left had a distant gaze, as though his mind might wander off at any moment. He was Muichiro Tokito. The boy on the right had sharp eyes and a slight frown, carrying a maturity and composure beyond his years. He was the older brother, Yuichiro Tokito.
"Three months ago, Muzan Kibutsuji promoted two new demons to fill the vacancies among the Lower Ranks. Just last month, Muichiro and Yuichiro each slew one of these newly appointed Lower Ranks single-handedly on their respective missions," Kagaya announced with a smile. "Under the Demon Slayer Corps' rules, they have qualified to become Hashira. From today onward, Muichiro will serve as the Mist Hashira, and Yuichiro as the Smoke Hashira."
"They became Hashira less than half a year after joining the Demon Slayer Corps?" The Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui, widened his eyes. "Such flamboyant talent makes me jealous!"
"Amitabha. Truly, heroes emerge from the young." The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, shed tears of emotion.
Rokuya looked at the twins, the corners of his mouth rising despite himself. Back on Mount Jōshin, he had intimidated Yuichiro through force and brought them out of the remote mountains. He had never expected these two boys to grow at such a terrifying pace. In just a few months, they already stood at the pinnacle of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Muichiro's Mist Breathing, derived from Wind Breathing by a predecessor in the Demon Slayer Corps, is elusive and untraceable. Yuichiro, meanwhile, incorporated his own insights to create Smoke Breathing," Kagaya continued. "I hope the two of you will become keen blades