Time will accelerate, speeding up entry into the main storyline.
"It's been a long time since I heard about a new member of the Twelve Kizuki appearing."
It was another midsummer, and the children of Mt. Sagiri had returned to the mountains, eating hotpot around a bonfire.
With their stomachs full, Haruto, Sabito, and Giyuu sat in the hall, listening to the evening cicadas, and naturally started discussing matters of the Demon Slayer Corps.
"Indeed, my jurisdiction is so quiet, so quiet it makes my heart uneasy."
Sabito called out to Sakonji Urokodaki, who was sitting by the door with his back straight: "Teacher, there won't be any problems, right?"
The former Water Pillar turned his head, still wearing his large Tengu mask.
"If they could be understood by humans, they wouldn't be called demons."
Sabito chuckled, reaching out to spin the teacup in front of him: "The Pillar Meeting in the middle of the year was postponed?"
"Yes, it was postponed. Master fell ill, got a bit better a while ago, but with the hot weather, his condition started acting up again."
Haruto was chewing on dried apricots, handmade by Tanjirou's younger sister, Nezuko. The yellow apricots in June were plump, mixed with honey, pickled, and air-dried for half a month. The last time he visited, the little girl gave him a large jar to bring back.
Haruto found a small jar, filled some, and kept it with him, occasionally taking a piece to chew.
Sabito reached for his apricot jar, took out two pieces, and was about to take more when Haruto slapped his hand.
"Want to eat? If you want to eat, ask your disciple to make it for you." Haruto playfully hid the jar behind him.
Sabito had just taken on two successors before the New Year, both newly promoted swordsmen from the same selection batch. Haruto had seen them, two big boys who used Water Breathing. They looked capable of fighting, but cooking seemed difficult for them.
As for Giyuu… Giyuu moved his mouth slightly: "I'm fine by myself."
"What are you showing off for? It's not like your disciple made it."
"Tch…" Haruto snorted, his peripheral vision catching Giyuu's mouth quickly moving again, so he immediately reached for the jar behind him… "Hey! Tomioka Giyu! Is the meaning of being a Water Pillar to steal your colleague's dried apricots?!"
"And you ate so many!"
"Exactly!"
The three young men bickered for a while, and Makomo turned her head, laughing at them.
They were already pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, yet they could still bicker over a jar of dried apricots.
After some commotion, Sabito brought up the previous topic: "How is Master's health?"
Haruto remembered his last visit to headquarters was for the New Year's Pillar Meeting. Kagaya's health was still quite good, so his sudden illness was unexpected for Haruto.
"I'll go see him tomorrow."
The Demon Slayer Corps headquarters still had that quiet atmosphere, but today there were several more healers at the entrance.
"Miss Misaka?" Haruto asked, puzzled.
Miki Misaka turned her head, calling out with some surprise: "Mr. Haruto!"
"Is Master suffering from some illness? Why are there so many healers here?" Haruto asked, somewhat worried.
"Ah ~ not at all. It's just that Master summoned us to treat a severely injured child. A very young child, who lost a lot of blood. It took a great deal of effort to save his life."
Miki Misaka waved her hand: "Master's health is gradually recovering. These past two days, he's even been able to get up and walk around the courtyard."
The young woman's gaze was too intense, making Haruto uncomfortably purse his lips: "Then, then… I'll take my leave now. Master needs to see me…"
"Ah, alright! Take care, Mr. Haruto!" Miki Misaka waved enthusiastically at him.
"Lying." Kagaya mercilessly exposed his lie: "Among all the children in the entire Demon Slayer Corps, only you would use me as an excuse."
"I'm not your child!" Haruto chuckled shamelessly, looking at the tightly shut door, smelling the strong scent of medicine: "So who got injured exactly?"
Kagaya sighed, slowly stood up, and pushed open the door to that room.
It was a boy with long black hair, green at the tips. He was a boy, but he looked about the same age as Genya, his face still full of childish innocence.
He lay lifelessly on the bed, covered in bandages. If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, no one would doubt if he were dead.
Amane knelt by the bed, tending to the boy, and turned to nod slightly at Haruto.
"This is…" Haruto began hesitantly.
"I should indeed introduce him to you." Kagaya sighed and replied: "This is the last child of the Tokito family, and also the last descendant of The Tsugikuni Family, Tokito Muichiro."
The Tsugikuni Family…!
Haruto's pupils constricted. He finally heard that surname outside of the bullet comments!
"What is that?" he quickly asked.
"You've seen the yoriichi zero automaton, passed down by the Tetsuichikawa family, in Swordsmith Village, haven't you?"
"Kotetsu's family's one?"
"Exactly, Yoriichi Tsugikuni of The Tsugikuni Family was the prototype for yoriichi zero. He was a great swordsman who lived during the Warring States Period. The Sun Breathing Technique he invented was the origin of all Breathing Techniques, and with his strength alone, he elevated the entire Demon Slayer Corps to an unparalleled level.
Unfortunately, after his death, Kibutsuji Muzan and his subordinates massacred almost all the inheritors of Sun Breathing, and this most powerful Breathing Technique was lost."
"Even his descendants…"
Kagaya sighed and shook his head: "Muichiro… once had an older brother, Yuichiro. The two brothers lived in Mt. Takao in Hachioji, making a living as woodcutters. Amane visited them many times, and through their interactions, learned that they did not inherit Yoriichi Tsugikuni's Breathing Technique, and even changed their surname. Perhaps it was because of this that the Tokito lineage escaped Kibutsuji Muzan's encirclement."
Sun Breathing… is the strongest Breathing Technique!
Haruto couldn't help but think of Tanjirou.
What was his relationship with Yoriichi Tsugikuni? Did he merely inherit his earrings?
Kagaya didn't stop, continuing: "Yuichiro had always been very resistant to Amane's approaches, and only yesterday did we discover that something happened to the brothers… The day before, a demon attacked them, and Yuichiro died in the attack.
Muichiro pinned the demon to the ground until the sun rose…"
Kagaya looked lovingly at Muichiro, who was still unconscious, and gently sighed.
"It is fate. Is the Tsugikuni bloodline a glory? Or is it an inescapable cage for all eternity?"
"Do you believe he will bring hope to the Demon Slayer Corps?"
"I believe in every child in the Demon Slayer Corps. I believe they will all bring hope to the demon-slaying cause. Including you, Haruto."
Kagaya's face was already half covered in scars, making him look particularly eerie and terrifying, yet his smile was still as bright as a spring breeze.
"Haruto, ten years from now, will we still be able to sit facing each other like this? Perhaps I'll be in the grave, and you outside of it?"
"Maybe I'll be in the grave too? Then I'll definitely scratch the coffin lid every night, making so much noise that the surrounding dead can't sleep, hahaha…"
Haruto leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed, slowly breaking into a smile.
"Well, well, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, don't lose faith in me."