After leaving the headquarters, Haruto thought the postponed mid-year meeting would be held soon, but he didn't expect to see Kagaya again until three months later, in autumn.
"Master."
The Pillars knelt on one knee, eagerly greeting Kagaya.
Sanemi, who got in first, was triumphant, as if he had won first place in a demon-slaying competition among the Pillars.
Haruto was surprised to see the child from The Tsugikuni Family, Tokito Muichiro.
His face was indifferent—no, rather than indifferent, it was more like he didn't care about anything, kneeling on one side, head tilted up as if counting the clouds in the sky and the birds flying by.
Suddenly, his ear twitched, and he turned his head, meeting the gaze of the white-haired swordsman who had been watching him.
Ah, it was a very warm smile, and his misty blue eyes were beautiful.
Muichiro spaced out in a daze; Master seemed to have introduced him.
There were three white-haired men among the Pillars: one was the man who was passionately talking about something, like a monkey.
There was also a man with silver-white hair and eyes as fierce as a wolf.
The other was the one in front of him, with eyes as bright as a deer.
He was... who was it again?
Never mind... why think about this? He'd forget it soon anyway... So he turned his head, avoiding Haruto's gaze, and continued counting the clouds in the sky.
Oh... how many had he counted... he'd forgotten... Haruto subtly raised an eyebrow, a natural airhead?
And... what was wrong with the Ubuyashiki Family! Why did they dress this child in such oversized clothes! Even his hands were hidden in the long sleeves!
Meanwhile, Kagaya accepted everyone's greetings and soothed the Pillars' hearts with his relaxing, rain-like voice.
"I apologize; my illness always relapses during the summer, causing you all worry. You've all worked hard these past few months."
"Amitabha, no matter how hard we work, it's not as important as your health..." Gyomei Himejima was silently shedding tears again.
"Please don't say that..."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Kagaya Ubuyashiki pointed to Muichiro, who was still spaced out.
"This is the new Mist Pillar, Tokito Muichiro. He uses Mist Breathing."
The lively atmosphere suddenly fell silent; everyone looked in surprise at this swordsman who was practically still a child.
"He's practically still a child~" Kanae covered her mouth, exclaiming in surprise.
Haruto asked with some hesitation: "Muichiro... has only been learning swordsmanship for a few months?"
"Two months." Kagaya chuckled and nodded: "His growth speed is astonishing."
Hmph.
The Pillars exchanged glances, almost speechless.
Uzui Tengen lowered his head, looking anything but flamboyant; such a simple child actually possessed such powerful talent, so powerful... it was abnormal!
Muichiro didn't know what everyone was thinking; he merely focused his gaze on Kagaya for a brief moment when Master introduced him, then turned his head back to count the blades of grass on the ground.
After the Pillar Meeting ended, everyone walked out side by side.
Tokito Muichiro trailed behind the group, silently observing them with his gaze.
"Want to go eat together?" A gentle voice came from beside him. He looked up; it was a young man wearing a three-colored, patchwork wave-patterned haori, smiling at him.
Sabito... that seemed to be his name, one of the Water Pillars, a man who looked gentle and harmless like a rabbit.
"No, I need to go practice swordsmanship." Muichiro coldly refused.
"As new colleagues, we should at least share a meal. Master entrusted us to take good care of you."
On the other side, Haruto flanked him, and he and Sabito sandwiched the boy in the middle: "The relationships within the Demon Slayer Corps must be very close so that on the battlefield, you can confidently entrust your back to each other, right? Everyone also wants to get to know you better!"
Kanae, who was ahead, turned back and offered a gentle smile.
Muichiro paused: "Is this really necessary?"
"Oh, never mind that, let's go together. The headquarters' restaurant is very well-stocked, especially since today our elder brother Gyomei is treating!"
Before he could refuse again, Haruto and Sabito exchanged glances and, like coaxing a child, swept Tokito along with the main group.
Before they even reached the restaurant entrance, Haruto suddenly saw a familiar back.
The person had hair intertwined with red and yellow, which from behind looked like an owl perched on their neck.
The Rengoku Family's characteristic hairstyle, considering that Shinjuro would no longer appear at headquarters, meant this person must be... "Kyoujurou!" Haruto called out: "Kyoujurou Rengoku!"
Strange, why did that kid act as if he hadn't heard him?
Haruto scratched between his eyebrows, had he mistaken him for someone else?
Had the Demon Slayer Corps gained another owl?
It wasn't until a squad member beside the person nudged him that he turned around, a warm smile on his face: "Haruto-san!"
It was Kyoujurou; his voice was so loud that Haruto, who walked up to him, was startled.
"What! Your voice is as loud as an old grandmother who can't hear well!"
Kyoujurou scratched his head: "Ah, that? My ears did have some problems when I was slaying demons!"
"Eh?"
"The first time I hunted a demon, I encountered a demon whose flute sound could interfere with the nerves!"
"So, your ears were injured during the battle?" Haruto cupped his fluffy big head and turned it from side to side to look at his ears.
"That's right! Just a small injury! It's nothing!" Kyoujurou cooperated, letting him look.
"That's not it," a squad member beside him whispered: "Kyoujurou, in order to slay that demon, forcefully ruptured his eardrums during the battle!"
"..." Haruto's hand paused. Looking at the boy's enthusiastic eyes, a suffocating feeling welled up in his chest.
Sabito and Giyuu beside him were also stunned.
Only Muichiro, who was being swept along by the few, snapped out of his daze from looking at the two Water Pillars' haoris and looked at Kyoujurou.
Hmm... like an owl.
"Kouhei!" Although Kyoujurou couldn't hear very well, he inferred from everyone's gazes that a colleague must have said something again.
Haruto clapped him heavily on the shoulder and said loudly: "Kyoujurou! Did you slay that demon?!"
"Of course, Haruto-san! I cut off its head, just like cutting down those training ground wooden stakes!" Kyoujurou replied equally loudly.
Haruto curved his lips into a smile and stuffed the jar of dried apricots from his pocket into Kyoujurou's hand.
"Shinjuro-san was only wrong about one thing!" He said loudly: "The Rengoku Family's belief will never be cut off! Both you and Senjuro will become the spiritual inheritors of Flame Breathing!"
Kyoujurou's eyes sparkled, like the scorching sun hanging high in the sky.
He watched the Pillar-ranked warriors enter the restaurant, opened the jar, and popped a dried apricot into his mouth.
"...Five ants!"
Haruto-san, you too, will also be... the best inheritor of Flame Breathing!