Haruto never expected that the scene he would witness on his first day at Peach Mountain would be like this.
He helped Kuwajima Jigoro take the round-browed boy to the clinic down the mountain, and what surprised him even more was that the boy struck by lightning was completely unharmed!
It wasn't long before he was full of life, crying his heart out in front of the mirror at his hair and eyebrows, which had turned from black to yellow.
"How could this happen! How could this happen~~~"
"I was already disliked for having black hair, and now that I've become so ugly, where am I going to find a girl willing to marry me?!"
"Why was I struck by lightning!"
"Why did my hair turn yellow!"
Haruto sat on a stool, gradually losing his soul amidst the increasingly loud roars... Kuwajima Jigoro sat on a stool nearby, looking at the disciple of his old friend who had specifically come to deliver a nichirin blade, his face unable to hide his embarrassment.
"Zenitsu... Zenitsu, although he has a noisy personality, also has a firm belief in the path of a swordsman..."
Before he finished speaking, a series of wails came from inside the house.
"It's better to just let me die! Even if I don't die now, I'll die in Grandpa's devilish training!"
"Even if I don't die in Grandpa's devilish training, I'll be killed by a demon on the first day of the Final Selection!"
"Even if I don't die in the Final Selection, my stomach will be ripped open the first time I hunt a demon!"
"I don't want to die, boo hoo hoo hoo ah ah ah ah!"
"..."
Is this... a firm belief?
Haruto dared not meet Mr. Kuwajima's gaze, fearing he would see the bewilderment in his eyes.
Kuwajima Jigoro's cane struck the ground heavily, and he walked into the room with his short legs, his wooden prosthetic limb making a dull sound on the floor.
Immediately, sounds of wailing and howling came from the room. It was hard to imagine how Agatsuma Zenitsu's throat could produce such heart-wrenching screams... Soon after, Kuwajima Jigoro dragged the round-browed boy out by his collar, suppressing his anger and helplessness, and walked up the mountain... Back on the mountain, Haruto finally made a formal self-introduction and handed the nichirin blade to Kuwajima Jigoro.
"I've heard of the Star Pillar's title even while secluded here. Becoming a Pillar by slaying a Lower Moon demon, and saving fellow swordsmen while fighting an Upper Moon demon—such great achievements even I find miraculous..."
Haruto had heard from Mr. Urokodaki that Mr. Kuwajima was the strongest among the previous generation of Pillar-level Swordsmen. If he hadn't lost a leg fighting a demon, he might still be active on the front lines of demon slaying.
"You flatter me, it was all luck." Haruto nodded lightly, pointing to Genya: "This is my adopted son, Genya. He has been practicing demon-slaying techniques with me for several years."
Kuwajima Jigoro sized up Genya, nodding in satisfaction: "He is a diligent and hardworking child."
Then he pointed to Agatsuma Zenitsu, who was cowering beside him: "This is my junior disciple, Zenitsu."
The wooden door creaked open, and a young swordsman pushed it open, casting an indifferent gaze at the people inside the room.
He was sweating profusely, as if he had just undergone very arduous training.
It was that arrogant swordsman from before... Kuwajima Jigoro saw him and raised his head: "You've come just in time. This is my senior disciple, Kaigaku."
Kaigaku? Kaigaku... Haruto frowned, finding the name somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
[Scum senior brother!]
[The most unforgivable and hated character in Demon Slayer!]
[Disgrace of the Upper Moon]
[Can Fan Zhu Ge just cut him down with one slash now, so we don't get angry watching him later!]
[Haruto: You want me to do something for you, yet you call me Hashira of Food?]
[Even Sayoko, who identified Himejima, can be understood, after all, she identified the wrong person... But this guy who made a deal with a demon... to save himself, he caused seven children in the temple to be killed...]
Seeing the last bullet comment, Haruto shivered and immediately remembered the name!
Himejima's twitching lips seemed to still be before his eyes, "Kaigaku, that child's name is... Inadama Kaigaku."
It's him! He is the culprit Himejima spoke of, who made a deal with a demon, extinguished the wisteria incense in the temple, and caused the tragedy at Himejima's temple!
He actually came to Peach Mountain and became a disciple of the former Thunder Pillar!
Did Mr. Kuwajima know about those past events?
And... what does 'Disgrace of the Upper Moon' mean?
This boy... will he actually become a demon later?!
"Mr. Haruto, what's wrong?"
His momentary distraction was caught by Kuwajima Jigoro. Haruto immediately smiled gently: "I apologize, I remembered someone whose name is very similar to your senior disciple's, so I was a bit lost in thought."
He decided not to tell Mr. Kuwajima the story between Kaigaku and Himejima for now. People always lean towards those they are closer to, and he didn't want this matter to affect his relationship with Mr. Kuwajima, or even Mr. Kuwajima's relationship with Master Godo.
Kaigaku's blue eyes fell on Haruto, revealing a hint of displeasure.
What's so funny?
"Kaigaku, this is Mr. Haruto, the Star Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps. Didn't you say you always wanted to meet an active Pillar-level Swordsman?" Kuwajima Jigoro said in a deep voice.
[Laughing to death, he wants to meet an active Pillar-level Swordsman? If he really met Himejima, wouldn't he pee his pants?]
[He'd be so ashamed he'd bash his head against the ground.]
[Kaigaku ashamed? You think too highly of him. At most, he'd think to himself, 'I should have followed Himejima, then my master would be an active Pillar instead of a former Pillar.']
[Scum!]
Kaigaku raised an eyebrow, a Pillar-level Swordsman?
A Pillar-level Swordsman's judgment must be better than this old man's. He would surely see the difference between himself and that good-for-nothing Agatsuma Zenitsu at a glance!
Perhaps he would even take him as an adopted son. Being an adopted son of a Pillar is much better than being trained as a successor to the Thunder Breathing alongside that good-for-nothing!
So he eagerly cast an ardent gaze at Haruto, hoping he would recognize his talent.
But to his disappointment, Haruto's gaze was not on him, nor did it fall on Zenitsu. He was merely staring at the ground in a daze, as if a lengthy classic novel lay there.
Hmm... if Mr. Kuwajima's two disciples forced Haruto to choose one, he would choose the lax Zenitsu over the diligent Kaigaku.
Ah, actually, he didn't want to choose either of them.
The nichirin blade Haruto brought this time was prepared by Kuwajima Jigoro for Agatsuma Zenitsu. Knowing the purpose of his trip, Mr. Kuwajima invited him to stay at Peach Mountain for a short while.
"Godo told me you're a child who loves to eat, and coincidentally, all the peach trees on Peach Mountain are bearing fruit, so you can eat to your heart's content!"
Kuwajima Jigoro cheerfully patted Genya's shoulder (he could only reach Genya's): "The peaches are really delicious!"
Master Godo... why does he tell everyone everything.