"...Muichiro couldn't make it back, so he might not be able to attend..."
At the entrance of the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters, the white-haired Swordsman was chatting with his fellow disciples.
Shinobu stood to the side, staring absently at Haruto's hem. After a long battle, Kochou Shinobu had finally met the promotion requirement of slaying fifty demons, and had earlier been promoted to a new Pillar-level Swordsman. Today was her first time attending a Pillar Meeting.
She showed no expression on her face, but Kanae and Haruto could both tell the little girl was uneasy.
"Don't worry, there's always a first time for everything."
Kanae gently shook her head at Haruto, her eyes smiling as she looked elsewhere.
She felt both proud and a little sad that her sister had grown into an excellent Demon Slayer Swordsman.
Proud that she could wield a sharp blade with her slender arms to slay evil demons, breaking the shackles of her physical body; yet mournful that both sisters were deeply trapped in the cage of fate, destined to be involved with evil demons their entire lives.
"Mr. Haruto!"
A bright shout suddenly came from the courtyard. Haruto turned to look, and there stood Kyoujurou, his eyes sparkling, at the entrance. A young girl with light pink hair brushed past his shoulder and ran outside.
Swordsmen below the Pillar-level were generally not allowed into the Ubuyashiki estate at the Headquarters, but Kyoujurou didn't hesitate, striding in. Haruto immediately understood his meaning.
"Is Mr. Shinjuro still not ready to attend the Pillar Meeting?"
Kyoujurou nodded: "Master called me here to ask about Father's condition."
Gyomei Himejima, standing to the side, sighed and said, "I haven't seen Mr. Shinjuro in a long time either, it seems."
"I remember you were promoted to Kanoe Swordsman a while ago?" Haruto stroked his chin: "What about demons? Are you far off?"
"Still quite a ways off!" Kyoujurou answered brightly: "But I will work even harder!"
Feeling his enthusiasm, Gyoumei smiled slightly: "As expected of the orthodox successor of Flame Breathing, such a positive and upward drive is truly admirable."
Hearing this, Haruto pouted, feeling like Gyoumei had a hidden meaning in his words... After everyone flocked into the Ubuyashiki estate, Sanemi Shinazugawa slowly walked in.
Haruto sniffed the scent he carried as he passed, and suddenly asked, "Were the red bean ohagi delicious?"
"Of course..." Sanemi subconsciously smacked his lips, then suddenly twisted his head: "What do you mean?!"
"Those were handmade red bean paste that my younger sister Makomo made for me, which I was going to use for red bean buns!
And the red bean paste Makomo prepared for Sabito's strawberry daifuku, that kid Genya dug out more than half of it too!"
Haruto watched him with crossed arms, his eyes full of ill will.
The children raised in his own home naturally had good personalities. Such a malicious "food snatching" incident must have been instigated by that guy, Sanemi Shinazugawa!
"...It's just a little red bean paste!" Sanemi was dumbfounded, looking awkwardly at the Mt. Sagiri men standing on the same front: "I'll go to the restaurant later and buy some to give back to you!"
"How can that be the same!" Haruto said loudly: "That was red bean paste handmade by Makomo! It's filled with Makomo's love for us!"
"...I've already eaten it, what else do you want?!"
"I don't care!"
"How old are you?!"
Kyoujurou, who was slow to catch on (and hard of hearing), finally understood what they were talking about. But red bean ohagi, red bean buns, and red bean strawberry daifuku... "They must have been delicious!" he echoed loudly.
Sanemi didn't dare to lose his temper with Haruto, and Kyoujurou's echo gave him an outlet for his frustration: "Hey! Who are you?!
Are you a Pillar-level Swordsman? Why are you here?"
"My father is the Flame Pillar, Rengoku Shinjuro. I came this time because I received an order from Master!"
"...Why are you shouting so loudly? What are you? What right do you have to come here in place of a Pillar?!"
"You're shouting so loudly because you're deaf!" Haruto leaned close to Sanemi Shinazugawa's ear and said loudly: "Didn't he say he came because he received an order from Master!"
"..." Sanemi Shinazugawa took two steps back, looking furious as if he was about to hit someone.
"If you get angry again, I'll tell Genya that you said his ohagi wasn't good."
Sanemi's eyes widened: "I never said that!"
"I don't care if you said it or not."
Shinazugawa was fuming, but he had no way to deal with Haruto.
He suddenly turned around, only to see Kagaya Ubuyashiki, who had appeared in the hall at some unknown time, smiling benignly at them.
"Master!"
Everyone immediately knelt on one knee, scrambling to greet him.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki walked to the front, supported by his children, a genuinely gentle smile still on his face.
"My dear Swordsmen, today the dining hall will provide an unlimited supply of red bean paste sweets, also filled with the confectioner's abundant love."
Everyone in the courtyard chuckled, and even the Kakushi standing at the entrance exchanged glances, their eyes curving into smiles.
The Demon Slayer Corps... was truly getting better and better.
Full of talent, and harmonious in their interactions.
Kyoujurou, with his round eyes, smiled as he looked at Haruto. Were the Pillar-level Swordsmen's relationships really this harmonious?
He had always heard that the Wind Pillar had a bad temper, but now it seemed he wasn't ill-tempered, but simply didn't know how to express his emotions, so he could only use irritability to hide his unease.
Master spoke jokes kindly, without any airs of a superior;
And Mr. Haruto, as always, treated people gently, like a spring breeze;
All the Pillar-level Swordsmen looked at him with kindness and care... Such a Demon Slayer Corps... Such a Demon Slayer Corps!
His big, round eyes suddenly became very bright.
How could one not dedicate their life to such a Demon Slayer Corps!
After the pleasantries, Kagaya Ubuyashiki inquired of Kyoujurou about the Flame Pillar, Shinjuro. He learned that Shinjuro had been disheartened and indulged in drinking ever since Rengoku Ruka's death, even taking alcohol with him on missions.
"How tragic... Lord Shinjuro, as a veteran Swordsman of the Demon Slayer Corps, should have been an example to everyone..."
Gyomei Himejima had met the enthusiastic and open-minded Flame Pillar when he first joined the Demon Slayer Corps. Now, knowing he had become like this, he couldn't help but shed tears.
"But since he has become like this, it's impossible for him to have a good influence on those Swordsmen." Uzui Tengen shook his head: "My suggestion is to conspicuously have him retire, to serve as a warning to those Swordsmen in the Corps with wavering resolve."
"But Mr. Shinjuro has sacrificed so much for the Demon Slayer Corps. If he is set up as a bad example, it might discourage the Swordsmen." Kanae said worriedly.
Shinazugawa glanced at Kanae and said, "That's right. Besides, the Flame Pillar has never been broken since ancient times. If Rengoku Shinjuro steps down, where will we find someone to fill the vacancy?"
Everyone discussed animatedly, but Haruto looked at Kyoujurou.
Under Haruto's gaze, Kyoujurou straightened his back and said loudly.
"None of these are problems!"
The young man's eyes sparkled with confident light in the daylight.
"I will become the Flame Pillar!
Once I become a Pillar, Father will also regain his spirit!"