"Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work," Musashi replied.
His heart was heavy, and he felt no joy upon receiving the news.
He had already anticipated his Moon promotion; Kyojuro had previously told him the conditions for Demon Slayer Corps members to advance in Moon: to become a Hashira, one must slay fifty demons or one of the Twelve Kizuki, and he now met the criteria.
"It's no trouble at all, no trouble at all."
The Kakushi waved his hands repeatedly upon hearing this, feeling a bit excited.
I was actually cared for by a Hashira!
The Kakushi thought excitedly.
After helping the Kakushi handle the matters there, Musashi began to rush back to the Demon Slayer Corps dormitory.
He was still a bit unsettled and hoped to find someone to confide in.
Since it's a Hashira Meeting, my teacher should also come back to attend, right…
Musashi thought as he hurried along.
…
Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters
A woman with long, cherry-pink braided hair and grass-green tips was the first to arrive.
Demon Slayer Corps Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji.
"I can't believe I'm the first one here," Mitsuri looked around, realizing no other Hashiras had arrived yet.
"By the way, this Hashira Meeting is being held a bit earlier than usual."
The Hashira Meeting is generally held once every six months, and all Hashira-ranked members must attend. During the meeting, they discuss areas where demons appear, Kibutsuji Muzan's possible current location and his movements, as well as the overall discipline and power balance of the Demon Slayer Corps.
A short while later, Kochou Shinobu also arrived.
"Shinobu!"
Seeing Kochou Shinobu, Mitsuri smiled happily and ran over, then embraced Kochou Shinobu.
"Mitsuri, you arrived so early," Shinobu said to Mitsuri with a smile.
As the only two female Hashiras, they had a very good relationship.
"After all, my patrol area is closer to our Headquarters," Mitsuri said to Kochou Shinobu with a smile, then she asked Kochou Shinobu, "By the way, Shinobu, do you know why this Hashira Meeting was moved up? It was supposed to be later, right?"
Kochou Shinobu shook her head upon hearing this and said, "I don't know either. Perhaps there's something important."
At this moment, a man with a white snake wrapped around his neck, heterochromatic eyes (left green, right gold), and a bandaged mouth also arrived.
Demon Slayer Corps Snake Hashira, Obanai Iguro, and Kaburamaru.
"Ah, it's Mr. Iguro." Mitsuri noticed the Snake Hashira walking into the courtyard, her cheeks slightly flushed as she waved and greeted him, "Mr. Iguro, how have you been recently?"
Mr. Iguro is still as handsome as ever!
Upon seeing Mitsuri, Obanai's mood immediately became very good. The corners of his mouth slightly lifted as he walked towards Mitsuri, but due to the bandages on his face, Mitsuri and Kochou Shinobu couldn't see his expression.
"Not bad, how about you?"
Naturally walking to Mitsuri's side, Obanai looked at Mitsuri with gentle eyes and said.
"Me too! I've been working hard to protect others! A family I saved a few days ago even treated me to cherry blossom mochi, but I was afraid my hair would turn an even stranger color, so I didn't dare to eat too much. I only ate fifty and then said goodbye and left."
Mitsuri told Obanai very proudly, then looked at her braids with a slight sadness.
Due to eating one hundred and seventy cherry blossom mochi every day for eight consecutive months, her hair had turned into its current color, and she had even been mocked by someone on a blind date because of it.
"That's wonderful, but don't restrain yourself like that in the future. If you want to eat, just eat! Your hair color is beautiful. If anyone dares to mock you, I'll teach them a good lesson!" Obanai first praised Mitsuri, then said to her.
"Mr. Iguro… you're really so kind!"
Obanai's words moved Mitsuri, and she hugged him tightly.
Obanai was momentarily at a loss for what to do by Mitsuri's action; his normally soft body became incredibly stiff.
Kaburamaru, on Obanai's neck, hissed twice with its tongue, then turned its small head away.
Kochou Shinobu, who had been left out, also smiled and turned away.
Fortunately, Mitsuri released Obanai after a while, not letting the situation last too long.
Obanai also let out a sigh of relief, but at the same time, he felt a bit of regret.
The next to arrive was a stern-faced young man with black hair, wearing a haori with different patterns on the left and right sides over his Demon Slayer Corps uniform.
Demon Slayer Corps Water Hashira, Giyuu Tomioka.
Upon seeing Giyuu, Obanai immediately spoke up with dissatisfaction.
"Tomioka, you're too slow, aren't you?"
However, Giyuu merely looked at him without saying a word, then walked to a position farther away from them and stopped.
When Mitsuri and Kochou Shinobu greeted him, he only nodded.
"Heh heh, how arrogant…"
Giyuu's behavior naturally ignited Obanai's anger, but due to the Corps rules, he didn't act on it.
…
On the other side, Musashi also arrived at Headquarters. As soon as he got there, he met Kyojuro.
"Teacher!" Musashi immediately ran up to Kyojuro.
Kyojuro naturally saw Musashi and loudly said to him, "I've already heard the news about you! You've slain Lower Moon Two! That's amazing! From now on, you'll be a Hashira-ranked swordsman just like me! You don't have to call me teacher anymore!"
Kyojuro looked at Musashi with eyes full of satisfaction. He knew that with Musashi's talent, he would become a Hashira sooner or later, but becoming a Hashira in such a short time still surprised him a bit.
After the Kasugai Crow informed Kagaya Ubuyashiki of Musashi's slaying of the Lower Moon, knowing that Musashi was Kyojuro's Tsuguko, it also sent a Kasugai Crow to inform Kyojuro of the news.
Musashi was stunned for a moment upon hearing Kyojuro's words, then firmly said, "No! It was you who brought me into the Demon Slayer Corps and taught me your abilities without reservation. No matter what, you will always be my teacher."
In his heart, he had long regarded Kyojuro as the person he respected most.
Upon hearing Musashi's words, Kyojuro looked at him and smiled.
"Let's go!"
The two walked into the courtyard together, and Musashi also saw Obanai, Mitsuri, Giyuu, and Kochou Shinobu, who had already arrived.
However, among these people, he only knew Kochou Shinobu; he hadn't met the others yet.
"Mr. Rengoku!" Seeing Kyojuro, Mitsuri happily waved and greeted him.
Kochou Shinobu was slightly surprised upon seeing Musashi beside Kyojuro, and she quickly guessed something.
It can't be… joining the Demon Slayer Corps less than a month ago and then…
This guess made her somewhat disbelieving.
"Hmm, everyone arrived very early!" Kyojuro responded, then introduced Musashi, "She was my former Tsuguko, and now she is the Love Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. She is a very kind and strong person! Her name is Mitsuri Kanroji!"