Spring passed, autumn came, winter faded—and in the blink of an eye, another year had gone by.
Throughout this year, the Demon Slayer Corps remained intact. Not a single Hashira had fallen, something almost unheard of in the past.
Ordinarily, the Corps would lose at least one Hashira each year, and during the Pillar Councils held every six months, there were always empty seats.
But this generation of Demon Slayers was clearly stronger than any that had come before.
Not only were all nine Hashira present, but there was also a tenth. For over a year—nearly two years—not one of them had retired or perished.
The effect on the Corps was tremendous. Morale soared.
During this period, another Final Selection was approaching.
As always, a Pillar Meeting was convened beforehand.
"Hey, isn't that Kamado kid supposed to be here too?"
In the courtyard where the Hashira gathered, the Wind Hashira, Sanemi Shinazugawa, glanced at Rengoku Kyojuro beside him and posed the question.
Kyojuro answered with his usual booming tone. "Takeo is engaged in something very important! So I'm not certain if he will return in time!"
"Tch. That brat. Hasn't he avoided every single Pillar Meeting since becoming a Hashira?"
Sanemi Shinazugawa muttered sourly, clear dissatisfaction in his voice.
The Serpent Hashira, Iguro Obanai, leaned casually against a tree trunk and glanced up at Sanemi.
"Do you have some business with him?"
"Of course I do! I want to fight him!" the Wind Hashira declared without hesitation. "After all, he survived against an Upper Rank, didn't he?"
From the very moment he learned that Takeo had walked away from a battle with an Upper Rank, Sanemi had wanted to challenge him.
His reasoning was simple: if Takeo had managed to survive against Kokushibo, then defeating Takeo himself might prove that he, Sanemi, could inflict even greater damage on Kokushibo.
Maybe I could even fight an Upper Rank on my own!
That thought had burned in him ever since.
But back then, Takeo had been recovering from grievous injuries, and Sanemi hadn't had the chance. Soon afterward, Takeo had gone to the Swordsmith Village. Since then, he had missed several consecutive Hashira meetings, his whereabouts unknown to most of them.
This absence only deepened Sanemi's irritation.
A Hashira who doesn't even attend the Pillar Councils? Does this guy really take his duties seriously?
"Then… wouldn't it be better to compete with Rengoku instead?" Giyu Tomioka, standing off alone in the corner, spoke up quietly.
Sanemi's face twisted into a scowl, his displeasure even more evident. "Do you think I haven't?"
Of course, he had sparred with Kyojuro before.
The problem was… Sanemi usually lost more than he won.
This was strange. After all, he had sparred with Kyojuro many times before, and their strength had always been roughly equal. Moreover, since both were Hashira, they never fought with full force, so most of their matches had ended in draws.
But for reasons Sanemi couldn't grasp, Kyojuro's strength had suddenly surged over the past year. From time to time, he would even unleash techniques that were not Flame Breathing, and Sanemi found himself struggling to respond.
Eventually, Kyojuro explained that this was a special Breathing Technique taught to him by Kamado Takeo. But, citing the need for confidentiality, he refused to share any details.
This only deepened Sanemi's dissatisfaction.
Why had Takeo chosen to pass this special Breathing Method to Kyojuro alone? Did he look down on the rest of them? Did he think the others were burdens, unworthy of such knowledge?
The thought festered, and Sanemi's desire to test himself against Takeo grew stronger and stronger.
But Takeo never appeared—not even at the meetings. Sanemi could only stew in frustration.
"…So that means you lost?" Tomioka Giyu asked calmly.
Several veins bulged on Sanemi's scarred forehead. "Tomioka, if you want to fight, then just say so!"
Before the tension could escalate further, Kocho Shinobu approached, her gentle voice cutting into the atmosphere.
"Now, now—Mr. Shinazukawa, Mr. Tomioka. Please calm yourselves. The lord will be arriving shortly."
At the mention of Ubuyashiki Kagaya, Sanemi fell silent, though his expression remained sour.
In the eyes of the Hashira, Ubuyashiki Kagaya was a deeply respected man. Even Sanemi —sharp-tongued and combative as he was—would never dare cause a scene in front of his lord.
Giyu Tomioka also fell quiet. He was not one for words.
His earlier exchange with Sanemi had not been born of hostility; rather, he had hoped to form some sort of rapport. But Sanemi clearly had no interest in building a friendly relationship.
Among the Hashira, only a few spoke quietly among themselves. The Sound Hashira remained silent. The Love Hashira looked as though she wanted to say something, but no words came.
The Stone Hashira sat cross-legged, hands clasped over his prayer beads, lips moving faintly as though in sutra recitation.
Then, the Mist Hashira—who had been gazing absently at the sky—shifted his eyes toward the entrance of the courtyard.
One by one, the others followed his gaze. Conversation ceased. All eyes turned toward the entrance.
There, a young man approached at an unhurried pace, two swords at his side.
His fiery red hair blazed under the sunlight, and over his Corps uniform he wore a white haori that swayed lightly with his steps.
The most striking feature, however, was the teardrop-shaped mole beneath his right eye. That alone was enough to identify him.
"Oh! Takeo! You've returned!"
Rengoku Kyojuro was the first to break the silence, his booming voice full of warmth.
The others reacted in their own ways. Among them, Sanemi's expression grew taut. As his eyes fixed on Takeo, solemnity hardened his features—and along with it, a sharp edge of fighting spirit.
The faint pressure that filled the courtyard the moment Takeo entered made everyone realize just how much he had changed.
The Wolf Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps, absent for more than a year, now radiated a strength that none of them could fully grasp.
No one knew what he had done or what he had gone through during that time, but one thing was clear… this man was worth fighting.
Sanemi stepped forward, ready to address him.
But before he could, the voices of the twin sisters rang out from within the residence:
"The lord has arrived."
Ever since Ubuyashiki Kagaya had gone completely blind a year ago, the younger pair of twins had served as his eyes and ears, caring for him alongside his wife, Amane.
Their appearance meant only one thing—Kagaya himself was about to enter.
In an instant, the ten Hashira present returned to their seats, their attention fixed on the figure slowly emerging from the room.
"It has been a long time since we last gathered," Kagaya said softly. "I am truly delighted to see you all assembled here once more."
His words were simple, but the sincerity within them was unmistakable.
He was genuinely happy to see every Hashira present again.
It meant that none of them had been lost.
"We are also deeply glad to see our lord in good health!"
Kyojuro's resonant voice rang out, filled with warmth and conviction.
Kagaya smiled and nodded toward Kyojuro. "Thank you, Kyojuro-kun."
Then, turning his sightless gaze in Takeo's direction, he said gently,
"I am also glad to see you return to this meeting, Takeo-kun. Since you are here, I take it that what you have been pursuing has finally been achieved."