23 Vol. II Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

—Time accelerates, pushing the plot forward—

"It's been ages since we've heard about a new Twelve Kizuki appearing."

Another sweltering summer had arrived. The children of Sagiri Mountain were back at the mountain retreat, sitting around a bonfire and sharing a hotpot meal.

With their stomachs full, Haruto, Sabito, and Giyu sat on the veranda, listening to the cicadas' evening song. Naturally, their conversation turned to the Demon Slayer Corps.

"Yeah," Sabito said with a faint frown. "The region's been eerily quiet. So quiet it's making me uneasy."

He raised his voice to call out to Urokodaki, who was seated upright at the doorway, his back straight as ever. "Sensei, do you think something's up?"

The former Water Hashira turned his head, the tengu mask hiding his expression as he replied, "If demons were easy to understand, they wouldn't be demons."

Sabito chuckled softly and idly spun the teacup in front of him. "The mid-year Hashira meeting got delayed?"

"Yes," Haruto confirmed. "Kagaya has been unwell. He seemed to recover a bit, but the summer heat has worsened his condition again."

Haruto chewed on a piece of dried apricot, a treat made by Nezuko herself. The plump, golden fruits of June had been soaked in honey and dried over two weeks. On their last visit, the little girl had handed him a jar with a proud smile. Haruto had transferred some into a smaller container to keep handy, snacking on them when he had a moment to spare.

Sabito reached for Haruto's jar, swiping two pieces before trying for more. Haruto smacked his hand away.

"If you want some, get your apprentices to make them for you," Haruto teased, holding the jar out of reach.

Earlier this year, Sabito had taken on two apprentices, both fresh recruits from the selection process. Haruto had met them—a pair of burly boys using Water Breathing techniques. They were fine swordsmen but seemed hopeless in the kitchen.

As for Giyu…

"I'm fine on my own," Giyu said curtly.

Haruto snorted. "Who's bragging? It's not like your apprentice made these."

"Shut up," Giyu muttered. His lips twitched slightly, and Haruto caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. Without missing a beat, Haruto reached behind him to grab the jar.

"Hey! Tomioka Giyu! Is being the Water Hashira just an excuse to steal your comrades' snacks?" Haruto exclaimed. "And you've eaten so many already!"

"Exactly!" Sabito chimed in, laughing as the three of them scuffled playfully.

Makomo watched them from the side, a soft smile on her face. It was hard to believe these men were pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps, squabbling like children over a jar of dried apricots.

After the commotion settled, Sabito returned to the earlier topic. "Do you think Kagaya will be okay?"

Haruto thought back to his last visit to headquarters during the New Year's Hashira meeting. Kagaya had seemed in decent health then. His sudden decline was unexpected.

"I'll go check on him tomorrow," Haruto decided.

The Demon Slayer Corps headquarters was as serene as ever, though today there were more physicians at the entrance than usual.

"Miss Misaka?" Haruto called out, surprised to see a familiar face.

Misaka Miki turned toward him, her expression lighting up. "Haruto! What brings you here?"

"Did something happen to Kagaya? Why are there so many doctors here?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

"Oh, no, it's nothing like that," she reassured him, waving a hand. "Kagaya-sama's been recovering steadily. He's even been walking around the garden lately. We're here because he called us to treat a young boy who was gravely injured. Poor kid lost so much blood—it was a miracle we saved him."

Her gaze lingered a bit too long, making Haruto shift uncomfortably.

"Uh… well, I should get going. Kagaya is expecting me," he stammered.

"Oh, of course! Take care, Haruto!" she said with an enthusiastic wave.

"You lied," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said without preamble, effortlessly cutting through Haruto's excuse. "Out of all the children in the Corps, only you would use me as a pretext."

"I'm not one of your children!" Haruto replied with a cheeky grin. He glanced at the closed door nearby, catching the faint scent of medicine. "So, who's the injured one?"

Kagaya sighed, slowly standing to slide the door open.

Inside was a boy with long black hair that faded to green at the tips. He looked about the same age as Genya, his youthful face still soft with innocence. He lay lifeless on the futon, his body swathed in bandages. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, he might have been mistaken for dead.

Lady Amane knelt beside the boy, tending to him. She turned her head slightly to nod at Haruto in acknowledgment.

"This is…" Haruto hesitated.

"I suppose an introduction is in order," Kagaya said with a heavy sigh. "This is the last child of the Tokito family—the final descendant of the Tsugikuni lineage. His name is Tokito Muichiro."

Haruto's eyes widened in shock. Tsugikuni…! He'd only seen that name in passing, like a fleeting shadow among the barrage of memories and hints.

"What does that mean?" he asked urgently.

"You've seen the mechanical doll in the Swordsmith Village, haven't you? Yoriichi Type Zero?"

"Little Kotetsu's doll?"

"That's right. The Tsugikuni Yoriichi it was modeled after was a legendary swordsman from the Sengoku era. He created the Sun Breathing technique, the origin of all other Breathing forms, and singlehandedly elevated the Demon Slayer Corps to unparalleled strength.

"After his death, Muzan and his demons hunted down every practitioner of Sun Breathing. That most powerful technique was lost, along with nearly all of Yoriichi's lineage."

Kagaya's voice grew heavy with sorrow. "Even his descendants…"

He paused, his gaze softening as it fell on Muichiro. "The Tokito brothers lived as woodcutters in Mount Kagenobu, unaware of their heritage. It may have been their unassuming lives that saved them from Muzan's wrath. But yesterday, a demon attacked. The elder brother, Yuichiro, was killed protecting Muichiro.

"Muichiro pinned the demon down until sunrise, despite his injuries."

Haruto clenched his fists, his mind swirling with thoughts of Tanjiro and his connection to the earrings passed down from Yoriichi.

Kagaya's gentle voice broke his thoughts. "The Tsugikuni bloodline—an honor or a cage one can never escape?"

"Do you believe he'll bring hope to the Corps?" Haruto asked.

"I believe in every child within the Corps," Kagaya replied, his scarred face softening with a serene smile. "Including you, Haruto."