When Uzui received the message from his crow, he was rather surprised.
"Wasn't the Hashira Meeting scheduled for the end of the month? Why has it been moved up?"
"Gah! It's Oyakata-sama's command! An important matter is to be announced! Unless you absolutely cannot leave your post, please attend in person!"
Hearing this, he had no further objections. He called his three wives over and explained the situation regarding the investigation into the Twelve Kizuki.
"In short, although we've gathered some intelligence, it still needs to be carefully verified before we take action," he said, looking at them. "But since the Hashira Meeting has been moved up, I won't be able to accompany you."
"So if you notice even the slightest sign of trouble, withdraw immediately. Forget the mission and retreat at once.
"Every life has its own place in my priorities. As the flamboyant God of Festivals, I decided that order long ago. Without question, your lives come first, then the lives of other people, and lastly my own.
"As a Hashira, that might sound biased. But to put it flamboyantly—compared to everyone else, I care more about yours. You're the people I chose, so dying is not allowed. Understood?"
Hinatsuru and the other two exchanged glances, then all three smiled.
"Yes, Tengen-sama."
After meeting with the head of the Wisteria House to arrange matters within his jurisdiction, he set off toward the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters to attend the meeting.
Even so, he couldn't stop wondering what had happened to make the meeting be called earlier than planned.
Because his territory was so far away, the journey still took three days—even though his speed and stamina ranked among the best of the Hashira.
He arrived in the area on the morning before the meeting and stayed at the Kocho sisters' residence—the closest place to headquarters—to rest before heading there with them.
What surprised him slightly was running into Sabito and Tomioka from the Water trio as well.
"Well now, it's been a while. What a flamboyant reunion!" Uzui stepped forward and patted Sabito on the shoulder. "Good—you've become even more flamboyant! Giyu is whatever, but seeing you here is pretty unexpected."
Sabito pushed up his mask and smiled.
"Uzui-san, that's a bit harsh. Am I not allowed to come?"
"Hey now, your territory's pretty close after all—" He slung an arm around Sabito's neck and lowered his voice. "So what, are you like that kid Shinazugawa? Taken with Kanae?"
Sabito looked startled and lowered his voice as well.
"Huh? Sanemi likes Kanae? You're kidding, right?"
"Hah! You didn't notice?" Uzui said smugly. "I've got three wives—this kind of thing is obvious to me! Come on, come on, let me tell you…"
Tomioka watched the two whispering with their arms slung over each other's shoulders and tilted his head slightly.
[So Shinazugawa likes Kanae? No wonder he kept staring at me the last time I walked with her. He probably wanted to walk with Kanae instead… Next time I should invite Shinazugawa along too. Then we can all go eat hagi mochi together.]
"By the way, out of the intelligence the Master sent earlier about the Twelve Kizuki and possible suspects, how many places did you handle?"
He snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Uzui.
"Two."
Sabito, however, gave a wry smile.
"Does mine count as one? Aside from the Lower Moon demon I dealt with alongside Hiru, every place I checked afterward had already been abandoned. Back before I became a Hashira, I used to run into them all the time…"
"Your luck really swings wildly, huh…" Uzui stroked his chin. "Come to think of it, where's that girl? Hmm… Makomo, right? Your Water trio always seems to gather before the Hashira Meeting."
However, the moment he said that, Sabito's expression darkened.
It was Tomioka who answered.
"She was injured. I got there too late."
Seeing Sabito pull his mask back on to hide his expression, Uzui tried to make sense of Tomioka's words.
"You mean… Makomo was injured, and you got there too late to help?"
"No. Makomo was injured and sent to the Kocho house. Giyu meant he only received the news later and was the last to arrive there," Sabito said, his voice muffled. "Makomo… was hurt by the very villagers she saved from a demon."
The smile faded from Uzui's face.
"…What happened?"
"Makomo followed the intelligence and successfully killed the demon," Sabito explained. "But the villagers who worshipped it resented her for it. They pretended to thank her and lured her into a trap…"
The veins in his hand bulged as he gripped the scabbard of his sword. If one listened closely, the faint grinding of teeth could even be heard.
"Those villagers threw themselves off a cliff while holding onto her. Luckily, she got caught on a tree growing out of the cliffside. The crow also managed to bring other swordsmen in time to rescue her…"
The smile vanished completely from Uzui's face.
"What's Makomo's condition now?"
"She's out of danger…" Sabito let out a long breath, his voice gradually steadying. "I just don't understand it. Why would some people rather live like slaves than live freely by their own strength?"
Uzui lightly patted him on the shoulder.
"Some people choose to live like that. They may not deserve saving, but the duties we carry still have to be fulfilled.
"You two might want to learn from Hiru—or from me. Before dealing with the demon, just break the limbs of anyone who might get in the way. Or knock them unconscious first."
Sabito's rising anger stalled.
"…Isn't that a bit inhumane?"
Tomioka spoke up at that moment.
"It's effective."
Sabito blinked.
"No way… Giyu, you actually did that?"
"No. Just standing there quietly works."
"Huh? What is he talking about now?"
Sabito raised a hand to cover his mask.
"Giyu means that if he just stands there expressionless and stares at people without responding, they'll back off on their own… That guy Hiru is always teaching him useless tricks when I'm not around."
"Hah—then we'll give him a piece of our minds at tomorrow's Hashira Meeting!" Uzui said at once. "We'll do it together! Because of him, the swordsmith chewed me out last time!"
"Speaking of that, my sword got wrecked last time too! The way that guy uses a sword is completely unreasonable!"
"Mine has never been broken."
Uzui and Sabito immediately fell silent.
Both slowly turned to look at the expressionless Giyu.
"Hey, Sabito… you don't have anything to say this time?"
Sabito looked at Giyu's unusually innocent expression, then silently turned his head away.
"…Tomorrow is the meeting, and we still have to see the Master. So at least wait until after the meeting. Please."