"Only I've arrived..."
In the spacious room, only Yoizumi was present. The other Pillars had not yet arrived. He sat on the floor, his nichirin blade by his side, quietly waiting for the others.
"...Hello..." Giyu Tomioka, upon arriving, looked at Yoizumi in silence for a long moment before speaking.
"Hello."
Two pairs of emotionless blue eyes met for a few seconds, then both silently looked away, and the room fell into silence once more.
Giyu Tomioka quietly sat in front of Yoizumi to his right. Yoizumi looked at his back. Tanjirou had once told him.
It was this person he met that day, and because of him, Nezuko was able to survive. If it had been anyone else, perhaps... Yoizumi felt it was necessary to express his gratitude to him.
"Mr. Tomioka, thank you for taking care of my younger brother and sister."
Tomioka, with his back to Yoizumi, showed little emotion, merely lowering his head slightly as calm words came from him.
"I only did what I believed was right."
"Whoosh!" The room door opened again. A familiar young man with black hair tipped with green walked into the room stiffly. Seeing the people inside, his expressionless face softened slightly.
"Oh, there are people here. I thought I was the first."
Tokito Muichiro walked over and sat in front of Yoizumi, then turned his head to face him.
"Yoizumi-nii, may I call you that?"
"You may." Yoizumi nodded. Seeing that Muichiro looked well, he casually asked, "How is your body?"
"Thanks to Yoizumi-nii, I'm fine now."
"Mm."
That day, Yoizumi had performed a rotation for all the Demon Slayer Corps members in Swordsmith Village. As for Muichiro, Yoizumi was mainly concerned about whether his mark would have any adverse effects on his body.
If it did, he would have to pay more attention to Tanjirou as well.
The three people present were not the type to initiate conversation, and Muichiro also turned his head, falling into a state of waiting.
Shinobu immediately sensed the strange atmosphere upon entering: three cold-faced individuals staring blankly at the floor, not looking left or right.
"Shinobu."
Yoizumi was naturally the first to see Shinobu. A smile appeared on his usually indifferent face, the joy of seeing his beloved.
Smiling, she looked at Yoizumi and sat down beside him. Seeing that Shinobu was sitting a bit far from him, Yoizumi shifted his bottom, moving a little closer.
"No, no~" Shinobu reminded him softly.
"..."
Pressing his lips together, Yoizumi sat back in his original spot, but his eyes never left her.
Shinobu wasn't teasing Yoizumi out of malice; it was just that the Pillar Meeting was a very serious occasion, and she had to calm herself because there was no telling what this idiot Yoizumi might do next.
"Yo~ Long time no see, everyone!"
Uzui Tengen appeared, hooking Yoizumi's neck with one hand. They were a bit too close, so Yoizumi tilted his head to the other side, moving it further from Uzui Tengen's face.
"You've overcome the sun, you really are flamboyant!"
"Mr. Uzui~ Please return to your original seat." Shinobu reminded him with a smile.
Hearing this, Uzui Tengen released Yoizumi's neck, spread his hands, and looked helpless.
"Is it not enough to guard against women, but men too?"
"Isn't this a bit too strict..."
He was cut off before he could finish speaking, because Shinobu pulled out a syringe from who knows where, flicking the needle, causing the liquid inside to spray out.
"I feel Mr. Uzui needs to be cured of his loose tongue, don't you think~"
"Scary woman." Uzui Tengen patted Yoizumi's shoulder and sat in the front row.
Yoizumi, who was out of the loop, couldn't quite process it. Guard against women, guard against men? What did that mean?
Feeling his pinky finger being hooked, Yoizumi looked down to see Shinobu.
"Don't get too close to Mr. Uzui; he'll lead you astray."
"Mm." Lightly hooking Shinobu's pinky, Yoizumi agreed without thinking.
Of course, how could this escape Uzui Tengen's ears? He was very sensitive to sound.
That Yoizumi fellow.
He's probably completely wrapped around Kochou's finger.
"Everyone is so energetic!" Kyojuro Rengoku and Kanroji Mitsuri, who had met on the way, entered the room together. Rengoku's booming voice seemed to be unchangeable.
"Mitsuri~"
"Shinobu! Long time no see!" She happily linked arms with Shinobu, greeting her.
Kanroji Mitsuri really wanted to pull Shinobu aside for a chat. Ever since she heard the news that she and Yoizumi were together, she had been curious but hadn't found the right time.
After the meeting, she absolutely had to pull Shinobu aside and make her explain everything.
After all, this was one of the things girls were most interested in!
"Yoizumi! You've defeated two more Upper Ranks, you truly live up to your reputation!" Kyojuro Rengoku made no secret of his approval of Yoizumi.
"It's the result of everyone's hard work together." Yoizumi shook his head.
"Mhm! Kanroji generally told me the specifics."
"Let's continue with this momentum! We can definitely defeat Kibutsuji Muzan!"
Kyojuro Rengoku stood with his hands on his hips, his fiery red eyes seemingly burning with an unquenchable flame, his righteous voice echoing throughout the room.
"Rengoku, I could hear your voice from outside." Sanemi Shinazugawa said as he entered the room. His gaze fell upon Yoizumi, and he couldn't help but feel a wave of disgust. He scowled but didn't lash out.
After all, this guy had already killed four Upper Ranks in a row.
He had to admit, he really did have some skills.
Iguro Obanai, who followed behind him, glanced at a perfectly unharmed Kanroji Mitsuri, and let out a slight sigh of relief. Encountering an Upper Rank, getting injured was the least of it.
With the arrival of the last Pillar, Gyomei Himejima, all the Pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps were assembled at the headquarters.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki walked into the room, looking at the ten Pillars seated. The strongest fighting force of the Demon Slayer Corps was gathered here.
His light purple eyes were filled with hope for the future, and his unique, gentle voice reached everyone's ears.
"I am glad that everyone is here."
"Now, let the Pillar Meeting begin."
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