Three months later, Hayama.
The once-bustling training grounds had grown much quieter.
There was no more sparring with wooden swords, no more chanting during morning runs, and no more endless wailing and complaining.
Muzan was dead, and the Wind Breathing style no longer needed new disciples.
Asuka sat alone at the mountaintop training ground, using his one remaining eye to gaze at the churning sea of clouds below.
His right arm had withered into a frail, skeletal limb, the skin ulcerated and showing no signs of improvement no matter how much medicine was applied.
Although he had told his master there was no need to waste medicine on him, the old man was incredibly stubborn. Even Jigoro Kuwajima, who occasionally came over to play chess with Tetsushin Arisaki, grew angry at Asuka's attitude:
"What kind of nonsense is that! When a person is sick, of course they need to take medicine! I refuse to watch you die before I do!"
But his body was beyond recovery.
If he wanted to heal this physical vessel, he would have to release his Spiritual Pressure, which would only cause even more trouble. Thus, Asuka simply gave up.
There were no more demons. There was no longer any need to fight.
"Asuka, you skipped breakfast again."
Rika's voice sounded from behind. She was looking at him while holding a tray with pickles and plain porridge.
Asuka smiled. He had been practicing his smile lately, and it looked much more natural now. "I don't have an appetite."
"You still have to eat something even if you don't have an appetite! You barely eat anything for lunch and dinner, and now you're skipping breakfast. How are you ever going to recover?"
Seeing Rika's expression, Asuka stopped arguing. He took the bowl of porridge with his left hand and forced himself to swallow a few mouthfuls.
It hurt so much.
His esophagus was completely destroyed, though he hadn't told anyone.
"...Did Shinobu eat?" he asked, furrowing his brow as he handed the bowl back to Rika, his eyes drifting toward the dojo.
Rika's expression dimmed, and she shook her head.
"Lady Insect Hashira... hasn't woken up yet."
"...Alright. Thank you." Asuka fell silent once more.
Shinobu Kocho's body was also nearing its absolute limit.
Whether it was the Ubuyashiki family's physicians or renowned doctors from the outside world, all were completely helpless against Shinobu's condition.
Every doctor stated bluntly that it was already a miracle this young lady had survived this long.
For more than half of every day, Shinobu had to rely on medication just to sleep, which deeply pained Asuka's heart.
"Caw! Caw!"
Just as Asuka was about to go brew medicine for Shinobu with Rika, he heard the familiar cry of a Kasugai Crow.
His crow, Kuroba, landed gracefully in front of him.
Asuka hadn't seen the bird since the battle in the Infinity Castle, so he couldn't help but feel a bit surprised.
Kuroba bowed respectfully, acting completely unlike a typical Kasugai Crow. "Lord Storm Hashira... The Master sends his regards and invites you to attend a Hashira Meeting."
"A Hashira Meeting?" Asuka didn't understand. "Muzan is dead. What else is there to discuss?"
"It is regarding the disbandment of the Demon Slayer Corps..."
A few days later.
A spring breeze swept through the wisteria branches, knocking loose a flower bud that landed on Asuka's shoulder.
Supported by two Kakushi members, he and Shinobu limped into the new estate of the Ubuyashiki family.
"It smells so sweet... Have they bloomed?"
Shinobu murmured softly, sniffing the scent in the air.
Asuka stopped walking, took the bud from his shoulder, and placed it in her palm, speaking loudly, "Yeah, the wisteria has bloomed!"
"So it's wisteria... I couldn't even tell..." She smiled with a hint of distress, her eyes vacant as she slowly followed Asuka's footsteps into the courtyard.
By now, almost everyone had gathered in the courtyard, though two figures were missing.
The Stone Hashira, Gyomei Himejima, had passed away shortly after the battle in the Infinity Castle.
Although his injuries hadn't been life-threatening, manifesting the Demon Slayer Mark had completely overdrawn his remaining life force.
After leaving behind his final wishes, he returned to his small temple and passed away with a smile beneath the dim light of the ancient Buddha.
According to the Kakushi who cared for him, right before his death, Gyomei seemed to be happily conversing with people no one else could see.
For a man who had spent half his life fighting in the dark, this was perhaps the best possible end.
The other missing person was the Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui.
He had already made a flamboyant return to his ninja village to spend flamboyant nights with his three wives, completely ignoring the Demon Slayer Corps' Kasugai Crows.
But Asuka guessed that, given his personality, he simply disliked this kind of somber atmosphere.
The rest of the Hashira, including Tanjiro's trio, were sitting cross-legged in the courtyard, exchanging greetings and catching up.
Seeing Asuka and Shinobu enter, their expressions turned serious.
Ultimately, the defeat of Muzan Kibutsuji was entirely thanks to Asuka.
"...How have you been lately?"
Everyone was a bit unsure of how to start, so it was Giyu Tomioka—the one least capable of reading the room—who spoke up first.
"Not bad, just lost some of my appetite."
"M-Mr. Asuka! Good day!" Tanjiro greeted nervously.
"Yo!"
Sanemi Shinazugawa raised an eyebrow at him. Sitting next to him was a boy who looked very much like him, sporting a strange mohawk.
"Haha! Toritaro! Look at your miserable state! You definitely can't beat me now! Haha!"
"Idiot! Show some respect to Mr. Asuka!!!"
Zenitsu and Inosuke were as noisy and rowdy as ever, but Asuka didn't mind it at all.
With the help of the Kakushi, he and Shinobu sat down on soft cushions.
Beside them, Mitsuri Kanroji gently held Shinobu's hand. "Shinobu, are you feeling any better lately?"
"Ah... It's Mitsuri, right? I've already eaten."
Mitsuri frowned and looked at Asuka, only to receive a shake of his head in response.
The chain reaction caused by the massive amount of wisteria poison and the corrosion of the Blood Demon Art had severely damaged Shinobu's five senses. She had long since lost the ability to hear people clearly.
The Love Hashira sniffled, her eyes turning red. Beside her, Obanai Iguro reacted quickly, hastily offering a handkerchief.
"When are you and Mr. Iguro getting married?"
Although Shinobu couldn't see, her sudden question shattered the previously sorrowful atmosphere, causing both of them to sit back down with blushing faces.
She turned her head and playfully stuck her tongue out in Asuka's direction.
"Umu! It is indeed time to get married! After all, none of us will live past twenty-five! Hahaha!"
"Mr. Rengoku, saying something like that is really..."
Tanjiro looked at Kyojuro Rengoku, who was as cheerful as ever and completely dismissive of life-and-death matters, feeling a wave of helplessness.
"Things will get better."
Muichiro Tokito's expression was much gentler now compared to before, and a sincere smile graced the corners of his lips.
His memory issues had been resolved, and he was no longer in that cold, dazed state.
"I hope so. Where is the Master?"
Asuka looked around. Although all the Hashira had gathered, he didn't see Kiriya anywhere.
He really was just like his father, always making his appearance last.
Just as he said that, Kiriya Ubuyashiki's figure gracefully appeared.
Accompanied by his two sisters, he walked out from the inner room with a smile. "My lords, thank you for waiting."
Everyone's gaze focused on that small figure.
This child, only eight years old, appeared before them wearing the most solemn formal attire of the family head.
"Good day to you all, my lords."
He looked around the courtyard, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment every time he met someone's eyes.
When his gaze fell upon Asuka's withered, crippled arm, his breath noticeably hitched, and his eyes quickly grew red.
But Kiriya quickly held back his tears, restoring the solemnity expected of the family head.
"To see everyone gathered here once again today brings me profound comfort..." He deliberately lowered his voice, displaying a composure far beyond his years.
"However, today marks the final Hashira Meeting."
"As the ninety-eighth head of the Ubuyashiki family, I hereby announce—"
"Effective today, the Demon Slayer Corps is officially disbanded!"
With those words, he and his two sisters dropped to their knees, crossed their hands in front of their foreheads, and bowed deeply to everyone present.
"The thousand-year sin of my Ubuyashiki clan, the evil demons that have plagued the human world for a millennium, have finally been purged through your desperate battles..."
"I, Kiriya, on behalf of the ancestors of the Ubuyashiki family, and on behalf of all the innocent people murdered by evil demons over the past thousand years... extend my most sincere gratitude to you all!!"
"Thank you for choosing to wield your swords even in the darkest of times."
"Thank you for being willing to entrust your lives to the Ubuyashiki clan."
"Truly... thank you so much!"
His forehead struck the wooden floor heavily, producing a muffled thud.
In that moment, he was not the lofty Master, but rather a young child repaying his family's debts.
"Master! Please, stand up!" Tanjiro was the first who couldn't help but rise to his feet, his eyes wet with tears. "This was our own choice..."
The Hashira, who had always deeply respected Kagaya Ubuyashiki, naturally couldn't bear to see the Master's young son perform such a profound bow. They hurriedly moved to help him up.
"No." Kiriya did not lift his head, his voice choked with emotion. "Please let me remain in this position and finish speaking..."
"Lord Asuka."
Called by name, Asuka merely sat there calmly.
Bathed in the sunlight, his slightly pale face always seemed to possess a translucent quality, as if he might scatter into the wind at any moment.
"If you hadn't stepped forward at the most critical juncture and slain Muzan Kibutsuji, I don't know how many more children would have died because of his tyranny..."
"You are the savior of this world... Lord Asuka, thank you!"
These words were undeniably true, and all the Hashira-level swordsmen agreed.
Although they had fallen unconscious and failed to witness the Demon King's death.
But that figure standing suspended in the air... made them afraid to dwell too deeply on just what kind of existence Asuka truly was.
Following Kiriya's lead, they all bowed deeply to Asuka, expressing their gratitude.
Asuka slightly lowered his eyelids.
"...There is no need to thank me. I only did what I had to do," Asuka spoke hoarsely. He was very unaccustomed to being revered like this.
"If you want to thank someone, thank those brave souls who, despite being mere mortals of flesh and blood, cast aside life and death."
"Like your father Kagaya, your mother Amane, your sisters, and the countless members of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"It was their courage that created the opportunity for the final battle against Muzan, exposing his cowardice to the sunlight and ultimately leading to his demise."
Hearing his parents' names, Kiriya, who had been trying so hard to maintain the dignity of the family head, shed silent tears.
In the face of those two words, this eight-year-old child ultimately reverted to being an ordinary orphan.
A spring breeze swept through the wisteria branches, spreading their fragrance throughout the garden.