Kazuki clenched his fist. Feeling that he had let everyone down left his heart heavy. He truly wanted to tell them how the mark could be awakened—but the problem was that he himself had absolutely no idea.
"I really want to tell everyone how the mark can appear, but the mark on my forehead has been with me since birth. I don't know the conditions for its manifestation either…"
Kazuki said helplessly.
"I see…" After hearing Kazuki's words, Kagaya felt a trace of regret.
"I'm sorry… I've disappointed you, Master, and everyone else…" Kazuki said with self-reproach.
Seeing his reaction, Kagaya smiled.
Just like Kyojuro—kind-hearted, always thinking of others…
"There's no need to apologize. This is your own power to begin with. Having this intention alone is already more than enough," Kagaya said gently, comforting Kazuki.
He then continued:
"The First Breathing is also known as Sun Breathing. The Breathing Style you developed yourself is likewise called Sun Breathing. Coupled with the fact that you possess the mark once borne by users of the First Breathing, perhaps these coincidences are all part of fate itself.
"This may even be a sign. During the Sengoku era, the Demon Slayer swordsmen nearly succeeded in killing Kibutsuji Muzan. In the generation where the mark appears once more, Muzan will surely be slain!"
Kagaya's voice carried a stirring, uplifting force. His firm tone made one believe without doubt that his words would come true. Kazuki even overlooked the fact that Kagaya knew the name of his Breathing Style.
Encouraged by Kagaya's words, the Hashira responded in unison with renewed vigor.
After that, the Hashira Meeting officially began. The Hashira followed Kagaya into the estate, exchanging intelligence with one another and discussing internal matters of the Demon Slayer Corps.
Among all the topics raised, the one mentioned most frequently was this: the overall strength of the current generation of Demon Slayer swordsmen was too weak—very few were truly capable of fighting demons head-on and slaying them.
Naturally, Kazuki was excluded from this assessment. After all, his talent was arguably the strongest among the Hashira, and the time it took him to become a Hashira was even a month shorter than Tokito Muichiro's, who had previously set the record.
"Thank you all for your hard work. It's already noon—please return and rest for now," Kagaya said.
Time passed without notice, and it had already reached midday. Kagaya spoke to the Hashira.
A Hashira Meeting generally lasted several days. This period was also one of the few chances the Hashira had to rest briefly—time they could use to train their tsuguko or cultivate themselves.
After bidding farewell to Kagaya, the Hashira left the estate.
"Since we finally have a chance to all be together, how about we have a meal together?" Mitsuri suggested with a shy smile once they were outside. "After the meeting ends, we'll all be busy again and won't get to see each other."
"Yes! That's an excellent idea! I'm in!" Kyojuro replied loudly.
"I agree as well," Obanai said after a brief hesitation.
Although he very much wanted to eat with Mitsuri, he actually preferred having a meal alone with her. Since this was a group gathering, the other Hashira would certainly be joining too, which left him feeling a little regretful.
"That sounds pretty good. Then I'll agree in a flashy way as well," Uzui Tengen declared flamboyantly.
"Alright." Kazuki nodded in agreement too. He wanted to get to know the other Hashira better, since it was very likely they would be fighting side by side in the future.
Shinobu, Gyomei, Muichiro, and Sanemi also raised no objections.
"That's great!"
Seeing that no one objected, Mitsuri was extremely happy.
At that moment, Giyu turned and left on his own.
"Huh? Tomioka-san, aren't you coming too?" Mitsuri called out to him when she noticed.
After pausing briefly and responding with a quiet "Mm," Giyu silently walked away.
Not being able to invite all of the Hashira dampened Mitsuri's mood somewhat.
"What an annoying guy. Always wearing that 'poor me' expression—it makes my blood boil just looking at him," Obanai complained.
Nearly every Hashira present had experienced a tragic past, yet Giyu constantly wore his misfortune on his face, which made Obanai especially displeased with him.
"Amitābha… Perhaps Tomioka is simply poor with words? Maybe he just doesn't enjoy lively gatherings," Gyomei said, pressing his palms together.
Kazuki also felt puzzled by Giyu's behavior. It was just a meal together—there was really no need to avoid it.
Just like Tanjiro, he uses Water Breathing, but their personalities are completely different…
Kazuki thought as he watched Giyu's departing figure.
Tanjiro had always seemed quite talkative to him, but Giyu was…
From the moment they met until now, the only complete sentence Kazuki had heard him say was the one he spoke when being greeted: There's no need to greet me. I'm not the same as them.
And his expression hadn't changed once.
"Since Tomioka doesn't want to come, then let's go together!" Kyojuro said loudly.
And so, Kazuki went to the gathering meal with the other eight Hashira, excluding Giyu. However, once the meal began, he quickly started to regret it.
"Delicious! Delicious!" Kyojuro shouted as he ate heartily.
Sanemi quietly pulled a plate of ohagi in front of himself and ate in silence. Uzui Tengen picked only the most flashy-looking dishes. The Mist Hashira would eat two bites, then pause to think about whether he had actually eaten anything at all. Gyomei cried even while eating. Shinobu, on the other hand, was fairly normal.
But none of that was the real problem.
The real issue was Mitsuri and Obanai…
"Yō, try this! It's really good!" Mitsuri said while eating, continuously placing food into Kazuki's bowl.
Several clean, empty plates were already stacked in front of her, yet her eating speed showed no sign of slowing.
At the same time, Obanai, who was seated across from Kazuki, hadn't eaten a single bite. His eyes were locked firmly onto Kazuki, his entire body radiating intense resentment.
Mitsuri, perhaps driven by a desire to look after her junior, had sat beside Kazuki during the meal and occasionally helped him to food.
Because of this, Obanai kept staring at him the entire time, not touching his food at all. Being stared at so intensely, Kazuki himself hadn't managed to eat a single bite either.
At that moment, Kazuki understood one thing:
When you gaze at Mitsuri, Obanai gazes at you.
When Mitsuri gazes at you, Obanai still gazes at you.
If Kazuki suggested changing seats now, it might make Mitsuri uncomfortable. But if he didn't, Obanai's relentless stare made it impossible for him to eat in peace.
"Um… Iguro-san, could you please stop staring at me?"
Kazuki finally looked up and said helplessly.
At this point, he felt that Giyu's decision not to come was actually quite wise.
"Heh heh heh, you're being far too full of yourself. When exactly was I staring at you?" Obanai replied, then shifted his gaze away from Kazuki.
"Uh… alright."
Seeing that Obanai was no longer staring at him, Kazuki said nothing more and lowered his head, preparing to eat. But before he could even pick up his chopsticks, he once again felt Obanai's gaze upon him.
Even though Mitsuri was now fully focused on eating and had no time to serve Kazuki, Obanai was still staring at him without restraint.
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