"Kaw, Kaw, urgent message! Urgent message!
Please return to headquarters immediately, Giyu Tomioka! Repeat, please return to headquarters immediately!"
"All right, all right, stop shouting already, I heard you the first time." Giyu Tomioka waved his hand at the crow perched above, signaling it to quiet down. It was shrill enough to wake the dead.
"I finally became a Hashira… what a year it's been."
He murmured the words with a trace of disbelief, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. There was one more important matter.
Picking up his pace, Tomioka made his way toward the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters.
When he arrived, the familiar courtyard greeted him—but this time, someone was waiting at the entrance.
She was around his age, with soft pink eyes, butterfly-themed hairpins, and a pastel-colored haori patterned like delicate wings. Her posture was poised, her aura serene, and she radiated kindness.
"Oh my, you must be Giyu Tomioka. I've heard so much about you~" Her voice was gentle and musical.
"Ah—excuse me, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Kanae Kocho. I'm currently in charge of the Butterfly Mansion."
Even her voice is calming, Giyu thought. Composing himself, he responded with a faint nod.
"Nice to meet you, Kanae. I stayed at the Butterfly Mansion for a few days recently, so I've heard of you too."
He glanced at her haori. "By the way, have you already become a Hashira?"
Kanae kept smiling, but her gaze dipped slightly.
"Yes. I encountered a Lower Rank demon recently. I… tried to talk to it. My dream is for humans and demons to coexist peacefully."
"But… it didn't work out."
Giyu frowned slightly, taking her words seriously.
"Let me put it plainly," he said. "Humans and demons cannot coexist."
"Kanae, there's a harsh reality you have to understand. To demons, we are food—nothing more. The most tempting kind."
"And to us, they are monsters. They slaughter families and destroy lives. There's no middle ground. It's blood and death on both sides."
Seeing her expression fall, Giyu softened his tone and quickly added:
"Though… there are exceptions. If a demon has never consumed a human, and they retain reason and choose not to harm others…"
"I can accept the idea of coexisting with them."
"But as for demons that have eaten humans? Even if you sympathize with them, you must kill them without hesitation."
"We don't have the right to forgive them—not on behalf of the people they've already destroyed."
Kanae cupped her hands under her chin, tilting her head with a serene smile.
"Thank you, Giyu, for saying all that. You're kinder than you look~"
"It's nothing," he replied flatly. "I'll be staying at the Butterfly Mansion to recover soon, so I'll be in your care."
He walked past her toward the meeting hall, his usual reserved demeanor returning. Kanae followed behind with a twinkle in her eye.
"He looks so cold… but he just opened up to me all at once. He's the type that's warm on the inside, isn't he?"
Inside, two figures were already waiting.
One stood like a mountain: over two meters tall, heavily muscled, blind with a scar across his forehead. Red prayer beads hung around his neck and between clasped hands. His presence radiated peace and power.
Himejima Gyomei – the Stone Hashira, the strongest in the Corps.
The other was almost as tall, with striking good looks, red eye makeup, and flamboyant clothing that screamed drama and extravagance.
Uzui Tengen – the Sound Hashira, self-proclaimed god of flashiness.
"Well, well. You two didn't take long to earn the title of Hashira," Tengen said with a smug grin. "I am the dazzling, spectacular Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen! Engrave it into your soul!"
"Quiet. The Master approaches," Gyomei intoned solemnly.
The sliding doors opened.
From within emerged Kagaya Ubuyashiki, walking slowly with a serene expression, followed closely by his twin daughters, Kiriya and Kanata—one black-haired, the other white.
"I'm grateful we could meet today," Kagaya said warmly. "Because the Demon Slayer Corps has gained two new Hashira."
"The Water Hashira—Tomioka Giyu."
"And the Flower Hashira—Kocho Kanae."
"Kanae, I entrust the Butterfly Mansion to you. And Giyu…" Kagaya gave him a rare smile. "Ever since we parted ways two years ago, I believed you could reach this place. You've fulfilled that hope."
"Please, both of you. Protect others. And continue to slay demons in the name of humanity."
Giyu and Kanae knelt respectfully.
"This is our duty. You need not thank us," Giyu said.
"I will carry out my role to the fullest," Kanae added with a bow.
Uzui glanced sideways at Giyu. So this cold-looking guy actually respects the Master that much…
Inside the room, Ubuyashiki shared recent intelligence—six months' worth of demon activity and updates on the Twelve Kizuki.
Giyu had plenty to say, especially about what he'd discovered during that harrowing year, but now wasn't the time. He would wait until all the Hashira were gathered.
After assigning patrol zones to both Giyu and Kanae, Ubuyashiki mentioned other organizational matters.
Uzui Tengen exhaled dramatically.
"Finally! We've got more people to share the workload. I was getting tired of carrying the Corps' flashiest burden all by myself!"
"Forgive me, Tengen," the Master said sincerely. "You've worked hard."
"No, no, Lord Ubuyashiki, it's fine! I was just letting off steam!" Uzui backpedaled quickly, waving his hands.
"Pfft~" Kanae covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Ubuyashiki chuckled softly, then dismissed them with a kind smile. "Let's end today's meeting here. Go and rest."
As the four exited the courtyard, Tomioka brought up the timeline in his mind.
Kanae died at seventeen… so there's still two years left. Is that enough time…?
Facing Dōma, even now, would mean instant death. That Upper Moon always toyed with his victims before finishing them, and his inability to feel true emotion might just be the only flaw Giyu could exploit.
Ahead of him, Kanae turned back, catching his gaze. She waved gently and smiled.
"Bye, Giyu~ I'll give what you said today some serious thought when I get back~"
Giyu said nothing, his gaze hardening.