Tomioka Giyu received the Kasugai Crow's message while standing under the waterfall, finishing his final breath-holding training.
The black crow burst through the mist, landing neatly on his shoulder. Its claws gripped lightly, not to harm.
"Tomioka Giyu! Emergency summons! Proceed to Headquarters immediately! The Hashira meeting has been moved up! No delays permitted!"
Giyu wiped the water from his face. His Nichirin Sword hung at his side, the scabbard damp and cold from the river.
He nodded once. The crow flapped its wings, circling upward. Before vanishing into the clouds, it croaked again hoarsely, "Leave at once!"
Back in the training hall, Giyu changed into a clean haori. He didn't say much to Urokodaki Sakonji—only left a brief message: "Heading to Headquarters."
The old man, sitting on the porch in his tengu mask, simply raised a hand in silent acknowledgment, asking nothing more.
As Giyu began his descent along the mountain trail, he started to piece together the timeline in his mind.
At this point in time, the Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters did not yet have many Hashira.
The Stone Hashira, Himejima Gyomei, should already be in position—the towering monk who always stood quietly at the edge of the room, his strength immeasurable. In Giyu's previous life, Gyomei was among those who fought until the very end in the Infinity Castle.
The Sound Hashira, Uzui Tengen, was also active.
The flamboyant ninja who loved to describe everything as "flashy"—his eccentric personality aside, his power was undeniable. According to memory, he had not yet retired from active duty and was still in his prime.
And then there was the Flower Hashira, Kocho Kanae.
Giyu's steps faltered slightly.
Kocho Kanae—the elder sister of Kocho Shinobu.
The woman who always smiled gently, strength and kindness perfectly balanced, yet one year from now, she would die by the hand of Douma, Upper Moon Two.
In his previous life, Giyu hadn't truly understood until after Kanae's death—how much conviction was hidden behind that soft smile.
The Wind Hashira, Shinazugawa Sanemi, would likely attain the title later this very year.
That hot-tempered man was often at odds with him, yet on the battlefield, he had proven to be one of the most dependable comrades.
As for the others—Tokito Muichiro, Kanroji Mitsuri, and Iguro Obanai—none had joined yet.
And Kocho Shinobu… Giyu thought of the sharp-eyed girl who would one day sacrifice herself for revenge.
Right now, she would be only thirteen years old.
She had probably just begun learning Breathing Techniques from her sister, perhaps tending to wounded slayers at the Butterfly Mansion. Her face, he imagined, would still carry traces of youth, without the edge of steel it would later bear.
Giyu drew in a slow breath and quickened his pace.
The Headquarters lay near the Butterfly Mansion, hidden deep within a mountain valley surrounded by protective barriers. Only Demon Slayers with an authorized token could pass through.
Guided by memory, he reached the barrier swiftly and stepped inside.
At the valley's center stood a traditional Japanese compound, serene and dignified. A few guards stood at the gate; upon seeing the Nichirin Sword at his waist and the Hashira insignia he carried, they immediately bowed and let him through.
The meeting chamber lay deep inside the compound.
When Giyu slid open the door, three people were already seated within.
The seat at the head of the room was empty—that belonged to Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the Corps' leader.
To the left sat Himejima Gyomei, dressed in monk's robes, hands clasped, eyes closed in silent prayer.
To the right sat Uzui Tengen, draped in an ornate purple haori, idly tapping the table with his fingers in rhythmic beats.
Next to him sat Kocho Kanae, her haori adorned with delicate butterfly patterns. A gentle smile graced her lips, and when her eyes met Giyu's, she inclined her head slightly in greeting.
"Oh my, so this is the rookie who cut down a Lower Moon so easily?"
Uzui raised an eyebrow, his tone half-mocking, half-assessing.
"Looks calmer than I expected."
Giyu said nothing and quietly took an open seat. He wasn't one for conversation, especially in formal settings like this.
Gyomei slowly opened his eyes, his gaze steady and searching, but he said nothing.
"Tomioka-kun achieving such power at such a young age is truly remarkable," said Kocho Kanae softly. "I imagine Urokodaki-sensei must be very proud of you."
"Mm." Giyu answered simply.
The meeting proceeded. The topics ranged from reports of demon appearances across various regions to the distribution of assignments among the Hashira.
Giyu mostly listened, speaking only when directly asked.
But every time he did, his responses were concise and precise.
When they discussed a demon known for extreme speed, he immediately pointed out a flaw in its movement pattern and suggested using high-mobility forms of Breathing to counter it. Even Uzui Tengen paused mid-tap to glance at him with faint surprise.
Throughout the session, Kocho Kanae maintained her gentle smile. Her comments focused on minimizing casualties and prioritizing the safety of their subordinates, preferring strategy and precision over brute force.
Giyu, however, knew in his heart—such mercy, when facing the Upper Moons, often came with devastating consequences.
When the meeting ended, Uzui Tengen was the first to rise. He clapped Giyu on the shoulder with a grin.
"Kid, not bad at all. Strong—but way too gloomy. Come by my place sometime, have a drink, and I'll show you what it means to live flashily!"
With that, he strode off, laughing loudly as his footsteps echoed down the corridor.
Himejima Gyomei pressed his palms together in silent prayer toward Giyu, then turned and left the room.
Kocho Kanae gathered the papers from the table. Seeing that Giyu hadn't moved, she smiled gently and asked, "Tomioka-kun, is there something else?"
"No."
Giyu shook his head. He looked at her calm, kind smile, wanting to speak, but in the end, he swallowed the words.
He understood her ideals—her wish to find a way for demons and humans to coexist. Even knowing how impossible that dream was, she never gave up on it.
If he told her now that one year from this moment she would die at the hands of an Upper Moon, she would probably only smile and say, "Thank you for your concern, but I'll be careful."
Such words would change nothing.
He turned and walked out of the meeting room.
Just as he reached the doorway, he noticed a girl in the corridor not far ahead.
She wore the uniform of the Butterfly Mansion, holding a medicine box in her hands. Her figure was slender, her hair tied into two braids that hung over her shoulders.
Her profile was soft, still carrying traces of youth, though her brows already showed a quiet focus beyond her years.
Kocho Shinobu.
At thirteen, she was shorter than in his memory, her gaze not yet sharp or heavy with experience. When she heard his footsteps, she looked up warily.
The moment she saw his face—and the Nichirin Sword at his waist—her eyes widened slightly. She clearly recognized him: the newly appointed Water Hashira.
She straightened immediately and bowed slightly. "Tomioka-sama."
Giyu stopped walking.
He could have continued on his way, but for some reason, his feet refused to move.
A year from now, this girl would lose her sister. She would bear the title of Flower Hashira alone, dedicating her entire life to a revenge that would end with her own death.
In his previous life, he had been powerless to stop it. He had only arrived in time to see her poison bring down Upper Moon Two.
This time, he wanted to try something different.
Giyu stepped toward her.
Instinctively, Shinobu took a half-step back, her grip tightening on the medicine box, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Is something the matter, Tomioka-sama?"
Her voice still carried a trace of childishness, though steady and polite.
Giyu met her gaze and spoke softly, careful not to startle her. "When your sister—Kocho Kanae—takes on a solo mission… could you let me know?"
Shinobu blinked, unsure if she'd heard correctly. "I'm sorry… what did you say?"
"Anytime she goes alone," he said again, his tone calm but firm, "before she departs—or even during the mission—have your crow send word to mine."
Shinobu frowned slightly, studying him.
Tomioka Giyu—the new Water Hashira. Rumor said he was cold and distant, rarely speaking with others.
They had never met before, and now, suddenly, he was asking her to report whenever her sister acted alone? It was too strange.
"Tomioka-sama… why would you want that?"
"No reason," he cut her off quietly. "Just do it."
His tone remained even, but the steady look in his eyes gave her pause.
He was a Hashira, equal in rank to her sister. She couldn't easily refuse a direct request.
And yet, there was no sense of malice in his words—only something unreadable.
After a moment's silence, she nodded. "…All right. If my sister goes on a solo mission, I'll have the crow inform you."
Giyu nodded slightly in response.
Looking at her young, still-innocent face, he exhaled softly in relief.
That was one step forward.
He couldn't stop Kocho Kanae from taking missions—that would draw suspicion and go against the duties of a Hashira.
But at least now, if danger came, he would know. He could reach her in time.
As for why he didn't tell Kocho Kanae directly—he remembered her smile during the meeting, so gentle and understanding.
If he said, "You shouldn't go alone; it's dangerous. Let me go with you," she would only smile and reply, "Tomioka-kun, it's all right. I'll be careful," then still leave by herself.
Her kindness and conviction were both her strength—and her burden.
Shinobu, on the other hand, was different.
At thirteen, she was more pragmatic, sharper in perception. Through her, he could act without alerting Kanae.
"Thank you," Giyu said simply, turning to leave.
"Tomioka-sama," Shinobu suddenly called after him.
He stopped and turned back.
Her eyes lifted to meet his, calm but searching. "Do you… know something?"
He paused for a moment, staring into those clear, unguarded eyes—then shook his head. "No."
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
Shinobu stayed where she was, watching his back disappear down the corridor. Her brows furrowed even deeper.
This Tomioka Giyu… was truly strange.
She glanced down at the medicine box in her hands, sighed softly, and started walking.
"Well, I agreed," she murmured. "And I worry about Onee-san too… maybe this Water Hashira really can help somehow."
Her steps grew quicker as she made her way toward the Butterfly Mansion. The sunlight filtering through the corridor windows stretched her shadow long behind her.
Outside the Headquarters barrier, Giyu looked up at the sky.
Thick clouds were gathering—it looked like rain.
There was still time.
Before Kocho Kanae's fate arrived, he had to become stronger—strong enough to face Upper Moon Two, strong enough to change the ending that once could not be changed.
His hand closed tightly around the hilt of his Nichirin Sword. The cold metal against his palm steadied him.
The road ahead was long, but he had already taken the first step.