That year, at sixteen, Kiyokawa Izumi sat down quite inconspicuously in the last seat, silently muttering to himself.
'Don't see me... don't see me!'
"Cough—"
The discomfort in his lungs caused a slight cough.Izumi felt the gazes sweeping over him ; Kiyokawa Izumi lowered his head slightly, not daring to meet their eyes.
'I feel like I don't fit in with this bunch at all.'
Izumi raised his head slightly
'Hey, hey! Why is everyone looking at me? Haven't you seen a newcomer before?'
'Eh? Has the Love Hashira not become a Hashira yet? ..'
slap!!
"Young Kiyokawa, you are quite remarkable!"
A hearty laugh broke the eerie silence of the scene. Kyoujurou slapped Kiyokawa Izumi's shoulder hard; he had also been greatly surprised when he first heard the news.
Kiyokawa Izumi's body silently leaned toward Kochou Shinobu, but unfortunately, she was exceptionally petite and couldn't block all the gazes for the shy youth.
No one spoke. After the laughter ended, it returned to an eerie silence.
The Serpent Hashira sat in a tree, looking down at Kiyokawa Izumi from above, his thoughts unknown.
The Wind Hashira, sitting cross-legged, had a direct and aggressive gaze. Though he said nothing, there was a faint hint of doubt.
The Water Hashira stood alone in the distance; unsociable as always, he appeared taciturn.
The burly Stone Hashira wept silently, his large hands constantly rubbing prayer beads. "Has another newcomer become a Hashira... The strength of the Demon Slayer Corps has grown once more."
The Mist Hashira looked up at the clouds on the horizon, appearing indifferent to everything—he was the youngest present and had not yet regained his memories.
Uzui Tengen didn't say anything flashy; he just looked at him and the Insect Hashira with a strange gaze—why were these two leaning so close together?
"Cough—"
Unable to hold it in, he coughed softly again.
"Have some water!"
A fair right hand handed over a small water flask. Kiyokawa Izumi took it instinctively and drank, then shifted his body uncomfortably.
Gazes were constantly sizing him up, some direct and others subtle.
Couldn't these guys look at something else?
The sky is so blue, the clouds so white—aren't they better to look at than a grown man like him?
That year, at sixteen, in front of the Headquarters' courtyard, Kiyokawa Izumi was restless.
Of course, this was all an act.
Lowering his head slightly, the blood-red Sharingan surfaced in an instant, the pitch-black Tomoe spinning rapidly in his pupils as he hungrily observed the breathing rhythms of the others.
This place was simply a treasure trove!
There were so many things worth learning!
He wished he could fight the other eight Hashira right now, preferably from morning until tomorrow night.
"What are you looking at?"
Kiyokawa Izumi turned to look at Shinazugawa Sanemi and asked curiously.
'This guy has an incredibly explosive temper and gets agitated easily. Will he start a fight with me right here?'
'There are also many things worth learning from the Wind Hashira!'
'What's there to be ashamed of? If I'm dead last, I'm dead last. Anyway, I'm just an ordinary person.'
Shinazugawa Sanemi took a deep breath, his lips twitching visibly.
Surprisingly, he silently looked away and stopped staring at Kiyokawa Izumi.
"..."
__________
That's not right. Shouldn't this guy say something like, "So what if I am?"
And then question his strength on the spot.
"How can someone who hasn't even mastered Total Concentration Breathing: Constant stand on equal footing with us?"
___________
This is what Izumi believes the Wind Hashira is currently thinking.
While Kiyokawa Izumi was confused by the turn of events, he suddenly heard Uzui Tengen say something cryptic.
"You have a very flashy pair of eyes, young man!"
The high-EQ Sound Hashira dissolved the slightly delicate atmosphere with just one sentence.
Everyone's focus shifted to Kiyokawa Izumi's eyes, each with their own thoughts.
They weren't overly surprised, though.
After all, it was just a pair of special eyes.
Aren't the Serpent Hashira's heterochromatic eyes also quite special?
"Uncle, you're quite flashy too!"
Kiyokawa Izumi replied casually; no matter what he said, adding "flashy" was never wrong.
"Un... Uncle?"
Uzui Tengen, with his arms crossed, was caught off guard. "Listen up! I am the God of Festivals who presides over flashiness, Uzui Tengen!"
Although he was a bit chuunibyou, slightly improper, and didn't look like a good guy, he was the first Senior present to introduce himself to the newcomer.
Kiyokawa Izumi glanced at him; he had just contracted a disease—he didn't want to talk to a man with three beautiful wives.
It was terminal, and definitely not because of envy.
Someone poked him hard in his left waist. "Then I'll give a simple introduction. Kiyokawa Izumi, a nobody."
"What a completely un-flashy introduction!"
Uzui Tengen shook his head as he heard it, unable to resist complaining.
No Aura at all!
Who introduces themselves like that?
Young man, this won't do. You must be flashy like me!
"Kochou, you seem to be quite familiar with him?"
Noticing this, Uzui Tengen couldn't help but ask.
"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi is a frequent visitor to the Butterfly Mansion."
"Is that so?"
Facing the smiling Kochou Shinobu, Uzui Tengen looked thoughtful.
"My children, good morning..."
Just then, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, being supported, slowly walked out.