Back to the Estate

After the attack from the Upper Moon on the swordsmith village, plans to revitalize and move it had to be expedited. Otherwise, once it turns night more Demons will come.

Despite the village being attacked by two Upper Moons, the village sustained minimum casualties. There wouldn't be any time to mourn the fallen since Demons wouldn't wait.

Back at the Butterfly Estate, Hiroto was lying in a room. The several injuries on his body were all bandaged up.

"Ngnghhh." Groaning, Hiroto slowly opened his eyes. What he saw was a familiar white ceiling.

*sigh* "Why is it, whenever I come back here, it's always on a stretcher?" Hiroto softly grumbled, sitting up.

"Ack!" Gripping his side in pain, Hiroto adjusted his position and sat up more comfortably. Looking around, he saw his uniform neatly packed to one side of the room, next to his sword. However, there was also another weapon there. The Wakazashi that Atsuhiko was polishing up.

Smiling, Hiroto observed the rest of the room and slowly got out of bed.

"Where is everyone?" Hiroto muttered as he walked over to the door. Opening slowly, he trotted down the hallway aimlessly, looking for someone.

"Hahaha!"

Faintly, Hiroto could hear the sound of some girls laughing. Following the voices, he arrived at the garden. What he saw made him pause.

"Hahaha! Come on, Nezuko! You need to do it like this!" Sumi laughed.

"Yea, you can't just drop it!" Kiyo laughed as well.

Watching them, Hiroto saw Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho playing with Nezuko, who ran around with them.

Stopping, Nezuko turned and saw Hiroto. Looking at him, she gave off a big smile and ran towards him.

"Nezuko!" Hiroto said as he walked forward. Nezuko then jumped forward into Hiroto's arms.

"Agh!" Sumi cried out.

"Hiroto is awake!" Kiyo said.

"Quick! We need to find Kocho-Sama!" Naho said. The three girls nodded and took off in different directions.

Hiroto hugged her back and pinched himself. "This isn't a dream right?"

Nezuko then said, "Isn't...Isn't Dream. Is… Is Okay?" Nezuko tried to mutter out.

"B-Brother...Is okay?" Nezuko spoke out.

With eyes widening, Hiroto hugged her tighter with some tears falling down his face.

"Yea...I'm okay. Just happy." Hiroto muttered.

A while later, Hiroto was back in his bed.

"HI-RO-TO~KUN. Just what were you thinking, leaving your room the moment you woke up?" Shinobu said, smiling with her arms cross.

Next to her stood Kanao, who assumed a similar pose and said, "You were heavily injured, and yet you're walking around?"

Hiroto began to sweat under the pressure that was exerted from the two girls. "U-Um, it's just that. I needed to pee. Yes. I needed to use the bathroom, like, really badl-"

*clang* Dropping a bowl onto the ground, Shinobu smiled and said, "That's why we have these."

*gulp* "I-I'm sorry!" Hiroto shouted. "I won't do it again! So please, have mercy!"

*sigh* Sighing, Shinobu said, "Look. We're worried about you. You just suddenly woke up after being out cold for only two days. With how damaged you are, I'm amazed at how quickly you were able to wake up, and not just that but you were able to walk around afterward."

"Well, although I still feel some pain here and there, it's not as bad as the previous times. I feel like I can get back to my full strength in around a few more days." Hiroto said, waving his arms around.

Smiling at him, Shinobu turned to leave and said, "I'll go, for now, I need to go and report that you've woken up. Besides…" Pausing at the doorway, she softly said, "...I'm glad you're safe."

Smiling Hiroto didn't say anything and watched her leave the room. Turning to Kanao, Hiroto saw her standing there silently, looking a bit downcast.

"Kanao? What's wrong?" Hiroto asked, concerned.

"I-I…" Kanao stuttered as tears started to form at the edge of her eyes. "I… I was so worried. When I heard that you were fighting against another Upper Moon, I wanted to go help you, but I was too far away. And by the time you got back here, you arrived in a broken state…"

Hiroto watched her silently as she began to cry. Getting up from his bed, he walked over and brought her into a hug, startling her.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for making you worry. But look on the bright side, we managed to take down another Upper Moon. We're one step closer to finally taking down Muzan. And when we do, no one else will have to go through what we did. No one will have to be hurt or killed by Muzan any longer." Hiroto said, comforting her.

Not saying anything Kanao nodded her head silently.

Smiling, Hiroto said, "That's better. See? Haven't I practically recovered?"

Blushing, Kanao quickly separated from him and left the room.

Shaking his head, Hiroto got back into his bed. *sigh* "It is quite troublesome. So far, I've met and fought with 2 Upper Moons. Why is it, whenever an Upper Moon appears, it's always gotta have to be around me?"

*bang* The door to his room swung open, and in the entranceway stood Rengoku.

"Hiroto! How are you feeling? Haha, I heard that you managed to defend and defeat an Upper Moon! Both you and your brother did an excellent job!" Rengoku shouted as he entered the room.

Hiroto said, "Yea, but Tanjiro was the one that killed the Upper Moon. I only defeated one of its bodies."

"Nevertheless!" Rengoku said, "You still did an amazing job! That's why I have decided upon an important matter! And this is regarding you!"

Tilting his head, Hiroto asked, "Important matter? What's this about?"

"Hahaha, well, after asking Oyakata-Sama and getting his approval, I have decided to step down and allow you to take on my mantle as the next Flame Hashira!" Rengoku announced.

Staring blankly back at Rengoku, Hiroto couldn't believe his ears. "Wait, can you repeat that? I'm not sure if I heard you right."

"Hahaha! You didn't mishear me, Hiroto! From now on, you shall be known as the Flame Hashira! Although, there would usually be an official ceremony, with you being injured and Oyakata-Sama's disease… Nevertheless, you are now the Flame Hashira! Wear this title with pride, and make sure to lead your juniors well!" Rengoku said.

Gripping his bed sheets tightly, Hiroto grinned widely and said, "Yes! I'll do my best to be fit for the title of Flame Hashira!"

"Hahaha! That's the spirit!" Rengoku said.

Coming back into the room, Shinobu paused for a second and then said, "I didn't expect you to come here so quickly, Rengoku."

"Of course I would! My Tsuguko, wait, that's not right. Since the Flame Hashira has recovered, of course, I would come and visit." Rengoku said, trying to cross his arms but realizing he only had one arm.

Smiling, Shinobu said, "I assume you also told him of his new rank then."

"You knew?" Hiroto asked.

Putting a finger to her lip, she said, "A woman never reveals her secrets. Whatever the case, I came to inform you of something."

Hiroto adjusted his position to get more comfortable and asked, "What is it?"

"Well, since you've recovered, there's going to be a Hashira meeting in the next few days. Oyakata-Sama has summoned us once more. And since you are now the Flame Hashira, naturally you would also attend." Shinobu said.

Narrowing his eyes, Hiroto said, "I'm guessing it's about the swordsmith village…"

Lowering her eyes slightly, Shinobu responded, "Yes… Since the village was attacked by 2 Upper Moons, it had to be relocated. There's a number of 'dead villages'. We had already prepared for this scenario, in the case that something happens, so they are moving to one of the villages."

"Huh, so we had something like that." Hiroto mumbled.

"Hahaha, of course!" Rengoku said. "Plus, since you are now the Flame Hashira, there is a lot more that you have to know in order to fully perform the duties of a Hashira!"

"Gack! Aghh!! I feel something broke! Ack!! Bleh…" Laying back down on his bed, Hiroto pretended to have fainted.

Smiling, Shinobu said, "Have fun, remember that the job of a Hashira is a lot tougher than that of a Tsuguko." She then left the room, leaving Hiroto alone with a laughing Rengoku.