Sanemi Shinazugawa held his blade in one hand while rubbing his throbbing head with the other.
His brows were tightly knit, his sharp eyes locked onto the young man standing not far away.
Who the hell is this brat?
He had never seen him before.
Never even heard of him.
After taking two steadying breaths, Sanemi charged again.
This time, he was cautious.
He kept his distance.
Each slash of his Nichirin Blade aimed straight for vital points—neck, ribs, joints.
No mercy.
Aoyama steadied his breathing.
Slowed it.
Calmed himself.
As long as he remained composed, he could read every movement Sanemi made.
Clang!
Their blades collided, sparks scattering between them.
Rengoku's eyes lit up, watching with burning enthusiasm.
If it weren't for the rules, he would've jumped in just to test himself.
"Ah! Who is that young man?" he asked.
Shinobu replied evenly, "His name is Aoyama Ren."
Tanjiro clutched the wooden box tightly, eyes glued to Aoyama.
His movements were faster than usual.
Sharper.
More precise.
This was the level he needed to reach.
Gyomei, unable to see but hearing the clash of steel, let tears stream down his face.
"Has another child been possessed by a demon…"
To him, anyone protecting demons must have been led astray.
Sanemi slashed horizontally.
Aoyama leapt straight up.
His toe landed perfectly on the flat of Sanemi's blade.
Sanemi gripped the hilt with both hands.
Aoyama smiled down at him.
"Want me to come down?"
Sanemi's face turned crimson.
He was being mocked.
"Y—!"
Before he could finish—
Aoyama flipped behind him.
His leg rose high—
And came crashing down.
Thud!
The dull impact echoed.
Sanemi's head snapped forward.
He face-planted into the ground.
"Pfft—!"
Mitsuri couldn't hold it in this time.
That was the second time.
The second time his head had been smashed down by a kick.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to laugh!"
She covered her mouth, cheeks blazing red.
Aoyama did it on purpose.
Again and again.
If Sanemi wanted to act wild, fine.
But not in front of him.
Sanemi pushed himself up slightly.
"Y-you little bastard!!!"
He swung his blade again before fully rising.
The anger now wasn't about killing a demon.
It was personal.
"Still coming?"
Aoyama sprang back, dodging the slash aimed at his legs.
Sanemi stood, panting heavily.
"I'll kill you!"
His blade scraped across the gravel, sparks flying, leaving a deep scar in the stone.
He lunged, bringing the sword down toward Aoyama's skull.
Clang!
Aoyama blocked it.
His blade pressed against his shoulder for leverage.
"Looks like the lesson wasn't enough."
He narrowed his eyes.
At first, he had held the sword with one hand.
Now—
Both hands gripped the hilt.
Slowly.
Steadily.
He forced Sanemi's blade upward.
Sanemi gritted his teeth, pressing down with all his strength.
Aoyama smiled faintly.
Then—
Boom!
With explosive force, he knocked the blade aside.
One hand seized Sanemi's wrist—
His leg rose again—
And smashed down onto Sanemi's head.
Bang!
Sanemi hit the ground face-first again.
This time, a large swelling instantly rose on his head.
Aoyama had used full strength.
Sanemi wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.
Aoyama crouched calmly beside him and tapped his shoulder.
"Well? Still want to go?"
"I'll count to three. If you don't answer, you lose."
All eyes focused on Sanemi.
"…!"
No response.
Aoyama stood and shrugged lightly.
"I win."
Only after he declared it did Sanemi's body twitch.
His head rang violently.
He tried to push himself up—
But couldn't muster strength.
Tanjiro stared blankly.
He had always known Senior Brother was strong.
But defeating a Hashira like this—
Without suffering a loss—
That was something else entirely.
The looks around the courtyard changed.
Especially Obanai.
He had been closest to Aoyama earlier—
Without sensing him at all.
If it had been him fighting instead of Sanemi…
Would the result be the same?
Could he win?
The thought unsettled him.
Suddenly—
Two young girls' voices rang out from inside the estate.
"Master has arrived!"
Everyone froze.
Instantly.
They turned toward the house.
Even Sanemi forced himself up and knelt respectfully.
A man stepped out slowly.
"You have all gathered… my beloved children."
His voice was warm.
Gentle.
The two attendants supported him as he walked forward.
When sunlight touched his face—
The severe scars across his upper features became visible.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
The head of the Demon Slayer Corps.
The one they all called—
Master.
"Good morning," he said softly.
"What a beautiful day. The sky is so blue."
"To hold the biannual Hashira Meeting without losing a single member… brings me great joy."
And just like that—
The storm in the courtyard quieted.
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