"Welcome, my dear children. Good morning to you all," he greeted them in his warm, graceful voice as he took small steps forward. "Unlike the other twice-yearly Hashira meeting, this meeting has it's own special purpose,"
"What purpose are you speaking of, Master?" Sanemi asked.
"My beloved Sanemi," Kagaya spoke with his ever-present tenderness, "your heart seeks answers with such passion. Do not worry, for I shall explain everything to all my dear children. Today, we stand at the threshold of a momentous change..."
'I think I exactly know what he is going to say now,' Ishida thought, bowing down like the others , as Kagaya finally sat down with the help of his daughters. It seemed like his health condition was worsening speedily from the look of it, as the last time Ishida saw him, it was much better than now.
As he sat down, all the Hashiras straightened themselves, standing in one line in front of him, as he looked at everyone with a kind and gentle smile - the same warm expression he always carried, despite his worsening condition.
"As you all know, Hashiras are the pillars of Demon Slayer Corps. Today marks the day when we welcome a new member into our ranks," Kagaya spoke calmly, his face turning slightly towards Ishida. "Ishida, step forward."
Ishida moved forward with measured steps, kneeling before the master of the Demon Slayer Corps with his head bowed in respect.
"Your dedication, skill, and unwavering commitment to our cause have not gone unnoticed," Kagaya continued, his gentle voice carrying across the place. "It is with great honor that I announce you as the new Moon Hashira. May you serve with distinction and bring honor to your position as you protect humanity from the demon threat."
"From this day forward, you shall serve as the Moon Hashira," Kagaya announced.
Mitsuri Kanroji clasped her hands together, bouncing slightly on her toes. "Oh my goodness, congratulations! This is so exciting! We should celebrate later! I could make something special!"
Muichiro Tokito gazed vaguely in Ishida's direction, seeming to look through him rather than at him. After a long pause, he spoke softly: "Moon, huh? I suppose that's fitting... somehow... though I can't remember why I think so..."
Gyomei Himejima, towering above the others, lowered his head slightly as he fingered his prayer beads. "May the Buddha guide your blade and protect your spirit, young one. The path of the Hashira is stained with tears and blood. I pray you have the strength to bear it."
Other Hashiras also watched the scene unfold, without too much reactions, as the special Hashira meeting came to an end.
...
"So, this is the new place," Ishida muttered, walking inside his new residence as a Hashira, taking in the generous space. "So now I'm a Hashira... though it doesn't change anything other than the rank," he thought to himself. 'The goal is still the same - protect, fight to protect for my family,' he reminded himself, gazing at the house before him.
As he was about to walk in, he sensed familiar presences approaching and paused momentarily.
"Hey, you're back..." Just as Ishida had sensed, it was Sakura and Kazuki together. They must have known this place already, as following him would have been impossible given his enhanced perception abilities now.
"What is it?" Ishida asked, turning slightly, his tone lacking its usual dismissiveness and carrying genuine curiosity about their presence.
"Well... we're here to congratulate you on becoming a Hashira," Sakura said with a smile that was obviously forced, as she turned to Kazuki. "...Right?"
Kazuki nodded quickly. "Yes, obviously. Congratulations, to you Hashira for becoming Ishida," he fumbled, earning a pinch from Sakura. "...uh... Sorry, congratulations to you, Ishida, for becoming a Hashira," he corrected himself, shooting an annoyed look at Sakura for the pinch.
"Is that all...?" Ishida raised an eyebrow slightly, knowing they clearly had more reasons for their visit than mere congratulations.
"Yes... what else would there be!?" Sakura replied, her forced smile growing more strained.
"Okay then," Ishida said simply, turning back toward his new residence. He took a few steps forward, reaching for the door.
"Wait!" Kazuki burst out suddenly, ignoring Sakura's warning glance. "We... we want you to train us!"
Ishida paused, his hand still on the door. The request hung in the air for a moment before he slowly turned to face them.
"Train you?" he repeated, his voice neutral but carrying a hint of interest.
"Yeah!" Kazuki continued, growing more confident. "You've gotten so much stronger, and now you're a Hashira! We've been training hard too, but..." he glanced at Sakura before continuing, "we want to learn from you. Both of us do, even if some of us are too proud to admit it."
Sakura's fake smile finally disappeared, replaced by a mixture of embarrassment and determination. "It's true," she admitted quietly. "We've seen how much you've grown, and now that you're a Hashira, one of the strongest, would you please train us?"
Ishida studied them both carefully, his enhanced perception noting every detail - the tension in Sakura's shoulders, the hopeful gleam in Kazuki's eyes, the way they both stood slightly straighter under his gaze.
'How interesting...' Ishida thought, his mind processing their request. 'Nine months ago, I wouldn't have even considered this. I was too focused on my own path, my own revenge.' He recalled his experiences during the quest, particularly the letter's words about strength being more than just power. 'But now...'
His enhanced perception picked up more subtle details - the slight tremor in Sakura's voice despite her determination, the way Kazuki's fingers twitched near his sword hilt, betraying his nervousness. They were his fellow corpse members, who , if was in his place , and had someone to train them like Ishida had, would become great asset for the corpse, like he was now.
'Training them would mean responsibility,' he considered, remembering his own growth journey. 'It's not just about teaching techniques or breathing forms. The system showed me that true strength comes from understanding, from pushing past limits I didn't even know existed. Could I guide others through that kind of growth?'
The memory of the family he'd saved during his journey back flickered through his mind. 'Protect, fight to protect for my family,' he'd told himself earlier. Perhaps "family" could mean more than just avenging those he'd lost. Perhaps it could also mean helping others grow stronger, creating a legacy of protection that extended beyond his own sword.
He turned towards them completely, his gaze running over both of them once. "I will... but with one condition." His voice carried a calm certainty that made both Sakura and Kazuki straighten their postures instinctively.
"What condition?" Sakura asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the anticipation building in her chest.
A slight smile touched Ishida's lips as he stepped away from his door, moving to the open space in front of his new residence. "Land a single hit on me," he said simply, letting his hands fall to his sides, deliberately away from his sword.
"What?" Kazuki blinked in confusion. "But your sword—"
"Won't be necessary," Ishida interrupted smoothly. "You'll both come at me together, with your swords. All you need to do is land one hit. If you succeed, I'll train you both."
Sakura's eyes narrowed slightly. "You're going to face both of us... unarmed?"
"Is that a problem?" Ishida asked, his tone carrying no mockery, just genuine inquiry. "Or are you perhaps doubting your ability to hit an unarmed opponent, even with two swords and numerical advantage?"