After the letter received from Ubuyashiki, Goku officially became the new Sun Hashira.
(It's as if all of my sadness vanished away...) he thoght, while walking around the headquarters. (Father, I did it... I have become aHashira... If I think about the fact that only a week has passed since I left the swordsmith village, I genuinely don't believe it. Fortunately, the Demon Slayer Corps leaves uninhabited villages for moments like those. I hope everyone's doing great now, in their new swordsmith village...)
Shortly after, Goku reached a grave. The name on the grave was "Tanjiro Kamado". Goku sat in front of the grave and crossed his legs.
"You won't believe it, Tanjiro-kun! I've become a Hashira, can you believe it?" he said to the grave. "I hope you're proud of me... And I hope you're doing great in the Jannah... Nezuko-chan is doing great, and Zenitsu-kun and Inosuke-kun are fine too! You don't need to worry, okay?"
Suddenly, from behind, Goku heard a voice. "Congratulations on your promotion, Tsugikuni."
Obanai Iguro, the Serpent Hashira.
"Thanks, Obanai," said Goku, turning. "Strangely, you came to talk to me on your own initiative."
"Are you still talking to that grave?" asked Obanai.
"Always..." replied Goku. After a moment of silence, Obanai spoke up again.
"Do you... do you like Kanroji?" he asked.
"Why are you asking me a question like that?" asked Goku.
"Answer me," said Obanai.
"No. I don't like Mitsuri-chan," answered Goku. "She's cute, but my heart belongs to someone else."
"Really? To whom?" asked Obanai.
"Shinobu-chan," said Goku.
"Oh, so that's why you kept blushing around her months ago..." realized Obanai.
"Yeah, that was the motivation," said Goku, standing up. "Fortunately, I learned not to blush in front of her..."
"So... You sure you don't like Kanroji?" asked Obanai again.
"100% sure," said Goku.
"Fine. However, I didn't come to talk to you for this," said Obanai. "Since you're the new Hashira, you have to join us in the Hashira Meeting today."
"Really? That's fantastic!" exclaimed Goku with a smile. "Lead the way, then, Obanai."
Goku followed Obanai into a room, where every Hashira was sitting.
"Hello!" exclaimed Goku.
"Welcome, Goku-kun! It's been a long time since our last meeting, don't you think?" said Rengoku.
"Yeah, it's been a long time, Kyojuro!" said Goku.
(He's back smiling... I'm glad...) thought Mitsuri.
"Sit down, Tsugikuni," said Gyomei. "Our meeting is about to begin."
"Of course, Gyomei," said Goku. Then, the boy sat down beside Rengoku. "Who's missing?"
"Shinazugawa," said Obanai. Then, everyone heard the door open.
"Seems like I'm the only one missing," said Sanemi.
"Hello, Sanemi!" exclaimed Goku.
"Hello, Tsugikuni. Congratulations on your promotion," said Sanemi, sitting beside him. "Sorry for keeping you waiting."
"No problem," said Gyomei.
"I heard Tokito, Kanroji, and Tsugikuni had a fight with an Upper Rank Demon," said the Wind Hashira.
"Two, actually," said Goku. "Kanroji, your brother, and I fought Upper Rank Four, while Muichiro-kun fought Upper Rank Five on his own."
"They were really strong, but thanks to Goku-kun, we won! Right, Tokito?" exclaimed Mitsuri.
"Yeah, right," muttered Muichiro.
"This makes me jealous. Why haven't I ever encountered any Upper Moon?" said Obanai. "I mean, it's like everyone keeps running into them."
"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll encounter one someday," said Goku. "Just try not to die when you encounter them!"
"Oh, speaking of that, how are you after that?" asked Obanai.
"Thanks for asking, I'm much better now!" exclaimed Mitsuri.
"If we lose any other Hashira, the Corps will be in danger," explained Gyomei. "After Uzui's retirement, a Hashira was missing. That's why we decided to recruit you, Tsugikuni."
"Well, the Hashiras are back to nine with me!" exclaimed Goku.
"You deserve to be where you are right now, Goku-kun," said Rengoku, patting Goku on a shoulder.
"Defeating two Upper Moons without dying is a tremendous feat," said Gyomei.
(And I did it twice...) thought Goku.
"You two healed unusually fast this time. What happened?" said Shinobu.
"I believe the Master will talk about this matter too," said Giyuu.
"Oh, so you were here too, Giyuu," said Goku. "I didn't notice you!"
Finally, someone else arrived in the room, but it was not Ubuyashiki.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting, Hashiras," it was Amane Ubuyashiki, the master's wife. "The Master is not in the conditions to sustain the Hashira Meeting this time."
"We understand. The Master's wellness is the priority to us..." said Gyomei. "I pray that the flame of his life continues to burn even one day longer."
"My sincere gratitude to all Hashira," said Amane. "First of all, I'd like to welcome our new entry, Goku Tsugikuni, as the new Sun Hashira."
Goku thumbed up and smiled.
"As you may have already heard, now that a demon who can withstand the sunlight has appeared, Muzan Kibutsuji will change his aim and come for her, so that he can overcome the sun too," said Amane.
(I will not let that happen...) thought Goku.
"During the fight against Upper Moons Five and Four, I've received letters about Kanroji and Tokito manifesting a strange pattern of marks. Is that right?" asked Amane.
"Yes, it is," said Muichiro and Mitsuri in unison.
"May I ask you how you manifested those marks?" asked Amane.
"Can I have the permission to speak?" asked Goku, raising a hand.
"Speak freely, Tsugikuni," said Amane.
"I don't know if any of you ever heard of these stories about the first slayers who almost defeated Muzan. Among them, there was my father, Yoriichi. He was the first person to ever awaken his mark, and he wasn't even a Hashira. Unlike the others, who manifested the mark with time, my father was born with that mark. So am I. However, I've never been able to awaken it on my own. Until I fought against Daki and Gyutaro. There, my mark activated for the first time, even though I was born with it. In that situation, my body heat was insane, and I was on the brink of the death, too. So I guess this is how a mark activates. But it may be different for me, since the mark is with me since the day I was born."
"Thanks for your explanation, Tsugikuni," said Amane. "It's a good thing you said that by yourself, I was about to ask you later."
Goku smiled.
(The fluidity with which he spoke was impressive...) thought Rengoku.
"The first person to awaken the mark in this generation after Tsugikuni was Tanjiro Kamado," said Amane. "But as you all already know, he passed away during the fight with the Upper Ranks."
(Please, don't remind me that...) thought Goku.
"Please, teach us how to awaken the mark, Kanroji and Tokito," said Amane.
"Just like Goku-kun said earlier, I was on the brink of the death. I was poisoned and couldn't move. My body temperature was about thirty-nine degrees or so," explained Muichiro.
"And you were able to move in such a state?" asked Shinobu.
"Yeah. Plus, I think everyone can achieve the mark in the right conditions," said Muichiro.
"I agree..." muttered Goku. "If we really want to defeat Muzan, we all need a mark."
"So, it's really simple," said Sanemi.
"I envy you for being a simpleton to call that simple," said Giyuu.
"What did you say?" said Sanemi.
"Nothing," said Giyuu.
"Oh, there's one more thing about the marks," said Goku.
"What is it? Tell us, Tsugikuni," said Amane.
"Those who manifest the mark will have no choice anymore. They'll die at the age of twenty-five," said Goku. "The only one who managed to bypass this was my father, because he was born with the mark and did not awaken it. I think it's the same for me. Because I'm born with the mark--and because I have an infinite lifespan thanks to my demonic cells--I can live past twenty-five with the mark. Even if I'm already past twenty-five..."
Later, when Amane left, the Hashiras remained alone.
"I wonder what would happen to me, since I'm already past twenty-five..." said Gyomei.
"I don't know," said Goku. "I'm not so informed, unfortunately."
"Speaking of that, how do you know so much about the marks?" asked Sanemi.
"Because I'm informed and I was curious," replied Goku.
"Since Amane-dono has left, I have nothing to do here," said Giyuu, getting up.
"Hey, wait! You can't just leave!" said Sanemi.
"It's okay. Let him be, Sanemi..." said Goku.
"Tch... Fine," said Sanemi.
"I have a proposal," said Gyomei.
"Huh? What is it, Gyomei?" asked Goku.
"We'll train the other slayers for the possible upcoming war. Let's call it the Hashira Training," explained Gyomei.
"Fine, I'm in," said Goku. "But I won't train the others, for two reasons: First of all, I'm not a good trainer. Second of all, I want to get stronger, so I'll just train like every other demon slayer."
"Fine. I have nothing to object to..." said Gyomei. "We'll start in three days. So you better be ready for that day, Tsugikuni."
"We're not gonna treat you different just because you're a Hashira like us!" said Sanemi.
"As if I want to!" exclaimed Goku. "Finally, I can't wait to start this Hashira Training!"
Chapter 42 - End