Reunion

Hiroto wanted to see how the Hashira's and his friends were currently coping but took a detour towards the estate's garden instead.

Arriving at the garden, Hiroto started to feel a little nostalgic, remembering back to the time he first arrived here. He remembered training in the garden every day, watching over Tanjiro and the others at the same time.

"You've grown so much since I last saw you." A familiar voice entered Hiroto's ear, as he turned around with a startled look. He came face to face with Urokodaki, still wearing the same Tengu mask on his face.

Hiroto was so surprised he didn't know how to react, before going forward to give the man a hug. Urokodaki hugged him back, saying, "You did well. I'm so, so proud of you, Tanjiro, Giyu, and Nezuko."

Hiroto wanted to say something but felt his words being caught in his throat. Urokodaki said, "You've taken on too much for yourself. You need to relax now, it's already all over."

Hiroto shook his head and separated from Urokodaki with a laugh. "It's still all a bit surreal for me. I know that my goal from the beginning was to turn Nezuko back into a human, and end Muzan, but finally achieving the goal… I don't know what else to do."

Urokodaki then flicked Hiroto's head, saying, "It's only been 2 days since that day, and yet you're still trying to go around and do everything yourself. You may be a Hashira, but in my eyes, you're still the same kid who I made run up and down the mountain every single day."

Hiroto rubbed his forehead and said, "How could you hit an injured person."

"If you're so hurt, then why aren't you in your bed?" Urokodaki responded, to which Hiroto casually turned to observe the garden.

Then, a hand clapped Hiroto's back.

"Look at you, you brat. Who would've guessed you would one day leave the mountain and end up killing Muzan a few years later."

Hiroto looked behind him to see a man wearing a black kimono with white stripes. He wore a fox mask with one missing eye, with its mouth curled into a smirk.

"Botan!" Hiroto said with a surprise.

"What? Already forgotten about me?" Botan laughed bitterly.

Hiroto waved his hands and quickly said, "No no, I just never expected to see the two of you leave the mountain."

"It's not like we're hermits, you know," Botan said, ruffling Hiroto's hair. "You did good, kid. Real good."

Hiroto smiled and sat down on the wooden steps facing the garden. The two of them joined him, not saying anything, and just took in the sight of the garden, as the white noise of the busy estate surrounded them.

Hiroto turned to Urokodaki and asked, "Have you seen Giyu yet?"

Urokodaki nodded, "I can see that his temperament has changed. He used to blame himself in the past for what happened during the final selection, but now it seems that he broke free of those shackles."

Hiroto nodded and said, "You have Tanjiro to thank for that. He's more suited for that kind of stuff."

Botan then spoke up, "He got quite lucky, to only have lost an arm against Muzan. Both Tanjiro and Giyu."

Hiroto looked confused for a moment, causing Botan to shake his head bitterly. "You damn kid, they went up against Muzan and beat him. Losing a limb is nothing to them. Besides, who says that people with one arm can't fight properly? Remember the beating I used to give you, even though I only had one arm?"

Hiroto ignored that last remark, turning to Urokodaki and saying, "What do you think will happen from now on?"

Urokodaki shook his head, saying, "What happens to the Demon Slayer Corps is none of my business. We'll be heading back to the mountain in a few days." Botan nodded his head in affirmation.

After talking to each other for a few more moments, Hiroto bid his farewell to the duo and got up to leave, intent on visiting the others.

From behind, Botan��s teasing voice came, "When are you going to introduce your girlfriends to us?"

Hiroto stumbled a bit, before coughing and saying, "What does that have to do with you?"

"Hoho, you didn't even try to deny it," Botan said, with the smirk on his mask causing Hiroto to feel annoyed.

"Hermits shouldn't butt in," Hiroto said, before turning to run away.

"You damn kid! Who's a hermit!" Botan shouted, throwing a rock after Hiroto, missing.

Urokodaki shook his head and said, "He really has changed. He feels a bit more… free."

Botan shrugged his shoulders, saying, "What else does he have to worry about now. He put an end to Muzan, and turned his sister back into a Human."

As the two continued talking to each other, Hiroto walked into the room where Zenitsu and Inosuke were staying with some other Demon Hunters. Wrapped up in heavy bandages, the two looked to be in a sorry state but were arguing with each other.

"Who the hell gives acorns to others as a gift?!"

"I only gift acorns when they are worthy of it! Shintaro will be able to see the worth behind them!"

Hiroto sighed and spoke up, "What are you two shouting about so loudly this morning? Can't you see you're practically scaring the others?"

Zenitsu and Inosuke turned to Hiroto, then looked to the other 3 beds next to them, where the other Demon Hunters were coiled under their blanket, with a pillow over their head.

Inosuke scoffed, "Hmph! They're just too weak."

Zenitsu shouted at him, "Look at the state that you're at! You couldn't even move a muscle the moment you fell onto the ground."

"That's different!" Inosuke shouted back, as the mask he wore made a frowning expression, "I used too much power when fighting Muzan."

Before the two of them continued shouting at each other, Hiroto sat in between their beds and said, "Alright, that's enough out of you two. Look at the state you're in, making such a loud ruckus."

From the side of the room, the other 3 Demon Hunters bunking in the room, whispered to each other.

"That's the Flame Hashira, Hiroto Kamado!"

"He's probably the current strongest Hashira."

"We all saw what he did during that battle, my eyes couldn't even keep up."

Zenitsu looked grumpy and said, "You're so famous now. Just imagine the number of girls queuing up to meet you."

Hiroto was about to hit Zenitsu's head but stopped, after seeing his bandaged state. He sighed and said, "None of that matters. I just dropped by to see how you two were doing."

"Of course, the lord Inosuke is perfectly fi- Agh!!" Inosuke tried to flex his muscles but only fell back onto his back, groaning in pain.

"Just sit still and rest, you guys deserve it," Hiroto said, standing up.

"What about you, shouldn't you be resting?" Zenitsu asked.

Hiroto laughed and said, "Look at me, does it look like I need any rest."