The night wore on.
The stars outside sparkled brighter than ever, as if the heavens themselves paused to observe the impossible scene inside the long dining hall.
Empty bowls stacked up. Tea steamed in fresh cups. The warm chatter hadn't died — it had only gotten louder, more personal. Stories shared. Old grudges half-mended. Banter flew across the table like arrows between warriors.
But then —A voice cut through the laughter.
And rarely heard.
Muzan:"Kyojuro Rengoku… you resemble your father."
The room shifted. Slightly. Everyone tensed for a fraction of a second.
Rengoku, still smiling — but a bit more solemn — turned to the man beside him.
Rengoku:"Flattery from you is unsettling, Muzan Kibutsuji."
Muzan (sipping calmly):"Not flattery. Observation. I met him once. He would have hated this table."
Rengoku:"He still does. But he came anyway."
Muzan (genuine, for once):"A man of principle. Like his son."
That was all Muzan said. He returned to his silence. No venom. No grin.
And the table began to breathe again.
Doma (leaning over toward Shinobu and Giyu):"Now now, what do we have here? You two haven't said a single word to each other all night. That's romantic, isn't it?"
Giyu (without looking up):"I don't speak when unnecessary."
Shinobu (without missing a beat):"And I don't speak to annoyances."
Doma (laughs):"A perfect match! You insult each other like an old married couple!"
Akaza (grumbling):"You're projecting again."
Doma (cheerfully):"Guilty as charged!"
Doma (eyeing Mitsuri and Obanai):"And you two~! The Love Hashira and the Snake. You're practically coiled together."
Obanai's grip on his chopsticks tightened.
Obanai:"Say one more word, Doma, and I'll lodge this into your skull."
Mitsuri (brightly):"Obanai! Be nice~!"
Doma:"Oh come on~! It's adorable! So protective. So clingy. So deadly."
Sanemi (rolling his eyes):"You've got a death wish, you freak."
Doma (grinning):"It's how I live. Flirt with death every day."
Doma:"Let's see now... we've got the quiet lovers... the secret lovers... the violent lovers..."
He swept his gaze down the table — then froze.
The Slayer was seated now, across from Kagaya, visor down, unmoving. His food untouched, as expected. His presence alone made the shadows shudder.
Doma (leaning toward Akaza, whispering):"And then there's him. Any guesses?"
Akaza (grimly):"You'll lose your head one day."
Doma:"Yes, but not tonight, dear Akaza."
He turned back and smiled toward the Slayer — but said nothing more.
Even Doma knew not to joke about the Doom Slayer.
Final Bits of Banter
Tengen (to Rengoku):"You're loud as ever, Flame Boy. Maybe you and I should spar tomorrow. Shake the ground a little."
Rengoku:"The flames are always ready to dance with the sound!"
Sanemi (to Gyomei):"I give 'em ten minutes before they break the mountain."
Gyomei (calmly):"Six minutes. Tengen's footwork is inefficient."
Akaza (to Kokushibo):"Betting on humans now, are we?"
Kokushibo:"I'm betting on the Slayer to train them until none of them need bets."
The feast wound down with plates scraped clean and tea pots emptied. A warmth lingered. Not just from the food, but from something… unspoken.
These weren't just allies anymore.
They were becoming a force — bound by battle, loss, and a shared war no longer separated by species or blood.
Tomorrow, training would resume.
But tonight —They sat together.
Slayers and demons. Brothers and rivals.At the table of the end and beginning.