Before departing, Yohan entrusted Kanae and the others with the task of looking after Tamayo during his absence. Once they assured him everything would be taken care of, he left the Demon Slayer Corps.
Following the directions provided by the system, he began heading toward the location of the Blue Spider Lily.
...
"Well, if it isn't Tanjiro!"
"Thank you again for helping us fix the sliding door!"
"Out here selling charcoal again? You're such a hardworking boy!"
In a quiet little town, a boy named Tanjiro Kamado once again carried his basket full of charcoal on his back, selling from door to door.
Business was good today. With what he made, maybe he could bring home enough for his younger siblings to have a full meal.
Tanjiro clenched the small bundle of coins in his hand—his earnings from a long day of selling.
In the past, the Kamado family had depended on their father, Tanjuro, who would venture into the mountains to dig and sell charcoal to support the household. But his health had always been fragile. After the birth of the youngest child, Rokuta, their father's illness took a turn for the worse, and eventually, he passed away.
Now, with his siblings still too young to help, the burden of holding the family together had fallen on Tanjiro's shoulders.
Don't worry, Father… I'll take care of everyone. He made that silent vow in his heart.
"Excuse me, are you Tanjiro?"
The sudden question made Tanjiro stiffen. Standing before him was a tall young man dressed in black, a strange-looking shield slung across his back.
"Y-Yes, that's me. May I ask who you are?" Tanjiro replied nervously. This stranger didn't look like a local, and Tanjiro couldn't imagine why someone like him would be looking for a charcoal seller.
"Tanjiro, here's the thing. I'm looking for a certain flower in the mountains. I heard your family lives deep in the forest—would you mind leading the way?"
"Oh, right. You can call me Yohan."
When Yohan had arrived in this town, he immediately noticed the boy with dark red hair and a scar on his forehead. It was unmistakable—this was Tanjiro Kamado, the protagonist of Demon Slayer before Yohan had crossed into this world.
Of course, he had to come say hello.
And the moment he saw Tanjiro, a thought occurred to Yohan: If anyone's connected to the Blue Spider Lily, it's probably him.
"No problem, Yohan," Tanjiro said, relaxing once he realized the stranger only wanted help finding a plant. There were all kinds of useful herbs and flowers in the mountains. His family had survived off what the forest provided for generations.
"Are you heading home now?" Yohan asked.
"Yes, but I need to pick up some food first."
Not long after, Tanjiro returned with some rations in his basket. When Yohan peeked inside, he saw only some coarse rice and a few meager supplies. The basket looked pitifully light.
Yohan frowned. "Wait here for a moment," he said, then turned and strode off without another word.
Tanjiro waited in place. When Yohan returned, both of his hands were full—bundles of meat and fresh vegetables, far more than what Tanjiro's family could normally afford.
"Yohan… what is all this?" Tanjiro asked, stunned.
"Here, help me carry it." Without another word, Yohan tossed the food into Tanjiro's basket and began walking toward the mountains.
"W-Wait for me, Yohan!"
Tanjiro hurried to catch up. "But… didn't you say you didn't know the way?"
"I don't. But now you're here, aren't you?"
Tanjiro: "..."
As they walked, the two struck up an easy conversation. The more they spoke, the more Tanjiro grew fond of Yohan. After all, he was just a humble charcoal seller who had never left his little mountain town, and Yohan's stories of the world beyond stirred something within him.
"Yohan, is Asakusa really as amazing as you said? All lit up at night, with so many people everywhere?"
Tanjiro's eyes sparkled with excitement, brimming with curiosity like a wide-eyed child.
Yohan chuckled at his earnestness. "Tanjiro, you'll see it for yourself someday."
"But... I…" Tanjiro hesitated. The thought of his family's poverty brought a shadow over his face.
"You want to take your family there, don't you?"
"Yes! I will take them!" His voice suddenly brimmed with determination, his earlier gloom washed away by renewed resolve.
...
"That's my house up ahead, Yohan. If you don't mind, you can rest there for the night. I'll help you look for the flower tomorrow. It's dangerous to go wandering the mountains after dark."
Any lingering suspicion Tanjiro had toward Yohan was gone. With a kind and gentle heart, Tanjiro would never let someone roam the treacherous woods alone at night.
"Haha, I'll take you up on that offer then."
"Big Brother!"
A young girl rushed out from the house. Her dark hair was tied with a pale pink ribbon, and she wore a soft pink kimono draped with a brown haori. Her legs were wrapped snugly in protective stockings.
This was Nezuko Kamado—beautiful, kind, and beloved by all in the town. She was Tanjiro's younger sister.
She slowed her run when she noticed someone unfamiliar beside her brother. Her eyes fell on Yohan—tall, lean, with striking features and long, jet-black hair. For a moment, Nezuko stood frozen.
"Hello, my name is Yohan. I'm a friend of your brother's," Yohan said with a warm smile.
"Nezuko, this is Brother Yohan! Come on, say hello."
Tanjiro noticed her silence and found it odd. Nezuko usually wasn't this shy. Though she didn't go out much, she was always polite.
So why was she just... staring?
Even Yohan raised an eyebrow. Was I too handsome for her to process all at once?