Location: Forest near the Butterfly Mansion, Tokyo Prefecture
Date: Saturday, March 1, 1913 (Taisho Era, Year 2)
Time: Morning
Weather: Clear, occasionally cloudy
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"RAAAAAAAAAAH! DON'T YOU RUN!! STOP RIGHT THERE!!! WAIT FOR MEEEEEE!!! KAMADO TANJIROOOOOO!!!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm really so sorry!!!"
Demon Slayer Corps member Tanjiro Kamado was engaged in a desperate game of tag through the forest, carrying his demon-transformed younger sister Nezuko in a wooden box on his back, while being pursued by the enraged swordsmith Haganezuka Hotaru, whose face had contorted into a wrathful hannya mask.
After narrowly surviving the life-and-death battle aboard the Mugen Train, Tanjiro had pushed through his severe injuries to sneak out of the Butterfly Mansion at dawn.
He had gone to the Rengoku Estate to personally report the circumstances of the fallen Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku's death, to his family.
On his way back, however, he had been ambushed by Haganezuka at the mansion's gates, leading to this frantic pursuit.
During the battle against Upper Moon Three, Akaza, the demon responsible for Kyojuro's death, Tanjiro had hurled his beloved Nichirin Blade at the fleeing Akaza in a desperate attempt to strike back.
Though the attack had landed, Akaza escaped with the sword still embedded in his body, leaving Tanjiro without his weapon. This enraged Haganezuka, the blade's creator, who had personally entrusted it to Tanjiro barely a week prior.
Unbeknownst to either of them, the sword had ultimately been shattered into pieces by Akaza—a small mercy, perhaps, that they remained unaware of this fact.
'What do I do, what do I do, what do I do?! I need to calm Haganezuka-san down somehow!'
'Actually, running like this is making my whole body hurt! I want to scream from the pain!!'
Tanjiro racked his brain for a way out of this predicament, but between his high fever, exhaustion, and agonizing injuries, no brilliant solution came to mind.
'It's fine. I'm the eldest son—I can handle this. I can still endure. Wait… Haganezuka-san isn't chasing me anymore?'
Tanjiro possessed a sense of smell rivaling—no, surpassing—that of a dog. This ability had saved his life countless times, helping him escape dire situations. Without it, he would have died long ago.
Through scent alone, he detected that Haganezuka had stopped pursuing him—and, more importantly, that the smell of fury had faded.
'He's calmed down! Relieved!' Tanjiro cautiously approached Haganezuka, moving silently and suppressing his presence as he peered through the bushes to observe the swordsmith.
'What's Haganezuka-san doing…? Ah! That's Kyojuro-san's tsuba! Damn it!! I was so focused on running that I didn't even notice I'd dropped it!'
The handguard (tsuba), which had once adorned Kyojuro's beloved sword, had been entrusted to Tanjiro by the late Hashira's younger brother, Senjuro, as a keepsake. Seeing it now in Haganezuka's hand filled Tanjiro with guilt, but there was nothing he could do.
If he carelessly revealed himself now and Haganezuka flew into another rage, reigniting their chase, it would be unbearable. Yet, Tanjiro's worries were soon dispelled.
"Tanjiro… You're there, aren't you? Just come out already… I'm not going to chase you anymore, so show yourself."
"Ah… Yes."
Tanjiro stepped out from the bushes, taken aback by how uncharacteristically calm Haganezuka sounded. As he approached, however, he noticed something.
'Even though his hyottoko mask hides his expression… I can sense sadness coming from him…'
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About a minute or two after Tanjiro emerged from the bushes, he and Haganezuka broke the silence at the same time, their voices cutting through the quiet forest.
"Um… Haganezuka-san, about that tsuba—"
"The Flame Hashira's… Kyojuro's, right?"
"Y-yes. That's correct. Could it be… did you forge Kyojuro's Nichirin Blade?"
"Yeah, that's right… I was the one who forged Rengoku's sword."
"…!"
Tanjiro inhaled sharply as he understood the source of the sorrow wafting from Hotaru. If he let his guard down, tears would spill from his eyes—but he clenched his fists, forcing them back.
Ignoring Tanjiro's reaction, Haganezuka sat on a nearby boulder and began speaking, reminiscing about his first meeting with Kyojuro.
"The first time I met Kyojuro was when I delivered his Nichirin Blade to his estate."
"The Rengoku family… they're a clan of warriors who served under the first Ubuyashiki leader. For generations, since the Warring States period, they've been a distinguished lineage of Demon Slayers who mastered and passed down the Flame Breathing Style. Because of that, every single one of them drew out a vivid, beautiful crimson blade."
"I was excited when I brought his sword to him—and sure enough, just as I expected, no, even beyond my expectations, he pulled out a blade so brilliantly red it was dazzling."
"I was in the best mood of my life… until Kyojuro said one thing that left me speechless. Wanna know what he told me?"
Tanjiro stayed silent, unable to guess what Kyojuro could have possibly said to provoke the famously temperamental swordsmith. Haganezuka continued without waiting for an answer.
"He looked me dead in the eye and said—'This is a magnificent Nichirin Blade! But I don't like it!!'"
Haganezuka chuckled as he recalled the memory, but Tanjiro could only gape in disbelief.
He knew better than anyone just how obsessive Hotaru was about his swords—how deeply he poured his soul into forging them. To outright reject one of his creations to his face should have been enough to send him into a screaming, murderous rage.
Sweating nervously, Tanjiro waited for the rest of the story.
"I was about to lose my mind and jump at him—but before I could, Kyojuro suddenly thrust the sword back at me."
"'The only thing I dislike about this blade is the tsuba! Remake it with a more flame-like design!!' he demanded."
"I was so overwhelmed by his blazing intensity that I completely forgot I was about to strangle him. All I could do was mutter, 'O-oh, sure,' take the sword back, and return to the Swordsmith Village."
"A week later, I delivered the re-forged tsuba. And you know what Kyojuro did? He grinned like the damn sun and roared—'This is the greatest Nichirin Blade ever! Thank you, Haganezuka-dono!!!"
"That was over seven years ago. I'd just turned thirty… and he was only thirteen."
Hotaru paused, taking a breath before tilting his head up at the sky, lost in memory.
"Kyojuro wasn't like you—he never chipped his blade, let alone shattered or lost it."
"Well, he did wear a few out over time, so I had to re-forge them now and then… But still…" His voice grew quieter. "Damn… I'll never see that vivid crimson blade again. Never see that bright, sun-like smile of his again…"
"He still had so much ahead of him… and yet, he's really gone, huh…?" Haganezuka's voice was thick with grief and regret.
Tanjiro could no longer hold back—tears welled in his eyes as Kyojuro's final words echoed in his mind…
"I WILL FULFILL MY DUTY!! I WON'T LET ANYONE DIE HERE~!!"
"Kamado boy. I believe in your sister. I recognize her as a member of the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Those who fight demons without fear of injury or death, who protect others even as they bleed—no matter what anyone says, they are Demon Slayers."
"I regret doubting you. I'm sorry it took me so long to believe in you. I wanted to apologize to your sister in person… but it seems that won't be possible."
"That is my only regret."
"Do not grieve my death. As a Hashira, it is only natural that I become a shield for my juniors. Any Hashira would do the same."
"Live with pride."
"From now on, you must become the pillars that support the Demon Slayer Corps."
"H-Haganezuka-san… I… I'll probably break my Nichirin Blade many more times from now on!!"
"The hell kinda declaration is that, you brat?! You wanna die?!"
Hotaru brandished a kitchen knife in response, but Tanjiro didn't flinch. Tears streamed down his face as he declared his resolve.
"But I'll get stronger! With the blade you forged for me, I'll save as many people as I can from demons!! I'll make sure fewer lives are lost, fewer hearts are broken!!"
Swallowing his regrets and remorse, Tanjiro made his vow to Haganezuka, to the late Kyojuro, and most of all, to himself.
"One day, I'll become a swordsman as strong as Kyojuro-san—no, stronger than anyone! I'll become a Hashira, no matter what!! I swear it!!!"
His voice cracked as fat tears rolled down his cheeks, his body trembling with suppressed sobs. Haganezuka listened in silence before finally muttering—
"I'm hungry."
"H-Hic… huh?!"
"There's a good restaurant and a tea house with amazing mitarashi dango near the Butterfly Mansion. You're treating me. That'll make us even for today."
"…!"
Tanjiro had left for the Rengoku Estate at dawn and should have returned by midday. But thanks to Hotaru's relentless chase, it was already past noon.
With a teary smile, Tanjiro accepted the tsuba and followed Haganezuka to the recommended eateries, savoring the meal together. But their peaceful moment didn't last.
"My, my, my~ What do we have here? A naughty patient who was ordered strict bed rest sneaking out and running around as he pleases?"
"Hmm-munch—gulp… Huh?!"
Tanjiro dropped his skewer in shock, his neck creaking like a rusted puppet as he turned toward the voice.
Standing there was Shinobu Kocho, the Insect Hashira, her face adorned with bulging veins and a smile so sweet it was terrifying.