Chapter 17: The sorrowful Tsugikuni Yoriichi!
『 A Mortal Genius. A dimensional crushing comparison dragged Michikatsu into the abyss.
Hatred, loathing, fear—
Though standing at the same pinnacle, the flames of jealousy burned him to ashes.
Yet Yoriichi remained oblivious, his kindness making him accept this displaced "sacrifice" with ease.
As the "Forbidden Child," his mother and brother were the bridges connecting him to love.
The family's confinement shielded him from the turbid world, keeping this genius's heart pure and tranquil.
When stepping beyond the threshold, Yoriichi felt neither fear nor panic.
Under the night sky, he wandered alone.
Stars adorned the heavens in splendor.
Yoriichi ran faster and faster, dashing beneath this boundless starry sky—
The natural wind, the path ahead, his heart no longer constrained!
That radiant "divinity" merged with nature, his black pupils growing brighter, luminous!
Like a kite freed from its mother's grasp, he soared freely, casting off his last ties!
Through sunrise and sunset, as darkness faded, exhaustion never stopped him! 』
『 .....』
〜Myriad Worlds livestream Chat〜
[ Kakeru Kurahara (Run with the Wind ): "If you feel pain or weariness, then run! Let the wind cleanse your soul!" ]
[ Eren Yeager (Attack on Titan): "...In that moment, I saw Yoriichi like a bird, breaking its chains, soaring into the sky." ]
[ Merlin (Type-Moon): "Most people are like fallen leaves, floating, tumbling, quivering, until they inevitably settle on the ground. But a rare few are like stars on steady paths—unshaken by the winds of fate, their hearts fixed on a destined course." ]
[ Might Guy (Naruto): "That's it, young man! Run! Burn! This is youth! Waaah!" ]
[ Shirai Kuroko (A Certain Magical Index): "Hey, hey, hey! Old man, what kind of chuunibyou are you? Crying over your own words?!" ]
[ Koyuki (Demon Slayer): "Yoriichi-san is truly kind... He will surely find happiness." ]
[ Douma (Demon Slayer): "Ko...yuki... Who are you?" ]
[ .....]
『 A full day and night—young Yoriichi ran without stopping, arriving at the edge of farmland by dawn.
There, he met a petite, lonely girl his age.
But what puzzled him was her stillness.
When he asked why, he learned an epidemic had taken her family. Alone, she wanted to catch tadpoles.
Staring at this sorrowful girl, Yoriichi blurted,
"Then I'll go home with you."
Uta paused, turning dazedly. Unbeknownst to him, her eyes had already brimmed with tears.
Her obsidian-like pupils shimmered faintly, reflecting the small boy before her.
In that instant, something filled Uta's heart.
Under the sunset, she wiped her tears and led Yoriichi home, chattering endlessly. Yoriichi listened patiently.
Day, night, spring, winter—year after year, they lived together, deeply in love.
Until they married. As time passed, Yoriichi realized how vastly his world differed from others'.
This... was the origin of his "alienation."
No one in this world was like him.
Whenever Yoriichi spaced out, Uta would squeeze his hand, smiling as she drew him into their warm, ordinary world.
The girl tightly gripped the kite whose string had snapped.』
『 .....』
〜Myriad Worlds livestream Chat〜
[ Chitoge Kirisaki (Nisekoi): "This is the real story! So sweet! Uta is the best! Childhood friends forever! No room for sudden love interests!" ]
[ Utaha Kasumigaoka (Saekano): "Wasn't Yoriichi a sudden encounter for Uta too? Stop barking, blondie." ]
[ Kurosaki Ichigo (Bleach): "Ah, someone as kind as Yoriichi deserves happiness." ]
[ Satanichia Kurumizawa Mcdowell (Gabriel DropOut): "Woo~ This Great Demon Lord approves! Live happily, humans!" ]
[ Ronoroa Zoro (One Piece): "Such talent... yet he never trained with a sword?" ]
[ Goetia (Type-Moon): "He'll have his chance." ]
[ Fujimaru Ritsuka (Type-Moon): "...Huh?" ]
[ Merlin (Type-Moon): "Fujimaru~ Don't you know? Everything you gain has its price etched by fate." ]
[ .....]
〜Demon Slayer World 〜
Infinity Castle
A lower moon demon with a grotesque blue-red face pondered—had he seen that woman before?
—
『 "Yoriichi, be safe," Uta waved, her belly round.
"Mn," Yoriichi nodded. With her due soon, he needed a midwife.
He reached a remote path by midday.
But as he turned back, a cry stopped him—an injured elder.
Kindly, Yoriichi carried him to his three sons, three mountains away, returning near midnight.
He wasn't worried; his keen sight for ailments let him predict Uta's labor precisely.
The midwife could wait till dawn.
The silver moon hung high, soon shrouded by clouds...
When Yoriichi pushed open his door, blood pooled at his feet.
His wife and child—gone.
Even what he cherished above life could be trampled so easily.
Yoriichi didn't weep. His eyes were hollow.
He only staggered to Uta's side, clutching her corpse for ten days and nights.
His wish was simple: a peaceful life with family, their faces and warmth within reach.
That was all.
Yet this wish was shattered by demons in an instant.
Should he hate? Rage? Wail?
Nothing would change. Only loneliness and grief remained.
Only when a Rengoku swordsman tracking demons persuaded him did Yoriichi bury his family.
He stood, gaze vacant yet resolute.
From then on, he would fight—to purge evil demons, and for this beautiful world.
But the kite once held so tightly... had its string cut again.』
『 .....』
〜Myriad Worlds livestream Chat〜
[ Orochimaru (Naruto): "Even gods suffer." ]
[ Izumi Miyamura (Horimiya): "...Wait, this can't be real. Uta...?" ]
[ Gabriel (Gabriel DropOut): "Some vile things don't belong in this world." ]
[ Senju Tsunade (Naruto): "The cruelty of fate." ]
[ Orochimaru (Naruto): "Human life is fragile." ]
[ Kirishima Touka (Tokyo Ghoul): "Man-eating monsters..." ]
[ Escanor (Nanatsu no Taizai): "Let these creatures of darkness face the sun!" ]
[ Meruem (HunterXHunter): "Natural selection. Whoever dies, dies. Take revenge if you're strong enough." ]
[ Kamado Tanjiro (Demon Slayer): "Damn demons! I'll slaughter every last one!" ]
[ Muzan Kibutsuji (Demon Slayer): "Damn those demons!!" ]
[ Gintoki Sakata (Gintama): "...? Why's the thief yelling 'stop thief'?" ]
[ .....]