The sun sank slowly beyond the horizon, and beneath a sky ablaze with crimson clouds, the world seemed to be bathed in a deep, smoldering red.
In a dilapidated room tucked within the slums, thin wisps of smoke curled upward, carrying with them the long-absent fragrance of cooked meat, a scent that felt almost like a forgotten luxury in such a place.
Inside, upon a simple mat spread across the floor, Soma sat upright, leisurely sipping his sake. Beside him, Tanjiro knelt quietly, his head slightly bowed, his thoughts distant and unfocused, as though caught somewhere between hesitation and resolve.
Nezuko remained nearby, keeping an eye on her younger siblings as they played, their laughter soft but lively.
Kanao stayed close to Soma, her small head resting lightly against his knee, her pink-violet eyes gazing toward the figure by the hearth. There, Kamado Kie moved with quiet diligence, her gentle silhouette softened by the flickering light of the fire as she prepared the meal. Kanao watched her in silence, blinking slowly, as though lost in thought.
As steam rose in soft waves, Kie lifted the lid of the pot, and at once, the rich aroma of food spread throughout the room. The children paused mid-play, noses twitching as they turned eagerly toward the hearth, their eyes bright with anticipation.
Soma took another sip of sake, glancing briefly at the busy woman before lowering his gaze to Kanao. She was still watching Kie, calm and intent. Reaching out, he gently stroked her hair. Kanao lifted her eyes to him for a fleeting moment, then quietly closed them again, as though savoring the touch.
Soon, the meal was ready. Kie moved efficiently, bringing dish after dish to the table, while Nezuko hurried to assist her. Before long, the table was filled with an abundance of food, far more than what their modest life usually allowed.
At first, Kie had intended to have the children eat separately, but at Soma's insistence, everyone gathered together around the table.
By the time they sat down, night had fully fallen. A long-unused candle was lit, its wavering flame casting a warm, flickering glow across the room. Steam curled gently above the dishes, and almost unconsciously, everyone's gaze drifted toward the one seated at the head of the table.
When he had first arrived, fear had gripped them all—both Kie and the children alike. The very word demon had been enough to fill their hearts with dread.
And yet, in such a short span of time, that fear had begun to fade.
Little by little, their guard had lowered.
In fact, since his arrival, the Kamado household had experienced something they had not felt in a long time—
A sense of warmth.
Strangely enough, he did not seem so frightening anymore. If anything, there was a quiet gentleness about him, one that, over time, inspired not fear, but something closer to comfort… even, perhaps, a faint sense of reliance.
It felt much like this very moment: the whole family gathered together, sharing a hearty meal.
Such a scene had not occurred in a very long time—only in the days when Kamado Tanjuro was still alive.
Back then, moments like these had been filled with warmth and ease.
Now, that feeling seemed both distant and yet somehow returned.
Only—
In those days, it was Tanjuro who had sat at the head of the table.
And now…
It was a demon.
Soma picked up his chopsticks and, without hesitation, selected the best piece—a plump chicken drumstick—which he placed into Kanao's bowl. Smiling faintly, he looked around at the others.
"Go on. Eat."
Only after he had begun did the rest follow suit.
The children ate happily, their earlier unease all but forgotten. Watching them, Kie felt a measure of relief, though her gaze drifted unconsciously toward Nezuko.
Seated beside the demon, Nezuko's eyes were fixed on the drumstick in Kanao's bowl, her thoughts unreadable.
Kie's gaze shifted again, this time toward Soma. In the flickering candlelight, his face appeared calm, almost gentle—utterly devoid of the cruelty she had once feared. Gradually, her heart eased.
If he remained like this… then perhaps Nezuko following him would not be such a terrible fate. To be under the protection of a powerful demon—perhaps that, in itself, was a kind of safety from the dangers of the outside world.
Soma, however, showed little interest in the food. Instead, he lifted the sake jar, pouring himself another cup, then another for Tanjiro.
Only when the cup was placed before him did Tanjiro stir from his thoughts.
"Care for a drink?" Soma asked, raising his cup.
Tanjiro hesitated. His gaze moved from the demon to his family, gathered in rare warmth around the table. After a moment, he lifted his cup as well and drank alongside him.
He was not used to alcohol—had only tasted it a handful of times before—but even so, he tried to imitate the easy boldness of an adult, swallowing it down with quiet determination.
Watching this scene unfold, Soma merely smiled faintly and reached for his cup, intending to pour himself another drink. Yet the moment he lifted it, he found it already filled to the brim.
At the same instant, a slender, pale hand withdrew quietly.
He glanced toward Nezuko.
The girl sat with her head slightly lowered, both hands cradling her small bowl as she ate her rice in delicate, careful bites. Outwardly, she seemed composed—but the faint tremble of her lashes betrayed her.
Soma took a sip of the sake. Somehow, the drink poured by such a beautiful girl seemed sweeter than before, carrying with it a subtle, intoxicating warmth.
Though a demon sat among them, the dinner felt strangely more peaceful than any they had shared in the past.
After the meal, Kie cleared the dishes and even tidied up one of the beddings for the guest, while she and the children crowded into a smaller room.
Nezuko leaned quietly against her mother's arms, lifting her head just enough to glimpse the flickering candlelight in the main room through the curtain.
There, Soma and Tanjiro still sat across from one another on the mat.
Soma remained relaxed, sitting cross-legged as was his habit, while Tanjiro knelt stiffly in the traditional posture, his tension evident. From time to time, his hand would drift toward the axe resting beside him—the blade now honed to a sharp, cold gleam under the wavering candlelight.
Noticing the boy's unease, Soma poured him another cup of sake. Tanjiro accepted it, though his hands trembled faintly.
Soma poured one for himself as well, then turned his gaze toward the window.
Outside, a full moon hung high in the night sky, its pale light spilling quietly over the world. For a moment, he seemed almost contemplative.
"The moon is particularly beautiful tonight," he murmured.
Tanjiro's grip faltered, and a few drops of sake spilled from his cup.
Soma turned back, raising his own cup before draining it in a single motion.
After a brief hesitation, Tanjiro followed suit, forcing himself to drink it down in one go. The unfamiliar burn made him cough lightly, still unaccustomed to the taste.
Soma watched him calmly.
"You've had enough to drink, haven't you?"
"…Yes."
"You've eaten your fill as well?"
"…Yes."
A faint smile touched Soma's lips. He gave Kanao a light pat, and the girl immediately rose to her feet. Only then did he stand as well, his hand brushing lightly against the hilt of the Nichirin Sword at his waist.
"I hope I won't have to step in tonight."
Tanjiro's body trembled.
"Tanjiro," Soma continued, his voice steady and unhurried, "now that you've eaten and drunk your fill… it's time to kill."
The boy remained kneeling, his gaze falling upon the axe before him. Slowly, his hand reached out—only to falter, trembling, before drawing back again.
In that moment, he lifted his head.
What he met first were Soma's deep, unfathomable eyes.
Instinctively, he turned away—only to encounter Kanao's gaze instead, calm and unwavering, beautiful yet equally devoid of hesitation.
Tanjiro closed his eyes.
For a brief moment, he wavered.
Then, at last—
His hand closed around the axe.
Seeing this, a faint smile curved at Soma's lips.
"Before you slay demons, you must first learn to kill men," he said softly. "Come. Let's begin."
Tanjiro lowered his head as he rose to his feet, his expression still unsettled, though something within it had hardened.
Without another word, Soma stepped off the mat and headed toward the door.
Then, as if sensing something, he paused and turned his head.
At the entrance to the side room stood Kamado Kie and Nezuko, their figures half-hidden, their faces filled with unease.
Soma offered them a gentle smile.
"Lady Kie, Miss Nezuko, please return inside and rest. I'll be taking Tanjiro out to handle a small matter—we'll be back soon."
Tanjiro also looked toward them. Seeing the worry in his mother's and sister's eyes, the hand gripping his axe seemed to steady.
"I'll be back soon," he said. "Don't worry."
And with that—
He followed the demon out into the night.