[The scene continued.]
["So noisy. This alone won't kill her. She's a demon, after all."]
[As Rui spoke, the bloody scratches Nezuko had left on his face healed instantly, returning to their original state.]
["But I still need to teach her properly."]
["Let her lose some blood for a while."]
["If she still refuses to obey…"]
["I'll leave her like that until sunrise."]
["…Let her roast a little."]
[Throughout it all, Rui's face remained completely expressionless.]
"Does this guy not have any empathy at all? How can he say something like that without even changing his expression?"
In Karakura Town, Ichigo Kurosaki frowned as he watched the screen.
"I'd guess that white-haired kid is something similar to a Hollow," Uryu Ishida said calmly, adjusting his glasses.
"A creature without real emotions."
[The scene continued.]
[Opposite Rui, Tanjiro was so furious it felt like he might grind his teeth to dust.]
["Let go of Nezuko!!!"]
[With a shout, he charged forward once more.]
[But Rui casually flicked his threads. The chaotic strands coiled around Tanjiro like living things.]
[Without even exerting force, Tanjiro was tripped—crashing face-first into the ground.]
[As he staggered to his feet—]
[A pale, bloodless foot appeared before his eyes.]
["BAM!"]
[Before he could react, the kick landed squarely on his face, sending him flying several meters away.]
[He spun twice in midair before crashing into a bush.]
["Puh…!"]
[Tanjiro struggled up from the bushes, barely steadying himself before coughing up a mouthful of blood.]
[As he looked up—Rui was already in front of him again.]
[A small, delicate fist slammed into his face.]
["BAM!"]
[Unsurprisingly, Tanjiro was sent flying once more.]
[But this time—he was ready.]
[While being knocked back, he adjusted his center of gravity midair. Though still blown away, he didn't fall.]
[After a few staggering steps, he regained his footing.]
[Though battered and blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth—]
[Tanjiro stubbornly raised his broken blade once again, pointing it at Rui.]
"Hang in there, sword guy! Don't lose to that white-haired bastard!"
On the training grounds of the Ninja Academy, Naruto Uzumaki shouted at the top of his lungs, ignoring the strange looks from those around him.
"BAM!"
Unable to take it anymore, Sakura Haruno punched him on the head again.
"Keep it down! Don't you see other classes are watching too?! This is embarrassing!"
"But… but…" Naruto tried to argue, but Sakura had already turned away—busy fawning over Sasuke Uchiha.
With a helpless sigh, Naruto turned his attention back to the screen.
And not just him—
Across countless worlds, many viewers were silently cheering Tanjiro on.
[The scene continued.]
[Looking at Tanjiro still standing, Rui walked toward him, seemingly annoyed.]
["I don't think it should come to this, but… don't tell me you actually believe that getting close to me means you can cut off my head?"]
["Haa… haa… haa…"]
[As Rui approached again, Tanjiro's breathing grew heavier.]
["Fine. Go ahead. Try it."]
[Seeing that Tanjiro truly intended to strike him, Rui sneered and spread his arms wide in mock invitation.]
["Ugh…"]
[Tanjiro clenched his teeth, letting out a beast-like growl as he swung his broken blade toward Rui at close range.]
["Smack! Smack!"]
[But his desperate swings were easily dodged. Rui casually slapped him twice in the process.]
["Ugh—AHHH!!!"]
[Though momentarily stunned, Tanjiro quickly regained his senses. Using the momentum from the spin, he twisted his body and lashed out—his broken blade slashing toward Rui's neck at lightning speed.]
["Clang!"]
[A crisp sound rang out.]
[The broken blade struck Rui's pale neck—]
[But no matter how much force Tanjiro put into it, the blade refused to sink in even a fraction.]
["…What?"]
[Tanjiro's expression froze.]
["The blade… won't cut…?"]
At the Demon Slayer Corps headquarters, Sanemi Shinazugawa clenched his fists, already itching to smack Tanjiro again.
"BAM!"
He paused.
Before he could move, someone had already beaten him to it.
"Kamado boy! Where is your Breathing Technique? Where is your Total Concentration?! You must give it your all at all times!"
With fiery hair blazing like flames, the Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, rubbed his numbed fist as he lectured loudly.
"You had an opportunity—why didn't you seize it with everything you had?!"
"I… I… was overwhelmed by anger…"
Tanjiro stared at the screen, realizing his mistake.
If he had stayed calm from the beginning… if he had fought rationally…
Nezuko wouldn't have suffered like this.
As guilt weighed on him, a gentle hand rested atop his head.
"Tanjiro, don't be sad. Aren't you and Nezuko both safe now?"
Kagaya Ubuyashiki spoke softly.
"From now on, focus on becoming stronger. Make sure something like this never happens again."
"Master, he's still guilty of violating the Corps rules by harboring a demon. This isn't over."
Sanemi reminded him.
"Sanemi, Shinobu has already told me everything shown above," Kagaya replied gently. "Nezuko risked herself to save her brother. Isn't that proof enough that she won't harm humans?"
"Saving her brother and eating humans are two different things."
Obanai Iguro spoke calmly.
"Just as Iguro said—if she ever kills and eats a human, there will be no turning back!"
Rengoku added in agreement.
"In that case… let us continue this discussion after the screen finishes."
Kagaya sighed softly.
Even if he brought out the letter from Sakonji Urokodaki now, they might not accept it.
Perhaps—
After watching everything unfold, their views on the siblings would change.
(New book release! Please support with flowers and monthly tickets! orz!)
(Bonus: a height chart of the main cast.)