The air seemed to freeze.
Kotoha's voice wasn't loud,
yet it shattered every shred of Doma's pride.
He looked at the woman trembling and crying in his arms,
at this mother willing to fall into hell for her child—
What… am I even doing?
Doma stared around him in a daze.
A luxurious palace.
A warm hearth.
A "perfect" family he believed he had built.
But then—
Why did Inosuke come back more injured every time?
Why did Muzan's visits grow more frequent?
Why was gentle Kotoha being driven to the point of wanting to become a man-eating monster?
And why, as Upper Rank Two, did he feel like a complete and utter failure right now?
An anger mixed with helplessness—unlike anything he had ever felt—
erupted from the depths of Doma's hollow soul.
Muzan… the Demon Slayer Corps… this damned world…
Why?!
Why, after I finally gained something that resembled happiness,
do all of you insist on tearing it away?!
"No!"
Doma abruptly pulled his hand back.
He crushed Kotoha tightly into his embrace—yet carefully restrained his strength.
"No… my lady. Not yet."
His voice was hoarse, almost pleading.
"Believe me, alright? I'm begging you too… believe me.
If that day truly comes… if things really become irreversible,
I will turn you into a demon with my own hands.
"But now… please."
He buried his face in the crook of Kotoha's neck, his shoulders shaking violently.
"Just be Kotoha.
Be the Kotoha who sings, who makes tempura, who gently calls my name.
"Don't think so much…
Don't force yourself like this…
"Please.
I'm begging you…"
Kotoha finally broke down, sobbing uncontrollably in his arms.
"But I'm scared… I'm really scared of losing all of you…"
"…I'm scared too…"
Doma—the monster said to have no emotions—
cried out loud for the first time, like a real human being.
Bliss Cult, Back Kitchen
The crying from the inner hall pierced everyone's hearts like needles.
"…Brother…"
Ume threw herself into Gyutaro's gaunt chest, crying until she could barely breathe.
"Why, brother…
We've already been so obedient.
We've already hidden ourselves here…
"Why is there always someone trying to destroy our lives, no matter where we go?
Why does separation follow us everywhere?"
Daki lifted her tear-streaked face, fear filling her beautiful eyes.
"I don't want to live like we're always running anymore…
I don't want to let this happiness slip away…
"I want everyone to stay together…
Isn't it fine to keep being this noisy forever?"
Gyutaro said nothing.
He simply used his rough hands to gently pat his sister's back, just like when they were human.
His murky eyes were also brimming with tears.
In the corner—
Kaigaku leaned against the wall, tightly gripping the New Year's gift Zenitsu had given him.
His head was lowered, bangs hiding his eyes.
"Happiness… huh?
How ridiculous. Am I really starting to crave something like that?"
Listening to the crying outside, watching the siblings clinging to each other, his heart grew restless.
"How do you even protect something like happiness?"
He thought of that useless Zenitsu who always called him Senior Brother.
Of the clear-eyed Tanjiro.
And of the arrogant, domineering Inosuke who carried everything on his shoulders.
"…It's up to you idiots."
Kaigaku clenched his fist.
"And me too.
All of you—stay alive, you damn junior."
Several days later, late at night.
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's Estate
"Master."
Shinobu knelt outside the door, her voice calm.
"I apologize for disturbing you so late.
I've thought about this for a long time…
"I still believe this decision should be yours.
But regarding… Hashibira Inosuke, there are matters of extreme importance—things that may overturn everything we know—that I must report."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya's gentle voice came from within.
"Come in, Shinobu."
Shinobu entered and bowed deeply.
She raised her head, her violet eyes filled with unspoken thoughts.
"Please, Master… keep this confidential for now.
Only the Hashira should know.
"If my conjecture is correct…
what we are facing may be far more complicated than simply slaying demons."
A Mountain Path, Deep in the Wilderness
Inosuke, Tanjiro, and Zenitsu were traveling onward.
The deeper they went, the more desolate the scenery became—yet it carried an inexplicable sense of sanctity.
"Big bro, where are we even going?"
Zenitsu panted, tongue hanging out.
"There's not even a ghost around here. It's creepy…"
"Shut up. We're almost there."
Inosuke stopped and looked at the bald-feathered Kasugai Crow on his shoulder, still holding its head high.
This crow had followed him for a long time.
Its feathers had been plucked by him.
It had been threatened by him.
Yet at the Swordsmith Village, it had nearly flown itself to death trying to deliver his message.
"Hey. Stupid bird."
"Caw?"
The crow tilted its head, looking at its troublesome master.
Inosuke glanced around to make sure Tanjiro and Zenitsu were distracted by the scenery.
Then, sneakingly, he pulled something from his clothes.
A tiny anklet ring, polished from pure gold.
Etched upon it, in minuscule letters, was Inosuke's name.
"Stick your foot out."
Inosuke said gruffly.
The crow froze, then obediently extended its claw.
With movements so gentle they hardly seemed like his own,
Inosuke carefully fastened the ring around the crow's ankle.
"Back then… I was ignorant."
He scratched his head. A faint blush crept onto his cheeks, and his voice softened.
"I only cared about strength and looking cool.
I thought you were weak and ugly, a bald bird."
"But…"
He reached out and lightly touched the tiny hat on the crow's head.
"You stayed with me the whole time.
Even facing an Upper Rank, you didn't run.
"You're weak—but you're the best partner I acknowledge."
"This… is a New Year's gift. And an apology."
"Happy New Year, stupid bird."
The crow froze.
A sheen of tears welled up in its bead-like black eyes. It flapped its wings and croaked loudly:
"Caw! Happy New Year, Young Master Inosuke!
Caw! I'm not touched at all! Caw!"
Zenitsu and Tanjiro were already dumbfounded.
"Th-that's big bro?" Zenitsu rubbed his eyes.
"He's apologizing to a crow? And giving it a ring? Is that a token of love?!"
"That's wonderful…"
Tanjiro smiled gently.
"Inosuke-kun… you've really become very kind."
They passed through another misty forest, and the view suddenly opened up.
A valley embraced by mountains.
At its center stood a solitary grave.
The tombstone bore only a single character:
Shi (诗).
It was the grave of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's wife.
Though it was winter, no snow covered the area around the grave.
Instead, lush greenery thrived, radiating a warm presence.
"This is it…"
Inosuke took a deep breath.
"So beautiful…"
Zenitsu stared in awe.
"It feels like… a god lives here."
Tanjiro stepped closer and suddenly froze.
A sealed memory surfaced in his mind.
"I… think I've been here before."
He murmured.
"When I was very little, Mother brought me here.
It was daytime then—the sunlight was beautiful…
"I remember…"
He pointed to an empty patch of ground beside the grave.
"There was a strange flower blooming there.
It was incredibly beautiful, spread out like a spider web… blue in color.
"Mother said it only blooms for a single instant each year, and those who see it are chosen by the gods."
The Blue Spider Lily.
Inosuke's pupils shrank sharply.
So it's true. The system's coordinates were right.
The thing Muzan had searched for for a thousand years
was here—in the most dangerous, yet safest place of all:
Before the grave of Yoriichi Tsugikuni's beloved wife.
How ironic.
Inosuke said nothing.
He walked up to the grave, pressed his palms together, and bowed deeply.
Then he lifted the Kasugai Crow from his shoulder and placed it on the empty ground.
"Listen, stupid bird."
Inosuke crouched down, eyes level with it—his gaze more serious than ever.
"I have a task for you. One more important than killing demons."
"I want you to stay here.
No matter the wind or rain. No matter what happens."
He pointed at the land.
"You are to guard this place—for me.
Guard that flower… that has yet to bloom.
"It's the key to ending all tragedies.
And our hope… to survive.
"Even if one day I die,
you stay here and wait for it to bloom.
"Can you do that?"
The crow met Inosuke's multicolored eyes.
It didn't flap its wings this time.
It nodded solemnly and stood firmly atop the tombstone, unmoving.
"Caw."
The wind swept through the valley, rustling softly—
like whispers from a couple a century past.
Inosuke stood and looked toward the distant sky.
The sun was slowly rising, golden light spilling over the grave
and over the three boys.
"Alright."
Inosuke curled his lips into a smile.
"Let's report back."
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