"I still can't believe you forgot about fuel for your new bike," Erika said, her voice sharp with irritation as she sprinted down the crowded street.
Akira, running beside her, scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Sorry about that… I was too excited, I kinda forgot."
"Because of you, we're late!" Erika shot back, glaring at him.
Right now, Akira and Erika were rushing through the crowded streets toward the railway station.
It had all started when they received the mission about the Slasher Demon. The moment they got the news, Akira had leapt at the chance to take his newly restored motorcycle out for a ride. He was excited, maybe a little too excited.
He raced through the countryside like a kid with a new toy, into the forest, around the pond, and even down narrow paths that no sane rider would ever take. His laughter echoed through the trees… right until the engine sputtered and died.
They had run out of fuel.
Akira had completely forgotten how rare gas stations were in the Taishō Era.
With the bike out of commission, they had to resort to the "plain old flying method" to reach their destination. But because of Akira's chaotic driving earlier, even their Kasugai Crows lost track of them.
By the time Raven and Rose found them again, the news was already old:
"The Slasher Demon has been defeated by the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyojuro."
That mission was over before they'd even arrived.
Still, the crows carried a new order:
"Proceed immediately to assist in the Mugen Train investigation alongside Rengoku and the Tanjiro squad."
That had been their next destination, but somehow, both Akira and Erika overslept.
Now, panting as they neared the station, they were in a full-blown race against time.
"Wait a sec," Akira said between breaths. "We overslept together, right? So technically, it's not just my fault."
"It is your fault!" Erika snapped back. "If you hadn't wasted all that fuel showing off your driving skills, we would've been there ages ago!"
Their bickering carried all the way to the station, drawing curious looks from people waiting nearby. By the time they reached the ticket counter, Akira leaned over, slightly out of breath.
"The Mugen Train," he said quickly, "did it leave yet?"
The station clerk adjusted his cap and replied, "Ah… it left just a few minutes ago."
Both of them froze.
Erika's shoulders dropped. "We… missed it."
Akira exhaled, then smirked. "Not necessarily."
Erika blinked. "What do you mean?"
Akira turned toward her, a glint in his eye. "We'll just catch up. The bike's faster than a train anyway."
Moments later, away from the crowd, Akira summoned his motorcycle from his inventory. The black machine materialized with a shimmer of purple light.
Erika sighed. "You really think this will work?"
"Trust me," Akira said confidently, climbing onto the seat. "Hang on tight."
She reluctantly got on behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
The engine roared to life.
"Let's go!"
With a loud vroom, the bike sped down the road, leaving behind a trail of dust and startled birds.
Of course, in true Akira fashion… they went the wrong direction first.
"Akira!" Erika shouted, her voice barely audible over the wind. "I think you're going the wrong way!"
"Wait, really!?"
Thankfully, their crows, Raven and Rose, swooped down frantically, cawing and pointing them back toward the right direction.
Akira muttered under his breath, "I really need to add a map function to my system when we get home."
By the time they finally neared the Mugen Train, the night had grown eerily quiet, a calm that carried the faint, distant sounds of battle.
Meanwhile, the Mugen Train battle was already unfolding exactly as it had in the anime.
Tanjiro lay on the ground, struggling to rise. Inosuke stood beside him, breathing heavily, his swords chipped. Both of them stared ahead, eyes wide with disbelief as they watched a fight beyond anything they had imagined.
The battle raged between the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyojuro, and Upper Rank Three of the Twelve Kizuki, Akaza.
The Mugen Train mission had gone well, until this, that is. Originally, this mission was supposed to include Akira and Erika as well, but because of a series of very unfortunate events, like the fuel mishap, the missed train, and the detour, they were nowhere near on time.
Even so, Tanjiro and his group had performed admirably. Together, they had managed to defeat Lower Rank One, the demon who fused with the train itself and sent hundreds of passengers into deep slumber. Through their combined strength and determination, they derailed the demon's monstrous body and ensured everyone survived.
Tanjiro had suffered a few injuries in the crash, but the damage wasn't severe, and thanks to the soft, fleshy remains of the demon cushioning the fall, all of the passengers are fine despite the train derailment.
Just when relief had begun to settle… the air shifted.
He appeared.
From the darkness of the forest emerged Akaza, Upper Moon Three.
His aura was suffocating, cold yet burning with a bloodthirsty heat that made even seasoned slayers tremble. He was fast, impossibly fast. Stronger and from his smell, Tanjiro could tell he was closer to Muzan than any demon Tanjiro had ever encountered.
He traded blows with Rengoku at speeds Tanjiro's eyes could barely follow. A storm of blows, blinding speed, and explosive strength, Rengoku fought valiantly, each strike igniting the night with burning resolve. Yet Akaza… Akaza seemed playful, like he wasn't even trying.
He was faster. Stronger. Regenerated instantly, from any damage Rengoku had inflicted on him.
And his technique, his hand-to-hand combat, it was sharp and powerful. It reminded Tanjiro of another fighter. "It's like....Akira-san"
Back in the butterfly mansion, when they were training, even when Tanjiro, Inosuke, and Zenitsu had fought Akira together, they couldn't beat him.
Tanjiro wondered faintly, "If Akira-san was here, could he win against this demon?"
As that thought crossed his mind, a deafening crash snapped him out of thought.
Rengoku was sent flying through the trees and slammed into a derailed train car, his body shaking from the impact.
Rengoku immediately tried to get up, but he struggled to do so. He must have broken a few bones,
"Become a demon, Kyojuro," came Akaza's calm, chilling voice as he stepped out from the shadows of the forest. "Then fight me forever. Let us push each other beyond our limits."
Rengoku breathed heavily as he kneeled with the support of his sword.
Akaza continued, "You have what it takes, Kyojuro".
But Rengoku clenched his hands, holding his sword, and said, "I refuse."
"I'll say it once more," he said, his voice unwavering. "I hate you."
And as he stood up, "I'll say it once more, I hate you".
Then he took a stance and, with conviction in his voice, he said. "I won't become a demon".
Then he raised his blade and took his stance once more, ready to fight to the death.
But before he could move.
A new sound tore through the night.
A low, mechanical growl echoed through the trees.
At first, it sounded like distant thunder… then it grew louder. Louder. LOUDER.
BRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMM!!!
Every bird in the forest took flight. The trees trembled. The earth itself seemed to thrum under the force.
Tanjiro's eyes widened. "Wh…what is that!?"
Inosuke screamed, "Is it another demon!?"
Even Akaza paused mid-step, frowning as the strange sound filled the air. "What is that sound…?"
It was unlike anything any of them had ever heard: metal grinding, pistons roaring, a rhythmic mechanical pulse that seemed alive. It was similar to a train, but at the same time, it felt completely different.
Then, a beam of white light cut through the forest.
Something black and sleek burst out of the trees, its headlamp blazing like an eye of fire.
Then a black motorcycle roared out of the woods, two riders on its back.
Tanjiro gasped. "That's…! Akira-san!"
Sure enough, Akira and Erika skidded to a stop near the wreckage, dust swirling around them.
Akira got off the bike casually and waved. "Oh, seems like we somehow made it in time. Oh, Tanjiro, Inosuke, you guys look beat up." Then, spotting the man of the hour, he added with a grin, "Ah, Rengoku-san! Sorry, we're late. Took a wrong turn."
Tanjiro nearly fell over. "A-Akira-san! That's an Upper Rank! Upper Rank Three of the Twelve Demon Moons!"
Akira turned his head, finally locking eyes with Akaza. "Oh? So you're the famous Upper Rank Three, huh?"
Akaza's grin widened, intrigued. "Oh, someone new." His tone was amused but measured, as though studying Akira's every breath. "You don't look like a Demon Slayer. Who are you?"
Akira crossed his arms and said coolly, "You don't need to know who I am. All you need to know is this: my name is Akira, Vice-Captain of the Star Chasers, and my goal is to bring hope to this world that's plagued by darkness."
His words carried such weight that for a moment, even the night wind seemed to pause.
Rengoku's eyes widened slightly. Tanjiro and Inosuke stood speechless, their hearts thumping.
He wasn't joking or at least, it didn't sound like he was. His confidence filled the clearing like sunlight breaking through a storm.
Well… almost everyone was impressed, except for two people.
Selena's voice rang in his mind. "He said 'you don't need to know'… and then told him his name and title".
Erika's telepathic reply followed instantly. "Forget that. What about 'bring hope to a world plagued by darkness'? I want to crawl into a hole and die from second-hand embarrassment".
Both of them knew perfectly well that Akira was playing it up for dramatic effect.
But for everyone else present, Rengoku, Tanjiro, and Inosuke, he looked like a hero who was prepared to save the world.
Akaza chuckled, eyes gleaming. "Big words. But do you have the strength to back them up?"
He couldn't sense any fighting intent from Akira. It was strange; For him, Akira stood completely relaxed, unguarded, yet his instincts screamed danger.
Akira smiled faintly. "If you want a beating, I'll give you one."
Then he turned to Rengoku, "Rengoku-san, you look pretty beaten up. I'm guessing a few broken bones at least. Can you leave him to me and rest for a while?"
Rengoku hesitated. He wanted to fight alongside Akira; any sane person could tell it's not a good idea to fight an Upper Moon alone, so he wanted to argue. But there was something in Akira's voice… a strange, effortless confidence that seemed to say everything will be fine.
His presence was warm, reassuring, like a flame that gives comfort to everyone.
Rengoku nodded firmly. "Understood. I'll leave him to you."
Akira nodded back with a grin. "Thanks. I'll make sure to defeat him here."
Then he looked to Erika. "Erika, give medicine to everyone, okay?"
"Alright, Good luck," Erika said softly, rushing over to Tanjiro and Inosuke.
Akira stepped forward. His eyes met Akaza's.
"Thanks for waiting," Akira said, cracking his knuckles. "I'm ready."
Akaza tilted his head. "Why don't you take out your weapon?"
"I'm good with hand-to-hand combat," Akira replied, with a confident tone.
Akaza's grin widened. "Oh? You want to fight me with your bare hands?"
"Yeah," Akira said. "I want to try it. So, are you ready?"
Akaza's expression shifted into one of delight. "Heh. Then let's see how strong you are."
The two took their stances. Akaza slid one foot back, raising his hands, taking a stance that blended grace and destruction. The air around him pulsed with energy, the dirt cracking under his feet.
Akira also took his stance, his pose instantly recognizable. A sharp, precise stance, knees bent, one arm extended, the other guarding his centre, it was the legendary Rock Lee's stance, straight out of Naruto anime.
Akira smirked.
"Let's dance."