They did it. They beheaded an Upper Rank.
For the first time in almost two hundred years, an Upper Rank demon had been killed. For the first time in almost two hundred years, things had started to change. And for the first time in a long time, it wasn't done by a Hashira.
It was done by a crimson-haired, scar-wielding, fifteen-year-old slayer: Tanjiro Kamado.
And now, for the first time in over two years, a new Hashira had been made.
The Sun Hashira.
The Master, with a proud smile and support from his family, crowned him. The entire Corps was present. Zenitsu and Inosuke cheered wildly, their voices echoing through the hall. Murata joined in, clapping with a grin, while Nezuko, standing under a shade, let out a quiet grunt of joy for her brother. Tengen smiled proudly at the boy who had saved his life in the Entertainment District with such flair, and his wives tried not to break down in tears. Tomioka stood off to the side, watching silently, fondly recalling the time he had saved Tanjiro on that mountain—and marveling at how far he had come.
Tanjiro himself could hardly believe it. He had just woken up a few days ago, wrapped like a mummy in bandages, feeling as if he had run a marathon while being pierced by twenty-four spears. His forehead tingled slightly, but it was barely noticeable.
Kanao, who had come to replace his flower water and check on him, dropped the vase in shock, her eyes widening as she took in his figure. For a moment, she just stared. Then, unable to contain herself, she dashed over and hugged him tightly, tears streaming down her face.
"T-Tanjiro… I'm so glad you're okay… I-I was so w-worried. I heard you fought an Upper Moon and… I was s-so scared," she whispered between sobs.
Tanjiro patted her head gently, smiling softly. "I'm sorry, Kanao… for making you worry."
Her crying continued, but it was filled with relief. Soon, Kiho, Naho, and Sumi arrived, hugging him and sharing in the joy. Later, a Kakushi approached, informing him that the Master wanted to see him when he was ready.
A week later, clad in his demon slayer uniform and his trademark checkered haori, Tanjiro, still missing his katana, met the Master as ordered. The Master smiled warmly at him—the one who had made the impossible possible by beheading a Kizuki after they had killed dozens of Hashira, innocents, and demon slayers alike. Tanjiro was told that his Hashira ceremony would take place in a few days. He was flabbergasted.
He could only manage it because Uzui and his wives, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko were present. Still, he didn't argue with the Master and bowed his thanks.
Now, as a Hashira, he wasn't entirely sure what he would do. Technically, he could still see his old friends, but there was a subtle barrier—a silent respect for his new position.
"Well… Inosuke would act the same, anyway," he mused to himself.
Making his way to the Butterfly Mansion, he stepped inside and found Shinobu performing a check-up on a slayer he hadn't seen before. The young man had jet-black hair, a slightly tall stature—maybe six feet—slim but densely muscular, and striking green eyes. He was shirtless, and the discipline in his posture made him hard to miss.
"Oh, hi, Shinobu!" Tanjiro chirped as he slid into the room.
Shinobu turned, her soft smile lighting her face. "Hello, Tanjiro. How are you?"
"A bit weird about the whole Hashira thing, but I'm good! I still feel like I don't deserve it… I wouldn't have made it without Uzui, Zenitsu, Inosuke, and Nezuko's help," he admitted with a smile.
"Oh no, you deserved this, Tanjiro. You work harder than most would dare, and your heart is purer than anyone's. I'm proud of you," she replied, recalling his long hours at the Butterfly Mansion, training endlessly to maintain total concentration breathing.
"Thank you, Shinobu," he said, turning to the other slayer in the room.
"Hello, I'm Tanjiro Kamado!" he greeted warmly, holding out his hand. The other slayer shook it firmly.
"Yo! I'm Isan Ishida," the new slayer said enthusiastically. "I heard you're the new Hashira! That's so cool! What breathing style do you use?"
Tanjiro matched his enthusiasm with a grin. "I started with Water Breathing, but now I use the Hinokami Kagura… Sun Breathing."
"Well, Water Breathing, huh? Tomioka taught me that one too!" Isan said, catching Tanjiro off guard. He hadn't mentioned he had a Tsuguko. He made a mental note to ask later.
coughcough
Hearing Shinobu's fake cough was enough to pull them both out of the small bubble they had created. They smiled sheepishly.
"Well, I don't want to ruin this moment, but Tanjiro, is there something you wanted to talk about, or was it a checkup?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing much," Tanjiro replied, recalling why he had come in the first place. "Just took a stroll and thought I'd say hello. Though I see you're busy, I'll come by tomorrow."
Shinobu's smile was warm. "Thank you for stopping by, Tanjiro. I'll see you later."
As Tanjiro waved and left, Isan looked at Shinobu curiously. "You two seem close," he remarked, putting on his shirt and black haori.
Shinobu laughed softly. "Yeah… I guess."
Tanjiro wandered through the mansion, unsure of what to do next, until he found himself on the fence he once used to practice Total Concentration Breathing. Sitting cross-legged, he gazed at the forest beyond. Butterflies flitted through the sunlight, making the scenery feel almost magical. Memories and a strange sense of nostalgia filled him, though he couldn't pinpoint why.
He closed his eyes, letting the world pass by.
Until…
"TAAAANNNNNJJJJIIIIRRRRROOOOOOOOO!!!"
The voice was familiar, screaming from a distance, accompanied by the sound of running footsteps.
Tanjiro leapt from the fence, sweat trickling down his cheek as he stared at the approaching figure. Green eyes met red, a glint of challenge in Isan's.
"FIGHT ME!"
The command rang through the quiet forest, leaving Tanjiro stunned.
"Huh?"