Episode 45

Someone's Dream (誰かの夢) is the 45th episode of the Kimetsu no Yaiba TV anime series, and the 1st episode of its third season.

Plot
While walking through the torn remains of Yoshiwara, a Kakushi is shocked to see the extent of the battle, before climbing over a roof and discovering Tanjiro, Inosuke, Zenitsu, and Nezuko. Elsewhere, the increasing ill Kagaya is overjoyed to discover than an Upper Rank has been killed, the first in a hundred years, believing it to be an omen that fate is about to change dramatically and that Muzan Kibutsuji will soon fall to the current generation of Demon Slayers.

Finding himself within the Infinity Castle, Akaza realizes that his summoning means that an Upper Rank demon has been killed by the Demon Slayers. Leaping off the edge of the rooms, he descends to the lower regions of the alternate dimension: he flies past a large ornate palace and eventually lands at the bottom. As the castle begins to shift, a moving platform catches Akaza and elevates his position. Several giant doors open as they sense his presence and the demon is transported high above the moving rooms, where he finds himself passing through an endlessly large maze-like room filled with pillars. A biwa's strum suddenly echoes and Akaza is taken to a platform in front of the Biwa Woman who controls the castle. On the platform with him is an ornate pot; as Akaza looks on, a voice from inside recognizes his presence and emerges. The djinn-like demon, made up of infantile hands and a distended body, is pleased to see him in good health and remarks that it had been 90 years since he had last seen him. Gyokko, Upper Rank Five of the Twelve Kizuki, continues to talk about his worry over his potential death but Akaza is uninterested in his conversation. Crouching away from them, an anxious and skittish demon comments on Gyokko's mistaken judgement of time. Hantengu, Upper Rank Four, states that it has actually been 113 years since they were last summoned before fearfully ranting over the strange number of years.

Upper Three asks the Biwa Woman about Muzan's presence; when she answers he has not arrived, he then asks on the whereabouts of Upper One, not believing he was killed. A cheerful voice suddenly addresses Akaza. As the Infinity Castle rapidly darkens with his presence, the demon, Upper Rank Two, puts his hand on his subordinate's shoulder and asks if he was worried about him, since he was worried about his "cherished comrades". Gyokko greets the demon, Doma, who returns his acknowledgment by commenting on his new pot, mentioning that an old pot he was given now has a woman's severed head on top as decoration, with Gyokko commending his creativity. Angered that his hand is on him, Akaza demands that Doma move away; when he turns to face him, Upper Three repeats his order and punches off his superior's bottom jaw.

Though Hantengu is frightened, Doma easily heals the massive wound and slyly comments on the punch's increased power over last time, which only serves to incense Akaza further. The Biwa Demon, Nakime, then addresses Akaza's earlier question and states that Upper One was summoned first and is currently listening to them. Akaza looks to the platform's edge and sees someone kneeling in the distance; Upper Rank One, a samurai-like demon by the name of Kokushibo, states that he has been present all along, before informing them that Muzan has now arrived.

Appearing above the Upper Ranks at the ceiling of the Infinity Castle, Muzan informs them of Gyutaro's death and the Upper Rank's incomplete numbers, while using chemistry equipment to perform private experiments. Doma apologizes, due to being the one to introduced the former Upper Six to the Twelve Kizuki, before asking if Muzan would want him to gouge his eyeballs as atonement. The Demon Progenitor denies his penance and irritably states that he knew of Gyutaro's inevitable defeat, believing Daki was a hindrance and claiming he could have won had he poisoned the Demon Slayers and avoided a prolonged battle. He admonishes the Upper Ranks as worthless and claims that they now fall under the ranks of remaining humanity instead of power, further stating that he did not expect much of them.

When Doma addresses his master's upset words, asking if he had ever failed to meet his expectations, Muzan states that they have failed because the Ubuyashiki family is not dead and the Blue Spider Lily is still unfound. Slamming his hands into his desk, Muzan angrily asks how could they have not found it after centuries, causing his glassware and equipment to rupture, before remarking that he no longer sees a purpose in their existence. Hantengu becomes even more frightened and begs for mercy, Akaza remains silent knowing of his recent failure, Kokushibo accepts his inability to refute him, claiming that Ubuyashiki has hidden himself well, and Doma apologizes for his sub-par skills in searching.

Gyokko then claims he has information that would suit his goals; while speaking, the demon suddenly sees Muzan in his view, having been decapitated too quickly for him to register. Muzan speaks of his detest towards change, be it in situational, physical, or emotional, and believing an unchanging state and permanence is superior. Even while a severed head, Gyokko enjoys himself being touched by his master and agrees with his sentiment. While reading Upper Five's memories, Muzan speaks of his anger over a first change in the Upper Ranks in 113 years and demands that Gyokko never tell him of any information that is not confirmed.

As the Biwa Demon manipulates Gyokko's gravity, Muzan drops his head and addresses the Upper Ranks once more, demanding they fight with more urgency as he had been too lenient with them. He orders Gyokko to, upon confirming his information, travel with Hantengu to the chosen location before doors appear and close off his presence. As Hantengu complies, Gyokko becomes annoyed at being joined on his mission. Doma then appears beside him and asks about what information he possesses to join him, which Gyokko does not answer. Akaza then walks behind Doma and slices off the top of Upper Two's head, annoyed that Doma would attempt to join a mission without Muzan's orders.

Suddenly, his hand falls off and Kokushibo instantly appears in front of him, the demon's aura startling his subordinate silent. Doma instantly heals his head and placates Kokushibo's anger, telling him he did not mind the attack. Upper One instead informs him that he is not acting for his benefit but addressing a disruption in the hierarchy, as it undermines authority, which Upper Two acknowledges. Kokushibo tells Akaza to engage in a battle if he is disgruntled, but Doma claims that Akaza could never defeat them both; he adds that Akaza is simply upset due to him surpassing his rank despite being a younger, as Upper Three angrily listens. He mentions that he purposely did not dodge the blow as an act of friendship and remarks that they should not scorn their subordinates. Kokushibo directly addresses Akaza once more and asks if he understood what he had said. Trembling with rage, Akaza acknowledges his words and further threatens to kill him. Upper One walks away and gives his encouragement, before vanishing. Doma farewells Kokushibo and talks to Akaza about feeling ignored in their conversation, only for Akaza to then leap upwards and leave the castle. Gyokko then orders the Biwa Demon to transport himself and Hantengu, vanishing as strums of her biwa echo throughout the castle. Doma then tries to talk to her and invite her to his place, but she declines and transports him away from the castle center. Now back at his residence, Doma comments on his fellow demons' cold attitudes but is quickly informed by someone that new followers have come. Upper Two quickly puts on his hat and instructs them to be let in.

Sitting on a porch, a Demon Slayer with hanafuda earrings is brought tea by someone and gently thanks him. He apologizes to his visitor for making him watch his child and for his wife being asleep but he does not mind, stating that it is difficult to give birth and raise a child; he then adds that he will soon leave as it is impolite to eat free food but his host denies any disrespect, claiming that it was he who saved their lives and allowed his child to be born. The man then asks for his guest’s name, wanting to preserve it, but he does not wish to identify himself, despite having no heir to pass him name down.

Turning to his host, Sumiyoshi, the Demon Slayer states that those who master their skills will meet the same fate, even in a new era, no matter the path they take. He denies Sumiyoshi's perception that he is special, claiming that he was unable to protect anything he cherished, could not achieve anything in life, and states his name is as worthless as he is. Sumiyoshi begs him not to loathe himself and deny his statements; as he does, his voice fades into Tanjiro’s as he wakes up in tears, before realizing that he was witnessing a dream. As he wonders where he is, Kanao Tsuyuri, who had entered the room and dropped a vase just as he awakens, rushes over to him and explains that he had been unconscious for two months since the battle. She then mentions that she is glad he is awake, as tears form in her eyes.

Goto, a member of the Kakushi and acquaintance of Tanjiro, recalls the moment when he discovered him and his friends in the remains of Yoshiwara, humorously believing they were very close seeing them huddled together in a coma. On his way to bring some castella for when Tanjiro awakens, he sees Kanao’s broken vase and chides her for her silent demeanour and lack of awareness. He tells her he had brought castella for Tanjiro, only for Tanjiro himself to weakly thank him. Dropping the dessert in utter shock, Goto angrily chastises Kanao for not saying anything about him coming out of his coma, before calling out to Kiyo Terauchi, Sumi Nakahara, Naho Takada, and Aoi Kanzaki.

Kiyo, Sumi, and Naho are ecstatic that he has awaken, and a tearful Aoi is grateful he is alive, as he had taken her place in the mission. When he asks on his friends’ whereabouts, Goto explains that Zenitsu had recovered two days ago, while remembering when he and the Kakushi witnessed Tengen leaving the district with his wives while heavily wounded. Sumi notes that Inosuke was close to death and Aoi explains that the poison had taken a severe toll on him. Hearing this, Tanjiro notes that he must be hallucinating Inosuke is above them, causing all of them to look up at the ceiling.

Hanging by the ceiling panels, Inosuke shocks them all by appearing alive and well. He lands on the bed, telling “Tanpachiro” that he had awoken a week before him, to Tanjiro’s relief. Inosuke jokingly insults him for making them all worry, while Naho notes that it is he who is acting abnormal, since even Shinobu was worried about his state. Kiyo then shows Tanjiro a book, flipping to a page regarding the honey badger and its impressive physical durability, mentioning how Shinobu had remarked that Inosuke was akin to it.

Aoi demands that Inosuke get off of Tanjiro’s bed, who then begins to argue and fight with Goto over the latter insulting him for his ludicrous thinking, leading Aoi to try and pull him away from the Kakushi. Watching them arguing, Kanao repeatedly begs them to be quiet but is not heard, before loudly demanding that they be quiet since Tanjiro is now asleep, shocking them with her change in demeanour. Kiyo then takes Kanao away so that they can cook for Tanjiro when he wakes up. That night, Tamayo’s cat watches Tanjiro from a tree with Yushiro’s talisman on its collar, who remarks he is glad that the Demon Slayer is well.

Anime Notes

 * This episode first premiered in Japan on February 5, 2023, and outside of Japan on February 18, 2023 in the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles.
 * This episode has an extended runtime of around 48 minutes of episodic content.