Returning Spirit (
Summary[]
As Hakuji calls out to his father, Keizo and Koyuki that he is back home, his spirit becomes engulfed in the fires of hell, joined by Koyuki. Tanjiro watches as Akaza's body finally fades into nothing, declaring the battle over. Realizing he must reach Tamayo to help her, his body can no longer handle the fatigue, and he falls on his face unconscious. Surprised that Tanjiro had suddenly fainted, Giyu tries to call out to him, but faints from exhaustion as well, resting his body on his sword. A Kasugai Crow calls out the aftermath of the battle; Tanjiro and Giyu have managed to defeat Upper Three but are now unconscious.
Kokushibo no longer feels Akaza's presence and realizes he has been defeated.
Kokushibo no longer feels Akaza's presence and realizes he has been defeated. Upper One reminisces on his previous vow to kill him, remembering the threat to his life earlier. As he voices that Akaza had opened the path to reach further heights and abandoned it, he grabs his sword and furiously slashes the pillars of his room, cursing him as "exceedingly weak".
Kanao introduces herself to Doma.
Doma senses Akaza's demise and comments that he had felt like a different being than usual. As he brushes aside his comment, he asks for Kanao's name. She introduces herself as Kanao Tsuyuri, adding that she is the little sister of Kanae and Shinobu Kocho. Doma is confused, judging that she doesn't appear blood-related to the two, but nonetheless comments that young girls are delicious anyway. While on the subject of eating women, Doma mentions his subordinate's conscious decision not to eat them, owing to his demise.
Despite mentioning that women have more nutritional content than men, Akaza refused and was even given special permission by Muzan to do so, since Akaza was only deployed by Muzan on special missions. As he mourns the death of his "best friend", Kanao tells him to stop the lies. She figures out Doma does not feel the least bit saddened as the colour on his face stayed the same. When Doma responds that it is due to him being a demon, Kanao retorts by mentioning that demons and humans both circulate blood, and the colour of their faces can change.
Kanao states that Kanae felt sorry for Doma due to his apathy.
She mentions that Kanae had felt sorry for him, as he feels nothing. She talks about how all people are born with the ability to feel happiness, as well as sadness and anger. Doma cannot understand these feelings, but knowing he was intelligent, Kanao instead tears into how he covers up his lack of feelings with a facade of lies, pretending to experience emotion to hide the fact that his heart feels nothing. He feels no happiness, no bitterness, no pain, calling him an empty shell and saying his facade is so comical, it's stupid. Finally, she mockingly asks, "Why were you even born?".
Doma's facade drops after Kanao insults him.
Doma comments that throughout his life, he has talked with numerous young women but never a "bully" like Kanao and asks how she could say something so cruel. Kanao retaliates by saying her outright hatred of him, her desire to cut off his head. She changes her opinion of him, "You don't seem so smart", bluntly stating that he disgusts her, and smiling as she claims it was better to kill him, as it is pointless for him to continue living.
Doma instantly appears behind her, trying to slice her neck. Kanao reacts in time, however, and crouches down to slash through his abdomen. When he tries to send out his ice lotuses to hit her, she dodges the incoming attack to safety. As Doma heals, he comments that her reaction speed has accelerated, and she is adjusting to his own movement. She has not inhaled any of his ice, even though it is extremely difficult to attack in her manner without a breathing technique. Doma suddenly realizes that Kanao might actually be more skillful than Shinobu.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Akaza's father (Flashback)
- Koyuki (Flashback)
- Keizo (Flashback)
- Akaza (Flashback)
- Tanjiro Kamado
- Giyu Tomioka
- Kokushibo
- Doma
- Kanao Tsuyuri
- Shinobu Kocho (Flashback)
Events[]
- Akaza's body fades into nothing, marking his defeat.
- Tanjiro and Giyu collapse in exhaustion.
- As news of Akaza's death spreads, Kokushibo scorns Akaza's refusal to become stronger.
- Doma senses Akaza's death and mourns him, but is refuted by Kanao for his apathy.
- Kanao Tsuyuri vs Doma.
- Doma battles Kanao and believes her to be stronger than even Shinobu.