One Year Later.
Year — 1961.
The sun bathed the peaceful village in golden light, casting a warm glow over the gathering crowd.
Laughter echoed through the fields, and children played freely under the open sky — a rare sight in a world once haunted by darkness.
At the center of the village square, the people stood united — not in fear, but in gratitude. Before them stood three figures: Ren Hajime, Kasumi, and Miyuki, their cloaks gently rustling in the breeze.
The village head stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes shimmering with a bittersweet mix of joy and sorrow.
"We are truly blessed to have known you," he said, voice heavy with emotion. "You protected us when no one else could. Even if we never meet again… your names will live in this village forever, etched in our hearts."
Ren offered a soft smile, his eyes calm and kind. "It's our duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. And it's an honor to help people like all of you."
A woman stepped from the crowd, holding her young daughter close. Her voice trembled.
"Hajime-san… You saved my child. If not for you, I would've lost everything. To me… you're more than just a hero. You're a God. And I can never pay this debt…"
Ren bowed his head slightly, his voice humble.
"You owe me nothing. I am no god… merely a man walking this path. A wanderer, trying to bring light where there is none."
A wave of children rushed toward them, their laughter pure and unburdened, their eyes shining with wonder.
"I want to be like you when I grow up!"
"Hajime-san! Kasumi-san! Miyuki-san! You'll come back, right?"
"One day, I'll become a great hero too, just like you!"
But then — a small, quiet boy stepped forward, his expression gloomy, almost sorrowful. He looked up at Ren with innocent, searching eyes.
"Hajime-san… do you think we'll really see a world without demons someday? Can… can you really save us all?"
Miyuki knelt beside him, gently brushing a hand through his hair. Her voice was tender, full of certainty.
"He will. I know he will. Because he was born to protect this world. He's our light… our hero."
The crowd grew quiet, the moment heavy with emotion. Then, Ren turned once more to face them all.
"We must go," he said quietly. "But thank you. Thank you… for believing in us."
With that, the trio turned and walked away — their silhouettes growing smaller with each step, until at last, they faded into the horizon.
As they made their way along the quiet countryside path, the distant chirping of cicadas filling the air, Kasumi spoke softly, his voice carried by the wind.
"Hajime-san… these past four years, we've walked side by side. Across mountains and rivers… through snow, rain, and battle. We've saved hundreds of lives… but—do you think we'll ever see any of them again?"
There was no immediate reply. Only the sound of their footsteps in the grass.
Then, after a moment, Ren spoke—his voice steady, almost distant.
"Matsunaga-kun… I don't know. And that's exactly why we left without looking back.
If I had stayed a moment longer… if I let myself feel the weight of every goodbye… I wouldn't have had the strength to walk away.
And if I made them a promise… I wouldn't be able to bear the pain of breaking it."
A long silence follows—soft wind brushing through the tall grass as they continue walking.
Kasumi thinks to himself, his gaze lowered, "…I still have so much left to learn from Hajime-San."
Beside them, Miyuki tilted her head, breaking the silence, her voice soft.
"Hajime-sama," she asked, "Are there still places left in Japan we haven't seen yet?"
Ren gave the faintest of nods, a subtle smile tugging at his lips.
"There are still corners of this country we've never set foot in… and that's exactly where we're going next."
He walked ahead, his silhouette bathed in sunlight as the road stretched into the unknown.
Some time later…
Their journey led them deep into the heart of forgotten land — where even the birds refused to sing, and the wind whispered like old spirits.
Before them stood a village lost to time — its streets empty, its homes weathered but strangely untouched, as if frozen in a moment the world forgot.
The air was heavy with stillness — not lifeless, but sacred.
Kasumi gazed around, unsettled by the serenity. "What kind of village is this…?" he murmured, eyes tracing the moss-covered rooftops and faded lanterns.
"So beautiful… yet so terrifyingly silent."
Miyuki leaned closer to Ren, her voice cautious. "Hajime-sama… should we investigate this village too?"
Ren looked ahead, then smiled faintly — a knowing, nostalgic smile.
"No… there's no need. This village—" he paused for a moment, as if speaking to a memory, "was once the home of Michiko Inoue."
Both Kasumi and Miyuki stopped, eyes widening in surprise. "Inoue-san…?!"
Ren nodded slowly, his voice calm but tinged with quiet sorrow.
"She told me long ago… one by one, people left. The laughter faded. The seasons came and went, but no one remained. This place was once alive, once vibrant. But over time, it simply… fell asleep."
As they walked farther in, time seemed to bend around them.
And then they saw it — standing at the heart of the village:
A statue, old yet untouched by decay.
A stone maiden, with hair like cascading silk, adorned in garments unlike anything earthly — robes that flowed like starlight, and ornaments carved with an artisan's love.
They stood before her in reverent silence.
Miyuki's lips parted. Her voice was hushed, almost sacred.
"What kind of goddess is this…?"
But Kasumi took a sharp step forward, eyes narrowed. "That's no goddess."
He didn't bow. He didn't blink. "You don't need to offer her your prayers. She is the Upper Moon Four… Eliza."
"How…?!" Miyuki whispered, shaken.
Ren's expression darkened ever so slightly, but he remained composed.
"Inoue-san once told me stories… of a witch with eyes that saw through your soul. A being both feared and beloved. I never understood what she meant until now."
Miyuki, curiosity blooming, turned to Kasumi. "But… Matsunaga-kun, how do you know about her?"
Kasumi didn't look at her right away. His gaze was locked on the statue. "…Because I met her."
His voice grew distant.
"When I was a child. She helped me. She played with me. She taught me things. Before anyone else… she was my first mentor."
"Technically you're still a kid," Miyuki taunted playfully.
She stepped beside him with a warm look. "But you're not ordinary. Hajime-san trained you. Upper Moons know your name. You're not just a student anymore, Kasumi… you're a hero in your own right."
Kasumi smiled faintly at her words. Then suddenly, his hand tightened around his katana.
"Then it's time I act like one."
He stepped forward, raising the blade, his eyes cold. "I don't care who she was… she's a demon. She's connected to Jigen. That's all I need to know."
He swung— aiming straight for the statue's head.
But just before the strike could land, the blade froze mid-air.
A firm hand held it in place—
Ren's bare hand, unflinching, uninjured.
Kasumi turned in disbelief. Ren's eyes met his with quiet strength.
"Matsunaga-kun… even demons can have moments of kindness. Eliza may have blood on her hands. But here, in this village… She brought light to people's lives. She protected Inoue-san. That cannot be erased."
His voice was gentle, but resolute.
"At least here… her memory deserves peace."
Kasumi slowly loosened his grip. His blade dropped to his side.
"…I understand, Hajime-san." His voice was softer now.
Kasumi glanced at the statue one last time, then turned to Ren with a serious expression.
"I still stand by it, Hajime-san. I will kill them all. No matter what."
Then suddenly, his eyes lit up — like a spark of genius had struck him out of nowhere.
"Wait! Hajime-san! Miyuki-san! I've got it. A masterplan!"
Miyuki narrowed her eyes immediately. "…Another one of your 'masterplans'? The last one ended with you in a tree trunk."
Kasumi ignored her. His voice grew animated, hands gesturing wildly as if explaining something brilliant to clueless sidekicks.
"First — we find Eliza, the Upper Moon Four. With Hajime-san by our side, she's basically paralyzed. We confront her, intimidate her, force her to show us the path to the Infinity Castle."
"And then?" Ren asked, a smile playing on his lips.
Kasumi grinned. "We kill her, obviously."
Miyuki blinked. "...Of course."
Kasumi continued, pacing like a general in a war tent. "Once inside the castle, Hajime-san goes head-to-head with Kokushibo. Muzan won't just sit still, so he'll send in the rest of the Upper Moons."
He pointed to himself and Miyuki. "That's our moment. We fight the rest of the Upper Moons, hold them off—buy time. Once Hajime-san finishes off Kokushibo, he'll swoop in and clean up the rest.
Muzan Kibutsuji — gone. The world — saved."
A long pause.
Then both Ren and Miyuki burst into soft laughter.
Miyuki, wiping a tear of amusement from the corner of her eye, teased, "That's… the silliest plan I've ever heard. You do realize the remaining Upper Moons include Jigen, the one you practically get nightmares about?"
Kasumi crossed his arms defiantly. "That was last year's version of me. This year's me is upgraded. Besides, we've both grown stronger. We may not win, but we can hold our ground long enough for Hajime-san to finish things."
Ren chuckled, placing a hand on Kasumi's shoulder.
"It's an impossible plan… and I can't promise I'd win, either. But," he added warmly, "I believe in you. One day, you might even surpass me… and finish what I started."
Kasumi looked down thoughtfully, heat rising to his face.
"…Surpass Hajime-san? Impossible.
But… he sure knows how to put pressure on a guy."
———————————————————————
In the Demon Slayer hideout.
The corridors buzzed with quiet chatter and footsteps echoing against wooden floors polished by time and discipline.
Ai Hanako moved through the hallway, her expression calm but unreadable, her presence commanding just enough respect that the others instinctively stepped aside. Still, the whispers followed her like faint echoes in the mist.
"Demon activity's been dropping."
"We've wiped out so many of them lately… I think they're going extinct."
"There can't be more than a few hundred left. At this rate, we might finally win this war."
She didn't stop, but her amethyst eyes narrowed slightly. Her voice, low and cold, escaped under her breath.
"Fools. They don't understand what real demons are. They've never stood before an Upper Moon… or seen Michikatsu draw his blade."
Her boots tapped softly against the wood as she walked away from the noise and illusion of hope.
"I can't blame them," she thought bitterly. "Most of them have only fought the leftovers, scraps. Not monsters."
Her mind spun, weighed down by a growing frustration that simmered just beneath her composed surface.
"Four years… Four long years… and still no word from Hajime-san."
She turned a corner, the light fading behind her as she entered one of the quieter wings of the hideout.
"The world praises him like a legend, but he vanished like a ghost. We're still here — fighting, bleeding — while he walks a path none of us can follow."
She clenched her fist.
"And Fuji-san… he's the worst of them. He knows something. I can see it in his eyes. But no matter how many times I ask, he never tells me anything about Hajime-san. Nothing."
Her pace slowed.
"How am I supposed to lead? How am I supposed to fight Upper Moons, to protect the next generation… when the one person who could actually make a difference just… disappeared?"
Outside the Training Grounds — Late Afternoon
Ai Hanako stopped in her tracks.
Standing near the entrance with an awkward stance and far too much optimism in his eyes was a familiar face.
"Ugh…" she sighed internally. "It's Reiji-san… the new Tsuguko of Fuji-san. Just my luck."
She subtly took a step back, ready to vanish ninja-style into the nearest corridor.
But—
"Hanako-san!!"
Reiji waved like an excited puppy spotting his favorite person at the park.
She froze.
"Why is he like this? This guy's got a full-blown crush on me, and I don't even like him. And now I can't respond. Curse you, social decency."
But then… a spark lit up in her mind.
"Wait… Fuji-san must've told him something about Hajime-san."
Her eyes glinted with sudden purpose. "This might be my chance."
She straightened her posture, exhaled, and turned toward Reiji with the most elegant grace she could muster.
"Nice to see you again, Reiji-san," she said with a polite smile.
Her eyes immediately darted to his Haori. "My, your Haori looks really good today."
Reiji's face lit up. "R-Really?! Wow, I wasn't sure about the color, but now I'm glad I wore it!"
Her gaze shifted to his face, narrowing like a cat studying its prey. "Hmm… is that a new haircut?"
"Oh—uh… no, actually. It's just messy today."
She tapped her chin, her voice dripping with mock curiosity. "Then why do you look… oddly handsome today?"
His face turned a shade of red no demon's blood could match. "Wh-what?! I—thank you—I mean—um—"
"Hook. Line. Sinker," she thought smugly.
She tilted her head sweetly. "Reiji-san, can I ask you something?"
He nodded rapidly, practically vibrating. "Y-Yes! Of course!"
She leaned in, voice soft and deliberate.
"Do you know anything about Hajime-san? Has Fuji-san ever mentioned him… even once?"
His excitement dimmed slightly. "…N-no. I mean, not really. Fuji-san's never brought him up."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're his favorite student. There's no way he never told you. Come on, you can trust me."
"I—I swear, I don't—"
She folded her arms with a pout. "You're the embodiment of honesty. If you won't tell, then who will? Besides… I promise I won't breathe a word to Fuji-san. Cross my heart."
Reiji gulped, eyes darting side to side like a guilty child hiding snacks under his uniform.
"…H-Hanako-san, I r-really don't know what you're trying to say—"
Several awkward exchanges, four rounds of flattery, and three guilt trips later…
He finally caved.
"…Alright. But please—please don't tell Fuji-san we talked about this."
"Understood," she replied with a smile so fake it could've won an Oscar.
Reiji spilled everything he knew — every whispered detail, every forbidden mention of Hajime-san that had accidentally slipped from Fuji-san's lips during long training hours.
Once she had all she needed, Ai bowed slightly, calm and respectful.
"Thank you, Reiji-san. Truly."
And then—she turned, walking away without missing a beat.
As soon as she was out of his sight, she exhaled sharply.
"Whew~ That was harder than expected."
She brushed her hair back, muttering. "It's like trying to extract secrets from a nervous squirrel… but at least now I have something. Something to finally help me find Hajime-san."
Her thoughts churned as she left the training grounds behind.
"Demon numbers are falling fast… but that only means something worse is coming."
Her brow furrowed.
"That dream Matsunaga-Kun had — with Jigen in it — what exactly was that? I can't remember all of it… it's been a year… but I know one thing for certain."
"Jigen won't stop here. And if Muzan is working with him…"
Her footsteps quickened.
"…we haven't even seen the worst yet."
She glanced up at the darkening sky.
"And Michikatsu… I haven't even seen him yet."