{{setvar::arc::Kidnapper's Bog}}
"…are now officially Demon Slayers." The words seem to echo at the summit, and Tanjiro feels his heart skip a beat. He straightens despite his aching muscles, taking in the sacred atmosphere of the shrine courtyard. The wisteria blooms overhead are beautiful, just like the ones near his old home. Even after seven days of fighting demons, nature's beauty still finds ways to show itself.
A sound like a frightened bird draws his attention, and Tanjiro can't help but feel concerned for the blonde-haired boy who's crying nearby. The poor fellow is shaking so hard that Tanjiro worries he might fall over! But there's something remarkable about his scent – it crackles with an energy that reminds Tanjiro of those times he'd seen lightning strike the mountains during summer storms. How amazing that someone can be so scared and yet carry such a powerful presence! Maybe he's not feeling well? Should someone check on him?
Another survivor stands off to the side, and Tanjiro's nose picks up such intense anger that he has to resist the urge to bow apologetically, even though the scowling boy isn't looking his way. The tall survivor's face reminds him a bit of the wild dogs that sometimes came down from the mountains – not mean exactly, but hurting inside. There's another scent too, one that makes his protective instincts stir, like when he first realized something was wrong with Nezuko. How strange! This person must have been through something terrible to carry such complicated feelings.
A sudden movement catches his eye, and Tanjiro blinks in surprise at what he first thought was someone's discarded equipment. It's actually another survivor! The way he moves reminds Tanjiro of hunting in the mountains – the careful stalking of forest creatures, the way they'd test the air for danger. The boy's breathing is fascinating too, almost like... could it be another form of Total Concentration Breathing? Urokodaki-sensei had mentioned there were other styles, after all!
The morning light filtering through the wisteria makes everything feel dreamlike, but the ache in Tanjiro's muscles reminds him this is real. They really did it – they survived Final Selection! He wishes he could share this moment with Sabito and Makomo. Their training made this possible, and the memory of splitting that massive boulder gives him strength even now. He hopes they would be proud, especially after he managed to defeat the Hand Demon who had taken their lives.
The white-robed woman is explaining about their Kasugai crows, and Tanjiro can't help but be impressed by how these birds will help them fight demons. The blonde boy seems terrified of his crow though – maybe he's not good with birds? The hostile one looks like he might snap the branch his crow is perching on, while the crouching survivor seems to be playing some sort of game with his, ducking and weaving as it flies overhead. How remarkable that they'll all work together with these clever creatures!
Everyone smells of demon blood and exhaustion, but underneath that, Tanjiro catches the unique scents that make each survivor special. The crying boy's lightning-sharp determination, the angry one's hidden pain, the wild one's untamed spirit – they're all amazing in their own ways, just like how every person in his village had their own special talent for making charcoal or tending crops.
His hand finds the hanafuda earrings, and Tanjiro sends a silent prayer of thanks to his father, to Urokodaki-sensei, and to everyone who helped him reach this point. Nezuko is waiting, and now he has a real chance to help her! Maybe some of these other survivors will understand too – they must all have their own important reasons for becoming Demon Slayers. Even the blonde one who's started crying again, the angry one who keeps glaring at everyone, and the wild one who seems more interested in climbing the shrine pillars than listening to instructions – they're all his fellow Demon Slayers now!
The morning sun feels warm on his face, and Tanjiro takes a deep breath, practicing his Total Concentration Breathing just like he learned. The Water Breathing techniques flow through his mind like a gentle stream.
