Demon Slayer: My breathing technique went awry after Nezuko pushed me down.

Her face flushed instantly, and she waved her hands frantically, "Kawa...Kawa-kun! What are you saying all of a sudden! I, I'm a ghost, how could that be..."

“Not in this form.” Bai Chuanyu interrupted her, his gaze falling on the Tang Hengdao at his waist. “My sword… can ‘nourish the soul’.”

Makomo stopped moving.

She blinked, as if she understood something.

"You mean..." she asked softly, "like a sword spirit?"

Shirakawa Yu nodded: "That way, you can always be with me. Fight alongside me, protect me... and I will protect you too."

He paused, then added, "Of course, if you don't want to, I will never force you. You can stay here, and I will come back to see you whenever I have time..."

"I am willing."

Makomo did not hesitate at all.

Her voice was soft, yet firm.

Shirakawa Yu was stunned: "You...aren't you going to reconsider? Entering the blade might..."

“I know.” Makomo smiled, her smile as gentle as moonlight. “But I’m willing.”

She reached out and gently removed the fox mask that she always wore on the side of her head.

That was the thing she cherished most in her life.

The one carved by the master was lost during the final selection; this one was made by her.

She handed the mask to Shirakawa Yu with both hands.

"Here, take this," she said softly. "Take it with you, just like you take me with you."

Shirakawa Yu stared blankly at Makomo, and after a long while, solemnly accepted it.

The next second, Makomo's figure began to emit a faint light.

She looked deeply at Bai Chuanyu, her eyes filled with no fear, no hesitation, only trust and...love.

Then, she transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the Tang Hengdao at Bai Chuanyu's waist, silently disappearing into the blade.

The blade trembled slightly, emitting a soft hum.

The pink halo lingered on the scabbard for a moment before gradually fading away.

Shirakawa Yu looked down at the fox mask in his hand, then touched the hilt of the sword.

A faint warmth emanated from there.

“Welcome…” he said softly, “to my side.”

【Now - Misty Mountain Cabin】

Urokodaki stared intently at the mask in Shirakawa Yu's hand, his aged hand trembling slightly.

"This mask..." His voice was a little hoarse, "Where did you come from...?"

“Master,” Bai Chuanyu interrupted him softly, “I will tell you everything when we return from the final selection.”

He paused, then added, "All of them."

Urokodaki fell silent.

His gaze shifted back and forth between the mask and Shirakawa Yu's face.

After a long while, he slowly nodded and took the mask back from his hand.

"......it is good."

......

The three days of preparation time passed in the blink of an eye.

We set off on a morning when the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Tanjiro put on the blue haori his master had made for him, representing the breath of water, and wore the mask on the side of his face.

Shirakawa Yu wore a white haori with pink stripes, a Tang sword on her left waist, and a fox mask on her right waist.

Urokodaki stood in front of the hut and saw them off.

The tengu mask concealed his expression, but Tanjiro could clearly sense the worry emanating from him.

"Nezuko, I'll take care of her... Please take good care of her, don't worry."

Tanjiro: "Thank you, Master!"

“Master,” Bai Chuanyu suddenly spoke, his voice light, “Don’t look so gloomy.”

Urokodaki glared at him: "Who's looking so gloomy?"

“Your whole body was saying, ‘I’m so worried that these two silly boys might die on the mountain.’”

Shirakawa Yu said with a grin, "Don't worry, Master, I will bring Tanjiro back with me."

He paused, his smile fading slightly, and his tone became serious.

"I have cultivated for so long, all for this day. Even if the mountains are filled with the Twelve Ghost Months, I will not let you lose any more disciples."

The air fell silent for a moment.

Urokodaki stared at Shirakawa Yu for a long time before finally letting out a soft hum from beneath his mask:

"You brat, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue?"

But his voice was noticeably softer.

“Your kindness is very gratifying to me,” he said softly.

Shirakawa Yu's eyes lit up: "Oh~ Master, you're finally willing to call yourself a master!"

He leaned closer and winked. "Then can I tell people about my lineage later? 'The direct disciple of Sakonji Urokodaki, the former Water Pillar'—that sounds so impressive!"

Urokodaki's mask seemed to freeze for a moment.

He was silent for two seconds before coughing lightly.

"...Ahem. It's best to keep a low profile unless absolutely necessary."

Shirakawa Yu laughed heartily.

Tanjiro couldn't help but laugh, "Don't worry, Master! I definitely won't hold my senior brother back. I will definitely pass the selection and come back alive!"

As the morning light gradually brightened, it illuminated the spirited faces of the young men.

Urokodaki felt like crying...

"I'm leaving, Master!" Bai Chuanyu waved his hand, turned around and strode away.

"Mr. Urokodaki, let's go!" Tanjiro bowed deeply and then quickly followed.

Urokodaki stood there, watching the two figures gradually walk away and eventually disappear around the bend in the mountain path.

The wind blew through the trees, ruffling his clothes.

He lingered for a long, long time... unwilling to leave.

"...You must come back...!"

His whispers, carried on the wind, were choked with sobs.

Please...

Chapter 21 Final Selection, Kanao~

Fujiiyama.

As its name suggests, the entire foothills are covered with layers upon layers of wisteria blossoms.

It's currently in bloom, and the pale purple flower spikes cascade down like a waterfall, shimmering with a dreamy halo in the morning light.

A gentle breeze blows, and petals fall like rain, filling the air with a delicate and lingering fragrance.

"Wow..." Tanjiro tilted his head back, his crimson eyes reflecting purple. "So beautiful... are all of these wisteria flowers?"

"After all, wisteria flowers are something that ghosts hate, and the wisteria poison extracted from them can be used to kill ghosts."

Shirakawa Yu walked ahead, the hem of her white haori fluttering with each step. "If you surround the entire mountain with wisteria flowers, it will become a natural 'ghost cage'—specifically for imprisoning captured ghosts, so that newcomers can practice their skills."

He spoke casually, but Tanjiro subconsciously touched the hilt of his sword.

"Using living ghosts... as trials..." the boy murmured softly.

"What else?" Shirakawa Yu glanced at him sideways, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's better than sending newcomers straight out to their deaths. Most of the ghosts here aren't strong, but there are quite a few of them. If they can survive for seven days, they'll be considered qualified."

Tanjiro pursed his lips and nodded vigorously: "I understand."

The two walked up the mountain path, which was covered with wisteria blossoms.

The higher you go, the clearer the voices become.

Dozens of teenagers had gathered in an open space. Most of them were in their teens, dressed in various styles. Some were nervously checking their weapons, some were resting with their eyes closed, and others were talking in twos and threes.

Shirakawa Yu's gaze swept casually across the crowd.

Let me see... where are the main characters?

His gaze quickly locked onto several spots—

First up is the most eye-catching little golden retriever.

"No!!!! I'm definitely going to die! Is it too late to quit now?!"

Zenitsu Agatsuma, dressed in a golden haori, was clinging desperately to the trunk of a wisteria tree, his face covered in tears and snot. A boy next to him, who was also participating in the selection, was looking at him with disgust.

"It's so noisy..." someone complained in a low voice.

Shirakawa Yu raised an eyebrow. Ah, just like in the anime, the game collapses right from the start.

His gaze continued to move.

At the edge of the open space, a punk-haired young man dressed in samurai attire stood with a fierce expression, exuding a murderous aura. No one dared to approach him within a five-meter radius.

Demon Eater - Genya Shinazugawa

...Hmm, he's a tsundere, cool young man; let's ignore him for now.