Demon Slayer, despite being a story without an outstanding plot, managed to become extremely popular across the entire internet.
Where exactly does its uniqueness lie?
It lies in the characters.
Especially the protagonist, Tanjirou.
As a kind (Yasashii) male lead, he holds no advantage in today's market.
What distinguishes him from other gentle-type protagonists is that his inner kindness and determination are not contradictory.
He is the kind of person who feels sorrow for the plight of Demons, yet will steadfastly cut off their heads.
Mizuki initially got hooked because of video compilations of Tanjirou's gentle scenes in the show.
Demon Slayer's character development is incredibly detailed; compared to the plot, Mizuki believed this was the fundamental reason for its explosive popularity.
As Tanjirou's ancestor, Tankichi possessed a personality that almost completely overlapped with Tanjirou's.
Kind and understanding.
Therefore, Mizuki felt that perhaps they could understand her.
After breakfast, Sumiko went to the kitchen to wash the utensils.
Mizuki, meanwhile, entrusted Sumirei to Tankichi.
Tankichi smiled gently, saying, "Thank you for the trouble."
Mizuki swallowed her saliva and smiled slightly: "Not at all, the child is very cute."
Yoriichi noticed her slight abnormality and felt deeply moved.
Mizuki is trying hard too... Tankichi held Sumirei and sat aside, not asking about what had just happened.
Mizuki looked at the light pouring in from outside the door and reached out to test it.
Yoriichi quickly grabbed her hand and shook his head.
Mizuki smiled gently: "It's fine."
Tankichi looked at the interaction between the two with confusion.
Under their gaze, Mizuki slowly extended her fingertip into the bright light.
Sizzle~
Mizuki's pale fingertip was instantly scorched as if it had plunged into flames.
Tankichi's expression changed abruptly, but before he could react, Mizuki had already withdrawn her finger.
Mizuki looked down at her finger; in the blink of an eye, the half-scorched finger quickly regenerated.
Under the illumination of the sun, regeneration was almost completely halted.
When she hid in the shadows, regeneration was no longer restricted.
Looking at Tankichi, who showed shock but no fear, Mizuki smiled gently.
He really is very similar to Tanjirou.
Tankichi knew about the existence of Demons; their acquaintance with Tankichi originated two years ago when they saved his family from a Demon.
Therefore, Tankichi clearly knew that Mizuki had become a Demon.
Mizuki didn't offer many explanations, and Tankichi only remained silent for a moment before returning to normal, happily recounting his family's life to the pair.
Just then, Yoriichi stared blankly at the rising sun.
Perhaps it was Tankichi's understanding nature that compelled him to speak these words.
"I have always wanted to find someone to confide in."
Yoriichi began recounting the events that had happened to him since birth.
Including every little detail about his family.
He spoke of leaving home, meeting the equally lonely Uta, living with her, and marrying her ten years later.
When he mentioned that he had gone out to find a midwife because Uta was about to give birth, but returned too late after helping an old man he met on the road find his son, resulting in his wife and child being brutally murdered by a Demon.
Mizuki finally understood the deep sorrow hidden beneath Yoriichi's overly enthusiastic willingness to find a midwife when Tankichi's wife, Sumiko, gave birth to their daughter years ago.
Many of the experiences Yoriichi spoke of were unknown to Mizuki.
Perhaps because Mizuki was gravely ill, Yoriichi didn't want her to worry, so he had never confided in her.
Now, in front of Tankichi, and in front of Mizuki, who was no longer tormented by illness, Yoriichi finally spoke his story candidly.
"I suppose I was born with this talent specifically to defeat Muzan."
"Yet I failed. Because of my failure, countless people will lose their lives in the future."
"My conscience cannot rest."
Despite possessing such immense power, he failed to protect anyone.
His wife, child, elder brother, younger sister... his life was worthless... Yoriichi's story captured Tankichi's attention. Sumirei had somehow crawled away from his lap and reached Mizuki.
Mizuki, who had been playing with Sumirei, turned her head when she heard Yoriichi say those words.
That is wrong.
Failing to kill Muzan was not Yoriichi's fault, nor was it his fault that more people would die because of it in the future.
The notion that the strong should protect the weak is mistaken.
This is a beautiful human moral quality; it should not be reduced to a rule or order.
No rule mandated that Yoriichi must protect others, and the strength he possessed was not something he desired.
Mizuki's lips moved slightly, but Sumirei beat her to it, crawling off her lap and toddling unsteadily to Yoriichi's side, tugging at his clothes.
"Hug~"
Tankichi also seemed to want to say something comforting but didn't know what, and seeing this, he quickly waved his hands.
"Ah, please, please hug her. She gets very happy when lifted high, and you are taller than me..."
Yoriichi looked at the cheerful Sumirei in front of him with a blank expression, simply lifting her high up as Tankichi instructed.
Sumirei's joyful smile reflected in Yoriichi's eyes, and tears began to fall from the eyes of the Peerless Swordsman.
Sure enough, creatures like children are the best at healing the heart.
Mizuki watched this scene with a gentle expression.
Tankichi also sighed in relief inwardly. Unconsciously, he turned his head, but his gaze suddenly froze when he saw Mizuki's face.
Mizuki noticed his abnormality and looked puzzled.
"What's wrong?"
Tankichi looked at Mizuki's confused expression, opened his mouth, and felt unable to speak.
Yoriichi snapped back from the sound of their conversation, held Sumirei in his arms, and turned to look. The tears in his eyes suddenly stopped, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
"Mizuki..."
"Hm?"
"Saliva... it's drooling out."
Mizuki froze for a moment, her face flushed crimson, and she quickly wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth.
After a long moment, she lowered her head, not daring to look up at anyone, and meekly said: "I'm sorry..."
Sumirei was too tempting; she was truly sorry for drooling.
When holding Sumirei, Mizuki had actually been deliberately suppressing her desires.
But she hadn't expected to be momentarily distracted by Yoriichi's story, causing her to lose control.
It was a bit awkward.
Sumiko, who had finished washing the dishes and came out with the other child on her back, saw this scene.
"What's wrong? Why are you all looking at Miss Mizuki like that?"
Anyone who didn't know better would think they were scolding someone.
Mizuki lowered her head even further.
Too shameful.
"Oh, right, Miss Mizuki, could you please watch the child for me? I'm going to check the woods for fresh chestnuts."
Mizuki looked up and unconsciously refused with her hands: "Ah, about that..."
"Then I'll leave it to you." Sumiko, without giving her a chance to speak, untied the young child from her back and placed them in Mizuki's arms.
Sumiko laughed: "Compared to careless big men, Miss Mizuki is definitely more reassuring."
Yoriichi, Tankichi: "..."