The heavy doors of the great hall were still trembling.
Before the dust had even settled—before the arrogant, hands-on-hips boy could utter a second word—a golden blur lunged forward.
"INOSUKE—AAAAAAHHHH!!!"
There was no chance to dodge.
Doma wrapped himself around Inosuke like a giant octopus, instantly clinging to him from head to toe.
"Waaahhh! You scared Daddy to death!
Daddy thought he'd never see you again!
I even carved your memorial tablet already!!!"
Doma cried without the slightest shred of dignity. Tears poured from his rainbow-colored eyes, mixed with who-knew-where-they-came-from snot, which he shamelessly smeared all over Inosuke's beautiful face.
"That's disgusting!!
Let go! It's all snot!!"
Inosuke struggled desperately, but the octopus's strength was ridiculous.
"I'm not letting go!"
Doma buried his face in the crook of Inosuke's neck, crying like a three-year-old.
"You have no idea… how heartbroken we were just now… waaahhh…"
"Little brother!!"
Before Inosuke could pry Doma off, a wave of fragrance rushed in.
Daki also cried as she threw herself forward, joining Doma in trapping Inosuke.
"Waaahhh! You idiot! Why did you scare your big sister like that?!
I cried so much my makeup's ruined!!"
"Don't—don't squeeze—can't breathe—!"
Caught between two Upper Moons, Inosuke felt more pressure than anything Sasaki had ever given him.
"Hmph."
A cold snort sounded nearby.
Akaza stood in the shadows of the corridor, fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his face wearing an indifferent expression.
"So you're back. Did you really have to make such a scene?"
He glanced sideways at the Inosuke buried in bodies. His tone was harsh, but the tension in his eyes finally eased.
"You had that much trouble with a loser like Sasaki who only relied on luck?
You even almost got yourself killed?"
Arms crossed, Akaza looked utterly disappointed.
"Looks like my previous training was too gentle. You didn't even learn the basics."
"Don't go anywhere these next few days."
He pointed toward the old training grounds.
"Stay home and train until you learn how not to get yourself killed."
"Pfft."
Daki, who had still been crying, suddenly burst into laughter. She poked her head out of Inosuke's arms and pointed at Akaza.
"Third Uncle, that's just embarrassing, isn't it?
Who are you acting tough for?"
"You literally punched all the trees on the back mountain into splinters.
If you don't want Inosuke to leave, just say it—why pretend it's 'training'?"
"Shut up, Daki!!
Who's your third uncle?!"
Akaza's face instantly turned liver-purple, veins bulging on his forehead.
"That was— that was anger! Anger at the weak!
I wasn't worried about this brat at all!"
Exposed, Akaza stormed toward the courtyard in embarrassment, raising his fist to smash the already-destroyed tree again—
But then—
Zzzzt.
The first rays of morning sunlight broke through the clouds and spilled into the courtyard.
"WAAAH—!"
Demonic instinct kicked in instantly. Akaza recoiled like a cat whose paws had been burned, hopping backward and darting straight back into the shadows.
"Hahaha!"
Inosuke finally broke free of Doma and pointed at Akaza, laughing loudly.
"Idiot Basketball! You almost stepped out of bounds just now!"
"Shut up, you brat!!"
Akaza leaned against the wall, his face even redder now—but as he looked at the lively, unharmed boy, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but lift.
In a corner—
Kaigaku, who was wiping the floor, scrubbed even harder at the sight, polishing the floor until it shone.
"That's great… the Young Lord is back…
As long as the Young Lord is here, my position in this family is secure!"
Nearby, Gyutaro had already squatted down and started peeling potatoes.
Watching Daki cling to Inosuke and laugh through her tears, his gloomy face softened into a doting smile.
"That's good… Mei looks happy…
As long as Mei's happy, I don't mind peeling potatoes for the rest of my life…"
Just then—
The door to the inner hall slowly opened.
"I… Inosuke?"
A trembling voice rang out.
Kotoha stood barefoot in the doorway, dressed in a thin sleeping robe.
Her eyes were swollen like peaches, her hair a mess—she looked utterly exhausted.
She had heard that voice.
The voice she thought she would never hear again in her lifetime.
The great hall fell silent.
Doma wiped his nose.
Daki loosened her grip.
Akaza turned his head away.
Inosuke looked at the woman who seemed like a breeze could knock her over, and his usual arrogance vanished instantly.
Scratching his head, awkward and guilty, he walked over.
"…Mom."
"INOSUKE!!!"
Kotoha completely lost control. With a heart-rending cry, she stumbled forward and wrapped her arms tightly around the boy now taller than herself.
"Waaahhh… you scared Mommy to death… you really scared me…"
"They all said you went far away… but I had nightmares…"
"Thank goodness… it's really you… you're warm…"
Feeling his mother's hot tears soak into his shoulder, Inosuke's hands froze in midair—then slowly came down, gently patting her back.
"It's nothing… don't have such stupid dreams…"
"WAAAHHHHH!!"
Nearby, Doma—who had just barely stopped crying—completely broke again at the sight.
"Kotoha-chan is crying so hard… my heart hurts too… waaahhh…"
He squeezed in and opened his arms, hugging both Kotoha and Inosuke together.
"That's wonderful…
Our family… is whole again…"
Demon Slayer Corps — Butterfly Mansion
White mourning banners filled the courtyard. The air was heavy with the scent of incense.
"Big brother…"
Zenitsu knelt in the center of the yard, curled into himself like a shell of a person.
"It's a lie… it's all a lie…"
Beside him, Tanjiro knelt with his forehead pressed hard into the ground, fingers digging into the soil until his nails broke and bled—yet he felt nothing.
He made no sound, but his tears pooled on the earth.
"Again… I'm always the one left behind…"
On the altar before them lay the twin blades forged by Haganezuka—
blades that would never meet their owner.
The steel wailed softly in the cold wind, as if mourning its master.
Giyu Tomioka stood beneath the corridor, expressionless, but the deep blue of his eyes was utterly dead.
Mitsuri covered her face, leaning against Shinobu, sobbing uncontrollably.
Rengoku Kyojuro and Iguro Obanai stood in silence—like volcanoes on the verge of eruption.
Even the ever-flamboyant Uzui Tengen had removed his headpiece, bowing his head in mourning.
"The Master has arrived."
Ubuyashiki Kagaya was helped forward by his daughters.
His face was even paler than usual, his blind eyes filled with boundless sorrow.
"My children…"
His gentle voice carried solemn weight.
"Hashibira Inosuke…
A free soul, yet one who possessed the purest of hearts."
"In the battle at the Swordsmith Village, he faced Upper Rank Five alone."
"To protect the village, to protect his comrades, he fought to his final moment—
perishing together with the demon."
"His courage and his sacrifice are the pride of the Demon Slayer Corps,
and our eternal pain."
Kagaya paused, his voice catching.
"In recognition of his achievements, including slaying Lower Moons and independently defeating an Upper Rank…"
"I hereby posthumously confer upon Hashibira Inosuke the title of—
Ice Hashira."
"May his soul remain pure as frost, and rest in eternal peace."
"Waaahhh…"
At the words Ice Hashira, Mitsuri completely broke down.
The boy who said her hair was cool…
never even got to wear a Hashira haori.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
At that moment, the wooden box on Tanjiro's back began to shake violently.
Nezuko clawed desperately from inside, slamming herself against the lid.
"Mm! Mmhh!!"
"Nezuko… don't…"
Tanjiro turned around and hugged the box tightly, tears overflowing.
"Don't come out… please…"
"Inosuke isn't out there anymore…
I don't… I don't want to lose you too!!"
The wind at the Butterfly Mansion stirred the white banners.
Eternal Paradise Cult
After the warm reunion, Inosuke wiped the drool off his face and jumped straight onto Doma's throne.
Sitting cross-legged, his expression snapped into business mode.
He clapped his hands to draw everyone's attention.
"Next, I'm announcing something important."
He took a deep breath and snapped his eyes open.
His human pupils vanished, replaced by eyes radiating terrifying pressure—
And deep within them—
Upper Rank · Five
Dead silence.
Kaigaku dropped his rag.
"WOOOAAAH!!!"
Doma reacted first—not with shock, but excitement, clapping enthusiastically.
"Upper Rank Five?! Inosuke, you got promoted?!"
"I knew it! Just as expected of my son! Like father, like son!"
"That makes two Upper Moons in our family!
No—add your Third Uncle and the idiot siblings, and we own half the Upper Ranks!"
Akaza stared at the number, pupils contracting—then let out a proud, arrogant grin.
"Hmph. If you can withstand a promotion at this level, your body's finally worth something."
"Looks like I won't have to hold back during training anymore."
Daki spun around happily.
"That's amazing! Inosuke is an Upper Rank now too!
We can bully people together!"
Inosuke rubbed his temples, exasperated by this bunch of idiots.
"Alright, alright, enjoy it for a moment."
He stood up and straightened his tattered clothes.
"But I have to go back."
"…Back to the Demon Slayer Corps."
"Huh?!"
The joyful atmosphere froze instantly.
"Back? Back where?!"
Daki stared at him wide-eyed.
"This is your home!"
Inosuke spread his hands.
"I don't have a choice. When I fought Sasaki, things got way too loud."
"The Demon Slayer idiots definitely think I'm dead now."
"Those two—Wenyi and Gonpachiro—are probably crying their eyes out over my grave."
"I'm their big brother. I can't let my little brothers cry forever, right? I need to go show my face."
"I object!!"
"No way!!"
"Absolutely not!!"
Three voices shouted at once.
Doma waved his fan, looking pitiful.
"Inosuke, do you know what day it is the day after tomorrow?"
Inosuke: "What? Another holy ceremony?"
"It's New Year's, idiot!"
Daki stomped her foot and pointed at the lanterns outside.
"It's New Year! Humans care the most about family reunions!"
"You've been gone for days—do you know how worried we were?"
"And this is my first New Year with so many people. I don't want you to leave."
"If you don't spend New Year's with Dad, Mom, your siblings and uncle, where are you going?"
"To that wisteria-stinking Demon Slayer place to eat scraps?!"
Akaza stepped forward, blocking the doorway, battle aura flaring instantly.
"You want to leave?"
"Fine."
He took the stance of Destructive Death, eyes sharp.
"Then fight a Blood Battle."
"You're Upper Rank Five now. I'm Upper Rank Three. By the rules, you can challenge me."
"If you beat me, I'll let you walk out that door."
Inosuke twitched.
"…I just finished a blood battle."
"Not my problem."
Akaza crooked his finger.
"Now, now, no need to be so violent."
Doma smiled and grabbed Inosuke's hand.
"Inosuke, be good."
"Look at Kotoha-chan—she just stopped crying."
"If you leave now, she'll cry herself blind again."
Inosuke turned to look at Kotoha.
She sat on the couch, red-eyed, gripping his sleeve tightly.
"..."
He fell silent.
"…Sigh."
Inosuke scratched his head.
He walked over, gently hugged Kotoha, then turned back to the idiots blocking the door.
"Fine, I admit it. I can't beat Striped Basketball right now."
"And yeah… I really want Mom's tempura."
Everyone's eyes lit up.
"But!"
Inosuke raised a finger.
"I have to go back—at least show my face."
"Otherwise, if the Demon Slayer Corps really builds me a grave, I won't even be able to explain things when I come back to life."
"How about this—"
He looked at Kotoha, eyes firm.
"Tomorrow night. I'll definitely be back by tomorrow night."
"I swear I won't miss New Year's Eve dinner."
"I'm the big brother. When I say something, I mean it."
The hall was quiet for a few seconds.
"I believe Inosuke."
Kotoha's gentle voice broke the silence.
She stood, walked up to him, and straightened his torn collar.
"Inosuke has never lied to Mommy."
She turned and smiled at Akaza and Doma.
"Let him go. Just like he said—he's the big brother. He can't let his friends worry."
"We'll… make dinner at home and wait for him."
Since Kotoha had spoken, no one could argue further.
Akaza withdrew his stance with a snort.
Doma waved his fan and added cheerfully,
"Bring back some souvenirs, okay~
Even though the Demon Slayer Corps is poor, they didn't protect you very well this time."
"I'll settle accounts with them later."
Inosuke grinned and waved.
"I'm off!"
As the boy disappeared into the night, warmth returned to the Eternal Paradise Cult.
Daki wiped her tears and lightly kicked Kaigaku, who had been watching.
"What are you staring at?! Go wash vegetables already!"
"If the New Year's dinner tastes bad, I'll eat you!"
Kaigaku: "Yes, Miss."
He smiled softly.
"…The day after tomorrow—
will Zenitsu come too?"
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