His knees sank into the soil. Tanjirou propped himself up with his sword, managing to raise his upper body. His hands were shaking. White smoke began forming shapes again. No matter how many times he cut it, it came back. (I can't... protect anyone.) The words kept spinning in his head. Beyond the smoke, there was a silhouette. The demon's true body drawing closer, bit by bit. No footsteps. But it was there. Definitely there. Tanjirou's sword hand trembled violently. Then. ——CRACKLE!!! A sound like thunder split through the forest. The white smoke scattered in one brilliant burst. His vision cleared. The shadows of trees became sharp and distinct. The air around Tanjirou suddenly felt clean. "[crying]Tanjirou———!!" A voice came from the forest entrance. It was Zenitsu. Blonde hair disheveled, tears streaming across his face, orange eyes burning red——running at full speed. The afterglow of Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash left small sparks of electricity scattering with each footfall. Zenitsu dropped to his knees in front of Tanjirou with a heavy thud. "[crying]Idiot!! I told you not to go alone!! Even though I was scared, I came because you——because you matter to me!!!" A tear rolled down Tanjirou's cheek. (Zenitsu...) "[surprised]Ah... Zenitsu, you came looking so scared..." "[crying]Of course I was scared!!! I was terrified!!! But——you being alone scared me more than anything——!!!" Something in Tanjirou's chest pounded hard. What was this feeling? There was no time to think. "……" Giyu entered the forest in silence. Movements as quiet as water. Without drawing his sword, he spread his arms loosely——the Stillness Stance. The air around Giyu shifted. The smoke trying to flow in from outside hit an invisible wall and changed direction. The visibility kept improving. "[excited]Don't leave me behind!! Don't forget about me!!!" A voice dropped from above. Looking up, Inosuke stood on a thick branch. His reddish-purple wild hair fluttered in the wind, his boar mask tilted. His golden vertical-slit eyes gleamed. The next moment, he flew. "Beast Breathing!!" BOOM!!! The impact of landing shook the surrounding trees. Branches and leaves scattered in an instant, the white smoke dispersing. The silhouettes of the demon's clones that Tanjirou couldn't see became clearly visible. "[serious]Big brother!" Nezuko came running. It was still a little startling to hear her called with a man's voice. But that worried expression on her face was the Nezuko that Tanjirou had always known. Nezuko spread both hands. Her demon power activated——pale pink flames spread quietly from her palms. The smoke caught fire. The scent changed to something sweet and clean, like wisteria flowers. Then——a black shadow crossed the sky above. A crow. Wings spread wide as it circled, something clutched in its beak. A small round object——a scent ball. "Scent ball, delivery!! From Shinobu!!" Crack. The shattered scent ball released the wisteria fragrance all at once. The smoke thinned with a rushing sound. The clones' silhouettes wavered and vanished. "Why... why is the smoke——!" The demon's voice carried panic for the first time. Hearing it, Tanjirou remembered. (Shinobu made this through the night.) He recalled that morning in the research room where they'd shared their weaknesses. Back then, Shinobu's trembling hands had adjusted the mixture over and over. This scent ball was——the result of that sleepless night. Tanjirou stood up. His knees were still shaking. But he could stand. He did. "[gentle]Everyone... I'm sorry. I was carrying this alone." "[crying]Of course you were! We're comrades!!" "……" Giyu nodded silently. Just one nod. But Tanjirou understood its weight. "[excited]Stop crying! Fight!!" Smack!! Inosuke slapped Tanjirou's back hard. "Ah——!" He stumbled. Fell forward. And Giyu happened to be there. "……" Giyu casually steadied Tanjirou's shoulder. Point-blank range. Giyu's deep-colored eyes were right there. "[angry]Tomioka!! The distance again!!!!!" "[surprised]Ah, um, well..." Tanjirou's face burned hot. In the middle of combat. In the smoke. Why was his face turning red? "[sarcastic]...Do you guys understand what situation we're in right now?" They understood. They understood. Tanjirou stepped away from Giyu and readied his sword again. He took a deep breath. The air was cleaner than before. The wisteria scent reached deep into his nostrils. Something connected in his mind. He heard his master's voice——Sakonji's voice. "Water remains water, no matter what vessel holds it." That's right. This body was a woman's body now. Lower center of gravity. Different arm length. But——water remains water, no matter the vessel. There was a way to move suited to this body. Using the low center of gravity, generating power through arm rotation, that form. During the forest reconnaissance, he'd felt it for just an instant. That movement. He could do it. Tanjirou lowered his center of gravity. Bent his knees, brought his body low. Gripped the sword hilt firmly with both hands. Imagined his arms rotating around his body's axis. The smoke clones began forming again. "……The name is" He whispered quietly. "[serious]Water Breathing——Vessel-Changed Form!!" He stepped forward. Low. His body closer to the ground than usual. But not unstable——rather, solid like a tree with deep roots. His arms traced an arc. Rotation. Centrifugal force gathered at the blade. SLASH!!! The smoke clone split cleanly in two. Different from before. The sensation of the cut remained. The smoke——didn't regenerate. Another one. Same movement, same step forward. Cut again. Didn't regenerate again. "[angry]No... why won't the clones——!!" "[excited]He did it! Tanjirou did it!!" "[excited]Strong!! So strong, Genpachiro!!" "[serious]It's Tanjiro!!" Tanjirou heard their voices at his back. His chest felt warm. As the smoke cleared, the demon's true body became clearly visible in the forest depths. A thin body. Long claws. Smoke leaking constantly from the corners of its mouth. "Merely because your body changed——a human like you——!!" "[serious]Here I go." He unleashed the Vessel-Changed Form toward the demon's true body. SLASH!! The smoke defense split. The blade reached the demon's body. Deep impact. The demon——retreated for the first time. Stumbling back, three steps, four steps. "……!!" Gone was its earlier composure. Panic was there. The demon's panicked face, seen for the first time. In Tanjirou's mind, Zenitsu's voice echoed. That cry——you matter to me, so I came. The warmth when Giyu casually supported him. (What is this feeling...) His heart was racing in the middle of combat. He couldn't explain it well, but something had definitely changed. He could think about it later. For now—— "——!!" The demon suddenly changed direction. It stopped coming at Tanjirou. Turned its body around. The direction it faced——toward the Butterfly Mansion. The demon's mouth opened wide. The back of its throat began glowing white. (Storing massive amounts of smoke——!!) Tanjirou's nose caught the sweet scent. An amount incomparable to before. If it released that toward that direction——not just the Butterfly Mansion. It would reach the town beyond. "[scared]This is bad!!" "[serious]I'll stop it!!" He ran. Full speed, pushing off the ground with all his strength.