Tanjiro Kamado returned not long after, his face brimming with excitement and joy. Having successfully sensed that "Opening Thread" and cut through the massive boulder that had once seemed impossible to break—even now, he still found it a little hard to believe.
And yet… he had done it.
He had accomplished what once seemed utterly impossible.
That feeling—of turning the impossible into reality—filled him with such exhilaration that he almost wanted to share his joy with everyone he met.
…
"Tanjiro, you actually cut that boulder in half?"
One of the boys halted his training, his face full of disbelief.
"Really? That huge rock could be cut?"
"That's unbelievable…"
"No way…"
Soon, a crowd of boys and girls rushed toward the boulder all at once. When they saw it split cleanly in two, gasps and exclamations erupted one after another.
Hearing their astonished voices behind him, Tanjiro found that his excitement had calmed slightly—but the smile tugging at his lips refused to fade.
As he walked along the path, he soon encountered Sakonji Urokodaki, standing quietly at the roadside, his tengu mask in place.
"Tanjiro… you cut that boulder?"
Urokodaki asked the same question. Though he had already heard the cheers and knew it was likely true, the disbelief lingered, prompting him to confirm it once more.
"…Yes."
Tanjiro lowered his head slightly, his tone modest. "It's all thanks to your guidance, and… Soma-san as well."
"That's not my doing," Urokodaki replied, shaking his head. "Even I didn't think you could cut through that stone. It wasn't something your current strength should allow."
He paused, then looked at Tanjiro more intently.
"You really sensed that so-called 'Opening Thread'?"
"I'm not sure if that's what it was," Tanjiro admitted, trying to explain. "But I felt there was one specific spot that was the weakest... so I simply followed that weakness and struck along it."
"…Incredible."
Urokodaki unconsciously touched his nose. He too possessed a keen sense of smell—sharp enough to even perceive the emotions of others—but sensing something like the "Opening Thread"… that was beyond even him.
He had always recognized that Tanjiro was somewhat different from others, quietly extraordinary in his own way. But even so, he had never imagined the boy could reach this level.
"You've done very well," he said at last, unable to hide his admiration.
"Thank you for your praise, Urokodaki-sensei," Tanjiro replied, his face flushing slightly with embarrassment.
After all, Urokodaki rarely praised anyone—at least, Tanjiro had never witnessed it before. To receive such recognition filled him with a quiet, swelling happiness.
As he continued on his way, he soon noticed Shinobu Kocho standing by the roadside. This girl, who was usually composed and stern, now looked at him with unmistakable astonishment.
Tanjiro bowed respectfully. She was someone he held in high regard—a skilled physician who had treated many of the trainees during this time, even helping restore his mother's health.
"…Truly incredible," Shinobu murmured softly.
Yet in her mind, she couldn't help but recall that man's utterly calm reaction upon hearing the news.
…
With his heart still brimming with excitement, Tanjiro hurried back to his residence, eager to share the news with Soma as soon as possible.
He pushed the door open—
His younger siblings had already heard the news and rushed to surround him, their faces glowing with excitement as they celebrated his achievement. Their gentle mother stood beneath the eaves, smiling warmly at him, while Nezuko Kamado clapped enthusiastically again and again.
What had once been his joy alone was now shared by everyone—and as they rejoiced together, that happiness seemed to multiply many times over.
It was a feeling unlike any other.
A truly wonderful feeling.
After chatting briefly with his siblings, Nezuko leaned closer and quietly reminded him:
"Sir is waiting for you inside."
Tanjiro Kamado nodded and stepped inside.
Soma was already seated at the table. A generous spread of food had been laid out, along with a pot of sake. Beside him, Kanao Tsuyuri sat quietly with her head lowered, taking small bites from a chicken drumstick.
From what Tanjiro remembered, she seemed particularly fond of those.
"Sir…"
The moment he entered, Tanjiro couldn't hold back his excitement and began to speak.
"I know."
Before he could finish, Soma had already responded.
There was no visible surprise on his face—no reaction befitting such an extraordinary accomplishment. The calmness of it cooled Tanjiro's excitement almost instantly, leaving behind a faint sense of disappointment.
…Had he not done well enough?
"Come, sit."
Soma gestured to the spot beside him.
Tanjiro stepped forward and knelt down.
Soma picked up the sake pot and personally poured him a cup.
At his age, Tanjiro could already drink. As Soma raised his own cup, Tanjiro quickly followed suit and took a sip.
Only after Tanjiro had finished his drink did Soma speak again, his tone even and composed.
"I never doubted that you would be able to cut that boulder. For you, it was always something within reach."
Yet the sense of disappointment lingered in Tanjiro's heart. After all, he had achieved something others couldn't—but Soma's reaction remained so… ordinary.
As if reading his thoughts, Soma took another sip of sake and continued calmly, "If it were an ordinary swordsman, I might have been surprised. But you, Tanjiro, are different."
Tanjiro lifted his head unconsciously.
"Some people are simply born different. You're one of them. You cannot measure yourself by the standards of ordinary swordsmen—you must demand more from yourself. Because what you'll face are not ordinary demons. Simply sensing the 'Opening Thread' is far from enough."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Being able to cut through a boulder might give you the chance to stand against a Lower Rank demon of the Twelve Kizuki—but only to stand against one. If you want to truly fight them, you still need to grow stronger. And even if your strength reaches the level of a Hashira… it still won't be enough."
"…Even becoming a Hashira isn't enough?" Tanjiro asked softly.
Now that he had joined the Demon Slayer Corps, he understood just how powerful the Hashira were. They were the elite—warriors capable of slaying members of the Twelve Kizuki.
"It's not enough," Soma replied, shaking his head slightly. "The Hashira can deal with the Twelve Kizuki—but only the Lower Ranks. Against the Upper Ranks, they are completely outmatched. As far as I know, the current Hashira have no record of defeating an Upper Rank demon."
Tanjiro felt a jolt of shock—and with it, an immense pressure pressing down on him.
"Even the Hashira… can't defeat Upper Rank demons?"
"That's right."
Soma nodded. "So, Tanjiro, it's not enough for you to reach the level of a Hashira. You must go further."
"…Further…"
Tanjiro repeated the words under his breath, a trace of confusion flickering in his eyes. How… was he supposed to go further?
"For example—awakening the Demon Slayer Mark, forging the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, and entering the Transparent World. These are the next things you must achieve. Only by reaching that level will you truly be able to stand against the Upper Ranks."
Soma poured him another cup of sake. After Tanjiro drank it, Soma finally lifted his gaze toward the doorway.
There stood Sakonji Urokodaki and Shinobu Kocho. They had clearly arrived some time ago and heard everything. Now, both of them were staring at him intently.
Soma, however, remained completely at ease.
"…Bright Red Nichirin Sword? Demon Slayer Mark? Transparent World?" Shinobu stood frozen in place, her mind reeling.
She had never even heard of such things.
Even her older sister—a Hashira—had never mentioned them.
At the very least, her sister had no knowledge of these concepts.
So how… did he?
Just like how he had confidently declared that Tanjiro could sense the elusive "Opening Thread," he was now speaking of these mysterious states—the Bright Red Nichirin Sword, the Mark, the Transparent World.
Were they… truly real, just like that "thread"?
"Care to come in for a drink?"
Soma raised his cup slightly, extending a casual invitation toward the two standing at the door.