The courtyard of the Butterfly Mansion.
Tanjiro was working hard to maintain Total Concentration Breathing, sweat running down his forehead.
Beside him, Inosuke had long since grown restless and was shouting for Tanjiro to race him to the summit of the mountain out back.
Meanwhile, Zenitsu Agatsuma clung desperately to his blanket, tearfully declaring that his injuries were too severe and he needed complete bed rest.
Kanao Tsuyuri sat quietly to one side, watching the noisy group, a trace of confusion in her eyes that she herself had not noticed.
Ever since Uesugi Sasuke had affected her with that strange technique that day, she had begun thinking about questions she would never have considered before.
For instance, whose orders should she follow when she did not have her coin with her?
Just as the courtyard descended into chaos.
A voice loud enough to blow the roof off thundered from the entrance without warning.
"Umu! Everyone seems full of energy! That's a good thing!"
The entire courtyard instantly fell silent.
Everyone, including Inosuke, who had been chasing the others around, stopped what they were doing and looked toward the entrance.
A man stood there.
He had long, gold-and-red hair that resembled blazing flames.
His bright, piercing eyes were filled with enthusiasm that would never die out.
He was merely standing there, yet he was like a little sun, making even the temperature of the entire courtyard seem to rise a few degrees.
The Flame Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku.
"Mr. Rengoku!"
Tanjiro recognized him and hurried to rise and bow.
But Kyojuro strode inside without a care, laughing heartily.
"No need for formalities, young Kamado! I've heard about your heroic performance on Mount Natagumo!"
His gaze swept over Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke in his boar mask.
Finally, his eyes settled on the boy