"Namu Amida Butsu..." Gyomei's tears welled up again. "What a resilient soul... This child truly is different."
"Flashy! So flashy!" Tengen Uzui's eyes widened. "That self-control shines brighter than the most dazzling fireworks!"
Obanai Iguro fell silent. He looked at Rokuya, then at the bamboo basket, and finally released his sword hilt without a word.
"Sanemi," Kagaya Ubuyashiki's gentle voice broke the silence. "Did you see? This is the humanity Rokuya spoke of. She overcame the demon's curse."
Sanemi kept his head lowered and said nothing. His body trembled slightly, whether from shock or from remembering the mother he had killed with his own hands. After a long while, he bent down, picked up his Nichirin Blade, and silently returned to his place without a word.
Watching Sanemi's retreating figure, Rokuya knew that although this prickly man had said nothing, he had already accepted Nezuko's existence in his heart.
"Mr. Rokuya..." Tanjiro could no longer contain himself, and his tears burst forth. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees, bowing deeply to Rokuya with his forehead against the ground.
He knew that without Mr. Rokuya's firm guarantee and intimidating presence, Nezuko would never even have had a chance at this test. These Hashira would have killed her long ago.
"Enough. A man doesn't shed tears lightly." Rokuya hauled him to his feet with one hand. His tone returned to its usual evenness, though it held a barely perceptible gentleness. "Now that she's passed the test, you'd better train properly from now on. If you can't bring out Sun Breathing's rightful power, I'll be the first to take you to task."
"Yes! I'll work hard even if it kills me!" Tanjiro shouted.
Kagaya Ubuyashiki watched the scene with a smile, his gaze deep and bright.
"Then I hereby