"It's so dark, so quiet."
"What is this place? Why can't I feel anything?"
"Wait, wait—who's speaking? Am I the one speaking? Who am I?"
"My name is... Mo... something? I can't remember. I think I had a three-character name. Hmm, no, that's not right. I... I'm Sen... Sen what?"
"What are these images?"
In a chaotic, pitch-black space, a few points of light suddenly flickered, vanishing as quickly as meteors...
Time lost all meaning in this void.
A wandering fragment of consciousness murmured despondently, unaware of how much time had passed.
The same faint glimmers of light persisted, but gradually, fragmented and shattered images began to emerge.
The scenes were disjointed and chaotic—one moment flashing to a skyline of towering buildings, the next to a cramped dormitory room.
In the fragmented glimpses, a simple laptop could be vaguely seen playing scattered anime clips.
Faint voices of conversation seemed to drift into hearing.
"Kiriya, aren't you a bit old for cartoons?"
"Don't laugh, Senichi. This anime is super popular lately—tons of recommendations online. I've watched quite a few episodes, and it's seriously good. You should check it out too."
"Really? That good? What's it called?"
"It's called Demon Slayer. It's about humans fighting demons. Look, this episode is where the Demon Slayer Corps takes down Lower Rank Five, Rui, a spider demon. It's epic."
"Let me see... Hey, who's that character? She looks cute, standing on her tiptoes like that."
"Oh, that's Shinobu Kocho. She's really popular, though I heard she has a pretty tragic ending in the manga."
'Shinobu... Kocho?'
Just then, on the laptop screen in the vision, the petite figure in a purple butterfly-patterned haori, standing on tiptoe with a slight bend, smiled gently, leaned forward, and softly called out.
"Moshi moshi?"
Kocho... Shinobu... Kocho... Shinobu? Kocho... Shinobu! Shi... Shinobu!!
That gentle "Moshi moshi," though tender beyond measure, pierced the dark space like thunder tearing through an eternal night.
It carried an indescribable familiarity and stirring emotion, striking deep into the chaotic core of consciousness with overwhelming force!
BOOM!
The chaotic space seemed to shudder violently.
The drifting, bewildered consciousness, as if jolted by a high-voltage current, abruptly awoke! Shinobu! It's Shinobu!
Who am I? I'm Senichi, an ordinary student at a regular university in Japan, just a regular young man... but I... I'm also Shinichi!
Shinichi Moriki!
The Forest Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps!
The one who vowed to slay all demons, protect his comrades, and protect Shinobu—the Pillar of the Forest!
Two identities, two sets of memories, collided and merged like a bursting dam, flooding in tumult.
In the darkness, the now-awakened Shinichi, though formless, felt as if he were reaching out, drawing closer to those scattered images.
As Shinichi's awareness sharpened, the fragmented scenes began to flash by rapidly.
More and more images surfaced—from his past life... and his present one...But as he gleaned information from the scenes, Shinichi felt a wave of confusion.
Was the story of the Demon Slayer Corps an anime called... Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba?
Had he been transported into the world of an anime?
Shinichi pondered, his memories of his past life seeming sparse when it came to Demon Slayer.
The most vivid recollection was a scene his roommate had shown him—the gentle bow of Shinobu and her soft "Moshi moshi."
Could this truly be just an anime?
No, that wasn't right.
More images began to flash, connect, and reassemble at lightning speed!
The bloody massacre by Muzan in the ruined temple, his own struggle after first turning into a demon, being taken in by old man Mitsuyo, his first training in Forest Breathing, his initial meeting with Shinobu at the Butterfly Mansion, his first encounter with the Demon Slayer Corps, the trust of the leader, his promotion to Forest Hashira, taking on his first disciple, the silent confession under the moonlight...
How could these vivid, lifelike, and deeply real moments be merely an anime?
Shinobu, Maru-ni, Ubuyashiki, Yuichiro, Chinatsu, Kanae... Everyone in the Demon Slayer Corps were living, breathing beings.
How could they be reduced to mere anime characters?
Or perhaps, even if this world was an "anime" from his past life, Shinichi had long since become deeply integrated into it as a genuine character.
He was the Forest Hashira, trusted unconditionally by every member of the Demon Slayer Corps, and he, too, was willing to protect every one of his comrades with his life—especially that girl with amethyst eyes, Shinobu Kocho.
What kind of manga would have such a tragic ending? He would never allow such a thing to happen!
But wait!
Shinichi jolted awake as everything came rushing back.
All his chaotic thoughts were swept away by a surge of immense panic and urgency!
The final battle at the Moriki Estate! Muzan's attack!
The tragic sacrifice of the leader, Kagaya Ubuyashiki, using himself as bait! And the sudden appearance of Shokyu!
Along with the cruel truth he revealed—the demon blood within Shinichi originated from Shokyu!
And then... the searing pain of his chest being pierced, the chilling sensation of his life force and the newly comprehended "Breath of Life" demon blood being violently drained!
'Had Shokyu... sucked my blood? Stolen my vitality? Then am I... dead now? Is my soul wandering in this chaos, about to fade away completely?' Shinichi seemed to realize his predicament.
But then, an overwhelming, volcanic surge of defiance erupted from the depths of his consciousness.
No! Absolutely not!
'How could I fall here?! How could I admit defeat like this?! I can't die! There are still things I must do! People I must protect! Shinobu is still waiting for me! The Demon Slayer Corps needs me!'
Whether this is the real world or the so-called "anime" world, to Shinichi Moriki, this is his everything!
He would never give up!
"I must go back! I have to go back!" Shinichi's consciousness roared silently yet resolutely in the chaotic darkness.
He desperately gathered his dissipating awareness, resisting the omnipresent pull dragging him toward eternal silence.
He recalled every moment with his comrades, Shinobu's smile, the feel of gripping his Nichirin Blade, the vibrant vitality of the Breath of Life.
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