The days following the Final Selection felt endless for Sora.
Every morning, he'd wake up before dawn, sitting quietly by the porch of his master's old house, waiting for the delivery to arrive — but it never came.
A week passed.
Then two.
Soon, a full month drifted by.
His hand would sometimes unconsciously touch the silver necklace hanging on his chest — the one that held the tiny photo of him and his older sister, Miyu Hoshinagi. Her calm smile in that faded picture was both his comfort and his wound.
"Miyu-neesan... I finally became a Demon Slayer," he whispered one night, the moon reflecting faintly on his eyes.
"I'll protect the weak... just like you did for me."
5 Years Ago...
Before Sora ever stood at Became A Demon slayer or even held a Nichirin Blade, there was the night that changed everything.
The memory burned vividly in his mind — a night drenched in rain, blood, and moonlight. Screams echoed through the forest, the sound of claws tearing through bark and flesh. He was only a boy around 10 years old back then, trembling, clutching the edge of his sister's torn haori.
"Sora! Run!"
Her voice — her voice — still reached him even now, years later.
Miyu Hoshinagi, his beloved older sister, stood between him and the monster. Her breath came out ragged, her sword broken, her arm bleeding despite her only a village doctor and only knew basic swordsmanship. Still, her eyes burned with determination.
"I won't let you touch him!"
The demon snarled, its fangs gleaming under the pale moonlight. Even injured, Miyu launched forward with a speed that defied her wounds, cutting across its neck—but not deep enough. The demon roared, swiping back, tearing through her side. Still, she smiled at Sora.
"Don't cry... Sora. You have to live."
He remembered trying to reach her — but she had already turned, holding her blade in front of her once more. Buying time. Seconds turned into eternity.
And then lightning tore through the forest.
A man appeared —cloaked in thunder and fury. His Bright Golden Nichirin blade flashed faster than sight, slicing through the demon's arm. The demon hissed, retreating into the shadows just before sunrise. The forest fell silent, save for the soft sound of rain and Sora's broken sobs.
Raiden Shizuma, the Former Thunder Pillar, who occasionally visited their village unfortunately had arrived too late.
He caught Sora before he collapsed, shielding him from the sight of his sister's lifeless body. No doctor could save her—her sacrifice had already been made.
After the burial, Sora sat before her grave for three days. He didn't speak. Didn't eat. Didn't move.
On the fourth day, he finally stood, eyes hollow but filled with resolve.
"Master Raiden... please... teach me."
Raiden looked down at the boy's trembling hands—small, but steady.
"Teach you?" he asked quietly.
"I want to be strong. Strong enough to protect the weak... so no one has to die like she did."
For a moment, Raiden saw something in Sora's eyes—not just pain, but light. The same light Miyu had carried.
He sighed and placed a hand on Sora's head.
"Then stand up, kid. From now on... you're my student."
That was the day the Star Breathing was born—not from ambition or pride, but from love, grief, and a promise carved under the falling stars.
Back to present...
Then a sudden a knock broke the silence.
Sora's heart jumped — was it finally here?
He rushed to the door and flung it open.
But instead of the expected a delivery, it was a familiar figure standing beneath the morning light — a tall man with spiky silver hair streaked with fading yellow, lightning-shaped scars running down his arm.
It was Raiden Shizuma, his master — the former Thunder Pillar.
"Yo, Sora," Raiden said with his trademark grin.
"Missed me?"
Sora blinked, trying to hide his disappointment.
"Ah—Master Raiden... I thought you were the delivery man."
Raiden smirked and then held out a long, black-wrapped bundle.
"Well, guess what, brat? Your Nichirin Blade is finally here."
Sora froze. His heart leapt as he carefully took the blade, eyes wide.
The sheath shimmered faintly — glossy black with tiny silver constellations carved into its surface, as if the night sky itself was sealed within. The handle gleamed deep indigo, bound in silver thread, and the eight-pointed star guard glimmered with a small crystal set in its center.
As he unsheathed the sword, the air itself seemed to breathe.
The faint hum of energy rippled outward — the sound of something ancient, alive.
The blade's metal began to glow softly, its color shifting from pale steel to a radiant silver-blue, reflecting light like the surface of a distant star. Every angle shimmered, catching the morning sun and scattering tiny points of light across the walls.
It wasn't merely forged — it was born. It's definitely wasn't an ordinary nichirin blade.
"...It's beautiful," Sora murmured, awestruck.
"But... why does it look so different from a normal Nichirin blade?"
Raiden rubbed the back of his neck, laughing.
"Well... I might've asked the Demon Slayer Headquarters for a favor. Had it custom-forged just for you."
Sora tilted his head, puzzled.
"Custom-forged? But... that's forbidden unless—"
"Yeah, yeah," Raiden interrupted, chuckling.
"At first, they told me hard no. But when I mentioned you who was my pupil, the one who created a new Breathing Style by mixing Sun Breathing and Thunder Breathing, suddenly everyone was like, 'Oh, that one?! Give him anything he wants!'"
"Guess having insider connections helps." He smirked.
Sora blinked, then smiled faintly.
"So... that's why it took so long."
Raiden's grin faded into a look of quiet pride.
"This sword," he said,
"wasn't made from ordinary ore. It was forged by one of the most skilled swordsmiths in the mountains of Haganezuka Village — using a fragment of a celestial ore that fell from the sky centuries ago."
Sora's eyes widened. "A... celestial ore?"
Raiden nodded, his tone reverent.
"That ore had absorbed the light of the sun and stars for generations before it was ever touched by a hammer. When the swordsmith forged it, he said the metal sang. It was as if the heavens themselves blessed it."
Sora's breath caught as the blade finished changing color — the radiant silver-blue now glowing faintly like a heartbeat, alive and calm.
Raiden crossed his arms and chuckled.
"Heh. I've seen a lot of Nichirin blades, but yours... that's something else. A blade that reflects the stars themselves. Guess it suits you, Star Boy."
Sora smiled faintly, lowering the sword.
"It's... Really beautiful, Master. I'll make sure this blade never loses its light."
Raiden nodded. "Remember — it's more than steel. It's a reflection of your will... and her light."
Sora's gaze softened at the mention of his sister. The gem on the guard caught the faint glint of his necklace, reflecting Miyu's smile.
"I'll honor it... and her. I swear I'll protect others, no matter what."
Just then, the flutter of wings echoed outside.
A Kasugai crow landed on the porch railing, squawking sharply:
"Caw! Sora Hoshinagi! Report to Asakusa, Tokyo! Demon activity detected — Rumors of multiple demon hiding there! Caw!"
Raiden raised an eyebrow. "First mission already, huh?"
Sora gripped his sword, sliding it back into its sheath. He changed into his standard Demon Slayer uniform, draping over it his dark indigo haori, sprinkled with silver-white dots like stars scattered across the night.
He bowed deeply to his master.
"Thank you, Master Raiden... for everything."
Raiden smiled, arms crossed.
"Don't die, brat. The night's big enough for only one thunder and one star."
Sora smiled faintly — the wind catching his hair as he stepped forward.
With a deep breath, he whispered under his breath:
"Miyu-neesan... Please watch and protect me."
Then, with one graceful motion, he vanished into the forest — the faint glimmer of starlight trailing behind his steps.
End of Chapter 2