Screen 1 – The Day Before Final Selection
Only one day remains before Tanjiro, Sans, and Papyrus leave for Final Selection.
They sit outside Urokodaki's house, watching the sun set over the mountains.
Tanjiro sharpens his blade.
Papyrus eats noodles loudly.
Sans floats a few inches above the ground using a tiny gravity trick.
Tanjiro breaks the silence. "Tomorrow… everything changes."
Sans leans back. "Yeah. Guess we should talk a bit. Urokodaki said sharing your story makes your resolve stronger."
Papyrus crosses his arms proudly. "Indeed! I, the great Papyrus, shall go first!"
He explains how he came from another world with his brother, how he always dreamed of becoming a hero, and how he wants to protect people the way he protects Sans.
Then Sans speaks. "Our world got weird. Too many timelines. Too many resets. We ended up here after a portal messed up. But honestly… this place ain't bad. And you're not bad either, kid."
Before Tanjiro can answer, the forest suddenly shakes.
A demon leaps out from the shadows, snarling.
Papyrus jumps in front. "A foul creature! Stand back!"
Sans cracks his fingers, his eye glowing blue. "I got it."
In one smooth motion, he teleports behind the demon, lifts it with gravity magic, and fires a blaster point-blank. The demon turns to dust instantly.
Urokodaki appears from the trees, watching silently.
"Sakonji… you saw that?" Tanjiro asks.
Urokodaki nods slowly. "Yes. Take Sans with you. His power will change the battlefield."
Sans shrugs. "Guess I'm in."
Papyrus pumps his fist. "And me too! Final Selection will be no match for the Papyrus brothers and Tanjiro!"
Tanjiro smiles nervously. "This is going to be… interesting."
Screen 2 – Enter Final Selection
The three of them step into the wisteria-lined entrance.
The gate closes behind them.
Seven days of survival begin.
The forest is quiet for only a moment.
Then the demons start moving.
Two demons drop from the trees. A third crawls from the dirt. More shadows follow.
Tanjiro grips his sword. "They're coming from every direction."
Papyrus straightens his posture. "Perfect! More opponents for the great Papyrus!"
Sans puts his hands in his pockets. "Relax. These guys are nothing special."
The demons charge.
---
First Wave
One demon lunges for Tanjiro.
He slips under the claws and cuts clean through the neck.
Another demon leaps at Papyrus.
Papyrus summons a wall of bones and smacks the demon across the clearing.
"Bone Barrage! Trademark Papyrus technique!"
---
Second Wave
Three demons rush Sans at once, screaming.
Sans sighs. "Man, you're making this too easy."
He teleports behind them, traps all three in a gravity hold, and snaps his fingers.
A small Gaster Blaster appears, firing a thin beam that erases them instantly.
Papyrus claps. "Excellent work, brother!"
Tanjiro watches carefully. He's impressed, but also confused. "Your magic is incredible… but your teamwork is even better."
Sans shrugs. "Been together a long time."
---
Third Wave
A larger demon crashes through the brush. Its muscles balloon, eyes glowing with hate.
It rushes Tanjiro first.
Tanjiro dodges, counterattacks, but the demon's skin is thick. His blade barely cuts.
Papyrus leaps in. "I shall assist!"
He slams the demon from the side, staggering it.
The demon grows wild and swings at Papyrus.
Sans steps forward, eye glowing blue. "Nope."
He pulls the demon into the air with gravity magic.
"Tanjiro. Do the honors."
Tanjiro leaps high, breathing steady.
"Water Breathing… Second Form!"
His blade slices through the demon's neck in one clean motion.
The demon collapses. The forest falls quiet again.
---
Tanjiro lowers his sword, breathing hard.
Papyrus gives a triumphant laugh.
Sans stretches like he just finished a quick walk.
"Not bad," Sans says. "Hope the rest of this week is more interesting."
Papyrus nods proudly. "With us at your side, Tanjiro, victory is guaranteed!"
Tanjiro smiles. "Let's keep moving. We have six days left.
Screen 3 – The Hand Demon
Hours pass as Tanjiro, Sans, and Papyrus move deeper into the forest.
The air grows heavier.
The trees feel twisted.
Every student before them has vanished.
Tanjiro stops suddenly.
"There's something ahead," he whispers. "A strong presence."
Papyrus tilts his head. "Stronger than the demons we fought earlier?"
Sans nods. "Yeah. This one's mad. Real mad."
Branches snap. The ground trembles.
A massive demon lumbers into view, arms layered on top of each other like a grotesque shell.
"The Hand Demon…" Tanjiro breathes.
The demon snarls, recognizing Urokodaki's mask on Tanjiro's face.
"You… another of his children. I will crush you like the others!"
It charges.
---
The Battle Begins
Tanjiro jumps back as a huge arm sweeps across the ground, uprooting trees.
Papyrus summons a shield of bones and blocks the hit, sliding backward from the force.
"W-what strength!" Papyrus exclaims.
Sans teleports near Tanjiro. "Careful. This guy's tougher than he looks."
The Hand Demon hurls a giant fist toward Sans.
Sans dodges with a sudden blink of blue light.
Papyrus shouts, "Brother! Allow me!"
He rushes in, swinging a bone spear at the demon's side.
It cracks the skin but doesn't pierce deep.
The demon grabs Papyrus and slams him into a tree.
"Papyrus!" Tanjiro yells.
Papyrus stands up quickly, bones shaking. "I'm fine! A true warrior never yields!"
---
Tanjiro's Strike
Tanjiro circles behind the demon, looking for an opening.
"Water Breathing… Sixth Form!"
He leaps and slashes down, hitting the neck—but the demon's arms block the cut.
"You cannot harm me," the demon growls.
For a moment, Tanjiro hesitates.
Sans places a hand on his shoulder. "Kid. Use us."
Tanjiro looks confused. "Use you?"
"Yup."
Sans' eye glows blue, lifting the demon slightly into the air, throwing off its balance.
Papyrus forms two massive bone pillars and slams them into the demon's sides, locking its arms open.
"This is our combo move!" Papyrus shouts. "Bone Restraint!"
The demon roars, struggling.
Sans grins. "Your turn, Tanjiro."
---
Finishing Blow
Tanjiro steadies his breathing.
He steps forward, focus razor sharp.
"Water Breathing… Fourth Form!"
He slices through the exposed neck in a single, clean arc.
The head falls.
The demon hits the ground.
Silence follows.
The Hand Demon dissolves, finally freed from his curse.
---
Aftermath
Tanjiro exhales shakily. "We… we did it."
Papyrus pats him proudly. "Indeed! A flawless team victory!"
Sans adjusts his hoodie. "Nice work, both of you."
Tanjiro looks at Sans. "You planned that whole combo, didn't you?"
Sans shrugs. "Maybe."
They share a rare quiet moment, standing together over the fading remains of the demon.
They've survived one of the forest's worst threats…
but Final Selection isn't over.
Screen 4 – Final Selection Ends
Seven days finally pass.
The wisteria trees return to view, marking the end of Final Selection.
Tanjiro, Sans, and Papyrus step through the final gate, tired but alive.
Only three others make it out with them:
Zenitsu Agatsuma, shaking nonstop
Genya Shinazugawa, furious and bleeding
Kanao Tsuyuri, calm and quiet as a statue
Papyrus throws his arms up. "We did it! A whole week of heroic triumph!"
Sans yawns. "Could've slept through half of it, honestly."
Zenitsu turns, sees the two skeletons… and screams.
"W-WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS!? Are they demons!? Am I dead!?"
Papyrus waves both hands. "Fear not, yellow-haired friend! We are perfectly harmless! Mostly!"
Sans adds, "We're students. Same as you."
Zenitsu backs away, trembling. "No… no… this exam was cursed…"
---
Genya's Outburst
A crow announces the survivors' names.
Genya steps forward to grab his uniform and sword.
A hand touches his shoulder to guide him, but he snaps.
"Don't touch me!"
He swings at the attendant girl.
She doesn't flinch, but Tanjiro gasps.
Before the blow lands, a blue spark flashes.
Sans teleports between them, catching Genya's arm with one hand.
"Hey. Chill."
Genya snarls. "Move. Now."
Sans tightens his grip just slightly, eyes glowing blue. "Nah. You don't hit people who didn't do anything."
For the first time, Genya hesitates. A faint shiver runs through him.
Tanjiro steps in. "Genya, please. They're just doing their job."
Genya clicks his tongue, pulls his arm free, and storms off.
Sans watches him go.
"Guy's got issues," Sans mutters.
---
Kanao's Reaction
Papyrus approaches Kanao next, smiling proudly. "Greetings! Are you also a student? You look very disciplined!"
Kanao just blinks, emotionless, coin in hand.
Sans nods to her. "She doesn't talk much."
Papyrus whispers loudly, "Perhaps she is overwhelmed by our greatness!"
Even Kanao nearly cracks a smile at that.
---
Ceremony End
The attendants present the Nichirin ore.
Each survivor is told to craft their own sword.
Zenitsu is still scared of the skeletons.
Genya avoids looking at Sans.
Kanao stands quietly beside Tanjiro, observing everything.
Papyrus lifts his ore above his head. "Soon, my legendary weapon shall be forged!"
Sans pockets his ore. "Let's hope it's not too heavy."
Tanjiro sighs with relief. "We survived. All of us."
As the group prepares to leave, a crow lands on Sans' head and screams orders at him.
Sans shrugs. "Guess I'm a Demon Slayer now."
Papyrus pumps his fist. "WE are Demon Slayers!"
Tanjiro smiles. "Let's head home to Urokodaki."
The three walk down the path, ready for what comes next.
To be continued.