6. Success

"Today's the day I win!" Tanjiro declared, determination burning in his voice.

Momoka and Sabito had helped the siblings train, and over time, both had grown a lot stronger.

It had been two years since their family was brutually murdered, two years since they trained under Urokodaki Sakonji..

Hana watched her brother train. Momoka pushed him to his limits, guiding him throught every step. Sabito, however, always lingered closer to her his presence calm, steady and strangely comforting.

"You have real skill," he often told her. "But don't drive yourself to exhaustion for your sibling's sake. Let him fight his own battles sometimes."

Yet something about him unsettled her. Whenever she asked where he and Makomo had come from or why they helped them silence was her only answer.

And then there was his haori. She was certain she had seen that pattern before. But where...?

With a sharp inhale, Sabito and Tanjiro lunged. Their blades clashed, ringing like thunder...

In an instant, Tanjiro's strike split Sabito's mask clean in two..

Hana blinked in disbelief. Sabito's scarred face emerged, grey-blue eyes glinting.

"Tanjiro, Hana....you did well," he said softly. "Hold onto this memory. And win. Beat that demon."

"Where did they go?" Hana whispered, frantically looking around.

"I...I don't know," Tanjiro murmured.

Then Hana's gaze snapped to the boulder, split in half. Her eyes widened. "Tanjiro you cut through it!" Tears welled as she pulled him into a tight embrace. "You did it! You really did it!"

He hugged her back with a breathless laugh. "Yeah... I did it."

Footsteps crunched through the mist. Urokodaki appeared, silent for a long moment. Gentally looking at the sibling.

"Master Urokodaki..." Hana began softly.

His voice trembled. "I had no intention of sending either of you to the Final Selection. I couldn't bear to watch more children die. I was certain neither of you would cut through those boulders. But..."

He rested his hands gently atop their heads. "Well done, my children. You are remarkable."

Tears streamed down Tanjiro's cheeks as Urokodaki pulled both siblings into a firm embrace.

---

Later, as they prepared to leave, Urokodaki whispered to Nezuko's box, "Don't worry about your sister. I'll keep her safe."

"Thank you," Tanjiro said with a deep bow. Hana smiled, walking at his side as they set off.

"Return alive from the Final Selection," Urokodaki called after them. "Both your sister and I will be waiting."

"Say hello to Sabito and Makomo for us, okay? And tell them thanks!" Tanjiro shouted back cheerfully.

Urokodaki froze. His eyes widened.
"Hana, Tanjiro... how do you know the names of those children... those dead children."