Soma… was truly dead.
The swordsmen who came to pay their respects at Mount Sagiri found it hard to believe. Yet the man's body lay quietly inside the coffin, silently confirming the fact.
Everyone dies eventually.
For swordsmen who spent their lives walking the path of demon slaying, death was a common occurrence. Not only ordinary swordsmen, but even the Hashira could fall on the battlefield against demons.
But… that was in the past.
Now, evil demons were about to be completely eradicated. The world would soon be free of them. Yet at this very moment, when dawn was finally rising, Soma had died. To the swordsmen of the Demon Slayer Corps, this was something they could never have imagined.
In the hearts of the Demon Slayer swordsmen, Soma might not have held the official title of Hashira, but his status had long surpassed that of any Hashira. It was under his leadership that the Demon Slayer Corps had finally slain Muzan Kibutsuji — the very first demon — and put an end to the source of all evil demons.
The demons were about to be wiped out. The world was about to step into a bright future. Yet Soma had fallen at the very moment that future was within reach.
Many people could not accept it.
They felt it was unjust.
Some swordsmen who knew Soma was a demon had complicated feelings toward him because of his identity as a "demon." Even so, none of them could deny the contributions he had made to the Demon Slayer Corps and to humanity.
"How could he die…?"
Mitsuri Kanroji had traveled a long way to come here. She knelt in front of Soma's coffin, clenching her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms.
Looking at the motionless man inside, she found it impossible to believe what had happened.
Unable to restrain herself, she even reached out and touched the hand of the man in the coffin. It was ice-cold.
"How… how could this happen…?"
Tears streamed down Mitsuri Kanroji's face.
"Please accept my condolences, Miss Mitsuri."
Nezuko, dressed in plain white mourning clothes, her delicate face somewhat pale, helped Mitsuri to her feet and spoke softly. Seeing the deep grief on Mitsuri's face, she couldn't help but feel pained.
"Compared to me, you should be the one taking care of yourself, Nezuko. I know that, more than anyone, you must be suffering the most right now. But no matter what, you have to stay strong…"
Mitsuri forced herself to stand up. Looking at Nezuko's pale face, she held back her own sorrow and tried to encourage her.
...…
Many people came to pay their respects to Soma. A lot of swordsmen could not accept the reality of his death. Just like Mitsuri Kanroji, many of them reached out to confirm whether Soma was truly gone.
Without exception, they found no pulse and no signs of life.
...
Wind Hashira Sanemi Shinazugawa arrived with his younger brother, Genya Shinazugawa. Looking at the man lying in the coffin, he still found it hard to believe.
He was a perfect demon who didn't even fear sunlight. How could he have died so easily?
Sanemi hated demons. He hated all demons and wanted nothing more than to cut off their heads. Yet on that day, when Soma's identity as a demon was exposed, Sanemi had found it truly difficult to accept.
For a long time after that, Sanemi had not known how to face Soma. He hated demons, yet he could not truly treat Soma the same way he treated other demons.
Those days had been filled with conflict and pain.
Before he could even figure out how to face the fact that Soma was a demon, the man had suddenly died. All his previous struggles now felt meaningless.
Why had I been so conflicted about his identity as a demon?
Even though he was a demon, Soma had never done anything evil. Why should I place the sins of other demons onto him?
Why should I worry that he might become an evil demon like Muzan Kibutsuji in the future? Even if he was a demon, he would never become one of those evil demons.
Even if he was a demon, he would only ever be a demon who kept his own sense of self.
...
"Soma has always been like the sun, illuminating everyone and warming everyone…"
Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku knelt in front of the coffin, looking at the man inside. He could not accept what had happened. He could not accept that someone who had felt like the sun in his heart had fallen.
...
"Namu Amida Butsu."
Stone Hashira Gyomei Himejima pressed his hands together and chanted the Buddha's name. Tears welled in his eyes. Through his "mind's eye," he could sense no trace of life from Soma. Only the dead would feel this way. Even so, Gyomei still found it difficult to believe.
He had hated all evil demons and wanted to kill every last one of them. Gyomei had always believed that as long as his heart kept beating and as long as he could still feel his fists striking against demons, his hatred toward them would never disappear.
Now, as he felt the passing of the demon before him, Gyomei could not feel any hatred toward this particular demon. All he felt was grief over his death. Soma was someone worthy of the same respect as the Master — someone just as admirable.
A person like him should not have died.
Even if he was a demon.
...
Hinaki Ubuyashiki arrived at Mount Sagiri with unsteady steps. She saw the man lying quietly inside the coffin, silent and motionless.
Hinaki did not cry. On the way here, she had already shed all her tears.
She stood in front of the coffin in a daze for a long time. Only when Nezuko, unable to bear watching any longer, tried to pull her away to rest did Hinaki seem to come back to her senses.
"You must be Nezuko, the one who stayed by Soma's side, right?" Hinaki looked at Nezuko.
"Yes."
Nezuko lowered her head slightly. She didn't know the name of this beautiful girl, but it was clear that she had a very close relationship with Soma.
"My name is Hinaki Ubuyashiki. From now on, you can call me little sister Hinaki, Nezuko-neesan." Hinaki spoke softly.
Nezuko raised her head and looked at the girl. Only then did she realize — this was the daughter of the prestigious Ubuyashiki family, the one Soma had been planning to marry.
As expected of someone from the Ubuyashiki family, she was truly refined and beautiful.
But now that Soma was gone, the engagement would probably be called off. Nezuko felt a little sorry for him. After all, given his personality, he probably wouldn't want to appear in front of others again. Naturally, it would be impossible for him to…
"From now on, I will call you Nezuko-neesan, just like you."
The girl spoke again, her voice low but clear.
Nezuko was momentarily stunned. She didn't quite understand what Hinaki meant.
"From now on, I will stay by Soma's side… just like you, Nezuko-neesan."
Seeing Nezuko's confused expression, Hinaki explained once more in a soft voice.
"W-Wait a moment."
Nezuko suddenly grabbed Hinaki's shoulders. "You mean…"
"Yes. From now on, I will be the same as you, Nezuko-neesan."
The girl looked up. There were tears in her eyes, but her gaze was firm.
"This… This isn't necessary. Soma has already…"
Nezuko roughly understood what Hinaki meant and was momentarily at a loss. She hadn't expected Hinaki to make such a decision. What was she supposed to do about this?
It wasn't like they could bring Soma back to life.
If Hinaki did this, it would completely disrupt Soma's arrangements.
"Hinaki, you don't have to do this. Soma is already gone. You can still find someone else to marry." Nezuko tried to persuade her.
"A loyal minister does not serve two masters. A virtuous woman does not serve two husbands. Please say no more, Nezuko-neesan." Hinaki raised her head, her eyes resolute.