1 Vol. II Demon Slayer: Floating Comment

Becoming part of an anime wasn't something that left a lasting impression on the younger Haruto.

But as the canvas of his memories unfurled once more, he found himself unable to snap back to reality.

They—those characters he once thought were just illustrations in a black-and-white manga—weren't confined to panels. They were alive, vibrant, and entirely real, each the protagonist of their own story.

Haruto lifted his head, meeting Genya's worried gaze. He forced a tired smile.

"It's nothing, Genya. Just... a little mentally drained."

Tamayo handed him a vial of medicine, her expression calm and collected.

"Drink this. It'll help."

Haruto recognized the vial immediately. It was the same type of medicine he'd been given when he first arrived here, the one Genya used during a demonstration of Tamayo's blood demon art.

He glanced at Tamayo, her look carrying a subtle depth he couldn't quite decipher, before downing the medicine. Within moments, the dull ache in his head faded into nothingness.

"...Genya," Haruto called after a pause, his tone contemplative. "Can you go out and buy something for me? Just anything from the shops. Take your time—maybe a half-hour or so."

Genya's brow furrowed slightly, but understanding dawned on him quickly.

"Is there something you don't want me to hear?"

"Yeah," Haruto admitted apologetically. "I need to talk with Lady Tamayo about... things. Things you might not fully grasp until you're older."

"Things only an adult can understand?" Genya echoed, perplexed.

From the corner, Yushiro jolted out of his reverie—having been thoroughly lost in admiring Tamayo's beauty—and shuffled closer, ears perked.

"Alright," Genya said, still a bit hesitant. He stood, accepting the coin pouch Haruto handed him.

"And Yushiro," Haruto added, turning toward the demon. "You should go too. Pick up some gauze and antiseptic from the clinic while you're out. Keep Genya company."

Yushiro's expression darkened. He looked like he wanted to protest but held his tongue when Tamayo glanced his way.

"Make sure Genya stays safe," she said gently.

Grumbling under his breath, Yushiro followed Genya out. The sound of the front door closing echoed through the room. Only then did Haruto set down the cup of water he'd been holding onto for so long.

"Lady Tamayo…"

"If you're here for another dose of the medicine, the answer is no," Tamayo interrupted with a knowing look. "I only let you try it once. The strain it puts on the brain is far too dangerous."

Haruto blinked, shaking his head.

"That's not it. I don't need another dose." He paused, the weight of his words settling in the air.

"Truthfully, my past life was dull—so dull that there's nothing in those memories worth losing myself in."

"Is that why you recovered in just an hour and a half?" Tamayo mused. "The first time I took it, I was unconscious for three days. Poor Yushiro thought I'd never wake up."

"Well, you've lived much longer than me. Naturally, your memories run deeper."

Tamayo tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes locking onto his.

"So, what is it you want to ask me? Why send Genya away? I thought he was the one you trusted most."

Haruto fell silent for a moment, meeting her gaze head-on.

"Lady Tamayo, I want to grow stronger. How do I break past the limits of my body and reach a new realm of power?"

"Refine your breathing techniques."

"Too slow."

"Hone your swordsmanship."

"I've already mastered it to the best of my ability."

Tamayo's violet eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flashing within them.

"Haruto, you're treading on reckless ground. That kind of desperation can lead you astray."

"Astray?"

"Yes. For example, you could end up like me—becoming a demon, immortal and cursed."

"You know that's not what I mean."

"Then what are you so impatient about?" Tamayo pressed, her voice sharp and probing. "What did you see in those memories?"

Haruto exhaled heavily, the tension in his shoulders loosening just slightly.

"A prophecy."

"What kind of prophecy?"

"That everyone will die."

"Who delivered this prophecy? Was it some god?"

"..."

Tamayo leaned back against the wall, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She had won this verbal exchange.

Haruto, unable to retort, turned his gaze to the clean, sweet pear resting on the table.

"No eating," Tamayo said lazily. "You're withholding information, and you think you can eat my fruit?"

"I did tell you," Haruto muttered, clearly disgruntled. "Everyone will die."

"Including you?"

"Including..." Haruto stopped mid-sentence.

Something clicked. His eyes widened, realization dawning.

Of course, it didn't include him.

He wasn't bound by this world's rules. He, Takanashi Haruto, was an anomaly, a wildcard splashing chaos into the structured waters of canon. He had already thrown fate off course by saving Sabito and Makomo. He wasn't just a ripple—he was a full-blown tempest.

His thoughts raced, piecing together fragments of understanding. Finally, he let out a long, relieved sigh.

"Figured it out?" Tamayo asked, her tone less cutting now that his expression had softened.

"I never planned on becoming a demon," Haruto replied with a half-hearted grumble. "Demons eat humans, and human flesh sounds disgusting..."

Tamayo's brow arched as he continued.

"What I wanted to ask was—didn't you mention once to the Butterfly Sisters that you were researching a demonification drug?"

"Ah," Tamayo murmured, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. "Yes, but I abandoned that project."

She shook her head, her voice tinged with regret.

"I couldn't stabilize the violent factors in Genya's blood when demonized. Without suitable test subjects, the research hit a dead end. I made several batches, tried them on terminally ill patients who'd already lost their minds… but every attempt ended in failure. The patients either succumbed to the drug or died in frenzied rages."

Her eyes lowered, her tone heavy.

"After that, I stopped. Even the dying deserve dignity."

Haruto sat quietly, mulling over her words. Finally, he spoke, his voice hesitant.

"What... would a perfected demonification drug look like?"

"In theory, it would act like a performance enhancer—temporarily unlocking heightened physical abilities and regeneration. But it must leave the user fundamentally human."

"And there's no chance of completing it?"

Tamayo shook her head.

"I've refined the formula in theory, but I refuse to use others as experiments. It's all just ideas on paper now."

Haruto fell silent once more, a long pause stretching between them.

"If... hypothetically," he began, clearing his throat, "you ever felt close to success, would you let me be your test subject?"

Tamayo's eyes widened in shock, a rare crack in her composure.

"Haruto?"

"Lady Tamayo," the white-haired swordsman said, his lips curling into a faint smile, the weight in his voice lifting.

"I have plenty of secrets too."