Author's Notes: With the manga ending and it's final chapter being released, it feels prudent of me to release another chapter of this fic. This time, it's an interlude about our favourite protagonist: Tanjiro!

Please enjoy the chapter.

"Zenitsu! If you don't move your ass right now, you'll regret it the moment I come near you!" Hikigaya-sensei shouted as Zenitsu quickly stood up from his position. Although Hikigaya-sensei unleashes some words that I'm not particularly fond of, hearing I know that Hikigaya-sensei is pushing us to the limit so that the incident that happened a few weeks back wouldn't happen again.

The incident at Mt. Natagumo made it clear for me that I'm still weak. If Giyuu-san didn't arrive on time, then Nezuko and I would've died. It also showed me how powerful Demons could be. Up to that point, I've been only fighting opponents that were equal to that of a regular demon, but to see that there's a group of powerful Demons that could kill off numerous Demon Slayers is terrifying to think off.

Nevertheless, I'm still thankful that I managed to survive that whole event.

"Tanjiro! Stop daydreaming and continue your routine! Otherwise, I'll forbid you to meet with Nezuko for the rest of the week!" Hikigaya-sensei's words break me out of my thoughts, forcing me to double my efforts into his harsh yet fulfilling training regiment.

There's also Hikigaya-sensei for me to properly give thanks.

At the age of 23, Hikigaya Hachiman made his mark on the Demon Slayer Corps by ruthlessly hunting Demons. When I asked Zenitsu how he'd known of Hikigaya-sensei, Zenitsu replied with a mix of fear and awe in his voice, "I know of him because he was trained under Ojii-chan for a while. The first time I properly met Hikigaya-sensei is was when I was about to finish my training with Ojii-chan."

"And what do you know of Hikigaya-sensei before you first met him?" I asked. Here, I saw Zenitsu's eyes narrow. For someone like Zenitsu to show seriousness is surprising.

"Many in the Corps said that he's a Demon in disguise. It is said that when you look into his eyes, it's almost like your looking into the eyes of a Demon." I frowned at Zenitsu's words. Did the Corps think that Hikigaya-sensei is a Demon? "Not only that, many in the Corps thought that he's working for the Demons." What? Hikigaya-sensei working for the Demons? That's ridiculous. Zenitsu snorted. I guess he noticed my face scrounging up.

"Yeah. I don't blame you. I mean, Hikigaya-sensei is acting more of a Demon with the way he's training us." Both of us chuckled at Zenitsu's joke before he sobered, "To be honest, I didn't care at all when I first heard the rumours. I saw him as an inspiration, you know? Especially when he came to Ojii-chan's home." My eyes widen in surprise. Hikigaya-sensei was his inspiration?

"I remembered the day when Hikigaya-sensei arrived at the house. His words back then were the motivation that I needed to become better. Although I'm still a coward, I still want to live up to the words that Hikigaya-sensei said to me." Zenitsu declared, his eyes burning with determination. To see Zenitsu determined to prove himself is humbling to see.

"Ah! But don't say this story to anyone, okay?" Zenitsu immediately pleaded. I chuckled and promised him to not let his secret arise.

Before we could continue, I felt an intense feeling behind us. I gulped Hikigaya-sensei's intense stare bearing at us. "Now... what did I tell you about lazing off again, hmm? In the count of three, if you don't run right away, don't regret what I'm about to do to you two."

The moment Hikigaya-sensei said one, both of us quickly bolted, with Zenitsu and I using the Total Concentration Breathing technique that Hikigaya-sensei has beaten to us for the past two weeks.

I grunted as I blocked Tokito-senpai's rather strong swing at my side, then quickly dodging myself away as Tokito-senpai followed-up his swing with a kick.

Adding to the fact that Hikigaya-sensei's training is harsh enough, he also trained our swordsmanship skills by pitting us against a Hashira.

A Hashira that was trained by Hikigaya-sensei in the arts of Demon slaying himself. Last week, the three of us tried to pile upon Tokito-senpai under sensei's request, but it turns out that numbers are useless when they can't back it up with skills that can surpass a Hashira. Nevertheless, I was determined to be equal to Tokito-senpai. I need to if I ever want to defeat Muzan and return my sister to normal.

Before I could further muse my thoughts, I instinctively raised my bokken to defend myself. Just in time too, seeing that Tokito-senpai is trying to sneak in a hit upon my solar plexus. As I was about to parry his swing, however, the bokken disappeared before my eyes. And before I could even react, I felt the wooden bokken upon my neck.

"Tanjiro. You lost." Hikigaya-sensei plainly said.

I release a sigh of relief when I see the wooden bokken that is threatening my neck slowly withdrew.

"Now, can you tell how you lost, Tanjiro?" Hikigaya-sensei asked. Even though many in the Corps believed that Hikigaya-sensei is a person undeserving of the seat of Hashira, for the rest of the household in the Butterfly House, he wasn't.

And I do too, with the way he's training us. While it was hard and harsh, nonetheless, it was something that I welcomed. For me, Zenitsu and Inosuke, we couldn't be thankful enough for his training regiment.

Besides, all though he has many people that care for him, his eyes say otherwise.

It was full of sorrow, one that could drown an individual's life.

That is why I made a promise to myself. That I would help him. Just as he helped both my sister and me, it's my turn to help him.

For it is the only thing that I could do to pay him back.