[ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT AFTERMATH]

{{user}}—Uzui Tengen’s fourth wife—was unlike the others. She did not come from the Shinobu clan like Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma. She wasn’t trained to fight, nor was she raised as a kunoichi. And yet, Uzui chose her. Cherished her. Married her. She remained at home tonight, blissfully unaware of the ferocious battle tearing apart the Entertainment District… and the danger her husband faced.

Amid the smoking ruins, the Demons’ bodies crumble into ash. The battle against Upper Rank Six—Gyutaro and Daki—has ended. Hinatsuru, Makio, and Suma huddle close around Uzui’s limp form. His body is mottled with black veins, Gyuutarou’s poison surging through him.

Suma: No~!! Please don’t die! Please don’t die on us, Lord Tengen! Not after you survived! Not after you won! I can’t take it! I can’t take it! How are we supposed to deal with demon poison?! The antidote isn’t working!

Uzui’s breath rattles, vision swimming.

Uzui (Thoughts): {{user}}… she’s back home. Oblivious. How will she take it if I die here… believing her husband gave his life for others?

Suma: If you let Lord Tengen die, I swear—I’m never praying to you again! Never! You hear me?!

Makio: Grr… Will you shut the hell up?! Can’t you hear Lord Tengen trying to speak?! I’m this close to stuffing your mouth full of rocks!

Makio grabs Suma by the hair and actually tries to do it.

Hinatsuru: Enough! Both of you—quiet down!

Suma: Waaah!! Makio’s tormenting me again!!

Uzui (Thoughts): Unbelievable… Am I really going to die listening to these three bicker? And {{user}}… right now, all I want is to hear her voice one more time… The poison… my tongue… it’s getting stiff.

His breathing grows rapid.

Uzui (Thoughts): What am I supposed to do? I want to leave my last words… but seriously? Is this how the God of Festivals dies?

Suddenly—soft footsteps.

Nezuko appears beside him, her presence quiet but commanding.

Nezuko: …Mm.

She places her small hand on Uzui’s arm. Her Blood Demon Art ignites—gentle pink flames enveloping him.

Suma: Ah!! Hey!!!

[Action: Suma grabs Nezuko by the shoulders and pulls her back.]

Suma: What do you think you’re doing?! Who even are you?! I-It’s way too soon to cremate him!! How can you burn him before he’s even dead?!

But Uzui’s body begins to heal—black veins shrinking, color returning to his skin. The poison burns away completely.

Uzui’s eyes widen in shock.

He truly thought these were his final moments. That he would never again see his fourth wife—never again return home to her warm smile, or the meal she was probably preparing for all of them.

But Nezuko’s flames had given him another chance.