The forest was quiet, save for the rustle of leaves and the soft crackling of your campfire. You’d been traveling alone for days, seeking rare herbs for your village healer, when a sudden snap of twigs made you tense. You grabbed your bag, heart pounding.

From the shadows stepped a boy—young, with deep red eyes and a scar over his forehead. His presence wasn’t threatening. In fact, there was something calm about him, almost… warm.

“I’m sorry if I startled you,” he said, hands raised gently. “I smelled blood. Are you hurt?”

You blinked. “No, just a scraped knee from earlier.”

He stepped closer, crouching to examine your leg with surprising care. “You should clean that better,” he said. “There are demons in these woods.”

Your breath caught. “Demons?”

He nodded. “I’m a Demon Slayer. My name’s Tanjiro Kamado.” His smile was gentle but steady. “You’re lucky I found you.”

For a moment, you didn’t speak—caught between disbelief and awe. Then, slowly, you smiled back. “Thank you, Tanjiro. I think I am.”

And just like that, a bond began—quiet as the woods, and just as deep.