CRASH! BAM!
A loud screech and deafening noise resounded across the road.
Onlookers watched in horror as a young man was sent flying through the restaurant's glass gate after being hit by a speeding mini-truck.
The glass gate shattered into small pieces as the young man's body crashed heavily onto the floor, rolling over and knocking down a few chairs.
"KYAAA!!"
"S-shit! Call an ambulance!"
As the reality of the situation settled in, people finally started to realise the severity of what was going on.
Panic spread as they began shouting and rushing around.
Meanwhile, the badly injured young man lying on the ground, bleeding heavily, could only see blurry shapes of colourful people moving around him in slow motion.
D-damn it, am I… dying…? Truck… kun… you bas—
With his brain functioning for the last time, the heartbeat of the young man named Saul stopped as the light faded from his eyes.
Lying in a puddle of his own blood, Saul, an eighteen-year-old young man, died within moments.
....
"Tanjiro…"
Hmm? Tanjiro? That Tanjiro? Wait, why does it sound so real, and why does it feel like it's my own name…
Saul's consciousness slowly returned after experiencing death. The moment he regained his senses, his eyes focused on something, or rather someone.
Even though the air was chilly with falling snow and the temperature was freezing, his gaze fixed itself on that person alone.
Standing in front of him was a woman with long black hair and purple eyes. Wearing thick winter clothes over her traditional Japanese attire, she naturally exuded a kind and serene aura as she looked at him with a warm smile.
"Your face is all black because of the charcoal. Let mother clean it for you."
Reaching out with a clean cloth, she gently rubbed the soot off his face.
Hold on… wait a second… isn't she Tanjiro's mother? My mother… w-what? I became Tanjiro?? What the hell is this…
Even though his thoughts were running wild, his face showed nothing. Maybe it was the cold weather, or the numbness he felt when he was dying, but it helped him hide the shock he felt from seeing his mother.
His mother, Kie Kamado, wore a concerned expression as she said, "The snow has been falling since late last night. It is alright if you do not go." She looked sad as she finished cleaning his face.
Saul—no, Tanjiro—understood her expression clearly. Aware of his family's financial condition, he could only shake his head inwardly.
Damn, we're poor… and there are too many mouths to feed. Three brothers and two sisters… Poor Kie, she has too much to handle alone as a single mother… Wait. Wait a second. Aren't they going to die tonight?? Oh no. No, no, no!
"It's alright, mother. I'll be extra careful," he said with a slight smile, even though his mind was still recovering from the trauma of death, not to mention the headache of the imminent danger to his family because of Kibutsuji Muzan.
Kie had a motherly look on her face as she gently rubbed his cheek, saying, "Thank you, Tanjiro."
At that moment, the voices of his siblings came from the side.
"Nii-chan, I'm coming too!"
"Eh, I want to go too!"
Turning to the left, he saw his younger siblings, Hanako and Shigeru, looking at him with those puppy-like eyes, clearly expecting him to bring them along.
Shit… They're gonna die soon…
His heart felt heavy and hollow as years' worth of Tanjiro's memories resurfaced in moments.
But before anything else, his mother stood up and, with a stern expression, declared, "No, you can't. You will only trouble your Nii-chan by accompanying him. And because he can't pull the cart today, he can't give you a ride when you get tired."
"But…"
Both of them deflated instantly, wearing sad expressions. Since Kie had spoken, it was settled. Her words were like orders the young ones had to obey without protest.
Fuck… This is sickening… Why was I sent here of all places? To experience even more trauma? And even if I tell them to suddenly leave the house because it's dangerous, would they even believe me? To abandon the same house where Tanjuro died just a few weeks ago? In this weather, no less…
Just as his soul was about to fry from imagining the shredded bodies of these children and his mother, a monotonous voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding!]
Out of nowhere, a holographic screen popped up next to his face.
[Dear Host, Weird as Fuck System is at your service!]
W-what… Weird as fu—? System… SYSTEM? That system???
Tanjiro's dark red eyes immediately regained their luster as his spirit felt rejuvenated.
FUCK YESSS!!!
Another message blinked onto the screen.
Once he saw it, his eyebrow twitched after reading the name of the system.
Just then, Takeo, the third sibling, came from behind the house carrying an axe on his shoulder. He was on wood-fetching duty today because Tanjiro was leaving.
Tanjiro looked at him and raised his fist with a warm smile. "Takeo, I'm counting on you to look after the family while I'm away."
The young boy, with black hair and red eyes, widened his eyes and nodded seriously. "Leave it to me."
With a light nod of his own, Tanjiro said, "I'm off then," before turning around and leaving.
His family waved at him with caring expressions.
"Please come back quickly!"
"Be careful!"
With a final wave, he hurried down the path.
....
After a few minutes of walking, once his home was finally out of sight, he relaxed a little.
"That was tense…" Releasing a deep sigh, he gave the system screen another look.
[𖤐 Mission: Give Nezuko an affectionate kiss!]
[𖤐 Reward: Prime Yoriichi Tsugikuni's Full Powers]
"Weird as fuck system for sure…" he chuckled inwardly, not at all bothered by the mission.
If sharing a kiss with his beloved sister Nezuko could prevent the disaster from happening, he'd gladly do it, no matter how many times the system asked.
"Prime Yoriichi's powers, huh…" Tanjiro's smile widened, his heartbeat rising with anticipation.
Earlier, he had hurriedly left home since Nezuko was outside trying to calm Rokuta, who was crying. Rokuta was the youngest, only four years old. After Tanjuro's recent death, the boy had been deeply affected, having been inseparable from his father.
Looking around at the snowy landscape, Tanjiro bent down and scooped up a handful of snow. Feeling and touching snow for the first time with his new senses left him a little mesmerized.
She should be coming by now…
Letting the snow fall from his hand, he stood up and continued walking along the snow-covered path. Within a minute, his heart finally eased when he saw a delicate girl approaching from the opposite direction.
On her back, she carried a sleeping Rokuta, wrapped snugly in a warm blanket that covered both him and herself.
As they passed each other, Tanjiro observed the girl closely with a warm smile.
She was his younger sister, Nezuko Kamado, recently turned twelve. Her long black hair was tied into a neat bun. Her vibrant pink eyes met his, and she gave a lovely smile. "Onii-chan…" Her breath turned into mist in the cold air.
"Nezuko." He patted her head gently, and she closed her eyes, enjoying it.
Ah, here it goes… It feels wrong to do this, but… I need more power to save your asses, so don't blame me…