Coming Back

In a closing flashback, Yuichiro Tokito grips his brother's hand and apologizes for never managing to be kind, insisting he had genuinely meant to keep him safe. The memory dissolves and Muichiro Tokito snaps back to the fight.

Inside the shed, Gyokko fumes at the sight of Hotaru Haganezuka, who keeps refining the blade despite losing an eye and suffering grievous wounds. The demon moves to finish off Kozo Kanamori but barely twists away from a sudden strike. Spotting the strange markings on Muichiro's face, Gyokko recalls Muzan Kibutsuji describing a similar mark worn by the hanafuda-earringed boy. Unsettled that the slayer stays composed and fast even after the paralyzing needles, the demon unleashes his Blood Demon Art, Octopus Vase Hell. Tentacles flood the structure and pin Muichiro as the building collapses, but Kozo manages to hand him his repaired Nichirin Sword at the last instant.

Outside, Hotaru is flung aside yet simply resumes sharpening, his stubbornness baffling the demon. Gyokko binds Muichiro and Kozo together, boasting that nothing can sever the octopus, only for Muichiro to slice cleanly through and free them. He thanks the swordsmith, though Kozo deflects the credit to his late mentor's guidance. Remembering the kind Tetsuido, who once worried over how hard he toiled with his lost memories, Muichiro silently reassures him and severs the remaining tentacles with the Mist Breathing technique known as Fifth Form: Sea of Clouds and Haze. Gyokko praises his quickness but claims the slayer cannot match his tempo, until Muichiro points out that the demon's neck has already been cut from his earlier attack.

The clash between Muichiro Tokito and Gyokko continues.

Fighting in his marked state, Muichiro seizes the advantage over the Upper Rank demon.

He recovers further memories of his previous swordsmith, Tetsuido.

Published in July 2018, this chapter is part of the Swordsmith Village Arc and appears in Volume 14. Its content is adapted in Episode 52 of the anime. The cast includes Muichiro Tokito, Gyokko, Hotaru Haganezuka, and Kozo Kanamori, with Yuichiro Tokito, Tanjiro Kamado, and Tetsuido shown in flashback.