A New Beginning

Noah Arora, a 19-year-old computer science undergraduate at California Tech, had a bright future ahead of him. His passion for coding and technology was unmatched, and his days were filled with dreams of creating groundbreaking software and making a name for himself in the tech industry. But life had other plans.

It was a late evening, and Noah was heading home after a long day of classes and coding sessions. The air was crisp, and the stars shone brightly in the clear sky. Noah hummed a tune as he walked down the quiet street, his mind wandering to the latest project he was working on. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the speeding truck until it was too late. In an instant, his life was cut short, and darkness enveloped him.

When Noah opened his eyes again, he felt an unfamiliar warmth and a dull ache throughout his body. He tried to move but found his limbs weak and unresponsive. Panic set in as he realized he was in an entirely different place. He was lying on a straw mat in a small, dimly lit but cozy room. As his senses slowly returned, memories flooded his mind—memories that were not his own.

He was Tekeo Kamado, the 15-year-old third child of the Kamado family and the younger brother of Tanjiro and Nezuko. The memories of his past life as Noah were still vivid, but now they were interwoven with the life of Tekeo. It took him a day to recover from the physical pain and the shock of his new reality.

On the second day, Tekeo woke up early to set his plans into action, his mind racing with thoughts and plans. He knew he had to act quickly. He found a piece of paper and a brush, and in English, he began to write down everything he could remember—events, dates, and the fate that awaited his family. As he wrote, he decided on a plan to change the course of history, he then folded the paper and hid it under his mat.

He spent the rest of the day helping his older brother, Tanjiro, create a large quantity of charcoal. Tekeo knew that convincing Tanjiro to let him accompany him to sell the charcoal was crucial. As the day came to an end, Tekeo went to bed, mentally preparing for what was to come.

The next morning, Tekeo woke up with a sense of determination. It was 11 am when Tanjiro, dressed in his outside clothes and a thick shawl, was ready to leave. Tekeo donned his best clothing and a black haori that had once belonged to their father. The two siblings set out with two large baskets filled to the brim with charcoal and the top tied with a cloth, ready to help others prepare for the upcoming winter.

They reached the town around 2 pm and spent the entire day selling charcoal. As the sun began to set, Tanjiro wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at Tekeo, suggesting they head back home. But Tekeo insisted they stay longer, convincing Tanjiro that it would be too cold tonight and they should sell more charcoal. Reluctantly, Tanjiro agreed, and they continued selling until it was 10 pm.

A kind-looking lady, noticing their late hour, offered them shelter for the night, warning them about the demons that roamed the night. Tanjiro listened to her words like a fairytale and soon went to bed. But Tekeo remained awake, his mind filled with the horrors he knew awaited his family. He had made a decision not to change the story any further, choosing instead to stay safe while allowing Muzan to slaughter his family.

As Tekeo sat alone in the quiet house, he judged his cold-hearted actions, blaming himself for their inevitable deaths. He cried softly, mourning the loss of his family and questioning his humanity. Growing up in California had made him humble and empathetic, but his actions now seemed to go against his morals. Deep inside, Tekeo struggled with his choices, torn between his love for his family and his desire to change the course of fate.

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, Tekeo sat alone, the weight of his choices pressing down on him. The silence of the night was punctuated only by the rhythmic ticking of the clock. His eyelids grew heavy, and soon, he drifted into a deep sleep. When he awoke, he found himself in a surreal space, standing before a familiar face—his father from his past life. Tears welled up in Tekeo's eyes as he looked at his father.

The figure smiled gently. "Tekeo, I am God," he said, his voice calm and reassuring. "I have taken the form of your father to remind you that you are still very human. What you did was exactly what I wanted you to do."

Tekeo, confused and overwhelmed, asked, "Why am I here?"

God replied, "You died before your time, so I am just fulfilling my duty. Everyone who hasn't done anything morally wrong on earth gets a second chance."

Tekeo's mind raced with questions. "What about my old family? Why did you bring me here?"

God smiled softly and snapped his fingers. Three blue screens appeared before Tekeo. "These are your choices for your golden finger," God explained. "Look at them carefully and choose the one that you believe is the best. Once you decide, your journey will truly begin."

Tekeo examined the screens:

1. Hard Work and Body Never Betray

Pros: The more time and effort you spend studying and perfecting something, the better you get at it. You have the potential to grow infinitely stronger in anything you want to. Your body recovers slightly faster than normal people.

Cons: Although you have the potential to be the best, you need to spend a lot of time and effort improving.

2. Descendant of the Sun

Pros: The slayer mark manifests whenever your life is in danger, you deal more serious damage to demons and possess knowledge of the original breath of the sun.

Cons: You possess the mark and thus will die naturally around the age of 23.

3. Eyes that Perceive the Abyss

Pros: You have special eyes that allow you to see deep inside the human body and react faster than anyone else. Your techniques become lethal to demons.

Cons: You eat a lot, heal slower than most people, and are more prone to sickness.

Tekeo pondered his options carefully. He could be a genius swordsman prone to sickness, a powerful slayer doomed to die young, or someone who worked tirelessly to achieve greatness. After much deliberation, he chose the first option, valuing the steady growth and lack of severe drawbacks.

God nodded approvingly. "A wise choice," he said. With a gentle push, he sent Tekeo out of the clouds. "Good luck."

Tekeo jolted awake to the sound of Tanjiro's voice. "Tekeo! Wake up! You've slept too long!" It was 2 pm, and they needed to head back home. As they walked, Tekeo couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom. He voiced his concerns to Tanjiro, but his brother brushed them off, attributing it to nerves.

The journey back to their mountain home was uneventful, but Tekeo's sense of foreboding grew stronger. As they approached their house, an eerie silence greeted them. They called out, but no one answered. Tanjiro opened the door, and the sight that met their eyes was beyond comprehension.

Their family lay massacred, blood covering everything. The bodies of their mother and siblings were scattered around the house. Tanjiro and Tekeo fell to their knees, their breaths visible in the cold air, tears streaming down their faces. Amid the horror, Tekeo noticed a faint breath from Nezuko.

"Tanjiro, she's still alive!" Tekeo exclaimed.

Tanjiro, broken but finding a glimmer of hope, rushed to Nezuko. He gently removed "their baby brother" from her arms and ran outside, heading towards the nearest doctor. Tekeo followed, knowing that this was the moment Tanjiro's first journey would begin—a journey that would lead them to Giyu Tomioka.