The Final Test

It was the night before Tekeo's final test. Asuma sat solemnly in front of his teacher's portrait, murmuring softly to himself, "Finally, Sensei, your wish to find a successor might not be too far away. He might still be a bit rough around the edges, but nevertheless, he is by far the only one capable of matching your genius. Look after him from the heavens so that he never loses his way." He lit an incense stick and placed it reverently in front of the portrait, memories flooding back of the days when his master would reprimand him for not practicing properly.

Meanwhile, Tekeo sat in his room, the clock showing half past twelve. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about what to do next. He had to successfully complete the final task his master gave him, prepare Tanjiro as best as possible, and set off for the Final Selection. But beyond these immediate goals, Tekeo pondered his true purpose in this world. He knew that curing Nezuko was just a matter of time and plot armor, but apart from that, he had no clear direction.

Tekeo reflected deeply on why he might have been sent here by God. The only reason he could think of was to save the people who died early. In his real life, he loved the story of Demon Slayer, but the deaths of the characters he cherished, including all the Hashira, always left him heartbroken. He smiled when he read about the final victory, but the numerous deaths along the way saddened him. After long and hard thinking, he came to a decision: in this life, his goal would be to save everyone until the fateful day of the final battle.

To achieve this, Tekeo knew he had to become stronger and gather allies who could surpass their canon selves. He decided to focus not just on helping the original characters improve but also on finding new talents who could get stronger faster with the right guidance. His experience with Genya had given him an idea. Just like how Genya thrived under Stone Breathing, Tekeo realized that finding people who were suited to specific breathing styles and training them under the appropriate Hashira could make a significant difference.

He reflected on his own journey, knowing that studying Wind Breathing from the start would have made a huge difference to his strengths. If he could identify more hidden gems and direct them to the right sensei's, they could collectively become a formidable force. Tekeo set his goals firmly:

Slowly proceed with the story and help Nezuko turn back into a human.Find people suited to other breathing styles and help them improve faster.Save all the Hashira until the final battle, because no matter how much stronger he got, he knew Muzan was a different breed of demon, and fighting him would truly be akin to a nightmare.

Feeling lighter after setting these goals for the future, Tekeo finally drifted off to sleep, his mind at ease with a newfound sense of purpose.

The next morning, the first light of dawn seeped into Tekeo's room, waking him from his deep sleep. He got up, took a shower, and donned his training uniform before slowly making his way to the training hall. There, he saw Asuma sensei sitting with Aoko standing beside him, holding two wooden swords.

Tekeo entered and bowed his head in greeting. Asuma nodded and rose to his feet, his unwavering eyes fixed on Tekeo, emanating a palpable pressure. Despite his age, Asuma still looked handsome and disciplined, a true testament to his legacy as a former Hashira.

"Are you ready to finally complete your training, Tekeo?" Asuma asked, his voice steady.

"Yes, sensei," Tekeo replied, his determination unwavering.

Asuma took a deep breath and smiled. "Warm up a little. You have two hours to prepare before your fight against me. Use your time wisely," he stated before returning to his room.

For the first time in a long while, Tekeo felt a chill down his spine. The last time he felt this way was when he first met Asuma, and now, it was happening again. Spending countless hours together had made Tekeo forget that Asuma was a former Hashira, a beast when serious.

Tekeo gulped and glanced at Aoko, who looked back and said, "May you rest in peace."

Annoyed, Tekeo smacked Aoko on the back of the head. They were both nervous about the match, so without further delay, Tekeo started running and exercising to bring his body to optimal fighting conditions. He and Aoko exchanged a few sword slashes to practice forms.

Time flew by, and soon the two hours were nearly up. Tekeo was doing burpees while holding his breath when Asuma re-entered the hall. "Are you done warming up?" Asuma inquired.

The sweaty Tekeo got up and bowed in front of his master. Asuma told him to rest a bit before starting the final test. Tekeo nodded and went to drink some water. While drinking, he thought about how to attack his sensei. He recalled a line from the book he got from the sword hall, "If you feel weak, always take the first step. Strength begins with action." He got up, took a deep breath, and murmured, "YOLO. Let's just try going all out from the very beginning."

He approached his sensei, and they both got ready. Aoko stood on the sidelines, prepared to officiate the match. "Begin!" Aoko shouted.

Tekeo disappeared and reappeared above Asuma, swinging his sword in a precise arc. Asuma sidestepped, avoiding the attack, but as soon as Tekeo landed, he spun around, aiming another strike at Asuma's side. This time, Asuma blocked it with his sword. They continued exchanging blows for the next 30 minutes, with Aoko watching in awe.

As Tekeo's breathing grew heavy and sweat covered his face, he saw a slight opening and took a chance to slash at Asuma. But it was an intentional lure. As soon as Tekeo was in range, Asuma swung his sword upward, hitting Tekeo's chin and sending him flying backward. However, just before getting hit, Tekeo managed a quick slash, striking Asuma's hand.

Seeing Tekeo get up with unwavering determination, Asuma said, "One." As soon as Asuma finished speaking, Tekeo disappeared and reappeared right in front of him. "Wind Breathing - First Form: Whirlwind Cutter," Tekeo shouted, slashing towards his sensei.

Asuma responded with "Wind Breathing - Third Form: Clear Storm Wind Tree," defending against the attack and countering with "Wind Breathing - Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist." Tekeo predicted the attack and defended with "Wind Breathing - Eighth Form: Gale Slash," aiming to hit Asuma. But suddenly, Asuma disappeared. Tekeo couldn't see anything, he prepared to counter all moves, but then felt a killing intent from behind him. He turned around, but saw no one, and then felt a presence at his back. Tekeo saw the shadow of a sword behind him thinking he had failed. But then something within him screamed, his entire body heating up, allowing him to spin mid-air and block the sword with his hilt.

Confused but determined, Tekeo took the opportunity to unleash his strongest technique. "Wind Breathing - Ninth Form: Wind Typhoon," he shouted, striking Asuma's chest and shoulder. "Two, Three," Asuma responded.

The fight continued for another two hours. Whenever Tekeo felt danger, his body unconsciously reacted. Finally, after a grueling battle, Tekeo managed to land five hits on Asuma.

When Asuma opened his mouth, Tekeo feared he had failed. But instead, Asuma said, "You did well. I am proud of you."

Hearing those words, Tekeo immediately passed out with a small smile. Asuma looked at him and smiled. "You did not disappoint me, Tekeo."

After the match, Aoko carried the injured Tekeo back to his room, waiting for him to regain consciousness. The afternoon air was filled with a savory aroma. Tekeo woke up to the delicious scent, realizing he was in his bed. For a moment, he thought it had all been a dream—the fight with his sensei, and Asuma sensei's praise. But Aoko broke the silence with a blunt, "He beat the shit out of you, dude." Tekeo turned to see Aoko, looking ghostly pale, and screamed. Aoko joined in, and from a distance, Asuma sensei smiled at the noise.

Aoko reassured Tekeo that the match had gone well and that he had passed the final test. Relieved, Tekeo fell back onto his bed. "It still feels like a dream," he murmured but Aoko reminded him about how he got his ass handed to him in the spar. Annoyed Tekeo threw a pillow at his face and they started a pillow fight, soon they laid down on the bed laughing. Curiosity piqued, Tekeo asked Aoko about the enticing scent. Aoko explained that when Asuma sensei was particularly happy, he would cook a delicious hot pot. The mere mention of hot pot made Tekeo's mouth water, especially after a diet of vegetables and occasional meat.

The two got up and saw Asuma sensei cooking over the fire. They joined him, eagerly awaiting their bowls. Asuma served them his handmade hot pot, and the sight of the floating oil and tender meat made Tekeo and Aoko's mouth water, they devoured it as if they hadn't eaten in months. Asuma sensei chuckled at their enthusiasm and joined them in eating.

After their meal, they cleaned up together and moved to the sword hall. Asuma sensei then asked Tekeo about his plans. Tekeo detailed his intention to return home and attempt the final selection along with his brother. Asuma provided more information about the final selection and what Tekeo should do next. Tekeo listened intently, absorbing every word. Asuma praised Tekeo's performance in their spar, impressed by his moves and reaction speed. Tekeo admitted he was surprised by his own abilities and shared his thoughts on the spar. Asuma was shocked for a minute but started smiling out of nowhere, he told Tekeo to remember that feeling and keep training it from time to time. The curious Tekeo asked Asuma what it was to which Asuma reaponded "Intuition".

Asuma emphasized the importance of intuition, a skill that demon slayers develop as they grow stronger. This skill, awakened by the feeling of death and failure, unlocks a person's dormant potential. Not everyone can awaken it, but those who do become much stronger. Tekeo was fascinated, noting this as something the manga had never mentioned.

Asuma then handed Tekeo the book "Wind Demon." "You should keep this. I believe it will benefit you much more than keeping it with me," he said. Tekeo accepted it with a bow, thrilled to receive it. Although he had read the book multiple times, he always found something important upon each review, so just having the book was invaluable.

As they discussed further, Asuma sensei advised Tekeo to keep practicing the final three forms of Wind Breathing. They were the most destructive and powerful forms he would need for the final selection. Tekeo pouted, "Without Asuma sensei personally overseeing my training, it gets boring so easily. How can you expect me to train hard when I go there?" Both Tekeo and Asuma wore worried expressions, concerned about Tekeo's lack of self-motivation.

Aoko then suggested, "Master, wouldn't it be alright if all of us went back with Tekeo? It's only for a few months, so you can help him prepare until the final selection." Tekeo and Asuma looked at Aoko with newfound respect. Tekeo quipped, "So you really can use your brain when it's needed." Asuma nodded, further annoying Aoko. It was one thing for Tekeo to mock him, but even his master? Aoko wept in a corner while Tekeo consoled him.

Tekeo saw the merit in Aoko's suggestion. If Asuma joined them, he could continue training and perhaps even help Tanjiro. He pleaded with his master to come along. Asuma was concerned about inconveniencing Urokodaki, but after persistent pestering from Tekeo and Aoko, he agreed. He sent a letter to Urokodaki, informing him of their arrival to Mount Sagiri. After two days of preparation, they locked the mountain gate and set off toward Mount Sagiri to reunite with Urokodaki and the others.