Chapter 2: The Pebble Hashira?

Tanjiro didn't know how to react. One moment, a terrifying demon was lunging at him, and the next — it was gone, blown to pieces by a pebble. Not a sword, not a breathing technique, not even a flashy Blood Art. Just…a regular pebble.

He stared at the bald man in the ridiculous yellow suit.

"Are you…a Hashira?" Tanjiro asked cautiously.

"Hashira?" Saitama raised an eyebrow. "Is that some kind of ramen topping?"

Tanjiro had no idea what to say to that. Zenitsu was still passed out on the ground, drooling slightly, and Nezuko was peeking out of her box, curious but silent.

"You're really strong! Did you master some secret breathing technique?" Tanjiro's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Stone Breathing? Earth Breathing? Or… Bald Breathing?"

Saitama sighed. "No, I just do some basic exercise. 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 km run every day."

Tanjiro's admiration froze for a second. "That's… that's just normal training."

"But you have to do it every single day," Saitama continued seriously. "No skipping. Even if it's hot, even if you're tired. And—" He pointed dramatically at Tanjiro, "—No air conditioning."

Tanjiro looked like he was having a spiritual crisis.

Before the conversation could continue, a crow swooped down from the sky, landing on Tanjiro's shoulder. "Mission! Mission! Demon sighted nearby! Upper Rank demon! Go, go!" the crow squawked.

"Upper Rank?" Tanjiro paled. "We can't handle an Upper Rank on our own—"

"Upper Rank, lower rank, middle rank — who cares?" Saitama waved his hand. "If it's in the way, I'll just punch it."

Tanjiro had no idea whether this man was insane, overconfident, or some kind of god disguised as a bored salaryman.

But there was no time to argue. The group set off, with Zenitsu slung over Saitama's shoulder like a sack of rice. As they ran, Tanjiro glanced sideways at the bald man, wondering if they had just gained the most powerful ally ever… or the weirdest.

The end of chapter 2