I need to rewatch the demon slayer movie but Kaigaku is possibly one of my favourite characters.
Look don't get me wrong everytime I see him I get so mad. But that's exactly why I love his character so much. He's so so selfish always doing what benefits him yet it is and never will be enough. No matter what he does, no matter what other people do for him it isn't enough. Zenitsu best words it saying that he has a box with a hole in it, it will never be full, the only way to make it full is to find that hole and patch it up. He won't feel fulfilled until he does that.
It's one of those lines that really resonated with me. That hit far too close. That nothing you do will ever be enough because you have that hole that keeps emptying every accomplishment, all you effort, everything you've ever worked for. It all amount to nothing if you don't patch that goddamn hole.
And with Kaigaku it doesn't just translate to what other people do or think of him, if he isn't the best of the best, the top of the food chain then it isn't enough. More than that though he also has a superiority complex, holding himself to standards so high whilst constantly putting down everyone around him. Making himself appear the best whilst knowing that it isn't enough, that there are people stronger.
He's such a uniquely written character, a selfish demon slayer turned demon. Even before a demon slayer in Gyomeis backstory we see that he's willing to put the lives of others on the line to protect himself yet becomes a demon slayer? For what? Some people say he wanted that power which yes I do agree but there were also other ways of gaining that power rather than putting his life on the line. Yes there is a very strong argument to be made that he wanted to become powerful, so no demon would be able to make him fear like that. He realised he wasn't the top of the food chain and looked for a way to get there. But, that seems almost too easy of an explanation too sumple for a someone as complex as him. Sure that might be a reason but I can't help but wonder if there was a small part of him that felt guilty. He's the most selfish character I've seen yet he chooses a profession where his whole job is to protect others. A job where he knows that he could die at any moment, its so easy to say he wanted power and fame but you barely get that as a demon slayer, your lifespan is on a rapid countdown from the moment you choose that path, it doesnt suit his style.
I truly think that he sought out the path of a demon slayer as a form of repentance. Whether consciously or unconsciously he felt guilty over what he did, even in the smallest way he chose it because it got him power whilst keeping the guilt aways. (For the record i dont think he regrets it, he's selfish, he would choose that option over and over again. I think he just doesnt like living with the guilt he feels and wants that to stop, why should he feel guilty over something that kept him alive? if being a demon slayer stop that then so be it, he'll just work hard enough to become a hashira do people will finally see his worth, so he could finally prove himself)
