In 'Try to Smile' scary stories, there are indeed some common themes. Firstly, there is often the theme of the violation of the self. Forcing someone to smile unnaturally is like invading their personal space, not just physically but also on an emotional and psychological level. Secondly, there is a sense of the uncanny. We are so used to seeing smiles as positive that when it is made into something negative in the story, it creates a sense of the 'uncanny valley' where things seem familiar yet wrong. And finally, there can be a theme of powerlessness. The characters in the story are usually unable to resist the force that makes them try to smile, highlighting their helplessness in the face of this strange and terrifying phenomenon.
Qingcheng smiled, her eyes curved
Her smile was like a flower in the sunny day.
Alluring and enchanting
The Kingdom of Overwhelming Smile had grown again.
Red Dust Calamity Wheel of Fate
How to escape fate?
The heart demon is difficult to deal with
He could only strive for freedom.
Fate is full of twists and turns
I only hope that the beautiful smile will last forever.
Smiling at the ups and downs of life
To walk through the wind and rain to be free.
The 'Try to Smile' scary story is terrifying because it often plays on the psychological fear of the unknown. The idea of something forcing you to smile against your will is deeply unsettling. It goes against our natural instincts and makes us feel a loss of control over our own expressions.
Inosuke doesn't become a Hashira in the manga. The story progresses with him having other significant experiences and achievements instead of achieving that specific position.