You somehow end up lost in Japan, having little to no memory of your life before or any understanding of the land and people here. But you meet extraordinary individuals who, over time, become very important to your new life as you travel and fight...
Warning: This chapter will include the topic of menstruation and reproductive/women's health, non-graphic description of a period, and an embarrassing/awkward situation. If any of that bothers you, then you could skip that part—you won't miss anything of major importance to the story.
You have two weeks before you can start your Japanese lessons with Uzui. During this time, you go through hell, and it's likely that even more challenges await you! Do you have what it takes to push through? It's difficult, but you'll have to give it your all if you want to find the answers you seek and continue to stay by your friends' sides.
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Inosuke perched atop a branch, reclining against the rugged wood, eyes closed, soaking in the fresh air. One leg idly swung below him while he cradled his mask in the crook of his arm. Earlier, a conversation with Zenitsu and Tanjiro had stirred up emotions he struggled to navigate. Feelings had always been a challenge for him; they provoked a primal urge to either fight or flee, and this time he chose flight. Though he prided himself on his strength and resilience, some emotional burdens proved too heavy to bear alone. He was perplexed by the sudden surge of anger and sadness over past events that had never bothered him before. As he pondered, it dawned on him that hearing Zenitsu and Tanjiro discuss their connections highlighted his own loneliness. He had been dwelling on the absence of a 'Gramps,' a brother, sister, or someone to care for him like his friends had.
Yet, these self-pitying musings gradually shifted as he acknowledged the companionship he now had. Monitsu, Panchiro, and you—whom he had dubbed 'Bubbles' because he couldn't remember your name either—his new friends.
Inosuke had been accepted by all of you, stood by even during his rough edges and moments when he wasn't exactly pleasant, especially during your first meeting. But would this acceptance last? He remained obstinate, impulsive, and largely unconcerned with others' opinions. And since meeting all of you, he'd encountered a whirlwind of new emotions and thoughts—a tumult both terrifying and exhilarating. For a person accustomed to fearlessly navigating the wild, a new fear emerged—the fear of losing those who had become an integral part of his life. Your acceptance and loyalty meant everything to him, and in a way, you had become his family now.
As Inosuke reached up, his fingers grazed his cheek, encountering wetness—tears. The sensation was unfamiliar; he had never really cried before. This new experience added to the oddity of his emotions.
Inosuke wasn't naive to basic feelings, but the depth and complexity of these recent emotions had thrown him into turmoil. Despite misconceptions, he wasn't unintelligent, just lacking in experience. When bombarded with a multitude of thoughts and feelings, he became overwhelmed. Retreating to ponder his own thoughts and feelings had proven surprisingly beneficial. With a long, deep breath, he lifted his mask, examining it. This mask had been his constant companion for as long as he could recall, a shield against the world and his own vulnerabilities. Lately, however, it seemed to have failed him. He felt like nothing but a mess of weakness and sensitivity. Beaten on the mountain by the Giant Spider Demon, then by the Water-Breathing Hashira, and now by his own damned feelings—it was a relentless onslaught.
