Shinobu Kocho, an eighteen-year-old girl living in Japan, is a young adult who recently lost her sister to a man-eating demon. Due to this event, she has been plagued by intense nightmares about what happened, hiding all her pain behind a smile. Now...
Attention: I obviously recreated Mitsuri's story without altering the character's motivations to fit better (in my view) into the narrative.
I had fallen asleep some time ago. My mind couldn't stop thinking about her words, about what she seemed to want to tell me... Those words brought back memories and reflections.
-"What's your problem? Do you really think I'll accept you?" That voice... The tone of anger, contempt, superiority...
-"I... It's..." I was scared. I felt like crying. It was too much pressure for me.
-"Don't make me laugh, girl. No one will want to be with a gluttonous, destructive monster." They always said those kinds of things. I didn't know if they wanted to hurt me or if it was really what they thought... Why? Why was I born this way? Their words really hurt.
-"Even your parents know you're worthless." Even friends said those kinds of things, they didn't even try to hide it. Why am I remembering this? My first confession... I really thought he would accept, but as always, he thought the same as everyone else...
-"I can't believe it... How are you my daughter?! No, no, you're a monster." My parents... They only took care of me because I had strength and could work or be sold, but they also hated me because of it... Because no man wants to be with a woman stronger than him. No man wants to be with a glutton... No man... Wants someone like me... I felt so lost back then. Am I still lost now? Truly, I can't tell. And with so many haunting thoughts in my mind, the night passed by quickly.
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I wake up on my futon, already in the afternoon, in that resting house. I'm on a mission with Kocho, I think, remembering why I'm there. I look around and realize that Shinobu is not there. She must have woken up some time ago, always ahead of time. I get up and put on my uniform, the same as yesterday, as I didn't dirty it. After a few minutes, my stomach starts rumbling. It seems like I woke up hungry... again. I leave the room in search of the hostess.
-"Kanroji-san," I hear a sweet and gentle voice that soothes my body with the first words. Yes, I know who it is. I turn around and see Shinobu. I give her a cheerful smile and greet her.
-"Kocho-san, good morning."
-"Good morning? It's one in the afternoon! I left you sleeping and got distracted." She gives me a gentle scolding, her voice sweet and gentle, but her words not so much, also recognizing that she should have acted differently. I make a somewhat silly face.
-"We'll have enough time for everything, don't worry..."
-"Kanroji, we're already running late. We should have started half an hour ago. Let's continue walking." She says this in a hurry, as if we didn't bring any extra items. Our swords and uniforms are the only things we have to carry... And who would've thought, we have everything :D.
-"Yes... Kocho-san, I need to..." My stomach rumbles again, but softer this time.
-"Kanroji-san, we can't waste any more time." She says it seriously, but with a smile. Darn it, I'll have to endure the hunger. I start following her with my head down. We thank the hostess for everything she did and leave. My stomach still growling. I haven't eaten anything.
