November 30th 2023
••• A short Koisho story •••
This takes place four years after his parents were murdered by demons and his sister disappeared and he started to train as a demon slayer.
•••
"There's a fire show tonight at sunset. We should go!" "Oh and then after we could do a training session. Like you asked!" The young boy said happily as he looked past the tall trees up into the blue sky. It consisted of different light blues and the clouds swirled and danced like they were painted with a fine brush.
He looked down to the boy walking in front of him.
"Aaaaki-chan?" He said exaggerating his voice a bit.
The boy didn't answer, he continued to walk down the dirt path. Koi scowled and quickened his pace to walk next to the other.
He studied his face and noticed he did not have a smile. His eyebrows were harshly furrowed as he looked down.
"You're eyebrows are doing that thing again." He said with a more concerned tone. Akio had told him before that whenever he was upset he would unintentionally furrow his brows and it would give him a headache.
He blinked and stopped in his tracks, causing Koi to trip a bit.
Sighing he continued to stare at the ground. "My parents... they won't let me train with you." He finally said with a soft and disappointed tone.
Koi stood in front of him and tilted his head. "Why?"
"They said it's too dangerous, and that I'm not supposed to become a demon slayer." He gripped his haori and tears started to well in his eyes.
"I-I want to protect people. But my parents can't see that. Hardly anyone in the town protects themselves, they just wait around for other demon slayers to come and save them, and then- sometimes when they aren't quick enough...people get killed."
Koisho frowned at the other's words. He completely understood them.
"Why don't we still train then?" Koi asked. Akio looked up to him with a confused face.
"Your parents don't have to know. We can have lessons when your out doing your chores for the day." He said.
"They would be furious if they knew I was disobeying them."
"That's why they won't know. We can train father away too, so they could never find us."
He thought for a moment. "Do you really think that could work?"
Koisho nodded sincerely to his friend.
"You should be able to be given a chance at something you want to achieve. And I think you would be a great swordsman." He smiled. That was something his sister told him a long time ago.
Akio's face lit up slightly. Nobody had ever believed or encouraged him to do what he wanted.
He looked at the other, dark purple curly hair resting just above his hazel eyes. Akio smiled brightly and stood up straight. He gave a firm nod.
"Then I accept oh great sensei!" He said. The two laughed together continuing on down the path.
•••
The village was lively as it was the early afternoon. Chickens could be heard along with the chatting people of the town, some doing their daily chores and others buying and selling vegetables and materials.
Koisho was gathering coal into both of his baskets. Miss Anoae tasked him to make daily trips to the village to get items that they needed back at her house. Koi enjoyed this part on his day because it meant he got to socialize with many people in the village. He was liked by many older people and some shop workers because of how kind and respectful he was to them. So he would always make sure to do the rounders to greet and offer help to the people he knew.
