The eye of the storm (Sanemi x Reader)

6| Surprise party

Mitsuri's eyes sparkled with excitement as she approached me with the news. "Hey, did you know that Rengoku's birthday is coming up in two days? We should totally throw him a surprise party! What do you think?"

The idea of surprising Rengoku with a celebration put an instant smile on my face. "That sounds like a great plan, Mitsuri. Count me in."

Rengoku and I had forged bonds after my training with him. He was a wonderful person and a great warrior as well. He deserved our gratitude for all his efforts.

As we brainstormed ideas and shared the news with others, the prospect of organizing a surprise birthday party for Rengoku became a joyful distraction from our rigorous demon-slaying duties.

Tengen overheard our conversation and eagerly volunteered to handle the entertainment and music: "Count me in, lovelies! I'll handle the entertainment and the tunes. We'll make it a celebration Rengoku won't forget!" 

Mitsuri clapped her hands in delight. "Perfect, Tengen! Your flair for fun will make it unforgettable!"

I found myself nodding in agreement. "Yeah, it's a great idea. Rengoku deserves it."

Mitsuri beamed. "I'm so glad you're on board! I'll also invite Kyojuro's little brother. I'm sure he'd love to be a part of this surprise."

The days leading up to the celebration were filled with anticipation and secret planning. Amidst the excitement, I couldn't help but notice that the day of Rengoku's surprise party coincided with the conclusion of Zenitsu's Final Selection.

As I assisted in organizing decorations and coordinating the event, thoughts of Zenitsu's training and the upcoming results lingered in the back of my mind. The day held a dual significance for me – celebrating Rengoku's birthday and awaiting Zenitsu's fate in the Final Selection. While I trusted in Zenitsu's capabilities, the fear of losing him shimmered to the surface of my thoughts from time to time.

However, I shouldn't dwell on that now because I had to focus on the surprise party. I took a moment to share the plan with Shinobu, catching her after one of her intense training sessions.

"Shinobu, we're throwing a small surprise birthday celebration for Rengoku. Would you like to join us?" I asked, my tone light as we caught our breath.

Shinobu considered the invitation. "Sounds like a wonderful idea, but I have some experiments and antidotes to work on in my lab. You know, the usual poison-related business."

I grinned. "Well, we'll definitely need someone with your skills around. If you can't make it to the party, at least drop by for a bit?"

She flashed a mischievous smile. "I suppose I can manage a short break from my potions and poisons for the birthday boy."

As I left Shinobu to her work, I couldn't help but feel grateful for her acceptance and slightly disappointed that she wouldn't be able to join us. With that settled, the pieces were falling into place for a memorable celebration in honor of Rengoku. Little did Rengoku know, the pillars were conspiring to make his birthday a day to remember.

As I made my way through the Butterfly Estate, I stumbled upon Mitsuri engaging in an animated conversation with Tokito Muichiro, the Mist Hashira. Tokito, known for his usual apathetic demeanor, was expressing his indifference towards the upcoming surprise party for Rengoku's birthday.

"I don't really care about birthdays, and I'll probably forget about it," Tokito muttered, his tone monotone as ever.

Mitsuri, undeterred by Tokito's lack of enthusiasm, responded with determination. "No worries, Tokito-kun! I'll remind you every single day until the party. And if need be, I'll personally come to drag you there."