Reversed Roles

Final Selection

Muichiro settled into the shade of the roof, his gaze mesmerised by the gentle misty rain as it drizzled down onto the earth, casting a serene veil of water over the floor. The droplets sparkled like tiny diamonds, their delicate forms glistening in the soft light, resembling small ice crystals that had been carefully crafted by nature's own hand.

The rhythmic patter of the raindrops created a soothing melody, a symphony of water and sound that was both calming and hypnotic. Yuichiro sat down beside him and they watched as the rain continued its gentle dance, weaving a spell of tranquility over the scene.

"I'm going to the Final Selection tomorrow..." Muichiro ventured, attempting to break the silence that had settled between them like a thick fog. His words hung in the air, fragile and tentative, like a leaf trembling on the brink of falling.

"You better not die, dummy," Yuichiro muttered, as he rested his chin on his knees, his eyes fixed on some distant point. But then, his gaze snapped back to Muichiro, his eyes widening in surprise, like a sudden burst of sunlight, when he spotted Muichiro's pinky finger extended in a promise.

"Promise!" Muichiro exclaimed, his smile radiant and hopeful, as he held his pinky up like a tiny flag of determination. Yuichiro's face softened, a small, gentle smile reaching his lips, as he reached out and shook Muichiro's pinky with his own.

"Because if you die, I'm chasing you all the way to hell!" he added, his voice laced with a playful menace, earning a frightened scream from Muichiro, whose eyes went wide with mock terror.

☆

"Good luck, dear," Kasumi encouraged as she smiled and waved goodbye with one hand, her slender fingers fluttering. Her other hand rested reassuringly on Yuichiro's shoulder, a weight that seemed to anchor him in place.

Muichiro walked away from the house, his footsteps echoing through the stillness, his figure growing smaller and smaller until he was just a speck on the horizon. Yuichiro, meanwhile, stood frozen, his expression solemn and introspective, his eyes fixed on the spot where Muichiro had vanished, his hand raised in a half-wave, as if reluctant to let go of the moment.

The hours of travel it took to reach the mountain in the distance were long and lonely. It felt weird to be walking around outside without the weight of Yuichiro's basket on his back and shoulders. It was too quiet, and Muichiro couldn't stop thinking about his brother. Was he doing okay without him? Was he as lonely as he felt now? What was he doing while he was sleeping? His footsteps hurried, almost desperate to reach the mountain and get this stupid Final Selection over with.

Muichiro arrived at Mount Fujikasane just as the setting sun was casting a warm, golden glow over the landscape, painting the sky with vibrant shades of orange and pink that seemed to bleed into the horizon.

The air was thick with the sweet scent of wisteria trees, which blanketed every inch of ground, their delicate purple flowers cascading like a waterfall of color, almost overwhelming his senses. But he pressed on, his determination driving him forward, as he made his way to the mountain's checkpoint, where all the prospective demon slayers had gathered, their faces etched with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

About fourteen people were already here, their eyes fixed on him with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion, as well as two of the Master's children, a girl and a boy, who stood out with their poised demeanor.

Muichiro scanned the other potential slayers with a disinterested gaze, his eyes lingering on each face for a moment before moving on. Some looked confident, their jaws set and eyes flashing with determination, while others seemed nervous, their eyes darting about like trapped animals.