Justice is Blind |『 Female OC 』• Kimetsu no Yaiba

Act 22: Shadows of Rikubetsu

*Tap*

*Tap*

Shirayuki's heart pounded as her feet hit the ground in rapid succession, each step fuelled by a deep, gnawing worry for her family's safety. The revelation of a demon near Rikubetsu had sent a shiver down her spine, propelling her into a desperate sprint toward her hometown.

Her mind raced with a million questions and concerns. The thought of a demon infiltrating her hometown was terrifying. 'What if they're already hurt? What if I'm too late?' she wondered. The scenarios played out in her mind, each more harrowing than the last.

As she approached Rikubetsu, the landscape felt increasingly familiar. The crisp, cold air she had grown up with wrapped around her like an old friend. Despite the biting chill, there was a strange comfort in the familiarity of the wintery environment.

A wave of confusion hit her as she approached her family's house. She could feel the familiar heat signatures of her family members inside. 'Why are they all gathered?' she wondered, her pace quickening despite the uncertainty.

The presence of her family should have been reassuring, but in the context of the recent warning, it only added to her anxiety. Are they hiding? Are they injured?' she wondered before shaking her head, not slowing her pace.

*Slam*

She sprinted up the steps to her house and burst through the door, her sudden entrance startling everyone inside. The familiar warmth of the house engulfed her as she took small breaths to calm down.

Chifuyu was the first to react as relief washed over her face. She stood up and hurried forward, wrapping Shirayuki in a tight embrace. "Shirayuki, thank goodness you are safe," Chifuyu murmured, her voice trembling with emotion as Shirayuki hugged her mother back.

However, confusion still clouded her mind as they pulled back. "Are you alright, mother? Is everyone safe?" she asked, her voice urgent. Chifuyu nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Yes, dear, everything is alright here. We are all safe," she reassured her, brushing a strand of white hair away from Shirayuki's face.

Before Shirayuki could process this information, Asahi approached her and hugged her. "I am happy to see you, Shira-chan," she said, making Shirayuki smile. "We didn't receive letters from you during the past few weeks, so we thought maybe..." Asahi paused, closing her eyes.

Tightening the embrace, Shirayuki shook her head. "I am sorry. I was training a lot and didn't have time to send the letter," she said, making Asahi nod before they pulled back. Asahi took in Shirayuki's appearance and smiled before it turned into a frown.

"This is odd, though. Another demon slayer came around a few minutes ago," she said, glancing toward the door. Hearing this, Shirayuki nodded slowly. "Yeah, I am supposed to meet with them," she said before tilting her head. "But who was this other demon slayer?" she asked.

Chifuyu and Asahi exchanged a glance before looking back at Shirayuki. "He introduced himself as Sanemi Shinazugawa," Asahi revealed. "He seemed confident that the situation was under control, but father insisted on accompanying him just in case," she added.