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...
-Hayashi Toji. How could I forget? He's the boy I saved from that oni at school. That's why he seemed familiar and knew me. He's grown, he looks so different now.- I couldn't hide a look of surprise as I analyzed him again, noticing the similarities that remained, like his hair and physique, which seemed to have just expanded.
-"I see. Well, Hayashi-san, I didn't remember you, but it seems you didn't recognize me either." I smiled sheepishly at the fact; when the pieces seemed to fit in his mind, his look of confusion turned to one of surprise, his eyes widened as the realization hit... I haven't changed much compared to him, so why the surprise? At most, my hair has grown.
-"Kocho-san! It's you! I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you!" He bowed formally and nervously, a typical pose for an apology, which wasn't necessary. I ended up letting out a small laugh.
-"It's okay, I didn't expect you to remember. Anyway, about the matter you mentioned... I'm sorry to say I refuse." I kept my smile and caring face, a bit fake, I admit. Hayashi seemed to have a slow thought process, the environment went silent again as he processed my response.
-"Wait... No? Why?" He raised his head to look at me.
-"Because I'm already occupied with many things. I understand what you've been through, but understand that I can't take on a pupil right now."
-"Please, Kocho-san, I beg you! I promise to give it my two hundred percent!"
-"I already said no. If I accepted you, I'd have to teach you everything from scratch, as well as help you with missions. I'm sorry, but as you can see, the Demon Corps is in a complicated situation. I doubt any Hashira is available to help you." His eyes contracted as his head and lips lowered, a sad and disappointed expression, which made me feel a bit sorry for him.
-"Can you at least think about it?"
-"I think I've already thought enough. If you want, you can stay here to rest, but since you're neither an oni hunter nor a guest, you must leave tomorrow." You must keep a smile in these moments and not go back on your words, even if it makes him sad, it was better for him too. Being a hunter is dangerous, a hard life where death is always lurking, the slightest mistake takes your life mercilessly and without caring about your past or reasons.
-"... I just wanted to be useful, I'm scared all the time, I couldn't even protect my brother and because of that, my father had to... You were my last hope..." It was a sad story, like so many others, all because of these beings that spread evil and terror... This will end. The onis will die one day, I'm sure of it. -I won't be swayed so easily, try to move on, get married, have a peaceful life... I think I'm being hypocritical now, but believe me, it's better not to get involved--
-"I accept you as a pupil!" While I was lost in my thoughts about the boy's situation and the answer I would give, Mitsuri appeared in the infirmary out of nowhere.
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I turned with surprised eyes and my mouth half open. Mitsuri stood there, breathing normally with both fists clenched in front of her chest, a determined look present on her face while my entire monologue of protecting an innocent child from this world of hunters went out the window. -Well, the way to go was to try to argue with her then... but knowing her, I already know it's going to be useless, oh well.-
