TO SEE YOU SMILE

Chapter 5: Be Gentle

"I guess he's at the persimmon tree again." Shinobu-neesan answered my question.

"Yeah, he always goes there because he doesn't want to eat dinner with us. He likes eating alone." Mitsuri also answered with her sad voice.

"We've been telling him that he should eat dinner with us, but he won't listen so we decided that during dinner time, one or two of us will bring our food to the persimmon tree to join Muichiro." - Giyu.

"I'm the one who was supposed to eat with him tonight, but since you are here, why don't you join him, Tanjiro? Is that fine with you?" asked Rengoku.

I didn't think twice and instantly nod my head as an answer.

"Yes, please let me do the honor."

I would be so happy to do so.

However, if I would be able to convince Tokito to eat dinner with everyone, then that would make me even more happy.

We still talked for five more minutes before I excused myself to go to the persimmon tree and look for Tokito.

I saw him sitting under the shadow of the tree while eating persimmon. He was staring at nowhere which made him look like he was spacing out.

With a smile on my face, I walks closer and snaps my fingers in front of him to get his attention.

"Earth on Tokito?"

Muichiro's POV

I was brought back to reality when someone snaps infront of me. I blinked and immediately turned my head to look at the owner of the fingers... I saw Tanjiro.

He's smiling widely as he takes his seat beside me.

My mouth slightly opened as I wonder how did he know that I was here. Did the others tell him about this place?

"What are you doing here, Tokito-kun? The dinner is already ready. Everyone is waiting for you inside." He said.

"But I shouldn't eat with them. I don't have any right to do that." I replied.

"Why would you think that you don't have any right to eat with them? Did they tell you that they doesn't want you to join them?"

I shook my head twice.

"No. They actually told me the exact opposite..."

"Then why not join them?"

I gave it a minute of thought.

Right, why do I always prefer to eat alone than to eat at one table with the others? They are all nice to me. They didn't force me to do housework and they always tell me that I'm a part of their family.

But a slave like me doesn't need to have a family anymore.

My second master and her daughter were also nice to me. They let me join them at the table during meal time and didn't force me to work... but it was still very easy for them to sold me to another family... And that's when I realized, that no matter how bad or kind people are to me, a slave will always remain as a slave.

I don't want to join anyone to eat at one table again and assumed that I finally became a part of their family. I don't want to be sold to anyone anymore.

I just want to stay at this place.

I want to live and die at this place even just as a slave.

A couple of minutes have passed and I still didn't get to answer Tanjiro's question.

Thankfully though, he didn't force me to answer his question and only sighed before offering me a bag of chocolate.

"Everyone already has that. It's a gift from me." He said.