Akatsuki lay sprawled on her bed, phone in hand, staring at the screen as she waited for the call to connect. It had been days since she last spoke with Muichiro, and even though their conversations were always brief, she cherished them. Her heart raced a little as the ringing sound continued.
Come on, come on... she thought, biting her lip in frustration.
Finally, the call connected.
"Muichiro?" Akatsuki said, hopeful. But all she heard on the other end was garbled static. She pulled the phone back to look at the signal bar—one tiny dot blinked on and off.
"Seriously?" she muttered, getting out of bed and pacing around her small room, hoping to catch a better signal. "Muichiro, can you hear me?"
The static cleared for a moment, and his soft voice broke through. "Akatsuki? You're breaking up."
"Yeah, I—" She stopped mid-sentence as the call dropped entirely. "Dammit!"
Groaning in frustration, Akatsuki flopped back onto her bed, glaring at the phone. "Stupid Wi-Fi."
Her room was small but cozy, decorated with posters of her favorite anime and a few souvenirs from her past travels. The walls were a soft pastel pink, and her bed was covered in a fluffy, mismatched quilt. It was a place where she felt safe and comfortable—until now.
The sound of the Wi-Fi router clicking off was a stark reminder of her frustration. She walked to the window, pulling it open to get some fresh air, when a tapping sound caught her attention.
She turned and saw a black crow perched on the windowsill, its eyes glinting in the moonlight. Akatsuki blinked, not entirely sure what she was seeing.
The crow cawed loudly, flapping its wings, and then, to her surprise, it spoke. "Akatsuki! You are hereby summoned to Kimetsu no Yaiba Academy."
Her heart skipped a beat. The academy? She scrambled to the window, pushing it open wider.
"Report immediately. The academy awaits your arrival."
Before she could say anything, the crow took off into the night sky, leaving her standing there, stunned.
Her mind raced. Kimetsu no Yaiba Academy, the prestigious school where only the best trained to become Hashira—elite demon slayers. She had heard whispers about it, but never in her wildest dreams did she think she'd be called to join.
Suddenly, the frustration from her dropped call with Muichiro seemed like a distant memory. A new chapter of her life was beginning, and it was happening now.
Akatsuki walked back into her room, her heart pounding with excitement and nerves. She glanced around, already thinking about what she'd need for this new adventure. Her eyes landed on her packed suitcase in the corner—she'd been planning a trip but never got around to it.
She pulled it out and began to pack, carefully folding her clothes and tucking in her most cherished items. Her mind raced with thoughts of the academy and what awaited her there. What would the training be like? Would she make friends?
By the time she was done, the sun was beginning to rise. She took one last look around her room, feeling a mixture of sadness and excitement. It was time to leave behind her old life and step into a new one.
As she stood at the door, ready to embark on her journey, she felt a surge of determination. The path ahead was unknown, but Akatsuki was ready to face whatever came her way.
"Kimetsu no Yaiba Academy... here I come ."
The sun had barely risen when Akatsuki made her way to the airport, the excitement of starting her new life at Kimetsu no Yaiba Academy mingled with the anxiety of traveling alone for the first time. Her suitcase, packed with everything she thought she might need, was now a steady companion as she navigated through the bustling terminal.
