A new chance

the meeting

The meeting hall was dimly lit, the soft light filtering through the paper windows as the gathered Hashira sat around in a loose circle, waiting for the discussion to begin. I took my usual place, leaning slightly against the wall, away from the center. Tokito stood beside me, still lost in his own thoughts, staring blankly at the floor. His mind wasn't here—probably wandering far into some unknown mist, as always.A helper, one of the messengers from the Demon Slayer Corps, stood at the front, clearing his throat nervously. The Master wasn't here today—this was just a briefing on new plans and strategies. Not the kind of meeting that usually required much from us, the Hashira. Still, the weight of the room felt heavy on my shoulders.As the messenger started speaking about patrol strategies and potential breeding grounds for demons, I felt eyes on me. Sharp, cutting eyes that pierced through the dull air like knives. I didn't need to look to know who they belonged to.Sanemi.I could feel his glare from across the room, burning a hole through my chest. He hadn't spoken to me since the incident with the Kamado siblings. No, scratch that—he had spoken, but it was mostly shouting. He'd made it very clear how he felt about my decision to defend Nezuko. To him, I had crossed a line, defending a demon of all things. The look in his eyes now was just a continuation of that anger, simmering beneath the surface.Next to him, Obanai Iguro sat stiffly, his arms crossed, his snake winding lazily around his neck. His eyes were narrowed, flickering over to me every so often. I could tell he shared Sanemi's sentiments, though he wasn't as vocal. The silence was worse, though. His quiet judgment was like a constant pressure at the back of my mind, even as the messenger droned on about some new initiative to expand training for the lower-ranked slayers.I sighed quietly, turning my gaze down to the floor, just like Tokito. I wasn't here to engage with them, and it wasn't like I could change their minds anyway. I had done what I believed was right—protected Tanjiro and Nezuko because I saw the truth in them. But to the others, especially Sanemi and Obanai, that truth didn't matter. In their eyes, I had betrayed the Corps' mission, and no amount of reasoning could undo that.Shinobu, seated across the room, seemed to be paying attention to the messenger, nodding thoughtfully at times, her expression calm. Yet every so often, I noticed her gaze flicker over to me, her eyes studying me for a moment before returning to the speaker. There was something different in her gaze, though—something less hostile than Sanemi's or Obanai's. She wasn't angry with me, but her judgment was still there, quiet and observant, like she was trying to figure out where I stood now.The meeting continued, though most of the words washed over me. It was all routine updates—talk of demon sightings in new regions, reinforcement plans, and further discussion about strategies for the upcoming battles. There were a few murmurs among the other Hashira, but nothing that directly involved me. I barely even noticed when the messenger shifted to a discussion about strengthening communications between patrols and the main base.Beside me, Tokito was still lost in his own world, staring down at the floor, his hands playing absentmindedly with the hem of his uniform. I doubted he was absorbing much of what was being said, but no one seemed to mind. Tokito's wandering mind was something everyone had come to expect by now.The tension in the room hung thick, mostly from Sanemi and Obanai's unrelenting stares. I could almost feel their unspoken words—accusations and disdain swirling in the air. And yet, I remained quiet. What could I say that would change anything?As the meeting dragged on, my mind wandered back to the Kamado siblings. Tanjiro's unwavering determination, Nezuko's silent strength... it had reminded me of something I thought I had long since lost. That's why I defended them. Because somewhere, deep inside, I believed in them the way I once believed in...I shook the thought from my mind. This wasn't the time.The messenger finally wrapped up his speech, giving a polite bow before stepping aside. A few murmurs of acknowledgment followed from the other Hashira, though none of them seemed particularly engaged. Shinobu whispered something to herself, looking thoughtful, while Sanemi just grunted and turned away, clearly eager to be done with this.I stayed where I was, still leaning against the wall, feeling the weight of the room settle back into silence. The meeting might've been over, but the tension between us wasn't going anywhere.

As the meeting ended, the other Hashira left one by one. Sanemi stormed out first, clearly still annoyed, followed by Obanai, who shot me another icy glare. Shinobu stayed seated, scribbling something in her notebook, her usual calm smile firmly in place.

I turned my attention to Tokito, who had fallen asleep on the floor, slouched against a wooden pillar. His face was peaceful, his breathing steady. His thin frame looked so small, curled up in his Mist Hashira uniform. The kid had clearly checked out during the meeting, his attention elsewhere.Gyomei had already left for a mission, so there was no one around to watch over him. I had no missions today either, and while it wasn't my responsibility, something pulled me toward the young Hashira.With a quiet sigh, I took a step toward him, intending to pick him up and find somewhere better for him to rest. I didn't want to make a scene, especially not in front of the others. If anyone knew, they would question me—wonder why I, of all people, was taking care of Tokito. I was the one who kept his distance, after all. The loner.Just as I crouched down to lift him, I felt a light poke at my side.Shinobu.I turned, my face carefully neutral as I met her eyes. She wore her usual teasing smile, her head tilted slightly as she studied me."Tomioka-san," she started in that sweet, sing-song voice she always used when she was about to mess with me. "What are you doing? It's rare to see you so close to someone." Her smile widened. "How unexpected."I didn't respond right away, keeping my face calm, even though her words irritated me. Shinobu always found ways to poke at me, pushing my buttons just to see how I'd react. I couldn't afford for her to catch on to what I was doing."Nothing," I replied flatly, straightening up as if I hadn't been about to lift Tokito. 
Her eyebrows raised, a glint of amusement flashing in her eyes. 

"Oh? I didn't think you were the type to worry about others." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I guess you do have a soft side after all."

I clenched my jaw, resisting the urge to snap back. Instead, I turned my gaze back to Tokito, who remained asleep, unaware of the conversation happening around him."I'm not worried," I said, trying to sound indifferent. "He's just asleep."Shinobu chuckled softly, clearly enjoying herself. "Well, aren't you full of surprises today. Maybe next time, you'll even join us for dinner instead of hiding away."I said nothing, my eyes fixed on Tokito, hoping she would drop the subject and leave. But Shinobu was persistent."You know, Tomioka-san, you should really work on opening up more. It's good for you." Her teasing tone grated on my nerves, but I remained silent.Finally, after a moment, she gave a soft sigh. "Well, I suppose I'll leave you to it." She flashed me one last playful smile before walking away, her footsteps light as she left the room.I waited until I was sure she was gone, the air still carrying the faint scent of wisteria after her departure. 

Only then did I turn back to Tokito, still fast asleep on the floor. I crouched down once more, carefully lifting him into my arms. He stirred slightly but didn't wake, his head resting against my chest as I held him.

I glanced around, making sure no one else was watching. I didn't want anyone to see me like this—taking care of another Hashira. It wasn't something they expected from me. But Tokito had no missions today, and I couldn't just leave him here.With quiet steps, I carried him out of the room, making sure to avoid anyone else as I headed toward a quieter place where he could rest.