Rehabilitation Training went on without a hitch, well, for Tanjiro, at least. The yellow boy also began to take part after yesterday. Tanjiro beat the blue butterfly girl in three to four days, while he beat Kocho's Tsuguko in five to eight days, I think. But after realizing the yellow boy and the boar-head couldn't get past and beat Kocho's Tsuguko, they stopped coming to training. Talk about slacking off..
During that period of time, I taught Tanjiro how to blow a gourd so hard it breaks. And he succeeded, without any main causualties. It's honestly adorable how hard he works to do what's been requested or has been ordered of. At least he doesn't laze the day away like the other two. It somehow gave me a sense of relief. While those two are off moping and sulking, Tanjiro had practically been asking them nonstop to go back to training, which they would say no to; much to my annoyance.
That was, until Tanjiro and Kocho told them about Total Concentration: Constant. Now one of their new goals is to master it like Tanjiro did.
"HARR!?!?? MAINTAINING TOTAL CONCENTRATION BREATHING EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY!!!??? NONSTOP!?!?" The yellow boy yelled out as I cover my ears from how terribly loud he was.
"Shut the hell up. You're so loud." I spoke out, annoyance and anger laced in my monotone voice. ...Yet, it wasn't so monotone when me And Tanjiro are alone.
"NO WAY AM I DOING THAT!! WAHHHH!!!" Yellow boy cried his motherfucking heart out. It just added more fuel to my fire. Though, my fire quickly and almost, immediately went out when Tanjiro spoke.
"Zenitsu, if you don't master Total Concentration: Constant, you'll never be able to beat Kanao-san!" His silver hands on either side of his hips, frown visible and brows furrowed. I, for one, don't necessarily think he's angry though, it's probably a way to intimidate this annoying french fry boy to making him master Total Concentration: Constant.
...So Zenitsu's his name. Not like it matters to me, I'll probably just forget it by any means anyway.
❀
After a lot of heavy convincing and reassuring, Zenitsu and Inosuke managed to master the technique... though it took a lot more time than they expected, but they beat Kanao shortly after. Then, they successfully passed rehabilitation training, now ready to head out once more.
They just received a new mission via crow transmission, Tokito as well.
They were ordered to accompany Flame Hashira Rengoku Kyojuro on the Mugen Train, where more than 40 people had gone "missing" in a short period of time.
"A mission... on the Mugen Train, huh? Sounds boring..."
Tokito thought as he ran off swiftly in the blink of an eye, seemingly "teleporting" in the eyes of a normal person.
❀
It was now almost sunset. When demons come out to play... to hunt.. to kill... to eat once the sun fully sets. Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Inosuke all arrived at the train station, along with me, of course, and imagine my surprise when found out that I had to go through a mission with... them.
Tanjiro was fine, but Zenitsu and Inosuke? They were a very different story.
"What... What... WHAT THE HELL IS THIS CREATURE!?" Inosuke yelled out, referring to the train infront of us.
"PIG ASSAULT!!!"
"STOP IT!! YOU'RE EMBARRASSING US!!"
"What an idiot..."
"Eheh.. well, there are limits to idiocy, Master..." He did have a point, though.
"I guess you're right.."
It wasn't long before the... what were they called again? Ah, right, the "police" arrived on the scene. Why were they he—never mind, I remember; the Demon Slayer Corps isn't recognized by the government. Eventually, we managed to escape from them.
"The Demon Slayer Corps isn't recognized by Uh government. So let's hide our swords behind our backs for now." Zenitsu suggested, and we all did so... but since I don't really wear a haori, it just looks kinda dumb..
Inosuke looked a lot dumber than me though.
"You look ridiculous." I commented, an irk mark visible above that boar mask.
"HAR!?"
"Ah! The train's leaving!" Tanjiro spoke out. "Let's go!"
Tanjiro grabbed me and Inosuke's hands, dragging us along while Zenitsu was attempting to keep up. Luckily, we managed to get on the back of the train without much difficulty. Minus Zenitsu.
Then, we got inside.
"SO FAST!!" Inosuke exclaimed while cackling, his hands and boar mask making contact with the glass window.
"WE'RE VERY SORRY! YOU'RE COMING WITH ME, STUPID!"
Zenitsu dragged Inosuke away while I let out a sigh of exasperation. These two are such a handful, how does Tanjiro tolerate them and keep his sanity intact?
"This Rengoku person is a Hashira, right? Are you sure you'll recognize his face?" The blonde, french-fry haired boy asked.
"Hai. He has a flashy hairstyle and I remember his scent. I think I'll know once we get close." Tanjiro answered, once again flashing them that genuine and gentle smile on his face.
I began to slowly slide open the door-
"UMAI!"
I'm not surprised.
It wasn't hard to spot Rengoku, his hair stands out... A lot. It was also hard to ignore that mountain pile of bento boxes. Tanjiro sweatdropped, smiling with his eyes closed.
"UMAI!!"
"Rengoku—
"Umai. Umai. Umai." He repeated the same word after every bite he took. Goddammit.
Tanjiro maintained the same expression while Zenitsu was hiding right behind him. I tried my best not to lash out and lose my cool.
Rengoku was, once again, wolfing down on his bento boxes, earning strange looks from the other passengers. I sighed again, really unimpressed by the Flame Hashira's enermous appetite.
"Is he the Flame Hashira?" Zenitsu whispered out to Tanjiro, who nodded with a soft 'hai'. "Are you sure he's not a random glutton?" And Tanjiro responded with the same answer.
"Rengoku-san."
"Umai."
"RENGOKU-SAN!"
"R-Rengoku-san??"
"UMAI!!" He beamed, I sweatdropped.
"Uh, y-yes, you've made that very clear already." Tanjiro stated.
❀
"What could you do?! You can't even boil rice by yourself! But you're gonna be a swordsman and help people?! Quit talking nonsense! You really are exactly like father and mother! You're a dreamer! What's wrong with your head?! Like mother, who didn't say she was sick and kept on working until it ruined her health! And father who went out to gather herbs in a storm despite how much I tried to stop him! Despite all the times I told mother to rest! Helping people is something only certain people can do! We're just kids! Even if our ancestors were swordsmen, what can we do?"
❀
Who.. who is he...? I.. I don't remember... Yet why does...
Why does he look so familiar?