"... HAJIME-KUN?!!"
She says shakily.
"You're correct. He's the only one who can save you... or maybe not."
Her heart almost stopped beating, her fear suddenly changed into dumbstruck.
... "Is he... still alive..?"
"Yes, he is," says Jigen nonchalantly.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and tears almost filled her eyes.
... "I've spent these two years believing that he's dead... Hanako-San and Yamamoto-Kun never gave up... but it was me... I was the one who accepted his death so quickly. I was so weak..." she thinks.
She gasps shakily, "How... How do you know that? How do you know Hajime-Kun?"
"Pathetic humans, so you've fallen for my trap. Didn't you even realize nobody can beat that invincible warrior? You hunters are... truly disappointing," says Jigen in a serious tone.
For a moment, she forgets about her severed hand and thinks how careless she is.
"H-HAJIME-KUN... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
…
———————————————————————
I ALWAYS KNEW I WASN'T WORTHY OF YOU...
YOU'RE FAR ABOVE THE LIKES OF ME...
Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to help out other people. This is what my mother taught me. But I couldn't even accomplish the simple task.
My father left me when I was young. He divorced my mother after 5 years of marriage. He and my mother had been married only five years, yet he walked away without looking back.
But despite everything, my mother poured her heart into caring for me, making sure I never felt the weight of our solitude. So, I always stayed by her side. I always helped her no matter what.
We lived in poverty, but a small wooden house was enough for us. My mother worked hard for me, so I tried to be the perfect girl for her. At an early age, I learned how to manage the house: cooking, washing clothes, sewing, and more.
But my mother was worried for me, I managed the entire house while my mother would do her best to go outside and earn for us.
She'd sit me down, brush my hair, and tell me, "My sweet Rinka, I'm the luckiest mother to have a daughter like you. One day, you'll find someone who will love you unconditionally, will take care of you, just like you take care of me."
The words always echoed in my mind, "One day, I'll find someone to love me, someone who will take care of me."
I used to daydream about my future husband, imagining him as a tall, kind-hearted man with a presence so warm it could make anyone feel safe. I pictured someone gentle yet strong, someone whose smile could lift the weight of the world off my shoulders. He would be calm, caring, and devoted.
But those were only fantasies, stories I told myself to pass the time, to ease the ache of our quiet home.
Then one day…
A demon attacked us in our house. I never thought a mythical creature like demons could also exist. My mother, despite her own fear, threw herself between us to save me. But the demon mercilessly tore into her, and I watched in horror as it devoured her legs.
She was hurt so badly, her blood soaking the wooden floor beneath us. I thought we both would die right there.
But then...
Hajime-Kun arrived like a beacon of light cutting through the nightmare. In a single, fluid swing of his sword, he sliced the demon's head clean off, his skill so precise, so effortless, it felt surreal.
For a moment, I forgot everything, gazing dreamily at him. I was taken aback by his prowess and beauty.
But reality rushed back like a wave crashing down. My mother lay there, broken and bleeding. A strangled cry escaped me as I sank beside her, feeling helpless as I held her trembling hand.
Without hesitation, Hajime-Kun helped me lift her and took her to the hospital himself. He arranged for her treatment, even leaving enough money to cover her care.
He was the man I had dreamed of my entire life, only I never imagined he would enter my world in such a way.
He was tall, a divine warrior who ascended from Heaven just to rescue us. He was extremely loving, kind, and extraordinarily strong. I wanted to see him once more.
My mother was healed, but she wasn't the same anymore.
As time passed, her mental health became worse and worse. She became violent towards me, but nonetheless, I kept serving her as much as possible.
But one day, my mother passed away…
I mourned so much, it felt like my purpose in life ended with her death. But her final words echoed in my mind, "Rinka… you have to live for me…"
Her last wish became my lifeline. It motivated me to live, even alone.
After her death, I lived alone in my house. It was so hard for a kid to live in complete isolation and manage the house on their own.
I was scared of darkness and sleeping alone, but Hajime-Kun's face was a soothing balm to my heart. By remembering his face, my fear would vanish, and I would drift off to a comfortable sleep.
Every time, I wanted to see him so badly, but I also knew that was not possible.
When I turned 12, I encountered a demon again. But instead of running away, I stayed still. I already knew that Hajime-Kun would arrive.
As I expected, Hajime-Kun rescued me again.
But this time, I stopped Hajime-Kun and asked for his attention. When he turned to face me, I poured out my love, sharing pieces of my lonely life, of my gratitude and admiration for him. We talked a lot that night, it was a pure paradise.
Hajime-Kun's calm and elegant demeanor made my heart almost stop, even more than when we met for the first time. But from the deep inside, my heart wasn't ready to accept him.
Hajime-Kun is too far above for me or any other girl. There are so many stairs between us, showing how much he is above me.
Since that night, I joined the Demon Slayer Corps.
When Hajime-Kun disappeared two years ago, I accepted his death without any second thought. I was never meant to be with him, or else I wouldn't lose my trust. On the other hand, it was Hanako-San who was worthy of him.
I can never be like Hanako-San. I can never be as strong as her, or as capable as her. She is even more hardworking, stronger, capable, and more beautiful than me. She is my ideal.
But even in my hard times, Nameless-kun helped me a lot. Despite his cold demeanor, he wanted to protect me at all costs.
In no time, I didn't even know when I fell in love with him.
I can never forgive myself for not believing in Hajime-Kun. I'm not worthy of him at all. I am not even worthy of Nameless-kun, but I want him no matter what.
I've decided to devote myself to Nameless-kun. Utterly.
PLEASE SAVE ME!!! I DON'T WANNA DIE!! NOT WHEN I'VE DECIDED TO SPEND THE REST OF MY LIFE WITH YOU!
———————————————————————
Tears streamed down her cheeks, unable to get out of Jigen's grip.
Suddenly…
A familiar figure appeared in the shadowed forest, a figure she thought would never come. Nameless stepped forward, placing himself protectively between her and Jigen, his posture unyielding, his gaze sharp as steel. Rinka's breath caught in her throat.
She couldn't believe that he came to rescue her. She sobs, "Nameless-kun… Please, take care of yourself… Please, save me…"
"You don't have to worry about anything, Kumagami-chan! Let us handle this situation on our own," Ai emerges from the tree, her expression fierce as she joins Nameless to confront Jigen.
And then, one by one, Chikafusa, Tsunenari, Kaito, and the other demon slayers join the battle. They positioned themselves in front of her, shielding her from the monster who had caused her so much pain.
"I've never seen any bastard like you before. You're a disgusting demon, who gave you the right to even exist? Get ready to be wrecked, you scumbag!" Tsunenari screams.
With fierce determination, every one of them lunged at Jigen. Rinka felt a spark of hope ignited within her, and for the first time, a smile broke through her fear.
In an instant…
…
She didn't even see what happened. A sickening blur of motion. A shattering silence.
And then, before her eyes, every single one of them was struck down.
Her friends were split in half in a heartbeat, their bodies falling to the ground in a brutal, crimson spray.
Rinka's world fractured. Her knees gave way, and a scream tore from her throat, raw and guttural, echoing through the trees.
She rubs her teary eyes in disbelief. She forced herself to look again, hoping, praying that her friends were still there, that they hadn't fallen so brutally in front of her.
But when she opened her eyes, the forest was empty. The blood-soaked scene had vanished. None of her friends lay on the ground. None of them had ever been there.
"All of this... just a glimpse of what I allow you to see.
I bent your reality to show you how quickly your friends would fall if they dared to intervene. Tell me, why cling to hope for them or that so-called 'Nameless' to save you? Do you honestly believe any of them could even stand against me?
Don't insult me by comparing insects to the Sun."
The world seemed to darken around her as his words echoed, smothering any spark of hope she had left. She felt utterly helpless, trapped in his merciless grip, despite her immense strength which was comparable to Naraka's.
And she knew, at that moment, that Jigen had only shown her a fraction of his power, just enough to break her spirit.
In the next second, a bolt-like blow cuts through her big thighs, slicing both of her legs.
She couldn't even see the move; Jigen was still standing in the same position and didn't even move a bit. She falls to the ground and loses both of her legs.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"
Her scream tore through the forest, a sound of pure suffering. It's even way more painful than her severed hand.
Jigen instantly appears in front of her, like teleportation, and glares at her mercilessly through his glowing, crimson eyes.
"Nameless-kun… God… Please… Save me…" she whispered, barely able to form the word.
"Rest in peace… You'll definitely meet God… but in Hell…" says Jigen in a calm, cold voice.
Rinka closes her eyes, everything fades away for her…
As she embraces death…
Rest in peace…