Everything is happening so fast. I can't quite grasp it. It feels like the world around me is spinning at an uncontrollable speed. Just the other day, I learned that I had ended up in the world of Demon Slayer. And now, to top it off, I'm being offered the role of a Demon Slayer by none other than the man himself.
But something feels off. The Ubuyashiki before me doesn't look exactly like the one I remember from the story. He appears younger, more energetic, and lacks the purple marks or any other signs of the illness he was known to suffer from. However, the most striking feature is his pale white skin gleaming under the sun. It's almost mesmerizing, like he's reflecting the light in a way that seems unreal.
This leads me to my first question: What era am I even in? I've been thrust into this world, but I can't place myself in its timeline.
Another strange thing is Fumiko Ayuma. I have no recollection of any Demon Slayer by that name, not that I would know every single one of them. But still, she carries herself with such authority and respect. The way people treat her, it's obvious she's someone important. Yet, the name doesn't ring any bells, and it's not like I've ever heard of someone named Fumiko Ayuma in the original story.
That's the first curiosity. Now, onto the second. The Breath Styles.
Even though I've only been here for a short while, I'm dying to learn Breath styles. So far, no one's mentioned anything about Breath Styles, which I find odd. I guess I'll have to wait and be patient. In time, all of these answers will come to light. For now, I need to go with the flow, adapting to the situation as it unfolds.
"I accept your offer. I will join the Demon Slayer Corps and fight alongside everyone," I declared, my voice steady as I bowed my head toward the shiny granite stones beneath me.
Silence. I received no response. It's starting to feel awkward, and a strange sense of embarrassment is creeping up on me. Did I say something wrong?
"Can you play shogi?" a voice finally breaks the stillness.
"Huh?" I lifted my head slowly, squinting at the figure standing before me. The sun was blinding, and all I could see was his silhouette.
"I asked if you can play shogi," the boy repeated.
Shogi. A traditional Japanese board game. Memories of playing it with my father in my previous life flooded back to me. He loved the game, and we used to spend hours at it. I miss those times.
"Yes," I replied, almost absentmindedly, caught in my memories.
"Really?! Are you serious? Hey, Rim! Go get us the shogi board!" He suddenly became more animated, acting his actual age. Hayami Ubuyashiki is so different from Kagaya Ubuyashiki.
Kagaya was composed, calm, and reserved. This guy? He's loud, impulsive, and far more energetic than I expected.
An hour later, we were seated on the veranda, facing each other with the shogi board between us. The air was thick with concentration as we focused on the game. It was intense, each of us making calculated moves, trying to outmaneuver the other. For a while, it seemed like the game could go either way, until he made one critical mistake.
"I win," I said with a smirk, making my final move and securing victory.
"What?!" he exclaimed"I was sure I didn't leave any openings!"
"You almost didn't," I replied, chuckling. "But you made one, just at the last moment hahahaha"
Forgetting my surroundings, I laughed heartily, caught up in the thrill of winning. It felt good.
"I had so much fun today!" Hayami exclaimed. "Usually, I only get to play with Rim, and I always win. But today, I actually lost!"
Rim... I realized he was talking about the girl standing beside him, the one with pale skin and a quiet demeanor.
"Let's play again sometime, Tatsuya-san," he said with a grin.
"Whenever you're ready, Oyakata-sama," I replied, addressing him respectfully.
Now about your enrollment…hmm" He looked at Fumiko who was sitting beside me
"The entrance exam is just a month from now, and he is still a kid certainly he can't participate in the exam"
Fumiko stated
The entrance exam, she must be talking about the final selection.
"But the choice is still yours to make Tatsuya-san…will you participate or will you wait and train under Fumiko-san"
"Ehh? Me!!!?, Oyakata-sama please reconsider, what about that noisy brat" Fumiko asked
"No! Judging from his physique, training with you is the best choice, but yet there's is still another choice of him participating in the exams next month–"
"I'll train," I interrupted before they could continue debating.
Hayami smiled. "Mmhm... That's a wise choice, Tatsuya-san."
Training. It's the most logical decision at this point. Back at the Shinobi village, I'd neglected certain skills, but now, faced with this new reality, I knew I had to take this seriously. There was no more avoiding it.
"Well then, Fumiko-san, please guide Tatsuya-san during his training," Hayami said, bowing his head slightly.
"Your wish is my command, Oyakata-sama," Fumiko replied, standing up.
After some final words, we left the mansion and made our way back to Fumiko's place. The room I had stayed in previously became my residence, at least for the time being, as I began my training under Fumiko's guidance.
***
Just outside the compound, there stood over thirty girls—most of them older than me—and a single boy. Fumiko stood beside me, and I could feel the tension in the air.
"Today, we have a new trainee joining us," Fumiko announced to the group. "Go on, introduce yourself."
I stepped forward, pushing my chest out and raising my chin, trying to appear confident.
"My name is Tatsuya Uzui," I began, "I'm twen... nine years old, and I come from the Shinobi village. I hope we can all get along."
Saying my name out loud reminded me of my connection to Tengen.
Flashy
The looks I received weren't exactly welcoming. Their eyes were filled with a mixture of curiosity and something that seemed like fear. What could they possibly be afraid of?
As I stood there, trying to figure it out, I noticed one girl's gaze lingering on the black mark on my arm—the fugitive mark.
The atmosphere was suffocating, far too heavy for me. Just when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, a loud voice broke through the tension.
"Ahhh!!! Finally, a boy!"
I turned toward the voice and saw a kid running toward me. He had long brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and his big brown eyes sparkled with excitement.
He collided with me, wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug. "Finally, a boy! After all these years, I've waited for this moment!"
I looked at the boy's pitiful figure, feeling a strange mix of pity and amusement. What kind of journey awaited me? I wondered