- Y/n Tsugikuni -

Chapter 23 - The Chosen One -

In the dead of night, Shinobu awoke with thoughts of yesterday's meeting running through her mind. As she remembered his words and his behavior towards her, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of hurt and anger.

She recalled his face during the meeting, the pain and anger etched onto his features. It was painful to see him like that.

In the quiet of her room, Shinobu sat up and let her mind drift to the past, to when she first met Y/n. She remembered the spark of attraction that she had felt for him, the way he made her laugh and the way he seemed to understand her like no one else had before.

She recalled the deep conversations they had, the sense of shared experiences and interests they shared. Despite all the hardship of the recent events, she remembered why she had fallen with him in the first place.

-One Year Ago-

Y/n, a quiet, reserved demon slayer, was patrolling the icy mountain pass, looking for any signs of demon activity. As he trekked through the snow, he spotted a lone figure sitting on a nearby ledge.

The figure was a beautiful young woman with deep purple eyes, and
Y/n couldn't help but be drawn to her. He made his way closer, and as he approached, he heard the sound of her whispering quietly to herself.

He couldn't make out what she was saying, but there was something about her tone that was hypnotizing. As he listened closely, Y/n's curiosity got the better of him, and he broke the silence by saying;
"Greetings, Insect Pillar."

The woman's eyes snapped to him, and he was struck by the intensity of her gaze.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice cold and distant. Y/n felt a pang of disappointment; her response had been almost dismissive.

He was about to turn away when he noticed the lack of comfort in her eyes, but he couldn't turn his back on someone who was clearly in distress.

He took a deep breath and decided to try again, this time with more empathy. "I just wanted to talk," he said, his voice calm and measured. "You looked like you might need a friend."

At his words, the woman's eyes widened slightly, as if she had been taken aback by his kindness. She studied him for a moment, the silence between them growing heavy. And then, finally, she spoke.

"Why?"

He simply said "I don't know and I don't care. Just kinda seems we need to talk. Is it destiny?"

"How'd you even.." Shinobu looks at him, sitting next to her.

"Ah, I'm assuming you haven't recognize me." Y/n was a bit dissapointed.

.

"Ah, yes. You're.. the new Tsugoko." Shinobu remembers, turning her eyes forward.

"You're really pretty, you know." The young man said, still looking at her eyes.

She reads his tone and expression.
'Is he being genuine?' Shinobu thought to herself. Her expression was one of surprise and embarrassment.

She had never been called pretty before, and the unexpected compliment caught her off guard. She lowered her gaze, feeling shy and awkward.

However, there was also a small hint of gratitude in her eyes - she appreciated Y/n's kind words, she had never thought anyone would say that, bur they made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.

"The sun's gonna rise. It's the end of your patrols, right? You should rest, Shinobu-san." He said, every word, and everything he said was genuine.

-Present-