The Life and Times of an Average Coward

Chapter 15: Safe and Sound

There's a lot to be said if someone ever told my past self that I would be reborn and become a monster exterminator of some sort.

My past self would probably laugh at the absurdity of the claim while also unmistakably shitty my pants and questioning God and the order of Life if that was ever true. If it would ever be true. And now, I'm just fully accepting that yes, I became a demon slayer and yes, I somehow landed the tragic backstory trope and that yes, my full character development has yet to be realized because I'm still in the middle of settling at my own skin and working on self-improvement.

By self-improvement I meant being more confident about myself because let's be honest, I have the emotional capacity of a chickpea and a self-esteem of a newly defeathered peacock. Even if I don't want to admit it, my bastard of a sperm donor from the other life had affected me so much that I still can't get rid of the hateful piercing words that he hurled at me ever since I was able to comprehend what it was.

Just goes to show that my old gene donator had S+ parenting skills.

(Please note the sarcasm, 'cause like hell was he a good for anything.)

Self-improvement aside, I also have to bump up my capacity for enduring anxiety, stress and fear. I can't just faint when I'm on a mission! It's a serious health hazard, not only for myself but also for the people I was supposed to protect.

I have to strengthen my heart and my will to face them. As what Shinazugawa-senpai had imparted, soft people have no business in this type of business that I launched myself into. It leads to my highly probable death and death of the many. Which at all cost is a scenario that I don't want to happen right now or ever.

Breathing is a fun activity after all, and I want to continue doing it for at least five or seven more decades.

Fainting is a big NO when on the job but,

"Who killed it?"

I blinked once, twice, thrice, but the ashes and the demon's possessions are still there. Finally, I looked around the deserted street but the darkness only stared back at me, even when trying to strain my ears for anyone close by who could possibly help me nothing came back, just deep breathes and calm heartbeats that complies to the villagers all seemingly dead to the world.

H-How? What? C-Could it be a ghost? If demons are real t-then demon-killing ghost could also be possible!

C-Crkk…

The sound of a scrunching rock from out of nowhere had me shooting up and barely swallowing a screech, quickly turning towards the sound, I brandished my sword to no one. The only evidence that someone was there was a scuttling little cat who was cautiously looking at me with glowing golden eyes.

An apology was about to spill from my lips for scaring the little creature but something off caught my eyes.

Under the glow of the full moon and a forgotten oil lamp on a house's porch, there in the sharp curve of my blade was an unmistakable crimson liquid lining the sharp edge of the sword.

"W-What?"

Did I?

My hand holding the sword started to shake as I continued to stare at it. There's no way is it? There's no fucking way that I killed that demon when I deadass fainted when it started showing off the mouth – a very grizzly, sharp-fanged mouth that is – in its stomach, monologuing how it was easier to eat a lot of people that way when its mouth is connected to its stomach. Just remembering how disgusting that was makes me want to throw up.

Going back to the topic, there's really no way that I killed it. I mean, I'm not some anime protagonist who can kill people on their sleep nor do I have a second personality or some other absurd bullshit.

Dying will bullets don't exist here as far as I'm aware, no magical babies on fire that can shoot magical bullets to make someone useless to be someone competent. So really, there's no way that it was me, I probably cut myself with the sword when I passed out. Yeah, I nodded to myself. That's probably it.

Calming myself down, I felt a light sting on my left forearm an lo and behold, there's a light cut there, sluggishly bleeding off.

"See that Sen, that's the explanation. So, no more freak outs, because you're not an anime character who have some bullshit skill."

Flicking my wrist to the side, I looked at the blade now clean, huh, so that sword flicking in anime isn't just for sword-wielding characters to look cool, it actually works and gets the job done. Though curiously enough, the blood I flicked off didn't leave a wet mark on the ground. Hmm… maybe the blood on the blade isn't a lot as I thought it was.

Then again, the blood came from a very small cut so it couldn't be that bad. I shook my head, getting rid of silly thoughts and ridiculous ideas, I chuckled to myself and finally sheathed the blade to its white scabbard.

Ha! How laughable! The remotely animeish thing in this life is I can breathe and get additional stat boost, demons, a secret organization fighting said demon and the people's questionable hair and eye color. Yeah, I think that's about it.

Nodding to myself at my assessment, I glanced back to the demon's leftover traces.

"Now to pay respects to the dead while also burying the evidence."

It's a standard procedure to get rid of the demon's remains by burning it, dumping it somewhere or by burying it. Just anything really, to get rid of the evidence that demons are as real as any of us. Because wouldn't it be strange to any normal humans to see ashes and a pile of clothes metaphorically at your doorstep. We demon slayers, aside from exterminating demons had the job of protecting the masses from learning about the monsters' existence. And the reason behind this, is so that it would not cause major panic to the innocent people, that would in turn cause mass hysteria and fear, that would also in turn for them to rise up to that fear, that would also in turn cause uprising in the demon's side, that would eventually turn into an all-out war with lots of death at the side of humanity.

Those are the few example case-scenarios that would crop up if the knowledge does go out. The survivors of demon attacks fall under two categories, they let the Demon Slayer Corps take them in – they can either become a demon slayer themselves if they have potential or become part of the Kakushi – or they go on with their lives with a sworn secrecy. Not that secrecy does much good, some tattle about their experiences but more often than not, they'll be counted off as crazy talk.

After all, humans only ever believe it when it's right in front of them, just the idea of flesh-eating monsters being weak to sunlight is very ridiculous in a standpoint of an everyday civilian. That's why even after so many centuries' people can still go by as is with the only fear as of now is the foreign war in the horizon.

So why worry about fantastical man-eating creatures when there's a literal world war going on at the forefront. Japanese people are not that accustomed to sudden changes in their environment, some are still having a hard time over foreigners/gaijin entering the lands, specially those living out of the major cities.

So yeah, no one would really give you the time of their day about demon non-sense though the older folks are hard-pressed on telling the young'uns about their existence.

Picking up from where I left off, I made my way towards the tattered clothing and the sheathed sword, picked it up and started walking towards the nearby woods where I left Ukogi to keep him safe. Once I entered the tree line, I started whistling in a specific tune that wouldn't be so out of place for a bird in this area. Yeah, that would be it if it wasn't nighttime. My toddler years was spent adopting to the sound of this forest and all the living creatures that reside in it, it was both overwhelming and helpful, overwhelming in a way that it's so goddamn loud for my overly sensitive hearing, helpful in a way that it helped me adjust to hearing a lot of things at the same time and ignore it.

The flap of tiny wings halted me from whistling and I looked up to the tiny sparrow making its way towards me until he landed on my left shoulder, I continued walking deeper over gnarly roots and looming trees, the luminescent fireflies and the moonlight helping me to see through the otherwise pitch-black forest.

Not that I need my eyesight to navigate my way, Tengu-jiji and Jii-chan in their spartan sadistic glory made sure of that. I learned quickly to use my ears as my other eyes with the help of a blindfold and a forest filled with traps.

I stopped walking once I was satisfied with the distance to the residential area. Kneeling down, I started digging with a stick that I obtained from nearby, once it was deep enough, I dumped the tattered dull red hakama and a haori that looks exactly like the Shinsengumi's from my rough memories of Japanese history.

Wait, realization came to me like thunder he said that his name was Shinpachi, right? And before he died, he said something about failing a Kondo and a Hijikata… I stared blankly at the musty clothes currently in the dirt pit and the sheathed blade in my hand. Basing from the scabbard and its guard, the weapon is in pristine condition. I don't want to unsheathe it, that's just rude to its owner and I don't really want to be cursed by dead people.

The dirty, tattered sky blue haori with white triangular fangs at the sleeves stayed the same no matter how many times I blinked it out of my imagination.

Okay, okay, okay I inhaled deeply from my nose and exhaled through my mouth.

I guess… I just have to live a life knowing that I had a hand to a historical legend's death.

"Ukogi-kun…" I started once I covered the hole with dirt and some leaves, the sword acting as a makeshift gravestone.

"Where's the next mission?"

~You should rest first Sen! You just got better after all. You should pace yourself!~

"Yes, I knew that, of course. I just want to take my mind off of this mission. What better way than worrying about the next one?"

~That's… unhealthy Sen. Are you… okay?~ Ukogi flapped his wings, and I think if he was a human he would be holding my shoulders worriedly.

"No, I am not." I said, without hesitation. "So? Are you going to inform me of the next mission?"

The tiny avian fluffed up his feathers, having been with his company for a week now, this is his own way of huffing in irritation. ~No! You should rest first!~

"Okay then." I said faintly, my vision started to tilt on itself and I felt like vomiting. It was an extremely familiar feeling. "I'll just pass out here."

And with nothing to keep my mind off from my overwhelming thoughts, I dropped dead to the ground, my hindsight of piling up dead leaves beside me was the greatest idea as I felt it cushion my fall. The sound of the world turned muted as if I'm underwater, Ukogi's panic chirps were the last thing I heard as I went under unconsciousness.

Dang, I hope I don't break my fainting record.

I glanced down at my muddy hands and sighed. This was the fourth mission that I took and I think I'm finally got onto the swing of things. Thankfully, I've only fainted once on the last two missions I took and I think I'm getting better at handling my anxiety.

(At my third mission, I fainted when a centipede suddenly dropped onto my shoulder while I was trying to navigate around a dilapidated old shrine, and earlier while I was chasing a penguin looking demon at a jagged cliff, I lost my footing when the demon threw a fucking giant egg that smells like dead rats and overcooked eggs at me. I fainted not because of the fall to my death but the smell of those damn eggs.)

Cringing at the clingy smell of dead rotten sewage at my person, I shuddered and held my breath.

I am not fucking inhaling while I can smell this on me. Now, I squared my shoulders and crouched low, focusing on my legs. To the river down this fucking cliff!

~Wait Sen! Don't! DON'T JUMP!~

"U-Uh, are you okay?" A concerned voice sounded from above, so as to be polite, I opened my eyes and tried to give a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine… Miss."

Based on the twin braided young lady's concerned gaze, she doesn't seem reassured.

Well, my appearance doesn't really look reassuring to say the least, from Ukogi's loud chirping I look too pale to be convincing. I'm currently lying at the side of the road under a tree, the road being in the middle of rice paddies. I stopped by under the tree to get away from the afternoon sun and take my time to rest after a night spent cliff diving turned swimming to get rid of that horrible smell. The clothes I was wearing then was promptly discarded, so now I'm wearing a new uniform and the new yellow haori and yellow *kyahan that Jii-chan gave me before going on my first mission.

I look like shit and I feel like one. Damn my stupidity last night.

Then my stomach decided to grumble as protest to my answer.

"Here Miss." An apple was suddenly shoved into my hands and I looked at it in surprise. "I'm sorry but that's what I can only spare for you. You know how it is with the war going on outside the prices have been hiking up so I'm sorry if that's—"

"Thank you!" I interrupted. I know it's rude but I don't want her apologizing twice when she's the one giving me help. Lowering the apple to my lap, I covered her soft dainty hands with my own calloused ones, giving her the best smile I could offer.

"Thank you." I repeated, softer this time. I looked at her with gratefulness and she blushed when I squeezed her hands reassuringly. "You don't have to apologize for handing me what you can only give, Miss. You're already giving enough, by gifting me with your kindness." I gave her hand another squeeze before letting go.

The young lady was flustered, blushing from the tips of her ears and down to her cheeks. It was actually quite adorable.

"To whomever you're going to be with would be quite the lucky person, having such a kind, beautiful and caring partner such as you." I continued with a bright smile as her skin flushed a brighter red while she tried to duck her head down from the compliment.

She has a beautiful sound, rich and warm, clear but with a hidden steel somewhere that signifies that she has quite the backbone when a situation calls it. She is transparent with her emotions and from the very start, she walked towards my prone form with the intention to help.

Speaking of beautiful sounds, I can hear Tanjirou-kun getting closer with Nezuko-chan most likely asleep on his back with a crow yelling at him to hurry up. I really hope that the horrible smell is now completely off me, I don't want Tanjirou-kun to suffer from the leftover scent of that thing. The sudden ping and the quicker footfalls towards my direction meant that he already detected me from his range. Tanjirou-kun is full on running now, I hope Nezuko-chan isn't being too jostled in her box. Being inside a box is bad enough, but being inside it while being shaken and bounced up and down is worse.

I took quick bites of the apple, savoring the crunchiness and the fresh taste. It's really refreshing after being out in the sun for too long.

I hope the paddings that I added inside made it a bit bearable for her, thankfully even if it's hellishly hot for a normal human to be confined to a tight space, for a demon, heat is nothing except if it's directly coming from the sun.

I shook my head from these thoughts and focused on the braided young lady, it's just plain rude to not pay attention to someone you're talking to. Wiping away the juice that escaped from my mouth, I gave my full attention to the young lady.

(Though to be fair, I sometimes ignore Kai's poisonous spiel about Mui-chan, Sachi and Yuu and I could say the same for Sachi's speech on manliness. For Kai, it was out of consideration for myself to avoid getting a headache and for Sachi, it was because he has repeated the speech so many dang times, I could even recite the lecture myself. Thankfully, Yuu and Mui-chan aren't much for talking though they are both awfully blunt and more often than not, miss social cues by a kilometer and more.)

Damnit! I'm getting sidetracked again! Focus Sen! Focus on the conversation and don't be a rude bitch!

"O-Oh, I actually have someone I'm promised to, and we are to marry two full moons from now."

"Oh my," I gasped. What a coincidence that I've mentioned something about her future spouse. "Congratulations to the both of you! I hope you'll have a happy and loving future ahead of you!" I said, genuinely happy for her.

The next sound that she made – on her inner world – couldn't be anything else but an elated squeal. She must be really happy with her groom to be.

"T-Thank you," She then bowed lower than necessary, resolved in looking away from my face.

Do I look that shitty that she's actively trying to look away from me?

"U-Uh, I-I'll get going now!" Face still a burning red, the young lady pivoted and hightailed it out of my vicinity, murmuring unintelligible words with "gorgeous", "angel", "blessing" and "disguised goddess" as the only few I could recognized from her mesh of words.

Wait. I rose one split caterpillar eyebrow. What does she mean by a disguised goddess?

"Zenitsu!" The familiar bright voice brought me out of my musings and I immediately turned towards the source of the voice.

A warm smile greeted me the moment I turned to him, subconsciously, I returned the gesture.

Dark red eyes sparkled in delight as a wide smile stretched at his lips, waving his arm above his head as he run towards my direction.

I'm glad that he looks well, but from what I can hear from how he intakes his breath, he most likely has an injured rib or so.

"Tanjirou-kun!" I greeted, getting up from my seat, apple in hand and meeting him halfway.

His eyes widened as he caught on to my appearance. Well, not much have changed really, my hair is now free to dangle as a long braid beneath my hat with hair clips – gifted by Mui-chan – keeping my bangs away from my face. And of course, the most obvious change of all, my… chest area has become more… pronounced now that the bindings were off. I actually have to adjust my uniform in order for it to fit, thank God for the cloth allowance.

"Zenitsu you…"

"You can call me Senritsu now Tanjirou-kun, or else other people would get the wrong idea." I told him brightly as his face redden slightly.

"Oh, but you…"

Cutting himself off, Tanjirou-kun shook his head rapidly before slapping his cheeks with both hands.

Base from his sound, it seems like I flustered him in some way, and the action he just did was a means to calm him down.

"…You okay?" I asked cautiously, stepping closer with my hands hovering in the air.

Then he perked up. "No, no, no, no! I'm fine! I'm just a bit embarrassed because I was about to say something that might be offensive." He exclaimed, shaking his hands before him.

"O-kay…" I nodded awkwardly.

I must look really strange for him to react like this.

The villagers from my hometown had reacted quite similarly when I introduced myself to them the morning after my disastrous second mission. The look of disbelief was prominent, some of them were even vocal, saying that I couldn't be the mousy little girl that used to run around crying in their village. Because apparently, they thought I was dead alongside Yuu, it's a logical assumption given the crime scene and that we weren't seen again afterwards. The villagers – mostly the women – accused me of being a youkai and trying to lure them – their husbands apparently – in becoming my next prey, needless to say, I was chased out of there with curses on their lips and guns, axes and knives in their hands.

Do I look that hideous and strange to be called a youkai? I self-consciously touched my face. The young lady from earlier looked at me the same way.

"Um… Senritsu?"

I waved those thoughts off for later assessment and paid mind to Tanjirou-kun who has a tender smile on his face.

"Y-Yeah?"

"I'm glad that you got over your fears and now showing your true self. Senritsu, you really are," Then he beamed at me for all his worth, eyes crinkling shut with the force of his wide smile, dark burgundy hair setting alight by the midnoon sun.

"… an amazing and beautiful person."

My breath hitched and got clogged in my throat, eyes wide from disbelief and skin feeling hot and not because of the sun high in the sky.

My ears feedback to what I just heard is nothing but the honest truth that rings in Tanjirou-kun's heart.

(He is the first person to call me beautiful and I—)

I have no words.

"—ritsu! Senritsu! Are you okay? You're really red right now, do you have a fever? Do you need water? I think I saw a—"

"I'm okay!" I screeched, immediately hiding my burning face in my hands. "I'm alright! A-And don't come near me, I smell terrible, the demon from my last mission throws around foul-smelling eggs and I'm afraid there might be leftover scent from it and I don't want to upset your stomach because it was that horrible!" I exclaimed in one go, scrambling away from him and going back to leaning against the tree.

"Oh!" I heard the sound of a fist smacking onto an open palm. "So that's what the strange smell that's clinging to you is." I heard footsteps coming closer towards me and in response, I folded myself into a small ball of blushing embarrassment. Tanjirou-kun didn't pay it any mind and knelt before me.

"H-Hey, don't worry about it. It's not that bad since it's mostly gone and your own scent is overpowering it. What I mean is, you smell really nice and—"

"No one else aside from friends and family called me beautiful before." I said quietly, the admission muffled through the palm of my hands.

Silence reigned for a few seconds.

"WHAT?!" Tanjirou-kun exclaimed in disbelief, startling me into lowering the hands from my face which he grabbed in between rough calloused hands.

"You're kidding right?"

"Of course not! Why would I…" And no, I am not pouting at him. I'm scowling at him alright, stupid tears already gathering at the corner of my eyes.

"Hey, I'm not making fun of you!" He was about to touch my face until he caught himself from doing it and instead, he started to frantically waving his hands. "It's an honest compliment and observation!"

"Really? T-Then why is everyone been looking at me strangely? Even you did it! Why d-did all those villagers accused me of being a, a youkai?! Even that lady earlier looked at me weird!"

To say the least, Tanjirou-kun's face had an unexplainable look on his face that was a mix of pity and disbelief.

"Hey! What's with that face?! See! You're probably just shitting me!"

Somehow, the expression got even worse.

"STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT DAMNIT! WHAT THE HELL'S WITH THAT EXPRESSION?!"

Tanjirou-kun fixed his expression to something kind and patient.

"Ze—Senritsu, I think you got it all wrong."

"What?! Are you saying that I misunderstood everything?!"

The boy placed both of his hands on my shoulders, looking every bit of a patient older brother to a little sibling throwing a tantrum.

I'm older than him damnit! Somehow that expression is even more annoying.

"Yes, yes you did." He squeezed my shoulders lightly when I was about to open my piehole again. "Senritsu, those people and I are looking at you like that because well…" His cheeks started to redden as he goes on, his eyes averted to the side.

Annoyed and frustrated, I furrowed my brows at him fuming. This is not the time for him to turn shy and quiet. I'm getting tired of always trying to understand everybody and adjusting based on their opinions. Why the hell should I?! If they want to say I'm ugly and hideous then say it to my damn face! I'm not a freaking psychic, extraordinary hearing or not! I'm just trying to be nice and patient here, can't people see that if they don't say things straight that they could be misinterpreted! Like hello people, we emit different brain waves and we don't run the same system! I'm a cynical pessimist, how should I know how a realist and an optimist run their thoughts?

"Come on, spit it out! What the hell did I misunderstood?!"

I only have to wait a few more seconds before Tanjirou-kun to burst.

Tanjirou can't understand what's going on, but this seems really important to Senritsu.

"Come on, spit it out! What the hell did I misunderstood?!"

Have she never seen herself in the mirror? At the moment, Tanjirou is still questioning why would she even ask that.

Could it be?

Tanjirou's eyes gazes back to Senritsu's tear-filled eyes, his nose picking up her anxiety and confusion.

She… doesn't have much confidence with herself, Tanjirou came to that conclusion, a conclusion that explains her urgency for his answer and how she carries herself.

Of course, Senritsu is beautiful, no doubt, and Tanjirou would be lying if he says no.

Tanjirou is no liar.

She needs to hear what he's going to say and it's important to her. A validation. Tanjirou also figured, that as her friend, he would help her raise her confidence. She really needs to have more faith with herself, to take credit when there is due.

Steeling himself, Tanjirou kept his head down as he started his spiel.

"We... we look at you like that because we're admiring your appearance." He started gently, imbuing genuineness as much as he could. "I've never seen someone with the same golden hair and eyes like yours. You also have a very beautiful smile," His mind flashes her smiling face and it briefly overlaps to his own mother's smile. "It's always warm and full of joy that mirrors your eyes. But that's not all, you're also beautiful on the inside as much as the outside. Kind, gentle, warm and strong," Tanjirou gazed earnestly into Senritsu's wide golden eyes, her face red and tears smelling of joy and surprise.

"That's how I see you Senritsu. That's how the people around you see you."

The tears fell and Tanjirou didn't hesitate to wipe them away carefully with a calloused thumb.

"Thank you." Senritsu said softly. And she really is grateful.

The assurance is something she needed to hear and Tanjirou wouldn't hesitate to provide that. It really astonishes him how someone like her would have such a low view of herself. Could it be because someone important to her have downgraded her in the past? But that couldn't possibly be it, from what he knows, Senritsu became an orphan from a very young age, with two demon slayer cultivators standing as her guardian.

(What Tanjirou doesn't know is that he's right on the nose with that one, because when Senritsu was still Hibiki, her family was everything to her – still is – and her father had made it clear how much he loathes his own daughter for what she was.)

"Um…"

Senritsu cleared her throat, making Tanjirou take note that he was still holding her cheeks. At the end, both of them are looking the other way with red faces and quite a distance between them.

"Ah… should we go to our next mission?"

"Y-Yeah, I t-think we should n-now that you're h-here. U-Ukogi-kun where was it a-again? North Northwest from here? Got it. Err… Tanjirou-kun?"

"Y-Yes?!"

"Let's do our b-best to do this mission together and please take care of me." The other teen bowed shallowly with grace.

"Yes," Tanjirou returns the bow albeit clumsier. "Take care of me as well!"

"Should we go now?"

"Un!"

Omake: Home and Memories

"Mui-chan, Mui-chan, it's time to wake up."

The light shaking and the soft voice was beckoning him to awake but Muichirou felt like sleeping some more. It's so warm and comfortable, he just can't bring himself to open his eyes when he felt so sleepy and tired.

"Come on now," The gentle voice continues but the shaking stops and was replaced by calloused warm hand touching his cheek. "We should go back home. You could sleep in the futon instead and I think my legs are gonna go numb if we're still here for another hour."

Muichirou very much does not want to move, but he does not want to be selfish and cause Senritsu discomfort.

He lets her stroke his face for a few more seconds before opening his eyes groggily.

Muichirou eyes was greeted by the sight of Senritsu's tender smile that was unfortunately not only reserved to him but for a few others.

(In his mind's eye, her smile overlapped with somebody else, someone he knows that is just as important as Senritsu to him. But when he tried to sift through the mist that lingered in those memories, he ends up grasping at air. It was frustrating beyond words that he could come up in a flash.)

"A mochi for your thoughts?" A thumb presses and circles on his brow, easing the ridge that formed from his frustration.

"I…" Muichirou starts, face scrunching up as he gave his friend a helpless look. "I, still can't figure out who you remind me of."

A layer of understanding was added to cacophony of emotions that made up Senritsu's amber eyes – Muichirou loves those eyes, the look in them reminds him of someone – and the dark pit that was starting to nestle at his heart was replaced with warm and fluffy feelings.

"That's okay, I'm sure you're going to figure it out soon. So, don't beat yourself up for it." Then she smiled down at him again, the image of another woman doing the same flashed in his mind before it disappeared once again.

Pushing down the frustration that was about to well up again, Muichirou takes to lifting his hand and tracing Senritsu's smile with his finger, making sure to be gentle as his finger runs through her pink pouty lips and dipping to the dimples on her cheeks, making a note that her left dimple was shallower than the other. Then his finger goes up, going over her small nose, to its bridge and making a beeline to her smiling eyes.

Through it all, Senritsu stayed still, most likely because of the urgency in his heart that Muichirou is sure that she heard.

Once done tracing every bit of her face with his finger, that's when she lets up her smile slightly and let confusion bleed through her eyes.

"Why did you do that?" She blinked, her once pure black lashes now a hazel brown because of the dying sun flaring in the horizon.

Ritsu's eyes are the prettiest.

Muichirou squints at her this time, she glowed like she was a piece of the sun in human form, fair skin, golden hair and golden eyes, bright and set alight in a warm flare like the big ball of warmth and brightness dipping in the background.

No, that's wrong. Ritsu is the prettiest.

He smiles. "Because I don't want to ever forget Ritsu." He says quietly, privately, like a secret between them. "Because Ritsu is important, and Oyakata-sama said that I shouldn't forget things and people that are important. And Ritsu is very important."

Her smile drops for a few but it returns fiercer and brighter than before, it's like watching the sun rose above the sky at dawn, breathtaking and magnificent in its beauty. A few diamond-like tears fell from her eyes, but she smiled through it, meaning those are tears of joy rather than sadness.

(Muichirou is relieved that it wasn't tears of sadness, he doesn't know what he'd do if somehow in all his inept forgetfulness made her sad. He very much doesn't want to make Senritsu sad.)

"And Mui-chan is also very important to me, so don't worry about me forgetting because I won't."

Muichirou was suddenly overwhelmed with the feeling of Love – it is Love, he even asked Oyakata-sama – for this precious bright person that he calls a friend. His heart fluttered for all its worth and Muichirou sat upwards, straddling Senritsu's lap and hugging her as close as physically possible. The warm arms that wrapped around in him return made him feel even warmer, at peace, like he was finally home after a very long time spent getting lost.

(The piece of home that Senritsu gave him solidified his want to never forget her and in turn the feelings that she evoked from him.)

"I'm home Ritsu." He murmurs quietly, privately, like a secret between them.

Her breath stutters but she brings him in even closer.

"Welcome home, Mui-chan."

~Taisho Secret~

If Senritsu was born in the KHR world, she would be a Sky. A sunny lightning sky if you get my drift. Guess I've been reading to many khr fics.

Question: Would you like me to write an AU fic of Senritsu in khr world? Like Sen and her gang meeting Tsuna's gang or something? Maybe I can write an Omake of that or a separate fic.

A/N: Hey guys and gosh, it has been a year and a few weeks since I started writing this and I'm glad that you guys are still tuning in despite the sporadic updates and my poor proofreading skills. And damn, who knew I could reach 500+ favs, 600+ alerts and over 64k views when I started writing this. This chapter is a bit long overdue since I meant to update this during my b-day last September 25, but it got delayed because the exam week happened to be around that time so I was super busy.

So here ya go, not much is going on still but rest assured because we would have a certain loud boar-masked wearing muscular pretty boy gracing us soon with his himbo presence.

That's all for now and see ya next update!

Staying healthy is the new sexy, so take care, touch grass and don't forget to hydrate yourselves people!