Donut Friendship – Chapter 20: Mission Failed
It was Friday morning, and Kokushibo and Kaigaku we're sitting inside their car. They failed their mission, and were thinking about what to do next. It was almost certain, that in a few hours, both of them would get fired. A few days ago, they have been assigned a mission by their boss, Muzan, which they were unable to complete.
"…"
"…"
"I am sorry." said Kokushibo
"…huh?" mumbled Kaigaku as he glanced at him
"This was all my fault." Kokushibo replied
"W-What are you talking about?" Kaigaku asked
"After so many attempts of getting the secret recipe for master Muzan… I screwed up." Kokushibo explained
"…" Kaigaku just stared at him
"I was with that woman and I saw her making the donuts… I could have memorized every step… every ingredient… but I didn't. Instead, I was… just staring at her…" Kokushibo continued
"…" Kaigaku listened to him
Kokushibo took a deep breath and looked at Kaigaku.
"I will tell master Muzan that it was my all fault."
"W-what? What do you mean?" Kaigaku replied confused
"If I tell him that I screwed up… then there is a slight chance, that he will only fire me…" Kokushibo explained
"Huh?!" Kaigaku gasped
"So you can keep on working for him…" Kokushibo added
"What are you talking about?! No!" Kaigaku replied angrily
"Huh? He will-" Kokushibo replied and got cut off
"No way! We're a team, so we both failed!" Kaigaku replied
"Ah…" Kokushibo mumbled
"And if we get fired, then so be it! I am not letting you take all the blame!" Kaigaku added
Hearing that, Kokushibo just stared at Kaigaku for a few seconds, which made him uncomfortable.
"Ha… You're an idiot…" Kokushibo said with a small smile
"Huh?!" Kaigaku gasped as he heard that
"You're an idiot… but you're also a good friend…" added Kokushibo
"Ah… t-thanks… I think…?" Kaigaku replied
After this small chat, both thought about what to do next. After a few minutes, Kokushibo opened the door and got out.
"I need some fresh air… I go spent my last few hours employed on a bench somewhere…" said Kokushibo
"W-Wait! I am going too!" Kaigaku replied and got out too
Once they got out, the two walked for a few steps and sat down on the nearest bench.
"So… this is it." said Kokushibo as he leaned back
"Yep. Pretty sure we get fired today." Kaigaku replied
"…"
"…"
"We did our best…" said Kokushibo
"Yep." Kaigaku added
"…"
"…"
"What will you do after you get fired?" Kokushibo asked
"No idea. Maybe I go back to working in the bakery? That girl at the counter was pretty cute." Kaigaku replied and Kokushibo nodded, while he thought about his future plans too
While the two were sitting, a voice spoke to the two.
"Hey! It's you!" said a female voice
Both Kaigaku and Kokushibo looked at the person who was talking. It was Ume Shabana, who was pointing a finger at Kokushibo.
"Huh…? Do I know you?" Kokushibo asked
"Yes! Don't you remember me?! We met at the Halloween pumpkin battle!" said Ume
Kokushibo thought about it, and then he remembered.
"Ah… yes… You were the girl that was cheating…" he said
"AGH! N-No I wasn't! I didn't do anything that was against the rules!" Ume replied, to which Kokushibo just stared at her
"A-Anyway! Because of you, me and my brother lost! And I didn't get to enjoy my udon!" Ume added and pointed at Kokushibo again
"Ah yes… the udon… It was pretty good…" Kokushibo replied as he thought about it
"If it wasn't any good, then you would be dead for giving me wrong information on that day…" Kokushibo added as he glanced at Kaigaku, who was awkwardly smiling
"I wanted to eat it! Goddammmit!" Ume cursed
Kokushibo looked at her again and replied.
"Do you need anything? If not, then please leave me alone. I am not in the mood for this…" said Kokushibo
Ume just stared at the two and noticed that both of them were looking pretty down.
"I don't need anything…" she replied
"Alright, then leave me alone." Kokushibo replied
Ume was about to go, but curiosity took the better of her.
"Did… something happen? You two look pretty down…" Ume asked as she faced them again
"Yep. We failed our boss and as a result, we will get fired today." Kaigaku replied annoyed, to which Kokushibo just nodded
Hearing that, Ume didn't know what to say.
"Well… that sucks?" she said
"I agree." Kokushibo replied and an awkward silence began
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Well… I wish you two good luck." she said awkwardly
"Thanks." replied Kaigaku
"Thank you." replied Kokushibo
And with that, Ume slowly turned around and walked away, still in an awkward silence.
…
…
…
As the two were sitting, Kokushibo checked the time.
"Master Muzan wants our report in an hour. Shall we go get something to eat before that?" Kokushibo asked
"Yeah. What should we get?" Kaigaku asked
After asking that, both stared at each other for a few seconds.
"…"
"…"
"Donuts?"
"Donuts." Kokushibo replied and got up
Kaigaku got up too and followed him. After a few minutes, they reached their destination, the Kamado Bakery. Before they went in, Kokushibo stopped walking and looked at it.
"Funny… isn't it?" he said, to which Kaigaku glanced at him
"This bakery is the reason why we lose our jobs… and yet, we still eat here." he added
"Ye…" Kaigaku replied as he thought about those words
"Let's go." said Kokushibo and went in, with Kaigaku following him
Inside the bakery, Kokushibo went straight to the counter, and saw a familiar face.
"Welcome! What can I get you? Oh!" said a female voice
"Oh… Hello." replied Kokushibo
"Hey." said Kaigaku
Behind the counter was Kie Kamado, the mother of Tanjiro and Nezuko.
"Mister Kokushibo! It's so good to see you again!" she said with a smile
"Y-Yes… We're here to buy some donuts." he replied
"Of course!" the mother replied with a smile
As Kokushibo went closer to the counter, the mother's smile slowly disappeared.
"Mister Kokushibo? Are you alright? Did something happen? You look pretty… well…" the mother tried to find the right words, but Kokushibo interrupted her
"D-Don't mind me… it's just that… well… we have some work related problems." he replied
"Oh, dear! Is there any way I can help?" the mother asked concerned
"No. Thank you very much lady Kamado… but there isn't anything you can do. Our boss gave us a mission, which we failed… so it's very likely that we will get fired." Kokushibo explained
"Oh no!" the mother replied with a sad face
"D-Don't worry about it! Sometimes… he is very unreasonable." Kokushibo replied
"Who is sometimes very unreasonable?" said a dark cold voice from behind
…
…
Hearing that, both Kaigaku and Kokushibo froze in place.
"Hmm?" mumbled the voice again
The two slowly turned around, until they finally saw the person standing behind them.
"MASTER MUZAN!" yelled Kokushibo
"MISTER MUZAN!" yelled Kaigaku
Behind the two, was Muzan. He was scanning both of them with his eyes while he waited for a response. After not getting any kind of response, he walked up to Kokushibo.
"M-Master Muzan, what are you doing here?" Kokushibo asked
"I was on my way to our weekly meeting, but I decided to stop here… and get some donuts… speaking of which!" Muzan replied and looked at the display shelf with the donuts
"Do you know what day it is today?" he asked
"Yes. It's Friday." Kokushibo replied
"Yes, and what do you usually give me on Friday?" Muzan asked again
"My report…" Kokushibo replied
"Yes. Yes, your report. Which I expect to see during today's meeting… that starts in about 30 minutes." said Muzan
"…" Kokushibo just nodded and didn't say anything
"But, unlucky for you… I am a very impatient man… So I would like to hear your report right now." Muzan said with a smile
"IGHGHGHGHGH!" Kaigaku squeaked as he heard that
"R-Right now?" Kokushibo asked
"Yes." Muzan replied
"…" Kokushibo just looked at him, and didn't say anything
"…" Muzan waited for him to say something
"I…" Kokushibo was about to reply, but Muzan cut him off
"Did you complete your mission? Yes or no?" Muzan demanded an answer
"No..." Kokushibo replied defeated
Muzan just stared at him and nodded.
"Well, my friend… then you know what is going to happen, right?" Muzan asked with a smile
"Yes… I do…" Kokushibo replied
"Good." Muzan replied
"WAIT!" yelled the mother
All three looked at her and Muzan raised an eyebrow.
"Please! Don't fire mister Kokushibo or his friend!" yelled the mother
"Lady Kamado…" Kokushibo mumbled as he heard that
Muzan scanned her with his eyes too and walked up to her.
"Are you the owner of this bakery?" he asked
"Yes! My name is Kie Kamado!" the mother replied
"Hmmm…" Muzan mumbled as he was looking at her
"Muzan Kibutsuji. Lady Kamado, I am a very busy man, and I need only the best people…" Muzan said with an evil smile
"Y-Yes… but…" the mother replied
"And because these two have failed me, I am here to do things… my way…" he added
"Huh…?" the mother mumbled confused
"To tell you the truth, I really like your donuts. They are great… and that's why, I send this two, to bring me your secret recipe." Muzan said
"Secret… recipe?" the mother said confused
She glanced at Kokushibo, who was looking at the ground, ashamed of deceiving her.
"So, will you please make this easy for all of us… and just tell me the secret recipe for your donuts?" Muzan asked
The mother faced him and replied.
"I can't."
"Alright, let's try something different then." Muzan replied and took out his wallet
"Name your price. ANY price." said Muzan
"I can't." the mother replied again
"W-WHAT?!" Muzan yelled as he heard that
"Huh?" both Kokushibo and Kaigaku mumbled confused as they heard that
"Lady! You can become rich! This is a once in a lifetime chance! Do you understand that?! Just tell me how much you want for that secret recipe!" Muzan yelled
"I can't tell you a price for something… that doesn't exist." the mother replied
"…" Kokushibo just stared at her
"…" Kaigaku just stared at her
"…huh?" Muzan mumbled as he heard that
The mother took a deep breath and began to explain.
"Mister Muzan… I can't sell you our secret recipe for the donuts, because it doesn't exist. We just make our donuts with love! And people love them!" she explained with a small smile
"D-Do you seriously think that I would believe that?! You want to tell me, that every donut you sell here, tastes so good only because you made them with… love?" Muzan asked angrily
"Yes. It's true." the mother said with a smile
"…grrr…"
"…"the mother just smiled, and didn't say anything
After looking at her for a few more seconds… Muzan glanced at the two guys standing behind him. Both of them were speechless. Muzan faced the mother again, who was still smiling. She was telling him the truth, and he knew that. After a few seconds, he finally gave up, and put his wallet away.
"Whatever." Muzan mumbled defeated
"Mister Muzan, I am sure that you will be able to make great donuts too, if you just make them with love!" the mother added with a smile
"…" Muzan didn't say anything, he just stared at her and thought about her words
He turned around and faced Kokushibo and Kaigaku.
"You two. We have a meeting in a few minutes. Buy some donuts and bring them to the meeting." said Muzan
Hearing that, both Kokushibo and Kaigaku looked at each other.
"And be ready for your next mission…" Muzan added as he left the store
"Y-Yes, master Muzan!" said Kokushibo as he saw his boss leave
After he left, the two looked at the mother.
"Lady Kamado… even though we deceived you, you… saved our jobs…" he said
"Holy crap, lady! You managed to calm down Muzan! You're the best!" Kaigaku said with a big smile… that didn't last long
THUMB*
"Address people properly." said Kokushibo, as he punched Kaigaku
"Ah…I am sorry…" Kaigaku replied as he got up from the ground
Seeing the two, the mother laughed and smiled.
"Hahaha! I am glad everything worked out, mister Kokushibo!"
"Thank you, I really mean it…" he replied
"Anyway, you in the mood for some donuts?" the mother asked and prepared a bag
…
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…
…
…
Later that day, the two finished the meeting and got a new mission assigned.
"This… is something else." said Kaigaku
"This was predictable… but none of us thought about this…" said Kokushibo
The two were in the kitchen in Muzan's headquarters, both making donuts, while being carefully watched.
"Make them with love. If they don't taste like those from the bakery, then you're both fired…" Muzan said as he watched them, while eating donuts from a bag
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow, what a chapter! Really enjoyed writing this one! As for this series, we got to chapter 20! I would have never guessed that we get this far! Funny enough, I wanted to start this fanfic as a fanfic about Tanjiro and Ume becoming friends, but changed in the middle of writing the first chapter!