Chapter 15
The calendar marked June 21st, the summer breeze was crisp, not a cloud on sight, with the beaches surrounding the Chiba region had only warm waters. The region's countless beaches provided to its resident's needs. Some were calm, perfect for families, visitors, and people who wanted a lazy day. Others beaches offered a challenge for those who love surfing or want to catch game only professionals could handle. To accompany these beautiful beaches included a pleathora of aromas filled with vendors offering worldwide or local cuisine. For many, the possibilities of planning the perfect summers were endless and yet, this was not the case for one young woman. She was obligated to upload an annual tradition of celebrating the summer solstice. The woman wore a yellow kimono with floral pattern. Her fair peach skin helped give off an ethereal aura. Her charcoal hair shined brightly from the sun, flowed freely from to the wind. Her charcoal eyes glanced at her audience who waited for her speech to commence. The pier had never looked crowded before today.
Her hands trembled lightly from holding a stack of cards. Once she memorized the bullet points, she began addressing her audience: "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. My name is Sarah and I'd like to thank you all for attending this year's speech. This region has seen drastic changes while preserving its historical sites. I understand the fear of change. We want change to happen at our own pace or not at all. Fate and time, aren't so kind. They come when we least expect it, they either bless us with a foresight or steal something precious to us…" Sarah held her tongue looked away for a moment. She agreed to deliver a speech under the condition of omitting any mention of her brother. She composed herself and turned to her parents. Her father gave her a thumbs up while her mom glared at her.
Since the Meiji era, the Japanese government undergone drastic reforms, the biggest one being the dissolve of feudalism. Instead, the new system was known as Kazoku. Modeled after the British peerage, distinguished families and individuals qualified to aid the Emperor in reshaping Japan to integrate aspects of Western culture into the country. Every prefecture was assigned a representative. In the Chiba region, the woman whose word is law was none other than Sarah's mother. She looked away from her parents and gazed back to the crowd.
"…What I'm getting at is we must count our blessings. Misfortunes should be viewed as an evaluation of our lifestyle, to reflect our actions and character in order to improve ourselves. We've made it halfway into the year, let us commence this joyous start of summer with a sendoff. This boat carries more than just goods made by our own hands, it possesses the seeds of unity from us to the West. Thank you all for hearing my words. Here's to a great summer. Honor the old, embrace the new." The younger Subachi concluded with the family motto. She picked up a bottle of champagne and threw it at the end of the ship, signaling it to set sail across the Pacific Ocean. Once the crowd applauded, her mother, the ruler of the Chiba region, stood and walked towards her carriage. Picking up her golden gown just enough to walk seamlessly, holding her head high as she forced everyone to clear a path for her. No one moved or uttered a word until she entered her carriage and left the pier.
Sarah and her father decided to stick around for a meet and greet for the people loved them. Her father Hugo, was the son of an American who emigrated to Japan during the Meiji era. He started off as a soldier for the Imperial army as a translator. After he served his time, he became a merchant, a middleman importing western goods in Japan and traveled to America to export Japanese goods. His crowning achievement was teaching English at night classes in Tokyo. The men he taught sent a good word among their peers which paved the way for him to relocate to the Chiba region to teach at its first public school and lead the curriculum in teaching English. Despite being a foreigner, Hugo's empathy and talents won over the community and attracted investors to the community, including the Subachi family.
After shaking hands or bowing towards many people as they could, Sarah's father placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder. "You did great for your first speech. I'm proud of you" He smiled warmly.
"Thank you, papa. It means a lot hearing your encouragement." The dark eyed girl said.
"I'll always be your number one supporter. Your mom is just as proud. All this talk about summer has made me hungry. Lunch is on me" He suggested as he led them to the stalls selling Japanese food.
"Yay! I'm dying for some taiyaki" She yelled happily.
"You mean takoyaki?" He raised his eyebrow.
"Why not both?" She smirked.
For two months, a group of people have been mapping the Niparra cave, a condition given to them in exchange for unrestricted access. Due to how far the cavern was from the Demon Slayer Corps, the group was allowed weekend visits only. They've made sure to record the uniqueness of their surroundings, such as the temperature defaulted at 11 C, or 50 F. Their latest discovery was reaching the end of the cave, marking down a grand total of 800 meters of a trail, natural incline filling up sections of said trail. The group decided to sit on the floor to catch their breaths.
"Remarkable, we made it to the end of the cave." Goto heaved
"Good thing we had that lantern at hand. It would've been impossible to have reached down here with those torches alone." The female kakushi panted.
"I stand by my opinion of the greatest discovery is the limestone. From my understanding, these layers of sediment date back beyond a time humans even existed. I'd love to take a sample before we head back up. Thank you for carrying me, Tāke-kun." Shinobu smiled
"Don't mention it, master." The dull eye boy placed his hand on a wall and wheezed. The stairs was what drained the most energy from him because their formation were extremely steep, especially towards the end of the cave.
"Let us meditate." Shinobu prompted. The dull eye boy and the kakushi followed her orders and sat in a circle. Yuki remembered the first time meditated, he couldn't sit still and disrupted everyone else's concentration. Gradually, he took the meditations more seriously and harnessed his focus on the calmness the cavern offered. For a moment of time, nothing in the world mattered. His lineage, his struggles, his anxiety, were non-existent in the darkness. For him, the smiles of his friends and family, their support, and most of all, his love towards Shinobu Kocho, they were the light glowing in his heart. With a flicker from the lantern, the kakushi helped the lanky student on his feet. Shinobu insisted on getting up by herself and launched a surprise attack on the former heir from behind.
Yuki glanced to his side and moved his head and shoulder away from the attack, drawing out his swords to protect himself.
"What are you doing?" He demanded
"Ara Ara. Here I thought you were in a daze over this cave's natural beauty." The Insect hashira replied nonchalantly.
"As captivating as it is, that doesn't mean you can launch a sneak attack." He retorted.
"Very well." Shinobu shrugged, lowering her katana and sheathing it. "Do you know why I chose this as your third trial?"
"To be honest, I don't know. I used to think it was for my physical training, but we've done so much here, I lost track of this trial's purpose." The former heir scratched his head.
"What have we done since our time in this cave?" Shinobu pressed on the matter.
"We've walked this trail from start to finish. Then we mapped the uncharted areas. We've grown accustomed to the silence of and weather here. Polished and prayed to the buddha statues out of respect. We've also been meditating here as well. It's moments like these where I think we all have a sense of tranquility. However…"
"Oh, is there something wrong." The Wisteria doctor tilts her head.
"I don't mean to be rude but, out of everyone here, I feel as though you're the least calm. Are you okay?" He whispers, leaning to get a better look at her face.
"Why of course I'm okay. I just, get so impatient since I have a lot in mind." She waved dismissively.
"Then that defeats the whole purpose of these meditations, don't you think?" He raised his eyebrow.
"Silly boy, you become head of the butterfly mansion and a hashira, then you can tell me if these meditations are just as easy." Shinobu replied, rubbing his hair as roughly as she could.
"Alright, I get it. I'm happy you're okay, Miss shinobu." He winced.
"Good. The purpose of this trial is about adaptation. This cave is endemic, a relic from another world. Yet, you've adapted to the constant changes of our map. You don't tremble as much when we first started, you've become bolder with your attacks and more resistant to the cold. You even begun to pay respects to Buddhists statues both here and outside. Most importantly, you begun trusting your instincts more. Despite no demon here, you didn't hesitate defending yourself against me just now. For that, I am proud to announce the completion of the third trial." Shinobu congratulated her student.
"Thank you, master. I'm so close to becoming a full fledge user of Insect Breathing" He said merrily as his eyes watered up.
"Imagine that, the first male user of a graceful yet arguably the most difficult breathing style to master. How adorable. My little bumblebee will finally become a wasp." She joked.
"I'm a hornet, Miss Shinobu." He grumbled.
"Stay cute, Subachi-kun." The Insect hashira smiled wholeheartedly. The lanky student pouted in return.
"I hate to ruin the moment but if could we perhaps return to the Butterfly mansion? Goto and I have duties to attend to first thing in the morning." The female kakushi pleaded.
"Even with our coats, it's really cold in here. How you two can last without extra clothes is beyond me" Goto complained
"Of course, I just need assistance in collecting samples from this cave, then we can head out." Shinobu stated as she took off to collect samples of dirt and water into one vial and picked up a fossil.
"Tāke-kun, would you be so kind as to carry us all to the entrance, pretty please?" She winked and the kakushi followed by giving their best puppy dog eyes. Yuki rolled his eyes but nodded.
"Fine, but only after we climb these stairs. These ones are really steep." Everyone rushed to the top of the stairs except for Yuki, whose fate had been sealed.
The start of summer had arrived, on June 21st. Unlike those in the Chiba region, the demon demon slayer corps continued their training during the day and killing demons in the night. Summer was one of the worst seasons because most reports of demons come around this time of year. Within the butterfly mansion, summer meant an increase of patients in need of training or medical attention, today already begun on an intense start.
The whole staff was all hands, with the butterfly triplets checking up several patients while providing food and writing down any symptoms or concerns worth noting. Kanao had been tasked to sterilize vacant rooms and equipment used during surgeries as well as general checkups. Aoi and Yuki were assigned to assist Shionbu for today's surgery. The demon slayer lying on the table had a leg that appeared to have been mauled beyond repair, leaving amputation as their only option. The wisteria doctor injected anesthesia on the patients left leg and then a dosage for sleeping. Aoi padded Shinobu's head to wipe sweat off of it and provided any tools she asked for. Yuki for his part installed their newest equipment, the Holter monitor, onto the patient. He then brought out a giant saw to placed it just above the patients knee with Aoi holding onto the opposite end. After they had earned Shinobu's approval, they worked together to cut everything below the knee, including the tip of the femur. Once the deed was done, Shinobu stitched up the remaining limb, Aoi agreed to dispose the limb in exchange for Yuki scrubbing the table and floor blood free. One hour later, the patient has since been moved to a hospital bed where Shinobu offers her condolences along with the news of him being relieved of his duty as a demon slayer due to the amputation. Once the Insect hashira made her way out the door, she was greeted by the dull eye student.
"How are you feeling, Kocho-sama?" He spoke softly and he hunched to look at her.
"I feel as good as I can be. These operations are never easy. Well, easy to perform, but not so much with its aftermath. I can't force someone to step down from their demon slayer duties. However, my word holds significant weight to Oyakata-sama, for better or for worse." She explained somberly.
"You did all you could. There's nothing wrong with giving it your all." Yuki offered a small smile. "How about you and the girls meet me in the library? You know, take our mind off the surgery. Leave the organizing to me." He dashed towards his destination.
Holding this event in the library proved perfect because the lighting offered the ideal brightness without the intense glare and the open windows greeted visitors with a warm heat, accompanied by the gentle breeze. With that in mind, he brought several futon and sheets in the likelihood any of the butterfly girls decided to take a nap. He placed them in a circle, facing towards a resting chair. He placed a book down the arm of the chair before taking off to the nearest bathroom. Yuki had long dreaded for the moment but needed to accept his new reality. Staring at the mirror confirmed his worst fears: a pair of grey iris, its brown nearly absent expect for a tint around the pupils. Sighing in defeat, he came to terms with his loss, thankful the one color he could see beyond black and white being his teacher's favorite: purple. He snapped out of inner thoughts when he heard the butterfly girls entering the library.
"Sorry, I needed to wash my face and hands. I felt a bit unclean after the surgery today." He spoke frantically.
I see. I'm glad you offered to play host today. I enjoy my breaks when I can." Shinobu smiled, leading everyone to sit around the chair and futons provided for them. Yuki then sits on the resting chair.
"Since you all have been looking after my head servant whenever I couldn't, I'd like to show my thanks by reading you all a story. All I ask is just kick back and relax." The former heir explained. He blushed when all the girls cheered for him. Even Kanao gave the smallest nod possible. The dull eye boy opened the book and was thrown off by the Japanese format.
"Miss Shinobu, could you join me and make sure I don't mispronounce anything?"
"Of course, Subachi-kun" The wisteria doctor chuckled. She got up from the floor and sat next to him on the chair.
"Try not to take up too much space, my little bumblebee." Shinobu teased. It all of Yuki's will to simply pout and not correct her. After he had calmed down, he spoke loudly and clearly: This is my favorite Japanese story, Issun Boshi. Long ago in a village far away, there was a married couple with no children. Every day they prayed to God to give them a child…" He looked up and and noticed all but Kanao paid him attention, who was fast asleep. He looked at Shinobu to ensure he didn't mispronounce anything. After she shook her head, he continued with the story.
"….A few years passed. Issun Boshi and the princess were married. Issun Boshi sent for his mother and father who came to stay with the newlywed couple, and they all lived happily ever after." Yuki concluded, closing the book. Looking around the room, he found everyone had since fallen asleep. He wanted to believe that everyone was simply tired from looking after patients daily back-to-back.
"How did I do, Miss Shinobu?" He turned to his right, not the least bit surprised his mentor fell asleep as well.
"Good…job" she slurred in her sleep
"Thank you. Rest easy, Shinobu…chan." He blushed furiously for he had never addressed the Insect hashira in a familiar manner. Taking a moment to regain his composure and taking deep breathes, he turned to gaze at Shinobu's hair.
"At least I'll always have purple in a black and…blue?!" Yuki gasped softly, frantically looking around. In the blink of an eye, the world of black and white was no more, reverted to the default world of colors. He looked down and took notice of the blue resting chair he and Shinobu were on and the yellow haori he donned all this time. Afraid to disrupt the room, Yuki sighed contently and laid back to doze off, enjoying the company of his friends and his newfound eyesight.
"I think we're lost, Miss Shinobu." Yuki said aloud.
"According to the map, we are approaching our destination. The petite doctor said
"I can't believe we're about to meet the newest hashira. That means all nine positions have been filled." Yuki exclaimed.
"I know, I attended the ceremony last week. I haven't seen the Master happy for some time." The lavender eyed woman agreed.
"Really? I haven't seen him in a while, but he's always tranquil." He quipped.
"Tranquility is not the same as happiness. Remember that, Subachi-kun." Shinobu looked up at her student, who nodded in return.
"Kocho-sama, how would you describe this new hashira?" Kanao asked.
"Excellent question. The word I'd use to describe her is lively. She is very bubbly and has a love for food, just like Rengoku-san."
"Would she happen to have been a student of his?" The lanky student wondered.
"That's right. How did you know?" She looked up.
"When Rengoku-sama visited us last year, he mentioned having a tsuguko at the time. But I never caught her name." He replied, hunching over to look at the kocho sisters.
"I see. Perhaps once we reach her place you'll recognize her hair-" She held her tongue, mentally scolding herself due to the fact her student couldn't see colors.
"I hope she'll recognize me." Yuki looked away, realizing they didn't know he could see eyesight reverting to default. He wanted to see how long it took them to notice.
The path was fairly far from the butterfly mansion but they were fortunate enough their trail provided plenty of shade thanks to the trees blocking the sunlight, especially for a hot July morning. At last, they had arrived to the home of the newest hashira. The house was just as large as Shinobu's. Its aesthetic was identical, save for diminutive differences such an array of cherry blossom trees and a couple of apiaries, housing as many honey bees it could.
Shinobu walked first, followed by Kanao and finally Yuki. To Yuki's surprise, he recognized the kakushi by the front door.
"Hi Goto-kun!" He waved, shouting for all to hear. The Butterfly sisters joined shortly.
"Salutations, Goto-kun. I thank you for your service in helping me and everyone within the Demon Slayer Corps. Keep up the good work." Shinobu smiled politely. "Is the Love Hashira present?" She asked, her voice
"Yes. She's just making some last-minute preparations, she'll come by any second." Goto said. After a few minutes, everyone heard loud footsteps rushing to the front door.
"Sumi-masen. Welcome to my humble abode. Help yourself in-"A pink haired woman gawked at Yuki. She was slightly taller than the average woman at 5'6. The woman didn't look any older than 19, around his age. She beamed with energy and circled the lanky student. The love hashira had pink hair with green tips at the end and green eyes. Her hair was braided, and wore a white haori along with a plum colored outfit, only this time it was a skirt.
"Who is this boy, Shinobu-chan?"
"My name is Subachi Yuki, her student. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss."
"Kawaii! You're so proper. I am Kanroji Mitsuri, Love Hashira. How tall are you?
"I'm, 6 feet 2 inches, or 188 cm." He explained, pondering if he got his conversions correct.
"No way! You're almost as tall as Tengen-sama. No doubt you can get any girl you want, Subachi-kun." Mitsuri said, her eyes gleaming with joy.
"I'm here along with my sister, Tsuyuri Kanao." Shinobu cleared her throat, upending the side conversation "Subachi-kun, please stay by side."
M-My bad, Kocho-sama." He stammered as he stood alongside his teacher.
He's so cute when he stutters." Mitsuri blushed, followed with a gasp "Where are my manners? Everyone, come in and take a seat, I've prepared us a meal.
"I'd like to make a toast: To the kakushi who've helped me move in these past few days. To my teacher Rengoku-sama for pushing me to become the person I am today. And to Kocho-chan for being the second person to attend my housewarming. To friendship."
"To friendship." Everyone chimed in and clanked their glasses of orange juices.
"I must say, these pancakes are delicious. This wouldn't be your first making these, is it?" Shinobu asked.
"Only to this scale, Rengoku-sama was the first person to try my cooking. His words inspired me to cook for many more people. I'm so glad you came by with your students, The more, the merrier." Mitsuri giggled.
"Wow, these pancakes are amazing. I'm not even a fan of honey, but this was super sweet. Where did you get this?" Yuki blurted.
"I'm raising bees of my very own. I've gotten tips from the kakushi and nearby farmers. Since then, I think I've been doing a good job keeping them happy and they give good honey in return." The pink haired ditz explained
"If I'm being honest, I prefer maple syrup. But now I know an alternative from grape jam. Thank you." Yuki expressed bluntly.
"You've had syrup?! But that's an incredibly rare item. No one can buy them, let alone eat it." Mitsuri was shocked.
"I grew up in a rich household from the Chiba prefecture. The ports brought all sorts of goodies all around the world. You could say I say my taste buds have been spoiled." He chuckled while scratching the back of his head.
"Next time you find any, please send one here. I'd love to taste the difference between syrup and honey." The green eyed hashira exclaimed.
"If we can get back on track, have you met any of the other hashira's since your ceremony, Kanroji-chan?" Shinobu asked politely.
"Now that you mentioned it, the only ones I've met are you and Kyujuro-sama. I've sent invitations to the others, but I've yet to hear back. I'm glad to be accepted left and right." The love hashira explained.
"I see. Well I must say, it's admirable of you to go out of your way to go the extra mile to get acquainted with us. Every other hashira simply stops by at my place to talk and go about their business. I'm glad to be a guest for once, these pancakes are truly exquisite, Kanroji-san. I myself am not versed with western cooking," The Insect Hashira sliced a piece of pancake and placed it inside her mouth delicately. "I'm glad to see my sister is enjoying them too."
Kanao nodded.
"No need to be reserved, Shinobu-chan. Please call me Mitsuri." She spoke cheerfully.
"Very well. I look forward to future missions and outings, Mitsuri-chan." The petite woman smiled sincerely
"I speak for both Kanao and I that we love your pancakes and we'll even try to make them ourselves next time." Yuki interjected. While the hashiras nodded and continued their banter, the former heir suppressed the urge to yell in pain. He turned to his senior, who kicked his knee, glaring at him intensely, as if telling him: Never speak for me again.
"Shinobu-chan, would you mind letting me borrow your tsuguko's? I know it's too soon to be seeking students of my own, but I had a training session in mind and I'd like to test it out. If your sister and Subachi-kun can handle it, I'm sure my future tsuguko's can too. Mitsuri said wishfully. Shinobu took a moment to finish her last piece of pancake.
"Hmm, I suppose I'd be fine with it. Tsuyuri-chan is my best student and Subachi-kun has experience training with other hashira's. I'm sure they can handle it." Shinobu nodded with approval.
"Thank you so much, Shinobu-chan. Now that we're done eating, let me borrow your tsuguko's for a bit. The kakushi will lead you to the training hall." The green eyed ditz explained excitedly as she nudged Kanao and Yuki to follow her upstairs.
The training hall was no different from Shinobu's dojo with the wooden architecture, white walls covering the upper half of the room. The main differences from hers and Mitsuri's was the first being the body size mirror on one side of the room. The second being a gramophone placed in the center of the arena. The wisteria doctor was negotiating with the kakushi over needing their services once more when the love hashira arrived.
"We're back! To demonstrate my training program, I'd much prefer having my future students dress the part." Mitsuri's voice echoed the room.
The insect hashira tilted her head in confusion when she saw Kanao enter the training in a ballet uniform. This was the first time Shinobu's younger sister blushed in embarrassment, even if she left herself vulnerable for a split second.
"Kanao-chan, if it makes you feel better, I think you look rather lovely in this unique outfit." Shinobu smiled warmly. Kanao regained her composure and nodded as a way to say thank you
"Remind me again why the need to this essential to your training, Mitsuri-chan?"
"Simple. I watched the Swan Lake ballet and found the ballet uniforms cute and adorable. From what I heard, they help regulate body temperature and build confidence. The least I can ask from my students is to be as flexible as me." The pink hair hashira explained. "Speaking of which, where are you, Subachi-kun?"
The former heir peeked his head inside the training hall and shook his head.
"I've done things a noble such as myself would never do. Running up mountains, eating subpar food, stealing boats, and wander in a cave. But this, crosses the line." He scowled lightly, his insecurity displaying more than his irritation.
"Pretty please? It would make me so sad if you don't help me today." Mitsuri gave him her best puppy eyes.
"Mitsuri-chan has been a gracious host, this is the least we can do to return the favor. Please don't make me announce your nickname." Shinobu looked up at Yuki. He felt an ominous aura from his teacher, a nerve wrecking feeling she'd go through with her word.
He braced himself, anticipating the torment and embarrassment that was about to come his way. The uniform was a makeshift version of kanao's because the love hashira didn't have any outfits for his size and crafted one last minute.
Goto and the female kakushi laughed despite their attempted to cover their mouths. Kanao gave a tiny smile and Shinobu did her best to suppress her laughter.
"You look good, Subachi-kun. I promise." Shinobu insisted.
"Please, never bring this up to my family." He stared at the floor.
"I've never seen a boy your height in all pink. This is so cute" Mitsuri chirped happily. "Now, how about we start with you, Tsuyuri-chan?"
Shinobu's senior tsuguko nodded and followed the love hashira to the center of the room. Mitsuri then instructed her to sit on the floor. Once both women got made themselves comfortable, the training opened with Kanao doing the splits. Kanao was getting through the rest of the love hashira's training rather easily. She mirrored her superior's poses flawlessly and bowed politely once the demonstration was over, rejoining Shinobu by her side.
"Show off" The dull eye student muttered, rolling his eyes at the same time. Kanao looked at him but said nothing.
"Your turn." Mitsuri grabbed hold of his arm and led him to the center of the room. She prompted him to sit on the floor. "Are you nervous?"
"That, and I do not look good in pink." He pouted.
"Don't worry, this won't take long." She spoke assuringly.
"Wait, I thought you were colorblind" Goto asked
"I remember that too." The female kakushi said
"How long have you regained your eyesight, Subachi-kun?" Shinobu questioned.
"It's uh, been about a few weeks. Surprise." Yuki replied sheepishly.
"Aww, I'm so sorry you went through that. How about we get back on track and you explain what happened" She requested, proceeding to split his legs as far apart as she could. The last thing Yuki recalled was him screaming to the world in agony. So much so, not only did all the birds in the area flew away, but the bees in Mitsuri's apiary swarmed furiously.
It was now the first Saturday of August. The butterfly triplets, Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho were packing up futons and sheets into a backpack. Aoi was stocking ingredients to last them a day outside the butterfly estate. Kanao was all but finished with her preparations and was going through a checklist. Yuki for his part was organizing his business suitcase. Due to its size, the most he could fit in were spare change of clothes, a towel, and his press camera. This would be the first time he got to try it since he stole it from home. Once everything fit in nicely, the dull eye boy rushed to the window nearest to his head servant. He stared outside the window and smiled softly. 'Hey Haruno-san. I'm about to head out with Miss Shinobu and the others. I'll see you soon."
"Moshi Moshi. Where are you, Tāke-kun?" "Shinobu asked aloud. The lanky student heard the wisteria doctor and joined her as quickly as he could.
The weather was mostly sunny with several clouds in the sky. Their destination was by the river where Yuki had undergone his second trial. His body stiffened when he spotted the waterfall, but took deep breathes once he remembered they were here to relax.
"Are you okay, Tāke-kun?" Kiyo asked worriedly.
"You broke your total concentration breathing." Sumi expressed her concern.
"Is this place scary?" Naho asked.
Yuki placed their belongings onto the ground and sat on his knees. He turned his attention to Kiyo, whose distinctive feature were her bangs and pink butterfly pins.
"I'm okay. It's just the last time I was here, I had to swim this river back and forth while carrying Miss Shinobu and some kakushi for my back."
"Oh, I get it now. Kiyo replied. The former heir shifted his attention to Sumi, glancing at her pigtails and blue butterfly pins before looking at her.
"I didn't even notice. Give me a moment." He laughs and closed his eyes to focus
"You now hold the third best record. What's your secret? Sumi looked puzzled.
"I uh, tell myself I gotta maximize my breathing, just the same way a whale does." He explained. The triplets stared at him for a moment and then laughed.
"That so silly. Kiyo said
"No one has ever made that comparison before." Sumi commented.
Yuki folded his arms and pouts. He turned his head away to prevent the girls from seeing his face turn red. "Laugh all you want. But since I hold a record, I think my method works just fine."
"Does this mean you're not scared anymore?" Naho asked aloud. Yuki turned his focus back to the triplets. With Naho, she stood out because not only are her pigtails braided, her butterfly pins were green and tied at the bottom of her braids.
"There's no need to be scared, I didn't see a demon during my training here. We're safe and we will have fun." Yuki smiled warmly as he ruffled the triplet's heads carefully before standing up to greet Shinobu along with Kanao and Aoi.
"Ara ara. I hope none of you all are exhausted from our breathtaking trail. It would be a pity to spend a lovely day in a hospital bed." The insect hashira chuckled. "With the increase of demons and new demon slayers recruited, I didn't believe we'd be able to head to the beach this year. But, in exchange for not straying too far from the butterfly mansion, we shall spend the day camping. Everyone, please give your thanks to Subachi-kun who advocated your well deserved break."
The girls gave a round of applause to Yuki, who blushed in return while scratching the back of his head.
Before they could have fun, Shinobu and Kanao set up the tents for everyone for the evening. Aoi sorted the food she prepped earlier while the triplets brought out towels and equipment for a game. Yuki on his part was designated to setting the futons inside the tents and latching his lantern on the highest branch, ready to be used at night. Once camp had been set up, The former heir asked Aoi to help him set up the net while the triplets waited for him to show them how to set the boundary lines.
"Alright then. For today's activity, we are going to play volleyball. All we need are groups of three and this bouncy ball. After that, the first team to reach 15 points wins. Teams are allowed to hit the ball up to three times, just as long as one person doesn't hit it twice in a row." He explained coherently. "Sumi, Kiyo, Naho, you'll be on one team, Kanao, Aoi, and I will be the opposite team. Let's make a triangle." Yuki walked just behind the line to serve, Kanao covered the left side and Aoi was at the center. Once everyone was in position, he served over the net to start the game.
Throughout the match, the butterfly triplets would pass the ball over the net after one hit. There was some more cooperation on Yuki's team, mainly Kanao and Aoi passing the ball to Yuki who could spike instantly. When the score became 10-0, Shinobu decided to step in after seeing the triplets becoming frustrated.
"Tāke-kun, how about we switch places? I'll play and you keep track of the score." Shinobu suggested.
"How come? Everyone is having fun." Yuki insisted.
"I don't think the girls can say the same." She gestered her head towards the girls subtly, who were laying on the floor or panting heavily.
"Fine." He sighed. He switched places with the insect hashira, who removed her haori.
"Miss Shinobu, if the ball is high, use your fingertips to hit up. If the ball is low, cup your hands together to hit it." Yuki yelled aloud for Shinobu, who surveyed the area for potential pests and awaited report for any emergencies she needed to attend to. All in all, Shinobu's team won the first game with 15-7 while the second was a much closer game, with the triplets winning by only two points.
"That was fun." Kiyo spoke aloud
"I can't wait to play next time." Naho replied excitedly
"We'll beat you, Tāke-kun." Sumi said with confidence.
"How are you so good at volleyball?" Aoi demanded.
"My father taught my family since it's an American sport but because only the elites knew about volleyball, I played against the best." Yuki said proudly. "But for your first time, you all did a good job. Especially without me." Yuki applauded. He showed them how to disassemble the net and tie up the boundary line ropes without tangling them. Once their equipment was tucked away, everyone headed to the river.
In comparison to last year, the river had more water flowing and looked deeper than before. The dull eye boy stepped back to remove his haori, followed by his uniform, placing them next to a tree. He was uncomfortable with the idea of changing behind a bush prior, so he planned ahead and wore his swimsuit throughout the day.
"Glad I could wear my swimsuit only. I was sweating wearing that and my uniform at once. Miss, Shinobu, do you remember how cold the water from the ocean was?" He asked softly.
Both the Insect Hashira and her senior tsuguko nodded, puzzled over his question.
"We're about to find out the difference." Yuki stated as he picked up the triplets and Aoi in his arms. He ignored their pleas as he rushed ahead and leaped into the river. Once they all came up to breathe, Aoi and the triplets glared towards Yuki as he looked at them sheepishly.
"Meanie!" The girls yelled as they pushed the lanky student back into the water. Shinobu giggled because not only was she and Kanao spared from being drenched but took notes on how to deal with Yuki's antics for next time.
"Kanao dear, please bring a change of clothes for everyone while I ease the tensions." Shinobu said to her sister. Kanao obeyed and walked back to camp while Shinobu went to check on everyone else.
Once the tensions mellowed, everyone enjoyed their time in the river from splashing one another at the edge of the river to holding a swimming competition between Yuki and Kanao. Although his senior outperformed him on land, he found her Achilles heel as she stood no chance against in the water thanks to his limbs and expertise. Yuki then decided to dive into the bottom of the river and came up gasping for air.
"Moshi Moshi. Now that you're back in the world of the living, Its about time we return to camp." Shinobu yelled for his attention.
The others had since retreated to their tents to dry themselves. The former heir nodded and followed his mentor one he stepped out of the water and collected his clothes.
Nighttime was upon as the stars replaced the clouds in the sky. Yuki and the women gathered around to eat by the campfire. All the mosquitoes and other insects were drawn to Yuki's lantern thanks to him thinking ahead. He was always the first to finish eating due to his height and his love for food.
"Tāke-kun, you don't have to eat so hastily. No one will steal your food."
"I know. I just really want some dessert." The former heir put away his bento box and pulled up several ingredients.
"Tonight, I'm going to show you all how to make s'mores. Since marshmallows were hard to find, we'll be using mochi instead. Thank you Aoi-chan" Yuki announced. He split some graham crackers first and did the same for a chocolate. He then placed the chocolate on the crackers before placing a mochi in the middle, pressing them together to form a sandwich. He made enough s'mores for everyone and waited for their opinion.
"Wow, this is delicious" The triplets said in unison.
"I'll be sure to make several different mochis next time." Aoi smiled.
"Thank you very much for introducing us this unique dessert. I never thought about eating mochi this way." The insect hashira sighed contently.
"I'm glad you all like it. My papa told me all the kids in America do this." Yuki responded with a mouth full of smore's.
Yuki and all the butterfly girls gathered closer to the fire and chanted haiku's aloud while creating the best shadow puppets as they could.
"Now that our bellies are full, let's end the night with scary stories. Anyone want to start?" Shinobu asked. The last thing Yuki remembered was passing out within the first five minutes of the wisteria doctor sharing her spooky story.
Yuki resumed his workout and thrusts exercises, the day after their camping trip. Just before he was ready to eat dinner, Shinobu stopped by to check on him.
"Konichiwa, Subachi-kun. I see you're training as usual. Please don't overexert yourself. I would hate to ask my girls to carry you again after last night. I hardly started my scary story when you passed out." She giggled.
"I… I hope I'm wasn't heavy." He muttered.
"Don't worry, we've gotten by carrying heavy objects long before a man overstayed his welcome. She looked up slyly. Yuki in return looked down and raised his eyebrow. He knew she was kidding, he didn't like her remark nonetheless.
"I didn't come here just for idle chatter. Tonight, I will be going on a mission with Tengen-san and a couple of demon slayers. We got word of one of the twelve kizuki have been located. Ubuyashiki wants a team to route the enemy."
"I see. As long as you aren't alone with Tomioka-sama, that's fine." He muttered.
"Hmm, what was that?" Shinobu spoke sharply.
"Oh, nothing. I hope the mission goes well tonight." The dull eye boy stammered
"Thank you. Before I head out, I'd like to teach you the fourth insect breathing technique as well as the fourth trial. I'd like you to learn both of these in two months. Do you understand?" The wisteria requested.
"Is there a reason why I need to learn in such a short time?" He tilted his head.
"You are more than capable of learning these techniques sooner than you think." The violet eyed woman responded. Yuki looked at her eyes and noticed her face had sunken. As if something was troubling her.
"There's no reason to be scared. I know you'll come back from this mission without a scratch, Miss Shinobu. You're the best strategist who plans out everything" The former heir smiled kindly. The wisteria doctor looked up and couldn't help but nod.
"I know. It's just, I wish I could partake these missions alone. I appreciate the support we have for one another as demon slayers. Yet, I've never been on a mission alone the way the others have. All because I am incapable of beheading demons." She stated, discreetly clenching her fists.
Yuki kneeled on his knees to take a closer look at the Insect hashira. While he was familiar with concept of anger and sadness, he never felt comfortable being around those in low spirits because he was afraid of people's reaction. Not to mention he had difficulty telling how someone felt. Sometimes people would tell him to drop the subject or tell him to a back off. He kept himself at arm's length in order to anticipate any possibility.
"I didn't mean to make you sad, I thought I was being supportive." He said nervously. Shinobu shook her head and rubbed his head gently.
"You don't need to walk eggshells around me. Im not upset. In fact, I'm thankful you lended me an ear and offered support. It's very sweet of you." She spoke fondly.
"For what its worth, I too have yet to behead a demon. Yet, I'm happy the two of us have an original way of killing demons." He answered earnestly.
"You're too kind, Subachi-kun. Be careful not to let people take advantage of you." She replied firmly. Her smile faltered, concerned for the day he'd have to go on missions by himself.
"You have my word, master." The former heir responded.
"Good. Now, allow me to show you the last insect breathing technique, and the fourth trial." She said with a professional tone. Shinobu pulled out her katana and helped her student off the floor. "I'd like you to bring forth a dummy and wrap as many wooden boards as you can to its frontal plane, specifically its upper chest."
He obeyed and tied as many boards as he could around the dummy's chest before bringing it in the center of the dojo.
"Push it against the wall, please." The insect hashira requested. Yuki nodded again and pushed the dummy back, taking a few steps back.
"Watch and learn." The wisteria doctor spoke calmly before announcing her attacking "Insect Breathing: Centipede dance- Hundred-legged zigzag!"
In the blink of an eye, the technique was already carried out, resulting with Shinobu's katana piercing through the dummy's neck.
"Whoa! That was so fast, I didn't catch any of that." The dull eye boy gawked, scratching the back of his head.
"My apologies, let me demonstrate once more. This time, pay attention to the ground." The lavendered eyed hashira said. She walked across the room and readied her attack a second time.
"Insect Breathing: Centipede dance- Hundred-legged zigzag!"
This time, Yuki took notice of her technique. He couldn't believe despite going in a nonlinear movement, she was agile enough to get across without losing momentum and piercing through the boards with ease.
"Wow, that move looks so fast and powerful. I can't believe you didn't trip at any point." Yuki expressed his amazement
"This is my strongest technique yet. Be mindful that this attack will leave yourself wide iopen in exchange for speed and power. Only use this form as a last resort. Remember, aim for the neck. The heart or eyes should suffice" Shinobu explained.
"Now, before I head out, the kakushi will assist you with the fourth trial. I realized your flexibility was lacking when we visited the Love Hashira. I can't fault you because it wasn't a top priority of mine. Nonetheless, improving yourself in that area will help long term. I expect results in the next two months. Take care, my little bumblebee." She giggled, heading out of the mansion and into the forest. The kakushi entered the room shortly afterwards, the former heir waved at them.
"Hi Goto. Its nice to see you again." The former heir said.
"Hey, Subachi-kun. Usually I ask you to follow my lead when we do these sessions. However, since I'm not as flexible as Amaya-chan is, It's only fair you follow her guidance this time. I'll intervene if someone gets gravely injured.
"Who's Amaya-chan?" The lanky student wondered.
"That would be me." The female kakushi spoke up.
"Huh, have we met before?" He asked.
Don't act dumb. I've been helping you and Goto-kun since you entered the Butterfly mansion." She scoffed, taking offense of the former heir's remark.
"Really? You never told me your name before." He said bashfully. Amaya huffed as she prompted Yuki and herself to sit on the floor.
"Did me being a girl not stand out to you?" She demanded.
Well, Goto-kun stands out because of his atitiude. All you other kakushi look and act the same.
She huffed and without any warning, she split his legs to perform the splits. He screamed so loudly, everyone turned their attention to towards the dojo and all the insects within the butterfly garden flew away.
Two months have passed, and the autumn breeze was felt nationwide in the midst of September. The butterfly mansion was to hold a festival to commemorate the late flower hashira's favorite holiday. While everyone took part in preparations, Yuki was catching his breath. Two months had passed and he still couldn't master the centipede dance the way Shinobu done it. The time and dedication he honed into perfecting this technique has garnered his legs wrapped in bandages. He decided to a break and sit on the floor. He could hear people chatting and setting up props for tonight's party. He looked around the room and noticed no one has come up to check on him. Taking advantage of the relative silence, he took a moment to close his eyes and meditate.
"Moshi Moshi. It's about time you woke up. The festival has just finished." Shinobu voiced laced with disappointment.
"I wasn't sleeping. I was meditating" He insisted.
"I had hope there was time for us to hang out outside of training." Shinobu sighed.
"Please tell me its not too late. I'll make it up to you." The former heir sat on his knees, pleading desperately.
"I'm teasing. Everyone is taking a break." The Insect hashira spoke calmly.
"You had me worried me there. I was about to break down just now." He sniffled.
"Calm down. We're taking this day to relax, remember? However, since you already went through the trouble of training, show me some results. The wisteria doctor requested.
The lanky student nodded as he got on his feet and walked to the opposite side away from the dummy.
"Will you be mad if I don't do it exactly as you done?" He asked hesitantly.
"Show me." Her voice shifted from kindness to authority.
He took a deep breath drew out his swords to the side, followed with planting his feet firmly to the ground. Taking a deep breath, he called out the attack: Insect Breathing 4th form: Centipede Dance- Hundred-legged zigzag!
Within seconds, he felt the adrenaline coursing through his body as he found himself mirroring Shinobu's technique. The distinctions between the master and the student was the latter taking fewer yet longer steps, stomping the ground with sheer force to the point the dojo now had a series of broken boards in a formation of a zig zag. Unlike the former who went straight for an immediate jab, Yuki held his swords together to form an X and swung with everything he had to destroy the dummy's defense. Once the boards were split, he lunged his arms forward, one sword pierced through the neck and the other aimed for the heart.
"How intriguing. Due to your stature, you decided to reduce speed for power by taking fewer steps. On top of that, you prolong your finishing blow by overwhelming your opponent's defense, giving you precious time to stab the neck and the heart." Shinobu announced, analyzing her students tactics. "Do you remember our talk of you wanting to be just like me?
"Yes?" Yuki answered reluctantly, looking away as his body trembled not only from exhaustion, but dreading his master's judgement.
"This is an example of how deviating my methods…worked in your favor. You took initiative to make the necessary changes to accommodate your strengths and weaknesses. Would I have made these changes? No. Regardless of my opinion, I am proud to announce you have mastered my final breathing technique." She declared.
"You mean it?" The former heir choked on his words as resisted the urge to cry tears of joy
"I do. Let's put a pause on your training and join us in the festival. Right after you take a shower." Shinobu remarked.
"Will do. I'll try to make a new friend tonight." He declared
"I hope you succeed." Shinobu replied warmly. Both of them made it to the door and went their separate direction.
After a long soak in the bath, the dull eye boy prepped himself by combing his hair, brushing his teeth, and putting on a red collared shirt and khakis, he looked at himself in the mirror. Relieved to see he was remotely good looking but more importantly, his eyes had since regained its true color of brown. Yuki put on a red cap to complete his look. While he personally wasn't feeling it, he stuffed it into his pocket, hoping to get Shinobu's opinion much later. Upon finally attending the party, he tiptoed his way around the room, uncomfortable drawing more attention to himself than he already did being the tallest person in the room. He was impressed by the number of patients that stuck around. The dining room and the living room were filled with people socializing or eating. Some were playing cards. As tempted as playing cards were. He walked passed the demon slayers because he was afraid to ask which game they were playing or if he could join.
He noticed Mitsuri arrived unexpectedly yet was greeted by Aoi and the butterfly triplets. He wanted to join in on their conversation, it felt like an intrusion because this was the first time the rest of the butterfly girls met the love hashira. Out of respect, he decided to let them resume their talk. He picked up a couple of drinks before resuming his patrol.
By the time he finished walking around the party, The former heir felt at ease, knowing people around him were enjoying themselves. The few people who approached Yuki were only given a polite smiled and bow before he retreated just outside from the party. He looked to his right and found his senior next to him.
"Hi, Tsuyuri-chan. Are you having fun?" He asked. No one word escaped her mouth.
"Are you thirsty? I just so happened to have gotten myself an extra bottle of Ramune if you want one." He said nervously, handing her the bottle. Kanao had accepted it but remained mute.
"Kanao-chan, I need your assistance." The petite doctor announced, to which her sister rushed to her aid, leaving Yuki by himself.
"Good talk." The former heir muttered. He looked outside and gazed at the stars, admiring the full moon as well. He grew sentimental over imagining what his family would think of the star-filled sky before him. The lanky teen turned and took notice of everyone gathering around the Insect hashira. He stood up and was about tried to squeeze himself in when he bumped into a demon slayer. This one had black hair and green eyes. Yuki yelled sorry but was focused on Shinobu's announcement.
"Konbawa, everyone. It brings me great joy to see everyone smiling and letting loose tonight. Autumn happened to be the late Flower Hashira's favorite holiday. Normally I spent this special occasion with my girls only. Yet, due to the increase of demon slayers recruited this year, I'd like to the recruits to view tonight as a big welcome on behalf of the demon slayer corps. Everyone, please give a round of applause to our newest members and make them feel at home." Shinobu concluded, standing alongside Mitsuri.
Everyone cheered for the hashiras and resumed the party. By midnight, people had begun heading home or finding a bed to sleep on for the night. Yuki finally spotted Shinobu by herself and decided to check on her.
"Miss Shinobu. I've been debating whether this hat looked good on my or not what do you think?" The former heir questioned as he leaned closer to her face.
When Shinobu looked up, she moon's lighting darkened her students face. What she saw wasn't her student but a silhouette of the demon that took her sister's life. She was paralyzed in fear.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" The silhouette snickered. The mysterious drew his hand, looming it towards her.
She swung her hand as hard as she could and drew her sword immediately. She was brought back to reality when she heard heavy breathing. Upon looking down, she became horrified when she made the connection of the burning sensation of her hand and Yuki lying on the floor.
"I'm…I'm sorry!" The dull eye boy shrieked, bolting towards his room. His eyes on the verge of crying.
"Yuki-kun, wait!" Shinobu pleaded, her lips quivered for she had no idea what prompted her trauma, let alone the need to slap her student. Afraid to cause a scene, she scurried to her room, remorse running through her body for not knowing what transpired that flashback to occur of all times. It didn't change the fact she needed to remedy this incident immediately.
Two days later, Yuki was filling in to instruct the Insect Hashira's students since she herself had joined a mission with Giyu the day before. As of now, there were two students receiving the standard training from Shinobu while he and Kanao received personalized lessons. The duration of his session was reviewing the Insect technique with the girls.
"Listen up ladies. You're all getting by with the basics just fine. If I were to give any feedback: Keiko, you're still hesitating your attacks. That's why you keep messing up your second form.
Yume, Your jabs are faster than even myself, but you hardly hit any of the vital spots when you use the third breathing technique." He took a pause, deciding on his next words as he rubbed his chin. "I must say, despite your hurdles, you've both done a good job mastering the butterfly dance. Mastering the first form in ANY breathing technique is quintessential in becoming a demon slayer. Hotaru knew this and now she's gone on the final selection. All we can do is pray for her return and continue pushing ourselves to the limit. Practice for a half hour more and that'll be it for today.
The former heir's body jolted when he glanced at the door, spotted the wisteria doctor at standby. He looked away to focus on overseeing the butterfly students. He felt goosebumps on his skin when he felt the Insect hashira standing next to him.
"May I help you, Kocho-sama?" He spoke flatly.
"I…I just returned from my mission with Tomioka-san. It all went well. A shame none of the kizuki's were on site. Yet no casualties were reported and the demons were slain easily. It brought me relief as a doctor." She reported.
"That's…that's good." Yuki replied, he felt his hand softly holding him in place.
"Subachi-kun. About that night, I don't know what came over me. I know you wanted to show me something. Yet, your attire brought light a memory I wish to forget. I'm not one to give excuses, but I believe an explanation is in order." Shinobu bowed. He looked at her cautiously.
Shinobu hesitated to respond. The loss of her older sister brought her great sorrow whenever it came up. No matter how much effort she put in as a hashira, she felt inferior to Kanae, who needed no effort to warm people's heart with her smiles alone. Shinobu often likened her late sister as a ray of hope. Had anyone else asked her to open up, she would've brushed their worries aside. Yet after all this time together and the trust he placed with her, it was only fair she returned the favor. She turned to her students and pointed them to the door, waiting for them to exit before she continued.
"Before my sister died, I held her in my arms. The demon didn't have time to eat her since dawn broke. In her dying breath, she told me it wore a red cap on its head. Seeing you so close with that cap, brought me back to that awful night. I shouldn't have laid a finger on you. It was uncalled for, especially when you had no mal-intentions."
"Why are you telling me this?" He asked.
"Because I trust you to keep this a secret. Can you forgive me?" She answered earnestly.
"Promise you're not mad at me anymore? Yuki spoke softly as he got on his knees.
"I was never upset to begin with "Shinobu smiled warmly, reaching out for him. The dull eye boy flinched and pulled his head back.
"No need to be scared. Let me put you at ease." She spoke softly yet carefully. This time, Yuki stood still and allowed her palm to caress his cheek.
"I'm sorry for making you sad. I'll stop wearing red from now on." Yuki spoke remorsefully.
"It means a lot, knowing we support one another." The Insect Hashira smiled once more. This time however, it shined brighter than the rest, as if she was truly happy.
Above all, I want you to be comfortable around me. Believe me when I tell you how much it means the world to me you look after the patients and my girls. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
"You're welcome, Miss Shinobu" He smiled softly.
"Now, how about you show me your flexibility training. If you can keep up with me, I'll let you pass this trial, just like that.
Yuki was shocked, lifted himself off the ground. The lanky student prepped himself with some warm-ups and followed her lead.
"Welcome back to another Taisho era bit. My guest for today is none other than Love Hashira, Mitsuri Kanroji!" Yuki waved.
"Kyaahh! You're so adorable. Look at you, being all sophisticated and proper. You truly are a noble. So handsome and tall." Mitsuri swooned.
"Yeah um, nice to see again." He looked down, puzzled by her overfamiliarity.
"When I told Rengoku-sama about you, I couldn't believe he told me you were the same boy I rescued two years ago. Why didn't you say anything?!" She demanded.
"I wanted to, but I was afraid of being awkward. Anyways, would you like to share a Taisho era secret?" He stammered, hiding his rose-tinted cheeks with his cards.
"Why of course: Subachi-kun is by far the most handsome boy I've ever seen. Aside from looks, he has the build to complete any mission that'll come his way. Other than poor flexibility, I am confident he will work on that area and become a prestigious demon slayer in no time." The pink haired ditz announced proudly.
"Wow, I'm honored to have your support from the get go. Next time on chapter 16: I've mastered all the breathing techniques and trials. What else is there? See you around, Miss Kanroji." The former heir walked away.
"Hold up, Subachi-kun. We must hold a celebration with Rengoku-sama once you pass the final selection." Mitsuri pleaded.
Hi everyone,
It's been one whole year since I started writing this fanfic. Crazy how much time has flown by. I honestly didn't think I lasted this long, especially since when I first uploaded this story, no one looked at it until January of this year. I was really close to abandoning this story or straight up deleting it. Just the fact that people even gave this story a read, let alone fave and follow means everything to me. I will say, i thought writing about Insect Breathing would somewhat easy since they were only four techniques.
As fun as it has been writing about Demon Slayer, I need a break from this story. I have one bonus chapter and that'll be it until next year. I will also go through one final round of edits of the entire story so far because from here on, we're transitioning to the final selection arc and the main events of the story. I'm looking forward it. I'll also be introducing more original concepts for plot and ideas to explore the taisho era a bit more. It's a real shame the actual anime doesn't really explore the era's history all that much.
All in all, thank you to every one of you who gave my story a read and I hope to see you all in 2025.
Shoutout to Nicolas morgan and EverNightfall for the fave and follow