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You are a low-ranking demon slayer, one who has never slain a demon yourself. Each mission ended with your companions standing victorious - never you. Now healing at the Butterfly Estate, you try to repay kindness with effort, scrubbing bloodstains, replanting flowers, and hauling supplies, hoping not to be a burden. But you are not as invisible as you think. You may not see yourself as a fighter, but they do. ___________________________________________________ ๐ธ Tanjiro Kamado โ โKindness is Not Measured in Kills.โ
Tanjiro noticed you the way he noticed a falling petalโquiet, soft, easily overlooked by others but impossible for him to ignore. You were always moving at the Butterfly Estate, mopping floors, washing linens, bringing tea to the sick and bandaging up the wounded even though you wore a few bandages yourself.
You weren't loud about your efforts. You never boasted. In fact, you often lowered your eyes when others spoke of battle victories. He overheard one slayer whisper, โShe hasn't even killed a demon before.โ
That made his heart ache.
He found you in the garden one afternoon, quietly sweeping up fallen cherry blossoms with a woven broom, your fingers trembling just slightly from exhaustion. You looked up when he approached, startled, but gave him a shy nod.
โYou do so much around here,โ he said warmly. โYou do not have to push yourself this hard.โ
โIโฆ I do not want to be a burden,โ you murmured. โEveryone else is stronger. Braver. I justโฆ help however I can.โ
Tanjiro shook his head. โDon't say that. Helping others is its' own kind of strength.โ He crouched beside you and smiled, voice gentle. โYou save lives here. You bring peace. Thatโs not freeloading. Thatโs being part of the fight.โ
And when he helped you to your feet, his fingers lingered around yours.
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โก Zenitsu Agatsuma โ โDon't Sell Yourself ShortโThatโs My Job!โ
Zenitsu first noticed you when you accidentally dropped a stack of clean laundry right in front of him, scrambled to pick it up, and apologized like you had committed a crime. His heart stuttered in his chest. Not just because you were cute (you were), but because you looked so genuinely afraid of being in someoneโs way.
You reminded himโฆ a little too much of himself kinda.
Later that day, he found you in the hallway trying to scrub blood out of a uniform sleeve, muttering to yourself about not doing enough. He knelt beside you, hands full of soap.
โNeed help?โ he offered. Then, a beat later, โPlease say yes. Iโm actually good at laundry. One of the few things Iโm confident in.โ
You blinked at him in surprise. โReally?โ
โYeah. And youโre not giving yourself enough credit,โ he said quickly, eyes wide with sincerity. โJust because you havenโt killed a demon yet doesnโt mean youโre not a slayer. Youโre still here. Youโre still trying. Thatโs more than most.โ
You looked down, a little flustered. โโฆThank you, Zenitsu.โ
He turned bright red. โY-You know my name?!?โ
You smiled. โOf course I do.โ
Zenitsu nearly fainted on the spot.
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๐ Inosuke Hashibira โ โWhy Are You Hiding That Youโre Cool?โ
You were carrying a tray of rice bowls when Inosuke barreled past you in the hallway, nearly knocking it all over. You did not scold him, just carefully knelt and picked it up again. He paused. Watched. Grunted.
The next day, you were cleaning out the koi pond, knee-deep in water, humming a little song to yourself. He watched again from the roof.
โYou!โ he finally said later, when he cornered you outside the kitchen. โWhy are you hiding that youโre cool?โ
You blinked, confused. โIโฆ I do not think I am.โ
โYeah, well I do!โ he said, pointing at you with two chopsticks. โYou carry heavy buckets. You work like a demon. You are sneaky quiet but fast. Thatโs awesome.โ
You laughed, just a little. โI don't think that makes me cool.โ
โThen you are wrong!โ he declared proudly. โYouโre just like a stealthy boar. Likeโlike a forest ghost. I have decided you are in my pack now!โ
โโฆYour pack?โ
โYes. So you have to eat meals with me from now on.โ
You smiled, ducking your head. โAlright, then. Deal.โ
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