丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 12

"That's not true!" Chizuko exclaimed, "Aoi-chan you are the best! You are the best at cooking! I know nothing about cooking! And being the leader when we are working in the hospital! Honestly we would have been a mess if you weren't always here for us. You are also one of the best friends I could ever ask for!"

Aoi looked up to Chizuko, a smile crept up her lips, "Thanks, Chizuko-chan. Now let's continue cooking before we burn the food."

"Hai!"

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"So, the good news is that Ichika-chan and I are going to enter the final selection! We'll be leaving this weekend!" Hina announced during dinner.

Ichika sighed, "Don't mind her." "What?! Why?! Aren't you excited about it?" Hina pouted. "Hina-chan, the final selection is not a child's play, it's serious business," Ichika explained worriedly.

"Actually, what is this final selection?" Chizuko asked. Iguro-sama kept mumbling about sending me to it as well. "You see, we aren't qualified demon slayers yet," Ichika explained, "if we pass the final selection, we become qualified. To put it simple, it is held yearly and participants are sent to a mountain filled with demons. Anyone who survives for seven nights is said to have passed the selection."

Survive? That means... "I heard people die every year, and in some years no one comes out alive," Ichika added. Silence loomed across the table, Chizuko could feel sweat in her palms. Will Hina and Ichika end up not coming back? No, she doesn't want it to happen, she doesn't want them to go. Suddenly, the happiness she felt with these girls were like the bubbles Kanao blew, dazzling yet fragile, gone in a pop.

"Ahh! Ichika-chan you always ruin the atmosphere!" Hina stood, "Of course we will come back! We have to be confident in ourselves! Besides, we need to set a good example to Aoi-chan and Chizuko-chan! Think of all the adventures we can go on after we all pass the selection! But for now, we have to enjoy dinner! I'm starving!"

Shinobu watched her girls. Yes, she knew what may be laying ahead, she knew reality was cruel, she knew she may never see them again after this weekend. But she was happy, happy that Hina knew she had to live at the moment, treasure when there was still time, and hope for the future.

"Itadakimasu!"

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"What!? That lowly snake!" Hina shouted.

"Shhhhhh!" the others shushed Hina. "Master will hear us!" Aoi whispered. Hina continued, "Talk back to him! Kick him in the groin if you must!" "B-But Hina-san! Iguro-sama is a senior and we should respect him," Kiyo reminded her. "He should also show some respect!" Hina argued.

Kanao handed Chizuko a handkerchief, she blew her nose, "I-It's okay, I don't really want to force Iguro-sama to change. Anyways, I feel better after talking about it." Aoi crossed her arms, "Like what I said, you can come over anytime. I'm sure master would make sure Iguro-sama would not be able to drag you back."

Ichika stood, "Ah, one more thing before we sleep." She turned to the drawers and took out a haori, "I made something for everyone."

"For us?" Chizuko's mouth fell agape. "I just thought... I just thought I wanted to make something for all of you before we go. You know... I... I want you all to have something to remember about me," Ichika took out a cape, an uchiwa*, a temari ball* and three kinchaku bags*. She handed the items to each girl.

Chizuko's hand brushed against the soft fabric of the haori. It was striped like Obanai's, with thinner stripes. There were playful foxes chasing each other at the bottom. "I hope you all like it, it isn't much and I didn't have enough time and-" Ichika was cut off by the girls who hugged her.

"Ahhhh! It's so beautiful!" Hina chuckled, "Gosh you're making me cry!" "Ichika-san! Arigatou! We will make good use of the bags!" Naho, Sumi and Kiyo chirped. Like Hina, Aoi was fighting back tears, "Arigatou, Ichicka-chan." "It's the first time I've ever received a handmade gift!" Chizuko held the haori close, "I'll definitely cherish it!" Kanao held onto Ichika's arm, how she wished she could at least smile for Ichika.

Ichika took a deep breath, "I-If we don't come ba-" "Ichika-chan! Don't keep saying things like that! We will come back! And you can make us more gifts on our birthdays!" Hina stopped Ichika, "Ah, I'm already imagining going on missions with Saito-san~" "You mean the poor boy who ate sweet porridge last time?" Aoi teased. "H-Hey! That was an accident! I'm sure he has forgiven me!" Hina blushed, "He wished me good luck yesterday!"

"You've been meeting him?" Chizuko chuckled, "Do tell us more~" "Nope! I'm going to bed!" Hina's face turned redder. Ichika laughed, "You're no fun~ Hina-chan~" "There are kids here!" Hina gestured at Naho, Sumi and Kiyo, who looked confused.

"Tell us!"

"Not in a million years!!!!"

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*uchiwa: a traditional Japanese fan
*temari ball: "hand ball" in Japanese, made from embroidery, a folk art form and Japanese craft
*kinchaku bags: a traditional Japanese drawstring bag, used like a handbag for carrying around personal possessions. Larger versions can be used to carry bento boxes (packed lunchboxes) and utensils.