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Chapter 20

"...Want me to just... knock him out for a while?"
I ask, pointing to blondie who screamed again.

"What?! Look, during my next job, I'll most likely die, okay?! The reason is, I'm just a weakling, okay?! Do you understand?! You have to help protect me until I manage to get married, misters!"

"My name's Tanjiro, and you are?"

"Tanjiro?! That's good to know! I'm Zenitsu Agatsuma!"

All I can do is stare, drying the tears Zenitsu left in my robe.
"What about you?! You're a demon slayer too, right?!"

"Yes! Now quit yelling you're louder than Tanjiro's crow! My name's Y/N!"

"Good to know! Now will you please help me?!"
He clung to Tanjiro now, still crying.

"Aren't you being a bit dramatic? Why did you even become a Demon Slayer? You're acting awfully pathetic right now."

"That's a harsh way to put it!"

"Stop screaming you hog-monkey."
I blow a gust of wind in his face to dry it, only for him to start crying again.

"I'm not a hog-monkey! And I got conned by a woman and racked up a lot of debt! The old geezer who took it for me happened to be this tough as nails instructor! He made me train to the bone everyday and it was so hellish, I wanted to die!"

He cried, holding his head.
"I was hoping that would happen during Final Selection, but since I survived, this nightmare continues to haunt me!"

I sigh, feeling pity for him.
"Heavens above, just... Come here."
I hesitantly give him a hug, patting his back.

"Stop crying you big baby."
He screamed a little longer, rambling way too fast for anyone to comprehend.
Eventually he did calm down, crying in my shoulder as I awkwardly kept patting his back.

"You done crying there, blondie?"
I softly ask him, to which he nods and sniffles, rubbing his puffy eyes.
"Mhm..."

I get up and dry my robe, Tanjiro and I agreeing to take him with us, mostly to prevent him from harassing other girls, and to make sure he doesn't die.

He did quiet down on the road, still sniffling now and again.
"Do you feel better?"
Tanjiro asked him.

"A bit... But, now I'm... really hungry."
He pouted.

"Don't you ever bring food or rations with you?"
I ask, surprised at how unprepared he was. Demon Slayer or not.

"No..."
He pouted.

Tanjiro took out the onigiri from his haori, offering it to him.
"Here."
Ah, there it was. That same smile. I swear, his kindness is quite an intoxicating feeling.

"Really...?"

He nodded, and we kept walking as Zenitsu ate.
"Thank you so much. But, aren't you guys gonna eat any?"

We shook our heads.
"That was all we had for now."
Tanjiro smiled, and he then offered us both a piece.

"Here, you guys can have these thirds."
Zenitsu smiled.