Sanemi eventually left for the mission, walking in the middle of the night.

It was a 4 hour walk.

He didn't see any Demons on his way, the sun slowly coming up now.

Ah... It's morning already?
Sanemi walked to his assigned Mansion which was on the side of the road.

He knocked on the door.

The door unlocked, a young boy opening it.

"You're here! Welcome to the mansion, please come in!"

Sanemi was too tired to respond to him, walking in quietly as he went to his room. He closed the door shut, slowly falling on the bed.

"Gotta sleep..."
He fell asleep almost immediately, he really was tired.

It was midday when his eyes blinked open. He looked at the sunlight that filled the room with brightness.

He finally got out of bed, washing his face as he walked out of the room.

"Your meal is ready!"

Sanemi groggily walked to the room, sitting down at the table.

He scratched his head, his vision was a little blurry. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

As soon as he finished his food, he zoned out, wondering if Giyuu was eating properly.

I really hope he is... He'll get thinner otherwise...

___________________________________________

Giyuu was in his backyard, staring at the clouds outside.

I hope Shinazugawa-San's doing alright...
He sighed softly, imagining Sanemi's happy face.

He rubbed the back of his neck, only to find something stuck on his uniform collar.

What's that...?

He pulled it out, his eyes widening.

What...
It was the charm he insisted Sanemi to take with him.

"How could... This be here?"

Wait...

Giyuu's eyes widened all of a sudden as he recalled the previous evening.

"T-Tomioka, Wait!"
Sanemi had stopped him, hugging him again.
He even patted Giyuu's back.

"Did he give it back to me when we hugged...? That moment?"
Giyuu sighed helplessly.

Why doesn't Shinazugawa-San want me to care for him!
He stared at the sky quietly.

"Why does he always stop me... When I'm only trying to return the same love that he's given me...?"
He muttered softly.

Shinazugawa-San... Why do you have to be so stubborn?

___________________________________________

There were hours left till it got dark.

Bored, Sanemi decided to walk through the streets.

The sunlight was strong, the flowers blooming.

A strong wind blew, flower petals flying everywhere.

How pretty... I wish you were here to see this with me, Tomioka...
Sanemi stared at the flying petals, reaching his hand out to hold one.

As a pink petal landed on his palm, he stared at it closely.

It's beautiful... Just like Tomioka...
He smiled at his little thoughts.

I was right when I thought I'd miss him, huh?
Sanemi blushed a little, before his gaze shifted to a small shop at the corner of the street.

It was a young girl, sitting there quietly, selling what seemed like tiny colored papers with notes on them.

Curiously, Sanemi walked to the shop.

"Hey, little girl..."

"Hello! What kind of a note would you like?"
She smiled at him.

"...A note?"
Sanemi tilted his head to the side.

The girl nodded enthusiastically.
"I write notes for different occasions, for loved ones that you can gift them later!"
She replied.

Sanemi smiled.
That's pretty cool.

He leaned towards her.
"Can you write something I'll tell you to?"

The girl nodded, smiling happily.
"Of course!"

Sanemi blushed a little as he crouched.
"C-Can you write I love you...?"

"Ah! Of course, a lot of people ask me to write the same thing!"
She laughed softly.

"What colour would you prefer...?"
She asked.

"Uh... Just anything that's pretty..."
Sanemi muttered, looking away.

Hold up...
Sanemi's eyes widened, quickly stopping her.

"Wait! Anything that's... Water-related..."
He said, blushing more.

"Blue it is, then!"
She grabbed the paper, slowly tracing the letters in a neat handwriting.

He is the Water Hashira, so it should be okay...
Sanemi thought.

She drew waves of water on the paper as Sanemi watched.

"Um... C-Could you write Tomioka next to it?"

She smiled at him.
"Is that their name?"

Sanemi nodded gently, his blush deepening even more.

After a minute or two, it was done.

"There! All done!"
She smiled as she handed him the paper.

Sanemi looked at it, it really reminded him of Giyuu, he blushed softly as he put it in his pocket.

Once I go back, I'll give this to him. He will love it.
Sanemi's thoughts got iim excited to return to the headquarters.

"Uh... How much is it?"
He asked, his mind already thinking about Giyuu's reaction.

"It's a 100 Yen."

Sanemi blinked twice before he smiled warmly at her.

"Here, take 500."
Sanemi handed her the money, turning around to walk away.

"Ah!!! Thank you so much! Have a great day, Mister!!!"

Sanemi chuckled softly, turning back one last time.
"You too!"

He walked off.

___________________________________________

It was getting darker now.

Sanemi slowly began to patrol over the area, his eyes looking for any Demon activity.

As everyone slept, he felt like he was the only one awake in the town.

He heard a soft rustle of leaves, running towards it.

As soon as he spotted a Demon there, his green blade cut through it's head smoothly.

Sanemi looked around, his gaze even more cautious now.

He walked through the streets, hearing a faint sound of footsteps approaching him.

He quickly turned around, slashing the Demon as it's body fell dead on the spot.

He quietly decapitated many, slowly walking towards the village.

It was even quieter in the village, not a single human was awake.

As Sanemi walked through the forest, his heart beat grew faster, his sharp eyes looking for any signs of movement.

He noticed a thick forest at the very end of the village road, almost hidden in shadows, it was so dark in there, that he couldn't understand what was inside.

He trusted on his hearing senses as he stepped forward slowly and carefully.
In the extremely quiet night, Sanemi stepped closer to the deep woods, his breath hitching in his throat.

Soon enough, he heard leaves rustle near the forest. It seemed as if the noises were coming from the space that was covered in complete darkness, behind the trees.

He hurried towards it, his eyes filled with fierce determination.

But little did he know...
Behind the trees, there wasn't just any Demon... But Akaza, Upper Moon 3.

And this fight, was going to to be one of the most fierce fights he'd ever fought.
___________________________________________

Gayuu be sleeping and dreaming of Salami while he fights Douma's crush here...

🍩💅