☆ 3rd POV ★

Fifteen days had passed by a little longer than expected for Yashimi-san and Daisuke-sama. To pass the seemingly boring time, Yashimi-san trained every day, resting only for 2 days before her nichirin blade would come and change its color.

★•A day before•★

"Kuwaaa~" Yashimi-san gawked at the hairpin Daisuke-sama had unwrapped in front of her, adjusting her mask. "It's so pretty, Daisuke-sama!!" Yashimi-san's hand couldn't contain her excitement.

"I know," Daisuke-sama laid out his hand Yashimi-san, which she laid her hand on top of, "That's why I am giving it to you, Fujimura, it is now yours." Daisuke-sama's voice lights up, with a very warm yet sunny smile.

Daisuke-sama laid the wistera hairpin on Yashimi-san's hand. "W-what? I couldn't possibly accept this!?" Yashimi-san's eyes slightly widens her eyes in disbelief, "This was your wife's. I mean, it is beautiful, but I would've preferred it if it was good fo–"

Yashimi-san was cut off guard when Daisuke-sama put a hand on her shoulder. "You remind me so much of my wife, Fujimura. You are almost like her. So brave and stubborn." Daisuke-sama's voice lowly explained.

"You and she were brave enough to join the demon slayer corps. But me? I couldn't. I didn't join because I was a coward." Daisuke-sama's face seemed to be plumped down in sadness as he looked away in shame.

He knew why his wife, Tsukori, had died, and to him, it was because he wasn't strong enough to protect her.

"She knew one day, a demon would come here. That's why she trained harder, smarter, and every day. For me and her to be safe." Daisuke-sama said, determination follows his voice.

Daisuke-sama looked at Yashimi-san with hope, "That's why I trained you for 5 years. Because the first time I saw you when Tsukori brought you home, you wanted to become a Hashira and kill demons, and that inspired me. That's why I want you to have this. Remember, don't ever back down, and don't give up."

"Okay, Daisuke-sama. Thank you so much for this and everything you and Tsukori-sama did for me." Yashimi-san said as Daisuke-sama moved to her back.

He braided her hair into a half-up and half-down with the hairpin, not touching her mask. He grabbed a mirror from his side and gave it to Yashimi-san. "Wow.." Yashimi-san became speechless, her breathing hitched.

"I know, I'm pretty good at hair styling. Learned from the best," Daisuke-sama said as he looked at a picture from a stand in the corner with a paper in the front.

"Tsukori Koshiko."

☆•Present time: Yashimi POV•☆

"Kuwaaa~" I chew and savor the flavor on my tongue as I eat the sashimi with tempura. My kitsune mask hangs from on top of my head, only seeing my mouth and chin.

Birds had chirpped along to its rhythm in a sangsong way as morning sun shines through everywhere. While waiting for my nichirin to arrive, we decided to eat for our energy.

"Daisuke-sama, you're a really good cook!" I smiled and continued eating faster, longing for the tasty meal. As if I'd been starved to almost death.

"Slow down, Fujimura. You don't wanna choke on your meal." Daisuke-sama warns me, but continued to blush sheepishly at my compliment. "Thank you, but I don't think I am as good as a cook as you'd think." He says, quietly slurping on his noodle.

"I know, Daisuke-sama, but," A firm knock distracts us, turning our heads. "Stay here, I'll get it, Daisuke-sama." I say, staying as quiet as ever as I hold on to my sword. I adjust my mask to cover my face in case it is a demon.

I open the door, like how any unsuspecting person would. "O-oh!" I yelp in surprise, "Kerozuka-san. How are you?" I open the door widely. "I am here to deliver your sword as always." He says, tiringly.

"Please come in. It must've been a tiring journey for you." I lead him inside as I quickly close the door, and I sit opposite sides of Daisuke-sama.

"Greetings, Kerozuka-san." Daisuke-sama bows deeply, "I see that you are to deliver Fujimura's sword once again." He sits down as Kerozuka-san sits beside him and opposite to me.

After a moment of silence, Kerozuka-san hands me my sword. "I'm impressed with how much you've grown, Fujimura-san." Kerozuka-san says.

I lay the sword on my hands, watching it fills me determination and hope that maybe it will change. "Thank you, Kerozuka-san." I say, smiling at him.

Although he couldn't see it with my mask, I think he gets my gesture as I keep bowing to him.

"Okay, okay," I breathed out and held my sword. My hand holding the handle and the other holding the saya. I tightly hold it before opening.

*click*

I open the sword. My heart pounds in my chest from excitement. I draw the sword upward and place the saya next to me.

"Moment of truth, everyone." I say, chuckling, trying to look as confident as ever. But deep inside, I'm scared because it would mean that all these years of training had gone to waste.

I hold it in my hands, touching my forehead to its sharpest side while I tightly close my eyes. We three waited for the nichirin blade to change color.

☆★☆★☆

My heart skips a beat in my chest, from fear, or is it excitement, steadying my breathing. "Woah." Kerozuka-san says in a tone of disbelief with maybe happiness. Did I finally do it? I ask myself in thought. Did I? Please say I did.

I look at the nichirin blade. My heart skips a beat again. My hand trembles in I don't know what emotion. Is this what mine is supposed to look like?

Nothing. Just grey? Plain color? What does this mean? Am I a failure? Did I fail? I thought I did well. I trained hard, you know. Every day, I..

"Fujimura-san.." Kerozuka-san and Daisuke-sama reaches out to my shoulders with their hands. I could sense their feeling of sympathy, sadness, and empathy.

I let out a breath. "That's alright." I put the nichirin blade back inside to the saya. Both guys jump a little in surprise. "Y-you're not mad? Or sad?" They ask.

"No, I'm not. Maybe one day, I will get my color, but for now, my sword will be colored grey. Or just plain." I gently place the sword next to me.

Kerozuka-san lays his hand out towards me. I tilt my head to the side, confusion around my face. "It's okay, I'll take the nichirin back. I'll wait until next year or when you decide to join again." Kerozuka-san says, sadly.

"No. It's fine, Kerozuka-san. I'll become a demon slayer and train until my color comes to me, naturally." I say.

Kerozuka-san flinch in surprise. "Really? Oh, thank you so much, Fujimura-san." Kerozuka-san starts bowing again and again, making sure that his head is touching the ground with each bow.

"No need for all that, Kerozuka-san." I wave my hand and head in disagreement. "Actually, it should be me that should thank you for your patience and for keeping my sword clean." I smile as Kerozuka-san finally stops.

"Now, who wants tea? Kerozuka-san, you should stay here for the night because it is getting dark."

"Okay. Thank you, Fujimura-san. For finally accepting yourself as a demon slayer and the sword." Kerozuka-san cries out as Daisuke-sama pats his back for comfort.

"Ehh.. Did I really take that long to accept your sword..?" I ask in embarrassment, scratching the back of my neck.

♧♣︎♧♣︎♧♣︎

The answer was yes.