𝗘𝘂𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮

𝟞 - 𝕋𝕒𝕟𝕛𝕚𝕣𝕠'𝕤 𝔾𝕠𝕠𝕕𝕓𝕪𝕖



★=========✾=========★

Urokodaki began preparing dinner as we all circled the campfire, returning home from the forest.

Tanjiro, who was sitting next to me, was astounded by the amount of food the elderly man had prepared for us, while I sat beside him, staring at the boy with a soft look.

Words could not describe how proud of the boy I was.

The astounding size of the rock, alongside the willpower the boy held, was admirable to say the least. He continued on, even though the world around him seemed disasterurs.

He didn't stop once he found the corpses of his family, laying in front of him, though that is now but a distant memory after all this time.

He didn't stop when all odds seemed to be against him, instead that just boosted his drive, his need to do better, even though he was already going through hell for the sole purpose of helping others.

He somewhat reminded me of myself sometimes..

"Wow... What's the occasion? There's so much!" Tanjiro exclaimed, bending forward to inhale the mouthwatering aroma of the food that was soon to be served as our dinner.

Urokodaki lifted his gaze from the bowl in his palm, instead, looking towards the boy, the mask a wall between our eyes and his emotions. "You've completed all your training, so we're celebrating."

Tanjiro's eyes wideneded as the man began pouring a serving into a bowl. "Don't be shy. Eat up." The old man encouraged once he poured the serving and handed it to the boy, who grinned widely, stars in his eyes as he nodded.

I smiled politely, nodding in thanks when i was handed a boel of my own. "Thank you" I spoke calmly while the boy beside me began to scoff down his food, to which I responded with the shake of my head.
"Tanjiro, slow down. The food is boiling hot, and I'm sure there's plenty of it." The boy paid no mind to my words of caution as Urokodaki filled his own serving. "Be careful, you might choke-"

The boy began to splutter, his face turning red before he grasped his throat. He wheezed, and all I did was sigh as I watched him do so. Even after all these years, he still has the same habits...

Urokodaki simply sat to the side, watching as I patted the boys back harshly, allowing him to cough out the food, before swallowing it once again before it could fully leave his throat, now able to digest the dish fully without any more problems.
The boy panted, his hand still grasping his throat and rubbing the muscles as I rubbed his back, a bead of sweat running down the side of my face.

It wasn't long before the boy continued on with his meal, and soon the rest of us. However, most of the time, I couldn't stop my eyes wondering away from my dish to glance at Tanjiro every once in a while. Not out of concern, but of genuine pride and happiness for the boy.

All my thoughts were filled with were silent words, praising the boy from the corner of my eye as he continued to gobble down his meal, occasionally asking for more once his bowl was practically empty. I chuckled to myself, my warm smile growing a little more real as my eyes glazed at him.

This boy would be capable of great things.

I just knew it.

✾

The audible tune of a page turning filled the room, alongside the constant homely melody of fire crackling as my eyes scanned over the pages of the book in my hands.
My back was against the wall in the corner of the room as Tanjiro sat by the fire, cutting his hair while Urokodaki kneeled on the ground, neatly folding a haori. The constant snippets, as well as the small hums coming from the boy, were enough to keep my consciousness to that around me, while my eyes scanned through the contents of the book, which happened to be about herbs and medicines.