Slayers And Heroes

Some Deep Seated Feeling

In the development studios, Nezuko was hanging around Hatsume. They were trying to improve the exoskeleton that Nezuko wore to simulate her superhuman abilities she had as a demon. The one she currently had functioned well enough, but it wasn't quite fully what she wanted it to be. The claws were delayed in coming out, and the plates that would protect her shins and arms only just get into place before her limb would make contact. She was discussing the improvements.

"I see. So, improved reaction track speeds and extension rates. That's the big thing?" Hatsume asked.

"I guess? I just want to be able to attack without the fear that I'll shatter my bones," Nezuko said.

"Well, I guess I can try out something new while improving the speeds!"

She walked over to a large, strange machine. She opened a panel on it and pulled out a few metal plates.

"Is that..." Nezuko asked.

"Artificial Nichirin steel. At least as close as I can get. Did you know Nichirin steel is made with one of the rarest iron ores in the world? It's so rare that only, like, five museums in the world have samples," Hatsume said.

"What about the old Demon Slayer blades?"

"I think they rusted away? I mean, iron is still iron. It rusts over time."

"I... guess that makes sense? But then--"

"How did I get Nichirin samples? That mowhawk guy's shotgun shells have Nichirin ball bearings. I just used electron microscopes and other methods to figure out the exact periodic, ionic, and other chemical makeups to get as close I could to recreating Nichirin metal."

As she began disassembling the strange metalwork, Nezuko struggled not to make light of the fact she could see a pair of students looking on from the door. Both students were peeking in. She knew they weren't doing it to be creepy. They were both just concerned for the two in there. She couldn't tell what or if they were saying anything between them.

Those two students were Zenitsu and Iida. Zenitsu had followed Nezuko to the support lab while Iida was on his way to the support lab when Nezuko was going to it. Iida asked why Zenitsu was following, and he said he was making sure nothing bad happened to Nezuko. Zenitsu asked why Iida was going to the support lab, but he said it was not something Zenitsu needed to concern himself with.

As they watched on, Iida kept mumbling to himself.

"Don't let anything blow up. I don't know how many more explosions I can save her from before she finally gets the hint that she needs to be careful..." Iida said.

"Wait... explosions?" Zenitsu asked.

"You think your second visit was a fluke? Believe it or not, it has been a frequent occurrence."

Thankfully, neither he nor Zenitsu had to worry while the exoskeleton was being fixed up. She hooked up the exoskeleton to a computer to input the commands, and in no time at all, the upgrades and repairs were done.

"And that's that! Wanna give it a couple test kicks and flexes?" Hatsume asked.

She put the exoskeleton on, fastening the clasps around her ankles, above the knees, gut, wrists, and upper arm. She flexed her fingers, and immediately, the claws came out from the wrist clasps. She swung her arms in scratching motions to get a feel for the claws. She then flexed her fingers again, and the claws retracted. She then took a couple of steps back and leaped into the air, performing a spinning kick. The plates around her ankles and above her knees formed a protective armor around her shins and feet.

"Much better!" Nezuko said after landing.

The plates retracted, and she began taking off the exoskeleton.