Idealistic

"..."

Their faces showed all kinds of emotions, from excitement to annoyance. The common factor between all of them was the inability to move, mostly out of confusion or shock. Out of all of them, why would the youngest have a tsuguko? Their eyes simultaneously scanned him hugging you from behind, and how you were melting in his arms.

"What a relief! I was wondering when everyone would meet [Y/N]-chan" Mitsuri broke the silence, relieving the weird tension.

Shinobu giggled, gently freeing you from your master's arms before you fainted.

"That's all? That brat?"

Shinobu rolled her eyes at the wind pillar, sneering, but did not waste her energy on answering him.

"Didn't she fully master four forms in four months?" Mitsuri asked, placing her index finger over her lips and looking up thoughtful "That's very rare among trainees"

That comment picked Uzui's interest, who was pleased to know that the person he had deemed as flamboyant held up to that grand title.

"She did what? That scaredy-cat? No way."

Rengoku's thick eyebrows raised and he clapped ecstatically "That's an awesome feat, young [Y/N]! You're as talented as your master!"

Coming back from your melting state, you observed the people there, the eight pillars of the Demon Slayer Corps.

Why are there so many hot people here? Tokito-sama is the peak of beauty, but these people seemed to have been sculpted by God's hands.

The pillars were indeed making you sweat more than you would if they weren't like that. Between Tokito having hugged you from behind and Mitsuri refusing to stop rubbing her cheek against your head again, you had no option but to keep praying to not have a heart attack.

"But wasn't she sick?" Giyuu asked, to which Shinobu let out another giggle.

"She is! But my medicine combined with her total concentr—"

"SHE WAS HEALED BY MUICHIRO-KUN'S LOVE!!" Mitsuri yelled, hugging you tighter. You choked by her words.

Obanai, the snake dude, jumped off the tree and left, mentally sending you daggers and a terrible aura. His snake hissed at you, which ended up not scaring you, since there were bigger and more poisonous snakes back in the mist estate. You shrieked just remembering that place's many dangers.

Giyuu disappeared as well, but nobody noticed. Saddened, your lips curved downwards. You were hurt that another handsome person had left.

Well, sure, less eyes on you, which was good for your weak heart.

"What's the point on presenting a tsuguko anyway?" your voice sounded low, and Mitsuri wasn't really listening, but luckily Shinobu was right next to you to answer.

"It's important because you are his apprentice, and thus, the next mist pillar should anything happen to him"

Your lips furrowed, feeling a sour taste in the back of your mouth. "If anything were to happen to him, I'd be too devastated to fill his position"

Shinobu sighed, eyes closed.

"So you'd rather let his effort and life go to waste because you're not mature enough to understand the consequences of being a demon slayer?" she frowned slightly, she was controlling herself the best way she could.

You reminded her of how she acted when Kanae died. She wasn't his successor, but had the same weight on her shoulders and started to bottle up those negative feelings inside a jar behind her heart. She didn't wish to see someone endure the same.

"N-No." you responded, lowering your head with a sorrowful look.

Mitsuri had stopped being so lovable when she noticed that Shinobu wasn't smiling anymore, which was a sight almost as rare as Giyuu's legendary smile.

The remaining pillars joined in the discussion, aware that Shinobu didn't have ill intentions by scolding you.

"Listen, [Y/N], you have to stop being so idealistic. I know you've lived most of your life buried in fictional stories, but you're a pillar's tsuguko, a soon-to-be demon slayer." the violet-eyed girl continued, softening her expression as her shoulders sank.

"No matter how talented you may be, idealistic thoughts will get you nowhere." Rengoku commented, going out of his way to pat your head as if that were to make you feel better with the situation itself.

Idealistic? Is my desire the stay with the only person I've known as family, idealistic?

"Your title means knowing what might happen in the future and face it. Right, Kanroji?"

Mitsuri hesitated, bitting her bottom lip.

Is the purpose of this tsuguko presentation having a talk about how cruel the demon world is?

Gritting your teeth, you faced down.

I already know that. I'd known no joy before meeting the Corps. I know how cruel and unfair the world is, so let me hold onto hope. It's all I have left.

Clenching jaw, lowering your eyebrows, you contained yourself from speaking against them. Your mind was completely clouded by sadness, forgetting the anxiety that being around those strangers provoked.

"At the very least, that boy is flamboyantly strong, but imagine if Kocho was your master" Uzui laughed to himself, Shinobu glared at him "Her poor tsuguko has it tough"

"She took it well when we told her why she's a tsuguko in the first place"

Rengoku chuckled "Ah, I remember that! She didn't even blink!"

Kanao was right there, but her presence was that of a ghost so they really didn't care about speaking freely about her.

"Or [Y/N] could die earlier. Who wants to bet?"

"Uzui, please shut up, do I need to remind you that your last tsuguko quit the moment we mentioned him that he'd one day take your place, when you die?"

"Hmph! I'm not dying!"

"Well then neither is anyone here, so please stop trying to scare young [Y/N]! We're only here to remind her to be serious and prepared!" Rengoku shot back, a big smile plastered on his face.

You felt Mitsuri's hand on top of yours —made into fists—, her soft contact relaxed you, as if she could empathize with your feelings and the refuse to accept the possible outcomes. You dying, him dying, or him just leaving the Corps making you the next mist pillar.

"Fine" you complied "....I will think about it"

The pillars stopped chatting amongst each other hearing the low tone of your voice.

They could tell the lies behind those words, but decided not to say anything as Tokito approached you and calmly walked out holding your wrist.

Exchanging a look, they agreed that you couldn't possibly stay with that mindset with a master as stoic and logical as the mist pillar.