丨Soar丨 Kimetsu no Yaiba x OC｜

Chapter 40

Kumiko couldn't understand, the thorns of bitter envy prickled at her heart and senses. In her eyes, Chizuko was some nobody that didn't deserve anything. Why was she rescued? Why was she leading such a good life? Why was she smothered with love and care all of a sudden?

Why didn't Kumiko herself gain any of that after leaving the village?

Chizuko took a deep breath, her gaze towards Kumiko held nothing but calmness. Yes, the past did hurt, and to be honest she was damaged to the point that she could never be fixed again. One of the people that brought her all the unnecessary suffering is right in front of her, yet she was devoid of the feelings of hate and revenge.

Chizuko blinked, rubbing her eyes.

Was she seeing things?

"Suzuki?" Uzui snapped his fingers in front of Chizuko, "Oi! Suzuki! Do you hear me?"

"I-er... Uzui-sama!" Chizuko stuttered, "I-I'm sorry, but what did you say?"

"I said, we should get going now,. It is unflamoyant to be late," Uzui rubbed his chin, "What were you staring at?"

Chizuko gulped. Was that Kumiko? That's impossible, she was supposed to be back at the village. It must be because she had barely slept for two nights, there was no way Kumiko would be sitting in a bar with some revealing clothes.

Right?

"A-Ah, Uzui-sama, I-er... I thought I saw someone I know," Chizuko stammered hesitantly.

"You came to Tokyo around... a year ago?" Chizuko asked, though it sounded more like a statement.

Kumiko gritted her teeth, she didn't want to answer Chizuko. But she got to get that knife in her hands, so she might as well play along, "Yes, my parents sent me to Tokyo to study."

"Then what are you doing here? How did you enter my dream?" Chizuko pressed, she knew she had to get out as soon as possible, or else not only her friends, but every single passenger on the train was in danger.

"That's none of your business!" Kumiko pointed at the knife, "Just give that back to me and we can both pretend nothing has happened!"

"What happened after you came to Tokyo? Why are you in my dream with this strange... thing?" Chizuko clutched the hilt of the strange weapon tighter.

"If you must know, I was fooled!" Kumiko broke down all of a sudden, "I indeed came here to study at first! I wanted to become a model! But I was deceived by that fraud of a company! I was in debt! I-I was forced to become a hostess at bars! I didn't dare to tell my parents! It will ruin their reputation! We would become like you and your family if rumours about me spread!"

Chizuko was startled, "Wh-What...!?"

"Happy now? Seeing me suffer is enjoyable to you! Right?" Kumiko stomped forward, "You have no idea how ashamed I feel every day! Suzuki! Every night I have to sit beside those disgusting people smoking pipes! I can do nothing to resist when their hands roam around my body! You are delighted to see how pitiful I am, aren't you?"

"I... I..." Chizuko's eyes softened, "I'm sorry for what you've been through, Kumiko."

Kumiko drew back as if she had seen a repulsive bug, "Wh-What?"

"I just want you to know that... I don't hate you, at least not anymore," Chizuko smiled, "M-May I ask how much is your debt? You see... my job now pays more than I need... so I figured out it is best to use the extra money to help others and-"

"I don't need your pity!" Kumiko buried her face in her hands, "Do I look helpless to you!? Are you mocking me!? I don't need your help! I refuse to be saved by you! You are still nothing! Nothing more than the dirt on the floor! I don't need help from dirt!"

"Why are you helping me!? You should be laughing at me! Taking pleasure in my pain! Why aren't you insulting me!? Why aren't you flaunting your new life to me!? Why aren't you loathing me!?" Kumiko's legs buckled, her knees sinking into the thick snow,

"Why are you able to be kind when the world is cruel and unfair!?"

"Kumiko..." Chizuko approached her, "I-I truly want to help you, but you have to tell me how to wake up first, we have to go back to the real world to tackle our problems."

The real world, Kumiko's eyebrows raised. No no no no no, she didn't want to go back to reality. She wanted to stay in her dream, where she didn't have to spare a single drop of energy to care for her daily life crisis. Her hand reaching for the palm Chizuko held out for her to hold on halted, there was only one way to keep dreaming.

Kumiko snatched the knife and ran.

"Kumiko!!!" Chizuko hurried after her, "Where are you going!!? Hey!!!"

Pink fire tore through the scene, Chizuko threw her arms over her head for protection.

***
"What are you doing!?" Tanjiro yelled, knocking Kumiko out cold by the neck.

Chizuko's eyes snapped open.

"Tanjiro-san...?"

"Chizuko-san!" Tanjiro let out a relieved breath, "Thank goodness you're awake! Are you feeling better? There's a blood demon art that made everyone fall asleep and now they just won't wake up!"

The intense dizziness in Chizuko's head returned, but she nodded to Tanjiro, "I'm alright! What's the plan now?"

"I will try to see if I can find the demon!" Tanjiro sprinted to the window, "Chizuko-san! Please help wake everyone! I'll call for help if I need it! And please help look after Nezuko!"

"Alright!" Chizuko nodded to Nezuko. Together they turned to shake their companions, "Rengoku-sama! Zenitsu-san! Inosuke-san! Please Wake up!!!"

Hi it's me again :) hope you all enjoy reading ♡'･ᴗ･'♡ Sorry for the delay again, I will try my best to keep up with my current posting schedule (￣'Д'￣)9