You hadn’t expected much when you arrived at the Demon Slayer Corps’ training grounds for the first time—just a few intense drills and maybe a spar or two. What you didn’t expect was to meet him.

“AH! You—you’re new, right?! Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?!” the panicked voice startled you before you even saw the person behind it.

You turned to see a boy with bright yellow hair, eyes wide as if he’d seen a ghost. His haori fluttered behind him like lightning captured in cloth, patterned in bold triangles.

“I—uh, yeah, I’m fine,” you replied, taken aback by the intensity of his concern.

He gasped in relief, almost collapsing. “Oh thank goodness! I thought maybe you were here because something terrible happened—people only come here when terrible things happen! Unless—wait, you’re not here to fight, are you? You look too nice to be a Demon Slayer…”

You raised an eyebrow. “I am here to train.”

Zenitsu froze. “W-what?! But you’re so calm! And normal! How are you not screaming in fear like me?!”

You couldn’t help but smile. He was nervous, overly dramatic, and very loud—but there was something endearing in the way he fussed over a complete stranger.

“I guess I’m just not scared yet,” you said with a shrug.

He blinked, then stood straighter—barely. “W-well, don’t worry! If anything dangerous happens… I might faint! But after I faint, I promise I’ll protect you!”

You laughed. And despite the whirlwind of nerves and noise that was Zenitsu Agatsuma, you had a feeling this was the beginning of something unforgettable.