Chapter 3: all about shinra

"If there's one person in this world I could talk about for hours, it's the woman who adopted me, Shinra Yasumi.

Shinra is one of the Hashira, the top-ranking warriors in the Demon Slayer Corps. She's one of ten, and from what I've heard, every Hashira has their own unique style. Shinra's is called Soul Breathing, something she created herself. It's hard to explain, but she says it's about balance—between body, mind, and spirit. It's beautiful and terrifying all at once.

Her power goes beyond fighting, though. She can see people's souls if she makes eye contact with them. I've asked her what souls look like, but she always hesitates before answering. She says some are bright and warm, while others are so dark they feel like staring into an endless void. She avoids those kinds of people—the ones she calls 'rotten souls.'

But that's just Shinra. She loves helping people, but only if they deserve it. She spends a lot of her time at the medical mansion, healing wounds, bandaging cuts, and even stitching people up when there's no doctor around. Because of that, her team doesn't even need a healer—she's their warrior and their medic.

She's always trying new things. Weapons, for example. She used to fight with a katana like everyone else, but it didn't feel right with her breathing style. So she switched to a scythe. And when even that wasn't enough, she commissioned a two-sided scythe—her favorite weapon to this day.

Shinra's also full of contradictions. She's loud, talkative, and always smiling, but she has this quiet determination underneath it all. She likes tempura more than anything else but can't stand spicy food. She loves spending time with her family, even though she's an only child and her parents say she was enough of a handful to keep them from having more kids.

Her parents are… interesting. Her father named her Shinra, which means 'spirit' or 'soul,' because of how strange her mother acted during the pregnancy. Apparently, her mom locked herself in her room and only came out at night to visit the cemetery. No one knows why. Not even Shinra. But when she was born, everything went back to normal. They called her 'Little Soul' because she was so cheerful, always giggling instead of crying.

Shinra's eyes are unique, too. She has this mark in them—a sign of her connection to her breathing style, maybe? I've never seen them, obviously, but people say they're green and glowing, like something otherworldly.

And then there's Kousei, her husband. They got married four months ago. He's the complete opposite of her—serious, quiet, and so tall that he scares people just by standing near them. Shinra says that's why they work so well together; he listens while she talks. Somehow, they balance each other perfectly."

"Shinra has this habit of talking about having kids, and honestly, I think she's out of her mind. I mean, she's only been married for four months. Isn't it a bit early?

She used to say things like, 'I think Kousei would make a great dad, don't you?' or 'I can't wait to see if they'll have my eyes or his height.' And I'd just shake my head and say, 'Maybe start with keeping a plant alive first.'

And about his height—did I mention there's almost a 50-centimeter difference between them? Shinra's barely 155 centimeters tall, and Kousei towers over her at 196. It's ridiculous. She jokes that if their kid ends up with his height, she won't be able to reach their head to scold them.

I usually throw in, 'Or even hug them,' just to get a reaction. She'd laugh, of course. Shinra always laughs. But then she'd get that look in her voice—you know, that dreamy, faraway tone. She'd say, 'One day, Goze, you'll understand. Family is everything.'

And I'd roll my eyes—well, figuratively speaking—and mutter, 'Yeah, sure. I'm sure your two-sided scythe will make a great toy.' It always made her laugh harder. She'd call me a brat, but I know she loved it. I think she likes that I don't take her too seriously sometimes."

"Now, Kousei… that's a different story. Don't get me wrong—he's fine, I guess. Tall, serious, and loyal to Shinra like you wouldn't believe. But to me? He's just… there.

Shinra treats me like her daughter, but Kousei? He's not exactly a father figure. I don't think he even tries to be, to be honest. And me? I don't make it easy. I barely talk to him, and when he talks to me, I usually ignore him.

Once, he asked me if I needed help sharpening my blade. I didn't answer. I just walked away. Shinra caught up with me later and gave me an earful.

'You can't keep ignoring Kousei like that,' she said, her voice unusually firm. 'He's trying, Goze. He really is.'

'He doesn't need to,' I snapped. 'I don't need him.'

But Shinra wouldn't let it go. 'You don't have to see him as a father, but you do have to respect him. He's part of this family, whether you like it or not.'

I didn't say anything after that. I don't think I could've even if I wanted to. But that's the thing about Shinra—she doesn't just tell you what you want to hear. She tells you what you need to hear. Even when it stings."

Goze paused, a faint smile crossing her face. "And why do I know all of this? Shinra is talking too much."

"Let me tell you a story about her. It's just one of many, but this one stuck with me.

It was about a year ago. By then, Shinra had started teaching me to talk properly and helping me with writing. Yeah, I said writing. You're probably thinking, 'How does a blind girl write?' Trust me, I thought the same thing. But Shinra doesn't care about what seems impossible. If there's a way, she'll find it—or make it herself.

One afternoon, she took me to the village market. I could tell by the chatter of people and the smell of grilled fish that we were somewhere busy, but I didn't understand why we were there. Shinra never said anything ahead of time; she just liked throwing me into things.

She guided me to a stall where an old man was selling something. I could hear the soft clink of wood and smell freshly cut bamboo. Brushes, I realized later. Calligraphy brushes. Shinra started talking to the vendor—about his craft, his family, even his favorite food. She's like that, always asking about people, always wanting to know their stories.

Then she said, 'Goze, pick one.'

I froze. Pick one? How was I supposed to pick something I couldn't see? I could feel the heat rising to my face. 'Why?' I asked.

'Because you're going to learn how to write,' she said, her tone light and teasing. 'And for that, you need a proper brush.'

I felt ridiculous. Writing was already hard enough. Most days, I'd smear the ink everywhere or press too hard and snap the brush. The thought of 'proper' calligraphy seemed... impossible. But Shinra's like that—she doesn't let you give up, even when you want to.

So, to humor her, I reached out and picked the first brush my fingers found. It felt cheap, the bristles uneven. I held it up, and Shinra laughed. Not in a mean way, but in that Shinra way, where it's almost like she's laughing with the universe.

'Nope,' she said. Then she bought the most expensive brush there—the one the vendor called his masterpiece. 'You deserve the best, Goze,' she said. 'Even if you don't think so yet.'

I didn't know what to say. I just stood there, gripping the fine wood of the brush, feeling the smoothness of it under my fingers. It felt too good for someone like me, someone who could barely write her name.

Later that night, she sat me down with parchment, ink, and that brush. She guided my hands, teaching me how to feel the motion of the strokes instead of seeing them. At first, it was a disaster. My hand shook, the ink ran everywhere, and I was sure I'd ruined that beautiful brush. But Shinra just laughed and made me keep going.

By the end of the night, I had written my name. It wasn't perfect—I'm not sure it was even legible—but Shinra clapped like I'd painted a masterpiece. She said, 'Every stroke is part of your soul, Goze. And your soul is beautiful.'

That's Shinra for you. She always sees more in people than they see in themselves. She pushes you, not because she wants you to succeed for her sake, but because she believes you can do more than you ever thought possible."