Crossover Anime: Starting with Bankai from Demon Slayer

Chapter 357 The Meaning of Being Human

As he closed his eyes, the scenes from the past flashed through his mind, causing his brows to furrow and relax several times.

He was a boy who was burning with hunger in the heavy snow and shivering in the cold wind.

It is in the infinite hell of inverted space, facing those fanged demons who feed on humans.

It was in fierce battles, choices made in the face of death, and desperate struggles...

These memories are like countless thorny brambles, tightly wrapped around his soul, bringing waves of discomfort with every touch.

Feiniao didn't know how to tell these unbearable memories of her past to a teacher living a comfortable life.

His instinct was to refuse with silence.

However, when he opened his eyes, he met Kinpachi-sensei's gaze, which was full of sincerity and respect.

He suddenly realized that perhaps speaking out wasn't as difficult as he had imagined.

"My past isn't anything nice to hear... It's just a story about surviving." Asuka's voice was a little hoarse.

He didn't give any long speeches, nor did he use flowery language to embellish the past.

He simply recounted his struggles and battles in the most understated tone, telling the story of his bizarre and legendary experiences.

"...I've seen how hypocritical and fragile those who call themselves gods can be, and I've also seen how terrifyingly powerful insignificant mortals can be, driven by their obsessions and desires."

"You can see me sitting here now not because I have any vision of saving the world, but simply because I want to live, to live with my family whom I finally have."

"It's that simple."

Asuka took a big gulp of the now-cold sencha: "A boring story, isn't it?"

"Now you know, someone like me is simply not suited to stay in a school like yours where we play house."

Asuka spoke very slowly, and Kinpachi-sensei listened very attentively.

He sat there quietly the whole time, without interrupting the bird's story, and without showing any fear or discomfort.

Those gentle eyes gradually filled with a deep resonance and emotion.

"No, birds."

Kinpachi-sensei stared intently at Asuka, his voice unusually solemn: "You just said that your past was nothing but blood and fire, an utterly boring story."

"But I must tell you, you're wrong, terribly wrong."

He turned around and strode quickly to the small blackboard in the office used to record teaching plans.

Pick up a piece of white chalk.

brush!brush!

With two strokes, a large Chinese character was written in the very center of the blackboard.

"Do you recognize this character?" Mr. Kinpachi turned around and asked, pointing to the character on the blackboard.

Asuka frowned, looking at the character: "...Although I don't know many characters, I'm not so bad as to not recognize this."

"This is the character for 'person'."

"That's right, it's the character for 'person'."

Teacher Jinba put down the chalk and gently stroked the writing with his hand: "In your 'Basic Word Magic Studies' course, Teacher Wenren may tell you about the pronunciation, structure, and evolution of this word in ancient incantations."

"But that's all cold, hard knowledge."

"Flying Bird, take a close look at this character."

Teacher Jinpachi's finger slowly slid down along the strokes of the character "人" (person).

"It's not made up of two lines that were just randomly put together. Look at the left side; it's long, leaning, and bearing a huge weight."

"And the right stroke, though short, firmly supports the waist of the left stroke, preventing it from falling over."

""

"The Chinese character for 'person' is composed of two people supporting and helping each other."

The bird was stunned; he had never thought about the form or meaning of characters.

He looked at the extremely simple Chinese character on the blackboard and felt something stir within him.

"Asuka, you've always felt that you've survived to this day because of your ruthlessness, because of your constant killing and devouring, and you think of yourself as a lone wolf."

Teacher Jinba's voice became very gentle, and every word struck Fei Niao's heart.

"But when you were telling your story, I noticed you mentioned a lot of partners who supported and helped you along the way."

.

"Those humans who sacrificed themselves to protect their comrades, those comrades who fought and grew alongside you."

"When you mention them, the sharp, murderous aura you exude will unconsciously subside."

"Flying Bird, if you were truly a monster who only knew how to kill, you would have long since lost yourself in those obsessions and become a walking corpse."

"The reason you can still sit here and use your reason to control your knife is not just because you want to live."

"It is precisely because of those people you have met, those bonds you cherish, that deep within your soul, they have become the supporting force that kept you from falling!"

The bird's breathing became rapid.

Before his eyes flashed Kenta's squinty smile, Rengoku Kyojuro's fiery back, and the image of Kamado and her daughter leaning on each other.

Finally, he remembered Shinobu Kocho's purple eyes, filled with tears, welcoming him back.

Yes... If it weren't for them, would I have been able to persevere until now?

If it weren't for wanting to come back and see her again, how could his consciousness, which was almost collapsing in the turbulent flow of time and space, be able to reunite again and again?

Kinpachi walked up to Asuka and gently patted Asuka's broad but stiff shoulder: "Everything you've experienced in the past, those hardships, those losses, even those hatreds, are not boring stories."

"Those are the most precious treasures in your life, the indelible bonds that bind you."

"You've done very well, Asuka. You understand what protection and responsibility mean better than anyone else here."

"But..." Kinpachi-sensei's eyes revealed a hint of pity: "During the past two weeks at this Spirit Arts Academy, you sat alone in the last row, ate alone, and endured those strange looks all by yourself."

"You rejected everyone's attempts to get close, isolating yourself on a deserted island."

"Though you wield a blade powerful enough to cleave space itself, can your sword sever that loneliness?"

The bird did not speak and fell into a deep silence.

Lonely? He's long been used to it.

But undeniably, in this campus that should be full of youthful energy, when he watched those freshmen chatting and laughing in groups, discussing their future dreams, he felt a pang of sadness.

He did occasionally feel a sense of emptiness.

The feeling is like standing on a bustling street, only to find yourself a transparent ghost.

"Asuka, I think the Spirit King Palace sent you here not so that you could learn how to release those complex demonic paths, nor so that you could become a scholar well-versed in history."

Teacher Jinba smiled and looked at him: "Perhaps they just hope that you can rediscover the meaning of being human in this relatively peaceful environment."

"Try to reach out to the students around you, Asuka."

Even if you don't learn any theoretical knowledge in these three months, if you can make a friend here, even if it's just a friend who can share your lunchbox...

"So this period of further study must have been a huge success for you, right?"

Making friends?

Asuka's mind drifted to the image of those little devils in the classroom who trembled with fear at the mere sight of him, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

"...This kind of thing sounds really troublesome," Asuka muttered.

But he did not refute Kinpachi's words.

Looking at the large "人" (person) character on the blackboard, the hard barbs that had risen in his heart from being in a hostile environment for so long miraculously softened.

It feels strange to be gently advised by a caring elder.

The last time he experienced this feeling was in the Ubuyashiki mansion.

But to be honest, it's probably because he was alone since childhood and rarely experienced family affection and kindness.

Or perhaps the people who say these things have a magical power to move people's hearts, making them listen.

In short, he is not disliked.

"I understand." Asuka stood up and handed the empty teacup back to Kinpachi-sensei. "I will... try my best, but don't expect me to be a fool and take the initiative to talk to them."

"Haha, of course, everything should be done step by step." Teacher Kinpachi smiled with satisfaction, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothed out.

"Go on, you have a sword-cutting class this afternoon, remember to eat."

Feiniao nodded, turned and walked out of the office.

Looking at his back, which still exuded a certain arrogance but was clearly no longer so tense.

Mr. Kinpachi breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the red pen on the table again, which he used to grade homework.

"What a kind child... cold on the outside but warm on the inside."