FOR A PARTY, GUESTS ARE A MUST! — CHAPTER #56 — WHO SHALL ATTEND AND WHO SHALL NOT?

"Wait-so, let me get this straight, (Y/N)..." Shinobu said, fidgeting slightly and tilting her head to the side. "You want to throw a party?"

"Yeah!" You nodded enthusiastically.

"...For what occasion?" Mitsuri asked, clearly intrigued. She loved parties and couldn't remember the last time she had attended one. Hearing you suggest it was thrilling for her.

"Just because! I want to celebrate with everyone!" You explained, your smile bright and unwavering, though your brows knitted slightly at their puzzled expressions. Realizing you needed to clarify, you continued, "We technically defeated Upper Moon Six, and now they're even fighting alongside us! I know everyone has mixed feelings about them, so why not create an opportunity to show how cool and awesome they are?"

"And you think a party is the best way to do that?" Shinobu asked, still skeptical. It wasn't that she disliked the idea, but she worried it might become chaotic. "Maybe we could try something else—"

"OH MY GOSH!! THAT'S SO SMART!" Mitsuri exclaimed, jumping up with stars in her eyes. "HOW DID I NOT THINK OF THAT? THAT'S TOTALLY GENIUS!"

"YOU GET ME!" You shouted, thrilled that someone finally understood your point. "This way, we can all become closer and relieve some tension!"

"You're absolutely right! A party is such a cool idea! We can invite a ton of people and plan all sorts of fun activities! Kyaaaa!!" Mitsuri's excitement grew as she envisioned the endless possibilities for the party. "I'm in, (Y/N)! I'm 100 percent on board with this plan!"

"Wait," Shinobu interjected, stopping you both from getting carried away. "A party sounds... lovely, but I'm not sure it would go well considering how, um..." She trailed off, her voice becoming a murmur as she noticed the heartbreak on your and Mitsuri's faces. It felt like a knife twisting in her heart.

"You don't like the idea? It can... work..." you began, your confidence faltering. "...A party? Between Demon Slayers and demons? Actually, thinking about it seriously, it sounds pretty dumb. Shit. It would probably go terribly. The Slayers wouldn't even want to attend in the first place. That was a stupid idea, actually. This is reality! It's not like the power of friendship can work! Fuck!" You began to mumble in english. While you were stressing yourself over that,

"Shinobu!! It would be fun!!" Mitsuri exclaimed, rushing over to hug her above the shoulders, snuggling her face against hers. "Think about it! You, me, and (Y/N), together with everyone! Eating, chatting, and having lots of fun! Not thinking about demons for a while and just enjoying ourselves! Doesn't that sound nice?"

Shinobu sighed. "...I'm not saying it sounds bad. It's not a bad idea," she corrected herself, gently grasping Mitsuri's hands, which were close to her face due to their hugging position. "I don't find it bothersome personally. The problem is, I'm sure the others don't think like we do. It could be hard to do this without some sort of battle breaking out."

"...Oh! So, you're not against having a party?" you asked, your hopes rising.

"...I'm not against—"

"ALRIGHT! SHINOBU IS IN THE PLAN AS WELL!! YIPPEEEEEEE! DID YOU HEAR THAT, (Y/N)!? YOU, ME, AND SHINOBU ARE GOING TO THROW A PARTY! YAYYYYY!!" Mitsuri exploded with happiness, rushing over to your bed and jumping to hug you with excitement. "This is going to be so much fun!! I can't wait!!"

"YAYY!!" You jumped with Mitsuri, feeling the excitement bubble up. Shinobu sighed at the sight of the two of you, but a small smile formed on her lips. Maybe it could go well after all. Being negative wouldn't bring anything good.

A few minutes after you and Mitsuri finally calmed down, the three of you began discussing plans for this unexpected party.

"First things first, who are you planning to invite?" Shinobu asked, holding a pen and a piece of paper, ready to jot down any important details. "I recall you saying that you wanted to celebrate the fact that the Upper Moon Six are now on our side and to help us all become closer and create a deeper bond."

"As corny as the last part sounds, yeah! That's pretty much it," you said, still amazed that your spontaneous party idea was actually coming to life.

"I'm guessing you're inviting all the Hashiras?" Mitsuri said with a smile, happily imagining you three with the rest of them, having a cute time together.

"Yup!" You exclaimed, emphasizing the p. "Along with Tanjiro, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Kanao, Aoi, Makio, Suma, Hinatsuru, Ozaki, Murata, Goto, Haganezuka, Kanamori, and Genya! Of course, with the special presence of Nezuko, Gyutaro, and Daki!"

Mitsuri gasped. "Wow, that's a lot of people!" She felt a bit embarrassed because she couldn't recognize everyone you mentioned.

Shinobu nodded thoughtfully, scribbling down the names. "That's quite the guest list. It's ambitious, but I think it's a good mix. We'll need to make sure there's enough space and food for everyone. And, of course, we need to think about the activities. What kind of things do you want to include in this party?"

"We could have games, some music for dancing, and lots of delicious food. Maybe even a few fun competitions to get everyone involved."

"That sounds wonderful!" Mitsuri clapped her hands, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "We could a dance—off, and maybe even a talent show! Everyone could showcase their unique skills!"

"Yeah, or if it's too much, we could do something casual." Shinobu smiled, clearly warming up to the idea. "Alright, that sounds manageable. 27 people! This means we'll have to do lots of preparations. Where should we hold this party then?"

"We need a big place... Don't all of the Hashiras live in mansions?" you asked, fairly certain of the answer. "Maybe I could ask Kyojuro to lend me his house! He lives near a beach!"

Shinobu shook her head in disagreement. "Even though Rengoku lives near a beach, it doesn't really help that much since the party is going to be held at night, I assume, and swimming really late could be dangerous."

"You're right... Maybe here?" you suggested, gesturing around.

"As lovely as it sounds, it wouldn't be possible. This mansion is also a hospital where injured and tired Demon Slayers come to rest. Hosting a loud and noisy party here would be disrespectful to them," she explained sadly. She would've loved having it here, but it just didn't meet the requirements. "Mitsuri, perhaps we could-"

"OF COURSE! YES! PLEASE! LET'S DO IT AT MY MANSION!" the pink-haired girl squealed in excitement. "MY MANSION IS BIG! AND WE COULD DO IT IN THE LIVING ROOM! AND I COULD PUT UP LOTS OF DECORATIONS! KYAAA! YES!"

Shinobu smiled at Mitsuri's enthusiasm. "That sounds perfect, Mitsuri. Your mansion is indeed spacious, and having it there would allow us to decorate as much as we want. Plus, it's a little away from the main areas where others might be disturbed."

"Yay! This is going to be amazing!" Mitsuri clapped her hands, her excitement contagious. "We can have lanterns, streamers, and all kinds of festive decorations! I'll make sure everything looks perfect!"

"Issue solved then," Shinobu said with a smile, writing down the location.

"It really isn't a problem?" you asked Mitsuri, not wanting to burden her if it was too much trouble.

"Are you kidding?!" she exclaimed, grabbing your shoulders and shaking you so enthusiastically that you became dizzy. "I've always wanted to throw a party with all my friends! Just wait and see! We'll make it the best party ever!" She giggled, already imagining all the endless possibilities for decorating her place for the occasion.

"Yippee!" you cheered along with her. "We have the people and the place! Now what?"

"Now, you should write all the invitation letters properly to each of the people you want to invite," Shinobu chuckled as she saw your smile turn into a tragic expression at the realization of writing 26 letters. "No worries! We will help you write them, and we can deliver the letters to the Hashira."

Mitsuri clapped her hands excitedly. "Yeah! That way, if someone doesn't want to go, we can try to convince them!"

"Gosh! Thank you so much for helping me with this! I can't explain how much I appreciate it!" you exclaimed, tears welling up in your eyes.

"It's really not a big deal. I'm excited for this as well," Shinobu said with a welcoming smile.

"Me too! This is the best idea ever! I can't wait!" Mitsuri added enthusiastically.

With renewed energy, the three of you sat down to write the invitations.

—————————————————————

"Oh gosh, (Y/N)! Thank you so much for inviting us!" Tanjiro exclaimed, stretching his legs on the floor. "We really appreciate it!"

"(Y/N)..." Zenitsu murmured to himself. "Is this our first date?"

"Shut up." Tanjiro wasted no time, picking up a small pebble and throwing it precisely at the back of Zenitsu's head, making him whine in pain.

"LEAVE ME ALONE ALREADY!" the yellow-haired boy hissed back. A week had passed since you, Shinobu, and Mitsuri had planned the party preparations. Having already delivered all the invitations, you decided to personally invite your friends without formal letters. Currently, you were all taking a break from training outside.

"You're just jealous because she invited me first! Suck it up, loser!" Zenitsu retorted, his voice rising in indignation.

"What the hell?" Tanjiro said, genuinely confused (and a bit offended). "She invited us all at the same time! What are you even talking about?!"

"What are YOU talking about, dumbass?" Zenitsu shot back, and they started bickering, as was their usual banter. You weren't particularly surprised by this exchange, though you did notice the absence of Inosuke, which was unusual. Why wasn't he yelling or joining in the argument as he typically did? Curious, you turned around to find him standing quietly not too far from all of you.

Inosuke stood there, unusually subdued, his arms crossed and his eyes focused on something in the distance. His usual energy and boisterous demeanor were conspicuously absent.

"Inosuke...?" you called out, concern lacing your voice. "Are you okay, bro?" His silence caught everyone's attention.

...

"Hello? Earth to Inosuke?" Tanjiro chimed in, standing up and moving closer. His hair was tied back in a ponytail.

...

"Is he going through a metamorphosis?" Zenitsu asked nervously, hiding slightly behind Tanjiro.

"..." Inosuke suddenly raised his hand, signaling for everyone to wait. He took a deep breath. "Wait... I just formed a thought."

"O-Oh... Uh, congrats?" you responded awkwardly, unsure how to react. What exactly do you say to that?

Zenitsu snickered. "First time?"

"Was it hard?" Tanjiro asked with concern, gently patting Inosuke's head. "It's okay! Don't be scared! I know it's your first time but embrace the thought! We all have them! Don't worry!"

"Should I call Aoi?" Kanao's voice suddenly cut through the moment.

Wait.

"AHHH!" The three of you jumped in surprise. When did she get here? None of you had even noticed her presence!

"Fuck! I'm going to have a heart attack!" Zenitsu exclaimed, clutching his chest as he felt his heart racing up his throat.

"Kanao! Have you been standing there the whole time?" you asked, tilting your head in surprise.

"Mhm..." She nodded silently.

"Uh... that's weird," Tanjiro observed, eyeing her suspiciously. "I had no idea you were there..."

"Again, should I call Aoi?" Kanao asked, unfazed by your reactions. "He looks funny."

"I'm not sure! What if thinking is too hard for him? He could get overwhelmed!" you fretted, concerned for Inosuke.

"I'm sure he'll be fine. I trust him," Tanjiro reassured you, giving your back a comforting pat.

"I GOT IT!" Inosuke suddenly yelled, his voice echoing loudly. He puffed out his chest proudly.

"What did you get?" Zenitsu asked eagerly.

"A party is... uh, a thing, where people do stuff, uhh, do stuff together! Right?!" Inosuke exclaimed, his fists bumping together with enthusiasm and a wide grin on his face.

...

"Really? What?" Zenitsu looked disappointed.

"Ohhh," Tanjiro said, as if a realization had dawned on him. "I forgot we were teaching him the meanings of certain words."

"You were?" you asked, surprised by this revelation.

The burgundy-haired boy chuckled. "Yeah, me, Kanao, and Aoi were teaching him simple stuff. You know, to help him learn a little."

"SHUT UP ALREADY! STOP TALKING! AM I CORRECT OR WHAT?!" Inosuke bellowed, frustration evident as he awaited confirmation.

"Yes, Inosuke. You got it right. Good job. Aoi will be pleased to hear about this," Kanao congratulated him, gently patting his head.

"I'M THE BEST!! AHAHAHA! I'M THE SMARTEST! NO ONE CAN BEAT ME!!" Inosuke declared proudly, reveling in the praise. His happiness was palpable and endearing.

"Good for you, but can you please quiet down? You're too loud!" Zenitsu complained, rolling his eyes while covering his ears.

"YOU SHUT UP, NANA!" Inosuke retorted.

"WHO THE FUCK IS NANA? THAT DOESN'T EVEN SOUND REMOTELY CLOSE TO MY NAME!"

"HAHAHAHA, TRYNNA CANCEL ME? LOSER!" Inosuke crossed his arms triumphantly, laughing like a madman. "YOU'RE JUST MAD BECAUSE I'M RIGHT AND YOU EATED DIRT!"

"Um, ate," Tanjiro corrected him gently.

"Mhm! Yeah, I know I ate! 🔥🔥🔥" Inosuke chuckled and ruffled Tanjiro's hair. "Thanks, Albania."

"What?"

"I don't have the brain cells for this," Zenitsu sighed, clearly exasperated. He was about to head back inside when a sound from above caught his attention. "Huh? (Y/N), isn't that Dodo coming over here?"

"Huh?" You looked up and saw your dear crow, Dodo, flying towards you. He appeared burdened under a load of papers strapped to his tiny body. "Dodo!! I'm over here!"

"FOOD!" Inosuke lunged forward eagerly, but Kanao swiftly restrained him.

As Dodo approached, you hurried to relieve him of the papers, allowing him to relax visibly once the weight was gone. The crow then fluttered over and perched on Tanjiro's head. Tanjiro looked up and asked, "Hey, what are all these papers?"

Recognizing the papers instantly, you exclaimed nervously, "Gosh! Oh my god! These are responses to the invitations I sent out for the party!"

"Really?! Let's see!" Zenitsu exclaimed, suddenly eager to see who had responded.

"Poor Dodo. He's so small, yet he carried all these letters... What a trooper," Tanjiro remarked sympathetically, admiring Dodo's effort.

"I want to see too!" Kanao added, moving closer to join the group. You all settled on the wooden floor, surrounded by letters.

Inosuke furrowed his brows. "I DON'T KNOW HOW TO READ!"

"SHUSH, BITCHASS!" Zenitsu snapped.

"DON'T SHUSH ME! YOU SHUSH!"

"NO! YOU SHUSH!"

"Shush, both of you!" Tanjiro intervened, trying to quiet them.

"YOU FUCKING SHUSH!" Zenitsu and Inosuke yelled simultaneously.

"Shhh!!" Kanao hushed them all, and they reluctantly fell silent. "What do the letters say, (Y/N)?"

You began reading through the letters, and your surprise grew with each one you opened.

'Kyaaa! Giyuu accepted! I'm so happy! I thought he was going to deny me! Let's see another letter.'

'Awww, he is so sweet.' You thought to yourself until suddenly, the letter was ripped off from your hands and got destroyed by Zenitsu. You were speechless.

...

Tanjiro then picked up the remains and gave it to Inosuke. "Eat it."

"Bet." He ate it.

"...ok. Let's move on." You said worried, not understanding what just happened. You decided to ignore it. Most of the letters were people being grateful and accepting the invitations such as Ozaki, Murata, Goto, Tengen, Hinatsuru, Suma and Makio. However, some responses had left you dumbfounded.

'...rude much?'

'...What? I thought we were becoming friends!'

'WHAT THE HECK!? OUCH!?'

"..." You all stood silent, your head slowly turning to look at Tanjiro who sweat dropped at the letter.

"Haha... ha... ups." He laughed nervously. By the way, Kanamori had also respectfully declined, saying he was busy with work as well.

'Well, we have never interacted before so, it was to be expected. Still, I had hopes he was going to accept...'

Now, for the last letter...

"That's to be expected as well, I guess..."

"Oh, wait! (Y/N)! You know Genya? I know who he is! Is he your friend?" Tanjiro asked with curiosity.

"NOP! W-Well, yeah! I know who he is but, he doesn't know me..." You tried explaining it without sounding too suspicious. You sighed after seeing that a total of 7 people had rejected you. Maybe you'll have to work your ass off to see if you can change the minds of these individuals. Giving that only 2 days were remaining for the party.

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Hiii, I'm so embarrassed for this really short chapter (it has been a long time since I wrote a chapter with only 2k+ words). I'm very tired but I got a random boost of inspiration since today was my free day and wrote this right now. Sorry! I'll keep working hard!

Xoxo, azamishomie.