Chapter Text
'I like the cold, but this is just ridiculous!' Shinobu Kochou thought to herself as she tried to stay warm while power-walking through what she swears felt like a frozen tundra.
One would think that after spending twenty years in the same city that has winters feeling like the arctic, you would have eventually gotten used to it. Shinobu can vouch that no one is ever fully prepared for the winter, even with the climate change warming up the planet and threatening to end it all.
'Do I really have to go to work?! What's the point?! We're all just gonna die anyway!' Shinobu groaned and checked the watch on her right wrist for the time. She had 10 minutes to get to work.
Snow had fallen two days and completely melted before freezing over in subzero temperatures, which turned the streets into a giant free ice-skating rink; only the ice is disgustingly dirty and unstable. To make matters worse, Shinobu was wearing converse, another bad choice for these temperatures. The young woman was freezing from head to toe and cautiously power-walked the streets to avoid slipping on the ice as she made her way to her part-time job at Starbucks. It was in no way her dream job, in fact Shinobu's elder sister, Kanae, did not believe she could last even one month in a customer service job. It's not that the younger Kochou sister was rude, but she just did not have the patience for nonsense and Starbucks is basically a gathering place for some of the most nonsensical people on earth. She sighed one last time as she finally made it to her branch.
Two minutes to spare.
Shinobu wedged through the large crowd waiting for their caffeine and made her way into the employees’ area, being small does have its perks sometimes. Although the small woman would rather die than admit that. The young woman still has a complex over her height, and her ego is not taking it well that her younger teenage sister Kanao had grown taller than her within the past two years. Once she made it to the employee station, her coworkers silently greeted her before making their way back to their respective machines to create sickeningly sweet sugary drinks. Shinobu never understood the appeal of frappuccinos; she didn’t before she started working at the coffee giant and still doesn’t even after becoming a victim of capitalism.
"Hey! You're here!" her supervisor, Kyojuro, greeted her. He was a kind man with hair just as fiery and eccentric as his personality. He seemed intimidating and overbearing at first, but luckily for Shinobu, he was very understanding once you become properly acquainted with one another. Their first meeting, which was her interview, was rather messy, but that’s a story for another time.
"I’m so sorry, I was almost late. It's a mess outside." explained Shinobu. Her legs were practically burning from the exercise that was making it to work.
‘Shit, I’m out of shape’
"Don't worry about it. Just change in the back and then you can work the register."
Shinobu nodded and ran to the back doors to change into her uniform and clock in for her shift. Sighing one last time, Shinobu mentally prepared herself for seven grueling hours of insanity.
‘I just clocked in and I already want to go home.’
To make matters worse, she has a night class tonight so she can’t even go home after the shift is finished.
-
“And that’s all for today’s lesson. Please remember to submit the paper by 11:59PM Sunday night on blackboard if you haven’t already. Have a good weekend. I’ll see you all here next week.”
The professor left and some students also quickly left in a hurry, either to their next class or to go home because some of them forgot about the paper and just realized they had 48 hours to submit six to nine pages.
Mitsuri Kanroji was smiling.
Mitsuri, a 22-year-old culinary student, had finished her research paper on Italian desserts two nights ago, which meant she had the entire weekend free. But that wasn’t the reason why she was in such a good mood. Anyone who’s met the athletic pink haired beauty would describe her as the human embodiment of sunshine. Regardless of any situation, Mitsuri always had a smile on her face. She was kind to everyone and everything.
“You seem to be in an even happier mood than usual! Real flamboyant!” stated Tengen. Tengen Uzui was a strong looking individual who was easy on the eyes. He was confident in himself to the point that some would call him narcissistic. He was simply taking this class because his three girlfriends were, but he became quick friends with Mitsuri, who always sat next to him. The younger of the two grinned at her friend as they both packed up their laptops.
“Is it a dream of that girl again?” Tengen guessed. He and his girlfriends have heard their classmate and friend talk on and on about a girl named Shinobu who keeps appearing in her dreams. Although to many, it would sound rather creepy and maybe borderline insane to be so infatuated with someone you have never met except in your dreams, there are those who believe these dreams are memories of one’s past life. Tengen and his girlfriends occasionally have dreams where they were all married and infiltrating a sketchy district now long and forgotten by the modern era.
Mitsuri blushed and nodded, “She and I were fighting together against some demons and when we finished, I went to her place and she patched up my wounds. She looked so beautiful and she was so patient as she helped everyone who was injured. She was like a goddess.”
It may sound romantic to have dreams of your past lives or ‘soulmates’, but anyone who experiences this would probably disagree, even Mitsuri at times. It’s not always sweet and gentle. Most of the time, the dreams are gruesome and terrifying, like something out of a horror movie. Mitsuri and Tengen have had their fair share of nightmares where they witnessed hundreds dying before their eyes and even their own life-threatening situations. Every so often, Tengen checks his own hand and eye to be sure they’re still in place. For Mitsuri, her worst nightmare to this day has to be the one where she and her best friend, Iguro were fighting together and they were alerted to Shinobu’s sudden death. And unlike Tengen with his body parts, Mitsuri cannot check if Shinobu is safe and in one piece.
“I’m going to find her one day.”
-
“I’m home” Shinobu announced by the front door of the apartment she shared with her two sisters. Her last class of the week ended an hour ago and Shinobu is starting to think medical school isn’t her true calling. It’s not that she’s not doing terrible, in fact, she’s top of her class right now, but she is so tired of the workload and pressure. Or maybe it was just her luck that she ended up with the worst professor for Pathogenic Bacteriology and Immunology. Hopefully next semester gets better.
“Welcome home, Shinobu!” Kanae shouts out loud from their kitchen.
Shinobu puts her shoes away and locks their front door. She enters the kitchen and sees Kanae cooking dinner while her younger sister Kanao was doing calculus homework.
“Dinner will be ready in like 20 minutes. The bath is ready if you want to take one before eating. Kanao and I can wait for you.” Kanae says and shows Shinobu her famous smile that can capture the heart of anyone.
“Welcome home, big sister” Kanao greets her and gives a shy smile.
“Thank you Kanao.” Shinobu returns a smile.
“Hey! Where’s my thank you?!” Kanae whined and pouted.
It’s always amusing to see how different all three of the sisters were.
Kanae Kochou, Shinobu’s 25-year-old sister, is a kindergarten teacher at a nearby public school. Ever since they were young, Kanae was popular with everyone. She was beautiful and friendly. Kanae was voted the most beautiful girl in her high school from freshmen to senior year. Her popularity grew even more in college and skyrocketed once she started working as a teacher. Kids and parents love the eldest Kochou sister because they could tell she genuinely cared about everyone. It's easy to see if someone does something because they feel they have to compared to when they want to. And Kanae loved teaching children. Kanae could have easily been a lawyer or a successful businesswoman, but Kanae wanted a job that helped others. The kind woman saw the good in everyone and that sometimes worries Shinobu because she knows her sister is too trusting of people who didn’t deserve any kindness.
Kanao on the other hand was the complete opposite. The 17-year-old is as silent and aloof as a house cat. She was adopted into the Kochou family when she was six. From what Kanao’s social worker told Kanae and Shinobu’s parents, the young girl was severely abused by her family and had no other immediate family. She was moved from one foster home to another until finally adopted into the Kocho family. Just like a house cat, Kanao eventually she warmed up to her new family and she would do anything to keep them happy. She might not show affection the way Kanae does, but Shinobu knows Kanao loves them and they love her too. The young girl had her own ways of showing her appreciation for her sisters. Her quiet nature aside, Kanao was just as beautiful as her older sisters and her budding reputation was on par with them. Kanao is top of her school in both academics and athletics.
That leaves Shinobu.
21-year-old Shinobu likes to think she’s the middle ground or the center of the sisters’ personalities. She wasn’t as outgoing and happy-go-lucky as Kanae, but she was nowhere near as aloof as Kanao. Kanae almost never experiences anger while Kanao doesn’t show her anger; Shinobu gets angry and lets it be known, but she only does it when it’s justified. Shinobu likes to think she’s a rational woman, a woman of science and logic. Kanae is motivated by emotions and empathy. Kanao is led by ethics and credibility.
Shinobu was logos, Kanae was pathos and Kanao was ethos.
The three of them have lived together since Kanae found a job in the city, Shinobu started university and Kanao started high school. Their parents had passed away in an automobile accident years ago and left them with quite an inheritance, but they agreed to not touch it unless it was absolutely necessary. And right now, the three of them are comfortable.
Like any normal siblings, they argue sometimes, but at the end of the day, they always take care of each other.
“So, how was work today?” Kanae asked Shinobu as they ate the dinner she prepared. Kanao was staring at her food and eating but nevertheless was listening to the conversation and would speak if she felt she had to.
“Same as always. Awful. People are so annoying and rude and for what?! Go make your own coffee at home if you want it done in a specific way! We have a menu for a reason. The secret menu is just someone being annoying but thinking they did something amazing!”
“You know, you don’t have to work there if you don’t want to. I can pay for our rent, groceries and other bills just fine. I’m the oldest, let me handle these things.”
“And I’m the second oldest! I gotta help around here too!”
Shinobu noticed Kanao had a specific look in her eye, which meant the youngest was overthinking again. “And no, Kanao, you do not need to get a job. We’re your older sisters. Let us worry about bills. You focus on school.”
Kanae and Kanao pouted in sync and Shinobu is reminded of these moments that those two are quite similar in some ways despite their major differences.
“My, My Shinobu, you’re too serious. You’re only 21, you should live a little.” Kanae sighed.
“You’re too carefree sometimes.” Shinobu groaned.
“Come on Shinobu, smile more. You know I love your beautiful smile.” Replied the eldest.
Kanao quietly watched her two older sisters go back and forth and smiled before taking another bite of her food. The three of them ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the only sound was the television from the living room airing whatever reality tv show Kanae was watching earlier.
Kanae took a sip of her wine before asking, “So what about your love life? Have you found anyone interesting?”
Shinobu almost choked on her cup of water. The med student coughed for a few seconds and once Shinobu managed her regain her composure, she glared at her elder sister, who smiled innocently and sipped her wine. Kanae and Shinobu stared at each other until the latter sighed.
“Sis, you know there’s no one for me out there.”
Kanae's expression softened and she gave her younger sister a look of empathy, “There’s someone for everyone”. She was aware of Shinobu's insecurities. Beneath that tough and prideful exterior, Shinobu was an insecure young woman who throws herself into work in order to avoid problems she cannot face.
"I'm serious Shinobu. There is someone out there for everyone, you included."
The younger of the two rolled her eyes, “Yeah… no”
“What about that girl you used to dream of? What was her name? Minami? Misaki? Y’know, the girl with the pink hair?”
“I thought we were over that. I was a kid and those are just dreams. Nothing more, nothing less. I have never even met that girl, she probably doesn’t even exist. I would have to be crazy to pursue someone from dreams.”
“But you know what they say Shinobu, those dreams are memories from our past lives. She was probably very important to your past life.”
“That myth is just a lie for people to believe in that soulmate, reincarnation and whatever else nonsense. If I wanted science fiction, I would watch Star Wars or Avengers.”
“Okay, but how do you explain those dreams we all shared together? You, Kanao and me?”
“Overactive imagination. The fact that we get dreams of demons and shit is proof enough that we’re just having hyperactive imaginations and our brains are probably affected by society indulging in too much mass media.”
“Boo, you’re not fun, right Kanao? You believe in those dreams, don’t you?” Kanae asked her youngest sister and pat her head. The youngest put down her bowl and finished chewing her food before answering her sister.
“I won’t necessarily say I believe in the theory that those are the memories of our previous lives… but it doesn’t hurt to think it’s a possibility. Anything is possible after all.” Kanao shyly replied.
“That’s fair. Don’t you agree, Shinobu?”
Shinobu sighed. She could never win an argument against Kanae nor could she ever disregard Kanao’s feelings. Kochou Shinobu was absolutely whipped for both her sisters.
“Fair enough”
‘It’s still bullshit in my opinion. Past life, demons, demon slayers… yeah right. Give me a break. This is Santa and the tooth fairy for gullible adults. People can believe what they want, but I don't buy it all’
-
It’s been a while since Mitsuri last hit the gym. She remained in shape through her personal training at home but stepping into an actual gym was something she has not done in months. School and work consumed all her time, but since she had the weekend off, she decided to go to the gym with Tengen as a guest member.
After two hours of nonstop workout, Mitsuri was happy to know that she was still in shape.
Tengen had left to go on a date with his girlfriends and Mitsuri had the rest of the afternoon to herself. She noticed a Starbucks was at the end of the block, which wasn’t there months ago so that's further confirmation that she had not stepped foot into this area in months.
The young woman carried her gym bag on her right shoulder and made her way into the Starbucks. She wasn't the biggest fan of their drinks, but getting a treat every so often wouldn't hurt. She worked hard in the gym today and finished her assignment before the deadline, she deserves to reward herself with something sweet. Who knows when will be the next time she gets to go to the gym again.
Also, it was rather chilly out. She showered in the gym and her hair was still pretty wet. It wouldn't hurt to warm up in the Starbucks for a bit.
The Starbucks was average size. There were a couple of people sitting, many on their laptops and charging their phones. It was rather quiet since it was a Sunday afternoon and most people had better things to do than to loiter at a Starbucks on a weekend. Mitsuri takes a seat and leaves her bag on the chair before going to the counter to order. The pink haired woman was pondering on what to order until she noticed the barista in front of her with dark hair and purple ends who smelled like flowers. Mitsuri recognized that that hair. She has seen it hundreds of times in her sleep and thousands more in her day dreams.
“One moment please” the employee says as she pressed some buttons on the screen. The barista was focus on printing out mobile orders. Mitsuri felt her heart racing even more than her gym workout earlier hearing the voice. She sounded exactly like she thought she would. If Mitsuri had mumbled any softer, Shinobu would have missed what the customer in front of her said.
“S-Shinobu Kochou?”