DEMON SLAYER - PICK ME

The week had been an endless parade of stolen victories.

If a demon was slain, Sho somehow ended up telling the story as though his blade had struck the final blow. If a village was rescued, he remembered himself standing at the front. If someone spent hours training, Sho would somehow find himself accepting the praise.

And whenever anyone corrected him… He cried. Not just a few tears, either. Full trembling lip. Quivering voice. Glossy eyes. The kind of performance that made strangers instinctively comfort him before they even knew what had happened. It worked far more often than it should have.

Tanjiro had been the one to save the villagers from a Lower Rank demon. By sunset, Sho was accepting congratulations for “leading the operation.”

Inosuke had spent an afternoon hauling enormous boulders across the Butterfly Estate until his shoulders nearly gave out. By dinner, Sho was explaining that he’d trained so hard he could barely lift his arms.

Kanao had painstakingly restored the Butterfly Estate gardens after a storm. The next morning, Sho was thanking everyone for noticing “all the hard work” he’d put into the flowers.

It had gone on for days. Long enough that everyone was reaching their limit.

⸻

Morning training at the Butterfly Estate should have been peaceful.

The sun hung high overhead, warming the packed earth beneath the trainees’ feet. Wooden practice swords clacked together across the courtyard while others sprinted laps around the estate, practiced breathing forms, or lifted the heavy stones scattered throughout the grounds.

Sho, naturally, had gathered an audience.

He stood in the middle of the yard with the confidence of someone who believed every story he told.

“…So then the demon charged me,” he declared dramatically, gesturing so wildly he nearly smacked a passing trainee. “I looked it right in the eyes and said, ‘You’re going to regret this.’ One strike later…” He sliced a hand through the air. “…Finished.”

Inosuke nearly dropped the boulder he’d been carrying.

“…YOU DIDN’T EVEN SEE THE DEMON!”

Sho blinked innocently. “I was helping.”

“You were hiding behind a TREE!” Inosuke yelled.

“I was waiting for the perfect moment.” Sho muttered.

“You were screaming!” Inosuke huffed.

“I was… strategically screaming.”

Tanjiro rubbed the back of his neck, smiling apologetically despite himself. “…He doesn’t smell like he’s telling the truth.”

“He ISN’T!” Inosuke barked immediately.

Tanjiro gave a tiny nod. “…No… definitely not.”

Sho’s lower lip wobbled on cue. “…Why are you two always picking on me?”

Before anyone else could answer, Zenitsu rushed in like a knight answering a distress call. “Don’t listen to them, Sho! I know you’re telling the truth!”

Sho looked at him as though he’d just been rescued from certain death. “…Thank you, Zenitsu.”

Zenitsu practically sparkled. “I’ll always believe you!”

*From beneath the shade of a nearby tree, Genya pinched the bridge of his nose so hard it looked painful. Kanao merely blinked once before looking back at her coin.i

Nearby, {{user}} watched the exchange unfold with the same exhausted disbelief worn all week.

Sho wasn’t even trying to make his lies believable anymore. He didn’t have to. People wanted to believe him.

⸻

A familiar voice echoed across the grounds before anyone noticed the Hashira arriving.

“OI! WHAT’S ALL THIS YELLING?”

Sanemi strode through the gates first, looking as though he’d already decided someone deserved to be punched. Giyu followed several paces behind, expression as unreadable as ever. Gyomei’s prayer beads clicked quietly with every step while Muichiro wandered after them, appearing more interested in a passing cloud than the people around him. Obanai scanned the training grounds with sharp, calculating eyes, Kaburamaru resting comfortably around his shoulders.

Then came the loud ones.

“HOW FLASHY!” Tengen announced with a grin. “Looks like everyone’s hard at work!”

“EXCELLENT!” Rengoku boomed, his voice carrying across the entire estate. “SUCH ENTHUSIASM!”

Mitsuri clasped her hands together. “Everyone looks so motivated!”

Shinobu smiled pleasantly beside her. “My, my… what perfect timing.”

The trainees immediately straightened.

Everyone except Sho.

Sho saw the Hashira. And within half a second, inspiration struck.

He sprinted toward the nearest training boulder—the smallest one available—and wrapped both arms around it as though he’d been lifting it for hours.

“…Hnnngh…” His face scrunched dramatically.

His breathing became loud enough for birds to leave nearby trees. “…Just… one… more… rep…”He strained so theatrically that you’d think he was holding up the entire Butterfly Estate.

Tanjiro stared. “…Wasn’t he standing over there?”

“He WAS!” Inosuke shouted.

Genya looked genuinely offended. “…I’ve been lifting those all morning.”

Sho finally set the rock down with a loud gasp before immediately wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead.

There wasn’t a single bead of perspiration on him.

“I’m… exhausted,” he puffed dramatically. “I’ve been training since sunrise. I just… I just want to become stronger for everyone…”

Rengoku’s eyes lit up. “WONDERFUL DEDICATION! YOUR HARD WORK IS INSPIRING!”

Sho looked up with perfectly timed surprise. “…R-Really?”Sho placed a hand over his heart. “I… I only want to make all of you proud.”

Mitsuri looked ready to cry. “That’s so sweet!”

Tengen nodded approvingly. “Flashy work ethic.”

Sanemi glanced at the untouched boulder. Then at Sho. Then back at the untouched boulder.

“…Tch.”

Sho floated toward the rest of the trainees like a celebrity greeting fans.

He stopped beside Tanjiro first, offering him an encouraging smile. “You’re improving.”

Tanjiro blinked. “…Thank you?”

“I’m sure if you keep practicing, you’ll reach my level eventually.” Sho smiled

Silence.

Tanjiro looked around as if checking whether someone else had heard that. Sho continued without missing a beat.

He patted Inosuke’s shoulder. “Your strength is impressive.”

“…”

“Not quite as impressive as mine…”

“…”

“…but impressive.”

Inosuke’s eye twitched. “I’M GONNA THROW YOU INTO THE SUN!”

Sho jumped back dramatically. “…See? He’s always threatening me.”

Zenitsu immediately pointed an accusing finger at Inosuke. “Stop bullying Sho!”

“I’LL BULLY YOU TOO!” Inosuke barked

Sho sighed sadly before wandering toward Genya. “I know you’re trying your best.”

Genya remained perfectly still as Sho continued.

“If you ever can’t keep up…”

Sho smiled magnanimously.

“…I’ll cover for you.”

Genya stared at him for a long, dangerous moment. “…Who are you?”

Finally, Sho stopped in front of {{user}}.

He smiled with all the confidence of someone convinced everyone around him believed every word he said.

“I’ve been watching your training.”

He folded his arms wisely.

“You’re improving.”

He gave an approving nod.

“Don’t worry if you fall behind.”

A reassuring smile.

“I’ll carry the team.”

Around the training yard, the reactions couldn’t have been more different.

Rengoku looked thoroughly impressed. Mitsuri smiled warmly. Zenitsu nodded along with every word. Tengen seemed amused by the sheer confidence.

Shinobu continued smiling, though something thoughtful flickered behind her eyes. Giyu watched in complete silence. Sanemi looked one sentence away from violence. Obanai narrowed his eyes. Muichiro finally looked away from the clouds, studying Sho with vague curiosity.

And through it all…

Sho kept breathing heavily. Kept wiping away sweat that didn’t exist. Kept accepting praise he’d never earned.