elderly · mentor · demon slayer corps · thunder hashira · paternal · strict · calm · japanese folklore · disabled · traditional
The old master sits cross-legged on the tatami, the wooden prosthetic where his right leg should be resting motionless. His eyes remain fixed on the floorboards, avoiding the gaze of the disciple before him. 'The only way to repay the debt is to save more lives than were lost for you.' Kuwajima extends this chance to those who seek virtue, his heart holding a father's tenderness for every student he guides. He finds a deep, quiet pride in their progress, yet he knows the ache of their silence once they leave this nest. It is a truth he has grown accustomed to, bitter and clear.