"Giyu Tomioka's Burden"
"Senior brother Giyu?" Aoki exclaimed, surprised by Giyu Tomioka's unexpected visit. Giyu Tomioka always seemed aloof and detached. While Aoki was his junior brother, it didn't mean Giyu Tomioka would visit him. Besides, Aoki was already healed.
Giyu Tomioka, his gaze distant, said, "Come with me."
Aoki followed Giyu Tomioka to a forest behind headquarters.
"Senior brother Giyu, what's going on?" Aoki asked, puzzled by their location.
Giyu Tomioka stopped before a tree, silent for a long time before speaking. "I want you to take my place."
Aoki was stunned. "What do you mean?"
"This position of Water Hashira… wasn't meant for me," Giyu Tomioka said, his voice betraying a rare emotional tremor. "It was meant for Sabito."
"Sabito? Who's that?" Aoki asked, looking at Giyu Tomioka, who was staring at the sky.
After a pause, Giyu Tomioka said, "Sabito was your senior brother, a disciple of Master Urokodaki, just like you and me. He and I participated in the final selection together. I was weak and knocked unconscious by a demon. Sabito entrusted me to the other participants and spent the next seven days almost completely eliminating the demons on Mount Fujikasane."
Aoki's inner thoughts: "Wait a minute… that sounds exactly like me."
"Because Sabito killed most of the demons, many more passed the final selection that year than usual," Giyu Tomioka continued, his eyes dimming. "But Sabito's sword dulled from continuous fighting. On the last day, he was killed by the Hand Demon. I awoke after seven days of unconsciousness, having passed the selection without killing a single demon."
"I became the Water Hashira—or rather, I took Sabito's place. I felt unworthy to stand with the other Hashira, so I avoided interacting with them."
"I hope you will replace me. You don't use Water Breathing, but you could still nominally take my place."
Giyu Tomioka finally turned to Aoki, his eyes pleading.
Aoki didn't answer directly but laughed. "Seriously, Senior brother Giyu? That's why you're like this? I thought you were genuinely aloof."
Patting Giyu Tomioka on the shoulder, Aoki continued, "Senior brother Giyu, you shouldn't feel this way. Think about it: Sabito-senpai sacrificed his life to ensure your survival, and you became a Hashira, yet you feel unworthy."
"But have you considered why, out of all those who passed the final selection with you, only you became a Hashira?"
"You believe you're weak, unworthy of being a Hashira. What kind of delusion makes you so humble? If you're unworthy, who is worthy?"
"I think you should remain the Water Hashira. I won't replace you."
Giyu Tomioka started to speak, but Aoki interrupted.
"There's nothing to discuss. Without Sabito-senpai, you would have died on Mount Fujikasane with your skills at the time. It was Sabito-senpai who saved your life."
"Think about it another way. You're still young. What would you do if I took your place? Become a trainer like Master Urokodaki? Don't be ridiculous. You wouldn't be a good trainer."
"If you truly feel guilty about Sabito-senpai's death, then live with that guilt. Remain the Water Hashira, continue slaying demons, and carry that guilt for the rest of your life. Because you owe Sabito-senpai a debt you can never repay."
Aoki left the forest without waiting for a response.
Giyu Tomioka stood there for a long time before looking at the left side of his haori.
"Sabito, I understand."
With newfound resolve, Giyu Tomioka vanished.
Aoki returned to the Butterfly Mansion but didn't stay long. After speaking briefly with Kanao, he left headquarters.
Aoki's thoughts: "My Nichirin Sword arrived. That simpleton Tanjiro should be on demon-slaying missions by now."
Looking at the setting sun, Aoki thought of his junior brother.
"Let's check on Old Man Urokodaki first."
Despite his concern for Tanjiro, Aoki decided to return to the mountains; Urokodaki Sakonji likely didn't know about his promotion.
That evening, Aoki returned to the small hut.
"I see. You were appointed Devour Hashira and defeated the Wind Hashira. Impressive," Urokodaki Sakonji said calmly, his feelings for his disciple a mix of love and exasperation.
He loved Aoki for his exceptional talent—passing the final selection unscathed and becoming a Hashira the very next day. He hated Aoki's lazy, arrogant demeanor, his disregard for others, and his lack of respect for elders.
His only true concerns were Urokodaki Sakonji himself and Tanjiro.
Since Tanjiro had received his Nichirin Sword and gone on missions, Aoki stayed overnight and departed the next morning.
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