While the atmosphere here was joyful with playful banter, Tanjirou, adhering to the principle of relentless persistence, kept talking to Giyuu.
"Mr. Giyu, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong with you?"
Tanjirou, with his dot eyes, followed dumbfoundedly behind Tomioka Giyu.
Tomioka Giyu, who was walking ahead and completely unwilling to acknowledge him, started sweating profusely on his cheeks.
It's endless... How many days has it been already?
Is this going to last a lifetime?
Tomioka Giyu squatted in the restroom with a heavy expression, listening to the chirping sounds coming from outside, and couldn't help but think.
If I respond to him, maybe he'll give up?
Finally, as they passed a small bridge, Tomioka Giyu couldn't resist responding to him.
"I didn't pass the Final Selection." Tomioka Giyu paused his steps and said faintly without turning his head.
Now that you've heard it, hurry up and leave. He couldn't take it anymore.
"Eh?" Tanjirou, whose long persistence had finally yielded a response, gasped in surprise. "The Final Selection? Are you referring to the one on Mount Fujikasane?"
"Yes..." Giyuu's tone was slightly heavy as he recounted the past he couldn't bear to look back on. "That year, I was with a boy whose family was also killed by demons..."
"Sabito. I participated in the selection with that boy with salmon-colored hair."
Tanjirou's eyes widened slightly.
Sabito means... at that time... "We were thirteen, and both orphans, so we quickly became good friends."
"Sabito was a kind boy with a strong sense of justice."
"In that year's selection, only Sabito died."
"He defeated almost all the demons on that mountain, and everyone except Sabito passed the selection..."
"I was injured by the demon that attacked first, and Sabito saved me when my consciousness was hazy."
"Sabito handed me over to another boy and went toward the people who were crying for help."
"By the time I came to my senses, the selection was already over."
"I did survive the seven days and passed the selection."
"But can someone who didn't defeat a single demon, and was merely saved by others, truly be considered to have passed the selection?"
Tomioka Giyu calmly recounted his past, his voice so flat it was as if he were telling a story, and as if the protagonist of the story wasn't him.
But Tanjirou could keenly smell a scent of self-reproach.
"I don't deserve to be the Water Hashira." Finally, he concluded, "Ultimately, I don't deserve to stand alongside the Hashira as equals. I am different from them. There was never a place for me in the Demon Slayer Corps."
So that's what he meant?
Tears flowed unnaturally from Tanjirou's eyes.
Tomioka Giyu, with his back to him, said faintly, "You are a more outstanding person than me. I am not qualified to train you."
"Stop bothering with me. It's a waste of time..."
Tomioka Giyu resumed walking forward, ignoring Tanjirou.
At that moment, Giyuu's figure seemed to be standing still, and Tanjirou deeply felt the pain in his heart.
Mr. Giyu must feel immense self-reproach, right? His heart must be suffering, right?
Tanjirou was never the type who was good at persuading others, nor could he say words implying he understood Mr. Giyu.
He, a person who knew nothing about Mr. Giyu... But... but... there was one thing he absolutely had to ask Mr. Giyu... Tanjirou instinctively stepped forward, "Mr. Gi... Giyu!"
Tomioka Giyu did not stop his steps at all, moving forward without even the slightest motion of hesitation.
Ahhh! He won't stop!
Tanjirou panicked and quickly chased after him.
"Mr. Giyu!"
Tomioka Giyu finally reacted, stopping his steps, but still had no intention of turning around.
Who knows what he was thinking.
Perhaps, he just wanted Tanjirou to give up hope.
But what Tomioka Giyu completely failed to anticipate was... "Aren't you going to carry on the Legacy that Sabito entrusted to you?" After a brief silence, Tanjirou remained where he was and said softly.
Tanjirou had no intention of forcing his thoughts onto Tomioka Giyu; his voice was very gentle, as if simply stating a fact.
Giyuu's eyes widened slightly. In a daze, it was as if a slap had landed on his face, and he subconsciously reached up to touch his cheek.
Like a word that wakes the dreamer, the memory of being with Sabito, accompanied by the pain on his cheek, instantly flooded his mind.
"Don't ever say something like 'I should have died instead' again!" Sabito slapped his face in anger. "If there's a next time, this is where you and I part ways."
"We're done!"
"Your older sister, on the day before her wedding, must have known this very well, which is why she hid you to save you from the demon attack."
"You, above all... do not desecrate your sister."
"You must absolutely not die! The life your sister maintained by staking her own life, and the future she entrusted to you!"
"You must carry on the Legacy, Giyuu."
Tomioka Giyu numbly stroked his cheek.
It hurt so much... It was exactly like being fiercely slapped by someone.
The clearer the memory in his mind became, the more real the pain on his face felt.
Why did he forget that conversation with Sabito?
Wasn't that a crucial memory?
It was because.
It was the sorrowful reality he had forgotten... Whenever he remembered it, he would become so sad that he couldn't do anything, and his tears would flow uncontrollably.
Older sister... Sabito... I'm sorry for being so immature... Seeing Tomioka Giyu completely motionless, cold sweat poured down Tanjirou's face.
Oh no... He's frozen.
What should I do? Did I say something terrible?
Mr. Giyu is already depressed; did I just twist the knife?
Tanjirou was panicking terribly, but suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit him.
That's right! He still had his ultimate move unused!
How about we have a competition to see who can eat the fastest?!
Then I can say that if I win the competition, we'll train together, or something like that.
Although Mr. Giyu is taciturn, a competition to see who eats fastest doesn't require talking.
What a great idea!
Tanjirou's wise eyes grew brighter, and he gradually felt a radiant future ahead.
Why didn't he think of such a good idea before? He must have been misled by Young Miss Mizuki's advice about relentless persistence!
Tomioka Giyu lowered his eyelids, apologized in his heart to his deceased relatives and companion, and turned around.
"Tanjirou, although it's a bit late, I will also participate in that..."
"Mr. Giyu, how about we have a soba noodle eating competition?"
The two spoke in unison.
Tomioka Giyu's calm expression instantly turned blank.
Why?
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"