"Let's go see him. Relying on Tanjiro to enlighten him might not yield good results."
Raiden considered it briefly before deciding to visit Giyu Tomioka himself.
He did not expect to completely pull Giyu out of his state with a few words, but leaving everything to Tanjiro was unreliable. There was no guarantee Giyu would open up to anyone else afterward.
Even if the reward was small, it was still worth something.
After asking around, Raiden found his way to Giyu's residence. Passing through a winding trail and a dense bamboo grove, he arrived at a quiet courtyard.
"It really is secluded."
He stepped forward and knocked on the wooden door.
"Are you there, Tomioka? It's Raiden."
Inside, Giyu paused, confusion flickering across his face.
Raiden?
Why would he come here?
This place was hidden deep within the bamboo forest. No one passed by casually. That meant Raiden came specifically to see him.
Why?
Giyu originally intended to ignore the knock and wait for him to leave. But thoughts of Raiden becoming a Hashira, along with the way the others had welcomed him, surfaced in his mind.
Before he realized it, Giyu had already stood up and walked toward the door.
Unlike himself, who had become a Hashira through circumstances he could not accept, Raiden had earned it through strength.
Refusing to answer would be rude.
At least, that was what he told himself.
Raiden watched the unmoving door without surprise. In the original timeline, it took Tanjiro several days to reach Giyu. This reaction was expected.
Just as he prepared to speak again, his nose twitched slightly.
So he is here.
The door creaked open.
Giyu stood there, expression calm. "Do you need something, Raiden?"
"About the Hashira training…"
"That has nothing to do with me."
"You are a Hashira too," Raiden said evenly. "The Water Hashira."
A faint light flickered in Giyu's eyes, but it vanished just as quickly.
For a moment, he almost believed it.
But he did not accept it. In his mind, that title belonged to someone else.
Seeing his silence, Raiden sighed lightly.
"I know why you always say you are not like the others. It is not arrogance. You just think you do not deserve to stand with them, right?"
Giyu looked up, genuine surprise in his gaze.
How did he know?
Aside from Urokodaki, no one should have known about that past.
"I checked the records from your Final Selection," Raiden continued calmly. "One person died. Everyone else survived."
"That person was Sabito."
Giyu's grip on the door tightened.
"You believe he should have been the Water Hashira, not you."
"…Do you have anything else to say?" Giyu asked quietly. "If not, please leave."
Before Raiden could respond, the door shut.
Standing outside, Raiden showed no reaction. If he wanted to force his way in, the door would not stop him.
But that was not his goal.
This was only the first step.
"Sabito did not save you so you could drown in guilt," Raiden said through the door. "His will did not end there."
"That is all I will say. Think about it."
He turned and left, expression calm, though his thoughts were less certain.
That should be close enough to what Tanjiro said.
Inside, Giyu froze.
"His will…"
Memories surfaced, vivid and unrelenting.
Sabito's voice, always scolding him when he spoke of giving up, echoed in his mind.
His throat tightened.
Why had he joined the Demon Slayer Corps?
What was he doing now?
Giyu stood motionless, lost in thought.
---
The events of the meeting quickly spread through the Kasugai Crows.
At the Butterfly Mansion lounge:
"Raiden is training the Hashira? Not the regular members?"
Tanjiro's eyes lit up with admiration. He knew Raiden was strong, but not to this extent.
When will I reach that level?
"Wait, he is not training the members?" Zenitsu groaned. "Does that mean I will not see him again for a long time?"
He had only just gotten used to his presence.
"Raiden? Who is that?" Inosuke tilted his head, puzzled. The name sounded familiar.
It did not matter.
Training was all that mattered.
Once he got stronger, he would challenge Raiden to a duel.
---
The next day, training began.
Unlike before, Shinobu Kocho and Kyojuro Rengoku also took part.
Shinobu focused on recovery and physical conditioning, ensuring the members could endure the harsh regimen.
Rengoku worked on refining breathing techniques, correcting mistakes with precision and intensity.
The results were immediate.
So was the suffering.
---
Not far from the main training grounds, another session unfolded.
"Breathe properly," Raiden said, his tone casual. "How many times do I have to say it?"
"Weren't you trying to show me something? Is this all?"
"Oh, I see. Shinazugawa, you already mastered it, right? You are just holding back so I do not feel embarrassed."
He moved through the storm of wind blades effortlessly, as if taking a quiet stroll.
Sanemi's face turned red with anger.
He wanted nothing more than to shut Raiden up.
Learning took time. Who mastered something instantly?
If he had already learned it, Raiden would not still be standing.
Still, despite his frustration, Sanemi could not deny the truth.
Raiden was stronger.
Far stronger.
Every strike Sanemi made carried full force, yet none of them landed. Not even his clothes were touched.
It had only been a few months since their last encounter.
How had the gap grown this wide?
"Your breathing is getting sloppy," Raiden said, stepping in close. "Are you getting impatient? You will not reach the Transparent World like that."
"Shut up!"
Sanemi roared, forcing himself to steady his breathing.
This time, he focused.
And tried again.