"Tomioka-senpai?"
The figure in the doorway was none other than Giyu Tomioka, the Water Hashira.
Reiyu was honestly surprised.Giyu always looked like someone untouched by mortal concerns — aloof, distant, and quiet. Even though Reiyu was technically his junior disciple, that didn't mean Giyu would suddenly show up just to visit him.
Besides, his injuries were already healed.If you were going to come, you should've come earlier, Reiyu grumbled internally.
"Come with me," Giyu said, eyes cold and unreadable.
A moment later, he was leading Reiyu deep into the forest behind Corps Headquarters.
"Uh, Tomioka-senpai… what exactly are you planning?" Reiyu asked, puzzled.
Giyu didn't answer.He stopped in front of a tall tree and stayed silent for a long time.Only after several breaths did he finally speak.
"I want you… to take my place."
Reiyu blinked. "Take your place? What does that mean?"
"This title — Water Hashira — it was never mine to begin with."Giyu's voice wavered in a way Reiyu had never heard before.
"It belonged to Sabito."
"Sabito? Who's that?" Reiyu asked, watching Giyu stare quietly at the sky.
After a moment, Giyu finally explained.
"Sabito… he was your senior. Like you and me, he was a disciple of Urokodaki-sensei."
"Back during the Final Selection, he and I entered together. I was too weak — I was knocked unconscious by a demon almost immediately. Sabito handed me over to the other candidates... then he spent the next seven days killing almost every demon on Mt. Fujikasane."
Hearing that, Reiyu almost choked.
…Wait, excuse me? That's literally ME.
"Because Sabito wiped out nearly all the demons, the number of survivors that year was far higher than usual."
Giyu's expression dimmed.
"But his blade dulled after seven days of continuous fighting. On the final day… he was killed by the Hand Demon. And I… woke up after seven days to find I had passed the Selection without killing a single demon."
"I became the Water Hashira afterward — or rather, a stand-in for Sabito. I've always believed I didn't deserve to stand among the other Hashira. That's why I rarely speak to them."
"So I want you to replace me. Even if you don't use Water Breathing, you can still inherit the position in name."
He finally turned, looking directly at Reiyu.There was something rare — almost pleading — in his eyes.
But Reiyu didn't answer him.Instead, he burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! No way. Tomioka-senpai, you were gloomy for this reason? I thought you were naturally cold!"
He clapped Giyu on the shoulder.
"Tomioka-senpai, seriously — you don't need to act like this. Think about it. Sabito-senpai died fighting so the rest of you could pass the Final Selection. And you became Water Hashira yet believe you don't deserve the position."
"But have you ever considered something?"
Reiyu stepped in front of him, meeting his eyes.
"So many people passed that year.But why is it that only you became a Hashira?"
"You think you're weak.You think you're unworthy.But what kind of delusion makes you look down on yourself so badly?"
"If you aren't qualified to be the Water Hashira… then who the hell is?"
Reiyu crossed his arms confidently.
"As far as I'm concerned, you should stay exactly where you are. I'm not taking your spot."
"But—" Giyu began.
Reiyu cut him off with a snort.
"No buts. Without Sabito-senpai, you would've died on Mt. Fujikasane — absolutely, no question. Which means in a roundabout way, he saved your life."
"And think about your future. You're still young. If I take your seat, what are you going to do? Become a trainer like Urokodaki-old— uh, like Urokodaki-sensei? Please. With your personality, what kind of disciple could you possibly train?"
He jabbed a finger at Giyu's chest.
"If you really feel guilty about Sabito-senpai's death… then carry that guilt. For your whole life. Stay the Water Hashira for your whole life. Kill demons for your whole life. Live forever with that debt — because you will never be able to repay what Sabito-senpai gave you."
Without waiting for a response, Reiyu turned and walked away from the forest.
Giyu stood frozen for a long time.
Eventually, he lowered his gaze to the left half of his haori — Sabito's half.
"…Sabito. I understand now."
His eyes hardened with absolute resolve.Then, in an instant, Giyu vanished from sight.
Leaving the forest, Reiyu returned to the Butterfly Mansion.This time, he didn't stay long. He exchanged a few words with Aoi, then departed from Demon Slayer Corps Headquarters.
"Since my Nichirin Blade arrived today… that airhead Tanjiro should've started his first demon-slaying mission by now."
Watching the sun dip toward the horizon, Reiyu murmured to himself, feeling oddly concerned for his softhearted junior.
"…Guess I'll stop by Urokodaki-old— Urokodaki-sensei's place first."
Even though he cared about Tanjiro, he decided to return to Mt. Sagiri.After all, Urokodaki still didn't know about him becoming a Hashira.
Late that night, Reiyu reached the familiar little cabin on Mt. Sagiri.
"I see… So you were appointed the Devouring Hashira — and you even defeated the Wind Hashira, hm? Quite impressive."
Sitting across from him in the dimly lit cabin, Sakonji Urokodaki listened calmly.Inside, however, he was torn between pride and exasperation.
The pride was obvious: Reiyu had passed the Final Selection without a scratch, and became a Hashira the very next day — something unprecedented.
The exasperation was equally obvious: Reiyu always looked lazy, careless, and arrogant. He respected nothing, rarely paid attention to anything serious, and often ignored his teacher's authority… unless that teacher was Urokodaki or Tanjiro.
Since Tanjiro had already received his Nichirin Blade and left for missions, Reiyu didn't depart that night.He stayed in the cabin until morning, then said his farewells at dawn.