(WOW it's been a while SORRY. This chapter actively kicked my ass and I'm at the point where I need to tie up my perfectionist tendencies and shove them in a closet if I EVER want to move on. Giyu's POV killed me so sorry if he's ooc here. I tried - I really did.)

Again.

A deafening crash

Again.

The splintering of wood. The sounds were old friends at this point, drowning out the fury pumping in his ears.

Again!

The training dummy fell to the grass in two neat pieces. He set up the half that could still stand and unclenched his hands for a moment.

Again Agatsuma!

His palms were aching and that was good. The splinters in his hands felt good. Grounding. He was here. He was alive. There was still time. Time to improve. To grow.

The Sound Pillar was helping repair the westward walls today. He wouldn't be around the training grounds until dusk. Inosuke's sister was sleeping, she'd stay that way for another day, at least. That left Zenitsu plenty of time to push himself. Again. And again. And again.

It was getting harder to breathe; harder to keep his hands steady... harder to keep Gramp's doctrine closer. But he had to. He had to! He was the only one who could!!

It wasn't supposed to be this way. It was never supposed to be this way. He wasn't meant to be any heir or avenger. He was a coward - a weak, pathetic coward. The runt, if you would. And the worst fucking part was how he'd been comfortable there. He'd been okay to be the "other" apprentice - the leftover. Now, he was all Gramps had. He was the only remaining tie to that man's legacy and god damn him he wasn't going to fail. He couldn't. He wouldn't. If nothing else in his pathetic life, he had to at least make that old man's faith mean something!

So do it again! Again! And again!

Until your hands bled. Until your muscles screamed. Give it your absolute all until you are nothing because he had been nothing! He had been nothing until Gramps took him in. He was still nothing!

But Gramps had been something. He'd been warm meals, a gruff scolding, a soft whack with his walking stick paired with a laugh. God, he'd been something. Too good for a failure like Zenitsu - too good for fucking Kaigaku.

His blood boiled at the thought; for a moment, he could envision that sneer before him. Blue eyes sparking with scorn. Zenitsu would turn that condescending gaze into one of horror. He severed that bastard's head from his shoulders over and over and OVER! There weren't enough words to explain it. There was no imaginary scenario where that traitor got what he deserved. There was no way Zenitsu could kill him that would satisfy whatever it was that had rooted in his chest. Resentment was too tame. Hate was too tame! Whatever he felt for his old superior was akin to something darker than murder and deeper than hell. 

He wanted - he needed - to kill him. All that talk about being the better heir. All that bluster! All that ego!! How many times had Kaigaku stood before their master and basked in praise? How many times had he accused that old man of being blind to his potential!? And he'd been nothing but a fucking traitor! A coward! To think Zenitsu had quivered before that! That he'd taken that! He should've killed him back then! If he could reach into the past and strangle that bastard in his sleep he would. Hell, he'd cut him apart. See if he took getting gutted with an eight of the strength Gramps had. See if he screamed!

His heart had no room for anything other than whatever consuming anger filled him. He was starving for it. Only thoughts of Kaigaku's death quelled it. ONLY his death would redeem it. So go again Agatzuma! Again! And again! And again!

Kaigaku had always been the better swordsman, and now he was an Upper Moon. There was only one way Zenitsu was catching up to him. And he was going to catch up - he was going to hear that bastard's last breath because no one had heard Gramp's.

"Hi Zenitsu!"

The rage faded as did the ringing in his ears. The last of the thunder-breathers whirled around to face Kamado Tanjiro, who always donned a smile. The boy picked through the carnage of the training grounds with a soft expression despite the ferocity left in Zenitsu's wake.

"Hi, Tanjiro," Zenitsu managed to even his voice into something calmer than the scream lingering in his throat.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Zenitsu shrugged as he looked out over the mess he'd made in his fury: "You were right."

Tanjiro hid his worry well, but it bellowed out of his chest like a bird screeching at its cage. You never would've known it, but Zenitsu had come to know the many sounds of Tanjiro - even when he smiled through everything. Especially because he smiled through everything.

"Mind if I join you? I could use a sparring partner!" the boy offered.

"I'd rather not," Zenitsu apologized softly. It would be impossible to imagine Kaigaku in Tanjiro's place. Impossible to attack Tanjiro with a tenth of what he needed to possess to take down an Upper Moon.

Tanjiro, the prodigy, took his mantle well. If only he had been Gramp's successor, then at least the Thunder Breathers would only have to suffer one disappointment.

"Well then! Let's take a break!" Tanjiro grinned, leaning down to pick up the larger splinters. "Kanao wanted to show us how to make bone broth, remember!"

You boil the bones. It's not open-heart surgery. He knew a distraction when he heard one.

"I don't want to be distracted. I have more to do. I'm... sorry," he wasn't, not really. For disappointing Tanjiro? Maybe. But he had shit to make up for. He had to catch up -

Tanjiro's chest began to rumble. It wasn't disappointment in his eyes as he straightened up, it was something...else. Zenitsu wasn't particularly familiar with that sound - maybe he didn't know Tanjiro as well as he thought.

"Zenitsu..." Tanjiro... scolded? Was - was he being scolded?

"Tell Kanao I'm sorry - really - but I need to perfect this," he forced the words out. Mind and body wanted different things but only one thing mattered. 

Gramps was shaking his head: "Honestly Zenitsu, if half of your cowardice was determination, you'd be the greatest slayer among us."

"Now, usually, I would be all for your dedication!" Tanjiro stated firmly, raising a finger as he - dear god he was lecturing. "But I really don't think you're in the right headspace to be pushing yourself this hard."

Zenitsu stared at his friend who was being really, really stupid right now. Not the right headspace? If anything he was in the best slayer headspace he'd ever been in! Wasn't this what he was supposed to feel? Determined!? Brave!? Fucking vengeful!?

"My headspace is fine."

Tanjiro crossed his arms. It was amazing - must be that older-brother energy that made him seem so superior despite their age difference. Zenitsu just wasn't in the mood to give in.

"Zenitsu -"

"Tanjiro, please." He pulled the most in-tact training dummy up from the grass and set it in front of him. "Just... let it go."

Tanjiro sighed: "But... I'm worried."

"I'm fine."

"We don't see you anymore -"

"I'm busy."

But Tanjiro only grew louder: "And, well, you haven't talked to anyone about -"

Zenitsu cleaved through the wooden instrument before Tanjiro could finish that sentence - as loudly as possible. He looked back and set his jaw: "I'm busy."

"But Zenitsu -"

"Don't pretend you don't understand!" Zenitsu hissed through his teeth, whirling on that boy who - under all that joy and smiles and kindness burned with a harmony of hatred. They matched in that way. They did now. "Don't pretend you don't know why I'm doing this!"

Tanjiro's breaths wavered: "I - I do."

"Imagine it wasn't Muzan that did it." Thunder was roaring in his ears, rolling with every breath. "Imagine it was some nobody - some fucking nobody."

They stared at each other for a very, very long moment. The air was heavy, his chest was tight, and the world screamed in every way it could.

"Somebody you could've killed," Zenitsu finished.

"Zenitsu -"

"I will stop when he's dead. I will stop when Kaigaku is a stain on the fucking dirt and I can dig my heel into what's left of his corpse."

He spat it out like venom and prayed to make that image a reality. 

"This isn't what your master would -"

The blood rushed to his ears in a cacophony of rage.

"How the fuck would you know what he wanted!?" Zenitsu threatened. "All he ever asked of me was to take this seriously! To find a purpose - a drive! I fucking found it and you want me to stop!?"

"I just..." Tanjiro struggled.

Zenitsu sheathed his sword, struggling to keep his breathing constant: "He killed himself to atone for Kaigaku - to redeem the Thunder Breathers."

"That isn't your fault!"

"Isn't it!?" 

Something snapped and the world blurred as a storm rumbled in Zenitsu's soul.

"He carried that burden because he didn't think I could redeem him! He didn't think I could succeed him! If I had been worth more - if I could've bested Kaigaku, he wouldn't have... he would've used me to redeem the thunder breathers, not... he wouldn't have..."

He was crying, which explained the blurry world. Rage continued to pump through his heart and the tears only fed that. He'd always been crying - always whimpering or complaining... always coming short. Always letting him down.

He would never atone for that.

"Zenitsu..." Tanjiro's tone whispered through the pounding rage but fell silent when faced with it.

"I have to make this right. Let me make this right," Zenitsu pleaded, turning back to his friend. "Let me have this."

Tanjiro stared, soul aching but his tongue thankfully falling still. His fellow tsuguko nodded as he bit his lip: "Okay."

"Thank you," Zenitsu breathed, trying to let the rage fall back into his chest where it belonged.

That lasted three seconds before Tanjiro found something to say:

"We're still friends, right?"

Zenitsu paused and discovered how being confused killed that pounding rage for a moment. He looked back and almost scoffed: "Of course."

Tanjiro nodded slowly, and Zenitsu heard doubt in his friend's bones.

"Good... then, I'll be with you then, Zenitsu. All the way."

Zenitsu did weakly laugh that time, shaking his head: "I know you will..."

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Alright, points to Kan-O, she made a mean soup. This shit was delicious! Inosuke licked the bowl and was crushed to discover that the taste was gone. 

"More!" he pleaded, holding his bowl out.

Kan-o-something, the butterfly tsuguko stared at him for a very long moment, her bowl in her lap. Slowly, she pointed to the pot left over the dying fire and nodded. HELL YEAH - 

He filled his bowl up to the brim and began guzzling it before he was even back to his seat. Holy shit it was so good. Who knew bones and veggies could be this fucking good. Someone tapped his shoulder and he looked up from his sacred soup slurping to find Tanjiro's little sister standing at his side.

"Hi!" he greeted, which was difficult as he was still slurping soup but fuck that he wasn't gonna stop eating.

Nezu-something hummed, a grin on her face as she poked his bowl and tilted her head. She was asking a question... hmmm...

"I think she wants to know if it's good," Tanjiro perked up. He'd been weirdly quiet all evening but was still being that dutiful translator - good on him. 

Inosuke nodded eagerly, spilled some soup on his hand, and quickly licked it off because he was not gonna waste this good soup -

"It is very good, Kanao," he heard Tanjiro murmur from across the fire. Oh right her name was Kanao. When he looked up he saw her smiling as she stared into her bowl. She should be proud, he kind of wanted to eat the pot!

This whole thing had been Tanjiro's idea. A little tsuguko get-together where they made food and snacks. Zenitsu hadn't joined cause he was being all serious recently. That new guy, something-ya, had said no-way (totally cool more soup for Inosuke) and  Purple-butterfly lady hadn't joined because she was working - or she didn't want to. So, it was just the three and Nezuko, but she was basically an honorary tsuguko.

Oh yeah, and water-guy.

He looked over at the hashira and found him sitting exactly how he had been when he first plopped down. Gi-gi-something hadn't touched his divine soup and was just staring into the fire with a really blank expression. He'd followed Tanjiro and no one had mentioned it so Inosuke hadn't really cared. Tanjiro seemed to like him so the guy had to be alright. He was quiet - like a fish you know? Big empty eyes all unblinking and weird, as it just hovers in the shallows. Inosuke didn't have a problem with the fish guy... but... he did have a pressing question.

"Are you gonna eat that?" Inosuke demanded, sliding over to the hashira.

The guy looked over with... an expression. Inosuke wasn't sure what expression it was. Like... he definitely had a face, and a face had an expression, but he couldn't really get what the guy was feeling. So... was that a no to the food or a yes?

"The soup." Maybe the guy wasn't understanding him. "Are you gonna eat it?"

"Inosuke, you can get more from the pot!" Tanjiro cried.

"Well if he's not gonna eat his -"

"You shouldn't take Tomioka-san's food!" 

"I can't let him waste it!"

"I will eat it." AH! The guy can speak! Inosuke stared at the hashira and found the man staring at him blankly. He had no idea what this guy was thinking. He didn't really care - the food -

"You sure?" he challenged, narrowing his eyes.

The hashira tilted his head: "Yes."

"Alright! Can I have more then!?" Inosuke pleaded, jumping to his feet.

Tanjiro tried to hide a laugh as Kanao nodded. What was the guy laughing at? What a weirdo -

Doesn't matter, he could get more food and it was taking all of his self-control to stop himself from taking the whole pot. He hoped these people appreciated how polite he was. He was just about to finish his third bowl when the hashira guy interrupted whatever Tanjiro and Kanao were laughing about.

"Tanjiro, I need you to become the water pillar."

Tanjiro choked on his soup, doubling over with hacking coughs as Kanao looked on with concern. Nezuko hummed and walked up to Tanjiro's side, narrowing her eyes at his struggling figure before raising her hand and patting him on the back, in a show of support perhaps.

"T- Tomioka-san, what do you... what are you saying?" Tanjiro managed as his soup tried to kill him.

Inosuke threw a very long glance at the hashira who still hadn't touched his fucking soup - 

The guy was just sitting there, staring at the ground with a lump in his throat and something empty in his eyes. Inosuke didn't get what was going on but he did know he wanted that soup -

"But you're the water pillar!" Tanjiro demanded, composing himself before taking an aside for a fretting sister: "Thanks Nezuko, I'm okay."

"I am not," The guy answered, totally stone-faced. Inosuke scooted closer, quietly.

"What!? Of course you are!" Tanjiro argued. "You're Tomioka Giyu, the water hashira."

"No..." There was sadness there and Inosuke would've cared if (1) he knew this guy and (2) he wasn't busy trying to steal the sad guy's soup.

"I was granted the title by default, but it is not... deserved."

Tanjiro frowned: "Don't say that. You're amazing. You saved Nezuko way back then, and you protected Urokodaki sensei when the demons attacked!"

"He did not require my assistance."

"Well," Tanjiro hummed, tapping his chin: "He told me he was happy you visited, I've got his letter to prove it!"

"Your encouragement was... critical, in that choice."

"But you still did it!" the boy beamed. "I may have encouraged you but you're the one who visited him! And that made him happy!"

"Regardless," Gi-something interjected. "I... would like to you to begin refining your water breathing."

"Did Urokodaki-sensei put you up to this?" Tanjiro laughed. "I know he wasn't too happy when he heard I'd taken up flame breathing, but -"

"He was not unhappy with you," Gigi denied. "He... he had expected more of... me."

"Oh."

"You have not fully taken up Flame Breathing. You could easily continue training as the water pillar."

"I'd be happy to learn what you can teach me!"

The water pillar guy shifted: "No, you misunderstand. I... can't teach you."

"What?"

 "I need you to prepare yourself so you can take up the mantle I've... filled"

"Giyu," Tanjiro laughed. "Don't say it like that: you're not a placeholder."

"I am" Giyu murmured. "This title was supposed to belong to someone someone far worthier than I."

"But - you're incredible Tomioka-san!"

"Please... just... think on it," the man pleaded suddenly. Inosuke looked between the two weirdos as he leaned even closer. 

Inch by inch. Centimeter by centimeter. Whatever other measurements there were that were smaller than that by whatever measurements were smaller than that! Itty-bit by itty-bit or something!

"I... I don't really understand what you're asking," Tanjiro pleaded.

Kanao flipped her coin and then scowled at whatever its answer was. She looked between the two just as Inosuke was, but Inosuke had a mission. A sacred duty to spare wasted soup from its cold fate.

"I want to relinquish my title to you," the fool answered heavily. "One day."

"You... want to leave the corps?"

"No." 

"Then..."

"Tanjiro. I want to -"

"MINE!" Inosuke cackled as he snatched the bowl of soup from in front of that water pillar and ran.

"INOSUKE!" Tanjiro scolded, jumping to his feet.

But he was gone! He was free! And the almost lukewarm soup was his! MUAHAHAHAHAHA -

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Giyu watched Tanjiro chase his friend down, the Kamado boy scolding incessantly about stealing food. They disappeared into the estate with the sound of mad cackling and earnest scolding echoing after them. 

That had been... something. In his opinion Tanjiro was making too big a deal about it all... or maybe the boy was just looking to get away from the conversation. If Giyu had truly cared about the soup he would've stopped the Hashibira boy, there were just more pressing things to consider.

Like a proper Water Pillar for the corps.

The lone hashira looked down at his empty hands and let out a small sigh. Tanjiro was... resistant. Blinded by his good nature and loyalty. He cared too much.

There was no good way to explain what was tumbling through his mind. It was the usual turmoil but there was a solution this time. Sabito's eyes curled into a smile and Tanjiro's laugh accompanied him. Tanjiro would not have run. Tanjiro did not run. His place was where Sabito should've been.

He threw himself headfirst into every fight, so eager to protect. So confident. So unlike Giyu. And he'd survived thus far... unlike Sabito.

There was a new bowl in his hands - the softness was startling. He looked up and found Kanao there, blank-faced as she returned to her seat. She took a sip of her soup and stared into the fire, a smile on her face as she heard a distant shout from one of her two friends.

She'd make a good hashira too, one day. Kanae always beamed at the thought, rightfully so. These children were so... promising. Prowessed...

Brave.

Giyu frowned and studied the soup in his hands, rippling softly with every move he made. He wasn't hungry so he didn't mind when the boar boy stole his soup. He'd really only come for Tanjiro... 

Urokodaki had been so certain about him. So confident. Worried, too.

The boy was going to be a target, at least until he became more of a threat. His closeness with the demonic fugitives only cemented that. His master hadn't said as much, but it was Giyu's responsibility to make sure Tanjiro lived long enough to reach his potential.

That was the least he could do to atone for his failures. 

It wasn't fair to place such expectations on a boy so young, but he lived up to every single one. Every chance he had to fail, the boy had pushed through. He'd proven his sister was good - stopped her before anything could jeopardize that. He'd been crucial in destroying Upper Two. The first water breather to survive Final Selection (earnestly survive it - Giyu had not survived it, not really. He knew too well the difference between cowardice and skill).

Sabito would've known how to convince Tanjiro. Sabito would've known how to teach - would've wanted to. He'd always been so eager to help, and so good with people. Well... good with Giyu. His aggression still would've paired well with the other hashiras. His bravery. His strength.

Tanjiro was like him, but kinder... somehow. Sabito was the kindest being Giyu had ever known... but the anger there had been sharper than a knife. Tanjiro was kind, like the sun. Brutal to demons and unforgiving with his steel, but so gentle otherwise.

"My, my, I've never seen a sorrier dinner party," a tone scathed through his long-held regrets.

It was Shinobu. She walked in, hands on her hips as she looked between the water pillar and flower tsuguko. Kanao waved with a soft smile as Giyu looked away. This evening was not going the way he'd hoped.

"Well? No greeting for me Tomioka?" It was never clear when Shinobu was teasing or actually just angry. It was always safe to assume the latter. He decided to stare at his new soup bowl and hope for Tanjiro's quick return. It did smell good...

The insect tsuguko huffed as she served herself a bowl and sat down between the two silent compatriots.

"And where are the others?" she demanded after a long moment.

Kanao flipped her coin, studying its answer before shrugging.

"What do you mean you don't know?"

Another shrug from Kanao.

"They didn't leave you here, did they?"

Kanao shook her head. Getting no answers from her sister, Shinobu turned on him.

"And you, Tomioka? Any insights you're willing to offer? Or are you going to sit silently all night?"

"They ran off," he supplied. However, sitting silently sounded reasonable to him. He studied his reflection in the soup and wondered if the emptiness he saw was apparent to everyone else. He hoped not -

Shinobu rolled her eyes, or it sounded like she did. Such things usually accompanied her sigh: "Does staring at it make it taste better?"

"No." But it let him think. He needed to find a better way to explain it to Tanjiro—a way that would actually get him to listen. To take his place...

"What are you even doing here? I thought Tanjiro said this was for tsugukos," Shinobu muttered as she took a spoon to her bowl.

Shinobu was good with people. A lot like Sabito, actually. They would've gotten along well. Her fury was sharp as a blade, but it worked for her. She inspired people all the time, and people liked her. Perhaps she could get through to Tanjiro. She seemed to recognize Giyu's inadequacies, she'd likely be eager at the notion...

"I'm trying to get Kamado Tanjiro to take my place as the water pillar," he explained simply.

Shinobu choked on her soup. Why was that everyone's reaction? Was the soup bad - or was his voice that startling?

"You what!?" Shinobu scathed as she coughed.

"I am trying to get Kamado Tanjiro to take my place -"

"I got it the first time!" she recovered quickly, slowing her breathing to a controlled pace: "Why!?"

He stared at her, puzzled. What did she mean: why? Did she think Tanjiro was too young? That was fair...

"He exceeds all expectations, and was instrumental in defending the swordsmith village -"

"No - no, you dumbass. Why do you want him to take your place?"

Giyu blinked, even more confused: "He's... a water breather? Why wouldn't he?"

"No!" Shinobu took a deep breath and looked at the ceiling before looking back at him. "Where are you going?"

"What do you mean?"

"He can't take your place unless you're dead or retiring so, I'm gonna ask you again: Where are you going!?"

Oh.

"I would relinquish my title to him," Giyu answered softly.

"Why?" Shinobu demanded.

"Because... he deserves it."

"I mean, sure, the boy's some freak of nature," Shinobu scorned: "And has some of the worst luck I've seen when it comes to getting into trouble. But there's no rule about limiting hashira and you're still kicking so -"

"I... do not."

It was Shinobu's turn to stare at him in confusion: "You don't... what?"

Giyu met her gaze and sighed.

"Deserve it." It was Kanao who spoke, startling both of them. They looked over at her and found the girl staring right at him. There was a fierceness in that gaze. Familiar... in some ways.

"What?" Shinobu cried incredulously.

"That's... what he said," Kanao breathed, her voice tampering out into silence as she turned back to her soup.

"That's what - you said that!?" Shinobu turned on him far too fiercely for his taste.

"I... yes."

"What!?"

"It would be better -"

Shinobu almost threw her soup on the ground. See: this is why he didn't want to have this conversation with anyone else. Least of all her.

"We're in the middle of the greatest mass-transition the corps has ever had, and you're trying to pawn off your responsibilities to a fifteen-year-old!?"

"Sixteen," Giyu corrected numbly.

"Regardless -"

"I do not deserve to hold this title when he's so close to -"

"Fuck whatever you think you deserve!" Shinobu squawked. "You're gonna try to leave the corps in the middle of all this!?"

"I would try to wait until he's settled."

"He's a kid -"

"I was only a little older than him when I was given this title. And he will be a much better hashira than I ever was."

"You...." Shinobu hissed, hiding her face in her hands. "Could you pick a worse time to retire!?"

"I'm... not?" 

Her head snapped up in a paradoxical show of confusion and understanding: "Wait..."

She stared at him. He stared at her. This whole thing was rather confusing as they stared at each other -

"You... don't want to be a hashira anymore?" she frowned.

"Yes."

"But you want to stay in the corps."

"Yes."

She massaged her head again. Was she... mad? It sounded like she didn't want him to leave the corps at first, but then she got mad hearing he would stay - what did she want then?

"Why?" She finally managed.

He took a breath, half convinced no one listened to a word he said: "He is more deserving of the title -"

"And you're not!?" 

"No."

"Why?"

Too many reasons. They'd spend half the evening if he listed them all. Besides, she knew all of them. Shinobu must've heard something in his silence because she sighed, heavily.

"Well," she murmured. "Do me a favor, and stick around. That kid needs all the support he can get from us. From you."

"I have no plans to abandon him," Giyu vowed softly. Not again.

He looked up and found Shinobu smiling at him... strangely.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," she hummed innocently: "It's good to see you taking an interest in others, for once."

Giyu blinked.

"I... take interest in the corps."

She began to laugh, in her familiar scathing way, and he didn't get why.

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

SOUP! SOUP! SOUP! SOUP!

"Inosuke! This is really not appropriate!" Tanjiro was being good-ol Tanjiro again but he was too late!

The Great lord Inosuke could drink soup and run at the same time!

"Inosuke!!"

The great boar-king cackled as he jumped over a pile of timber and took another quick slurp of soup. Ah, shit Tanjiro was right behind him. He held the bowl closer to his chest and picked up the pace. No kind-eyed Kamado would be stealing his rightfully stolen food!!

He turned a corner sharply, vaulting off the wall to keep his speed which proved to be difficult with a bowl of soup in his hands. He almost spilled it, and that would've been a crime!

"Stop chasing me!" he howled over his shoulder.

"You bring Giyu's bowl back right now!" Tanjiro scolded. Ugh he sounded like Dad.

Speak of the demon -

"Hi Dad! Bye Dad!" Inosuke cackled sprinting past the confused ex-kizuki who'd made the mistake of opening his door.

"Inosuke.Tanjiro? What are you two -" the demon questioned as they rocketed past.

Tanjiro, like the good fool he way, slowed to bow apologetically to Douma and - oh shit, that was Mom!

"Hello Douma, Miss Hashibira, sorry!" Tanjiro gave a small bow before continuing his chase: "Inosuke stop running!"

"NEVER!"

He could hear his mother laughing behind him and he took another slurp of soup in victory. Yeah, Dad would have questions later. Didn't matter because he was about to -

"What are you two doing making such a racket?" Oh no, NOT DAKI!

Inosuke cursed as he was snatched by a collection of ribbons and suspended from the ceiling.

"DAKI! PUT ME DOWN!" Inosuke threatened, keeping a firm hold on his soup bowl. "I'll stab your face!"

"You'll try." She sauntered out of a nearby medical room, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. "People are trying to sleep."

"Sorry!" Tanjiro cried. Oh good, he was also strung up. "Very, very sorry!"

"Mmmhm," Daki tsked. "I'm sure you are Jiro. This brat though - not so sure."

"It's Tanjiro," the Kamado corrected polite.

"Yeah, that's what I said: Jiro," Daki teased.

She then leaned into Inosuke's space with a critical glare.

"Daki! This is very important!" Inosuke vowed. "You've got to put me down before you put Tanjiro down!"

Tanjiro struggled against the ribbons: "No! You do not need to do that!"

"It's life or death, Daki."

"It really isn't!"

"What's this all about?" Oh great the big pink butterfly lady Kana-e walked out of the same room. Now this got super ultra-complicated.

Nah, the great lord Inosuke's still got this.

"Tanjiro is trying to take my soup!" he accused.

"It is not your soup!"

"Is too! I got it. Ate half of it. Mine now."

"Inosuke!"

Daki sighed, holding the bridge of her nose as she loosened her ribbons a bit: "You all are so noisy. Get out of here and stay out, you're gonna wake up the humans."

HAH! Daki was the best!

He noticed and grinned when his feet touched the floor first. Oh, he owed her big time for that one. He'd give her a new shiny rock or something, but first!

"Inosuke!" Tanjiro hissed near-shrill, but trying to keep his voice down. It was too late, Inosuke was sprinting down the hall cackling once more. Kanae was trying to stifle her laughs and Daki seemed to be on the verge of a headache but Inosuke was freeee!

He was free! The soup was his! Tanjiro took chase but he had a massive head start! No one could stop him now! He weaved in and out of halls, jumped over construction sites, vaulted over a fence, and -oh fuck that's a person.

Now, Inosuke's senses were excellent, and his spatial awareness even more so. He never crashed into anyone ever. But, you see, when certain people are tall and wide and also decide to walk into a tight hallway without looking the king of the mountain isn't going to stop. His initial plan was to just give him a lil' shove and move on.

Move aside! Move aside! Move a-

"SON OF A -"

Unfortunately, that new tsuguko guy did not move when Inosuke shoved him. Didn't even budge. What was he, a rock!? So, instead of shoving the guy, Inosuke just collided with him, and the soup - THE PRECIOUS SOUP - went everywhere.

"What -" the criminal sputtered, his fae now splattered with soup.

"YOU FUCK!" Inosuke tried to strangle Tanjiro's secret accomplice. HIS SOUP!

"WHAT THE FUCK!?

"INOSUKE!"

"MY SOUP!"

The three tsugukos fought in the hallway for a moment. Well, Inosuke tried to convey his displeasure, the new guy was trying to pry his hands away from his neck, and Tanjiro was trying to pull him off his new victim.

Unfortunately, Tanjiro succeeded. He was scarily strong sometimes.

Not that it mattered anymore. The soup was gone -

"What the hell is going on!?" The new guy demanded, as Tanjiro plopped Inosuke on the ground and sighed. Tanjiro ignored the guy - HA! Take that new guy!

"Inosuke! You can't just steal people's food!"

"He wasn't gonna eat it!" Inosuke defended. "I had to save it from its lukewarm fate - and then THIS GUY got in my way!'

"You ran into me!?" the new guy seethed. Oh, maybe this was gonna be a fight. GOOD! THE SOUP WOULD HAVE VENGEANCE!

"Sorry Genya," Tanjiro sighed.

Ahhh, so that was his name!

"FIGHT ME JENGA!" the great lord of the mountain challenged.

"What?" the guy deadpanned.

"Inosuke -" Tanjiro tried to intervene, pushing the two away from each other.

"The soup must be avenged!" Inosuke cried.

"Is he drunk?"  Jenga demanded. "Or just stupid?"

"OUTTA MY WAY -" Inosuke threatened.

"Inouke! There is more soup!" Tanjiro yelled. 

Oh. 

Oh right.

He'd forgotten about that. The whole... outrunning Tanjiro thing had taken precedence. He grinned and tried to make his escape but man Tanjiro had a firm hold on his wrist.

Tanjiro sighed as Inosuke tried to get away to no avail.

"You've got to apologize to Giyu before you get more though. You took his bowl."

"He wasn't gonna eat it -"

"Or else no soup!"

"Awwww."

"How old are you, five!?" Jenga demanded.

"And you should apologize to Genya," Tanjiro added. Damn, he really did sound disappointed. Inouke had a fleeting streak of sympathy for Nezuko, to be condemned to an older brother who was so uncool.

"Sure. Sorry Jenga."

"Genya," the new guy sneered.

"Yeah, exactly. Anyway, let's go get more soup. Since Jenga's wearing all of it."

"Gen - ya."

"Jenga."

"How the fuck did they let you in the corps -"

"You know, at least he's consistent with your nickname," Tanjiro offered. " It took him months to learn mine. And it was a new one every time."

"It's not my fault yours was hard!" Inosuke defended. "Or long."

"Our... our names are the same length."

"Whatever - SOUP! Let's go!"

"You should come with us!" Tanjiro offered eagerly to Gen-Jen-WHATEVER MOHAWK'S NAME WAS!

The guy looked less than convinced. Good. Inosuke wasn't looking to share any more soup. He tried to creep away but found that Tanjiro was still holding onto his hand. Rude. Kinda nice though.

"Let's goooo," he groaned trying to pull Tanjiro along.

"It's a little tsuguko meal! Kanao's there too, and Giyu, but he doesn't really count. Nezuko is also there! It is a good soup -"

"It's a great soup and he can't have any," Inosuke corrected.

"Why not?" Genja scowled.

"Uh, 'cause I'm not sharing anymore."

"Inosuke," Tanjiro frowned. "You can't take all the soup."

Oh, he definitely could.

"You can have some," Inosuke tried to compromise. "Genja can't though."

"The fuck!? Genja!?" the guy demanded. 

"Yeah. You spilled my soup. I don't like you."

"YOU! Ran into me! And my name is Genya -"

"Exactly! My soup!"

The new guy's eye twitched: "You know what? I'm taking the rest of the soup -"

"YOU BETTER NOT!"

"That's awesome, come on!" Tanjiro grinned. "I'm sure Kanao has a few extra bowls!"

"NO SHE DOESN'T - "

"And this is a great chance to talk and learn about each other. It'll be nice since we'll be training together," Tanjiro added eagerly as they all began walking back from where Inosuke had so rightfully fled.

Genga looked away: "I'm just going to tick your moronic friend off."

"TAKE THE SOUP AND THE LORD OF THE MOUNTAINS WILL STAB YOU -"

"Who the fuck is the lord of the mountains!?"

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

Again. Again. Again. And again.

Kyojuro frowned as he watched his usual reluctant tsuguko tear apart another half-constructed training dummy. The boy's focus was fierce but costly. Agatsuma had gone through his first form fifty times in the past hour Kyojuro had watched, each one as angry as the last.

"Wow, he's still going?" Then Tengen dropped in. Literally.

"Indeed," the Flame pillar rued as his friend slid down from the eaves. "He has yet to notice me."

"Or he's just ignoring you."

Kyojuro frowned at that. He hadn't considered it, but Tengen's insight held some merit. Not even Tanjiro had stirred the thunder breather out of his repetitions.

"He's been at it for a while now," Tengen hummed.

"All day."

The sound pillar whistled: "Damn. Good thing that Hashibira girl's asleep. Don't think we'll be getting that training ground back any time soon."

Kyojuro just watched the boy. He kept repeating the same move over and over. He'd get sloppier, angrier, then he'd pause, center himself, and it would all start over. Perfectionism seemed too kind a word for it.

"You're worrying~"

Kyojuro managed a dry laugh as Tengen poked his shoulder: "I'm amazed you're not."

"Eh," the sound pillar shrugged. "Everyone goes through it at some point. Something will break first, either his will or his body."

"And that causes you no concern?"

Tengen shrugged: "You've tried to talk to the kid. Hell, that ray of sunshine-Kamado you've got tried to talk to the kid. He's not going to stop."

"This isn't good for him."

Tengen plopped down on the ground and shrugged, leaning on his hand: "I don't know about that."

"This isn't-"

"Well not now," Tengen backtracked quickly. "I'm not saying the kid's coping mechanisms are stellar, but they are somewhat constructive. He's out here practicing instead of... oh, I dunno, pulling a Shinazugawa."

Kyojuro sighed to hide his rueful chuckle, shaking his head.

"You know it's true," the sound hashira chirped. "You know! I see that smile, you know I'm right!"

The flame pillar smiled weakly, looking at his old friend with faux exasperation: "I would not antagonize our compatriots."

"Haven't you heard? Me and the wind pillar: we're buddies now."

"Are you?"

"Well... I call him flashy and he didn't curse me out."

They both laughed at that, loud and boisterous as always. Unlike their usual routine, Kyojuro's laugh died first, the flame pillar's gaze returning to his tsuguko practicing beneath the moon.

"Oh, don't worry about him," Tengen sighed knowingly. "I think we can all remember a time we pushed ourselves a little too hard... and maybe a bit too unfairly."

"I cannot confidently say I've experienced what Agatsuma is going through."

"Well... no. But... I remember a certain someone staying out all night after his third hashira mission," Tengen grinned slyly. "Nothing was going to get you to stop redoing that form."

Ah yes... one of his many failures as a young hashira. A lot of good slayers had died, and their blood was on his ineptitude. Yes, he'd spent hours redoing the form that had failed to behead that demon the first time.

But... he could remember what had pulled him out of that low point.

"I believe you did." He threw a glance at his friend.

Tengen grinned smugly: "Sure did. Want me to go get the sake? We can play that game again."

The Flame Pillar winced at the memory: "I do not think Agatsuma would react well to that... approach."

"No, but I would," Tengen grinned dangerously. "We take a shot every time he gets his form right. See how long it takes for him to notice."

Kyojuro stared at his friend incredulously.

"Is that what you were doing that night?"

"Uh, yeah. That's why I was so drunk. You did that move over and over again so many times, absolutely flawlessly, I had to grab two bottles -"

"Tengen," Kyojuro massaged the bridge of his nose.

"It worked, didn't it? Flamboyantly, might I add?"

"I believe I recall you losing your stomach in Kanae's garden."

Tengen blanched: "Okay - you didn't need to bring that up."

Kyojuro laughed at the memory before the sight of Zenitsu sobered him once again. Tengen had a point, unfortunately. They had all been there before. Pushing too hard, carrying the blame, the weight, and the responsibility that came with demon slaying.

And yet...

"I just wish I could assist him," Kyojuro rued at last. "He's turned his focus on thunder breathing and I... I cannot offer him advice."

A mentor with no insight was like a sword with no hilt. Perhaps that was what hurt the most: His inability - his helplessness. He'd never been good at being useless, and yet he so often was...

"I can," Tengen shrugged. "Don't know if he'll listen to me though. Pretty sure the kid hates my guts -"

"I think his only goal is improving," Kyojuro denied - perhaps a bit too loudly. "I think he'll suffer anything to reach it."

"Awwww, Kyo. You're willing to share your tsugukos?"

"There is no ownership -"

"Not my fault if you don't get him back," Tengen laughed quickly, jumping to his feet. "I am apparently a great mentor. We may have to split custody!"

"Wait -"

"Don't worry I promise to return him in decent shape," Tengen saluted. "It's all quiet out there anyway."

"You're heading out?"

"Well, we have to get him out of this place somehow. No offense to dear Kanae and her lovely partially-built abode, but all this doom and gloom is bad for anyone's health."

Kyojuro sighed through a weak laugh. His solo mission with Agatsuma had gone horrendously. The boy had hardly spoken a word and outright refused any attempt to discuss the death of his master or the betrayal of his fellow thunder breather. It wasn't shocking per se, but that didn't mean the Flame Pillar wanted to throw another hashira at the problem.

Though... Tengen did have a way of just... opening people up.

"I support you, my friend," he decided with a grin. "And wish you luck."

"Luck!? Pffft, as if I need it. This kid's in for a flamboyant life-thunder lesson! Think of it this way: Maybe I can annoy him so much he'll be back to his old self."

"You both know I can hear you, right!?" Zenitsu suddenly turned on his heel, shaking the hilt of his sword with a near-crazed exasperation. "I can hear everything, all the time: especially from you two!!"

Oh, so he had been ignoring Kyojuro. That was much better than the alternative! 

"Perfect!" Kyojuro beamed. "Then you know what we're proposing!"

"Prepare yourself!" Tengen agreed with a matching grin: "You shall be accompanying me on my next mission - which is right now! We'll work out the kinks in your first form with some fieldwork."

Zenitsu sneered: "Me? Train with you."

"Yours truly! I am the closest the corps has to a thunder breather currently. I'd be happy to give you some pointers."

The boy flinched at that but relented. He shook his head and finally, finally sheathed his sword: "Fine."

"See!" Tengen lightly shoved Kyojuro before striding towards his new student. "Making flashy progress already!"

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

These people were infuriating.

Genya watched in abject confoundment as the boar-guy and Tanjiro continued to argue about soup. Inosuke was the strangest guy he'd ever met and that was saying... a lot. He'd love to blame the whole 'raised by demons' thing but seeing as the guy's sister was relatively normal and his Mom was all nice, it was probably just an Inosuke thing.

"The lord of the Mountains NEVER admits defeat!"

"It's not defeat it's polite!" 

He'd love to give Tanjiro credit where credit was due - the guy was wayyy more patient than he could be.

They were sitting around a small cooking pot in arguably the most awkward group he'd ever been a part of. Shinobu was scowling as usual, eating silently next to the water hashira which... why was he here!?

Kanao was silent too, finished with her meal and diligently sharpening her sword. She smiled every now and again as Inosuke and Tanjiro continued arguing. Genya was glad someone was enjoying themselves.

The worst part was Nezuko who was staring at him.

He sat there pathetically awkward as he looked into his soup bowl. Tanjiro's demon sister sat next to him, humming as she rocked side to side and smiled at him.

He didn't know what to say to normal girls - demon girls even less so. 

"Uhhhh... hi?" he winced.

She waved eagerly.

Their previous interactions had always been... short-lived. Tanjiro was pleasant enough and he'd run into Nezuko plenty but honestly, he'd avoided interactions with both of them like the plague. Tanjiro was a living legend and wayyy too weird for anyone to talk to.

He was like happiness incarnate which was so weird considering he had a demon sister, had apparently tried to fight Sanemi with his bare hands, nearly took out Lower Five, and actually helped to take down Upper Two. And here the guy was wrestling another soup bowl away from his idiot of a friend.

And Nezuko was a whole other beast. The first demon in the corps apparently hadn't eaten any people but fought off Upper Two on equal footing. Which made her one of, if not the most potentially dangerous demons, and there she was, humming a tune and staring at him.

Inosuke's sister had explained that he smelled like a demon. It had been gutting to hear but... maybe that was why they all took such an interest in him. Even the ex-moons had approached him out if curiosity once or twice, though they were easier to chase away. Miku and Nezuko just felt too... little.

Nezuko poked his cheek and he leaned away. She sat back, humming apologetically.

"It's... uh... fine?"

She pointed to the bowl and tilted her head. He could interpret some of that.

"Uh... yeah it's good."

The demon beamed.

He'd probably have to get used to this. Being a tsuguko now and all, he'd be hanging around these kids on the regular. The thought dried his throat and he stared back at his soup.

A tsuguko... officially. He had yet to pick a mentor, and he wasn't... he wasn't even sure where to start. Rengoku just made sense - seeing as he was willing to train boar-man there probably wasn't a lower limit to what he'd accept.

But then again even the boar kid could use a breathing style. It was entirely possible that the only person willing to put up with him would be Kanae...

Nezuko crept closer and hummed something that probably counted as language.

"What?"

She hummed a bit more insistently, frowning.

"I... I don't know what you're saying."

"She's - Inosuke please - she looks worried!" Tanjiro interpreted, holding a bowl of soup out of the boar kid's reach.

"MINE!" Inosuke cried.

"It is not!"

Genya ignored whatever that was about and glanced back at Nezuko who kept frowning at him.

"I think she's worried about you," Shinobu offered from her seat. "She's quite observant to such things."

The demon perked up at the sound of Shinobu's voice and smiled.

"See," Shinobu offered as if that proved her point.

"You do seem more aware, Nezuko," Giyu concurred.

Nezuko beamed at the praise.

"Oh yeah! She's been communicating more too!" Tanjiro cried eagerly. "She's been relearning how to read - and yesterday she wrote her name and - Inosuke!"

The two tumbled to the floor with a mixture of laughs and grumblings.

Nezuko interrupted with an explosion of hand movements and eager humming as she pantomimed writing and reading and plenty of other things Genya didn't understand. Everyone listened carefully, smiling to see her so energetic.

"That is wonderful, Nezuko." The warm voice was familiar to everyone and the group turned as Kanae and Daki walked in.

"So this is where you brats ran off to," Daki huffed, rolling her eyes when she saw Inosuke draped over Tanjiro. "What are you doing."

Inosuke huffed: "He took my soup."

"My soup," Tanjiro retorted.

Kanae laughed as she walked up and settled down on Nezuko's other side: "I hope you don't mind if we join you."

"We already have one hashira here," Shinobu scathed gesturing to Giyu: "This whole tsuguko get-together fell apart long ago."

"I was here before you," the water hashira frowned.

"A tsuguko get-together: what a wonderful idea!" Kanae ignored the animosity as per usual. 

Kanao looked up from her sword and smiled: "It was Tanjiro's idea."

Wow... that may be the first words Genya heard her speak... ever. She had a nice voice, soft and gentle. It was both exactly what he expected and also very surprising. Why was he paying so much attention? Why was he thinking? Why was he blushing!?

He massaged his head and tried to pretend he was a very normal average professional demon slayer. Yep. Absolutely.

"It's good to see you here too, Genya."

He startled and met Kanae's eyes. She always had the gentle smile when they were so close, and though it was distracted by whatever Nezuko was rambling about, it was familiar all the same.

"Yeah," he muttered numbly. Good to be among tsugukos... probably.

He sat there for a long moment. Tanjiro and Inosuke kept arguing, and Daki the demon was between them, eventually stringing Inosuke up by his ankles to reprimand him. Shinobu and Giyu played commentators as they watched it all, occasionally taking a sip of soup or insulting each other (Shinobu did most of the insulting, Giyu just deadpanned now and again). Kanae and Nezuko were locked in some one-sided conversation with Nezuko humming excitedly and Kanae nodding somehow interpreting what he meant. Kanao was focused on her sword, looking up to smile either at Tanjiro's antics or Shinobu's comments.

He... didn't feel out of place but he didn't feel like he belonged either. He had to though. He had to.

He was a tsuguko now. 

"Genya," it was barely a whisper. He looked over and found Kanae once again looking at him, an old ache in her kind face. "Have you... put any thought into what Gyomei said?"

"A little."

"You should know Kyojuro agreed. Mitsuri too."

"I..." he cleared his throat and blinked ferociously: "I'm still thinking about it."

"Alright." Nezuko was standing behind Kanae now, gently brushing her fingers through the hashira's hair and separating it into strands.

"Oooh! Hair time!" Daki strode over, ribbons waving lazily as she plopped down beside Nezuko. The younger demon hummed eagerly as the elder began to mess with her hair.

Kanae smiled.

"What're you feeling Nezuko? One braid? Two? Or a nice big fancy up-do?" Daki grinned.

Nezuko hummed something and Daki nodded: "I'm gonna take that as an up-do!"

Nezuko seemed happy with the idea, turning back to Kanae's hair with a surprising intensity. Kanae's attention turned back to Genya after a moment.

"I'd be happy to take you on as well."

"You have Kanao and Shinobu to worry about -" he muttered.

"And the entire estate!" Shinobu objected from across the room. "How much are you gonna pile on Nee-san? You'll work yourself to death at this rate!"

"That's true," Daki chimed.

Kanae shook her head, despite Nezuko's objection: "You two -"

"I'll ask someone," Genya shut the conversation down firmly. "Eventually."

"Alright." Kanae didn't sound convinced. "I didn't mean to pressure you."

She didn't, not really. The entire thing was just... pressuring. The training, the practice, the mental gymnastics and pleasantries, and the mess that was everything else. Sanemi had been pissed when he'd heard the news - or so Shinobu had told him, quietly.

So that was great. Another stellar part of their bonfire of a relationship. It would take more than Gyomei's endorsement to convince Sanemi...

And Gyomei was...

Well, Genya didn't have much energy to dedicate to Sanemi currently. He'd leave it at that.

Genya walked into the familiar hospice room that evening feeling heavier than ever.

"Hello, Genya."

"Hi Sensei."

The stone pillar looked so weary as he lay there, a weak smile lighting up his features as Genya pulled up a chair.

"I believe I heard you heading off with two of Kyojuro's students earlier," Gyomei pried. "They were making quite the commotion a few halls over."

"Yeah. They had some... tsuguko thing. I... I really just went to spite this one kid -"

"Did you have fun?"

He scoffed at the notion: "Not... really."

Gyomei hummed at that: "I sense... discomfort in you."

"Just the usual."

"I see."

Genya leveled a glare at his sensei, knowing full well he didn't see anything. The shit-eating grin the man was wearing almost had him chuckling. Gyomei closed his eyes and stayed still just a little too long.

The young Shinzaugawa sat up quickly and leaned forward: "Sensei!?"

"I'm still here," Gyomei mused softly, his eyes still closed. "Though... I think my time is fast approaching."

Of course it was. At this point, every day was an apparent miracle. Kanae's eye said as much with every checkup. She'd done everything: sent letters, settled old debts or unfinished acts for her fellow hashira - she even planned the funeral with Gyomei's input. She'd done everything. All they were supposed to do now was wait! It felt so wrong to just sit and wait for it to happen except... except what else were they supposed to do?

What else could they do?

"Don't let the grief consume you, Shinazugawa."

He did laugh at that, hatefully: "It hasn't yet."

"No. But... I would rather you not fall into the same pitfalls as your brother."

It would be a low blow from anyone other than Gyomei.

"I'm..." Genya fought for the words. "I'm going to miss you."

"Of course," Gyomei smiled, weakly as something strained in his breath. "I too will miss our talks."

They sat in silence for a while longer, and something heavy settled on Genya's shoulder. It felt a little too much like the truth.

"Could I... stay here?" Genya begged, his prayer a quiet breath.

Gyomei's large hand reached out and landed atop Genya's smaller one, patting him in a terribly familiar way.

"If it will bring you closure," the stone pillar supposed.

"You're... it's happening soon, isn't it?"

The hashira settled into his pillows and gave a slow nod: "I think so."

"Then let me stay."

"Of course."

The hashira opened his eyes and smiled at the ceiling: "I am lucky, Shinazugawa. Few demon slayers get to say their goodbyes, or find their last peace."

Lucky...

"Doesn't feel lucky," he managed.

"Doesn't it?"

That knowing smile ripped out the last of Genya's stoicism and he managed a shaky chuckle. They stared there, for a long time. The night hours passed in quiet stillness, with the occasional rustle from a nocturnal resident or a restless patient. All the while Genya sat there, occasionally drifting off once or twice before startling awake at a louder sigh from the dying hashira.

It happened in the early morning.

Genya stirred from a dreamless slumber, sitting up from the bedside as Gyomei's constant rhythmic breathing hitched.

"Oh..." 

Gyomei's voice had Genya sitting up, staring desperately at the watering eyes of his master who had his arms open - as if he were holding a batch of somethings. He looked down at his arms, a weak smile taking over his scarred face as he took in whatever it was he felt. Genya couldn't break through that illusion - he didn't dare to.

"Look at you all..." he breathed weakly, staring at his arms. "You've all been waiting..."

Genya felt his eyes flood as it all crashed around him. He couldn't speak - couldn't move. The stone pillar cried a final time, something akin to relief in his voice as he closed his eyes.

"Let's go..." Gyomei sighed in relief, his body relaxing as his arms lowered. "Let's go home..."

The sun was only a few hours from rising when the butterfly estate awoke to Genya's quiet sobs.

(HAPPY SOUP TIME

And then very sad times. The tsuguko's be going thru it.

All I know is emotional whiplash I'm so sorry -

I did not mean to add a lot of comedy to this chapter but Inosuke is literally just that guy and it flows so freely. Also between Zenitsu's bad times and Genya's bad times, we need SOMETHING positive or we're all just gon' cry

SPEAKING OF CRYING, the art for this chapter comes from THIS animatic:

https://youtu.be/N_h5Nlm_Jgw

It's literally my favorite thing ever please watch it and give the artist some love because it makes me cry every time. And also gives me angst inspiration.)