Giyuu sat alone, the soft rustle of leaves and distant chirping of birds doing little to ease the weight in his chest. His eyes were fixed ahead, but his mind wandered, thoughts swirling like the wind around him.

He had made a quiet choice: A firm one, yet deeply personal. He would not take part in the Hashira training. Not because he lacked the strength or discipline, but because, in his heart, he simply didn’t feel like he deserved the title of "Hashira." Not truly.

He was well aware of how the others might see this. Especially someone like Tanjiro: so full of hope, always seeking to understand. Giyuu knew it was only a matter of time before someone was sent to speak with him. To ask the question he could already hear echoing in his head, even before it was spoken aloud.

"Why?"

The word cut through the quiet like a blade, sudden and sharp, shattering the stillness around him. Giyuu’s gaze slowly shifted toward the voice, his expression steady and unreadable as ever. It wasn’t Tanjiro’s voice, was it? It sounded different. Familiar, yet not quite who he expected.

He turned fully now, eyes scanning for the figure who had spoken. He remained silent, his face calm but distant, waiting: ready to listen, but unsure of how much he would say.