21 Giyu is disliked

Shinobu slammed the door behind her, her face blank as the reality of what had just transpired sank in. She realized how poorly things could have ended had the Water Hashira taken offense to her words. Worse, her sister might have gotten into trouble because of it, and that was the last thing Shinobu wanted. She knew how much Kanae had worked to attain the prestigious title of Hashira, and it pained her to think she might have jeopardized that with her rash behavior.

Sighing aloud, she slapped her cheeks lightly. 'No point in overthinking it now. If that silent statue of a man decides to cause trouble, I'll take responsibility for my actions. I'm sure if I explain it as a misunderstanding, the punishment won't be too harsh.'

As she was lost in her thoughts, the door behind her opened, and Kanae stepped into the room, her gentle smile as constant as ever. 

"Kanae," Shinobu called out, her voice laced with guilt as she looked at her older sister. The weight of her earlier actions hung heavily on her shoulders, and Kanae could see it in her downcast expression.

"Did something happen, Shinobu?" Kanae asked, approaching her little sister with a soft, soothing tone.

Shinobu nodded, her eyes avoiding Kanae's. "I think I made a mistake, Sister," she confessed, her voice filled with disappointment in herself. "I didn't know that boy was a Hashira and acted rudely toward him... I even threatened him." She sighed, the words stinging as she admitted them aloud.

Kanae's eyes widened slightly before she let out a soft giggle. "Oh, Shinobu. It's alright," she said reassuringly, gently brushing a stray lock of hair behind Shinobu's ear. "Tomioka-san didn't take offense to what you said. He may seem cold and distant, but deep down, he's far more considerate than he appears."

Shinobu blinked, her expression one of mild surprise. "Are you sure? I mean, I might have overstepped a little... but something about the way he looked at me made me think he was judging my height, It made me very angry."

Kanae giggled again. "You might be imagining things. Tomioka-san probably wasn't even thinking about that," she said with a gentle smile. "He's just a little quiet, that's all. I'm sure everything will be fine."

Shinobu's tension eased, though she still couldn't shake the feeling that Giyu had looked at her as if she were a child. However, Kanae's comforting presence and words helped soften the blow of her earlier outburst.

***

Giyu Tomioka stood in the courtyard, arms crossed, watching from a distance as Sabito and Rengoku sparred with wooden swords. Their movements were fluid and sharp despite Sabito's recent injury and Rengoku's relatively short time training.

Since Giyu had taken on the task of patrolling the headquarters for a few days, Sabito had been glued to his side, following him everywhere. When Rengoku found out, he joined them, quickly befriending Sabito.

Since the last time Giyu saw Rengoku, he had taken the slayers exam and officially become one. Unbeknownst to Giyu, this had occurred much earlier than it had in his previous life.

Giyu observed the two with satisfaction. Both had reached a level where few demons could pose a real threat to them—unless, of course, they encountered one of the Twelve Kizuki.

"That should be enough," Sabito said, his breathing heavy as he wiped sweat from his forehead. His chest rose and fell with exertion, but the satisfaction in his eyes was unmistakable.

Rengoku, whose face was flushed and gleaming with sweat, grinned widely. "That was a good round, Sabito-san! Thank you for your teachings!" he exclaimed, his voice as lively as ever.

Sabito chuckled, waving his hand dismissively. "It's almost scary how strong you've gotten in such a short time. "Your talent is truly remarkable, Rengoku," Sabito complimented, genuinely amazed by how quickly Rengoku learned.

Rengoku's grin grew even larger. "That's only because I encountered people like you and Tomioka!" His voice boomed with gratitude, and his energy was contagious.

Sabito shook his head, still smiling as they both dropped their wooden swords to the ground. But as Sabito took a step forward, he winced, feeling a sharp pain in his chest. Both Rengoku and Giyu noticed immediately and hurried over, concern etched on their faces. "Are you alright, Sabito-san?" Rengoku asked, his expression now serious.

Sabito smiled, waving them off. "It's fine. Looks like my wound just reopened."

"You need medical attention." Giyu said in his usual calm, decisive tone. Without further discussion, the three of them made their way toward the Butterfly Mansion.

As they entered the mansion, they were met by Shinobu, who was walking down the hallway. The moment she spotted the bloodstains on Sabito's clothing, her brow furrowed, and her voice cut through the air like a sharp blade.

"You!" Shinobu snapped, marching over to Sabito with her arms crossed. "I told you to rest until your wound fully healed! Do you think I have nothing better to do than rewrap bandages all day?"

Sabito gave her an apologetic smile, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, I got carried away and forgot about the wound."

Shinobu's eyes narrowed, clearly not amused. "Then please feel free to seek treatment elsewhere if you have no regard for my instructions—"

As she prepared to continue her lecture, her eyes shifted to the figure standing quietly beside Sabito, Giyu. The moment she noticed him, her expression changed. The sharpness in her voice faded, and her posture straightened. She took a deep breath and addressed him more formally.

"Good afternoon, Wather hashira sama." Shinobu greeted Giyu, her voice now calm and composed, her head slightly bowed when she faced Giyu.

Giyu stood frozen, his mind going blank as he noticed how Shinobu's demeanor instantly turned cold the moment she laid eyes on him. "Does she dislike me?" he wondered, his mood sinking to the ground. And as if delivering a final blow, a memory from his past life came in his mind, Kocho telling Giyu that no one likes him.

"Please follow me. Your bandages need to be rewrapped," Shinobu continued as she moved forward, not looking back. As much as she wanted to kick them out of the estate for ignoring her orders, she held back. Tomioka was a hashira and his silent, stoic presence unsettled her, as if a warning that another misstep would bring serious consequences. Her mind raced with thoughts of punching his emotionless face.

(Author's note: I just got my first car, and to be honest, I want to take some time to enjoy it! So I won't be posting as frequently this week. I apologize for the delay, but I hope you understand.)