Giyu

A couple more weeks went by, as numerous different trainee's passed through the Flame Estate to complete their training. A good couple of dozen had managed to pass the final course of Hiroto's training, while some still needed more time to build up their reaction speeds.

Hiroto had gotten some letters from Tanjiro during his training that reported on his progress. From what he was told, Genya, Inosuke, and Zenitsu were still training with Gyomei.

As part of the Hashira training, each Hashira has to participate in each other's training. Hiroto had completed the majority of the training, and during his time at the Wind Hashira's place… The public wasn't allowed to know what transpired.

On this particular day, Hiroto was at the location where Giyu's training would be conducted. This was essentially the last step of the full Hashira training for the trainees. Once they have completed each and every training they are to face the Water Hashira, Giyu, in a duel to determine whether the skills they have acquired and learned are sufficient enough.

In a secluded building surrounded by a bamboo forest, Hiroto and Giyu stood facing each other.

"You're looking much better than the last time I saw you, Giyu," Hiroto said as he flourished his wooden sword around.

"... I have to thank your brother, Tanjiro for that. He made me realize… what was important to me." Giyu responded with the same emotionless face.

Hiroto raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you angry?"

"... Not anymore." Giyu shook his head. He lowered the wooden sword in his hand to the right side of his body. "I always wanted to admonish you for not becoming the Water Hashira… but now my feelings are clearer than before."

"Good. There is one thing that I always wanted to do." Hiroto said as he smiled and lowered his stance.

Giyu adopted a slight smile as he responded, "We are both students of Urokodaki Sensei. No matter which breath you have mastered till now, we are forever his students." Giyu raised his sword in front of his body as he began to narrow his eyes.

Silence reigned supreme around the house, as the two faced each other. In the next moment, Hiroto disappeared from their position, headed straight to Giyu.

'Breath of Silence, Second Form: Crescent Moon, Lunar Eclipse'

Hiroto fell to the ground in an abrupt and fast manner and pushed the limits of his legs as they explosively propelled him forward.

'Breath of Water, Eleventh Form: Dead Calm'

Giyu entered a state of complete defense as Hiroto advanced onto him. As Hiroto arrived in front of him, just as he was about to bring his sword upwards, he kicked off the ground.

Giyu's eyes widened as he was caught off guard by the abrupt feint. Quickly reacting to his instinct, Giyu raised his sword above his hand and deflected a strike.

*clack*

The sound of wood connecting reverberated, as Giyu deflected Hiroto's attack to the side. Giyu took this opportunity to push an attack.

'Breath of Water, Tenth Form: Constant Flux'

In a flurry of movements, Giyu sent a continuous attack against Hiroto as he spun his body.

Protecting himself, Hiroto adopted to go on the offensive instead.

'Dance of the Fire God, Setting Sun Transformation'

Hiroto flipped in the air and delivered an upended flaming sword slash down towards Giyu, interrupting the rest of his move.

"Remember, Giyu. We both were taught by Urokodaki Sensei, so I also know your moves." Hiroto said, as he thrust his sword forward at Giyu, who sidestepped it and sent an elbow towards Hiroto's face.

Hiroto threw himself to the ground and did a leg sweep towards Giyu, who jumped over it.

'Breath of Water, Waterfall Basin'

Giyu brought his sword down vertically towards Hiroto, who in turn retaliated.

'Dance of the Fire God, Burning Bones'

Hiroto swung his sword in a circular arc, defending himself from Giyu's imminent frontal attacks.

*crack*

Both of their swords started to strain under their users' heavy pressure. The two of them gained distance from one another, as they eyed each other.

"Our swords won't be able to handle any more strain," Giyu said.

"Then let's settle it with this move," Hiroto said as he took a deep breath in, spreading the air around his body and focusing on his legs.

Giyu gave his silent approval, and put his sword parallel to his face, with the tip pointed towards Hiroto.

'Breath of Water, Seventh Form: Piercing Raindrop'

'Dance of the Fire God, Flash Dance'

Both Hiroto and Giyu utilized their fastest attacks to settle the fight with this one last bout. Nothing could be seen, as the two disappeared from their position, only to appear a distance away from each other with their backs facing one another.

*crk* *crack*

The sword in Giyu's hand cracked in half, splintering and falling to the ground.

*crk*

Hiroto's sword was about to break in half, but Hiroto quickly grabbed onto the piece and held the broken part in place.

"Hahaha, it seems like I've won. Your sword broke while I still have mine." Hiroto smiled, trying to enact his best poker face. However, everyone except Hiroto knew that he had the worst poker face when it came to lying.

Giyu looked at Hiroto with belated eyes, and an expression which said 'really?'

"Oh hey, look there. Is that a salmon?" Hiroto said, pointing to the side.

"Huh? Why would there be a salmon here?" Giyu said, looking towards where Hiroto pointed.

*WHOOSH*

"Hm, must have been my imagination then I guess." Hiroto shrugged, as he held out his empty hands.

Giyu turned to Hiroto and saw that the sword in his hand had gone missing. Just as he was about to speak up, Hiroto quickly interrupted.

"Come now, we haven't had a chat in so long!" Hiroto walked up and put an arm around Giyu's shoulder. "Besides, do you wanna know a secret about Shinazugawa?"

Giyu's ears perked up at that statement, as he turned to Hiroto and said, "Really? I wanted to have a good talk with him for quite some time now, but he's always mad the whole time."

Hiroto went over to the building where he left a wrapped up bundle of cloth before the fight. "Well, I've got just the thing for you. You see, Tanjiro told me in a letter that Shinazugawa likes ohagi." Hiroto paused to let the words sink into Giyu.

"Ohagi?" Giyu asked, tilting his head.

"Yup. Tanjiro told me that, when he was at his place he could smell the slight fragrance of mochi flour the whole time. You know how his nose is. He could also smell matcha and ohagi." Hiroto said, unwrapping the bag to expose a couple of Ohagi.

"Is that so?" Giyu said as he sat on the ground and hugged his knees. "That's good. Next time, I'll sneak some ohagi into a bag and give it to Shinazugawa when I see him."

Hiroto raised a thumb at Giyu and said, "Good idea! That way, you can start making more friends!"

"I have friends," Giyu responded assertively.

"Yup, you sure do." Hiroto nodded his head and threw the bag to Giyu.

Giyu held the bag in his hand and said, "With this, I think we can get along for sure if I give these to him."

Hiroto thought for a second, 'Hmm, will Shinazugawa appreciate these? We'll have to see. Oh wait, isn't that him there?'

Hiroto and Giyu looked to the side to see Sanemi walking up to them with the same scary expression on his face.

Sanemi paused when he saw Hiroto faced and scowled, "What the hell are you doing here?"

"What? I came to take part in the Hashira training. Today was supposed to be my turn to do the rounds." Hiroto replied casually.

"Huh? It was supposed to be my turn!" Sanemi growled.

Hiroto shrugged and said, "It doesn't matter really. You can still duel Giyu anyway, just get him a new sword."

"Tsk." Sanemi clicked his tongue and looked towards Giyu, who walked up to him.

"What?" Sanemi growled.

Giyu reached into the bag and pulled out an ohagi. He presented it silently on his hand, staring at Sanemi with his poker face.

…

Sanemi stared at the ohagi, and then towards Giyu. Hiroto grabbed 2 spare wooden swords and quickly threw it towards the two.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING SHOWING ME THESE?!" Sanemi shouted, knocking the ohagi away with his face fully red. "ARE YOU TRYING TO MOCK ME?!"

Giyu looked confused, as the events in his mind didn't transpire the way it was supposed to. Sanemi grabbed the wooden sword that was thrown to him and swung it down at Giyu. Giyu reacted and grabbed the wooden sword to protect himself.

Hiroto decided to retreat as the two started to fight, as he saw Tanjiro hiding in a bush. Hiroto quietly approached him from behind.

"Boo."

"You know it doesn't work on me, brother. I know your scent." Tanjiro replied, looking at the two fighting.

"Don't spoil the fun out of it. Besides, here, take this." Hiroto said as he tossed a bag towards Tanjiro.

Tanjiro sniffed it and said, "Ohagi?"

"Yup, didn't you tell me that Sanemi likes ohagi? This is your chance to make peace with him." Hiroto said while thinking, 'Don't worry. He won't go overboard with you. This is also a chance for you to test your strength against him'

Tanjiro brightened up and said, "Great idea! I'll give this to him after!"

Hiroto nodded, and took one last glance at the two fighting, before heading off. "Good luck!" Hiroto shouted to Tanjiro before disappearing.

Tanjiro tilted his head and said, "Good luck?"