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Being a Hashira entailed constant losses and disappointments, so this cultivated in them incredible mental fortitude. Unfortunately this fortitude didn't always extend into matters outside the battlefield, as demonstrated by Muichirou, who was displeased because Genya had won their card game three times consecutively. Muichirou craned his neck to see something beneath the victor, and then he started pushing at him. Genya playfully resisted and protested until a shove tilted him enough to expose the cards that he was sitting on. Muichirou hissed, "You card-hiding cheater!" and Genya doubled over laughing as the former collected his sword, stood, and demanded, "Get up, bitch. We'll settle this outside."
From another room Gyoumei reproved, "Language, Tokitou," and Genya snickered.
Muichirou sat back down, folded his arms indignantly, and huffed, "Today is the only day that I'll spare you. Well what do you wanna eat then?"
"We're going out to eat?"
"It'll be my treat for your birthday."
"My birthday...?" It didn't feel like January, and yesterday hadn't felt like the sixth. The thought of yesterday compelled Genya to try and remember its events, but when that came up empty, he instead attempted to recollect what had occurred the morning of the present day. That too was blank, and he questioned, "What were we doing before this?"
"Who cares? More importantly, did you forget your own birthday? Then I guess I don't have to give you this."
Muichirou made to toss away a package, and Genya caught his wrist, took the present, and said, "Aw, thanks for..." His voice faded because he knew he'd be receiving two cashmere hats, a result of him occasionally complaining about how the sides of his head got chilly, but where'd that knowledge come from if he hadn't yet seen the gift? Why couldn't he remember this morning, yet he could guess what was coming…?
He stared at the box blankly until Muichirou asked, "Aren't you gonna open it?" After doing so, Genya rubbed the material of one hat between his fingers, and he was bewildered because he anticipated exactly what would happen next: Muichirou took the other hat, stood to put it onto Genya's head, and then said with a heartfelt smile, "Happy birthday, bestie. Thanks for being my friend."
"Not like I had a choice when you came barging into my room one day."
"That's what you get for trying to hide from me."
"You were supposed to be talking business with Himejima, not snooping around his house!"
Muichirou laughed, "At that point I'd just become a Hashira. I didn't have my memories back yet, so who knows what I was thinking. You didn't kick me out though."
"No but I sure as hell thought something was wrong with you when you sat there silently gawking at me."
"Isn't that how everyone makes friends?" Genya had so far been able to predict everything that'd happen, but now there came something unexpected: Muichirou, who was standing over him, traced a finger from the center of Genya's hairline down to one side of his chin as he murmured, "I wish that we'd lasted longer though." His tone was tinged with sadness, but before Genya could process it, Muichirou said with renewed energy, "Still, I'm grateful for what we got even if I sometimes despise that do-whatever-it-takes-to-win attitude of yours, especially when it means you cheat at almost everything we play." He then added in a voice barely above a whisper, "Especially when it means you do reckless, self-destructive things."
Genya didn't hear the last part because Gyoumei had emerged to ask, "Genya, what do you want for dinner?"
"I'm fine with anything. We have leftovers, right?"
Gyoumei headed to the kitchen to check, and Muichirou teased, "Look at you. 'There's food at home' instead of dining out. It's clear who raised you because you sound just like Himejima."
Gyoumei's blindness meant his hearing was keen as compensation, so he must've caught the statement because he returned and said, "No, 'son,' we don't have enough leftovers for dinner. I'll pick something up in town."
Genya blushed, and although he anticipated what would happen next, it still gladdened him when Gyoumei enfolded him. Muichirou crawled into Genya's arms so that the trio were nested together from largest to smallest, and although there was a nagging feeling that this had already occurred before, Genya savored the hug, letting their love resonate through him to displace the déjà vu. There was a great sense of security and belonging, a familial bliss that he hadn't known for years, and his eyes watered as he quavered, "Thank you for everything, especially back when I was pestering you about making me your student."
Gyoumei chuckled, "You were certainly tenacious. If only I'd caved earlier. Hm? You're shaking."
"I'm cold is all."
"Really? It's been a mild winter, and today is no different."
Gyoumei stoked the hearth as Muichirou said, "Himejima-san, I'll go ahead. I wanna get to the sweets shop before it closes."
"I'll meet you there then."
Muichirou then said to Genya, "No crying you big softie. What should I get you?"
"Surprise me."
Tender smiles were exchanged, and then Muichirou exited, whereupon Gyoumei handed Genya a money envelope and said, "For your birthday. There's also—what're you sniffing at?"
"What smells so good?" Genya turned here and there, endeavoring to track the scent, and as he inhaled, a slight but pleasant giddiness overcame him.
Gyoumei answered, "I'm unsure what you're smelling, but what I wanted to tell you was that there's another gift for you. I brought someone here to speak with you. He won't hurt you, so don't be afraid. Tokitou and I'll be home with dinner shortly." Gyoumei went to retrieve his cloak, and as Genya sat contentedly by the fire, there came a distant pained yelp that sounded like Muichirou. Genya wondered if he'd misheard, but unable to dismiss his concern, he hastened to the door. The delicious aroma increased as he neared the entrance, and he was astounded to discover who stood on the other side.
Sanemi was equally startled when the door flew open before he could knock, and they stared at each other until Genya said hesitantly, "Did you hear Tokitou just now?"
"No but I passed him on the way up here."
Upon Gyoumei's reappearance Genya asked, "Himejima-san, did you hear Tokitou?"
"I didn't." He then said to Sanemi, "There's tea on the table, Shinazugawa." Gyoumei gave a reassuring squeeze to Genya's shoulder, and then he left so that the two siblings remained mired in an uneasy silence.
Sanemi went to the kotatsu and wordlessly filled two cups, but Genya remained standing awkwardly by the door until he gathered enough courage to begin timorously, "Aniki. Back when I called—"
Sanemi interrupted, "Don't say it. Don't say you're sorry."
Genya was uncertain of how to proceed, but given that there was no detectable anger, he felt it was safe to move cautiously toward the table and to sit. It felt inappropriate to speak with the closeness that they had in childhood, so Genya resorted to small talk: "Your cologne is nice."
"Oh, God, am I wearing too much?"
"No! Not at all." Another tense silence transpired, and they were both turning red. There suddenly came a faraway sound of rattling chains accompanied by a shout, and it sounded like Gyoumei such that Genya exclaimed, "Did you hear that?!"
"Hear what?"
"Uh, never mind. Something's off with me today."
The tension had dissolved somewhat, and Sanemi exhaled and muttered, "I don't know where to start." Instead of words he pushed a box toward Genya, who'd relaxed slightly at Sanemi's admission that he was equally uncomfortable. It was a present of marzipan shaped into miniature watermelon slices, and Genya smiled at the thoughtfulness of it as Sanemi explained, "I can't get the real thing in winter, so I—what the fuck?!" Each candy was individually wrapped in cellophane, but rather than unwrapping it, Genya had placed an entire one in his mouth. This was normal for him, but Sanemi was appalled and reached toward him. Genya deflected his hands, turned away, and chewed faster despite the reproaches, which gave way to a dismayed remark: "You're still eating dirt and garbage, aren't you?"
"Hell yeah."
"And Himejima doesn't stop you?"
"He tries. He doesn't always succeed."
Sanemi appeared disturbed. "I remember when I caught you eating bones."
Genya laughed, "You freaked out."
"Well you were crunching those giant-ass soup bones like they were celery!" Genya grinned and ate another candy, wrapper and all, and Sanemi frowned with disapproval. It was useless though to try and remove things from Genya's mouth, so Sanemi settled on sighing, "Don't eat too many. You'll spoil your dinner." Genya was prepared with banter, but he quieted when he saw how his brother seemed shocked by his own utterance, by how easily he'd reverted to his previous role of caretaker and corrector. Sanemi's mouth moved, but no sound escaped because he must've realized he'd wasted so much time. All the years full of worry, the unasked questions of "Are you eating properly?" or "Do you need money?" the unspoken advice to get enough sleep and to avoid trouble; there were countless things to remind Genya of, but Sanemi could only lower his gaze as multiple emotions crept across his countenance: sorrow, shame, and regret.
Seeing this, Genya inquired softly, "Aniki?"
"I've been awful to you."
"Don't say that. You did the best with what you knew. It's me who's the problem. Back then, I blamed you. And for being a burden... sorry."
"You were never a burden to me, and you were, what, nine, ten when that happened? You couldn't control your reaction. You didn't have a choice. I did, but instead of doing the right thing, I've—" Sanemi pursed his lips and exhaled shakily. "I understand if you're mad at me."
"I'm not mad." If anything, Genya was elated. He'd never imagined they'd be able to reconcile, and Sanemi smelled heavenly to where Genya could nearly detect the gentle throb of blood flowing through his brother's arteries, could envision the mouthwatering gloss of his innards; Genya's stomach growled. There'd been instances where as a demon, he'd get cravings, but he'd never acted on them nor had he experienced them while human. How odd that they'd occur now, but he simply banished the thought and willed that Gyoumei and Muichirou would hurry home with dinner. He then opened his mouth to speak, but he found it difficult to do so. Sanemi questioned his state, and Genya answered, "I don't know. I'm dizzy."
"Then lie down." Sanemi pulled the kotatsu's blanket over him and remarked, "You're shivering a lot, more than when I first got here," before retrieving another blanket to cover him.
"Thanks for caring for me, for protecting me."
"I didn't protect you for shit, moron." Sanemi smiled, laid his hand on Genya's head, and said, "You're sure that you're not mad at me?"
"Maybe a little, but I won't be if you tell me what cologne you're wearing."
"I'll give you the whole damn bottle." The lilac of Sanemi's eyes glistened with the hearth's light, and amidst the hunger and vertigo, Genya was struck by another feeling, one that was much more wondrous: heart-stopping, breathtaking euphoria. Although the room was spinning while he was still freezing under the sheets, he was joyful to where it compelled him to ramble about... something. He couldn't recall his exact words, only that they expressed appreciation toward Sanemi, who offered occasional comments. Sometimes Genya understood him; sometimes he didn't, but he thought it might've been because he was getting sleepy.
Surrounded by the heady scent of Sanemi's cologne, Genya asked drowsily, "Will you stay for dinner?" The answer was... a scream...?
He looked questioningly at Sanemi, who replied, "I said, 'Of course.' I'm not going anywhere." His voice then shifted to half amusement and half nostalgia: "I remember how whenever you or any of our siblings couldn't sleep, you'd all say, 'Nii-chan, tell us a story!' I'd always tell some weird, horrible shit though, like, 'Once I saw a man ripping off his skin tags to feed to his cat,' and then you'd all cry, 'Stop, Nii-chan, that's scary!'"
Genya laughed, "Instead of helping us sleep, you'd keep us up. We'd lie awake contemplating the crazy shit that you said." And just like that, the distance between them had vanished. The unhappy years of remorse and misunderstandings were replaced by hope so brilliant and strong that it made Genya feel like nothing was impossible, like the future was a magnificent expanse waiting to be explored. Except that was false because there'd be no future. It wasn't winter, and he wasn't at home; he was lying on the Infinity Castle's floor with his viscera sliding out and sticking to the crimson puddle growing beneath him.
Every demon in their final moments saw what they needed to see most, like the universe was granting them a last clemency for having lived such a deplorable life. Cherished memories, wishful dreams, and imagined scenarios mingled into a dazzling vision, and this too applied to Genya. So, no, he didn't see Sanemi dirtied and injured, and he didn't hear the anguished howls. He didn't feel his wound either because he was heavily intoxicated, not on the aroma of "cologne" but of Sanemi's marechi blood. For all the years of cruelty, Sanemi was now atoning via the gift of merciful anesthesia, but he didn't know this nor could he comprehend why Genya was serene even with tears streaming down his face.
His distraught wails and Gyoumei's mournful prayers couldn't reach their target though because Genya was soaring; the blood had so permeated him that his delusions had solidified into what he perceived as reality. He wasn't in the Infinity Castle; he was at home, where his beloved teacher and his dearest friend would soon return with food. His estranged brother was estranged no more, and they were joking and reminiscing together like how they had in the past and surely how they'd be from here onward. He was cold, tired, and lightheaded but otherwise ecstatic because dinner would undoubtedly be joyous, and although the hallucination slipped intermittently so that he caught snippets of some horrific place, he wasn't bothered because what mattered was that he was content and whole under a heap of blankets in the cozy idyll of his mentor's living room. Outside the illusion Sanemi was futilely begging for the fates to revoke their decision, but this went unnoticed by Genya. He instead enjoyed a prettier picture where he was exhausted but still had just enough strength to smile when Sanemi, who was sitting before him, leaned forward to whisper lovingly, "Happy birthday, Genya."