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Giyū stood watching Sabito's sword swing through the air with a faint sound, two small boulders sat not too far away. He knew Sabito could probably cut through his boulder effortlessly, how could the other not? He was so strong compared to Giyū, the blue-haired teen flinched when a stinging feeling suddenly was on his forehead.
“Giyū, you're supposed to be working on cutting your boulder, not staring at me” Sabito said, his voice firm but not unkind and he had a small smile on his face. Giyū blinked, realizing he had been caught staring, he glanced off his grip tightening on his sword. The black-haired teen couldn't figure out why Sabito didn't just cut his boulder and go ahead to final selection without him, Giyū would only hold him back.
Giyū glanced at Sabito, his expression a little meek as he spoke. “Why don't you just cut your boulder and go ahead to final selection, why are you waiting?” He asked and Sabito put one of his hands on his hip as he tilted his head causing the peach colored locks to move some. “Why do you mean? Why do you think, idiot” Sabito said before reaching out and pinching his cheek, making Giyū whine slightly. “I don't want to do final selection without you..” he hesitated and glanced off. “So hurry up and work on cutting your boulder already..”
Giyū's cheeks got a little warm and he smiled brightly at Sabito, before turning to face his boulder. “Right” he felt confident, he could do this then Sabito would cut his boulder, and they would go to the final selection together. The feeling of vibrations of Giyū's sword hitting the rock made Giyū tense and let the sword go. “Ow.. this is hard..” Giyū glanced back hearing Sabito laughing off to the side. “Giyū come on, focus” “I am focusing!” Giyū protested and the purple eyed teen shook his head before offering a hand to Giyū.
“Focus on the opening spot” Sabito explained and Giyū looked at the rock as he stood up. “It's a rock Sabito.. I don't think it has one” Giyū retorted and Sabito sighed and shook his head. “Trust me it does, and once you see it you'll be able to cut your boulder and behead any demons effortlessly” Sabito said then walked off to practice his swings some more. The blue eyed teen frowned slightly then looked at the boulder, but he couldn't help but to think about what Sabito had said.
Giyū spent a week trying to cut his boulder before groaning loudly in frustration, small tears forming in his eyes as he threw his sword on the ground. “Giyū,” Sabito said, coming from behind Giyū and hugging him, his chin resting against the side of his friend's head. “It's alright you're getting close” Sabito said, his voice genuine and an attempt to comfort him. “No I'm not…” Giyū whimpered softly and Sabito sighed softly knowing he couldn't force the other to believe in himself more. “Let's go for a walk, after all Master only cares if we are out too late coming home”
Giyū nodded and followed Sabito as they walked through the forest, the blue eyed teen wiped at his eyes as he sniffled slowly collecting himself. “Sabito.. do you really think I'll be able to cut my boulder?” He asked and the purple eyed teen nodded as he looked back at Giyū. “Certain” Sabito said before stopping making Giyū do the same, the two standing in the forest as the tall trees caused the setting sun to filter down in random sized blotches. “You just need to give yourself more credit and more grace, you're being too hard on yourself don't worry about rushing to cut it” Sabito said, reaching out to grab Giyū's hand, both of their hands slightly rough from training to wield swords properly.
“Right..” Giyū said as he nodded a small smile formed on his face. “Want to try again?” Sabito asked and Giyū nodded, the two walked back over to their boulders, both of them grabbing their swords. “You've got this Giyū” Sabito said facing his boulder, Giyū echoed a similar sentiment before taking in a deep breath. It was then he saw it, what looked like string or a spider's web at the end of his sword pointing at the rock, Giyū opened his eyes and smiled.
Giyū moved letting his training take the lead, his sword swung right to where this string lead. He heard the rope around the boulder snap, before the boulder moved some. “Aa- Sabito! I did it!” Giyū turned to face Sabito and the peach haired teen smiled at Giyū. “I saw” he said before cutting through his own boulder, Giyū went to go over to Sabito but both of them jumped as a half of each of their boulders fell and collided making a terribly loud sound.
The two stood frozen staring at the fallen half of their boulders before they looked at each other and laughed, the two with big smiles on their faces. A hand on their shoulders made them look at their tengu masked teacher. “We did it” Giyū said, his voice filled with excitement and Urokodaki, the older man nodded his head and even if they couldn't see his face they knew he was proud of them. “We're gonna go to final selection, go through those seven days like nothing, then we'll work to become Hashira!” Sabito said looking at Giyū and Urokodaki laughed softly in amusement.
“I think you two need to wash up for dinner first before you two make plans to become Hashira” Urokodaki said and Sabito huffed softly before smiling. “Right, come on Giyū” he grabbed Giyū's hand and the two went running back down the mountain laughing with plans to pass final selection together then to become Hashira together.
Urokodaki stood there watching their forms disappear before he turned to look at the empty clearing. A small somber sigh came from him as he stood before looking up into the barely visible night sky. “Tanjiro.. please come back alive, may the spirits of the others before you guide you..” he said softly before glancing at behind him.
“Master Urokodaki” Giyū said softly as he approached his split haori moved in the gentle breeze as he stood near his master. “It's been some time since you've come here Giyū,” Urokodaki said softly before Giyū could answer. The older man pulled Giyū close with one hand on the back of Giyū's neck. “..I'm sorry..” Urokodaki said softly and the black-haired man shook his head subtly, his blue looking eyes emptier than Urokodaki would like. “It's not your fault.. I should have been stronger, maybe I would have been able to help him..”
Urokodaki sighed softly and held Giyū close before letting him go. “You mustn't linger in the past Giyū. You must continue forward in life” he said and Giyū turned away before beginning to walk away. “Goodbye Master, take care and stay in good health” Giyū said and Urokodaki watched Giyū walk down the mountain until he went out of view. “You as well Giyū” Urokodaki said softly before he turned to head back to his cabin.