This past month has been the most peaceful yet strangest period of time for Giyu Tomioka since his promotion to "Pillar".
What's strange is the unbreakable barrier between him and Kanae.
Ever since that day in the room when he abruptly cut off all her unfinished words with a curt "We're good friends," Kanae has never mentioned it again.
When she saw him, she would still, as always, gently and perfectly curve the corners of her mouth, and softly call him "Mr. Giyu".
Her concern and care were as polite and thoughtful as ever.
However, there was an inexplicable sense of distance hidden within that thoughtfulness.
It's like looking at the sun through a paper window in winter; you can feel the light, but you can't feel the warmth.
Every day, Giyu would sit on the veranda under the eaves, his gaze involuntarily falling on the slender figure sweating profusely in the courtyard.
Kanae followed her Master Urokodaki, starting with the most basic physical training, honing her swordsmanship from scratch.
Before dawn, the sound of her suppressed breathing as she ran could be heard in the courtyard.
The sun was high in the sky when, once again, came the sound of her wielding her wooden sword, cutting through the air.
That face, always adorned with a gentle smile, was filled with a determination that others could hardly comprehend.
Giyu watched without saying a word.
He watched as Shinobu Kocho, eager to learn, always tried to steal a few powerful sword techniques, only to be mercilessly hit on the head with a wooden sword by her Master Urokodaki and punished by being forced to stand in a horse stance with a basin of water on her head for two hours.
He watched as the wounded Sabito recovered and enthusiastically dragged him to practice on the back mountain every day, only to be beaten black and blue by him every day. Yet, the boy's seemingly inextinguishable enthusiasm remained undiminished.
Everyone is on the path of striving to become stronger, moving steadfastly towards their goals.
Between him and her, it was as if the pause button had been pressed, and things had come to a standstill.
Giyu's mind was a tangled mess, he was frustrated and couldn't make sense of it...
However, this quiet yet strange period eventually came to an end.
Early that morning, the moment of parting arrived.
He received a message from his Oyakata-sama Kagaya Ubuyashiki, and immediately set off back to headquarters to attend the new session of the Hashira Meeting.
The Kocho Sisters, on the other hand, will follow Master Urokodaki and leave the "Flower Valley" of Mount Sagiri.
Go and learn a powerful Breathing Style derived from Water Breathing that is more suitable for their constitution— Flower Breathing.
The morning mist had not yet dissipated along the mountain road of Mount Sagiri.
The air was crisp and cool, carrying the unique moist scent of grass and trees; when inhaled, it had a slightly cool, sweet taste.
Master Urokodaki walked at the front, his solemn Tengu Mask appearing even more dignified in the morning light.
The Kocho Sisters changed into lightweight kimonos for easy movement, carried small bags, and followed closely behind.
Giyu and Sabito stood by the roadside to see them off.
"Okay, that's enough for now."
Master Urokodaki stopped and turned around.
His gaze first fell on Giyu.
"Giyu, you are already a pillar, a role model for all the team members. Think things through, avoid arrogance and impetuosity, and don't always try to shoulder all the responsibility alone."
He lectured in his usual stern, even harsh, tone, but beneath the mask, a barely perceptible hint of concern flickered in his eyes.
"Yes, Master."
Giyu lowered his head and respectfully responded.
Urokodaki then turned his gaze to Sabito.
"You are impulsive and talented, but lack composure. Remember, a tall building starts from the ground up. Don't always think about reaching the sky in one step. Build a foundation that is more solid than anyone else's, and your path will go further than anyone else's."
"Understood, Master! I will definitely make sure my foundation is solid!"
The Sabito straightened its chest and answered loudly, its voice strong and full of confidence.
Ren peeked out from behind her older sister, peeking half her head out, and waved vigorously at the two of them, her face filled with barely suppressed excitement and anticipation.
"Giyu, Mr. Sabito, Mr. Sabito! When we come back, we'll be incredibly strong!!"
Seeing this, the Sabito smiled and gave her a thumbs up, revealing a set of white teeth.
"Keep it up! I'm waiting to see the day you become 'pillars'!"
Finally, there's Kanae.
She slowly walked out from the back of the line, step by step, until she reached Giyu.
In her hands, she held a neatly folded piece of clothing.
She lowered her head, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow beneath her eyelids, and her pale fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes due to nervousness.
"Mr. Giyu."
She spoke softly and carefully handed over what she was holding.
"Please accept this."
Giyu's gaze fell on the package.
His heart skipped a beat for no reason.
He reached out and took it. The moment his fingertips touched the fabric, a familiar, soft touch sent a shiver down his spine.
It was a haori that he knew all too well.
Or rather, it's half a piece.
Half of it was the gentle blush that belonged to his sister, Tsutako, etched into his very bones and blood, something he could never forget.
The other half, however, was something he had never seen before—pure white, spotless and untouched by a speck of dust.
Two completely different colors are perfectly separated from each other by an incredibly neat and fine stitch.
They are clearly distinct, yet they blend together in a wonderful balance, creating an unexpected harmony.
On the left cuff of the haori, a butterfly pattern, about to take flight, is embroidered in light pink silk thread.
Lifelike, as if it would ride the wind and fly away at any moment.
Giyu's breathing stopped completely at that moment.
His mind went completely blank.
He reached out, his trembling fingertips slowly caressing the haori.
The feel of the fabric is incredibly complex.
She suddenly unfolded her haori.
The grotesque, gaping gash that had been torn open by the demon's claws in Blue Stone Town, almost splitting the entire garment in two, was gone.
Instead, the stitches are so fine they are almost perfect.
One stitch, one thread.
The shattered crimson of the past was seamlessly stitched together with the pure white that symbolizes new life.
He gave this tattered relic, which he regarded as "evidence of his crime," a new life.
How could this be...
He had clearly hidden the tattered haori in the deepest, most inconspicuous drawer of his mansion.
He thought that as long as he locked away that bloody memory along with this tattered garment, he would never have to face it again.
He never imagined that it would reappear before him in such a redemptive way.
"This... this is..."
His voice was terribly dry; every word seemed to be forced out from his throat.
"We... we found it by accident while cleaning your room."
Kanae's voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's hum, and she never dared to look him in the eye.
"Master Urokodaki said this is something left behind by... someone who is very, very important to you."
"It... it was so badly damaged that the original red fabric was no longer enough... so, I took it upon myself to use other fabric to repair it..."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Giyu... I acted without your permission..."
Her words came to an abrupt end.
A passionate embrace held her tightly in his arms.
Giyu stepped forward and tightly, firmly, pulled the delicate girl, who seemed so fragile, into his chest.
His arms were clenched tightly, the force so overwhelming it seemed he wanted to completely meld her into his very bones, never to be separated again.
Kanae's body froze instantly.
A surge of heat shot from her cheeks straight to the top of her head, making her dizzy and disoriented.
Her nose was instantly filled with a crisp and clean scent, the unique aroma of Giyu.
In her ear, she could hear the violent, drum-like pounding of his heart.
His warm, rapid, almost disordered breathing was buried in her hair, nestled in the crook of her neck.
Everything around seemed to vanish in that instant.
The morning mist in the mountains, the birdsong in the forest, the teachers and companions behind me... everything became blurry and unreal.
In her world, only this sudden, domineering, yet incredibly cherished embrace remained.
"Thank you..."
Giyu's voice rang softly in her ears.
His voice carried a nasal tone that he himself was unaware of, so thick it was almost imperceptible.
"Thanks..."
This haori was the last thing his sister left him.
It was a deep, bleeding wound that he kept hidden in his heart, one he would never touch in front of others.
Its dilapidated state is evidence of his inability to protect his loved ones, and a heavy burden of guilt that he can never repay.
He hid it away, afraid to look at it or touch it, thinking that this would allow him to pretend that the pain didn't exist.
But now, this girl...
This girl, who always smiled gently at him, used her hands—which should have been used to save lives—with patience and tenderness, stitch by stitch, to mend his shattered past.
She didn't say anything to comfort her.
Yet, in this most direct, clumsy, and gentle way, healed the deepest, most unknown wound in his heart.
It turns out that broken things really can be repaired.
It turns out that a heart that has long been frozen can really be warmed up so easily.
Giyu held her in his arms, and slowly closed his eyes.
A warm drop of liquid silently slid down his cheek and disappeared into Kanae's soft hair.
Sabito and Shinobu, standing nearby, were completely stunned.
Ren's mouth gaped open into a large circle, his face filled with shock and disbelief, as if asking, "What on earth did I just see?"
Sabito was taken aback at first, then revealed a knowing look with a hint of mischief. He even subtly raised an eyebrow in Master Urokodaki's direction.
Master Urokodaki stood there silently, his Tengu Mask motionless, yet it seemed as if he were nodding with satisfaction.
After a long time, so long that Kanae thought she was about to faint from lack of oxygen, Giyu finally, slowly, released her, but his hands were still supporting her slender shoulders.
He lowered his head and gazed at her intently.
In those icy blue eyes, which were always as clear and cold as a frozen pool, a complex emotion, one that even he himself could not understand, was churning within him.
Kanae's cheeks were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.
She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze, her heart pounding wildly in her chest, and she even forgot to breathe.
"So..."
Giyu suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of helpless exasperation.
"You all... you all knew! You ganged up on me and kept it from me!"
Kanae lowered her head even further, her voice barely audible.
"It's... it's to give you a... surprise..."
Looking at her extremely shy appearance, almost burying herself in the ground, Giyu felt a surge of tenderness in his heart that had just begun to emerge, which instantly grew into a wildfire.
He forcibly suppressed the upward curve of his lips, released his grip, and solemnly draped the brand-new, half-red, half-white haori over his own shoulders.
The size is just right, not too big or too small.
Red on the left, white on the right.
In that instant, he felt as if he had regained his indestructible armor.
They also possessed the weakness of being willing to die for it.
"They're gone."
Master Urokodaki's steady voice finally broke the warmth of the moment.
Kanae snapped out of her daze, quickly took a step back, and dared not look at Giyu again. Her face flushed, she turned and ran back to the group.
Ren quickly followed, leaned close to his sister's ear, lowered his voice, and said with a mischievous grin:
"Sister, your face is so red! Mr. Giyu just hugged you, how did it feel? Was it very strong?"
Kanae's face turned even redder. She was both embarrassed and annoyed. She gently pushed him away and said reproachfully:
"Don't... don't talk nonsense!"
After saying that, he couldn't help but laugh first.
That smile was like the sun after the rain, bright and radiant, without a trace of gloom.
The team sets off again.
The three figures quickly disappeared into the depths of the morning mist along the mountain path.
Giyu stood there, stroking the brand-new haori he was wearing. His fingertips traced the fine stitches, finally landing on the delicate butterfly on the cuff.
A very faint, genuine smile finally slowly appeared on his face.
"Alright, stop looking, they're all gone."
Sabito stepped forward and nudged him with his elbow in a nonchalant manner, his face full of mockery.
"I have to say, you're something else. You've quietly stolen that girl's heart. This haori (feathered kimono) isn't something you can just give away casually."
He looked Giyu up and down at the unique style of his haori, marveling at it.
"But to be honest, this haori suits you quite well. You're a perfect match, a match made in heaven. On behalf of the Mount Sagiri lineage, I approve of this marriage!"
Giyu glanced at him, and a rare, suspicious blush appeared on his cheeks.
"I'm off to a meeting."
He composed himself, turned and left, not wanting to pay any more attention to this frivolous fellow.
"Hey, wait for me!"
The Sabito quickly followed and walked alongside him.
"Speaking of which, why did you invite me to the Hashira Meeting this time, my Oyakata-sama? I'm not a 'Pillar' yet." He scratched his head, looking puzzled.
Giyu paused almost imperceptibly for a moment, then continued walking forward.
How should I know?
His gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, bathed in the golden light of dawn.
"Perhaps... it's Master has some special arrangements."
The sunlight finally pierced through the thick morning mist, casting long, long shadows of the two boys on the mountain path.
The brand-new haori fluttered gently in the breeze, and the pink butterfly seemed ready to take flight at any moment.
(Please stop debating whether to update one or two chapters! It's pointless!!)
Word count is king! ٩(*´◒`*)۶)