Chapter Text
During the week of Final Selection, nothing of note really happened with Urokodaki, as he was waiting for Tanjiro to return.
However, everything changed on the fifth night. He was walking back to the house after checking the area for any straggler demons, and when he opened the door he was met with a sight he wasn't expecting.
Nezuko was sitting on the floor, she turned to the sound of the door opening and started staring at him. Before she lifted her arms up like she was an infant wanting to be held.
'She... she's actually awake?!' Urokodaki thought in shock.
He accepted her request and as he was holding her he thought out loud.
"It actually worked! She sees me as family! More specifically... she sees humans as her family!"
Nezuko unknowingly hummed in agreement. She then opened her eyes and saw Hanako's old wooden puzzle box on a drawer. She jumped out of Urokodaki's arms and went to the box, lifting it up and showing it to Urokodaki.
'That's right, she has been asleep for the entirety that Tanjiro's been training so she doesn't know that Hanako is at the Mansion.' He thought.
He was about to explain it to the demon girl but he looked to see her playing with the box, trying to solve it using the techniques she remembered Hanako show her when they were still human. Urokodaki looked confused but chose not to question it.
He couldn't wait for the siblings to reunite now that Nezuko was awake.
Meanwhile, Giyu was walking down the path of the butterfly mansion. He was arriving for his monthly checks on Hanako to see how she was holding up. He would never admit that he also was trying to befriend Shinobu.
He arrived at the door and simply knocked 3 times. The door opened after a minute, revealing Shinobu.
"Tomioka-san! My my, how long were you waiting out here?" Shinobu said, beginning to poke him like usual.
"Not that long... could you stop poking me?" He asked in a polite way that shocked Shinobu.
"Well, since your being so nice about it I will." She teased as she stopped poking him.
"Come on in Tomioka-san. Your probably hungry after spending all morning walking here." She said.
The two Hashira entered the mansion and were heading to the kitchen.
"Mister Giyu!" Hanako exclaimed as she rushed over to say hi to him.
"Hanako-san! You should be careful, your condition still isn't stable." Shinobu said.
"Its fine Kocho. How are you doing Hanako?" Giyu said.
Hanako hugged him, Giyu awkwardly put his arms around her. Shinobu grinned at the sight that happened every month.
"Im good Mister Giyu, Kanao-san should be arriving back today! I hope she ran into Onii-chan..." She said.
"I'm sure she did Hanako-san, now come on lets get breakfast." Shinobu said, dragging the two to the dinning room.
They entered as Aoi handed the triplets their food. She turned to look at the three.
"Oh! Tomioka-san, I forgot you were visiting today! Here let me-" Aoi got interrupted.
"Aoi, its okay. Don't worry, I'll make a snack later." Giyu said.
Aoi gave in and joined the group in eating.
As usual, Hanako and the triplets complimented Aoi on her cooking, causing the girl to blush.
"Are you sure you don't want any Tomioka-san? I can give you some of mine if you want." Shinobu offered, sitting next to him.
"Im alright Kocho, besides I got to meet up with Tokito for a joint mission later." He said.
Shinobu's eyes widened slightly.
"My my, a joint mission? If two Hashira are being sent on that mission don't you think its dangerous?" She asked.
"Maybe, all my crow said was that a group of demons were terrorizing an area in between both of our areas we were assigned to protect." He answered.
The group continued to eat, the setting reminded Hanako of the mornings she would spend with her family.
'Mama, Takeo, everyone... I hope you all are proud of me...' She thought
***
After eating, Hanako was pulling Giyu to her room.
"I want to show you the new puzzle box Miss Shinobu gifted me!" Hanako said happily.
Giyu hummed in agreement. He often found himself in awe of how skilled Hanako was at completing the puzzles.
As he watched her skillfully solve it, his mind recalled a similar moment in the past. A young Giyu having his sister watch him complete a Tsume Shogi (Chess puzzle).
"Look Nee-san! I solved it faster than last time!!" The younger Giyu said.
Tsutako clapped her hands with a smile on her face.
"Your really improving Giyu! Im so proud of you!" She said.
He tried not to think of Tsutako often, as he felt extremely guilty for her death. But as he watched Hanako, he couldn't help but wonder if this was how she felt watching him.
Hanako paused her attempt to solve the puzzle, she looked at Giyu in concern.
"Are you alright Mister Giyu? You zoned out for a moment there?" The young girl asked.
"Y-yes. I was just recalling something. I'll pay attention properly-" He got cut off as something was flying to him.
Hanako turned to the window and was shocked to see a crow.
"Mister Giyu, look! Its a crow!" She exclaimed.
"CAW! Message for Giyu from the master!" The crow said.
Giyu and Hanako froze for a second.
'Could it be? Is it time for that Hashira meeting about all this?' Giyu wondered as he took the letter.
Hanako waited for him to be finished reading the letter.
"What's the letter about?" She asked.
"The Master wants to meet us in 2 weeks." He said.
"You stay here, I'll go get Kocho." He said before leaving.
'Does this mean that Onii-chan passed Final Selection?' Hanako wondered.
Giyu arrived at Shinobu's room and he knocked on the door urgently. Shinobu opened the door.
"What is it? Oh Tomioka-san, what's going on?" She asked.
"It's a letter, from the Master. He wants to meet Hanako in 2 weeks." He said.
Shinobu looked surprised.
"That means that there will be a Hashira meeting afterwards, how do we convince the other Hashira to agree to this?" She asked.
"We don't, the Master said he would explain everything to the other pillars." Giyu stated.
Shinobu nodded before they heard Aoi yell.
"Shinobu-sama, Kanao is back!" Aoi said.
"Alright Aoi-san, tell her we'll be with her in a minute!" Shinobu responded.
"Well then Tomioka-san, could you take a syringe with you to your joint mission?" She asked.
"Why?" Giyu replied.
"Just so I can see if Hanako's blood works on a potential Twelve Kizuki member. You are joining Muichiro after all." She said.
Giyu agreed and took the syringe.
"Now then, lets meet up with Kanao. Im so happy she passed!" Shinobu said before leaving her room.
Giyu was about to follow when he noticed a drawer with a note on it called "Special Medicine". He knew it was different from the drawer she had the syringes in.
A part of Giyu wanted to see what was in it but he respected Shinobu's privacy. He quickly caught up with her and they went to greet Kanao.
Giyu heard footsteps behind them and he turned to see Hanako was rushing to keep up with them.
"Hanako, slow down. You don't want to rush yourself and get sick." He said, feeling some sort of big brother instincts kick in.
"Hmm? Oh, right! Thank you Mister Giyu!" She said.
Giyu silently hummed in response.
Shinobu watched this moment and had a teasing smile on her face.
'Who knew Tomioka-san could be a big brother? I'm definitely gonna tease him about this later.'