Adapt. // kny x insert m!reader

07 - FINAL SELECTION, I.

So, Y/N ended up really hitting it off with the lonely Water pillar. They noticed they had a lot in common. Like how they are both depressed due to traumatic events that have happened throughout their lifespan, the fact that they never talk to anyone about their past, the fact that they are both very closed off people, unless they are very comfortable with another person- even if the younger was more open, due to how much younger he was- and lastly, their awkwardness around new people. It took then a while to actually have a full-on conversation with eachother, as they are both very introverted, and (h/c)ette ended up making the first move, because he was fascinated by Giyuu creating such a powerful form within Water Breathing. The two started talking about techniques and ended up having a conversation about random, casual things and getting to know eachother better. Y/N found it really odd that the ravenette didn't have many friends, as he was actually pretty fun to be around. To be fair, neither of them were especially talkative- unless the younger was talking about something he was passionate about- and they both enjoyed the silence, so hanging out wasn't very difficult for the two. They also found out they both really love food, so after the one month the e/c boy spent training with the pillar, they would occasionally go out to eat something and have a small chat.

Y/N also grew closer with Kanao- the former tsuguko of Shinobu's sister and their adoptive sister, whose training was entrusted to Shinobu after her sister's death. The older girl was a bit odd, but the (h/c)ette didn't mind her much. She wasn't very talkative either, but she also never voiced her opinion and decided with a coin she had. It intrigued the boy, but he never really asked. After all, he only spent about 7 weeks at the Butterfly estate- per Shinobu's suggestion. That's also when he met a Thunder Breather corps member, who was a very nice and social guy. Too talkative for Y/N's liking, but he was willing to train the younger boy into being able to use the Thunderclap and Flash form, so ever since they have been close acquaintances. It only took him a week to learn the form, so both of the males were satisfied. After he returned to the Mist estate, he immediately started working on his own technique, with a lot of help from Muichiro and Mitsuri, as well as Shinobu. He was very grateful for these people to be in his life. If only took him a couple of months to complete the 14 forms of 'Cloud Breathing', of course after he was given the equipment he requested. Well, in truth, Muichiro just kind of terrorized some swordsmiths to create temporary equipment for his former tsuguko, as the older was soon going to receive his own nichirin blades, after the Final Selection.

The preparations for the Selection weren't as bad. The only difficult part was sparring the Mist pillar everyday, in order to gain some battle experience with the swords before he goes out killing demons. Of course, Muichiro would use a practice sword, since Y/N was still very much lacking in skill to go up against a Hashira and actually win. In other words, he was getting his ass kicked on the daily, ending up with multiple bruises on his body, like he used to in the start. It was a bit hectic at first, since the techniques he would come up with were new to him too, so using them was more difficult than using Mist Breathing against his former sensei. At that point, he was practically teaching himself with repetition and the help of the young pillar who was helping him reduce useless movement. All he would do from sun up to sun down was warm up for about an hour, spar for half the day and repeat the same techniques over and over. It was extremely tiring and repetitive, but Y/N understood that if was necessary to become a successful demon slayer. He didn't want to already get killed in Final Selection either, it would be pathetic for someone who was trained from the third strongest hashira, so he trained his ass off to the point he would literally sweat blood. He sort of wanted Muichiro to be proud of him, but for someone like him, what the (h/c)ette was doing was nothing in comparison. Surviving Final Selection would be nothing in comparison to the young pillar's achievements, so early in his life. He didn't expect much of the younger, but he wanted to make him proud for the things that the ravenette had done for him already. Tolerating him and accommodating him must have been a hassle, so Y/N felt very guilty for troubling the mint-eyed boy, even if he weren't the nicest most of the time.