HERO ᝰ g. tomioka

the final verdict

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CHAPTER 18 - THE FINAL VERDICT
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"KILL ME INSTEAD!" Y/n begged. Her eyes had already filled to the brim with tears of desperation, her face contorted with sadness and pleading hope.

Giyu, unable to stand, sat in the dirt with horrified eyes. Why... His heart felt like it had set ablaze, burning hot with misery. A lump formed thick in the center of his throat. His body fell numb.

Why...Why is it..

that the first time...I hear her speak again...

she has to sound so...

upset?

Ubuyashiki's wife slowly led the man to the edge of the covered porch to be closer to y/n, hidden from the sunlight. "My child...I am glad that you are awake. Truly."

Y/n realized who she was in the presence of, bowing her forehead to the ground. "F-Forgive my intrusion, Master. It's a blessing to see that you are still well."

Ubuyashiki grinned kindly. "With you awake, we can now hear your side of the story. Do you remember the night of the attack at the Tokito House a year ago?"

"Yes!" She quickly lifted her head, tears running down her cheeks. "Giyu was only doing what I asked him! I mean, he thought I was dying, of course he'd grant his dying friends' wish!!"

"I'm sorry, what wish are you talking about?" Shinobu questioned.

"The demon Giyu refused to kill... it was an old friend from five years ago. She was killed by a demon when I was fifteen. Giyu knew how much she meant to me, and when I begged him not to kill her before I fell into a coma, he must have felt compelled to honor my wish. It wasn't his fault!"

"What the..." Obanai's voice was barely audible, his disbelief hanging in the air as he and the other Hashira turned their piercing gazes towards Giyu. "Why did you never mention this, Tomioka? You could have defended your actions with this information, you fool."

"...It seemed like an excuse." He spoke softly.

"An excuse that could stop you from being punished, Tomioka!--" Misturi whined.

Giyu's eyes bore into the ground as he spoke with a quiet resolve. "I didn't protect the demon just because y/n asked me to... I did it because I wanted to. I knew how deeply Mei mattered to y/n. I couldn't bear to live with myself if I had killed her, knowing the love y/n held for her."

Y/n felt her body begin to tremble as she weakly stood to her feet. Her balance was terrible, but she stood her ground as best she could. They noticed her wound begin to bleed a bit through her scrubs, alerting Shinobu. "Y/n, please don't over exert yourself, you're still in recovery--"

"None of this...would've happened if I was strong enough...If you're looking to punish someone, let me be the victim! I'll step down from the Demon Slayer Corps!"

"Y/n!" Mitsuri begged.

"I've been training to protect people and become a Hashira for the past 5 years, but I still froze at the sight of Mei...People could have died because of my selfishness, but Giyu saved me. He might have refused to kill Mei, but he didn't let her kill anyone else!"

Giyu felt his chest tighten painfully. He gradually stood to his feet, slowly walking towards her with quivering eyes.

Y/n's voice cracked as she cried to Ubuyashiki. "He's always protected people! He's saved more lives than I have or ever will! Please don't punish him, when he's the best chance humanity has! Giyu...

is the...coolest person I know..."

Her strength gave way, and she began to collapse. Giyu's steps quickened as he rushed to her side. He caught her in his arms, cradling her as he fell to his knees, her head resting gently on his lap. "Y/n..." His voice broke, trembling as he pressed his forehead to hers, his breath mingling with hers as she lost consciousness.

"...So the demon was y/n's friend? How did that happen?" Muichiro's curiosity was edged with confusion, his gaze empty.

"Were you not listening?" Obanai hissed to the young teenager. "Muzan must have given her his blood after she died when no one was around to see, turning her into a Lower Kizuki...What doesn't make sense is why Giyu would hide that information from us."

"He said it himself. He saw it as nothing more than a convenient excuse," Shinobu declared, her eyes locked onto y/n, who lay vulnerably in Giyu's arms. "Though it might have bolstered his stance, it would've only made it appear as though y/n was to blame for pushing him to defy the rules...It was a selfless act to protect y/n."

"So now what? Y/n can't step down from the Corps! She's worked so hard for this!" Mitsuri spoke sadly.

Sanemi's frustration erupted, his voice a low growl filled with bitterness. "We can't just let them both escape the consequences! Both of them broke the rules, if we're being honest!"

"Settle down, children." Ubuyashiki demanded, their attention turning to their master instantly. "In the end, it is my decision."

"Yes, Master."

Ubuyashiki's gaze softened as he continued. "I have watched y/n's journey closely, from the day she first joined the Corps. Her initial training in Water Breathing, her painful transition to Emotion Breathing due to the limitations of her body—she has fought through it all with unwavering dedication. Her contributions have undeniably enriched the Demon Slayer Corps and our mission. That is an undeniable truth.

I agree, it is indeed challenging to overlook the errors made by both y/n and Giyu. But what is growth without failure? We must not disregard the immense effort they have put forth. They are both good souls, marked by their compassion."

Giyu looked up from y/n to his master, who turned his body to him. "Giyu. Thank you for patiently waiting for this trial to end. It's been a long year for you...Please return to your Hashira duties."

Giyu bowed his head. "I will not disappoint you again, Master."