"S-so mister? You said you were a demon slayer?"
Giyuu glanced at the kid to his right. They were some distance from a nearby town, so they had to walk a while in order to reach there. Throughout this, Genya was silent during the walk. But it seems now he wants to ask questions.
"Yes..."
Genya waited for Giyuu to elaborate more. When he realized that was all he was getting, Genya went to ask another question.
"And these demon slayer's job is to hunt demons?"
Giyuu remained silent for a while before responding, "You've never seen one before..."
It wasn't a question. Giyuu was merely stating a fact. Genya looked down before responding.
"I... I saw a demon long before, but never a slayer... This whole time I thought there was no one there fighting demons."
Giyuu can understand that. After Tsutako passed, Giyuu was convinced no one was there that opposes demons, and for a while he also thought demons were just a figment of his imagination after that horrible night. It's only after being saved from Sakonji Urokodaki that he learnt the truth.
Aside from that, Giyuu had a feeling what Genya meant when he met a demon long before...
Regardless, Giyuu remained silent throughout the walk, making Genya follow his actions. For a long time, Genya has been alone, so being with someone else was refreshing. However, to Genya, Giyuu releases a strong presence. His silence causes an awkward atmosphere around Genya. And so, Genya just decides to stay uncomfortable in awkward silence.
After a while, the two finally reached the town Giyuu was on his way to. They both made it to an inn, and Giyuu paid for two separate rooms for the night. Giyuu then turns and gives Genya his room key.
"I'll be off... Take care..."
"Oh! Um, uhh-h th-thank you mister! U-um if I could a-ask-"
However Giyuu left before Genya could finish his sentence. In truth, Genya was stammering while speaking quietly, and Giyuu was honestly a little tired to clock in what he was saying. And so Genya just watched the Hashira head away from him towards his room in rejection.
Giyuu soon enters his room. First he takes off his shoes before setting his bag down. After taking his night clothes out, he undresses and puts them on. He then folds his uniform and haori neatly to the side. He unties his hair, letting it fall freely before heading towards his futon and getting in. Then in less than a minute, he falls into a peaceful, quiet sleep.
Giyuu sleeps for close to 8 hours before waking up. Once he wakes up he brushes his teeth and washes his face before changing into his spare clothes. Then he heads out of his room and towards the bath house. On the way he gives his neatly folded uniform to one of the maids in the inn and politely asks them to wash it. Thankfully there was no blood on it, so the maid took it with open arms. When there is blood on his uniform Giyuu takes it upon himself to wash it, unless he's staying at a Wisteria House.
He spends a good time in the bath house before leaving to eat breakfast. He heads to a restaurant near the inn and orders a meal. He was given rice, miso soup, egg, pickled vegetables, natto, green tea, and salmon. They unfortunately didn't have salmon daikon for Giyuu to order on the side, which bummed him out (although he obviously didn't show it).
After finishing breakfast he heads back to the inn to collect his uniform. Once he's handed that he heads into his room. He changes back into his clothes, stuffs his belongings and sword into his bag, and folds the futon neatly back to where he found it.
Giyuu finally leaves the room and gives his key back to the inn owner and steps out, only to be greeted by Genya. Genya was standing, still in his torn clothes and minimal belongings.
"Ah, hello mister! Um- I want to once again thank you for saving me. Please let me buy you lunch!" stammered Genya.
"I already ate..."
"Oh," Genya looked dejected before once again being determined. "W-well at least let me compensate for you mister!"
Genya stuffed his hand into his pockets, however what he pulled out turned out to only be a 10 yen coin. Genya gasped at his lack of money in utter dejection.
'How was I supposed to even buy him lunch if I only had 10 yen!'
Giyuu just looked at the scene before him in his stoic silence. Finally Giyuu asked,
"Did you eat?"
Genya looked back at Giyuu before responding, "Oh, uh- I mean, of course I di-"
*RUMBLE*
Genya looked at his stomach as if it personally betrayed him. Giyuu on the other hand continued to stare in stoic silence.
Ten minutes later, both of them were in front of a street stand. Genya was slowly eating a bowl of udon while Giyuu continued to watch.
'Damn it! In the end he bought me lunch!' thought Genya as he slurped the noodles in guilt.
Giyuu wasn't feeling hungry, so he just waited for Genya to finish. In his head, Giyuu was thinking about what to do. He wasn't expecting to meet him at all around this time. In fact, Giyuu never had plans to interact much with him at all. With this scenario, Giyuu couldn't help but think how Sanemi should be here instead. Seriously, Giyuu doesn't know this kid at all.
Giyuu tried racking his brain on what he knew about him, but he didn't know much. Aside from the tragedy of the Shinazugawa family, he didn't know about what Genya did as a slayer. Giyuu only knew that he had the unique ability of consuming demons, was present with Tanjiro when the Swordsmith village was attacked, and died in the battle against Uppermoon 1.
'I wonder, does he even know about his demon-eating ability?'
Giyuu also thinks he might have seen Genya training with someone, but for the life of him he couldn't remember who. However since he does know Genya did have a trainer, Giyuu is willing to leave this situation if it means Genya gets back to the original track he took.
Then again, Giyuu felt he couldn't just leave the kid out of nowhere. He felt it was the least he could do for Sanemi. If Sanemi found out that Giyuu left his starving brother in the middle of the street... well it's a good thing he didn't!
Once Genya finishes his bowl, he sets it down and turns towards Giyuu.
"Um anyways mister, I was wond-"
"You can call me Tomioka..."
"Oh, well Tomioka-san I was wonder-"
"Follow me..." interrupted Giyuu as he started walking away.
'God will this dude just let me finish what I'm saying!!' screamed Genya internally, a vein popping on his forehead.
Genya followed Giyuu into a small store on the side of the street. As they both walked in, Giyuu turned towards Genya.
"Pick what you want..."
Genya looked around the small area. Around him were piles of folded clothes around him, all of them being Japanese clothing with some western clothes there, and an old man who was smiling at him.
Genya quickly turned to Giyuu, "Oh no Tomioka-san! I simply can't-"
Genya stopped when he looked at Giyuu's eyes. While Giyuu was just being his normal self, to Genya he was emitting a sharp and suffocating presence. Feeling intimidated, Genya quickly glanced at his torn clothes before walking around the store and inspecting the clothes.
After some time, Genya selected a purple cotton kimono and a coat. Giyuu paid for it and they both left the store. Genya was left in a semi-daze, holding the clothes that he received from Giyuu. Giyuu's hand moved in front of his face, snapping Genya out of his trance. In Giyuu's hand were two bags, one small and one medium sized. Genya glanced up at Giyuu, who had an expression that was urging him to take it. Reluctantly Genya took the two bags.
"The big bag contains money..." said Giyuu, causing Genya to look at him in surprise. "The other one is a bag of wisteria... it should help in repelling demons... make sure to not travel and stay in a populated town during the night..."
Genya just stayed silent in response, shock still filling his body. Giyuu glanced at the boy for a minute before turning around.
"I'll get going, take care..."
Genya looked at Giyuu walking away, his eyes shaking in urgency.
"Wait, Tomioka-san!"
Giyuu stopped and turned his head to face Genya.
"Um... um..." stuttered Genya. "Um, I was wondering..." Genya closed his hand tightly before taking a deep bow.
"W-WOULD YOU PLEASE TRAIN ME, TOMIOKA-SAN!"
Giyuu looked at Genya with his neutral face for a couple seconds before responding ,
"No..."
Genya inhaled sharply in defeat with water starting to appear in his eyes. "I-I understand..."
"Why..."
Genya looked at Giyuu from his bow in response. "W-what?"
"Why do you want to be a demon slayer?"
Genya closed his lips in hesitation before responding,
"When I was a kid, my mother became a demon... My brother was able to defeat her, but I didn't know she was a demon, and I said hurtful things towards him."
Genya straightened his posture out of his bow as he looked at the ground in shame. "This whole time, I've been looking for him... to apologize... But I want to do more. My elder brother had to bear the weight of killing our mom. and I know he feels guilty for not saving our siblings. I want to become strong so when I meet him, I can apologize and carry that burden. I don't want him to shoulder everything by himself..."
Giyuu just looked at Genya in deep contemplation. Once Genya finished, Giyuu let out a deep sigh. Giyuu wasn't sure if he was going to regret this, but he felt compelled to say this.
"You're brother... his name is Sanemi Shinazugawa right?"
Genya sharply lifted his head before rushing towards Giyuu.
"WAIT YOU KNOW HIM? HOW IS HE?! IS HE ALRIGHT?! WHERE IS HE?! IS HE ALSO A DEMON SLAYER? WHERE CAN I FIND HIM?! PLEASE TELL ME?!"
Giyuu just stood there, his face betraying slight annoyance from being bombarded from these questions. Once Genya finally stopped to take a breather Giyuu responded.
"Yes I know your brother... He is my comrade, a fellow Hashira..."
Genya's eyes widened before asking, "what's a Hashira?"
"The Hashira are the strongest swordsmen in the Demon Slayer Corps..."
Genya let off a breath of anticipation as he processed the information that his brother, and by correlation Giyuu, are some of the strongest slayers right now.
"C-can you take me to him?" Genya asked hopefully.
"I cannot... we both are on a mission and I don't know where his current location is..."
Genya's face sank as his head dropped down in defeat. Giyuu hesitated before adding,
"The Hashiras are the highest slayer position in the corps, and as such it's very hard to come into contact with them... One must be an exceptional slayer if they even have hopes in coming into contact with them..."
Genya still looked down, his face being even more dejected. However then he feels a hand on his shoulder. He looks up to see Giyuu's hand on his shoulder. Giyuu's face was still stoic and cold. However his eyes now carried something warm in them. Something akin to compassion.
"So become a strong slayer... strong enough to meet your brother again..." said Giyuu. "I'm sure whatever path you take will somehow get you there..."
Genya's eyes widened before his face scrunched up in emotion. Before he knew it, tears were falling down his cheeks like rivers flowing through valleys. Genya wiped his tears with his palms, leaving messy tear marks on his face before giving a small bow.
"Th-th-thank you~"
Giyuu just gave a short bow in return before turning back and walking away. There was no way Giyuu was going to take him as a student. However, the least he could do was tell him about Sanemi. Giyuu didn't want to intrude in any drama or whatever those brothers had, but Giyuu would have felt sour if he just left the kid by himself with nothing.
And besides, Giyuu feels now he still gave Genya a motive to become a demon slayer, which would keep events normal towards the original timeline. Whether Giyuu believed Genya should be a demon slayer wasn't his issue nor his concern, but instead something he felt should be handled by both Genya and Sanemi.
And with that Giyuu continues on his journey to the Kamado family, leaving a kid behind in tears but in return giving him closure and a fire within.