Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In the final battle and afterwards, all the Hashira died. Since they had walked this honorable path of hunting demons, each of them had been reincarnated centuries later. At first, none of them remembered anything, but as time passed, as they grew older and went to university, they found each other again. And surprisingly, the owner of the university they attended was none other than Oyakata-sama, whom they had once loved dearly and still continued to love.

Most of them had already gathered. Almost all the Hashira were there. Except for one—no one had ever seen the Water Hashira, Tomioka Giyuu. Not even Oyakata-sama. And he seemed to be very curious about him.

Even though Giyuu wasn’t around, Tanjiro and his group were going to the high school right next to the university. They seemed to remember everything too, since they had been greeting them from the very first day. It was strange and hard to get used to, but by now, they were fine.

“Classes are so boring… I want to eat.”

When Mitsuri’s whining voice filled the air, Obanai immediately pulled a few sandwiches from his bag, and no one was surprised. Those two really were a unique couple. Mitsuri instantly began eating happily, and she even handed one to the youngest, Muichirou. Muichirou was only a first-year student and looked just as they remembered him—only more talkative.

“If I skip class, Oyakata-sama will be very upset.”

When Shinobu spoke in her sweet yet pointed tone, Mitsuri shook her head quickly. Of course, no one wanted to upset Oyakata-sama.

“Shall we go sit at a café after school?”

With Tengen’s suggestion, Sanemi looked around at everyone. They all seemed to approve. Besides, Genya would be hanging out with the Kamado boy, so Sanemi didn’t have to go home early to cook for him. That was why he nodded as well.

“Let’s go. A new café has opened—I think it’s called Waterwheel.”

It was a strange name for a café, but it also felt familiar. Sanemi just couldn’t figure out why. Still, he didn’t dwell on it too much. After all, it was just an ordinary café, and if they didn’t like it, they could simply never go there again.

So the decision was made, and the group split up to attend their classes. At five in the evening, when all their lessons were done, they met up and went to the café Sanemi had mentioned. Even though it hadn’t been open long, it was already quite full. The interior and exterior décor were beautiful, decorated in shades of blue with wave motifs on the walls. Sanemi felt like he was inside the Water Estate, which he had only visited once.

“This place is beautiful.”

Muichirou, sitting beside Gyomei, spoke in awe, and the others agreed. It truly was beautiful and uplifting. Mitsuri, Tengen, and Rengoku immediately opened the menus, already looking ready to order a mountain of food.

“Hello, welcome to Waterwheel. I’m Sabito, and I’ll be taking care of you today.”

Sabito, with his peach-colored hair, was quite striking—and he had a lovely smile. The hungriest of the group had already begun ordering.

“Your café is wonderful, and the design is magnificent.”

When Gyomei spoke with his usual politeness, Sabito smiled and nodded, even while writing down their orders.

“Thank you. This place used to be a clothing store. With my father’s help, we transformed it and created Waterwheel. Now I run it with my best friend.”

The enthusiasm in his voice carried the pride of such an accomplishment. And that was only natural—building a place from scratch and bringing it to success was no easy feat.

“All right, I’ve got all your orders. I’ll be right back!”

As Sabito walked away, Sanemi looked around again. He was only now beginning to realize why those wave patterns on the walls felt so familiar.

“Don’t those designs look like Giyuu’s Water Breathing?”

At his question, the conversation stopped. Everyone first looked at Sanemi, then slowly turned their heads toward the waves on the walls. The murmurs of recognition around the group spoke volumes.

“Now that you mention it… yes, they do. Of course, it could just be a coincidence, but still—it’s strange.”

As Obanai scratched his cheek thoughtfully, a few murmurs of agreement followed. It was very possible that it was just a coincidence; after all, wave patterns weren’t rare. So the matter was brushed aside, and ten minutes later, Sabito returned with their food, and they continued chatting. The peaceful atmosphere and quality conversation kept them there until closing time without them even realizing it.

“This place is wonderful! Let’s come here often!”

Mitsuri waved cheerfully at Sabito as she walked out, which, of course, triggered Obanai’s jealousy—but thankfully, he managed to deal with it without any problems.

“Let’s stop by the market across the street. I need to buy ingredients for Genya’s onigiri.”

They all followed Sanemi, who was walking toward the market. Naturally, the shopping didn’t go quickly—after all, three food monsters were with them, and they filled the cart to the brim. By the time everything was scanned at the register, an hour had already passed. Sanemi silently cursed himself for suggesting the market, but oh well.

Just then, Waterwheel had closed for the night. The first person they saw was Sabito—hard to miss with that hair.

“Hey, Giyuu! Want to play some video games when we get home?”

At the familiar name, they all froze and turned straight toward the other boy standing in front of the café. He looked exactly the same: long jet-black hair, eyes of the most beautiful shade of blue, and pale white skin. The Tomioka Giyuu they had all been wondering about was standing right before them.

To Sabito’s question, Giyuu only gave a slight nod. The peach-haired boy smiled brightly and tugged him toward the car. Under the streetlamp, they could see him clearly.

Was Giyuu really this short and thin? In the past, Sanemi remembered him being nearly the same height as himself. And because of his haori, no one had ever really known his build—but looking now, he seemed shorter and slimmer. Maybe ten centimeters shorter than Sanemi. And he looked tired.

Sanemi gripped his shopping bag tightly as they watched the two of them get into the car and drive away.

“That was Giyuu!”

Mitsuri jumped excitedly in place, voicing the shock everyone else felt.

“The friend Sabito mentioned must be Tomioka. So he was this close all along.”

When Gyomei gave thanks to Buddha out of old habit, Sanemi let out a deep breath. He truly felt strange.

“I guess now we have a reason to come back here again.”

Tengen spoke softly, and this time, everyone nodded together. He was definitely right.

“We can come back, but we don’t know if he remembers us. We’ll have to be careful.”

Sanemi had a point. Otherwise, things could get complicated, and none of them wanted that.

“Then we’ll be careful. Tomorrow morning, first thing—we tell Oyakata-sama.”

Chapter Text

Before telling Oyakata-sama, they needed to find out whether Giyuu remembered or not. That’s why, two days later, after their classes had ended, they lingered around and only went to the café half an hour before closing. This time, they simply ordered whatever was ready, not wanting to trouble anyone—after all, eating wasn’t their true purpose here. Sabito recognized them right away and chatted briefly while collecting their orders.

By the time half an hour passed, the plates were completely empty when the young man finally approached them.

“I’m really glad you came, kids, but it’s closing time now.”

There was an apologetic expression on Sabito’s face; he probably felt as if he were chasing them away, but he was only doing his job. Shinobu, who always knew how to speak and adapt to any atmosphere, smiled softly.

“Of course, we understand. But before we leave, may we meet your chef? The food is truly incredible, and as you can see, we have a few friends here who love eating. They said it was the best meal they’ve had outside in a very long time.”

As Shinobu finished, the others nodded eagerly, making Sabito look a little surprised. While clearing the plates, he glanced at them once more before nodding.

“All right, I’ll ask Yuu. But if he refuses, please don’t take it as rudeness—he’s not very social.”

That wasn’t surprising to them at all. When Sabito left, they all went quiet, but excitement buzzed in the air. If Tomioka refused now, they would just keep coming until he eventually agreed.

A few minutes later, Sabito returned with a faint smile.

“It took some convincing, but he agreed. He’ll be here in a few minutes.”

Relief washed over them. They tried their best not to show it, but the anticipation was undeniable.

“There’s one thing you should know, though.”

Sabito’s voice suddenly grew serious, silencing the group. Had something gone wrong? Did they push Giyuu too far?

“Giyuu… can’t speak.”

The news was shocking. The Water Hashira had never been talkative, but not being able to speak at all was something else entirely. Sanemi was about to respond when Sabito muttered distractedly:

“Though… he used to love talking.”

Wait.
If he once enjoyed speaking but now couldn’t, then it wasn’t something he had been born with. Something must have happened. As their shocked expressions sank in, Sabito quickly recomposed himself with a small smile.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Just don’t take it as rudeness if he doesn’t answer.”

At that moment, the sound of a door opening from the back made Sabito clap his hands lightly.

“All right, Giyuu will be here in a minute. You talk—I’ll go wipe down the tables.”

He walked away, and true to his word, a minute later Tomioka appeared. Sanemi felt his breath catch at the sight. He had never seen Tomioka’s hair down before—long strands fell into his face. He wore a loose white sweater and black trousers, nervously clutching the hem of his sweater as he stopped at their table. His blue eyes glimmered with a mix of curiosity and unease. Clearly, he didn’t remember them. Sanemi had expected this possibility.

“Hello, Tomioka-san!”

Mitsuri was the first to stand, thankfully armed with his full name thanks to Sabito. One by one, the others followed her lead.

“Man, your food is incredible! I’ll be coming here often.”

Rengoku beamed with his usual cheer. Uzui chimed in next:

“Absolutely. Your dishes are so flashy—we could hold eating competitions right here.”

A few chuckles followed. Tomioka, watching them quietly, allowed a faint smile to tug at his lips. Sanemi’s heart stuttered at the sight.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet us, Tomioka. Why don’t you sit?”

Sanemi gestured to a chair, and after a moment of hesitation, the black-haired young man sat down. Sanemi took the chance to study him more closely.

“Sabito-san mentioned your situation. If you use sign language, don’t worry—I can translate for my friends.”

It was fortunate that Himejima knew sign language, because Tomioka’s expression softened in relief. Raising his delicate hands, Sanemi couldn’t help but notice how pale and fragile they looked.

‘Thank you for your kind words. When you came two days ago, Sabito told me in shock about your order. Seeing the plates completely empty surprised him even more.’

When Himejima translated, they all laughed. Sabito’s reaction was understandable.

“Do you go to university, Tomioka-san? How old are you?”

Muichirou leaned forward curiously. Tomioka moved his hands again, his hair falling across his face with every motion, and Sanemi fought the sudden urge to brush it away.

‘I’ll be twenty this year. And no, I’m not attending university.’

They all nodded in understanding. Of course—it made sense. Speaking was difficult for him, and perhaps he had chosen another path by opening a café.

“Well then, I suppose this has become our new go-to spot. You’ve just gained eight regular customers, Tomioka. And we’ll make sure our friends come too.”

Obanai’s voice was calm and gentle. In the past, he had been harsh toward Tomioka, but now that fate had granted a second chance, he intended to use it well. Another smile appeared on Tomioka’s face as he signed once more:

‘It’s nice to meet you all. I hope you don’t get tired of this place.’

Tired? Never. Especially not Sanemi.

Chapter Text

Giyuu knew that his life had never really gone the way it should. Until the age of ten, he had actually had quite a beautiful childhood. He had a loving family. His older sister loved taking care of him, and Giyuu loved her just as much. But their happy life had turned into a nightmare in a single night. When two burglars broke into their home and were caught by their father, they killed everyone except Giyuu.

The only reason Giyuu survived was because his sister had hidden him under the bed. The space under the bed was narrow, enough for Giyuu to fit, but not anyone else. His sister wasn’t that lucky… so when the thief entered their room and killed her, Giyuu could only cry silently. And because he didn’t dare to come out from under the bed, he was forced to look at his sister’s lifeless body lying on the floor for hours.

---

When Sabito first suggested the idea of opening a café, Giyuu had been surprised. He remembered Sabito mentioning it before, but he had never thought he was serious. And on top of that, Urokodaki—Sabito’s father—had also promised to help. What they wanted from Giyuu was to become the head chef of the café. At first, he hesitated, unsure, but Sabito looked at him with such hopeful eyes that he couldn’t refuse.

Giyuu liked cooking and making sweets. His therapist even said it kept his mind active and encouraged him to continue, so working in a café wouldn’t be a problem. Soon, they had found a place, chosen a theme, and decided on a name. Sabito had left all those decisions to Giyuu, who had done his best, and so “The Waterwheel” café was born.

Weeks later, the café was running smoothly. Its location near the university, the wide variety of desserts, meals, and drinks drew people in. Giyuu was usually in the kitchen while Sabito dealt with customers. It was a good division of work. But what truly surprised Giyuu was a group of university students who wanted to meet him.

Especially the young man whose name he learned was Sanemi… He was truly striking. Even though Giyuu knew his food was good, he never really understood why they were so insistent on visiting, but he didn’t complain. Despite his inability to speak, they didn’t find it strange at all. They were cheerful, and whenever Giyuu’s eyes met Sanemi’s, he felt strange emotions stir within him.

They came again. And again. Giyuu couldn’t always join them because the kitchen was busy, but he never forgot to send them sweets. Sabito seemed pleased with this too.

“Giyuu, I’m glad you’re finally making friends. And you didn’t even have to try!”

Sabito came to him one day while they were waiting for customers. Giyuu blushed at his words. Sabito was his best friend, and the last thing he wanted was to betray him. Sensing this, Sabito patted his shoulder.

“Don’t be silly, Yuu. You know I have my own friends. As long as I’m your best friend, you can have a hundred others. I don’t mind.”

That reassurance made Giyuu smile and nod. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he motioned for Sabito to wait. He went to the fridge and brought out the small cakes he had been working on since morning.

“What are these, Yuu?”

As he set the tray on the counter, Sabito’s breath caught. There were nine themed cakes: water, wind, earth, fire, mist, flowers, animals, love, and sound. Each had been decorated with cream and chocolate designs. They looked truly beautiful. Sabito seemed frozen in place, and Giyuu didn’t understand why. He touched his arm lightly.

“Yuu… these are amazing!”

At last Sabito came back to himself, grinning widely. Giyuu finally breathed in relief.

“Let’s save the water one for my father. And we should set some aside for Sanemi’s group too, right? Which ones do you think they’d like? It’d be a nice surprise.”

The truth was, the themes had partly been inspired by them, but Giyuu didn’t say that. Instead, he began to sign.

‘Uzui should be sound. Muichirou, mist. Himejima, earth… Shinobu, nature. Mitsuri, definitely love. Iguro, animals. Rengoku, fire. And… Sanemi, wind.’

His white hair and violet eyes already had a place on the cake. After water, it was Giyuu’s favorite.

“So, does that make you water?”

Sabito wore a bittersweet smile Giyuu didn’t quite understand, but he nodded anyway. He liked water—it made him feel calm.

‘You’re water too, Sabito.’

He tilted his head with a smile, only to suddenly feel Sabito’s arms wrap around him. Startled at first, he hugged him back. Sabito’s embrace was always comforting.

“You’re not just my friend, Yuu. You’re my brother. Don’t forget that.”

---

Giyuu was excited. Though he had only known them for a few weeks, he already felt close to them. The emptiness that had lived inside him since birth seemed to finally be filling, and he felt lighter.

“Hey Giyuu, your friends are here.”

Sabito’s cheerful voice made him smile. They came often these days.

“I’ll bring them their food. Do you want to take the cakes over?”

Giyuu hesitated. Should he? Deep down, he wanted to see their reactions. Even if he felt shy, it was the right choice. He nodded. While Sabito served the meals, Giyuu finished tidying the kitchen, then placed the nine cakes on a tray and walked out. As he approached their usual table, Sanemi noticed him first, nudging Iguro and Mitsuri before standing up to pull out a chair for him. That simple act made Giyuu smile.

“Tomioka-san! Welcome!”

Giyuu nodded slightly, standing by the table with the tray in his hands.

“Have a seat, Tomioka.”

Sanemi’s voice made him glance up. He nodded again, but first he wanted to serve the cakes. One by one, he placed them in front of everyone, starting with Sanemi, then set down his own and finally sat down. He looked at the group expectantly. They were all frozen, silently glancing at each other.

Giyuu’s chest tightened in worry. He slowly raised his hands to sign, but before he could, Himejima turned to him.

“No, Tomioka, the cakes aren’t bad. Please, calm down.”

His shaky breath eased at those words. He had been scared because no one said anything.

“These are beautiful, Tomioka. Did you design them all yourself?”

Sanemi’s astonished question made him blush. He nodded, looking first at him, then at the others, before signing again for Himejima to interpret.

‘Yes. The idea came to me last night before bed, and I worked on the designs all night. It just felt like these fit each of you best. And strangely, it feels like I’ve known you all for a long time.’

Mitsuri suddenly burst into tears and threw her arms around him. Giyuu froze, shocked—he hadn’t meant to make her cry!

“These are wonderful, Tomioka-san! Thank you for thinking of us this way!”

Hesitant, Giyuu hugged her back. Then Rengoku, unable to hold back, practically leapt onto them, with Muichirou squeezing in easily because of his small size. It was strange, chaotic, but… nice. The rest of the group smiled warmly at him, and when his eyes met Sanemi’s, Giyuu felt his cheeks burn. The white-haired man’s gaze was intense.

“All right, all right, let Tomioka-san breathe and let’s eat the cakes.”

Shinobu finally intervened, and everyone sat down again. Giyuu smoothed his hair with a hand. He and Sanemi occasionally locked eyes as they all ate. Time passed with light chatter and compliments that made Giyuu blush. Eventually, it was time for them to leave. Though it saddened him, he knew they came almost every day, so he told himself not to overthink it.

“Hey, Tomioka.”

He had already said goodbye to the others, but Sanemi remained. They stood together in front of the café. When Giyuu looked up curiously, he noticed the package in Sanemi’s hand.

“I got this for you.”

It was a small package, but Giyuu’s curiosity was pure. He opened it carefully, hoping his excitement didn’t show too much. Inside was a bandana—white, patterned with green windmills. His lips parted as he looked at Sanemi in surprise.

“I thought it would suit you. I hope you like it.”

Sanemi seemed tense, maybe even worried. But Giyuu loved it. He smiled and nodded. It was a precious gift to him.

“I’m glad you like it. Then… I’ll see you later.”

Sanemi began to turn away, but before he could, Giyuu reached out and grabbed his arm. He couldn’t speak, nor could he sign right now. So he did the only thing he could—he leaned in and pressed a kiss to Sanemi’s cheek.

They both blushed at once, and Giyuu darted back inside the café. Sabito was already waiting with a mischievous grin.

---

Chapter Text

After that kiss, something definitely ignited between Sanemi and Giyuu. Every time Sanemi saw Giyuu, he noticed the hairband he had given him tied neatly in his hair, and the sight made his heart skip a beat. On top of that, they had exchanged phone numbers, and although Sanemi hadn’t told anyone yet, he had been secretly attending sign language classes. After all, it wasn’t as if Himejima or their phones could always be around, right?

That day, when they came to the café, the place was empty. Sabito had told them that they had closed two hours early, but if they were just going to hang out, it wasn’t a problem. The whole café was theirs. So, after Sanemi walked inside and greeted the younger man, he headed straight for the kitchen. He could do that now!

When he entered, he saw Giyuu washing the dishes, and he couldn’t help but smile. His hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and of course, the bandana was there too. He looked beautiful.

“Hey, Giyuu.”

He could call him by his first name now, yes. And Giyuu quickly turned to him with a smile. After drying his hands and walking closer, Sanemi leaned down and kissed his cheek.

“How are you?”

As always, Giyuu tilted his head shyly, his face turning pink. He looked so beautiful. His blue eyes were so dazzling that Sanemi felt like he could watch him all day. Then, Giyuu pulled out his phone, typed something, and turned the screen around.

‘I’m fine, how about you? How was class?’

He always asked these kinds of questions, and it made Sanemi happy. Giyuu was truly thoughtful. How had he failed to notice this in the past, up until after the last battle? He had been such an idiot back then.

“I’m fine, class went well too.”

He reached up, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind Giyuu’s ear.

“Let me help with the dishes, okay? Then we can sit with the others.”

Thankfully, Giyuu didn’t object. Sanemi had been pretty insistent about this a few days ago, and it seemed his persistence had finally paid off. Working together, they finished the dishes, and Giyuu let out a relieved sigh before immediately running to the fridge. He had probably prepared sweets again—Mitsuri and Rengoku would cry from happiness.

“Are you trying to make our friends gain weight?”

Sanemi teased, and when Giyuu turned with a tray in his hands, he smiled. Sanemi knew Giyuu loved hearing praise about his food and desserts. Well, he deserved every bit of it.

---

When they joined the others, they easily fell into conversation. Of course, Giyuu mostly listened, but seeing him smile was enough to put Sanemi at ease. The first hour passed peacefully—laughter and good company, exactly what they all needed. But then, a phone began to ring, and silence fell over the table. Whose phone was it?

“Giyuu?”

Sabito’s surprised voice made Sanemi turn too. Giyuu was staring at the phone in his hand with the same shock. As far as they knew, Giyuu’s phone never rang—not even for ads. After all, the boy couldn’t speak.

Taking a deep breath, Giyuu answered the call and lifted it to his ear. For the first few seconds, nothing happened; all they could hear were faint, indistinct noises through the speaker. But then, after a few more seconds, Giyuu’s face turned even paler than usual. The hand resting on the table began to tremble, his wide blue eyes filled with fear.

Sanemi was about to say something when Giyuu suddenly threw the phone onto the table and bolted, running straight toward the bathroom.

“Giyuu!”

Sabito started to go after him, but when he noticed the phone still buzzing with voices, he quickly grabbed it and switched it to speaker so everyone could hear.

“Who the hell are you?!”

They had never seen Sabito so furious before.

“Oh, come on… Don’t tell me you don’t remember me, Sabito? You have no idea how much I missed Tomioka-chan…”

That voice… They all recognized it. Eight pairs of eyes widened in shock as they turned to each other. There was only one person who could have that mocking, carefree tone.

Douma.

“Douma… I told you not to call Giyuu, you bastard. Don’t call him, don’t go near him, don’t even message him.”

Sabito spat out each word with venom, his face flushed red with rage. They didn’t know the full story, but clearly, there was something very wrong.

“Why wouldn’t I call my dear cousin?”

Another wave of shock hit the group. Cousins? Douma and Giyuu were cousins in this life? Was Douma reincarnated? Did he remember something? What was going on?!

“Because you and your father are both psychos, you piece of shit! Listen to me. Maybe in my past life I died too early and couldn’t protect Giyuu, but this time it’ll be different. No one—and I mean no one—will ever hurt my brother again.”

Wait… Sabito said past life. And he had spoken about protecting Giyuu. Of course! Sanemi remembered now. Near the end of his life, Giyuu had mentioned Sabito to him. They had found each other again in this life.

“Past life? I don’t know what nonsense you’re talking about, Sabito, but whatever. Maybe you’re drunk—how fun! I’ll be calling Tomioka again soon!”

And with that, the call ended. Everyone turned to stare at Sabito in shock, but he didn’t say a word before dashing toward the bathroom. His sudden movement made the others jump up too, and in seconds, they were at the bathroom door.

The sight that greeted them broke their hearts.

They had never seen Giyuu like this before—not Sanemi, not anyone.

He sat curled up on the floor, knees drawn to his chest, his hair disheveled. His face was deathly pale, his eyes brimming with tears. Even when Sabito called to him, he didn’t respond.

What had Douma done to Giyuu?

Chapter Text

Taking Giyuu away and bringing him back to the tables hadn’t really helped. He was still breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on the floor with unshed tears, clutching the fallen bandana from his hair tightly in his hand. Sabito was trying to talk to him, but there was no answer. He was trembling as if he had been left in the cold for hours. The more Sanemi saw him like this, the more his heart ached—and the more hatred he felt toward Douma.

“Giyuu.”

Sanemi called out again, but there was still no reply. The only good thing was that Giyuu wasn’t recoiling from touch. Sanemi’s hand rested on his back, while Sabito held his free hand, but that was all. Nothing more. When Sanemi lifted his head and glanced at the others, he saw all of them standing in silence. Each of them was both saddened and furious. They had never seen Giyuu like this—not even in the past. That was why none of them knew what to do.

Just then, the café door opened once more. Knowing Sabito’s full attention was on Giyuu, Sanemi looked up to tell the newcomer the café was closed—but the sight of the figure left him stunned.

“Kagaya-sama?”

Of course, they had told him about Giyuu. But since Kagaya-sama had to travel abroad, he had never been able to come. Yet now, here he was.

“I came to see Giyuu, but it seems something has happened.”

Concern glimmered in the man’s gentle eyes as he stepped closer, stopping directly in front of Giyuu and leaning down to his height.

“And who are you?”

Sabito was about to protest in confusion, but Uzui stopped him. That was good; they could explain later. For now, everyone was watching the interaction—perhaps Kagaya-sama could help.

“Giyuu? Can you hear my voice?”

Kagaya-sama’s voice was always soft and flowing. It gave one the sense of being in a pleasant dream. Sanemi had always loved listening to the elder for that reason.

“I know you’re scared, anxious, and that you want to hide, my child. It’s only natural to feel all of those things at once. But remember—we are all here for you, Giyuu. You have so many people by your side who won’t let you fight alone.”

At first, nothing happened. Then Giyuu’s fingers twitched slightly, and he began to lift his bowed head. His trembling breaths were clearly audible. His blue eyes were full of shock and sorrow, as if he were trying to grasp something. When his gaze finally met Kagaya-sama’s, his lips opened and closed a few times. Sanemi was instantly alert. Was Giyuu… trying to speak? Why did he look so astonished?

“O-Oyakata-sama…”

The voice was trembling, faint, and barely understandable—but when everyone realized what he had said, they all stepped back in shock. In the past, they had called Kagaya “Oyakata-sama.” Had Giyuu remembered?

“My child, I’ve been so worried about you.”

When Kagaya opened his arms, Giyuu suddenly threw himself into them, hugging him tightly. The sobs that burst from him were heart-wrenching. He wasn’t just crying because he remembered. There was something more—and they would find out what it was.

“Cry until you can breathe freely, Giyuu. You’ve long since earned it.”

No one spoke as Giyuu wept. Kagaya’s arrival had been a trigger. After all, he had been the one who left an important mark on each of their lives as Hashira. Sanemi, however, feared that once Giyuu fully remembered, he would distance himself from them again. Their relationship had always been tense—but after the war, things had gotten better. And Sanemi himself was no longer the same person as before.

“Are you okay, Yuu?”

Half an hour later, Giyuu was sitting beside Kagaya-sama, absentmindedly playing with the hem of his shirt. But when he lifted his head and looked at Sabito, relief washed over his eyes. The friend who had died so early in the past was now beside him again—and that was precious. With a quiet nod, he leaned into Sabito’s embrace.

“I’m glad you remembered. Though honestly, even if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have cared.”

When Giyuu hugged him back, Sanemi couldn’t help but smile at the sight. At that very moment, their eyes met. There were many emotions in Giyuu’s gaze—but Sanemi saw neither hatred nor anger there.

“Giyuu, do you mind if I tell them what happened?”

At Sabito’s question, Giyuu tensed. The weight of the matter was clear from that reaction alone. Sanemi’s heart burned with desperate curiosity to know what had happened to the man he cared for.

“We’re all here for you, Giyuu. Just like before, we’ll face every hardship together, my child.”

As Kagaya gently stroked his hair, Giyuu’s tense shoulders dropped slightly. Then Sanemi noticed Obanai step forward.

“We understand you’re hesitant to tell us, because in the past things between us were terrible. But when we were given another chance and found each other again, we searched for you, Giyuu. All of us want to be good, proper friends to you.”

Normally, Obanai wouldn’t speak like this. But in Giyuu’s case, hearing it from him carried the most weight. After all, back then, they had hardly spoken except through insults. And it seemed the words had worked—because though Giyuu was still shaken, only a trace of hesitation and fear remained. When Sanemi caught his eyes again, he gave a small encouraging smile. Giyuu, in turn, gave a nod toward Sabito.

“Please, sit.”

Sabito understood the message. That was all he said at first, and everyone returned to their seats. Sanemi stayed close to Giyuu, waiting for Sabito to speak.

“Unfortunately, the villains in this story bear very familiar names. As you’ve already heard, in this life, Douma and Giyuu are cousins… and Douma’s father is Muzan.”

This revelation made everyone glance at one another in shock. What was happening? What had Muzan done this time? The mere mention of his name made Giyuu tremble.

“Before Muzan was imprisoned, he did something… Eight years ago, without even providing a medical setting or a real reason, he performed a lobotomy on Giyuu.”

What?

Chapter Text

Giyuu was silent. As always. The moment he saw Kagaya-sama, every detail of his past came rushing back—the war, the way the Hashira had treated him, and much more. But none of it mattered anymore. After being reborn, this time they had decided to be friends with him. They had worked for it, and Giyuu was far warmer than before. He got along with all of them now—he even had an odd sort of crush on one of them. Was there really anything more important than that?

His only worry now was what Sabito had said, and what more he might reveal. Of course, Giyuu could have stopped him if he wanted to, but it was better they knew. Giyuu trusted all of them. He trusted Kagaya-sama. That’s why, with Kagaya-sama standing at one side, holding his hand, and Sanemi and Sabito on the other, Giyuu drew strength from their presence and nodded to his friend to go on.

“Just like in the past, Giyuu’s family died in this life as well… The burglars who broke into their home killed his sister, leaving Giyuu the only survivor. Since his parents had died long before, he was sent to his closest and only remaining relative. That relative was none other than Muzan himself… We lived on the same street as Muzan. Our houses were even across from each other. My father, Urokodaki, was suspicious the moment he saw him, but apparently remembered nothing—just like his son, Douma. When Giyuu first came to the neighborhood, everything seemed normal. I recognized him the moment I saw him. Even if Giyuu remembered nothing, being near him felt good. It was like before. Then things started going wrong… Muzan was a doctor whose license had been revoked, but from the looks of it, he was doing dark things in the basement of his house. As I spent time with Giyuu, I noticed he began to recall little things. If it went on like that, eventually he’d remember everything about us.”

Sabito paused to catch his breath and glanced at Giyuu, who was already trembling. Noticing this, Sanemi bent down and gripped Giyuu’s free hand tightly.

“But in a single night, everything fell apart… I remember that night so clearly. It was past midnight, and I was getting ready for bed. Because my window was open, I heard Giyuu’s scream loud and clear. Not just me—my father, even a few neighbors heard it. I don’t know how we got to the house. They wouldn’t let me see, but from what I heard, Muzan had performed a lobotomy on Giyuu without so much as a single sedative. Muzan was caught immediately and thrown in prison; he’s still there. But it took a long time for Giyuu to be discharged from the hospital. Because of the damage to his brain, he suffers from focus problems and speech difficulties. We’ve been going to a speech therapist for a year now, and today, for the first time, he spoke—and remembered his whole life.”

When Sabito finished his words, everyone froze. Sanemi was still holding Giyuu’s hand. The boy’s head was bowed, but from his trembling shoulders and the tears dripping into his lap, it was clear he was crying. When a few sobs were heard, he knew they came from Mitsuri and Rengoku.

“I’m so sorry for everything that happened to you, my child. I wish I had had the chance to find you sooner.”

Kagaya-sama’s voice was full of regret and sorrow. They all felt the same. Life had treated them kindly when they were reborn. So why had it been cruel to Giyuu? It wasn’t fair at all.

“I don’t know if it means anything, but we’re all together now, Tomioka. We won’t let Douma pull one of his ridiculous stunts ever again.”

Uzui’s voice was resolute, and Sanemi silently praised his friend. He would kill Douma wherever he found him. No one terrified the boy he loved like this—got it?

“And besides, we beat them all once before. We’ll beat them again.”

Shinobu had said it with a cheerful tone. Her anger at Douma was still obvious, and this time his scaring their friend was absolutely unforgivable.

“I could poison him with Kaburamaru.”

Obanai’s quick remark made everyone laugh. Even Giyuu lifted his head and smiled faintly. His eyes still shone with small tears, but his trembling had lessened. When Giyuu withdrew his hand, Sanemi took a deep breath. Thankfully, Himejima would be able to guide them.

‘Thank you for your support. Kagaya-sama, please don’t blame yourself. No one could have known any of this. What’s done is done, and now I’m here with my closest friend and all of you. There’s still so much I have to overcome, but I can do it.’

He ended his words with a small smile, and Sanemi once again found himself in awe. Being accepted by Giyuu felt good and meaningful. Sanemi didn’t know how much more he could love this boy, but he felt like his heart would burst. Tomioka Giyuu was the most unique person he had ever seen.

—

After talking for a long time, it was time to head home. Giyuu had regained enough energy to stand, and as Sanemi walked with him to the corner of the café before leaving, he raised his hand to brush back the black strands of his hair.

“You’re so strong, Giyuu. Every second, I admire you more.”

Because of his words, Giyuu’s pale cheeks began to take on a pink tint. Smiling at the sight, Sanemi drew in a deep breath and waited a few seconds to gather his courage.

“If you’re free tomorrow, would you like to go out? I know a place that makes amazing salmon daikon.”

When Giyuu tilted his head, Sanemi could have sworn he saw a glint in his eyes. Then he watched as Giyuu took out his phone, typed something, and turned the screen toward him.

‘So… like a date?’

Smiling, Sanemi nodded. Yes, he was asking Giyuu out, and though he didn’t show it, he was absolutely excited.

“Yes, if you’d like.”

The smile on Giyuu’s face was unmatched. He nodded quickly, adopting an eager demeanor. After everything that had happened today, it was nice to see Giyuu this happy.

“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow. Send me your address, okay?”

Leaning down, he kissed Giyuu’s cheek, and with the boy’s soft murmurs of agreement still lingering, he left the café. In his mind, there was only Giyuu’s deep, brilliant blue eyes—those unique eyes—and his flushed cheeks.

Chapter Text

Giyuu stood tensely in front of his closet, taking a deep breath. Everything had happened so suddenly. He remembered his past life completely now, Sabito was by his side, he was close with the Hashira he once thought he could never be friends with—and he was going on a date with one of them! Yes, he definitely had every right to be nervous. They already knew most of his past, but thankfully, each of them had been incredibly supportive.

And Sanemi… just holding Sanemi’s hand was enough to bring him peace. Not to mention the small kisses he left on his cheek. When he accepted the invitation to go out, Giyuu had been surprised, but he really had no reason to refuse either.

But now… now he had no idea what to wear! Luckily, at that very moment the door opened and Sabito stepped inside. His friend’s fashion sense was definitely better than his own.
“Alright, Yuu, let’s get you ready.”

Grateful, Giyuu sat down on the bed. Leaving it to Sabito was definitely the best choice.

About ten minutes later, Giyuu was dressed in a thin white turtleneck sweater, high-waisted black dress pants, and a light jacket over it. He looked good. Now Sabito was brushing his hair.
“Nervous?”

Looking at his friend through the mirror, Giyuu let out a small hum of agreement. His nerves were obvious, but he wasn’t doing anything to hide them.
‘It all happened so suddenly, but I feel good.’

When he signed his words, he saw his friend smile, and he smiled back faintly.

“You deserve the best, Giyuu. If Sanemi ever hurts you, I swear I’ll beat him up.”

And yes, he absolutely would. Giyuu didn’t say anything—just smiled, which was enough of an answer. Sanemi wouldn’t hurt him. He wasn’t like before. After the war, they had become friends, and Sanemi had turned out to be quite gentle. Now it seemed a better life had done him good. Giyuu was happy for Sanemi.

--

When Sanemi parked in front of Giyuu’s house, his heart felt like it might leap out of his chest. He couldn’t remember being this nervous even on the battlefield. But when it came to Tomioka Giyuu, things were different. In his hand was a small salmon keychain he had brought along; he thought it was a silly gift, but he wanted to give it anyway.

When the door opened, Giyuu appeared. The outfit he wore nearly stole Sanemi’s breath. He looked stunning—Tomioka Giyuu was one of a kind. The faint pink on his cheeks made Sanemi’s heart race. Giyuu, shy as ever, opened the door with his gaze lowered, but there was a faint sparkle in his blue eyes.

“Hey, Giyuu,” Sanemi said, trying to keep his voice steady though it trembled slightly. “Ready?”

Giyuu nodded and raised his phone, showing a short message:

‘I’m a little nervous… but I’m happy to be with you.’

Sanemi’s smile widened. Warmth spread through his chest as he extended his hand. “Me too. Then come on, let me take you to eat the best salmon daikon in the world.”

When Giyuu’s hesitant fingers touched his own, Sanemi could swear that single touch was worth more than any victory he had ever won in battle.

--

The restaurant wasn’t too crowded. Once Sanemi found them a window seat, he helped Giyuu settle down before sitting across from him. Soon, Giyuu pulled out his phone, typed something, and turned the screen toward Sanemi.

‘You look really handsome.’

Sanemi grinned like an idiot while staring at Giyuu’s flustered face. He wouldn’t say it out loud, but he had spent hours getting ready. Hearing a compliment from Giyuu made it worth it.

“Thank you. You look beautiful too.”

As Giyuu blushed even harder, Sanemi quickly ordered for both of them when the waiter came. He didn’t want Giyuu to feel pressured. “I got you something. It’s silly, but…”

He pulled the keychain from his pocket and placed it in Giyuu’s palm. Giyuu examined it curiously, and when he realized what it was, he smiled, immediately taking out his house key and attaching it without hesitation. Seeing that made Sanemi’s heart swell.

“So I guess you like it, huh?”

When Giyuu nodded with a smile, Sanemi reached out, brushing the strands of hair from his eyes. The night had started off beautifully, and Sanemi was grateful for it.

“And the best part of tonight is you.”

--

They stayed at the restaurant for three hours. They ate and talked—well, mostly Sanemi talked, and Giyuu listened intently, responding here and there. When Sanemi mentioned he had started learning sign language, Giyuu’s excitement had been priceless. It had been a wonderful evening, but now it was time to take Giyuu home.

Since his house was close, the drive didn’t last long. When Sanemi parked, he turned to the dark-haired boy with a smile.

“It was a great night. Can we do this again?”

He leaned a little closer, hoping to catch sight of whatever Giyuu typed—and to breathe in that faint ocean scent clinging to him.

‘I’d love to. Thank you for today, Sanemi.’

Really, it was Sanemi who should be thankful. Giyuu could have turned him down, could have shut him out after regaining his memories—but he hadn’t. Sanemi was grateful for another chance.

“Giyuu, can I kiss you?”

Those soft, pale-pink lips could drive a man insane. Giyuu’s cheeks were already flushed, and Sanemi desperately wanted to know if his lips were as soft as they looked. When Giyuu blushed deeper but nodded, Sanemi took a deep breath. Gently cupping Giyuu’s cheek, he leaned in slowly. When he saw those blue eyes flutter shut, Sanemi pressed his lips against Giyuu’s.

This must be what they called heaven. He remembered the wars, the blood, the silence afterward—but none of it had ever felt this peaceful. Tomioka Giyuu was a flowing river in paradise, and Sanemi wanted to belong to him.