Upon reaching his estate, Giyuu sat on his bed thinking about how he could befriend Sanemi.

Master wants us to be friends. He wants us to show efforts in our friendship... But, Shinazugawa-San didn't sound like he was going to show any efforts.
Giyuu thought.

"How will I befriend him...?"
Giyuu said to himself quietly.

What if... I engage in something Shinazugawa-San likes? If I do something he likes, he'll like me! Then I will surely become Shinazugawa-San's friend, if not his best friend...
But, I don't know what Shinazugawa-San likes.
Giyuu thought.

"Maybe, I can ask others for a little help..."
He said to himself.

_______________________________________

"KYAAA Tomioka-San!!! You want to be Shinazugawa-San's friend!? That is so cute!!!"
Mitsuri squealed.

"It's master's wish... Can you give me any ideas on how I could befriend him?"
Giyuu asked.

"Mhm mhm! Of course I will!"
Mitsuri said.

"You can make him friendship bracelets!!! That'll be so adorable!!! Even master will love the idea!"
She said.

"... Friendship bracelets?"
Giyuu looked puzzled.

"Yup! Like this one right here!"
Mitsuri showed him her wrist.

"This one has a butterfly design, I have matched with Kocho-San!"
Mitsuri smiled at Giyuu who looked at the bracelet closely.

"Kocho's bracelet must be of a moth design then."
Giyuu said.

"Don't be rude, Tomioka-San! She also has a butterfly design!"
Mitsuri said.

"...But I don't have any bracelets."
Giyuu replied.

"We can make them!"
Mitsuri offered.

"I don't know how to..."

"We can make them together, I'll teach you!"
Mitsuri said happily.

"...Alright."

The two go to her estate and sit down, as Mitsuri pulls out a box of decorations.

"You can design them with flowers! It will look colourful and pretty!!!"
Mitsuri said.

"I want to add leaves."
Giyuu said.

"Leaves? Why?"
Mitsuri asked.

"Because they're green."

"...And?"
She asked.

"Shinazugawa-San's sword is green."

"Wow! That'll be great, you're very thoughtful, Tomioka-San! But it'll be too basic if it's just leaves, maybe you can add some flowers?"
She said.

"I guess..."

"Okay, now let me show you how to do it by making another bracelet!"

I could give this one to Iguro-San!
She thought.

After a few minutes of
bracelet-making, Giyuu was finally done.

"I... I think I'm done."
He said.

"Really? Show me!"
Mitsuri said.

Giyuu showed her his creation, which looked a little... plain.

"IT'S- Uh... Amazing! Tomioka-San, good job!"
Mitsuri smiled at him.

"You sure? I think it's unattractive."
Giyuu said.

"No, don't say that! It's beautiful, Tomioka-San!"
She said, encouraging him.

"Okay... I guess I'll give it to Shinazugawa-San now."
Giyuu got up.

"Good luck, Tomioka-San! And, do let me know what he says!!!"
Mitsuri shouted out.

"Okay, I will... Thank you."
Giyuu walked out.

_______________________________________

After walking for a while, Giyuu reached Sanemi's estate, where he saw Sanemi practising.

"Shinazugawa-San...?"
Giyuu called.

Was that Tomioka's voice?"
Sanemi looked back to find Giyuu standing about a feet away.

"I-"
Giyuu was interrupted.

"Why are you here?"
Sanemi asked.

"I made you a... Friendship bracelet..."
Giyuu said as he stepped closer.

"Huh?"
Sanemi looked puzzled.

"Shinazugawa-San, I wanted you to be friends with me..."
Giyuu said quietly.

"What the..."
Sanemi looked at Giyuu, who showed him his bracelet.

The fuck is that thing, his bracelet? Is he that childish now? He really thinks I forgot...
He wants to be friends with me after snitching on me, attempting to challenge me, stupid bitch.
Sanemi thought as he got angry all over again.

"I don't want to be friends with you!
I've told you already to not expect me to treat you any better, there's no fucking way I'll be your friend! Actually, no one would ever want to be friends with someone like you, who snitches and is also stupid as fuck. You're alone and you'll always be, loner!"

Sanemi glared at the shorter Hashira, who looked a little sad now.

"Oh... Okay, well, too bad I guess...
I-I'm sorry."
He looked down, at his feet.

Did I say too much...?
Sanemi thought.

Giyuu looked disheartened.

Uh, I guess I did... Wait, what if he told Master about this though? If Master came to know about this, he'll kill me this time! I need to do something, quick...
He thought.

"I'm sorry you didn't like it, I... I guess I'll just leave-"

"No, wait!"
Sanemi held Giyuu's hand.

Giyuu gasped softly.

"I-I'll keep it."
Sanemi said, looking the other way.

"R-Really...?"
Giyuu looked at Sanemi, who nodded.

"...But this doesn't mean we're friends, okay?"
Sanemi said.

"...Why?"
Giyuu tilted his head to one side, puzzled.

I accepted your gift so that I could prevent master from being mad at me, stupid!
Sanemi thought.

"Because I fucking hate you."
He said.

"..."
Giyuu left.

_______________________________________

He went back to Kanroji's estate.

"DID IT WORK, TOMIOKA-SAN? WHAT HAPPENED? TELL ME!!!"
Mitsuri jumped around.

"Okay, so... At first, he rejected it."
Giyuu said.

"YAY- wait, what? Really!? Why would he do that, it was so cute! Does he not have any heart? Oh you poor thing!!!"
Mitsuri wailed.

"Maybe it was because what I made was pretty ugly."
Giyuu said as he looked at his feet.

"Yeah- I mean, No! It wasn't, please don't say that Tomioka-San!!!"
Mitsuri tried to encourage him.

"But suddenly, he told me that he'll keep it."
Giyuu said.

"WHAT? KYAAAAA!!! He wants to be friends with you, Tomioka-San!!! So cute!"
Mitsuri squealed.

"He said that he hates me though."

"He must be shy! Don't worry, Tomioka-San. Work a little harder, you'll be his friend soon!"
Mitsuri said.

"How do I work hard? I don't know anything about him..."
Giyuu said, disappointed.

"Hm... Maybe, you can ask someone who knows about Shinazugawa-San more than you do! You'll get an idea on what he likes and dislikes then!"
She said.

"Thank you, Kanroji. You helped me a lot."
Giyuu said as he got up, ready to leave.

"No problem, Tomioka-San! I wish you the best!!!"
She waved at him.

_______________________________________

"Who else would know Shinazugawa-San better than me...?"
Giyuu thought.

"HEY TOMIOKA! HOW ARE YOU?"
Kyojuro walked towards Giyuu.

"Rengoku-San..."
Giyuu turned back to find Kyojuro standing behind him.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TODAY?"
Kyojuro asked.

"Nothing really. I just needed some help..."
Giyuu said.

"WITH WHAT?"

"Master wants me to befriend Shinazugawa-San but I don't have any idea how to... Can you help?"

"SHINAZUGAWA?"

Giyuu nodded.

"Also, um... Could you please not shout, it's hurting my ears..."
Giyuu said.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY? I COULDN'T HEAR YOU!"
Kyojuro gave him a blank smile.

"Nevermind..."
Giyuu looked away.

"YOU WANT TO BEFRIEND SHINAZUGAWA! HE IS AN AMAZING MAN, ISN'T HE?"

Kyojuro thought for a while.

"...I THINK FOOD IS THE WAY TO THE HEART! MAYBE YOU COULD OFFER HIM THE FOOD HE LIKES, HIS FAVOURITE FOOD THAT IS! HE'LL BE HAPPY THEN!"
He said.

"Do you know what his favourite food is?"
Giyuu asked.

"NOT REALLY! BUT YOU CAN ASK OTHERS!"
Kyojuro said.

"Okay... Thank you!"
Giyuu said.

"NO PROBLEM!"

"Hey Tomioka-San, Rengoku-San!"
Tanjiro walked towards them.

"HELLO, YOUNG KAMADO!"

"What're you guys talking about?"
Tanjiro asked.

"TOMIOKA WANTS SHINAZUGAWA TO BE HIS FRIEND AND HE HAS DECIDED ON GIVING HIM HIS FAVOURITE FOOD, BUT THE THING IS, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT IT IS!"
Kyojuro said.

"Ah I see! I'm glad you are willing to make more friends, Tomioka-San! Maybe I could guess what he likes..."
Tanjiro said.

"Really?"
Giyuu asked.

Tanjiro nodded happily.

"Everytime I've walked pass his estate, I've gotten the smell of Matcha and Ohagi... I think he makes them pretty often! It could be his favourite food, you know!"

"Ohagi, huh? I could make it for him but, I wonder if he likes the red bean paste smooth or mashed..."
Giyuu said.

"Maybe he'll like the mashed one better!"
Tanjiro said.

"Really? I prefer smooth..."
Giyuu said.

"I was just guessing, maybe you could confirm it by asking Shinazugawa-San directly!"
Tanjiro said.

"You're right...Thanks for the help, Tanjiro, Rengoku-San."
Giyuu left.

"I am happy to help!"
Tanjiro said.

"GOOD LUCK!"
Kyojuro said.

_______________________________________