Up until now, the story of Demon Slayer season 4, has been about the preparation phase for the upcoming confrontation. This exclusive story of Demon Slayer Season 4, episode 2, is no excuse.
However, there is a minute difference in it from its previous episodes.
The difference is in its nature.
It is more focused on the emotional aspect than on the practical side of the story.
Previously…
In the previous episode, Ubuyashiki Kagaya, the leader of the Demon Slayer Corp. fell on his sickbed, Ubuyashiki Amane showed up in his place.
The markings appeared on the bodies of two Hashira Tokito Muichiro and Kanroji Mitsuri made into an important topic of discussion at the meeting.
After one of the Hashira Himejima Gyomei was became an acting leader, the first step he took was of importance.
He decided to start a training session to train regular recruits with the Hasiras.
The training was to prepare for the upcoming battle with Kibutsuji Muzan, the leader of the demons.
Tomioka Giyu was the only Hashira who didn’t join the training program.
On the other hand, Kagaya invited Demon Tamayo who was against Muzan to help Hashira Kocho Shinobu, with the research on the Nezuko’s sudden changes as a Demon.
Next…
Some exceptional events happen in this Demon Slayer season 4, episode 2, just like some random events taking place periodically.
Tamayo
Tamayo the Demon, was against Muzan, the dictator of Demons. Ubuyashiki Kagaya invited her to Demon Slayer Corp. Headquarters.
The reason for such an invitation was to help the Hashira Kocho Shinobu in research on Nezuko’s recent physical change.
Tamayo declared his decision to her traveling companion Yamamoto Yushiro.
She decided to accept the proposal of Kagaya’s invitation as it strung her emotional strings.
Tomioka Giyu
In the Demon Slayer season 4, episode 2, after Hashira Himejima Gyomei decided on training sessions of regular recruits and Hashiras, Tomioka Giyu excluded himself from the list.
His reason was, his being different from others.
While others thought, he was looking down on them, in actuality, he had some past grievances and disappointments that were unsolved.
Those grievances and disappointments blocked his path to accept himself.
After he refuses to join the training program, Ubuyashiki Kagaya requests Kamado Tanjiro via letter to talk it out with him.
History of Tomioka Giyu
Due to Tanjiro’s uninterrupted intervention in his daily life requesting training, he decided to come clean and his history became exposed.
According to him, he isn’t eligible to be a Hashira.
He said he technically didn’t pass the Final Selection Test to be a Demon Slayer recruit.
The one capable enough to pass the exam was his friend Sabito.
Sabito first appeared in the Demon Slayer season 1, when Tanjiro was preparing for the Final Selection Test.
He was the first person to teach him the way of the sword.
However, coming back to the topic, Giyu and Sabito have been friends since they were 13/14 years old, as stated in Demon Slayer season 4, episode 2.
Urokodaki Sakonji took both of them in as they were orphans, who lost parents or relatives at the hands of Demons. Urokodaki was previously water Hashira.
Both of them were important students of Sakonji.
Regret of Tomioka Giyu
In the Final Selection Test, both Giyu and Sabito took part.
During the test, Giyu was the first one to be wounded by Demon and became disoriented.
On the other hand, Sabito was excellent.
He rescued a lot of examinees from Demon’s grasp and decimated almost every Demon in the vicinity.
There was one exception, a Demon with the name of Hand Demon, whom no one could beat, not even him.
While trying to protect one examinee, he faced that demon and was killed in return.
He was the only examinee in the exam of that period, who officially didn’t pass.
This whole incident sent Giyu on a guilt trip for the rest of his life.
Realization of Tomioka Giyu
After listening to the story, Tanjiro realized the pain in the heart of Tomioka Giyu as it was showed in Demon Slayer season 4, episode 2.
He felt that Giyu blamed himself for being alive instead of Sabito.
Tanjiro also understood the struggles Giyu went through to become the excellent version that he is now.
He couldn’t say anything to convince him at first.
Later, it was as if he had forgotten the request from Ubuyashiki Kagaya, he asked something from his heart.
He asked if didn’t Giyu want to pass on, what Sabito left for him.
That reminded him of a heartfelt advice Sabito gave him, in his weakness.
He blamed himself for the death of his soon-to-be-married sister while protecting him from Demon.
Sabito reprimanded him for his thought and said not to belittle what his sister left for him and pass that on in the future.
This memory, which was suppressed, resurfaced and changed his thoughts of belittling himself.
Finally…
The story doesn’t end here. This exclusive story of Demon Slayer season 4, episode 2 still depicts another person’s predicament.
That person is Kocho Shinobu.
For some reason, she is unable to join the training seasons, as for what is the reason, isn’t told in this episode.
But there is one foreshadowing, where Kocho attempts to tell her student Tsuyuri Kanao about the Demon who killed Shinobu’s sister and the way to kill it.
For what Shinobu was about to say, to know that, let’s stay tuned for the next episode…