Shinazugawa Genya - Tumblr Posts
Keen observation: Genya might not have heard Sanemi in the infinity castle. (Iykyk)
DISCLAIMER: HEAVY SPOILERS FOR THE DEMON SLAYER MANGA IF YOU AARE AN ANIME ONLY!
(Shoutout to my friends who let me rant to them after I read this chapter, I think I caused some emotional distress)
Okay so if you've continued to read this, I'll assume that you've red the demon slayer mana, and have been made more than aware of the untimely death of one Genya Shinazugawa. And that you have also read the scene in which Sanemi and him have their hurried heart to heart, in which Genya finally gets to apologise to his brother, while Sanemi assures him that he was never in the place where he needed to apologise.
And on my second reading (Once I had calmed down and semi-processed the manga's ending) is where I kinda noticed that Genya's reaction to this was not what I would have expected from him. In chapter 133 of the manga, and episode four of season five of the anime, Genya tries and fails to apologise to Sanemi, and instead gets himself into even more trouble with the latter, mentioning his demon-eating abilities. Genya is defeated by the fact that Sanemi still doesn't want to hear him out, as he is seemingly still hurt by what Genya said to him when they were younger.
But little did he know, Sanemi was just worried for his safety, and as revealed by Tanjiro, has loved him all this time. Genya is clearly shocked by this, and apparently just didn't have a single clue that his brother cared about him a all, let alone loved him.
Part of me thinks that Genya didn't fully believe Tanjiro when he first heard this, but that when he saw Sanemi fighting for him, that he came to the realisation his brother did still care for him.
All of this combined makes Genya's reaction to what Sanemi was saying a little underwhelming...? AND I KNOW THAT HE WAS LITERARELLY DYING, BUT BUT BUT
We have seen demons show emotion as they die, or be a little more... interactive? And I think I'll focus on Gyutaro and Daki to make my point. They are clearly very aware of what is being said to them, as Gyutaro gasps when Daki said
"Someone as ugly as you couldn't possibly be my brother!!"
And she is offended when he insults her for being dependant on him - but then as Daki proceeds do disintegrate more, she becomes more manic and cries out to no one in particular, as though her senses are going out of whack - and that brings me back to Genya.
By the time that Sanemi awakens to see Genya, notice that Genya is staring off into space, and his ears are disintegrated. He mutters his apology to his brother, but doesn't really look at him, or seem to respond to anything that he says either - in fact he talks over him a few times. And I think that that is down the the fact that Genya just couldn't hear him.
As you can see in the photo, Genya doesn't even acknowledge a single thing that 'Nemi says to him. he doesn't even have the heart to look him in the eye as he finally cranks out the apology he has owed his brother for so so long. And I think this is because he was scared that Sanemi might not let him finish - that he might lash out at him - or worse - tell him he loves him as he has to leave him behind.
Genya loves his brother so so much, but in his last moments he doesn't even look to him as he speaks, doesn't respond to his brother's cries for him, and doesn't even let him know that it is alright for him do die in advance of him, something that I think our usual Genya would have done - given his brother at the bare minimum some half assed comfort due to fatigue - but no. We got nothing.
And yes, this does mean that Genya may have died thinking that Sanemi was still frustrated with him in some way, or that he was always going to have been some kind of a burden to him, and that does hurt me quite a bit.
(Also do we think that Sanemi realised that Genya had fully become a demon by the time he died? When he saw him turning to ash he screamed
"AHHGH HE'S TURNING TO ASH LIKE HE'S A DEMON!!"
But he doesn't really focus on it, I mean clearly there were more pressing matters - but if Genya were to have lived on as a demon do you think that he would have been killed inevitably by Muzan at the end of the battle? Or do you think Sanemi is pulling a Tanjiro and searching for a cure to get his little brother human)
My attempt at the tragedy/comedy prompt for day 2
RAHHH GENYA ACED THE MATH EXAM AND SANEMI IS A PROUD BROTHER
I remember when I got to R’s death I was so flabbergasted that she could do that to the animated embodiment of perfection that I had to pause for a few days and forgot where I paused so when I opened it back up I was retraumatized
Poor Genya... I wish that I could save him:") *Art is mine*
Math Core 🏋🏼♀️✨
The fact that Sanemi threw a student out his classroom window because they said “Math is not needed in the future” is killing me 😭 (I despise math so this makes me hate him more /j)
Sanemi is all like "hate me please! see me the way I see myself, see only the worst of me. despise me like we did that violent man long ago. hate me so much you stay away from me and this life. go, never look back. let me protect you and do my job"
And Genya's like "I love you, even though you scare me now, you used to be gentle. I'm sorry I let you down when you needed me most. I'm sorry I'm a burden. I'll do better, I promise. I'll be easier to carry, and I'll even carry you"
I've seen some people say that Sanemi was trying to save Genya by blinding him and his actions were justified and totally not an impulsive decision made out of fear. So okay, say he did succeed what makes you think that being blind will stop Genya?
One thing that we know about our boy is that he is resourceful as fuck! He is the embodiment of the phrase 'when there's a will, there's a way'. Being blind will NOT deter him from his goals I assure you.
Instead his training with Gyomei will just intensify; for Genya out of determination and for Gyomei out of spite because how dare you assume that being blind is enough to stop someone from being a Demon Slayer?
Sanemi vastly underestimates his brother and his abilities. Genya overcame not being able to use breathing techniques, not getting a proper nichirin blade, his physical limitations, I mean he uses a GUN! With nichirin BULLETS! That's GENIUS! He also managed to win over the strongest Hashira Gyomei 'fuck-them-kids' Himejima!
*Spoilers!
Which is why Sanemi using Genya's weapons (especially his gun) against Kokushibo was such a powerful scene. He's acknowledging his brother's strengths, trusting his brother's abilities and allowing his brother to protect him!
And it was when he laid down his pride, finally talked to his brother and trusted both him and Gyomei to protect him that he was able to unlock his Demon Slayer Mark!
I have a whole analysis about the Demon Slayer marks as well as each of the Upper Moon fights and I'll post them soon.
But yeah, not only would Sanemi's blinding of Genya be pointless but it would have prevented him from unlocking his mark and ultimately led to the loss of the fight with Kokushibo and Muzan.
We can love characters while admitting their faults and condemning their shitty actions. That's what makes them human.
My latest addition to the Pocket World lineup, Infinite Arc! This piece can be viewed right-side up or upside-down! Enjoy fun times with all the demon slayers hanging out at the Ubuyashiki manor, or flip it and check out what Muzan's been up to with all his demon lackeys.
Which side do you prefer? Slayers or Demons?
I'm very proud of this piece and hope you all enjoy it too.
Oh how time changed
Giyuu and Kokushibo are eating together, just the two. Just casual Thursday dinner.
About two months later
Giyuu and Obanai are sitting next to each other. Riko and Shinobu is making some extra food for Mitsuri. Akaza is chasing Senjuro, Senjuro stole his jacket. Kyojuro is trying to stop the two. Gyomei is sitting next to Kokushibo. Genya is eating but quite awkward as it’s his first “family dinner” while Muichiro is laying down staring at the ceiling. What a chaotic Thursday dinner.
maybe in another universe
Unhinged theory/observation
The reason Genya didn't die was because he was holding their baby brother.
All the kids were slashed in the neck by the glass shards, which was why they died instantly
Genya almost got slashed in the neck too but it hit his baby brother instead and a bit slashed him across the face.
The baby is at the bottom center, you can see the place where he got slashed by the glass.
But I may be reaching tho
Rawr
(Commissions on pinned)
i still love you, i promise