Something that brothers me is thinking how could Kyojuro be able to survive in the end at all. Even if Kyojuro didn't have died in Mugen train, let's suppose, if he was able to survive without major injuries/problems that could incapacitate him, then I think he still would have died in the Infinity Fortress arc. With Muzan so close to be defeated, he wouldn't think twice before sacrificing himself for that purpose. In other words, there's no winning for Kyojuro fans (T — T)
Yeah I think he would have too, I mean let's be real everyone else except Tengen (who was retired, and there's no way Kyojuro would retire, like none.) Sanemi and Giyuu got killed so I'm sure Kyojuro would have been in the group of those who got killed as well. And not necessarily, Tanjiro learned from Akaza and Kyojuro's fight how bad it was for a fighter to be sacrificial in that way, and like everyone Kyojuro had room for growth, with the right scolding from loved ones or some other development you easily could have gone into a nice little arc of Kyojuro and Tanjiro looking at the fight with Akaza and learning how bad it is to be so self-sacrificing. Having them both learn that you can give your all, protect everyone and still look after yourself too. Now, Gotogue never fully focused on the self-sacrificing issue in any of the characters, and even with Tanjiro it was barely touched so in order for it to be good and useful for Kyojuro's growth they would have had to really go into it and provide some kind of force for him to change in addition to the fight with Akaza, as for what that would be? I don't know. BUT we missed a huge opportunity to have Kyojuro dealing and fixing his short-comings and have a satisfying arc in that way, the same way we did for all the other Hashira. I would have been okay with him dying in the Infinity Fortress Arc because we would have gotten more time with him by that point, and yes it would still hurt but it would still be more content his arc is the shortest arc out of everyone's and I'm gonna be honest I feel a bit cheated by it. He was a character that had a LOT to bring to the table in terms of helping the Squad and improving their character growth and let's be real those four NEED A GUARDIAN. They needed an adult that they could rely on and keep them in line (without you know, attempting to beat them.) And next to Shinobu Kyojuro is the best person for that job. Not to mention an opportunity to see him get cradled by Obanai and Mitsuri as he dies? Yes please, I would love to take part of that angst and tears. Seeing him fighting side by side with Tanjiro, both using wicked Sun and Flame Breathing watching each other's backs and using stuff they practiced? Give it. Or better yet, him getting to work in unison with Mitsuri who he trained. Would I still bawl my eyes out and be devastated he's gone? Absolutely, I would be a wreck, but him dying at the end, with the rest of his Hashira? Getting to see his journey and even a tiny bit of his relationship with the other Hashira, not just what we saw in the Hashira Opinions. That would definitely be a win for me, I would be much more at peace with him dying with them and not months before.
