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A pair of eyes opened up.
“Oh.”
There was a cold cloth on top of his head as he stared up at the ceiling, although his mind continued to think of how he ended up there, where he was. Looking up at the ceiling of Butterfly Mansion felt strange, given the fact he avoided overexerting himself to such an excess that he ended up there. He wanted to avoid being a burden to everyone, particularly since he didn ’t deserve the title of Hashira. There was someone else who deserved that particular title.
“I messed up.”
“You think?” That was Shinobu of course.
“Sorry?”
“For what?”
“Being a burden.”
“And why were you a burden Giyu?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” There they were bickering as if things were normal. “I messed up.”
Shinobu sighed. “Yes. But what did you do to mess up?”
Giyu thought, only to not remember what happened before he ended up at the Butterfly Mansion. “I was injured in battle, right?”
Shinobu glared at him, her lip curling.
“No?”
She suddenly reached up with two of her fingers, flicking him between the eyes.
“Ow.” He lifted a hand to his forehead.
“Something like a mere gnat gets your attention?”
“You are a gnat?”
“Oh, thanks.”
“It wasn’t a compliment?”
“Gnats aren’t the nicest of incests? Couldn’t you have thought of something else?”
“Butterflies?” He said. Then, he said, “But then don’t do that. They’re softer. Grasshopper?”
“That’s not pretty like a butterfly.”
“We’re not talking about your looks. And Grasshopper is surely better than gnats?”
“You’re still saying I’m an annoyance?”
Giyo stared, turning his head to look at her. “I’m not following the conversation anymore.”
“You’re slow Giyo. And not very good at paying compliments, you know.”
“I know.”
“It’s why nobody likes you.”
He stiffened.
“And nobody likes you because you don’t know how to take care of yourself, getting soaked to the bone and standing there like the idiot you are. Why?”
“Don’t know.” And then, he asked, “Where was I?”
“Waiting for a Hashira meeting?”
“Oh. Then that’s likely why?”
“Idiot. You already have the Wind Hashira questioning whether you’re qualified to be a Hashira or not.”
“I’m not though.”
“What?”
“I’m not.”
“Good grief.”
He said nothing.
“You know. Your Water Breathing is beautiful. Like a butterfly.”
He continued to stare at the ceiling.
“That was a compliment you know.”
“One I don’t deserve.”
“Seriously.”
“It should have been Sabito.”
“Who?”
“Nobody.”
“Obviously not nobody.”
“I’m the nobody.”
“You are not. Stop being so depressing. And I’m sure I wouldn’t like this Sabito…”
She stopped freezing as he glared at her.
“Sabito is very likable. Much more than me.”
“Then I’m dying to meet them.”
“You’d have to.”
“I was being sarcastic Tomioka-san.”
“Oh.”
“And you didn’t let me finish. I was trying to say I’m sure I wouldn’t like this Sabito as much as I like you.”
“You always say nobody likes me.”
“Can’t you tell when someone is teasing you?”
“No.”
This time she was silent.
“I don’t like it when you don’t take care of yourself.”
“Oh.” A thought occurred. “Should I take better care of myself so you don’t get mad at me?”
She stared, then said. “That would be nice. Behave.”
“I’ll try.”
“That means not overexerting yourself.”