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Giyuu was getting prepared to leave the butterfly estate, as he was fully healed from a recent battle that left quite a few scars along his body. He was originally going to report to Kagaya-sama about his mission and go back to the water estate. However, Shinobu caught him and pretty much dragged him to her estate to get treated.
He- of course- still had to check in with Shinobu to make sure he can actually leave. So after getting his things, he quickly headed to where she was (with required directions) and found her in one of the main checkup rooms.
“Ara Ara Tomioka-san! Leaving so early?” She teased, a smirk so fake making way to her face. He didn’t really know what to reply to that, he did need to check in with her right? “Ara Ara Tomioka-san! You can’t say anything hm? This is why you have no friends!” She lipped.
“But enough with that, you do need to do a physical do you not?” She asked him, which was once again answered with silence. Her smile uplifted to a concealed grimace. Sadly, he was as soft spoken as ever. Seems like they’d need some form of talk, even if it’s only one-sided.
“Alright Tomioka-san. Make this easier for me would you?” She lipped as they started the physical examination. “Hey Tomioka-san, did you know spider lilies are poisonous! If they worked on demons I would’ve used that!” She talked, filling the silence.
Giyuu didn’t know why she was still talking to him, he didn’t say anything to her- dear god- he didn’t look at her some way did he!? He was just wondering why she would. Not that he was upset about it, in fact- he quite liked the chatter.
It made less reason to talk that’s for sure.
“Hey Tomioka-san! Did you know that grasshoppers spit acid! It’s not poisonous to us but it scares off predators. Quite effective!” She gleamed. It was quite nice, she talked about what she knew and he listened.
He’d say he trusted her quite a lot. He’d tell her anything she wanted to know- which wasn’t much. It felt like she understood him. None of the other pillars took the time to try.
actually-
“Hey Tomioka-san! Do you know about ‘love me, love me not’?” She asked him, her smile faded a little which made him worried. Did she find out something. A secret of his!? Perhaps it’s best not to trust her.
In fact- someone actually did try to understand him. Someone who Giyuu will lay his secret down with his life.
and that someone, was Kanroji Mitsuri.
“TOMIOOOOKA-SAAAANN!” He froze in his spot. He was just simply walking along the path of Kagaya-Sama’s garden, on his way to his estate after a Hashira meeting. He wasn’t expecting someone to call out for him.
He turned around to spot Kanroji-san sprinting his way. He was frozen, he didn’t know what to do. He waited as she finally arrived in his presence, huffing some breaths as she slowed to a stop.
She beamed a cheerful smile at him. “Tomioka-san! I have a surprise for you!” She cheered, emphasizing each word for suspense. He tilted his head, a confusion and question all rolled in one.
Now that he saw her properly, she was carrying a basket. She was dressed in her slayer outfit as was he, but she covered up her boob window for some reason.
“Hmm?” He hummed, a soft question of what the surprise was. She beamed at him as if he gave her all the food in the world. It made his chest tighten and constrict. She whipped out the basket from her side and showed it to him. “Ta-Da!”
“Hm.”
“Tomioka-san! Do you like it?”
“Hm.”
“Yay! I’m so happy!”
“Tomioka-san! This right here is my picnic basket!” She patted the basket while speaking. “It contains all my goodies! I’d like to eat with you!” She cheered, all her attention was put onto him.
“Hm.” He hummed as he walked away, he heard Kanroji sputter in shock as he walked. He didn’t think he really deserved eating with her, she should be eating with Rengoku or Obanai. Those are the two that matter.
Or maybe she would eat with Uzui, or Gyoumei, maybe she’d be lucky and eat with Shinobu today. Muichiro usually doesn’t eat with anyone but Rengoku and Sanemi doesn’t eat with anyone- not that he’s judging.
“Whaaattt!? W-Wait Tomioka-san!” She hurried along as she got passed her initial shock. “You’re the only one apart from Sanemi that hasn’t eaten with me! I know you usually like being alone but I want to spend time with you! Get to know you!” She explained.
He stopped as he took in her words. Apart from Shinobu and sometimes Rengoku, she was in fact the only other Hashira to try and get to know him. He hasn’t really given her a chance to try has he? Rengoku would ask simple questions and offer him food and Shinobu he’d say was his friend.
He thought, he tried wondering how this would go. If he did accept, what if her loud mouth would blabber to all the other Hashiras about it? Obanai would be pissed and everyone would be mean to me. What if she didn’t? Then it would be nice but what if she does it again? What if she catches him on a bad day? What if he says something or does something to offend her then everyone would hate him including the only two who talk to him. Then he’d truly have no one.
He started panicking, going through the pros and cons of doing this until he got a tap on his shoulder. “Tomioka-san! You alright? You went ‘hm’ and then blanked out on me!” She concerned, the look on her face matching. He nodded, to make her worries lessen.
“Hm! Alright! Anyway- I have lots of food! I have tempura and ohagi! I have mochi and other sweets! I have some fruits! And and! I have your favorite! Salmon Daikon!” She cheered, pumping her fists in the air.
He froze. “Salmon Daikon…?”
“Mmh! Will you join me?”
“…”
“Uwah! This is my favorite thing to do!” She cheered as she stuffed her face full of food. “I always wished to eat with you Tomioka-San! But you’re always so busy or quiet! I didn’t want to take up your time!” She said pausing between bites.
“Hm.” He hummed, eating his food quietly as he watched her. She was like pure animation, always constantly moving. It wasn’t bad, but it was quite a lot for just sitting and eating. “How’d you know it was my favorite?” He questioned quietly. If he was eating with her- a loud mouth- then he might as well talk.
“Ah! I asked Shinobu-San! She’s your friend so I thought she might have the answer! Plus- I see you eat it most out of other dishes during our Hashira outings!” She enthusiastically said. She quickly munched on some mochi.
“Hm. I see.” He ended. They sat in silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable in the slightest. As he finished his food, he just waited for her to be done. He watched her munch and eat every food she could grab. Despite eating so much she kept a clean face.
“Oh my Tomioka-San! Your face is covered in crumbs! Does this happen a lot? You don’t seemed bothered. Here!” She said, sitting up slightly to grab her handkerchief from her sleeve and grab a bit of his face. Like a child, she started cleaning his face.
He grumbled, his chest constricting and tightening once again. It’s not like he didn't oppose to be taken care of, he still had his maids at the water estate (only because he felt bad for even considering to tell them otherwise. Considering they liked him and the place.) but it made him feel weak.
He didn’t like being weak, even though he was. He couldn’t do anything right, he can’t even eat properly and now Kanroji has to take her time of day to clean his face. It was pathetic that he can’t even do it.
“There, all done!” She cheered, putting her handkerchief back into her sleeve. He thanked her with a nod and sat sitting on his legs. He was upset of himself for having her do that for him, as if he couldn’t do it himself. “There’s that pretty face again!” She smiled.
They both froze. Kanroji’s face flushed a dark red, almost concerning as if steam was coming out of her. He wasn’t bothered on the compliment, it was just surprised Kanroji would say that. “A-Ah! S-S-Sorry Tomioka-San!” She waved her hands in the air. An excuse on the tip of her tongue.
“It’s fine.” He stated. It really was fine, he didn’t really know why she was making a big deal out of it. he’s been called a pretty face before. Whether it was from the Hashira or from random swordsmen to even people on the streets he walked on.
In fact, he remembered Uzui saying how if only his attitude was better then his pretty face would do something other than stay there. He didn’t know what that implied but it’s Uzui so he didn’t really take what he says to heart as much.
He also remembered during a mission to some village, he was called pretty on multiple occasions, first a woman, then a man, then even the demon he was ordered to slay. He didn’t really think he had a pretty face. Sanemi and Obanai say he’s ugly, so he doesn’t exactly know where he is on either lines.
“O-Okay.” Her face was still red as a strawberry. She shuffled a little until she noticed him not taking anymore food. “Aren’t you going to eat more Tomioka-San? There’s plenty of food to go around!” He looked at her, thinking on what to say.
“I thought the salmon daikon was for me? Don’t you usually have a big appetite?” He questioned, or maybe he was wrong and she ate earlier. He’s seen her eat mountains full of bowls, wouldn’t she want more? He heard her gasp and he froze up. What? What happened?
“Are you saying I eat too much!?” She cried out. He made a choked sound as he tensed. What? When did he say that!? Did what he say imply that possibly!? What should he do!? He doesn’t know!?” “I-I…” he doesn’t know what to say to make this better.
This is exactly what he was worried about. Him doing something stupid like the idiot he is and he’ll end up with no friends because they trust Kanroji better than him. He was panicking, his breaths became short and quick despite not showing it. His fingers dug into his pant legs trying to think of something to make this better until…
Laughing, he heard giggling.
He looked up to see Kanroji stifling her giggles in her sleeve. He didn’t know what was going on. Why was she laughing? Was she laughing at him? His chest tightened again, a little pain stabbed through it as his fingers tightened on his legs.
Of course she was laughing at him. “Tomioka-San! You should’ve seen your face! You looked so surprised!” More like distraught. “It was a joke Tomioka-San! I know you wouldn’t say that!” She waved off, her giggles died down a little. He…didn’t get it? A joke is suppose to be funny. Unless some jokes don’t have to be?
“H-Hm.” He startled out. His heart calming down after the initial panic. He breathed out a relief. “I don’t mind if you take more food Tomioka-San! Shinobu always complains about how skinny you are…and while it’s none of my business I want to help fatten you up a little! You need more food! More!” She said as she thrusted a plate of tempura into his hands.
“…Thank you.” He let out a small (very small) smile as he stared at the plate in his hands. Kanroji paused to look at him, she liked seeing him smile, even if it was a small one. She wants to try making him smile more. Her chest lightened.
“Of course Tomioka-San! I’ll do my best as your friend now to help you and make you smile! We should do this again sometime! Ooh! I saw this nice ramen store we can go to next time! I think you’d like it!” She uplifted. “That sounds nice.” He said.
“Yes yes! Perfect! We’ll do that next time! Alright! Don’t be late like usual!” She giggled.
“Alright.”
That’s how they started going out more together. At first, it was awkward and silent, however after weeks of hanging out she started noticing things about him and using it to make things more enjoyable.
She didn’t make as many jokes anymore, after a previous anxiety attack of his caused her to freak out. She would do the talking for him, and make sure to order him what his eyes are set on. She makes sure to run a separate way when dogs are around him. She also makes sure to give him small touching gestures during their hangouts. She also learned to not tell the other Hashira’s about what they do.
He’d do the same for her. He brought her different flowers after his missions, he made sure to buy extra food for him so she can eat it. He made sure compliment her when he saw her. He makes sure to speak more descriptively for her and to always listen to her rants. He made sure to bring her to where cats are and to smile more.
Every time he’d do so, her face would flush a deep red. She’d smile like he was giving her the world. She’d shyly talk or give thanks, and he was happy he was able to make her happy.
The more they hung out, the more his chest felt light yet constricted. His heart would beat unnaturally and his face nowadays would warm up and flush. He knew what this was, he was just in denial of his feelings. One, because there’s no way she’d reciprocate, and two, to save his pathetic ass from Obanai.
During their first week of hanging out together, Kanroji brought their food basket with her to a Hashira meeting going on. Then when it was over, she all called out to him and dragged him along with her. It was so embarrassing to have his coworkers eyes on him and it was equally terrifying to just feel Obanai’s hatred and deathly stare on him.
He knew, he knew he shouldn’t be around her if he’s feeling this way. Obanai liked her, and she liked Obanai. There was no room for Tomioka Giyuu in there. He sighed as Shinobu waited for his response. “No. I don’t.” He stated. As stoic as ever.
“Well, it’s a thing where if someone loves someone but haven’t confessed yet, they will find a flower on the ground and pluck it. Without counting the petals, they would pluck each petal one by one. The first petal plucked would imply that the other person loves them. The next petal implies they don’t. They keep going back in forth with each petal until the last petal is plucked. Whatever implication it lands on is what the person is feeling about you! Pretty cool right!” Shinobu stated, the fake smile evident now.
He paused as he was putting his top clothing back on. Did she know he had these feelings? Surely not. He might as well go along. “Interesting. Where did you hear this from?” He questioned. “I heard this from Zenitsu and Tanjirou! I overheard them talking and they informed me of this!” She stated. “Ah.”
“Alright…your physical is done. You gained some good weight since last physical. That’s good! But your injuries require some rest, so make sure you take a break. But…knowing you…” she sighed. “Alright go go! I’m busy!” She shooed him out the door.
He sighed as he looked at the grass under him. He was just silently sitting in the grassy areas around the water estate. He was thinking about Shinobu’s words. It was affecting him deeply.
Maybe he could try it just for the hell of it. He knew what his answer would be no matter if he did it or not. Maybe this was just a confirmation of what she felt and what he knew, maybe he was actually hoping for a different answer.
He tried looking for a decent flower to pluck, after all, any flower he chose could have a different answer. As he looked around, he noticed a nice white flower standing upright in the ground. He’ll go for that one.
He plucked the flower of the bottom stem, carefully moving his fingers to the first petal and plucking it; watching it fall. “She loves me.” He muttered as the petal fell to the grassy grounds.
The next petal goes. She loves him not.
The next petal. She loves him.
Then the next petal. She loves him not.
The next three petals go. She loves him.
The next five go. She loves him not.
The next nine go until the last petal is on the flower. “She loves me.” He muttered sadly. He already knows the sad but not expected answer. He sighs as he plucks the last petal, “she loves me not…” he muttered.
The flower petals are surrounding him, reminding him he can’t ever be loved the way he loves Kanroji. Reminding him of failure. He drops the stem of the flower onto the ground and curls his legs in his chest and hides his face in them.
If anyone would pass by and see him, they’d think he’s weird. Sitting with his legs and face tucked in, in a random grassy area with flower petals surrounding him. He’d look pathetic in their eyes, and he couldn’t agree less.
He sniffled, his eyes becoming watery. He shouldn’t be getting worked up by this. He already knew the answer so why can’t he just accept it!? He should be grateful that she even gives him the time of day! He should be grateful if her kindness, her determination to be his friend and not any more than that.
“Giyuu-San…?” He froze up, hearing and knowing who that voice belongs to. He sniffled before getting up and wiping his face. Getting rid on any evidence he was about to cry. “Are you okay? Why are you sad…?” Kanroji said, getting in his view.
God…she was as beautiful as ever. He made a little sniffle. “I’m fine Mitsuri-San. You look nice today.” He complimented as he usually did, though it wasn’t as effective today. Instead of the usually flushing red and shyness afterwards, she smiled with concern still on her face.
“Ah, thank you Giyuu-San.” She muttered as she looked at the ground around him. The petals scattered everywhere. “What were you doing?” She questioned with a tilt of her head. “Just doing something Shinobu told me.”
Her face turned to shock. “Uwah! You have a crush on someone!! Who! Who! Were you plucking the petals to see if that person loves you or not! Shinobu told me about that too!” She cheered.
Dammit. Shinobu told her also, he should’ve known. Kanroji does like visiting everyone as much as she can. “Here here! I’ll do it too!” She says as she got on the ground with him and pluck a flower.
He knew what she’d get, whether it be him or Obanai. She’d get a he loves her. He watched her pluck all the petals off her flower before she blushed and cheered. “Yay! I got he loves me! Amazing!” He smiled at her cheerfulness.
“Say- what did you get Giyuu-San?” She questioned. He froze as they looked at each other before Giyuu made a saddened face and turned away from her. “What do you think…?” He questioned genuinely. She took his saddened expression as the answer.
She looked heart-broken. “Oh Giyuu-San…you got a she loves me not didn’t you…” she says. She watched as he curled around himself and nodded, not looking at her whatsoever. Her chest constricted as pain took ever. “I’m sorry Giyuu-San. But hey! These are just flowers! I’m sure the superstition Shinobu told us isn’t actually real! I’m sure they love you too! Trust your feelings not the flower.” She tried reassuring.
“It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t love me I’m sure of it.” Should he really be talking about her in front of her? No, not really. But he feels like crying again and he really doesn’t want to excuse himself and make even more of a mess. “W-What!? Why are you so sure?”
“Because she loves someone else. He protects her from others and gives her practically anything she asks. Everyone who knows her thinks those two are made for each other…even me.” He stares sadly. She doesn’t know how to fix this, the situation seems eerily familiar, but it pains her to see him sad like this.
She knew he has low self-worth, he always thought so highly of the others yet never seemed to think his achievements are worth a single thing. She had always hoped to fix it, as she once had those thoughts too. But no matter how hard she tried, she never succeeded.
“Well, maybe if you tell her how you feel there’d be a-” “No there won’t. The guy loves her. She loves him. There’s no room for me anywhere.” He stated, wanting this conversation to be done and over.
“Giyuu-San, you don’t know for sure until you say how you feel.” “I don’t wish to.” He said sternly, an agitated annoyance growing in his chest; and it seems like it’s the same on her part as well.
“Giyuu-San. I know being rejected hurts, but if you just keep it inside you, you won’t know if she truly likes you or not! What if she does! What if you don’t say anything and she goes to the other guy despite liking you!”
“Then she’d get over me quickly. It’s not hard to when she has a better guy loving her better than I ever could.”
“Why do you care about what the other guy thinks!?”
“Because he’s better than me! He’s the better person! Plus he hates me! He’ll hate me even more if I go after the one he likes! He already can’t stand me!”
“Giyuu-San!”
“Mitsuri-San!”
The two started to get angry at one another. Giyuu can’t see why she’d continue this banter, he doesn’t know why he continues this banter. Mitsuri wants him to just say how he feels to the girl. Sure it’ll hurt for her, but she’s been rejected before so it doesn't hurt much for her.
But he won’t! He won’t tell this lucky girl how he feels! And it’s so frustrating, if she were a girl and found out another liked guy liked her but didn’t say anything she’d be heart-broken!
“What’s so bad about the other guy hating you! You’d get the woman you love right? Who cares what others think!” She yelled, good thing the water estate is practically abandoned by people.
“Because I don’t want to lose them! I care about her and him! I want to be friends with him! I can’t go after his crush if I want to be friends! I already get hate for being around his crush!” He said angrily. Face red from sadness and anger.
“Why!? Why give up!?”
“Because he loves you so much and hates me! Everyone would hate it if they find out that I! The stoic- easy to hate water Hashira! Loved- loved-” he stumbled out his words as he realized what he exposed. Both their faces have shock on them as the two processed what he said.
“Giyuu-San…y-you…” she stumbled, pointing her finger at him as all anger left her body. Giyuu on the other hand, felt anger and panic. Of course, of course he just had to mess up on his anger words. Now cats out of the bag, and he doesn’t think he can handle rejection.
“I-I…Bye.” He quickly said as he sped-walked away from the scene, about the go in the air and never go back to that spot again until he felt a hand grab his bicep. “Giyuu-San.” She said, all sternly.
She noticed he wouldn’t look at her, not once, his eyes were closed shut. His whole body was shaking. It pained her so much to see him like this, a trembling leaf of anxiety and sadness.
“Giyuu-San, d-do you like me…?” She questioned. It was so startling to hear her come into his words, but as she replayed all the words he said, the situation it makes sense. The other guy, Obanai.
It made perfect sense, why couldn’t she see it before. Obanai and her, of course he wouldn’t tell her how he feels if Obanai is the other guy he’s so afraid of. Everyone in the corps thought they were perfect together and Obanai was in fact quite protective of her.
Obanai also absolutely hated Giyuu. He’d constantly insult him or send him his daily stares promising death. Giyuu had always wanted to become friends with Sanemi and Obanai, before she even talked to him she knew. If Giyuu told her his feelings, Obanai would definitely hate him.
She felt so much guilt, this was her fault. She enabled Obanai to do this to Giyuu to the point where he can’t even express his feelings without thinking about what he would do to him. Which pained her, if he didn’t have the mess up in his words, she wouldn’t have know he loved her.
And he wouldn’t have know she reciprocated.
“Giyuu-San I’m sorry for having you think about what Obanai would do if he known. I promise to talk to him about it.” She firstly stated, carefully dragging his arm to have him face her and she wrapped him in a warm hug. He was still frozen and eyes shut.
“Please don’t. He’ll just hate me more for having you do that.” Oh dear. Was it this bad? She scolded herself for letting it get to this point. “No. I’ll make sure he stops this, you shouldn’t have to feel that way. You shouldn’t have to shun your feelings for him.” She stated sternly.
“And Giyuu. Why would you think that everyone else would hate you?” She questioned next, she’ll have him calm down a little before talking about the main thing at hand. She heard him sniffle. Was he crying…?
“Because all the Hashira think you and Obanai are a perfect couple. Most of the Hashira hate me. They’d think I ruined your ‘blossoming romance’ is what Uzui said about you two.” He sniffled an explanation, he stopped shaking and is now grabbing onto the sides of her haori for some bit of comfort.
“Giyuu-San, what if I told you I didn’t like Obanai that way, sure I did for a little but it didn’t grow into anything more, he’s a good friend of mine and I don’t think of him like that.” She said softly in his ear, he shivered a little and sniffled again.
“I…don’t know.”
“Then what if I tell you that I love someone else, someone stoic and calm. Someone who I’m comforting, someone by the name of Tomioka Giyuu hmm?” She said happily, she felt him freeze and look up at her. His face was shocked, surprise evident.
“W-What.”
“Giyuu-San, I reciprocate your feelings. I love you dearly. I was so happy that my flower was right! But again, it’s just a flower. I love you.” She said as she gathered his face in her hands, soft cheeks mushed in. It made him so cute.
She wiped the remaining tears on his eyes, his eyes closed at the touch. She realized this was perfect time for a kiss! Well not really but a little perfect! His eyes opened as she started to lean in. His eyes widening at her actions, knowing what she was about to do.
“M-Mitsuri-San.” He stammered out, watching as she leaned in more. He put his hands on her arms, squeezing a little and he closed his eyes tightly. She got closer to him and finally connected their lips in a lovely kiss.
It was slow, chapped lips meeting with perfect glossy ones. She was experienced with kissing, but it still always made her flush warm with a dark hue of red. Giyuu wasn’t experienced at all, as he hadn’t felt this way towards anyone other than her.
They slowly parted, Giyuu breathing a little heavy from the kiss and Mitsuri smilingly lovingly towards him. He felt so vulnerable as she looked at him, he didn’t know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. His heart was beating a mile a minute, his face felt so warm it was steaming. It was probably red.
“I! Love! You!” She said happily as she wrapped her arms around his neck and jumped on him. He was startled, he wrapped his arms around her waist as she squeezed him. He felt so loved and happy. It was totally new after so many years he was alone.
He smiled, a big one.
Seems like the flowers weren’t always right, but he was lucky they did something right.