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After training for a month with the wind hashira and spending time with him (Ubuyashiki asked the Pillar personally) Tanjirou realizes that he is quite soft on the inside; he worries a lot, especially for those he cares about.
Then, something else changes between them after the redhead is stubborn enough to convince Shinazugawa to sit and let Tanjirou patch him up.
"Thank you," he says, almost in a whisper like it's something difficult to say; Tanjirou nods and gives him some space because he's sure he's already tired of the redhead.
However, the next day, the wind hashira becomes a lot more quiet and almost gentle around Tanjirou. The redhead appreciates the kind treatment, but confuses him a bit.
He convinces himself that's because Shinazugawa wants to become friends with him.
The other slayers are as intrigued as he is; the Pillar keeps yelling at them as usual, but he acts different when he's speaking with Tanjirou.
Silently, the wind hashira looks for the redhead after he comes back from a mission or after training with the other Pillars, and asks Tanjirou to patch him up while looking away.
The kakushi boys and girls are very grateful for this new development; they all are afraid of Shinazugawa and knowing that Tanjirou is going to take care of his wounds from now on is honestly a relief for all of them.
Tanjirou has learned even more things about the Pillar this way; for someone who yells a lot, he's usually very quiet when he's not angry and likes to watch the redhead work in silence.
"I can see why he likes you so much," he says after a while, waiting for Tanjirou to clean the wounds on his arms.
"Who?"
"My brother."
At the mention of Genya, Tanjirou beams, prompting Shinazugawa to blush and look away in seconds.
"I feel the same! He's a very good friend!"
After that, the wind hashira's shoulders relax significantly. He touches the redhead's arm softly before pulling him a bit closer to him. Tanjirou tilts his head in confusion, but Shinazugawa refuses to say anything after that.
The training comes to an end, but the Pillar tells Tanjirou he can stay in his estate permanently.
"Even after everything is done and we defeat Muzan," Shinazugawa says, he's always so sure they are going to win, Tanjirou likes that about him. "You can bring your sister as well."
"Really?"
"I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't sure of it."
His cheeks turn slightly pink after noticing Tanjirou's sincere and very grateful smile. Shinazugawa blushes a lot lately and it's making him worry a bit.
He says he has a few things to do before turning around, but Tanjirou stops him, grabbing him by the arm, making a few slayers and kakushi gasp.
"What is it now?"
Tanjirou doesn't give him time to say anything else or get truly irritated because he pulls him into a hug.
"Thank you, Shinazugawa-san!"
It's only a brief moment, but the Pillar does hug him back.
"Call me Sanemi."
That only makes the other slayers more curious about Tanjirou's deal with the wind hashira; apparently he doesn't allow anyone to call him by his given name except for Genya and probably the other Pillars, but that's because he considers them equals.
The fact that Tanjirou can do that without getting punched in the face is almost a miracle to some.
It gets even worse after some kakushi watch as Sanemi starts bringing Tanjirou food made by himself and, sometimes, a couple of gifts from the latest place he's been.
The wind hashira clears his throat to get the redhead's attention. He always looks a bit flustered whenever he's going to give him somenthing.
"One of the elder women of the village I was in told me this was a good gift for someone like you," he explains, rubbing the back of his neck. "Here."
An expensive hair-clip with the shape of a little sun made of gold on it.
Even though he had to work since he was very young, his mother made sure Tanjirou knew a few things about courting, because she was sure he was going to have a lot of suitors.
"This looks like a courting gift." The redhead mumbles out loud before he can stop himself.
Sanemi rolls his eyes.
"Which is exactly why I'm giving it to you. So do you like it or not? I can buy another if you want."
In a few seconds, all the things the wind hashira has been doing for Tanjirou flash before his eyes, and something clicks inside him as his face turns as red as a tomato.
"I-I love it!" He finally stammers, deciding not only to silently agree to the courtship, but not to mention he wasn't quite aware of it until now.
Sanemi smiles for a moment; it's a soft smile that only appears when he's around Tanjirou lately. Which now makes perfect sense.
"Great. I have to go kick Obanai and Muichiro's ass. I'll be back in a few hours."
And then he gives Tanjirou a kiss on the temple; he supposes that it's more than fair since, at least to Sanemi, the courtship probably started a few weeks ago.
But for him, it's a bit overwhelming, although not in a bad way at all.
He just needs to get used to the fact that the wind hashira not only likes him but seems to be interested enough to court him.
Tanjirou wonders what his friends will think of it.