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He's sitting down, leaning on one of his arms for support. He watches as clouds pass by in the light sky. He breathes even and measured, his shoulders feel light. He feels content for the first time in a long time.
"Thank you for coming here with me, Giyuu." Mitsuri's voice is soft and light beside him.
He turns to her, "Thank you for inviting me." He brushes his hair out of his eyes to look at her. She notices this of course. "Oh! Could I do your hair? You would look so cute with braids and it would get it out of your eyes!" He nods. He turns his back to her.
She pulls the ribbon from his hair. "Could I give you one of my ribbons?" He goes to nod but realizes it would probably be better to talk, "Yes, that's okay." She hums in response and runs her fingers through his long dark hair, brushing it out gently. He leans in to her touch. Her deft fingers work through his hair, separating out three sections. He relaxes, losing himself to the repetitive movements she makes. It's soothing and almost makes him want to fall asleep.
Before he knows it she taps on his shoulder. He blinks slowly and touches one of the braids in his hair. He turns back around so she can see her work. She hums happily and gives him a nod of approval. "You look perfect!" He can tell she means it and that makes a smile tug at his lips. It feels strange but not bad. "It's nice, thank you."
He let's Mitsuri pull him into a soft hug, it makes him feel warm and fuzzy inside. Pink dusts across his face. He can't help but notice that she smells of something faintly sweet. He feels cared for and something else he can't fully explain. His heart skips a beat. She seems to run hotter than he ever does which makes him feel as if a blanket was wrapped around him every time they hug.
He pulls away from the hug, closer to her now than before. They sit so close their knees brush. He can't help but admire her, she's wearing a pretty pink outfit with accents of brown and tea green that compliment her hair. She's wearing a skirt with her signature socks. He feels a bit out of place with his darker outfit; he's dressed in a soft blue hakamashita worn underneath a dark colored hakama. He fidgets with his hands.
He and Mitsuri have gotten close over the last few months and she just invited him to the annual cherry blossom festival. They sit underneath a cherry blossom tree on a picnic blanket. The pink flowers are in full bloom, some petals even flutter down as they get caught in the soft warm breeze. He feels the warmth of the sun on his pale skin and the warmth of Mitsuri's presence as a balm on his heart. He thinks he could sit in comfortable silence here forever if she was beside him.
"We should eat!" She picks up one of the many bento boxes and presents it to him. He takes it with a nod. He eats his food in silence as Mitsuri talks. He loves that she doesn't make him feel pressured to talk if he doesn't want to or if he doesn't know what to say. She's more than happy to fill the silence herself, as she knows he's listening intently. He watches as she talks. He's listening to her light voice like it's a melody.
A pink petal catches in her hair. He reaches out without thinking and plucks it out of her hair. He pulls his hand back, showing it to her. He presses it lightly inbetween his fingertips, it's soft and smooth. He gets distracted for a moment then looks back up. 'She's so pretty.'
He can't help but stare into her pretty green eyes and notice how they sparkle looking at him. It makes him want to shy away from her gaze but he doesn't. He has something he wants to confess. He feels his heart pitter-patter in his chest.
"I want to tell you something..." He can't help that he sounds a little nervous, even with his usually flat tone.
She's made him feel more confident over time so he decides to speak what he really wants to for once, "I... I like you." He ends up stumbling on his words awkwardly. He bites his tongue. Self-doubt flickers through him before he sees her face.
Her eyes widen and her face flushes completely, turning so pink she almost matches with the cherry blossoms falling around her. She looks no less pretty for it. "Really!?" Her voice raises, almost yelling. She hides her face behind one of her hands as she stares wide-eyed in disbelief.
He nods, "You've been so nice to me, you make me feel like I belong here." He blushes and adds, "You're pretty too..."
She squeals and tackles him into a hug, almost crushing his ribs from how hard she squeezes him. "Giyuu!" She exclaims, happiness practically radiating from her entire being. "I like you too, Giyuu! You're so cute!"
'He's so romantic asking me here of all places! He's perfect!'
He hugs her back, basking in her radiance. He's so happy she cared enough about him to not give up even when he tried pushing her away. He's happy he let her in. She's the one who helped him when none of the other hashira did. She always sent him letters even when he didn't respond. It helped him more than she would ever know. She's a light in his dull life.
He never would've thought it possible since the death of Sabito but he's finally found someone who brightens his life just as he did. He knows Sabito would be happy with her. He always cared so much about him that he knows he would want him to find happiness again. He misses him so much.
He puts his face in her shoulder. Her pink hair tickles his cheek. He reels his thoughts back. He's found it easier to bring himself out of his bouts of depression and grief since knowing her. He slips his eyes closed. He can almost feel how fast her heart is beating like this. She eases up a bit and leans back to look into his eyes. She looks so excited she's practically glowing. 'She's perfect.'
She leans in and gives him a small kiss. He kisses back softly against her plush lips, she even tastes sweet. She cups his face in her hands and he presses closer. After a moment, he pulls away, sitting comfortably but a bit embarrassed. "You're my first..." He admits quietly. As even with Sabito, he never got the chance to do this. He's glad it's her despite everything.
"W‐ What!? Really?" She stutters, seemingly a bit anxious after he said that. He puts his arms around her shoulders and kisses her again, this time peppering kisses all over her face. She breaks out of her anxious expression and giggles, pushing him away. "You're too cute, Giyuu." She smiles.
He laces their hands together.
He smiles back, something small and genuine.