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Obanai is not, in particular, someone who is described as a “yearner”. Nor is he called a sappy person. But he is, in fact, a girl with a crush. Those are the facts of it.
She, Obanai Iguro, the Snake Pillar of the Demon Slayer Corps, is hopelessly pining for a girl she does not deserve.
Mitsuri is a girl who is better than he deserves, better than a girl with tainted blood. When Muzan is defeated, and perhaps, Obanai comes out of it alive— though she doubts it right down to the marrow of her bones —then she will ask Mitsuri.
But he does doubt that it will end so nicely for him. Many, of course, will die in the upcoming fight, but Obanai is sure one will be him.
One must be him, for the cleansing of his blood is the only way he could ever hope to even try to be with Mitsuri.
She is everything Obanai cannot have. Ah, he is putting her upon a pedestal, he knows, and that that is not entirely healthy, but it is, perhaps, the only way he can love.
“Obanai?” It is Mitsuri who calls him, and for a moment, she wonders why the Love Pillar is here, approaching the steps of his estate.
And then he remembers. It is Tuesday. The first Tuesday of the month, in fact, and the two of them go to eat at a shop every first Tuesday.
It is, Obanai supposes, something of a standing date. Not a, uh, proper date, but…
But a standing lunch. Yes. That is a better way to put it. A far better way that doesn't make his stomach drop with horrible, dreadful, anticipation.
The only reason, Obanai knows, that he managed to escape, was because he looked so very much like a boy when born. They had simply assumed he was one, not bothering to look further down than his face. The malnutrition hadn't helped.
And then, with the Rengoku's, it was only there that–
“Obanai-san?”
He shoves all those thoughts away. It is an effective solution, if temporary only, for he knows that the thoughts will return in force, and truly, worse than if he'd simply let them in.
But he could not, for Mitsuri was staring down at him, as if worried– she is easily worried about them all, and Obanai likes her for that.
Likes, not loves, for a wretched woman like her does not deserve to love this angel made flesh.
But she can like her. Obanai can most assuredly like her. That, he can most certainly do.
“Mitsuri-san, I apologize. I was, ah, lost in thought.”
“Are you alright? It's nothing bad, is it? Or, no, I apologize! I just– well–”
“I'm quite alright. Simply thinking of the future. The training camp idea…it is a good idea.”
“Yes! It is, isn't it? I already have a bunch of ideas on how to help! I mean, I think they have to be flexible, you know? It– to dodge attacks? Amane-sama and Gyomei-san, the fact that they came up with this, it was wonderful.”
Obanai lets her talk on, for he has nothing to add, really. He likes listening to her. That's all.
And so, he's happy to keep listening to her, as they go down to the nearby town for lunch.
She's so very wonderful, just like the sun, and Obanai knows he is a planet orbiting her, or perhaps, a meteor.
Yes, a meteor is more fitting to what he is. But oh, Mitsuri is so very wonderful, and she…she will be happy to watch the Love Hashira from afar.
But for now, he is listening to Mitsuri Kanroji talk away about anything and everything as the two of them eat.
That is good enough– more than, in his book. Far more than good enough, in his book.