As Tengen, Kyojuro and Obanai, spoke to Sanemi, he didn't seem to pay any attention.
Sanemi stared at Giyuu, who was talking to Mitsuri and Shinobu.

"As I was saying, Shinazugawa...? Shinazugawa!"
Tengen shook Sanemi's shoulder.

Sanemi was still lost, admiring Giyuu's face.

Tengen smirked, following Sanemi's gaze.

"Come back to earth, Shinazugawa!"

Sanemi snapped back to reality.

"Wha- What the hell do you want!?"
He asked, clearly annoyed.

"What're you so lost about?"

"It's nothing, just mind your own business..."
Sanemi rolled his eyes.

"I'll be leaving now."
Obanai walked away.

"Already?"
Sanemi asked. Obanai nodded in response.

"See ya later!"
Tengen called out.

Meanwhile, Giyuu was making one of the most annoyed expressions as the two girls didn't stop talking.

"Maybe, Shinazugawa-San and Tomioka-San could be best friends!!!"
Mitsuri squealed.

"That sounds nice..."
Shinobu smiled.

"I KNOW RIGHT!???"
Mitsuri blushed.

What am I supposed to do here?
Giyuu thought.

___________________________________________

"Rengoku, wanna have lunch at my place today? it's my treat!"
Tengen wrapped his arm over Kyojuro's shoulder.

"That sounds great! I would love to!"
Kyojuro replied as the two walked away.

Sanemi smiled softly, looking at Giyuu from the distance.

"I-I need to go now, I'll talk to you later!"
Mitsuri said.

"I'll have to leave too..."
Shinobu replied, both the girls walking away.

Finally I can go back...
Giyuu thought, sighing.

Sanemi made his way towards Giyuu, but before he could reach him, something caught his eye. He looked away for a moment, but when he turned back, Giyuu was already gone.

I should go back...
Giyuu thought, walking to his Estate.

Sanemi noticed him leaving and felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. He had wanted to talk to Giyuu.

___________________________________________

It was the next day.

It was a pleasant weather, the flowers were blooming, everything looking way prettier.
Cool breeze blew, the golden sunlight reflecting on every object.

Every Hashira was spending time with the other.

Giyuu decided to go for a walk outside, the fresh air and the beautiful weather got in him in a slightly good mood.

As the cool breeze blew, his dark hair moved, his features glowing in the sunlight.

He exhaled, breathing in the beautiful fragrance of flowers everywhere he went. He decided to pay a visit to the Butterfly Mansion.

As he walked in, he heard faint laughter, from somewhere in the garden.
As he followed the voices, he found Shinobu and Mitsuri, laughing and smiling as they sat, talking about various topics.

He peeked for a few seconds, smiling softly.

He went back.

___________________________________________

Sanemi was with Obanai, talking about a few things when Giyuu reached there, Sanemi noticed him.

Giyuu smiled, but Sanemi ignored him.

Giyuu thought he just didn't see him, so he walked to him.

"Good morning, Shinazugawa-San!"
He wished, smiling as sweetly as ever.

Sanemi couldn't help but blush at the sight.

"Good... Good morning, Tomioka."
He said.

Giyuu nodded, slightly happier, as he walked away.

"I told you not to-"
Obanai was interrupted.

"I just can't! Okay? I can't ignore him! I don't know why you want me to do that!"
Sanemi snapped.

"Because he doesn't deserve our attention!"
Obanai replied.

"Why not!?"

"You know how he used to act!"

"He's changed, really. I can assure you that. Trust me."
Sanemi said, squeezing Obanai's shoulder.

"And what if we don't like the same person, can't we be friends still, huh? You like Kanroji, I don't. But we're still friends, right?"
Sanemi asked.

"You- ... You're right..."
Obanai replied, nodding understandingly.

"But Shinazugawa...?"
He looked at Sanemi curiously.

"Yeah?"

"What's with you liking Tomioka so much all of a sudden?"
He asked.

Sanemi almost choked, his blush deepening.

"I don't like him that much! I don't even know what you're talking about!"
He stammered.

Obanai raised an eyebrow.

"I totally believe you, Shinazugawa."

___________________________________________

It was midday.
Giyuu was in his estate, practicing with a wooden sword.

There was a knock on the door.

He opened it, to find Shinobu there.

"Kocho...?"

"Hello there, Tomioka-San! Wanna go out for a walk?"
She asked.

Giyuu's eyes widened, her words replicated those that Sanemi had told him in his dream.

"Earth to Tomioka-San!"
She waved her hand over his face.

Giyuu snapped back, looking at her.

"Sorry, I zoned out..."

"I could see that."
She replied.

"Come on now, wanna go for a walk or no?"
She asked.

"No."

"Hey, that's not fair Tomioka-San, the other day you had asked me and I said yes!"
She replied.

Giyuu sighed.
"Why me?"

"Kanroji-San went out with Rengoku-San and now I'm alone... I think you should also have someone to talk to you!"
She said.

"Fine..."
He kept his sword back in place, following Shinobu.

As the two walked together.
Shinobu slowly slid her question in,

"You're hiding something, am I right?"

Giyuu's eyes widened.

"H-Hiding? What are you talking about...?"
He asked.

"You know what I'm talking about..."
She giggled.

"I really don't."
Giyuu said, his eyes shifting to the sky.

Shinobu sighed.

"Y'know...

         ...Shinazugawa-San."

___________________________________________

"Isn't it delicious?"
Kyojuro asked.

"Mmm! It's so good!"
Mitsuri swallowed, smiling at him.

"You know what they say, Kanroji, food is the way to the heart!!!"
Kyojuro smiled.

"That's correct!!!"

The two had towers of bowls next to them, the waiter looked at the two as he served more.

"Today's treat is on me, so eat whatever you like, Kanroji!!!"

"Kyaaa!!! Thank-you!!!"
She squealed.

Are they not full yet....?
The waiter thought.

"Want some more?"
Kyojuro asked.

"Yes! Of course!!!"
Mitsuri nodded happily.

The other customers looked at the duo, their eyes filled with concern.

"TASTY!"
Kyojuro exclaimed.

"Mmm delicious!!!"
Mitsuri gobbled up.

The cook looked at them, his eyes crinkling to a smile.

I'm glad they liked it...

"Would you guys like some more-"
The waiter was interrupted.

"YES PLEASE!"
The two said together.

___________________________________________

"Shinazugawa-San and I are only friends... What is there to hide?"
Giyuu looked at Shinobu, appearing nonchalant, but there was a slight blush that creeped on his cheeks.

"Oh my... I see what it is!"
She said.

"What?"
Giyuu asked.

"Nevermind!"
She laughed to herself.

Tomioka-San either likes Shinazugawa-San, or maybe just finds him cool... He wouldn't be blushing so much at the mention of that name... But it really is cute...
Shinobu thought, slowly deciding to change the topic.

"Talking about Shinazugawa-San, what else happened in the last mission?"
She asked.

"He told me I did good."

"Really? What did you reply to that...?"

"...I denied, and told him that it was all him."
Giyuu replied.

Shinobu gasped softly, patting Giyuu's lower back.

"Good job, Tomioka-San!"
She smiled widely.

"Why do you say that...?"
Giyuu asked.

"Because... For the first time you've had a human-like interraction with someone!"
She laughed.

Giyuu's eyes widened.

"I'm not some animal."
He said, a little offended.

Shinobu smiled.

The two walked for a while before it started getting darker.

"I'll leave now, Tomioka-San... Let's meet again tomorrow!"
She smiled softly, walking back to the Butterfly Mansion as Giyuu decided to go back as well.

He sighed, slowly making way to his Estate.

He looked at his feet, his mind crowded with various thoughts:
The break, the Hashiras, his current life and... Well, Sanemi.

He was so lost in thoughts he bumped into someone.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Shinazugawa-San?"
Giyuu looked at the taller Hashira, a small blush appearing in his cheeks.

"I'm sorry..."

"You don't have to apologise..."
Sanemi sighed.

"Where are you headed?"
He asked.

"To my place... It's getting dark."

"Yeah... Well, see you tomorrow...?"
Sanemi said.

"Sh-Shinazugawa-San..."
Giyuu stuttered, locking his eyes with Sanemi's.

"Yeah?"
Sanemi asked, his voice low yet tender.

"W-Would you like to come to my place today...?"
He asked, his blush deepening slightly.

Sanemi was caught off guard.
He chuckled softly, ruffling Giyuu's hair.

"Thanks for the offer... But let's do that some other day."
He said.

"...we have plenty of time."
He added.

Giyuu nodded.
"Y-You're right..."

Sanemi nodded back.

"See you."
He walked past Giyuu, a soft wind gushing through.

Giyuu turned back almost immediately, yearning for a glimpse of Sanemi.

Sanemi looked back at him one last time, smiling sweetly.

Giyuu's face was red, he turned, moving to his estate quickly.

He rushed to his room, burrying his face into the pillow.

He was going to have plenty of dreams involving Sanemi soon, and he was aware of it.

He kept asking himself one question,

What is going on...?

___________________________________________

Heya! Love you💕

🍩