Catch-all: Ms. Shinobu

[swordflash]

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[wisterin]

Yes, Zenitsu-kun?

[ It's a little tiring, sharing all these memories, but she's open enough about her life, if only people ask. All the emotions that come up and recede put her through some paces, but she can still smile. ]

It's all right.

[swordflash]

[ Wordlessly, Zenitsu pads over and joins her at the table with the supplies she's gathered, though he pays them little mind. Really, how was any of that all right? He can't just act like nothing happened. ]

So that's how you became a demon slayer.

[wisterin]

[ She isn't going to act like nothing happened, so this is fine. ]

Yes. I had to badger and beg to become one. It might be a little different from you.

[swordflash]

In my case, I was the one being badgered . . .

[ If Himejima had told him to go home, he would've. ]

[wisterin]

That means someone saw the potential in you.

[ Cherish that thought. ]

They thought you could save someone.

[swordflash]

[ Knowing how much Shinobu had to fight for that same privilege, Zenitsu feels more than a little self-conscious sitting close to her. ]

Even though you were told to go home, you stayed and went on to save countless people. That's amazing.

[wisterin]

I couldn't just give up. That wasn't allowed.

[ Where would all her anger and hatred go? It could only be funneled in one direction. ]

[swordflash]

[ Shinobu is . . . scary. Actually, really scary. He knew she could get upset, but the force of her emotions was far greater than he could have ever imagined.

It's not really his place to comment on it, so he turns to the supplies in front of them. ]

So what are you making?

[wisterin]

Teru teru bozu.

[ She gestures to the art supplies. ]

I wanted to make one to represent each of the people here.

[ Well, almost everyone. ]

[swordflash]

That many?

[ How ambitious. And she wants to represent every individual? ]

How are we going to do that?

[wisterin]

Bit by bit. We don't have to do them all today. It'll be our longterm project, so at least one of us will survive this.

[ Hahaha. ]

[swordflash]

[ It's not like Zenitsu wants to die, but he doesn't want Shinobu to perish, either. He glances worriedly at her. ]

Does it matter how I make them?

[ If she wants to add some kind of personal touch to each teru teru bozu, he'd like to know before messing up the supplies she's gathered. ]

[wisterin]

[ She shakes her head. ]

No, you can make them how you want, and I'll make mine how I'd like them. It's better if they represent what we both feel.

[ Hers will be personalized like that rain charm. ]

[swordflash]

Okay.

[ It's not going to be so creative like hers, but he'll take his time to ensure that each and every doll isn't lacking. In the middle of forming the head of one, he glances at Shinobu. ]

Is Mr. Tomioka making any?

[wisterin]

[ She looks a little surprised at that question and returns his glance with some curiosity. ]

Why would he?

[ Does Giyuu look like someone who would? ]

[swordflash]

I just thought, because he's another slayer . . .

[ What with their being Pillars, his natural inclination is to lump Shinobu and Giyu together. Given that he also met them at the same time, it's sometimes hard to separate them in his mind. ]

But I can't imagine him doing this.

[wisterin]

[ Please separate them in your mind, Zenitsu. They aren't a pair or a couple or anything like that. ]

He'd do a terrible job with something like this. He'd see no point or make it basic and be done with it.

[ He's too simple. ]

[swordflash]

[ This is true. ]

He's a very straightforward person, isn't he? Even when he was playing that game about love on the bus, he'd talk about pledging his loyalty instead.

[ The man is deeply unromantic, proving Shinobu's point. ]

[wisterin]

hat he would play a game like that at all is surprising. I wonder how someone managed to get him to sit for that and not walk away from it.

[ Because she can imagine Giyuu saying something like, "This doesn't concern me."

And then leaving. ]

[swordflash]

[ Now that's what one would call development(?). ]

It was just him when I saw him playing. He seemed interesting in meeting all of Washiko's potential dates.

[ In fact, he was so thorough that Zenitsu wanted to yell at him to move on to the better parts. Backseat gaming is rough. ]

[wisterin]

[ WHERE DID MY T GO IN THAT

Washiko....

What a cursed name in Shinobu's mind. ]

My, I didn't expect Tomioka-san to be so loose. I'll have to reevaluate my opinion of him.

[swordflash]

[ That's not what he was getting at, but maybe Shinobu is onto something here. Is Giyuu the type of person who accidentally seduces multiple people at once?

That's so unfair. ]

He said he's never fallen in love with anyone.

[ But maybe he's really a love magnet. Who knows? ]

[wisterin]

I believe that.

[ She says that so immediately. ]

He wouldn't recognize that feeling if it kicked him in the face.

[swordflash]

[ Zenitsu can believe it. ]

Have you known Mr. Tomioka for a long time?

[wisterin]

Long enough. It's been at least a couple years.

[ When did Shinobu become a Pillar? GOTOUGE NEVER SAID. ]