swordflash | Catch-all: Ms. Shinobu

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?

[ 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? ]

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.

[ 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. ]

[ 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. ]

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. ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[ 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? ]

I believe that.

[ She says that so immediately. ]

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

[ Zenitsu can believe it. ]

Have you known Mr. Tomioka for a long time?

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

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

[ Long enough!

That is long, though. He can't imagine lasting even a month on the job.

It's also sad. Giyuu hasn't found love in so long. How tragic. ]

Being a Pillar must keep you busy.

It's very busy, but it's fulfilling work. I wouldn't change my path for anything.

[ She would change what's happened here or at the island, but she wouldn't change how things have gone back home. ]

[ That seems to be the case for most Pillars. There's no mistaking Giyuu's commitment, and Shinobu has just said her piece. Jigoro, even following his retirement, never stopped working. ]

Was it hard, becoming one?

Take what you've done to train to become a demon slayer and multiple that 50 times, 100 times.

[ More than that, even.

For Shinobu, especially, who can't behead anyone, she put in so much work just to be where she is, just so she could be on an even ground. ]

[ He grimaces. Knowing what a hard worker Shinobu is, he should've guessed. ]

I can't even imagine what that's like.

[ How does she approach this? He will only become stronger as he grows. She's never seen him in true action, but she's seen enough of his potential to know. ]

Now, you may not be able to, but the future is yours, Zenitsu-kun.

[ How nice would it be to speak with as much certainty as her? ]

In that future, I go on missions with Tanjiro, right?

I never thought I'd make it that far.

You do. You will. You have more potential than you realize. I'll repeat that as many times as you need.

[ Or until she dies and then he dies, too. ]

It can still be your future.

[ Don't think she missed the "that" future. ]

[ Shinobu is clever, indeed. ]

You noticed, huh.

Why wouldn't I? You seem so convinced it can't be you.

[ A possible him can still be him. ]

[ Can it? Even a possible him feels so far away. ]

Well, I can't help it! We don't know what's going to happen here.

[ At least one instance of these so-called games had a so-so outcome. What if that happens here? To begin with, crunching numbers with lives isn't all that appealing. ]

We don't, but if even a small part of you wants that possibility, isn't that all right for you to try?

[ There's nothing wrong with trying to be that person you could be. ]

Please don't stop before you even begin.

[ Having just experienced her memory, he really can't backtalk to the doctrine that's propelled Shinobu through the ranks. She never stopped—in fact, she was a veritable juggernaut while he's been tripping every step of the way.

At least he's walking, right? Too bad he's barely gotten anywhere. ]

I won't.

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wisterin - 2020-08-01 07:01 (UTC) - Expand