In Any Other World
"It's not funny."
"It is!" With a peeved scowl, Giyuu took the bloodied tissue out of his nose, neck burning from his latest humiliation. "Sometimes I wear less than this," Shinobu waved at her pink lounge shorts and the oversized hoodie, "and Tomioka-san hardly bats an eye!"
"He's not me. And we're practically strangers, you and I," he grumbled.
Shinobu chuckled. "Feels kind of disloyal, huh?"
Feeling discomfited, Giyuu grunted noncommittally, and the silence stretched as they sat by the low table. She may not say it outright, and he wouldn't ask for it wasn't really any of his business, but he can't help thinking of the certain hinting of her words, her casual regard for his other self, the way she navigated this residence with a puzzling familiarity. But I might be wrong.
"Let's get to know each other then, Tomioka-san!"
"Why?"
"Aren't you the least bit curious about me?"
Yes. "No."
"Hmph, now I see why your Shinobu dislikes you." Giyuu scoffed as she smirked. "Dish! How hard is your demon hunting thing?"
His gaze slanted to where he'd propped his sword. There is no danger here of the demon variety, but having it close still brought comfort; a smidgen of familiarity in this world he hardly knew. "…More than you could imagine," he answered eventually.
"Really? Well, what's difficult here may look petty to you!"
Giyuu frowned. "What does that matter?"
"Huh?"
"No matter how… petty your troubles may be. You're doing your best in spite of it."
"That's kind of presumptuous. How sure are you that I am doing my best?"
"…Why wouldn't you?"
For a long moment Shinobu only stared at him, eyes soft, and smilingly shook her head. "Looks like your faith in me is as unwavering as ever in any other universe, Tomioka-san."