ACT 3-1

Hello, everyone!

I have to welcome you all to the main part of this story now. Obanai and Mitsuri will try to sort out the feeling to each other, handle their own obstacles and problems. This will progress step-by-step because I will keep the character into the original version. As Obanai tend to be awkward, hides his feelings toward her while Mitsuri shows her care and kindheart to everyone. Then how can a couple get together as we wish?

Author's note

ACT 3 to the future chapter, the story will focus more on Obanai and Mitsuri. Their situation will cooperate with new character in order to pull up their feeling to each other

2.I've worked on editing and rewriting very fast but I have to say I will be emotional everytime when I see content about Digimon movies! that's why I lost in thought, thinking about the past when I bought two CDs every week to watch Digimon hahaha! That's so nostalgic! Sorry for the delay!

Yofuku updated and edited 20/09/2020

Here we meet again, after you may get through hellish training before going to be Hashira but you never showed a sight of it, you are still a normal girl. Who's getting excited about everything around you. You always smile and radiate.

Gotten up, Obanai stretched his arm upward before finding a white snake which coiled beside his pillow, Obanai patted Kaburamaru to wake it up as everyday. Obanai propped himself up, turned around and found the silence around his estate. It was designed in a small wooden shelter, enough space for only one person. No decoration and only important facilities here. Because he only used it as a place to sleep and eat. This time he just went back from a long mission and could have a proper sleep in many months.

Obanai stood up and tightened his haori by pulling a strap around his waist, looking left to right, taking a moment to comprehend what he should do. He decided to sit at his working dest first to check on his letter and other documents.

There was a heavy curtain of dust on it. He used an index finger to wipe it up and looked how grey and dark it was on a pad of his finger. Obanai rubbed his index on tatami and caught one wet ragged fabric to clean it tentatively. It was evident of him having a long mission lately at other provinces or at the island lately so he rarely took care of his own estate. Just come over after completing, taking a sleep, taking a shower and out for a mission.

He sighed in boredom and blinked to wake himself up from drowsiness.

This time, he just returned yesterday after going to an isolated island which had taken him several days and nights before arriving at destination and took him many months for settling a temporary post to maneuver and watchout demon activities for security. It's from his intention. After becoming Hashira, he paid much attention to missions, especially the challenging missions. His mind focused on it eagerly and didn't wander off from his resolve.

A knock on the door gained his attention. His face showed a slight surprise as he had a visitor so early today.

"Iguro-san! Iguro-san! Sorry to disturb you! I came here to relay message from Rengoku-san" Snake Pillar made a responsive noise, had his lower face covered with bandage before opening the shoji door slightly just enough for him to be able to see that demon slayer who stood in front of his door.

" Good morning! I-Iguro-san. Rengoku-san asked me to relay your message around the meeting of Hashira at 10am in Oyataka-sama place. That's all from him and oh there will be a new Hashira joining for her first meeting too"

Obanai hummed as a response before closing the door in that second and it startled the young slayer who saw the unexpected action from Snake Pillar. Obanai made a mental note during his mission, there actually was a new Pillar here? before he got himself prepared and ready for a day.

He went out with Kaburamaru in order to meet Oyakata-sama first in order to report his mission to the master whom he held in high respect. Obanai nodded to take the greeting from slayers along the way before finally he reached the master's place.

He got up into the mansion, turned around but there was somebody walking toward his way as well. Obanai halt a moment first before he clashed with that person and Eh!

"Hah..."

"Eh.." Obanai gasped suddenly when he saw that person clearly before his eyes. How long he never saw her and how long he almost forgot about her pink hair with a green lime on the tip. He felt like the moment frozed him for a while with a sight before him. It's a girl whom he met months ago.

"Iguro-san! It's really you. Do you still remember me? it's me Kanroji Mitsuri and we met many months ago at Rengoku's place" She reminded him cheerfully and attentively. No way, he could forget about their first meeting. He nodded to her and felt an urge of awkwardness rising up to his face. The feeling that he never came across months as well as the heat over his face.

"Kanroji, I do remember you! b-but" It was Kanroji Mitsuri. He never thought he would meet her again at this place because in his eyes, she should have lived like a normal girl outside this compound but finally she already seemed to choose her path. But what he worried was not her appearance. Speaking of her appearance, her face lit up brightly, her smile widened adronlingly to him. Her smile was as cute as the same and she looked as beautiful as before he concluded in his head when his eyes lingered on her face. He felt drawn to her and he could feel the warmth throughout his body. It's an alien feeling for him. But all had to stop because what he worried was on her uniform.

"I've never seen you in ages, how're you?" She asked and walked closer to him, meanwhile his eyes also widened in shock even more.

"I'm fine, yeah what's about you. Sl-slow down Kanroji! Slow down! no need to hurry" His voice was shaky by a shock, never believed what he saw, Obanai put his hand up to signal her to slow down when she was running to him. He saw her, yes that was Kanroji Mitsuri but what he saw and made him startle was her uniform. It's designed to show off her ultra-feminine body; skirt was too short and exposed her slender legs, and her shirt was designed to be tightened to elaborate her curve and uncovered her chest and exposed her bosom, the cleavage in which it bounced constantly when she jumped and landed on the lawn and walked toward him in quick pace.

"I'm so glad you still remember me!" Until she halted her step in front of him and looked up at him. " It's wonderful to see you here!" Mitsuri cried in happiness, jumped and gave a special hug to him so dear. Her mouth repeated she's so glad to meet him again after having departed from last time, she continued to murmur and complain out; while his face pressed on her cleave. Obanai forgot how to inhale and exhale, just held his breath and pretended to listen to her mumbling, nodded sometimes.

"I thought you would forget me but when I called you and you waved me back I'm so glad you still remembered me! yahooo" She still snuggled him with no care of him having suffocating but in bliss. His mismatched eyes still fixed on same place.

Unawared, Obanai never thought about what her body looked like as last time they met, she was covered with wearable. Having witnessed today, he felt hot urging energy rising up to his face. He never had been cuddled like this before, and most importantly that girl was her. This was how it feels to be hugged by a girl? only thought could race his heart and adrenaline.

"Long time no see you, Iguro-san! I've heard you had a journey to set a post at a very distant and isolated island from Rengoku-san. You're really talented and great! I'm happy to see you back, save and sound" Mitsuri left him free and smiled to him shyly, raised her eyes to look at him in a admiring way while Obanai was like getting shot by her love arrow again "I don't know how to congratulate you properly ha-ha"

Scratching his head, Obanai said, trying to keep the nervousness out of his voice "Ah yes.. Thank you, Kanroji and.. you became a demon slayer now?" He asked and saw her radiated with gleam of happiness from her as he paid attention to her back.

Mitsuri nodded eagerly "Oh yeah, I was just appointed a few weeks ago as Hashira" Mitsuri answered with a proud smile. It startled him. She made it, he let out a victorious cry inside his head, she could manage to get through it. The process of being Hashira was not a bed of roses. She must have gone through the hellish training and doing missions before getting the approval to be a Hasihira but why she never found the trace of the hardship she found. Now she's letting out casual laughs and scratching her head, he is also enticed by her smile and her awkward position. Because she's still the same in his eyes, never changes an inch.

"um..congratulation on that. It must be hard for you but you did it"

"Thank you, Iguro-san. It's very nice of you to congratulate me" Her face turned from pinkish to red around her cheeks and rubbed her face on her palm in shyness. Obanai gulped and nodded while his eyes dumbly fixed on her face as he cannot take his eyes off her cute nature.

When she glanced back at him, Obanai averted his eyes suddenly and he heard Mitsuri gasped slightly as she might not know why he did this. "What're you doing here?"

Mitsuri paused before starting to realize her true intention "I just went out to receive my sword and then I got lost because I have to report to Oyakata-sama about my sword but still didn't find his residence..ha-ha how forgetful I am." she fidgeted but it still looked cute in his eyes. How can she be so cute like this, he felt the heat on his face more and more.

Obanai cleared his throat to remind calm and collected "I can guild you there..if you're fine with it" his last sentence faded as he now never felt his existence could possibly lift up her spirit or be positive to her. But Mitsuri nodded with her usual smile

"Okay! it's really super okay! Thank you for your help, Iguro-san! You really help me a lot!" again she thanked him for his little help that he regarded as very tiny. Her face lit up in certain pinkish "You help me again, Iguro-san"

"It's not a big deal" Obanai said and led her a right way to Oyakata's residence.

"I'm sorry, I still have a problem remembering the path even though Rengoku-san took me here multiple times" While a couple was walking, her hand accidentally brushed on his hand. Obanai tensed and jolted with the eep. It earned her to step and wore a worried look on her face.

"Iguro-san, what's it? Are you okay?" Obanai waved his hand to led the way and tried to calm his pounding heart while realizing that her hand is so smooth.

He let her get to the master's room and he followed her next. Their meeting was short because she reported about her sword and he announced his service after going on a long mission. It all ended within a few minutes and they went out together "Where are you going next, Iguro-san?"

"I'm on my way to.." Obanai conflicted in his thought "I have a sudden call from slayers before a meeting and I think I'm gonna pay a visit to Rengoku-san and what about you?" even his sound was trampled, he knew it but how can he tell her that he's finding her. Because even, letter from one of his closest companions like Kyojuro, he hadn't checked it.

"I'm gonna meet him too, shall we go together?" Mitsuri looked at him with hopeful eyes and there he cannot refuse her at all.

Obanai nodded "Hmm" and she said "I thought he woke up now and might be in his estate and oh .. I forgot to tell you I have already got my personal estate! It's behind Rengoku-san estate and you can come to meet me whenever you want, Iguro-san!"

"Thanks" Obanai felt on edge as a girl invited him, did invite him to her mansion. He repeated her sentence again and felt chaotic in his head. Why he had to be affected by it this much, she just invited her to her shelter. "I always invite other Hashira to my estate to have tea and snacks together! because I wanna know everyone" His mouth hung down from the disappointment. She did invite everyone but how the hell could he tell her it's not proper for a girl to open her house to freely like this. He felt wrong but it can't help.

"It's really great! I have a chance to meet every Hashira. Everyone is so talented so I have to put double effort to me ha-ha but they all are so kind to me too! It's really great spending time and hanging out with them. At first, I'm afraid to meet each of them when Rengoku-san took me to introduce but later on, they welcomed me very warmly, especially Shinobu-chan. She's so kind to me and used to give me a blanket when I was officially appointed to be Hashira because I was sweating too much from excitement"

"Nice to hear you can stay with them" Obanai said.

"Thank you, Iguro-san. Like I just learnt Himejima-san always adopted stray cat and he really like cats! so we can share our cat life story when we have free time" He thought about the strongest Rock Pillar, which looked strange for him to have this kind of hobby and fond of cats. "Everyone seems to be interesting and also treated me well!" She always found everything exciting and poured her heart into every normal detail. That's what makes her so valuable in his eyes.

"Kanroji" He called her as there's something missing on her uniform

"Hai. Iguro-san?" Mitsuri asked eagerly.

"You have haori?" Obanai pointed to his own strip haori. She shook her head "You might find it because as Hashira, we're allowed to wear it so that..so that you don't need to worry about the cold weather" He managed to come up with an excuse about cold weather, He hoped she could buy it.

"That's right, I never thought about it before" Mitsuri mumbled, pointed her index to her lip, rolled her eyes upward thinking about her mentor having a cape with fire decoration. Obanai felt relieved as she gave a thought about it. He wanted her to have a uniform changed, because it exposed too much of her body so if she wore something, it might be better to her.

"I think if I have free time, I would go out and find it later" she answered with a smile but his heart shrank because she normally could answer straightly like okay I'll go now or this sort. That implied she had a few free time to do so? he asked himself and contemplated on it. If I asked her out..screw! fuck...no let's get over a new one. If I asked her to find a new fabric together.. okay it sounded reasonable..Obanai answered to himself, no he's not the same like that sin man but he did it because of helping her, willed himself before patting her back with a soft touch.

Mitsuri stopped her step and looked at him as if waiting for him to speak

"I just want to purpose my idea. You wanna hear, Kanroji?"

Purpose Mitsuri flinched a bit by his word before remaining collected and nodded with the same eager interest.

"If you find your free schedule, let me know.. I could lead you to market around here to purchase a fabric for you" Obanai dropped his hand from her back after seeing her sudden smile with gratitude and cheerfulness.

"Great! I would find it " There Obanai noted on how typical of her to reply, it would be straight-forward like this "So we could go out together and buy my haori! yahoo! I rarely had time to go out and hang out" She looked really exciting as it should be. Obanai felt glad to guess her nature true and It triggered him to have made someone feel good like this. I rarely happened and he barely cared. But for her, he willingly gave in his help and time.

At least, he made her feel good, really…

"Iguro-san.. I don't know it sound stupid or not but can you give me a promise. I'm afraid you would go out a long mission again" Mitsuri asked and there was a sign of uncertain in her sound and manner as she averted her eyes constantly and played on her finger

"um, sure" Obanai decided right now, even had a slight double thought inside his head as he used to claim to do every hard mission for benefit of Demon Slayer Corps

"No, not like this, Iguro-san"

Obanai looked at her with mild surprise for question what should I do on his features

"You should do this too" Mitsuri showed her little finger up "you should do pinky swear too when you gave a promise" She waited for him to comply.

Obanai hesitated at first, then he reached her little finger and crossed slightly but she herself crossed him tight and said "Alright we have a promise together! Iguro-san would spare free time for me and I will find free time. Then we would go shopping together at marketplace"

"Hm.. promise, promise" He didn't know what to say and this was what he could think of.

"Look.. your fingers are thinner than mine," Mitsuri observed.

"Le-let's go and meet Rengoku-san or else we're gonna be late" Obanai stuttered before walking out again together, even their fingers parted from each other. The slight ting of warm sensation tickled on his finger. He looked at the pinky finger and used his thumb rubbed on it. He had a feeling like if he was born and brought up in a normal family, what would it be when he met her as a normal boy? could he show his feelings to her more? Would he be allowed to do that? Her hand, he could hold it confidently?

Obanai gulped at his thoughts. He felt very fragile at this time. Half, he felt like he wanted to step away from her walk because he felt different from her. Half he wanted to spend time with her as much as he could.

"So we're gonna see each other so often, right, Iguro-san because now I'm Hashira like you and Rengoku-san now!" Mitsuri brought up another topic and it could pull him out of his own grief.

"Hai, we can."

"What are you thinking about dessert? I really like it. I think I want to make it and let you and Rengoku-san eat it over my place. I think it's gonna be fun" Mitsuri expressed openly and he could see how sincere she meant it.

"That.. would be great" At this point, he decided he would try to spend time with her.

After they arrived at Flame Pillar, Kyojuro came out and greeted them excitingly with a hint of how the two of you two met and came together! It startled Obanai while Mitsuri squeaked shyly. Kyojuro then welcomed both of them to his estate.

When they took a seat inside the living room, Kyojuro turned back to pick up something before walking toward both of them.

Obanai found Kyojuro said "I think I have got nothing for my student up until now!" Kyojuro made an exciting tone and wooed her when he showed what's in his hand toward a couple very proudly. It was a long white haori. That's why he felt very betrayed and ruined. His eyes still fixed at both of them, exclaiming very delightful to each other. She jumped around happily while Kyojuro laughed when a girl wooed thanking him. His hand twitched and finally he let out a faint groan because his plan was destroyed. His chance for taking her out was in vain. This man went ahead of him and it urged him to feel a little bit of annoy.

"Here's my present for you, Kanroji-kun. I thought you might need haori to wear so that you would feel comfortable while wearing a uniform" Kyojuro said and draped over her shoulder and that scene compelled Obanai to scream inside his head. That should be him! he knew only that and looked at Flame Pillar with a dark gleam malice eyes.

"I love it, I love it Rengoku-senpai. Thank you so much!" Mitsuri said and jumped around happily like a rabbit. Obanai looked at her and Kyojuro back and forth because it should be him taking her an haori. He balled his Haosri without knowing.

"Iguro-san look! look!" She ran to him in the same happy manner "Rengoku-senpai brought it for me!" Mitsuri waggled and tried to pose in order to show him the haori

"um that's good for you" Obanai didn't know what to add, it should feel relieve as she finally felt comfortable for having another cape to cover her body. Okay it's not a whole business of him and not an important matter of him. He took in his zone and nodded to respond to her.

"Eh.. come on, Iguro-san don't make a face like that!" Mitsuri was in an over-happy state, running and caught his hand "I don't forget about our promise so I still want to go out with you no matter what! ha-ha we can walk around and have sightseeing together because I have never walked around a marketplace in a nearby town before."

"It's okay, up to you Kanroji" He pretended to not give it much care but inside, he almost screamed and jumped very high because she still kept her promise to him. His chance was not lost somehow, he's looking forward to drawing the image of him spending time with her, what'd it look like?

"Omo! where are you two going? It seemed you two have secret behind my- " During Mitsuri obsessed with her new haori, Obanai closed his mouth by his own hand very fast and said "Er, Rengoku-san I think we should have breakfast before going to meeting! Hurry up, Hurry up" Obanai pushed his back out of his estate forcefully while Rengoku also compiled without realising someone wanted to keep him out of this matter.