"I think I've fallen for you, Y/n." The mist hashira whispered.
Muichiro looked at her, waiting for her answer. His stomach was tied up in a nervous knot as he watched her eyes light up.
The mirror hashira blinked at him. A gentle smile appeared on...
Three more weeks passed, each one just like the last.
Muichiro's condition remained dubious, but with Y/n's encouragment and Shinobu's care, the mist hashira was soon able to walk around the butterfly mansion with his companion. Y/n had healed much quicker since she didn't have a slayer mark... A fact that weighed on both of them heavily. After all, not even Shinobu could figure out why his body reacted the way it did to the mythical power-branding.
Regardless, the mirror hashira refused to leave the hospital until Muichiro was fully recovered. Even though he never specifically asked for her to stay with him, the injured boy was beyond grateful that she did.
(Whilst they were in hospital, two more uppermoons were killed by Mitsuri, Obanai, Tengen and the kamado squad. The news had thrilled both of them when they found out; finally, all their efforts were amounting to something.)
...
A warm smile spread over Y/n's face. It was early in the day, last night's unwashed sheets were still bunched around her ankles as she stretched her stiff limbs. Glancing to the letter at her bedside, she recalled the news that Aoi and Kanao had delievered to her.
Kagaya Ubayashiki had decided to host a large gathering, so that swordsmen of all ranks can celebrate the slayings of 3 uppermoon demons. At first, Shinobu insisted that Muichiro wouldn't be strong enough to attend... However, his condition had been improving drastically over the last week, and Y/n just barely managed to convince her of his safety in time for him to attend.
...
"I can't wait for the ball! You're gonna be on your feet for the first time in a while... I'm sure you'll be just fine, but I'll have to make sure you take it easy. How do you feel?" Y/n grinned cheerily at Muichiro, flicking a strand of messy h/c hair out of her eye.
Muichiro had been staring quietly out the window, and startled a little when her voice cut through the silence. "Oh! I, um..." He mumbled a little, shuffling back away from the window and into his bed with pink-tinged cheeks.
Clearing his throat, he registered what Y/n had been saying. "Oh yeah, that big event that Kagaya's hosting! To be honest, I hadn't even thought about going."
Y/n blinked at him in surprise. "Really? I would have thought you would enjoy getting out of the hospital walls after all this time. If it's Shinobu you're worried about, I already told her you'll be fine."
Muichiro cocked his head to the side, thinking deeply. "Really? In that case, you have a point. I kind of forgot about it after she rejected the idea of me attending, so I never really considered all the benefits. You're going, right?"
The stray lock of her hair that she had swatted away before fell back into her face. Y/n shook it away as she nodded and smiled as cheerfully as possible, trying her best to entice Muichiro into coming with her. After all, they were supposed to be delivering a hashira speech on the defeat of upper moon 4, which the forgetful boy had clearly forgotten about. Y/n really didn't want to have to stand up their all alone to talk infront of all those people...
"Please come, Mui! I promise, it'll be fun!" Y/n's voice had a slightly pleading tone to it, and Muichiro sighed. Sunlight streamed through the window onto his lap as his aqua-blue eyes met her's.
"If it'll make you happy, of course I'll go."
Y/n beamed and swooped him up in a grateful hug. "Thank goodness! I thought I was gonna have to do that speech all alone!"
Muichiro returned the hug a little before backing away in confusion at her words.
"Huh?! What speech?!"
*** (A few hours before Kagaya's celebrations)
"Um, Mitsuri... Are you sure these are going to fit me?" Y/n hesitantly took the dress from Mitsuri's hands and hung them to the rack in her changing room. The love hashira giggled and tapped her gently on the head, almost in a motherly manner.
"It'll be fine, we can always grab different sizes if they're not quite right! Trust me, you'll look great in those two styles no matter how many sizes you have to try on!"
The enthusiasm in the pink-haired woman's voice was enough to boost Y/n's confidence, and she set to work trying on her garments. Unlike the love hashira, her knowledge of clothing was minimal: Mitsuri's bold fashion and bright hair made her seem like the ideal person to ask for advice in that situation. Y/n sighed, and prayed that she made the right decision.
It didn't take long for her to get her answer.
As she slipped the first dress on, she was astonished. Mitsuri was right, it fit her like a glove, it's satin fabric framing her like some sort of greek artwork. The cut was simple enough, nothing about it was too extravagant or ostentacious. A sigh of shocked disbelief could be heard from within the locked dressing room as Y/n looked herself up and down once more.
I actually don't look half bad! I never thought that dresses like this would be my thing, but I'm starting to feel like some sort of idol here!
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The second dress was just as breathtaking. It was a shorter one this time, with a velvet skirt and off-the-shoulder neckline. Ruffled tulle sleeves bunched at her hands, shimmering softly when she moved... They were making her feel like some sort of fairy princess. Never before had Y/n had an opportunity to feel this beautiful; a whole new type of self-appreciation was unlocked just by seeing herself in something as nice as Mitsuri's dresses. Heart beating rapidly, she unlocked the dressing room door.
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"KYAAAAA! YOU LOOK SO CUTE, Y/N!" Mitsuri gushed, her emerald eyes sparkling. The mirror hashira blushed deeply and bowed in thanks, embarrased by her fellow hashira's energetic compliments. Mitsuri jumped up and down on the spot, overly proud of her little creation. "Which dress are you going to wear to the party?!"
"Oh! I, um..." Y/n paused, suddenly struck with dismay. Mitsuri was right; she could only pick one!
A/N: Comment which dress you would pick to help Y/n decide! I still don't know which to choose for her so you'll have to decide for me! Whichever gets the most votes in the comments will be included in the next chapter <3
