Us || Sanegiyuu

Chapter 16

Ubuyashiki had once again called for the meeting a day after Sanemi and Giyuu returned from their mission. The meeting was attended by all the hashiras, and Sanemi and Giyuu reported on the events of the demon attack. Kagaya listened quietly, his facial expressions as stoic and unreadable as ever.

After the reports, Kagaya spoke,"It seems like the demons are becoming more aggressive, and the number of demon attacks is increasing. This is worrying."

The hashiras nodded in agreement, the gravity of the situation settling over them like a dark cloud. Sanemi could feel the tension in the room, the sense of urgency growing with each passing moment.

Kagaya continued, now addressing the room as a whole. "We must be more vigilant than ever. We cannot let our guard down." The hashiras responded with various nods and agreements, their faces solemn but determined. This wasn't a time for weakness or complacency. They all knew the stakes.

The meeting continued for a while longer, with Kagaya assigning new missions and discussing new strategies. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Sanemi couldn't help but steal glances at Giyuu, who sat quietly next to him. Giyuu seemed lost in thought, his gaze fixed on a point in front of him. Sanemi couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his head. He wanted to ask, to know what he was thinking, but he stopped himself, knowing that now was not the time.

Eventually, the meeting concluded, the hashiras filing out of the room one by one. Sanemi lingered for a moment, watching Giyuu's back as he walked out, debating with himself whether or not to follow.

In the end, his curiosity won out. He walked after Giyuu who had already walked out of the room. Sanemi made his way down the hallway but the ravenette was nowhere to be seen. He must be outside, Sanemi thought before going out himself, his slightly hurried footsteps thudding against the wooden floor. Stepping outside, he saw Giyuu standing a few feet away, his back to Sanemi, facing the two pillars in front of him, the insect pillar and the flame pillar.

Sanemi slowed his steps, stilling as he heard the sound of their voices. He observed the interaction, noting the easy smiles on the two other pillars' faces, he wondered if Giyuu had the same expression on his face. The three of them chatted for a bit longer, then the Flame pillar patted Giyuu on the back (a little too roughly for Sanemi's taste) and walked off, leaving Giyuu and the Insect pillar alone.

They continued speaking, their body language relaxed. Sanemi watched them closely, his jaw clenching involuntarily. Seeing Giyuu so at ease with someone else made something deep within him stir, an unfamiliar and unwelcome feeling.

But as he observed the two further, he noticed how how Shinobu spoke to Giyuu, her voice calm and gentle, no wonder Giyuu feel at ease with her. And that is something Sanemi could never do, he didn't know how to make his voice calm, how to make Giyuu feel comfortable around him.

Frustration and irritation began rising. Why couldn't he be more like Shinobu, soft-spoken and kind? Why was he always so rough, so blunt? He didn't have the same easy charm that the other pillars had, the kind that made people gravitate towards them effortlessly.

As he stood there watching, a part of him ached with a longing. A longing to be the kind of person that Giyuu could talk to so easily, laugh with so freely, without any of the tension and awkwardness that always seemed to fill the space between them. But that wasn't him. He was Sanemi Shinazugawa, the surly grump, the guy who couldn't communicate without a gruff comment or raised voice. And he knew that Giyuu would never look at him like he looked at Shinobu. With fondness and ease, with trust and friendship.

They continued talking for a few minutes longer, then Shinobu gave Giyuu a small pat on the shoulder and walked away, leaving Giyuu alone. Sanemi watched Giyuu watch her leave.