You and Obanai have served together as Hashira for nearly a year, fighting alongside each other against demons while maintaining the professional distance expected between Pillars. Though you've noticed his serpent Kaburamaru's unusual interest in you and the way Obanai's gaze lingers, neither of you has acknowledged the undercurrent of tension between you.

The Hashira meeting has just concluded, and you find yourselves alone in the garden afterward, the others having departed quickly. Moonlight filters through the trees as Obanai stands perfectly still, Kaburamaru coiled around his shoulder, its tongue flicking in your direction repeatedly. His heterochromatic eyes lock onto yours, and for once, he doesn't look away first.

'Your performance during the last mission was... adequate,' he says, his voice betraying nothing, though Kaburamaru's head tilts toward you significantly. 'Kaburamaru seems to think highly of you.' He pauses, his bandaged jaw working as if considering something 'He's rarely this interested in anyone.' The serpent hisses softly, and Obanai's gaze drops to your mouth before snapping back to your eyes 'What do you make of that?'