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The Infinite Castle is not a place Obanai wanted to be in.
He didn't expect to see something like this. It is almost like another world, another dimension. This is a land that was not created by humans; a land where there should be no humans. A land of demons, where slayers are in a disadvantage from the very beginning.
Obanai doesn't know whether he blesses or curses the fact that he is not alone.
Kanroji is beside him, unable to hide his unease with the situation they are in. On the one hand, Obanai is happy to be close to her - that way he will be able to react, to protect her if necessary. But on the other hand, he would very, very much hate for her to be here.
This is not just any fight.
This is a fight from which many of them will not get out alive. This is a fight during which Hashira will die.
Obanai has this terrible certainty that he would rather not have.
As he makes his way through the corridors of the Infinite Castle, he tries not to think about the people they left outside - people he may not meet again. All he can do is hope that the rest will be able to cope. He trusts the skills of the remaining Hashira, but he knows full well that Hashira are only human. People die.
Obanai doesn't want to see any more deaths of friends.
And that's why he can currently only focus on Kanroji. Kanroji, who is not giving up hope even now, at a time when any person would be a bit concerned about the current situation.
Could this be related to the fact that Kanroji has awakened the Demon Slayer Mark within her? Does he add to her confidence?
Doesn't she fear that this Mark might kill her?
Well, here we go again, the same doubts, the same denials emerge. Obanai is glad that Kanroji activated the Mark - thanks to it, she was able to survive the fight with the Upper Moons when they attacked the Swordsmith Village. Obanai never doubted that if there was anyone who would do the impossible, it would be Mitsuri (or perhaps Sanemi, he's incredibly determined), however... Well, that's where the but comes in. What if Kanroji has thus signed a sentence on herself?
Isn't that unfair? Neither Kanroji nor Tokito knew what fate awaited them. Neither of them was aware of how little time they had left.
But, if only they had known, they probably would have made the same decision.
They are good people, not like Obanai.
If there's anyone who deserves to live, it's them. Mitsuri in particular.
But life is not fair, Obanai knows this very well.
Eventually, he tells the truth to Mitsuri when it's too late.
Obanai is unable to see her face. His eyes are destroyed and nothing can save them anymore. His body clings only with its last strength.
They will die here, both of them.
If only he were able to give his life for hers, he would do it without hesitation. He would give up everything for her, so long as she could survive a little longer, so that she could be happy, healthy.
But his desires don't matter.
They will die here.
Death extends her arms toward them, welcoming them like old friends. For so long they have fled from her, but now they have no chance for another miracle.
The borrowed time they got from her is over.
But perhaps, if only they were given the chance to meet again...
Perhaps if only the world had been a little more gracious...
Perhaps then Obanai would have been able to tell her how he felt about her sooner.
Perhaps then he would have been able to be brave enough not to be afraid to love.
But this world is not kind.
The world they live in is cruel. It is cold and unpleasant, full of pain, violence and death.
Mitsuri's arms are warm.
And it is in her arms that Iguro Obanai dies.
Although his life was not good, at least in death he was given the chance to be at the side of the woman he loves above life.
In another world, in another time, a boy is born.
He does not remember the times he lived through. In many ways, he is the same as the rest. He has a loving family who cares about him and his happiness.
He grows up being happy.
He meets her by chance.
Some say that love at first sight doesn't exist; that it's just infatuation. But in his case, everything in him, his body, his soul calls out to this slightly strange, pink-haired girl, who smiles as if she wants to replace the sun with her smile.
That one moment is enough to change his entire world.
It's as if he's found someone he's been waiting for all his life. Someone he has unconsciously always looked out for, always searched for.
With her by his side, he is complete.
She is everything he wants, everything he desires.
The girl pays attention to him. She stops, ignoring the curious glances her friends cast in her direction.
“Kanroji-san?” asks one of them, not understanding what's going on. “Are you all right?”
“Yes,” the girl looks away from him. She moves on ahead, which is perfectly normal, ordinary.
They are not friends, they are not acquaintances. They passed each other on the street, they have nothing in common - nothing but this strange impression that she is someone extremely important.
In another life, he would have walked away, no longer looking at her. He would have recognized that she deserved happiness, someone better than him, defiled and destroyed, tainted.
But this is not that life.
In this life he is not burdened by old memories, old pain and fears.
He hesitates for only a brief moment.
He moves toward her and extends his hand to her.
In another life, he dared not approach her, forever keeping his distance.
In this life, he willingly shortens that distance.
They meet again. First once a month, then once a week, then several times.
They learn about each other. They find out what it is that the other likes, what it is that gives the other pleasure and joy.
The girl eats a lot. She is a tad stronger than the others, her hair is a slightly different shade than it should be, which caused her some problems as a child.
In another world, she would feel pressure to find a husband and not cause embarrassment to her family, even though the family has repeatedly assured her that everything is fine and that she doesn't have to do anything against her will.
In this life, she has someone at her side who doesn't mind. Someone who accepts her fully, loving her as she is.
The boy is a bit shy, distrustful of strangers. But there is something about her that attracts him to her, that makes him unable to forget her. Something that makes him always return to her, ready to help her as much as he would be able.
When he stays next to her, he is complete.
When he asks her to marry him, the girl answers yes.