It's been so hot at work today in the garden center, but my mind kinda wandered while cleaning strawberry plants about Mashita's little quirk of blowing smoke in non-smokers faces.
I believe the actual reason he does that (because I highly doubt he just does that on a whim to rile people up- although he does like doing that) is that he's connected the memory of his senior to smoking. Whether the act itself or an aspect of it (like the smell or sight of the smoke, sound of a lighter flicking, etc.)
Mashita's personality is one of showing care through duty- actions over words. And if his memories of his senior were of them hanging out during smoke breaks in the force, or having a smoke after work at an izakaya or restaurant together, in his mind it keeps him alive- not just a memory. It's why he holds onto his seniors lighter like a treasure.
So when a non-smoker chastises his habit or calls it gross, to him- deep inside - it feels like a dig against his senior. And so he retaliates. His personality is one of fairness and justice. So to him, blowing the smoke in their face feels like a fair trade, in his mind he's protecting his seniors legacy cause that's just how much he meant to him.
Aaaaanyway enough useless rambling, my lunch breaks almost over, back into the heat again. 🫠
