contemplating whether i should post an essay about how rengoku and mitsuri’s dynamic is so valuable and wholesome. they are just so,,,heartwarming. ADORABLE. even with the untranslated gaiden scans, their positive energy seeps straight from the panels! we see:
rengoku cheerfully encouraging and gifting mitsuri her haori (and the “uwu” falling cherry blossoms background...really? renmitsu shippers, go gaga)
rengoku acknowledging her as his tsuguko but--
"from now on, we're not teacher and student, we're comrades"
rengoku & mitsuri training + senjurou bonding
senjurou wondering (with amusement) if all demons slayers acted as oddly as his older brother and older friend + comforting mitsuri and hugging and crying with her when she tackled him to escape kyoujurou’s training LMAOOOO
both brothers being all ??? when they realized mitsuri’s delicate dilemma with the chest area in her corps uniform attire!! mitsuri being beyond flustered and kyoujurou being understanding so she won’t feel embarrassed anymore 🥺
mitsuri’s enthusiasm despite the harsh (from what we've seen) training.
MITSURI DEVELOPED HER OWN BREATH-STYLE BEYOND FLAME BREATHING, FIRST EVER LOVE BREATH USER, SHE IS SUCH A BADASS AND I WILL ALWAYS REITERATE THIS
domestic and soft rengoku brothers!!
mitsuri’s obvious happiness at being able to grow and to learn as a demon slayer
their first official mission together, further solidifying their mentorship bond
rengoku immediately coming to mitsuri’s help when she was frozen in fear/shock
THE CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
the gaiden is honestly how i wanted to see their found family/mentor-student relationship, and i’m so glad it delivered beyond my expectation (i wish they showed obanai tho, he’s an honorary rengoku member since shinjurou saved him as a child.) i’m so excited to see the future gaiden hashira interactions, oh the amount of unexpected bonding and hilarity.
