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1.
Shinobu is a very light sleeper. Granted, both of them are, being Hashira, but her cáe is on an entirely different level. That one time, Giyuu nearly lost a tooth because she thought an intruder had attacked her from behind, when all he wanted was to pull her a little closer in his sleep. Somehow, Giyuu has still managed to help her let go of that fear.
2.
Shinobu likes his face best. Of course, she always says things like “I love you for your personality,” but they both know that’s only some half truth. While the two of them do enjoy their one-sided conversations together (mostly her talking), his looks play a huge part in why Shinobu puts up with him in the first place. Hence, he eventually decides to take better care of his appearance and starts buying skincare products, thanks to Kanroji’s eager suggestions.
3.
Shinobu loves taking care of people, especially those she cares about. Giyuu used to beat himself up over being a burden to her – with his injuries, his awkwardness, everything – until he finally realizes that Shinobu actually sees him turning to her in times of need as proof that they do rely on each other.
Kanzaki once confided in him, while they were hanging laundry together in the yard, that she sometimes leaves the house a bit messy on purpose (even though she could tidy it up in no time), just so Shinobu-sama will have something to do when she returns. Anyone would feel comforted knowing they’re needed somewhere – especially Shinobu, who loves the Butterfly Mansion more than anything.
4.
Shinobu often asks him to stay over at the Butterfly Mansion, mostly because she finds the Water Estate very creepy. On the rare occasions she tries spending the night in his room, Shinobu ends up lying awake the entire time, though she hides it well with lots of makeup the next morning. After that, she refuses to step foot in his estate ever again, no matter how much he insists, even though he tries decorating the estate, even filling it up with furniture to make it feel less empty.
5.
Shinobu likes children much more than she lets on, and they adore her just as much. Out of everyone, she’s the only one who can rein in the boar-headed boy’s wild, unruly behavior.
Giyuu takes that as a sign that she might want children with him someday, though she always brushes it off whenever he brings up the topic. When they’re out on missions, he sometimes catches her looking wistfully at baby shops – at cribs, toys, and everything else – whenever she thinks he isn’t looking. He finds that side of her rather endearing and tucks it away in a corner of his mind – which is already overflowing with other memories of her – as something he would never share with anyone else.
6.
Shinobu doesn’t care much about her appearance; Giyuu knew that even before they started dating. Back when her sister was still alive, she would walk around the Mansion bare-faced, not a trace of makeup, and men still admired her all the same.
Giyuu thinks she’s just as beautiful like that, but there’s something about the way she looks now, with rosy cheeks and long lashes, that captivates him just as much, even if he knows it’s just her way of preserving her sister’s memory. He particularly enjoys watching her do her makeup each morning at the dresser, the way her pale skin slowly warms under the brush. It feels like witnessing something intimate, like seeing someone he knows inside and out put on a mask for the rest of the world to see. It’s a privilege he alone gets to have, and so he treasures it.
7.
Shinobu doesn’t understand love all that well, but she does think Tanjiro and Kanao suit each other.
Giyuu isn’t much more experienced on the subject either, considering Shinobu is his first love ever, but he does agree that Tanjiro deserves the best – and if he had to choose someone Tanjiro should be with, it would be Shinobu’s tsuguko, who must also be kind-hearted if Shinobu cares for her that deeply.
In a strange way, their found family feels like it’s grown even larger; his sister would have been happy to see him surrounded by so many gentle, kind people.
8.
Shinobu prefers calling him by his last name. Even though Giyuu has started calling her “Shinobu” instead of “Kocho” when they’re alone, she seems far more comfortable sticking with “Tomioka-san.”
Maybe it’s because dragging out each syllable –“To~mi~o~ka~san” – while poking him nonstop is simply more fun than saying just “Giyuu.” Her way of showing affection for him is rather odd, but he’s grown fond of it. After all, plenty of people call him Tomioka, but the way she says it feels different, enough to make his stomach twist and his toes curl in the most pleasant way. He could listen to it forever.
9.
Shinobu often defends him behind his back when people question her choice to be with him.
When their relationship became public, Giyuu already braced himself for criticism, judgment, even outright hostility from other slayers, but he didn’t expect them to be too cowardly to say it to his face and instead bother her about it.
He doesn’t know exactly what they say or how she shuts them down (though, knowing her sharp tongue, it’s probably merciless). Still, whenever Shinobu asks him to kiss her cheek in the middle of the Mansion or casually loops her arm through his – despite neither of them being particularly touchy – he can tell she’s doing it on purpose, just to make sure those people are watching.
10.
Shinobu has his name written into her will, alongside her sisters’. He discovers this by accident one day while helping her sort through the papers on her desk.
In it, she leaves him her haori, a third of her belongings (the rest going to her sisters), and even includes a request to Oyakata-sama – or his children – to look after Giyuu after she’s gone. As if he would ever let her die before him.
Still, the fact that she thought to include him with her family means he holds a far more important place in her life than he ever realized. That alone is enough to put a bright smile (brighter than his usual one) on his face for the rest of the week.