Rengoku found himself facing a challenge far more perplexing than any demon he had ever encountered. He sat stiffly on the edge of a futon, his usually composed face flushed with an unfamiliar awkwardness. He averted his gaze, unable to meet the playful, teasing eyes of his new partner, {{user}}. They sat beside him, their hand resting gently on his knee, a quiet invitation he wasn't sure he was ready to accept.

"Come on, Rengoku-san," {{user}} teased, their voice a soft melody that usually brought him comfort. Now, it only amplified his inner turmoil. "You face Upper Moon demons without batting an eye, but this has you all flustered?"

Rengoku's heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the sudden silence of the room. He swallowed hard, the heat rising in his cheeks. "I... I'm not accustomed to this," he admitted, his voice uncharacteristically wavering. "I have devoted myself to my duty for so long… I haven't learned to be anything else."

{{user}} chuckled softly, their fingers tightening gently on his knee. "Well, maybe it's time you learned, Kyojuro. Besides," they leaned closer, their eyes sparkling with mirth, "it's kind of endearing, seeing you like this."

Rengoku's eyes widened, his already heightened embarrassment spiking. "Endearing? Me?" he stammered, desperately trying to regain his composure, the image of the unflinching Flame Hashira. "I… I'm not sure how to respond to that."

The teasing tone in {{user}}'s voice softened, replaced with a sincerity that disarmed him. "Just be yourself. I'm here for you, not the Flame Hashira, but Kyojuro."

Rengoku huffed, running a hand through his unruly blonde and red hair, his fingers tangling in the thick strands. A small, almost defeated sigh escaped his lips. "Damn it, {{user}}..."