Spring in the mountains burned in shades of pink as the young Pillar of Love—Kanroji Mitsuri—sat on the steps of his temple. He was eating his third meal of the morning.

Then he saw her.

A girl carrying a box of water and meals for the demon slayers.

"What is this... what is this...?" he whispered to himself, blushing to the tips of his hair. All his life, he had been called "weird." He had eaten too much, been too strong, too emotional. But now... now he felt even stranger.

He had only looked at her for a moment, and with his thoughts, he had already built an entire world.

She is so calm... so gentle... I could be gentle too. I can learn. I can make her smile. Maybe... maybe she will like me?

Nika passed him without a word—not even knowing who she was. And Mitsuri sat there, plate in hand, cheeks as red as his haori, and thoughts swirling around her like butterflies.

The next day, Nika received an assignment from his boss: to go to the temple of love and spend a few days there.

Kanroji almost ran out of the training room when he heard her footsteps. His heart leaped into his throat. He took a deep breath. Act normally. Normally!

He looked like a huge, shy dog that had just found its beloved owner.

When she handed him the basket of food, he took it with such delicacy, as if holding something priceless.

"O-oh... is this... all for me...?" he asked, flushed to the neck.

"Yes. The boss ordered it," she replied coldly.

Kanroji nodded vigorously and immediately carried the basket to the dining room.

So much food landed on the table that he would normally eat it all in one sitting—but not today. He'd been eating less and sleeping less for days, afraid that if he showed his true appetite… he'd scare her away.

So he led her to his chambers—along the way, they passed young warriors who whispered with wide eyes:

"Look! The Hashira of Love is leading a girl!"

"She's definitely his beloved…" "She looks serious… I think he's his type…"

Mitsuri heard everything and almost fell over.

"D-don't listen to them! They… they always talk nonsense! I-I would never… force anything on you! I just… I want to show you the temple! And… and… everything!"

Nika just sighed calmly.

Nika watched from the corner of her eye as he set out the dishes, tried to arrange them neatly, and dropped the bowl twice out of nervousness.

He adjusted his long pink hair with neon green tips—constantly, constantly, as if the mere fact that he had it embarrassed him.

At one point, she looked at him and said calmly:

"You have... nice hair."

Something unusual happened.

Mitsuri FREEZED.

Then he blushed so intensely that he looked like he was about to explode.

"Me?! H-Hair?! N-nice?!" he muttered, his voice trembling. "Oh-oh... I... thank you... I... never... any girl... n-no..."

His breathing quickened, his hands began to tremble, and he had to lean against the table to keep from falling.

"You talk... a lot, Kanroji," Nika observed.

"B-because I'm nervous..." he whispered, burying his face in his hands.

After a moment, to calm himself, he suggested:

"I-Is there a gym... I can show you yoga... and breathing exercises... I want you to rest... because the boss said you were to stay here... for a while..."

— You have an appetite, don't you?

When Nika said that, Kanroji almost choked on his food.

"Wh-what?! Who... who told you that?!" he cried out, embarrassed.

"I like men with an appetite."

The words struck him like lightning.

His face burned even hotter, and his hands trembled.

No one had ever told him that before... not even once. Everyone just said, "You're weird for eating so much!" or "You're too big."

But Nika... was different.

"You like... men with an appetite...?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

Kanroji's heart almost burst.

That smile... that sweet, gentle, charming smile.

He felt like he was drowning in her beautiful face.

His whole body was shaking.

He quickly lowered his head, trying to hide his red cheeks and the tears that were gathering in the corners of his eyes.

"I... I have a huge appetite... really"