── ┊⇢ ˗ˏˋ Kyojuro Rengoku┊

Don't you notice how I get quiet when there's no one else around? Me and you and awkward silence

"You've been talking about wanting someone to spend the day with for weeks," Rengoku said, his smile widening as he looked at you, his hands on his hips in his usual enthusiastic stance. "Who are you thinking of?" he asked, glancing around. There were no other Hashira in sight; the others were either occupied with their missions or enjoying their free time elsewhere.

The silence that followed was heavy and awkward. Rengoku's heart always raced and pounded, aching when you were near. He knew you liked Tengen, his best buddy. What right did he have to interfere? Rengoku shouldn't be meddling in your business, yet here he was, unable to stop himself.?

He watched as you hesitated, your eyes darting away from his gaze. The air between you grew tense, filled with unspoken words and unexpressed feelings. Rengoku's mind raced, memories flooding back of the moments you'd shared, the times he had tried to muster the courage to say something but always fell short.

His smile faltered slightly as he thought, Silly me for thinking that was a sign. He had hoped, maybe even convinced himself, that there was something more between you. But seeing you hesitate now, knowing your heart leaned towards Tengen, brought a pang of sadness that was hard to ignore.

His usual enthusiasm dimming. "You and tengen would make a perfect match!" He tried to keep his voice steady, but the crack in his heart was evident. He knew he had no right to feel this way, no right to wish for something more when your heart was set on someone else.

Rengoku stood there, feeling the weight of his unspoken love pressing down on him. He forced himself to keep smiling, to hide the pain that gnawed at his insides. He wanted to be the supportive friend you needed, even if it meant putting his own feelings aside. But deep down, he couldn't help but wonder what might have been if things were different. If only he had been the one you were thinking of, the one you wanted to spend your days with.

As he stood there, a mixture of longing and resignation in his eyes, Rengoku realized that some battles were fought in silence, and this was one he was destined to face alone.

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*Don't you dare look at me that way I don't need reminders of how you don't feel the same Oh, the burning pain Listening to you harp on 'bout some new soulmate

He hated this. Rengoku hated how happy you looked when you were around Tengen. Well, it wasn't that he hated your happiness; he was genuinely glad that you were happy, really! But he felt... depressed? Perplexed? Sad? He couldn't quite pin down the emotion, but he knew it hurt to see you so giddy and excited with someone else.

Rengoku loved you so much, so why didn't you love him back? Perhaps it was because Tengen was smooth, more upfront, more flirtatious, and had more charm. He replayed moments in his mind, watching as you laughed effortlessly at Tengen's jokes, your eyes lighting up in a way they never did for him.

Rengoku stood on the sidelines, trying to mask his feelings with his usual cheerful demeanor. But each laugh, each smile you shared with Tengen, felt like a dagger to his heart. He tried to remind himself that your happiness was what mattered most, yet it was hard to ignore the pang of jealousy and sadness that gnawed at him.

He wondered if he lacked something, if there was a part of him that was insufficient in your eyes. His confidence, usually unwavering, faltered in these quiet moments of introspection. He questioned what he could have done differently, how he could have been more like Tengen.

Despite the pain, Rengoku couldn’t bring himself to resent you or even Tengen. It wasn’t in his nature to hold grudges. But the unspoken love he harbored weighed heavily on him, a constant reminder of what could never be. He loved you so deeply, yet that love remained hidden, unacknowledged, and unreturned.

Watching you from afar, he sighed deeply, trying to push away the sadness that clung to him like a shadow. He resolved to be the supportive friend you needed, even if it meant hiding his true feelings and enduring the heartache in silence. After all, your happiness was worth more to him than his own.

"She's so perfect, " blah, blah, blah Oh, how I wish you'll wake up one day Run to me, confess your love, at least just let me say That when I talk to you oh, Cupid walks right through And shoots an arrow through my heart And I sound like a loon, but don't you feel it too? Confess I loved you from the start

Rengoku often found himself lost in thought, daydreaming about a world where things were different. "Tengen's so perfect for them," he'd think, watching you from a distance, his heart aching with a bittersweet longing. He wished, more than anything, that one day you'd wake up and realize his feelings, that you'd run to him and confess your love. He imagined the moment vividly: the two of you standing close, your eyes meeting, and finally, he'd have the chance to tell you how he truly felt. His hands on your waist as he spun you around in the air..

Every time he talked to you, it felt as though Cupid himself walked through, shooting an arrow straight through his heart. Your voice, your laughter, the way you moved—all of it struck him deeply, leaving him breathless and yearning for more. Despite feeling like a fool, he couldn't help but wonder if you felt it too. Did you notice the way his eyes lingered on you a little longer, the way his smile softened just for you? Did you ever feel the electric connection that seemed to bind his heart to yours?

He longed to confess that he had loved you from the very start, hoping against hope that you might share even a fraction of the deep affection he held for you. He pictured how it would unfold: you would look at him with realization in your eyes, and then, with a shy but radiant smile, you would tell him that you felt the same. The weight of unspoken love would lift, and he would finally be able to hold you close, no longer just a friend but something more, something profound and beautiful.

But each day that passed without this revelation chipped away at his hope. He saw you with Tengen, and though he wanted to be happy for you, the sight only deepened his sorrow. Yet, despite the heartache, Rengoku couldn't bring himself to resent you or even Tengen. His love for you was pure and selfless, and all he wanted was your happiness—even if it meant standing on the sidelines, watching from afar.

In those quiet moments, when he was alone with his thoughts, he allowed himself to dream. He dreamed of a time when you would see him, truly see him, and realize that the love you sought had been right in front of you all along. Until then, he would continue to cherish every moment he spent with you, treasuring the small glimpses of joy and warmth that your presence brought into his life. And though his heart ached with unfulfilled desire, he held onto the hope that one day, you might just wake up and see him for who he truly was—the one who loved you from the very start.