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Obanai Iguro has a love interest in Demon Slayer. See the Snake Hashira’s emotional journey and whether his feelings bloom into love.
In Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba), Obanai Iguro surely has a love interest. The Snake Hashira’s heart belongs to Mitsuri Kanroji, the Love Hashira. Their relationship is the most direct romantic connection in the entire Demon Slayer series. The relationship they have is described by mutual affection, gift-giving, and sincerely emotional moments.
Regardless of their contrasting natures—Obanai is reserved and stern while Mitsuri is upbeat and open—their bond extends throughout the manga into a powerful love story. This reference culminates in one of the most heartfelt moments in the series.
The Snake Hashira’s Hidden Affection
Obanai Iguro isn’t directly exposed as having a love interest in Demon Slayer. When he first appears in the series, the Snake Hashira emerges cold and merciless, depicting little emotion beyond his dedication to slaying demons. He’s mainly harsh toward Tanjiro for protecting Nezuko, presenting his strict adherence to the Demon Slayer Corps’ rules. However, subtle hints begin to emerge that Obanai Iguro’s love interest is beneath his stern exterior.
Even though his normally harsh conduct, Obanai shows a totally different side when interacting with Mitsuri. We learn that he gave her the specific green-striped socks she always wears—a gift she treasures. The manga depicts this moment with hearts floating between them, making it clear that Obanai Iguro does love her, though he stumbles to convey his feelings directly.
His inability to look her in the eye while giving the gift reveals his shy side, contrasting sharply with his usually confident persona. This early moment sets the foundation for understanding that despite his cold exterior, Obanai Iguro does have a love interest that makes him feel like a normal boy rather than a hardened demon slayer.
Opposite Personalities, Connected Hearts
Whether Obanai Iguro has a love interest becomes more evident when considering the stark dissimilarities between him and Mitsuri. Obanai is physically more fragile than Mitsuri despite being older (he’s 21 while she’s 19), can go three days without eating, and gives off a dark, grim aura. Mitsuri, contrarily, has incredibly high muscle density, eats more than three sumo wrestlers combined, and emits warmth and positivity.
These differences stress why Obanai Iguro has a love interest in Mitsuri—she portrays everything he isn’t. Where he’s guarded, she’s open. Where he’s mean, she’s lively. Their relationship in Demon Slayer subverts formal gender norms, with Mitsuri being physically stronger and taller than Obanai. Despite these differences, or perhaps because of them, Obanai finds himself pulled to her brightness.
Their bond confirms Obanai Iguro’s love interest, which complements his personality flawlessly. Mitsuri’s background shows she once felt she needed to hide her true self to find a husband, giving them a shared experience of feeling they needed to conceal their authentic selves. This mutual understanding strengthens the evidence that Obanai Iguro has a love interest who accepts him completely.
Signs of Romance Throughout the Demon Slayer Series
The Demon Slayer manga provides numerous hints that Obanai Iguro has a love interest. The two Hashira exchange letters regularly, showing they maintain communication even when separated. When Tanjiro mentions spending time with Mitsuri during training, Obanai becomes visibly jealous, warning Tanjiro not to get “too friendly” with her—his veins actually pop out on his face during this protective moment.
Further evidence that Obanai Iguro has a love interest appears during battles. When fighting alongside Mitsuri against Upper Moon 4, he protectively tells demons to “stay away from Kanroji.” Mitsuri blushes intensely at this, with hearts appearing in her speech bubble. Obanai also demonstrates exceptional patience with Mitsuri when she makes mistakes, regaling her with a gentleness he offers no one else.
During the Hashira gathering after Mitsuri’s battle with Upper Moon 4, Obanai specifically asks about her state, causing Mitsuri to blush and think to herself, “Oh, he’s worried about me.” These consistent moments throughout Demon Slayer confirm without a doubt that Obanai Iguro deeply cares for her and protects her whenever possible.
The Tragic Backstory Behind His Hesitation
Despite clear signs that Obanai Iguro has a love interest, he initially refuses to act on his feelings. The reason lies in his tragic past. Born into a corrupt family that sacrificed children to a serpent demon in exchange for wealth, Obanai was kept in a cell until he would be sacrificed. The demon marked him with a Joker-like scar across his mouth. Though he escaped with help from a Flame Hashira, his only surviving relative blamed him for the deaths of fifty family members.
This traumatic history explains why Obanai Iguro has a love interest he won’t pursue. He considers his bloodline “filthy” and believes he has no right to happiness with Mitsuri. Instead, he dedicates himself to slaying demons, hoping to purify himself through sacrifice. His self-loathing creates the central conflict in their relationship—Obanai Iguro has a love interest but feels unworthy of returning her affection until he can be “reborn” in a world without his perceived sins.
This internal struggle adds depth to his character, showing how his past trauma affects his ability to accept love despite clearly having strong feelings for Mitsuri throughout their time together in the Demon Slayer Corps.
Confession, Sacrifice, and Happy Ending
The question of whether Obanai Iguro has a love interest reaches its emotional height during the final battle against Muzan. After Mitsuri is severely injured, Obanai expresses his feelings while taking her to safety. He explains why he never confessed earlier—because he has no right to be with her.
Both mortally wounded after the battle, they finally confess their mutual feelings. Mitsuri asks if they can be together if reborn as humans, and Obanai promises to make her happy and protect her in their next life. Their final moments together are filled with tears and long-hidden confessions.
Obanai recalls the first time they met, saying her excitement over small things and bell-like laughter made him feel like a normal boy. Mitsuri responds that meals always tasted best with him because he looked at her with such affection. They die in each other’s embrace, their love story seemingly ending in tragedy but with hope for a future reunion.
The final chapter of Demon Slayer provides the ultimate confirmation that Obanai Iguro has a love interest destined to be with him. In a time skip showing modern-day Japan, we see reincarnations of those who died fighting Muzan. Obanai and Mitsuri are reborn and fulfill their wish—they own a family restaurant together, combining elements that reflect both their personalities.
The restaurant offers huge portions (representing Mitsuri’s appetite) and snake décor (honoring Obanai’s affinity). Their reincarnated selves maintain similar personalities, with Obanai still showing jealousy when others pay too much attention to Mitsuri. We see this when he throws a knife at Yoshiteru (Zenitsu’s descendant) for staring at Mitsuri’s chest. This epilogue brings beautiful closure to Obanai Iguro’s love interest by showing they found their happy ending after all.
Conclusion
Generally, the answer to whether Obanai Iguro has a love interest in Demon Slayer is yes. Their love transcends even death, allowing them to find happiness together in their reincarnated lives. The stark disparity between Obanai’s outward harshness and his tender feelings for Mitsuri builds a convincing love story within the action-packed world of the series.
Their journey confirms that Obanai Iguro not only has a love interest but finds his ultimate bliss with her. While many relationships in Demon Slayer remain subtle or in the background, Obanai and Mitsuri’s connection is perhaps the most explicitly romantic storyline.
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