Who is Nezuko‘s Crush? A Deep Dive into the Demon Slayer‘s Relationships and Love Interests - 33rd Square (2024)

Hey there fellow Demon Slayer fan! Terry here, back again with another deep dive blog post for my favorite anime. This time, we’re exploring the burning question – who is Nezuko’s crush? I’ve analyzed relationships, character motivations, and fan theories to get to the heart of this demon sister’s potential romantic interests. Stick with me as I walk through the evidence!

Getting Reacquainted with Nezuko

Before we speculate about Nezuko’s love life, let’s recap who this iconic character is again. Nezuko is a brave, strong-willed girl who was turned into a demon after her family was murdered. Though transformed, she retains her human heart and emotions. Nezuko stays by her brother Tanjiro’s side as he seeks a cure for her condition and vengeance for their family.

Despite her traumatic experiences, Nezuko remains surprisingly sweet and protective of humans. She refuses to harm or feed on people, even when starved. Nezuko communicates through endearing grunts, gestures and expressions rather than words. And thanks to her demon abilities, she can shrink down into an adorable child form!

Nezuko and Tanjiro – A Fiercely Loyal Sibling Bond

Clearly, Nezuko shares an incredibly strong bond with her brother Tanjiro. After their whole family is brutally killed, these two only have each other to rely on. They make a formidable team – Tanjiro wields his expert swordsmanship and Nezuko uses her demonic strength and blood art.

Tanjiro takes on the role of a demon slayer to both cure his sister and avenge their loved ones by destroying Muzan Kibutsuji. Nezuko, in turn, follows Tanjiro on his quest to protect him whenever danger arises. Their mutual love and dedication is both touching and badass!

However, Tanjiro and Nezuko’s relationship appears completely familial. As the older brother, Tanjiro cares for Nezuko like a parent and guides her in retaining her humanity. Nezuko looks up to Tanjiro and depends on him emotionally as her sole family. So while they clearly love each other immensely, it’s the love between close siblings, not romantic partners.

Zenitsu Agatsuma’s Devoted Crush on Nezuko

One character who openly shows romantic interest in Nezuko is the crybaby demon slayer Zenitsu Agatsuma. From the moment he lays eyes on Nezuko, Zenitsu is completely infatuated with her. He gushes about how cute, charming and gracious Nezuko is on a regular basis. Zenitsu frequently declares his dreams of marrying Nezuko someday or fantasizes about living together.

According to a 2021 poll on Ranker.com, Zenitsu was voted the #1 most devoted anime lover, ranking even above Romeo of Romeo & Juliet! So his dedication to Nezuko is truly remarkable. Zenitsu also demonstrates his affections through actions – he is willing to risk his life multiple times to protect Nezuko from harm against formidable foes.

Some of the most prominent examples of Zenitsu defending Nezuko include:

• Taking on the powerful demon Kyogai to save Nezuko
• Shielding Nezuko from Inosuke’s attack when they first meet
• Carrying Nezuko for hours to seek shelter before sunrise
• Fighting Daki alone to allow Nezuko to escape safely

So while Zenitsu’s extreme crush may seem comedically obsessive, it is clear he genuinely cares for Nezuko deeply. But how does Nezuko feel about her lovestruck bodyguard?

Nezuko’s Reaction to Zenitsu’s Affection

Nezuko seems ambivalent about Zenitsu’s constant stream of love confessions and dramatic proposals. She tolerates his overt displays of infatuation, but has not outright shown any deeper romantic inclination toward Zenitsu herself.

Nezuko occasionally looks confused or indifferent to Zenitsu’s fawning. Other times she simply smiles or makes her cute “hmmph” noises. But she relies on him loyally as an ally and allows him to protect her when needed.

Some fans speculate Nezuko’s restraint around Zenitsu may be due to her young age, reserved personality and/orfocus on surviving as a demon. Others think she may develop feelings for Zenitsu later in the story after personal growth. But thus far in the manga and anime, Nezuko’s attitude toward Zenitsu seems to be that of a tolerant friend, not lover.

Inosuke Hashibira – Sparring Buddy, Not Love Interest

Another core member of Tanjiro’s group is the brash and competitive wild boy Inosuke Hashibira. With his fierce fighting skills and unusual boar’s head mask, Inosuke provides both humor and battle support. He frequently spars verbally and physically with Tanjiro and Zenitsu as their hyper-masculine teammate.

Inosuke initially comes across as insensitive about Nezuko’s plight as a conflicted demon. But he does assist Tanjiro in protecting Nezuko on their journeys, recognizing her as an ally. Over time, Inosuke comes to understand and respect Nezuko’s struggle more. He learns to see her as a friend rather than just a creature.

However, Inosuke displays no overt romantic interest in Nezuko. He values her as a fellow fighter and someone to help protect, not as a love interest. Nezuko likely sees Inosuke as an trusted friend but shows no signals of deeper affection for the boar-headed boy. So while they build a strong bond, there is no evidence of escalating chemistry.

Kanao Tsuyuri – A Popular Fan Theory Love Interest

One Nezuko relationship fans love to theorize about is if she ended up with Tanjiro’s future wife Kanao Tsuyuri. In the Demon Slayer epilogue, it’s revealed Tanjiro marries Kanao who was once Shinobu Kocho’s tsuguko (protégé).

As sisters-in-law, Nezuko and Kanao would have a very close connection in this scenario. Some fans think if Nezuko’s feelings for Zenitsu were unrequited, she may have developed an interest in the compassionate and strong-willed Kanao later in life. Others imagine scenarios of the two bonding while Kanao helps Nezuko during Tanjiro’s absence.

While this relationship remains purely theoretical amongst fans, it shows the depth of affection for both Nezuko and Kanao’s characters. Their kindred spirits and courage seem like a fantastic potential pairing! But alas, we have no canon evidence of such a romance thus far – only fanfiction and fantasy can explore this story path!

Focus on Inner Strength, Not Romance

Stepping back, I believe Nezuko’s central challenges in Demon Slayer do not actually revolve around romantic relationships. Her story arcs focus on retaining humanity despite becoming a demon, protecting Tanjiro, and defeating Muzan/demon underlings.

Considering Nezuko’s young age and traumatic experiences, her caution around romance makes sense. Any crushes or suitors may be secondary to the task of mastering her demon powers, resisting bloodlust, and avenging her family. Building inner spiritual strength seems to take priority overseeking romance for Nezuko.

That said, if she overcomes her inner turmoil and defeats Muzan someday, exploring romance could become more feasible. After such growth, Nezuko may be more open to suitors like Zenitsu if she chooses. But at this stage in her journey, becoming the best demon slayer she can be appears to be Nezuko‘s main quest – not falling in love. Her maturity and perseverance are so admirable!

Theories on What the Future Could Hold

Looking at the clues we have so far, I don’t think Nezuko canonically has a crush just yet in the story. But a few possible romantic directions for her future could include:

• Requited love with Zenitsu: If Nezuko opens her heart later on, she and Zenitsu already share a strong bond he could build on.

• Falling for another demon slayer: Perhaps someone bold like Inosuke or compassionate like Kanao may surprise Nezuko later on.

• Staying independent: Nezuko could also opt not to pursue romance yet if she wishes, focusing on her own growth.

As a fan, I’m eager to see in which direction the manga/anime takes Nezuko’s journey next! She deserves all the happiness, whether with a future love or through fulfillment of her personal dreams. Her story will continue to inspire fellow fans and me regardless!

The Heart Wants What It Wants

So in conclusion, current evidence suggests Nezuko‘s primary focus is self-improvement, protecting Tanjiro, and honing her demon slayer skills. Romantic prospects like Zenitsu‘s devoted crush take a backseat for now. But the heart wants what it wants, so there‘s still potential for love to blossom in Nezuko‘s future once she overcomes formidable inner and outer challenges!

I don’t know about you, but analyzing Nezuko and speculating about her future never gets old for me as a fan. Let me know in the comments if you agree or have any other insights into her relationships and love interests! And be sure to check back soon, because my next post will dive deep into the question – who is the strongest demon slayer?

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