Summary

• Zenitsu & Nezuko had a rocky start but ended up in a real relationship, with Zenitsu maturing over time.
• Zenitsu's growth as a person contributed to their romance, with Nezuko reciprocating his romantic feelings.
• Fans had mixed reactions to the Zenitsu x Nezuko ship, but Gotouge's talented writing in the manga showcased their genuine, mutual connection.

Warning: The following contains spoilers for the end of Demon Slayer!!

The Demon Slayer manga concluded in May 2020 after running for four years. The series' mangaka, Koyoharu Gotouge, gave the beloved franchise a satisfying ending despite the supernatural shonen being relatively short, as well as confirming a few different ships that were widely speculated on by ionate fans of the manga. One of these confirmed ships, which many fans could have likely predicted, is Zenitsu and Nezuko. Throughout the series, Nezuko and Zenitsu had somewhat tumultuous, awkward, and oftentimes one-sided interactions, but in the end, the pair did wind up in a real relationship.

This pairing will not come as a tremendous shock to anyone who has been following the Demon Slayer manga, but anime only viewers may be astounded to learn of the canon relationship between these two individuals later on in the series. Nezuko and Zenitsu certainly got off to a rocky start, with Zenitsu intimidating and overwhelming her right off the bat with his overeager and desperate nature.

Zenitsu fell madly in love with Nezuko from the moment he laid eyes on her, which is not shocking considering his outlook on women and dating throughout the course of the series.

Zenitsu & Nezuko's Relationship Blossomed Over Time

At the beginning of Demon Slayer, the pairing seemed unlikely, but that gradually began to change

Initially, Zenitsu was introduced as a character who desperately wanted a wife, considering any woman he met as a potential prospect. With offputting neediness, he doggedly pursued anyone in the vicinity he thought might be willing to marry him, but found little to no success in his romantic endeavors. When he met Tanjiro, he was smitten with his younger sister, much to Tanjiro's chagrin. Zenitsu and Nezuko's early relationship was largely played for laughs, with scenes such as Zenitsu chasing Nezuko around the room while she ran in the other direction, with Tanjiro falling into the protective older brother role.

In one humorous moment at the Butterfly Mansion, Nezuko even once forgot Zenitsu's name, greeting him as "Inosuke", causing him great anguish and heartbreak. Until later in Demon Slayer, there is little true romantic chemistry or affection between the pair, and it is mainly a comedic gag, portraying Zenitsu's one-sided crush. Although the ship was viewed as hopeless and unlikely to become canon, the two began to foster a deeper connection later on, as Zenitsu grew and matured into a more thoughtful, calm, and less emotionally volatile person who no longer intimidated Nezuko with loud displays of yelling and desperate advances.

Zenitsu Became Noticeably Calmer And More Mature Later In Demon Slayer

His frantic, overbearing, and noisy side became less prominent as the series progressed

One factor that contributed to Nezuko and Zenitsu becoming a legitimate couple is Zenitsu's growth as a person. He became much calmer, more in control of his previously uncontrollable emotions, and overall, more pleasant to be around, which likely contributed to Nezuko's interest in him. Furthermore, his actions towards her became more gentlemanly and less self-serving, as he genuinely fought to protect her against enemies and keep her safe as the group engaged in countless dangerous demon battles. At the beginning of the series, he seemed willing to date any girl and was not picky at all when choosing a potential wife.

However, it later became clear he has eyes only for Nezuko. His initial affections for her may have been based on more shallow factors such as looks, but as he got to know her better, he only fell deeper in love. Thankfully for him, Nezuko reciprocates these feelings and the end of the manga depicts the couple in happily married bliss, even having children together. Interestingly, two other couples become canon too: Kanao and Tanjiro and Aoi and Inosuke. This leaves all three of the main Demon Slayer gang married at the story's conclusion, giving them a happy ending after years of struggles.

Zenitsu X Nezuko Is A Controversial Ship, Leaving Fans Split Down The Middle

Not everyone was delighted to hear the news that Zenitsu and Nezuko are a confirmed couple

Some manga readers were absolutely elated to learn their favorite ship was finally canon, but some could not have been more displeased at the news. The Demon Slayer ship is quite controversial, due to many fans taking issue with Zenitsu's constant proposals and pushiness towards Nezuko early on in the series when she was not outwardly interested in him or responding positively to his advances. This is a valid concern and explains why some fans are not excited about the ship, but as the manga progressed, Zenitsu did become more caring and mature, and Nezuko developed real romantic feelings for him.

In later interactions, Nezuko also expresses clear interest in Zenitsu, indicating that she feels the same way as he does. Although Zenitsu did pursue Nezuko quite intensely in the beginning, her love for him seems authentic as they grow into adulthood together and build a family and life with one another. The ship is still controversial and everyone is entitled to their own opinion about the pairing, but Gotouge has done a wonderful job building a genuine and mutual connection between the pair, rather than just one-sided interactions like the ones at the beginning of Demon Slayer.