The Backburner Hero: Obi and His Quiet Love for Shirayuki

If you are watching both seasons of Akagami no Shirayuki Hime, you will meet the underrated pair of Shirayuki and Obi. Although this ship is not official, many fans believe that Obi had feelings for her. In Season 2, we are glad to see it animated when Obi accompanies Shirayuki back to her kingdom, showing cute and subtle interactions that hint at his feelings. These quiet moments tease us as fans, with thin feelings like air, adding spice to the story. Obi may not be the second male lead, since Shirayuki clearly loves Zen, but we can still call him the Backburner Hero, the kind of character we root for in our fanfiction universe.

Who is Obi?

Obi is an assassin who was once ordered by some of Zen’s ministers to kill Shirayuki due to her mysterious background. However, the plan failed when Obi was caught by Mitsuhide and Kiki. Surprisingly, Zen chose not to punish him. Instead, he assigned Obi a new role, to protect Shirayuki who was about to return to her kingdom.

Why Is Obi Given a Titled Backburner?

Because we are introduced in the series of Akagami no Shirayukihime, Shirayuki confesses his feelings to Zen. She even promises to help Zen in Clarines Kingdom. And so we know, Obi's role is to serve his master Zen and protect Shirayuki. But the little spark cute interaction between Shirayuki and Obi is making viewers’heart tickles. That’s why he should be given title Backburner instead of Second Male Lead.

 

The Backburner's Moments

So here is where the Backburner journey begins, let’s explore the cute interaction moments that reveal Obi’s hidden feelings toward Shirayuki.

 

The Day Shirayuki Got Drunk and Obi Had to Handle It

In the episode where Shirayuki gets drunk and worries about the injured soldier, Obi calmly reassures her with a report that everything is okay. Shirayuki responds with a gentle smile, and Obi is visibly startled by her expression. Moments later, the tipsy Shirayuki stumbles, but Obi catches her just in time. In a soft moment, he says that just seeing her is more than enough for him.

And of course, the piggyback scene that follows is absolutely adorable — a fan-favorite moment filled with quiet affection.

Shirayuki Gets Awkward After Zen’s Kiss, and Obi Helps Her Escape

After Zen kisses Shirayuki, she starts feeling awkward every time she sees him. Obi quickly senses that something is off with her, but instead of asking questions, he quietly follows her.

Just as he reaches out to grab her hand, Zen suddenly appears. Shirayuki, overwhelmed with shyness, hides behind Obi. Sensing her discomfort, Obi gently helps her escape the moment — giving Zen the chance to catch up with her later. It’s a small but sweet gesture, showing once again how attuned Obi is to Shirayuki’s emotions.

Obi’s Gives Shirayuki Hairpin

After winning the town’s martial arts tournament, Obi receives a prize and gives the money to Zen. Zen then continues observing the town in disguise, accompanied by Kiki and Mitsuhide. During the short time after their group leaves, Obi quietly sneaks away to give Shirayuki a new hairpin. He tells her to show it to Zen when he returns — but as we later see, Obi is actually the first person Shirayuki shows it to. A small gift, yet filled with a million meanings.

Obi Fights with Zen

Shirayuki receives an invitation to visit Tanbarun, and this causes Zen to feel conflicted. He trains as hard as he can, hoping to protect Shirayuki during her time in Tanbarun, even though he knows it is pointless since his older brother would never allow him to go there. In episode 16, there is an interesting scene where Obi fights Zen. If Obi wins, he promises to protect Shirayuki during her trip to Tanbarun. In the end, Obi wins the duel.

At first, Obi’s storyline was quite surprising. Because he was only joking when it came to Shirayuki. After all, his character is portrayed as someone who often jokes around. So the development of affection towards Shirayuki meant that something serious would happen. However, in the following scenes, the viewers are left wondering about Obi’s behavior toward Shirayuki, which seems to be a mix of admiration and something oddly affectionate.

Obi Notices the Hairpin on Shirayuki’s Hair and Gets Surprised

Finally, Shirayuki arrives in Tanbarun with Obi. As they reach the gate of the kingdom, Shirayuki suddenly lifts her veil, revealing her hairpin. Obi is visibly surprised by the sight. Even though nothing is said out loud, we can sense Obi’s emotions through his sparkling eyes. His expression reflects quiet happiness, and from that moment, his actions toward the mistress he serves appear noticeably softer and more gentle.

In the previous episode, Obi said that the hairpin should be shown to Zen, not to him. But unexpectedly, Shirayuki wears it before Zen even gets the chance to see it — and Obi is the first one to notice. Let’s scream over this tiny, yes tiny and adorable interaction that makes the Obi x Shirayuki ship even more lovable!

 

To ease the awkward atmosphere, Obi playfully suggests that Shirayuki should ride with him on his horse instead of sitting in the cart. Shirayuki responds seriously at first, but Obi quickly laughs it off, saying it was just a joke. They then continue their journey into Tanbarun.

This small interaction is another subtle hint that Obi may have deeper feelings for his mistress. He even looks effortlessly cool when introducing himself to Prince Raj, showing that he is fully committed to his promise to Zen to become Shirayuki’s loyal bodyguard.

Obi Catches Shirayuki Who Almost Fell

This part truly highlights Obi as the Backburner character. In this arc, he is constantly by Shirayuki’s side, almost 24/7. Even their rooms are right next to each other. These small, seemingly insignificant moments between Shirayuki and Obi make viewers want to ship them even more. One of the cutest scenes is when Obi gets startled by Shirayuki’s warm smile, a reaction that shows just how much she affects him.

Later in the library room, thanks to the playful antics of Princess Rona, Shirayuki almost falls. But Obi reacts quickly and catches her just in time. This scene is beautifully animated — especially the way Obi looks at Shirayuki. Through his gaze, viewers can clearly sense his quiet admiration. Shirayuki, a bit shy after falling into someone’s arms, tries to compose herself. Obi responds gently with a warm smile, trying to ease the moment. But as the scene continues, we notice something subtle — Obi’s hand, slightly tense and oddly positioned, wrapped around her, revealing just how affected he is by the moment.

Obi and His Hidden Feeling

After the incident in the library, Obi rushes to the balcony, still flustered by what just happened. To his surprise, Shirayuki is also standing nearby on a different balcony. He makes a light joke to ease the tension and quietly says good night to her. But deep inside, Obi is left wondering about the strange feelings that linger after catching Shirayuki in his arms. He tries to brush it off, reminding himself that nothing really happened — it was just a coincidence. Still, his hesitation and inner thoughts say more than words ever could.

Obi Who Blames Himself for Failing to Protect Shirayuki

When Shirayuki is kidnapped, Obi is the one who truly blames himself for failing to protect her. Without waiting for Zen’s arrival in Tanbarun, he immediately sets out to search for her on his own. Later, when Zen joins him, they continue the search together.

But Obi's regret doesn’t fade. He feels unworthy of his role and decides to resign as Shirayuki’s bodyguard. This decision upsets Shirayuki. She insists that it wasn’t his fault and pleads with him to stay by her side. At first, Obi refuses, conflicted by his emotions. Shirayuki keeps pushing, and just when he’s about to call her by her name, “Shirayuki,” he stops himself—remembering that his role is only to protect her. That soft, almost longing look in Obi’s eyes says it all. It’s filled with quiet respect… and something deeper. A love he won’t admit, but one that fans can clearly feel. So sweet, yet so heartbreaking.

Obi Realized His Position Between Shirayuki and Zen

In a later scene, Obi and Zen take a bath together, where Zen tells Obi to find his own happiness. This makes Obi reflect deeply on his position — caught between being Shirayuki’s bodyguard and following Zen’s orders as a loyal subordinate. While still unsure about his place, an old friend named Throw appears and asks for his help on a job. Obi agrees, but only on the condition that it must be finished before sunrise.

Meanwhile, the group realizes that Obi is missing. Shirayuki becomes worried and sets out to search for him. During the mission, Obi ends up getting injured, and Shirayuki immediately tends to his wounds. Obi tries to lighten the mood by teasing her, but when he catches a glimpse of Zen in that moment, something clicks — he finally understands. Just being with these two, and protecting Shirayuki, is enough for him. Then Shirayuki rides on horseback with Obi, a moment that’s both sweet and telling — and it even stirs a hint of jealousy in Zen. A fitting end for the quiet hero who always stood one step behind, yet never out of sight.

Obi Becomes The Magpie Bird and His Title as Backburner

After Shirayuki is granted a noble title by Prince Raj, she begins to realize the growing distance between herself and Zen due to their difference in status. In this moment of confusion, it’s Obi who steps forward. Without crossing any lines, he gently encourages her and even goes as far as inviting Zen to meet her—choosing her happiness over his own feelings. This is why Obi isn’t just the second male lead; he’s the true Backburner. A quiet flame that never fades, always ready to support, but never demanding to be seen. His silent devotion makes viewers’ hearts ache, rooting for him even though we know—he’s not the one who’ll end up beside Shirayuki.

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