Donut Friendship – Chapter 28: Murata
"Nezuko, Nezuko, Nezukooooo…! I am coming to see you…! Nezuko…!" Zenitsu sang happily as he was on his way to the bakery
Recently, Zenitsu got an idea about how to get closer to Nezuko. He knew that she worked at her mother's bakery, so he decided to visit the bakery and buy directly from Nezuko. This way, he could start up a chat and get to know her more.
"Hihihi… Nezuko! Time for you to sell me some bread… and marry me in the process! Hihihihi!" Zenitsu laughed as he reached the bakery
He checked his hair and uniform before entering. After making sure everything was perfect, he opened the door and walked in.
"Hello Zenitsu!" said Tanjiro as he stood behind the counter
"Hello Tanjiro!" replied Zenitsu and walked in
"Tanjiro, could you please leave the counter and let your cute little sister Nezuko take over? I would like to be served by her!" Zenitsu explained and walked towards the counter with a big smile
"Hm? Oh, you don't know! Nezuko is working somewhere else this week! For the time being, it's only me and my mother!" Tanjiro explained with a smile
"…" Zenitsu just stared at him with a smile and was trying to process his words
"…huh?" Zenitsu gasped, and his smile left him after a few seconds
"My mother made a deal with a famous business-man and Nezuko is working for him this week! You will need to come next week if you want to see her!" Tanjiro explained
"…" Zenitsu just stared at him with a plain expression
"Anyway, is there anything that I can get you? I will give you the friends-and-family discount!" said Tanjiro with a smile
Zenitsu blinked a few times and looked around, hoping that Tanjiro was just joking and that Nezuko would be hiding somewhere.
"She… she… she is not here…?" Zenitsu asked as he was on the verge of crying as he couldn't find Nezuko
"No!" Tanjiro replied with a big smile
"W-Whatever… I am not sad… SOB* I can deal with it… SOB*" Zenitsu tried not to cry, to which Tanjiro just smiled
…
After a few minutes, Zenitsu calmed down.
"I came all the way here only to find out that Nezuko is not working today…" Zenitsu said annoyed
"I am sorry. Hey, how about a free donut? That will lift your mood!" Tanjiro offered
Zenitsu looked at him and nodded.
"Thanks…" said Zenitsu, to which Tanjiro handed him a donut
"Anyway, I think I should go…" Zenitsu added and was about to leave
"Hey, why don't you stay for a few more minutes?" Tanjiro asked
"What? Why?" Zenitsu asked
"Well, we could chat, and maybe you meet someone new or make a new friend? All kinds of different people come to our bakery!" Tanjiro explained, to which Zenitsu thought about it
"Sure, why not? I don't have anything better to do…" Zenitsu replied and leaned against the counter
…
…
…
As the two were chatting, a fellow student from academy was walking outside the bakery.
"Ugh… what should I do? This is so annoying…" he thought
This guy was Murata. Even though he was in a different class, he was a friend of both Tanjiro and Zenitsu. At the moment, he was thinking hard about something and was walking pretty slowly.
"I am a wimp…" he murmured to himself, completely hopeless
As he was walking, he noticed the bakery right next to him.
"The Kamado Bakery? Well… I am kinda hungry…" he thought to himself and checked his wallet
After making sure he had enough money with him, he took a deep breath and walked in.
"Hm? Tanjiro? Zenitsu?" he said as he walked in and noticed the two
Both of them looked at him and Tanjiro smiled.
"Ah! Murata! Welcome!" said Tanjiro
"Hey…" said Zenitsu
"H-Hello… So, uhm… you're working here? I know that this is your family's bakery, but I was expecting your parents to work." Murata explained
"Me, my mother and my sister work here! Today, the bakery is in my hands!" Tanjiro explained
"Anyway! What can I get you?" Tanjiro asked and Murata smiled
Murata walked towards the counter and looked around.
"Well… something sweet?" he asked, to which Tanjiro nodded
Tanjiro was about to turn around and pick something for Murata, but then he noticed something.
"Is something wrong?" Tanjiro asked, to which both Zenitsu and Murata glanced at him
"Huh? W-Why do you ask?" Murata asked
"I have a feeling that something bothers you. You seem pretty down. The way you talk, the way you walk…" Tanjiro explained
Murata chuckled and looked away.
"Haha… it's that obvious, huh?" he asked
"Yeah… there is something, but…" Murata looked around, making sure nobody could hear him
"I-It's nothing! Forget that I said anything… haha" he added and laughed
Tanjiro and Zenitsu glanced at each other. Zenitsu then scanned Murata and pointed at him.
"It's about a girl…" Zenitsu said with determination
"ARGH! HOW DO YOU KNOW?!" Murata panicked as he heard him
"Jackpot." Zenitsu said victoriously
Hearing that, Tanjiro smiled.
"Huh!? Murata, did you fall for a girl?!" Tanjiro asked with a big smile
"NONONONONONONONONONO… well… kinda… BUT NONONO!" Murata panicked even more
Zenitsu put his arm around Murata and laughed.
"My friend! There is nothing to be ashamed off! The beauty of girls is something that I understand very good and-WAIT!" Zenitsu stopped and gave Murata a death stare
"Is it Nezuko…" Zenitsu asked with a dark murderous voice
"What?! N-No! It's not Nezuko!" Murata replied
"Oh, good!" Zenitsu replied and his smile returned
"So, who is she? Is it Kanae, our beautiful biology teacher? Or maybe Mitsuri, the pizza delivery girl? Or… huh!? Is it maybe our favorite school delinquent girl… the Shabana girl? Hmmm?" Zenitsu asked teasingly
"N-No…" Murata replied and smiled
"Huh? Who is it then?" Zenitsu asked surprised
Murata looked around again, making sure nobody could hear them. After making sure that they were alone, he turned back to the two, who were eagerly awaiting his response.
"Well… I don't know." he said
"…" upon hearing that, both of them were staring at him
"…huh?" the two mumbled confused after a few seconds
"What do you mean… you don't know?" Zenitsu asked confused
"I don't know her name." Murata replied
"Oh…" Tanjiro mumbled
"I know that she is a student at the Kimetsu Academy, same as us, and… that's all." Murata explained
Tanjiro and Zenitsu glanced at each other.
"We need more info…" said Zenitsu
"Yes. Maybe we know her! Please, describe her a bit more!" Tanjiro added
Murata blushed a little bit as he thought about her.
"Well, she has white-"
"AYAKI!" Tanjiro yelled and pointed at Murata
"HUH?! W-What…?" Murata gasped confused and surprised
"Ayaki! Her family name is Ayaki, she has white skin, white hair, pigtails with blue ribbons and a younger brother named Rui Ayaki! I know her!" Tanjiro explained and looked at Zenitsu
"You know her too! Remember the girl that we had to persuade to join the pharmacy department?" Tanjiro asked
"Oh yeah… that girl… I hope she survived…" Zenitsu replied as he thought about the horrors of the pharmacy department
"S-Survived…?" Murata asked confused and looked at Tanjiro
"Don't worry! She is fine! Actually, I spoke to her yesterday!" Tanjiro replied and looked at Murata
"That's good." Murata replied
"How do you know her? Do you have a class with her?" Zenitsu asked
"Oh, no! I met her a few days ago and… I haven't seen her since." Murata explained
"What happened? Tell us!" Tanjiro asked
"Well…" Murata thought about the time he met her and blushed a bit
…
A FEW DAYS AGO
It was morning and the classes were about to start. Every student was already in their classroom, waiting for their teachers… well, almost every student.
"I AM LATE! I AM LATE! I AM LATE!" Murata screamed as he ran through the hallway, desperately trying to get to his class
"IF TOMIOKA FINDS OUT THAT I AM LATE, THEN I AM DEAD! I NEED TO MAKE IT IN TIME!" he panicked and ran
As he ran, he somehow managed to avoid all the teachers, so if he would make it to his class, then he would be saved.
"Almost… HUFF* there! HUFF*" he said as his class was just around the corner, and a smile formed on his face
He was about to be make it in time… but then something unexpected happened.
"ARGH!" he screamed as he ran around the corner
"IGHH!" screamed a girl
As he ran around the corner, he ran full speed into a fellow student, carrying a bunch of papers. Both of them fell to the ground and the papers got scattered everywhere.
"Argh… that hurt…" Murata mumbled as he looked around confused on the ground
"You dumbass… Look where you're running!" said the girl as sat on the ground
Hearing her, Murata panicked, as he realized that he ran into another student.
"Ah! I AM SO SORRY! Are you… alright…" he apologized, but then he gasped as he saw the person he ran into
"Ugh… yeah I am fine…" the girl replied and looked around herself, seeing all the papers on the ground
It was a girl his age that he has never seen before. She was a white girl with pigtails and blue ribbons in her hair. She also had 8 red dots on her face. Seeing her, Murata was speechless, as he never felt the feeling he was experiencing before. He didn't know what to say, so he just stared at her.
The girl got up and started picking up the papers. She noticed him still sitting on the ground and staring at her, to which she looked at him annoyed.
"Are you going to help me?" she asked annoyed
Hearing that, Murata stopped staring at her and started helping her.
"AGH! S-S-Sure! Sorry!" he replied and helped her pick up the papers
"I am sorry! I am so sorry! I didn't mean to run into you! I am late and if Tomioka finds out… then…!" he said with terror in his voice as he thought about his fate if that would have happened
Hearing that, the girl nodded and finished picking up the papers.
"Again, I am sorry!" said Murata and handed her the papers he picked up
"Whatever… you should go before Tomioka finds out…" she said as she shook her head
"Yes! Will do!" Murata replied with a smile, but then he heard a voice
"What are you two doing here?" said a menacing voice
"UGHHHHHH…" Murata squaked as he recognized that voice
He slowly turned around, and his worst nightmare became reality.
"T-T-T-T-T… Tomioka… Sensei…" he mumbled
Behind him, was Tomioka, the PE teacher. Seeing him, Murata knew that his life was over. Being late, running into a student and trying to hide the fact that he was late from Tomioka… he knew that he was dead.
"What are you doing here? Class is about to start…" said Tomioka and looked at Murata with a murderous expression
"GULP*…" Murata didn't say anything, as his life was flashing in front of his eyes
Seeing his reaction, the girl next to him took a deep breath and spoke up.
"We were told to carry these papers to the Teachers' room." she explained, to which both Murata and Tomioka glanced at her
"H-Huh…?" Murata mumbled surprised
"Really? And what was it that I shouldn't find out about?" Tomioka asked
"That this dumbass dropped them." the girl said and pointed at Murata
Hearing her explanation, Tomioka scanned Murata with his eyes and nodded.
"Alright… carry them to the Teachers' room. But don't drop them again." he demanded
Murata looked confused, but nodded after a short while. Tomioka went on his way and let the two go. After he was out of sight, Murata faced the girl.
"You… saved me!" he said with a smile
"Yeah… it's your lucky day. Anyway, you should go before he starts asking any more questions." the girl replied
"Y-Yes! Thank you so much!" Murata replied and went on his way
As he was walking away, he turned around again and glanced at her. She was walking away, with the papers in her hands. He wanted to ask her about her name, or from which class she was, but he couldn't find the courage.
"H-He… hey…" he murmured, but it was too late, she was already around the corner, and he was late to class
"D-Damnit… Why didn't I ask her…" he mumbled to himself, annoyed
…
PRESENT DAY
"And that's how I met her… She was so pretty… and so nice…" Murata said with a blush and looked at the two
"But I was in such a hurry, that I haven't even asked her name…" he added and looked pretty sad
Zenitsu nodded as he heard his story.
"The running-into-each-other-and-falling-in-love trope… understandable…" said Zenitsu, as he thought about it
"Murata, if you want to see her again, then that is not a problem! I know where she hangs out at the academy!" Tanjiro said with a smile
"Y-You do?! Really?! But… what do I say? I don't know anything about this kind of stuff…" Murata replied
"Just thank her for saving you and give her something! She likes my family donuts, so how about you give her a bag?" Tanjiro asked
"Donuts? Isn't that kind of… plain?" Murata replied, to which Tanjiro just nodded and gave him one
"You haven't tried these bad boys yet…" Tanjiro said with a smug smile and determination
Murata took the donut and took out a bite.
"HM?!" Murata gasped surprised
"So? What do you say?" Tanjiro asked, but he already knew the answer
"Let's do this…" Murata replied and nodded
…
THE NEXT DAY
It was lunchtime, and Tanjiro, Zenitsu and Murata were outside the academy. Murata was holding a bag of donuts, while glancing at Tanjiro.
"Is this… really going to work? I am pretty nervous…" said Murata
"Don't worry! I am sure she will be very happy!" replied Tanjiro
"If you say so…" Murata replied
Hearing his response, Tanjiro nodded and showed Murata where he thought that she would be. Luckily for Murata, she was indeed sitting on her usual spot.
"Ah! T-There she is! But… she is with a friend… I don't think that this is the right time." Murata said concerned
"Ah, I am sure she would be very happy if you spoke to her now." said Zenitsu
"W-What?" Murata asked confused
"Yeah… now is a perfect time… Just go and you will see why!" Tanjiro reassured Murata
Murata took a deep breath and nodded.
…
While the three talked about what to do, a familiar duo was once again sitting on a bench together.
"…and then Rui made a huge donut!" said Mukago
"…" the sister just nodded with a plain expression
"It was so big, it almost didn't even fit in the fryer!" Mukago continued
"You don't say…" the sister replied again and rolled her eyes
"But in the end… everything worked out fine! Well… besides my donuts… and the other guy's donuts… hehe… But Rui was great!" Mukago laughed
"..." the sister didn't say anything, just nodded
"Please… please… somebody… save me… I can't take this anymoreeeeee…" the sister thought to herself
Luckily for her, a voice spoke to her.
"Eh… hello!" said Murata, to which both of the girls glanced at him
"THANK YOU!" the sister said happily and got up, to which Mukago looked at her confused
"I mean… I need to go, sorry! Talk to you later!" the sister added and waved at Mukago
"Oh! Sure! See you later!" replied Mukago with a smile
After saying goodbye, the sister walked up to Murata.
"Come on, let's go." she said with a fake smile
"W-Wha… ehm… sure…" he replied confused and followed her
After walking a few steps and making sure the two were out of sight, the sister faced him and spoke up.
"Ugh… that girl is so annoying… but I would feel kind of bad if I just told her to get lost. Anyway, thanks for getting me out of that situation." she said
"Eh… s-sure, no problem!" Murata replied
After looking at him for a few seconds, the sister remembered him.
"Oh wait, you're the guy that ran into me a few days ago." she said
"Yes… I wanted to talk with you about that…" Murata said awkwardly
"Hm?" the sister mumbled confused
"You see… well…" Murata tried to find the right words
"…" the sister just stared at him
"Ugh… you…" Murata continued mumbling
"…" the sister was slowly getting annoyed
"Agh! T-Thank you!" he said
"Huh? Whaaaa…" the sister mumbled confused
"You saved last week! A-And… I wanted to thank… you…" said Murata
The sister just stared at him.
"H-Here! My friend told me that you like the Kamado Donuts… and I can understand why after I ate one… haha… So here! Please, take this!" he said as he handed her the donut bag
The sister glanced at it and then back at him. She could clearly see that he was pretty nervous, but she found that pretty amusing. She chuckled and took the bag.
"Thanks! I appreciate it." she said
Hearing that, Murata smiled.
"Y-You're welcome!" Murata replied
Seeing her smile, Murata became way more confident and found enough courage to ask her a specific question.
"S-Say…" he said to which the sister looked at him
"Do you… mind… or would you like to… get to know each other…b-better?" he asked
Hearing that, the sister blinked a few times.
"Y-You seem like a cool girl a-and… I would like to get to know you better. GULP*" he said and waited for an answer
The sister scanned him with her eyes and replied.
"Sure."
"R-REALLY?!" Murata asked happily
"Well, you look like a wimp… but I don't see any reason as to why not." the sister added, to which Murata blinked a few times
"…"
"…"
"…thanks…" Murata replied
"Wimp…" he thought to himself…
…
Back at the bench, Tanjiro and Zenitsu were chatting.
"I hope everything went alright!" said Tanjiro
"They went together somewhere, and he gave her your donuts… of course it went alright…" Zenitsu replied
"Hm? Is something wrong, Zenitsu? You seem kinda down…" Tanjiro asked
"Well, yeah?! You help Murata with his crush, but not me?! I thought we were friends, Tanjiro!" Zenitsu yelled
"But of course I help you too, Zenitsu!" Tanjiro replied
"Y-You do?" Zenitsu asked surprised, to which Tanjiro nodded
"Tanjirooooooo… You're the best!" Zenitsu said happily
"And I am sure that Nezuko would help you too! You just need to tell us who the lucky girl is!" Tanjiro added
"…" Zenitsu just stared at him
"F-Forget it…" said Zenitsu, as he couldn't believe that Tanjiro still didn't about his crush on Nezuko…
"Hm? Zenitsu?" Tanjiro asked confused
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The first time I watched the Natagumo arc, I was sure that people would ship Murata and Spider Sister… but nobody besides me does that! Anyway, when writing this chapter, I also thought about Murata being bullied by Ume at the academy, but then I decided to go with the Spider Sister story. Next chapter, Nezuko continues to help out at Muzan Inc. and Muzan wants to see the results of her work! See you next time!
