Under the cloak of night, a lonely figure walked down a desolate street, her heart pounding with every step. Fear gnawed at her, but she continued on her journey back home after purchasing drugs for her sick grandfather. Shadows danced eerily behind her, casting a sinister pall over the dimly lit path. Despite the fear building up in her by the second, she quickened her pace, desperate to reach her destination. She hoped that whoever was following her, would soon give up and let her go.
But suddenly, her worst fears materialized as a menacing figure emerged from the darkness, his intentions unmistakably malevolent. With a swift and brutal motion, he seized her, his hand clamping over her mouth, stifling her cries for help. She struggled against his iron grip, but her efforts were futile against his more dominating strength. Tears leaked from the corner of her eyes as he pulled her into a dark alley, a small feeling of regret but also frustration of not being able to get the medicine to her grandfather.
Her captor chuckled darkly as he fisted at the front of her shirt, ready to rip it right off. Just as despair threatened to engulf her, a sudden blow from an unseen assailant sent her attacker crashing to the ground. Gasping for breath, the girl watched in disbelief as her savior materialized before her. She gasped in as fear overwhelmed her again, her savior was not an angel, a knight in shining armor, he was an ugly beast. He resembled a demon!
At her reaction, her savior grinned lopsidedly and brought a finger over his lips, asking her to not scream. At that, she instantly obeyed and not long after, he tossed something to her and she caught it, the medicine she had purchased for her grandfather. He must have picked it from the ground where she dropped it.
"Run along now," he urged gently. "I'll take care of this guy."
Without a second thought, she heeded his words, and ran into the night without looking back. Meanwhile, the stranger with the smug smile hoisted the unconscious assailant onto his shoulder, a sense of satisfaction evident in his stride as he vanished into the depths of the alley, whistling a tune that echoed eerily in the darkness.
He emerged from the dark alleyway, carrying the unconscious body over his shoulder with a smug grin, a van pulled up in front of him. Without hesitation, he climbed into the back, setting the body down before shutting the vehicle's boot. As the engine hummed to life, propelling the van forward into the night, Gyutaro relaxed into his seat, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips as he pulled out his phone to send a quick text.
He knew this was impromptu, but he was way too excited to just wait till midnight.
"Are you sure he's the one?" a beautiful young woman asked anxiously as Gyutaro arrived at their destination, the unconscious man now securely tied to a chair with a sack over his face. "We can't afford any mistakes, Gyutaro."
Gyutaro flashed his sister a confident grin. "Don't worry, Ume. The boss is going to love this, trust me."
He then produced a gold necklace chain from his pocket and tossed it to his sister. Ume inspected it closely before her eyes widened in shock. "This belongs to..."
The creak of the entrance door snapped both Gyutaro and Ume to attention, their senses heightened. The newcomer stood in the shadows of the room, his face concealed until he stepped into the light.
"Oh, boss, it's you," Gyutaro sighed with relief as their leader approached.
"I've warned you about texting me in broad daylight, Gyu," the young man's voice chided gently. "What if someone saw my phone?"
Red-hair with piercing crimson eyes, dangling earrings, and a tattoo on his forehead—yes, it was unmistakably their boss.
"I hear you, Tanjiro-dono, but you won't regret me reaching out to you," Gyutaro responded confidently.
Tanjiro's expression soured as he observed Gyutaro approaching the tied-up individual. With a quick motion, Gyutaro removed the sack that concealed his face, revealing the man's identity. Tanjiro's eyes widened as viens bulged out on his face, his fists clenching instinctively.
Beside him, Ume approached with the necklace chain. As she placed the cold metal in his palm, she sensed the icy anger radiating from him as he stared down at it. Though she couldn't see his face clearly, she knew Tanjiro was seething with cold fury, memories flooding back to torment him.
Tanjiro wasted no time. He wrapped the gold chain around his knuckles and strode purposefully toward the unconscious man in the chair. With a swift swing, he struck the man with his fist across the face, jolting him awake. The man's gaze met Tanjiro's, only to be met with a chilling stare that sent shivers down his spine.
"Rise and shine, Yodai," Tanjiro's voice was cold and menacing. The man trembled in fear, hoping against hope that it wasn't true. That this wasn't the boy he thought it was, that maybe it was just his imagination.
But Tanjiro's next words shattered any doubts. "Long time no see."
"Now where the hell have you been?" Tanjiro froze as he stepped into his dorm, only to find his roommate Izuku already in the dining room, eyeing him with green, judgmental eyes. Caught red-handed with his katana in hand, Tanjiro let out a deep sigh of relief.
"Don't scare me like that, Izuku," He responded casually, brushing past his friend and heading straight for the fridge.
"At least take your shoes off," Izuku complained, noticing the trail of mud he was leaving behind and then blood on Tanjiro's hands. "What did you get into this time?" he asked with a frown, then grimaced. "And did you wash the blood off your hands before grabbing that cup?"
Tanjiro grinned guiltily as he turned to face his friend. "Damn it, Tanjiro, what the fuck is your problem?" Izuku rushed forward, snatching the glass of beer from Tanjiro's bloody hands and inspecting them closely.
This scenario was all too familiar between them. Just another night at this point.
Izuku was the only one who knew about Tanjiro's dangerous late-night activities. He'd caught Tanjiro returning like this before—blood on his clothes and sword.
Everyone was aware that Tanjiro had a katana, it was a necessity for a young lord to have one, but he never knew why it was always stained with blood. The first time he caught Tanjiro, he was initially frightened, but had learned to approach the situation calmly. After all, he had his own experiences.
Tanjiro eventually opened up to him about his past, a secret kept hidden from the public. His entire family had been massacred, betrayed by his father's own brothers. His sister was the only family he had left, and due to the incident, she suffered from severe trauma, rendering her unable to speak and fearful of men, except for her brother. It was heart-wrenching for Izuku to witness this and to realize the extent of Tanjiro's struggles.
So Izuku understood, or at least he believed he did. He comprehended why Tanjiro ventured out some nights and returned covered in blood. However, he simply didn't want his friend to get into trouble.
"So, what was the deal tonight?" Izuku inquired as he washed the blood off Tanjiro's hands.
Tanjiro let out a sigh before responding, his was so tired. "I found one of the men responsible for my family's death," he admitted calmly, almost in a whisper.
Izuku paused, studying Tanjiro's weary expression. "Did you... did you kill him?" he asked cautiously.
"No," Tanjiro shook his head. "Even when every urge was telling me to, I didn't. We need him alive for leads."
"That's a smart move," Izuku remarked. "Would've been a huge loss if you had." He finished rinsing Tanjiro's hands and handed him a hand towel before proceeding to clean the evidence from the sink, their silent understanding speaking volumes.
"Hey, Izuku."
"Hm?"
"I'm glad you were the one who caught me that night." Tanjiro's voice sounded slurred and drowsy as he began to drift off.
Izuku turned to see Tanjiro nodding off, on the verge of falling asleep. He quickly reached out, steadying his friend and guiding them both to their room.
Once Tanjiro changed out of his clothes, exhaustion overtook him, and he fell into a deep slumber. Izuku watched him for a moment, reflecting on Tanjiro's words. He wondered how their other roommates would have reacted to the scene he just witnessed.
Hell, how would they react to his secrets, or do they have secrets of their own? Izuku thought silently to himself before settling back into bed, allowing sleep to claim him as well.
What he didn't know, was that his roommates did indeed have secrets of their own.
Fridays always passed by in a blur for Tanjiro. Maybe it was the anticipation of the weekend, or maybe it was the thrill of his covert missions that made the hours slip away unnoticed.
Despite his reputation for being diligent in his studies—his coursemates practically worshipped his notes—Fridays were different. On Fridays, Tanjiro's mind was a battlefield. He appeared attentive, but his thoughts were a maelstrom of dark plans and vengeful dreams, given that he had more time on his hands on the weekends to take care of business. Since it was about Yodai his mind was filled with how he could make Yodai crack. How could he ensure Yodai's end was as excruciatingly painful as possible?
A sudden impact on his temple jolted him out of his sinister reverie. A scrunched-up ball of paper landed on his desk. He followed its trajectory back to a knowing side-glance from Zenitsu, who sat two seats away.
He cursed quietly and subtly darted his crimson eyes around, hoping no one else picked up on how lost he was. He must have been thinking way too hard for Zenitsu to notice from that far. The blonde always seemed to have an idea on what he was feeling or going through his mind. He could be very accurate at times, and it made Tanjiro walk on eggshells around him even though they were very good friends. He feared that Zenitsu could read his mind. It was that crazy.
"So... you wanna talk about it?" Zenitsu asked as they sauntered lazily down the busy hall after class.
"Just daydreaming," Tanjiro shrugged. "Didn't feel like listening today."
"That's supposed to be my line," Zenitsu retorted with a huff, drawing a chuckle from Tanjiro.
Tanjiro, Zenitsu, and Inosuke—currently off with his girlfriend on the other side of campus—had become close through their shared courses. So close, in fact, that Tanjiro trusted them to visit Nezuko, the only family he had left.
He had noticed Zenitsu's obvious crush on Nezuko, which had initially stirred his protective instincts. But seeing Nezuko's joy whenever Zenitsu and Inosuke visited, he couldn't help but soften. She deserved every bit of happiness she could get.
"I almost thought you were worrying about Nezuko again," Zenitsu said, breaking into Tanjiro's thoughts.
Tanjiro felt a pang of guilt. His mind had been far from his beloved sister. Instead, it had been consumed with far more sinister matters.
"Nezuko's going to be fine," Tanjiro replied, trying to convince himself as much as Zenitsu. "I'm choosing not to worry about her for now. She wouldn't want me to."
Zenitsu gave him a skeptical look but didn't press further. Instead, he clapped Tanjiro on the back. "Well, just remember, she's got us too, okay. We got you."
Tanjiro managed a small smile, genuinely appreciating the support.
"Anyway, Murata and I thought we should all hang out later," Zenitsu brought up as they finally made it out of their departmental building. He raised a brow when Tanjiro didn't respond immediately. "Or what, you got something planned with your roommates?"
"No," Tanjiro shook his head, cursing inwardly. He'd almost let his annoyance slip at the need for an excuse. His plan was to interrogate Yodai later that day. He rubbed the back of his head, forcing a nervous grin. "I just... had somewhere I wanted to go tonight."
"Is it important?" Zenitsu asked, his curiosity piqued.
'Of course it was!' Tanjiro screamed internally. "Nah... not really, it can wait."
"Okay, cool!" Zenitsu grinned, giving Tanjiro's shoulder a playful punch. "Let's meet up at Inosuke's place, alright?"
"Sure," Tanjiro smiled, watching Zenitsu leave. He sighed deeply, rubbing his face with his palm. The conflicting demands on his time and the web of secrets he had to maintain were starting to wear on him. But for now, he'd push it aside and focus on getting through the day.
As Tanjiro made his way back to his dorm, he couldn't help but think about how he was going to juggle his secret life and his friendships. The weight of his responsibilities pressed down on him, but he knew he couldn't let his friends see that. They were his lifeline, the reason he still found moments of normalcy amidst the chaos.
Tanjiro reached his dorm, expecting the usual scene of his roommates engaged in their respective activities. However, as he opened the door, he saw Boruto's hand already halfway out about to touch the door knob, a lollipop in his mouth and one of Yuji's handouts in his other hand.
"Heading out?" Tanjiro asked, slipping off his shoes.
"Yeah," Boruto mumbled around the lollipop, giving a casual wave. "Study session with Salad. Don't wait up for me."
Tanjiro chuckled, shaking his head. "You always say that."
Boruto smirked, shifting the lollipop to the other side of his mouth. "Well, tonight I mean it. This stuff's brutal. Gotta make sure she doesn't flunk."
"Good luck," Tanjiro said, knowing that Boruto's study sessions were as much about flirting as they were about actual studying.
Boruto paused at the door, turning back to Tanjiro. "You got any plans tonight? Cause looks like everyone's got something planned."
True to Boruto's words, no one was around. Which was a bit unusual, since they were either too lazy to go out on Friday or all them hung out together. Seems everyone's doing their own thing nowadays.
"I'm hanging out with Zenitsu and Inosuke," Tanjiro replied, hoping his voice sounded casual enough. "Murata's joining us too so I'm good."
"Sounds fun. See you later, then," Boruto said, heading out the door.
Tanjiro watched him go and sighed, a knot of anxiety forming in his stomach. He had to really calm down and focus on trying to appear fine.
The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed violently throughout the empty room, punctuated by grunts of pain. Tanjiro's eyes were steeled and cold as he landed harsh punches on Yodai's face. Despite the bruises and swelling, he didn't stop.
Eventually, Tanjiro paused, and relaxed, rounding his shoulders and stretching his neck side to side, the vertebrae cracking comfortably. "So how's it been, Yodai? Been taking care of yourself?"
Yodai, stunned and silent, shakily met Tanjiro's gaze, trying to comprehend the nightmare before him. This boy couldn't be alive. It was impossible.
"You died," Yodai finally managed to say, his voice trembling. "I beat you up, I stabbed you, and the building collapsed on you. I watched that house burn!"
Something snapped within Tanjiro, and he kicked Yodai off the chair, sending him flying across the room to crash against the wall. In a matter of seconds, Tanjiro was before him again, grabbing him by the collar and raining down punches with relentless fury.
"Are you sure it was me?" Tanjiro paused his assault, his voice a low growl.
Yodai grunted in pain, panting heavily. "Yes, you fucking died! You and your whole family!"
Tanjiro chuckled darkly, the sound chilling in the dim room. "Look me in the eye, Yodai." He spat the name with venom. "Look me in the eye and fucking say that again."
Yodai, trembling, dared to meet Tanjiro's gaze. The cold, murderous intent in those eyes made his blood run cold. He had seen fear before, but nothing like this.
"Say it again," Tanjiro demanded, his grip tightening, knuckles white from the pressure.
Yodai's lips quivered, but no sound came out. The reality of Tanjiro's existence, of his survival, was undeniable. The boy he thought he had killed was very much alive, and he was here for vengeance.
Tanjiro laughed so hard he shed tears, the sound echoing in the sparse dimly lit room. The sound was the bane of Yodai's existence, it had him quivering and trembling where he sat. Tanjiro's hysterical laughter eventually subsided, leaving a chilling silence in the room. Ume and Gyutaro exchanged uneasy glances, while Yodai continued to tremble, his eyes wide with fear.
"Why're so quiet now?" Tanjiro asked him quietly but with a taunting edge in his tone.
"I'm the boy you thought you killed twelve years ago, Yodai," He declared, his voice eerily calm. "Tanjiro Kamado." The smirk that followed sent a shiver down Yodai's spine. "Yeah, you did me in back then, but you should've stabbed me in my vitals if you wanted to get me. I might have been a little kid, but I was tougher than most. You underestimated me way too much."
Tanjiro crouched down, bringing his face level with Yodai's. "Now, I heard you were caught trying to sexually assault a 16-year-old girl before you were brought here." Yodai's eyes widened in horror. It was like all his sins were finally catching up to him. "Well, would you look at that..." Tanjiro chuckled darkly, drawing a small knife from his pocket. "Guess you still like little girls. Bad habits die hard."
"Please... I'm sorry, forgive me!" Yodai begged, his voice shaking with terror.
"Forgive you?" Tanjiro's voice was icy with anger and his face contorted in irritation. "You've got some nerve asking me to do that. While I would love to strangle you and punch your face in till it turns to a bloody pulp now, I need answers first. So what you're gonna do for me right now," he brought the knife to Yodai's ear, "is tell me where your boss is."
Yodai whimpered, his entire body quaking with fear. "I—I don't know exactly where he is," he stammered. "He moves around a lot, never stays in one place for long."
Tanjiro pressed the knife closer, the blade nicking Yodai's ear and drawing a thin line of blood. "You're not making a strong case for yourself, Yodai," he warned. "Give me something useful, or this will get a lot worse for you."
It was cold out, so Tanjiro had on a coat. Normally, he would do fine with just a simple sweater, but he didn't want to look odd. The wind bit at his cheeks as he and Zenitsu met up at Inosuke's house as agreed, only to be annoyed upon finding out that Inosuke was still asleep, undressed, and had completely forgotten about their hangout.
Zenitsu stood there in Inosuke's messed up room glaring at Inosuke. "Seriously, Inosuke? We planned this a week ago."
Tanjiro sighed, rolling his eyes fondly. "Come on, let's get him dressed."
Inosuke grumbled incoherently as they hauled him out of bed, half-dragging him into some clothes. His eyes were bleary, and his hair was a wild mess, but they managed to make him presentable enough. Murata was waiting outside, tapping his foot and glancing at his watch.
"Finally!" Murata exclaimed as they emerged. "I was starting to think you guys ditched me."
Once they were all settled into Tanjiro's car, the drive to the amusement park was filled with excited chatter and the occasional playful argument. Inosuke was practically bouncing in his seat, like some kid excited to go to Disney land.
He was practically the most excited even though he was unenthusiastic to get out of bed like 30 minutes ago. The new bizzare rollercoaster caught his interest immediately and he challenge everyone to go on it with him and see who'd come out sane. He was really confident about winning but in a turn of events, Inosuke did not in fact come out alright.
Out of all of them Tanjiro was the only one who was unfazed and decided to take one for the team and lead all of them to a place they can rest and recover.
"Come on, guys," he said, helping Zenitsu, who was clutching his stomach, off the ride. "Let's find a bench to sit down."
As he navigated through the park, weaving through families and groups of friends, Tanjiro spotted two familiar figures at a shooting game booth. With a bright smile, he called out to them.
"Yo, Genya, Mui!"
Genya, whose sharp and serious eyes were focused on the target, turned to see Tanjiro and instantly brightened. Muichiro, standing beside him, mirrored his reaction.
"Tanjiro! You're here too!" Muichiro exclaimed, stepping away from the booth to greet him. He then raised a brow at the sight of Inosuke slumped against Tanjiro. "What happened to him?"
Genya's eyes widened in concern as he took in Inosuke's state. "Is he okay?!"
"Relax, babe, he's still breathing," Muichiro said, placing a calming hand on Genya's arm.
"He's foaming at the mouth!" Genya exclaimed, his worry evident.
Tanjiro chuckled softly, waving a hand dismissively. "It's fine, Genya. They're just still in shock from the roller coaster ride, that's all."
Genya heaved a huge sigh of relief, his shoulders relaxing. Tanjiro smiled at that. Genya may not look it, but he was probably the sweetest and most caring guy on earth. People were always quick to judge him based on his imposing appearance if they didn't know him.
And then there was Muichiro, who hated everyone except Genya and Tanjiro.
"Seriously? That has to be the lamest roller coaster ride I've ever been on and they're this shook? Are they really that weak?" Muichiro scoffed, crossing his arms.
"Come on, Mui, don't be so hard on them," Tanjiro said with a chuckle.
"Hey, I say it like it is. Doesn't make me a bitch," Muichiro retorted, a smirk playing on his lips.
"It kinda does." Genya side-eyed Muichiro at that.
"Babe! Not you too!" Muichiro pouted, feigning offense.
Zenitsu groaned as he stirred awake from his unconsciousness. "What the hell..." he muttered, causing everyone's attention to land on him. He blinked once, twice, honey-brown eyes landing on Muichiro. "Who's the chick?" he asked, his voice still groggy.
Genya visibly frowned while Muichiro snickered.
"Uh, Zen? That's a dude. Now stand straight," Tanjiro said, trying to suppress his laughter.
Zenitsu's eyes widened as he took in Muichiro's appearance more carefully. "Oh, uh, sorry, man," he said, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Guess that ride really did a number on me."
Murata and Inosuke, now recovered, looked around in confusion before also inquiring about the newcomers.
"Who're these guys?" Inosuke asked, his usual brashness returning as he pointed at Genya and Muichiro. He released a small pained sound and glared at Tanjiro who had lightly slapped his hand down from pointing.
"Okay," Tanjiro sighed. "This is Genya and Muichiro, they're in my electives. Genya and Mui, this is Zenitsu, Murata, and Inosuke."
"You fainted after that lame-ass rollercoaster ride. You guys suck," Muichiro quipped, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"I know you didn't just say that!" Inosuke fumed, ready to square up with Muichiro, but Tanjiro pulled him back and held him in place by the hood of his coat with zero effort, a smile on his face.
"Sorry, guys. Mui can be a bit too blunt," Genya said affably, taking the guys aback. "Nice to meet you."
Murata especially looked really surprised. He'd always been a bit intimidated by Sanemi Shinazugawa himself, not to talk of his little brother. "Wow, you're actually really nice."
"I mean, I am?" Genya looked confused.
"You don't look it, bro," Zenitsu said, echoing Murata's sentiment.
At that, Genya bowed his head, an aura of depression clouding him while Muichiro patted him on the back.
"I'm sorry," Murata immediately apologized, flustered by the sudden change in Genya's demeanor. "I didn't mean it like that."
"It's fine," Genya muttered, lifting his head. "I get that a lot."
Tanjiro chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Genya's got a heart of gold, once you get to know him. And Muichiro, well, he's..."
"An acquired taste," Zenitsu finished, grinning.
Muichiro smirked. "Takes one to know one, Zenitsu."
Muichiro and Genya then joined Tanjiro and the guys on their night out since they had the same plans. Genya and Inosuke started getting chummy with each other, much to Muichiro's chagrin. Inosuke thought Genya was the coolest guy ever since he was really good at beating all the games they played at the park.
Genya just finished the Hoop toss basketball game and beat the high score too. Spectators clapped widely, very impressed with how accurate he was.
"You're so tall, how the hell are you so tall?" Inosuke rambled while Genya chuckled.
"I dunno, genetics? My dad was really huge."
"Using past tense for him?" Zenitsu observed.
"He's dead," Genya flatly said, rounding his shoulders. While he didn't look bothered one bit, Zenitsu, Murata, and Inosuke looked shocked.
"Damn, I'm sorry," Zenitsu said, but then Genya scoffed.
"No need for that. Fuck my dad," he replied with a shrug and a smirk.
"Bro deserved it," Muichiro concurred.
Zenitsu looked aghast for a moment. "Okay, I'm gonna need context," he said, but Tanjiro gave him a subtle sign to drop it.
They'd practically done every activity in the park and decided to get something to drink. So, they got into Tanjiro's car and headed to the karaoke bar, the last stop on their outing list.
As they settled into their cozy lounge seats, Inosuke went off to sing a song on stage. It wasn't that Inosuke was bad at singing—he actually had a good voice—but it was just way too loud.
"Does he have an off switch?" Muichiro muttered, plugging his ears with his fingers.
Genya laughed, watching Inosuke belt out the lyrics with intense enthusiasm. "He's got spirit, I'll give him that."
"Spirit? More like a death wish," Zenitsu said, wincing at a particularly high note.
"A star is born," Muichiro sarcastically commented, and Genya smirked and scoffed.
"You mean like Taylor Swift?"
At this, everyone's jaws fell open while Muichiro laughed and leaned into Genya. "See, this is why I let you fuck me."
Zenitsu blew a long drawn-out whistle while Murata and Tanjiro laughed.
"Wild," Zenitsu said, still chuckling.
"Hey babe!"
They flinched and blocked their ears.
If they thought Inosuke couldn't be any louder, they were dead wrong. Just when they had gotten used to his volume, he shouted again, even louder.
He'd spotted his girlfriend walking in with some other girls and called out to her. Aoi screamed back just as enthusiastically.
"Baby! What the hell are you doing up there, motherfucker?!"
"Aoi?" Zenitsu asked, surprised that the girls also had outing plans. Well, it was a Friday. "Oh, Kanao's there too."
Tanjiro's ears perked up at the sound of Kanao's name. He caught sight of her among the girls, watching her walk in looking as beautiful...and unattainable as ever.
Inosuke finally got off stage and made a beeline towards the table Aoi and her girlfriends had picked. Like a puppy seeing its owner, he hurried over to her and wrapped her in his arms before planting a kiss on her lips.
As if reading Tanjiro's mind, Murata leaned in to whisper, "Hey, did you call Kanao since then?"
Tanjiro shot Murata the most exasperated look because, no, he hadn't spoken to Kanao since the party at Ethan's. He groaned audibly, his head sinking into his hands. They had been so comfortable together that night, maybe a little too comfortable, and it had everyone on campus buzzing. Whispers about the young lord, Tanjiro Kamado, and Lady Kanao Tsuyuri having something going on had spread like wildfire.
That night, the alcohol had made him bolder, his inhibitions melting away. He remembered putting his hands all over her, unable to resist her allure. One slip-up, and they would've done much more than just touching and kissing.
They made out in his car before he dropped her off at her dorm, and he promised he would call her the next morning.
Spoiler alert: he didn't.
"She probably thinks you're one of those guys now," Murata said, shaking his head.
Tanjiro sighed deeply, knowing Murata was probably right.
Zenitsu and Murata knew just how much Tanjiro liked Kanao. She was a year ahead of them and two years older. The first time they met was when Aoi brought her along for a hangout they'd planned. He was starstruck and so shy; he didn't know how he was going to talk to her.
He needed a push from Zenitsu and Murata before he was able to approach her, and to his surprise, they hit it off immediately. At the end of that day, he remembered how Zenitsu, Murata, and Inosuke kept teasing him, calling him a milf hunter. He had to keep reminding them that Kanao was definitely not a mom and was just two years older.
Now, thinking about approaching her again made him feel anxious. Things would be awkward, no doubt. He partially blamed it on his underground life; he was so obsessed with revenge that he forgot about Kanao. He'd screwed up, big time.
"What's wrong?" Genya asked, noticing the conflicting and depressing aura clouding Tanjiro.
"So Tanjiro forgot to call this girl, and now he feels like he's lost his chance because she'll think he played her," Zenitsu explained.
"Who's the unlucky girl?" Muichiro asked.
"Kanao," Zenitsu answered.
Genya raised both brows. "Kanao? Like Kochou Kanao?"
"Yep."
"Damn, Tanjiro, I didn't know you had immaculate taste," Muichiro complimented.
"I know, right?" Genya agreed. "My big bro's dating her big sister."
"Wait, for real?!" Murata asked in a surprised and somewhat disappointed tone. "You mean Kochou Kanae is no longer single?!"
"For about six months now, yeah," Genya replied, and Murata let his head fall onto the table, an aura of depression casting over him.
"You should have shot your shot while you had the chance, man," Zenitsu said, amused, placing a hand on Murata's shoulder.
"Give that advice to mister player over here." Muichiro supplied.
"Yeah, Tanjiro this isn't like you, you're no chicken." Zenitsu concurred.
Tanjiro's face turned even redder, if that was even possible. He rubbed the back of his neck, "You guys don't get it, this isn't like being scared of a fight or horror movies. This is about confronting someone about feelings do you know how hard that is?!" He practically hissed.
At this, Genya nodded in understanding. "Ah, I feel you, dude. This is equivalent to when I planned on coming out to Nemi that I was Bi."
The table went completely silent but Muichiro burst into laughs, hand over his mouth in a poor attempt to muffle it up. "Okay, he has a point." He snickered agreeing with Genya. "It took AGES for Genya to grow balls for that."
"This isn't something someone can easily overcome in a short moment, he needs time."
Before anyone could even phantom anything, Inosuke appeared at their table full on glaring. Then he grabbed Tanjiro before anyone could speak and left.
"What the fuck was that about?" Muichiro asked confused.
"Inosuke, hold up. What's wrong?" Tanjiro asked, trying to keep his balance as Inosuke dragged him through the lounge. When he finally looked ahead and realized where Inosuke was taking him, he halted abruptly, pulling Inosuke back. "Woah! Dude, I'm not ready!"
"What do you mean you're not ready? Come on, stop being a pussy."
"It's not like I'm scared or anything," Tanjiro said, flustered. "Look, she probably doesn't even want to see me, so—"
"Probably?! Bitch, she asked about you. Go see her!"
A blush dusted Tanjiro's cheeks, and he relaxed. "She... she did?"
Inosuke gave Tanjiro a shove, propelling him forward. Tanjiro stumbled slightly, with Inosuke trailing closely behind until they came to a halt right in front of the girls' table. He sent a little glare over his shoulder at an equally glaring Inosuke before turning back. The girls all stared in surprise at Tanjiro's sudden appearance, then turned to Inosuke as he joined them, their expressions questioning what was happening. Amidst the confusion, Tanjiro scanned the group until he met Kanao's gaze, which mirrored his own surprise.
Damn, she was so pretty it was unreal. He awkwardly smiled and waved a bit. "Hi."
"Here he is, sis. I brought him like you asked."
Tanjiro raised a brow in confusion. "Sis?"
"I didn't say you should bring him here." Kanao's face was red all over. Tanjiro could imagine that she had only asked about him, and Inosuke took matters into his hands. It was so like him. For a second, he wasn't so nervous anymore.
Before he knew it, he realized he was staring, and she was staring back just as quietly. He blushed again.
"Um... you know what?" Aoi began, smiling and getting up from her seat, having read the room. "There seems to be some really private stuff you guys would want to get into that doesn't concern us so..." At that, everyone got the message and cleared the table, moving to another, leaving Tanjiro and Kanao alone to talk.
Among the girls, it was no secret that Kanao had developed strong feelings for Tanjiro. Since meeting him, they'd noticed a significant change in her demeanor. Kanao, once reserved and withdrawn, had blossomed into a more outgoing and self-assured person. She smiled more often and openly expressed her emotions instead of keeping them bottled up. It was clear that Tanjiro had helped her break out of her shell.
Tanjiro had brought a positive change into Kanao's life, and her friends were deeply grateful of this. They witnessed the happiness he brought her and saw the sparkle in her eyes whenever she talked about him.
So, when they saw the two of them standing there, awkward yet hopeful, they understood what needed to be done. If helping Tanjiro to repay him for the joy he had brought their friend was the way forward, they were more than willing to lend their support.
Silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken words. Tanjiro awkwardly took a seat across from her, unable to meet her gaze, though he knew he had to break the silence somehow.
"So..." He began tentatively, his brow furrowing slightly as he recalled something that had caught his attention earlier. "Inosuke called you sis."
Kanao's response was gentle, her voice breaking the quietude. "Yes, he calls me that all the time because we're close."
"I didn't know that," Tanjiro admitted, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
"I met him through Aoi," she explained softly, her eyes lighting up with fond memories. "And then my older sisters met him and instantly decided he was part of the family."
Tanjiro couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. "Really? Well, that's great. Inosuke kind of needs a mother figure, since he practically grew up without one."
Kanao nodded, her smile warm and genuine. "Yes, it's nice having a little brother too."
Her smile had him momentarily dazed, simply admiring her. He felt a sense of ease between them, breaking the initial tension and finding himself drawn to Kanao's serene demeanor. It dawned on him how much he had missed their conversations and her company. Perhaps, Kanao would consider giving him a chance to redeem himself.
"Kanao..." he started softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've been meaning to tell you... I'm sorry." Kanao's expression soured then and there and he faltered when she sighed.
"Tanjiro please..." She began, not wanting to delve into this topic. It was too embarrassing and did nothing but increase her anxiety.
"It was never my intention to leave things hanging like that. I —I really like you, Kanao." He nodded seriously at her look of mild surprise. Did she really think he wasn't into her? "It's true. I just... I have a lot of shit going on right now."
Tanjiro's traumatic past was not entirely a secret. While some parts were hidden, like the connections of the killers to his family and the reasons for their attack and also that Nezuko was sexually abused that day. Kanao knew he was grappling with the remnants of his past. She understood that he was probably dealing with the mess and trauma from his childhood ordeal, and she felt deeply sorry for him. What she didn't know was that he harbored deep-seated feelings of hatred, vengeance, and a thirst for justice against those responsible.
"I wanna make it up to you."
Her eyes met his, those beautiful crimson eyes she always found so captivating. They were like the embers of a dying fire, warm and intense.
"Come on, let's get outta here," Tanjiro said softly yet decisively.
Kanao's brows disappeared into her fringe, taken aback by Tanjiro's sudden seriousness. "Wait, now?"
Tanjiro chuckled warmly. "Right now," he affirmed, rising from his seat. He walked around the table to her side and gently reached for her hand. "I want to show you something."
Kanao hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching his face for any hint of what he had in mind. Finding only sincerity in his gaze, she nodded silently and allowed him to lead her out of the bustling karaoke bar into the cool evening air enveloping them as they made their way to his car. He opened the door for her with a chivalrous gesture, earning a soft smile from her, before sliding into the driver's seat himself. With a confident turn of the key, he started the engine and hit the accelerator, the car roaring to life as they sped off into the night.
He didn't hold back, knowing Kanao wasn't like other girls. She was strong, confident, and a daredevil, qualities he admired deeply.
"Where the hell are you taking me?" Kanao asked amused as they raced down the empty streets. Turning to face Tanjiro, he flashed her a sharp wink.
"You'll see when we get there." He said with a grin. "I told you I'd make it up to you, so you can keep your expectations high."
Before long, they arrived at a secluded garden. As Tanjiro rolled to a stop, Kanao's eyes widened in astonishment at the sight before her. The luminescent leaves of the Purple Wisteria cast a magical glow, illuminating the dark garden with a soft, ethereal light.
They stepped out of the car and wandered closer to the trees, Kanao's face lighting up with pure joy as she took in the beauty around her. Tanjiro trailed behind, his gaze fixed on her as she marveled at the glowing leaves.
"How did you know about this place?" she asked, turning to face him, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Tanjiro smiled. "I remembered you mentioned wanting to complete your collection of climbers, and the purple wisteria was hard to find. I found this place a while ago but never got the chance to show you because...well, a lotta shit happened." He paused, his expression turning sincere. "I'm sorry about that."
Kanao dismissed his apology with a shake of her head. "You remembered and went out of your way to find this place for me. That means way more than you know, Tanjiro."
It means he's been paying attention.
The way she looked up at him had Tanjiro mesmerized, he reached out to touch her face, brushing her side bang behind her ear. His hand then moved down to gently cup her chin, bringing her lips closer. Tanjiro leaned in to kiss her, but Kanao ducked playfully and ran off into the glowing trees, her laughter echoing through the garden.
Tanjiro was momentarily stunned but quickly grinned, accepting her challenge. He chased after her, marveling at her agility and speed. Despite his own strength and athleticism, he found it difficult to keep up with her. It was both surprising and honestly, it turned him on. He knew then and there that this woman was definitely his type.
Finally, he caught her by the wrist, his grip strong yet gentle. Kanao turned to face him, her breath coming in soft pants, their proximity causing their hearts to race even faster.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" Tanjiro asked, his voice low and earnest, his eyes locked onto hers.
Lost in his gaze and her feelings for him, Kanao nodded. "Yes," she whispered.
Their lips met in a tender kiss, the glowing trees around them standing witness to the start of something beautiful.
After dropping Kanao off at her dorm, Tanjiro promised to call her, just like he had before. To her surprise, her phone rang barely five minutes after she closed the door behind her.
"Didn't waste any time, did you?" Kanao teased, a smile in her voice.
Tanjiro chuckled on the other end. "Maybe I'm just a little paranoid about disappointing you again."
Kanao laughed. "You're being silly. So, what's up?"
"Well," he began, his tone playful yet sincere, "Since you agreed to be my girlfriend, there are a few things you should know."
"Oh really? Like what?" she asked, amused and curious.
"Okay, here's a list of my "unredeeming" qualities," Tanjiro said, feigning seriousness he could hear Kanao laughing. "First, I can be jealous and a bit possessive."
Kanao waved it off. "I'm actually thankful for that, I'm quite jealous myself."
Spurred on, Tanjiro continued, "I like to cuddle after sex because I'm pretty clingy. Hope that's not a problem."
"Not at all," Kanao said, giggling. "I think that's really cute."
"I'm not cute," Tanjiro protested lightly. "I'm a cold-hearted gangster." He bit his cheek to stifle a laugh, knowing the irony was lost on her.
Kanao's laughter bubbled over. "What else?"
"Most of the time, I imagine you sitting on my face."
Kanao burst out laughing again, trying to muffle it with her hand. "How is that an unredeeming quality?"
"I don't know," Tanjiro admitted. "I heard some girls think it's weird."
"It's not," Kanao assured him, still giggling.
"Okay, I hope you don't mind me posting about you online sometimes," he added.
"I'd love that," she replied. "You can start tomorrow."
"Alright bet," Tanjiro said, smiling.
Then his tone turned serious. "I have secrets, Kanao. There are things I'm not ready to share yet because I'm not in the right mental state. But I promise I will, eventually."
Kanao sensed the shift in his demeanor, it seemed this was the actual unredeeming quality Tanjiro wanted to talk about. While she didn't want to be ignorant about whatever he was trying to conceal, she didn't want to hurt him. "It's okay, Tanjiro. Take your time. I don't want you to do anything that might damage you more." A sigh of relief came from Tanjiro's end.
"God, I love you so much."
Her breath hitched.
"Yeah no, I'm not taking it back. I mean it." Kanao honestly didn't know how to respond, she had a knack for sensing when someone was being genuine and Tanjiro checked every single box.
Oh my God...
"Goodnight, Kanao."
"Goodnight, Tanjiro," she whispered, and he ended the call.
As Tanjiro drove back to the bar, he couldn't help but imagine what life would be like if he were just a normal college student, free from the burden of his traumatic past, the weight of revenge, and the worry for his sister. It was a selfish thought, but in that fleeting moment, it felt almost surreal.
"I'll fix everything," he muttered to himself. "Everything will be normal again."