𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘆𝗲𝘀 - 𝗞𝘆𝗼𝗷𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗸𝘂 𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

~Chapter 1~

"I can do it just fine all by myself, Kyojuro." You rolled your eyes at the taller man walking next to you as you tried to shove away the boxes of art supplies from his hands. Kyojuro smiled brightly and gripped the boxes more firmly. His grip was indeed quite strong. How much does the man exercise every day? There was nothing you could do but stare at his annoying, yet somehow charming smile. It's like all this man ever does is smile!

Those very same boxes were in your hands when you tripped on the stairs, Ms. (L/N). If you hadn't bumped into me, Tengen would have gotten you into trouble." Kyojuro grinned as you huffed. Tengen, or Tengen-sama as he'd make you call him, was the Kimetsu Academy's art teacher, and you were his assistant. Normally, you'd be the one to help him out whenever he needs it, but lately, you've been getting on his bad side due to your clumsiness. If it weren't for Kyojuro coming up with excuses as to why you'd mess up, you'd have already lost your job.

"I honestly couldn't care less about Tengen-sama right now." You fold your arms, "And about me tripping? I can assure you it wasn't the boxes. I just forgot to tie my shoelaces."

"You're wearing laceless Vans." Kyojuro pointed out, gesturing down at your shoes. The week before, you had bought new Vans. You looked down to find yourself wearing them. Shoot.

"W-well... Those are magical Vans! They have invisible shoelaces." You said stubbornly, pulling the boxes of art supplies away from Kyojuro's hands as you turned. "I believe you have a history class to teach anyway. You better get going if you don't wanna be late." Your friend's eyes widened as his hands clapped his forehead.

"Ah yes! The history class! You didn't have to distract me like that, (Y/N)!" Yes, you both were using first-name bases with each other. You both were very close friends, so neither would mind much if one calls the other by their first name.

"Me? Distract you?" You asked, raising an eyebrow as you turned back to face the taller man again, "Last I remember, Mr. Rengoku, you were the one who offered to help out when I specifically told you I didn't need it." You said, using the same loud manner Kyojuro uses whenever he spoke. Kyojuro chuckled out loud as he turned to leave, giving you a small wave.

"See you later then!" And like that he left. As you tried to come up with an excuse to explain your tardiness, you decided it would be best for you to get started as well, and kept walking toward Tengen-sama's art room.

Being an assistant is so hard! I could've signed up for something easier, you thought to yourself.

Whenever Kyojuro pointed out how lazy you were, you would always claim that you were on power-saving mode. Despite many differences, you and Kyojuro got along well. You were an anti-social lazy person who silently judged random people who walked past you without reason, whereas Kyojuro was always happy and loud, and for some reason, he got along with almost everyone he met. 

As a child, you had developed trust issues, mostly because of the bullying you endured during elementary and middle school, and the absence of parental support, but you tried not to think about it too much. 

Kyojuro was always smiling, but behind his big fiery eyes, you could see sadness and pain. When it came to his personal life, Kyojuro always avoided talking about it, and you would not push him because you knew how it felt. All you knew about Kyojuro's personal life was that he had a younger brother, Senjuro, who attended the very same school you both worked in. However, you never asked Kyojuro about his parents, even if you were curious.

You were an only child of two very busy parents who never had much time with you as a result of the fact that they were always traveling for work, as they claimed, which is why you have always stayed with your grandmother. Your grandma was the one who has raised you and accepted you for who you were. Unfortunately, she died when you were still in grade school from lung cancer, which broke you. Losing the person who has truly cared for you and was the only one you trusted scarred you deeply for such a long time. You've built up a very thick wall around you to avoid others ever since.

That's until you met a certain fiery-haired man who never seemed to leave you alone.

You couldn't recall how exactly it all happened, but you do remember that he'd always assist you in every way possible, even if you didn't tell him you needed help, which explains the situation that has happened earlier. He'd even offer to walk you home, claiming that it may be dangerous for a young lady like you to walk alone at a time so late. It confused you, really, but you'd only think he was trying to be a gentleman. At first, having a bright man with such a loud personality offering to help you out annoyed you. But with time, you've learned to be grateful for having such a kind-hearted friend. That was Kyojuro for you after all. The thought of these moments made you smile a little as you entered Tengen's room, wondering what he would say to you this time.

"You're late." Tengen-sama said bluntly as you placed the boxes on the table next to him.

You would never think Tengen was a teacher when you first look at him. He would always wear a hooded gray jacket over a white shirt, with the hood pulled over his head, in place of the teacher's uniform of Kimetsu Academy. Despite wearing a headband decorated with different-sized gemstones, he let his white hair fall over his face. His left eye was decorated with some sort of a red mark, which made you wonder whether it was a tattoo or not.

"Einstein said time was relative, right?" You said, giving the large man a fake smile, "Maybe I'm not late. Maybe you are early." Tengen continued scowling at you as he sighed, before grinning.

"You continue to amuse me, (L/N)." Tengen-sama said, "If it weren't for your idiocy, I would've asked the head office to fire you on your first day."

"I told you it was an accident! I didn't mean to spoil Zenitsu's artwork!" You fold your arms, rolling your eyes. Tengen just looked at you before sighing. You've seen Tengen around those who weren't you. You've seen him acting so chill around others. Tengen-sama with you on the other hand? He would do nothing but roll his eyes and sigh, maybe sometimes even bully you in a joking matter. You couldn't blame him. You thought you were annoying at times.

You have always wondered how the hell Tengen-sama had three wives. It almost seemed unfair that you have never had a lover, even if you and Tengen-sama were around the same age.

"Is there anything else you'd like me to do for you, sir?" You asked with fake sweetness after you finished sweeping the whole art room and cleaning the tables. Next thing you know Tengen would ask you to cook dinner for him. It seemed to you that you were only needed around whenever you'd have to clean up the students' mess after art class, or you'd have to try and stop Tengen from throwing dynamites at the art room walls whenever he'd feel furious. Blowing up the art room was his special way of letting out his anger. He thought explosions were art. Tengen-sama raised an eyebrow at you before shrugging.

"I don't think so, no. You're free to leave now. It's pretty late. Besides, I have already promised my wives that I will take them out for dinner." Tengen smirked, "Unless you'd like to stay and pick the gum from under the tables." But you have already left, taking your things away with you. Tengen-sama chuckled to himself, packing up his things as well.

"She's never going to change, will she?"