"Do you remember that time you were my fake boyfriend for winter break?"

No. 3

December 12, 2021

The vast majority of the remaining drive is uneventful save for a few short explicit outbursts from Inosuke directed at other drivers on the highway. ("What? Someone needs to tell them they can't drive for shit in icy conditions. I'm saving lives, Tantarou.")

As the arrival time dwindles closer and closer to 0 mins away, Tanjirou almost feels like the screen is mocking him. His palms sweat from the tight hold of his steering wheel, and his heart pounds in his throat, hindering his ability to speak.

He peaks over at Inosuke, who's been aimlessly scrolling through his phone for the past hour, showing no external signs of nervousness. Something that should ease Tanjirou's racing thoughts, but Inosuke has a tendency to mess things up when he's overconfident in his ability to do something.

Just last week, he claimed he could make the perfect toast (which he has done in the past), but he set the fire alarm off twice in the course of a half-hour.

Then without much warning, Tanjirou's parking behind Nezuko in the large driveway (with a new car in it?) of his childhood home and the tips of his fingertips are tingling. Inosuke, on the other hand, is finally looking up from his phone in awe at the sage green two-story house with a dark wrap-around porch.

The redhead can hear the muffled sound of Nezuko's car doors slamming and the distinct pop of a truck opening. His mother will notice their arrival soon and send his younger siblings out to help with the luggage, so he should probably rip the bandaid off and get out of the car.

But Tanjirou was nervous.

He takes a deep breath, steading his pounding heart, and gets out of the car as Inosuke continues to stare with wide eyes. The college student walks to the back of his car and pulls open the trunk to grab both of their suitcases as the dark-haired man finally gets out.

"Big sis! Big bro!" A voice—deeper than the last time Tanjirou heard it—calls out.

He looks up to see his first younger brother Takeo running at him full speed with a shining grin that could rival the sun. His black hair is cut shorter but still long enough to gel back slightly, and he sports round glasses similar to his older brother that make his red eyes a little bigger through the glass.

Takeo crashes into his older brother, catching him in a bone-crushing hug. Over his shoulder, Tanjirou can see the rest of his siblings filtering out the door as he returns the act of affection. All of them run to Tanjirou as well, and he can hear an indigent squawk from Nezuko.

"What am I? Chopped liver?" She asks as she saunters over, suitcase rolling behind her.

Takeo turns around and sticks his tongue out at her, blowing a raspberry.

Tanjirou laughs and shrugs them off, offering the luggage to them, which they take happily before going back into the house. He looks over to catch Inosuke watching him with an expression he can't quite place on his pretty features. It heats the blood in Tanjirou's veins, burning him up, and he has to look away before it becomes obvious.

Zenitsu throws an arm around Inosuke's shoulders with an easy chuckle as he walks past, guiding him to the front door.

"I don't know who's actually here yet, so be prepared for anything," Nezuko hums, and she throws a comforting smile over her shoulder.

"I'm a king! Of course, I'm prepared for anything!" Inosuke grunts, throwing the blonde's arm off of him before taking the lead of the group.

Zenitsu throws his arms up in defeat and shoots Tanjirou a wink that has the redhead rolling his eyes.