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

No. 6

December 13, 2021

Tanjirou is starting to regret mentioning the festival to Inosuke so early in the morning because it's all he can focus on now. He's practically bouncing off the walls and constantly checking the time on his phone. It got to the point where Tanjirou had to placate him with the promise of buying all his food at the festival.

Sure it's a dig to his wallet, but it's salvation to his last nerve.

"Okay, but how's it going?" Nezuko whispers as she catches up with him in the hallway.

Tanjirou inhales sharply and clicks his tongue before letting out a low chuckle.

How is it going?

"That is a loaded question," he answers after a moment of consideration.

They stop at the end of the hallway, leaning against opposite walls. Everyone else is scattered around the house, leaving them in a quiet bubble. It's a rarity to find a secluded place when you're constantly surrounded by so many people, so they take their chance.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" His sister raises her eyebrows and crosses her arms as she waits expectantly for an answer.

Tanjirou looks down at his feet and wiggles his toes hidden away in his black socks. The small action unwelcomely makes him remember how they curled last night when Inosuke bit him. Heat coils in his stomach and ventures up his body to settle in his cheeks.

"No," he mutters unconvincingly, refusing to look away from the ground.

Nezuko nods, though it's obvious she doesn't believe him even if she doesn't pry. "Well, you've had my number for like five years, so don't be afraid to use it."

She walks down the rest of the hallway, leaving Tanjirou to bask in the heat still coursing through his body. He tries to push it down and push it away, but it fights against his attempts valiantly.

Eventually, he leaves it alone to dissipate on its own before going upstairs to his room. It's not worth the strenuous effort of sorting through his feelings when he'll ultimately become distracted by something in the next ten minutes (it often happens in a lively household).

The room is empty when Tanjirou arrives, and he breathes a sigh of relief. He walks over to his suitcase laid out next to Inosuke's, the dark-haired man's clothes strewn around carelessly. He crouches down and starts looking for warm clothing and an extra pair of gloves since his companion surely didn't bring any.

The college student changes into a heavy dark green sweatshirt, warm pants, and thick, fuzzy socks. The wind chill is going to be worse here compared to where his campus is.

Tanjirou wonders passingly how Inosuke will look all bundled up in winter clothes with a pinkened nose.

Okay, wow, he should stop before the sound of his heart drowns out the sound of the heating.

.oOo.

Nezuko sighs dramatically as she leans heavily into Hanako. "I don't know what to get him for Christmas! What kind of girlfriend am I?"

She whines as she scrolls through a website that claims to have the top ten best things to get your significant other for the holidays.

Hanako laughs into her as she shoves her sister off her and onto the ground. The two siblings are currently lounging on her bed in her room in the basement as Nezuko goes through the throes of her crisis.

"How am I supposed to know?" The younger girl hums as she grabs her sister's phone and starts skimming the article. "I'm as single as a Pringle."

"And that is exactly why you are useless to me!" Nezuko pushes herself off the ground and snatches her phone back before flopping onto the bed face first. "Useless!"