ONIGIRI...? — CHAPTER #2 — LANGUAGE BARRIER SUCKS!
"Onigiri." You said, seriously regretting your life choices after that word left your mouth.
'Why the fuck did i say Onigiri?' You cursed under your breath, feeling frustrated with yourself. You couldn't help but berate your own intelligence. 'Shit. Why am I so dumb?' Your mind raced, wondering how Tanjiro would react to your blunder.
As you stood there, frozen in embarrassment, the burgundy-haired boy gazed at you, his expression a mix of surprise and kindness. Without uttering a word, he reached inside his haori and retrieved an actual Onigiri. He held it out to you, a silent gesture of understanding and compassion. You were taken aback by his thoughtfulness, the weight of his action sinking in. Realizing that Tanjiro had previously given this Onigiri to Zenitsu out of hunger on the anime, you couldn't bring yourself to accept it. You gently returned the Onigiri to Tanjiro, who now wore a look of confusion. He wondered why you were giving the food back to him. Before he could voice his confusion, you attempted to communicate.
"No onigiri!" you blurted out in broken Japanese, your words stumbling and disjointed. "No Japanese!" you gestured by shaking your head from side to side, indicating a clear "no." Tanjiro began to piece together that you must have been a foreigner or at least someone unfamiliar with the Japanese language. However, even with this understanding, he was at a loss since he didn't have a clue about your native language. Taking a moment to think, he decided to start a conversation about something simple, hoping to establish a connection.
The boy extended his finger, pointing directly at himself. "Kamado Tanjiro." He enunciated each syllable slowly, giving you ample time to comprehend. Sensing your confusion, he repeated the gesture, emphasizing his own name once again. Then, he shifted his finger, directing it towards you. "What is your name?" Tanjiro's attempts to communicate felt as if he were trying to break through to a stubborn donkey, yet you couldn't grasp why he was singling you out.
Your mind raced with self-doubt. 'Did I do something wrong already?! Oh no! He is staring at me!' Panic gripped you, overwhelming your senses. The weight of the situation, whether a dream or not, bore down upon you with striking realism. The mere thought of sustaining eye contact sent your anxiety spiraling. You found yourself questioning the very existence of eyes themselves. In that moment of distress, Tanjiro discerned your turmoil and sought to offer solace, gently gripping your shoulders to anchor you.
"Kamado Tanjiro." He repeated, his voice being a comforting murmur. He pointed at himself once more, his gaze radiating reassurance. Then, with unwavering patience, he redirected his finger towards you, awaiting your response.
'He is asking for my name! How could I be so stupid?' You chided yourself, mustering the strength to calm the rising tide of anxiety. 'Should I reveal my real name? After all, I find myself in an anime where nobody knows me. Perhaps I could... transform... Yes! Transform! I can seize this golden opportunity to become someone I can truly be proud of!'
Gathering your courage, you reached out, grasping Tanjiro's hand firmly, and summoned a warm yet "confident" smile. Recalling the cultural convention of stating last names first in Japanese, you reminded yourself of the proper order.
"(L/N) (Y/N)! (L/N) (Y/N)!" You proclaimed aloud, your voice tinged with nervousness, but accompanied by a sincere smile. As you closed your eyes momentarily, you acknowledged that this fresh start instilled a sense of joy within you. However, you also recognized that your inherent awkwardness and anxious persona remained present. Nevertheless, the fact that you were no longer engulfed in panic proved sufficient to put Tanjiro at ease.
YOU ARE READING
𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐉𝐎 感情 || 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳
Fanfiction🎆「 You led an ordinary life as a typical girl, deeply engrossed in the world of anime and manga, with a profound love for martial arts. Sadly, your parents had died, leaving you to navigate the world on your own. You bore the qualities of shyness...