𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮 *ೃ༄ 𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘯

𝗅𝗈𝗌𝗍

"Tanjiro."

I blink my eyes against the bright sunlight.

"Get. UP!"

"What?" I ask groggily.

"Stop sleeping past your alarm! We're gonna be late!"

I realize that it's Nezuko looming over me, and that I did indeed sleep past my alarm.

"Oh damn!"

I shove Nezuko out of my room and get ready as quickly as possible.

"Good morning to you too!" she calls.

I run downstairs once I'm ready and grab my backpack, not even bothering to eat something.

Giyuu drives us to school and I rush to global foundations.

I wasn't late!

Inosuke watches me quietly as I rush to my seat.

I wave at him and smile.

He just looks away, but he doesn't look upset, maybe just a little embarrassed even. His cheeks are a bit flushed. Strange.

Wait, why is he even here?? He wasn't here on the first day. Why? I thought that he must have a different class.

I'll have to ask him about that at lunch.

Of course, waiting for lunch just makes the time go slower, and it feels like the second hand is dragging across the clock in the classroom, hours feeling like much longer.

When lunch finally comes around, I rush outside, catching up with Inosuke as he's still walking to his spot.

"Hey," he greets.

"Hi!"

Once we sit down, I decide to ask him.

"Hey Inosuke?"

He hums in response.

"Why were you in global foundations today, but not on the first day?"

Inosuke looks at the floor.

"Inosuke?"

"I just didn't go, okay?" he says.

"Like ditching? On the first day?!"

"Um, yes?"

Why did he ask that like a question? I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Well you know, it's not good to skip class, especially on the first day. I know we weren't doing much but you wanna make a good first impression and-"

"Shut up!" he snaps at me.

A jolt of surprise flashes in my chest.

"I didn't ditch class, okay!"

"You didn't? Then why-"

"I... I got lost."

Inosuke grabs a riceball out of his backpack, chewing on it in frustration.

I frown.

"You got lost?"

"Yes. I ended up in the junior's section of the building, in advanced biology. I had to interrupt the class to tell the teacher I wasn't in the right place, in front of everyone."

His brow creases with worry.

"I'm sorry. It's my fault, I should've tried harder to help you when you looked lost-" I start.

He cuts me off, genuine surprise on his face.

"You're blaming yourself for this? It's not your fault."

I shrug.

"You tried to help me, but I freaked out. It's my fault," he says, clearly upset.

Freaked out?

He did seem shy. Maybe he just has anxiety, like me.

"It's okay," I say, "You didn't know me. You seemed nervous too. But it's okay to need help. You know me now, you can trust me. I'll make sure you don't get lost again!"

He says nothing, taking another bite of his riceball.

He finishes it off and grabs a little blue bento out of his bag, grabbing the other one that was in there.

"Is that all you brought to eat?" I ask gently.

"Yeah."

"Is that enough to sustain you?"

He shrugs.

"I'll be fine. I always am."

"You sure?" I ask.

"Yeah. Who cares anyway?"

"I do," I say softly.

This surprises us both. I can see his eyes widen a bit.

"Here, try this," I say, grabbing something out of my lunchbox and setting it in his.

He stares at the little fried cube suspiciously before picking it up and popping it in his mouth.

"It is good..." he says.

I beam.

"I know right! Here, have a couple more," I tell him, giving him three more.

"You don't have to-"

"I don't mind at all!"

He shrugs and takes another bite.

"Hey, what is this anyway?" he asks as he picks up the last one.

"Oh!"

I chuckle.

"It's tofu. My sister Nezuko loves the stuff. She tempura fried it."

He looks surprised.

"Tofu, huh? It's pretty good."

"I know right!"

ੈ✩‧₊˚

"Hey Tanjiro?" Nezuko asks at dinner.

"Yes?"

"Where do you disappear to at lunch every day? I never see you."

Inosuke told me not to tell anyone about his secret spot, but I figure my sister would be okay.

"I made a new friend," I say softly, "He likes to sit outside."

"Oh good!" Nezuko exclaims, lunch spots forgotten, "You made a new friend! I was worried when you didn't mention anyone."

"It's only been three days," I point out.

"But still! I'm glad you found someone!"

I smile.

"Me too."