Therefore, You and Me • TanZen × ZenTan | Highschool AU

Chapter 12: Kocho Shinobu

"Shinobu-senpai!"

"Hello~", Shinobu smiles and waves at them. "Mind if I borrow you guys for a bit?"

◆◇◆

"So–"

"—What is it that you want to talk about to us?", Kamado asks nervously. But she didn't answer his question. Instead, she gleefully sits on the bench under the school garden's big tree. Then tapped the empty seats beside her, signaling them to sit down with her. Though still not knowing what her intentions are, they comply.

Followed with a few seconds of silence, Shinobu finally opens her mouth. "After giving it a loongg, long thinking—what happened on the weekends still doesn't sit right with me. I'd prefer to avoid any misunderstandings, especially when it comes to that man."

That man, though coldly referred, could only be Tomioka-sensei.

"Um.. Shinobu-senpai?"

"Yes? Tanjiro-kun."

"What do you mean what happened on the weekends?"

"Eh?"

Ah,

Agatsuma gasped. He hurriedly pretends to cough, "Tanjiro.. I mean, Kamado-kun, don't tell me you forgot we saw Tomioka-sensei together with Shinobu-senpai yesterday at the waterpark?". He kept secretly glancing and winking. Kamado thought he got possessed. But it didn't take Kamado long to realize what had happened.

"O-Oh..! Right. What happened yesterday, yeah?"

But the damage had already been done. Shinobu is a model student. She also tries her best to keep up her appearance as a kind upperclassman with a nice smile. Everyone knows she's just doing it for her favorite senior, but they can't help admiring her dedication. She remembers almost every student and teacher and even the staffs' name and personality.

"Huh.. I didn't take you to be someone forgetful, Tanjiro-kun."

Agatsuma knew this would happen. He regrets forgetting to tell Kamado. He thought since it was a small incident anyway, he wouldn't need to tell Kamado what had happened aside from Tanjiro's demon discovery, which was quite obviously more important and relevant.

Nevertheless, he can't rewind time back. All Kamado can do is to keep finding excuses. Fake it till you make it they say.

"W-well it happens."

"Hmm.."

Kamado glances away from Shinobu's staring. He pays attention to the beautiful scenery behind Shinobu instead. The leaves on the bushes sway ever so slightly, following the wind's lead. The blazing sun unable to pierce through the big tree they are sitting under. He grows calmer.

Shinobu sighs.

"Well, it does happen. Just somewhat odd when it comes to you, the infamous underclassman who managed to memorize the entire school's names under a day."

That's an impressive feat, is what Tanjiro and Zenitsu would've thought if they were listening. Although Tanjiro and Zenitsu isn't here. Kimetsu Academy is a pretty big deal around the town. There's about almost 300 students in the high school section alone, not counting the teachers. It's not that bad at all. As long as you ignore quite a lot of oddballs.

"Or maybe what happened yesterday wasn't as big of a deal as I'm making it to be. You two must know Tomioka-sensei is hated by everyone, yes? My friends dared me to be friends with Tomioka-sensei but how do I even do that when he is that stone-faced? I don't know what he's thinking at all. He also doesn't talk much in the first place! Not only is he stone-faced, doesn't talk, he's also a loner and doesn't get along that well with the other teachers. It doesn't help with his spartan teaching on P.E lessons too. "