𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒 ➪ 𝖨𝗇𝗈𝖳𝖺𝗇𝖹𝖾𝗇.

♥ 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 ♥

Third Person Pov:

The late afternoon sun slanted through the high school window, painting the classroom in hues of gold and dust motes. The final bell had rung minutes ago, but the air still buzzed with the lingering energy of a day's end. Zenitsu, ever the dramatic one, was meticulously packing his bag, muttering under his breath about the perils of calculus.

"I swear, if Mr. Tomioka gives us another pop quiz tomorrow, I'm going to actually cry," he whined, slumping theatrically over his desk. His gaze, however, kept drifting towards Tanjiro, whose movements were as calm and precise as always. Tanjiro was already neatly stacking his textbooks, a gentle smile gracing his lips. Zenitsu's heart, a well-worn drum at this point, did its usual soft flutter. His crush on Tanjiro wasn't a sudden spark, but a slow, comforting burn, like a favorite warm blanket on a chilly evening.

"You'll be fine, Zenitsu," Tanjiro said, his voice a balm to Zenitsu's frayed nerves. "You always say that, and you always ace them."

Before Zenitsu could bask in the warmth of Tanjiro's encouragement, a blur of motion announced Inosuke's presence. He was already halfway out of his seat, his wild boar mask — a permanent fixture even at school, much to the exasperation of the faculty — slightly askew. "Stop yammering, Monitsu! Let's go! I'm starving, and there's a new ramen place that opened up by the station!" Inosuke's pronouncements were always loud, demanding, and utterly Inosuke. Yet, when his gaze landed on Tanjiro, Zenitsu noticed the almost imperceptible softening in his posture, a flicker of something akin to fierce protectiveness in his eyes. Inosuke's affection for Tanjiro was as untamed and undeniable as his own wild spirit.

Tanjiro chuckled, a sound that always sent a pleasant shiver down Zenitsu's spine. "Inosuke, we agreed to go over the history notes today, remember? The big exam is next week." He gently nudged Inosuke, a familiar gesture born of countless shared moments.

Inosuke grumbled, his shoulders slumping just a fraction. "Fine, fine. But after we study, we're getting ramen. My treat." He punctuated his statement with a thump on Tanjiro's back that, despite its force, was clearly an affectionate gesture. Zenitsu, ever the keen observer, noticed the way Inosuke's hand lingered for a moment too long, a silent testament to the magnetic pull that always seemed to exist between Inosuke and Tanjiro. It was a tension Zenitsu felt keenly, a familiar ache in his own chest, a gentle reminder that he wasn't the only one drawn to Tanjiro's unwavering kindness.

―♡―

They walked out of the school gates, the setting sun casting long, intertwined shadows before them. Zenitsu found himself falling into his usual position, a few steps behind Inosuke and Tanjiro. He watched them interact, a comfortable rhythm established over years of friendship. Inosuke's boisterous energy was perfectly balanced by Tanjiro's calming presence. It was a dance Zenitsu had witnessed countless times, a rhythm he knew by heart.

"So, the new ramen place," Zenitsu ventured, trying to sound nonchalant. "Is it really that good, Inosuke?"

Inosuke puffed out his chest. "Of course it is! I smelled it from three blocks away! It's probably the greatest ramen in the world!"

Tanjiro smiled, a gentle warmth radiating from him. "We can try it another day, Inosuke. We really should focus on our history notes."

A sigh escaped Inosuke. "Fine, fine. But you owe me, Kentaro!"

"It's Tanjiro, Inosuke," Tanjiro corrected, but there was no real bite to his voice, just a fond exasperation that made Zenitsu smile.

They settled into their usual study spot at the local library, a quiet corner tucked away from the main reading area. Tanjiro, ever the diligent student, laid out his notes with meticulous care. Zenitsu, despite his initial protests, found himself actually focusing, Tanjiro's clear explanations making even the most daunting historical events seem manageable. Inosuke, surprisingly, was mostly quiet, occasionally interjecting with bizarre, yet sometimes insightful, comments about ancient battles or the fighting styles of historical figures. Zenitsu stole glances at Tanjiro, at the way the library's soft lighting illuminated the gentle curve of his cheek, the determined set of his brow. He felt a quiet reverence for the boy who could effortlessly command both Inosuke's wild attention and his own flustered focus.

As the hours slipped by, Zenitsu felt a comfortable warmth settle over him. It wasn't just the warmth of the library, but the palpable warmth of their shared space, the unspoken connections that wove between them. He watched as Tanjiro patiently re-explained a particularly confusing concept to Inosuke, who was surprisingly attentive. He saw the genuine admiration in Inosuke's eyes, the way his shoulders relaxed just a bit when Tanjiro was near. It was clear, to Zenitsu, that Inosuke saw something truly special in Tanjiro, something worth taming his own tempestuous nature for, at least for a little while.

―♡―

The librarian's soft announcement that the library was closing stirred them from their studious haze. "Finally!" Inosuke declared, stretching with a loud groan. "Now, ramen!"

"It's too late for the new place, Inosuke," Tanjiro said kindly, gathering his books. "But we can go to our usual spot."

As they stepped back out into the cool evening air, Zenitsu shivered. "It's getting chilly."

Without a word, Inosuke shrugged off his jacket, a worn but surprisingly warm-looking thing, and draped it over Zenitsu's shoulders. Zenitsu blinked, a warm blush creeping up his neck. It was a simple, thoughtful gesture, and it surprised him. He felt a different kind of warmth from the jacket, not just the fabric, but the silent understanding behind the action. Inosuke, for all his bluster, was protective of their small circle, and Zenitsu knew that extended to him, too.

Tanjiro smiled, a soft, almost ethereal look gracing his features. "Thanks, Inosuke. That was kind of you."

Inosuke merely grunted, turning his head away, but Zenitsu could almost feel the pleased thrum radiating from him. As they walked towards their favorite ramen shop, the distant city lights twinkling like scattered gems, Zenitsu realized something profound. He and Inosuke both harbored deep feelings for Tanjiro, feelings that were unspoken but undeniably present. And Tanjiro, in his boundless kindness and gentle nature, seemed to cherish them both, in a way that felt like acceptance and belonging.

He watched as Inosuke, now walking shoulder-to-shoulder with Tanjiro, leaned in to whisper something that made Tanjiro laugh, a clear, bell-like sound that warmed Zenitsu to his core. He wasn't the only one who felt the pull towards Tanjiro, and in a strange way, that made it all the more beautiful. They were a peculiar trio, bound by shared laughter, endless studies, and an unspoken tapestry of affection woven between the three of them. They might not be typical high school sweethearts in the conventional sense, but in their own unique, beautifully tangled way, they were undeniably together. And for Zenitsu, nestled in the warmth of Inosuke's jacket and the shared presence of his two most important people, that was more than enough.

Author's Note:
um— hey! :^

i'm guiltily aware it's been literal ages since i posted an InoTanZen oneshot for you guys so I hope this little oneshot does some good! gave you guys a little bit of inozen fluff as well bc why not lol

i'm gonna try and be more active on here, but it's hard due to everyone being inactive and my motivation for this book slowly going out. but if you guys still want me to post (even if it's literally one person wanting me to post) then i shall <3

love you guys

mwah <3