Tanjirou’s POV
After the officers left, having finally determined that the house was safe, the silence was almost unbearable. The air still held the faint metallic scent of blood, and my mind kept replaying the horrific image of the heads in the inspection bag. Tsuki had left not long after the police, her usual unflappable demeanor shattered.
The next morning, I awoke with a sense of dread, the events of the previous night replaying in my mind like a nightmare I couldn’t escape. I moved slowly, every step feeling like I was wading through thick mud. I dressed in silence, my fingers trembling slightly as I buttoned my shirt. Nezuko was waiting for me downstairs, her face pale and eyes red from crying. We shared a silent understanding—there were no words that could capture the horror of what we’d seen.
The walk to school was eerily quiet. The usual chatter between us was replaced by a heavy silence, each step echoing louder than usual in the early morning air. I dropped Nezuko off at the middle school, giving her a reassuring smile that I didn't feel, then continued on to my own school. As I approached, I could already hear the murmurs. News of the incident had spread like wildfire.
Whispers filled the hallways, some sympathetic, others accusatory. My skin crawled under their stares, a mixture of pity and suspicion that made me want to disappear. I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact, but I could still feel their gazes, like invisible hands tugging at my clothes.
Finally, I reached my locker where my friends were gathered. Genya was the first to notice me, his face lighting up with relief as he rushed over. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with genuine concern. His eyes searched mine, and for a moment, the noise of the hallway faded away.
I managed a weak smile, my heart skipping a beat. I had developed a small crush on Genya over the past few months, but I had never mustered up the courage to say anything. His presence was a comfort, and I felt a small blush creep up my cheeks. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Muichiro standing nearby, his expression unreadable. There was something in his eyes—jealousy, maybe? But I couldn’t be sure.
“I’m fine,” I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. The others gathered around, bombarding me with questions.
“What was it like?”
“Did you see the bodies?”
“How long did it take to clean up?”
Each question was like a knife, reopening the wound in my mind. I struggled to answer, my voice shaky. The images flashed before my eyes, the sight of the blood, the smell—it was all too much.
Finally, Genya cleared his throat, cutting through the barrage of questions. “This might not be the best time,” he began, his voice uncertain. “But Tanjirou, will you go out with me? I haven’t been able to find the time to say this and—”
His words caught me off guard, my heart skipping a beat. Without thinking, I leaned in and kissed his cheek, feeling the heat rise to my face. His skin was warm under my lips, and when I pulled back, his face was a brilliant shade of red. For a second, I thought he might faint.
“Of course, I will,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. A small smile tugged at my lips, the first genuine one in what felt like forever.
The bell rang, cutting through the moment. I waved to Genya, telling him to text me the time and date for our first date. He nodded, still blushing furiously, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little. But as I walked away, a strange feeling settled in my gut, a sense of unease that I couldn’t shake. It felt like I had made a mistake, but I brushed it off, convincing myself it was just nerves.
### The Hallway
The hallways were bustling with students hurrying to their classes, the noise a comforting hum of normalcy. I tried to lose myself in the crowd, but the eyes followed me. I could feel them, every glance a reminder that everyone knew. The whole school was talking about the incident, about the horror that had unfolded at my house. I kept my head down, focusing on the familiar sights around me.
Yuki and Shinobu were ahead, holding hands and talking excitedly about a date. Shinobu’s laughter was light and musical, a sound that would usually lift my spirits, but today it seemed distant, like a memory from another life. The lockers slammed shut, doors opened and closed, and the voices blended into a cacophony that threatened to overwhelm me.
I finally reached my classroom and slipped into my seat, keeping my eyes on the desk. The feeling in my gut was back, stronger than before, like a warning bell ringing in my head. I felt eyes on me and looked up to see Muichiro staring from across the room. His expression was unreadable, his eyes piercing through me as if he could see right into my soul.
YOU ARE READING
Psycho
Horrortanjirou is a relatively good kid he always follows the rules and is kind to everyone but when his friends finally peer pressure him he's just thinking out one night he meets a strange boy by the lake
