𝓡𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 𝓜𝓮 [ ObaMitsu fanfic/ R-(M)] Kimetsu No Yaiba

Chapter 20 - Lost in You

Chapter Song - Sky Ferreira - " Everything is Embarrassing"

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Days Later

The sun filtered through the large cafeteria windows, casting a warm glow over the room as Mitsuri, Kanae, Shinobu and Giyu gathered at their usual lunch spot—a cozy table tucked away in the corner with a view of the campus gardens. The air buzzed with the sound of students chatting and the clinking of utensils, but their corner felt like a little sanctuary away from the bustle.

As they sat, Mitsuri practically beamed at Giyu. "It's so nice to finally see you again, Giyu! I feel like you and Shinobu have been so busy!"

Shinobu chuckled, her violet eyes glancing over at Giyu teasingly. "He's been swamped with work, but I managed to drag him out for lunch today."

Giyu shrugged slightly, offering a faint smile as he set his tray down. "It's good to see you all," he said softly, his deep voice almost drowned out by the surrounding noise.

Kanae, who had been quieter than usual, managed a soft smile at them. But Mitsuri, always attuned to her friends' moods, quickly noticed the shift in her energy. Her brows furrowed slightly, concern filling her voice as she turned to Kanae. "Kanae, are you okay? You've seemed a bit off today..."

Shinobu, who had been chatting with Giyu, immediately picked up on it too. "Yeah, you've been really quiet," she added, her tone more serious, the playful spark in her eyes replaced by concern. "Did something happen?"

Kanae hesitated for a moment, her fingers idly tracing the edge of her cup. She glanced up at Mitsuri and Shinobu, seeing the genuine worry in their eyes, and sighed softly, deciding to share what had been weighing on her.

"It's... it's about Sanemi," she began, her voice quiet, but her words immediately drawing Mitsuri and Shinobu's full attention.

Shinobu raised an eyebrow, exchanging a quick glance with Giyu, who remained silent but attentive. Mitsuri leaned in closer, her green eyes wide with concern. "What happened with Sanemi?" she asked softly, already sensing that it was something serious.

Kanae took a deep breath, her gaze dropping to the table as she recalled the moment in class earlier. "we... haven't spoken since our last argument," she admitted, her voice tight with the lingering emotion. "I saw him yesterday, and he signaled for me to come over, but I—I couldn't. I just looked away." She paused, her lips pressing into a thin line, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and frustration. "I'm still so mad at him. For what happened between us... for everything that's been left unresolved."

Mitsuri's heart sank as she listened, her face softening with sympathy. She reached across the table, gently placing her hand over Kanae's. "I'm so sorry, Kanae... It must be so hard to deal with that."

Shinobu, always the one to analyze the situation with a sharp eye, tilted her head slightly. "Do you want to talk to him? Or are you still too upset to deal with it right now?"

Kanae hesitated, the inner conflict evident in her expression. "I don't know. Part of me does... but I'm also so angry. He acts like he can just call me over and everything will be fine, but it's not. He doesn't even seem to understand why I'm so upset."

Giyu, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke, his voice calm but thoughtful. "Sometimes, people don't realize the weight of what they've done until they're forced to face it. Maybe he's reaching out because he's starting to understand."

Kanae glanced at Giyu, appreciating his insight but still feeling torn. "Maybe," she said softly, though she didn't sound convinced.

Mitsuri squeezed her hand gently. "Whatever you decide, we're here for you," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "And if you ever want to talk about it, or even just need a distraction, you know we'll be there."

Shinobu nodded, her expression softening as she offered a rare moment of comfort. "You don't have to rush it. Take your time. If he cares about you, he'll wait until you're ready."

Kanae gave them both a small, grateful smile, feeling a little lighter just from talking about it. "Thanks, you guys. I guess I just need to figure out what I want."

The conversation shifted to lighter topics as they continued their lunch, but the bond between them had grown stronger. Mitsuri, Shinobu, and even Giyu made sure Kanae felt supported, knowing that the path forward with Sanemi wasn't going to be easy. And despite everything, Kanae knew that, no matter what, she wasn't alone.

As the conversation continued, Mitsuri found herself drifting off, her usual bubbly energy dimming as her thoughts wandered back to Iguro. She hadn't had a proper conversation with him since that tense night, and the emotional distance between them felt suffocating. She had tried to pretend everything was normal, forcing smiles and cheerful conversation, but deep down, she could feel the growing chasm between them.

Shinobu noticed her friend's sudden quietness, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly. "Mitsuri?" she asked, her voice cutting through the murmur of the cafeteria. "You've been awfully quiet, too. What's going on?"

Mitsuri blinked, startled out of her thoughts. She glanced around the table, her face flushing with embarrassment as all eyes turned toward her. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. How could she explain the heartache that had been gnawing at her for days? The way Iguro's distance made her feel like she was losing him?

"It's nothing..." she said softly, her voice unconvincing. But the weight of it was too much to carry alone, and before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out. "It's just... Obanai and I. We haven't really talked much since the other night, and... I don't know. He's been distant, and I—I feel like something's wrong, but he won't tell me what."

Kanae's expression softened with concern, her own pain momentarily set aside as she reached out to Mitsuri. "Have you tried asking him?" she asked gently.

Mitsuri nodded, biting her lip. "I've tried, but he keeps avoiding it. He says he's dealing with something, but he won't let me in. And... I don't know, I'm scared. What if he doesn't like me anymore?"

Shinobu frowned, her sharp gaze softening as she considered Mitsuri's words. "That doesn't sound like him, Mitsuri. He likes you—you know that. There's probably something else going on that he's afraid to talk about."

Giyu, who had been quietly observing the conversation, nodded in agreement. "Sometimes people push others away to protect them, even if it's the wrong way to handle it. Maybe he's scared of something... not of losing you, but of hurting you."

Mitsuri's heart clenched at Giyu's words, the possibility that Iguro was struggling with something weighing heavily on her. "I just don't know what to do," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't want to lose him."

Kanae squeezed her hand gently, offering a reassuring smile. "You won't, Mitsuri. He cares about you too much. But you need to talk to him—really talk. Let him know how you're feeling. It's the only way to close that distance."

Shinobu nodded in agreement. "You both deserve to be open with each other. Whatever he's hiding, he'll tell you when he's ready."

Mitsuri nodded, feeling a small flicker of hope return. "I just... I hope it's not too late."

As the conversation shifted, Mitsuri's mind remained elsewhere, her heart heavy with the unresolved tension between her and Iguro. She knew they had to talk, but the fear of what that conversation might bring left her feeling more anxious than ever. The distance between them was growing, and unless they faced it head-on, she feared it might become too wide to bridge.