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

Chapter 31 - Come back to me

Chapter Song: BTS - "Black Swan" / Ailee - "Breaking Down"

Days Later

The morning light crept through the curtains in the apartment, casting a soft glow over the quiet space. Obanai lay in bed, his eyes open but unfocused as he stared at the ceiling. He hadn't slept much—hadn't been able to eat or even focus on any assignments from class—with thoughts of Mitsuri and everything that had gone wrong swirling endlessly in his mind. The ache of their distance felt unbearable, but his guilt kept him from doing anything about it. He knew she was right, right about him being lost and stuck in his own past. Even his dream self made sure to remind him it was his fault.

A sudden knock at his door broke the silence. It wasn't loud, but it was urgent.

"Obanai, you awake?" Sanemi's voice came through the door, rough and strained.

Obanai sat up slowly, his head heavy with exhaustion. He wasn't in the mood for company, but something in Sanemi's voice made him pause. He got out of bed and opened the door.

Sanemi stood there, his expression serious. Even though Kanae had told him to stay away, he wasn't going to let it happen. Without waiting for an invitation, Sanemi walked into the room and collapsed onto the couch. He noticed the half-empty bottle of gin on the table and a few crushed cigarettes in the ashtray. "Rough days, huh?"

"Yeah..." Obanai sat on his bed and fell back onto it, staring at the ceiling.

Sanemi took a sip of the gin, grabbed a cigarette from the box, and began to smoke.

"Mitsuri's a wreck, man," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's... she's not herself. She's been crying, locking herself in her room, refusing to eat. It's not a pretty sight."

Obanai felt a sharp pang in his chest, guilt washing over him like a wave. He closed his eyes, the weight of Sanemi's words pressing down on him.

"She's been crying nonstop," Sanemi continued, his voice breaking. "I didn't realize how bad it was until I saw her on the floor. Mitsuri's hysterical, man. I've never seen her like this. She can't even talk about what happened without breaking down."

Sanemi took a puff, trying to calm himself. "What happened, Obanai?" His voice was rough as the last of his composure slipped away. "I thought you loved her... so why did you let this happen?"

Obanai stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest. The image of Mitsuri crying and hurting shattered something inside him. His throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn't find the words.

Sanemi looked up at him, his eyes searching. "What happened between you two? Why did you hurt her like that?"

Obanai sat down on the edge of the bed, burying his face in his hands. His voice, when it came, was hoarse with regret. "I didn't want to hurt her... I thought I was protecting her by not telling her about my past. But thanks to Misaki for spilling it, and Kyojuro, she knows now. It's put me in a dark place."

Sanemi scoffed, anger breaking through his tears. "Protecting her? By abandoning her? She's never been this bad before, Obanai. Listen, man, I don't get involved in people's business, but I never want to see that girl like that again. It was fucking hard to watch."

Obanai clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he tried to keep himself together. "That wasn't my intention." His hands fell to his lap, and he turned his face toward the window, his eyes distant. "I know what happened before wasn't my fault, and some say I should've done it for myself. But I guess doing it would've made my family want me more, to see me as more than a trophy."