キミノカオリ ー Moonlight, Wisteria Petals, and Thunderclap

Mere Curiosity

It was supposed to be a mere curiosity. But I had underestimated the power of curiosity, and how far it makes one go in order to satisfy it. A seed of intriguing feeling that I had in my gut when I first decided to go out with Tanjirou blossomed into a full-blown affection, which I had not noticed before. I thought I liked cute girls! I kept telling myself, but my heart won't stop beating whenever Tanjirou squeezed on my small hand. The touch of his soft skin made my blood circulate at least ten times faster. I thought my eardrums might explode at the sound of my own heartbeat!

"Zenitsu, what's wrong?"

"N—nothing, haha." I averted his eyes and looked at the innocent jasmine color of wisteria petals.

"Hmm." Tanjirou looked forward. When I stole a glance at him, he was smiling slightly as he looked up at the night sky. I never thought the side view of his face was so beautiful, and it seems similar to Nezuko-chan. I guess siblings really do look alike.

"Zenitsu, I decided to ask you out because...."

What. What is he gonna say now?! Surely something really embarrassing...

"...Because I thought I might lose you. For the first time, I finally thought that. I know that all of us die someday. But, it would be too tragic for us to part ways in this world without you ever knowing my true feelings for you. Even though we're so close by each other all the time." Tanjirou said that with quite sad eyes that I was startled.

"So...I love you, Zenitsu." He gazed at my wide eyes as he confessed, and I stopped my breath for a second. When I started breathing again, my face started to go red.

"T, T, Tanjirouuu.... It's not fair! Not fair...! That's too...too..."

"Yeah, Zenitsu?" Those kind eyes again. They're so round and cute, like a pair of puppies' eyes.

"Too...unfair! Just...I...I like you too."

Tanjirou looked at me, and big beads of tears started to fall out of his round eyes. I was so surprised that I wrapped my hands around his cheeks.

"Ta, Tanjirou?! What's all this? Are you not feeling well?"

"No, I...I was just really moved, just now.... Thank you, Zenitsu. I'll make sure I protect you at all times."

"Ah...I'll find a way to get back to your side during battles as well. I want to help you survive."

We embraced each other for a long time, under the moonlight, at the long of the night. 

After some time, an unexpected smell of blood traveled from somewhere riding the autumn breeze and reached Tanjirou's nose.