68
The door swung open with a dramatic bang.
“WHAT. IS. THIS?!”
Tanjiro nearly flung himself off your bed in shock. Nezuko let out a tiny confused noise from where she was curled up between you two, and you, still burrito-wrapped in your blanket, sat up like a sleepy goblin blinking into the chaos.
Standing in the doorway was Aoi—arms crossed, cheeks flushed, and giving Tanjiro the kind of glare that could probably kill a weaker man.
“Um… good morning?” you mumbled. “Ever heard of knocking?”
“Tanjiro,” Aoi snapped, her voice sharp. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Tanjiro sat up stiffly, panicking. “She said I could stay! I wasn’t going to at first, but she insisted and—and Nezuko’s here too—!”
“Oh, so you’re just climbing into people’s beds now, huh?” she hissed.
You blinked. Slowly. Confused.
Her glare was on Tanjiro. Not you. Not even a little.
Wait.
Wait a damn second.
Your eyes widened.
Oh no. She was jealous. Of him.
You slowly sat up more, pointing a dramatic finger at her like you just solved a murder mystery.
“Hold on. Don’t tell me… you like Tanjiro?!”
Aoi looked like you’d just drop-kicked her soul. “WHAT? No!”
You laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of your neck as you tried to ignore the weird twist in your stomach. “It’s okay! No need to be embarrassed. You totally like him. You were glaring at him like he stole your man.”
“I was not—!” she cut herself off, cheeks turning redder by the second.
You gave Tanjiro a light shove. “Damn, Tanjiro. Didn’t know you had the girls fighting over you.”
Tanjiro looked traumatized. “Wait what? She’s mad at me but she… likes me?”
You nodded, very matter-of-fact. “Obviously.”
He stared at you.
“…Y/N,” he said slowly. “I really don’t think she likes me.”
You grinned. “Trust me. I’m a girl. I know how girls act.”
Tanjiro just blinked.
Meanwhile, down the hall, Aoi leaned against the wall, face buried in her hands as she groaned into them.
“She thinks I like him? I was literally mad because he was sleeping next to her! What part of that looked like I liked him?!”
She slid to the floor in despair.
“Y/N is the densest person alive. And now she thinks I’m in love with Tanjiro. Great. Amazing.”
Back in your room, you were already lying back down beside Nezuko, yawning.
“She’s totally in love with you, Tanjiro. Just wait till she starts leaving you love letters.”
Tanjiro looked like he wanted to cry.
You? Still absolutely clueless.
You stretched your arms high above your head, blanket slipping off your shoulders as the first rays of morning peeked through the windows. Nezuko was still curled beside you, snoozing peacefully like a tiny kitten.
Tanjiro sat up beside you, rubbing his eyes and yawning. His hair was even messier than usual—fluffy, sticking up in ten different directions. You stared.
“…Why do you still look cute after sleeping?” you mumbled, still half-asleep yourself.
Tanjiro blinked at you, cheeks going pink. “H-Huh?! I… I don’t think I do…”
You leaned in closer, squinting dramatically. “Nope. Confirmed. Cute. That bedhead’s doing something to me.”
He turned red so fast you almost felt bad. Almost.
You poked his cheek. “You blushing, Tanjiroo~”
“I’m not!” he lied, very unconvincingly. “You're just… saying weird things!”
You tilted your head at him, smile playful. “What, I can’t flirt with my personal favorite Demon Slayer?”
Tanjiro sputtered. “I—! You can’t just say things like that so casually!”
“But it’s true.”
His mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again. “Y/N…”
“Yeah?”
“…You say stuff like that all the time. And then just roll over and fall asleep like you didn’t just ruin my ability to breathe.”
You giggled, plopping down next to Nezuko again, cheek pressed to the pillow. “Well, someone’s dramatic this morning.”
Tanjiro narrowed his eyes at you, but there was a soft smile tugging at his lips. He reached over and brushed a piece of hair out of your face, fingers barely grazing your skin.
“You’re trouble,” he muttered.
You smirked. “I prefer the term emotionally devastating.”
He laughed quietly, shaking his head as his gaze lingered on you just a little too long. “You really are…”
“...Irresistible?” you offered, flashing him a teasing grin.
“Exhausting.”
You fake-gasped. “Rude.”
“Endearing,” he added softly, voice much quieter now. “But yeah. Kinda irresistible too.”
You blinked.
Your brain lagged for a second.
“Wait hold on what—did you just flirt back?” you sat up fast, blanket falling off you entirely.
Tanjiro looked like he immediately regretted it. “I mean—uh—no! I mean yes? But—”
You leaned closer, grinning. “You did. You totally did!”
“I panicked!”
You giggled, heart fluttering at the rare moment of boldness from him. He was red all the way to his ears now, covering his face with his hands.
“You’re lucky you’re cute,” you muttered, flopping back down beside him.
He peeked at you through his fingers.
“You mean that?” he asked, voice soft now.
You looked at him, no teasing this time. “Of course I do.”
Tanjiro held your gaze for a few quiet moments, then smiled—really smiled, eyes crinkling, warm like sunlight.
“I mean it too.”
And you didn’t say anything. Just tucked your face into Nezuko’s hair and smiled so hard your cheeks hurt.
Outside the door, Aoi stood frozen with a tray of breakfast and a broken heart.
Tanjiro stretched with a groggy hum, rubbing his eyes as sunlight spilled across the room. You were still lying beside him, half-awake, blanket curled around your body like a burrito. Your hair was messy, lips slightly parted, and your hand was loosely resting near his on the futon.
He stared for a moment, completely frozen.
Was it normal for his heart to beat this fast in the morning?
"Why are you looking at me like that?" you mumbled, eyes still closed.
"Huh?! I wasn’t!" he panicked, scooting an inch away and nearly falling off the bed.
You cracked one eye open and grinned. "So you were staring."
"I-I just… was checking if you were awake!" He waved his hands, red spreading across his cheeks like wildfire. "I swear!"
You rolled onto your back with a dramatic sigh. "You’re such a bad liar, Kamado."
He muttered something under his breath and looked away.
You stretched with a big yawn and rubbed your stomach. "Ugh, I’m starving."
Tanjiro perked up like a puppy. “Do you want me to make you something?”
You blinked. “You cook?”
He nodded. “Of course. I always cook for Nezuko and—uh, yeah, I could… make something. If you want.”
You smirked, already climbing out of bed. "Damn. Looks like I really scored. Sleepover and breakfast?"
Tanjiro turned so red it looked like he might combust on the spot. "I-it’s not a—!"
"You’re cute when you freak out," you said with a cheeky grin, poking his cheek as you passed by him. "C’mon, Chef Kamado."
He made a strangled noise and followed you out, Nezuko peeking out of the corner from her futon with a sleepy but mischievous smile.
In the kitchen
You sat on the counter, kicking your legs while Tanjiro stirred the pot of miso soup with intense concentration.
“Don’t mess up,” you teased. “This is your boyfriend audition, you know.”
He choked on air.
“I’m kidding! Kinda.”
He tried to hide behind the steam.
You were definitely enjoying yourself.
“I bet you’re not used to girls teasing you like this,” you smirked, resting your chin in your hand.
Tanjiro sighed, shaking his head. “You’re… really something, Y/N.”
“Is that your way of saying I’m awesome?”
“I was gonna say exhausting.”
You gasped in mock offense, chucking a clean towel at him. “Wow. Betrayal. This is how you treat your favorite sleeping buddy?”
Tanjiro blinked. “…I’m your favorite?”
You froze for half a second.
“…Don’t make it weird,” you muttered, grabbing a bowl to distract yourself.
You didn’t see the small smile pulling at his lips.
After breakfast,he carefully helped you down the wooden steps of the estate and out into the small private garden nestled behind the building.
The sunlight was softer now, filtered through the leaves of the tall trees surrounding the courtyard. Delicate petals fluttered down from the blooming cherry blossom tree overhead, painting the air with a quiet kind of magic.
Tanjiro settled you on a bench beside him, making sure your blanket was snug around your shoulders.
"You feeling okay?" he asked, his voice barely louder than the breeze.
"Mhm," you smiled, leaning back against the bench. "You make really good soup, Forest Boy."
He chuckled, his cheeks pink. "I’m glad… I wanted to make something light, so it wouldn’t upset your stomach."
The two of you sat there in silence for a moment, the wind swaying the garden gently. Birds chirped in the distance. A butterfly landed softly on your knee.
"You really like it here?" he asked after a pause, glancing at the sky before meeting your eyes.
You tilted your head. "You mean the garden?"
"Yeah… and everything else. Being with everyone. With me."
You blinked slowly, then smiled. "Yeah. I do. A lot."
His breath caught for a second, and you both looked away at the same time. You pretended to admire a flower. He scratched the back of his neck.
"Tanjiro?"
"Yeah?"
"If I were to… I dunno, disappear tomorrow or something…" you started, then paused.
He turned to you immediately, eyes full of panic. "Y/N—"
"I'm not saying I will!" you laughed softly. "Just saying... if I did. I hope you'd remember moments like this."
Tanjiro looked at you, really looked. The way your eyes shimmered in the sunlight, the bandages still wrapped around your arms, the smile you tried to hide.
"I'd remember everything," he said gently. "Especially this."
Your heart skipped a beat.
"Geez… you’re too soft sometimes, Kamado."
"Only with you," he said before he could stop himself.
You blinked, surprised.
He quickly turned away, ears red.
The wind danced softly through the garden, carrying the scent of flowers and morning dew. Sunlight filtered through the trees in soft patches, dappling the path ahead of you both.
You wandered slowly beside Tanjiro, your arm occasionally brushing his as you walked. Neither of you said much, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. The silence felt peaceful… like a secret just the two of you shared.
Eventually, you stopped near a patch of flowers. You crouched down, admiring a few petals blooming wide in the sun. Tanjiro knelt beside you, watching—not the flowers, but your face.
"You always smile when you’re around plants," he said softly.
You glanced at him with a grin. "Yeah? I like pretty things."
His cheeks turned a little red. You noticed. Of course you did.
"Like flowers," you added, eyes twinkling as you leaned a little closer. "And good boys who make me breakfast."
He looked away fast, ears turning pink. "W-well… I just didn’t want you to cook while you’re still hurt," he mumbled.
"You’re sweet, Tanjiro."
You stood again and stretched your arms up, letting the sunlight warm your skin. "It’s nice out here," you added, voice softer. "Peaceful."
Tanjiro looked up at you. "Yeah… it really is."
You turned your head just slightly and caught him staring again. You tilted your head and teased, "You keep looking at me like that, I might think you're in love with me."
His eyes widened, panic flashing for half a second. "I– I’m not— I mean, I didn’t mean to—"
You laughed, holding up your hand. "Relax! I'm just messing with you."
He exhaled, smiling a little. "You’re mean sometimes."
"Only to you," you teased.
He picked a small blossom and offered it to you, wordlessly. You blinked in surprise, then accepted it, twirling it between your fingers.
"Thanks," you said softly.
Tanjiro nodded, eyes still on you.
For a moment, the wind slowed. The whole garden felt still. You and Tanjiro stood in the golden light, not quite touching, not quite speaking just standing there, like the world had shrunk to just the two of you.
You looked down at the little flower still between your fingers. “What kind is this?” you asked quietly.
Tanjiro stepped a little closer, shoulder nearly brushing yours. “Mmm… wild primrose, I think. It means… youth and young love, if I remember right.”
Your head turned slowly toward him.
“Oh?” You arched a brow, lips curling into a small smirk. “Young love, huh?”
“I-I didn’t mean it like that!” he panicked, cheeks flushing bright pink. “It’s just what the book said, I swear!”
You laughed soft and melodic and tucked the flower behind your ear.
“It’s cute,” you said. “I’ll keep it.”
Tanjiro’s eyes softened at the sight. “It suits you.”
There it was again. That stillness. Like the whole garden held its breath just to give you this moment.
You sat back down in the grass without warning, legs stretched lazily in front of you. “You can sit too, you know. I won’t bite.”
He hesitated a second, then joined you, crossing his legs and glancing sideways with that flustered little smile of his.
Your hand grazed his as you shifted slightly closer, pretending not to notice. His pinky twitched, like he wasn’t sure if he should pull away or hold on.
You didn't say anything about it. Neither did he.
Instead, you picked another small flower and leaned toward him, placing it gently into his hair, just behind his ear. “There,” you murmured. “Now you match.”
His eyes widened slightly. “…Do I look weird?”
You tilted your head, studying him. “You look soft.”
“Soft?” he repeated, confused.
“In a good way.” You smiled, resting your chin on your knees. “Like someone I could fall asleep next to and feel safe.”
Tanjiro’s breath caught. You could hear it. His shoulders stiffened slightly, like he wasn’t sure how to sit anymore.
“…That’s a nice thing to say,” he whispered after a second.
“I meant it.”
He looked at you. Really looked at you. And you let him. Neither of you flinched away this time. The sun was warm. The silence was golden.
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