love war || inotan

one

It had been a long winter of antics and discovery, but today marked the day when Nezuko would be joining her older brother and his friends at the same school. Now Tanjiro didn't have to worry about the bullies from afar. He was walking to school with her, and one of his childhood friends, Inosuke, who was a complete softy and yet a rabid boar at the same time. He could barely get sleep anymore because he would be up thinking about that feminine face of his on such a masculine body. Not to mention, several nights in a week, and more often than not, Inosuke would sneak into his bedroom through the window and sleep on the floor mattress. It made him chuckle, which ruined the perfect silence they had.

The green-eyed brute furrowed his brows and abruptly turned his head away, shifting his bag on his shoulder nervously. "What's so funny, loser?" He spoke angrily, but Tanjiro knew from experience that it wasn't true hatred—instead, it signified his embarrassment. In other words, Inosuke was a tsundere.

"Hm? Oh, nothing. I just thought about Zenitsu's sleeping habits." Tanjiro lied swiftly, knowing it would only cause real anger if he were to tell the truth. "Do you want to come over for dinner again? I'm cooking tonight, right sis?" He looked over his shoulder to the girl, and she squeezed his hand whilst nodding. She looked oddly disappointed.

Inosuke didn't answer for a minute. In fact, he was quieter than usual. Once he did finally speak up, it was unrelated. "Why do you two still hold hands? It's fucking weird." He complained, finally looking back over to Tanjiro, who was grinning admiringly at him.

The dark-eyed boy sighed annoyedly and looked at the sky after thinking about how he could flip this scenario. "Sorry, I forgot that it's too embarrassing for you. Because you're so shy." He teased, frowning afterwards to be deceitful. To his surprise, Inosuke stopped moving.

"Bastard! I'm not shy! Not at all!" He stormed back to Tanjiro's side to catch up and then puffed his cheeks out in frustration. "I can hold hands!" He suddenly snatched the other teen's arm from his side and interlocked their fingers. "See! I'm not shy."

Tanjiro felt his face heat up uncontrollably upon feeling that rough, thick skin against his hand. Lately, it had become increasingly difficult to hide these reactions. He wasn't sure, since this was the first time he had felt this way for someone, but he thought it was love. Sadly, he didn't get to ponder for long because he heard rampant yelling in the distance...very familiar yelling.

"—believe you guys LEFT ME! It takes longer for a petite momma's boy like me to get out of bed this early!" The voice became louder as the quick footsteps drew closer, and eventually, yet another of Tanjiro's childhood friends, Zenitsu, was panting breathlessly in their walking group. "Why are—ha—you two so...freaking fit when I'M the one running every day!?" He blurted out rudely, but once he caught his breath, he noticed Tanjiro's sister in her new uniform and his eyes sparkled in amazement. "Nezuko-chan..." He grinned bright, skipping over to her and holding her other hand. "Tanjiro, no need to worry! I'll protect your sister from the demons!"

"Did you have that weird dream again? Don't get any ideas, Zenitsu." Tanjiro shook his head in disapproval, watching how his sister changed her attitude upon seeing the blonde. She was blushing, and seemed so infatuated with him. It made his blood boil, as a protective older brother, but he tried to maintain his serenity.
They had only a few more minutes to get to their school, and quite frankly, to outside parties they likely seemed crazy because they were all holding hands. The only one that cared to be seen so vulnerable was Inosuke, and he scurried off after they all changed their shoes. Tanjiro couldn't catch up to him, and he didn't really see the point since they had the same homeroom. Before he began walking to said class, he hugged his sister goodbye, and so did Zenitsu. He had to forcefully drag him away.
Once they were in the classroom, he firstly saw their teacher, Mr. Tomioka, and then his attention quickly shifted over to Inosuke, who was tying the small bits of hair in his face back into a ponytail. He was frozen for a second in awe, but as he started to walk closer, a couple of girls began approaching as well. They were probably transfer students, as he had never seen them before.

"Wow! Your face is so pretty! It's like a girl's!" One of them remarked, and then another chimed in:

"You're right! Such long eyelashes too! I'm jealous..." She whined.

Tanjiro stood with wide eyes as Inosuke clenched his fists, suddenly raising his hand up threateningly. "Why you fu-"

Without even thinking, he rushed over and stood in front of him with a concerned expression, stopping his line of fire successfully. "I-Inosuke! We don't hit or cuss at women, okay? They were complimenting you, so try to be a little more understanding..." He explained passionately, letting go of his friend slowly. He saw that same look on Inosuke's face: glistening, watery eyes, agape mouth, and pink cheeks, that he always saw when the boy was blankly staring on, blindsided by his own admiration. He turned away rudely after a minute, pouting slightly as he made his way to his seat. "If you don't apologise, I'll be really disappointed in you. You're no man if you can't treat women right." He sat down, watching the following scene unfold out of the corner of his eye.

Inosuke ground his teeth in annoyance and then violently bowed his body forward. "I apologise for being an asshole!" He had restraint in his voice, but thankfully, the girls accepted his apology, even smiling reassuringly at him.

"N-No it's our fault. We should have been more considerate." One of the girls replied, and Inosuke lifted his body up slowly in response.

He forced a small smile and waited for them to walk away awkwardly, then looking at Tanjiro expectantly, with those bright eyes.

When the tanned boy turned his head to see that innocent stare, he accidentally grinned. "You are pretty, you know? You've always been like that. But, I get it now...you only like when I say it, right?" His lips upturned into a smirk, and he laughed when Inosuke stepped back in both shock and sheepishness.

"Shut up, talking forehead!" The angsty teen shouted in a whisper, then covering his flaming cheeks in refutation. Eventually, his anger turned into pure embarrassment, and he averted his gaze, putting his bag down in the desk next to Tanjiro's.

"Ugh..." Zenitsu groaned in response, his head rested on his own desk already. "Talk about a lovers' quarrel." He commented starkly, a shit-eating grin covering up his intentions. "Me and Nezuko-chan never fight~" he changed the subject, and Tanjiro finally snapped.

"Don't talk. Anymore. Zenitsu." The protective wave of confidence was coursing through his veins, but he just clenched his eyes shut to try and ignore his current urges to restrict his friend from seeing his sister. He was so pissed off that Nezuko was growing up faster and faster each year. He was able to calm down, but only because he felt a buzz in his pocket. It was a text. He begrudgingly removed his phone and looked at the screen. It was from Inosuke, who had his chin propped up on the table and his phone in his hands lazily.

Piggy: zenitsu is such a fucking loud ass annoying ho

forehead: don't even get me started. I love him but I can't handle this emotional stress

Piggy: whiny bitch

forehead:  (˘̩̩̩ε˘̩ƪ) you're a whiny b too

Piggy: ur a pussy u wont even cuss

forehead: fuck

Piggy: (ΘˍΘ=) u are no longer a virgin

forehead: THATS NOT WHAT THAT MEANS SHH

Piggy: not what what means?

forehead: you are hopeless

Piggy: i will always be here to bother you╭(╯^╰)╮

Tanjiro sighed in delight, snickering a bit at their conversation. They really were inseparable friends. Their fights weren't ever real. They couldn't stay away from each other to begin with, so a fight would just be incomprehensible.