You stand face to face with Genya at the top of the stairs, nowhere to run
Genya is blocking your path with his arms crossed over his chest
"What a coincidence! Haven't seen you since that biker chick sent you home last week. Have fun hiding from your consequences?"
You let out an inward groan, rolling your eyes at your pursuer
"Can you cut the evil monologue short today? We're kind of in the middle of something." Tanjiro blurted out
You rush to cover your mouth, snickering
"That's a lot of tough talk coming from a newbie," Genya scowled "You should know how things work around here by now. But since you don't I'll tell you"
"I'm not to be messed with. Everybody at this school knows that--"
"OHMYGODISTHATATEACHER?!!" You shout, pointing off into the distance
Genya turns for about a millisecond, but it bought you enough time to grab both Nezuko and Tanjiro, and start running
Eventually, you let go and they run at your side
You don't need to look back to know Genya is following--you can hear his footsteps thundering down the hall a few feet behind
Ahead, you can see the corner you'll have to turn to get to Mr. Uzui's room
"GO GO GO" you hissed, turning on your heels to get to the door
Tanjiro opens the door to let you and Nezuko run in first, and then he dives in behind you just in time to escape Genya's wrath
"DAMN YOU. FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!!" Genya roars from outside
You rest your back against the wall with a long sigh, sliding down onto the floor; This feels exactly like your first day.
Tanjiro's sitting on the floor across from you. He looks up and you follow his gaze
In the window to the hallway, you can see Genya stomping around searching for you with his face twisted into a sullen pout
You chuckle to yourself He'll forget about us in no time
"Why are there so many people angry at you?" Tanjiro asks abruptly, catching you off guard
Averting your gaze from the window, you stare anxiously down at your feet
Damn it, I didn't want it to come to this
"I actually don't know," You admit, twirling your shoelace with your finger "I know it has something to do with Gyutaruu, and Sabito's injury...and Genya's anger issues. But, when all is said and done, I wasn't there--I don't even tie into it in the slightest."
"Sabito? who is that?" Tanjiro mumbles
You flinch "He's...we've been friends for a long time. He did something out of character at a party once and now everybody's flipping out-"
"--But I know him. I know he would never try to put himself in the spotlight like that on purpose."
Nezuko stands up and nods, indicating that the coast is clear and Genya has left
"Did anyone else tell you their perspective when it happened?" Tanjiro leans toward you
You frown slightly "No--well, only Ume. She...said that it was all my fault. That I was trying to call the police and get their party crashed because I wasn't invited. In the end, Gyutaruu got arrested, but not the person who actually attacked Sabito."
"What? That doesn't make any sense. How could you have known? if you weren't there then how would you know what happened?" He said
"That's what I've been trying to figure out. Something's missing from the bigger picture" You concluded
Tanjiro paused, thinking it over
"I'm sure you've already realized this, but these rumors are really proving to be dangerous. This seems to be fueled by more than just a simple dispute."
You nod "I agree. I get the feeling that someone did this on purpose--Ume even said it herself that she 'found out' I hated her. I would never say that."
He looks off to the side "Definitely something shady going on..."
He then stands up, extending a hand towards you
"You're not going to get ahead while you're missing crucial parts of the story like this"
Your eyes meet. It seems cliche to you, but to him, it's very serious
"I don't really know what all of this is about, but I trust you. I'm going to help you figure it out."
You raise your hand, letting it hover over his
This is what I want more than anything...but if he gets hurt by getting involved, I'll never forgive myself
You swallow hard
"and if it means anything at all," Tanjiro adds "you shouldn't worry about me. I'm no stranger to the feeling of being an outsider."
WHAT THE?! CAN HE READ MY MIND?? I'm never thinking around him again
You clasp his hand in your own, letting his arm support you while you stand. Your hand felt so comfortable in his, you were reluctant to take it back
"You've been good to everyone in your life. You deserve much better"
You can feel tears pricking at the corners of your eyes.
I do?
It hurts to hold them back, so you discretely wiped them with your sleeve
"Thanks, Tanjiro. I promise I'll pay you back when this is all over" You said, your voice coming out as a whisper
"No need" Tanjiro replied
"Wha?! IMPOSSIBLE. There has to be something you want in return for all the trouble" You insist
Nezuko is sitting on top of Uzui's desk swinging her legs, watching the two of you with keen interest
"Nothing! I swear" He puts his hands up
"LIAR." You huffed, crossing your arms "everyone wants something out of the things they do. If you can even manage to find out who did this, much less pick up the pieces of my reputation...I would do anything."
"Anything?" He echoes, his eyes lighting up
"Anything." You nodded sharply
"...There is something, actually." He sits down on a nearby desk
You tilt your head, watching him carefully "Well, what is it?"
"It's a surprise" He shrugs "I'm going to wait for the right moment."
You sniffled, laughing into your sleeve as you sat on the desk beside him "Well, when you say that, I'm gonna assume it's weird."
"NO! No!! I promise it's nothing perverse" Tanjiro says frantically, earning another laugh from you "Damn it, I should've been more specific..."
"Relax, I'm not scared of you" You sigh, a smile lingering on your face "I'm just joking"
"I would hope not. I saved your life" Tanjiro raised an eyebrow at you
"oh please!" You grin, leaning towards him "I would never be afraid of the guy who can't throw a dodgeball!"
"HEY," He says, hiding a smile "no need to remind me"
Just as the two of you started laughing together, the bell rang and interrupted the fun
Nezuko hops off of the teacher's desk, waving before running off into the hall
"I guess that means we should go before Mr. Uzui kicks our asses" You whisper, hopping to your feet in an instant
"Couldn't agree more" Tanjiro said, following you out of the room
At the end of the school day, you were alone, but you didn't feel lonely anymore
What's more is that just before you left art class, Tanjiro added you to a group chat with him and Nezuko
so, this would be a much easier way to communicate with both of them, without neglecting her.
As you strode nonchalantly on your way home, you daydreamed about finally getting to lay down on the bed and sleep in for the weekend
Looking at the sunset, you can just tell it's going to be an interesting night
You were jolted out of your thoughts when your phone buzzed in your pocket, and you pulled it out with a groan.
Oh! It's just Makomo You thought, pressing the accept call button
"(Y/n). Where did you and the new boy go during lunch?" Makomo asks suddenly
You blinked, adjusting your backpack straps in discomfort "We...just went inside. Why?"
"And left me? I was coming back, I had to go to the bathroom"
You winced Oh--
"Shit, I'm sorry Makomo. I didn't know"
"I just feel---and that you've gone---you should---" Makomo starts to talk, but her voice is cutting in and out on the phone
When you looked up from your phone, you realized you were in a part of the neighborhood you didn't typically travel through
"Makomo, my cell service is really bad right now. Please just text me" You interrupt
Makomo started to talk again, but the call dropped
"Oh no, come on are you serious?!" You whisper, shoving your phone into your backpack with a sigh
The main reason you never really come by these parts is that it's so dark, and the sidewalk is full of divots and cracks which make it much harder to skate over
Moreover, you realize, Ume and Gyutaruu live here
"If I run into those two again I swear I'm gonna kill myself" You groaned