Tanjiro's pov
"Tanjiro! Someone is calling you!" My sister yelled out before throwing my phone at me. I catched it and yelled out "what the heck Nezuko!" "Just pick it up! It's so annoying" She yelled out and walked to the room. I rolled my eyes and picked up the phone.
Tanjiro : Yes?
Yuichiro : God, what took you so long?
Tanjiro : That's none of your business, what do you want?
Yuichiro : Are you doing something important now?
Tanjiro : no?
Yuichiro : of course you're not
Tanjiro : shut up and get to the point.
Yuichiro : Fine, go out with Muichiro and take him anywhere so he won't think about what happened 24/7. All he does is stay in his room.
Tanjiro : Oh sure I'll go out with him but why can't you do something too? He's your brother and you're not trying to make him feel better whatsoever.
Yuichiro : I tried, okay? I talked with him but I suck at comforting and when someone is sad or worse crying I don't know what to do. I am just worried that I would just mess up like always. Our uncle is at work from early morning to late evening so he can't do much either. I mean, it's good for you too, am I right? You can get closer to him.
Tanjiro : What do you mean?
Yuichiro : Let's just say that I am in class with your sister and we had a small talk about you and Muichiro. Out of nowhere she started talking about your feelings towards Muichiro.
Tanjiro : Oooh- haha well-
What the heck am I supposed to say-
Yuichiro : I guess I don't mind but you make him cry once and you are done.
Tanjiro : Saying you
Yuichiro :.... I am done with your ass
Yuichiro then ended the call. I laughed slightly and called Muichiro. It took him a while before he picked up.
Muichiro : Hm?
Tanjiro : Hey Muichiro, I was wondering if you want to hangout? It has been a while since we have been outside with each other. We can get some food and then watch a movie or something at my place.
Muichiro : I don't know...
Tanjiro : Come on! It'll be fun!
Muichiro :... fine.. when?
Tanjiro : Let's go now and we'll meet at our usual spot?
Muichiro : now?
Tanjiro : Yes, now, is there a problem with that?
Muichiro : N-No... not at all
-------
10 minutes later, Muichiro and I met outside and decided to go get some food before going to my house. As we walked I couldn't help but look at him the whole time. He looked so anxious... he kept looking behind him like he thought he was being followed by someone.
We came to the restaurant and sat down at our tables. There weren't many people there so I thought it would be a good time to talk with him because we haven't said a word to each other since we met.
Tanjiro : So when you weren't in school, the teacher talked about a trip that'll be in a month. Will you go?
Muichiro : Maybe...
....
When we got our food I still tried to talk with Muichiro but he only hummed or just answered with one to two words. I understand that he went through a really traumatic thing but I still want to make him feel better... or at least make him forget about it for some time.
Suddenly I heard someone calling my name. I turned around to see Kanao and Aoi. Kanao ran up to me and hugged me from behind while Aoi just greeted me and Muichiro.
Kanao : Hey Tanji! I was about to call you if you want to hangout with us!
Tanjiro : Oh I am sorry but I am out with Muichiro.
Kanao looked at Muichiro and smiled annoyingly while Muichiro just had his head laid on his palm while looking at his food.
Kanao : Aww what a shame... well then... let's hangout some other day then.
She said and kissed my cheek before grabbing Aoi's hand and running away. I looked back at them before looking back at Muichiro who was looking straight in my eyes.
Muichiro : You didn't tell me you have something with Kanao.
Tanjiro : T-That's because I don't!
Muichiro : Why did she kiss you then?
Tanjiro : I-I don't know
Muichiro : It's fine, you don't need to lie to me... I don't mind... I think you are... cute together
I then stayed quiet. "Me with Kanao? That sounds like a joke, she's only a friend"
-----
When me and Muichiro got to my place I realized we were the only ones there. We sat down on the couch in the living room and began to pick a movie to watch.I suggested a couple movies and Muichiro picked one of them. I then stood up and went to make some popcorn while Muichiro waited in the living room.
Muichiro's pov
When Tanjiro left I pulled my knees in my stomach and began to think...
"After that thing with Genya happened.. I feel like I am disconnected from reality... why does everything seem so... fake.. so.. unreal"
....
"Why... do I always feel like this... I-"
I stopped thinking and grabbed my head. My head suddenly started spinning... again. It's always like this when I think about this stuff over and over again. My vision was beginning to blur and I began to get dizzy. I looked down hoping the spinning would stop.
........
"W-Why does my body feel like it's not mine... like it doesn't belong to me... why do I feel so out of my body... Why do I feel like I don't belong here?!"
.....
Mu-
"Come on... it has been a week and so since that happened!"
-iro!
"Get over it already!"
Muic-
"W-Why does it seem so hard to get over it..."
MUICHIRO!
I heard Tanjiro calling my name while grabbing me by my shoulders. "Are you okay?" He asked and sat down next to me. "Y-Yeah sorry... I just... spaced out" I said and laughed a bit hoping he won't ask or talk about this any more.... but he did..
Tanjiro : You've been spacing out the whole day. I know you are not okay.
Muichiro : What are you talking about, I am f-fine
Tanjiro : Please don't lie... I just want to know what's wrong so I can maybe help you..
Muichiro :.. I.. I am n-not sure how to explain it.... I just feel.. odd
Tanjiro : Odd?
Muichiro : Like I-I am... disconnected... from reality.. nothing feels real... everything seems fake.. scary.. and unreal..
I took a deep breath hoping it'll keep me calm but it didn't. Tears immediately fell down from my eyes on my lap.
Muichiro : Since t-the thing w-with Ge-Genya... everyone s-seems scary.. I feel l-like I am s-scared of e-everything... I-I just feel so.. p-pathetic.. scared... and sad...
I couldn't say anything more... I started crying harder. Tanjiro sat closer to me and pulled me into a gentle hug while running his fingers through my hair.
Tanjiro : It's okay... I understand that you feel scared and sad after what happened... It's okay to feel like this after such a traumatic incident... and there's no reason to feel pathetic about it.
Muichiro : b-but it has been a w-week... why c-can't I get o-over it... i-it feels like it just h-happened yesterday.
Tanjiro : It's normal to still feel like that after days, weeks, months.... Maybe it'll take months before you get over it and it's nothing to be ashamed of.
Tanjiro said, pulling away from the hug before wiping my tears.
Muichiro : I-I still c-can't believe that I trusted G-Genya and left you out... I-I am so sorry...
Tanjiro : Don't worry about that... I understand why you did it. Genya manipulated you into thinking that he would actually kill himself... You didn't want Genya to hurt himself so you hung out with him even though you were uncomfortable with the things he was doing, am I right?
I nodded.
Tanjiro : See? Even though you felt how you felt you still kept on going and made sure that he'll be okay...
Tanjiro said and ruffled my hair while smiling. I smiled back and went for another hug.
Tanjiro's pov
"Oh my god, oh my god" I repeated in my head as my whole face went red. Me and Muichiro were hugging while Muichiro had his face buried in my shoulder. I hugged him many times before, but this time it helt different. It felt so nice finally having my arms wrapped around his body. His wrap breath was hitting the side of my neck while I slowly stroked his hair still internally screaming. All I could think about was that smile, it had been a while since I saw him smile or laugh.
Muichiro then pulled away and suggested we will finally watch the movie. I quickly nodded before looking away to hide my blush.
While we were watching I felt something on my shoulder. I looked to see Muichiro sleeping on my shoulder. My face immediately went red as I got a text on my phone. The noise made Muichiro groan as he clung to me more and wrapped his arms around mine.
The text was from my mother.
"We will be home in around 10 minutes, we will stop at the store to buy some groceries, do you want me to buy you something?"
"No thanks...
I turned to look at Muichiro for a moment
.... also I was wondering can Muichiro stay here for a night?"
"Of course"
With that the conversation ended. I pulled Muichiro even closer to me and continued watching the movie.
......
Almost at the end of the movie Muichiro let go of my hand and rubbed his eyes while looking around him before he realized he was sleeping on my shoulder for the whole time. He backed away and said
Muichiro: S-Sorry I didn't mean t-
Tanjiro : It's okay, don't worry about it... I was wondering, do you want to stay here for a night? My mother doesn't have a problem with it.
I asked as Muichiro thought for a second before saying
Muichiro : Ehm I don't know... I don't even have my pajamas or anything here with me.
Tanjiro : Come on, it'll be fun. We can go out somewhere now and stop at your house to get your things.
I grabbed Muichiro by his hands while saying that. Muichiro's cheeks turned in the light shade of pink as he turned away. "o-okay.."
11pm
"You can go to the shower while I prepare a bed for you" I said as Muichiro nodded and searched for his pajamas in his bag. While I was laying blankets on the mattress I heard Muichiro groan, so I looked at him and asked "Is there something wrong?"
"I..I forgot my pajamas ahaha" he said laughing awkwardly while scratching the back of his neck. I laughed slightly, "You forgot your pajamas?". "Yup, my memory has been horrible lately. I checked my bag four times and still thought I had everything" He laughed slightly at the end. "That's okay, I'll borrow you mine clothes"
I said, stood up and went to the wardrobe to pick clothes for Muichiro. He was a head shorter than me so I kept on searching for clothes that would fit him but with no success. "Is it okay if it'll be a bit bigger?" I asked. "nahh it's fine"
I handed him some of my clothes and told him where the washroom was. He thanked me and left the room.
...........
When both of us were done showering, I scrolled on my phone while Muichiro struggled to brush his hair. 10 minutes passed and Muichiro was barely done with untangling the first half of his hair. I laid my phone on the bed and moved closer to Muichiro before grabbing the hair brush from his hand. "Let me help you," I said and smiled. Muichiro thanked me and let me brush his hair.
..........
"Done" I said with a sigh. My arm felt like it was about to fall off. "How can you do this every night? My whole arm is dying" I laughed.
Muichiro : Well normally it takes a lot more time, I guess I just got used to it... I was wondering if I should cut them-
Tanjiro : Oh god no! Long hair looks amazing on you!
Muichiro : ahah thank you
He smiled
Muichiro : But still, not only because it's a pain to brush it but people mistake me for a girl most of the time.
Tanjiro : don't you dare cut them, understand?
Muichiro : okay okay, I won't
He laughed before yawning.
Tanjiro : tired?
He nodded
Tanjiro : same, shall we go to sleep then?
He nodded once more. He laid down on the mattress and pulled the blanket up to his neck. I stood up to turn off the lights before going back to bed.
Tanjiro : good night
Muichiro : good night
Muichiro's pov
I opened my eyes and looked around the room. I was about to rub my eyes but then realized I was tied to the bed. I tried to sit up but I couldn't. I started to panic as I kept on trying to sit up.
The door from the room opened and a black silhouette walked into the room. My eyes widened to see the silhouette coming closer to me. It was Genya.
My eyes were already filled with tears as Genya got on top of me. He touched my cheek and asked "What's wrong Mui? Why are you crying?"
"Why!? Why are you doing this?! What have I done to you?!" I yelled. He laughed "I love you Mui... I love you so much.. and you said you love me too.... But suddenly you want to replace me with Tanjiro?
"I told you to obey me and nothing like this will happen... but you didn't..."
"S-Stop"
"Obey me"
"Please stop!"
"OBEY ME"
"MUI-"
"LEAVE ME ALONE"
"OBEY ME!"
"MUICHIRO!"
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