CHAPTER NINE:
As (Y/N) walked to school with Nezuko and Tanjiro, they chatted happily about various topics, including the new student in the neighboring classroom.
Nezuko and Tanjiro were curious about the mysterious person, wondering who he could be.
"(Y/N), have you seen the new student yet?" Tanjiro asked, his eyes filled with curiosity.
(Y/N) nodded, her lips curving into a small smile. "Yepperdo, I've met him. His name is Elias."
Nezuko's eyes widened in surprise. "Hmm hmm? Hmm!"
(Y/N) chuckled, not expecting this reaction from her friends. "Well, he's an old friend from my hometown. We used to be close, but we drifted apart for a while."
Tanjiro's curiosity piqued even further, and he couldn't help but ask more questions. "What's he like? Is he nice?"
(Y/N) considered her words carefully. "He used to be a bit mischievous, but he's changed now. Elias is actually a good person, and he's trying to mend our friendship."
Nezuko smiled warmly, always seeing the good in others. "Hmm hmm."
The trio continued their walk to school, the topic of Elias becoming a lively conversation that filled the air.
Nezuko and Tanjiro bombarded (Y/N) with more questions, wanting to know more about their old friend and the adventures they had in their hometown.
As (Y/N), Nezuko, and Tanjiro approached the front gate, they were greeted by the lively and somewhat chaotic scene of Inosuke and Zenitsu engaged in a heated argument.
Inosuke was puffing up his chest and pointing a finger at Zenitsu, while Zenitsu was exasperatedly waving his hands in the air.
"I'm telling you, Inosuke, you're way too clingy! It's suffocating!" Zenitsu exclaimed, his voice filled with frustration.
Inosuke snorted, crossing his arms defiantly. "Hah! Says the guy who can't go two minutes without whining about something!"
The comedic quarrel continued, with Inosuke and Zenitsu trading playful jabs at each other. It was a common sight for (Y/N), Nezuko, and Tanjiro, who had gotten used to their friends' bickering.
As (Y/N) let out a fake cough, both Inosuke and Zenitsu turned to her, momentarily pausing their quarrel.
They couldn't help but grin at her playful intervention, knowing that she was amused by their antics.
Inosuke and Zenitsu exchanged a final teasing glare before breaking into laughter. "Fine, fine, let's drop it for now," Zenitsu said, playfully rolling his eyes.
Inosuke huffed again, but the smile on his face was undeniable. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You're lucky I'm in a good mood today."
With the quarrel settled, the group of friends continued their way inside the campus, their laughter still echoing in the air.
Tanjiro suggested that they head to their classroom, and they all agreed.
As (Y/N) and her friends walked inside the campus, a familiar voice calling her name caught her attention.
"Morning (Y/N)!"
She turned and saw Elias approaching, dressed in the school uniform. (Y/N) couldn't help but be surprised to see him in such a formal attire.
"Elias! You're wearing the uniform already?" (Y/N) said, genuinely amazed.
Elias grinned, adjusting his tie. "Yeah, I thought I'd give the prim and proper look a try. It's not bad, right?" he joked.
(Y/N) chuckled, teasingly nodding in approval. "I have to admit, it works for you. You look like a sane person."
Elias feigned a dramatic bow. "Why, thank you, milady. I'll be sure to take off the blazer and tie later to maintain my rugged charm," he replied, a playful glint in his eyes.
As (Y/N) and Elias chatted, Inosuke couldn't resist inserting himself into the conversation.
He marched up to Elias, his eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Who are you?" Inosuke demanded, his voice strong and assertive.
Elias, undeterred by Inosuke's initial suspicion, greeted him with a warm smile and extended his hand for a friendly handshake. "I'm Elias. Nice to meet you, Inosuke," he said with genuine friendliness.
Inosuke was taken aback by Elias's charm and the unexpected handshake, but he couldn't help but be intrigued.
He quickly shook Elias's hand, his demeanor softening slightly. "Yeah, I'm Inosuke. This is Monjiro," he pointed to Tanjiro, "and this is Mezuko," he gestured towards Nezuko.
In a typical Inosuke fashion, he mispronounced their names, causing the others to chuckle. "Nice to meet you too, Elias," Tanjiro said, smiling warmly.
Nezuko giggled and waved at Elias. "Hmm hmm!" she said, her voice gentle and welcoming.
Elias laughed along with them, amused by Inosuke's comedic introductions.
"It's great to meet all of you too! (Y/N) has spoken highly of you all." he replied, genuinely happy to be making new friends.
As the group continued their walk to the classroom, they engaged in more light-hearted banter and friendly exchanges.
Inosuke's initial suspicion had transformed into curiosity, and he seemed to be genuinely enjoying Elias's company.
As they continued walking to their first class, Inosuke's curiosity seemed insatiable.
He bombarded Elias with questions about his hometown, his hobbies, and even his favorite foods.
Elias, with a good-natured smile, answered each question enthusiastically, appreciating Inosuke's genuine interest.
Tanjiro chuckled at the sight of Inosuke's newfound fascination. "Looks like Inosuke has found a new person to annoy with his questions," he said playfully.
Inosuke shot a mock glare at Tanjiro but couldn't hide the amusement in his eyes. "Hey, I'm just getting to know our new friend! He's interesting," Inosuke retorted, defending himself.
Zenitsu, who had been relatively quiet during the conversation, let out a soft tsk, crossing his arms. "I don't care, okay?" he mumbled, trying to appear nonchalant.
Nezuko giggled, noticing the obvious hint of jealousy in Zenitsu's eyes. "Hmm hmm. Hmm." she said gently, trying to ease his feelings.
Zenitsu blushed, a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance on his face.
"I-I'm not curious! I just think he's trying too hard to befriend the new guy!" he protested, though his words lacked conviction.
As they arrived in front of their designated classes, Inosuke made his grand declaration, loudly proclaiming that Elias would be sitting next to him.
"You'll be my seat buddy from now on!" Inosuke exclaimed.
Elias chuckled, not fazed by Inosuke's boisterous manner. "I'd love to seat next to you, Inosuke—" He started, "But uh, we're in different class—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a voice cut him off.
"Why are you not inside your classrooms yet?"
The cheerful atmosphere among the friends immediately shifted when they heard Kyojuro's stern voice.
His grumpy demeanor made them feel a bit uneasy, and they exchanged glances, unsure of what might have put him in such a mood.
"Elias, Inosuke, (Y/N), everyone, get inside your classes now," Kyojuro repeated, his voice still carrying a hint of annoyance.
(Y/N) quickly nodded, not wanting to make the situation worse. "Yes, Rengoku-Sensei. We're heading to our classes right away," she said respectfully, trying to diffuse the tension.
Inosuke and Elias also nodded, following (Y/N)'s lead and avoiding any further confrontation.
They made their way to their respective classrooms, but the atmosphere felt a bit heavy with Kyojuro's disapproval lingering in the air.
'Geez. What's got him in such a grumpy mood?'
—