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The surprise, early-spring rain is brutal as it comes down from the sky, turning the landscape into shades of muted grey and it seems that it won't let up anytime soon. Nezuko steps out onto the veranda of the Butterfly Estate, done with her visit to an injured Tanjirou and his friends, eyebrows creasing as she hugs her lunch parcel close (she was going to enjoy it with Tanjirou but he had fallen asleep), enjoying the warmth that emanates from it while shivering at the thought of walking to the other building in the rain. A few seconds in and she would be soaked thoroughly. Her only option was to wait for the weather to be clear so that she'd be able to get home in dry conditions.
"Tch."
The sound startles her as it erupts out of nowhere between the silence and the pitter-patter of rain. She snaps her head to the left and is met by the sight of the person she least expects. Sanemi.
He has propped himself by one of the pillars, body angled towards the open area of rain. The sword she hates is sheathed to his side, though she expects that it will soon be aiming at her. Nezuko meets the angry glance of his eyes before he swivels it to look out at the rain once more.
Great.
Nezuko hugs her lunch tighter as she steps out as far as she can possibly go on the small veranda away from him. It was her rotten fortune that made her stuck with the person that perhaps hates her the most.
Moments pass and, thankfully, not a word is spoken between them. Nezuko leans of the pillar and takes this rare chance to look at Sanemi at the corner of her eyes. He's still ignoring her like she doesn't exist so Nezuko takes this time to observe him.
And she doesn't expect to find him so… tired.
His eyes are bloodshot more than usual, the rings underneath pronounced and dark and sagging to a degree that has Nezuko wincing. His hair looks unwashed and unkempt. His lips are chapped and his cheekbones seem to jut away from his face, giving it a hollow appearance.
The look makes him startling more human, if she thinks that is even possible. If she's being honest, sometimes he looks more demon than human.
In the midst of her observing him, a loud graaaaaaaghhhhhhh floats in the silence, startling both of them.
At first, Nezuko wants to be embarrassed. She is hungry, but could it really to the point where her stomach is announcing its displeasure for lack sustenance? No, she is sure the sound isn't from her. That means it has to be someone else-
Nezuko almost experiences whiplash from how fast she turns her head to look at Sanemi. His head is entirely facing the opposite direction from where she stands, but if she squints her eyes, among the white strands of his hair she sees the burning red of his ears.
Nezuko feels floored. Did that sound really come from him? For a moment, she really thinks that she's heard it wrong but-
Braaaaaaaaghhh!
-it's definitely coming from him.
The atmosphere evolves to another range of awkward. Sanemi is still as stone, refusing to budge or acknowledge the sound as his.
Is he hungry? Unbidden, the thought of concern comes to her mind as she wonders if that he's so caught in with pillar work that's why he looks so noticeably fatigued and that perhaps, perhaps he hasn't had the chance yet to get some food?
What was she doing!! He's stabbed her and she stands here worrying for him like she's his-- no, she won't even entertain that thought. But she can't help that damnable instinct that comes with being an older sister. The mere thought of one of her younger siblings starving…
Before she knows it, her feet are picking up towards Sanemi and he's reacting like the pillar he is, tensing and hand moving to his sword as he faces the sight of her holding her lunch out to him.
Confusion crosses his face before lividity takes over.
"I ain't no charity case, little girl," he snarls. "Take that piece of shit out my face."
She's more than willing to smack him in the face with her lunch box instead but, stupidly, she's just as stubborn as he is.
"It's lunch and it tastes good. There's rice, fried pumpkin, and chicken in here. I even made ohagi."
She shoves the wrapped lunch into his hands, darting out in the rain before he can make her take it back.
"Oi!" He calls, irritated, but she's already out the range, feet splashing up muddy water.
As she predicted, the rain really does drench you in just a few seconds.