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Tanjirou liked to think he was a patient man, but even the redhead has his limits. He could say it all started that morning when his sister and mother kicked him out of the house. It wasn’t like he wanted to skip school on purpose, but his mother had been so busy lately. His dad had caught a fever and Kie had to run the shop on her own. It was hard enough preparing for six people, the bakery and a suffering husband; but now that Nezuko had caught the fever as well…
Well, he wanted to take off the burden off his mom’s shoulders. Sadly enough Kie doesn’t think the same.
“Tanjirou, I’m fine. Just get ready for school already.” Nezuko grimaced from her bed. Tanjirou had a hard time believing her; after having a fever for two days, she wasn’t looking even a bit good.
“She’s right, Tanjirou. I’ve got this covered” His mother says, entering Nezuko’s bedroom behind him. “Didn’t you want to win that attendance award?”
Tanjirou smiled bitterly, “I do, but-“ Kie dropped off Nezuko’s bowl of soup with a kind smile. Nezuko could only whine in respond. “I just thought I could help too, you know?”
Kie looked at him while checking Nezuko’s temperature, the young girl humming underneath her palm. After placing a thermometer in her mouth she turned to Tanjirou,
“Go. You can help me after you go to school” She walked out the door, but not before ushering him with a ‘come here’ motion “There’s still time left if you do your- what do you call it? ‘Parkour’ moves through the city”
That isn’t what Tanjirou wanted, but he knew that arguing would make the morning more difficult for his mother. So he sucked it up and went downstairs for breakfast.
It wasn’t until later during lunchtime that he had the thought of bringing some groceries for his mother as an apology for being hardheaded that morning. She missed her weekly grocery shopping yesterday due to his dad deciding that he was cured then promptly fainting behind the counter at their bakery. So surely, she would accept the bribery of produce as a plea for forgiveness for being a terrible son that morning!
“Tanjirou? Tanjirou!” Zenitsu waved a hand in front of his face, snapping his fingers once then twice, “What’s with you? You looked so bothered this morning; then suddenly two seconds ago you’re beaming like you won the lottery.”
Tanjirou smiled down at his bento, the food reminding him of his mother and how happy she would be when Tanjirou buys those groceries. “It’s nothing, Zen, Just thinking of ways to help my mom”
Kanao flicked a grain of rice off her shoulder, briefly glaring at Inosuke who was eating as if he was being held at gunpoint. “Don’t you always help your mother, Tanjirou?” Aoi asked as she raised a brow, “You’re always the type of guy who aggressively helps people- God, Inosuke can you cut that out?”
Inosuke looked at her with wide eyes, both eyebrows raised as he waited for Aoi to explain why she stopped him from eating. Obviously, he didn’t notice the rice grains that were stuck to his cheeks… and on his forehead apparently.
Aoi said nothing, pulling a face of disgust as she shuffled away a little.
It would be after lunchtime that Inosuke would wipe his face with a handkerchief Tanjirou gave him and Tanjirou planning to visit the convenient store after school.
It was all going swimmingly too. After class he ran off at the speed of light to get money from his bank at home, narrowly getting yelled at by the teachers. (And by narrowly, he means running faster while yelling a sorry when one of the teachers caught him running in the halls). He dodged, he jumped and he made his way through the city. His mind on one thing and one thing only, to grab those groceries and win back his mother’s heart!
When he made it back home, he shushed his little siblings who greeted him. Telling them to cover for him when mom notices he’s gone for too long. Then he slipped through the living room, sneaked into his bedroom, grabbed his moneybank, stuffed the money into his wallet, and jumped out the window of a second story building and landed firmly on his two feet, scaring away two pedestrians.
His peers around him often wonder how he doesn’t break more bones than he should.
With the money in his hand and the goal fresh on his mind, Tanjirou walks out to claim those cursed bribery items of a grocery list.
An hour and an almost completed basket of supplies later, he stood in front of the medicine aisle. With a clenched fist and a determined frown on his face, he moved forward and saw that he wasn’t the only one looking for medication.
He was taller, and looked like he could probably be around college age. With black silk hair; pale, white skin and a unique mismatched jacket over dark blue jeans. Tanjirou wondered if it was actually two jackets that got sewed together in the middle. What happened? Did it got ripped apart or was it intentional? Did he decide to match for a significant other and sewed their jackets together in the name of love? Did he buy that jacket specifically- made for him specifically?
Tanjirou shook his head. It wasn’t like him to think about those things, He should just get the cough drops and get out of here. He grinned while imagining his mother’s pleased face. Surely she’d be ecstatic when he gets home and surprised her!
Tanjirou looked around, trying to find said cough drops. It should be around here somewhere; he always went with his mother during grocery shopping. If he remembered correctly, it was right… here!
He reached his hand out to grab it, not noticing another doing the same. But when he had rightfully claimed the packet of cough drops, he felt a strong grip holding his hand in place. He looked up to see deep, blue ocean eyes staring at him.
They spent the next 5 seconds staring at each other before Tanjirou snapped out of it and yanked his hand away from the man. But unfortunately, the man did not let go resulting in Tanjirou dragging the man with the motion.
“Isn’t there another pack of cough drops you could buy?” Tanjirou stumbled as he tried subtly to loosen the grip the other man had on his hand. It didn’t work.
“That’s the last one” The man replied, curtly. Tanjirou glanced at the shelf to find that, yes he was right, there was no other cough drop left.
Tanjirou could give the guy the cough drops, but that would mean running to another store and he didn’t know how much his siblings had to cover for him. But he knew from the man’s strong hold that he wouldn’t be giving up the drops soon.
Tanjirou bowed, more like snapped his body in half on how fast he bended. The guy took a step back so his head wouldn’t hit his chest.
“Sir, please let me take this cough drops! My sister and father are sick and I have to take this to them.” Tanjirou yelled. Almost tilting sideways to balance the heavy basket on his right side and the hand holding his on his left.
Tanjirou waited for the blue-eyed man’s reply. After a short ahem, he felt a tug on the packet and Tanjirou lifted his head in the slightest just in time for the man to raise his eyebrow at him, “I’d rather not leave empty-handed”
Tanjirou straightened himself back up. Despite the unimpressed expression on the other man’s face, he could see the challenge in his eyes.
Tanjirou let action speak for him as he held the packet tighter, the man did the same with Tanjirou’s hand.
The older man turned and marched out of the aisle, but not before taking his basket. He was hoping for Tanjirou to drop the medicine but Tanjirou followed behind him. The redhead realizes they were walking towards the instant food section when he heard the other muttering “Damn you Shinobu, what have you gotten me into.”
Oh, so he’s also buying the medicine for another loved one, huh? Well, even so. Tanjirou wont give up that easily. He had to apologize to his mother and sister for this morning. So Tanjirou walked faster until he was side by side with the man holding his hand. When the blue-eyed man look down Tanjirou flashed him a friendly smile, hoping to win him over. But the stoic man said nothing in return.
They both entered the instant noodles aisle. The taller putting his basket down so he could do his shopping easier. Tanjirou let himself be dragged around as the jet-black searched around for his favoured cup of ramen.
“I could help you!” Tanjirou says, when he was yanked to the older man’s side for the hundredth time. “I’ve been to this convenient store all my life! I know this place more than anyone!”
Sure, Tanjirou could have let the man wallow on his own for petty reasons, but he wasn’t like that. No matter how cruel or hurtful a person is, Tanjirou could never hate a person. He was too nice for that. Besides, He was buying medicine for someone too. He can’t all be that bad.
The shorter man led the way once the other nodded at him, telling him his favorite instant noodle brand and flavor. ‘I’ll help the guy out, just this once.’ He thought as he walked towards the left side end of the aisle and knelt down- the taller man’s hand still holding his, and took hold of his ramen. Pulling himself up he held the cup with his free hand, showing it to the other with a grin.
“Hey, I know this brand! My younger brother loves these!”
The other man says nothing; after taking four to five cups similar to the first, he took his basket and walked to the next aisle, this time with Tanjirou walking beside him.
Tanjirou beamed up to the blue-eyed man next to him, “It’s probably too late to ask this but whats your name?”
His companion flat out ignored him. Too focused on looking at what’s in front of him.
Tanjirou did not let the silence get to him as he continued on the conversation anyway, “Well, my name’s Kamado Tanjirou if you were wondering.”
Still no response, so he probably wasn’t.
“W-Where are we heading?” he tried
This time he did get an answer.
“Bread”
Well, at least he got an answer
“You know, my family owns a bakery!” Tanjirou started, “It’s pretty small but a lot of people says that we make the most delicious pastries! But then again they might only be saying that to gain benefits.”
They both arrived in the bread aisle; Tanjirou looked at his left and saw different types of fillings and spreads to accompany said bread.
Tanjirou sneaked glances at the aisle behind him, stopping every so often whenever the taller man tugs at him to move to the side and such. Could there be? No, he came here only to get groceries, not to treat himself. Tanjirou looked away and he was glad he did cause he caught the older man putting the worst brand of bread known to man into his basket. Tanjirou couldn’t stop the yell even if he tried.
“NO!” he clutched the bread out of the other’s hand and pressed it against his chest.
“What are you doing?” the blue eyed man asked as he tried to take back the loaves but Tanjirou held it away from the other as far as he could. He wouldn’t let anyone take this sorry excuse of wasted dough, not on his watch.
“You can’t take this!” Tanjirou said, placing it back on the-… shelves. He couldn’t say rightful place. No. The rightful place that bread deserves to be is in the trash. He held the tag between his fingers and showed the older male (who should know better) the expiry date.
“It expired two days ago. Plus, the bread could be baked better.” He let his eyes roam the shelves; finally setting on what he thought was one of the best brand for pastries he ever tasted. He looked back to his companion, loaves of bread in his hands “This one taste so much better” He says with a grin.
For a moment the other man said nothing, not until he gave a short nod with a hint of a smile on his face.
“Thank you, Tanjirou” he says, and then he took out his arm and took something from behind the shorter male, tucking the bread and a spread into his basket.
Tanjirou felt his grin grow wider. He closed his eyes, letting out a “You’re welcome!” to the man holding his hand in between the bread and spread aisle.
They both walked out, hand in hand, waiting in line for the cash register; and for the first time that night, both felt the tension lift from their shoulders. That was until it was their turn to pay for what they came for.
Tanjirou walked forward first, gently placing his basket down in front of the cashier. He could take the cough drops; He still had to apologize to his mother and sister. But then again he already brought the groceries. Surely that was enough for an apology, right?
He felt the man let go of his hand and he felt the other trying to wiggle the cough drops away from his hold. The redhead loosens his grip as he watched the older male give the cashier said cough drops.
Hey, wait a minute…
He was about to ask why he did that when the cashier yelled next, forcing Tanjirou to take the grocery bags and out the convenient store out of politeness before he knew what was happening.
He didn’t know exactly what just happened, so he waited outside until the blue-eyed man exited the store with a bag of groceries of his own.
“Hey! You!” Tanjirou sprinted towards the door waving both his hands around shaking both grocery bags, “I can’t take this, you can have it! We have other medicine anyway.”
The older man shook his head, waving his hand in short precise motions. Too bad Tanjirou was having none of it.
“No, no! Take it!” he transferred one bag for his left hand to hold two bags of produce. He takes the cough drops out of his pockets then slammed the packet to the other man’s chest.
“No, you can have it” a clear voice broke out, pushing the cough drops back to Tanjirou; but the younger male just pushed the medicine back at him again. “Please! I just needed it for a selfish apology! I already have enough for them to forgive me! So please take it!” Tanjirou says, holding one of the other’s plastic bags so he could stuff that damn packet in there
“No!” The jet-black yanked at the other male, starting to getting exasperated at his situation. “I just brought this things so that my friend would stop annoying me. You take it!”
Tanjirou was ready to throw the damn packet at him and run for it but that was until the other man seemed to remember something and rustled through his plastic bag, trying to find something.
“Fine, if I’ll take that pack of medicine. Please take this”
It was the strawberry jam he was staring at when he was at the aisle of that store. He felt embarrassed; he must have been looking at it too much for the other male to notice his longing.
Tanjirou gave the blue-eyed man a small smile before bowing in front of him. “Thank you so much” he says, switching the packet for his favorite brand of strawberry jelly.
“Giyuu”
Tanjirou gave a small hmm, wondering what did he meant.
“My name’s Tomioka Giyuu” he said with a small smile.
That was the last thing any of them said before the two swapped goodbyes and left to their own respective houses.
But if Tanjirou would soon be in charge of grocery shopping every Friday in hopes of finding a certain blue-eyed male then that was something only he’d think about.
And if Tanjirou would soon spend his time walking through parks and sipping coffee at cafes with a person he cares for then that was something he’d dream only to himself.
And if Tanjirou would soon have his first kiss inbetween that cursed space between the bread and spread aisle then that was a secret only he could keep.