Chapter Text
Tanjirou was spending lunch break peacefully, the homemade bento already empty at the desk in front of him. He spent half of the hour fixing the bamboo swords at the equipment room as penalty for being late at their kendo practice. He’s browsing through the recently released manga featuring demons and swordsmen when the door to the room suddenly opened.
Tanjirou watched as another student came in, panting like an escaping prey eager to get away. He munched on the last of his onigiri, keeping his mouth shut as to not startle his new company.
He heard several footsteps approaching, along with giggles and whines that made him cringe. The stranger noticed it too, and he started looking around the room, blue eyes wide with worry.
Tanjirou never saw anything as beautiful as those sapphire blue eyes. It fits the man perfectly; pale skin and raven black hair that accentuated the warmth of his eyes. Prominent cheekbones and chiseled jaw framed his face.
The searching eyes landed on the burgundy haired man behind the desk. “Help me hide. Please.” The man pleaded, eyebrows draw together in agitation.
Tanjirou looked around, searching for possible spots where the blue-eyed man could hide. He spotted a rack of their club’s protective armours which they use on tournaments. It was far enough from the door that whoever decides to peek in wouldn’t see. “There,” he pointed to the man, as he heard the footsteps getting nearer. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone in.”
He has no idea who the guy was hiding from, but one look at the sweaty forehead and worried eyes made Tanjirou swore to secrecy. As the man hid, he closed the door to the equipment room, waiting for the event to unfold.
A few seconds later came the rushing knocks at the other side. Tanjirou opened the door, his jaw dropping at the sight of five girls in front of him, all looking at him with glittering eyes.
“Is he here?”
“Have you seen him?”
Tanjirou made a confused expression, knowing full well who the girls were talking about. It was too hard for him to maintain the lie, and the ugly constipated sight of the man convinced the girls that he had no idea what they were talking about.
“He was about this tall.” One of the girls measured in the air. “Shiny black hair that he keeps on a messy ponytail, and he has the most handsome face in this school!” All the girls sighed dreamily, eyes twinkling with imagination.
“I haven’t seen him around, but I heard someone running that way a while ago.” He pointed at the direction of the cafeteria, leading the band of girls as far away as possible. The group stared at him for what seemed like forever, studying his lying face. He even invited them to peek into the room, but he made it clear they can’t get in unless they have clearance to enter the room during break.
The girls gave up, heading towards the direction Tanjirou pointed. He stared at their backs as the quintet disappeared around a corner. He stayed and watched should any of the girls come back to catch his lie, but after a few minutes of silence, he sighed in relief.
“All clear! You can come out now.”
The stranger’s head peeked above the rack, relief visible when he saw no one but Tanjirou waiting for him. He awkwardly stood in front of Tanjirou’s desk, pulling on his necktie, loosening the tight wrap on his throat.
“What’s happening?” Tanjirou couldn’t stop himself from asking, curiosity occupying his mind. “I just covered your ass, you owe me a story!” He beamed at the shy stranger who only peeked at him from the corner of his eyes.
“I-I don’t know, they just appeared out of nowhere, shouting and shoving their phones on my face.” The stranger sighed, the burden from the unwanted attention evident on his face. “I don’t know how Uzui and Kyoujurou handle it. I was just dragged into all of this.”
Uzui? Kyoujurou? Who are those people?
Tanjirou remained silent, never asking for more than what the man wanted to tell him. He watched as the man fidgeted on his feet, his bottom lip caught between his teeth. The blue eyes were looking around the room, trying to evade his burgundy ones. He wanted to laugh at the awkwardness of the man in front of him, but he didn’t want to offend him, so he opted to save the man from his obvious dilemma. “You’re welcome!”
The stranger stared at him this time, a small smile painted on his lips that seemed to illuminate the dark dusty room. Well, Tanjirou thought as he stared on the beautiful face. I kinda understand why those girls were running after him!
He was about to indulge the man into chitchat, but Zenitsu’s voice came calling for his name.
The two men emerged from the equipment room, and the stranger nodded at Tanjirou as a silent gratitude before turning the other way. He was soon out of sight.
When Zenitsu approached him, Tanjirou threw an onigiri on the blond’s way, knowing he would demand one.
“Wah was dhat?” Zenitsu asked him, mouthful of rice ball. Tanjirou wanted to slap his friend and tell him to stop talking with his mouth full, but he’d been telling the same thing for years and Zenitsu never listened.
“He just barged in and wanted to hide. It’s not a bother, so I just let him.”
Zenitsu stuffed some more of Tanjirou’s homemade onigiri into his mouth because he knew Inosuke would steal it from him once he saw it. “You know who he was, don’t you?” The blond doubts it, knowing Tanjirou didn’t care about such things.
“Oh crap!” the other man exclaimed, hitting his knuckle against his palm. “I forgot to ask his name!”
“Moron,” Zenitsu shook his head, thoroughly disappointed. “He’s Giyuu Tomioka.” He swallowed the remaining food in his mouth. “His handsome face is famous all around the campus, not to mention his tendency to be awkward all the time that seemed to sweep the girls off their feet. I think they find it cute. Do you find it cute? Maybe I should pretend to be awkward all the time, then girls would swoon over me! Man, I’m such a genius!”
Tanjirou didn’t pay attention to the blond boy’s rambling, because the surname of the stranger didn’t sit right with him. He’s pretty sure he heard his friend right, as weird as it may be.
Giyuu Tapioca? What a strange name for such a beautiful man!
~~
He spent his lunch break at the equipment room again the following day since his penalty spans a week. Casually flipping on the comic book on his lap, his other hand flipping the bamboo sword in the air.
The door opened suddenly, and his surprise only lasted for a second when a familiar man stood in front of him again. He waited for him to speak, but he was standing awkwardly, scratching his neck as he grips on his necktie again.
“Fine,” Tanjirou waved his hand, motioning for the man to take refuge. “I’ll handle it.”
He watched as the man crouched behind the rack once again. Does this man spend his lunch break hiding? All the freaking time? That’s tiring!
A different group of girls asked about the man this time, and Tanjirou turned them towards the wrong direction again. When he was sure the coast was clear, he called out to the man hiding. Giyuu stood frozen again, but he managed to thank the boy for saving him the second time.
“Have you eaten anything?” Tanjirou asked before he could stop himself, worrying for the man more than he should. Obsessed fangirls were too much for the likes of Tapioca-san after all.
His eyes widened when Giyuu shook his head, the pity he felt for the man’s ridiculous situation elevating. He rummaged through his bag as he retrieved the onigiri which was supposed to be for Inosuke. Meh, I’ll just headbutt that man if he throws a tantrum!
He tossed the rice ball towards the blue-eyed man. He laughed at how it caught the handsome man off guard, scrambling to catch the food. Giyuu lifted his gaze, confused eyes meeting Tanjirou’s amused ones.
Isn’t he cute!
The two of them sat in silence, Giyuu munching on the onigiri with a gentle smile on his face while Tanjirou finds himself content to just watch the man from the corner of his eyes.
~~~
The following day, before Giyuu can even touch the doorknob, Tanjirou’s beaming face emerged from the inside, fully expecting his usual lunch break visitor. “Come in, Tapioca-san!”
Giyuu silently followed him. As Tanjirou turned around to bring out his packed lunch, he felt a light tug at his uniform. He saw struggle pooling the blue eyes. “What is it?”
The awkward man smiled nervously, scratching his eyebrow. “It’s Tomioka. Tom-yo-ka” Giyuu emphasizes each syllable.
Tanjirou’s hands immediately flew into this mouth, his cheeks turning red from embarrassment. Of course he had to display his stupidity in front of his newfound crush! Dammit Zenitsu! I will make you learn table manners you won’t forget!
His internal combustion from the embarrassing scene was interrupted by the soft laugh of the man in front of him.
That was the moment Tanjirou knew angels do exist. He now fully understood the desperate struggle of the school girls to win Giyuu over.
“It’s fine, I’m sorry I haven’t introduced myself properly.” Giyuu smiled at him, illuminating the dark room again. “It’s Giyuu, Giyuu Tom-yo-ka. I’m in my last year in senior high.” Tanjirou noticed the stutter was gone, and Giyuu even managed to shake his hand.
“My name’s Tanjirou! Kamado Tanjirou! I’m in the year below you!”
“I know.”
“You do?” Tanjirou was puzzled. He didn’t even know Giyuu existed despite his obvious popularity with that handsome face, but the man knew him. Hah! I shouldn’t be proud, but here I am!
“Oh well-“ Tanjirou coughed forcibly, trying to hide his wide smile. “I know you can’t eat lunch again. We have to do something about those girls! You should be thankful I was being penalized!”
“I am.”
Damn, he’s good with words, no matter how small he talks!
“Anyway!” Tanjirou exclaimed a little loudly, handling a homemade bento to the handsome man. He told his mother a friend kinda needs his help, and the woman was more than happy to prepare another set of lunch. “Here, senpai. Eat with me?” He met Giyuu’s eyes with a hopeful stare.
“Is this for me?” Tanjirou nodded. “I can’t take your lunch!” Tanjirou produced another lunchbox from his bag, smiling from ear to ear.
“Thank you, you’re a blessing.” Giyuu displayed his million-dollar smile, captivating the burgundy haired man. “But please don’t call me senpai. Giyuu’s fine, I’m only a year older after all!”
The two spent the entire lunch break with no interruption, laughing at each other’s silly stories. Giyuu promised to introduce the boy to his two friends, and Tanjirou invited the man to eat with his group once the penalty was over.
Giyuu couldn’t wait for Monday to come.
~~~
“Man, stop fidgeting!” Rengoku Kyoujurou hit his back, laughing at the uneasy Giyuu squirming under the eyes of the entire girl population present at lunch.
“How do you do this thing? You put a spoonful of food into your mouth and sighs follow after! Man I can’t do this.” Giyuu whispered under his breath, eyeing a very indulgent Uzui who was currently posing for a picture.
“I don’t know about you, but I enjoy my handsome face. Loosen up, sapphire boy! We’re just flamboyantly prettier than half of the boys here!” Uzui posed for a selfie with one of the freshmen crowding him.
“Tanjirou is much more beautiful than you though.” Giyuu whispered again through gritted teeth.
“You said something?” Kyoujurou turned to him, waving at a table of ogling girls beside them.
“I can’t eat like this!”
“Sure you can,” Shinobu sat in front of him, juice box on her right hand, takoyaki on the other. She smiled at the jealous girls glaring at her, rubbing the fact that she was the only woman privileged to dine with the trio on their faces. “The only thing you can’t do is make friends.”
“You’re wrong. I found a new friend.” Giyuu casually quipped, not noticing the questioning eyes on him.
Uzui gently asked the girls to leave him alone before turning to the blue-eyed man. “You did? A real one?”
“Very real. His name is Kamado Tanjirou.” Giyuu answered proudly.
“Kamado? The kendo prodigy?” Kyoujurou questioned further.
Giyuu nodded, recalling the first time he talked to the boy. He was an awkward mess, he didn’t realized he was talking to the kendo club’s star athlete. He didn’t mean to return the next day, but another group of girls were chasing him for a photo that he had to run away. He admits his following visits to the equipment room were not to escape though. But Tanjirou doesn’t have to know that.
“My little sister’s a friend of his. Oh well, he’s friends with everyone in his year I guess.” Shinobu teasingly smiled at him. “Speaking of, Kanao!” The lady waved at the group just entering the cafeteria, asking them to come over.
The trio watched as Kanao led the way, Tanjirou hot on her trail. He was pulling another girl who very much looked like him, and behind him was the blond man Giyuu saw when he first met Tanjirou, bickering loudly with another blue-tipped haired man with open buttons. A tall boy with mohawk hair followed them behind, along with another man with mint green hue at the tip of his long hair
“That’s a strange group of friends.” Uzui whispered, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Man, that Kamado boy is truly a blessing to the eyes!”
Giyuu glared at him which Uzui just shrugged off. “What? You called dibs or something?”
Shinobu threw her juice box at the muscled man, glaring at him for such awful words. “You can’t call dibs on human beings, Tengen! That’s just inappropriate. Say that again and you can kiss your handsome face goodbye.” The lady proceeded with a scary smile on her lips, a silent challenge spoken.
“Fine, fine. I’m sorry, okay?”
Tanjirou and friends soon arrived at their spot, and the mohawk boy had to carry another table to place it beside the one Giyuu’s group was occupying to accommodate the sudden increase of the circle.
“Giyuu! I brought our lunch!” Tanjirou dropped a bento in front of the smiling blue eyed man, pleased to see the rare smile once again.
The entire room fell into a deep silence. Kyoujurou, Uzui and Shinobu shared knowing glances as they eye the two men smiling at one another.
As if on cue, the student population buzzed with whispers of confusion and speculations, filling the room with useless noise once again.
Tanjirou noticed Giyuu’s fidgeting, so he lay a hand on his senpai’s shoulder, silent words of assurance reaching the man.
Kyoujurou coughed, catching the attention of everyone on the table. “Kanao-chan, I think introductions are in order?”
“Yeah! I almost forgot.” Kanao dropped the carrot she was munching, before pointing at her friends. “Muichirou’s a year younger but he’s on the kendo club with us. Nezuko here is his classmate, the man with a weird hair is Genya, this blond moron’s Zenitsu, he’s stupid Inosuke, and I think you know Tanjirou. Oh, he’s Nezuko’s older brother!”
“Hey! Who are you calling stupid?”
“I’m not a moron Kanao-chan! Don’t call me such a thing in front of Nezuko dear!”
“Is my hair really that weird?”
“Nice to meet you everyone,” Tanjirou and Nezuko both bowed on behalf of their rowdy group. “It’s nice to meet Giyuu’s friends! He told me a lot about you guys!”
“I hope you only heard good things, Tanjirou-kun.” Shinobu smiled at the boy.
Giyuu scooted closer to Kyoujurou to allow some room beside him, and Tanjirou sat down like it was no big deal. But the entire cafeteria thought otherwise as another round of whispers reached the group’s ears. “You alright, senpai?” Tanjirou joked through a whisper only the man beside him could hear.
“Perfectly fine, thank you!” Giyuu whispered back, smiling from ear to ear.
Half of the girls present witnessed a miracle that was Giyuu’s smile, and all of them melted at the sight.
Giyuu was more than a pretty face, after all.