Chapter Text
It was another hellish day at the Kimetsu no Yaiba Academy. Shinobu is in the 2nd period. It’s not even half of the day and she already wants to die. Even though she despised every class other than chemistry. She still tries to be a model student and always has a smile on her face. Since, that's kinda what she’s known for. Shinobu could not deny that she was definitely popular. On Valentine's Day, Shinobu received 216 pieces, meaning at least half of the school gave her one. Which was a school record. A few of her friends have even encouraged her to drop out of school and just model. But that's not what Shinobu wants to do. She loves science and plants. You know, making things explode or something rapidly die or come back to life. Things like that. Not modeling. She can leave that to her older sister Kanae.
If Shinobu was already top tier pretty at her school then her sister would have to be some sort of saint sent from the heavens. Kanae is undoubtedly beautiful, kind, caring, loyal and just the best sister anyone could ask for. Shinobu has always been protective her sisters. That's why it always pissed Shinobu off how Kanae ended up with that trashy, scar ridden, mean, rude, loser! Kanae deserves someone that can give her anything, Shinobu needs to trust that whoever is with her sister can protect her forever and that she's safe. Sanemi on the other hand; Kanaes current boyfriend, (hopefully not for long) is just plain, rude and disrespectful. Not only is he Kanae’s boyfriend, but Shinobu is just SO lucky that he is her math teacher too! Wow. Great. Nevertheless Shinobu can not ignore the fact that Kanae probably chose him for a reason and that Shinobu needs to respect her sister's decisions. That's why she would never tell them how she really feels.
The bell rings, which signals that it's finally the end of 2nd period math class. Shinazugawa-sensei teaches all the math classes from every grade from grade 8. Even though he's dating her older sister, he does not cut her, or anyone else any slack. It’s definitely the most challenging course, and everyone else must agree because at least ¾ of the class is failing.
Shinobu has managed to keep her grades in the low 90s.
All the students rise from their seats in unison, some sprint for the door in fear of getting lectured by Shinazugawa-sensei.
Shinobu’s best friend Mitsuri runs over to Shinobu from the front of the class.
“Shinobu! Let's go! It’s literally chicken nuggets for lunch! We gotta go! Gotta go!” Mitsuri nags on Shinobu's desk and aids her in throwing stuff into her bag.
“Kocho! Got a sec!” Sanemi calls from his desk, waving his hand signaling her over. Shinobu nods her head to confirm she’ll talk to him. Shinobu really did not like talking to Sanemi, but she keeps their relationship professional at school and only treats him like a teacher. NOT her sister's annoying boyfriend. She turns to Mitsuri as she puts her bag over her shoulder.
“Mitsuri go without me. Save me a seat tho okay?” Shinobu smiles at her. Mitsuri was about to reject her offer of leaving her behind, but her smile was just so beautiful she couldn’t deny it.
“Alright hurryyyy'' Mitsuri skips out of the classroom while waving goodbye to Shinazugawa-sensei on the way out. Shinobu walks down to Shinazugawa’s desk and sits on a chair next to it.
“Yes Shinazugawa-sensei?” She releases a polite smile.
“Kanae wanted me to let you know she's staying with me tonight.” Oh right.
Kanae has always been super into biology, and she was damn good at it too. Even though she would’ve preferred a job in the medical world. She became a teacher because she loved helping people, especially children. Shinobu has been telling Kanae her whole life that she should seek to become a doctor instead. Urging her to chase her dreams. FOR SOME REASON. Kanae only really started to take action when her know-it-all, snobby boyfriend encouraged her to do it. It's weird why Kanae wouldn’t want to come home. Or perhaps she just wanted nasty alone time with her boyfriend.
“Ew, why do I need to know that?” She says, turning her head away.
“Ugh, not like that.” He holds the bridge of his nose and sighs. Disappointed with her immaturity.
“Your house is 1hr 30 mins away from the city while mine is only 25. It’ll be easier for her. She needs the extra rest.” Even though Shinobu does NOT like Sanemi, he is always caring for Kanae. “So you have to get yourself home, oh and ponytail.” That’s his funny little nickname for Kanao since he just can't seem to learn her name.
“Although I’m pretty sure the freshmans are on a school trip are they not?” He says.
That's true, they went to iceland. Kanao has been silently excited about it the whole week. It was so cute seeing her go with the Kamado siblings and other ones on the plane. They’re all good kids.
“Yep. So I’ll just get myself home. Thank you.” She rises and grabs her bag. Once again swinging it over her shoulder.
“You don’t need a ride right?” He says while pointing his pen at her. It's odd of him to ask that. Shinobu understood that there's always been a silent hatred between them. But he's actually kinda nice.
“No, I’m good, Bye Shinazugawa-sensei.” She walks towards the door and pushes it open.
“See ya”
On the floor left of the door is an almost passed out Mitsuri, drooling from the mouth and holding onto her stomach for dear life. Of course Misturi waited for her.
“Hey Mitsuri lets go.” Shinobu lightly taps her head.
“GAH!” She jumps from the unknown touch and turns to meet Shinobu's eyes. She starts sobbing with relief that she can finally eat.
“OH MY GOD YOU TOOK FOREVER LETS GO IM ABOUT TO PASS OUT.”
Mitsuri grabs Shinobu's uniform to help her rise herself from the floor.
She snatches Shinobu's wrist and starts bolting down the halls. They’re going so fast Shinobu lifts her feet, she’ll go flying. Mitsuri doesn't even know where the dining hall is, she's following the trail of fried chicken scent. Shinobu can’t help but laugh at this situation.
They made it to the dining hall and they got their fried chicken. Iguro, a senior who mostly hangs out with Shinazugawa-sensei, is another friend of theirs, well mostly Mitsuris. Also sits with them. It seems that Mitsuri enjoys his presence and he's a pretty cool guy. Sometimes some of the freshmans and teachers sit with them as well. The teachers in this school are incredibly young so they get along with the students very well. Especially Rengoku-sensei.
This one time, this really weird and quiet dude sat with them. He sat on the edge of the table and didn't say a word. He had long blueish black hair and only seemed to eat one kind of meal. He usually sits alone at the corner table at the very back of the dining room. Apparently Iguro and Sanemi hate him since he sits alone because he thinks he's better than everyone. Shinobu doesn't believe that. But he's definitely a weird guy.
Shinobu finally makes it to the end of the day, Mitsuri left right after last period while Shinobu still had her gardening club to attend. She doesn't like gardening, she just wanted to be allowed to plant poisonous plants. She's somehow been authorized to plant a highly poisonous wisteria tree in the greenhouse. She exits the room and makes sure to lock up, she's the senior in the group. There's only 6 other members, Kanao, Senguro, Aoi and 3 junior school students, Naho, Kiyo, and Sumi. She usually calls the three of them the Hana girls for short.
Kanao, Senjuro and Aoi are all away on the school trip so it was just Shinobu and the Hana girls, they worked on their design for the greenhouse since later that week they would finally plant all the seeds. She waved the cheerful girls goodbye and headed for the exit, cautious of the time so she could catch her bus. She puts her hand into the bag to find her phone, but she pulls nothing out.
She thinks back to the places she's taken it that day and pinpoints and guesses it's in the history room. She does a light jog, rushing because she really can't miss her bus. She stops by the history room, and stands on her tiptoes to peek through the window. To make sure she won't interrupt anything. She sees a familiar blueish black hair sitting at a desk, computer out with headphones in and a notebook. Probably taking notes he's missed. She hears no other voices though. She expects that Rengoku-sensei has left or gone to the washroom.
She gently knocks on the door and lightly pushes it open. The boy raises his head from his notebook and looks at her with furrowed brows, wondering why she's here.
“I-uh, sorry. I need to get something.” She slowly enters the classroom and shuts the door behind. Without saying a word the boy turns his head back to his work. Completely ignoring her. She doesn't mind. She wanders around the classroom, checking under desks and in cupboards but she's running out of time. Maybe she’ll ask the boy for some help.
“Um, excuse me?” Shinobu says while being crouched down beside a desk. He turns and removes an earbud from his ear to hear her. “Have you seen a phone around here? Purple phone case?” She lets out a half smile.
“I don't think so.” He says blankly, didn't even turn his head to scan the room. He turns back to his computer and works. That's the first time she's heard him talk or even spoke to him. And he is just so impolite, she was not done talking to him. She stands up and walks towards him and gives him a subtle tap on the shoulder with her finger.
“Could you perhaps call it? Please?” She clenches her hands together in front of her chest in a calm manner even though this boy is ticking her off. He removes his headphones entirely and packs them into his bag. Not looking at her.
“I don’t have your number.” He says, still staring directly at his screen. This guy responds in the most plain and simplistic way possible. It's quite irritating. Perhaps he's just a little shy.
“Can I give it to you real quick? You may delete it after, if you wish.” She smiles in hopes her pretty charms will soothe him into accepting this offer. He directly looks at her. He has blue eyes, their dull and gray, but yet give off the feeling of a calm body of water. She blinks quickly, hoping he hasn't noticed how long she's stared into them.
“Ok” he reaches into his bag and pulls out his phone, he unlocks it and opens contacts and hands it over to her, she inserts her number.
“Here.” She hands it back with a smile and holds her hands behind her back. He presses the ring button and also glances around the room not lifting from his seat. She walks to where the vibrating is the strongest, it's around the front of the classroom perhaps by the teachers desk. Low and behold, her phone is on the shelf. Of course Rengoku-sensei would put phones here. Probably so they wouldn't be damaged, she sees multiple other phones there, she prays for the poor souls that will never find them.
“Found it! Thank you so much.” She stands and heads back down the class to retrieve her bag. The boy turns back to his computer to work, before she leaves she glances at his work and notices that it's chemistry. Her favorite subject. But he has misplaced the Hydrogen atom.
“That’s wrong,” She says, pointing at his work.
“How?” He turns to her with those gorgeous eyes of his. She doesn't look into them for too long this time.
“The Hydrogen atom would form a bond with Fluorine, not Oxygen. It lacks the sufficient number of electrons to do that.” He stares at her wide eyed and turns back to his work and looks at it. Shinobu stays and watches to make sure he does it right.
“Oh, I get it. Thanks.” He edits his mistake and doesn't look at her. She walks down the class again.
“No Problem! You helped me find my phone so it's only fair!” She walks down to the door and tugs on it.
It doesn’t open.
Perhaps she needs a bit more force, she tugs harder and the door rattles but is not opening. Is it..? She drops her bag to the side and with two hands she pulls on the door with all her force. This can not be happening.
“What are you doing?” The boy from the back of the class calls out. Standing up from his desk and walking towards her.
“This, this door wont open.” She says continuously tugging on the door. Sweating from the effort she's putting in.
“Here let me.” He says, she stands to the side and checks the time, her bus comes in 5 mins. The walk to the bus stop is 10 so if she runs she might make it by…woah. He removed his hoodie and placed it on the desk. He pulls on the door way harder than she was, his muscles in his arms tense at the force he displays pulling on the door. All she can do is just dumbly watch him help her.
After moments of useless attempts. He places both arms on the handle and yanks it so hard that the door ricochets vibrations through the walls of the classroom so intense it shakes the entire room.
Shinobu can feel her legs turn static for long seconds, before the feeling returns. She looks up at the door and THE HANDLE IS GONE. And he's on the floor holding it. He rubs his head, like he's hit it or something.
“Oh my, are you okay?” Shinobu says rushing over and crouching beside him.
“Ya, I’m fine.” Turns out she shouldn't have crouched down. He turns to face her and the proximity between them did not go unnoticed, he's so close Shinobu can feel his calm breath, her heart is beating so fast it’s not crazy to say he can’t hear it. Why wasn't he moving away? He just blankly stared at her with wide eyes.
She inched her foot back and instantly fell over.
“Ah!” She stumbles and falls directly on top of him. She quickly jolts off him and accidentally knees him in the stomach as a result. “S-sorry.” Her pulse has rised to her face and she can feel her veins bulging from embarrassment. Thinking about how embarrassed she is only increasing her body temperature even more.
But how can she screw up like that!? She holds her face in her palms in an effort to cool herself down. It's ok, you only tripped.
He stands up and places the handle on the desk nearby.
“U-uh, so now what?” Shinobu says, desperate to change the topic, looking away from him.
“The janitor probably locked us in.” He says with a stern voice, is he mad?
“M-maybe we should bang on the door and try to get his attention, or we could jump out the window.” She says, like she's said some really smart and powerful thing. Finally facing him now. Her brain really can not function well in a situation like this. He turns to her and leans on the desk, holding it with both arms.
“Jump? Out the window? On the second floor of a building?” He says, dumbfounded her ridiculous comment.
“I-I'm brainstorming.” Nice save.
“Ok.” What a dry response. He walks over to the door and tries to see out the window, he peers down the halls and no ones there. With an extended silence he finally says, “Let’s do it.”
“T-try what?” She says, forgetting what she said previously.
“Banging.” B- WHAT. She doesn't even know his name and he's already asking to do that? Oh no, they’re in a classroom all alone, with no cameras. He could totally do what he wanted to her! Like pin her down with his strong arms. NO not the point! OH GOD. Shinobu waltzes back and forth fanning herself trying to prevent herself from going red. Rethinking every life choice she's ever made. She is totally not prepared for this. What if she refuses? Will he hurt her? She doubts it. BUT WHAT IF.
“What are you doing, get over here.'' OH NO, What will her sister think of her! Shinobu clenches her hands preparing for the worst. She doesn't want to, but he isn't that bad right? She shyly walks over grasping her skirt clenching her eyes shut. Her heart is beating louder and louder, so hard it's difficult to hear what he's saying.
“Do you need help or something?” She nods ‘no’ but really doesn't do anything. She just stands there waiting until he shouts threaten her or something!
She then feels a warm touch grab her wrist and lets out a quiet yelp in response. She opens her eyes to see him gently place her hand on the door. Taking it back and putting it back on the door. In a banging motion…
“Bang, bang. So the janitor will hear us.” OF COURSE! She's such an idiot! Of course he wouldn't do that, he's far too shy and probably kind! How can she be so stupid? Even though he doesn't know it, she's created a totally vile image of him. Shinobu wants to slap herself so hard but he's still holding her wrist. Her face goes bright red. She wriggles out of his grasp and looks down.
“Okay.” She says silently. He begins to pound on the door which makes her jump and she lets out another yelp. She decides to also join in and calls for help and the janitor's name.