Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Water is suddenly pouring down in the entire city. A lots of people got caught up in the sudden rain, including the students of Kimetsu Academy. Some students screaming, annoyed at the sudden rain. Meanwhile the other student either enjoy the rain or feeling relieved that they're not out from the school building yet. Among those students, there's one certain male student with a burgundy hair and hanafuda earring still staying on the classroom alone. He's sitting in the back seat by the window, looking at the massive rain silently. His expression doesn't show any emotion, but it's looking as if he's seeing a faraway place. While he's busy with his own thought, the door of the class suddenly opened, showing a male student with a beautiful face and behind him is another male student with a blonde hair. The two students look around the classroom until they spot the burgundy-haired boy.

"The heck? he's actually here, again" the beautiful-face boy opening his mouth while grumble.

The blonde-haired boy ignoring the boy words and instead looking at the redhead with a worry looks. Noticing that the redhead doesn't response to their presences, both of them then coming closer to the boy to check on him. When they both stand near enough from him, he still doesn't move an inch and keep looking at the rain. This obviously, pissed the beautiful-face boy. The boy tried to grab the redhead hair, before being stopped by the blonde. He then give the blonde a glare, which get another glare as a response.

"Stop being such a wild animal Inosuke" say the blonde with an irritated tone.

Inosuke, which is the beautiful-face boy's name is about to complaint but decided to not-to and instead snort at him.

"Fine, I'll listen to you just this time Monitsu."

"It's Zenitsu, dumbass" correct the blond which call himself Zenitsu. He's looking at Inosuke with an annoyed face, before turning his attention to the redhead with a worried face. "Tanjirou are you okay?"

When Zenitsu asked that question, the burgundy-haired boy which name finally give his attention to the boys. He's showing a pained face when he looks at the blonde worried looks just for a moment, before showing a happy face and a big smile.

"Oh it's both of you! I'm sorry, I was worried about the rain for a while since it's suddenly pouring down. But I'm overally alright! sorry for making you worry" said him while scratching his head slowly.

For a moment Tanjirou forgot about important stuff. That is about how Zenitsu have a good hearing and how great Inosuke instinct is that make both of them can know immediately when someone is lying. So obviously, Zenitsu and Inosuke can immediately notice that Tanjirou, their friend is lying. When he finally remember it he doesn't bother to elaborate it, because he know his friends won't forcing him to spill the truth and he's so right about that. Both Zenitsu and Inosuke didn't ask anymore question about it, even thought Zenitsu still worry and Inosuke is mad at how his friend keep refusing to explain things.

"Well, if you say so” said Zenitsu before he processed to change the subject. “Nezuko said that she'll be staying in Kanao's house and can't seems reach you to tell you about it, so instead she asked us to tell you about it directly.”

Hearing the mention of his sister name and friend’s name, Tanjirou immediately taking his phone and open it. When he’s looking at his phone, he noticed that there’s a lot of missing calls from his sister and it’s make him shocked.

“Ahh... she’s surely will be mad” Tanjirou mumbles, while panicking.

Zenitsu who look at how panic Tanjirou is, trying to resist to laugh. Meanwhile Inosuke immediately burst of laughing without saying,  “Hah! that’s why you shouldn’t just sitting here alone without a sound or moving an inch like a statue!” bringing back the previous subject with smug face and without thinking again.

Zenitsu who’s trying hard to change the subject before, looking at Inosuke in horror when the boy mentioned the subject again. He thought of punching Inosuke face, grabbing his hair and pull it until it fell out and then open the window to throw him out. But before he can turn the thought into reality, he suddenly heard Tanjirou laughing awkwardly which made him resist to do so.

“Ignore this stupid boar” Zenitsu said with a deadpan face which almost received a protest from Inosuke but he didn’t let him to so he continue his words “It’s raining heavily, I think it’ll last long and I bet both of you doesn’t bring any umbrella. Both of your house is far, so how about you guys stay at my house?”

Tanjirou blink for a moment, thinking about Zenitsu offer. After thinking for a while he finally agreed to his offer when he saw Inosuke immediately agree to it since he unexpectedly doesn’t like staying on the rain for too long.

“Alright then, let’s go now before the rain getting worse”

***

After they were recklessly running throught the pouring rain, Tanjirou and his two friends finally reach Zenitsu’s house. It’s a simple house, contain four rooms. Kitchen that connect to the living room, two bedroom which is Zenitsu deceased grandpa room and his own room and one bathroom which split into two part; one for taking a bath and the other is a space for washing machine to clean dirty clothes.

When they’re getting inside the house, Zenitsu told both of his friends to take a bath first and warm themselves while offering them his clothes for them to change. Both Tanjirou and Inosuke doing what they told and go for a bath one by one until the last one of them; Zenitsu, get the chance to do the same thing. While Zenitsu taking a bath, Tanjirou offering to make a dinner for them to eat. Zenitsu agreed and let Tanjirou to use whatever ingredients he has since he rarely cooks even though he already learn some cooking.

By the time Zenitsu finished his bath and getting his clothes changed, Tanjirou already finished most of the cooking and on the progress of making miso soup. He’s hella fast, he thought to himself shocked by the speed Tanjirou has on making the food. After observing Tanjirou for a while, Zenitsu changing his attention to Inosuke who’s currently drooling at the foods Tanjirou made on the living room’s table. And here it is the wild animal, he thought once again while rolling his eyes.

“Alright! the miso is ready! let’s eat the food now while it’s still warm!” the shouts from Tanjirou took Zenitsu and Inosuke attention. Both of them looking at Tanjirou with different expression, Zenitsu with his impressed looks and Inosuke with his shining eyes, drooling mouth, and excitement about the foods.

Tanjirou place three bowls of miso soup on the table and processed too prepare the rice for himself and both of his friend. Looking at how the foods ready to be eaten, the three boys shitting around the table and start eating the foods. They eat while talking about various stuff; funny stuff, sad stuff, annoying stuff, and anything else. It’s took them more than half an hour to finish the food, since they’re taking their time to enjoy it.

After they finished the whole foods, all of them wash the dishes together while continuing the talk they had while they ate before. It doesn’t take long for them to finish washing the dishes, so after finishing it they immediately went to Zenitsu room to prepare futon for them to sleep— since it’s agreed on that they’ll be sleeping in the same room because Tanjirou feel bad to use Zenitsu’s grandpa room.

“Man that was unexpectedly fun” Zenitsu chimes with a blissful face.

“Yeah the foods is delicious as well, hate to admit it but I didn’t expect that my underling is so good at cooking” add Inosuke with satisfied looks.

Tanjirou laughing at the sudden compliment by Inosuke. Then he said, “Glad that both of you enjoy the food.”

“Your foods is the most delicious food I ever had, might as well open your own restaurant” praise Zenitsu.

Inosuke nodded, silently agreeing on what Zenitsu said. Meanwhile Tanjirou once again laughing, telling Zenitsu he’s over-praising him. After a while, they change the subject and talk about different stuff like;  how Zenitsu being scolded by Mr. Shinazugawa Sanemi, the math teacher because he’s being annoying in class; how Inosuke unexpectedly able to go through art’s class assignment with a good score and received a praise from the usually anti-praise arts teacher, Mr. Uzui Tengen or about how Tanjirou always get a headpat from the anti-social P.E class’s teacher Mr. Tomioka Giyuu after the class is done.

They keep talking for hours, without losing topic. The talks they had, make Tanjirou and Inosuke forgot about the stuff happened at the school earlier. Meanwhile Zenitsu, who’s still thinking about it until now, feels a little bit relieved when he looks at how much Tanjirou smile and laughing right now. Since he’s worried so much before, because Tanjirou’s sound is so sad and painful to hear at school.

Then Tanjirou suddenly stop the talk and said, “Alright guys! It’s 10 PM already and even thought tomorrow is no school, we still need to take a rest now. The rain might make you hard to sleep—especially for you Zenitsu, but let’s just stop the talk and try to rest!” while looking at both Zenitsu and Inosuke.

Zenitsu and Inosuke nod, agreeing to what Tanjirou said. After that, each of them enter their futon which is Tanjirou take the middle one, Zenitsu take the right-side of Tanjirou’s futon and Inosuke take the left one. They warp themselves with the warm blankets and said a good night to each others before closing their eyes to sleep.

***

In a world where a man-eating demon exist, countless people has fought for hundred of years to defeat demons. These people was called Demon Slayer. One of those demon slayer was a young man named Kamado Tanjirou. After his family was slaughtered by the demon and how his younger sister Kamado Nezuko turned into demon, he was set on a journey as demon slayer to find a way to turn his sister back into human and to kills all the demon so he could prevent the others from experience the same suffering.

At first there’s a some little conflict about how a demon slayer like him, bring a demon with him. But the conflict settled by the time and most of them finally accepted his sister as a member of demon slayer corps as well. While on his journey, he met a lots of friends and lots of amazing swordsman that fought for humanity. Along it as well, he face a lots of lost as well. Even though that, he still keep going and doesn’t giving up on fighting demon. He fights along with his sister and his two bestfriend, Agatsuma Zenitsu and Hashibira Inosuke. He keep fighting, until the day where the demon slayer corps finally come to face the demon progenitor, Kibutsuji Muzan and his Upper Moon of the Twelve Kizuki.

On the last battle, Tanjirou alongside the demon slayer corps’s hashiras go to fight Muzan. But they get teleported to the one of the Upper Moon’s Blood Demon Art’s space and get separated. Fortunately, the water hashira—Tomioka Giyuu, doesn’t get separated from him. Then they come to face the Upper Moon 3, who killed the flame hashira—Rengoku Kyojurou on a fight. When the demon appeared before his eyes, Tanjirou know that each hashiras and demon slayers that also get teleported to this space will face the enemies as well, so he can’t hope for a help from them. That’s why he decided to focus on the fight alongside Giyuu to defeat the demon. The fight take so much times, but slowly but surely they’re able to defeat him. After that they keep going, while hearing the death of their comrades and eventually come to face Muzan. They fight, fight and fight. Even when the place changed, the rest of survived hashiras come, and all Tanjirou’s friends come to aid, they keep fighting for hours.

The last battle against Muzan feels likes eternity. So much life has lost, but Kamado Tanjirou and the rest of Demon Slayer Corps never give up and keep fighting to the bitter end. When dawn arrived, the battle was finally over. Muzan has been defeated, burned by the ray of sun. The last demon is gone, it's their win— or so they thought, not until they saw how Tanjirou turned into demon. A demon that's stronger than Muzan himself, Nichirin Swords has no use on him— even sun doesn't work either. No one can kill him, despair fell upon them when they saw how Tanjirou suddenly goes on rampage. But despite all that, no one give up. Everyone refused to give up on Tanjirou.

Then suddenly, Nezuko who just turned back into human come to the fight area to hug Tanjirou. She get bitten, but she keep hugging him tightly. Zenitsu, Inosuke and all his friend come to him, calling him and scream at him in hope for Tanjirou to come to his sense, but to no use. Giyuu screams, telling all the kakushis and all the survived demon slayer to go and evacuate themselves. There's also Kanao, tried to use the leftover medicine to turn back demon into human given by the deceased insect hashira— Kocho Shinobu on him. Alas, the medicine doesn't work or maybe need to take some times to work. Either way, nothing is working.

Each second, Tanjirou’s rampage getting worst. It’s to the point where he throw Nezuko to a building and made her passed out. Looking at that, Zenitsu and Inosuke taking Nezuko’s role to hold him tightly in hoping to prevent him doing something worst than that. Meanwhile Kanao, immediately run to Nezuko to check on her condition.

“Monjirou just stop already! Please!” plead Inosuke, who’s rarely showing so much despair.

Tanjirou doesn’t flinch. His body move so much, trying to break the tight hold that blocking his way to destroy everything. Each of his move become stronger and stronger, it’s make Inosuke and Zenitsu having a hard time to keep him in check.

“Yeah, the wild boar is right! the fight is over! so return to us already! it’s time for you to get your deserved peaceful rest!” add Zenitsu desperately.

Nothing change. Tanjirou’s rampage still continue. He’s roaring like a wild beast and biting both Inosuke and Zenitsu, keep trying to break himself from the two boys. A short mins of another struggle to breakthrough, Tanjirou finally able to throw Inosuke and Zenitsu. They didn’t get to be thrown as far as he did to Nezuko, but the hit they got is much harder and it’s a miracle they still alive even though they can’t move after that.

Tanjirou become silent after that, at first they thought that Tanjirou might finally come to his sense. But they was wrong, instead what they feared the most has come. Tanjirou goes on rampage everywhere, destroying the buildings and killing all the kakushis and demon slayer on his sight. Zenitsu and Inosuke trying to stand up— to stop their friend, but they can’t move one bit. Giyuu trying to protect the passed out wind hashira— Shinazugawa Sanemi along with two kakushis that has been taking care the hashira with his one hand. Meanwhile Kanao using all her last strength to protect Nezuko.

In the end nothing can stop him. Everyone get killed, no one survived against him. Kiriya who’s at faraway place, can’t give order to send help because he know nothing will work. Nothing can’t stop Tanjirou as he is now. After killing every human is his sight, Tanjirou smell the human on the far away place from his current location and thinking of getting there to kill the rest of them. But before he can go, Zenitsu and Inosuke who’s still has their consciousness grab both his leg stopping him from going there. Tanjirou attention goes on them, he lift his hand, trying to fasten the death of the two.

“Tan...jirou... you can’t... we don’t... want you.. to get... your.. hands dir... ty any... more than... this...” Zenitsu speak a low and stammered voice. “ple...ase... come back... to us... I love... your... usual... voice... it’s warm... and calm...ing... “ he continue.

“The foods... made by you... is the most delicious... we want... to eat it... for the rest... of our life... so please... tanji...rou...” Inosuke who’s been silent because he’s having a hard time to talk, finally speak adding to Zenitsu words.

Tanjirou finally flinch at the words. His sense that’s previously clouded is finally become clear. The medicine that previous used by Kanao is finally show it’s effect. Tanjirou looking both of his friend, who’s lying on the ground full of bloods. He’s confused about what happened, then looking all round him full of kakushis and demon slayers corpse. He then spot Kanao, hugging Nezuko. Both their eyes are closed, full of wound and blood and what catch his attention the most is— how they’re not breathing. After that his attention then fell into Giyuu and Sanemi, body shred into pieces. Looking all his loved one in that condition, Tanjirou expression is darkens. He’s bowed his head to looks at his hand which full of blood. Tanjirou smell the bloods on his hand and noticed that the blood on his hand has different smells.

“No... there’s no way... did I just...”

Tanjirou trembling, scared of the conclusion he got after he grasp about what happened. It took him a few minutes to grief before he finally get his attention back to Zenitsu and Inosuke.

“Zenitsu... Inosuke... everyone... I’m sorry... I’m sorry...”

He’s still trembling. Begging for his friends to forgive him. He’s crying and felt a massive amount of sense of guilt. He’s also feels scared, scared at how he become such a monster just like the demon he hates the most. Even though, he’s not doing it with his own will, it’s still him who did all those horrible things. He can’t forgive himself, so he thought that his friends will not forgive him as well. But even thought there’s no possibility, he’s still beg multiple times for his friends, the hashiras, oyakata-sama, and all the victims to forgive him.

Zenitsu and Inosuke who can feels the despair of his friend, trying to speak. But they can’t bring their voice to come out. Let alone talk, they even struggled to breathe and survive. Even still, they want to tell their dear friend that’s everything is okay. They’re sure that everyone will forgive him. Alas—before they can say anything, they breathed their last breath and closed their eyes forever.

Tanjirou jolts, noticing something happened. He then slumped beside both of them, touching them and checking their breath. He can’t believed his nose nor can he believed his ear when he can’t heir their breath. Then Tanjirou sanity hit rock bottom, he snap, cry and scream so much. Rain start pouring down, as if trying to mock him for what he did and how he lost his friends by his own hand.

After a while Tanjirou become silent. Only the sound of rain can be heard, at least until he mumbles by himself “I’m sorry... for what I did... I’ll make sure to repent myself and let the gods give me the punishment I deserved.”

Tanjirou then looking around Zenitsu body and spot his katana on his hand. He then took it away softly, before putting it in his neck and cut his head with his own hand.

***

“Tanjirou!”

A synchronized scream of his name and a two pairs of hands shaking his body so hard, forcing Tanjirou to wake up from his slumber. He open his eyes slowly and immediately faced Zenitsu and Inosuke worried face. He then tried to stand and make himself sit, but for some reason doesn’t have the energy to. Noticing their friend struggle, Inosuke immediately giving him a hand. Meanwhile Zenitsu went to take a nearby handkerchief to wipe off the sweat on Tanjirou face.

“Thanks and I’m sorry for troubling both of you”

Tanjirou give an awkward smile while apologizing. Both of his friend give a pained face as a response and decide to not say a work and focus on taking care of him. Zenitsu keep wiping the sweat and Inosuke went out from the room then come back with a glass of water before offering it to Tanjirou. Looking at the kind gesture, Tanjirou accept the offer then drink the water slowly while his two friends looking at him worried.

After finishing the water, Tanjirou look at both of his friend and apologize once again. He then processed to say that he’s okay that they don’t need to worry about him. Then it’s become silent, only the sound of rain that still pouring down can be heard. After a moment of silent, one of them suddenly speak up.

“Hey Tanjirou, can’t you just tell us if there’s something wrong?”

It’s Zenitsu. He’s showing a serious face at Tanjirou, which is so unusual of him. Sensing the seriousness, Tanjirou open his mount trying to speak. But before he could do that, Zenitsu once again open his mouth.

“Stop fucking lying on us, dammit!”

He’s snapped. A frustrated tone can be sensed by his voice. He gripping both Tanjirou shoulder tightly— too tight in fact, which make the redhead grimacing in pain that immediately get noticed by Inosuke so he grab Zenitsu’s hand right away trying to make him release his grip or at least lessen it.

“Oi! You’re hurting him dimwit!”

Inosuke yelled at Zenitsu, when his grip doesn’t lessen even one bit. Zenitsu ignored it and instead he bring Tanjirou close to him so he could see him more clearly.

“Why can’t you trust us?  just tell us if there’s something wrong!”

Zenitsu scream, trying to force Tanjirou to tell them the truth. Inosuke jolt for a moment, as much as he want to stop Zenitsu from hurting the redhead, he also wished for the boy the same thing as well. So he stopped and let Zenitsu to do things he wanted. Tanjirou which noticed all his friends though, still keeping his silent. Even though he can feel a massive pain in his shoulder, he still doesn’t want to speak about it. About the dream— or more like about a faraway memories of the past he had.

“Why won’t you tell us?”

Zenitsu voice lowered, his grip has lessened. He looks at Tanjirou with a painful expression. Looking at the expression, Tanjirou reflexively averted his eyes. He bit his lower lips, hesitant to tell them the reason. Zenitsu and Inosuke is silent, they’re waiting patiently at Tanjirou to at least give them a reason on why he doesn’t want to tell them what scare him so much in his dream and most importantly, the reason on why he doesn’t want to tell them the reason for him to always looks so sad and in so much pain when he looks at them.

“Because—“ Tanjirou finally opened his mouth and speak, but stopped midway. He took a breath before continuing, “you guys won’t believe it.”

Both of Zenitsu and Inosuke stare at him in disbelief. Just for that reason he doesn’t want to tell us the truth? they thought synchronically. But they didn’t say any of their current thought and instead Inosuke open his mouth and said, “Whether we believe it or not, it’s up to us to decide.”

Zenitsu nod, agreeing to what Inosuke just said.

“Inosuke right. It’s up to us to decide. Besides, both of us have the ability to see whether you’re lying or not. You know about it already”

Yes. What Inosuke and Zenitsu said is correct. Tanjirou know that from the first place there’s no use on lying to them. But he still doesn’t want to. The truth is much more impossible to believe more than they could think of. And the think he’s scared the most is, they know the truth that Tanjirou in some way or another is killed both of them and others people as well, including his own sister with his own had. Tanjirou scared that they’ll got scared on him and avoid him because of that.

Busy with his own thought, Tanjirou become silent. Suddenly, Zenitsu hand move his shoulder. Before he could react, he already on the blonde’s embrace. Tanjirou blink, shocked at the sudden turn of event. He trying to processed about what happened and about to bring himself to ask Zenitsu what he’s doing, but before he could do that he suddenly heard Inosuke scream.

“What the fuck are you doing! how dare you hugging him like that when I never ever get the chance to!”

Once again, Tanjirou blink. He became even more confused, that it made me frozen in place and can’t say anything.

“Shut up you damn wild animal, it’s your own fault for never taking initiative. Besides, it’s not the time to talk about this. We still need to make him tell us the truth” Zenitsu speak in an mix between irritated tone and smug tone.

“The heck did you just say?!”

And here they are, bickering and forgot their initial goal. Meanwhile Tanjirou is keep staying still in Zenitsu’s embrace still trying to process his thought, doesn’t notice the bickering of both of them. While he doing it, he got distracted by Zenitsu’s smell. A smell of peaches, just like the smell of demon slayer's Zenitsu had.

A small tears then come out of his eyes without him noticing. Zenitsu who’s noticing a part of his clothes is getting slightly wet, immediately change his attention to Tanjirou and noticed the tears on Tanjirou eyes. At first his face is blank but it changed into a panic expression.

“Tanjirou?! what happened to you?! is the dream you had earlier scaring you againg?!” Zenitsu speak with his usual loud voice.

“Maybe it’s from the pain you give him earlier” said Inosuke trying to heat things up.

“There’s no way it’s because of that!” Zenitsu doesn’t believed what Inosuke said. But then, “or is it actually because of that?! if that so then I’m sorry! I’m extremely sorry!”

Inosuke snort, proud at how he successfully averted Zenitsu attention. He then snatch Tanjirou away and bring him to his embrace instead. Zenitsu who’s just busy panicking, noticing the absent of Tanjirou presence from his embrace and immediately looking at Inosuke and giving him a death glare when he saw Inosuke’s smug face.

“Will you guys truly believe me?”

While Zenitsu and Inosuke busy bickering, the sudden voice of Tanjirou obviously stopped them right away. They’re changing their eyes direction to Tanjirou at the same time, then looking at each other for a while before giving their full attention to him.

“Of course we will”

Inosuke speak, after he released Tanjirou from his embrace. Tanjirou looking up to both of their eyes and see so much sincerity on it. He doesn’t even need to smell whether they tell him the truth or not, since looking at it is enough for him to put his trust on them. Once again, Tanjirou bit his lower lips— hesitating on telling the truth. But then Inosuke hand reached his lips, to stop him from biting it any longer.

“We’ll wait, so take your time”

Inosuke speak softly. So soft that it’s make Tanjirou want to cry. How can the usual rowdy and chaotic guys like him, can speak so softly like that? its the same with Zenitsu as well. He’s usually so loud, his voice was usually so squeaky it made Tanjirou’s think it would damage his ears. But when he’s so serious and worried, his voice will become so much calmer and soft. Tanjirou questioned a lots of stuff about both of his friend, but deep down he already know that they’re the most caring person in the world.

After a while of thinking, Tanjirou closed his eyes and take a deep breath. When he’s done, he open his eyes and looking at both of his friends who’s currently waiting patiently for him to speak. Looking at the serene face they gave him, Tanjirou then open his mouth and told them everything about the memory he had. It’s started from how he lost his family and how the man-eating demon exist in his previous world, until how he become a demon and killing all his loved one by his own hand and eventually reach the part where he cut his own head and suddenly waking up in a class a month ago in his current world.

Zenitsu and Inosuke looking in shock. They need time to process all the things Tanjirou said to them. Tanjirou smile wryly, already expecting them not to believe it. After all the stuff he said is definitely will be considered as impossible to happen and he know that all this will only be considered by something that only happen in story or video games for people in this world. Tanjirou then sigh, then opening his mouth trying to tell them to forget it. But got stopped when—

“We believe in you”

Zenitsu and Inosuke speak at the same time, sychronically. Tanjirou eyes widen, he then ask both of them whether they’re sure to just believe him like that.

“Yeah, we’re sure of it. It’s just there’s so much stuff we need to process, so we can’t say much about it” said Zenitsu, calmly.

“He’s right, in the first place thinking is not our forte” add Inosuke, casually.

“If you put it that way, it’s make us like a stupid person dumbass” protest Zenitsu.

“But we’re indeed is dumb aren’t we? especially in theories”

Hearing Inosuke saying things so casually is pissing Zenitsu. It’s pissing him even more that what he said is at least 80% the facts, but in this situation he refused to discuss about their brain capacity even further and decide to go back to the main topic.

“Anyways,” Zenitsu speak up, trying to change the boys attention back. When he got their attention, he finally continue, “One thing for sure is—“

Zenitsu stopped his sentences midway, he then looks at Tanjirou with a serious but along with a warm smile.

“I’m sure that before the demon slayer’s Zenitsu and Inosuke taking their last breath, they’re hoping to tell you that everything is fine and they’re sure that everyone will forgive you.”

Zenitsu’s words hitting Tanjirou like a storm. Then suddenly there’s a flash of memories he had with all his friend and the demon slayer corps, including his memories with the people in butterfly estate, a felow corp’s member, with the hashiras and with Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the leader of the corps that save his sister life from the doubtful hashiras. A tears once against fell from his eyes, but this time it’s a tears that accompanied by the sense of relief.

Looking at Tanjirou who’s currently crying, Zenitsu and Inosuke give him a smile then processed to hug him and give him some headpat. Both of them let him to cry to his heart content, no matter how long it was. Each of them saying a lots of comforting words to him while continue with the headpat, before he finally fell asleep peacefully on Zenitsu embrace.

“How unusual of you for not getting jealous at this” Zenitsu spoke, a few minutes after silently watching Tanjirou sleeping, while pointing at Tanjirou who’s currently in his arm.

Inosuke silent for a while before finally answer, “It’s just, some things finally come to me.”

Zenitsu frowning his eyebrows, confused on what Inosuke mean by that.

“You heard it yourself, the hashiras, the demon slayer corps’s founder and his friends name I mean” as if knowing Zenitsu confusion, Inosuke explain it. “It’s the same as the peoples in the school don’t you think? like the teacher name, our others friend’s name and even the school headmaster”.

Zenitsu finally understand what Inosuke mean now. Yeah, he’s correct, it’s amazing how all of them share the same name and how their personality is mostly the same as the one on their world. It’s as if they’re the same person, just different world.

“Also the way the teacher and the headmaster always treat him nicely, especially how that P.E teacher annoyingly always giving him a headpat after P.E class. It’s as if they know or maybe just feel about what happened in the otherworlds. It’s the same as us I think, for some reason after that day where he suddenly become so weird, I sometimes to think that we can’t leave this guy alone and I’m pretty sure you’re the same as well” Inosuke explain further. “Well it’s not like I’m going to leave him alone in the first place since I need to take care of my underling” add him getting slightly embarrassed after trying so hard to convey his thought in the correct words.

Zenitsu become silent, he then remembered all the talk they had earlier and about how all teacher treat Tanjirou differentially than they treat other students. At first he thought that the teacher just being biased, since Tanjirou is a good student both in academically and personality. But now that he listen to the truth Tanjirou’s hiding. He agreed on what Inosuke trying to say. Then as if just remember something important, Zenitsu smile while stroking the redhead’s hair.

“Yeah, after all even the current them doesn’t have memory about it, their soul do know about it since it’s connected to all of them in every universe.”

Chapter Text

The world became silent the moment Tanjirou cutting his own head. The only think he can see now a pitch black space. He can’t hear, smell nor feel anything, not even his own body and blood. He closed his eyes, not even trying to do something because his thought is empty. Tanjirou don’t know what is this space and how long has he been there. Either way, he doesn’t bother to find the reason. But, there’s at least one thing he can feel, that is the feeling of falling somewhere deep or probably even darker space. He don’t know how can he get that feeling nor he care enough to know how. The only thing he do is staying still and let’s things happen.

Then suddenly he feels something else around him. A feeling of big hand touching his right shoulder, which made his eyes twitch. Soon after he feels another hand on his left shoulder, this time a much smaller one but it’s such a familiar touch. One by one, anothers hand come and touch every part of his body— as if they’re trying to support his body and prevent him from falling. The feeling of touch those hands give him, now made him can feel his own body again.

Why? why those hands trying so hard to bring me back to the “surface”?

Tanjirou wondering, his eyes and brow furrowed. He doesn’t understand, why does those hands supporting his body? why do they trying so hard to prevent him falling even deeper? And who they’re? No matter how hard he think, Tanjirou doesn’t know—he didn’t manage to get the answer he wished for.

While he’s busy with his own thought suddenly Tanjirou feels another hand coming, two of them in fact. But different those hand that been supporting him, these two hand is rough but the feeling of touch its gave is soft despite the roughness. The two hands touching his cheek, one on each side. They move, rubbing his cheeks slowly and as softly as it can. When it’s doing that, Tanjirou can feel his sense of smell is back. The moment it’s come back to him, Tanjirou can smell two familiars scents.

“Hey, Tanjirou! What happened to you?”

Someone calling him, while showing their concern. It’s a familiar voice,  a voice of someone important to him. Tanjirou’s eyes is twitching, he thought of opening his eyes to check if what he just heard is correct. But he resisting to do so, because he refused believe on what he just heard. He’s scared that it’ll just be his feeling or for it to turn in one fleeting dream.

“The heck is wrong with him?”

Another familiar voice can be heard. Another voice of his others important person. He furrowed his eyes, trying to resist the tears which about to falling down.

Ah... there’s no way...

Tanjirou can’t believe anything he just heard. He’s to scared to believe it and didn’t dare to try putting his believe on it. But, if it’s really possible for him to meet them again, would the gods allowed him to? Is it okay for him to meet them again despite all the horrible stuff he just did a while ago? If it’s actually possible and he’s allowed too, can he truly face them?

“Tanjirou’s face looks so pale, is he alright?”

Once again another familiar voice can be heard, this time it was a young girl voice. The voice of the girl that has been taking care of him, whenever he or his friends get hurt. Someone that he threat as his own sister.

“What should we do? Is he sick?”

“Calm down, Mui. If he’s sick, we can just bring him to the infirmary so Tamayo-sensei can take care of him”

“But brother, he’s not even waking up. What if it’s a serious ilness?”

“Just calm down will you?!”

More voice can be heard. The voice is sound so similar, but based on the tone—those are sound of two different person. Tanjirou recognize one of the sound owner, but he doesn’t recognize the others. But even though he doesn’t, he can feel that the sound’s owner is a nice person just like the others.

“Should I call my brother to ask him to help with bringing Tanjirou-san into the infirmary?”

Now a voice of a young man can be heard. It’s a familiar voice, but there’s something else caught his attention. How can all those voice can be in the same place? Do each of them actually know and meet each others without him knowing?

“Nah, no need to bother Kyojurou-sensei. He must been busy taking care both history class and geography class since Shinjurou-sensei is taking a sick leave”

Another boy’s voice can be heard. But the things he said made Tanjirou became even more confused.

Sensei? What do he mean by sensei?

“Yeah, Genya is right. Rengoku-sensei might be still willing to help despite his busy schedule, but it doesn’t feel right to ask him to do it”

Now it’s a young girl voice. It’s the calmest and the softest voice. Because how soft it was, some people might think her voice is too low. But despite how soft it was, her voice is clear and calming.

“Besides” the previous boy talking again but stopped it midway before continuing it, “I’m pretty sure Zenitsu and Inosuke would be gladly do the job.”

Ah...

Tanjirou’s jolt at the mention of those two names. He—who’s been listening from the beginning and refusing to open his eyes, finally decide to open it. Unexpectedly, just a simple act of opening his eyes is feel so hard and heavy. But the various feelings that accumulate within the shorts time, give him the push to force it to open. Little by little, light entering his eyes. The pain in his head—which he just notice it now, is getting worse by the sudden light. But he didn’t bother with the massive pain he feels. So instead he support his head with his hand, before looking at the scene infront of him.

It’s... truly is them...

He silently mumbles after he saw a various familiar faces come to his sight. The tears, that he’s been trying to resist previously finally come down, unable to be prevented anymore.

Aoi-san... Senjurou-kun... Genya... Kanao... Tokito-kun and the boy who look exactly like him...

Tanjirou looking at the face of each name he thought of in his mind. After looking at them, his attention finally fall into the others last figures.

There’s also Zenitsu... Inosuke... and—

Tanjirou eyes locked into the boy with a blonde hair and emerald-eyes, before it’s finally fell into the figure of a young girl in the middle front of them—who’s currently looking at him with a worried expression.

Nezuko

Without thinking any longer, Tanjirou stand from his previous place— intending to get closer to the girl and the two boys behind her. But when he tried to do that, his leg suddenly become numb and he almost fell if only the two boys didn’t catch him fast enough.

“Oi, be careful Manjirou” the emerald-eyes boy—Inosuke, spoke rashly. His tone sound so rough, but Tanjirou can feel his worry.

Inosuke lending his hand to support Tanjirou right shoulder. Meanwhile the blonde boy—Zenitsu, supporting the other side of his shoulder. With the support from both of them, Tanjirou can stand while looking at all the person around him.

“Are you okay?”

A girl with twintail hair coming closer with worried look. She then processed the check Tanjirou condition, just in case he’s getting hurt somewhere.

Ah... it’s the usual caring Aoi...

Tanjirou can feel the warm from the girl kind gesture and feel bad for worrying her. He then opening his mouth, trying to tell her to not worrying about him anymore since he’s fine. But unfortunately for him, his voice didn’t come out as he wished for. Because of that, confusion coming to him. He then tried to say something else, but his voice still won’t coming out.

“No way... did he suddenly become a mute just like his sister?”

The boy with a long black to pale turquoise-hair color spoke. At first Tanjirou thought it was Tokito Mucihiro. But his tone is so different from the usual Muichiro and they had different smell as well, so he think that it’s the boy that looks exactly like him. But putting that aside, something else caught his attenttion.

Mute?

“Hey, you’re being rude Yuichiro”

A boy with a big scar on his face— Genya responded to him with a little tap on his head while giving him a small lecture to the boy who’s much smaller than him before changing his attention back to Tanjirou.

“Sorry for that Tanjirou. I’ll give him more lecture later” he added.

“Give me a break...” the boy called Yuichiro grumble at Genya.

Tanjirou stare in shock. He then processed to see everyone once again alongside with everything around them carefully and finally noticed there’s something different. Like how they use some unusal clothes, that looks like a uniform—but he doesn’t know what uniform it was and how unusal and high the building was. It’s took some times for him to grasp what happened, so when he fully grasp it his face instantly turned sour.

Ah... they are... they’re not the friend that I know of...

Noticing the sudden change in mood, the girls around him—Nezuko, Aoi and the soft-spoken girl—Kanao immediately showing their concern to him. Looking at their concerned face, Tanjirou feel a sudden massive pain on his chest. He’s lowering his head, didn’t dare to look at them any longer.

“Tanjirou, is there something wrong?” the other boy with long black to pale turquoise-hair color—Muichiro finally spoke. He’s looking at Tanjirou with worried looks, slightly panicked. “Do you need to go to the infirmary?”

Right after Muichiro finished showing his concern, a massive pain hit Tanjirou brain. Along those pain he felt, a memories of a 'high-school boy' Kamado Tanjirou showing one by one. Those memories is overlapped with his previous available memories which made the previous pain he felt become much worse. Zenitsu and Inosuke who’s been supporting him the whole time, suddenly feel how Tanjirou body become heavier.

“Huh? what’s wrong Tanjirou? are you hurt somewhere? hey!”

The last thing Tanjirou hear is the voice of Zenitsu, who’s finally talking after being silent for so long. His voice is sound so panicked and Tanjirou can smell the scent of worry from it. But before he could think about anything else, Tanjirou lost his consciousness and passed out.

***

A few hours has passed—and Tanjirou suddenly waking up in an unfamiliar room. He then processed to look around the room and found himself lying down one one of the bed there. It’s the infirmary they’re talking about. Tanjirou thought to himself. After seeing those memories, he finally grasp what happened to him— at least most of it. He know what happened, but doesn’t know how it’s happened. He tried thinking, but his brain still hurting so much that he gave up on thinking.

“I don’t know how to react to this...” he mumbles with a low voice.

Tanjirou feels conflicted. He’s unsure at what should he do from then on. Previously, he wished he could die so he could atone for his sin as soon as possible— that’s the reason why he took Zenitsu's Katana and then end his own life. But the moment he dead, he suddenly waking up in this place. In a world that so much different from his world. It’s a peaceful world, where demon doesn’t exist—and a world, where his sin doesn’t exist.

Tanjirou sighed, trying to ignore the thought and go back to sleep since his hurting brain prevent him to do some thinking. But before he could do that, he heard a door opened and he saw a black-haired man with blue eyes coming and getting close to him.

No way...

Tanjirou became silent, stunned by the person standing in his sight. He saw him in the memories earlier, but he didn’t expect to actually meet him face to face so soon like this.

“Giyuu-san?” Tanjirou open his mouth calling the man’s name and reflexively change to sitting position on the bed.

Giyuu is silent, didn’t giving any response to his call. After a while, he raise his hand to give a little tap to Tanjirou’s head while saying, “-sensei. It’s school area, so make sure to call your teacher correctly.”

Tanjirou jolts by the act. Within the deep of his heart, Tanjirou know that the Giyuu in from of him is one of the school’s teacher and not the water hashira’s Giyuu that he know of. But despite all that, he can’t resist the urge to apologize to him. So without him noticing, his body instinctively went to hug the man— crying and asking for a forgiveness multiple times.

Giyuu who’s not prepared, stare in shock. Took him a few second until he finally grasp what happened. His eyes frowned for a moment, thinking to get mad at him. But looking at the redhead who's much smaller than him, for unknown reason he resisted to do so. He should be mad, he thought. But for some reason he can't bring himself to be mad at the boy. Usually when a student suddenly behave like what Tanjirou did, he would get mad at them and give them some punishment. Strangely, this tim he's not. As if something is preventing him from doing so. He doesn't understand what happened with him nor he know what to do, so instead he just return the hug while stroking Tanjirou’s hair softly.

They’re staying in that position for a while, until the door of infirmary opened. Giyuu jolt at the sudden sound, so he instinctively looking at the door and found a man with a hair that looks like a flame staring at him in shock— which also get a shocked look from him.

“Kyojurou—“

“How can you hug my student?”

Giyuu trying to explain the stuff currently happened, but before he could do that the flame-haired man who’s called Kyojurou as spoke with a questioning looks. Meanwhile Giyuu looking at him with 'that’s what you’re asking for?' looks.

“Rengoku-san...?”

Tanjirou who’s previously busy apologizing to Giyuu, now change his attention when he heard a familiar voice. He then looks at Kyojurou with a teary eyes and it’s made him shocked even more than he is earlier. He then open his mouth again and say, “Did you just make him—“

“No.”

Which ended get an instant no with a deadpan face as a response even before he could finish his sentences.

***

Few minutes has passed since Giyuu explaining what happened at Kyojurou. Though, there’s nothing much he could tell since he doesn’t understand what happened himself. At the very least, now Kyojurou got the gist of what happened and the misunderstanding has been resolved. But even though one problem is being resolved, another problem still present. That’s the fact how Tanjirou hugged both of them now and keep apologizing with a low voice without explaining what is wrong.

Kyojurou looking at Giyuu and saying, “How can it ended up like this?” via telepathy.

“I don’t know” Giyuu answered, unexpectedly get the message.

They become silent after that, the only voice available is the voice of Tanjirou. Giyuu sighed, thinking of a way for him to spit out the reason he being like this. Meanwhile Kyojurou busy stroking the redhead’s back to calm himself down.

While they’re busy doing what they can do, another sound of door getting opened reach their ear. Giyuu’s brow furrowed immediately by the sound. Not again, he thought.

“Yo, Kyojurou you there? it’s me, Tengen-sama. Have you found Giyuu and the kid yet—“

A man with silver hair and muscular body calling himself with the name of Tengen, showed up while talking. But when he saw the scene before his eyes, he left his sentence hanging and look at them with a confused looks.

“What the heck are you guys doing?” he asked after being silent for a while.

Giyuu sighed while covered his face with his left hand. He then look at Kyojurou with a tired looks, in hope for him to explain it for his shake. Kyojurou who’s get the code, immediately nod and start explaining things without stopping what he do earlier.

“Hee... so that’s what happened” after Kyojurou finished, Tengen finally spoke. He then taking a look at the boy then continuing, “is he having a PTSD or something?”

What Tengen just said sound like a possibility. Giyuu then silently agreeing and thought that might be correct. But what’s might triggering it? he don’t know, since the boy won’t tell neither him nor Kyojurou about it. One thing that caught his attention is that, how he suddenly feels that he failed him on something but he can’t put it in his head what it was about— either way, he noticed that weird feeling is the reason why he didn’t get mad at him earlier and ended up trying to comfort him instead.

“Hm... is there perhaps any relation to why Oyakata-sama telling the teachers to find this boy?”

The moment Tengen mentioned the nickname the teachers give to the headmaster, made Giyuu immediately remember his original purpose on coming here. He’s trying to bring the boy to the teacher’s meeting room, because Tamayo told them that the boy is in the infirmary. Seems like because he took so long, they send Kyojurou and eventually sending Tengen as well.

“Well whatever the reason is, I don’t think it’ll be possible for this boy to go to the meeting room for now” Kyojurou spoke. He then pointing his hand at the redhead before continuing, “and it’s better to bring him home instead, since he looks tired and sick.”

Both Giyuu and Tengen instinctively looking at the boy when Kyojurou pointing at him. A little snore can be heard and they finally understand what does he mean. While they’re busy talking, they didn’t have time to notice that he has fallen a sleep.


“Tengen could you go back and tell Oyakata-sama and the others teacher about it?” Kyojurou asked which got an instant okay from the man. Then he changed his attention to Giyuu, “I still need to attend the geography’s class since my father— I mean Mr. Shinjurou, is currently absent and I have the responsibility as backup. So could you take care of my student and bring him home? please inform his sister about it as well, just in case she’ll getting worried. His sister is in class 2-A and his belonging is in 2-B, his friend will tell you where his belonging is, so you’ll find it soon.”

Giyuu nods at him without protest. After that Tengen and Kyojurou bid their farewell to do their respective role. When Giyuu can’t feel any of their presence anymore, he then processed to lay Tanjirou down on the bed and went out to do stuff Kyojurou request him to, before finally bring the redhead home for him to get a full rest.

***

The next day, Giyuu roaming around the school corridor. His thought coming to the time when the school’s headmaster— Kagaya, told him and the rest of the teacher to treat Tanjirou nicely right after he took the boy’s home. At first, some teacher protested. They thought that it’s not good treat student differentially.

“Of course if he do something wrong, you still need to tell him and guide him to the right path. You can give him any punishment that he deserved. But that’s if he do something wrong”

Kagaya opened his mouth, stopped the teachers from whispering to each others. The meeting room become silent after that. When he feel that the teacher ready enough to listen to him, he then continued.

“What I mean by treating him nicely is, I want all of you to talk to him with care, guide him when he’s in need of help and treat him as if he’s your own friend and family”

The teachers then whispered to each others again in confusion. Isn’t it basically how they always treat every student? there’s nothing different isn’t there? they thought. Some teachers who can’t get what does he meant by that, trying to ask him for further explanation. But before they could ask the question, they saw Kagaya smiling mysteriously which made them resist the urges to do so.

“You’ll know it yourself the moment you meet the boy”

That’s the last thing Kagaya said to the teachers, before ending the meeting.

Giyuu sigh when he remember that. He then looking around the area, noticing that he’s walking into the garden area unconsciously. His eyes then stop, when he spot a burgundy-haired boy who’s currently being surrounded by his fellow student. The redhead is smiling and laughing while talking with them, which then followed by the others laugh.

Seems like he’s getting better by now

Giyuu crossing his hand, his body leaning into the nearby wall. His eyes still locked to the boy, enjoying the peaceful scene in front of his sight. While doing so, he then notice how sometimes the boy looks sad while talking to his friends— and how he’s sometimes looks like he’s looking to faraway place.

Why are you always looking so sad?

Giyuu frowned, when he looking at the scene. He then remember the exact same thing happened yesterday, which made him confused. But after a while, he dismissed the memory and look at the boy again. When he looks at the boy again, he suddenly feels that there’s something he’s forgetting. But, what is it?

“Tomioka-san~ what are you doing here?”

While Giyuu busy trying to remember what he's forgetting, suddenly a voice of a woman distracting him. He then changing his direction to the source of the voice and spot a petite woman waving her hand to him. Behind her, there’s another woman with pink to green hair and a man with heterochromia eyes and snake on his shoulder.

“Oh, Kocho, Kanroji and Iguro”

That’s the only thing coming out from his mouth the moment they’re right in front of him. The petite woman—Kocho Shinobu, sighed as if she’s used by how less the man infront of her talk. Meanwhile behind her, the pink to green-haired woman— Kanroji Mitsuri, giggle at how Shinobu reacted.

“Tomioka-san, as one of the Guidance Counselor, shouldn’t you learn to talk more? There won’t be any student who would put their trust in you to help their problem at this rate”

Shinobu spoke in a sarcasm tone. Giyuu frowned upon hearing it, but didn’t say anything since what she said is correct. His attention then changed into the man with a snake on his shoulder— Iguro Obanai, since the man open his mouth as well and said something in the same tone.

“What do you expect from Mr.I’m-different-from-any-of-you?”

Giyuu keep his silent, not even trying to defend himself. Meanwhile Mitsuri, who’s been listening is getting panicked and tried to stop her fellow colleague.

“Well— isn’t that the boy Oyakata-sama tell us about yesterday?” Mitsuri spoke, changing the subject when he spot Tanjirou. With only that, she succesfully taking all of their attention to the boy. Mitsuri the give a sigh of relief without anyone noticing, before showing a big smile on her face and saying, “Isn’t he such a cutie?”

Obanai glare for a moment when he heard what Mitsuri just said. But his expression immediately changed when he saw the boy more clearly.

“Well, yeah... I guess” he spoke hesitantly.

“Riiight? looking at him made me remember my younger siblings! ahh, I missed them now” Mitsuri excitedly looking at Obanai, before showing a sad expression the moment she mentioned her siblings.

Obanai just nods, understand how much she missed her family since she’s living seperately from them when she become a teacher. Meanwhile Shinobu, who’s been silent the moment her attention coming to the boy is currently showing a complicated looks.

“I see, so that’s why Oyakata-sama told us that” Shinobu finally spoke.

“Huh?”

The moment she spoke, it’s instantly caught the attention of her three colleague. They’re responding synchronically and all three of them showing the exact same confused looks. Looking at them, Shinobu giggle and give a small smile. She doesn’t bother to tell them and just let them suffering in their confusion.

“Alright everyone, lunch time is almost over. We must go back and prepare the materials for class~”

That’s what she said instead, before she move and leaving them in their shocked state. She’s walking so casually while humming in a happy tone, ignoring the protest of those she left behind.

***

Almost two weeks has passed, Tanjirou is still having a hard time getting himself used to his new life. Especially, since he’s keeping getting dream about his previous life and how the guilt keep haunting him. Though, even if it’s hard he still trying his best by enjoying it little by little. Besides, there’s a lots of things that made him happy. Like how all his friends and comrades is still alive, how the teacher been treating him nicely and more importantly by how his family still alive. With all of their presence, Tanjirou is slowly getting better.

“Hey, Tanjirou!”

Tanjirou nose twitch the moment he heard familiar voice along with the familiar scent. He then look around with a big smile and spot a black haired male student waving his hand to him while walking down the stairs.

“Murata-san!”

Tanjirou respond while eagerly waving his hand as well. Murata casually laughing at the redhead excitement. He then fasten his walk until he finally reached the lowest floor.

“Yo! are you alone now? where’s those two simps of yours?” Murata asked.

“Simps?”

Tanjirou tilting his head in confusion, hearing the word that he never heard before. Noticing the confusion, Murata just laughing it off without giving any explanation.

“Well, I don’t know what you mean by simps, but if you’re talking about Zenitsu and Inosuke— they’re currently being called by Giyuu-sensei, since it seems like they’re causing ruckus somewhere” Tanjirou answered hesitantly, which received a nod of understanding by Murata. “How about you Murata-san? I heard from Makomo-san that Kyojurou-sensei is giving your class an on-field’s study for geography class?”

The moment Tanjirou asked that question, Murata expression turned sour. His face looks like he was being haunted by a ghost.

“Hah... don’t mention it please. Kyojurou-sensei is as bad as Shinjurou-sensei, well I guess it's because they’re is a father and a son” Murata grumbles. After a while he continuing, “in the first place how can a history teacher suddenly become a geography teacher? Like, why can’t they find another teacher instead?! they seriously need to find another back up teacher, since I don't want another teacher who teaching with a spartan method!”

Murata complained in a dramatic way. He’s babbling non stop that it’s made Tanjirou laughing awkwardly. Then suddenly, Tanjirou expression changed from awkward laugh into a panicked one. He’s moving randomly, trying to find the right gesture to warn the other person to stop his complaint.

“Oh? seems like you don’t like the way they teach, huh? should I ask them to change their teaching method then?”

A heavy voice come from behind the black-haired boy. Murata who doesn’t notice who it was, responding to it immediately with a yes. He then look around and spot a silver-haired man with scars on his face which made his expression into one full of horror.

“Sanemi...-sensei”

Murata spoke in a low voice after a while of silent. A comically shocked expression can be seen on his face when the man show such a big but scary grin. The man— Shinazugawa Sanemi, place his hand on both Murata’s shoulders.

“Alright, I’ll definitely tell them”

Murata immediately scream internally, regretting his own words. He then forcefully release himself from Sanemi, jump and get away. After he get far enough, he then open his mouth and said, “No thanks! I take back what I said, you don’t need to tell them Sanemi-sensei! thanks for the offer though! I’ll take my leave now! good bye!” before finally running away as fast as he can.

Tanjirou looking at the scene before him in agape. Meanwhile after Murata go from his sight, Sanemi change his attention to Tanjirou which made the boy flinch.

“You”

Sanemi open his mouth scarily, while pointing his hand to Tanjirou. The boy then reflexively respond, “Yes?!” in a panic tone.

“Amane-sama and Kiriya-sama asked you to have a tea time with them”

Sanemi voice’s immediately soften when he noticed how panic the boy is. He also changed his expression to more netral expression, in hope it won’t scare the boy any longer. Tanjirou obviously noticing the change, and is touched by how nice Sanemi is (even though he’s still scared about what happened just now).

Tanjirou took his time to think for a while, before agreeing to the request. Both of them then walk to the room where the vice-headmaster usually having a tea time with her son. While walking, no one utter a single words which make it so awkwards and since Tanjirou can’t stand the atmosphere, he ended up decided to break the silence.

“Is Himejima-sensei going to join us as well?”

There’s no response, but Tanjirou still waiting patiently for an answer. After a few minutes has passed, Sanemi sigh. He then open his mouth and said, “Just call him Gyomei”

Tanjirou didn’t expect that kind of response. He’s thinking for a response for a while and nods a little when he found the right one. But before he could say anything to it, Sanemi stopped him by looking at him.

“The same with other teacher— or at least Shinobu, Kanae, Obanai, Mitsuri, and me” he said. He then change the direction the front again and continuing, “If you can do it with Giyuu, Kyojurou and Tengen, you obviously can do it with us as well”

Hearing the mention of the three, Tanjirou jolts. He then sigh and didn’t say anything else, since in the end he’ll need to call them that just like any other students.

At first Tanjirou confused on why the students here called most teachers with given name, turned out it was started to avoid confusion since there’s two teacher with the surname of Rengoku and two teacher with the surname Kocho, which ended up spread to other teachers because the headmaster told the students to do so as long as the they don’t be too casual and still use “-sensei” when calling them. When asked why so, he said that he’s hoping that it will close the gap a little bit between the students and teachers. Some feels awkward when being told so, but they still listened to it. Though, most students still call some teachers with surnames especially a more senior teacher like Urokodaki Sakonji, Saburo, Himejima Gyomei, Haganezuka Hotaru, Kanamori Kozo and Goto.

“Amane-sama, we have arrived”

Sanemi voice distract Tanjirou’s thought. He then raised his head and looking around just noticing that they’re already reached the place. A while after that, a voice of a woman can be heard. The woman told them to get in, so Sanemi open the door and gesturing Tanjirou to get in first. Tanjirou understand the gesture and soon get into the room. There he saw two womans— one is long black-haired while the other is white-haired, next to them is a young boy and a one big muscular man.

“Hello Kamado-kun” a woman with long black-hair greeted Tanjirou with a smile.

Tanjirou smile and replied, “Hello Ko— I mean, Kanae-sensei!”

“My” Kanae smile getting bigger when she heard how Tanjirou trying hard to call her with her given name instead. She appreciated his effort and give him a thumb up.

Tanjirou grin when he saw her hand gesture, glad to that it’s satisfy her. The other woman, who’s been observing chuckles and told Tanjirou and Sanemi to sit down. So they did, Tanjirou sitting between the muscular man and the young boy, meanwhile Sanemi sitting besides Kanae.

“Hello Tanjirou-san! I’m happy you can join us again!” the boy spoke, excitedly.

Tanjirou smile then give his response, “Hello Kiriya-kun! thanks for inviting me once again” and give the boy a headpat. After that he changed his direction to the muscular man, “and— hello to you as well Gyomei-sensei!”

Gyomei the muscular man, give him a small smile. He then stroking both Tanjirou head and Kiriya’s hair, which get a purr like a cat as a response. The white-haired woman smile never falter on every scene she saw the moment the redhead boy coming. She then open his mouth and said, “The tea is ready, how about the snacks Sanemi?”

Sanemi nods, then show a big plastic bag contain two black box— which Tanjirou never realize he brought. When Sanemi bring out the box, Tanjirou’s nose twitch and he can smell a scent of ohagi from it.

“Oh! it’s the ohagi from the shop infront of the school isn’t it?”

Tanjirou spoke, realizing what it was. Sanemi once again only nods without saying anything. But this time, he open the box and take one before giving it to Tanjirou— which being received with a warm welcome from the redhead.

“Here’s, take this before you eat them” the white haired woman spoke, while giving a glass of tea.

“Thank you, Amane-sama!” Tanjirou replied while receiving the glass.

“Just –sensei is fine” correct the woman— Amane with a warm smile. “I'm indeed the vice-headmaster, but I’m still a teacher even though I only teach classes once a while” she continued.

Tanjirou then nods, understand by what she mean. He then respond with, “Alright then, sensei” while eating the ohagi.

Amane and Kanae chuckles at the boy who they thought looks exactly like a baby squirrel. After that the rest of them joining him, eating the ohagi and drinking the tea while talking about various stuff.

“Tanjirou-kun what is your next class?” Kanae asked suddenly, remembering that the lunch time will be over in twenty minutes.

“It’s Shinobu-sensei’s class” Tanjirou answered immediately.

“I see, has she been giving you trouble with her class?”

“Nope! Shinobu-sensei is so nice to me! she’s also good that explaining, so I have no problem with it!”

Kanae nods, glad that her sister not giving the boy a hard time. Tanjirou smile, thankful that she care about her. At first, Tanjirou doesn’t know how to react around her, since he feel so awkward to her. It’s also the same case he do with Yuichiro—Muichiro’s twin brother. Because unlike the others, he never meet neither Kanae or Yuichiro, since both has passed away before he become the demon slayer in his past. One thing that Tanjirou noticed is, both Kanae and Yuichiro is different from their respective sibling. But he at least know that both of them is a nice person, a very nice one on Kanae’s case.

After the talk, Tanjirou and the rest of them keep continuing the talk. Sometimes, Tanjirou suddenly remember there’s some stuff he’s like to ask about study’s material so without hesitation he ask it to either Sanemi or Gyomei (even though Gyomei didn’t teach the second year). The two, obviously willingly answering the boy on whatever question he has.

While they’re busy talking, the door to the room suddenly opened. There they saw a man, who looks exactly like Kiriya coming with a smile on his face.

“Oh my, did I disturb your talk?” the man say with a soft tone.

“Not at all, Kagaya-sama” Amane, immediately giving her response with a smile.

Tanjirou tensed the moment he fell the man presence. It’s always happened when he’s in front of the man—Kagaya Ubuyashiki, the school’s director and headmaster. When they first meet, Tanjirou’s is relaxed since he’s already meet ‘the him’ in the previous world. But after they talk, Tanjirou get the feeling that he could see through his soul so he doesn’t dare to get careless around him. Since he worried, that Kagaya will know the facts.

Kagaya who noticed the boy situation, walk towards him. When he’s right in front of him, he raised his hand and give the redhead’s hair a soft stroke. With that single gesture, Tanjirou become relaxed once again.

“Thank you for accompanying my wife and son, Tanjirou. Hope you’re enjoying it as well” Kagaya spoke softly and then stroking Kiriya’s hair as well.

Tanjirou doesn’t say anything, instead he just shook his head slowly and closing his eyes to enjoy the soft hand which is currently stroking his hair. Looking at how he enjoy it, Kagaya give an eyesmile and keep stroking his hair for a while until he eventually stopped.

“The lunch time almost over, shouldn’t you prepare materials for your next class?” Kagaya asked while looking at Gyomei, Sanemi and Kanae one by one.

The three of them nods, after that they stand from their place and ask to take their leave to Amane and Kiriya. After the two let them, each of them say good bye to Tanjirou before they leave the room. Tanjirou looking at them with a lonely eyes until he can’t feel any of their presence anymore before changing his attention back to Kagaya so he can ask permission to go as well.

“Before you go back to your class,” Kagaya spoke, stopped Tanjirou. “There’s something I want to ask” he continued.

Tanjirou tilting his head, curious about what he’s trying to ask. Meanwhile Kagaya still having a soft smile on his face.

“Has the teachers and your friends been treating your nice?”

Tanjirou surprised by the question. What’s made him surprised is not about the question itself, but about how obvious the answer is. Tanjirou forgetting his surprise, immediately answer with a yes. Because within the past two weeks the teachers and his friends always been treating him nicely. Too nice, in fact. Even with his sudden change of demeanor—which probably they noticed already, they’re still treating him with so much care like usual. Thinking about how nice they’re actually bring him a pain in his heart, since— he’s not the Tanjirou they know.

Kagaya show no change in his expression, tone and aura. His eyes is calm but sharp, it's feel like as if he’s trying to look deeper into the boy.

“Have they ever show you any hate or contempt?” he asked once again.

Hate? contempt? as if they’ll do that. There’s no way someone like them will show him such negative emotion. So the answer is obviously a no. All of them is such a nice soul, so they won’t ever show him such emotion. At least not until they know about the facts he’s been hiding from them, he thought.

“No, they never”

Tanjirou answered with a low voice. He doesn’t notice at how hesitating he sound with the reply he gave. Meanwhile Kagaya, after hearing the response, immediately give the boy a headpat. He then bring the boy to look at him in the eyes.

“Let me tell you something interesting Tanjirou” Kagaya spoke and stopped midway. When the boy fully give his attention to him, he give him a mysterious smile. “The universe is vast, there’s so much world exist on the universe. Human inhabit most of those worlds. Sometimes human on one world share the same trait as human on the otherworlds. Though they share the same trait, human in one world can’t see what the other human doing in another world. But one thing for sure is, each soul connect to each other. So even if they don’t have memory of the faraway place, their soul can still feel it.”

Tanjirou shocked by what he heard. He tried to say something, but his voice won’t come out. Kagaya who noticed that pat the boy, in hope for him to calm down. He’s also hoping for the boy to give him his trust and hope for the boy to not be scary even if there’s someone knowing what he doesn’t want people to know.

“Alright, it’s not good for you to stay here any longer. You can take your leave now, good luck with your class boy”

Kagaya give him a soft smile before he’s going and walk towards Amane and Kiriya. With the chance being given to him, Tanjirou finally decided to excuse himself and go out from the room as fast as he can while thinking about what Kagaya just told him.

He know... Oyakata-sama actually know everything...