Chapter Text
1. Invite him to dinner (by Himejima Gyoumei)
Genya was not good dealing with his own feelings.
Which was a obvious thing, to anyone who knew him. In fact, many of his problems would have been solved by now, if he wasn't someone who was emotionally constipated.
But of all the range of feelings a human could experience, love was the most unknown to Shinazugawa Genya. Yes, he knew love, but brotherly love or the love that a mother has for her child is very different from what one feels when first experiencing love of the romantic kind.
Because yes, Genya was indeed in love.
To understand what was happening with him had taken him many sleepless nights, many days without understanding what was this feeling bubbling in his chest and many internal fights that never found a solution. Genya could not believe that something like this was happening to him.
And the culprit was none other than the boy with the most beautiful crimson eyes he had ever met.
Kamado Tanjiro
And now Genya was sitting in the middle of the forest, meditating next to Himejima-san, with his thoughts far away from where they should be. In fact, Tanjiro was also training at the rock pillar estate, which was only upsetting his already fragile heart.
"I feel that you are distracted today, young Genya" said Himejima, snapping Genya out of his reverie. The young man could not help the nervousness that had begun to bubble in his stomach "Is something troubling your mind?"
"Not really," replied Genya, trying to calm his thoughts. Himejima was a specialist in reading his moods, and he knew that despite his negative response, the pillar could sense that something was wrong.
"I think we've talked about this before" Himejima spoke in the tone of voice he used when he used to scold Genya, soft but firm at the same time "You know you can talk to me if something is going on with you"
Would it be too bad to talk about it to Himejima? Genya knew that the rock pillar was someone he could trust, but that didn't take away from the embarrassment of the whole situation.
In any case, he could use some advice.
"Mmm" Genya began, hesitating for a moment before uttering the next words "Have you ever been in love?"
Judging by Himejima's expression, that question was the last thing he expected to come out of Genya's mouth.
"I've had a couple of love affairs in the past" said Himejima, quickly returning to his serene self. Genya watched him in surprise for a second, though then it dawned on him that it would be naive to think that someone like the pillar of rock hadn't had someone falling for him before "There is someone who is occupying your heart, young Genya?"
Genya couldn't help but shrug his shoulders in embarrassment.
"There is someone" Genya said, his voice unusually low "But I don't know what to do about it"
"Well, maybe inviting that person to do some activity together would be a good idea" Himejima said, after a few seconds of thinking "Sharing a meal and a conversation is a good opportunity to get to know each other better. After that, you'll know which way to go"
"I think I might give it a try" knowing Tanjiro, he would most likely say yes to a dinner invitation. They had meals together before, but it was always the red-haired boy who initiated the encounters and Genya just followed along. Now, he would have to work up the courage to ask him first. The key was to make it clear that this meal would be different from a meal between two friends.
He hoped that Tanjiro could read what he really meant by the invitation.
"Good luck, young Genya."
-
Genya had been outside Tanjiro's room for two minutes, gathering enough mental strength to open the door and utter the words on the tip of his tongue. Somehow, his fight with the upper moon five had seemed like a piece of cake compared to what he was going to do next.
With one last deep breath, Genya slowly opened the door of the room.
Inside, Tanjiro watched in surprise from the tatami where he was sitting, braiding Nezuko's long hair. Genya couldn't help but feel like running away. Being under the gaze of those intense crimson eyes was making him extremely nervous.
"Genya! I smelled your scent, but I thought it was just my imagination" said Tanjiro, with his characteristic enthusiasm. His hair was tied in a small ponytail, giving him an adorable look. Genya was beginning to feel the regret growing in his chest "Do you need anything?"
Okay Genya, you can do it
"Do you want to have dinner together?" said Genya, stumbling a bit over his words as he uttered them with such speed. He could feel his cheeks burning, but his pride wouldn't let him take his eyes off the boy in front of him. Running out the door would be more humiliating than getting a negative response.
Tanjiro blinked a couple of times, confused. Apparently, Genya's words had taken him so by surprise that his ability to talk had slipped away for a few seconds. After the initial shock, his mouth broke into the brightest smile Genya had ever seen before.
"Of course! I'd love to! I'll finish getting Nezuko ready and join you in the dining room," said Tanjiro, pointing to his little sister's unfinished braids.
"Oh" Genya let out a sigh of relief, relaxing the muscles he hadn't noticed he had tensed "Of course, I'll wait for you downstairs, I'll go prepare the food" said Genya, his heart pounding like crazy in his chest. Did Tanjiro understand that the invitation was actually a date? Genya hoped with all his heart that he did.
"See you in a moment!" the red-haired boy was grinning from ear to ear, his crimson eyes shining like the sun itself "Food tastes better when shared with friends!"
The last word was left ringing in his ears, as if it were an endless echo.
Friends
Perhaps, expressing his feelings would not be as easy as he thought.