Chapter Text
The Scent of Sunflowers and Bittersweet Chocolate
Chapter 1
Yuichiro’s headache started the very moment he was pushed into the kitchen by his younger twin as soon as he stepped into the house. He had just come back from a long day at university, taking detailed notes in lectures because his brother, who was technically enrolled in the same classes, had been skipping again due to his intense kendo training ahead of the national championship qualifiers.
Or at least, that was what Yuichiro had believed. Now, however, he was standing in the middle of the kitchen, staring at a frankly ridiculous setup: stacks of chocolate in every possible color neatly arranged on the table, surrounded by various ingredients used for toppings as split hazelnuts, almonds, crushed cookies and some expensive-looking matcha powder. On the other side of the kitchen, Muichiro heaved another package, what looked suspiciously like a one-kilogram bag, onto a chair. Yuichiro’s eyes narrowed as he focused on the packaging, trying to decipher the label. Surely, it couldn’t be what he thought it was.
A one-kilogram bag of pink, heart-shaped sugar sprinkles? No, that had to be a misunderstanding.
Maybe he was just tired. Maybe his eyesight was failing him after staring at notes all day. But no matter how hard he squinted, the result stubbornly stayed the same. Slowly, he looked up at Muichiro, who stood proudly behind the mountain of ingredients, beaming with a wide, unapologetic smile. Yuichiro could feel his patience thinning by the second.
“Muichiro…” His voice dropped dangerously low, a clear warning, though his twin didn’t seem bothered in the slightest.
“Nii-san~,” Muichiro replied playfully.
Yuichiro exhaled slowly, unconsciously steadying his breathing as he braced himself for what was inevitably coming. He already knew. “No,” he forced out through clenched teeth. He would refuse. He would stay firm. He was not going to help his idiot brother with this.
Muichiro pouted instantly. “But Nii-san, I didn’t even say anything yet…”
“NO,” Yuichiro snapped again, spinning around and leaving the kitchen with quick, determined steps. He wasn’t falling into Muichiro’s trap this time. This was not his problem. He was done. To his relief, Muichiro didn’t follow him with his usual whining and relentless begging. With a heavy sigh, Yuichiro dropped his bag by the door and collapsed onto the couch. His gaze drifted to the wall calendar and any lingering doubt vanished immediately.
A few days until Valentine’s Day. The first Valentine’s Day, just a little over two months since his twin had started dating some random bakery boy, Muichiro claimed he was destined to be with from a distant past life. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Muichiro had made absolutely sure Yuichiro would remember the date, and more importantly, that he was having a very special Valentine’s date with said bakery boy.
Tanjiro ♡.
Muichiro had written the name all over the pinboard in the entrance, which the twins and their father used to keep track of each other’s schedules and plans. Every single time Yuichiro looked at that board, another headache bloomed behind his eyes.
Unlike usual, he took out his shogi board and set it down on the table in the living room, crossing his legs as he placed his notes neatly beside him. He began studying one of his recent matches, replaying each move from a game he had been honored to play against a shogi professional ranked far above him. Normally, he would have locked himself away in his room, doors closed to ensure full concentration, but this time, he stayed right there in the open living room.
And just as he had expected, it didn’t take long. At first, there were odd noises drifting in from the kitchen: clattering, scraping and some frantic rummaging. Yuichiro tried to ignore it, forcing his eyes back onto the board, but the sounds only grew more chaotic. Then, suddenly, there was a loud bang, similar to a small explosion.
That was it. His concentration was gone. Yuichiro was on his feet in an instant, rushing toward the kitchen. He couldn’t ignore an explosion. How was he supposed to explain to their father, once he returned from yet another business trip, that his idiot brother had somehow managed to blow the whole place up?
“MUICHIRO!!” Yuichiro shouted as he slammed the kitchen door open. What greeted him was nothing short of a disaster. Muichiro stood frozen in front of the stove, a pot clutched in his hands, completely drenched in brown chocolate. And not just him, the counter, the stove, the walls, even the floor bore the same sticky splatters, as though chocolate had detonated midair. As if on cue, a thick drop of melted chocolate fell from above, splashing down between them. Both identical-looking boys slowly tilted their heads upward with their eyes landing on a dark brown blotch stuck to the ceiling, steadily dripping large, heavy drops.
“Muichiro,” Yuichiro said, rubbing his temples as the headache returned in full force, “it is physically not possible to make chocolate explode. What did you do?”
Muichiro kept staring at the ceiling. “But Nii-san, it’s not my fault,” he replied innocently. “You didn’t want to help me. And how am I supposed to know how to make chocolate? I just tried to follow this online short-video.”
Without another word, Yuichiro grabbed Muichiro by the shoulder and firmly shoved him aside, stepping straight into the battlefield. But not before snatching a towel from the counter and throwing it directly at his brother's face. “At least get the chocolate out of your hair, idiot,” he barked. “And off your face while you're at it.” Muichiro caught the towel with a confused blink as chocolate continued to drip from a strand of his hair. Yuichiro on the other hand immediately started cleaning, accepting his defeat once again. On the table, he spotted several misshapen, vaguely heart-like pieces of chocolate left out to dry, decorated with nuts and an excessive amount of heart-shaped sprinkles. Yuichiro let out another heavy sigh and carefully moved them aside. They were ugly, but he knew that his brother had really tried this time. That, at least, counted for something.
Once the kitchen was finally cleaned, the rest of the afternoon passed with Muichiro standing quietly beside him, watching intently as Yuichiro took over. He heated the water to the proper temperature, placed the chocolate into a stainless-steel bowl and melted it carefully. Effortlessly, he poured the smooth mixture into molds, creating perfectly shaped chocolates, decorating them with delicate white chocolate lines and carefully chosen toppings. The only thing he pointedly ignored was the massive pile of pink heart-shaped flakes sitting on the counter. No matter how many times Muichiro tried to push them closer to him, Yuichiro acted as if they simply did not exist. When they had fully dried, Yuichiro packed them into a small, transparent plastic gift bag, sealing it neatly before handing it to Muichiro.
“Here. It’s done,” he said flatly. “You can give it to the bakery boy, if you really have to.” He rolled his eyes as he spoke, though he didn’t pull his hand away until Muichiro had taken the bag.
Muichiro held the small transparent bag up against the kitchen light, turning it slightly from side to side as if he were examining a precious gem rather than handmade chocolate. His eyes sparkled. “Nii-san, you’re the best! They’re beautiful. Tanjiro will definitely love them,” he said brightly, smiling at his brother with open gratitude. “Thank you.”
Yuichiro only sighed in response, pulling the apron over his head and untangling the strings from around his neck before turning back to the counter. Even after everything, there were still streaks of chocolate to wipe away. As he resumed cleaning, he spoke in a more subdued tone.
“Muichiro, if you actually paid attention to what I tell you, you could make them like this yourself. It’s not that difficult. But…”
He paused briefly, as though weighing his next words, then turned around and gathered the uneven, chocolate pieces from earlier, the ones generously overloaded with nuts and pink heart sprinkles. He packed them carefully into another plastic bag and sealed it before holding these out as well.
“…Here. From how stupid the two of you are, the bakery boy might actually eat this one.” Yuichiro shoved the bag into his brother’s hands before looking away with a scoff. “It’s ugly, overloaded with toppings, and makes no sense whatsoever. Sounds like something you two would like.”
Blinking shortly, Muichiro’s entire face lit up, eyes narrowing into warm crescents as a smile spread from the very bottom of his heart. “Nii-san! You’re accepting Tanjiro now, aren’t you? You can see how good Tanjiro actually is, right?” he teased gently. “Don’t be shy about it. His name is Taaaanjiro.”
“I’M NOT,” Yuichiro shot back immediately, while heat crept up the tips of his ears. Unfortunately for him, Muichiro could read his twin far better than Yuichiro would ever like to admit. Triumphantly, Muichiro skipped happily out of the kitchen, leaving the final bits of cleanup behind for his brother to handle. Once the door closed, Yuichiro let out a long, tired sigh.
That bakery boy better eat every single piece of Muichiro’s chocolate. And he better appreciate it properly.
Just in time, Tanjiro finished the last batch of cookies and carefully placed the final piece into a large box already filled with an assortment of Valentine’s pralines. He adjusted everything once again, making sure each item sat perfectly before closing the lid.
After Christmas, Tanjiro couldn’t help feeling a sense of guilt about leaving the bakery to his sister again on one of the busiest days of the season. Customers were already lining up outside, eager to grab last-minute Valentine’s limited-edition cookies, tarts and donuts for their special someone. Still, Nezuko and the rest of his younger siblings had been nothing but supportive of his relationship with Muichiro.
Rokuta and Shigeru adored Muichiro endlessly and had long since accepted him as another big brother. Even Takeo, much to Tanjiro’s surprise, had approached him shortly after New Year’s.
“Onii-chan,” Takeo had said that evening, stepping into the bakery kitchen just as Tanjiro was finishing the cleanup before closing. He held out an envelope and his expression was unusually serious. Tanjiro had paused, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his shirt. “What is it, Takeo?”
“I won this at the shopping center,” Takeo explained, holding the envelope a little higher. “Second prize. Two tickets to DisneySea, including one night at the Disney themed hotel. So…” He hesitated, his face gradually turning red. “Onii-chan, you can use it to go on a date with Tokito-san.”
Tanjiro blinked in surprise and set down the tray he had been holding. “Takeo, are you sure? Don’t you want to go with your friends? Or maybe take Shigeru or Rokuta?”
To his astonishment, Takeo’s face grew even redder. “No. You should take it, Onii-chan. Since… well… you could need some private time with Tokito-san.”
For a moment, Tanjiro blinked at him, clearly not immediately catching the implication and his expression remained confused as his mind tried to process the words at face value—until a full second later, when the meaning finally settled in and his brain caught up all at once. The realization hit him so abruptly that his ears and face flushed a deep, burning red in an instant. The air between them turned unbearably awkward within seconds. Takeo quickly set the envelope down on the counter and hurried out of the kitchen, leaving Tanjiro alone with his racing thoughts.
Takeo knew better than anyone how tirelessly Tanjiro had worked to support their family. When Tanjiro had first introduced Muichiro as his boyfriend, Takeo had felt embarrassed and unsure how to explain to his friends that his older brother was dating another boy. Yet over time he had witnessed firsthand how gentle and sincere Muichiro truly was and more importantly, how much brighter Tanjiro seemed whenever he was by Muichiro’s side. Things also had slowly begun to improve. Nezuko had quietly explained to him how Muichiro was helping Tanjiro manage the debt, lifting an enormous weight from his shoulders. Takeo’s gratitude had grew again when he remembered that it was Muichiro who had saved both Tanjiro and Nezuko from the loan sharks.
Even after his brother had finally introduced Muichiro as his boyfriend officially, Takeo had noticed how Tanjiro continued to put the bakery and their family first. Additionally, no matter how often Muichiro visited, the Kamado household was always lively, full of noise and movement. There was hardly ever a moment for the two of them to truly be alone. Even during New Year’s, when the Tokito family had invited all of them to celebrate together, the house had been filled with laughter and conversation. Although Tanjiro and Muichiro had stayed close to each other the entire evening, they hadn’t had a single minute to themselves.
So when the shopping center employee had casually invited Takeo to participate in a lottery, where most prizes were nothing more than discount coupons, he had drawn a red ball. Second prize. A day pass for DisneySea and one night in the themed hotel for two. In that instant, he didn’t even need to think. He wanted to give his older brother a break from work and from constantly putting everyone else first. A chance to simply be happy and some time alone with the person who made him smile the most.
After finishing the morning preparations at the bakery, Tanjiro finally allowed himself to leave. He simply couldn’t bring himself to abandon everything to Nezuko on one of the busiest days of the season, so he had woken up even earlier than usual to prepare extra batches of bread and Valentine’s tarts. By the time the display cases were filled, Nezuko had practically chased him out, insisting she could handle the rest.
Now, sitting on the train as it carried him toward their meeting point, Tanjiro felt his excitement grow with every passing station. No matter how hard he tried to calm himself, his thoughts kept drifting back to the beginning of the year, replaying certain moments so vividly that he couldn’t suppress the soft smile spreading across his face.
The days after New Year’s had been hectic. Muichiro had spent most of his time at the dojo before university lectures resumed and the little time they had together shrank even further. Their days were filled with constant texting, their nights with long video calls that stretched for hours. More often than not, those calls only ended when Yuichiro stormed into Muichiro’s room, threatening to confiscate his phone if he didn’t go to sleep immediately.
During the short winter break, Tanjiro had taken advantage of Nezuko having more time in the afternoon. He began taking those hours off, packing carefully prepared bento boxes filled with healthy, nutritious meals, along with some of Muichiro’s favorite bread and pudding, before making his way to the dojo. He didn’t know how else to support his boyfriend during such an intense training period, but at the very least, he could make sure Muichiro ate properly.
Tanjiro would never forget the first time he showed up at the dojo. After asking for directions, someone had guided him to the training hall, where Muichiro was fully immersed in a practice match. At first, Tanjiro almost didn't recognize him beneath the protective kendo helmet. For a brief moment, he found himself searching the room. And then he spotted the long hair peeking out from beneath the helmet, gathered into a low ponytail behind his head. If that alone hadn't been enough, the small paper-crane charm attached to Muichiro's hairband swayed gently with every movement, immediately giving him away. After that, Tanjiro simply couldn't look anywhere else. His eyes remained fixed on Muichiro's breathtaking movements as he darted across the training floor with incredible speed, every strike precise and deliberate, every step elegant and powerful. There was something almost mesmerizing about the way he moved, fast enough that his form occasionally seemed to blur into the air around him, yet controlled enough that not a single motion was wasted. Watching him was like watching flowing mist take shape before his eyes. It was beautiful, precise and impossibly cool.
More than anything else, this sight filled Tanjiro with a sense of pride so intense he could barely put it into words.
This was his Muichiro.
The same prodigy who had once, a century ago, become a Mist Hashira less than two months after picking up a sword for the very first time. Every movement seemed to remind him of just how extraordinary Muichiro was and how brightly he continued to shine no matter the life he was born into.
The moment the training set ended, Muichiro turned toward the entrance. He fumbled with his helmet, pulling it off in a hurry and the second their eyes met, his face lit up in a radiant smile. None of the other members had ever seen their dojo’s star smile like that.
“Tanjiro?! What are you doing here?!” Muichiro called out, already striding toward him, barely restraining himself from throwing his arms around him in front of everyone. With all eyes suddenly on them, Tanjiro felt his cheeks burn. He lifted the bag shyly. “I thought… I could bring you some dinner?” he murmured.
Muichiro’s eyes shone even brighter at that, but before he could respond further, one of the senior members cleared his throat. “Tokito, you should take a break. Go to the break room.” Only then had they managed to escape the curious stares.
After that day, Tanjiro came almost every afternoon during winter break, watching Muichiro eagerly open the bento boxes and it had soon become the highlight of his day. They would share the tarts and sweet bread as dessert, stealing small kisses in between training sessions, when nobody was watching. It was during one of those evenings that Tanjiro had shyly handed Muichiro the DisneySea tickets Takeo had given him. His hands had trembled slightly, his face burning red as he forced himself to speak. “Would you… like to go to Disney with me, Muichiro? And… spend the night at the hotel there?” He had hesitated for a second longer before adding, almost in a whisper, “On Valentine’s Day.”
The expression on Muichiro’s face at that moment was something Tanjiro would never forget. Even now, remembering it on the train, his cheeks flared up again. Muichiro’s eyes had widened to nearly twice their usual size, sparkling as they darted between the tickets and Tanjiro’s face before he suddenly launched himself forward, tackling Tanjiro onto the bench without a second thought. Completely ignoring the fact that they were still inside the dojo, he had wrapped himself around Tanjiro in pure, unfiltered joy.
Thankfully, it had already been late and not many members remained. The break room had been empty or otherwise, it might have become headline news the next morning that the youngest kendo prodigy, newly appointed cultural ambassador, was head-over-heels over a completely ordinary bakery boy. But none of it had mattered in that moment. Tanjiro had felt nothing but overwhelming warmth as he held Muichiro just as tightly. And he had never felt more content in his life.
As expected, when Tanjiro stepped onto the platform at the busy transfer station in central Tokyo, Muichiro was already there, leaning casually against one of the pillars as he had been waiting for some time. His outfit was simple but elegant, dark jeans, a light blue shirt peeking out from beneath a casual coat in a similar tone and a small cap pulled low over his hair. The soft blue shades suited him almost unfairly well. It was as though he sensed Tanjiro’s presence, because the moment Tanjiro spotted him, Muichiro looked up too. And then he smiled. That unmistakable, radiant smile, one that, even a century ago, had only ever truly belonged to Tanjiro, spread across his face as he pushed himself off the pillar and walked straight toward him.
Tanjiro naturally opened one arm, welcoming him into a brief, easy hug. Their dynamic had settled over the past weeks. The earlier insecurities had faded and they no longer clung to each other, afraid the other might disappear. It wasn’t that their feelings had diminished. If anything, they had grown even deeper. But everything around them had simply calmed down. Their families had accepted them, their daily lives had found a rhythm and being together felt natural. Without thinking, Muichiro wrapped his arm around Tanjiro’s as they boarded the train together.
The carriage was moderately full with only a few empty seats scattered around. When Tanjiro spotted one, he immediately tugged Muichiro along and gently, yet insistently, pushed him down onto it when he hesitated. Tanjiro grabbed one of the overhead straps, shifting his weight keep his balance before leaning down enough to whisper close to Muichiro’s ear.
“Muichiro, I watched your press conference with Yuichiro-san yesterday. The one where you were both announced as cultural ambassadors. You were perfectly prepared and you answered every question so well…” He paused briefly, his voice softening. “And you were beautiful, Muichiro.”
The words caught Muichiro off guard. It had been late by the time he returned home the night before. He had wanted to call Tanjiro immediately, but Tanjiro had sent him a message instead, gently insisting that he must be exhausted and should get some rest so they could enjoy the next day properly. Now, hearing this, Muichiro’s face flushed a deep red almost instantly. Without thinking, he leaned forward, resting his forehead lightly against Tanjiro’s lower stomach in an attempt to hide his expression. They stayed like that for a moment, careful not to draw too much attention. Then Muichiro felt Tanjiro’s hand settle gently on his head, fingers brushing through his hair in a soft, affectionate pat. “That press conference went on for a long time,” Tanjiro murmured quietly. “And I could tell you and Yuichiro-san were pretty nervous, right? It’s still a long day ahead. Try to sleep a bit, Muichiro.”
Ah, Tanjiro… it’s unfair how your nose betrays me every time, Muichiro thought silently, knowing full well that the warmth in Tanjiro’s voice and probably the change in his own scent gave away just how flustered he was too. But he didn’t say anything. He just stayed where he was, leaning against Tanjiro, eyes slowly closing as the gentle motion of the train carried them forward toward their long-awaited day.
With Tanjiro standing almost protectively in front of him, one hand gripping the overhead strap while subtly shielding him from the crowd, Muichiro found himself swaying gently with the movement of the train. Each turn forced him a little closer. The steady rhythm of the carriage, combined with the warmth and familiar presence in front of him, made it impossible to resist. Somewhere along the way, he drifted off. He only stirred when he felt a soft, careful pat against his head. Blinking sleepily, Muichiro slowly opened his eyes, momentarily disoriented. For a second, all he saw was bright light, the sun streaming in through the window behind Tanjiro. The golden glow was so intense that, still half asleep, Muichiro almost thought he was staring straight into a sunflower in full bloom. Then his vision slowly adjusted, the haze faded away and Tanjiro's face came back into focus, smiling gently down at him.
“Muichiro, we’ve arrived,” Tanjiro said softly.
The lingering drowsiness vanished almost instantly. Muichiro straightened slightly, still seated and reached for Tanjiro’s hand, giving it a small but firm tug as an unspoken request to help him up. Tanjiro looked surprised, but he immediately tightened his grip and pulled him smoothly to his feet. Muichiro, however, had no intention of letting go. The moment he was standing, he slipped one arm around Tanjiro’s again and with the other hand, he held onto that same arm as well, clinging to him tightly. Tanjiro’s ears flushed red almost immediately, the color deepening as they stepped off the train together. Surrounded by the steady flow of passengers, they moved along with the crowd toward the platform exit and from there, toward the entrance of the amusement park with Muichiro attached to Tanjiro the whole time.
However, their visit to Tokyo DisneySea did not unfold as perfectly as they had imagined during all those late-night calls and winter afternoons. Because Valentine’s Day happened to fall on a Sunday that year, the park was flooded with couples wrapped in matching scarves, families herding excited children from attraction to attraction and clusters of teenagers laughing loudly as they compared wait times on their phones. Even entering the park required more patience than either of them had expected. Once inside, every ride they had enthusiastically marked as “must-do” showed a waiting time of three hours at the very least. The sight of those winding queues alone was enough to make Tanjiro blink in disbelief.
At first, though, they didn’t truly mind. Standing shoulder to shoulder in line, fingers intertwined inside Tanjiro’s coat pocket to keep warm, time seemed to pass in a blur as they quietly observed the lively chaos around them. The cold winter sun hung high in a cloudless sky, casting a soft glow over the harbor scenery and reflecting off the water in shimmering streaks. By the time they stepped out of one of the slower attractions, which was a fully immersive theater ride with wide screens and gently swaying seats, it was already noon and their legs were beginning to feel the strain of hours spent standing.
Muichiro had, admittedly, envisioned a slightly different rhythm for the day. He had planned to drag Tanjiro onto the more terrifying rides, that would send him into breathless panic before inevitably clinging to Muichiro afterward, seeking comfort in the aftermath while Muichiro would have every excuse to wrap his arms around him for reassurances. Just picturing it made the corner of Muichiro’s lips lift as he glanced sideways at Tanjiro.
Tanjiro immediately caught the expression. “What?” he asked as suspiciously, starting to recognize his boyfriend’s little playful expressions. “Nothing,” Muichiro replied smoothly, though he couldn’t hide the mischievous glint in his eyes.
Unfortunately, the thrill rides turned out to be even worse than expected; the lines looked more intimidating than the attractions themselves. After checking the time again, Muichiro let out a sigh, though he didn’t let the disappointment show too clearly on his face.
“Tanjiro,” he said instead, brightening deliberately, “let’s try one of the special Valentine’s menus at a restaurant.”
Tanjiro smiled and allowed himself to be pulled along, trusting whatever Muichiro had in mind. Yet when they finally reached the restaurant Muichiro had carefully researched between training sessions, once again the sight of the line far beyond the entrance made their eyes widen. Even though it was still early for lunch, the queue was already dauntingly long. Muichiro had known exactly what he wanted to eat with Tanjiro today; he had imagined the two of them seated by a window, sharing limited-edition desserts and then giving Tanjiro the little valentine cookies, he or more like Yuichiro had prepared. Still, he swallowed back the frustration of the line, because giving up now was not an option.
The winter air remained crisp but comfortable beneath the bright sun and so they joined the line, inching forward slowly, their shoulders brushing each othervas they shifted their weight from one tired leg to the other. Neither voiced complaint. Without needing to say it aloud, they both seemed determined not to let the crowds steal the meaning of the day; as long as they were together, it would still become a memory worth keeping.
After more than an hour, when the restaurant entrance was finally within sight, a sharp cry suddenly cut through the ambient noise of chatter and footsteps. Both of them turned their head instinctively. A young boy lay sprawled on the pavement behind them, arms stretched out, a red bruise already forming on his elbow. For a heartbeat the surrounding noise seemed to dull and then the child pushed himself upright and burst into uncontrollable tears. Tanjiro didn’t hesitate for a second. Almost automatically, he stepped out of line and knelt beside the boy. “Hey, are you okay? Where does it hurt?” he asked softly, placing one steady hand against the boy’s back while gently examining the scrape on his elbow, blowing lightly against the irritated skin.
The boy sniffled, blinking up at him through watery eyes. “What’s your name?” Tanjiro asked, voice warm and patient.
“Ko… Kotetsu…” the child whispered between hiccupping breaths.
Before anything more could be said, a man hurried over and dropped to his knees beside them, bowing quickly. “I’m so sorry! That’s my son. Thank you for helping him!”
Tanjiro immediately waved both hands in dismissal, offering his familiar, reassuring smile. “It’s alright. Kotetsu-kun, right? You seem about the same age as my younger brothers.”
Yet Kotetsu’s eyes had already drifted past him, locking onto the restaurant entrance ahead. Fresh tears welled up in his eyes again.
“Kotetsu-kun?” Tanjiro asked again, momentarily worried he had missed another injury.
The father bowed once more, apologetic. “It’s okay, please don’t worry. Kotetsu, come on… it can’t be helped. We arrived too late. They closed the line for the special Valentine’s menu. We’ll eat somewhere else.”
Muichiro, who had remained silently in place to hold their spot, had watched everything unfold without interruption. Tanjiro was too gentle. Too kind with everyone. He could step into any situation and immediately become someone’s comfort, someone’s older brother, someone’s safe place. Muichiro exhaled quietly, but when he heard the name Kotetsu, something in him stilled. The name felt strangely familiar, echoing faintly from another lifetime. For a brief moment, memory and present overlapped: a masked child from long ago, Tanjiro had stood protectively in front of him confronting Muichiro’s cold attitude of the time. Muichiro studied the boy’s face carefully, wondering if perhaps that soul had been reborn as well. Yet there was no flicker of recognition from either Tanjiro or the child and Muichiro himself had never truly seen that face uncovered before. Perhaps he was imagining things.
Still, the sight before him was painfully reminiscent of how he himself had once been pulled out of darkness by Tanjiro’s kindness. Muichiro stepped forward and crouched beside them, one hand coming to rest lightly on Tanjiro’s shoulder.
“Kotetsu-kun,” he said gently, though his voice carried quiet certainty, “why don’t you take our place in line?”
Tanjiro turned around, clearly surprised, while the father immediately shook his head. “We can’t possibly accept something so generous! It’s almost your turn!”
But Kotetsu’s wide, hopeful eyes were fixed on his father, silently pleading. That was enough. Tanjiro’s expression softened and he rose to his feet, extending a hand to help Muichiro up as well. Their fingers intertwined naturally, confirming the unspoken agreement between them. “Please don’t worry about it,” Tanjiro said warmly, bowing once toward the father and son. “Enjoy your meal.”
And before further protests could follow, Tanjiro gently tugged Muichiro away from the line, leaving behind two stunned figures and stepping back into the open pathways of the park. Their long-awaited day shifted in a direction neither of them had planned, yet somehow fitting them perfectly nonetheless. As Tanjiro and Muichiro walked away without looking back, still hand in hand as they blended into the flow of the crowd, they failed to notice the small figure now standing in the very spot they had just given up.
Kotetsu remained unusually quiet. From his new place in line, he watched their retreating backs as they slowly disappeared among the sea of people with the winter sunlight outlining their silhouettes for a fleeting moment before they were swallowed by the crowd. For reasons he couldn’t begin to explain, a strange bittersweet feeling welled up inside his chest. It felt like something distant and long forgotten, as though he had known those two young men for longer than a single brief encounter should allow. Alongside that unfamiliar ache, there was relief. A reassurance that they had found their happiness.
“Kotetsu? Is something wrong?” his father’s voice broke gently into his thoughts, concerned as he noticed his son’s uncharacteristic silence. Only then did Kotetsu become aware of the tear that had rolled down his cheek. Confused, he lifted a hand to touch the dampness. He didn’t understand where it had come from, nor why his chest felt so full all at once. All he truly knew was that he felt grateful to the two strangers who had shown him kindness without hesitation. Quickly, he wiped the tear away and forced a small smile, looking up at his father. “Mm, it’s nothing,” he said with his voice lighter now. “Those two onii-san are really nice!”
And as the line moved forward, Kotetsu lowered his eyes briefly, forming a silent wish deep within himself.
May those two onii-san always be happy.