Chapter Text
Zenitsu hated uniform checks, with every fiber of his being. He had to arrive at school a whole hour before it started and see Mr. Tomioka first thing in the morning! He gripped the clipboard in his hands as he nearly fell asleep standing up. He literally has to be at school waiting in the front gate before anyone shows up! Usually he would be too terrified to sleep, but he was just so exhausted from--
“Monitsu!!!” He snapped his golden eyes open at the familiar call. Of course, of course the gods make him start his Monday mornings with the loudest alarm in existence. Slowly he looks up to see Inosuke charging right at him, grinning wildly with his shirt open…
thump thump thump
Zenitsu’s eyes made their way to stare at Inosuke’s bare chest. Out of all of their friends, Inosuke somehow started developing muscles first. It should have been Tanjirou, who physically works day and night, but instead it was the idiot Inosuke. Of course, now that they were older, Tanjirou had started getting muscles too, but, but… Inosuke’s were easier to see. Whether it be because he is always half naked, or because his muscles are bigger and more sculpted... Zenitsu knew he was staring, but his sleep deprived brain wasn’t sending the signal to his eyes too move. He swallowed some saliva.
“Raaaahhh!!” Inosuke’s grin widened right before he suddenly tackled Zenitsu. His strong arm wrapped around Zenitsu’s neck and pulled him down to hold the blond’s head under his armpit. Zenitsu’s eyes shot to focus on Inosuke’s chest muscles, which were right next to his face.
“I-Inosuke! Let me go!” Zenitsu, finally able to control his body, kicked around and tried to use his weight against Inosuke.
“Come on! Come on!” Inosuke taunted as they kicked up some dirt around them. “I’ll eat your lunch if you can’t defend it yourself!” Zenitsu flinched when Inosuke’s threat roared just beside his ear. Not only that, but his heartbeat was so loud that it was making Zenitsu dizzy! Or maybe that was the lack of oxygen going to his head?
“Inosuke! Seriously you’ll snap my neck!” He cried out, his fingers digging into the blue haired boy’s thicker arm. “You’ll kill me!”
“I’m making you stronger!!” He huffed.
“You know what, just-just take my food!” Zenitsu wailed pathetically. Mercifully, Inosuke let go of him. Zenitsu took a deep breath, trying to regain precious oxygen. “Seriously, you pig brained-” He was about to start ranting and insulting Inosuke, but when he finally looked at Inosuke’s feminine face, the words died out. Another wave of dizziness washed over his senses as Zenitsu’s regarded Inosuke’s flushed face, it was probably red from him running all the way to the gate. His eyes were drawn to his pink lips, which he heard soft breaths coming out of.
AAAAH! Say something! It’s just Inosuke! Say something!
“I-I’m so light headed that I can’t even yell at you…!” Zenitsu squeaked as he busied himself with fixing his own uniform. “Why do you come to school so early anyway? It’s not like you’re in any early morning clubs.” He frowned.
“Because I’m the greatest!” He smiled proudly and puffed out his chest. “Besides! What else am I going to do at my house?”
“Um, sleep?”
“Ha!” Inosuke laughed. “I don’t need sleep!”
“Then how come you laid on top of me for a whole lunch period for a nap!” Zenitsu yelled.
“I wasn’t sleeping, I was just unawake!” Inosuke smiled.
“You’re so stupid.” Zenitsu reminded himself. “I feel myself losing brain cells around you.”
“It’s because I’m taking them!” There was a feral glint in his green eyes. “Now quit arguing with me! You should be thankful that I, the great Inosuke, have decided to hang out with you! My favorite golden haired minion!”
“I’m the only person with golden-- I mean blond hair.” Still, Zenitsu was thankful for Inosuke, it can get lonely and boring being at the front gate in the mornings. Sometimes he barely had time to talk to his friends because he was too busy looking out for people breaking the dress code. Of course most of his friends did break the dress code so he did get to have a conversation with them everyday, but still.
He wished he could just roll out of bed and walk with his friends to school, like a normal student would.
Other students began to trickle in to school, and Zenitsu began his tedious work. He couldn’t focus completely on the task, because once Zenitsu would start concentrating, he would stop talking to Inosuke. Inosuke, in turn, would start trying to grab his attention by either literally grabbing him or yelling at him.
“Inosuke you don’t have to spend all morning with me. You should probably make your way to class or something.” Zenitsu didn’t bother looking up from his clipboard as he scribbled some notes down.
“Don’t forget to give me your lunch!” Inosuke chirped as he got his bag and threw it over his shoulder.
“Ha ha.” Zenitsu mocked. By chance, he looked up to see a still half naked Inosuke. Even though they talked for 35 minutes, Inosuke hadn’t bothered to button up his shirt! Even worse, Zenitsu didn’t even remember till now! “Hey! Wait! Inosuke! Button up your shirt before you step one foot inside!” His hand shot out to yank Inosuke back by the shoulder.
“Hah?! You want to fight!” Inosuke growled as he yanked Zenitsu forward by the hand that was on his shoulder. Zenitsu squeaked.
“No, no! Your shirt!” He flinched. “Please, cover yourself!” Inosuke raised a brow before he glanced down and noticed his shirt was open. “Here… I’ll help you…” Zenitsu shyly suggested. Before Inosuke could run away, Zenitsu’s hands fumbled with his shirt. He brought the fabric together at the bottom and with shaky hands began buttoning the shirt from the bottom up. His face was burning at the whispers of their classmates floating around them. Inosuke didn’t seem to care, but his heartbeat was unusually soft, like it was muted.
Well, maybe because Zenitsu tried not to focus on anything except working on Inosuke’s shirt. He had made it half way up when he decided to look up and stare at Inosuke’s face.
thump thump thump
Inosuke’s wide eyes stared down at him. The usual fierce look was now replaced with a cutely surprised one as he simply watched Zenitsu buttoning his shirt. It was now that Zenitsu realized just how tall Inosuke was growing. When they first met, Zenitsu was taller than both Inosuke and Tanjirou, but it seemed like puberty tortured him yet again by making every one of his friends hit a growth spurt.
It was seriously unfair, he was the oldest!
Inosuke was now two inches taller than Zenitsu, it didn’t seem like much compared to Genya, but it was enough to make Zenitsu tilt his head to look at Inosuke’s eyes.
“Hey! You have two hands! You do it yourself!” The blond pushed Inosuke away and turned away to hide his blush. He’s lucky Inosuke is an idiot, or else he would’ve died of embarrassment when Inosuke found out about his crush.
“Hah!? You’re almost done, just do it!!” Inosuke took a step forward, blocking Zenitsu against the school gate.
“Get going!” Zenitsu hissed as he pushed him away once more. It seemed like no one else cared about their shenanigans as people passively walked by. His ears perked up at the chime of earrings crossing in front of him. Zenitsu jerked his head to the side to look past Inosuke to see a familiar redhead walking briskly towards the classroom. “Gah! I focused too much on you that Tanjirou just waltzed right past us!” He cried loudly. “Hey, Tanjirou! Yeah, I see you! Take off those earrings! Don’t keep walking and stop ignoring me!” Zenitsu yelled as he shook his fist.
Zenitsu dragged his feet up the stairs and slowly pushed the door to the roof open. “Hey everyone…” He muttered as he tiredly made his way over to sit with his friends. Tanjirou instantly sat up straight and gave him a warm smile.
“Zenitsu! We were starting to think you weren’t going to each lunch with us!”
“I thought I wasn’t too. No offense, Genya, but your brother is--” Genya narrowed his eyes and Zenitsu snapped his mouth shut, decided to plop himself down on the other side of Tanjirou, who he was using as a human shield.
“Your brother’s crazy, man.” Inosuke proudly proclaimed as he gave Zenitsu a thumbs up. Like he was saying: I understand what you were going to say, Monitsu! “But he does have those kick ass scars! How did he do it? Do you think he could give me some?!” He pestered.
“Don’t pry Inosuke.” Tanjirou chided him.
“Yeah! Or else I’ll teach you not to say anything mean about my brother.” Genya frowned.
“Hah?! Is that a challenge mohak?!” As the student council president, Zenitsu should stop any fights from happening, but frankly he was just too tired and hungry to care. He drowns out the sound of Inosuke and Genya’s arguing as he pulls out his lunch. He slowly opens up the container, trying not to alert--
Inosuke’s voice died out and he snaps his head to look directly at Zenitsu. Zenitsu flinches as Inosuke sniffs the air like Tanjirou before diving into Zenitsu’s lap.
“What kind of food do we have, Monitsu?” He grinned.
“I hate you.” Zenitsu grunted as he pulled out a slice of pizza. “Leftovers, as usual.”
“You always have leftovers.” Kanao commented.
“Yeah, well, I physically can’t wake up any earlier to make my lunch for the day.”
“Zenitsu, if you want, I could pack an extra lunch for you.” Tanjirou’s kind voice is gentle, like a wave pushing away his stress.
“What? No, of course not--”
“Yeah! Gonpachirou! Zenitsu is my minion, I’ll give him some of my lunch!” Zenitsu nearly started sobbing at the kindness of his friends, especially from Inosuke! He can’t act like a brute one minute and then a prince charming the next! Seriously, he doesn’t know what he’ll do to Zenitsu’s poor heart! “But you have to fight me for it!” Whatever sweet feelings he had quickly soured, along with his expression.
“Inosuke, that’s so nice of you!” Tanjirou praised him.
“How is that nice?” Genya’s voice was filled with disbelief.
“Because he said Zenitsu had to fight him for it, not necessarily win!”
The blond cut off his sob by shoving the slice of pizza in his mouth. He chewed harshly as tears fell down his face. What a horrible bunch of friends he has… He gulped loudly. Zenitsu was about to take another bite of pizza, but suddenly Inosuke’s hand shot out to wrap over his. Forcefully, Inosuke pulled Zenitsu’s hand, which was holding the pizza, to twist the other way towards Inosuke’s face.
“HEY!” Zenitsu yelled. Inosuke smiled widely as he took a huge bite of pizza. Zenitsu was about to smack Inosuke, but his eyes landed on Inosuke’s teasing green ones. The blue haired boy didn’t even bother to eat the pizza in a different place from Zenitsu. Instead, he took a bite where Zenitsu did, it was almost like a kiss by proxy…
“L-let go of my hand!” He blushed as he began to wrestle his way out of Inosuke’s grasp. The pig simply cackled as he used more force and took another large bite of the pizza. “Seriously, no one’s going to help me out here?!” His golden eyes scanned the faces of his friends, who immediately turned away and started their own conversation amongst each other.
“More Monitsu!” Inosuke’s cackle was the only warning he gave before he pounced and pushed Zenitsu down on the ground. Zenitsu decided that the slice of pizza was turning out to be more hassle than what it’s worth, and let go. “I win!” Inosuke cheered from on top of Zenitsu.
“Alright, alright! Now get off me before you crush me!” The blond wheezed as he tried to sit up. Inosuke’s other hand immediately pushed him back down the by shoulder.
“Open up Monistu, I’m feeling nice!” He grinned as he waved the pizza in front of Zenitsu’s face. Realizing that Inosuke wanted to feed him nearly caused him to go into thermal shock. The blond squeezed his lips together and shook his head frantically. “Open up!” Inosuke growled as he tried to push the pizza against Zenitsu’s lips, but every time he did Zenitsu would turn his head to the other side.
“Inosuke!” Tanjirou called with his disappointed big brother voice.
“Just eat the pizza, Zenitsu!” Aoi yelled at him.
“No I-- Gfuugff!!” Zenitsu’s voice was cut off as Inosuke successfully managed to shove the pizza in his mouth.
“Ha! You’re welcome!” Insouke smiled as he finally got off Zenitsu. The blond quickly sat up and wiped his mouth while glaring daggers at his friend. Inosuke simply smiled proudly. In the end, Tanjirou made Inosuke sit next to Kanao, while the redhead sat next to Zenitsu and made that he would finish his lunch without any more interruptions.
“F...Finally…” Zenitsu muttered as he turned in the last paper to Tomioka, he only stayed for an hour after class ended! Now, he could rush home to start homework before Gramps drags him out of his room and abuses him under the excuse of “training”. He quickly shoved his notes and homework for the day into his bag. No doubt all of his friends have walked home by now. Usually, he’d walk home with Tanjirou, Nezuko, and Inosuke, but since the Kamado siblings work at the bakery after school, they’re gone by now. Genya does have an after school club, but there’s no archery practice on Monday’s.
“Zenitsu, don’t forget to collect the forms from all the clubs. I need them by Wednesday.” Giyuu’s monotoned voice pulled him from his sweet release and made him jump in fright.
“O-of course! H-have a great afternoon…” Zenitsu sobbed softly. The raven haired man didn’t say anything more and disappeared into his office, probably to eat Zenitsu’s hopes and dreams for an afternoon snack.
“I hate my life.” Zenitsu slugged his bag over his shoulder and made his way down the stairs.
The campus was empty, except for a couple of student’s walking to their club rooms.
Sometimes, he can’t help but get lonely. Why can’t he just leave with his friends? Why can’t he go to the Kamado bakery after school and eat baked snacks with Inosuke? Even when he’s finished with his student president activities, he has to juggle homework with practice.
How does Tanjirou do it?
He made his way to the front gate, looking at the sun starting to set. Even though the days can be hellish, the campus was beautiful in the afternoon.
“PIG ASSAULT!!!” Zenitsu screeched as a familiar mass of muscle collided with his back and sent him forward to land on his knees.
“GAAAH!! Inosuke!!” The blond cried out. Inosuke laughed and hooked his arms underneath Zenitsu’s armpits and hauled him to his feet. “I would say ‘thank you’ but it was your fault that I landed on my knees in the first place…” He patted the dirt away from his clothes.
“Being on your knees is the best way to greet the Great Inosuke!”
“Sh-shut up!” Zenitsu cheeks burned as he pouted. “Do you know what you just said?!?! Seriously! How would that sound to someone walking down the street, huh?!”
“Ha HAA! Who cares! Look at your face, Monitsu! You look like a squirrel!” Inosuke completely ignored him and just poked his red cheeks. Zenitsu frowned and swatted Inosuke’s hand away.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you walk home with Tanjirou and Nezuko?” He asked as Inosuke’s arm went around his shoulders. Before he knew it, they were both walking towards their houses. Inosuke’s house is a little farther than Zenitsu’s, so it’s not odd to walk home with Inosuke. But, why wouldn’t Inosuke walk home with their other friends?
“Hmm? Oh, the old hag doesn’t come home until later tonight.” Golden eyes widened at his words. Though Inosuke’s roaring heartbeat was still loudly playing, there was a hint of loneliness to it. The same type of loneliness that echoes in Zenitsu’s bedroom right before he goes to sleep.
thump thump thump
Zenitsu stared into Inosuke’s face, which was looking directly in front of them at the side walk. Seriously, how could he and Inosuke have anything in common? They fight like cats and dogs, and like cats and mice sometimes, but…
Zenitsu smiled softly as he turned away from staring at Inosuke.
“Come on, let’s get something to eat. I don’t want to go home yet either…” Zenitsu sighed. He could feel Inosuke’s eyes on him. “I’ll pay…” He spoke in defeat.
“Heh, that’s more like it! Watch out, Monitsu, we’re coming through!!!”
How on earth could he have a crush on this idiot?