Chapter Text
Almost a decade ago, a family moved to the city from the country side, looking to expand their horizons and give their children an easier life. The neighborhood was quiet and safe, their home was bigger than the one they used to live in, their neighbors receiving them with wide smiles, now it was a mom, dad and two twin boys living beside a mom, dad and two brothers.
The twins were induced many times to talk to the youngest sibling, but he was unwilling, and Muichiro had Yuichiro and Yuichiro had Muichiro, so they just left it at that, parents a bit sad but understanding, not all kids were compatible.
They lived one day at a time, discovering new things and creating other routines, life became a steady current.
Until Yuichiro got sick, coughing up a storm during dinner, so sick he had to go to the hospital and stay there, where Muichiro heard his father say "This is why we moved to the city," when comforting their mother.
Muichiro saw his twin, his best friend with tubes shoved down his mouth and loud machines hooked to his arms, his other family members came to visit from far, and they said Yuichiro would soon get better, promised him those words with tears in their eyes.
One day, tired of the sterile smell of hospital and of being surrounded by liars, Muichiro asked to stay home, his parents didn't even give it much notice, leaving the boy to his own devices.
He was not crying in the backyard, and he didn't get spooked when some bushes close to him started rustling. Out of the foliage came that same blond kid that couldn't talk to him eye to eye, he was so pristine, clothes perfectly ironed and hair carefully combed through, Muichiro must look like a mess compared to him.
The boy sat beside him, and Muichiro was sure more empty positivity was coming his way, how nothing was his fault and Yuichiro was looking better than last time, but no. The boy offered an unwrapped candy, not looking back when Muichiro gave him a weird stare.
Muichiro took it and immediately shoved it in his mouth, trying to keep his hiccups low.
"When my mommy got sick and had to stay at the hospital, I was really scared,"
It took some seconds for Muichiro to notice the boy spoke, barely above a whisper, but those were definitely words. "And my big brother promised me she was going to get better, he said that to me and to daddy almost everyday." The boy still didn't look Muichiro in the eyes, fiddling with the candy wrapper in his hands, "She was gone for so long I got angry at my brother, I said I didn't care if she was getting better, because thinking about it made me sad. Big brother said sorry and the next day mommy was better."
"Really?"
"Uhum. So, if you want your brother to get better, you have to stop being so sad about him getting sick. He must think you're angry at him."
"I'm not! I love Yuichiro more than everything ever!"
The boy shrugged, staring at a caterpillar some steps from them, "Okay."
That night, when his parents were back home, eyes red and puffy, they started that same everyday spiel, but this time, Muichiro interrupted them, refusing to cry.
"I don't care that he's getting better! I'm sad that you always talk about him like that!"
And he stomped away to their shared room, laying in his twin's bed, wondering if it was enough to get him back.
To the grace of Muichiro's heart, the next day, Yuichiro was miraculously cured and was sent home not long after. Muichiro insisted it was the work of that boy he met, making his parents buy some gifts to go thank him, Muichiro even asked to pick out and offer it himself.
In just that afternoon, the families became closer, sharing experiences like they were old friends, the three kids running around like they lived in the same house, Muichiro hearing the voice that saved his twin throughout the night with a big smile on his face.
Before going home, Muichiro held onto the boy's hand, not keen on letting go just yet, he questioned anything just to keep them planted in place, "What's your name?"
The boy looked happy, a bit sweaty from having played so much, he finally met Muichiro's eyes and said with a smile, "I'm Senjuro."
Years passed, now Muichiro and Senjuro are the bestest of friends, where one goes, the other follows right after, like shadows of one another. from little boys in kindergarten holding hands to cross the street and taking their sweet time to let the other go, to still quite little teenagers, doing whatever seemed the most entertaining at the moment, no day lacked conversation or laughter, a novelty every new morning.
And, Today, after much studying and desperate pleas to no one in particular to get accepted together, they start their first year of highschool!
Walking to their new school, the friends have a little discussion, one they've been through multiple times while growing together. Muichiro messed around with his oversized sleeves, "Are you sure you don't want to start a club with me?"
Senjuro dropped his head with inwards annoyance, "I don't have the confidence for that, Mui. I prefer something simpler."
"Can't you at least be in one of my clubs?"
"Your clubs are all for super geniuses!"
They eyed each other with faux distrust, "Nuh-uh."
Senjuro spluttered out a laugh, "Yuh-huh!"
"They're really not, Sen. You keep up well."
"Because you go easy on me."
The claim made Muichiro go quiet, so Senjuro did know he went easy on him... He physically shrugged, not his fault, seeing his best friend happy after winning at shoji is worth some dumbing down.
A soft bump against his arm catches Muichiro's attention, Senjuro face to face with him, "You know you can enter my clubs, too, right?"
And that claim made Muichiro tense up. Senjuro obviously noticed and blew air through his nose, holding back a smile.
Senjuro has an array of interests, but he is part of home economics every single year. And Muichiro... Muichiro isn't good in the kitchen. He can survive on his own! He just doesn't want to do so at school of all places.
"Okay, you win. But, next year, I'm changing your mind."
"Who knows."
They reach the front gates, reading Kimetsu High as opposed to their old Kimetsu Middle, nerves a bit jostled since they're the big kids now, they have much more responsibility than before.
Their shoe lockers weren't beside each other, sadly, — That's something Muichiro has complained about ever since they left kindergarten and couldn't choose their own cubbies — but they were in the same aisle facing each other, and that's good enough.
They navigated through the not too populated hallways, Muichiro grabbing his schedule and giving it to his friend, Senjuro gave it a quick scan, "I think our classroom is on the second floor,"
"At least it's not on the third one again."
Senjuro huffed, "Don't remind me of that..."
What little people were present would stare, trying to recognize them in some way, they couldn't tell if it was because of Senjuro's very distinct hair or because Muichiro has been on TV before.
"Ignore them." Muichiro let the boy hold onto his cardigan, finding comfort in being so close to each other.
The first classes were simple, they were seated next to each other by the back and the teachers have been okay until now, they pushed desks together to eat lunch, "How is Yuichiro? Is he adapting to the new town?"
Muichiro sipped a water, putting his phone away after taking a quick look, "He's doing really well, he texted me just now and said he's befriended two new people."
"That's nice!"
Muichiro left out the part where his twin asked when he was going to make new friends. Yuichiro really likes to test his limits, always poking fun at he and Senjuro's super awesome friendship, it's not brotherly jealousy, Yuichiro has stated many times he just likes to annoy his twin, and it works really well.
Sadly, the universe is on Yuichiro's side today, soon a new face, possible new friend, comes by and asks to put his desk next to theirs, Senjuro allows it with a quiet yes, Muichiro stares.
He opens the packet of a curry bread and speaks "Where did you guys go to middle school?"
"We were from Kimetsu Middle."
"Really, was it fun?"
"It was school."
The conversation got awkward between them, but Senjuro didn't give it much notice and snorted lightly, making Muichiro's careless façade crack with a small smirk on his lips.
"Didn't you say the same thing to my brother?"
"No."
"I'm going to ask him when I get home."
"Okay, yeah I did."
The rest of the school day was just as calm, most school days were easy like that, they woke up, ate, met up outside their homes, said goodbye to their families and went on their way. School, class, lunch, class and back home it was.
Weekends were for playing games, visiting the creek, making rounds around the konbini stores. Whatever they were feeling up to at the moment. Two months of getting used to the more difficult subjects and differently tempered teachers than the ones they used to know;
Things were perfect, just for that fateful friday to come like a tidal wave.
A girl, one seated at the very front of class, came to them after they finished cleaning up, "Are you two free today?"
Senjuro kept quiet, looking at his friend in search of an answer, they had been evading all class activities for a while now, since most suggestions had sounded quite boring.
"Well, if you are, we're going to a karaoke, so you guys can come with," The girl was gone and best friends were left to discuss.
The blond hummed, "Karaoke sounds fun,"
"It does, much better than all the weird cafés they've suggested."
"But, does it sound in budget?"
They stopped, Senjuro going through his wallet and Muichiro through his bag, excess money was found, meaning they could splurge a bit.
Muichiro crossed his arms, eyebrows furrowed, "Now, are we sure we want to sing?"
"I like the desserts they serve there."
"That is a really good point, Sen. But it's not enough to make me feel inclined to say yes."
"I heard they have parfaits, the big ones for couples."
"I now feel inclined to say yes."
They hummed along one another, thinking.
"I'll sing if you sing."
"I'll sing if you sing."
"Deal."
Each texted their parents, receiving permission and good luck messages, plus a very expressive thumbs up from Shinjuro.
The group of students flocked to the karaoke, bustling in and asking for a room and paying with everybody's halves of money. This was an introvert's nightmare, but the two most introverted of the gaggle weren't stupid, ordering a red bean paste and strawberry couples' parfait before following the party people to the room, yes, they memorized the order from the online menu, receiving a knowing look from the clerk.
Two kids ordering the most sugary thing ever without their peers? They were being stingy about sharing.
"It'll be with you shortly. And be careful not to have a sugar crash!"
"Thank you!" Senjuro waved as they walked away.
Muichiro grabbed his arm, "I hope we have a sugar crash, it'll be easier to deal with them.
"They're not so bad."
Sitting at their section of the booth, that same boy from their first day sat beside them, immediately striking up conversation, he spoke a bit fast, excitement, it seemed.
The talks went on, song after song coming from different booths around them, bad singing after bad singing from some of the prettiest people they've laid eyes on, finally! Their parfait arrived, paid out of their own pockets in all its diabetes inducing glory.
"Oh, cool! You guys ordered dessert!" The boy almost slapped Senjuro's hand away to pick up a spoon and get a taste, he made a weird moaning sound, some girls around them laughed at it, one of them tried grabbing the second spoon, Muichiro just grabbed it and stared at the boy. The spoon in his mouth was Senjuro's spoon, who didn't have the heart to speak up.
But he did, "That's rude."
The group around them quieted down.
"What?" Said the boy, spoonful still in his mouth.
"We ordered this for ourselves, paid with our own money, and you stole Senjuro's spoon. You're fucking rude." The atmosphere shifted as all eyes were on them.
Senjuro rested a hand on his friend's shoulder, whispering out "It really wasn't anything..."
"Because he didn't pay for it, Sen. Come on, there's an empty booth right there."
Without waiting for an objection, the duo picked their order up and walked down the aisle of booths to one tucked away in a corner.
Now a comfortable distance from the loudness, Senjuro flushed red, "It really was nothing, Mui."
Mui didn't give a damn, side eyeing their old seats, "It's rude, who does he think he is?"
Although he still had a small frown on his face, Muichiro picked a spoonful of ice cream and put it against Senjuro's lips, that opened with no fuss.
Tasting the sweet treat calmed the embarrassment running around Senjuro's mind, "Don't be angry at him, he's the outgoing type, maybe that kind of friend does that."
"Steal?"
Throughout the next minutes, Muichiro continued feeding Sen, sometimes eating, but preferring to make his friend feel better about ditching their annoying classmates.
Checking the artists list on the small screen they came to the decision to still enjoy their — already paid — stay, "Oh, they have Anri! Can I choose her?"
"Okay."
Senjuro typed swiftly into the control screen, spelling out Good Bye Boogie Dance.
The rest of their stay was between enjoying a high grade sweet and singing city pop songs that Senjuro remembered from the top of his head.
At five in the afternoon, they walked home without warning the other students, raving about whatever went through their heads.