Chapter Text
Zenitsu’s unsure of what to make of current events, mostly because Kaigaku seems entirely unbothered that Tanjirou has managed to get their home entirely re-furnished, after staying over for just one night.
Well, not entirely. But there is a new refrigerator in their kitchen, and he just can’t take his eyes off it.
When he asked about it, Tanjirou had just smiled at him and showed off the ice dispenser feature.
Zenitsu quietly added six more digits to his ever growing debt to this man.
It was also weird to see Kaigaku so calm and unassuming about a stranger; Zenitsu had to make sure it was actually his brother and not just a doppelganger that wandered in somehow.
This was quickly confirmed after his brother smacked him on the backside of the head after he stared for too long.
After breakfast, Tanjirou’s phone started to ping continuously. The brunette had brushed it off, but Zenitsu was quick to pounce on an opportunity to push Tanjirou out of the house.
As nice as it was to have his company there, mornings were sacred to Zenitsu. Sacred, as in, it was the time of day when he could think of other stuff apart from the brunette's winning smile.
“I’ll be going then.” Tanjirou sulks when he’s by the entrance, tapping his shoes to make sure they don’t slip off.
“Take care.” Zenitsu mutters, leaning on the wall casually. As casual as he can get around Tanjirou, of course. “And thanks for the stuff.”
Tanjirou flashes him a warm smile, the effect doubled by the morning sun rays behind him. “You’re always welcome, Zenitsu.”
Zenitsu hums, distracted.
It’s been months of this treatment; Tanjirou coming in, giving the blonde something, then leaving just as fast as he came. He hasn’t found the time to give anything back, because even the compromises they come up with benefit Zenitsu in some way.
When he was feeling guilty for receiving too many gifts? Tanjirou masked anything he’d buy for him as something he’d need too.
When he felt awkward being fetched from school all the time? Tanjirou takes him out on expensive dates as an apology.
Zenitsu’s been itching to give back something for a while now, but it was already a given that he couldn’t just give him anything, because he can’t match Tanjirou in terms of spending money.
But maybe he doesn’t have to.
He takes a glance at the brunette, who’s still fidgeting by the door, back faced towards him. He’s pretty sure Tanjirou’s just stalling at point, tugging at his cufflinks and adjusting his suit nonsensically.
Zenitsu’s not going to try and blind himself any further than he has. As embarrassing as it was, Tanjirou does seem to genuinely enjoy his company. And really, what else does he have to offer other than himself?
Zenitsu winces. That sounds wrong--but he has nothing but pure intentions with his idea!
“Hey.” Zenitsu calls when Tanjirou’s just about to leave through the door.
The brunette turns back, curious. If Zenitsu hallucinates enough, he'd even imagine a tail wagging furiously behind him.
“I want to treat you out on our next date.”
Zenitsu bites his tongue, hoping this wouldn’t go wrong.
He knows the brunette is purposely making time for him, even if he does imply that he’s too rich to have any work to do. If anything, he deserves a break.
Tanjirou visibly hesitates. “Zenitsu--”
“No excuses!” The blonde blurts, “The only thing I can say is that, I hope you don’t mind fast food.”
For a moment, Tanjirou looks like he’s going to say no, Zenitsu braces himself for the incoming rejection. The brunette however defies his expectations, as he usually does.
“As long as I get to spend some time with you.” Tanjirou says without a beat, “I’m okay with anything.”
Zenitsu nods, relieved that the hardest part was over.
Now he just has to make sure they’re on the same page.
You see, Zenitsu had a realization earlier, while Tanjirou was trying to pitch the newly bought fridge to him.
He realized that he'd fallen hard, and that he might have a chance at love if he confesses to this pseudo - sugar daddy of his.
Zenitsu had imagined the thought would’ve come to him one night, when he was about to go to sleep, or even during one of their so-called ‘dates’, but no.
Leave it to Zenitsu to have an epiphany while Tanjirou demonstrates how to use the ice dispenser.
Zenitsu sighs. “Right. So it’s a date.”
Tanjirou, still oblivious, hums in agreement. “Yes, it is.”
“It’s.” Zenitsu heaves a breath, and all of the courage he can squeeze out. “A date.” He drawls.
Tanjirou blinks once. Then twice, without a change in expression.
Zenitsu remains stiff as a statue.
“Oh, Zenitsu.” The brunette finally coos, brushing a gentle hand over his cheek. “It’s always been.”
And with that, Tanjirou strides out of the house, closing the door behind him with a clatter.
Zenitsu doesn’t get to scream his head off because his brother mock gags from the living room.
“It’s always been.” His brother says, breaking the oh so nice silence and mimicking Tanjirou’s voice. “Geez, Zenitsu.”
Zenitsu whips around, face red. “What?!” He exclaims, voice cracking from embarrassment. “You set me up with him!”
“I did not. To my understanding, You set yourself up with him.”
Zenitsu bites his tongue. Maybe he did, maybe he didn’t. Either way, he realizes it’s a stupid argument to make.
“Shut up.” The blonde says, giving up. Whatever he’ll say, his brother would make fun of it. Better focus on the important things. “Help me with my date.”
Kaigaku claps his hands, and heaves himself out of the couch with a grunt. “Alright.” He says, “How much of a hoe do you want to look like--”
Kaigaku is promptly smacked in the face with a pillow.
Now armed with the knowledge that Tanjirou has been taking him on actual dates for about two months, Zenitsu’s a bit more confident initiating the conversation.
By that he means, it only takes him ten minutes on how to decide to approach Tanjirou.
To : kamado papi
Zenitsu shared a location
From : kamado papi
?
To : kamado papi
Its where we’re going this weekend!!
From : kamado papi
An amusement park? I should’ve expected it.
To : kamado papi
Its been a while since ive been in one, i just want to see the night parade again
You don’t midn do you?
From : kamado papi
Of course not, it’ll be fun!
To : kamado papi
Alright! Make sure you don’t look expensive!!!
From : kamado papi
?
ill do my best ^^?
Saturday came too fast, in Zenitsu’s opinion.
He was pretty sure he remembered counting the days in his head, but before he can realize it, it’s the weekend and he’s practically jumping around the house to get ready.
“Calm down, kid.” Kaigaku had scolded when he nearly slipped on the wet trail he left from the bathroom to the living room. “Eat first.”
“Tanjirou might already be there!” Zenitsu had argued. Still, he didn’t budge when Kaigaku pushed him towards the dining table.
“He can entertain himself. If he gets in the way of breakfast, I’m breaking you two up.”
After eating his fill of fluffy pancakes, he dashes back to his room to hair dry his hair and slip on his outfit.
The clothes Nezuko had bought for him last time were still there in his wardrobe, neatly folded and looking painfully expensive. Zenitsu’s clothes already have the wear and tear look you’d get from wearing something for too long, so in contrast, the new clothes are practically shining.
He wears one of them, the simplest one he can find, and wears the watch Tanjirou gave him when he broke his old one. It’s silver and shiny, but at least it isn’t gold and branded, the last thing he needs is getting mugged because of a watch.
When Zenitsu reaches the meeting spot, panting and out of breath (because eating breakfast definitely took up a good chunk of his time), he finds Tanjirou already there.
The brunette waves him over, a grin plastered on his face.
“How is it?” He asks when Zenitsu is close enough, turning around for him and showing off his clothes. “Do I look less expensive?”
Zenitsu is quick to answer. “Definitely not.”
Tanjirou falters. “Well.”
Zenitsu’s not wrong. He firmly believes that unless Tanjirou decides to wear baggy clothes or literal pajamas, he would look expensive in anything. He supposes it’s just because the brunette knows how to carry himself well.
Then again, even if he did wear pyjamas and baggy clothes, he’ll probably find a way to make it look like he’s modelling in them or something.
Zenitsu sighs, wistfully. He wishes he can have that kind of power.
Tanjirou just shrugs and tugs Zenitsu forwards, “Come on. I’m looking forward to a tour.”
The blonde lets himself be led. He’s not really sure how a tour of an amusement park would work, but he’ll do his best.
Since they’re both practically adults, the question of which rides they could get on isn’t really a problem. Instead, they had to find out what Zenitsu can handle.
The blonde didn’t really put into much thought how terrifying the rides would be, he pretty much thought he’d get over his fear of ‘things moving very fast’ after he stepped out of high school, but he was wrong.
Tanjirou took it all in stride, not really minding just standing around and watching.
“Sorry if I just—“ Zenitsu mimes cutting something on his palm. They’re on a break, eating ice cream on one of the free benches. “—just basically stopped from riding any of the good ones.”
Tanjirou just laughs. “It’s okay. It’s pretty fun to just watch people, don’t you think?”
Zenitsu just hums in reply, taking a bite out of his cone even if it makes his sensitive teeth cold; just to distract himself from the unease he’s feeling.
Now that Zenitsu has confirmation that yes, this is an official date, he’s nervous and fidgety. Obviously, Tanjirou enjoys his company enough and likes him to an extent, but now that there’s the prospect of a possible relationship, Zenitsu’s thoughts go haywire.
He’s anxious, if Tanjirou’s even serious about this. He was fine about flirting a little when they were ambiguous, but after this date he might be forced to make a decision and stamp a label on their relationship.
He’s scared that Tanjirou might not get what he wants out of him, and that he might not find the brunette’s company tolerable after a while.
When Tanjirou sends him a questioning glance, he shakes off the thoughts. It wouldn’t do to worry so much while on a date. Zenitsu stands up and offers to look for another ride.
“Is it always packed like this?” Tanjirou asks when they’re waiting in a line for a rollercoaster; A tame one without the loops, because it gives Zenitsu less heart attacks.
“Pretty much.” The blonde groans, fanning himself constantly. He didn’t expect the heat to get to him so fast, but here he was, sweating bullets. “I think I remember why I stopped going here.”
Tanjirou is quiet for a while. “Can you rent amusement parks?”
“Probably. Our school did it once for a field trip.”
Tanjirou hums, gaze wandering.
Zenitsu senses a tingle, specifically the recent tingle he’d gained when Tanjirou was about to spend ungodly amounts of money again.
He gives the brunette a look.
Tanjirou meets his gaze. They stare at each other for a moment, before he cracks a smile.
“Okay.” Is what the brunette simply says.
Crisis averted, Zenitsu supposes. Someday he’ll get it drilled into Tanjirou’s head that he doesn’t need to buy anything he blurts out. He feels his heart flutter at the thought, then sink.
Tanjirou’s always one step ahead of pampering him, and he can’t return the favor unless his salary magically turns into six digits.
Another thought to add to the pile of ‘reasons why Tanjirou probably shouldn’t date me’. A recently compiled, but quickly growing list he’d just thought about today.
When they finally get on the ride, the list is promptly tossed out of his mind because it’s replaced with screaming and praying to the lord god almighty that he doesn’t die when the tracks make a sharp turn.
Tanjirou, with his saint-like patience, just has a wide grin on his face the whole time while Zenitsu is screaming for mercy.
The experience is forever immortalized in a photo that Zenitsu wouldn't hesitate to burn, only if Tanjirou would stop looking at it so fondly.
The rest of the day goes smoothly enough. Zenitsu gets to experience the most adrenaline he’s probably going to have in his life and Tanjirou indulges himself in an unhealthy amount of sweets and junk food.
He knows the amount of sugar the brunette had consumed today was unhealthy, but he figures that it’s not going to affect him anytime soon. Better let the guy indulge.
Zenistu still had to make sure Tanjirou didn’t spend any of his money, though, despite there being times where it’d be convenient to. Today was his treat and he’s very serious in keeping it that way.
The brunette had pouted, but otherwise let Zenitsu lead the way, just making sure he didn’t buy anything too expensive.
Maybe now he felt what Zenitsu feels when he’s being treated by him.
“You want that?” Zenitsu asks when he sees Tanjirou eyeing a keychain in the souvenir shop.
Tanjirou hums, eyes flicking back to him, then back to the keychain. “It’s okay.”
Zenitsu purses his lips when the brunette changes the subject by dragging him to the plush section.
It was a fun day, really. Lots of things he never thought he’d get to do after he turned 20. Still throughout the day, he couldn’t help but feel a little lost.
Tanjirou was kind as always and tolerating, but that’s what’s causing Zenitsu’s insecurities in the first place.
The brunette’s too tolerating of him, never telling him what was wrong or if he’d done anything bad. It leads to the blonde’s mind making up issues that don’t have to exist.
He’s probably just letting you do whatever you want until he gets bored of you.
Tanjirou doesn’t mind because he doesn’t care.
All very bad thoughts, and sure, he can just ask Tanjirou and finally get these thoughts out of his head, but he finds that too forward. He likes to get his answer from actions or little small gestures, but that’s a problem when the person in question is a little unreadable.
“There’s a night parade.” Tanjirou muses when they’re in front of a giant map and scanning for one last ride they can get on. ‘Want to stay and watch?”
Zenitsu meekly looks away. “They have an entrance fee.”
“To a night parade?”
“Yes.”
Tanjirou stares. Zenitsu stares back.
“No.” The blonde says. He already knows Tanjirou’s just itching to treat him something. “We’ll just spend the evening somewhere else.” He pauses, realizing that it's a really lame way to end a date. “If you’re okay with it.”
Tanjirou just shrugs, looking amused more than anything. “I’m fine either way.” There’s a brush of fingers on his cheeks. “As long as I’m with you.”
As usual, Tanjirou doesn’t fail to make a blush creep to his cheeks. The thoughts are still nagging him, that it’s all a farce, that Tanjirou probably just wants a warm body next to him in bed. Zenitsu shakes these thoughts away.
It’s really amazing how his brain immediately just starts throwing him these negative thoughts, just when he gets the chance to confirm a relationship with a guy.
Zenitsu drags the brunette to the haunted house, hoping to exact some kind of revenge for making his heart go crazy.
The revenge really only worked for him, because the minute they enter the place he’s sticking to Tanjirou nonstop and screaming his head off. The brunette had just cooed and tugged Zenitsu through the chaos with a wide smile.
They leave the amusement park before it goes dark, with the sky turning orange.
Zenitsu doesn’t want their date to end so soon, so they decide to take the long way home. Taking the bus and getting off a good walking distance from his house.
He treats them both to a convenience store food haul, a large downgrade from the buffets Tanjirou would pull him to, but it's fun to just haul a bunch of snacks and eat them as they walk.
They pass by a playground, one Zenitsu would frequent back in high school, and Tanjirou convinces them to take a break. The blonde agrees readily, not realizing his feet had been sore from standing up and walking around the whole day.
Zenitsu plops himself down on a swing with a content sigh, Tanjirou follows suit with a chuckle, the bag of snacks hanging from his wrist as he sways himself gently.
A moment of silence passes, one that Zenitsu is afraid to break because he’s not sure what to say. It’s the end of the date isn’t it? So he should be asking what Tanjirou thought about it. But that would lead to a conversation about their relationship, and Zenitsu would rather not.
His thoughts are still in disarray after all. He’s still scared, anxious and worried that somehow and somewhere throughout their date today, Tanjirou had realized that Zenitsu wasn’t as worth it as he’d thought.
Zenitsu may very well end up just crying about it if they’d talk about it now. Maybe he can wait until tomorrow?
He peers up at the brunette, planning his move, but then he finds Tanjirou with a somber look on his face, eyes trained on a bench nearby distractedly.
“Tanjirou?” He calls, “What’s up?”
The brunette blinks, warm gaze on Zenitsu after his stupor. “Nothing. I just feel nostalgic.”
“Really? You’ve hung out in playgrounds before?” Zenitsu hopes he doesn’t sound too rude, he really is just surprised the same guy going around in a limousine would hang out in some public playground.
“Zenitsu.” Tanjirou says with a fond note, “What kind of life do you think rich people live?”
Zenitsu winces, “I don’t know.” He says, and really, he doesn’t. “A life where they don’t have to deal with public playgrounds, maybe. You sure didn’t seem like you went to amusement parks.”
That gets a chuckle out of Tanjirou, “Well, I’ve been in one. This exact place. Multiple times, actually.”
Zenitsu frowns, finding something suspicious in Tanjirou’s tone, but otherwise doesn’t argue. “I’m surprised they’d let you do that in broad daylight.”
“I went out at night.”
Zenitsu gasps. He was allowed to do that? “And you didn’t get scared?!”
Tanjirou shakes his head, his feet swaying himself a little more on the swing. “Would you have been?”
“Depends.” Zenitsu kicks the dirt below him, memories of highschool resurfacing. And they weren’t good ones. “I found comfort in the dark somehow when I was back in high school.”
He looks back up to meet gazes with the brunette. Tanjirou’s frowning.
He cringes, he doesn’t want him to worry too much. “I was.” Zenitsu pauses, looking for a word that wouldn’t outright say ‘depressed’. “Emotional.”
“I’d actually go here a lot, back in highschool.” He continues right after, hoping to steer the conversation away from feelings that he didn’t want to experience again. “I’d go on and stress-eat on the swings.”
Tanjirou takes the bait and turns his gaze back up the sky. “I’m surprised you didn’t gain weight.”
“I did but I’d run it off on track and field the next day, anyway.” He kind of misses doing that. Maybe he should start running again in the mornings, if he wasn’t too busy.
“How much food would you buy?”
“Well.” Zenitsu remembers buying a shit ton, but not necessarily all for him. “So much, but I didn’t eat them all.”
Tanjirou hums. “Did you throw them away?”
“No.” The blonde drawls, before jutting his chin to the unoccupied seats across from them. “But there was this dude back then, who I’d find passed out on the seat over there sometimes, and I gave it to him.”
As expected, the brunette frowns at this. “That sounds dangerous, Zenitsu.”
“It’s. He was asleep anyway.” He reasons. Unless the guy was a super light sleeper, he doubts he would have woken him up, which he didn’t. “And I had too many because I was being dramatic.”
“It was nice of you to share.” Tanjirou says, the concern still in his eyes.
“He stopped coming after a while.” Zenitsu reminisces, letting himself swing a few times. “Good for him, I almost thought he lived in the playground.”
The conversation lulls after that, until Tanjirou picks it back up again. “Did you always visit here alone?” He asks, “Did you not have any friends back in highschool?”
The last question stabs at Zenitsu’s heart painfully. Did he really have to ask that?! “Only one, and that’s Aoi.” He grumbles. Not that he’d mind Aoi as a friend, but high school was a pretty dark time for him. “Whenever she was absent I’d have to fend for myself.”
He doesn’t let Tanjirou comment on it, instead moving on to tease him. “I bet you were popular back in high school.” He mocks, tone jealous. “Rich and handsome, that’s enough to have everyone flock your way.”
“I wasn’t in the position I’m in back in high school.” Tanjirou immediately replies, chuckling a little. “Well, I was, but I don’t really have the power I have now.”
“Fair.”
And that was that. Zenitsu eventually finishes most of his snacks, and so does Tanjirou. With nothing else left to do other than stare up at the sky and watch the sunset, they head back home. Well, back to Zenitsu’s home. He kinda feels bad now for making Tanjirou walk him all the way back.
When Zenitsu can see the gates of his home overhead, he turns and gives Tanjirou a wry smile.
Tanjirou smiles back. “Thank you for today.” He says, in his usual tender tone.
“Thank you.” Zenitsu automatically replies, “For allowing me to drag you to lame places.”
Tanjirou bumps shoulders with him playfully. “It wasn’t lame. I liked walking around with you.”
Zenitsu nods. And then holds his breath.
This is it. This is the end game. He'll have to face the reality of rejection now or forever be in limbo with his emotions. Oh fuck he feels sick--he never liked confrontations. Maybe he can just send Tanjirou home and ask him over text later? No, that sounds too impersonal he should--
“Zenitsu?” Tanjirou calls, confused.
“Mm? Oh, I’m fine.” He’s not, he’s both distracted by the way the lights frame Tanjirou’s face and how his brain just won't stop screaming at him about his anxieties. “Just a little dazed, is all from the--uh--yeah.”
Tanjirou just laughs, but otherwise doesn’t pry. Zenitsu knows he’s waiting for an explanation, though, and he doesn’t know how to even begin.
“It’s.” He starts, “Did you have a good time?”
“Today?” Tanjirou looks surprised that he even asked. “Of course.”
Zenitsu hesitates. “Are you sure? Not boring at all?”
Tanjirou stares at him for a moment, before facing him properly and running a hand up and down his arm to soothe him. “I had fun, Zenitsu. I do like doting on you, but a date doesn’t have to be expensive. Like you say.”
Zenitsu really doesn’t want to believe him. Well, he does, but his brain just won’t let him. His stupid thoughts won’t stop straying from the positives and instead focus on the negatives.
Like instead of recognizing how close Tanjirou is right now, and how he’s barely inches from touching lips with him, his mind decides to keep feeding him some depressive scenarios on how his ‘first date’ is going to end.
Zenitsu just sucks it up, heaving a breath. Whatever happens, happens. If they don’t date after this, fine, and if they do, well…
“If you’re sure.” The blonde mutters, “I’ll trust you.”
Zenitsu stares, Tanjirou stares back.
Then the brunette's lips are on his; just a quick gentle peck on the lips. Still, it's enough to make Zenitsu nearly faint from an emotional overload.
But honestly he'd expected more fanfare! Maybe like a gentle carress on the cheek before leaning in? A cute speech?! The shoujo mangas have eroded Zenitsu's expectations of reality; he also expected some literal sparks to fly.
Despite that, Tanjirou's kiss is still enough to shock Zenitsu into a stupor. That's enough to drown his complaints of a shoujou-less kiss experience.
Tanjirou withdraws but only by a small margin. He's still in Zenitsu's space, breath on the blonde's cheeks and holy shit he just kissed me--
“Does it feel too fast?” The brunette asks hesitantly, when another minute passes and Zenitsu remains as stiff as a statue.
“I haven’t had a relationship before.” The blonde bluntly replies, his brain to mouth filter malfunctioning from what he’s just experienced. “I don’t know what’s too fast or not, Tanjirou.”
Tanjirou hums. “But does it feel too fast for you?”
“I don’t know.”
Zenitsu jolts back to reality when Tanjirou starts pulling away, looking uneasy. Hold on wait wait wait--
“Do you want me to--”
“No, wait, Tanjirou.” The blonde panics tugging him back close to him. Tanjirou's cheeks blush a pretty red when he does, but he's too distracted to focus on it.
He's about to run his mouth, Zenitsu can practically feel all of his thoughts fighting to spill through his grit teeth, and he's not going to stop them.
If Tanjirou gets overwhelmed, fuck it, but he needs him to know all of these nagging thoughts or so help him he's going to break up with this pseudo-sugar daddy--
"Listen." Zenitsu heaves a breath. “You’ve pampered me a lot since we’ve met and, it makes me feel really insecure.” He grips the front of Tanjirou's shirt for emphasis. “I mean! Why date me when you can get other rich people, right!?”
Tanjirou blinks, a little jarred by how fast the blonde is speaking. “Zenitsu.”
“It wasn’t that hard to let myself believe that you actually and genuinely do like me, but still.” Zenitsu ignores him. "Do you realize how much I've been overthinking your gestures, huh?! Gives me a headache at least twice a week, I swear--"
"Ze--"
"You’re a really attractive guy too, you know! You're like an eleven out of ten! And what am I?" Tanjirou opens his mouth but it's Zenitsu that speaks. "That's right, I'm a five! Okay in the standards of a ten, but definitely too low for an eleven! !"
Tanjirou doesn't even bother replying now, not that Zenitsu would let him, but he can see him smiling out of amusement.
"And holy fuck, will your family even like me?! I'm not a bad guy or anything but I'm not the best guy on earth! I'm still in Uni, and holy shit can you imagine the scandals?! Mr. Kamado Tanjirou dating some college kid who works at some cafe?!"
"My family would love you." Tanjirou says inspite of his rambling.
Zenitsu ends up ranting for a good 3 minutes before he stops, out of breath. Tanjirou comforts him with small pats on the back.
“Ugh, Tanjirou!” Zenitsu grunts, annoyed. About what? He doesn't know, but he's feeling pretty heated after all that.
He takes a dramatic pause, really he's just recovering from running his mouth and not breathing once.
“Are-" Zenitsu sighs, his voice growing meek." - are you sure you like me?”
Tanjirou doesn't answer, instead giving him a peck on the lips. Zenitsu makes a noise, surprised, but is unable to say anything as he's given another kiss.
And another. And another. And--
"Stop it!" Zenitsu splutters. He likes the kisses, for sure, but the thing he needs the most right now is verbal confirmation.
Tanjirou chuckles, squeezing his waist (when did those hands get there-). “Of course I like you.” He coos, “I’m sorry if I made you feel that way.”
Zenitsu's heart stutters and nearly stops.
There's another rain of kisses, but this time to his cheek. Zenitsu grumbles, but doesn't complain about it anymore, especially with how warm he feels. “Mm. No it’s okay, I’m. I think I just made things look worse than they are.”
“But I must’ve done something to even make you think of that for a second.” Tanjirou says, lips pressed to his temple. “You don’t have to keep beating yourself over thoughts like that, Zenitsu.”
“I love you.” The brunette finally says when he pulls Zenitsu to a tight hug. “I’m sorry if I overwhelmed you. I wasn’t sure how to show how much I loved you, and I ended up making you think the opposite because I did it too much.”
Zenitsu can't really think and say anything more, because Tanjirou is basically giving him all the confirmation his nasty brain had been begging for. He doesn’t bother to peel himself off the brunette and just mutters through his shirt. “Yeah that’s pretty much what I wanted to say.”
Tanjirou laughs. “I love you, you're the loveliest person I've ever had the chance of meeting, I'd give you the entire wo--”
“Okay, I get it.” Zenitsu weakly protests, “Please stop I’m going to combust--”
That’s when Zenitsu hears a familiar click of the door and he immediately panics. Wait, when did they get in front of his house?! Weren't they in the middle of the street earlier?!
“Oh, you two are back early.” Kaigaku singsongs from his place by the doorway, tapping his shoes on the concrete with a huff. “I was just about to leave, don’t mind me--”
“Where are you going?!” Zenitsu whips his head to face him. Tanjirou doesn't let him go, instead opting to bury his face on the crook of the blonde's neck. “I thought you were going to cook dinner?!”
“Already did.” Kaigaku shrugs. “In advance, because I was pretty sure you two wouldn’t eat first when you came back--”
Zenitsu whines, cutting off whatever blasphemy his brother was about to say. Kaigaku takes offense to this and they both start an argument loud enough to get the neighbor's dogs to start barking.
Through it all, he can feel Tanjirou's grin widen on his bare neck.
“Okay. Let me hear you admit one thing.” Aoi says, raising one manicured finger in the air.
“Mm.” Zenitsu utters through his straw.
“You just wanted to hear Tanjirou say,” She slumps over her chair dramatically, a hand on her heart, frowning as she closes her eyes. “Zenitsu, you’re my everything, I fell love in first sight with you and--”
Zenitsu nearly chokes on his drink. “Aoi!”
She keeps her pose, but opens one eye and raises a brow.
“Alright. Okay. Maybe a little.” Zenitsu admits, wilting under her judgemental gaze. “I just, Can you blame me? I wanted to know for real.”
Aoi snorts and sits back upright. “And?”
“And?” The blonde parrots back.
She rolls her eyes, but nevertheless continues. “Did you get it? The confirmation.”
Meekly, Zenitsu nods.
Aoi sighs.
“Well. I’m glad the pining is done.” She mutters, running a hand through one of her twin tails. “Though I will miss scolding you over your denial.”
Zenitsu huffs. He wasn't in denial, he was just.
Well.
Fine, he was. But he's got more pressing matters to deal with apart from his past (forced) obliviousness. For example…
“What do I do now?” Zenitsu blurts out, panic suddenly surging through his veins.
Aoi blinks. “What?”
“I have no idea what happens in dating Aoi--” Zenitsu sits up straighter, and he begins to bounce his legs (a habit he'd picked up from Kaigaku). “---what if I’m not affectionate enough?” He gasps. “Did I forget to text him good morning? Oh g--”
“Calm down, dude.” Aoi soothes, reaching over to pat his flailing hands down. “It’s been 12 hours, your relationship isn’t going to change that drastically.”
But Zenitsu can't calm down, and he starts to get too absorbed in his thoughts again and oh no is Tanjirou going to break up with him--
He faintly heara Aoi groan across him, before he hears her speak again.
“Give me.”
Zenitsu blinks. He stares at Aoi's outstretched palm.
When he doesnt respond she sighs and wiggles her fingers for emphasis. "Give. Me."
Zenitsu hums, confused and still disoriented. He subconsciously hands over his phone without complaint.
Aoi taps for a while, clicks the screen closed, places it in the middle of the table, Then goes back to drinking her milk tea like nothing was wrong with the world.
Zenitsu frowns. Suspicious. “What did you do?”
“Told your boyfriend to come pick you up and take you on a date.”
Zenitsu is in the middle of screaming when Tanjirou appears to escort him out of the cafe.
It’s a weird feeling.
Tanjirou’s right beside him, and they're on a very romantic walk in the park. Alone and watching the sun go down as they eat ice cream.
He’d expected it to feel like what the shoujo mangas had described to him (here he goes again), fluffy and a general feeling of completeness. But he doesn’t feel anything, if that would make sense.
Not that Tanjirou doesn’t make him feel anything, clearly he does. Zenitsu had been a blushing mess earlier when their hands brushed for a millisecond, after the brunette passed him an ice-cream cone.
What he meant was; he didn’t expect this to feel like a normal Friday. When he went to work earlier, he expected to be a stupid klutz; getting orders wrong or dropping expensive plates around because he was thinking about Tanjirou too much, or something like thag. Instead, it was business as usual.
Maybe he still got a few orders wrong, but that was normal for even a non-love struck Zenitsu.
Zenitsu sneaks a glance at his boyfriend (wow he calls him that now) and he thinks that maybe being in love wasn’t as intense as he’d thought it would be. Sometimes it was just you and your lover walking in a park (suspiciously devoid of people, especially on a friday night) and eating cheap ice cream.
Well. He did panic earlier about the prospect of dating, but now that he’s in front of his actual boyfriend, he realizes it’s all kind of meaningless.
Especially since Tanjirou’s good at being sincere, and literally would not stop telling Zenitsu he loves him. That’s gotta reassure anyone that they’re doing good.
“Anything on your mind?” Tanjirou asks out of the blue, when they’ve stopped to sit on a bench.
“Nothing, really.” There's a lot actually, but unless Zenitsu wants to ruin the quiet for them both, he'll keep his mouth shut.
Tanjirou hums, looking back up at the darkening sky.
Zenitsu, alone with his thoughts, is left to think about his feelings. Maybe it doesn't feel different because they're not doing anything different? Today still feels like their old 'apology dates'; back when Tanjirou kept dragging him to expensive places because of a deal.
Out of curiosity, Zenitsu slips his fingers through the brunette’s.
Tanjirou responds in kind, squeezing back.
Hm. Still nothing unusual.
The blonde then goes for a kiss on the cheek.
Tanjirou just chuckles, but leans in close so he doesn't have to strain himself. “Are you testing boundaries?”
“Kind of. I don’t know.”
Tanjirou hums, playing with his fingers. "As my boyfriend, you realize you can do anything you want with me, right?"
A blush quickly overtakes the blonde's face, regardless of whether or not the innuendo was intentional, that was a bold statement.
Tanjirou just chuckles and gives his hair a little ruffle.
Zenitsu returns to his ice cream, mind still conflicted. There's no big reaction to kissing or holding hands, really. It just feels like he was meant to do this.
The blonde pauses.
Meant to do this, huh?
He turns back to Tanjirou, determined.
“I love you.”
And in that moment, when Tanjirou looks back down to meet his gaze, Zenitsu gets the biggest burst of warmth he's ever experienced (with the exception of the confession yesterday).
“I love you too.”
Oh. So that's why.
He was meant to do this. He was meant to be with Tanjirou. Zenitsu doesn't know why it's so natural to be so close to him, but it is. Tanjirou just has that pull on him.
Tanjirou argued that Zenitsu pulled him in just the same, but his self esteem isn't ready to vibe with that. Tanjirou seduced him and that's a fact.
“Ah. Your ice cream.” Tanjirou's muffled voice pulls him out of his musings, and he blinks down to their legs.
“My--” Sure enough, there's a large stain over Tanjirou's thighs. Zenitsu jumps to action. “Ice cream!! Oh my god how much are those pants Tanjirou--is that the Chanel logo?! What did I tell you about wearing something expensive when you’re with me I could ruin it--!”
Tanjirou just laughs as Zenitsu furiously tries to wipe the chocolate off his pant leg with his cartoon-branded kerchief.
Zenitsu was wrong, maybe it wasn’t just a normal Friday night. Tanjirou’s in love with him after all, and he’s in love back.
Nothing’s going to be normal after this, and he’s looking forward to it all, as long as he can be with him for the longest time.