Just to say, I re-read this chapter and then I reliezed how bad it was and then tried to fix it but no- it's still bad so because of that I'll post another chapter tomorrow too just to make it up for this mistake

Muichiro's pov

Me, Tanjiro and Genya separated so I walked to my house alone. I walked behind the corner and stopped. "Why did he grab my hand? Why did he do such a thing when we know each other for such a short time?... maybe he's just happy to have a friend?... maybe this is the way he shows affection?..." I thought and sighed. I then realized. "wait... this is my second friend" My eyes lit up with excitement. I couldn't believe it. "I have another friend, I have another friend" I repeated and jumped around. I laughed to myself and then immediately looked around me to make sure no one saw me. "I have to tell-... " I then remembered what happened yesterday. My mood immediately changed. I just sighed and walked home.

I got home and went to my room. I sat down at my desk and worked on my homework until someone knocked on my door. "Come in" I said and Yuichiro came in. He closed the door and said,

Yuichiro : Can we talk?

Muichiro : about what?

I said and turned to look at him. He sat down on my bed and said,

Yuichiro : I wanted to apologize about yesterday. About what I said..

Muichiro : oh.

Yuichiro : Will you.. forgive me?

Muichiro :I don't know... will I?

Yuichiro : what?

Muichiro : It just... really hurted what you said...

Yuichiro : Well I am sorry that you can't talk?

He said while he raised his voice.

Yuichiro : I tried to believe in you as much as I could but bealiving in you is harder than it seems.

In his voice I could hear he was getting mad. "It's not my fault that you're so useless you can't talk with anyone." He whispered but I still could hear him. My eyes widened and filled with tears.

Muichiro : So you came here to apologize but now you are saying this?

Yuichiro : Well I tried to apologize but you're so stubborn.

He said as tears rolled down my cheeks. He let out a little laugh and said.

Yuichiro : hah crying again? I was right, you are such a crybaby.

There was a minute of silence before Yuichiro said,

Yuichiro : You've changed since our parents died.

Muichiro : DON'T BRING OUR PARENTS INTO THIS!

I yelled.

Muichiro : NOW LEAVE!

I said and pointed at the door from my room. He stood up and slammed the door right behind him. "god I messed up" I thought and laid my arms on the desk in front of me and my head on them as I cried.

Next day

When I grabbed books from my locker, I closed it and headed into my class. I felt a tap on my shoulder and all I could think of was. "please be Tanjiro or Genya. Please be Tanjiro or Genya '' I repeated in my head while slowly turning around. I turned around to see two guys that weren't even in my class. Then I heard the bell ring. "I am going to be late" I thought.

/// : Hey Muichiro right? I am a friend with your brother. May I speak to you for a second?

He laughed at the last sentence. I turned around again and quickly walked away. Not only because I never talked to them and I was scared but because I didn't want to be late for class. Just imagining how I will get there and everyone will be staring at me while the teacher will yell at me why I am late makes me anxious. I thought I got away but later he grabbed me by my hand and pushed me against the lockers. My back hit the lockers as my voice hitched. He grabbed me by my collar and said,

/// : I guees it need to go the bad way.

He then kicked me into my stomach making me fall on my knees and dropping the books on the floor. The other guy lifted me up by my hair and punched me.

---- : Your brother was right... you are useless.. pff you can't even speak to anyone

The other guy burst out laughing

/// : I know right...

He looked at me and pulled my face closer to his.

/// : I'll leave you alone for now... but next time I meet you... you better answer.

He said as the other guy laughed. I nodded immediately before both of them left. I sat up while trying to stop the tears from coming. As I wiped my tears I saw something fall on the floor in front of me. It was blood coming from my nose. I held the sleeve close to my nose as I tried to pick up the books. I then stood up but immediately leaned against the lockers. I pulled the hand away from my nose and grabbed my stomach. "I can't go to class like this" I thought. So I went to the washroom to try to stop the blood.

In the washroom I grabbed a tissue and held it close to my nose. I then heard someone opening the door to the washroom. I turned to look at who it was.

Tanjiro : I finally found y-

Tanjiro stopped and looked at my hands and face that were covered in blood. He walked up to me and immediately asked.

Tanjiro : Who did this to you? Are you okay?

"Don't you dare tell anyone about this... it's our little secret, okay?" I remembered

Muichiro : I-I just fell. Nobody did it..

I said as he turned on the water, he grabbed me by my hands and placed them under the water.

Tanjiro : mm I see.

He said and looked me in the face.

Tanjiro : Your eyes are all red. Did something else happen?

I looked in the sink and just watched how the blood from my hands washed off without answering Tanjiro's question.

Tanjiro : If you don't want to tell me that's okay. You can tell me whenever you want.

I just nodded and pulled the tissue away from my nose. The blood finally stopped. I threw the tissue into a trash and washed my face.

Muichiro : y-you're going to be l-late for class. Y-You should go.

Tanjiro : I am not gonna leave you here. You said you fell and if you got a nosebleed you had to fall on four face right? What if you get dizzy and faint? I am not gonna risk that.

Muichiro :... W-why do you c-care so much?

Tanjiro : What kind of stupid question is that? You are my friend, of course I will care.

He said and laughed. I stopped the water and looked at him with a smile.

-

At lunch I waited at the school's rooftop for Tanjiro. I felt so uncomfortable being in such an open space after what happened. There were so many people, so many noises... loud.. noises. I looked at the floor trying to calm down but it wasn't helping. My hands started shaking and my breath was getting out of control. I clenched my fists and looked around hoping I see Tanjiro somewhere. There were so many people but Tanjiro was nowhere to be seen.

I couldn't stay there any longer. I grabbed my bento with my shaky hands and quickly walked away. I walked to the first floor and sat under the stairs. There were people everywhere. Not a single place where I could be alone beside the stairs. I sat there still trying to calm down. I then heard someone calling my name... but who? I stood up and looked to see if I could spot someone. I saw Tanjiro walking the other way.

Muichiro : T-Tanjiro!

I called his name as he turned around. He looked at me and walked up to me.

Tanjiro : hah I finally found you. Did you forget where we wanted to meet?

He said with a smile. I looked at the floor.

Muichiro : n-no.. I waited there but... there w-were so many p-people.. I started to get anxious and couldn't s-stay there any longer... I am s-sorry..

Tanjiro : o-oh I see. That's okay we can eat here.

He said and smiled.

7pm

"So how are you enjoying the new school?"

Our uncle asked us while we ate our lunch. Yuichiro said that it's like our old school and stuff while I stayed quiet and kept looking at my food that I had in front of me.

"What about you Muichiro? Did you find a friend?"

Muichiro : I... I actually did.

I said and laughed a bit.

"I am glad, I told you it's going to be better"

Muichiro : y-yeah...

.....

After lunch I went to my room and sat on the floor next to my bed. "Should I tell them about what happened today? Maybe it was just a one time thing... I should have listened to him..." I thought to myself and grabbed my phone. I had two messages from an unknown number.

Tanjiro : Heyyy it's me. Tanjiro :DD

Tanjiro : I asked your brother for your number.

My cheeks got warmer as I kept looking at the chat. "How should I answer? Should I just say hi? or Hi, how are you? Am I overthinking this too much?" I thought and answered,

Muichiro : Hiii

Minute passed. "Did I mess up? Did I answer too late? Is he mad at me now?" I thought and pulled a pillow to my face to hide it.

I heard my phone buzz. I looked at it immediately to see a text from Tanjiro. "God finally, it has been only 5 minutes but it felt like years."

Tanjiro : You actually answered. I was worried you might think I am weird that I asked your brother for your number instead of asking you haha. Anyways, glad you answered. So I wanted to ask you if you want to hangout? It would be a better way to get to know each other.

"hangout? hangout?! But what if I mess up? I can barely make myself talk with him at least three times in school and now I am supposed to hangout with him? What if he gets bored? Will he think I am boring?.... Maybe he will end our friendship because of that?" I thought and sighed.

Tanjiro : So? What do you think?

Muichiro : Wouldn't you get bored with me?

Tanjiro : Of course not!

Muichiro : Okay then.

Tanjiro : YAY! Let's meet at the park near the school, okay? At 4pm?

Muichiro : sure

I answered and looked at the time. 3:30?! "Shxt" I thought and immediately woke up and ran to my closeth. "What will I wear?! Hoodie and jeans? Ehh that's too basic isn't it? What am I thinking I am just going out with him- Oh my god it's already 3:31." I thought and buried my face into the hoodie I held in my hands. "Maybe I am overthinking this too much.... he's not gonna judge me, right?.."

-

I walked around the park looking for Tanjiro while looking at the time. "It's already 4:16... where is he? Was he just joking? Maybe he was." I thought, stopped and looked around hoping I'll see him somewhere.... but I didn't. "How could I've been so stupid... of course he would never want to hangout with someone like me..." I placed my phone in my pocket and sighed.

"MUICHIRO!"

"huh?" I turned around to see Tanjiro running to me. He stopped in front of me and tried to calm his breath.

Muichiro : Y-You actually came....

Tanjiro : Of course I did. So where do you want to go?

Muichiro : I-I don't know it here ahaha

I said and laughed awkwardly.

Tanjiro : Oh right haha, so let me show you around here. We can go to my favorite cafe if you want or I can show you around town. We have plenty of time anyway.

Tanjiro said and smiled. I smiled back and agreed.

Tanjiro : Alright then let's go.

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