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“What are you doing here?” Giyuu looks at him with his usual uninterested look.
“I’m here to pick up my sister, sensei.” Tanjirou replies and Giyuu’s face immediately remained stoic, his gaze unmoving towards him, it feels like Tanjirou just said something stupid.
After a few seconds of silence,
“Classes ended early. Didn’t she texted you?”
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“Actually sensei, I have some questions” Tanjirou breaks the silence between them while fixing some school paper at Giyuu’s desk.
“I have not been your teacher for years Tanjirou, I can’t help you with anything.” Giyuu responds though he appreciates Tanjirou’s help with the paperwork.
“It’s not about school, it’s about being an alpha.” He replies, his hands clenches on the small bundle of paper he’s holding.
“What of it?” Giyuu nonchalantly asks, it’s either he doesn’t care about the distress scent Tanjirou’s emitting or he just wants to remain calm and not make Tanjirou any more stress than he is.
Which actually helps Tanjirou to calm a bit.
“I’ve been thinking about it, you know. I rarely talk to anyone about my caste, let alone to my former teacher but since you’re the only one I know who’s in complete control of their dynamic. How do you do it?” then Tanjirou proceeds to sit down on a vacant chair. He lets out a deep breath before covering his head with his hands. “I don’t think I have been a good alpha towards Inosuke.”
Giyuu stares at him, as if he’s checking if he heard what Tanjirou said correctly.
“I don’t know what to do sensei, it’s like whatever I do I always fail … everyone keeps telling me that I’m a hard worker and that I should be proud of myself but I don’t feel like it. It’s like whenever I go home, it reminds me of how much of a failure that I truly am. The sacrifices and compromise Inosuke did for my sake is nothing that I can’t mount with— no matter how much I try. I’m pathetic, I can’t even give Inosuke a comfortable life.” He looks completely defeated, from the way he contorts his face up to the scent he’s emitting.
Tanjirou knows Giyuu is not good with words but the small instances he speaks are gold and he wants to take some wisdom from him.
Giyuu stops at what he’s doing and stares at Tanjirou, “Well, it’s up to you if how you let your dynamic define you.” He pauses when Tanjirou looks at him intently, “There’s no right or wrong way of becoming an alpha. Just because we are closer to our primal instinct compared to the other castes, it doesn’t make us any different. We’re still people in the end and behaviors are learned not inherited. So what if you have a gentle side? It doesn’t mean you fail as an alpha, all of these rules and limitations. Don’t make them dictate who you are, you are Kamado Tanjirou and you shouldn’t question your capability. I’m sure Inosuke knows this and he’s willing to make these compromises because you gave him a choice and didn’t force him.”
This is the first time he’s ever heard Giyuu speak for more than a sentence and what’s more surprising is the fact that he speaks it with much conviction which warms his heart. “Sensei…Thank you so much!” Tanjirou jumps towards him out of joy and then proceeds into hugging Giyuu.
Giyuu merely grunts and allows him to continue the hug while he pats Tanjirou on the head.
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After meeting up Nezuko and his family. Tanjirou goes back home, “I’m back.” he announces and immediately takes off his shoes.
The alluring scent of cooked food have him conclude that Inosuke’s in the kitchen cooking dinner.
“Welcome back, Tanjirou! I’m in the kitchen” ah, so his guess is correct.
It doesn’t take him a second to proceed to their small kitchen which is connected to their dining area. His eyes are wide, surprised to see the numerous number of food present in their modest table. It feels like they’re having a feast, “Oh my, what’s this.”
“Shinobu came by earlier and she helped me cook some of these.” Inosuke responds, there’s an obvious look of pride on his face. Tanjirou always feels happy whenever Inosuke is happy, though it makes him sad over the fact that Shinobu has to visit here. Meaning something must have bothered him too much to have her come here personally.
“Is there something wrong?” Tanjirou walks closer towards Inosuke, “You know you can talk to me about anything.” His eyes is full of concern. There it is, another failure. How come Tanjirou can’t be there whenever Inosuke is in trouble? Did he become too distant that Inosuke can’t even share to him what’s bothering him.
Inosuke weakly shakes his head before placing a chaste kiss on his cheek, “I know, it was just something I needed to reassure myself about. You’re an amazing alpha and I’m glad to be mated with you.”
Too cute. Tanjirou tries to control himself when Inosuke gives him a gentle smile.
“I should be the one saying that Inosuke!”he returns the smile and lets out a small chuckle when he sees Inosuke blushing from it.
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It’s funny how things work sometimes.
Tanjirou didn’t expect Inosuke to feel the same way as him. Dinner have become an interesting conversation considering how Inosuke decided to share what he and Shinobu talked about. It made Tanjirou realize that he should have spent more time with him. He feels disappointed with himself. Taking a page from Giyuu’s wisdom, he says, “You shouldn’t be too focused on what others say. I really don’t mind doing the household chores and I understand that you don’t want to go to college to help me out financially but once I can get another job, I swear I’ll give you the best life.”
“You shouldn’t do that, you’re already doing more than what you should be doing in the first place. I don’t want you to overwork yourself. I’m already lucky to have you as my alpha.”
Tanjirou doesn’t know what he did in his previous life but to be blessed with such understanding and caring omega brings him too much joy. “I’m the one that should be saying that.”
“Huh?”
“I mean look at you! You’re an incredibly strong and beautiful omega, you can have any alpha you want and yet you chose me.” and it’s true, he could still remember how the very first time he saw Inosuke, how the other took his breathe away with just a single look; how Tanjirou falls deeper and deeper in love with him especially when the other constantly defy every expectation of him.
Tanjirou could reminiscent more about their fated past but it’s another tale to be shared in the future.
“Don’t sell yourself short Tanjirou, you’re the alpha I’ll ever want.
“I guess we’re both lucky then.’ Tanjirou lets out a chuckle, noticing a stray hair around Inosuke’s cheek, he brushes it off.
“I guess so.” Inosuke responds and leans for a kiss.