Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Tanjiro and Zenitsu were just leaving the school building as classes were over but ended up just standing at the yard to chat some more and as usual, Zenitsu was complaining and going on and on about how he was getting no bitches.

“Anyway, enough about my bad luck with Nezuko... how is your love life, Tanjiro?” Zenitsu then asked. “You mentioned having a crush, too.. Do you have any luck approaching her? Did you follow my advice?”

The last question made Tanjiro chuckle. “Yeahhh… I don't think I will be taking dating advice from you... Also, he.. is the one that approached me, actually.” He said. “Oh, and also, he’s a man.”

“...no way..” Zenitsu said in confusion. But this confusion turned into rage real fast. “SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT WHILE I WAS GOING THROUGH THE STRESS OF TRYING TO FIND LOVE.. BUT YOU DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO TRY?!? AND WHY DO I ONLY NOW FIND OUT THAT HE'S GUY?!? WHO IS THAT FUCKER ANYWAY?!?” The blonde kept yelling from frustration. “..IT'S INOSUKE, ISN'T IT?!? IT BETTER NOT BE INOSUKE!!!!!”

“It's not Inosuke.” The redhead responded.

Zenitsu looked at him and tilted his head in confusion, though, there was still a hint of frustration and jealousy in his voice when he asked “Well then who is it?!”

“..you don't know him, he doesn't go to this school.” Tanjiro said, only now realizing that he was told to not tell anyone about the relationship he's in. So now he is going as vague as possible.

Zenitsu was curious, however, and asked “so what is his name?”

The other went quiet, he was indecisive of how to respond. He knows that if he lies it would be obvious, as he is a terrible liar. Then he considered that maybe telling his best friend about the person he is dating won't do any harm. It is not like the blonde knows this man anyway.

“Muzan Kibutsuji.” The redhead ended up saying after being silent for at least a minute. However, as soon as Zenitsu reacted, he would regret speaking real fast.

“WHAT?!?!” Zenitsu yelled. Loud enough for everyone who's still on the schoolyard to hear and direct their attention to the conversation.

Tanjiro went quiet again and went to walk away, as he realized how terribly this backfired and how all eyes seem on him and Zenitsu now. This would not stop the blonde from following him, however.

“TANJIRO, YOU SERIOUSLY MEAN TO TELL ME THAT THE GUY YOU HAVE A CRUSH ON.. IS MUZAN KIBUTSUJI ?! LIKE.. AS IN .. THAT POLITICIAN?!?” Zenitsu asked very loudly. “AND HE IS THE ONE WHO APPROACHED YOU?!?”

Tanjiro nodded, he was a bit surprised that Zenitsu knew who his boyfriend was, but then he remembered that this politician does go on the news a lot due to scandals, scandals he would just chalk up to being rumors because that is what the politician convinced him. Though, he could smell the anger and worry in Zenitsu. He could tell that the blonde was worried about him, he couldn't think of any reason why Zenitsu would be worried, despite how obvious it was.

So he said “Zenitsu, what is your problem? You seem worried…”

“ OF COURSE I WOULD BE WORRIED!! How can you trust a man like HIM so easily??!!” Zenitsu responded. “DOES YOUR SISTER KNOW?!?”

“No.. and please don't tell her....” Tanjiro sighed. “..as for how I trust him.. well, he doesn't really strike me as someone who is untrustworthy…”

“HE IS A POLITICIAN!!!??” the blonde yelled, completely dumbfounded at his friend's response.

“So?” The redhead responded.

Zenitsu would be even more dumbfounded. “...so? SO??? TANJIRO, WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE IS THAT?!?” he yelled again and then let out a deep sigh. “..he is a politician... Politicians lie all the time. Besides.. even if Muzan is not a liar.. which I completely doubt.. What business does this grown man have dating a freshman in highschool?”

Tanjiro then looked at the blonde, pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed “...Zenitsu, look, if you want to get laid with me you can just say so. There is no need for you to attack his character like that. The news slanders him enough as is!”

This response got Zenitsu even more dumbfounded, just when he thought that wasn't possible. “..wait seriously, is that what you see this as? Slander??!” He scoffs “And what do you mean I’m jealous!??! I like Nezuko, not you!!!” This was a lie, he was totally jealous.

Tanjiro just proceeded to walk faster until he was at the train station and checked in. He was really hoping to lose Zenitsu from there. But today seems to not really be his day, as he was still followed by his friend.

Luckily for the redhead, however, just before the blonde could ask him another question about his love life, his train showed up and he immediately used that as an opportunity to get away. It was a crowded train too, so now he actually did lose the blonde.

He let out a sigh of relief as he took the window-seat and leaned towards the window, and he was looking outside, as he was waiting for the train to get to his destination. His relief was short-lived however when a thought came to his head. Now he was really hoping that Zenitsu respects his wishes and doesn’t tell anyone, especially Nezuko, about this conversation. The last thing he needs right now is to worry anyone else over what is, in his eyes, no reason to be worried.

And the more he thought about it, the more he got worried about Muzan. He has only known the man for a week now, and they have only been dating since the weekend, but he was certain that he knows the politician very well now, and that he is really not as bad as news outlets make him look and that he is a good person, actually. 

Zenitsu is just jealous and everyone who hates the diet member is either also jealous or they just have a really bad taste in men.

Chapter Text

At least a month has passed now since Tanjiro and Zenitsu had their initial conversation, and Tanjiro has been more distant from his friends, at most he would sometimes hang out with Zenitsu or Kanao, but he is more often occupied texting Muzan.

He hasn't had anyone mention the politician to him once - other than Zenitsu, who for some reason still keeps trying to talk him out of the relationship, at least... - but at least that means Zenitsu in fact did not tell anyone else, which does surprise him in a sense. He would've expected Zenitsu to yell about it the very next day. But he didn’t. So the fact that Zenitsu has kept quiet does pleasantly surprise him.

The redhead could notice that his little sister was concerned, however. And he can't really blame her, as he has been actively avoiding her.

He is not that worried, though... He is more worried about the fact that the P.E. Teacher Tomioka has figured out that something may be off. The amount of times Tomioka has asked him questions he didn't know how to answer has gone to the point where Tanjiro just has been skipping the classes altogether.

So instead Tanjiro has agreed to meet Muzan at the local boba shop. Then he walked towards the table where the politician sat, after he made his order.

"What is the matter?" Tanjiro asked when noticing that the diet member was upset, tilting his head towards the side.

Muzan sat up when he heard the boy's voice. "Oh, Tanjiro!" He said with a light chuckle "It's just work stuff, really, nothing to worry your cute little head about."

Then he smiled slightly and decided to change the topic. "Anyway, how are you doing? You said school has been tough for you?”

The redhead nodded “yeah, they think there is something ‘off’.. and I hate seeing everyone so worried about me when there is literally nothing to worry about.. I mean I appreciate the way they care but-....”

The politician interrupted, “Are you sure it is out of genuine concern?”

Tanjiro looked at him “excuse me?”

Muzan let out a sigh “You already told me about this Zenitsu guy and I am pretty sure we are on the same page that he’s clearly just jealous. it wouldn’t be off to assume that the same applies for the others, right? You found someone genuine, who does care about you and is not trying to use your kindness, and they don’t like that.”

"I guess you're right...." Deep down he didn’t actually believe it, or at least, he didn’t want to believe that his friends and family were jealous. But at this moment, what Muzan said did sound convincing.

It was just when the boba shop closed that the red-head noticed the time, and his eyes widened. "Oh! I must go home, my mom must be worried..."

"...and then have her ask you to explain where you were?" the politician tilted his head towards the side. "How about you stay at my place instead?"

"Please, Muzan, I don't want to be a burden!" Tanjiro scratched the back of his head.

"Don't you worry about that, Tanjiro. You're way too considerate sometimes.." the older man insisted.

The red-head was reluctant, but after thinking more about it, he nodded "very well, then."

And then they headed towards the politician's car.