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As snowflakes drifted down in a slow twinkling motion, setting softly on the quiet street. Tanjiro, who sat comfortably by his bedside, stared at the flakes, which made his usual bright smile illuminate in a much more vibrant color.
“I hope Kanao likes this gift…” He quietly murmured, grabbing hold of a perfectly wrapped up box.
He yawned, dragging his feet across the hallway, greeting his siblings and parents who slept soundly by their beds. Tanjiro headed to the kitchen, where he would begin his routine of baking for his family’s Kamado Bakery.
“Just a few hours left and I can go have our date together! You can do it!”
He grinned and slapped the dough with phenomenal precision, flailing it around in order to form the perfect crust. Afterwards, he gently rolled them into an oven and began impatiently tapping his fingers on the counter.
But, just before he could catch a moment of rest, his nose twitched, as he smelt an unusual scent. Tanjiro stood up, cautiously stepping out and noticed Nezuko, grinning mischievously at the meticulously-wrapped present.
“Onii-chan, who is this gift for?” Nezuko giggled.
Tanjiro’s gasped, and the baker immediately panicked, his face flushed with embarrassment. He could feel his cheeks warming up and he took action. He exhaled and without hesitation, he charged towards Nezuko at Olympian-level speeds.
“G-Give that back, Nezuko!” Tanjiro yelled.
Nezuko grinned, as she watched her older brother giving a desperate rush, she ducked low, avoiding his attempts to reclaim his present.
“Oh~ is it for Kanao?” Nezuko exclaimed in a faked shocked expression. “Who could’ve guessed!”
“Yes it is!” Tanjiro huffed. “Please give it back, I have to keep watch on the bread!”
“At least, tell me what it is first!” Nezuko pouted. “I’m curious!”
“It’s a secret!” Tanjiro yelled. “It’s really embarrassing!”
“Ehh…?” Nezuko questioned in a suspicious tone, her face forming an overly wide grin. “So… what if I open it?”
“Please don’t…” Tanjiro exclaimed in fear, his cheeks burning in warmth. “I beg you, Nezuko…”
The two stood in awkward silence and Nezuko contemplated, her fingers resting soundly on her chin, her pink eyes glaring at the ceiling fan. It took a while, and Tanjiro felt as if a swarm of butterflies attacked his chest. Also, combined with his heart pounding intensively, he could’ve fallen from a heart attack at any moment. Then, Nezuko eyed daggers at her brother, handing the mysterious gift box with a cheesy smile.
“Fine…” Nezuko sighed, her cheeks puffing up in frustration, “Then, could you at leasttt give me a hint? I promise I won’t tell the others…”
“No.” Tanjiro pouted, retrieving back the gift near in an instant, muttering a soft, “Sorry.”
“It’s okay, onii-chan!” Nezuko grinned, shoving her older brother with her shoulder. “If you need to, I’ll take care of the bakery for you!”
“No, no! It’s okay!” Tanjiro reassured, his hands shaking a clear no. “I don’t want to—“
“I’m not taking no for an answer.” Nezuko stated, her eyebrows prickling downwards. “C’mon! It’s just bread, how hard can it be?”
“It’s not just bread! There’s over a hundred, wait, a bit of an over exaggeration… a DOZEN different steps to create bread! Especially the ones as delicious as the bakery’s!” Tanjiro explained, his arms spinning in a rapid circle, his tone of voice speeding up in quick succession. “First, you have to—“
“So?” Nezuko said, interrupting Tanjiro’s impending explanation. “I’ve baked bread before, hadn’t I?”
“W-Well, yes… but… unTanjiro murmured, recalling the times Nezuko offered to bake.
“I can handle the burden!” Nezuko smiled, raising her arm in a flexing position. “Go meet your girlfriend! I’m sure she’d be pleasantly surprised to see you this early…”
“Also…” She smirked, “Be sure to give her those three magic words!”
“NEZUKO!”
***
After a while, Tanjiro gently slid the front door shut, he took a deep breath, carefully placing his present in a pocket. He wore a snug and cozy deep red sweater, accompanied by a fluffy white collar trimmed with green jolly leaves that came with two bright golden bells that rung lightly in the center. He slowly relaxed, quintuple checking his garments, looking down to observe his simple gray pants that were tucked neatly onto his soft, fur-lined boots. To complete the set, he stared at his headband, smiling before perching his Christmas-themed hat and reindeer antlers atop his head.
Tanjiro felt pleased, yet nervous with his outfit. He pondered around in a random circle, his boots crunching against the snow. With his fingers firmly pressed on his chin, he wondered if his date would appreciate his festivities—They have been dating for a few months after all, and Tanjiro didn’t want to meddle with Kanao’s overall comfort.
Staring deeply at his wallet that contained a measly five-hundred Yen, Tanjiro sighed in gloominess, dripping down a small tear from his impoverishment. He muttered out a sad whimper, segregating himself in a bubble of dreariness as he nighed closer to the Kocho Household.
During those fastidious few months, the two spent a myriad of time together, often chattering in the school cafeteria, rooftop or even the courtyard when necessary. Sometimes, they’d even be overly intuitive in their conversation, leading for them to forget eating their exquisite meals cooked by the esteemed chefs, Makio, Suma and Hinatsuru.
Tanjiro let out a soft snicker, reliving the time where Zenitsu had caught them embracing in private; forming the reaction of immense anger, hostility and most importantly, jealousy. His frantic screams, his unrelenting rage, his massive crash out, Tanjiro remembered it all, as it resulted in the two revealing their relationship status to their group of Friends.
As Tanjiro’s feet scuffed along the snowy pavement, his breath hanging in the cold air, he daydreamed of Kanao’s reaction. He had planned to say those three words for ages, but had never inaugurated the courage to do so. He was worried that his girlfriend wouldn’t reciprocate his loving feelings. Feelings that his family would consistently bombard him for, especially Nezuko, who found his reasonings to be exceptionally moronic and dense.
“Would she feel uncomfortable if I say that to her…?”
“GAAAHH! Should I even say it?”
“Her feelings are just as important as mine, maybe I should just take my time!”
As doubts flooded his mind, an endless bound of sweat fell from his ruffled red hair. The poor boy managed to encounter the disease known as cold-feet, and had started to rethink his initial scheme. But, after a few minutes of eternal contemplation and reflection, he had unknowingly reached the doors of the Kocho Household. Tanjiro widened his eyes, confused by his alacritous speeds. As it turns out, he had been unconsciously daydreaming for a moment too long.
Taking a few seconds to relax himself, he paced relentlessly around the front door, turning left and right in a perfect straight line. Tanjiro stared at the doorbell, his fingers fidgeting towards it, this is his first time ever visiting his girlfriend’s house, and it wasn’t even for an extended period of time. He didn’t want to seem interruptive to the Kochos daily routine, so, he waited, giving up on his conquest to ring a doorbell and opted for the porch instead, sitting soundly in the slouching snow.
“What are you doing?” A curious voice rung out from behind, the door crackling open. “Oh! Tanjiro-kun!”
He stood up, turning around to meet the gaze of Kanae Kocho, his biology teacher. Tanjiro stumbled, surprised by her sudden appearance. She bore a dazzling smile, attracting butterflies even in the cold weather. He took a few seconds to regain his composure, huffing and puffing before doing a concentrated bow.
“K-Kanae-san!! Good morning!” Tanjiro yelled, his voice tense and nervous. “Sorry for showing up impulsively!!”
Kanae chuckled, clasping her hands together, “Don’t worry about it! Kanao’s still getting ready, so come inside! Have some tea!”
“A-Ah! There’s no need to!” Tanjiro waved, his hands swaying a clear refusal, “I wouldn’t want to intrude!”
“Nonsense!” Kanae smiled, her hands waving in a welcoming gesture, “C’mon! It’s really cold outside!”
“Are you sure?” Tanjiro asked, his hand rubbing the back of his neck.
Beyond Tanjiro’s peripheral vision and the area narrowly behind Kanae, he spotted Shinobu Kocho’s head peeking out from the corner. She seemed annoyed, her eyes rolling around in vexation. He sighed, letting out a soft snicker from her antics. A moment later, he bowed once again, accepting Kanae’s offer and stepped in, husking his boots, settling it down by the porch.
“Shinobu-san, good morning!” Tanjiro waved, smiling at Shinobu who stood by the kitchen.
“Took you long enough…” Shinobu sighed, settling down a cup of tea on a table, “Good morning, Tanjiro-kun…”
“S-Sorry for the intrusion…” Tanjiro muttered, noticing Shinobu’s visible exasperation and sheer exhaustion from the essence of the early morning.
“It’s all right, just don’t—“
But, before Shinobu could finish, Tanjiro took a seat by the table, slowly lifting up the torrid cup, he winced in pain, his fingers sizzling in a bright red. Tanjiro blew on his burning fingers, immediately placing down the cup. He looked up, meeting Shinobu and Kanae’s worried expression.
“Just don’t touch the cup, it’s really hot…” Shinobu muttered.
“Sorry…” Tanjiro cried, whirling his hand in an erratic motion, “I’m just… nervous.”
Shinobu soughed, traipsing away into the kitchen with a jaded demeanor.
“Don’t mind her… she’s just really tired.” Kanae whispered with her smile lingering as always.
“I see…”
Tanjiro huffed, blowing on the tonic in an effort to cool it down. His face began to pout like a balloon, invoking a silent giggle from Kanae as she walked off. He was confused, but shrugged it off immediately after, he stared at the cup, his eyes squinted, engaging a staring contest with the inanimate being.
“Cool down… cool down… cool down!!”
After a few intense and long seconds, Tanjiro gulped, extending his pointer finger to cautiously reach for the cup, carefully testing to see whether his efforts had paid off—It didn’t… and Tanjiro recoiled, scorching his finger yet again.
“Damn it…”
“What are you doing, Tanjiro?”
The voice was soothing, soft, dreamy, gentle— many more words that Tanjiro could use to describe. Before turning around to meet the carrier of this sweet tone, a bright smile slowly stretched across his face and his frustrated expression had softened warmly, accidentally grabbing onto the sizzling mug, which made him wince in pain once more.
But, in the span of a single moment, he shrugged it off as he met Kanao’s magical gaze by the stairs. Her attire also bearing a cozy, festive winter outfit that was perfect for the holidays. Atop her dark hair was a large red bow, which was accompanied with cute reindeer antlers that were roosted comfortably. Layered over her green outfit that boasted an intricately knitted pink bow, she wore a warm, fluffy sweater, which was complimented with a white trim on both her boots and cuffs.
Somehow, someway, the two had managed to dress in similar fashion, even with an unplanned dress code. Within the wooden floorboards, Tanjiro stood up, sprinting over and enticed a tight embrace with his beloved, who thankfully, returned it with zero hesitation.
She, along with everyone who lived in the Kocho Household smelled like blooming flowers and it brought an alluring sensation to Tanjiro’s already heightened sense of smell. He recognized Kanao’s dazzling scent most, why? He had zero clue, but liked to theorize it with the reason being of their inseparable bond.
“I missed you…” Kanao said with a tone of joy, her hands clutching onto the red fabric.
“I missed you too.” Tanjiro said, being completely ignorant of the fact that their last conversation with each other was less than twenty-four hours ago.
Their warmth in clinging against one another seemed everlasting, though in reality, it’s only been a few seconds. The two reluctantly pulled back their tight embrace, and their eyes meeting and had locked with one another. A wide grin was inevitable, as their lips began to curl and stretch uncontrollably. Afterwards, their eyes observed each other’s choice of fashion, processing the fact that they have dressed similarly. (Yes, they’re incredibly slow…)
“You look beautiful.” Tanjiro smiled, his cheeks flourishing in a deep red, his hands reaching deeply inside his pockets.
“T-Thank you, Tanjiro…” Kanao said shyly, blushing while rummaging deeply inside her tiny bag. “You… look handsome too.”
Through her radiant eyes was Tanjiro, who looked just as stunning as usual. From his shining fashion, his illuminating facial features, his dazzling personality, his gracious heart, Kanao loved it all. He gleamed like the luminous sun, protecting his beloved flower while showering her with photosynthesis. Tanjiro had a special filter— one that seemed to always leave Kanao in a frozen state, as no matter how he looked or acted, she was able to observe even the smallest and beautiful to appreciate about him. (Except the times where he’s sad of course, that’s when his magical filter is fully disabled.)
As for Tanjiro, he shared the same principles with his cherished flower. From first glance, an extroverted caring boy, who has a mountain of girls thirsting over him—falling in love with someone as introverted and shy as Kanao? It seemed impossible, but somehow, she had managed to steal his heart, unknowingly manipulating it by increasing the speed of its beats with each tiny stare.
“H-Here!” The two yelled, their hands containing a delicately wrapped gift box that matched the Christmas theme. They had their eyes closed, and had faced the intricate carvings of the walls in anticipation and fear.
“Eh?” Tanjiro’s eyes snapped open, his crimson eyes glistened as it stared at the present. “R-Really?”
Kanao was just as surprised, her face dangling from shock as she traded her bestowal with Tanjiro. She looked down at the gift, her eyes stunned with awe as she began to unwrap it. Inside the box was a plushie, an adorable sewed-up reindeer plushie to be precise that wore its own little scarf, which were accompanied by a jingly bell. Kanao grinned, noticing a roughly knitted sun by its antler. At first glance, the plushie seemed amateurish, but she was able to understand the astounding effort that was placed into it.
Kanao let out a sweet giggle, her cheeks puffing up as she noticed Tanjiro’s face. Unfortunately, he had basically received the same gift; a reindeer plushie, that bore a professionally knitted red camellia flower by its antler. However, instead of feeling disappointed by the gift, Tanjiro was thankful, and had coddled her gift carefully as he didn’t want to ruin the clear markings of her hard work.
“I can’t believe we’ve basically given each other the same gift.” Tanjiro chuckled.
“Y-Yeah… sorry.” Kanao muttered with a tint of guilt from her tone, even though she was extremely euphoric with his gift. “I should’ve knitted something else, If I—“
“You don’t have to apologize.” Tanjiro said, gently placing his new companion narrowly outside his pocket, just barely visible enough to see its head. He reached for her hands, clasping it together, which provided an even greater sense of warmth. “I love this gift, Kanao! You don’t have to beat yourself up over it!”
“But… we’ve gifted each other the same exact thing.”
“It’s just a silly coincidence, I’m still going to cherish it for eons! So, don’t worry!! I won’t let anything happen to this little guy!” Tanjiro stated, his eyes burning in a fiery passion, his smile widening from determination.
Kanao chuckled—his declaration managing to reach her heart, letting her forget about her failure of a present. Slowly releasing Tanjiro’s gentle grip, Kanao brought her thumb to his face, her eyes gleaming with desire as she graciously caressed his cheek. She blushed furiously in a deep red, her mind hesitant on whether she should press her soft lips against his.
In the months of their relationship, Tanjiro and Kanao had never shared a passionate first kiss with each other. Some may call it normal, some may even call it expected. Their relationship was still blooming like a fragile flower, and they didn’t want to rush their delicate, unfolding bond. They were anxious, afraid of the other’s reaction. What if one of them attempted something bold, like an unexpected kiss on the lips? Would the other react positively or negatively? So, to honor their gladdening commitment in their relationship, they’ve decided to not risk it, in other words, they were dense, overwhelmingly dense, both too thick-headed to raise a simple question.
So, Kanao tilted her head to the side, opting to give a soft smooch on Tanjiro’s cheek. He froze and blushed, his cheeks blazing in a flourishing red, his face pouting in overblown proportions, his fingers squirming slightly behind her waist. Kanao adored his flustered look, as she began gazing lovingly into his face, accidentally freezing by the hilarity of his adorableness.
However, amidst their everlasting dome of time-stopping delight, Tanjiro felt negligibly disappointed by the cheek kiss. He didn’t know why, and his mind scrambled hastily on the determinant; stopping seconds later upon hearing a pair of fingers, snapping endlessly at the couple.
“Hey! Shinobu, what are you doing!” Kanae whispered, her head peeking from a corner.
“Weren’t they supposed to be going on a date? I don’t recall a date being staring at each other with loving eyes!” Shinobu murmured.
Their bubble popped, their enthralling circle shattered, their indissoluble gaze broken. Kanao sighed, huffing out a disgruntled “pffftt…” as she entangled her hand with Tanjiro’s, who bowed sheepishly at the two’s presence.
“I’m so sorry!” Tanjiro screamed, subsequently intertwining his fingers between hers.
“Have fun you two!” Kanae smiled, waving at the couple as they left her front door.
She turned to the counter, her eyes squinting at the sight of the holy cup of tea.
“Is it really that hot…?”
She stretched out her pointer finger, touching the cup and recoiled it near instantaneously.
“OW! Shinobu! What did you do to this cup!!”
***
They embarked on their treacherous path through the thick snow, their hands binding tightly on each other like magnets that would never let go. As they swung their arms playfully, a feeling of undying warmth began to flow over their body, easing the harsh cold of the winter.
The streets were empty, vacant, quiet, housing just the two of them under the blanketing snow. The vacancy allowed the two teenagers precious moments of solitude and togetherness. They felt peace, even in the toughest of times like their incoming exams. This sense of serenity was what they yearned for, what they desperately needed after the endless bickering from their large group of friends.
As their boots continued to step on the satisfying snow, they shared a ceaseless talk with one another.—they talked about everything, stemming from family, school, nature, tv, movies, their friends. To them, it didn’t matter if their topics were ordinary, basic even. As just feeling the warmth, preciousness of their significant other was more than enough.
It didn’t feel forced or dull, not even the times where Kanao remained quiet, her eyes would shift passively on Tanjiro’s dreamy ones. She would often giggle like an idiot at his constant blabbering, especially the ones about his crazed siblings. Her heart raced from every breath he took, every word he spoke, every subtle expression that played across his face.
Every second, every minute, every hour—They appreciated it, cherished it, so much so that if they spend even a minute apart from each other, their hearts would stir a sense of longing, sending in tiny pulses of pain. It may seem overly-exaggerated, but it’s true. That’s just an example on how profound their love for each other is, how they savored even the smallest moments together, and how much they found joy even in the mere presence of one another.
Occasionally, they would share subtle, yet affectionate glances at each other, their smiles sparking magically through their everlasting gaze. Tanjiro longed for his girlfriend’s attention, while Kanao sought for his. And when they did, the butterflies in their stomachs fluttered uncontrollably. However, Tanjiro noticed a peculiar difference in her—he sniffed the air, detecting a scent of pure, unfiltered joy.
“Kanao?” Tanjiro asked eagerly, his eyes brighter than the sun, “Is it just me or… are you happier than usual?”
“Hm?” Kanao smile widened, radiant and warm “It’s not just you, Tanjiro. I’m really glad—glad that I can spend time with you.”
“I understand that your family’s bakery takes priority, but even so… you’ve still made time for me, and took me out on a date…” She looked down at her boots, her cheeks blossoming into a shy blush.
“I feel like the luckiest girl in the world, to be noticed by Kamado Tanjiro, of all people… If I hadn’t met you, or found the courage to speak to you, I don’t think I would’ve been as talkative as I am now, I’m glad I’ve improved… I’m glad to be dating someone as kind and hardworking as you. Of course, you’ve mentioned countless times that you’re not perfect… that I don’t agree with, but, that’s just the beauty of a relationship!”
“Accepting each other’s flaws and helping each other grow, it might sound sappy and cheesy, but I don’t care. I love spending time with you, Tanjiro. I… c-care about you, so very much.” Kanao gulped nervously, hesitant on her choice to use the phrase (care about you).
“S-So, thank you! I’m really happy because I’m on a date with you! It’s barely started, and even if it diverges into a total disaster, I’ll still be just as happy!”
Tanjiro was speechless, his mouth gaped open as a long speech by the shy, timid Kanao was NOT on his bingo card. Yet, his love for her grew, as his face flushed, he stepped in front of her, pulling her into another tightened embrace.
“I care about you too, I’m glad you feel this way. It’s not cheesy at all, and just remember Kanao. I’m not the one who’ve improved your social skills, you did… it’s all you! Sure, I might’ve been a catalyst, but the entirely of your journey? All you.” He smiled, his hanafuda earrings swaying by the cold breeze, “Also, I promise this date won’t be a total disaster like you’ve said…”
Kanao chuckled, her voice like a soothing melody. “I was just trying to make a point.”
“Hehe, I know.” Tanjiro grinned, planting a soft kiss on Kanao’s forehead, “Shall we continue?”
Kanao nodded, letting out a gentle snicker as she walked on, hand in hand with her bright Sun. From their mannerisms, their quiet intimacy, their passionate bond made them resemble a married couple—a couple whose souls are deeply connected, yet too afraid to utter out the words “I love you”.
Though their date was barely beginning, the two had already felt their connection strengthening, their love sparking exponentially, and their relationship blossomed in ways that seemed impossible.
Soon after, an empty park had caught Kanao’s eye as she came to a halt. She nudged Tanjiro’s shoulder, pointing at its heavenly state with a pleasing smirk. The park was blanketed with a thick bedding of gorgeous, pristine snow, each tree branch delicately frosted like beautifully crafted sculptures. The couple’s eyes glistened like shining stars, as they pressed their feet into the powdery ground, entering the grand architecture that amazed them. From the icicles hanging from the swings like Christmas ornaments, to the tiny frozen pond that mirrored the blue sky. To other people, this was just an ordinary snowy park. But to Tanjiro and Kanao, the park was a quiet, beautiful winter wonderland.
They admired the scenery, their heads spinning in rapid circles by the enthralling beauty. But, as Tanjiro stared at the slides that shined like diamonds, his mind began scrambling between whether or not he should fully admit his feelings, the continuous feeling of warmth, and most importantly, love.
“Tanjiro! Look!” Kanao called out enthusiastically, interrupting his train of thought as her hands presented a elegantly rolled-up snowman, its arms fashioned by two slender, shiny icicles stolen from the branches, its head rested with her beloved reindeer plushie.
Kanao, who slipped away from her boyfriend’s warm hand, wore a beaming smile, her hands now covered with flower-patterned mittens.
He turned around, his eyes widened and drooped downward at her valiantly crafted snowman.Tanjiro was in awe, as within the span of a few seconds, Kanao had rolled giant balls of snow, snatched two sticks from the frozen tree branches, used said sticks to carefully carve holes resembling a face, and most importantly, bringing them all together to create a perfect little companion amid the quiet emptiness of the park.
“I-Is it good? I know it looks kinda rough, but I-uh, wanted to surprise you while you were thinking…“ Kanao stuttered, her voice silencing with each fumble.
“It’s really cute!” Tanjiro said with a smile that resembled a ray of sunshine. He stepped forward, crouching down to meet the snowman’s gaze, gently holding onto its icicle arm, “I’m Kamado Tanjiro!! It’s a pleasure to meet you, Snowman-san!”
Kanao’s cheeks flushed a soft pink as she watched her sweet boyfriend crouch down and speak to the Snowman. Her lips curled up into a bright smile, giggling softly at his antics.
“I think Snowman-san is pleased to have you as a friend.” She said in a playful tone, her head tilted slightly behind frosty.
“Really?” Tanjiro’s smile brightened, shaking the Snowman’s icicle, “Well, in that case! Let’s have some fun together!”
Kanao hid behind the Snowman, her hands gently shaking its icy arms as she projected her voice in a lower, playful tone, “Why, thank you for inviting me, Tanjiro!”
“But, have you said hi to my best friend yet?” The Snowman said, having its arm carefully pulled out as it pointed at its accomplice; the reindeer plushie.
“D-Don’t worry about my arm, it’s my special ability where I use… uh, umm, ah! Breathing techniques! I use a special way to breathe, which allows me to detach my limbs safely!”
“I see!” Tanjiro’s mouth widened, his eyes sparkling in astonishment as he shook the tiny hands of his self-knitted plushie, “Nice to meet you too!”
The snowman wobbled, as Kanao gave its arm another shake, signaling for Tanjiro’s attention, “What about you?”
“Hm?” Tanjiro asked, his fingers resting on his chin, “What do you mean?”
“Like… do you have your own special ability? Apart from your kindness, of course!” The Snowman replied, while Kanao sneakily rolled up tiny projectile with the snow.
Tanjiro laughed, scratching the back of his neck, “Hmm… great question! I guess… I’m really good at baking bread! Aha! Yep!”
“Sounds impressive! Your bread must be really tasty, huh?”
“I guess so!” Tanjiro smiled, “Tsuyuri Kanao is our number one customer for a reason!”
“Interesting… interesting…” The snowman shuddered, its voice’s pitch rose due to Kanao being flustered, “But, how about your snowball throwing skills…? Is it as fast as Kanao’s?”
Tanjiro grinned, his head glancing over at Kanao, who was peeking shyly from behind the Snowman, “It isn’t… Kanao is really extraordinary, her pitches are always thrown at lightning speeds!”
“This is between you and me, Snowman-san…” Tanjiro whispered, his hands covering his lip as he began to blush, “During PE Class, she always destroys us without breaking a sweat! She’s amazing!”
“Everything she does, I admire her for it… Kanao’s the most brilliant, intelligent, remarkable, beautiful—“
“I-I can hear you, y’know…” Kanao interrupted, pouting as her face sizzled in embarrassment. “You don’t have to over-exaggerate…”
Tanjiro chuckled softly, his expression full of warmth as he stepped closer, taking a seat on the thick, cold snow. “I’m not! Seriously, I mean every word!”
“You are those things, Kanao… I’m not over-exaggerating! In fact, I might be under-exaggerating!” He smiled, garnering a brighter hue on Kanao’s cheek.
“That’s how much I love you, that’s just an example on my appreciation for you! Kanao, I understand that you might feel like the complete opposite, and I can’t really offer much advice… I’m not Uzui-san, but…
“You always make me smile, you always make me laugh. Sure, the others do that too, but your way is special to my heart! So… basically, what I’m trying to say is—“
“Tanjiro…” Kanao trembled, her eyes glistening in tears as she cowered her lips with awe, “W-What did you say? J-Just earlier…?”
Kanao was unsure of what Tanjiro had just said, her mind began to race, her neurons firing wildly as she struggled to process his first sentence. She froze in place, wondering if what she had heard was truly real. It felt as if an explosion had gone off, shattering their fragile world of peace, leaving her heart pounding in the quiet winter air.
She lifted her head, staring at Tanjiro’s face, who sat there, trying to recollect on what he said. Then, after a few seconds, he panicked, his hands flying to his mouth as he realized the words that escaped his yapping mouth.
“I-I…” Tanjiro shuddered, his body stiff, his breath ragged from terror as he stared at his girlfriend’s quiet half-sobs, half-gasps, “K-Kanao, I-I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have said it, I was just so into the moment, a-and it just came out of me—I’m such an idiot!”
“I’m so, so, so, so, sorry! K-Kanao, I made you uncomfortable and—“
“Tanjiro.” Kanao interrupted, her voice firm yet breathless as she grabbed onto his white collar, pressing her lips against his.
It was a sudden, fierce and bold kiss. One that Tanjiro thankfully returned without hesitation. Kanao closed her eyes, her lips meeting his soft, tender ones. It felt electrifying, warm, intense, passionate. She longed for this sensation, dreaming about it day by day. And Tanjiro’s phrase solidified her love and affection for it, shattering the barrier between them and pushing their relationship into the next step.
Meanwhile, poor Tanjiro was shocked to his core by the suddenness of Kanao’s decision. Yet, he closed his eyes, bringing his hands closer to her waist, pulling her closer, acting like a protective guardian to their intimate moment. His heart raced wildly, pounding dangerously in ecstasy. He felt Kanao’s fingers clutching onto his ruffled hair, anchoring him to her enclosed world.
In their passionate, affectionate, tender, soft first kiss, it felt as if time had stopped completely, and each passing second felt like an intoxicating eternity. The icy park, the snowy streets, the ginormous world had completely faded away, leaving only the heat of their breath lingering deeply on each other’s faces. Every tiny touch, every small twinges of movement felt heavenly, each one fulfilling their every desire into a single, perfect harmony.
After a few gratifying minutes, their kiss came to an end, leaving only their relentless gasps for air. Kanao smiled, her blush glowing in a rosy pink as she snuggled onto Tanjiro, her hands wrapping tightly around his back.
“C-Could you say it again?” She whispered softly, her voice full of tenderness and longing.
“I love you, Tsuyuri Kanao… I love you!” Tanjiro smiled as his bones relaxed upon the relentless burden exiting his body.
“PLOW!”
A large white snowball, crumbling before his eyes as it exploded against his face.
“W-What was that?” Tanjiro gasped, pouting like a little kid.
Upon seeing his goofy, confused expression, Kanao bursted out in laughter, her cheeks risen, her eyes narrow and teary, her face flushed with excitement.
“I love you too, Kamado Tanjiro.” She muttered in a playful tone. “Also, Snowman-san did say that I’m a master at throwing snowballs…”
“I’m pretty sure he said that your snowballs were fast, not masterful.” Tanjiro chuckled.
“Shut up.” Kanao laughed, tossing another rolled ball of snow into Tanjiro’s face.
“Seriously though, how good is your aim!” Tanjiro recoiled in awe, “It’s comparable to a marksmen!”
“I’m just getting started, Tanjiro…” Kanao grinned mischievously, raising her chin up defiantly as she stood up, rolling another handful of snow. “You better watch out~!”
“Is that a challenge?” Tanjiro asked, scooping up a handful of snow. “I’m starting to sound like Inosuke, but… Bring it on, Snowball Queen!”
With a quick laugh, Kanao paced backwards, exhaling a deep breath before launching an entourage of snowballs straight at Tanjiro. His eyes widened by the precise accuracy, barely managing to dodge the overwhelming explosives that sprayed powder endlessly onto the snowy ground.
Luckily, after exhausting all of her ammunition, Tanjiro counterattacked, hurdled a ruthless assault of snowballs that flew at bullet-like speeds. Somehow, Kanao dodged, her body weaving elegantly and gracefully through the unfathomable rounds.
“You’ve gotten faster!” Kanao gasped for breath as she stepped closer towards Tanjiro.
“Yeah…” Tanjiro panted, his knees weakened, “I guess we tied!”
“Yup!” Kanao nodded, holding onto his hand and leaned closer to his ear, “I can see people leaving their homes, Tanjiro…”
“Really?” Tanjiro sighed, turning around in sadness, “Aw shucks… well, it’s time to go!”
Kanao spilled out a joyful laugh, nudging his shoulder, “Aw shucks?”
“H-Hey! I just like using those two words, okay!” Tanjiro scowled, his cheeks ballooning.
“Okay~!” Kanao replied teasingly, “Whatever you say.”
“Stop teasing me!” Tanjiro frowned, attempting to contain his smile at the presence of her charm.
“Fine, fine…” Kanao giggled, crouching down, shaking Snowman-san’s arm. “Goodbye, Snowman-san… I’ll miss you.”
“I’m sure he’ll have fun playing with other people, Kanao…” Tanjiro whispered gently.
“Yeah, I know…”
After saying their somber goodbyes to Snowman-san, they headed out, stepping back into the quiet streets, their hands intertwined. This visit to the park changed everything, their bond had strengthened and they broke through the fragile barrier, that once held them back.
They loved each other, no longer afraid to admit it to one another.
Their date has just begun, yet so much had already unfolded, leaving the couple excited for the moments still to come.
“I love you.” Tanjiro stated, his eyes locking in onto his beloved, ignoring the dazzling snowflakes.
“I love you too.” Kanao replied warmly as she grinned, staring back at her sweet hearted boyfriend.