𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫 [[Kimetsu Academy au]] (fem reader)

≋10≋

The two of you stand, face to face, staring hard at eachother. Ume doesn't even know how to react

"Wh- what are you doing here?! KEEP your filthy money, you rat" Ume tries, but her tone falters

You shake your head, but say nothing

Ume stares you down, but you won't give in

"Why are you doing this for me? So you can make me feel bad for kicking your ass?? Well I don't" she takes the coins from your palm, being surprisingly gentle

Your hand falls to your side limply, but you don't take your eyes off of her.

You're scared, but you have the power here; she can't attack you in public. She won't.

"We're both girls right?" You respond shyly

Ume pays the cashier, hiding her face from you. Maybe a smile? But you can't tell

"Yeah, whatever. Thanks."

When she finally turns away to walk out the door, you allow yourself to smile

I don't hate you Ume. Whoever lied to you, I'll make them pay for what they've said

When you left the store and came back to the swimming pool, Tanjirou was out of swimming practice already. In fact, he was standing on the sidewalk by the fence waiting for you, with a wet shirt on and a towel over his shoulder.

"Tanjirou!" You gasp, rushing to hug his arm "you waited!"

Tanjirou looks surprised "well, yeah I waited. I said I'd give you your board back and I meant it"

"It'll get dark soon, so we should get going," he says

Following his lead down the street, you look up at the pale blue and lavender sky—nighttime is coming. If you're not home soon, your parents are gonna blow a fuse.

"It's at my house, but I live two blocks away from here. I got pretty lucky to live so close to school"

You tear your gaze away from the sky to look at the back of Tanjirou's head while he was talking

"I used to live pretty far, but since we moved to this apartment complex in the city, everything's accessible now."

That far?! I wonder where he lived

"So you're a country boy huh?" You tease

"You could say that" he mused

That explains a lot; I wonder if he's been homeschooled before?

You don't know why, but while he's talking, Tanjirou puts a hand on your back and gently moves you to the inner side of the sidewalk

"You're wearing all black today. Did you want to stand out or something?"

"Stand out?!?" You exclaim "I'm trying to do the opposite!"

Tanjirou looks away, his shoulders twitching. You can tell he's trying not to laugh

"I can SEE YOU LAUGHING" you huffed "IM trying to keep a low profile!!! What's so funny huh?"

The two of you turn a corner at the edge of the street and descend the path into a lackluster neighborhood facing away from the bustling streets of the city.

"Nothing, nothing" Tanjiou admits "well—it's a good idea in theory. But in execution? You've effectively made yourself more noticeable that way."

He plucks your glasses off the bridge of your nose and places them onto his

"HEY! Those are expensive!" You swipe at his face, but he's tall enough so that you can't reach when he dodges out of the way