Chapter Text
It had started when Mitsuri-senpai took a liking to her.
Shinobu didn't mind, really, she actually enjoyed her company, but maybe she should have stopped the then-second-year from writing her phone number on the bathroom stall wall.
“Come on, Shinobu-chan! It'll be fun. I've written mine, too, see? It's not like anyone is going to try calling.” she had said.
Oh how, wrong she was.
Because people called. Shinobu was almost sure that more than half the school had called by the time she reached her third year.
So when she got a text message from an unknown number, Shinobu was at least a little bit intrigued.
'Um, hello. This is weird, right? Sorry. I found your number on the bathroom stall wall. I hope you won't mind, but I took the liberty to scrub it out? I assumed you must have gotten a lot of…curious people calling and texting you. Um…I'm sorry for disturbing you.'
Shinobu blinked. Then she started typing a reply.
'Thank you for doing that. Honestly, I had assumed someone would have repainted the walls by now. Imagine me getting calls even after I've left High school? That would have been annoying, at least.'
She smiled as she sent it.
'Eh...! You're still in High School? Me, too! Well, I am a first-year, maybe we've seen each other! Oh! And you're welcome!'
Shinobu chuckled.
'Maybe between classes or if we are in the same clubs, since I am a third-year.'
'Oh, I hope I am not bothering you, senpai. I could delete your number if you want me to.'
Shinobu paused for a moment.
'No. It's fine. If you agree to only send me texts. How about we become mystery text-pals? We talk about our days, without revealing who we are. If we're lucky, we'll meet each other during the school year. Otherwise, I'll tell you who I am when I graduate. Deal?' she sent her reply after a moment, a mischievous smile on her lips.
'…Very well. On one condition. If you, at any point, decide to stop, or I make you feel uncomfortable, please tell me, and I will delete your number and never bother you again, senpai. I promise.' came the very serious reply.
'Very well. By the way, kouhai, did you finish with your homework?' she chuckled.
'Of course, senpai.'
'Get a good rest, kouhai.'
'You too, senpai.'
xxxx
“Tanjiroooouuuu…What are you typing?” Zenitsu bemoaned beside him, the next day during lunch break.
“A message.” the redhead deadpanned.
“To whom?” Zenitsu tried to look over his friend's shoulder.
“Hey!” Tanjirou tried to hide it, “Zenitsu!”
“Who's 'semmmmffff!?”
Tanjirou covered his friend's mouth, as Inosuke watched on indifferent.
“Shhh!” Tanjirou looked panicked around them, “Keep it down. No one is supposed to know who I am talking to, including the one I am texting.” he whispered to his friend.
“Why?”
“They said they're students here. We're like mystery pen pals, but without revealing who we are. It's different.”
“What if they are trying to harm you? What if they aren't who they said they? Tanjirouuuuu! This sounds dangerous.”
“Since I am not telling them anything more important than how the delinquents here keep messing with us and how interesting I find the lessons, no harm done, right?”
“I don't know. It's still dangerous. What if they hack your cell phone?”
“It'll be fine, Zenitsu.” Tanjirou smiled kindly at his friend, “But thank you for worrying.”
“Of course Gonpachiro will be fine. He is my underling after all.” Inosuke spoke up finally, looking smug.
“Not this again!” Zenitsu exclaimed.
Tanjirou laughed.
xxxx
'My friend is worried I might get into trouble with this.'
Shinobu smiled softly.
'You have a good friend. You should be careful. You never know what could happen.'
There was a momentary pause.
'That applies to you, too, senpai. I could be a stalker.'
'Do you know who I am then?'
'…No. Do you?'
'Still looking for my considerate kouhai.'
'Senpai? How was your day?'
'Hmm…Let's see…In one word, busy. I'm in more than one club, so I have extra responsibilities. Have you joined a club yet, kouhai?'
'Not yet. I am torn between the Kendo club and the Baking club. Help, senpai.'
'You know you can join both if their schedules don't clash, right?'
'…'
'Kouhai?'
'…I…can?'
Shinobu chuckled softly to herself.
'Yes, my adorable kouhai, you can.'
'I'm lucky I have you, senpai.'
Shinobu blushed a little.
'I'll read you tomorrow.' she typed.
'^_^ I'll read you tomorrow, senpai!'
xxxx
And so the days passed, the two of them exchanging messages after school.
Shinobu enjoyed those few minutes with her still-nameless kouhai.
Unbeknownst to her, Tanjirou felt relieved he could talk to his senpai so freely – to a degree – about his day at school.
In their time as mystery text pals, they had met and talked during breaks and had become fast friends without them realising it.
Tanjirou had even invited her to his kendo tournament and Shinobu was more than happy to accept and then extend the same invitation to an upcoming fishing competition she'd be taking part in.
The start was Tanjirou's bloody nose.
Inosuke had hit the ball a little too hard and got Tanjirou on the nose during P.E.
Tomioka-sensei had send him off to the nurse's office.
“Tamayo-sensei?” he called as he opened the door.
“Sorry, something came up and she needed to step out for a moment.” a female voice said, “But let me see if I can't help you.”
“Ah, thank you. I'm Kamado Tanjirou, nice to meet you.”
“Kochou Shinobu, nice to meet you, too.”
“Are you related to Kochou-sensei?”
“She's my big sister. Sit down, please, and blow your nose.” she smiled, handing him a few tissues, “How did it happen?”
“I got hit by a ball.” he smiled, sheepishly.
“Really?” she looked surprised, for some reason, “Let's see if it stopped.”
And sure enough, a few blows later, the blood had stopped.
“Thank you, Shinobu-senpai.” he smiled brightly at her, “Is there a doctor or a nurse club?”
“No, but there is a pharmaceutical research club. It's similar enough that Tamayo-sensei let's me help out sometimes.”
“Ah.” he stood up, ready to leave, “Thank you again, senpai.”
“Mmm. You're welcome. Just don't play ball for the rest of school day.”
“I don't think Shinobu-senpai has to worry about that. There's not much time left before P.E. period ends.” he smiled.
“Take care now, Tanjirou-kun.”
“I will.”
xxxx
'I went to the nurse's office today.'
'Are you ok?' Shinobu asked, worried.
'Yes. Just a minor accident with a ball. My friend put a little more force to his throw.'
'Please be more careful, kouhai. You and your friend.'
'We will, senpai. How was your day?'
'I helped out at the nurse's office today. I met another kouhai of mine. Seems like a good kid.'
'Senpai?'
'Yes?'
'You…do have friends, right?'
'Worried about my social life, kouhai?'
'Yes.'
Shinobu's teasing smirk morphed into a warm smile.
'Yes, I do have friends.'
'What are they like? Mine are polar opposites; one is very timid, you could say, and the other a little too bold.'
'One is very quiet and the other is very serious.'
'Sounds like an interesting combination of friends.'
'I have a third one, who is very romantic, but she graduated. She's the one who thought it'd be fun to put my number on the bathroom stall wall, actually.'
'It turned out well, in the end. I think? Can I say that? I-I mean, uh…'
'Yes, it turned out well in the end. It's nice talking to you, kouhai.'
'Um, same, senpai.'
xxxx
Midterms were just around the corner and Tanjirou, as the rest of his classmates, was in a bit of a panic.
“Why are you worried? Your grades are pretty good.” Zenitsu commented.
“It's not just about me. Inosuke and you, too need some tutoring and we know very well that I am a horrible teacher.”
“How about that senpai you invited to the tournament?”
“Shinobu-senpai?”
“Yeah. How about her? Maybe she could help us?”
“She is a third year! She has way more pressing things to worry for than tutor us!”
“She is also top of her class, so she might.” Zenitsu countered, “And it's you. You two have been spending time together. No one can deny you. After all, you managed to get the teachers to let you wear earrings in school.”
“But they are family heirlooms!”
“Just ask her tomorrow.” Zenitsu sighed.
xxxx
'I need a tutor. For me and my friends. For the midterms.'
Shinobu blinked.
'Are asking me to tutor you?'
'Yes? No? I don't know! There is another senpai of mine I could ask, but I don't want to bother her. I don't want to bother you, too. Oh my God. Am I bothering you? You must have been studying. I am so sorry.'
'If I was busy I would have told you, kouhai.'
'Are you sure it's okay? You must have a ton of things to prepare for.'
'You're my much needed break. Thank you for texting me.' Shinobu wrote, 'Take a deep breath. Are you a bad student?'
'I'm okay…? I don't want to say I'm good because then I might sound arrogant. My friend says I'm good, though.'
'Is your friend prone to lying?'
'No.'
'Then, you don't need to worry. I don't know about tutoring you and your friends, since we've yet to figure out who we are talking to, but ask that other senpai of yours tomorrow. Are you afraid they'd say no?'
'She's a very kind person and I do enjoy spending time with her…but she is a third-year student as well, and surely has better things to do than tutor a first-year and his two friends.'
'Don't assume, kouhai. Ask her. It'll better for your nerves, too. You worry too much, kouhai.'
'I panicked, I know. Thank you, senpai! :)'
xxxx
After school the next day, Tanjirou walked up to Shinobu-senpai's class and thanked whoever listened she was still there.
“Ah, excuse me, Shinobu-senpai?” he called.
Shinobu looked over to the door.
“Hello, Tanjirou-kun.”
“Ah, hello!” he bowed.
“What's the matter?”
“Could you please tutor me and my friends?”
Shinobu stared.
“Please!”
“Kouhai?”
Tanjirou looked up surprised.
“Senpai?”
“You worry too much, kouhai.” Shinobu smiled softly, tapping the tip of his nose with her finger.
“Shi-Shinobu-senpai?” the redhead blushed.
“It seems to me that we might have found each other in the end, eh, kouhai?”
“Who would have thought that my two favorite senpais were actually the same person?” Tanjirou mumbled to himself as he shook his head, a disbelieving, soft smile on his lips.
“I will tutor you. But! Your friends, though, on one condition.”
“Anything, senpai.”
“One cupcake. I've heard all about your baking prowess.”
“If Shinobu-senpai would follow me.” Tanjirou smiled, turning towards the door.
“You'll make me one now?” Shinobu asked surprised.
“It's no trouble. I am allowed to use the club room whenever I want. Privileges of being one of the best bakers to pass from the club.” Tanjirou smiled back at her.
Chuckling softly, Shinobu gathered her books and followed him.
“Then, we'll start revising tomorrow.” Shinobu said from beside him.
xxxx
'Tanjirou-kun, you ruined me for baked goods now.'
'I'm sorry, Shinobu-senpai. (//▽//)'
'Your strawberry cupcake was the best I've ever eaten.'
'Senpai, are you focusing on my baking abilities rather on our studies?'
'You ruined me, Tanjirou-kun.'
'Shinobu-senpai, we have exams! Please! You're tutoring me and the others tomorrow. I'll bake you anything after the exams.'
Shinobu chuckled.
'That's called bribery, Tanjirou-kun.'
'…Was your plan me promising I'll bake you something again? Shinobu-senpai should have known that she only needed to ask.'
'Plan? Who did you take me for, Tanjirou-kun?'
'*sigh* Really, Shinobu-senpai…'
xxxx
“I can not believe this is finally over…” Tanjirou moaned in relief.
“Shinobu-senpai was scary during tutoring.” Zenitsu said, “I don't want to know what getting a bad grade would mean.”
Tanjirou got up and stretched.
“Where are you going, Tanjirou?”
“Baking Club.”
“But there are no club activities today!”
“I know. I'll be a little late, so you two don't have to wait for me.”
“Are you sure? We wouldn't mind. Right, Inosuke?”
“See ya tomorrow, Gojiro.” the other boy waved, taking off.
“HEY!” Zenitsu called after him, “At least pretend you are worried!”
“See you two tomorrow!” Tanjirou called after his two friends.
Chuckling, he went to the club room, only to find someone else already there.
“Shinobu-senpai, this was supposed to be a surprise.”
“I enjoyed watching you work last time, Tanjirou-kun.”
“A-ah…” the young teen blushed, “Well…”
“How well do you think midterms went?” Shinobu changed the subject.
Tanjirou, who had started gathering the ingredients, hummed.
“I think well. I had a really good tutor, you see.” he smiled, “How about you, senpai?”
“Glad they're over.” she sighed, “The stress was a little too much from time to time. Thank God for my mystery text pal.”
“Glad to hear they are of help.” Tanjirou smiled softly, “Senpai, no peeking.”
Shinobu smiled, leaning on the counter.
“I want to help. Will you teach me?”
Tanjirou blushed. He looked away.
“Here.” he said, showing her what to do.
They made a small strawberry tart, that Shinobu insisted they shared.
“Why strawberry?” she asked him, as they walked towards the exit of the school.
“You like it.” he said quietly, blushing.
Shinobu blinked.
“How did you know?”
Tanjirou twirled his fingers, embarrassed.
“I have a really good sense of smell. You smelled happy with the strawberry cupcake.”
“And you remembered?”
“Shinobu-senpai is my favorite senpai.” he mumbled, looking away.
Shinobu smiled softly and leaned close to press a light kiss on the young teen's cheek.
“Tanjirou-kun is my favorite kouhai.” she smiled at his stunned look.
Tanjirou looked ahead, blushing, tentatively reaching for Shinobu's hand.
Shinobu noticed it, and with a small smile, took his hand, squeezing it lightly once.
This year was looking up to be a beautiful one.