ONIGIRI...? — CHAPTER #2 — LANGUAGE BARRIER SUCKS!

"Onigiri." You said, seriously regretting your life choices after that word left your mouth.

'Why the fuck did i say Onigiri?' You cursed under your breath, feeling frustrated with yourself. You couldn't help but berate your own intelligence. 'Shit. Why am I so dumb?' Your mind raced, wondering how Tanjiro would react to your blunder.

As you stood there, frozen in embarrassment, the burgundy-haired boy gazed at you, his expression a mix of surprise and kindness. Without uttering a word, he reached inside his haori and retrieved an actual Onigiri. He held it out to you, a silent gesture of understanding and compassion. You were taken aback by his thoughtfulness, the weight of his action sinking in. Realizing that Tanjiro had previously given this Onigiri to Zenitsu out of hunger on the anime, you couldn't bring yourself to accept it. You gently returned the Onigiri to Tanjiro, who now wore a look of confusion. He wondered why you were giving the food back to him. Before he could voice his confusion, you attempted to communicate.

"No onigiri!" you blurted out in broken Japanese, your words stumbling and disjointed. "No Japanese!" you gestured by shaking your head from side to side, indicating a clear "no." Tanjiro began to piece together that you must have been a foreigner or at least someone unfamiliar with the Japanese language. However, even with this understanding, he was at a loss since he didn't have a clue about your native language. Taking a moment to think, he decided to start a conversation about something simple, hoping to establish a connection.

The boy extended his finger, pointing directly at himself. "Kamado Tanjiro." He enunciated each syllable slowly, giving you ample time to comprehend. Sensing your confusion, he repeated the gesture, emphasizing his own name once again. Then, he shifted his finger, directing it towards you. "What is your name?" Tanjiro's attempts to communicate felt as if he were trying to break through to a stubborn donkey, yet you couldn't grasp why he was singling you out.

Your mind raced with self-doubt. 'Did I do something wrong already?! Oh no! He is staring at me!' Panic gripped you, overwhelming your senses. The weight of the situation, whether a dream or not, bore down upon you with striking realism. The mere thought of sustaining eye contact sent your anxiety spiraling. You found yourself questioning the very existence of eyes themselves. In that moment of distress, Tanjiro discerned your turmoil and sought to offer solace, gently gripping your shoulders to anchor you.

"Kamado Tanjiro." He repeated, his voice being a comforting murmur. He pointed at himself once more, his gaze radiating reassurance. Then, with unwavering patience, he redirected his finger towards you, awaiting your response.

'He is asking for my name! How could I be so stupid?' You chided yourself, mustering the strength to calm the rising tide of anxiety. 'Should I reveal my real name? After all, I find myself in an anime where nobody knows me. Perhaps I could... transform... Yes! Transform! I can seize this golden opportunity to become someone I can truly be proud of!'

Gathering your courage, you reached out, grasping Tanjiro's hand firmly, and summoned a warm yet "confident" smile. Recalling the cultural convention of stating last names first in Japanese, you reminded yourself of the proper order.

"(L/N) (Y/N)! (L/N) (Y/N)!" You proclaimed aloud, your voice tinged with nervousness, but accompanied by a sincere smile. As you closed your eyes momentarily, you acknowledged that this fresh start instilled a sense of joy within you. However, you also recognized that your inherent awkwardness and anxious persona remained present. Nevertheless, the fact that you were no longer engulfed in panic proved sufficient to put Tanjiro at ease.

"Are you perhaps hurt anywhere? Can you stand?" Tanjiro inquired, momentarily forgetting that you couldn't understand Japanese. You stared at him with a deadpan expression.

"Did you just forget that I cannot speak Japanese?" You anxiously pointed out.

"Crap! Right! No Japanese." Tanjiro realized his oversight. He scanned the surroundings, hoping to find any clues about what might have happened to you, but it proved futile. You were a random girl in the middle of the street, dressed oddly, and on top of that, you couldn't speak or understand his language. As much as he desired to assist you, he had a mission to fulfill and couldn't afford to waste time. However, his compassionate heart refused to leave you alone. After much contemplation, he made a decision and looked for someone nearby. Perhaps he could entrust you to their care, ensuring your safety. He couldn't bring you along with him. He was a demon slayer, and exposing you to such danger was out of the question. Letting out a heavy sigh, he started to move forward in search of someone, but your mind, always ready for the worst, began to spiral.

'Wait... Did he give up on me and just decided to leave me here alone?' Your thoughts trembled with fear. 'I can't communicate, I don't know where exactly I am, I'm hungry, I'm in a world full of demons, and I don't even have something to protect myself with... I'm totally going to die if he leaves me!'

"(L/N)! I think there's a village nearby!" Tanjiro exclaimed, but to his surprise, you dashed towards him, clutching his waist with both arms.

"PLEASE! DON'T LEAVE ME, TANJIRO! WAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" You screamed, tears streaming down your face.

"A-AH! Wait! D-Don't cry! Everything will be okay, (L/N)! Nobody is going to hurt you-"

"I CAN'T UNDERSTAND YOUUUUUUUUU!"

'Dammit! I can't understand what she's saying at all!'

Tanjiro gently held your cheeks and made you look at him. "Please don't worry! You are going to be okay. I will protect you until I find a safe place for you, alright?" Although you didn't comprehend his words, his calm demeanor and sincere efforts to help urged you to gather yourself. Besides, you had no other choice but to follow him. Tanjiro assisted you in getting up and held your hand as you both started walking toward the destination he needed to reach.

'In what part of the story are we? Are we going towards to meeting Zenitsu already?' You were not the only one with a lot of things on their mind right now.

'Did I really make the best choice? She's a foreigner. We can't even communicate properly! But I couldn't bear to leave her alone... What if this is some sort of trap set by Muzan or-'

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when he felt that you were gently tugging at his sleeve, your eyes filled with gratitude and cheeks flushed with warmth.

"T-Thanks!" You stammered, trying so hard to make sure you spoke correctly. He was helping you, even though he didn't knew you. Everything was so confusing but at least you had to try to show him your gratitude one way or another.

"No problem..." The boy responded, still harboring a hint of caution. He paused for a moment, contemplating his next move. He raised his hand, the one that was not holding yours, and slowly waved at you.

You, unsure of what to do and confused as to why he was waving at you, decided to do the same. You gave him an awkward yet shy smile and raised your hand to wave at him. Tanjiro for no explainable reason, seemed to smile at this, not expecting that you would mimic him. He found it rather... cute.

You had no clue of acknowledgment about this weird exchange that just happened but your heart swelled with joy when you saw the burgundy-haired boy's radiant smile. One of your favorite characters was smiling at you, how could you not die of happiness this right moment?!

'Okay, maybe I'm being overly paranoid. She seems so kind and friendly. I don't think i need to suspect her, she's just a lost foreigner...' Tanjiro's reservations began to melt away as he allowed himself to appreciate (Y/N)'s genuine nature.

"SOUTH-SOUTHEAST! YOUR NEXT LOCATION IS SOUTH-SOUTHEAST!" Screamed Tanjiro's crow flying closely around them.

"Agh! I heard you!" The poor boy seriously needed some vacations. "I heard, so give me a break and quiet down!"

"GAWWWWW!" The crow didn't care and continued screaming to annoy the demon slayer. You were also starting to get tired of the noises so, with your free hand, you covered one of your ears to suppress the annoying yelling. Tanjiro couldn't help but notice this.

"I got the message already, so stop! You are bothering (L/N)! Please-"

"PLEASE!!!" You, Tanjiro and his crow were startled by somebody else's scream.

"PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE MARRY ME!" A blond boy with messy hair and a yellow-orange haori with a triangle pattern (also known as Zenitsu), was crying, begging, and clinging to a black-haired girl who had two large braids and wore a plain blue kimono. "I COULD DIE ANY DAY, YOU KNOW?! THAT'S WHY I WANT YOU TO MARRY ME! SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE! I BEG YOU! MARRY MEEEE!!"

"W-What the hell is this?" Tanjiro said, perplexed, as he covered your eyes just in case. Even the crow stopped its incessant cawing. "What on earth?"

"Chu! Chu! Chu!" Exclaimed a little brown sparrow flying towards the duo. Tanjiro uncovered your eyes and let the bird rest on his hand.

"Huh?"

"Chu! Chuchu! Chu! :( Chuchu! Chuchuchu! Chu! D: " Cried the little sparrow. You were surprised to see that the burgundy-haired boy could understand what Chuntarou was saying. Your attention shifted from Zenitsu's persistent pleas to the interaction between the sparrow and Tanjiro.

"I see! Gotcha! I'll do something about it!" The sparrow seemed on the verge of tears upon hearing those reassuring words. "(L/N), please wait a moment until I handle this." You nodded, not fully comprehending what he had said. Chuntarou flew towards you and perched on your head.

'Shit, you are so cute. I want to pet you.' As if Chuntarou had read your mind, the sparrow hopped off your head and landed on your outstretched hands. 'AWWWWWW!'

Feeling overwhelmed by the adorable encounter, you turned your back and sank to your knees. You were no longer paying attention to the ongoing battle between Zenitsu and the girl and Tanjiro's attempts to restrain him.

"Who is the cutest sparrow? Who is the most adorable sparrow? Obviously, you!" You sang sweetly, your fingers gently stroking Chuntarou's feathers. The sparrow was in avian heaven, basking in the affection and attention it was receiving.

Tanjiro's crow suddenly came to you and just stared at your figure. You got nervous since you thought that the crow was going to attack you but instead, the crow just rested his head on your knee. It was like he was resqueting headpats from
You too. You gladly agreed to. Who could say no to cute animals?

*SLAP*

'...Go girl. Pop off queen...' You thought but still felt bad since it was your dear Zenitsu who got slapped.

The girl continued to deliver forceful blows to the yellow-haired boy, her frustration driving her actions.

"OUCH! OUCH! THAT HURTS!" Screamed Zenitsu, feeling the impact of each strike. Tanjiro rushed forward and tried to intervene, grasping the girl by her sides, but she resisted his efforts.

"WHEN DID I EVER TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU? I JUST STOPPED TO HELP YOU 'CAUSE I THOUGHT YOU WERE ILL, YOU DUMB FUCK!"

"EHH?! ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT YOU DIDN'T TALK TO ME BECAUSE YOU WERE IN LOVE WITH ME?!"

"EW NO. AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, I ALREADY HAVE A FIANCE. SAYONARA, BITCH!" With her words as sharp as daggers, she turned, walking away with an air of regality. Zenitsu, left hurting on the ground, called out desperately.

"W-Wait baby girl, come back...! Come...!"

Tanjiro attempted to console the distraught boy, urging him to calm down. But Zenitsu's pain and frustration clouded his reasoning.

"Wh-Why'd you get in my way when this has nothing to do with you?!" Zenitsu's accusation hung heavy in the air, and you couldn't help but notice the flicker of disgust that briefly crossed Tanjiro's face. Witnessing his expression firsthand instead of a screen added a new layer to your understanding of him. Everything felt so real to you, it was unbelievable.

"What's with that look on your face?! Stop it! Why are you staring at me like I'm a creature or something?!" Zenitsu pointed an accusatory finger at Tanjiro. "Hey, you asshole! It's your fault it ended like this."

The tense atmosphere hung between them, leaving them all in a stifling silence.

"JEEZ, SAY SOMETHING YOU FREAK!" Said Zenitsu, angry and nervous.

Tanjiro found himself in a perplexing situation, trying to listen and understand Zenitsu's pleas for help, all while feeling utterly confused. How could someone so terrified of demons become a demon slayer? Seeking to calm him down, he decided to introduce himself, hoping it would provide some clarity.

"My name is Kamado Tanjiro!" He was planning to say 'pleased to meet you' out of courtesy of course, but he honestly didn't felt that pleased after meeting him so Tanjiro skipped that part. He placed a hand over his chest, emphasizing his words. Then, he gestured towards the spot where you sat. "And her name is (L/N) (Y/N)!"

Upon hearing your name, you decided that it was time to put an end to your playful interactions with the crow and the sparrow. You approached Tanjiro and Zenitsu, though the latter still seemed oblivious to your presence.

"Is that right?! Shit, my bad. I'm Agatsuma Zenitsu! Please save me!" Zenitsu crawled towards Tanjiro, grabbing hold of his haori. He then proceeded to ramble about his suffering and his own perceived weakness. You tuned out this part, as you were already familiar with his self-deprecating tendencies. However, your heart ached for your beloved comfort character.

"KYAAAAA! I'M SO SCARED! SCARED! SCARED! I'M GONNA DIE SOON! NOOOOOOOO! PLEASE HELP ME!" Zenitsu's panicked cries filled the air. You couldn't help but empathize with him, and your instincts kicked in. You moved closer to Zenitsu and gently began to stroke his head, your own eyes welling up with tears.

"...Eh?" Zenitsu's tears came to an abrupt halt as he registered your touch.

'An angel. No, even the title of an angel does not do justice to this precious girl. Could she be a goddess? Have I finally died? If this is heaven, why didn't I die sooner? The fuck?' Zenitsu's mind raced with disbelief and astonishment.

"A-Are you going to marry me...?" Zenitsu asked nervously, hope shimmering in his eyes. Unawere of Zenitsu's proposal, you thought that he was simply complimenting you as he does with every female he senses so, you interpreted his words as a simple compliment. After all, who would actually propose marriage to you? In response, you mustered a bright smile.

"Thanks!" You chirped cheerfully.

"W-Wait, no! (L/N)-" Tanjiro attempted to intervene, but before he could say anything more, Zenitsu misinterpreted your response as an affirmative answer. He clung onto you, hugging your waist tightly, overwhelmed with tears of joy.

"O-OH MY LORD! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! YOU MUST BE AN ANGEL SENT BY GOD! (Y/N), I LOVE YOU SO, SO MUCH!" Your face turned bright red as you heard the word 'aishterou,' realizing the implications of what he had originally said.

(Y/N).exe stopped working. You couldn't comprehend the situation before you. As you stood there, flushed and motionless, Tanjiro attempted to pry Zenitsu away from your figure, his expression shifting from annoyance to outright frustration.

"Stop harassing (L/N)! She can't understand what's going on!"

"Stop trying to interfere with our true love, Tanjiro, for God's sake!"

"She didn't really understand you! Just let her go, Zenitsu!"

"LEAVE US ALONE! WE ARE GOING TO GET MARRIED!"

"AND I TOLD YOU, SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Tanjiro yelled annoyed at seeing you get harassed and not even realizing it because you're not comprehending anything that is happening around you.

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Taisho Secrets ~

- Chuntarou loves (Y/N).

- (Y/N) has abandonment issues.

- Tanjiro developed a weird need to protect (Y/N) since he is the only person she has for now.

- The black-haired braided girl thought (Y/N) was a fucking beauty.

Xoxo, azamishomie.