QUALITY TIME — CHAPTER #8 — I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH YOU!

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Two weeks recovering at the Wisteria house!

"Tsuyoku nareru riyuu wo shitta...♪♪" You hummed the anime's opening to yourself, finding solace in the melody as you skillfully braided Nezuko's hair. The two of you shared a special bond, evident in your harmonious interaction. Tanjiro observed the scene with a warm smile, appreciating your friendship. "Aw! Look at them, getting along so well!" He remarked, his voice filled with genuine delight.

Zenitsu, feeling left out, couldn't contain his jealousy. "Why don't you just shut the fuck up? I want (Y/N) to braid my hair too!" He exclaimed, frustration evident in his tone. Yet Nezuko remained fiercely protective, not allowing him to approach you for some unknown reason.

With tender care, you finished braiding her hair and proudly presented the result. "There, Nezuko! Your braids are ready." You announced, your voice brimming with satisfaction. Nezuko's face lit up with joy, her hands gently touching the braids while emitting a radiant, yellow aura. The sight was undeniably adorable, melting your heart. Blushing, you couldn't help but cover your face, overwhelmed by the sweetness before you. "Nezuko, you're going to give me diabetes if you keep being this cute!"

Tanjiro joined in the mirth, clapping his hands excitedly. "Nezuko, you look absolutely beautiful!" He exclaimed, appreciating her adorable poses as if she were in a professional photoshoot.

Zenitsu, never one to miss an opportunity for sarcasm, sarcastically chimed in. "Oh wow, what a beauty!" His arms crossed and eyes rolling in jest. Unfazed by his comment, Nezuko, in her regal demeanor, swiftly retaliated by delivering a swift kick to his stomach, silencing him temporarily.

"AUCH! THE HELL?! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!"

"HMH, HMH HMMHH HMH!" They were fighting at this point and Tanjiro was trying his best to stop them.

Meanwhile, Inosuke remained uncharacteristically silent, lost in his own thoughts. However, his contemplation was interrupted by a gentle tug on his arm, accompanied by your joyful voice.

"Inosuke!" You exclaimed, your face beaming with happiness.

"Whatddya want?" He grumbled in response. You pointed at his hair, then touched your own hair, indicating your desire to play with his locks. Inosuke took a moment to process her request, a rarity for someone known for his impulsive nature. He seemed to ponder her words, as if considering the implications. "Alright, (M/N)! You better do something awesome! Not everyone is lucky enough to touch my hair!" You eagerly sat behind him, ready to work your magic.

And so, you began your task, your fingers skillfully maneuvering through his hair. It was a simple act, but in that moment, it was filled with a sense of tranquility and connection.It was a nice moment, one that seemed to transcend the surface-level interaction. Inosuke, though unaware of it, felt an unfamiliar sense of calm wash over him, accompanied by a hint of nostalgia. Once you finished, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a mirror. A half ponytail adorned his head, and it suited him surprisingly well. He turned to look at you, your anxious expression betraying your uncertainty.

And then, he burst into laughter. "Pff- AHAHAHA! I LOOK AMAZING!" Inosuke's excitement was contagious, and he couldn't help but revel in his new hairstyle. "YOU'RE NOT AS BAD AS I THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE!"

"Thanks!" You didn't comprehend every word he said, but understood his approval. A smile graced your face, your nerves dissipating. Inosuke observed you with a newfound fondness, an invisible aura of warmth surrounding him. He masked his emotions behind his boar mask and abruptly departed, leaving without a word.

'...Weird...'

Regardless, you proceeded to call Zenitsu to play with his hair, and once you finished, you beckoned Tanjiro. The afternoon continued in a pleasant and harmonious manner, just like any other day.

Now, reader, I have a secret to share with you. Inosuke liked your half ponytail so much that he kept it for three days, carefully preserving its form and being careful to not undone it accidentally.

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Three weeks recovering at the Wisteria house!

Time had passed since your arrival at the wisteria place. Currently, you were immersed in studying from the book that had been given to you. Japanese proved to be more complex than other languages, so you dedicated a significant amount of time to memorizing words and deciphering the idiom. However, you were not alone in this endeavor. The kamaboko squad was right by your side, offering their assistance to help you improve in any way possible.

"Look, (L/N), you need to practice your pronunciation, learn core vocabulary, and grasp basic grammar! It's very easy!" Tanjiro advised, hoping to provide some guidance. Unfortunately, as always, you struggled to understand his words.

"Tanjiro, explaining it like that won't work. She can barely comprehend a few words." Zenitsu chimed in.

"Oh..." His expression turned crestfallen. "So, how can we help her then?"

"Perhaps we should start by teaching her individual words. For example..." Zenitsu looked around, searching for inspiration. "Ah, (Y/N)! Look here!" He pointed to his fingers. "These are fingers. Fin-gers!"

You looked at him with a mixture of confusion and understanding. "Oh! Um, fan...gers... finge...rs, fingers!" You repeated, pronouncing the word quite well.

"AHHH! GOOD JOB, PRINCESS!! See, Tanjiro? Teaching her words first is easier for beginners!"

"Okay, I understand now! Um, (L/N)!" Tanjiro redirected your attention towards him. He pondered, trying to come up with something to teach you. Your undivided focus on him felt oddly captivating, making him unexpectedly nervous. Why were your eyes so mesmerizing right now? And your bewildered expression, it was simply... adorable.

"...hmh?" You hummed, patiently waiting for him to speak. His eyes widened as realization struck. Right, he needed to teach you something. He suddenly slowly unaware pointed at you. "Pretty."

...

"Oh- Oh god!" He turned embarrassed, it was not his intention to say his thoughts at loud. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to say tha-"

"Pra...tty. Pretty... Pretty!" You confidently repeated, pointing back at him with a bright smile. You were grateful that your favorite characters were taking their time to teach you. Tanjiro's face flushed with embarrassment. He tried to deny it, but Zenitsu's incensed figure loomed behind him.

"Thought I wouldn't notice, bitch? What do you think you're doing? Manipulating my queen? YOU DAMN SON OF A WHORE!"

"D-Did you just called my mom a who- that's not the point! It's not what you think!" They began arguing, Tanjiro defending himself while Zenitsu refused to back down. Meanwhile, you were left in the company of a sleepy Nezuko and an eager Inosuke.

"HAHAHA, LISTEN WELL, (M/N)! I'LL TEACH YOU SOME SPECIAL WORDS, ALRIGHT?!" Inosuke exclaimed, wearing a diabolical grin. You gulped but decided to trust him, thinking, why not?

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One month recovering at the Wisteria house!

"(L/N)! Let's eat!" Tanjiro called out to you. It was night-time, and it was finally time for a well-deserved meal.

"Okay!" You hurried over and sat down with everyone, including Nezuko.

"I hope you enjoy your meal." Said the grandma. You all offered your prayers before digging in. Even though Nezuko wasn't eating, she nestled in your lap, keeping you company.

"How's the food, (L/N)?" Tanjiro asked.

"...good..." You savored each bite, thoroughly enjoying the delectable dishes of the Wisteria house.

"I'm so glad you're enjoying it!"

"(Y/N)!!! Your Japanese has improved so much!" Zenitsu exclaimed, clearly surprised by how quickly you were picking up the language. He couldn't help but imagine a future where you could understand everything fluently.

"...Thanks! Japanese. Hard." You replied with a smile.

'Gah! (Y/N)'s cuteness has gone through the roof!'

"HAHAHA! SOON, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK PERFECT AND BATTLE ME!"

"Stop it with that, will you? But yeah, is good news that she's learning! I was worried for the language barrier!" Commented Tanjiro.

"If she keeps it up, THEN WE CAN GET MARRIED!" Zenitsu blurted out, earning a swift punch from Nezuko before she returned to her peaceful slumber in your lap.

"STOP FUCKING PUNCHING ME EVERY-TIME I DO SOMETHING YOU DON'T LIKE!"

"STOP CURSING AT MY SISTER!"

"NEXT TIME, PUNCH HIM HARDER, DEMON GIRL!" Inosuke cheered.

"DAMMIT! Don't encourage her! She's already too strong! If she punches me any harder, I'll die!"

"THAT'S THE POINT, DUMBASS! HAHAHAHA!"

"I HATE YOU SO MUCH!"

You couldn't keep up with their rapid-fire conversation since they were talking so much and so fast for you. But despite that, you enjoyed their lively interactions and felt grateful for the progress you were making in learning Japanese. The warmth of their company and the shared meals made you feel at home in the Wisteria house.

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Later that night...

The group found themselves in their bedroom, each lying on their respective futons. Nezuko, being particularly fond of your company, had nestled beside you on your futon, happily holding onto your waist. You reciprocated her affection by gently patting her head, bringing a bright smile to her face. However, amidst this peaceful scene, Zenitsu couldn't help but let out a frustrated mutter, his nerves getting the best of him.

"M-Motherfucking daughter of a bitch. I'll kill her one day." Zenitsu grumbled, his nails becoming victims of his anxious biting.

"Don't think I didn't hear that!" Tanjiro, his focus entirely on the task at hand, momentarily paused and glared at Zenitsu. He scolded him, trying to maintain a calm composure. "Ugh, please, Inosuke, just stay still! I'm only trying to help you."

"AUCH, that hurts, motherfucker!" Inosuke cursed as Tanjiro carefully trimmed his nails. The boar-headed boy couldn't help but suspect that Tanjiro was intentionally causing him pain. "Monjiro! You're doing this on purpose to hurt me, right?!"

"I'm not! It's just that you keep moving too much!" The thing is, earlier in the day, Inosuke had been incessantly complaining about his overgrown nails, claiming that they were hindering his ability to perform even the simplest tasks. His frustration had reached a tipping point, prompting Tanjiro to offer his assistance, which leads to what's happening right now.

"NOW, THAT DOES IT! LEAVE ME ALONE! YOU SUCK AT THIS!" Inosuke yelled while slapping his hand away.

"W-Wait, Inosuke! Please don't! I'm only missing a bit! Just a few more minutes and we are finished!" He kept trying to convicd him but it was futile. "Please, come on. I just wanna help you."

"HUH? HELP ME?"

"Of course! You're my friend. I just want you to feel fine and not bothered. Come on, just a bit..." Tanjiro was good at convincing others. It was true that he was worried for the boar boy but in honesty, he just wanted him to stop whining. But yeah, it's because he is worried for him, let's leave it like that. White fluffy balls appeared around Inosuke, making him experience a weirdly warm feeling he couldn't quite describe.

"Hmh! Fine. Finish quickly or I'll choke you." Tanjiro smiled and kept doing his work.

'Not fair... I wish I could understand what they are talking about...' You pouted, feeling kind of left out.

As you let out a contented sigh, your fingers instinctively reached out to playfully pinch Nezuko's cheeks. They were incredibly soft and squishy, eliciting an adorable reaction from the demon girl. Her cheeks turned a slight shade of pink as she reveled in the pleasurable sensation of your touch. A warm smile graced your lips as you found the sight absolutely endearing.

Feeling a bit bored, you decided to softly hum a tune, barely audible to anyone around you. Lost in your own world, you shifted your attention to something else, your singing slowly stopping. However, to your surprise, both Nezuko and Zenitsu were able to catch the faint melody. Zenitsu abruptly halted in his tracks, his focus completely captured by your singing. A soft, kind smile formed on his face as he listened to the melody carried by your angelic voice. His heart fluttered with the beauty of it.

Meanwhile, Nezuko tilted her head, gazing at you with wide, curious eyes. She wondered what song you were humming and was eager to hear the rest of it. Memories of her brother Tanjiro's soothing lullabies flooded her mind, and a sense of nostalgia enveloped her. She reached out and gently tugged at your kimono, trying to get your attention. "Hmh, mhmm!" She mumbled, expressing her desire for you to continue singing. She adored your voice, but her frustration grew as you seemed confused by her actions. Pouting beneath her muzzle, she persistently made gestures, attempting to convey her wish for you to continue humming.

Not fully understanding her intentions, you playfully responded, not paying much heed to her. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say." You chuckled, momentarily dismissing her request. However, before Nezuko could express her disappointment, Zenitsu chimed in, unable to contain his admiration any longer. "(Y/N)!! THAT WAS SO PRETTY AND BEAUTIFUL! YOU HAVE THE VOICE OF AN ANGEL!"

Confused, you tilted your head, struggling to comprehend his words. "Hmh?" Your response was filled with uncertainty, unaware that he had heard you.

'Shit, right. Her understanding of Japanese is very limited. I need to use simpler words.' Zenitsu thought to himself.

"You voice pretty! Voice beautiful!" He exclaimed, hoping to convey his appreciation in a way you could understand.

Upon comprehending his words, your face flushed with embarrassment. It hadn't crossed your mind that he would be able to hear you, especially with his extraordinary hearing abilities. 'But of course he would hear me! He has ultra super ears! Damn it! FUCK! I WANNA DIE! IM NEVER SINGING AGAIN EVER IN MY LIFE!'

You covered your face with your hands, feeling a mix of embarrassment and surprise. Zenitsu, witnessing your reaction, couldn't help but become flustered as well. The sight of you being shy was just too much for him to handle, driving him into a state of craziness. Meanwhile, three veins popped up on Nezuko's face, signaling her frustration at not being the one to share the news and elicit such a response from you—not some "damn fucker" as she saw it—Clenching her fists, she shot Zenitsu a glare filled with pure hatred, making her intentions clear.

"..."

"Huh? What do you want, you fiend-"

Before Zenitsu could finish his sentence, Nezuko landed a punch square on his face.

"AHHHHHH, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"AH-" Inosuke's attention was suddenly captured by the commotion. "I WANNA JOIN TOO, I WANNA FIGHT!"

"W-Wait! I just need to finish trimming one nail!" Tanjiro desperately tried to intervene, but his words fell on deaf ears.

In the end, chaos erupted as they all got into a fight. Unbeknownst to you, the embarrassment had consumed your attention, and you remained blissfully unaware of the chaotic scene unfolding behind you.