V

                                    

                                          
"Welcome! Please, feel free to sit wherever you want!" A small cheerful voice resonated through the cafe. Genya smiled at the kind cashier.
Sanemi acknowledged the cashier with a small nod before walking to a table. It was by the window with two seats, one facing the cafe and one facing outside. Sanemi plopped himself into the seat facing the cafe and read the menu above the counter. 
Genya closely followed behind and took note of what he wanted to order. "So, what was that elective you wanted to take anyways" Sanemi rested his elbows on the wooden table. Genya looked back at his brother, "Uh, it was an art elective with Ms. Kanroji."
Sanemi threw a confused look towards him, "The fuck? I've never seen you interested in art shit like that." 
Before Genya could answer, an employee came over to take their order, "Anything to drink?"
"Black coffee," Sanemi replied. "Watermelon tea."
The employee smiled and told them it would only take a few minutes for their orders. Sanemi moved his attention back to Genya, "So, any reason to switch to an art class. I mean, it's been a few years since you've ever taken anything like that."
Genya thought about it, he didn't really have any reason to switch into an art class, well maybe because of Y/N. He was never really interested in art, but he thought it would be a good way to get to know her better. Besides, his brother didn't need to know the reason for the sudden switch.
"I just thought it would be good to learn the basics, you know, just for fun," Genya nervously replied, hoping Sanemi wouldn't press on the topic further. Sanemi's eyes pierced through Genya's, making the younger look at the older confused. "Alright, whatever you say."
Genya was relived that he didn't ask anymore questions, he probably wouldn't know what to say. "Here are your drinks, if you want any pastries, just come up to the counter!" The employee set down Genya's glass of watermelon tea and Sanemi's mug of black coffee.
Genya's nose crimped at the smell of the strong liquid. "Why do you like coffee anyways?" 
Sanemi looked up to his brother from his mug he had taken a sip of, "I don't know, guess I just liked it one day, keeps me awake from dealing with all you and your friends bullshit." Genya gave his brother a look of disbelief.
"What? It's true, you and your friends can be insufferable sometimes," Sanemi took a second to think, "Like when it took you thirty minutes to come to the teacher's lounge after school."
"I didn't take thirty minutes, at most maybe fifteen!" Genya rebutted Sanemi's claims. Sanemi only laughed, Genya grumbled something under his breath while he drank his tea.
"Whatever you want to believe Genya," Sanemi shoot back with a scoff. "Heard anything from dad?" Genya froze in his spot. Obviously talking about their parents was sort of a hard spot for them. Not only did their parents fight all the time, their father was especially abusive towards their mother.
Sanemi made a decision to move out with Genya, their mother, and the rest of his little siblings to not only protect their safety, but to protect his mother. At first, their mother denied, thinking that moving out would only make their father madder. But Sanemi, with his minimum wage job and only being about sixteen while Genya was nine, saved up enough for a small apartment for the eight of them (not including himself). It wasn't very big at first, but after about four years and working more than 60 hours a week, Sanemi was able to move himself and them into a small house.
"No," Genya set his glass down with a thud, "The last time he contacted me was about three years ago, when he called mom and you talked with him."
They had been moved out for about two years before their father contacted them through messaging. Sanemi wouldn't allow him to speak to his mother, afraid he would verbally abuse her. His father and him had a heated conversation, their father cursing him and his family for moving out, while Sanemi cursed at him for being such an abusive father towards his family. After that conversation, their father stopped trying to call and stopped messaging them all together.
Genya was about thirteen while Sanemi was about eighteen. Now Sanemi being twenty-one and Genya sixteen, Genya picked up a minimum wage job to help with the bills. "Good," Sanemi finished his coffee in one big swig and left out a sigh, "If he ever contacts you or mom, tell me okay?" Genya nodded and finished his drink as well.
Sanemi tapped his index finger on the counter, waiting for his change. Genya stood behind him and waited in silence. He heard laughing and yelling and looked behind his shoulder to see Tanjiro and the others getting up from their table. His eye caught Y/N's, a blush immediately crept to his face. Y/N smiled sweetly and waved to his shaking figure.
Before she could do anything else, Kanao pulled her to towards their group once again. Genya watched in awe, he really thought Y/N was beautiful.
"Let's go," Sanemi turned towards the door and pushed it open for Genya to follow. Genya took one brief look at the group then trailed behind Sanemi to his car. They only had one car, being that Sanemi was working two jobs, Genya one, and their mother stayed home to take care of the rest of their family.
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Sanemi unlocked their front door with a twist of his keys. Because their house was so small, they didn't have a garage, which they didn't mind. Sanemi worked hard to get them away from the abusive tendencies of their father, and being together was enough for them.
"We're home!" Sanemi shouted and tossed his keys on the counter. Koto ran up to his two brothers and hugged Sanemi's and Genya's legs. "You're home! I missed you!" Genya and Sanemi shared small smiles. Sanemi picked Koto and rested him on one of his arms.
"We missed you too Koto," Sanemi hugged his youngest brother with a loving expression. Sumi had followed suit and greeted her older brothers with a bright smile. "How was your guys' day?"
"It was fine, same as always," Sanemi redirected his attention to Genya, both Sumi and him waited for an answer.
"It was fine too, I learned a few new things," Genya slightly blushed thinking about his encounter with Y/N.
"I'm glad to hear that, Genya," Their mother emerged from outside, carrying a small woven basket. "Genya, would you mind helping me with dinner?"
Genya shook his head, "I'll help you mother."
Sumi took a sleepy Koto from Sanemi, "Brother, go work on your papers, I can watch over them." 
"Alright, thank you Sumi," Sanemi hugged his sister tightly, grateful for his family and the choice he made five years ago.


"Genya, how was school?" His mother stirred a pot of broth. "It was fine."
"Sanemi told me you had started a new class today, art was it?" She covered the broth with a metal lid.
"Yeah," His mind wandered to his art class, he really enjoyed painting and drawing.
"It's quite the contrast from shooting isn't it," His mother laughed at her son's sudden switch. Of course Genya didn't quit shooting, but she wasn't expecting him to take up art.
"It seems like you quite enjoy it, even if you've only done it for one day."
"Yeah, it's relaxing and freeing," Genya smiled to himself, he liked the relaxing atmosphere that surrounded him during that hour. And he enjoyed being with Y/N, even if she wasn't with him, he admired her kindness and understanding of students and of art.
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