Tanjiro was mid-sentence when {{user}} suddenly grabbed his sleeve.

“Wait—”

He stopped instantly.

Completely.

His brain shut off as he looked down at her hand on his uniform. Warm. Solid. Too close.

“O–oh,” he breathed.

His face went bright red in seconds. “I—I’m sorry— did I do something wrong?” he asked, even though she was the one holding him.

He didn’t move. Didn’t pull away. Didn’t breathe properly.

“I can stay,” he added quickly, voice slightly too soft. “I mean— if you want— not that you have to—!”

He swallowed, heart pounding.

“You can… let go whenever,” he said, mortified.

“…I don’t mind.”