Maybe you already know: how SatoSugu gain a whole new word for their relationship
- brought to you by JJK's production team (including Gege Akutami)
The tweet above is a QRT from one of the video producers for Gojo's 11-hour long tribute video, streamed on 3rd April till midnight to celebrate the release of JJK volume 26, "Heading South", on 4th April 2024. The video title is 孤高、廻想、融独 (Solitary, remagine, [fusion/melting]), revising Gojo's nice moments in his life with his friends and students.
The tweet says:
"We were involved in the planning stage. A "best friend" (「親友」/shinyuu) is a "toxic" (「有毒」/yuudoku [1]) and "melting" (「融独」/yuudoku [2]) existence. This is just our interpretation, but with everyone's thoughts, we have the final answer. We hope to able to encourage you to get Volume 26 even just a bit." (this is rough translation)
What is really the center of attention is this word 「融独」/yuudoku [2]. This is the 3rd word of the video title, but surprisingly, this word doesn't exist in the Japanese dictionary.
It is a completely new word created by the production team to describe part of Gojo's life. At the beginning, even Japanese fans had a hard time understanding what this word means. However, after Vigneravan's (the video producer) tweet, it is confirmed that 「融独」 is related to 「親友」/shinyuu/bestfriend. Gojo only has one and only one bestfriend, so this new term points to Geto.
The producer says "a bestfriend is a 'toxic' and 'melting' existence" when talking about Gojo's bestfriend, Geto. There is a wordplay here: both "toxic" 「有毒」[1] and "melting" 「融独」 spell the same way, "yuudoku". This fact is actually realized by fans in the way they assume how these characters are spelled when parts of them are used within other more common terms (especially when the referred term doesn't exist). 「融独」 is a combination of 融 (fusion/melting) and 独 (loneliness) - in literal sense, it means "melting the loneliness". In other words, the video producer's interpretation is "Geto, Gojo's best friend, is like toxin to him, but at the same time he melts away Gojo's loneliness".
Let's go back to Gojo's tribute video. This video starts with Gojo's birth, his youth, then his days as a teacher, and ends with him joining the battle with Sukuna, and finally going to the airport in the afterlife. Out of 11 hours, Geto appears in nearly 5 of them. The common vibe of the video is Gojo's happy moments with his friends, colleagues, and students. If you notice, there are NO scenes where he is fighting or in danger. The only distressing moments in the video are: when Geto becomes depressed, when Geto leaves Gojo, and when Gojo is left mulling in his own thoughts afterwards, sitting right where his bestfriend used to:
This means that the saddest and most depressing thing that ever happened to Gojo's life is when Geto left. And we all know how Gojo never forgets about him, and in fact, delays the time to execute Geto by order, only going down on him when Geto declares war 10 years later. This can be interpreted as part of the video producer's view, "toxic".
Yet, Gojo doesn't let Geto out of his mind. At the start of the video, after the images of him as a baby, Geto is the first person to appear in Gojo's life:
The above image gradually adds Yaga and Shoko afterwards. You can say that Gojo had no significant memories as a child, because he was born with powers and expectation, and thus, as a lonely kid. Meeting Geto, he has the first ever friend, an equal, someone who can understand him. So the memories when he first had Geto in his life, also indicating the start of his 3-year treasured bluespring, is when he finally turns from a lonely child to no longer lonely.
Yet when he loses Geto, he's become lonely again. Note that, Gojo has never been "alone", but he has been "lonely" (there has been many analysis for this, from Shoko's thoughts about him right before he gets released from Prison Realm, and in c236 when he confesses). Which turns out, Geto's existence is too big for him. Isn't it unhealthy to give so much leeway to an enemy, "the worst curse user of the jujutsu society", when he's supposed to execute Geto as soon as possible before he becomes a big threat? Yet, whatever Gojo has for Geto is too much and enough for him to give Geto freedom until he can't anymore; and after that, Gojo still wishes Geto had been there to pat him on the back before the fight with Sukuna, in order to fully feel satisfied. To wish for something impossible as an existence of the dead, who was supposed to be an enemy but wasn't.
It is "toxic", but Geto is exactly the only thing that can "melt his loneliness". That is why Gojo, who's been lonely all his life being the strongest, cannot let go of Geto in his mind. Geto has been the first one to make him change for the better, to stand by his side despite his status and origin, and even though he left, he's still Gojo's main source of inspiration to build his dream of changing the jujutsu system for the better, and to not let children fall for the same fate as his best friend once did, preserving their youth. Despite all the unfortunate events, Geto still stays as the special "toxin" to Gojo, the only one that can melt away his loneliness, the only person whose existence brings him satisfaction. (there's a whole topic on how the word "satisfaction" Gojo uses to describe his feelings when fighting Toji or Sukuna and the one used when describing Geto below are 2 similar terms with different connotations, but I'll leave that for another time)
For our own assumption, it is also likely that Gege Akutami is the one to come up with this word 「融独」. As the author who created Gojo and Geto as a contrasting pair, he is the one who understands their relationship the most. But mostly because he's one of the few people (involved in the series) who has deep understanding of Japanese language and often plays around with words. JJK very often includes highly complicated Japanese words and terms (even for Japanese readers), so for him to come up with a completely new word to pay tribute to Gojo is not out of possibilities.
And it leaves you in awe again how important Geto is to Gojo.
Watch the 11-hour tribute video:
P/s. by coincidence (or not), Tatsuya Kitani, the singer/songwriter for JJK Hi/pd arc's OP "Ao no Sumika", includes "Love Song" in the album Ao no Sumika. And this song is... well. A bit familiar.
Would the song somehow reminds you of how the video producer perceives Gojo & Geto's relationship? It's up to you.
Funfact: in "Love Song", there is an interesting term: 眩しい常闇 (mabushii tokoyami) - "eternal dazzling darkness". This term is also the title of JJK volume 0 chapter 4.
Notes: I know i'm scoring two for two tonight but I had to get this one out. I just love putting Nanami in situations he wouldn't normally be in and this was one was dyingggg to get out.
Artist is: lllust_man_2020 on twt
MDNI
♡︎✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧♡︎✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧♡︎✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧♡︎✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Nanami doesn’t go to strip clubs, but tonight is different– it was Gojo’s birthday, the day anything Gojo says goes and he got the bright idea to take Nanami and Geto to one to end his night drinking and watching the beautiful women walk out on stage.
It was quite upscale anyway. What could one night hurt?
Gojo being the woefully rich man he is, pulled out several hundred to throw down for the women dancing, drunken laughs from him echoed through the club as he oggled.
Meanwhile, Geto was somewhere in the low-lit club getting a dance from a woman or perhaps, he left and would reconvene with Gojo and Nanami the next day. Nanami sipped sake and was neither here nor there for the experience, respectfully drinking and observing his surroundings from the back on a black velvet curved seat section–
that was until he saw you walk onto the stage.
He watched you walk on as a sultry rock song turned on, and almost as if you were gliding on water, your moves so fluid before you even touched the pole, something was different about you from your eyes to your movement and the aura you exuded. You wore a dark maroon two piece set that didn’t cover anything, He shifted slightly in his seat and sipped his sake. You quickly glance over the steadfast rise of men in fine suits sitting and standing around the stage to get a better look at you.
You begin your sultry, snake-like dance that begins to hypnotize the men around you but then there was Nanami. He watched you slide up and down the pole, twisting and sliding your body with a fluidity he never laid eyes on before. Your back arching and contorting in ways he found magical. Your hair swung and slid over your fine back, shoulders, and breasts as you kept a sly grin on your face whilst you continued to dance…
Before Nanami knew it, he was standing before the stage, towering over the men who were begging for a moment of your attention the 20s and 50s at a time. He began to set 100 bills after 100 bills before your high heels as you danced as if he was standing before a holy altar to pay tribute to he watched you. You slid down the pole one last time your head tilted back as you finished, locking eyes with Nanami.
You felt starstruck at that moment, not even caring about the money you were receiving that was well into the thousands.
You finished your set and your money was collected and taken to the back you would gather for the end of your night. You climb down from the stage and walk to the club floor feeling determined for the connection you felt towards that beautiful mystery man you locked eyes with. Men begging for a dance from you and you simply ignored them all in complete disregard to them all that was until you see him, the man you locked eyes with– sandy locks of hair, tall and muscular frame.
Nanami sips his sake and watches you walking towards him. Him in disbelief that you two would ever cross paths again.
“Hey, my name is Y/n, I saw you standing before the stage... I came over to introduce myself”
“Nice to meet you Y/n, I’m Nanami… yeah, I’ll admit– I couldn’t stop watching. Your performance was wonderful”
He smirks and sips his sake trying to keep the heat forming in his stomach just from talking to you.
“Do you come here Nanami? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
Nanami raises an eyebrow and shakes his head
“No, never been to anything like this before.”
He points his finger that held his sake glass to Gojo who is shoving money into the thongs of women who have flocked around him, smiling and giggling like a kid in a candy store.
“I’m here because of him. It’s his birthday.”
You laugh and say “Yeah, his name Gojo right? He’s a regular here for some of the girls.”
Nanami raises broth eyebrows in slight amusement on his face and nods
“Yeah, I can’t say I’m surprised. So, Y/n would you like some sake?”
He holds a glass filled with sake for you to take
“Sure, Nanami. Thank you, what a gentleman you are.”
You and Nanami begin to talk, one conversation leading to another and he begins to unfold your story. A beautiful college girl trying to make it through her major, finishing in less than a year, and knowing this job would make quick money and pay well to get you through your hard work alone. Throughout the time spent of you two talking, you completely forget about your job. Nanami thinks himself over, finding you to be a beautiful, self-driven, intelligent woman of course he saw you more than just the occupation you held and couldn’t seem to get enough of you.
“Y/n forgive me if this comes off disrespectful– but, I find you quite amazing and I was wondering... can I take you out sometime?"
Title: Bodyguard's Embrace
SFW
Word Count: 808
Requested by: @shelly-ya
You stood in front of your now ex-boyfriend, he had been cheating on you for quite some time and you had just learned of the truth. He tried to convince you he wasn’t cheating but you had seen it with your own eyes. Not far, Nanami stood there watching the interaction. He stayed out of sight to give you privacy but he was still there.
“I think you are overreacting, (Y/N).”
“I am not overreacting, we are done. I have the photos, and people who saw you told me. Then you brought her to my home.”
“(Y/N), it meant nothing. Just a mistake,”
“Stop it, (ex), we are done.”
You turned away from him, but he growled and grabbed your wrist pulling you back. Nanami was there in a flash, gripping your ex’s wrist tightly.
“Let. Her. Go.”
“Nanami,” you said softly. He looked at you behind his glasses and motioned for you to get in the car the moment your ex let go. You got into the car without saying anything. Nanami was furious as he shoved your ex against the wall.
“You come near her again, and I will break every bone in your body.”
“Chill dude, I am just trying to talk with her.”
“She is done talking, and made it clear. Stay away from her.”
Nanami’s voice was harsh, direct, and professional. Yet above all else, his voice gave off a warning, a deadly warning. Nanami got into the driver’s side and started to drive off.
“You know, Nanami, you didn’t have to do that.”
“I take my duties as your bodyguard very seriously. I thought I told you to tell me where you are going, what if I wasn’t there?”
“He wouldn’t have hurt me.”
“He already did,”
“Wh- oh, you heard the conversation.”
“Indeed, I did. I wasn’t going to step in, but then he grabbed you.”
You fell silent, it was embarrassing that he knew about what happened. You looked out the window, as Nanami drove you back home. He got out of the car and opened it for you, helping you out. He was always a gentleman to you. He walked you to the door as you unlocked it. You walked in, and Nanami turned to leave but you gently grasped his wrist.
“Wait… Nanami.”
“Yes, (Y/N)?”
“Can you stay? I don’t really want to be alone right now.”
Nanami was silent as he stared at you, his eyes only saw pain. He nodded his head walking into the house.
“I will stay as long as you want me too.”
“Thank you, I know it's outside of your pay rate to comfort someone with a broken heart. But I ju-”
Nanami pulled you into his chest, you let a surprise gasp. Nanami had found it hard to maintain his stoic facade since he had trained himself to be an impassive guardian. But he had gotten to know you over the years and couldn’t help but fall in love with you.
You relaxed against him, gripping his suit’s jacket, balling it in your fists.
“I don’t care about what's inside my pay rate when it comes to you. I will stay as long as you want me to. Even if it means doing overtime.”
“You hate overtime.”
“I know, but for you, I don’t mind.” He mumbled, stroking your hair. You relaxed against his hold, hugging him tightly.
“Thank you, Nanami.”
“You are welcome, (Y/N). Promise me one thing though.”
“What?”
“Don’t stay hung up on him for too long. He didn’t deserve you, and he isn’t worth your tears.” Nanami said, his voice was rough but gentle, his large frame covered you entirely, and his scent filled your nostrils. You couldn’t help but melt into him.
“I promise, Nanami.”
He pulled back slightly, and looked into your eyes. His hands gently stroked your cheeks, he didn’t need to say words because the look in his eyes said everything you needed to know. You gave him a small smile, and he slowly leaned down pressing his lips to yours.
Your heart skipped a beat,but you slowly started to kiss back. His lips were gentle, and the way his hands cupped your face, had you forgetting every bad thing in your life. He parted from the kiss and casually nudged his nose with yours before parting.
You tried to lean up to kiss him, but he pressed a finger to your lips.
“Get over your ex first, and then I will give you all the kisses you want.”
You pouted slightly but smiled nodding your head. He led you to the living room, before he made you a bowl of ice cream. He set it in your lap and clicked on your favorite movie. He wrapped an arm around your shoulders, so you could lean against him.
cw: celebration of Christmas Eve (no religion mentioned), fluff, established relationship, implied sex
Summary: You and Nanami celebrate your first Christmas Eve together.
Author's Notes: This is the third and last fluffy side story for A Bento For Kento! Thanks for all the love and support throughout this series. Appreciate you all and happy holidays! Divider credit to @/saradika.
Previous Chapter | The Apple of His Eye Masterlist
It’s the day before Christmas Eve. Ren navigates through Netflix on your TV as you sit on the floor, wrapping presents. “Shall we do a classic Christmas movie, like Home Alone? Or should we do a horror holiday movie, like Krampus? Honestly, I could go either way,” Ren suggests, clicking on the remote to scroll through the different options.
Distracted, you respond, “I’m down for whatever.” You finish wrapping Nanami’s gifts. With a smile, you pick them up and place it on your kitchen counter, ready to be exchanged tomorrow. Your boyfriend has been out of town since yesterday for a mission. Tomorrow, you’ll be reunited to spend Christmas Eve together, arguably the most romantic day of the year. It’s taken all your willpower to not spoil the presents you got for him. You’ve always been horrible at keeping secrets.
“Krampus it is, then!” Ren exclaims, grabbing the bowl of popcorn off the coffee table. “Ready?”
“Yes! I finished wrapping his gifts.” You sit next to your brother on the couch, grabbing a handful to toss into your mouth.
“I wish I could see his reaction when you give him the apron. I bet he’s not used to silly, prank gifts. Then again, I’m sure Gojo has tortured him plenty of times with pranks.” Your brother starts the movie and adds, “So, you think he’ll propose tomorrow?”
You whip around to face him with a shocked expression. “Ren! Of course not, we’ve only been dating for five months!”
He smirks. “So? Nanami is head over heels for you. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a ring already and is just waiting for the appropriate time.”
“Don’t put ideas in my head.” As if you weren’t already thinking it.
To be honest, you love Nanami. Absolutely love him. Head over heels, smitten, match made in heaven, every cliché expression in the book you can think of, you feel that way about him. It’s been five months of paradise together, and not the kind that feels too good to be true. It’s natural, as if you’ve known each other for years, with the excitement of still learning more. You never thought you’d be the type of person who could fall in love so fast, but here you are, imagining the rest of your life with this man that you are completely infatuated with.
Marriage has crossed your mind. You’d be lying if you said it didn’t. You can’t help but picture Nanami as a doting husband, the two of you starting a family, going on more vacations, growing old together. It’s a dream that is slowly looking like a reality the more time you spend with each other.
Ren’s voice is soft as he says, “Remember what I told you, right before you two got together? I said you deserve the universe. He’s proven time and time again that he can give that to you, that he wants to give that to you. Whatever you and Nanami have is special. It’s the kind of love that I want to experience. The kind that Mom and Dad have for each other, the kind that people write movies and novels about. I know you think it’s too soon, but when you know, you know. Right?”
You stare at him, a little dumbfounded at the wisdom he just casually bestowed upon you. When you don’t speak, he just grins. “Yeah, I know stuff!”
You scooch over to him to give him a big hug. “Booger! When did you become such a romance expert?”
He tries to escape your grasp as he scoffs, “I blame it on the K-dramas I’ve been watching with my friends from school. But seriously, not that it matters or anything, but you have my approval. That is, if Nanami has the balls to actually propose tomorrow.”
“I highly doubt he’ll propose tomorrow. We haven’t even talked about marriage with each other yet. We’re just taking it one step at a time. We’re in no rush.” Before you let go of him, you add, “And for the record, it does matter. Your support means more to me than you know. I love you, booger.”
With a smooch on his head, you finally release him. He rubs the spot where you kissed him, smiling. “Love you too, sis.”
As the two of you sit back to watch the movie, you let your mind wander. You mean it when you say you’re in no rush. You’re just enjoying your time together without expectations or a timeline. The only thing you know for certain is that you love Nanami and Nanami loves you. That’s all that matters right now.
~~~
Nanami sits on the train next to Gojo. It’s the morning of Christmas Eve. They’re heading back to Tokyo after being away for a mission the last two days. He shakes his leg anxiously, excited and nervous for the night to come.
Tonight, Nanami is going to ask his girlfriend a very important question.
He’s going to ask her to move in together.
It makes sense to move on to this next stage in their relationship. They spend nearly every day together, either at his place or hers, mostly at hers. He dreads the few hours they are apart, whenever he needs to go to his apartment to make sure things are still running or to pick up extra clothes. Frankly, he doesn’t care much for his place; it’s always felt empty and lonely. It reminds him of his time as a bachelor. He pays rent for it every month without having any attachment to it whatsoever.
But when he’s in her home, he’s comfortable and cozy. He loves snuggling up next to her in bed, taking naps on the couch in front of the TV, cooking dinner in her kitchen. He adores the little splashes of her personality scattered throughout her house, from her solar powered Lucky Cat constantly waving at him from the windowsill to the Hello Kitty figurine displayed next to her Nintendo Switch. He’s started leaving traces of himself, like his toothbrush, clothes, an extra pair of shoes.
He can’t get enough of her. And that’s why he wants to live with her.
Gojo nudges him. “Relax, buddy. She’s going to agree to it.”
Nanami tries to stop his leg from shaking but ends up moving his other instead. “I don’t know. She may still want her space.”
“I don’t blame her if she does, you can be so overbearing sometimes, Nanamin!” When Gojo’s joke is not received well, he reiterates, “She’ll say yes, don’t worry. She absolutely adores you.”
They love each other. Nanami knows that for sure. But he still can’t help but feel nervous. What if she’s not ready? What if she still needs time? What if she still really wants her own space?
He sighs, unable to shake the nerves that are getting the best of him. Thankfully, Gojo takes the hint and leaves him alone for the rest of the train ride. When they get off the train to part ways, his friend says, “Merry Christmas, Nanamin. Tomorrow is going to go great. Also, please tell her thank you again for the gift. I already texted her, but I want you to tell her again. I love it.” They gave Gojo a new pair of sunglasses, that he is currently donning as they speak. “See you guys on New Year’s!”
Nanami walks the rest of the way to her house, luggage in hand and heart beating a tiny bit faster. He’ll pop the question tonight, after dinner, when they are exchanging gifts. They plan to order takeout from their favorite sushi restaurant and celebrate at home.
He unlocks the door, to which he already has his own set of keys for, and enters the house. The familiar scent fills his nostrils and gives him a sense of warmth and happiness. When he doesn’t see her in the kitchen or the living room, he yells out her name.
“Kento? Hold on! I’m changing!” he hears her shout from the hallway.
He removes his shoes and places them next to his other pair by the door. He hangs his coat on the rack, right on top of another jacket of his. Everywhere he looks, there is something of his right next to something of hers. He sees the newspaper that she started subscribing to for him, on the table, next to her empty coffee mug. The bottle of wine they opened a few nights ago sitting on the countertop, next to the Hello Kitty bento box that hasn’t been packed since he left. A pair of his slippers that he wears around the house right by the couch, where he last left them.
He wants to call this place his home. This is the realization he comes to.
When he sees her, his jaw almost drops. She walks out from the bathroom in one of his dress shirts and boxers with a bright smile on her face. “Baby! I missed you! Welcome home!” Her arms wrap around his neck as she presses her lips to his.
He kisses her back eagerly, linking his arms around her waist tightly. She looks so good in his clothes. He can’t hold back. “Why are you wearing this?”
She giggles, pulling away from him to answer, “I wanted to surprise you. It’s part one of my Christmas present to you.”
He chuckles. “This certainly is a wonderful treat.” He pulls her back towards him to scatter kisses on her neck, reaching his hands over her butt to give it a nice squeeze. “I missed you so much, sweetie. Can I unwrap my beautiful gift now?” he whispers into her ear, fingers sliding to the waistband of the boxers, tugging them down slightly.
She smiles, unbuttoning the dress shirt from the top. They both stagger into the bedroom, Nanami leaving his luggage by the front door, forgotten and abandoned as they start their Christmas Eve celebration making love in bed.
Two hours later, after some post-coital cuddling, napping, and showering, they sit on the couch, looking through the menu of their favorite sushi restaurant. Nanami has his arm wrapped around her as they scroll through her phone, selecting a variety of dishes to order for dinner. She’s still wearing his dress shirt, but with sweatpants this time.
As they wait for their food to arrive, she asks him, “Can I give you part two now?”
“Why did you get me so many things?”
“These are small! Please don’t feel bad.” She gets up to walk to the kitchen counter and returns with a small gift bag in hand. “Open it.”
It’s a dark blue tie with little foxes as the pattern. He grins. “A fox tie?”
“Yes. Because you’re foxy.”
He sputters a laugh. How can she be so cheesy and adorable all at once? He leans in to kiss her cheek.
“Do you hate it? It’s just a little gag, you don’t have to actually wear it.”
“A gag?”
“Yeah, a gag gift. Like a prank. A joke. I honestly think it’s rather stylish.”
“Ahhh, a prank. I thought you meant…Never mind.”
“Kento Nanami, what are you thinking?” she looks at him with a raised brow and a slightly amused smile.
“No. I shouldn’t say. It’s naughty.”
“Kento!”
“I love it. I promise I’ll wear it. You’re right, it is rather stylish. We’ll just have to use one of my other ties as a gag next time. I mean, a gag gift.”
“Nanami!” she responds, using his surname for emphasis, shoving his bicep playfully, chortling over his racy joke.
“Seriously. I love it. It’s from you, so naturally, it holds a very special place in my heart.”
She beams at him, cheeks round and cute with joy. He’ll never get tired of making her smile. Never. He takes a mental snapshot each time, memorizing all the different reasons and ways he’s managed to make her happy, to make her laugh. He takes her hand in his and raises it up to his lips, placing a soft kiss inside her wrist. “Do you want yours now?”
“Not yet! I have one more small one I want you to open. We can do our big gifts after dinner.” She walks over to the countertop again to retrieve another bag. How did he get so lucky to meet such a kind and generous woman? He constantly thanks the universe for this serendipity.
Giggling, she hands him the bag. He eyes her suspiciously with an amused grin and comments, “You’re making me nervous. What’s in here?”
“Just open it!” More giggling. He loves her so much.
Inside is a folded black apron. As he unravels it, he turns it over to the front to see the cause of her impish behavior. “Mr. Good Lookin’ is Cookin’…?” he reads out loud, warmth creeping to his cheeks, unable to contain his smile.
“Please put it on! I want to take a picture for Ren.”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”
Pouting, she whines, “Why not?!”
“Because knowing your brother, that picture will end up in Gojo’s hands. And he will harass me about it well into the new year.” Even as he explains himself, he pulls the apron over his head and ties it around his waist.
“What can Gojo even say to you? You are good looking! And you do cook! There’s nothing wrong with that statement! Please, baby? For me?”
Ahhh, his weakness. How can he deny her when those words come out of her sweet lips? The magic words that turn him into putty right into her hands? Chuckling, he relents. “Fine. Take the picture. If Gojo says something at the New Year’s party, you owe me.”
“I’ll give you whatever you want,” she smirks, taking the photo.
In all honestly, he loves the presents so far. Knowing she put thought into each one, no matter how silly it is, makes his heart swell with affection. He should have known that the same charm she exudes in her everyday life, the charm he fell in love with and continues to love each passing moment, would translate well into her gifts.
They cuddle and chat on the couch for a few more minutes until the doorbell rings, signaling that their dinner has been delivered. Nanami gets up to fetch the food and starts opening the bags to set on the table.
“Honey! Change of plans. I actually want to give you your last gift now, before we start eating. Is that okay?”
Confused, he replies, “Sure.”
“I just realized how perfect of an opportunity this is. You’ll understand as soon as you open it.” With a mischievous grin, she disappears into her bedroom. “Oh! And let’s eat on the couch! You can set the food up on the coffee table,” she yells through the closed door.
At her suggestion, he moves the setup over to the coffee table and starts playing a random holiday movie on the TV as he waits for her big reveal. After a few minutes, she comes out wearing her set of wasabi green sushi pajamas, a medium-sized wrapped box in her hands.
He loves these pajamas. They hold a special place in his heart. During their summer lessons, Ren showed Nanami a picture of her holding up giant meatballs with the brightest smile on her face. These were the pajamas she was wearing. It was the second thing that caught his attention, after her beautiful smile. It captivated him so much in that moment, he even imagined a scenario where she stood in front of him in those pajamas, with an offering of a bento box and a smile. The world is a better place with you in it. Always remember that. I love you, Nanami.
She walks up to him, smiling, holding the box out to him. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” A scene almost exact to what he conjured in his head months ago, before they even met. But it’s better this time; it’s real.
He unwraps the box carefully, sliding his finger under the folds and creases, savoring each second of this wonderful gift. There’s no inkling in his head as to what it could be, but regardless, he’s going to love it. Almost instantly, he notices the wasabi green color poking through the tissue paper as he opens the box. It’s a matching set of sushi pajamas in his size.
He’s speechless as he marvels at the fabric, taking it all in. There’s a familiar tightness in his chest, similar to the first time they said “I love you” to each other. He’s not exactly sure why he is so emotional from this. It’ll silly how flustered he’s getting. Maybe it’s because this is the first time in a long time that he received a gift that had so much thought put into it. So much love behind it.
They are officially the kind of couple that has matching pajamas. Nanami never thought he’d be in a relationship like this. He’s thrilled.
She breaks the silence first. “Do you like it? You always say how cute these pajamas are on me, so I wanted us to be cute together. And sushi is our favorite food to eat. I thought this would be fitting.”
Gulping loudly, trying to keep his composure, he responds, “I love it.” He lets out a small laugh. “I absolutely love it.” He drops the clothes on the couch to wrap his arms around her. Kissing the top of her head as he rubs her back, he whispers, “I love you so much.”
Nanami never thought a pair of wasabi green sushi pajamas could bring him to the verge of tears, but here he is, nearly in shambles in front of her. He thinks back on his life before this. If he knew then what the future had in store for him, he wouldn’t have wasted so much time brooding. Having her in his life has been well worth the wait. And if he had to, he’d wait decades more to have this kind of happiness in his life, to have her in his life.
They continue hugging for a while longer until he finally releases her, feeling calm again. He picks up the pajamas and says, “Let me go get changed and we can start eating.”
She claps her hands giddily. “You read my mind!”
A few minutes later, they sit beside each other on the couch, filling their plates with different sashimi and nigiri, all while wearing their matching sushi pajamas. The TV is on, volume low but enough to hear the buzz of whatever classic movie is playing.
Domestic bliss with the person he loves the most. It’s everything he’s ever hoped. After years of working endlessly, living through monotony, he’s finally made it. All because of her.
~~~
After dinner, the two you digest on the couch, watching the remainder of the movie in peace. You’re snuggled next to each other under a fleece blanket, wearing the matching pajamas. His hand rests on your thigh as you lay your head on his shoulder. Every so often, he’ll turn his to give you a soft peck on the cheek.
When the film is over, you sigh. “What should we watch now?”
Turning off the TV, Nanami gets up from the couch. “I want to give you your present now.”
“Oh yeah! Okay. Let’s do it.”
He walks over to his luggage by the front door and rummages through his belongings. When he comes back, he takes his spot next to you on the couch and hands you a bag. “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”
Excited, you dig through and the first thing you find are two lacey slip dresses, one in a forest green color, the other in maroon. These look very similar to one he bought you not that long ago, during your first vacation together at the hot springs resort. The steamy memories from that weekend come rushing back as you smirk at him. “Are you sure this is a gift for me? Or more of a gift for you?”
He chuckles. “Okay, I’ll admit it. It’s a treat for the both of us. I’m sure we’ll make use of it tonight.” He leans in to kiss you, his hand sliding up your thigh suggestively.
You push him away, laughing. “From sushi pajamas to lingerie. We have quite the range, don’t we, Mr. Good Lookin’?” Setting the dresses aside, you search through the gift bag to make sure you didn’t miss anything. There’s a small box at the bottom that you notice. When you open it, you find a dainty gold chain bracelet inside. You let out a small gasp, taken aback by the beauty of it. “Kento, I love it. I love it so much.”
“Good. I know how much you like this style of jewelry, but I wasn’t sure if you had something like this yet.”
“I absolutely do love this kind of jewelry and I definitely don’t have something like this yet. Thank you, baby. It’s so pretty,” you muse as he helps you clasp it around your wrist.
When it’s on, instead of pulling away, he holds your hand in between his. “There’s one more thing.” The look in his eyes is serious as he clears his throat. He always clears his throat when he’s nervous about something. “I love you. So much. More than you’ll ever know. More than I’m able to express to you in words or actions or gifts. And I want to move forward to the next step in our relationship.” He pauses, gauging your reaction so far. Your eyes are wide, full of anticipation for what he’s going to say next.
“I want us to move in together. I want to live here with you.”
Fireworks, butterflies, confetti. Every cliché reaction to happiness bursts through your body. Kento Nanami, you’re very handsome, extremely sweet and thoughtful amazing boyfriend wants to live with you! You fling yourself on him, laughing. “Kento! Yes! Let’s move in together!” Grabbing his face in your hands, you pepper his cheek with kisses, smiling and giggling, unable to contain your emotions.
“You mean it?” His voice is soft and precious.
“Yes!” You kiss him full on the lips now, sitting in his lap. “I’m so happy. I’m so, so happy. I’d love to live you. I love you.”
“You’re okay with me moving in here? In your home?”
“I’m more than okay. And our home. It’s our home now, Kento.”
Honestly, it’s felt like home for the both of you for a while now. Nanami is everywhere around the house, blending in seamlessly with you. His coats hanging next to yours on the rack. His toothbrush set next to yours in the bathroom. His clothes next to yours in the closet. Everyone you are, he’s right there, by your side. And as much as you like visiting his apartment with his king-sized bed, something about being here at home with him is comforting. As if this is where the two of you are meant to be together.
~~~
Our home. It’s our home now, Kento.
Nanami can’t stop replaying the words in his head as he continues to kiss her passionately, unable to hold back any longer. They celebrate with another round of love making, this time on the couch, with his gorgeous girlfriend wearing the maroon dress and the golden bracelet around her wrist. In their home. Not his, not hers. But theirs.
Summary:
The moment Nanami knew he never wanted to tie his tie by himself ever again and wanted to spend the rest of his life by your side.
fluffy, nanami x fem!reader, nanami already loves everything you do but something about tying his tie was so intimate and special to him
It had been a year since Nanami officially asked you to be his girlfriend, but you had just started staying over during the weekdays. If either of you would stay at each other's houses, it would only be during the weekends when you both knew the next day could be dedicated to each other. Only recently had that unspoken rule changed.
You had both gone to the mall to shop for your new professional wardrobe and Nanami asked if he could buy a few extra things for you to keep at his house. You both knew what that implied and told him he could buy it, only if you could buy some stuff for him to keep at your house. You had both never been happier to spend more time and money at a crowded mall.
Nanami woke up a bit later for work than usual because of a power outage that turned off his alarm clock and did not charge his phone. You went into work after he did so you make his coffee and pack his lunch while he took a quick shower. You run into the bathroom to let him know he had less than 15 more minutes.
He steps out of the shower and grabs his razor to shave. You reach for the hairdryer he bought for you to keep at his house and start to dry his hair as he quickly shaves. You run out and start to rummage through his closet to set his clothes on the bed. Nanami finishes shaving and follows you out to get dressed.
"Shirt first, hurry," you take the shirt off the hanger and throw it to him.
Nanami begins to button the shirt when you get in front of him and start pulling his collar up and putting his tie around his neck. He looks at you with a questioning look and you quickly explain, "My dad taught me how to tie a tie. Never thought it'd come in handy since I never knew anyone who regularly wore a tie before you." You laugh at the memory but continue what you were doing to avoid making your boyfriend late.
Nanami however... his fingers stop buttoning his shirt. He looks at you, concentration and rush covering your features, but your fingers gently grazed his skin as you looped his tie. She's the first person to ever tie it for me, Nanami thinks. He had to learn how to do it from a video and was later corrected by some older male coworkers who showed him with their own ties.
The events of that morning finally dawn on him. You jumped out of bed right after you felt him jump out and started rushing around the apartment with him. He hadn't even mentioned that he was late, but you opened your eyes and knew what to do. He could smell the coffee from the room and heard the clanking of the leftover containers being opened and slid across counters from the shower. You dried his hair knowing that his route to work was not long enough to let it dry itself, and you took out exactly what he would have worn that day while he shaved. And now... there you stood before him, helping him tie his tie so his hands could do other things.
It seemed so... small. It was so small, so truly insignificant in the scale of life, something that could not hold weight in the world or change anything in the universe. But it changed his life, it was his favorite view in the word, and it would become his universe.
You look up at him and see him staring... and his hands not moving?! You move his hands away from the buttons and rush to finish buttoning it down. He takes your face in his hands and leans down to kiss you slowly. So very slow and soft. It stops you completely and you wrap your arms around his waist, relishing in the smell of his aftershave and body wash. Nanami deepens the kiss and moves an arm around your waist to pull you in closer. As much as you love when he pulls you in, the movement pulls you out of the kiss trance.
"Oh my god, Kento, hurry!! You're late, you're late!"
You step back and shove his pants into his arms. You tell him to hurry and that you'd grab his shoes to put by the door. You start yelling across the apartment that it would rain the entire afternoon and he needed to take the umbrella.
Nanami listens as you rustle through the closet looking for the umbrella and the light thud of what might have been his lunch bag and coffee thermal on the entryway table. He walks out the room putting on his suit jacket and sees you lightly jumping while telling him to hurry with his shoes.
Nanami leans down to tie his shoes but pauses after he's done. He goes to touch your bare leg since you hadn't even gotten dressed after waking up. You only wore his large shirt and underwear. He kneels and carefully lifts one leg to kiss your knee. He looks up from his kneeling position and says, "Thank you for helping. You really didn't have to."
His loving eyes close slightly while you lean down to give him one kiss as your response. "You're late," you whisper against his lips.
Nanami stands and takes his things while waving bye to you and your bed head. He heads out the door and begins a light jog to catch his regular train.
Yeap, she's the one, Nanami thinks.
Nanami spent his lunch break at the jewelry shop looking at rings that would look beautiful on your finger. There were so many engagement rings that would look gorgeous on you, but one caught his eye as he imagined that ring slightly moving on your finger as you tied his tie.
"I like that one. Do you have a size (your ring size) in stock?"
Nanami buys the ring at that moment and texts you to ask if he could come over to your house after work. He does not plan to propose on a regular Tuesday evening with no special plans, but he wants to hug you, smell your lovely perfume, take you some flowers, and give you a special thanks for helping him. And maybe, maaaayybe (most likely), stay over at your house to help him with his tie again the next morning.
“they’re not for you,” nanami says flatly. “you can buy your own.”
shoko squints down at the man lying on her exam table, arm held up and behind his head. “i’m quite literally stitching you back together, you know.”
the blond thinks bitterly on what had landed him in her infirmary in the first place, injured and likely having to reschedule dinner tonight. it’s already well past the time he’d planned on picking you up, and the table he’d reserved at the new restaurant in roppongi has likely been given away.
he’s dreading calling to tell you, his heart already twinging at the idea of letting you down.
shoko stitches him up neatly, cleaning and covering it up with a layer of bandages. she offers him a hand to help him sit up, but he bypasses it to plant his palm against the cot, pushing himself up with a groan.
she rolls her eyes, peeling her gloves off and pulling her mask down, tossing them both into the trash. “clean and dress it at least twice a day. no sudden movements of strenuous activity for at least a week. if you ruin my work, i’ll put you on bedrest.”
she digs through her cabinets as he awkwardly pulls his shirt back on. his mind drifts to you as he does so. he’d lost his phone in the fight, so he hadn’t been able to tell you about cancelling.
he wonders if the pout on your lips is painted your lips that shade of red you’d been wearing when he’d first met you. wonders if you’re waiting wearing the dress he’d gifted you last week.
he’d really wanted to see you in that dress.
nanami sighs heavily as he does up the buttons, prompting shoko to glance over her shoulder at him.
“what’s wrong with you?” she asks, setting a small bottle of painkillers on the tray table next to him.
“i’m missing an important dinner,” he grumbles, wondering if just a bundle sunflowers or peonies from the small stall outside is enough. he should order you a proper bouquet from a shop. perhaps he can also book you a massage or—
a knock at the door interrupts his spiralling.
“oh!” shoko suddenly gasps. she reaches up, brushing a few stray hairs from his forehead and fixing it as best she can.
“what are you doing?” he asks, genuinely confused in this moment.
“you’ll see,” she simply grins, sending him a wink. then, “come in!”
the door to the infirmary opens to reveal…you.
“kento,” you breathe, the quiet click of your heels echoing through the empty room as you quickly walk towards him.
he’s shocked, but lets you carefully wrap your arms around him, cradling his head against your chest.
but before he knows it he’s holding onto you too, breathing in the deep, sweet scent of your perfume and focusing on the steady beat of your heart.
“what are you doing here?” he asks once you finally release him, taking your hands in his.
“shoko called me,” you tell him. “apparently…apparently i’m your emergency contact.”
his face is suddenly hot with embarrassment. he’d honestly forgotten about that. he hadn’t even realized he’d done it when yaga had asked him to update his information with the school. your name had been the first and only name to pop into his mind.
“sorry,” he apologizes quickly, dropping your hands. he jumped the gun, didn’t he? you’ve only been dating for six months… “i should have asked you first but—”
but no one knows me better than you.
a soft sigh slips from your lips as you sit next to him, with a gaze so reverent that it strips him to the bone. “i love you, kento. i will be your emergency contact as long as you want me to be.”
he whispers the words back to you, suddenly shy.
sometimes nanami lets himself slip a little too far into his own head, overthinking and a little insecure. but you’re always there, ready to coax him back into the light.
“you look beautiful,” he murmurs, taking your hand and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. he’s seen you in a lot of dresses, each one making him weak in the knees. but this dress…this one makes it a little hard for him to breathe.
“well, you still owe me a date,” you tell him, helping him up off the cot. “we could go to the ramen place across from my apartment.”
he wraps an arm around your shoulders, and you reach up to intertwine your fingers with his. “i’d go anywhere with you.”
Gojo never got his timings right, and this was one thing you hated him for. As for today, it was after this pop-up mission he decided to leave you and Nanami behind to "catch up" with something.
After all, being your best friend and senior, he did know a lot about you. Which unfortunately included your unrequited love for this blonde man, who now sits opposite to you in the bakery trying to figure out the menu.
You desperately tried to avoid any situations that involved this man because of two reasons. One, respecting the boundaries that he had set. two, in fear of falling for him, and him not catching you.
After taking your order, the young boy -Itadori who is doing part-time (reporting purposes for a certain blue-eyed white-haired man-child)- went back to the counter, never failing to leave his eyes from that particular table you and Nanami sat. Your coffee and his milk tea arrived seconds later, and it was Nanami who suggested the art museum nearby.
You, as someone who knew little to nothing about art, were definitely supposed to be bored there. But the perfect art which was with you never made you not forget any second of it. The way he described the way Salvador Dali's painting and its interpretation according to him, though you understood nothing, the way he spoke was unforgettable.
Maybe this was the reason why Gojo teased you too. Whenever he is in your vicinity, every other thing just fades away, it's just him. Although you know how much he talks out of the idea of a relationship, you just could not help but fall head over heels for him. Who would not, when he is perfect in every aspect?
Even Gojo once admitted the fact that had he been a girl, he would have definitely been your competition, not that he would not now.
"Where do you want to go next?" His voice stops your train of thoughts.
Anymore second here, you might lose that last strand of sanity that your mind is holding onto.
"I guess we'll call it a day." Your voice was weak but determined.
You both walked back to the entrance of the museum. You walked slightly ahead of him. Reaching the entrance you noticed that the sky was darkening, and the clock read four in the evening. It wasn't supposed to rain according to the weather forecast today. As if a jinx, the rain poured down. As if the heavens wanted you to stay there a bit more longer.
"You have an umbrella?" He asked.
"No. But the bus station is not much away, I'll manage." You smiled back at him.
Without thinking further, you walked into the rain. The cool drops of water on your dress felt like a winter hug. But he was faster than you. With an umbrella, there he was, beside you.
You looked up at him, the sudden closeness haywire your brain. His arms wrap around your shoulder, pulling you closer to him. The winter hug was now more like a scorching heatwave. You knew it as a matter of fact, that your ears, nose, and cheeks felt hot, and his sudden glance at you, then a slight smile; you are blushing.
Taking smaller steps towards your destination amidst the heavy rain, you were very much cautious about the distance between you both.
"Why do you hate me?" his eyes locked on your wide-open ones.
"Huh?"
"I asked why do you hate me?" his voice was close to your ears because of the proximity.
"Who said I do?" The weather was still giving no sign of sunlight. The bus station was a mere foot away from you both, and you stopped in your tracks. He followed your action.
"Your actions." His eyes were searching for something in yours. you could feel the intensity in his gaze.
"I don't." You looked away.
"Look me in my eyes and tell me." His demand was too much for you. Why? The fluttering in your stomach and the buzzing in your ears was all the more of the notifications that this definitely not going in the direction you wanted it to go.
"Nanami-" "No Y/N, I need your reason for why you hate me, nothing else." Your words were stopped in the middle with his. You looked into his brown eyes, and at that moment you knew, all this better be a dream. The way his eyes lingered on you made you feel like you were floating in the air.
You couldn't say to him just like that that you liked him. For what? Getting badly humiliated knowing it was one-sided all this time? For having feelings for a man whose existence is like that of a Greek god in yours? He was perfect and you were not.
With a gloomy smile, you said, "Nanami it's not that I hate you."
"Then what? Why do you steer clear from me all the time?" He kept his respectful stance. You wished for once in this lifetime, you'll see him break his poise outlook, just towards you. But that was just a dream, never gonna happen.
"I ..." You couldn't bring yourself to say that three words. How much of a coward are you? That was the day you realized that the mask of a strong persona you wore was broken by that man in front of you, even though he did nothing. For this should you be afraid of him? Or is he the only one who will ever see you like this? Were you afraid of getting rejected and being pushed away? Yes, you were. Especially when your mind made you believe that whatever is going on between him and you is not returned. It was just you in a room; that is what you saw.
His firm eyes were solely on you. You could feel it. "I..."
Yet again, you couldn't bring yourself to complete the words. With a sigh, you said, "I won't be able to tell you that Nanami."
"Fine, then hear me out." He said. "I do not want you to avoid me."
"Why?" Your sound was stuck in your throat. The air around you both could be sliced by a knife.
"I like you." His words just stopped everything happening around you from fading out of its existence. You just stood there not knowing what to do.
"What?" Your eyes wide open, mouth slightly parted staring at him as if he said some incorrigible language.
"I said, I like you. So I don't like it when you avoid me." He said.
You could feel the heat rushing to your face. All you could do was give a smile and fall into his arms, he was there, by your side, holding you.
"I don't know what I should say," you really didn't know. After all, it was not supposed to happen this way.
"You don't have to say anything. Just know that I like you, and I don't want you to hate me." His words held his usual calmness. Unknown to you, his heart too was beating as fast as yours.
Your eyes met yet again, "guess I was so wrong with my assumptions." His eyes wrinkled around the edges, and his eyes never once left yours.
"I like you too." Now it was his time to freeze. "You hated relationships, so I thought it would be better to keep myself away from you. So that I won't catch the feelings."
He smiled; you got butterflies in your stomach. "Guess that plan was a failure." He chuckled.
"Think so." The moment the words left your mouth, he pulled you closer to him. His hands wrapped around your body, cradling you in his warm embrace. You could feel his hot breath fanning your eyelashes as he looked at you.
You couldn't meet his intense gaze. You knew that there will be no going back once yours and his eyes met. Yet, his hand found its way to your neck, slowly making you face him.
"May I?" His gaze was locked on your lips. The intense gaze made you bite your lips.
"I would do that for you, Y/N," his voice broke into your mind. You looked in his eyes and could feel him closing the mere inches between his and your lips.
"Yes, please." You breathed those words out. As if waiting for that, his lips crashed onto yours. Lips moving in synchronization that you never knew off to be this perfect. His tongue traced your lips, and the movements were like him asking you to follow his lead, and you did. If you were to fall for him, you were thankful that he was there to catch you. Now was the time the skies above decided to show a bit of sunlight, the whole city was basking in a golden glow' or so you felt.
"Yo guys get a room," a voice broke your heated moment. You and Nanami were meters apart in a matter of seconds. You saw that annoying white-haired senior of yours giving you both a nasty look. You looked over to Nanami who had a faint smile on his lips. Gojo never got his timings right, and this was one another moment you hated him for that.
Nanami Kento x Reader
summary: when nanami became a salaryman, jujutsu wasn't the only thing he left behind. four years later, he's got his job back and he wants you back too.
w/c: 1.2k
tags/warnings: angst to fluff. hurt/comfort. gender neutral reader. reader's hair is long enough for nanami to tuck behind their ear. cursing.
a/n: it's about time i wrote something for this man. we get to see baby nanami animated soon:')
masterlist
"he left, (y/n)."
you laughed apprehensively at gojo's words, though the expression on his face was anything but amused. honestly, it might have been the first time you'd ever seen the boy wear a serious disposition and it made you nervous.
"well when is he coming back?"
a look of pity crossed his features as he searched for the right words, but that itself was enough for you to understand the situation.
"so what?" you scoffed in disbelief. "he's just gone?"
gojo nodded. "he asked me to tell you."
you tried to speak, but you could feel your throat tightening as your body flooded with panic. you needed to reach your dorm before the weight of the situation hit you in its entirety. "o-okay. i'll see you later, gojo."
~~~
though it seemed like a lifetime had past since that afternoon, it'd been only four years. you spent each of them attempting to move on from nanami, but you were beginning to think that it might never happen.
he still appeared in your dreams. some nights, it was like nothing changed. you're eating lunch together in the shade, or you've snuck off to the forest to lay in one another's arms.
other nights were much different, a time spent plagued by his disappearance. you'd be stuck in a loop of the days after he left, the only saving grace the coolness of your old dorm's bathroom tile.
it was following a night like the latter when you first heard that the former salaryman intended to return, and at once, you resolved to spend the rest of your life hiding away from him and everyone else on the jujutsu campus. that was healthy and realistic, right?
you were successful for nearly a week, but luck would not stay on your side forever.
~~~
when nanami approached the school after completing his first mission back, there was a chill in the air and the moon was already setting. he carried on rather slowly, not quite ready to submit to sleep despite the lateness of the hour. his eyes were well adjusted to the darkness by the time he reached the familiar paths.
still, he nearly missed your silhouette tucked away near the edge of the forest, your back toward him and your face tilted toward the sky. he could barely make you out, but even then, he was sure it was you.
nanami began moving in your direction, his footsteps drown out by the trill of crickets. he stopped short of where you sat because despite the fact he'd been wanting to see you since he arrived, he was hesitant to disturb you now.
he asked gojo about you and was promptly told to give you some space and time. you didn't see what they were like when you left. the warning had been rattling around his head ever since.
"hey," you greeted without moving, having sensed his presence for some time already. you were resigned to your fate, accepting that you couldn't avoid him forever.
nanami didn't answer right away, struggling to get a read on your mood. his feet carried him closer and while he was finally beside you after all these years, the space between you felt immeasurable.
"hey," he returned.
"you're back."
he reached up to loosen his tie, the fact that you hadn't spared him a glance evoking his nerves. "and you're still here."
"i never doubted that i was supposed to be," you spoke sharply.
he fought back a sigh, one that was directed only at himself. you found his silence a bit grating, maybe because you no longer felt comfortable in it. he'd always been quiet and you were used to that, but things were different now.
"i should go." and he let you, for the first few meters anyway.
"wait," he eventually called out, scrambling off the ground. "d-don't walk away."
you laughed in disbelief, still taking strides in the opposite direction. "you can't be serious."
"please, (y/n)." his tone was one of desperation.
"no!" he found himself taken back by the volume of your voice and you finally turned to face him. "i may be walking away, but you're the one who left."
chest heaving with indignation, you took in his appearance for the first time.
he stood much taller and his body was a bit wider. your eyes lingered on his hair, which was shorter and neatly pushed back out of his face. you felt betrayed by the way it made your stomach stir.
"i'm sorry, just let me-" he began, taking a step toward you.
"stay back," you spit venomously. "you... you don't get to ask me to stay and you don't get to tell me you're sorry when you didn't even let me say goodbye!"
your voice cracked and nanami's knees buckled with guilt. he tried to get closer to you once more and this time you stayed completely still, preoccupied with a sad attempt at holding yourself together. when he was near enough, he reached out and let his fingers graze your arm.
"please don't," you begged.
he whispered your name through tears and that was all it took for your walls to crumble, the sound of your cries shattering whatever remained of nanami's heart. he'd left most of it behind all those years ago.
his arms acted on their own accord when they pulled you against his body, one hand holding your head to his chest, the other wrapped around your torso. he still smelled the same.
"no, please," you wept. "i can't do it again."
you beat weakly against his chest, but it was no use. he held you against himself tightly, his lips brushing the top of your head when he spoke.
"it's okay. i'm here," he tried to comfort you.
your voice sounded so small when you found the strength to reply. "please don't do this to me, ken."
nanami wondered for a moment if this was wrong, if he should have left you alone or just never have come back at all. the thought was fleeting though. he knew he had to make this right.
"i left because i was trying to find purpose through my work and... i... i couldn't see you because i knew you were the only person who could've convinced me to stay. i didn't see how wrong that was back then."
he heard you sniffle and let out a shaky breath, so he pulled away just enough to gather your face in your hands, your hair lacing through his fingers. you held one another's gaze and somehow, it was the most content either of you had felt in a long time.
"i'm sorry," he professed earnestly, looking down at you with regretful eyes.
"it's- it's okay," you responded before you could stop yourself.
"no, it's not. but i hope you'll give me a chance to make it up to you. to make it better."
you nodded almost imperceptibly, but other than that, neither of you moved. a breeze swept between the two of you and nanami tucked a loose strand of hair back behind your ear.
your hands found their way to his chest, the space there broader than it used to be. it was strange, perhaps even a bit unfair, that after so much time, after everything he'd done, there was no where you'd rather be than here with him.
"i love you," he murmured.
terrified you wouldn't say it back, he dipped his head down and pressed his lips to yours as soon as the words left his mouth. the small noise that escaped his throat had you pulling him closer.
it was intoxicating to him, the way you felt against him, the softness of your lips, and the warmth that emanated from your skin.
even so, everything about him was impossibly gentle. nanami pulled away first, scanning your face for any hint of dismay.
"i love you, ken."
feelings of relief and responsibility overwhelmed him in tandem. he'd thought about you saying those words every day for four years and he knew he didn't deserve to hear them now. not yet.
nonetheless, you found yourself enveloped in his arms once more as he pressed a kiss to your head.
"everything i was looking for... i had it here with you all along."
s\fw; 1213wc. modern au; family au; pregnant!reader; domestic fluff; slice of life; kissing; hormonal crying; comfort; little yuji and sukuna as twins; lowkey kuwtk ref; girls just want hot dads collection (⌒・⌒)ゞ
thank you @notsissannis for correcting my “otherworldly” typos
“Maybe we can eat out tonight.”
You shake some water off your hand and readjust your ear bud, listening to the sounds of the city as you wait for your husband to reply. He mumbles something you don’t catch as you scrub at a dish leftover from breakfast, rinsing off the soap and putting it in the rack on autopilot.
“I really want something…else to eat.”
There’s a smirk in Nanami’s voice when he asks, “Something else, huh?”
“Yeah,” you say as you wash your hands. “The boys will probably be happy. A restaurant on a weeknight?”
He chuckles. “Don’t get too crazy, baby.”
“Can we go or not? I need to shower if we are,” you explain as you lean on the counter. “ I’m still wearing the shirt Su spilt his milk on.”
“I thought he spilled that yesterday?”
“Exactly, babe.”
Silence hangs on the line for a moment before his laughter bleeds through, causing your face to go hot as the sound fills every inch of you with joy. Your hand comes down to cradle your stomach, a smile forming on your face as your mind's eye pictures him laughing handsomely on the busy city street.
A silly thought fills your head when you feel your baby move, the idea that she can hear her dad through your ears causing you to laugh, too.
“We can go wherever you want, sweetheart. Do you want me to decide?”
“Yeah,” you push off the counter and head toward your bedroom. “I don’t know what I want. Something good. Maybe Italian.”
“I’ll take care of it. Go ahead and get showered. I’ll be home soon.”
You continue on auto pilot, stripping down and taking a quick shower as you think about having spumoni for dessert in a few hours. There’s time to spare once you’ve gotten yourself half dressed, and you decide to treat yourself to a few minutes in bed as you wait for your boys to get home.
You scroll through your phone once you’re snuggled in, hand slipping under the old t-shirt you’re wearing to rub your belly as you scroll through international headlines.
A gasp escapes you after a few minutes, tears filling your eyes as you read and reread the headline: ‘This Could Be the End’ for NASA’s Mars Opportunity Rover.
“The end???”
You read through the article, hating yourself as you begin to cry about a poor little rover you knew little to nothing about a few minutes ago.
“She died?”
Your mom doesn’t answer your call, and neither does your best friend or cousin. You just barely resist calling your husband back, not wanting him to think you’ve gone mad in your last trimester, but the tears don’t stop coming as you continue to read as many articles as you can find.
“She died,” you confirm, gripping your phone in your hand before burrowing your face into your husband’s pillow and crying your eyes out. You’re not particularly sure why you’re crying, but a little lone robot on a faraway planet sending her last message seems as good a reason as any.
And this is how he finds you, panic in his voice as he pulls you into his arms and attempts to figure out who you’re saying has died through your sobbing.
“O-opportunity, Kento! A l-little Mars R-rover who lo-lost her sister t-to early,” you attempt to explain. He nods along as though he understands. “She g-got stuck in-in-in a dust st-storm and ne-never recovered.
“They’ve been trying to ping her for months b-but nu-noth-inggg. Antennas o-on Earth call out b-but she nev-never repliiiies.”
“Oh no, sweetheart,” he says, patient and sympathetic. “I can’t imagine how knowing that must make you feel.”
“S-so sa-sad.”
He rubs your back soothingly, offering comforting sounds as you stumble through a jumbled re-explanation of why you’re crying. “So awful, honey,” he agrees. “But she lived a good life.”
“An’ they pl-played Billie Holiday’s I-I-I’ll Be See-ing You.”
“A love song?” He muses. “That’s sweet, yn.”
“An’ her l-last words?” You pull away to look at him, wiping your face on your collar in an attempt to get yourself together. He blinks patiently at you as he waits, tutting when you hiccup and begin to cry again. “I’m sorryyyy.”
“That’s what she said?” He asks, surprise in his voice as he lets you cuddle back into his chest.
“No. She said m-my battery is l-low n’-n’-n’ it’s getting d-d-daarrrk.”
“Oh.” He hesitates a moment before saying, “That’s a bit bleak, isn’t it?”
“All a-alone in a strange pl-place,” you bury your face in his chest as you cry, silence falling between you all.
He rubs your belly soothingly, making a soft sound when he feels the baby move. It helps to calm you, causing you to blink sleepily as you begin to wonder about dinner and your children.
“Ken?” You ask after a few minutes.
“Yes, my love?”
“Wh-Where are the boys?”
“They’re supposed to be picking out their outfits for dinner…Are you feeling-
“Sweetheart,” he sighs as you begin to cry again, cradling you a little closer. “Opportunity lived a long life, yn. Fourteen years, right? And they only expected a few months.”
“I-I’m n-not cry-ing about thaaaat.”
“Oh, dear. What is it? I’ll take you to see the boys, if you’d like. I’m sure you’re worrying them.”
You clutch at his shirt before wiping your nose with your own and pushing away from your husband. He seems reluctant to let you go, one of his hands settling protectively on your bump as the other brushes hair away from your face. “Yn?”
“Su ha-has awful taste, K-Kento.”
Nanami stiffens in surprise before pressing a kiss to your temple and resting his forehead on your shoulder.
“H-he can’t be tr-trusted t-t-to pick out hi-his own clothesss.”
“Perhaps we should go and help them,” he suggests, a laugh escaping him a moment later.
“Yeah,” you say, a bit pathetically as you make no effort to move. “Do you hey-hate me for crying?”
“Never.”
“Even i-if it’s ab-bout ssstupid things?”
He kisses up your shoulder and encourages you to look at him. “You could ugly cry about losing your diamond earrings in the ocean and I’d still comfort you, sweetheart.”
You offer him a watery laugh. “I-it’s only beca-cause I’m ha-having your b-baby,” you say as you wipe your tears, grateful that you're calming down again.
“Well. Especially because you're carrying our daughter, yeah. But, children or no children, you know I'd do anything for you. You’re my whole world.”
Another round of tears come, loud and obnoxious, and you can hear the boys running down the hall before breaking into the room as your husband asks, “Wha-why are you crying now?”
“Amma?” Yuji asks at the same time Sukuna says, “Sweetheart…”
“She’s ok, boys,” Nanami says gently, motioning for them to join you all on the bed. “Remember I told you sometimes Amma gets so full of love for the baby she just has to cry?”
“What baby?” You question huffily, letting both boys invade your space as they reach out to rest their little hands on your stomach, mimicking Nanami as his thumb rubs back and forth. “‘m not cr-crying because of her. ‘m crying b-because I’m yo-or whole world, Kennyyyyy-”
“Honey!” Kento yells from the bathroom, causing you to stop what you’re doing with your daughter to rush to him. It’s rare when Kento calls out for you, mainly because he can do anything by himself, and whenever he needs loving he just sneaks up on you.
“What’s up? Everything okay?” You ask, and he just looks over himself in the mirror. He’s shirtless, taking in everything about himself. You walk up to him and hug him from behind.
“Have I gained weight?” He questions, and you hum in response. Ever since Suki was born, four years ago, Kento has let himself go in a way. He occasionally works out, but not as much as before. Most of his attention now goes to his daughter.
The body that once felt like a brick wall is now so much softer. So much better for you to cuddle with. You find yourself drooling whenever he’s shirtless. You peck his shoulder before speaking, “You look so hot, baby. I get so horny just looking at you nowadays.”
“I have to start working out more.” He tells you, and you’re quick to protest.
“Don’t even think about it!” You say. “Unless we’re thinking of the same workout.”
“You wicked woman.” He responds with a chuckle. He feels your hands wander his body, but they don’t dare play with the waistband of his pants.
“Don’t you want another baby?” You ask, a smile coming onto his lips. Another baby does sound nice.
“Daddy!” You both hear, and her voice comes from the bedroom. You let go of Kento, and he immediately goes running to his daughter.
“Suki, what’s up?” Cleary worried about what his daughter needs. But it isn’t anything important, at least it doesn’t seem like it is. But she’s on the verge of tears, nearly crying and ruining the makeup that you did for her.
“Are you okay, daddy?” She questions, almost crying because she thinks something bad happened to her father. You stopped playing with her and rushed to get here, so of course she thinks something bad happened. Kento nods before verbally saying it,
“I’m better than ever, Suki!” He assures her. He kneels down and kisses her forehead. “You don’t have to worry too much about your dear old father. And you don’t have to cry for me, alright, honey?”
“I won’t, daddy.” She tells him as she wraps her tiny arms around him. You stand in the bathroom doorway, watching the scene unfold. You can’t help but smile at your little girl, and the man who turns into the biggest softie for her. She’s the light of his eyes.
“Promise me.”’ He says before he kisses her forehead.
“I promise, daddy.” She responds before she kisses his cheek. He grins at her before standing up.
“Let’s go play, honey.” He tells her.
“Mommy, come with us.”
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