Yuji was fourteen years old when he met his grand uncle, Sukuna.
It was at his grandpa’s funeral. The sixty year old man was a towering figure with a gaze that could make anyone cower in fear. For a brief moment, Yuji was terrified of living with this man. His life had already taken a drastic turn after witnessing his grandpa take his final breath. How much more will change when he’s living under the roof of someone he barely knew?
But then, after the funeral, Sukuna had placed a firm hand on his shoulder, squeezed it in a comforting manner and said: “Let's get you home, brat.”
After that, Yuji was as close to Sukuna as he used to be with Wasuke.
Sukuna had his own way of raising him. He was strict when he needed to be. He never discouraged Yuji from being who he was. He pretended to be annoyed by his sunshine attitude but never told him off for it.
But Yuji also noticed that his grand uncle was a lonely man. Sometimes he would catch him staring off with a brief distant look before replacing it with his usual frown.
“He needs to get laid.” Nobara said bluntly.
Megumi paused from taking a sip of his coffee and made a face.
“Nobara, I'm serious.” Yuji muttered while chewing on the straw of his slushy. “I'm just worried about him.”
“Then set him up on a date.” Nobara whipped out her phone, pulling up a dating app and showing it to her friends. “Here. Seen some old ladies looking for a good time. Make his profile. I'm sure someone would message him.”
“I don't know…” Yuji said, unsure.
“When was the last time you've seen him with someone?”
Yuji looked up in thought. It's been four years since Sukuna took him in.
Sukuna, busy writing in a journal, looked up to Yuji and heard the sound of him taking his photo.
The elder man raised his eyebrow. “What are you doing, brat?”
“Nothing.” Yuji's smile stretched in a way that was too suspicious as his grand nephew waved at him and backed out of his study.
Sukuna merely narrowed his eyes in suspicion. Oh, there was definitely something going on.
“I knew it. You were up to something.”
Yuji flinched as his phone was snatched out of his hands.
“What is this?” Sukuna sneered, his wrinkles and frown lines even more prominent as he stared at the phone.
Ryomen Sukuna. 64. Single. With the photo Yuji had taken earlier—of him in his study, sitting on his desk, the first few buttons of his dress shirt undone and eyes looking up at the camera.
And the explanation Yuji gave him was not enough to cool him down. Yuji was sure he was about to get reprimanded by Sukuna in a way that not even his grandpa would think of.
“You dare interfere with my life?” Sukuna growled in a low, dangerous tone. “Delete this now.”
Sukuna looked down at Yuji's phone. The mail icon on his profile showing a “1”.
Yuji was next to him, reaching over to press the icon. Opening the chat.
It was you. 60 years old. Your profile picture was a cropped family photo from a gathering. You were wearing a long, simple dress, a serene smile on your face, the crinkle in your eyes highlighting the soft lines on your forehead. Your grey hair tucked into your favorite hairstyle.
You were beautiful. Sukuna admitted.
And Yuji saw it. He saw the brief look of interest in his grand uncle's eyes and begged him to consider.
Sukuna had had his fair share of relationships. One night stands in his twenties. Something serious in his thirties. A few flings his forties.
But then his boredom took over. Sex was a chore. Flirting didn't interest him. He chose to ignore all the advances. Women batting their eyelashes, biting their lips, winking at him—he simply didn't care anymore.
But then Sukuna turned fifty and he felt off. He had achieved everything a man his age was capable of achieving in life and more than that. Yet, something felt missing.
It wasn't until he hit sixty and adopted his late brother's grandson when Sukuna realised something.
He was all alone in raising Yuji.
That's when the loneliness crashed into him.
Sukuna dealt with it the only way he knew how to—bury it deep within his mind and never think about it.
But the brat saw through him and despite Sukuna's reprimand for his actions—he found himself inviting you to coffee after a few exchange of words.
“Well, we're here—oh my god, grandma! There he is!”
You playfully glared at your granddaughter and shook your head exasperatedly, telling her to not point at people.
It was only fair that you fussed over her a bit since she was the one who set this all up. Your profile on that silly app on her phone and she eagerly showed you pictures of men around your age.
Alas, you think you are responsible for this too.
You always told your granddaughter to grow up surrounded by people who loved her. You knew what loneliness was. When you were a teenager, the father of your son had left you right after you gave birth to him. You juggled two jobs to raise your son in your twenties and thirties. But all that struggle paid off in your forties as you peppered his face with tearful kisses while sending him off to college with all the money you had saved, as you witness him marry the love of his life and welcome your beautiful granddaughter into this world.
But, despite the life you have lived, the aching gap in your heart left by that man was never felt. Your granddaughter saw it and urged you to look for love again. She wanted you to be happy just like her parents.
You always smiled at her, telling her that your time had passed to find love. But she was stubborn and persistent, telling you all the ways you could find someone for yourself. That these days it was easier.
So you reluctantly agreed to a dating profile.
And then one day, your granddaughter skipped over to you, showing you a candid photo of the most handsome man you had ever seen.
The longing in your heart only deepened.
You walked towards the man you were supposed to meet.
He was standing outside the coffee shop you agreed to meet him at.
You haven't felt this nervous since you were a high-school girl shyly gazing at your crush from afar. He didn't even look like he was 64—tall, broad shouldered and muscular. The only way you could tell he was around your age was his slicked back white hair with a hint of pink streaks and the wrinkles donning his tattooed face.
“… Mr. Ryomen?” You called out softly.
Sukuna turned towards you, red gaze locking with your own as he finally took in your apparence. You were wearing a long sundress with a jacket, pearl earrings and necklace and clutching a leather purse in your hands.
That cropped family photo didn't do justice to how pretty you actually were.
You smiled politely at him. “Good afternoon.”
Sukuna cleared his throat and nodded. “Good afternoon.”
Then there was an awkward silence. Neither of you knew what to do.
You tugged at your bracelet.
“I'm sorry if this is awkward, Mr. Ryomen. It's just—” You breathed out before admitting softly: “It's been far too long since I've done anything like this.”
Sukuna hummed, one hand slipping into his pocket. “It's… been a while for me as well.” He admitted stiffly but the way your shoulders relaxed in relief made his nervousness melt away.
You chuckled. “Far too much has changed these days, hasn't it? I never expected to meet you on these... apps.”
“Ha.” Sukuna snorted, his lips tilting in amusement. “I usually stay away from this nonsense but my brat of a grand nephew insisted and made my… profile.”
“Oh!” You gasped. “My granddaughter made mine!”
Sukuna found himself chuckling. “Ah, that would explain the girl standing behind you. She's been watching us with far too much enthusiasm.”
You turned to see your granddaughter standing across the road. She grinned and waved at you. You playfully gestured for her to leave.
“Don't mind her. She's just excited.” You said, turning back to him.
“Not at all.” Sukuna smirked. “I'm quite sure my grand nephew hasn't left either. If you spot a pink haired brat around here, just know that he's mine.”
You glanced around and easily spotted the pink haired boy with a black haired boy and a brunette girl watching the two of you. They tensed up when your gaze landed on them and quickly looked away, pretending like they didn't see you.
You burst into a hearty laughter.
“Oh, these kids.” You stated, but with a tone full of affection.
“Hmph. Tell me about it.”
You smiled at him, feeling a little bolder. “We can go inside and talk more about it, Mr. Ryomen.”
Sukuna smiled. Your heart leaping at just how handsome he was.
He stepped forward and opened the door to the coffee shop for you. “Just Sukuna is fine.”
“Sukuna.” You said, blushing softly when he placed his large hand on the small of your back and guided you inside. “Your name is lovely.”
Sukuna's gaze and smile softened at that. “And so is yours, petal.”