Sukuna x Reader
༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺
Two Faces, One bad boy prt. 22
A lovely morning came. The weather was just perfect—clouds drifting lazily across the pale blue sky, and the wind blowing with just enough bite to feel fresh. Jae Hwa had holed herself up in the condo room, busy finalizing the hotel booking for their next stop: the Dino Park.
Meanwhile, you decided the boys could use some air before the afternoon checkout. The park across the street from the hotel was the obvious choice. You’d barely stepped off the curb when you realized Nanami was walking beside you.
“Hmm..”
You said, narrowing your eyes at him.
“Are you really tagging along…or just looking for an excuse to feel like a kid again?”
He gave the smallest shake of his head, the corner of his mouth lifting.
“Guard duty.”
He said simply.
You laughed, and he joined in—low and brief—but the sound was enough to make the short walk feel lighter.
The moment you entered the playground gates, Kaishi and Kyoshi bolted toward the jungle gym like they’d been starved of fun for days. Ryoichi, however, stayed firmly at your side. His little fingers hooked into yours, his dark eyes flicking up at Nanami with that quiet wariness you knew all too well. He clearly wasn’t thrilled about the extra company, and he made it very clear—without words—that your attention was to remain on him....and his brothers.
The first stop was the jungle gym—brightly colored slides and ladders, the kind that seemed taller than they should be. Kyoshi and Kaishi were already halfway up before you could even tell them to be careful. You followed their every movement with sharp eyes, hands half-raised and ready to catch them if one of them slipped.
Ryoichi stayed planted at your side, his small hand curling into the fabric of your dress. You could feel the tiny, insistent tugs every time his brothers climbed higher.
“Want a turn?”
Nanami asked from your other side, crouching down to Ryoichi’s level and offering him a hand up.
Ryoichi’s response was a silent scowl, his lips pressed into a stubborn line.
Nanami only smirked faintly, raising his palms in mock surrender.
“Alright, alright.”
He straightened back up, stepping away to join you in shadowing Kaishi and Kyoshi’s every move—spotting them at the ladder, waiting at the bottom of the slide, and making sure no kid got too rough near them.
Eventually, you crouched down beside Ryoichi.
“Come on.”
You coaxed gently, brushing his bangs from his forehead.
“I’ll help you up.”
With your hands steadying him, he climbed the first ladder rung, then the next, until he reached the top platform. You gave him an encouraging nod toward the slide.
He hesitated only a moment before sitting down and pushing off. The wind ruffled his hair as he slid down, his face breaking into a wide, boyish grin—until he spotted Nanami waiting at the bottom.
In an instant, his smile vanished. He crossed his arms mid-slide like he’d just remembered he was supposed to be mad, landing on the rubber mat with a soft thump.
Nanami chuckled low in his throat.
“He was smiling.”
He murmured, glancing at you.
“Until he saw me.”
You bit back your own laugh, covering your mouth as your shoulders shook. The two of you ended up sharing a quiet, conspiratorial laugh while Ryoichi stomped past you, clearly intent on finding the next activity.
The second stop was the swing set. Ryoichi, after much hesitation, finally followed his brothers, and soon all three were lined up on the swings. You and Nanami stood a short distance away, watching them kick their legs.
Kyoshi, full of mischief, suddenly declared.
“Who can swing higher?”
and the challenge was on. The boys began rocking back and forth with renewed determination, laughter spilling into the air.
Nanami stepped in, giving Kyoshi a light, controlled push that made him squeal in delight. Then he moved to Kaishi, who leaned forward eagerly for his turn, giggling when Nanami sent him higher.
When he reached Ryoichi, the boy froze mid-swing, fixing Nanami with a stubborn scowl.
You bit your lip to hide your smile, curious if Nanami would still try.
Nanami’s lips curved just slightly.
“Wanna go higher?”
He asked, voice even.
Ryoichi glanced at his brothers, who were still swinging and giggling, then huffed.
“Mommy can push me.”
He muttered, eyes flicking toward you.
You didn’t hesitate, stepping in with a soft
“Alright.”
And gave Nanami an apologetic look over Ryoichi’s shoulder.
Nanami just shrugged easily, moving back to Kaishi and Kyoshi while you pushed Ryoichi, keeping the peace without complaint.
You couldn’t help noticing it again—Nanami’s quiet determination. It was sweet in its own way, the way he kept trying to win Ryoichi over, though it was strange too… like he had some kind of personal goal he wasn’t letting anyone in on.
The triplets stopped at the tall climbing rope pyramid, staring up with wide eyes. It was their first time seeing one, and they had no idea how to start. Nanami stepped in without hesitation, showing Kyoshi where to place his hands and feet.
“Like this—slow and steady.”
He said, voice calm but encouraging.
Kyoshi followed each instruction, climbing a short way before deciding it was high enough. He let's go, falling straight into Nanami’s waiting arms with a burst of laughter.
You clapped your hands as you watch Kyoshi settles down beside Nanami.
Kaishi’s turn came next. He managed only a few steps up before his small hands began to ache. He jumps into Nanami's arms and ran to you to show you his red hands.
You knelt, taking his tiny palms and pressing a kiss to each one, earning a giggle.
Then it was Ryoichi’s turn. He lingered at the base, looking anywhere but at Nanami, eyes eventually landing on you. You bit your lower lip realizing that this could be the moment he decided whether or not to trust him.
“I don’t really know how it works, Ryo.”
You told him gently.
“Nanami could help and I’ll be right here to watch you, okay?”
He hesitated, glancing up. His little pride doeasnt want to show that he needed him for help but at the same time he wanted to have fun.
He looked at Nanami for a quick second then back down before slowly raising his arms at him.
A faint smile curved in Nanami's lips as he lifted him easily and began guiding him upward, step by step.
To your surprise, Ryoichi climbed higher than Kyoshi had, determination etched on his little face but it was a little too high for you.
“A-Alright, Ryo. That’s enough.”
You called, your voice carrying a trace of worry.
But he didn’t stop. Nanami simply kept his arms open beneath him, letting him climb at his own pace.
Then Ryoichi made the mistake of looking down. His eyes widened, and the color drained from his face.
“It’s okay.”
Nanami said softly.
“I’ve got you. I promise.”
Ryoichi glanced toward you, his usual stubbornness melting into uncertainty. You were pretty nervous yourself.
“It’s alright, sweetheart.”
You reassured, stepping closer.
“Come down—Nanami will catch you.”
And for the first time, he listened.
Nanami caught him easily, one steady arm around his back, the other bracing under his legs. Ryoichi clung for a moment, face buried against Nanami’s shoulder, and when Nanami set him down… the boy didn’t pull away immediately. In fact, when Nanami shifted as if to set him down fully, Ryoichi’s tiny fingers stayed hooked into his shirt just a moment longer—silent, but not resisting.
It wasn’t much, but it was something. And Nanami didn’t need words to know it was a start.
Nanami kept Ryoichi close, one hand steady against his back, the other lightly patting his shoulder.
“See?”
He murmured, calm and even.
“You’re safe.”
Ryoichi’s grip eased, and after a moment, he peeked his head out from Nanami’s shoulder, eyes darting down to realize his feet were already level with the ground. The tension in his little body dissolved almost instantly.
Nanami set him down gently, crouching so they were eye to eye. Ryoichi hesitated for a beat before giving a small, shy smile.
“...Thank you.”
He mumbled, voice almost lost in the park noise.
Nanami’s lips curved faintly, his reply as steady as always.
“You did well.”
Without another word, Ryoichi turned and broke into a run toward you. You crouched down to meet him halfway, scooping him into your arms with a proud laugh.
“You were amazing, sweetheart.”
You praised, brushing his hair back and giving his cheek a quick kiss.
“So brave.”
Kyoshi and Kaishi swarmed in right after, both chiming over each other with their own praise—Kyoshi telling him how high he climbed, Kaishi insisting he looked like a “real ninja.”
For Ryoichi, who didn’t usually care for attention, the way his lips twitched into a tiny but unmistakable grin said it all.
The boys didn’t linger long. As soon as Ryoichi recovered from his little adventure, the three of them took off together, darting toward another section of the park where a handful of other kids were already playing. Kyoshi was quick to start talking to them after noticing they had toys, Kaishi joined in with giggles, and even Ryoichi—though slower—eventually followed his brothers into the lively mix.
You and Nanami found an empty bench with a clear view of the playground, settling into a comfortable quiet. From here, you could see the boys chasing one another, climbing over low bars, and mingling with the new kids as if they’d been friends for years.
You turned your head slightly, eyes glinting with playful mischief.
“You know,”
you said, voice teasing.
“for someone who wasn’t his favorite person, you’ve made quite the breakthrough today.”
Nanami glanced at you, one brow lifting in mild amusement.
“I mean, you got a thank you,”
you continued, leaning back against the bench.
“That’s… practically a love letter in Ryoichi language.”
A small huff of a laugh escaped him, but it was followed by something softer—an actual smile.
“It was… unexpected,”
He admitted. His gaze lingered on the jungle gym before shifting back to the boys in the distance.
“But I suppose I’ll take it as an achievement.”
Your lips curved knowingly.
“Suppose?”
He didn’t answer right away, just shook his head faintly, but that quiet look of satisfaction in his eyes gave him away.
Nanami’s eyes stayed on the boys as they ran across the park, their laughter carrying over the warm afternoon air. After a moment, he spoke, his tone thoughtful.
“You’ve done well with them.”
He said.
“Raising triplets…I can’t imagine how hard that is, especially on your own.”
You gave a small laugh, shaking your head.
“Not completely on my own. The elders helped a lot. I wouldn’t have managed without them.”
He turned his gaze to you, calm but unwavering.
“Maybe so. But they have your morals. The way they interact, the way they carry themselves—well-mannered, respectful. That’s not something they would’ve all learned in sync unless you were hands-on.”
The sincerity in his voice caught you off guard. It wasn’t just polite flattery—he meant it. You felt the tips of your ears warm, your lips tugging into a small, shy smile as you looked away.
“...Thank you.”
You murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.
Nanami simply gave a faint nod, returning his gaze to the playground, though you caught the subtle softness still lingering in his expression.
“Mommy! Nanami!”
Kaishi’s voice rang from the climbing area, his little arms waving high to catch your attention.
You cupped your hands around your mouth.
“I’ll take a rest here, sweetheart!”
You called back.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Nanami rose from the bench and started toward them.
“I’ll go.”
He said simply, as if it was second nature to take over when you stepped back.
You leaned back against the bench, letting the sounds of their laughter and Nanami’s calm instructions drift over from the playground. For a moment, you just watched—Nanami helping Kyoshi onto the lower ropes, Ryoichi trailing but keeping close, and Kaishi trying to show them something he had discovered.
Then a thought crossed your mind—Jae Hwa must be wondering where you were by now. Reaching into your pockets, you pulled out your phone. The screen lit up with several unread messages, the little notification bubble almost scolding you for not checking sooner.
On the other side of the hotel, a 6 seater BMW pulled up. And half of the men inside were wasted—Toshi and Ryota struggling to haul Renji out of the back seat while Kana and Masaki bolted inside the hotel, desperate for the bathroom.
Sukuna, still perfectly dressed in his slightly wrinkled black shirt, leaned back, lazily answering a call from his father. The party hadn’t given him much rest, but his dad was persistent, peppering him with questions about the vacation before launching into updates about Osaka—business partners coming back, old alliances shifting.
Sukuna smirked, a sly arrogance creeping into his voice.
“They’re in need of protection.”
He drawled.
“We’ll double up the price on them.”
As his father replies the signal started cutting out. Sukuna frowned, pulling his phone away from his ear.
“I’m losing you.”
He muttered. With a sigh, he stepped out of the vehicle, walking around as he stared at the signal bar of his phone. The cool air brushing against his skin when a sudden bump hit his leg.
“Ow!”
A soft voice cried.
Irritated, Sukuna glanced down and caught sight of a child. The kid rubbed the side of his face and looked up. The child's eyes widened caught somewhere between fear and awe as he stared up at the man with the marks across his face.
Sukuna’s brows furrowed and one raised out of curiosity.
The child looked painfully familiar.
That shock of pink hair. The round red eyes.
His gaze narrowed until he was nearly speechless. It was like staring into a mirror...from his past—a reflection of who he once was.
The call from his father echoed in his phone, but Sukuna didn’t answer.
As Sukuna’s eyes locked onto the child, the clouds overhead slowly shifted, parting just enough to let a soft ray of morning light filter through. The gentle sunlight caught the kid’s face, casting a pale glow that revealed something Sukuna hadn’t noticed before — a faint, faded mark just above the child’s temple.
The small detail hit him like a punch. His grip on the phone slackened, and it slipped from his fingers, landing with a muted thud on the pavement.
The quiet hum of the early morning—birds chirping softly, distant murmurs of the city waking up seemed to pause for a moment.
Then, a voice called out from nearby—not loud, but clear and familiar.
“Kaishi!”
The child flinched, eyes wide with alarm. Without a backward glance, he darted toward the playground across the street.
Sukuna stood motionless, muscles coiled but face unreadable. Usually, a man like him would react fast dominate, control, take what he needed.
But something about that fleeting glimpse—the kid’s eyes, the mark unsettled him.
A flicker of curiosity, something rare and unguarded, sparked beneath his usual cold, gangster exterior.
This wasn’t just some random kid.
Sukuna kept his gaze fixed on the boy as he hurried toward the park, careful not to get too close. He doeasnt bother to hide and observed silently from where he stood. His sharp eyes caught the child approaching a tall male figure just by the benches.
Sukuna’s expression was unreadable, but inside, a rare tension gripped him.
It wasn’t long before a female swept the child off his feet making the child giggle and as she spun him around.
It was clear as day.
No mistaking it.
That Face.
Those eyes.
The way the sunlight caught the curve of her cheek, the subtle line of her jaw, the way her hair fell just so around her face—it was really you.
Every detail carved itself into Sukuna’s memory like a brand, igniting something raw and undeniable deep inside.
For a moment, the world shrank until it was just the two of them, bound by a past tangled in pain and something unspoken. It wasn’t just recognition...it was a silent, intimate confession written in the way his gaze softened, the edge of his usual cold hardening into something almost protective.
This wasn’t some stranger. It was you. His.
It hit him like a sudden blow to the chest. For a heartbeat, his breath caught in his throat, shallow and quick, like the air itself had thickened.
His world, built on control and ruthless certainty, wavered. His heart pounded loud in his ears, a jarring contrast to the cold calm he forced himself to wear.
It was you.
Your presence cutting through the morning haze like a whisper he never expected to hear again.
Seeing you alive, breathing, moving just a few steps away felt like a crack splitting through his carefully constructed world.
He wasn’t the type to wear his heart on his sleeve. His life demanded steel nerves and cold calculation. Yet, beneath the surface, something roiled—a quiet storm of disbelief, frustration, and something dangerously close to longing.
How the hell had she been here all this time?
He clenched his fists, jaw tightening. There was no room for weakness, no time for pity. The streets had taught him to bury that shit deep. But the questions burned hot.
Why was he never told? Why vanish without a trace?
His mind flicked back to the past few weeks— the tension after Seoul, the subtle shift of behavior.
Toshi.
The way Toshi had avoided his gaze.
Sukuna’s breath hitched again, sharper this time—part disbelief, part anger.
But then, his eyes flicked to the way you moved closer to the tall man at the bench. Your steps light and familiar, the easy way you leaned in toward him as if they shared years of unspoken understanding.
The sight twisted something sharp and bitter in Sukuna’s chest—a slow-burning jealousy that tightened around his ribs like a vice. His breath caught for a second, the sharp tang of it filling his senses as if reminding him of everything he was about to lose—or never had.
Sukuna’s gaze sharpened, hardening into certainty.
His fists clenched so tight his knuckles went white, a slow, dangerous smirk curling at the edge of his lips. The surge of adrenaline was electric beneath his skin, sharpening every sense.
It wasn’t long before Sukuna found Toshi and before Toshi could react, Sukuna’s hand shot out, grabbing him by the collar with a grip like iron. Without a word, he hoisted Toshi up over the balcony railing, leaving the man dangling precariously with his legs kicking in the air. Panic shot through Toshi’s eyes, his fingers scrambling desperately for purchase on the cold metal railings, heart hammering wildly.
Kana and Masaki who were laying on the sofas quickly sat up, eyes wide with surprise and alarm, frozen for a moment as they watched the scene unfold.
“I knew you’ve been hiding something.”
Sukuna growled, voice low and deadly.
“but fucking hell—did you have to hide her from me!?”
Toshi’s eyes bulged with panic. He knew exactly what Sukuna meant, but never imagined the truth would come out like this—so fast, so brutal.
“I…I didn’t know what to do!”
Toshi stammered, voice shaking.
“I was surprised too! Jae Hwa just-!”
The name hit Sukuna like a thunderclap.
Jae Hwa.
His grip tightened instantly, and with a sharp motion, he yanked Toshi back from the edge and slammed him down over the couch with enough force to silence the room. The impact jarred the air from Toshi’s lungs, and he coughed harshly, trying to steady himself.
Kana and Masaki couldn't bare to move from their seats as if one wrong move and they'll be facing the same fate.
Sukuna's eyes burned cold as he growled.
“You better start talking. Now.”
Sukuna stood over him like a predator, every muscle coiled, his dark eyes flickering with dangerous intent.
Sukuna’s interrogation was a relentless storm, a merciless assault that tore through Toshi’s defenses and shook the very air around them. His voice was low but laced with venom, each question sharp and unforgiving, designed to unravel every lie and half-truth. The way he prowled the room, his gaze piercing and unyielding, broke down more than just Toshi’s will—it rattled everyone present.
Kana, unable to bear the intensity, pressed her hands over her ears, as if trying to block out the brutal onslaught of words.
Ryota, meanwhile, visibly recoiled, anxiety tightening his chest with every sharp demand Sukuna threw like daggers.
The interrogation wasn’t just a battle of words; it was a psychological siege, a force that left even the strongest feeling weak and exposed, gasping under the weight of Sukuna’s relentless pressure.
Toshi sat slumped on the couch, one hand pressed to his face, the weight of Sukuna's interrogation etched into every line of his tense muscles. His breaths came shallow, strained—the pressure Sukuna had put on him was brutal, leaving him drained and shaking.
Sukuna stood by the balcony, phone pressed to his ear.
“Shinji.”
He barked, voice low and sharp.
“Run a background check on Kento Nanami and pull up everything you can on the Goryeo district in Jeju.”
There was no hesitation on the other end. Shinji didn’t ask questions—just by hearing the tone of his boss hev knew better than to waste words when Sukuna was in this mood.
“Yes, boss. On it.”
Sukuna exhaled slowly, the smoke from his cigarette curling into the morning air as his gaze drifted to the park below. The quiet bustle of the city felt distant, almost incongruous next to the storm building inside him.
He turned back to Toshi, voice cold and demanding.
“You know anything else?”
Toshi shook his head quickly, eyes wide with fear.
“T-that’s all I know.”
“Good.”
Sukuna replied, his tone cutting.
“Now, let’s see how well you can act.”
He reached for the phone lying on the table and tossed it to Toshi.
“Call Jae Hwa. Ask her about their plans.”
Toshi’s hands trembled as he took the phone, regret and fear written across his face. His fingers hovered uncertainly over the screen.
Sukuna lowered himself closer, the smoke from his cigarette drifting in lazy spirals, and blew it right in Toshi’s face. His voice was a dangerous whisper, heavy with menace.
“Don't make me wait.”
The room seemed to grow colder.
Sukuna’s mood shifted then, darkening into something twice as terrifying. The usual cold control gave way to a raw, predatory edge. Seeing you alive walking around had cracked open something deep inside him.
This wasn’t the “happily ever after” moment anyone would expect. No, it was something far more complicated—a storm of anger, confusion, and ruthless determination that twisted his insides and sharpened his every move.
Who would’ve thought finding you again would change him like this?
But there was no going back now.
Sukuna settled onto one of the single-seater couches, dropping his weight like a challenge as he fixed Toshi with a glare sharp enough to cut glass. He held the phone to his ear, flipping the call onto speaker with a slow, deliberate motion.
“Jae Hwa?”
Came the bubbly voice from the other end, light and deceptively casual.
Sukuna’s eyes didn’t leave Toshi as the man answered, voice barely steady.
“Just checking in…making sure we’re not crossing paths.”
Jae Hwa chuckled, the tone almost teasing.
“Oh, uhm...We’re heading to Dino Park this afternoon—just outside Ilsan, near Seoul. Do you wanna come?”
Toshi’s hands trembled visibly.
“No, no. Just checking. If you guys head the same way, that’s all. I-Is that all that you're going to do?”
Toshi tried to hide the anxiety in his voice. Jae Hwa doeasnt seem to notice as a she softly hum on the phone.
“For the meantime yeah. No other plans. If you change your mind, just let me know, okay?”
Toshi stammered.
“Sure.”
Then ended the call quickly, as if the longer it went on, the worse it got.
Sukuna leaned forward, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips. He reached out and gave Toshi a slow, mocking pat on the cheek—a gesture that felt more like a warning than comfort.
He pushed his cigarette in one of the woodened table and without wasting a second, Sukuna swaggered over to Renji's room, face flushed from too much drink and He slapped the man’s face repeatedly, sharp and commanding.
“Wake up, fools.”
He did the same to Masaki, who groaned but stirred under the assault.
Sukuna’s grin was cold, dangerous—the calm before a storm.
“Get ready. Things are about to get interesting.”
Jae Hwa came barreling into the hotel lobby, suitcase wheels clattering against the polished floor, her voice carrying with the kind of excitement only she could muster.
“Dino park! Dino park!”
She cheered, the sound bright enough to turn a few heads. Perched dangerously on top of her rolling luggage was Kaishi, giggling as if the ride was the best part of the trip, his little legs dangling while Jae Hwa half-pushed, half-dragged him along.
Right beside them, Kyoshi’s smaller hand was tucked into Jae Hwa’s grip, his expression quieter but his steps quick to keep up, feeding off her enthusiasm.
You followed a step behind, Ryoichi resting in your arm, his warm weight leaning into you. Nanami walked at your side, a steady presence with the other pieces of luggage in his hands. Ryoichi’s gaze kept flicking up toward him, studying the man with a quiet, almost guarded curiosity.
“Let me take one.”
You murmured, your free hand brushing toward the handle of a bag Nanami carried.
He shifted it slightly out of your reach without even looking at you.
“Just keep walking.”
He said, his voice calm but leaving little room for argument.
“It’s not that heavy for me.”
You insisted under your breath.
“I didn’t say it was heavy.”
He countered smoothly, a faint hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
“I’m just carrying it.”
Your soft bickering drew another intent look from Ryoichi, his round eyes darting between you and Nanami as though trying to piece together something unspoken between the two of you. Nanami noticed, glancing down to meet the boy’s gaze before offering him a warm, almost disarming smile.
Ryoichi froze, unsure how to react. He had softened a little toward Nanami after the playground incident, but uncertainty still lingered. Instead of returning the smile, he simply turned his head away, fixing his eyes on the safe, familiar shape of your back as you walked.
Ryoichi kept his face turned toward your back, and Nanami didn’t push for another glance, letting the boy’s quiet retreat stand.
Still, something tugged faintly at the edge of Nanami’s awareness—an odd heaviness in the air, like a pair of eyes lingering too long. His gaze flicked briefly over the lobby, scanning the corners, the people by the walls, the quiet shuffle of luggage wheels on polished floors. But then you shifted Ryoichi in your arms and reached for the strap of one of the heavier bags, insisting for the third time that you could carry it yourself.
“You’ve got enough to handle.”
Nanami said flatly, turning his focus back to you.
“I’m not useless, you know.”
You muttered, still reaching for it.
“That’s not what I said.”
Nanami starts to chuckle but bickering stayed soft but persistent, each exchange pulling his attention further away from that faint, pricking sensation.
What none of you realized was that, scattered among the lobby’s slow midday bustle, Sukuna’s crew had already taken their positions. Kana leaned casually against a marble pillar near the entrance, pretending to scroll through her phone, while Masaki stood by the far wall with a paper cup in hand, eyes fixed on nothing in particular but never missing a single movement from the small family in the center of the scene.
Outside, the car Jae Hwa had called was already waiting by the curb. Nanami stepped forward to load the back with bags, methodical in stacking them while you adjusted Ryoichi in your arms. Inside, Jae Hwa, Kaishi, and Kyoshi were already bundled up in the back seat, the younger two bouncing slightly as a children’s dinosaur song played over the car’s speakers—a request Jae Hwa had made with zero shame and total enthusiasm. Their voices spilled out into the street, cheerful and loud.
Across the way, parked in the shadow of a playground fence, a different car sat idling. Renji had one arm resting over the steering wheel, his eyes trained forward. In the back seat, Sukuna lounged with an elbow against the window frame, his sharp gaze tracking the scene outside. There was an irritation simmering in the line of his jaw—this wasn’t how he wanted to find her, tucked neatly into a picture that looked far too domestic but there was also a thin thread of amusement. The soft edges of her life now were so at odds with the memory he had of her, it almost made him want to laugh.
Beside him, Toshi sat stiff, his hands fidgeting in his lap. Watching Jae Hwa climb into the car with Kaishi and Kyoshi made his stomach twist. It felt like betrayal, sitting here under Sukuna’s shadow after what he’d told him. He kept his eyes low, hoping not to draw the wrong kind of attention.
When the car carrying you finally pulled away from the curb, Renji rolled his shoulders and shifted into gear. It wasn’t long before the engine purred forward to the other side of the street, where Kana and Masaki were waiting for their pickup.
Renji eased the car into motion, slipping into the lane behind the vehicle carrying you, keeping just enough distance to blend into the midday traffic. To anyone else, it looked like nothing more than another commuter heading toward the main road, but his eyes never left the back of your car. Every turn you made, every pause at a traffic light, Renji mirrored it like a shadow stitched to your bumper.
In the back seat, Sukuna leaned against the headrest, watching the faint reflection of your car’s taillights in the glass.
Kana’s voice cut through the low hum of the engine.
“The blonde—Nanami, right? He’s sharp. Picks up on his surroundings quick. I saw him sweep the lobby twice without even turning his head. But…”
She turns her head, glancing at Sukuna in the rearview mirror.
“The moment she talks to him, it’s like someone cuts his focus in half. Still alert, but you can see it—his body stays tense, his eyes linger, but not where they should.”
Sukuna’s lips curled into a scoff, a low, dismissive sound.
“Tch. Figures.”
He let his gaze drift back toward the shrinking gap between their cars.
“Your type in men is always been pathetic—too busy looking at you to see the knife coming.”
Toshi’s eyes flicked to Sukuna for the briefest moment before snapping back to the road ahead, it was deliberate—like he was silently asking if that jab was for Sukuna himself since he is one of the men that you dated.
Renji kept his eyes forward, wisely saying nothing, while Kana bit back a grin and Masaki pretended not to hear. Outside, the city rolled by, the traffic thinning as the streets opened toward the park. The closer you got, the more Sukuna’s patience thinned.
At one point along the road, the two vehicles rolled side by side, crawling through a slower patch of traffic. The car you were in kept its windows down because Kyoshi had insisted on seeing the view, his small hand clinging to the edge of the frame as he leaned forward, eyes wide.
Beside you, the other car’s windows were so heavily tinted they reflected the afternoon sun like black mirrors. Inside, Sukuna sat back, his elbow resting on the door, gaze sharp and unreadable as he tracked every movement in the car beside them. His crew stayed quiet—Kana in the front, Renji driving—but the air inside the car was tight.
Through the narrow slit of visibility behind the tint, Sukuna’s eyes landed on the three kids. Two were turned away from him, but the one closest to his window stared back with unfiltered curiosity. Sukuna’s gaze locked with the boy’s, noting every line of his small face—similar to the kid he’d seen at the playground earlier, yet rougher somehow, the expression more stubborn than sweet.
The resemblance was…unmistakable. The same sharp angles in the face, the set of the brow, even that stubborn spark in the eyes. They looked too much like him.
A thought hit him like a punch to the gut.
Were they mine?
The idea festered in the back of his mind, dragging old memories with it. The only night he’d had you—once—and then, days later, your kidnapping. After that, you were gone. Disappeared like smoke.
His jaw flexed.
Was that it? Was the pregnancy why you ran? Why you didn’t tell me?
His gaze flicked to the man the boy was sitting on.
Nanami.
A dumb blonde who looked too clean, too stiff to be anywhere near your type. It was impossible for him to be the father. And if by some miracle of idiocy he was… Sukuna’s lips twitched in a dark smirk at the thought of how quickly he’d make that problem disappear.
He rolled the silver lighter in his palm, thumb flicking it open and shut, the sharp click slicing through the thick silence. The repetitive sound made Kana’s shoulders tense and had Renji darting glances at the rearview, but neither said a word. They’d seen that look on Sukuna’s face before—it was the kind that meant someone’s days were numbered.
Sukuna’s gaze sharpened into something colder. The man didn’t even know they were locked in a silent stare-down, his focus apparently split between the boy on his lap and the woman sitting just beside him. That oblivious calm only made Sukuna’s irritation simmer hotter. He didn’t like the sight—Nanami holding the boy, talking softly to him, like he had the right.
Nanami’s instincts, however, were sharp. Something about the car beside them set him on edge. He reached up and rolled the window closed without hesitation.
Kyoshi’s protest came immediately, a small but insistent whine. Nanami’s voice softened as he explained.
“The insects might get in if we keep it open.”
Kyoshi pouted, sliding into Nanami’s lap but still angling his head toward the now-closed window, stubbornly trying to catch another glimpse outside.
You tilted your head toward them, curiosity piqued.
“Why’d you close it?”
Nanami didn’t take his eyes off the road ahead as he answered.
“Something about that car didn’t sit right with me.”
The man didn’t realize just how right he was.
You glanced at the tinted vehicle still keeping pace with yours, but shrugged it off, leaning back in your seat.
Nanami's gaze lingered forward, his posture steady but behind that dark glass, Sukuna’s eyes were still on him, cold and unblinking, until the cars drifted apart.
The vehicle rolled to a gentle stop in front of the Dino Park, the driver’s voice announcing your arrival.
Beside him, Jae Hwa stirred awake with a soft groan, stretching her arms high over her head before instinctively leaning down to rummage through her tote bag. The quiet rustle of receipts and the clink of loose coins filled the cabin as she fished around for her wallet, still halfway caught between sleep and wakefulness. She pulled it out, flipping it open with practiced fingers as she prepared to pay the driver.
Once the fare was settled, she slipped the wallet back in and let her hand linger on the zipper of her bag for a moment. Out of habit, she glanced over her shoulder toward the back seats.
That’s when she saw it.
You were awake, your gaze fixed across the seat with an almost fragile stillness. Ryoichi was tucked securely in your arms, his little cheek pressed against your shoulder. Nanami sat diagonally from you, Kyoshi nestled against him in deep sleep, Kaishi sprawled across his lap, one small foot lazily reaching toward you like it was searching for home.
It wasn’t loud or dramatic—just a still frame in time but something about it was almost too perfect. Nanami looked as if he had always been there, part of the fabric of this little unit, as if his place had been carved out long before this moment.
Jae Hwa’s lips curved into a sly grin. She arched a brow in your direction and leaned closer, her voice pitched low enough for only you to hear.
“Go on,”
She teased.
“Wake your family up.”
But as soon as the words left her mouth, her chest tightened. The teasing slipped from her face, replaced by something heavier. She thought back to the man she’d seen at the previous hotel—those sharp eyes, that bone-deep presence. Eyes that mirrored the triplets without a single doubt.
The real father.
The guilt came sudden and sharp, leaving her wishing she could take the words back before they had even fully landed.
The kids didn’t need a second call. At the sound of Jae Hwa’s voice, their sleepy expressions vanished, replaced by the wide-eyed excitement only children could muster.
You shifted in your seat and leaned over to gently help Kyoshi and Ryoichi down from the car, your hands lingering briefly on their shoulders to steady them before their feet hit the ground. The moment they were free, they bolted forward—Kyoshi with his usual quiet determination, Ryoichi with a grin that almost mirrored his father’s racing toward Jae Hwa.
Kaishi was already in her arms, pointing toward the front of the hotel where massive dinosaur figures loomed over the entrance.
“Kyoshi! Ryoichi! Look!”
He squealed.
Both boys joined their brother, their small frames bouncing with excitement as Jae Hwa led them toward the towering statues.
You lingered for a moment, glancing toward the back of the car. Nanami and the driver were already pulling out the bags, and without thinking, you slipped in to help. Your hands gripped the handles of two suitcases before Nanami could stop you.
He straightened, a faintly surprised look crossing his face before one corner of his mouth curved into a smirk.
“You’re trouble.”
He said, voice low and amused.
You only laughed, tugging the luggage forward with a mock-innocent shrug.
“I told you, I’ve got it.”
You replied, your tone teasing.
Nanami walked behind you, easily balancing a backpack slung over one shoulder and the two remaining suitcases in his hands. His protest came with no real weight behind it, more habit than command.
“Still—”
You cut him off with a playful glance over your shoulder, sticking your tongue out at him. The gesture was automatic, thoughtless, and the second it left you, heat prickled at your cheeks. You straightened, cleared your throat, and faced forward again, as if rearranging yourself into someone more composed.
Behind you, Nanami only shook his head, a quiet huff of amusement slipping past his lips as he followed.
Jae Hwa stepped into the hotel lobby first, scrolling through her phone until she found the booking number. Kaishi was balanced neatly on her hip, his small hands gripping her shoulder as she approached the reception desk.
You and Nanami followed right behind, the bellboy holding the rotating door steady for you both as you stepped inside.
The receptionist’s attention shifted almost immediately to the curious little boy in Jae Hwa’s arms. She waved at him warmly, and Kaishi returned a small, shy smile before his gaze wandered down to the desk—where a row of colorful dinosaur toys sat neatly arranged beside the receptionist’s laptop.
Catching the way his eyes lingered, the receptionist leaned down, plucked one from the display, and handed it to him with a smile.
“...Thank you”
Kaishi said softly, his eyes sparkling as he clutched the toy. Then, twisting around in Jae Hwa’s arms, he called out.
“Ryoichi! Kyoshi!”
The twins quickly came running over, their faces lighting up as they spotted what Kaishi was holding.
While Jae Hwa signed the waiver, two little heads popped up from her side, and the receptionist practically melted at the sight. Other staff members glanced over too, their voices joining in with lighthearted coos and praise about how handsome the boys were.
You stepped up to Jae Hwa’s side, gently combing Ryoichi’s hair back into place just as the receptionist bent down to hand him a toy as well and another to Kyoshi. Only then did you glance at Kaishi and notice he already had one.
“Oh my, what do we say?”
“Thank you!!”
Both boys say in sync tune.
The receptionist’s smile grew as her eyes shifted between you and Kaishi. She tilted her head slightly, almost studying the resemblance before saying warmly.
“Your boys are very good looking—very handsome.”
She gave a small, polite bow.
You returned the gesture with a smile of your own.
“Thank you.”
Nanami, standing at your side, gave your shoulder a light bump, his tone teasing.
“Lucky for you—three free toys. Mommy doesn’t even have to buy them.”
You huffed a quiet laugh and bumped him back with your elbow.
“Don’t start.”
You murmured, still smiling.
From the far corner of the parking lot, a black-tinted vehicle sat idling.
Inside, Sukuna leaned against the seat, one arm propped casually against the door while the other continued to toy with a silver lighter.
Click—snap.
Through the clear glass doors, he spotted them instantly the woman and the three boys. His gaze followed every movement: the way she leaned down to comb the kid’s hair, the curve of her mouth when she smiled, the light brush of her shoulder against Nanami’s.
A tablet sat open on his lap, its sleek black screen glowing with pulled-up files that showed detailed reports—Nanami’s entire profile, clean and clinical, alongside dossiers on the Goryeo Jeju district. One section was highlighted: a local leader named Toji, and beneath him, a list of respected elders.
“So this is where you ran off to.”
Sukuna muttered, the words more a growl than speech. He’d been right all along. And Toji, who had stood in front of him that very day, stared him dead in the eye, and lied. His jaw ticked once. The lighter in his hand flipped open with a crisp snap, a flicker of flame dancing against the dark interior of the car before he killed it again. Over and over.
The longer he stared, the more that predator’s coil inside him tightened, every instinct urging him to move, to break glass, to take.
But he stayed rooted in place, forcing patience into his bones. People didn’t lie that well unless they were protecting something…or someone. His gaze slid back to the glass doors, lingering on the three small heads gathered around her, and the suspicion gnawed at him like a live wire.
The elevator doors began to close on you and the three boys. Sukuna’s gaze flicked upward just in time to catch the illuminated panel above the elevator. His smirk deepened.
“Seventeenth.”
༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺༻❁༺
End.
