𝕭𝖚𝖇𝖇𝖑𝖊𝖘

You didn’t even answer him after that, just peeled the lid back off your dessert and took a bite while he kept staring at you like he could somehow fix it by looking hard enough. “Baby,” he said carefully this time, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, “I knew something felt off today.” You laughed once through your nose. “That’s your defense?” and he winced immediately. He kept trying to talk while watching your face closely, like he was trying to figure out how upset you actually were. “Okay, no, listen, listen— this week’s been insane. I lost track of the date.” “You forgot your own girlfriend’s birthday.” “I know.” “All day.” “I know.” “You literally asked me why I bought cake.” At that, he covered part of his face with his hand and groaned quietly. “Okay, that one was bad.” You kept eating your dessert while he sat there looking unusually awkward for someone who normally always had something to say. Then he suddenly got up from the couch so fast it startled you a little. “Get your shoes on.” “Satoru, it’s almost midnight.” “I don’t care. We’re going out.” “No.” “Yes.” “I’m not getting dressed so you can panic-redeem yourself.” He walked over anyway, crouching down in front of where you sat, hands resting on your knees while he tilted his head to catch your eyes again. His voice got quieter then, more serious than usual. “I messed up. I know I did. But don’t let me end your birthday like this, okay?” And honestly that was worse because now he actually sounded guilty.

NANAMI KENTO

Nanami came home late enough that you’d already changed into pajamas and cleaned up the dinner you made. The apartment smelled faintly like the curry you’d reheated twice before finally giving up on waiting for him. He loosened his tie the second he stepped through the door, looking exhausted in that way he always did after overtime, shoulders heavy, hair slightly messy from running his hand through it all day. “I’m home,” he said automatically while setting his briefcase down, and you answered quietly from the kitchen without looking at him. He noticed the tone immediately. You could always tell when he was tired, and he could always tell when you were upset. He walked in a minute later, sleeves rolled halfway up now, and stopped when he saw the small cake box sitting on the counter beside two untouched plates. “You ate already?” he asked, confused. You kept rinsing dishes. “Yeah.” There was a long pause before he glanced at the calendar hanging near the fridge. Then another pause. Then you heard him exhale softly through his nose.

When you finally turned around, he was still standing there staring at the date like he hated what he was realizing. One hand rested on his hip while the other pressed against his forehead for a second. “...I forgot.” He said it plainly. No excuses first, no trying to smooth it over immediately. Just honest. You dried your hands slowly while looking at him. “I noticed.” He looked genuinely irritated with himself after that, jaw tight while he loosened his tie completely and tossed it onto the counter. “I left work thinking there was something important I was missing all day.” “Apparently not important enough.” He closed his eyes briefly at that. “That’s fair.” The room went quiet except for the sink dripping a little. Then he walked closer, stopping in front of you without touching you yet. “I’m sorry.” His voice stayed calm, but you could tell he meant it because he looked at you directly when he said it. “I should’ve been here earlier.” You shrugged like you didn’t care as much as you actually did. “It’s whatever.” “No,” he said immediately, expression softening a little, “it isn’t.” He glanced at the food containers still sitting out before looking back at you again. “Did you wait long?” You didn’t answer right away and that alone made him look worse. He sighed quietly before undoing the cuffs of his sleeves. “Sit down,” he said after a moment. “I’ll make tea.” You looked at him suspiciously. “That’s not fixing anything.” “I know,” he answered while moving around the kitchen beside you, already reaching for the kettle. “But standing here pretending I didn’t hurt your feelings would make it worse.”

GETO SUGURU

Suguru realized something was wrong when you stopped answering him properly halfway through dinner. Not angry silent. Just short. Distracted. He’d been talking about some mission story while stirring noodles around in his bowl and you were barely reacting, only nodding every now and then while scrolling through your phone. The restaurant around you was loud enough to cover the awkwardness at first, warm lights overhead, dishes clinking everywhere, people talking over each other, but he knew you too well not to notice eventually. “You’re quiet tonight,” he said while setting his chopsticks down. You looked up slowly. “Am I?” “Yeah.” He studied your face for another second before smiling a little. “Did something happen?” You stared back at him long enough for his smile to start fading. Then you asked, “What’s today’s date?” and immediately watched the realization creep onto his face piece by piece. He leaned back slightly in his chair after that, blinking once before looking down at the table. “Ah,” he said quietly.

You laughed a little, but not because anything was funny. “That bad, huh?” Suguru rubbed his hand along his jaw slowly, already looking annoyed with himself. “I thought it was tomorrow.” “You thought wrong.” He nodded once. “Clearly.” The waitress came by right then asking if everything tasted okay and the timing almost made you laugh again because Suguru looked genuinely miserable having to politely answer her while knowing he’d completely messed up. The second she left, he leaned forward with both arms resting on the table. “You should’ve told me earlier.” “Why? So you could pretend you remembered on your own?” “No,” he said immediately, eyes narrowing slightly, “so I wouldn’t spend the entire day making you think I didn’t care.” That shut you up for a second. Suguru reached across the table then, fingertips brushing your wrist lightly while his expression softened. “I’m sorry.” His voice sounded quieter now, more serious than before. “I’ve been distracted lately and I let something important slip.” You looked away first because staying annoyed was harder when he looked at you like that. “You still forgot.” “I know.” “And you spent twenty minutes talking about curses instead.” He actually looked embarrassed after that, rubbing the back of his neck before muttering, “Okay, when you say it out loud it sounds terrible.” “Because it was terrible.” He huffed out a small laugh despite himself before signaling for the check immediately. “Come on,” he said while standing and holding his hand out toward you. “I’m fixing the rest of tonight.”

CHOSO

Choso noticed because you stopped touching him. Usually when you sat together you were always leaning against him somehow, your legs over his lap or your shoulder against his arm while he played with your fingers absentmindedly, but tonight you stayed all the way on the other side of the couch while he talked about something Yuji said earlier. He kept glancing at you between sentences, slowly getting more confused the longer you stayed quiet. “Did I upset you?” he finally asked carefully. You looked up from the blanket in your lap. “You don’t know?” The question made him pause immediately. He sat there thinking hard about it too, brows furrowed slightly while trying to replay the whole day in his head. “I…” He stopped talking halfway through because suddenly it clicked. His expression dropped so fast it almost made you feel bad for him. “Oh.” He stared at you for another second before quietly asking, “Today was your birthday?”

You looked away immediately. “Yeah.” Choso looked genuinely crushed after that. Not defensive. Not confused anymore. Just upset with himself. He sat forward quickly, hands resting on his knees while trying to think of what to say next. “I knew it was soon,” he said carefully, almost frustrated at himself. “I thought I still had time.” “Well. You didn’t.” He nodded slowly. “I understand.” The room got quiet after that except for the TV playing in the background. Then he moved closer cautiously, like he wasn’t sure if you’d let him. “You should’ve told me sooner,” he admitted softly. “I wanted to see if you’d remember yourself.” He looked even worse hearing that. “I’m sorry.” His voice sounded low and sincere enough that you finally looked back at him. “I’ve never celebrated birthdays properly before. I still lose track of dates sometimes.” “I know,” you muttered. “That’s why I’m not screaming at you.” He frowned slightly at that before reaching for your hand slowly, waiting until you let him hold it. “I didn’t forget because I don’t care about you.” You sighed quietly while he rubbed his thumb over your knuckles absentmindedly. “You still hurt my feelings.” “I know,” he repeated, expression serious. Then after a small pause he added quietly, “Can I still try to make today good?” and honestly the hopeful way he asked made it hard to stay mad for long.

RYOMEN SUKUNA

Sukuna remembered other useless things perfectly. Some random insult someone said three weeks ago. The exact amount of money somebody owed him. What meal you ruined because you got distracted talking to him halfway through cooking. So the fact he forgot your birthday made it worse somehow. You’d spent the whole evening waiting for him to notice on his own too, which turned out to be a mistake because he walked into the apartment acting completely normal, shoes hitting the floor near the doorway while he complained about traffic and immediately went looking for food. “You eat already?” he asked from the kitchen, opening containers in the fridge without even glancing your way properly. You were sitting at the table still wearing the clothes you’d gone out in earlier, the tiny shopping bag beside your chair making the whole thing look even sadder now. “Yeah,” you answered flatly. He finally looked over then, eyes narrowing slightly at your tone. “What’s your problem?” You stared at him for a second before asking, “What day is it?” and he looked annoyed immediately. “What kind of question is that?” “Just answer it.” He clicked his tongue but answered anyway, then watched your face for half a second too long before the irritation slowly disappeared from his expression.

The silence after that felt awkward in a way Sukuna clearly hated because he shut the fridge harder than necessary before leaning against the counter with his arms crossed. “...Oh.” That was all he said at first. No apology immediately. No panic. Just that one annoyed sounding “oh” while realizing exactly what he did. You looked away before he could read your face properly. “Yeah. Oh.” He stared at you from across the kitchen for another moment before dragging a hand down his face roughly. “You didn’t say anything all day.” “I wanted to see if you’d remember.” “That’s stupid.” “Well it worked.” He clicked his tongue again, but quieter this time, more frustrated with himself than with you. Then he walked over finally, stopping beside the table while looking down at the untouched little cake box near your elbow. “You bought that yourself?” You shrugged. “Didn’t think anybody else would.” His jaw tightened immediately at that. He hated comments like that from you because suddenly he looked like the asshole in the relationship, which currently he was. He pulled a chair out roughly and sat across from you, elbows on his knees while staring at the floor for a second. “I forgot,” he said finally, voice lower now. “Not because I don’t care.” You stayed quiet. He looked up again, eyes settling on your face carefully this time. “You gonna keep ignoring me all night?” “Maybe.” “Alright.” Another silence. Then he reached over suddenly, pulling the cake box toward himself before opening it and staring at the tiny candle still inside the package. “This looks depressing as hell.” You almost laughed despite yourself and he noticed immediately. “There,” he muttered. “That’s better.”

FUSHIGURO MEGUMI

Megumi honestly thought he still had another week. That was the only reason he didn’t realize sooner, and judging by the look on his face when it finally hit him, he knew that excuse sounded terrible too. You were both sitting on the floor of his room while one of his dogs slept beside you, your phone lighting up every few minutes with birthday texts from other people that Megumi kept unconsciously glancing at without putting things together. He’d even answered one earlier for you when your hands were full. “Tell Nobara you’ll call her later,” he’d said casually, handing your phone back like nothing was wrong. Now, hours later, you finally looked at him and went, “You forgot my birthday, didn’t you?” and he froze completely halfway through opening a drink can. The sound of it cracking open filled the silence before he slowly looked over at you. “...Today?” You just stared at him blankly. Megumi closed his eyes immediately after that. “Shit.”

He set the can down beside him while you crossed your arms tighter. “I thought it was next Friday.” “It’s literally been today all day.” “I know that now.” You scoffed quietly while Megumi rubbed the back of his neck, clearly trying to figure out how to fix this without making it worse. He wasn’t good at things like this normally. You knew that. But it still hurt. “You didn’t even notice everyone texting me?” you asked. “I thought they just remembered suddenly.” “Megumi.” “I know.” He sounded irritated with himself already, gaze fixed on the floor while one of the dogs wandered into his lap completely unaware of the tension. You stayed quiet for a while after that before muttering, “I waited all day.” That made him finally look back up at you properly. His expression changed immediately hearing that part. “...Seriously?” “Obviously.” He looked guilty instantly after that, shoulders dropping slightly while he reached up to push his hair back. “I’m sorry.” The apology sounded rough and honest, no overexplaining attached to it. “I should’ve remembered.” You looked down at your lap instead of answering. Megumi stayed quiet for a second before shifting closer carefully. “Hey,” he said softer this time. “Look at me for a second.” You did eventually. He looked genuinely upset with himself now, not awkward anymore, just disappointed. “You know I care about you, right?” You nodded once. “Still mad though.” “Yeah,” he answered quietly. “That makes sense.”

INUMAKI TOGE

Toge realized late. Very late. Like almost midnight late. The two of you were sitting in a convenience store parking lot sharing snacks because he’d dragged you out for a walk earlier after training, and honestly the night had been fine until your phone buzzed again with another birthday message. He glanced over automatically at the screen lighting your face before finally noticing the cake emoji beside your friend’s text. His chewing slowed immediately. Then stopped completely. You noticed the second his eyes widened a little. “Don’t,” you warned flatly before he even reacted. Toge stared at you for another second before pulling his phone out quickly and typing something fast. His screen turned toward you almost immediately.

you’re kidding

You looked away first. “Nope.” His shoulders dropped instantly after that. “Salmon…” he muttered under his breath while dragging a hand over his face. Even without many words, you could tell exactly how bad he felt because he kept staring at you with that guilty expression while trying to type another sentence fast enough.

i thought it was tomorrow im so sorry

You sighed quietly while opening your drink. “I waited all day for you to remember.” He looked miserable reading that. Toge immediately moved closer on the bench until your knees bumped together lightly, then typed again.

why didn’t you tell me earlier :(

“Because I wanted you to remember yourself.” He dropped his head back dramatically against the vending machine behind him before immediately lifting it again when you gave him a look. Then he reached over carefully for your hand, waiting until you let him hold it before rubbing circles against your skin with his thumb. His phone rested in his lap while he typed one-handed this time.

i’m the worst boyfriend alive

You snorted quietly despite yourself. “You said it, not me.” He looked slightly relieved hearing you joke at all. Then he suddenly stood up without letting go of your hand and pulled you with him gently. “Tuna.” “Where are we going?” He pointed toward the convenience store entrance first, then at the clock on his phone, expression determined now despite how tired both of you looked. You stared at him suspiciously. “It’s almost midnight.” Toge nodded once before typing again.

still your birthday for 23 more minutes

OKKOTSU YUTA

Yuta forgot in the worst possible way because he’d actually talked to you all day. Sent you random messages. Asked if you ate yet. Told you to be careful going home. Even called you for twenty minutes while walking back from a mission, smiling to himself while you answered him in that quieter voice you always used when you were upset but trying not to show it. Looking back, he realized you’d been giving him chances the entire day and he somehow missed every single one. By the time he got to your apartment that night, he was tired enough not to notice immediately either. He kicked his shoes off near the door, hair messy from the wind outside, and smiled when he saw you sitting curled up on the couch under a blanket. “You’re awake,” he said softly while walking over. You looked at him for a second before muttering, “Obviously.” He paused slightly at the tone but still sat beside you anyway, leaning in automatically for a kiss that you avoided by turning your face toward the TV instead. That finally made him stop properly. “...What happened?” he asked carefully. “Nothing.” “You’re upset.” “Wow. You noticed something today at least.”

Yuta stared at you quietly after that. Confused first. Then slowly horrified. His face changed so visibly it almost annoyed you more. “Oh my god,” he whispered under his breath, immediately sitting up straighter. “No.” You laughed once without humor. “Yeah.” “No, no, wait— today’s the fifth.” “Congratulations.” He looked genuinely sick realizing it, hand covering part of his mouth while he stared at the floor. “I thought it was tomorrow,” he said quickly. “I swear I thought it was tomorrow.” “You told me happy birthday last year at midnight.” “I know.” “So what happened now?” He didn’t even have an answer for that. He just sat there looking upset with himself while you pulled the blanket tighter around your shoulders. “I even asked if you wanted to hang out tonight,” you muttered. “You said you were too busy.” “I didn’t know,” he said immediately, voice strained now. “If I knew, I would’ve cancelled everything.” You shrugged. “Doesn’t matter now.” Yuta looked at you like that answer physically hurt him. Then he reached over carefully, fingers catching your wrist before you could pull away fully. “Please don’t do that,” he said quietly. “Don’t act like you don’t care when you do.” You stayed quiet. He lowered his head a little after that, still holding your wrist gently. “I’m sorry,” he said again, softer this time. “I know apologizing doesn’t fix it, but I really am.” The room stayed quiet for another second before he suddenly stood up. “Wait here.” You blinked at him. “Yuta, it’s late.” “I know.” He was already pulling his shoes back on again while talking. “I’m coming back.” “With what?” He glanced at you while opening the door, looking embarrassed and determined at the same time. “I’ll figure it out.”

NAOYA ZENIN

Naoya forgot and somehow still acted irritated first when you got upset about it. That was the worst part. You’d spent the whole evening sitting through dinner with him while he talked about clan politics and complained about people you didn’t care about, waiting patiently for him to remember on his own. He never did. Not when the waiter mentioned celebrations. Not when your phone kept buzzing beside your plate. Not even when dessert came out and the couple behind you started singing happy birthday to somebody else. By the time you got back to his apartment, you were barely speaking to him. Naoya noticed eventually, mostly because you stopped reacting to anything he said. “You’re sulking,” he said while loosening the sleeves of his shirt. “I’m not.” “You are.” You stared at him from across the room. “Can you think for two seconds about why?” He looked annoyed immediately at the tone. “If you’ve got a problem, say it directly.” “Fine. You forgot my birthday.”

The silence after that lasted longer than you expected. Naoya blinked once before looking at you properly for the first time all night. “...Today?” You almost laughed. “Oh my god.” He clicked his tongue under his breath before looking away briefly, clearly realizing his mistake now. “I thought it was next week.” “You thought wrong.” He sighed heavily, rubbing at his temple while you grabbed your bag from the couch. “Where are you going?” “Home.” “Don’t start.” “Start?” you repeated incredulously. “You forgot my birthday.” “I forgot one date.” “My birthday.” “Yeah, I heard you the first time.” You stared at him in disbelief while he looked increasingly frustrated with himself for not handling this better. Then after a second, his expression shifted slightly when he noticed your eyes looking suspiciously watery. That changed his attitude immediately. “...Hey.” His voice lowered a little. You looked away fast, embarrassed now more than angry. Naoya exhaled quietly before walking over slower this time. “Don’t cry over this.” “I’m not crying.” “You were about to.” “Because you’re being an asshole.” “Alright,” he muttered, softer now. “Fair enough.” That shut you up for a second because Naoya almost never admitted that. He reached for your wrist carefully before you could move away again. “Look at me.” You hesitated before finally doing it. He looked annoyed still, but not at you anymore. Mostly at himself. “I forgot,” he said bluntly. “I shouldn’t have. I know.” You stayed quiet. He sighed again before pulling you a little closer by your wrist. “I’ll make it up to you.” “You say that like it fixes everything.” “Didn’t say it did,” he answered while brushing his thumb against your hand once. “Still gonna do it.”

ITADORI YUJI

Yuji forgot in the most confusing way possible because he’d actually been excited for your birthday all month. He talked about it constantly too. Asked what kind of cake you liked again even though you’d already told him twice. Sent you videos of gift ideas. Told Nobara he already had plans. Which honestly made it even worse when the actual day came and somehow his brain completely skipped over the fact it was happening right now. By evening, you were sitting beside him on the train after meeting up for what was apparently just a normal hangout to him, trying not to look as disappointed as you felt while he happily talked beside you about some movie he wanted you both to watch later. “And then Megumi said horror movies are predictable, which is insane because—” He stopped mid-sentence when he finally noticed you weren’t reacting properly. “...You okay?” You looked out the window instead. “Mhm.” Yuji stared at you suspiciously for another second before nudging your shoulder lightly. “No seriously, what happened?” “Nothing.” “You’ve said like four words all night.” “Maybe I’m tired.” “You’re never this quiet.” He kept looking at you while the train rattled around softly in the background, slowly getting more confused. Then your phone buzzed again with another birthday text lighting up your screen for half a second before disappearing. Yuji glanced down automatically. Then immediately froze.

You saw the exact moment it clicked because his entire face dropped. “...WAIT.” Half the people sitting near you looked over because he said it so loudly. Yuji slapped both hands over his mouth right after while staring at you with wide horrified eyes. “No way,” he mumbled behind his fingers. You looked away immediately because now you were embarrassed on top of upset. “Yeah.” “TODAY?!” “Yuji.” “OH MY GOD.” He looked genuinely devastated, leaning back against the train seat while dragging his hands down his face hard enough to squish his cheeks. “No no no no, I thought it was tomorrow,” he said quickly, words tumbling over each other now while you crossed your arms tighter. “You literally reminded me last week too, why did I think it was tomorrow?” “I don’t know.” “I even woke up this morning and thought, ‘I need to remember something important.’” “That’s insane.” “I KNOW.” A couple across from you were openly listening now because Yuji sounded like he was having a public crisis. He turned toward you fully then, knees bumping yours while his expression softened immediately. “Hey,” he said quieter this time. “I’m really sorry.” You kept staring toward the train window. “I waited all day.” The second you said that, he looked even worse somehow. “You waited for me to remember?” You nodded once. Yuji let out the saddest sounding groan into his hands before leaning forward completely. “I suck.” “Little bit.” “No, like actually.” He peeked at you through his fingers after that, looking so guilty it was hard not to feel bad for him too. Then suddenly he sat up straight again with determination hitting him all at once. “Okay.” “Okay what?” “It’s not midnight yet.” “Yuji—” “No listen,” he interrupted while already pulling his phone out fast enough to nearly drop it. “I can still fix this.” You stared at him while he typed aggressively, muttering to himself under his breath. “Bakery, bakery, bakery... why are they all CLOSED?” Despite yourself, you snorted quietly at the panic in his voice. Yuji looked up immediately after hearing it, relieved just to see you reacting again. “There,” he said while pointing at you dramatically from across the seat. “That’s progress. You laughed. I still have a chance.”

TOJI FUSHIGURO

Toji forgot because he genuinely had no sense of dates unless somebody forced him to care about them. Bills, appointments, birthdays, half the time he remembered things because you reminded him first. Usually you didn’t mind. This time you did. The worst part was he’d spent almost the entire day with you too, acting normal while you kept waiting for him to suddenly remember on his own. By nighttime you’d given up completely. The apartment was quiet except for the sound of the TV playing some late-night rerun while Toji sat stretched out on the couch beside you eating takeout straight from the container. “You want the rest?” he asked casually without looking away from the screen. “No.” He finally glanced over at your tone. “Damn, what’s with you tonight?” You stared at him blankly for a second before laughing quietly to yourself. “Nothing.” “Bullshit.” He tossed the empty container onto the table before leaning back again, watching you more carefully now. “You’ve been acting weird for hours.” “Maybe there’s a reason.” “Then tell me the reason.” You grabbed your phone off the couch beside you and shoved it toward him without saying anything. Toji looked annoyed at first before glancing down at the screen full of unread birthday messages.

Then he went completely silent.

“What?” “You heard me.” “You think I’m cheating on you?” “You’ve been acting shady as hell.” “Because your birthday is in two days, you asshole.” The silence after that was so immediate it almost made you laugh. Sukuna blinked at you once. “What?” “Your birthday,” you repeated slowly. “The thing that happens every year.” “...You’re lying.” “Are you serious?” You walked past him straight to the spare room and shoved the door open hard enough to hit the wall. Half-finished decorations were sitting on the floor. Bags from stores. Wrapped gifts. A stupid custom cake topper sticking out of tissue paper because you forgot to hide it properly. Sukuna stood behind you for a second without saying anything. You crossed your arms and looked at him. “Congratulations.

You ruined your own surprise because you don’t know how to communicate like a normal person.” He looked genuinely irritated now, but not at you anymore. At himself. Which somehow made it funnier. “You were hiding all this?” “No, Sukuna, I secretly rented a party room for my boyfriend.” “Alright.” “No, because what the hell was your plan here? Sit around glaring at me until I confessed to crimes I didn’t commit?” He rubbed a hand over his face with a quiet “shit” under his breath, and honestly that was the first moment all week he’d sounded normal again. You watched him pick up one of the gift bags and look inside before you immediately snatched it back. “Don’t look.” “I thought you were cheating.” “That’s embarrassing for you.” “You weren’t answering my questions.” “Because I was trying not to ruin your birthday.” Sukuna stared at you for another second before grabbing your wrist and pulling you closer until you bumped against his chest. “Alright,” he muttered again, lower this time. “My bad.” You looked up at him. “That’s your apology?” “You want a written statement?” “I want you to admit you acted crazy.” “I acted crazy.” “Thank you.” “You still hid things badly.” “Get out of the room.” “No.” “Sukuna.” “Lemme see one gift.” “Absolutely not.” He was already trying to look over your shoulder while you shoved at his chest, and for the first time all week the apartment actually felt normal again instead of tense and weird.

That actually made him laugh once. Short and low. “You think a child of mine will irritate me?” “I think your child will probably bite people.” “Hn. Better than crying all day.” You snorted before you could stop yourself, and some of the tension finally disappeared. Sukuna looked calmer after that too. Still serious, but not distant. One of his hands rested against your waist, pulling you a little closer while he looked down at you. “You should’ve told me sooner,” he muttered. “You’re not angry?” “No.” “Not even a little?” He looked genuinely confused now. “You’re my wife.”

Like that explained everything. Honestly, with Sukuna, it kind of did.

For a moment neither of you said anything. The evening air moved through the open doors, and somewhere outside you could hear servants talking quietly in another part of the estate. Then Sukuna’s hand moved from your waist to your stomach, resting there carefully. The movement was so unusual coming from him that you immediately looked up. He noticed. “Don’t look at me like that.” “Like what?” “Surprised.” “You are being surprisingly normal about this.” “I kill sorcerers, not my own family.” “That’s not exactly comforting.” “Hm.”

You smiled despite yourself. A few seconds later, Sukuna glanced down at you again. “If it’s a boy, the clans are going to become unbearable.” “And if it’s a girl?” His expression flattened instantly. “That’s worse.” You laughed immediately. “Why?” “Because then I’ll have to deal with men looking at her.” “You’re already acting possessive over someone that doesn’t even exist yet.” “She exists.”

You went quiet after that. Sukuna noticed immediately, of course. He always noticed things when it came to you. His thumb brushed against your side once before he spoke again. “You’re overthinking.” “I know.” “You’ll be fine.” The way he said it was simple. Certain. Like there wasn’t even another possibility. And somehow that was enough to make the nervousness in your chest finally settle.