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Chapter 15: «Goodbye to a Friend: The Act of Not Acting»
Itadori was on the rooftop, leaning against the side where Junpei had jumped. Nobara was eating her bento while looking at him, not really knowing what to say, just like Megumi.
—I don't understand any of this.
—What?
—Why did he kill himself? On Sunday, we went to the movies to watch The Human Centipede.
—What kind of lunatics watch that disgusting movie? —She frowned in disgust and closed her bento. —You've completely ruined my appetite.
—It looks pretty good. It's a shame you're going to let it get cold.
—Eat it.
—Itadori, I strongly recommend that you forget about this. He killed himself because he was being severely bullied.
—Megumi, have some compassion for the guy.
—I'm just stating the facts. —He pointed at Yuuji with his chopsticks. —I know what you're like, and you're going to get yourself into trouble.
—No... I won't. —He spoke with his mouth full, making Nobara look away.
—Don't talk with your mouth full. You're so disgusting.
—You do it too!
—What? Don't be a liar! —She growled angrily. —A beautiful girl like me has impeccable manners.
—You've got witch manners. —He whispered angrily before Kugisaki snatched the bento away from him. —I didn't bring lunch today.
—That's your problem, isn't it? Weren't you the one calling me a witch?
—Come on, Nobara, don't be like that.
Nobara moved the bento away from the pink-haired boy. Yuuji looked at her with puppy-dog eyes and tried to move closer to get his food. With a sigh, she handed the borrowed bento back to him.
—And what are you planning to do?
—I have two good friends who will help me. You don't need to worry, Megumi.
—That sounds like trouble.
—No, it doesn't. He's a professional lawyer and his secretary.
—What's the lawyer's name? —Nobara asked with interest. —Is he handsome?
—Is he handsome? —He ate some rice while thinking. —I wouldn't know what to tell you. Still, it seems like he's dating his secretary.
—Oh, wow. Married couples are the ones I hate the most.
—And his name?
—Higuruma Hiromi and Y/N.
—He's a controversial lawyer. They talk badly about him on television, on social media, and even through word of mouth. Being around him or people involved with him will only lead you down a dead-end road of trouble.
—Megumi, I'm not going to let myself be swayed by what other people say. I'll meet them myself and form my own opinion of them. People are cruel; they attack and criticize everything that's different from them. —He closed his eyes. —Junpei wasn't a weirdo. He knew a lot about movies and loved his mother very much; he helped me understand complicated parts of movies. He was fun to be around.
Itadori became melancholy. Nobara shot Fushiguro an annoyed look. That alone was enough for him to understand that she was reprimanding him for his lack of empathy toward the owner of their mutual friend's grief.
—Well, he's attractive. He dresses well and has this cool melancholic aura; however, he looks like a grumpy old man. What a shame. —She leaned against Itadori and looked at him. —I'm sure you'll go far with them, and you'll learn something along the way. If you need anything, just tell me.
—Whoa, really? —he asked, more cheerful. —You're not as much of a witch as you seem.
—And what's with you calling me a witch all of a sudden?
The bento was snatched away again. Megumi smiled subtly at the scene before looking down from the rooftop. The area was still cordoned off, looking like it would remain that way for quite some time.
Y/N was going through Hiromi's law books while he was out buying food. She flipped through the pages, and it wasn't just that she didn't understand a thing they said; she was also staring at Hiromi's notes, surprised by the smooth, straight strokes of his handwriting, as well as how clearly he laid everything out.
—I picked up some things I thought would taste good. —he said before looking at Y/N in surprise. —You didn't have to read that. They're university textbooks.
—Why do you circle November 15th?
—Uh... It's nothing special. Exams. —He set the bag of konbini groceries down. —Pick whatever you want first.
—Do you always have exams on November 15th?
—Not exams. It's just a stupid habit.
She picked up an onigiri and looked at it carefully to figure out what filling it had. Then she looked away. Higuruma picked up his can of coffee and opened it, trying to change the subject.
—You're lying.
—I'm not lying.
—You're hiding something from me.
—That's different from lying. Did you know I could sue you for defamation, miss?
—I'm not going to flirt with you if you're hiding things from me. —She turned the chair around, giving him her back. She took a bite of her onigiri. —I'll hide things from you too.
—Something happened on that date. —He turned her chair around so she was facing him. —Something painful. Did you ever witness a classmate's suicide?
—No. Never. You?
—No. Never.
He rolled his eyes and turned away so he wouldn't have to look at her, but she stopped him in time. Y/N looked at him, waiting for an explanation. Higuruma frowned, leaned back in his chair, and covered his face.
—Back in middle school. I had a friend... An otaku.
—Didn't you say you didn't know anything about anime?
—I already told you I knew about it. I just didn't watch it.
—Kinji does.
—I know. Should we eat?
—Hiromi, you have to tell me everything.
—They made fun of him, especially when he suggested putting on a play based on an anime for Cultural Week. The teachers looked the other way while his classmates made his life miserable.
—What idiots! —she exclaimed, frowning. —Everyone has different tastes, and they should be respected. Period.
—Yeah... Yeah... —He nodded. —Let's eat now.
—Your friend?
—Uh... —Hiromi looked Y/N in the eyes. —No. Well, yes. No.
—It's okay. —She placed a hand over his. —You don't have to force yourself to tell me.
—It's not that. It's just... I'm scared... That you'll hate me.
—And why would I?
—In bullying cases, people tend to look the other way.
—Don't blame yourself, Hiromi. You couldn't have done anything.
—I looked the other way. —He lowered his gaze, unable to bear the look of disappointment on Y/N's face. —First it was the teachers, then everyone else. Before I knew it, I distanced myself to avoid becoming a victim or getting into trouble. I wasn't like Itadori. It seems he didn't abandon his friend. I'm sorry. I'm sure I've disappointed you.
—No. You haven't. Hiromi, we can't know how we'll act in certain situations. You didn't do the right thing either, but the fact that you regret it says a lot about you. You should forgive yourself.
—No. I was guilty.
—Not acting and simply looking the other way makes you an accomplice too. —They said it at the same time. However, they said it with different tones: Y/N wasn't blaming Hiromi, while he felt like the bad guy.
—Yes.
—Now you can do something. You won't have to do it alone; I'm here.
He looked up in surprise; he'd never heard those words from anyone before. Y/N blushed when she noticed Hiromi leaning toward her. Their lips brushed; just as they were about to kiss, the doorbell rang.
—Oh, right. Right... Why is he coming during lunchtime?
—Lunchtime was hours ago. It's six in the evening.
—It's that late and we haven't eaten? —He made her sit down. —Eat, eat plenty. I'll get the door.
Nobara was waiting outside the school, swinging her backpack back and forth. When Megumi came out, she waved at him. Fushiguro took one earbud out.
—Why were you waiting for me?
—No. I wasn't waiting for you. I finished my club.
—I thought you weren't in one.
—It's mandatory. I am in one. It's just that sometimes I skip the activities. I thought we could walk home together.
—You live on the other side of town from me. Why don't you wait for Itadori and go home with him?
—Why are you so against it? —she asked, annoyed as she walked beside him. —I'll go buy some things near where you live.
—I'm not against it. Do whatever you want.
—Of course I will. Do you think I'm going to ask for your permission?
Megumi simply shrugged. Nobara looked away and tucked a strand of her brown hair behind her ear.
—Megumi...
—What? —he asked, confused.
—On the rooftop, it seemed like you knew something.
—I know a lot of things.
—Cut the bullshit. If you know something about Junpei's case, tell Itadori. It's obvious he's suffering. Friends are supposed to help their own; keeping quiet makes you just as complicit as the bullies.
Nobara stopped, and Megumi did too. Silence fell between them. He turned to look at Nobara, his brow furrowed.
—I don't know what movie you've made up in your head, but I have nothing to do with it.
—I didn't accuse you. I'm just telling you that doing nothing is just as bad as being the one causing the pain. —She sighed. —I'm leaving.
—What about your shopping?
—I would never shop there. It's such a tacky area.
With that, Nobara walked away. Megumi put his earbuds back in and continued toward the station, his gaze fixed on the ground as he clenched the fabric inside his pockets in anger.
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Yu's arrival shattered the peace Nanami had enjoyed all afternoon with Y/N. Now Yu was pounding away at the drums while everyone else watched them in surprise.
"Why are you so full of energy?" Y/N asked with a gentle smile.
"Did you give him sugar? I told you."
"Hey, Blondie, I didn't give this hyperactive brat anything."
"He's excited about something." Hiromi tuned his bass until it sounded perfect. "What did you do?"
The drumming stopped, leaving the room in silence. Yu wore a grin from ear to ear, making Nanami feel the familiar ache creeping into his stomach. Haibara stood up and walked over to his jacket, which was lying on the floor. He rummaged through it for a few minutes, looking confused.
"Are you looking for what's in your back pocket?"
"Thanks, Nanami!" He grabbed it and unfolded the flyer, revealing a Battle of the Bands competition: "The Next Great Star." "We're going to win with Y/N, and nobody will laugh at us anymore. Besides, the winner gets 300,000 yen."
"I definitely think you should enter." Yaga smiled as he adjusted his sunglasses.
"Please, we don't even have a band name yet."
"Guys, I thought you'd already decided on one."
"We wanted you to have a say in it too, Y/N." Yaga quickly covered for their complete lack of progress in choosing a name.
"Hamburger Buddies!"
"No!" everyone shouted at once, leaving Yu staring at them in confusion.
"Spicy Nachos?"
"Ino, give him something to eat. He's hungry," Nanami said as he sat down to think.
The silence dragged on. Everyone looked at each other, searching for the perfect band name. But no one had any good ideas, and Haibara's suggestions only kept getting worse.
—These are overtime hours. Yaga pointed out as he looked at Hiromi. "I should be home making dinner for my kids."
"We all know Yui takes care of them, so start thinking."
Y/N looked at Yaga, who simply met her gaze with a nod. Hiromi just lit a cigarette to relax. Ino doodled in his notebook while Haibara ate, trying to share his snacks with Nanami as an excuse to steal one of his best friend's ideas.
"The Overtime?"
The guys fell silent, staring at Y/N. After several seconds, they all nodded. No one said anything; besides, nobody had a better name to argue with.
"It makes sense. We all have other things to do and come here during our free time, so... Overtime fits us perfectly."
"It sounds great." Hiromi leaned back after hearing Nanami's words. He'd summed it up perfectly.
"The Overfood!"
"That doesn't even sound right." Yaga bonked Yu on the head. "And I thought we'd moved past the food obsession, brat."
"Food is important for living."
"What you've got is gluttony. If that's the case, we might as well call ourselves The Oversnack."
"OverSweet!"
"OverSpicy!"
"OverMeat!"
"OverJuice!"
"OverMochi!"
Ino and Haibara grabbed each other's hands, hopping around while shouting out even more food names. Y/N laughed at how happy they looked. She instinctively leaned against Nanami, who tensed for a few seconds before laughing as well.
"Aren't they two complete idiots?"
"Yeah. They could've starred in that movie and become comedy superstars in Hollywood."
"No more food names for ridiculous band names!" Yaga smacked both of them on the head as punishment. "Y/N, you should be the leader."
"Huh?"
"I actually like that idea."
"Nanami..." she whispered, hoping he'd help her.
"Yeah! Be our leader!"
"You've got the most experience, and you're definitely the most talented."
"Thank you, Ino. Even so... I don't know if I can..."
"You'll do great. We're actually very obedient as long as someone keeps us in line." He took the cigarette from his lips. "Girl power." he said, raising his fist.
"Come on, Y/N. I'll be right here with you. We'll be your loyal servants."
"You don't have to be so... devoted. We're a team. It's okay if we all listen to each other. So, what song are we going to perform?"
"The one you wrote with Nanami."
"Yu... It's not finished. Songs aren't written that fast."
"Not fast? I write songs in five minutes."
"His record is two minutes!" Ino exclaimed proudly, as if Haibara's achievement were something to brag about.
"Well, it's nice that two members of the band can write songs. Why don't you sing something from your own repertoire?"
Hiromi let out a dry laugh, making Y/N look at him in confusion. Higuruma rolled his eyes, amused. Yu paced back and forth, deep in thought, then switched on the recorder.
"You make yourself stand out, when deep down you're there," he sang as he grabbed the tambourine and tapped out a rhythm. Hiromi quickly stubbed out his cigarette against the wall before picking up his bass to join in. "I'm stalking you, can't you see I want to make you mine? Come on, I know you'll be mine."
"Your secret is safe with me." Ino supplied the line Yu couldn't come up with.
Y/N smiled as she noticed Nanami joining in on the guitar, quickly creating the melody. She smiled and tapped the table softly to the beat.
"This is turning out really well."
"You're irresistible, my love. A side of you that's my downfall. Out on the dance floor, they'll all say..." Nanami had joined the spontaneous songwriting as well.
"I'd eat you even with sauce."
The line Haibara belted out at the top of his lungs, completely off-key, made everyone freeze. The magic they'd created vanished instantly.
"Yu, we're not writing a song about food."
"Nanami... The lyrics were great."
"We're not entering a competition with a song about how badly you want to eat."
"This time Nanami's right, Yu."
"When have I ever not been right, Ino?"
Y/N chuckled softly and rested a hand on Nanami's shoulder. It calmed Kento's irritation almost instantly. Yaga stopped the recorder.
"Alright, alright. Guys, it was great seeing you compose so naturally together. That's exactly what's needed: six hearts united as one."
"The lyrics were going in a good direction. Maybe... could you suggest some changes?"
"Yeah. That's what we'll do. Alright, everyone, back to your positions."
Everyone returned to their instruments while Y/N played back the recording and analyzed the lyrics. Her mind drifted to a memory she'd long forgotten... one that had suddenly resurfaced.
Y/N had presented ten songs she had composed for the new album. Suguru was on a phone call through his Bluetooth headset, showing no intention of ending it anytime soon, but she waited patiently.
"Alright... I'm done with the call. Why was it so urgent that Gojo had to interrupt me in the middle of a meeting with one of your future sponsors?"
"I wanted to ask if... you could listen to these songs. Gojo said they were good, so I thought it'd be great if we could use them for the album." She placed the disc containing her recordings on the desk.
"Hmm..." Suguru picked up the disc, still inside its thin plastic sleeve. "Y/N, we've already finished the album thanks to our experienced songwriters. We don't need your songs."
"Maybe... just one or two? Gojo especially liked tracks seven and four."
"Y/N, dear, that's not how this industry works. Singers don't write the songs they perform. Other people write them."
"I know. Gojo told me the same thing, but he also encouraged me to talk to you."
"I don't care whether he likes them or not." He snapped the disc in half with his hands. "They won't be included. I've already made my decision. Don't ever write songs again. Sing what you're told to sing, and wear what you're told to wear. That's your job. You're a product, and that product has to be perfect."
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Ichiji had arrived and helped Y/N get Hiromi into the back seat of the car. That had undoubtedly been the easy part. Setting foot in Jujutsu High again was the difficult one. Y/N glanced at the rearview mirror, watching Higuruma rest peacefully despite his body burning with fever from the poison. She let out a frustrated sigh as worry crept into her chest.
"He'll be okay."
"I don't care. He was annoying." She looked away while Ichiji merely offered her a gentle smile.
"Are you afraid of seeing Shoko? You two used to be so close. You followed her everywhere and always looked up to her."
"That was a long time ago."
"Not that long. I like to think we're still young."
"Oh, for God's sake... You're making me depressed." She let out a small sigh. "Maybe I am nervous about seeing Shoko... about going back to the school... and remembering."
"Remembering Geto? Or thinking about Gojo?"
"Both. I can't bear it. You know I wasn't exactly kind the last time."
"Yeah... I remember it well." He chuckled. "With plenty of censor beeps. I'm on your side, Y/N."
"I know. You've always been there... even when I pushed you away."
"I know exactly what you're like. We've always been friends."
"Best friends." She corrected him, sounding more at ease. "From our first year until now. You're the only person I can trust."
"I won't let you down. And I won't let you go."
Y/N shook her head, feeling happier. She had chosen to spend all these years alone, yet Ichiji had never left her behind or forgotten about her. He called her every day, looked for her, and helped her without expecting anything in return. And now, even if he probably didn't realize it, he had given her the strength to keep moving forward.
Y/N felt her nerves tighten the moment she stood before the school she had left behind so long ago. They only grew worse when she had to step into the morgue, where Shoko was waiting. Together with Ichiji, she helped carry Hiromi inside.
Y/N tightened her grip on him as the door opened. Shoko was standing there with her hair tied into a messy low bun and a cigarette resting between her lips. Her brown eyes settled on Y/N, now older, with a sharper, feline gaze. She remembered the dark green hair Y/N used to wear long, now cut short.
"So, the prodigal daughter returns home?" she asked, removing the cigarette from her lips. "You run into trouble, and suddenly you're asking for help after making it perfectly clear that everyone here is just a slave to the 'monkeys.'"
"Shoko..." Ichiji pleaded on Y/N's behalf, while Y/N lowered her gaze, ashamed that she had once supported those ideas.
"I never thought he would..."
"Commit genocide?" She glanced at Hiromi. "How do I know this wasn't your doing?"
"I don't harm civilians. I have morals."
"Sure. Geto used to say the same thing."
"Shoko, don't be so hard on Y/N. A lot of people had those thoughts. Well... not me, since I'm not a sorcerer. But Gojo did too. Even Yaga. Geto was the one who crossed the line. Y/N never did."
At the same time, both women turned their heads away from each other. Ichiji couldn't help but be surprised that pride still stood between the sisterhood they had shared since the very beginning.
"Put that gentleman on the table."
"He had this lodged in him." She handed over the thorn, wrapped in a handkerchief that had been eaten through by the poison dripping from it.
"And this came from a curse?"
Ichiji struggled to support Hiromi's weight now that he was barely conscious. Y/N stood beside Shoko, both of them carefully examining the thorn. Hiromi was eventually laid down on one of the morgue tables.
"Strip him."
"W-What!?" Y/N and Ichiji exclaimed at the same time.
"Just do it. This is how I always work. He might die, and if he does, I'll have to cut him open anyway."
"No!" Y/N shouted, stepping in front of Hiromi. "He'll be fine. Cleopatra's reincarnation is... strong..." She folded her arms, trying to hide the concern she felt—concern whose origin even she couldn't understand, and which she hated feeling.
"Fine. We'll leave his clothes on."
Shoko picked up a thermometer and handed it to Y/N. She placed it under Hiromi's tongue and waited patiently. Ichiji tried to help Shoko, but she was far too used to working on her own.
"I have no idea."
"Huh?" Ichiji looked her in the eyes. "Are you sure?"
"I've examined it thoroughly. I'll have to ask around. Do you know anything about the curse?"
"No. All I had was a report about a spatial curse."
Shoko turned around, grabbed Y/N by the shoulder, and spun her around. She shook her head before pointing at her in disbelief.
"Are you out of your mind? You were going to face a curse of that level?"
"It's easy for me."
"Don't say that. You're not Gojo. You're not arrogant or reckless. You never were."
Y/N was caught off guard by the way Shoko finally lost her composure, letting go of her usual indifferent façade. Shoko knew what it was like to watch friends fight... and to watch those who believed themselves invincible fall.
"I'm sorry. Hiromi saved me. I'm fine. I don't work alone—I work with him."
"I thought you didn't li—" One glare from Y/N was all Ichiji needed to fall silent. "Y-Yeah. They're a couple."
The two of them looked at him. Ichiji loosened his tie, his nerves obvious as he lied.
"He's your boyfriend?"
"Yes. We're dating, and we work together."
Shoko nodded. She walked over to Hiromi and removed the thermometer when it gave its familiar beep. Higuruma's temperature was 39°C. He was in danger.
"The two of you should go for a walk. I'll get to work and do everything I can."
"Good idea." Ichiji placed his hands on Y/N's shoulders and gently guided her toward the door. "You don't have to watch him suffer."
"You and I are going to have a talk about the mess you've dragged me into."
Half-conscious and burning with fever, Hiromi Higuruma found himself remembering another fragment of his past life. Ever since awakening as a sorcerer, those memories had continued to return to him again and again.
Cherry blossom petals drifted down from the newly bloomed trees. Hiromi walked in his everyday attire. He wore a black kimono with white hakama, matched by a black haori adorned with white details that formed two koi fish near the sword at his waist.
His katana rested at his side, his hand never straying far from its hilt. Standing before him was Y/N, breathtaking in a pink yukata. Her long, dark green hair danced gently in the spring breeze. Hiromi stepped closer, drawing a warm smile from her.
"I want a goldfish."
"A goldfish?" He let out a soft laugh. "Ask me for something difficult. If you asked for the moon, I'd bring it down from the sky for you."
"I don't want the moon. I want to see it hanging in the night sky every evening."
"And why don't you want the goldfish to stay in its natural habitat?"
"I want something to remember you by."
"I'll give you my heart. It's yours."
He took her hand and closed his eyes, placing her palm over his chest so she could feel the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat.
"My life will end the moment that command leaves your lips."
"Live." She clung to him. "Live for me. I'll feel lonely and helpless if you're not here." She knelt before him, leaving him speechless. "I love you, Higuruma. I love you with all my heart and with every part of my being."
"I'll never leave you. Never." Without hesitation, he knelt before her as well, pulling her tightly into his embrace. "You are my natural habitat."
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Yu stared at his phone, bored, while Ino tried to look like he was actually shopping. Yaga was browsing through cute women's clothes for Yui. More than half an hour had passed since Hiromi had gone in, and he was still sitting on a sofa in front of the fitting room where Hina had disappeared.
—Ugghhh... She's been in there forever, and my feet hurt.
—Quit whining. Be a man and stay focused on the mission.
—The clothes are really expensive. Are you going to buy them?
—I guess we'll see.
—Woow! —Yu perked up immediately, making the other customers turn to stare at them.— We get to watch a master scammer at work.
—You really don't know when to shut up, brat. —Yaga smacked him on the head like he always did.
—Who are those weirdos...? —a customer whispered as people subtly drifted away from them, not wanting to be associated with the group.— A scammer? That's awful. Just awful. Oh... —He picked up a pink polka-dot blouse.— How cute. I'll buy this for my girlfriend.
Rustle...
—Now what's wrong with you?
—Nothing.
—Ino gets embarrassed easily because his mom turns into an ogre whenever she scolds him.
—I get it now. You're an overprotected baby. Your mom must be such a pain.
—Tell me about it. She watches us whenever we rehearse in the garage. She's probably spying on Nanami and Y/N right now.
Yaga and Yu burst into laughter. Ino slammed the blouse back onto the rack, clearly annoyed by them making fun of his mother and the way he lived. Even so, he couldn't deny that she could be suffocating.
Swish!
The fitting room curtain was yanked open, immediately putting an end to the argument. Hiromi smiled and applauded, just as he did every single time Hina stepped out.
She was wearing a short black dress with an open back.
—Don't I look gorgeous, Hiro-chan?
—Like a goddess, Hina. —Once again, he gave her the exact same compliment he always did.
—I know. I should wear a smaller stud. I want my boobs to stand out more. I didn't get them done just to hide them.
—Hina, I thought you were afraid of what happened to—
—Aahhhh! —she screamed before slapping him across the face and storming back into the fitting room.
—I've got such a big mouth...
—Why did she scream? —Yu suddenly appeared behind the sofa on Hiromi's right. Higuruma looked at him in surprise.
—What are you doing here, Yu?
—What was that about just now? —Ino popped out from the left side, startling Hiromi since he hadn't expected him.
—Are you guys following me?
—Don't be paranoid. It was just a coincidence.
Hiromi looked up and saw the imposing figure of Yaga. Startled, he spun around and pointed at him. Yu laughed carefreely.
—Who's this weird old guy? Did you get yourselves into trouble!?
—Nah. —Yu waved his hand dismissively.— This is Yaga, our manager.
—I care about this band. I'll make you famous. —He smiled in a way that was intimidating enough to make both Hiromi and Ino tense up.
—He's a scammer with a good heart.
—Right... This is going to end badly. Who's going to pay him?
Ino and Haibara looked at each other. Yaga snapped his fingers, signaling that it was an excellent question. Then he folded his arms, waiting for an answer.
—For free? —both friends asked in unison. Hiromi let out a weary sigh.
—Come on. I'm not doing it for free. I've got a family to feed.
—Hiromi?
—Not a chance, Haibara. —He turned his back on him, ignoring the ridiculous pleading faces his friend was making. Still, it didn't take long before he turned back around and rolled his eyes.— Fine. But only for six months.
—Hiro! —Yu grabbed him and started pulling him along.
—What are you doing?
—Nanami and Y/N are writing a song together. We have to go help them. We're a band, right?
—Uh...
—A real band that can't keep wasting time staring at women with fake boobs.
—Hey, watch it, mister. Don't talk about Hina like that.
—Is she your girlfriend? —Ino asked curiously.
—Uh...
—Hiromi has a girlfriend? —Yu burst out laughing.
—Why are you so shocked? —he grumbled irritably.— She's not my girlfriend. She's my cello teacher.
—You go shopping with your teacher and she clings to your arm? —Yaga nudged him with his elbow, making Hiromi stiffen.— You like older women. I get it. You're one of those guys.
—Why is Hiromi a man and I'm a baby?
—Only a baby would complain about not being called a man.
—It's because I'm the one who's going to pay your salary, isn't it?
—You caught on pretty fast.
Yaga laughed as they left the expensive clothing store. However, Masamichi was stopped by one of the sales clerks.
—Sir, aren't you going to pay for that dress?
—My wife is in there. —He pointed toward the fitting room Hina had gone into.— She'll pay for it along with everything else.
—Oh. All right.
Haibara stared at Yaga in amazement. Ino was impressed by how naturally he lied. Higuruma simply shook his head in disapproval, though he couldn't help finding it amusing. A small act of revenge for not having stopped him.
—Let's go. I want to play the bass.
—Let's go write songs with Y/N and Nanami!
—Who's paying for the taxi? —Yaga asked.
—I'll call my mom to come pick us up.
—Your uptight mom is your chauffeur? What a bunch of babies.
Nanami was nervous. He glanced at the clock, remembering that he was only supposed to spend a little time alone with Y/N, yet they had ended up together for almost the entire afternoon. She was humming softly while Nanami sat nearby playing the drums; he knew a little from what Yu had taught him.
—Do you like the song?
—It was about kisses, right?
—I think it was about more than that. Is the chorus all you remember?
—Sorry. I was... distracted by the drums. I'm not used to them, so all my focus is on this.
—I get it. That happens to me when I play the guitar.
—You know how to play?
—Yeah. A little. Because of my ex...
—Oh... That sucks.
—Yeah, it really sucks. —She laughed.
He stepped away from the drums and picked up his guitar, offering it to her. Y/N looked at him in confusion but accepted it. He moved closer.
—Wait... —He wrapped his arms around her and guided her hands.— Here... Gently... Strum.
—Like this? —She carefully brushed the guitar strings.— Should I put my fingers here?
—Yeah, yeah. That's it. How did you know?
—I watched you do it while we were writing the song. I figured you'd teach me. Aren't these the notes from the song earlier?
—Yeah. They are.
When Y/N turned her head to look at him, she blushed at how close they were. It wasn't uncomfortable. If anything, she felt at ease, while he was simply nervous, his heart pounding in his throat.
—You seem so serious.
—Do I? —he suddenly grew concerned by her comment.
—Just at first glance. It's not a bad thing. It just makes you seem like someone who won't put up with nonsense. Honestly, that's one of the reasons I agreed to this. You make me feel safe.
—Oh...
—You don't talk much. —Her laughter only made the butterflies in Nanami's stomach flutter even more.— Did I make you uncomfortable?
—I... Yeah. I don't talk much. You don't make me uncomfortable, so don't think that. I want to kiss you.
Silence fell as Y/N's face turned bright red, and so did Nanami's. He hadn't meant to say that. He'd been thinking it, but never intended to say it out loud.
—I mean I want to learn from you! —He quickly pulled away, rubbing his face with both hands.
—I knew what you meant.
—Why did I say I wanted to kiss you?
—I wouldn't mind. —She whispered shyly, trying to be a little bolder.
—No. Of course not. Kissing you would be amazing.
—I think so too. Not kissing myself, I mean. —She gave herself a gentle facepalm.— That wouldn't make any sense.
—Right. I mean, of course it wouldn't make sense for you to kiss... yourself? —He sat down across from her.
—What are we even talking about?
—I have no idea. I'm nervous, to be honest.
—Me too.
They both laughed at the same time. Nanami felt himself relax after realizing that Y/N was just as awkward and self-conscious as he was. They communicated far better through music than through words.
—Should we stick to music?
—Probably for the best.
When Hina stepped out of the fitting room, she gave a little twirl. Her long dress flared gracefully, but as she struck a seductive pose, she realized Higuruma was gone. Her dark eyes swept across the store, quickly reaching the conclusion that he had left her behind.
—AAAHHH!
She let out a furious scream before violently destroying everything in her path. The customers—and even the store employees—recoiled in fear at the woman's explosive rage.
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Several weeks had passed since your suicide attempt. I stayed by your side, taking care of you. We went on walks, read together, and I listened to you talk for hours every night. The morning light shone directly into my eyes; I tried to snuggle closer to you, but once again, the side of the bed where you should have been was empty.
—Looking for me?
Startled, I turned around. There was amusement in your eyes. You sat on the edge of the bed wearing a voluminous dark pink dress; your hair was pinned up, and judging by your boots, I knew you had gone to play cricket.
—That's right... You said Naoya had a cricket tournament.
—Terribly boring, to be honest. —You picked up the clothes resting on your lap and laid them on the bed. —I bought these for you. A three-piece suit. I know you prefer wearing the clothes from your homeland, but I want us to match.
—Oh. Yes, yes. I can't say no to you.
—I told the servants to prepare your bath. Once you're ready, let's have breakfast outside instead of at home. We'll go to the library, then take a walk.
—Of course. I really like that idea.
—I was the one who suggested it. You really do like everything I do, don't you?
—The exact words I used were that I loved you.
—And I love you too.
You leaned in and kissed me. I closed my eyes as one of my hands gently cupped your cheek. Kissing you was my favorite part of the time we spent alone together; you always knew how to make me feel like I was the only one in the world, soothing my pain with your affection.
—If my little brothers ever met you, I'm sure they'd love you.
—I'll find a way to get all of you out of Cipango so you can stay here. With me.
—Would you really go to all that trouble?
—There is nothing I wouldn't do for love.
Back then, those words sounded beautiful because I only understood the meaning I could see. All I wanted was to become part of you, and for you to become part of me. Destined to find each other and remain together.
Several servants went to prepare the bath while you left to change your shoes. I undressed in the privacy of the bathroom we shared. As I stepped into the tub, the water spilled over the edge, its warmth soothing my exhausted body. I leaned my head back, closed my eyes, and inevitably found myself remembering that moment.
On one side, Nanami was distraught and furious. Guilt was eating him alive as he watched you from the garden, standing on the balcony of your bedroom, ready to throw yourself into the agonizing emptiness below. On the other, Mei Mei—that disgustingly wealthy harpy—cared only about her tooth and the troublesome child waiting in the carriage.
—Y/N! —Nanami shouted desperately.— Please, get down from there!
—You don't care if my body is shattered by the fall! —you shot back, your voice burning with rage.— I was nothing more than your toy until you grew tired of me!
—No... No... —He loosened the collar of his shirt, sweat running down his forehead.— I'm telling you, that's not true! —He threw his hat onto the ground. Dropping to his knees, he pressed his forehead against the grass.— I beg you... please don't do anything reckless!
Did you see him? Tell me, Y/N. Admit that you could hear the tears falling from his weary eyes onto the garden below. I didn't just hear them—I saw them too. I saw a man like Mr. Nanami, upright, impeccable, stern, and reserved, brought to his knees before you.
Your silence was terrifying. The light vanished from your eyes. My body moved before I could think. I had always been used to running quickly despite any obstacle because Yuuji had been tireless since he was a baby and was constantly getting himself into trouble.
—Y/N... Please stop. This isn't the answer.
—Isn't it? —you snapped coldly.— Then what is, Choso? Tell me, because I don't see any way out of this.
—I don't know... but this can never be the answer. —I slowly stepped closer to you.— Your life is more than a romance that ended in heartbreak. You're brilliant, you've written incredible books with your own hand, and you're a revolutionary in these times. People need you.
—Who? —Your questions were always the hardest to answer despite how simple they sounded.— My father? The man who locked me inside the house and then traded me away to Naoya? Mr. Nanami? He's getting married and moving to Denmark. Who needs me?
—I do. —I wrapped my arms around you, holding you tightly against me.— I need you. I can't live in a world where you don't exist. It would feel like I was dying without you.
—Why? Why did I save you?
—No. That made me respect you and admire you. I've fallen deeply in love with you. I love you, Y/N.
I lifted you away from the balcony, and because you didn't resist, I was able to bring you safely back inside. Seeing you standing there, your eyes red and overflowing with tears, I knelt before you with reverence and kissed your hands over and over again. Then I held you as you finally broke down in tears.
The persistent knocking at the door pulled me back to the present. I stepped out of the bath and dried myself with a towel. You walked in, and I immediately covered myself.
—Are you really shy when you've already seen me like this?
—You came in without warning. I don't think knocking or respecting other people's privacy is really your style.
—No, it isn't. I'm more interested in having the freedom to do whatever I please.
—Yes. I know. You're also the type to run away from the problems you don't want to face.
You folded your arms, trying to hide how startled you were by my words. I know you now. You can't fool me anymore. I've made it through the fog of idealized love, and now I can see all of you.
—And what is it that I don't want to face?
—Mr. Nanami is leaving for Denmark today. Aren't you going to say goodbye to him?
—He can come to me. I know very well where I'm not welcome.
—On the contrary. —I began getting dressed beneath your cold gaze. The subject I'd brought up had upset you; it was obvious from the way you no longer looked at me with tenderness.— When you're not welcome, you love staying just to be a nuisance. But when you're truly wanted, you're the one who walks away.
—And why would I do that?
—You enjoy confronting people with sharp, venomous words. But genuine displays of love are what make you run the fastest. You don't speak from the heart.
—I tell you how much I love you.
—Yes, but they're empty words. You show your love in far subtler ways. Long conversations. Being more willing to debate and even change your views for the people you respect and love.
You looked away. You didn't leave, and before long your eyes met mine again. You wrapped your arms around me, and I embraced you just as tightly.
—You're a coward.
—No. I'm not.
—Then go say goodbye to Nanami.
—Then he should come to me!
—Coward. You're afraid of crying in front of him. —I brushed a strand of hair away from your face before capturing your lips in a gentle kiss. When we pulled apart, your expression had softened.— If I were the one leaving, and we could never see each other again, I'd want you to be completely open with me. Crying. Being honest about how you truly feel.
The Nanami estate still amazed me, even though I had been there once before. The grandeur of its façade and its restrained, elegant gardens remained just as intimidating. A carriage waiting by the entrance, already loaded with his belongings, meant he would be leaving soon. Thankfully, we had arrived in time.
—The servants will take care of the rest of the luggage. I'll pay you right away. —His voice was as composed and emotionless as ever, but the moment he saw you, his brown eyes widened.— M-Miss Y/N.
—Kento. —Your eyes were already brimming with tears. I kept my distance, careful not to interfere.
—Don't cry... You're breaking my heart.
The two of you fell into each other's arms. He held you firmly while your sobs were painful to listen to. Even so, Nanami smiled because you had given him the greatest proof of your love: allowing yourself to be vulnerable.
—I don't want you to leave. I don't want you to marry that witch. It's not fair... I loved you first.
—I know. Believe me. My heart belongs to you. Only you. —He gently kissed your forehead.— I hate myself for causing you so much pain and driving you to despair, but I have responsibilities I can't escape from. Please understand. I don't have your strength.
—Kento... I love you.
—And I love you too, Miss Y/N.
I don't know when their embrace became so tight that I could no longer tell where one of you ended and the other began. A faint smile crossed my face, and I gave a small nod, thinking that this was the right thing to do. When you finally pulled apart, both of you had tears in your eyes. Kento slipped off his coat and draped it gently over your shoulders.
One last gift for you to carry with you in your memories.
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Hiromi was in his office, reviewing Kinji and Hoshi's case. He was still appearing on television, especially on conservative media outlets, and every segment was nothing but attacks against him.
"Defense attorney Higuruma Hiromi still refuses to give a firm statement regarding his most high-profile case. We've attempted to speak with former employees and friends, but they have declined to comment following the collapse of the attorney's reputation."
A clip of his closing argument played next. Hiromi stopped working and looked up at the screen. He appeared serious, his final statement prepared. He cleared his throat before speaking.
"The plaintiff repeatedly visited and harassed one of the defendants. This isn't sensationalism; it's realism. These are undeniable facts: we have stopped defending traditional values and started attacking the peaceful way of life of others. Many people may believe the solution is simple. My clients decided to move their business to Ni-Chome, but that changes nothing. It took me too long to realize that doing so meant pushing away something we reject simply because it's different.
"Don't we claim to value diversity and equal opportunities for everyone? And yet, when someone is too different from us, we isolate them and push them aside. I won't give a tedious speech. I won't point fingers, because that isn't my job. I only ask you, members of the jury, to reflect before making your decision. Is it truly fair to hate and discriminate against people simply because they've chosen to live differently from what society imposed on them?
"We've forgotten what it truly means to be human: diversity, change, and empathy. We cannot claim to have progressed as a society if we still condemn a café that supports minorities and provides them with a safe place."
Y/N was applauding while leaning against the frame of his office door. Embarrassed, Hiromi quickly turned off the television. She walked closer with a smile.
"It was beautiful."
"A sentimental attempt to appeal to the jury."
"It shows personal growth."
"I wasn't being homophobic back then."
"Just pragmatic about the case." Both of them spoke at the same time.
"I liked it. Kinji and Hoshi are in Shibuya working hard thanks to you fighting for them."
"We fought for them. I wasn't alone. You helped me a lot, so you don't get to dismiss your contribution. I accepted the case because you insisted, and you were quick to gather information."
"I bet you thought I was useless." She smiled.
"I respect you even more now that we're living together. You're calm and stable." He looked at her. "Can you remind me why you're still single?"
"Because there's a man who hasn't worked up the courage to make a move."
Hiromi blushed instantly. Heat rushed to his face, and his heart skipped so violently that he had to loosen his tie. He stammered a couple of times. He hadn't expected her to be so direct.
Living together had turned out to be a good decision. Not only were they spending more time together, but they were actually sharing a home. Higuruma's routine had become more dynamic. Sometimes they had dinner out. Other times, they cooked together, and they'd even started going to the movies again—something he had stopped doing once he entered university.
"Y/N..."
Ding dong. Ding dong. Ding dong. Ding dong.
The relentless ringing of the doorbell completely shattered the atmosphere that had naturally formed between them. Y/N smiled shyly and stepped aside, allowing him to get up from his chair.
They headed downstairs together like a team. Hiromi was already expecting another inheritance dispute or some minor fraud case. However, when Y/N opened the door, she found a nervous-looking fifteen-year-old boy with pink hair standing outside. Hiromi promptly shut the door again.
"He's a teenager. He's probably here over something stupid or to pull a prank."
"Hiromi, I thought we'd moved past this stage. Weren't we supposed to be kinder and more open-minded before rejecting people's cases?" She crossed her arms and looked at him with annoyance.
"Uh..." He let out a quiet sigh. "Right... You're right. We agreed we'd hear them out first, then investigate, and only after that decide whether to take the case."
Resigned, he opened the door again. The same teenager was still standing there, clearly unsure of what to do. Higuruma wasn't helping either, staring at him with his usual exhausted expression.
"Hello," he greeted him politely. "Come in."
"Oh, thank you. I'm Itadori Yuji, and I need your help."
"I figured as much."
Hiromi stepped aside to let him in while Y/N prepared some tea, a gesture of courtesy on her part.
"Let's talk in the meeting room."
Once they were seated and the tea had been served, Yuji took a sip from his cup. There were no smiles and no relaxed atmosphere. Y/N watched as Hiromi opened his notebook and uncapped his pen. She decided to take notes as well.
"What legal issue are you dealing with?"
"My best friend committed suicide. A week ago."
That single statement made the room even heavier. Itadori looked away, his eyes stinging as he fought back tears. Y/N gently rubbed his shoulder, trying to comfort him.
"We can't help you with that case. I don't handle suicides." He set his pen down on the table and crossed his arms. "Suicide is a personal choice each individual makes, and legally there's no one to hold responsible."
"Are you saying my best friend killed himself because he wanted to?"
"That's one possibility."
"Hiromi." Y/N scolded him.
"No. Junpei would never have done that." He slammed his fist against the table. "He was driven to it!"
"They drove your friend to suicide?"
"Do you have any evidence?" Hiromi asked. "A video? A recording? A letter? Witnesses?"
"No."
"Then there's nothing I can do."
"We can look into it further." She kicked Hiromi under the table. "Would you like to tell us what happened?"
"On Monday, during lunch break, Junpei went up to the rooftop. I got there late because I was helping carry supplies to the teachers' office. By the time I arrived, Junpei was standing on the edge of the roof and..."
Silence fell over the room once again. No more words were needed. Y/N closed her eyes, then glanced sideways at Hiromi. He was looking back at her, silently asking what they should do.
"He was being bullied. I found this." He pulled the business card Hiromi had slipped into the boy's jacket out of his pocket. "You knew him already, didn't you? He asked you for help, right?"
"We saved your friend from getting beaten up by a group of juvenile delinquents."
"Yankees?"
"Yeah. They were some pretty terrifying teenagers."
"That's impossible. Junpei doesn't hang around people like that."
"Can you tell us your friend's name?"
"Yoshino Junpei."
Y/N wrote the name down before giving Yuuji a gentle, reassuring smile. Hiromi closed his notebook and turned his chair around, facing away from them.
"We'll help you. But for that, we'll need you to tell us everything you know."
"Even if it seems insignificant or something terrible." Hiromi's tone was stern. "Tell us."
"Here's what we'll do. Come back tomorrow around this time. Think everything through carefully and try to remember the last three months."
"Talk to any classmates who may have gone through the same thing or might have witnessed something."
"Okay. I'll come back tomorrow after five. I have the Occult Club after school. My senpai get scared easily, so they need me for the paranormal investigations."
"Oh... That sounds interesting. Itadori, come whenever it works for you. We'll adjust our schedule to yours."
"Thank you very much." He bowed gratefully before gathering his belongings and heading for the door.
"Itadori." Hiromi called out before he could leave.
"Yes?"
"Don't even think about confronting the bullies."
The teenager's fists clenched tightly before he nodded and walked away. Y/N let out an anxious sigh. Hiromi turned toward her and looked into her eyes. He knew exactly what that expression meant: regret. It was the same look he used to wear at the beginning of his career, and perhaps it had never truly disappeared. Maybe he'd only learned to hide it.
"This isn't your fault."
"What?"
"Don't blame yourself. We couldn't have known, and there wasn't anything more we could've done."
"Even so... He was only seventeen."
"Did you read the medical report?"
"Being his lawyer gives you a lot of privileges."
Hiromi gently stroked her hair the way an owner would pet a beloved puppy. She blushed, but she didn't pull away.
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The waves swallowed the three brothers whole. The raging sea tore them away from Esou's embrace, no matter how desperately he fought to keep hold of them. Death loomed over the three malnourished boys as seawater flooded their lungs.
Under the blazing sun, on the coast of Essex, the younger brothers lay on the shore between the sand, a cloudy sky stretching above them. A tall, broad-shouldered man grinned at the sight of two fine specimens of creatures.
"Megumi!" he shouted, hoisting Esou over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes while grabbing Kechizu by the collar of his kimono. "Take the pink-haired brat. We'll be eating well tonight."
"Where did you find them?"
"Caught them. Didn't even have to work for it. We're in luck."
Megumi grabbed Yuuji by the wrists, dragging him across the sand. As Toji ran, he dropped Esou and Kechizu as though they were dead fish. Without a word, Megumi picked up the one he had been carrying and slung him over his shoulder again.
"Let's head home. Your little sister's still in London, right?"
"She's studying with the nuns at the convent."
"Good. She ought to become a nun. I can't afford to feed any more mouths. Even if I could, I only promised your mother I'd take care of you."
Three days had passed since their captivity began. Fear and panic faded quickly for Yuuji, who now had to watch every single day as Kechizu was kept inside a tiny cage while Esou remained bound hand and foot, his back exposed for everyone to gawk at its deformity and burn scar.
People laughed and stared in amazement at those with unusual deformities. A dark-skinned boy was taming lions, astonishing the crowd. Yuuji looked away when a whip cracked violently against one of the animal's coats.
"Hurry up!" Toji shoved Itadori forward so he would carry the crates of rotten tomatoes with the others. "Megumi's finishing handing out the crates. You need to restock them. Don't you get it?"
"I'm going..."
He lowered his head. His fists clenched tightly as tears of helpless rage welled up in his eyes. A girl around his age with short brown hair looked at him seriously.
"Why are you crying?"
"I'm not crying!" he snapped angrily. Even so, the tears streamed down his face, and his nose was already running.
"Ugh... You make such an ugly face when you cry."
"I said I'm not crying."
"Did you get lost? Can't find your family?" She glanced around. "Don't cry. I'll help you find them."
Balancing the crate in one hand, Itadori pointed with the other toward the place where his brothers were being exhibited. Nobara frowned.
"Are your brothers over there?"
Itadori nodded three times in a row. Nobara crossed her arms. Megumi, who had been standing behind him, rested a hand on the pink-haired boy's shoulder.
"You'd be better off staying out of trouble."
"They're my brothers."
"Exactly. They're his brothers." She stepped in front of Yuuji and shot Megumi a glare. "You're that abuser's disgusting son."
"I didn't get to choose that either."
"Do I look like I care?"
"You complain about this place, but you keep coming back every day."
"That's my problem, not yours."
The laughter of several adults echoed through the air as a pouch of coins was dropped into Toji's palm. Then came Kechizu's cries as stones tore open his scabs, making them bleed.
Megumi turned just in time to see Yuuji launch himself forward and kick the older Fushiguro square in the face. Toji staggered back with a loud laugh. Covering his face, he watched as Itadori swiftly began striking the customers who had hurt Kechizu.
"Whoa!" she exclaimed in amazement. Without wasting a second, she grabbed a wooden crate and swung it with all her strength into the back of one of Toji's lackeys, who had been about to grab Yuuji.
"You're insane."
Megumi muttered as he stepped away to avoid getting dragged into the mess. Nobara and Itadori high-fived each other, clearly impressed by one another. But Toji soon grabbed both of them by their clothes with a growl.
"Still looking for your little Saori, you troublesome brat? Stop coming here. She's not around anymore."
Toji walked out of the freak show he ran and tossed Nobara near a pile of trash. Then he lifted Yuuji even higher as the boy kicked and struggled in anger.
"Why'd you hide all that strength, little man?" He threw Yuuji onto a heap of dirty laundry. "If you've got all that endless energy, then you can start by taking these clothes to the laundry. After that..." He pointed at several heavy crates. "See all those boxes? Haul them over to the dump. And once you're done with that, you'll help unload the wagon carrying the lions' food."
Itadori growled in frustration. Noticing it, Toji rested a hand on Kechizu's cage with a broad grin. Yuuji lowered his head again, powerless to do anything. Megumi shot his father a cold glare.
"What?" Toji crossed his arms irritably. "What's with that look? I'm putting food on the table for you, aren't I?" His son's gaze seemed to pierce straight through him. Uncomfortable, Toji grunted and raised his hand.
"Let her go!"
"She came over here on her own!"
Father and son both turned toward the commotion, where two separate fights had broken out. Hakari was pummeling the lion tamer while Hoshi stood there, stunned and hurt.
"Mr. Casino and Miss Star, when are you two going to stop being such a nuisance?"
"I won't rig the games today if—"
The dark expression on Mr. Fushiguro's face revealed just how little patience he had left that day. Even so, he never loosened his iron grip on every situation. He burst into booming laughter that only made the atmosphere more tense.
"Sure, go ahead. We'll just lose money tonight. How exactly are you planning to buy your girl's freedom?" He grabbed Hoshi's face roughly, squeezing it without the slightest care. "It wouldn't cost me a thing to call Shiu and have your little girlfriend disappear."
He shoved Hoshi away so hard that she lost her balance and fell to the ground. Kinji bit his tongue, choosing instead to help his girlfriend. Megumi, on the other hand, simply went back to work. For a long time now—perhaps ever since his mother passed away—Megumi had watched his father turn into a monster, crossing the moral line a little further each day.
"I told you..." he whispered to Yuuji. "It's better not to get yourself into trouble." He lowered his gaze. "Once you start working for him, you're no longer free... and you'll never get that freedom back."
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The streets of the Fire Nation were patrolled by soldiers, making sure no conflicts or uprisings broke out against the Fire Lord. Y/N walked through the bustling crowd, surprised that she wasn't drawing any attention. Suddenly, someone slammed into her, sending her and a pile of dreadful costumes tumbling to the ground.
“Watch where you're going.”
“If you had injured me...” she growled angrily.
Sokka recognized the voice. A smile spread across his face, and he quickly helped Y/N to her feet. She looked at him without the slightest hint of recognition, then abruptly pulled away.
“Did you come looking for us because that handsome king isn't paying attention to you anymore?”
“Who are you? And why are you talking to me like we know each other?”
“What? I'm Sokka.”
“Sokka? Doesn't ring a bell.”
The color drained from Sokka's face at her merciless reply. Y/N was about to walk away when she spotted Katara. Their eyes met—Y/N's filled with indifference, Katara's with longing. Behind her stood Aang, carrying more costumes, while Toph was hauling food for herself.
“Y/N...”
Katara spoke her name in a soft, pained voice. Y/N brushed her blonde hair back and looked away. Swallowing her pride was harder than anything else.
“I...” She stammered for a moment. The words caught in her throat before she let out a quiet sigh and closed her eyes. “I need your help.”
“Now you want our help after you abandoned us?”
“Toph...” Aang sighed before covering her mouth when he realized she was about to keep talking. “I'm glad you were able to ask us.”
“She didn't remember me. She didn't even recognize me after I told her my name.”
Sokka lamented pitifully, unable to believe it was really that easy for her to forget him. Katara smiled with relief and wrapped Y/N in a hug. The blonde's eyes widened, and she instinctively prepared to push her away, but the sound of children's laughter echoed through her mind.
Y/N saw snow falling. Everything around her was blanketed in white. Two little girls were laughing as they threw snowballs at each other. Their laughter never stopped. A strand of blonde hair slipped free from beneath the hood of one of the girls' thick winter coats.
"I won't give up!" The little blonde girl crawled through the snow while a mass of water hovered above her.
“I'd say you should.”
“That's cheating, Katara!”
“We never said we couldn't use water.”
The blonde girl got back to her feet, quickly packed a snowball, and threw it, but Katara dodged it with ease. They ran through the snow, leaving a trail of footprints behind them.
“You're cheating...”
“Y/N... Wait... Don't go that way.”
Y/N kept running while looking back over her shoulder, paying no attention to where she was going. The path came to an abrupt end—a steep snowy embankment.
“Y/N!”
At the sound of her name, she turned around just as her foot slipped on the snow-covered ground, twisting her ankle. A sharp cry escaped her lips. Katara rushed forward, manipulating the water to stop Y/N from sliding down the slope.
“Are you okay?!”
“I'm fine.”
Relieved, Katara carefully climbed down to help her friend back up. Once they were safely at the top again, the two girls laughed together, their fear already forgotten.
Tears welled up in Y/N's violet eyes. She was crying without even realizing it. Those memories didn't feel like her own; after all, she had been reborn into someone else's life. And yet, an overwhelming sadness flooded her chest. She wrapped Katara in a tight embrace.
“I need your help.”
“We'll help you.”
“Oh, come on!” Toph exclaimed. “She abandoned us.”
“It doesn't matter. We're friends. Before we started this traveling dance troupe, we were friends.”
“And we still are.” Sokka draped an arm around Aang's shoulders. “Just a bunch of kids growing up.”
“So, when are you checking into a retirement home, old man?”
“Why am I always the one getting picked on? I contribute to the group too, don't I?”
He looked around for support, but everyone deliberately busied themselves with something else. Sokka waved a hand, deciding to drop the subject, then picked up the costumes and slung them over his shoulder.
The royal court was filled with tension. Zuko growled in frustration. He signed documents angrily, and some of the papers were even singed around the edges. Ever since Ty Lee had offended Y/N, he hadn't seen her again.
“Did your new little toy run away?”
“No.” He glanced to his side and saw Azula smiling. He cleared his throat. “She's not a toy.”
“Oh? Sure... Y/N, was it?”
“Yes. That's her name. Leave her alone.”
“I haven't done anything. And I don't intend to. You're quite spoiled, aren't you?”
Zuko closed his eyes and leaned back against his throne. His gaze lingered on the mountain of paperwork containing requests from across the Fire Nation that still awaited his attention.
“I'm working.”
“I wonder what Mai will think when she finds out her husband has fallen in love with the birthday present she gave him.” She rested her chin on the palm of her hand. “Or maybe that was Mai's plan all along?”
“You're still the same awful person you've always been. You haven't changed. And you never will.”
“You say that as if we didn't share the same father. Fine, keep pretending you're nothing like him. Keep suppressing those impulses.”
“What impulses?” He clenched one hand into a tight fist, not caring that he was crushing an important document.
“To possess. To conquer. To destroy. To attack... To hurt... It's in our blood, whether you like it or not. The only difference is that you keep it under control. Do you really think that will last?” She laughed at him. “It won't. If it could, I wouldn't have tried to kill you hundreds of times.”
“Azula, that's you, not me. You're insane. You're still bitter because you never got the throne, but it's better this way. You would've destroyed even your own nation just because you were bored.”
“Sure. Am I supposed to feel guilty because I enjoy chaos and destruction? I'd rather be honest with myself than pretend I'm this nation's savior.”
“Why did you come here?”
“Ty Lee told me you opened the Fire Nation's dance competition to the other nations. Are you punishing her because she failed to satisfy your little toy?”
“Be quiet.”
“Come on, admit it. Say it's because you're in love instead of pretending you don't enjoy showering your prey with gifts before adding them to your harem and forgetting all about them.”
“Be quiet!” Crimson flames burst from Zuko's hands, setting the documents ablaze. He breathed heavily, then closed his eyes and pointed toward the door.
“Get out.”
Azula rolled her eyes. She neither argued nor retaliated. Without another word, she turned and left. Zuko slumped back onto his throne. His body trembled with rage. After several minutes, he finally decided to go see Y/N.
Mai approached him.
“Zuko.”
She immediately noticed how pale he looked and how unfocused he seemed. She placed a hand against his forehead and relaxed slightly when she realized he didn't have a fever. Seeing her, he gently kissed her forehead.
“You don't look well. You need to get some rest.”
“Azula gave me a splitting headache. Please, Mai, keep her away from me for a while. I can't handle everything I have to do. She's trying to make me die from stress.”
“My love, go get some sleep. I'll tell the servants not to disturb you. I'll take care of Azula.”
“Thank you, Mai. You're my saving grace. I'll get some rest.”
Mai kissed Zuko's cheek before letting him go. The Fire Lord felt a little lighter knowing his wife was capable of taking charge whenever he needed to rest.
He came to a stop when he found himself in front of Y/N's bedroom door. He was about to keep walking, but his hand reached for the doorknob and tried to turn it. It was locked.
“Y/N?” he called softly, knocking on the door as he waited for an answer.
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"Hey, Cleopatra. Don't tell me you can't even defend yourself." She held out a hand to him. "At least tell me you know how to heal yourself."
"You're cruel. I do know how to defend myself, but it was like my cursed energy had been blocked. I couldn't."
"There were two curses here. Beginners always struggle with one of them."
"You struggled with the first one too. Remember, Y/N?"
She flipped him off, making him roll his eyes. He chuckled and shook his head. Y/N noticed that Hiromi's pant leg had been torn and that a thorn was embedded in his skin. She crouched down, catching him off guard.
"What are you doing?" He took a few steps back and let out a quiet sigh, unsure of what to do. She looked at him with those cold green eyes, making Hiromi's heart beat faster. "I don't want to do that kind of thing with you here, Y/N."
"Would you rather do it with someone else?" She pulled the thorn from his leg. A pained groan escaped him. She stood back up and took out her phone.
"What were you even thinking?"
"Not with you or anyone else!" He shut his eyes and looked away, covering his flushed face. "I wasn't thinking about anything except ending this as quickly as possible."
Hiromi kept his gaze turned away, his face still burning. He was thirty-six years old. He really needed to stop acting like a lovestruck teenager. When he finally looked back at her, she had already turned her back to him, completely ignoring him. He let out an irritated grunt before his expression turned serious.
"Ichiji... We've got a problem."
"Why? Are you hurt?"
Y/N tried to push Higuruma away as he leaned closer to listen, reacting to the worried male voice on the other end of the line.
"No. I'm not."
"Then who? The curse?"
"Ugh..." She shook her head, then laughed. "Were you actually worried about the curse?"
"No, no, no, no. I was worried about you. I just... wanted to know if you'd finished the job."
"There are two curses... the special-grade one, and I think the other is semi-special grade."
"That's impossible. The report didn't mention—"
"And when have the higher-ups ever cared whether the information they receive is actually accurate?" She grumbled, shoving Hiromi aside when he leaned in again, earning an annoyed grunt from him. "I found another sorcerer. He's the one who's injured. I want Shoko to take a look at him."
"Shoko?!"
"Men in love are such a pain."
The former defense attorney perked up when he realized the man she was talking to had fallen for someone else.
"We'll head over to her. Let me know where you are, and come pick me up. Cleopatra here is awfully demanding—and quite the drama queen."
She hung up without paying any attention to the murderous glare Higuruma shot her.
"What?"
"I'd really appreciate it if you'd stop giving me ridiculous nicknames and describing me like that. I'm older than you, and I just risked my life to protect yours. At least show me some respect."
"So you actually believe that past lives nonsense." She turned around with an exasperated gesture. "Come on."
Ichiji ended the hands-free call and started the car. His cheeks turned pink as he dialed Shoko's number. He always looked forward to moments like these—any excuse for a chance to talk to her.
"Who's this?"
"H-Hello, Shoko. It's Kiyotaka Ichiji."
"Kiyotaka Ichiji?... Sorry, I think you've got the wrong number."
At that, he lowered his head for a moment before returning his eyes to the road.
"Ichiji... You know... The guy who raises and lowers the Curtains..."
"Mmm... Nope. Doesn't ring a bell. Can you give me a physical description?"
"A p-physical description? Well... I'm kind of scrawny, skinny, and I wear glasses..."
Shoko's soft, dry laugh made him pause before realizing she was teasing him. Blushing, he swallowed hard as he kept driving.
"Yeah, I know who you are. I was bored and thought it'd be funny. Turns out I was right."
"I'm glad I could cheer you up... or at least entertain you for a few seconds." He smiled faintly. "I'm calling because Y/N wants to see you."
"Y/N?"
"Yeah. She's coming back to jujutsu, but she's not joining either of the schools. She's still doing things her own way. Ever since Gojo was..."
"Sealed. Don't hesitate—just say it. Do you think I'll cry? I won't. Satoru and Suguru are like that. They come and go whenever they feel like it. Y/N's the same."
"Shoko..."
"Don't bother bringing her here. I only treat affiliated sorcerers. She can take care of herself. She's a grown woman already."
"And smarter than her older brother."
"They're practically half-siblings, and she was never acknowledged by the Gojo Clan. Only by the Zen'in Clan."
"I'll make a note of that." She paused for a beat. "Looks like you're in love with your friend."
"No. No. No. Y/N is my best friend, and we've always been very close, but it's nothing more than friendship. I-I like women who are... more..."
"More what?"
"More mature."
"Older?" She laughed, making him blush even harder.
"No... No... N-Not that. Around my age. I meant mature. Women who know what they want and—"
"I know what you meant." She cut him off. "I'm just messing with you, Ichiji. You're fun."
"I have to go, Shoko. Y/N's texting me."
Y/N was sitting on top of one of the large pipes scattered across the vacant lot. Hiromi stood in front of her, watching her closely. Searching for even the slightest sign of affection. But indifference was all she ever showed him.
"Don't you remember?"
"Oh... Yeah, I remembered something."
"Good, good. What did you remember?"
"I remember you..." She gestured for him to come closer.
He didn't hesitate. He stepped closer, smiling as he looked at her. She flicked him on the forehead with her middle finger. He staggered back, rubbing the spot.
"You're making fun of me again."
"And why wouldn't I?" She shrugged. "I couldn't care less about your past-life beliefs or those pathetic flirting techniques. I came here because of a special-grade curse, and it turns out there's something even worse. How many more women have to disappear before you start taking this seriously?"
"Not one more. I want to stop this and bring whoever's responsible to justice too."
"Then stay focused."
Hiromi rested his forehead against her. It was damp with sweat. His wound throbbed and burned. He let out a quiet sigh. His vision blurred as he stared into her piercing gaze.
"Hiromi?"
"I'm... fine..."
"Are you sure?"
Her words echoed in his ears. The world spun around him. He collapsed onto her. Y/N tensed up, but she quickly caught him in her arms before he could fall backward.
"Damn it... You're such a pain."
She pulled out her phone and called Ichiji, urging him to hurry and come pick her up. She noticed that Hiromi's body was burning up as though he had a fever.
"Y/N..." he murmured against her chest. "I'll save you..."
Y/N rolled her eyes, holding the phone to her ear while waiting for her friend to answer. She noticed that the thorn she'd pulled from his leg had been coated in a thick black liquid. A single drop fell onto the grass. The spot it touched immediately withered away.
"Did something serious happen?"
"Yeah. I think he's dying."
"What?"
"Have you ever seen a curse that produces poison?"
"Poison!?"
"Yes, Ichiji, I said 'poison.' You need to get here now. Shoko has to see this."
"About that... She didn't seem very... happy to hear you'd come back to jujutsu."
"What?" She looked away, hurt. "I don't care. Someone's life is in danger, and these are my cases."
"Y/N... I can hand the second curse over to someone else. I can transfer it. You don't have to carry the weight of all this now that... well... you know."
"Gojo. You can say it. Do you think I'll start crying just because you mentioned that guy? You'll never see me cry. Gojo may be the strongest, but I'm even stronger. Don't you dare take these cases away from me."
"Wow... You two really are alike." He chuckled as he came to a stop at a red light. "I'm driving as fast as I can. Please, keep your friend safe."
"I'll do my best to make sure Cleopatra doesn't die. Still... please hurry."
The call ended. Y/N slipped her phone back into her pocket and looked down as Hiromi curled up against her chest. She sighed, then let out a quiet laugh before gently brushing his hair aside to get a better look at his flushed, vulnerable face. Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she let him rest.
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At dawn, Mother entered the room with a look of disgust. When she saw Esou sleeping peacefully with his back exposed, she covered her mouth. Horrified, she stepped around Kechizu before kicking Itadori with her foot.
"Get up..." she growled, irritated to even be there. She shut her eyes when she heard the dry crack of Kechizu's skin. Her foot struck Itadori's side even harder.
"Ugh..."
"Get up already, idiot, and take care of those monsters..."
She hurried out of the room while Itadori scratched the back of his head. He sighed and smiled before picking up the vegetable oils.
"Yuuji?"
"Go back to sleep, Kechi..." He rubbed the oils into his hands and gently massaged his little brother's cracked skin. "We'll finish the boat today."
"We still need more bamboo. What about food?"
Esou woke up and began treating his own back, something he did to help Itadori with the chores. Kechizu rolled onto his side, swallowing the groans of pain. Choso's younger brothers' plan was already in motion, and nothing was going to stop them.
It was Father who took Yuuji to the island where he was needed for trading. He bowed respectfully when he saw his superior.
As the ship was being unloaded, a tall, broad-shouldered man stepped off, startling Itadori, though he kept his mouth shut.
"He's the translator," the supervisor said, pointing at Itadori.
"You're the translator," Yuuji repeated in clumsy Dutch. Choso had taught him the basics, but he barely had a grasp of the language.
"What did you say, brat?"
"I said what my boss said."
"Why are you talking to the foreigner? That's forbidden, idiot. You'll get yourself executed."
Itadori froze and hesitated for a few seconds. He shrugged, unwilling to argue with his superior. Clearing his throat, he thought carefully. He scratched the back of his neck before looking at his boss, who was glaring at him.
"Umm..." He had already forgotten what he was supposed to say. "Foreigner... you're going to die. Why... talking is forbidden to talk?"
The Dutchman removed the cigar from his mouth and exhaled a stream of smoke. He looked at his men and gestured for them to stop unloading the cargo.
"What are they doing?"
"I don't know, Boss."
"Don't be an idiot, brat! You're supposed to translate what I say." He grumbled irritably before smacking the pink-haired boy on the head. "I'm going to knock some sense into you."
"You're so grumpy." He rubbed his head. "Idiots, I'm gonna knock some sense into you! Keep going."
"Are you getting hostile?"
"Boss, he says you're being hostile."
"Me? Tell him that's how people are raised, but we want the cargo, and we've got theirs. Do it exactly like I do."
"I'll do it just like you." Itadori rubbed his face with both hands before glaring at the Dutchmen, imitating his boss. "Get some manners, you idiot brat! We want our cargo and yours. Do it."
The Dutchman grunted and swept his overcoat back. The Japanese supervisor stared at him seriously, resting a hand on the hilt of his katana out of habit. The foreigner said something. Itadori narrowed his eyes, unable to understand.
BANG!
A gunshot struck the supervisor in the face right in front of Itadori, whose eyes went wide as blood splattered across his face. The other Japanese men drew their katanas while the Dutchmen unsheathed their firearms.
Amid gunshots and flashing blades, Yuuji darted away as fast as he could. He hid behind a stack of cargo, covering his ears as blood stained his face and clothes. He panted in terror, pressing a hand tightly over his mouth while tears welled in his eyes. Then he spotted bamboo stalks.
"Aniki..." he whispered before grabbing them and peeking out, only to see Japanese men lying on the ground riddled with bullets and Dutchmen with their stomachs split open, their entrails spilling out.
Clutching the bamboo tightly, Yuuji ran straight through the battle between the Dutchmen and the Japanese. The other translators were being evacuated from the island, and it didn't take much for them to let him aboard.
When he got home, he found Esou reinforcing the bamboo poles they had already tied together. The moment he saw Itadori, he froze in surprise. Kechizu was taking his afternoon nap, and it was better that way.
"What happened?"
"Nothing, Aniki. It's just... there was a terrible attack. A lot of people died..."
Esou wrapped Yuuji in a tight embrace before wiping the blood from his face with the sleeve of his kimono. The pink-haired boy clung to his older brother, desperately trying to forget the horrifying scene he had witnessed.
"Go change your clothes. I'll tie these new bamboo poles together."
"We're not leaving tonight."
"What?"
"The foreigners have weapons that are faster than katanas, Esou. If Choso is there, he could..." His body trembled at the image of Choso ending up like his supervisor. "We have to hurry and save him, but... don't tell Kechizu. He's still too little."
"Faster than katanas? Then I'll hurry and reinforce the boat properly. Will it take us long to reach Holland?"
"No. It's a straight line. Twenty minutes."
"Good. I'll pack clothes for Kechizu and the two of us. I'll also bring the vegetable oils."
"I'll take care of the food, Esou. And I'll make a map so we don't get lost."
Without wasting another moment, they decided to skip dinner. It was easy enough since their mother did not even bother to check whether they were sick. Their father had gone to dine with the Shogun under the pretense of devising a rescue plan for Choso. However, they had already been working on that plan for two months, and it did not seem to be making any progress.
The three brothers looked at one another. Esou carried the makeshift boat on his back, while Yuuji carried their food and clothes. Kechizu was wrapped up to protect the raw patches of exposed flesh from the saltwater.
"Let's rescue Aniki from those barbarians and come home together."
What Itadori had believed would be a twenty-minute trip in a straight line across the sea turned into four days beneath the relentless sun.
"Hasn't it already been days?"
"Don't worry, Esou. Have faith. We'll get there. Maybe they moved somewhere else."
"How could they move somewhere else?" Kechizu looked at their supplies. There was no food left. No water either. "We're out of provisions."
"We should go back."
"No. We can't abandon Choso. We'll see land soon."
"You keep saying that... We haven't even been traveling in a straight line. We screamed for help three times already. We might be far away from home. There's nothing but the sea."
"Don't get so worked up, Esou. The three of us are together..."
"And I'm supposed to calm down knowing we're all going to die together?"
"No. We have three heads to think with. We'll find a way out."
"Brothers..." Kechizu called out.
"Yuuji, this was a terrible idea. Choso... they never would have let us do this, and as the second oldest, I should have stopped it."
"Don't blame yourself. We're fine. We'll be fine."
"Brothers!"
Esou and Itadori turned toward where Kechizu was pointing. The once-clear sky darkened with clouds, and the gentle breeze became a fierce wind. The calm sea churned violently as enormous waves crashed into one another, smashing away half of their boat. Yuuji threw his arms around his brothers just before a towering wave swallowed them whole.
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A massive mirror reflected twenty dancers moving in perfect unison under Ty Lee's guidance. Their performance was energetic, filled with impressive pirouettes. Y/N, however, watched the dancers' flowing hair and the jingling bells adorning their costumes before letting out a bored yawn. As the group struck their final pose, Y/N casually tied back her blonde hair while Zuko applauded.
“This is the routine that will lead us to victory once again.”
“I'm sure you'll win.”
“Of course you will. You're not even competing against anyone else. Is that really a victory worth being proud of?”
“Well... I could arrange for other people to enter.”
“But... Your Majesty... This competition is only for the Fire Nation.”
“Are you that afraid of losing?” she asked with genuine curiosity. “I wouldn't know. I've only ever won.”
“Y/N, you're going too far. We all know you're an exceptional dancer, but you're being far too harsh on them.”
“Isn't this how successful dancers are treated? Ty Lee said they always win. Doesn't that make them successful?”
The Fire Lord felt a chill run down his spine. The cold, matter-of-fact way she spoke about dance fascinated him. He took a seat and remained silent, allowing her to continue.
“All I saw was hair and bells. What a clever way to distract people from how boring your dancing really is.”
“Oh, come on!” One of the dancers stormed toward Y/N aggressively. “All you've done is insult and judge us.”
“Ty Lee, control the situation.”
Zuko stepped between them, his expression stern. Ty Lee quickly pulled her dancer back. The rest of the troupe was just as displeased with the blonde's attitude.
“You wanted to mentor me only to stick me in the back row. Fine.”
“So you'll dance in the back?”
“I will, Your Majesty.” She crossed her arms and looked away. “I won't cry about it like some people would. They think they'll win without my help, even with that terrible routine. We'll see.”
“You'll spend an entire month dancing in the back.”
“I can handle it.”
“You'll barely be seen. The others will cover you.”
“I know how these things work.”
“We could put her in the center, couldn't we?”
“Yes... Yes, she could dance in the center.” Zuko's gaze bore into Ty Lee, and the pressure was enough for her to agree immediately.
“No. I won't dance in the center. I'll stay in the back.”
With that final statement, Y/N turned and walked away. Zuko sighed sadly before sitting back down. What was the point of watching a performance if Y/N wasn't the one shining on stage? Ty Lee turned to look at her dancers and noticed the excitement spreading across their faces at the news. Irritated, Zuko shot them a look that instantly wiped away their moment of happiness.
"This year, I'll open the event and the competition to the other nations. Mai will agree. If you lose and bring disgrace upon the Fire Nation..." He clenched his fist, making it perfectly clear that he would show no mercy.
Just three days without Y/N had caused the group to fall apart. Katara kept trying to fill the vacant lead role, but every attempt ended in failure. Toph was sitting on the ground, dizzy from spinning so many times.
“When is the beautiful Y/N coming back?”
“Sokka... No matter how many times you say it, she's not coming back,” Aang replied once again before walking over to comfort Katara.
“That girl ditched us the first chance she got. I don't doubt it for a second.”
Katara clenched her fists in frustration. Aang wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. He knew she blamed herself for everything because she had stood in the way of Y/N's plans. She hadn't always been like this. She used to be kind and optimistic; then, overnight, she changed.
“This isn't your fault.”
“Yes, it is. She wanted us to work harder, and we didn't.”
“No, Katara...” He gently turned her to face him. “Y/N cares about you a lot. You've always been friends. It's just... something's wrong.”
“Then why won't she tell me, Aang? I want to help her.”
“There are battles that have to be fought alone. We can't pressure her into telling us what's hurting her. Sometimes... a person has to be alone to understand why they can't trust anyone with their pain.”
“Do you think she fell in love with me?”
“Of course she did, Sokka. She fell head over heels for you, and that's why she left. She's just trying to get your attention.” Toph nodded along. “It's obvious Y/N is in love with you.”
“Y/N, I'm coming to get you!”
“Yeah, go ahead. Go. And don't come back.” She slapped her knee and burst into laughter. Sokka shot her an annoyed glare and grumbled as he realized the blind girl was making fun of him again.
“Guys, that's enough. Katara's carrying all of this on her shoulders. Can't you be a little more understanding?”
“Katara, you should just let her go. She'll realize on her own that without us, she can't do anything.”
“It's cruel... leaving us just to dance with the Fire Lord's dance troupe.”
“Come on, that's enough.” Aang clapped his hands encouragingly. “We have to keep going. Let's practice.”
“Again?”
“Come on, stop complaining. All you've done is spin.”
“I've done more than you, idiot.” She stomped the ground, sending a chunk of earth rising beneath Sokka, but he dodged it and stuck out his tongue. Toph answered by punching him in the stomach, making him double over.
“Toph... Sokka... When are you two going to stop fighting?” Aang crossed his arms, trying to sound authoritative.
Y/N grew tired of wandering through the palace gardens. Her brow was furrowed. She refused to let them treat her like an outsider. Sitting down in the meadow, she soon drifted off to sleep beneath the warmth of the sun.
“Who got the role of the White Swan?”
“Katherine did. She performed so well that everyone applauded her.”
“What a foolish girl,” her mother said with disdain. “Why would you applaud your rival? At least you got the role of the Black Swan, didn't you?”
“No. I didn't get that one either, Mom.”
“Then what are you going to do now?” she asked, closing her eyes. “You're out of the production. A production that was meant to make you stand out.”
“No, Mom, don't worry.”
“You're the understudy?” she asked hopefully. “We could push Katherine down the stairs. It would look like an accident.”
“No. I'm not the understudy, Mom. Why would we hurt Katherine? That would be wrong. I have several dance numbers.”
“So... you're part of the ensemble?”
Y/N nodded happily, but her smile vanished when her mother poured herself a glass of wine and, defeated, sat down on the white sofa stained with wine that would never come out.
“A disappointment. That's what you are. What did I ever do to deserve such a useless daughter? You're just as worthless as your father. All either of you ever bring to this family is misery.” She drained her glass in one gulp before filling it to the brim again.
Y/N jolted awake at the sound of the palace maids carrying garbage bags outside. Without hesitation, she got to her feet and grabbed two bags from the pile, hoping to blend in unnoticed.
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Hiromi sat shirtless on the edge of his bed, playing the cello. He closed his eyes, improvising a melody as he went.
Bruuum... bruuum...
His phone lay switched off on the desk. He drew the bow swiftly across the strings, paused for a brief moment, then began again. He hummed in a husky voice, gently swaying his head to the rhythm of the music.
Zoooon... zooon...
—These are the kind of mornings I like, Hiro-chan.
Hiromi kept playing. Hina wrapped her arms around him, taking the bow from his hands and producing a harsh screech from the instrument. Hiromi turned his head to look at her.
—Give me another one.
He moved away from the cello, setting it aside.
—A pill? —she sang playfully before pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
She stepped away, picked up her handbag, and took out a small pill. Hiromi opened his mouth, letting her place it on his tongue. He swallowed it without difficulty. Then he lay back on the bed, ending up with his head resting on her lap. A gentle smile spread across his face.
—Feeling better?
—Mmm.
—Aww, Hiro-chan is such an adorable little mess.
—Hina... do you love me?
—With all my heart... —She gently stroked his hair, letting him drift off to sleep in her lap.
Lalalala...
Utahime smiled from the kitchen as she watched Y/N getting ready to meet up with the band. She set a cup of coffee on the low table in the living room.
Lalalala...
—Thanks, Uta.
—What's that tune you're humming?
—Nanami and I are meeting up to help him write the song he showed me.
—Just the two of you?
—There's nothing strange about it. Yu and Ino had something to do with Yaga.
—I didn't say anything about that.
—I'm sure you're already thinking it's a date or something.
—You said it yourself. Those words came out of your own mouth.
She went into the kitchen to get her toast. Blushing, Y/N slipped her songwriting notebooks into her backpack. She took the black hair tie from her wrist and quickly pulled her lilac hair into a high ponytail.
—See you.
—You're leaving already? —Utahime peeked out from the kitchen, surprised.
—I don't want to be late.
—I made you coffee.
—That's right. —Y/N quickly drank the coffee, then handed the empty cup back to Utahime. —Thanks for the coffee. —She kissed her on the cheek.
—Y/N! —Utahime grumbled, her cheeks burning red.
Shrust... SHRUST...
Yu and Ino were hiding in the bushes of a park. The rustling of their clothes brushing against the leaves echoed softly. Passersby stared at them as though they were crazy, while Yaga stood beside them, smoking.
Shrust... SHRUST...
—Stop pushing me, Yu. —Ino whispered as he pulled out his phone to take pictures of Hiromi, who was sitting in the park smoking.
—Shhh... They'll hear us.
—Who are we watching?
—Masamichi...
—Call me Yaga. —Yaga cut in.
—Right... Yaga, could you crouch down, please?
—No, Ino. That's a terrible idea. —Yu pointed at Yaga. —If he crouches, he'll take up all the space and look even more like a yakuza.
—Who are you calling a yakuza, you little glutton? —Yaga flicked Yu on the forehead before pressing his fist against his head in reprimand.
—Aghhh... That hurts... He's a mean yakuza.
An elderly woman stared at them for several long seconds. She glanced around, spotted a police officer nearby, and started walking toward him to report what she thought was trouble.
—Stop arguing. Come on, come on. —Ino tried to calm things down. —Ma'am, please, nothing bad is happening. We all know each other... —He turned to Yaga for support, but the man looked intimidating as ever. —Scary.
—What did you just say, kid?
Yu abruptly pulled the woman aside when he saw Hiromi stand up and welcome Hina with open arms. It was the first time he'd ever seen that woman.
—Aaaah! —he screamed as though he were watching a horror movie.
—What!? —the manager and the band's keyboardist exclaimed at the same time.
—The cloud bread shop across the street sold out!
Haibara whimpered like a puppy that had just missed mealtime. His stomach growled loudly, and he rubbed it while whining.
—Do you seriously think this is the time to mourn cloud bread!? Hiromi has abandoned his duties as the bassist of our still-unnamed band! Our biggest concern right now is our missing bassist.
—Wooow. —Haibara applauded Yaga's speech. —You're really good at lying. I can tell you're a professional con artist.
—Well, since I'll be your manager a little while longer, I'm giving it my all. —Yaga fell silent before flicking Yu on the forehead again. —And stop picking on me, brat.
—We should follow them before they leave.
Ino hurried after Hiromi and the mysterious woman. Yaga followed at an unhurried pace, while Yu cast one last longing glance toward where the cloud bread should have been.
Kento was in Ino's garage. It was where the band usually rehearsed, so the youngest member's mother didn't mind Kento being there with Y/N.
— I could have seen the other side. Taking a step into the sky. Ah, I'm always late. —Kento sang nervously while Y/N accompanied him with a tambourine. —I was thinking of starting it like this.
—It's really good. I like it a lot. Do you have any more?
—No... I've got another verse written down, but it's unfinished. —Kento strummed a few chords. — I could have done the same routine. Showing the old and golden scene. I'm lying again...
—Okay, I see that's where you got stuck. Keep playing.
Kento nodded and continued strumming his guitar. Y/N stood up and followed the rhythm, tapping the tambourine against her hip before switching to striking it with her hand.
— Flashback. I know you're clever. I remember.
—Okay, I'm writing that down. I liked it. Shouldn't we add something else?
—Mmm... —She picked up her notebook and flipped through the pages in search of a line. — To make them go. Wearing again my rocking shoes. Over the puddles made of tears?
—You'll be the one singing it, and that fits your style. I'll write it down.
—We should record it too, so we can show it to everyone else.
—That's a great idea, Y/N. I think there's a recorder somewhere in this garage.
He set his guitar safely on its stand. The two of them got up and started searching. Kento couldn't remember where it had been put away, but he knew Ino had it because Yu was always using it for his ridiculous antics.
—Maybe it's in those boxes up there?
—Let me help. —Nanami stepped in behind her when he noticed the lilac-haired girl couldn't reach them, even in her platform shoes. —I think it's on top of those boxes.
—Be careful when you pull it out.
—Yeah, I've got it. I'll just push this in a little.
—Hey... —She was pinned between the workbench covered in tools and Nanami's body. —You're crushing me.
—Sorry, I didn't realize I was pinning you down. But if I move now, I won't be able to get it out.
—Oh, right. Is it big?
—Yeah. Really big. Old-school, you know?
—I like them like that. It's vintage.
—You girls really have a thing for that, don't you?
Ino's mother had her ear pressed against the door, her jaw practically on the floor. She was used to the boys hanging out there, but now that the band had a girl, she couldn't help becoming overprotective about the kind of company her son would be keeping from now on. The conversation sounded absolutely terrible.
—What are you two doing!?
The door burst open, and Mrs. Takuma's shout startled Y/N so badly that she bumped into Nanami. He let go of the boxes, which crashed to the floor with a loud bang. The recorder fell straight onto Y/N's head before landing in her hands.
—Oww...
—Are you okay? —He gently rubbed the top of her head. —It hit you right on the head.
—Oh, were you looking for the recorder?
—Yes, Mrs. Takuma. We were just looking for the recorder, but it turns out Yu left it on top of the boxes.
—Well... and here I was thinking... —She walked away laughing, leaving the two of them completely confused.
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Forever in Malaysia (No magic AU! Nanami Kento x Fem! Reader)
Epilogue: «Eternal Love»
Standing before a marble headstone engraved with the name Nanami Kento, Y/N laid down fresh flowers and cleaned the grave. She lit a stick of incense and removed the withered bouquet. Footsteps echoed behind her—a steady rhythm of heels that soon came to a stop.
"Y/N."
She turned at the sound of her name and smiled when she saw Shoko with Ichiji. The two women embraced while Ichiji let out a quiet chuckle.
"I'm glad you came."
"We wouldn't miss the anniversary of Nanami's death."
"Yeah... Nanami always had his own kind of humor." Shoko kept one hand tucked inside her pocket to stop herself from smoking.
"I think you took advantage of being his senpai, Shoko." Y/N laughed softly.
"I did... Those were good days."
"Will you be staying long?"
"No, not any longer than necessary." She glanced at the Rolex on her wrist. "I'll be leaving soon. I have responsibilities waiting for me."
"Wow. You sound just like him." Shoko pulled a cigarette from her pocket, but Ichiji immediately took it away.
"No smoking."
"I know. You sound like him too."
Y/N laughed and closed her eyes. The breeze was warm—unusually so for autumn. Ichiji smiled when he noticed the Rolex.
"It looks good on you."
"Oh..." She gently caressed the Rolex. "Thank you. I never take it off."
"Not even to shower?" Shoko smacked her husband, making him squeeze his eyes shut.
"She wasn't talking about the watch, idiot."
"Sorry..."
"It's okay." She laughed at the exchange, checked the time, then gave Nanami's grave one last look. "You two are newlyweds, and you're already this energetic."
"Shoko gets grumpy—especially when she can't smoke."
"Don't go sharing private things." Shoko crossed her arms and looked away. Ichiji glanced at her with a faint blush and nodded like a scolded puppy.
"I'm happy to see you both. I should get going. Please keep Kento's grave tidy. He hates clutter... and long visits."
Y/N felt her phone vibrate as she left the cemetery. She looked at the alarm notification and sighed, realizing she'd stayed longer than she should have and was now running late. Even so, she didn't mind. Her time with Nanami was sacred.
She walked through the streets. She tried hailing a taxi three times, but every one of them was occupied. The crowds made it impossible to take shortcuts, and the subway would have been even worse.
The sound of her heels quickened until she was nearly running. Her phone remained in her hand as messages from her law firm continued to come in. Three years had completely transformed Y/N's life.
"Mom!"
"No shouting in the street."
"Dad, let us go to Mom."
"You will, but be patient."
The little girl slipped free from her father's large hand. She ran with strides as long as her tiny legs allowed before throwing her arms around Y/N's leg, making her stop.
"Mom!"
"Nanami..." Y/N lifted her into her arms and covered her face with kisses. "What are you all doing here?"
Hiromi approached her, looking slightly flustered, with a six-year-old boy beside him, watching his mother with a serious expression. The moment Y/N saw Hiromi, she smiled.
"You cut your hair?"
"A little..." Blushing, he covered part of his face with his free hand. "Does it look bad?"
"It makes you look a few years younger."
"Mom..." the little boy mumbled, his eyes filling with tears before wrapping his arms around his mother's leg.
"Awwww, little Kei missed his mommy." She gently stroked his head. "Mommy's late, isn't she?"
"Nah... We know you've been swamped ever since the firm opened another office."
"I guess my boss trusts me a lot."
"Should I be jealous of your boss?"
"You should." She laughed before giving him a gentle kiss on the lips. "My boss is very handsome. It's a shame I never get to see him at work."
"You'd get tired of seeing my face once I got home. Shimizu already has nightmares about me."
The two of them laughed before sharing another kiss. Their children were used to their parents' displays of affection, so Nanami clung to her mother while Kei tugged on his father's pant leg.
"Up you go, champ." He lifted the boy into his arms.
"Will we make it to the new bakery in time?"
"I see Nanami really wants to go to the bakery."
"It's a maid café. Just because they sell cakes doesn't make it a..." Higuruma caught the pout on his daughter's brown-eyed face, and it completely disarmed him. "Right... it's a bakery."
"We'll make it if we drive."
"I parked far away because the school parking was already full."
"Wasn't today the cultural festival?"
"Yeah!" she exclaimed. "Dad recorded me playing Princess Kaguya."
"We'll watch it together at home."
"She looked beautiful, and the way she delivered her lines..." He smiled proudly. "She shined like a star. She's going to be an actress someday."
"I don't want to!" Nanami clung tighter to Y/N. "When I grow up, I want to be like Mom. A tough lawyer."
"That's wonderful, sweetheart." She kissed her on the forehead.
"What about you, Kei? What do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I want to be... hmm... an astronaut."
"That's wonderful. You'll get to see lots of planets and stars, won't you?"
Hiromi smiled. He hugged his little son a little tighter before looking at Y/N with gentle affection. She glanced back at him, surprised.
"What's wrong?"
"I was thinking... maybe we should give them two more little siblings."
"Hiromi, I can tell you really love being a father."
"I'd rather be exhausted from raising them, taking care of them, and playing with them than from staying at the office until late every night. I never imagined vacations could be this wonderful without even leaving town."
"I love you." She gave him a sincere smile, making him blush.
"And I love you with all my heart, sweetheart."
Raindrops began to fall. Nanami pulled up her hood. Hiromi did the same for Kei as he looked around for somewhere his family could take shelter.
"Did you bring an umbrella, sweetheart?"
"No. I didn't even check the weather."
They looked at each other, equally surprised by the oversight, and burst into laughter. There was nowhere nearby to take cover, and the rain was already getting heavier.
"Mom, Dad, we need to find shelter."
"We're trying, but there isn't anywhere."
"What if we go to the bakery?"
"That's a great idea, Kei. It's pretty far, though."
"Let's just go to a different one." Nanami smiled happily.
"Well... didn't you really want to go to that one?" Hiromi asked as he hurried alongside Y/N.
"I just want to be with Mom, Dad, and Kei. I don't care where we go."
Those words filled both Hiromi and Y/N with pride as parents. Without another thought, they headed into the first café they came across. They were lucky the downpour really started only after they had ordered two coffees, two juices, and slices of strawberry shortcake.
"Don't eat so fast, Kei."
"But it's really good."
"Listen to your mother. Your stomach will hurt later. We're not leaving until the rain stops."
Nanami watched the heavy rain pour outside. After a while, one of the clouds drifted away, allowing the sun to break through. Moments later, she spotted a rainbow.
"Look."
"Wow! A rainbow!"
Hanako was taking freshly baked croissants and pastries out to arrange them in the display case. She froze, nearly dropping the tray when she spotted Y/N.
"That can't be..." she whispered, staring at the table.
Her heart ached. Hanako had never been able to get over Nanami—or the fact that he had never loved her. From the very beginning, she had always known she was the mistress, even if she preferred to believe she was the only one who owned that man's heart. Kento's death had made the news, and it shattered her even more.
"Wow, it's beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you, sweetheart."
Hiromi rested his hand over Y/N's, bringing their wedding bands together so that the engraving read: "Eternal Love." Watching that moment between Nanami's late wife and another man—a man who reminded her so much of him—filled her with pain.
"Hanako, are you okay?" the café manager asked.
"Yes, I'm perfectly fine." She handed him the tray before walking over to their table. "Y/N?"
Y/N looked up. Hanako stubbornly wanted to tell her how much she had loved Nanami, and what a traitor she was.
"Why? Why are you doing this to him?"
"I'm sorry... do I know you from somewhere?"
"Why are you so selfish?!" she screamed, lunging forward to grab Y/N by the shoulders, but Hiromi stepped between them and seized Hanako's wrist before she could touch her.
"You selfish bitch!" She tried to lunge again, but Higuruma blocked her once more. Kei clung fearfully to his mother's side. "I truly loved him! I loved him with all my heart, and I gave him everything!"
"Watch your mouth when you speak about my wife," he warned, signaling to the manager to call the police.
Nanami walked over to Hanako and tugged gently on her apron. Everyone turned to look at the little girl.
"Miss, I'm sure he'd be sad because you're hurting my mommy."
"Nanami, don't go near her." Hiromi quickly pulled her back.
Hanako stumbled backward, tears filling her eyes the moment she heard the little girl's name. Defeated, she collapsed to her knees and broke down sobbing.
"Just so you know, I'll be pressing charges for verbal assault and repeated attempted physical assault."
A little while later, the police arrived. Hiromi remained inside the café, explaining everything that had happened to the officers. Y/N stayed outside with the children. The rain had stopped, and a rainbow still stretched across the sky.
"Dad looks angry."
"Well, Kei, Dad was scared that something might happen to us."
"Did Mom know that lady?"
"No, Nanami, I didn't know her. She must be going through a very difficult time. That doesn't excuse what she did. You should never behave like that."
"We should always be polite to others and help people."
Y/N smiled when both of her children recited that lesson in unison. She gently patted both of their heads at the same time. Higuruma came out of the café, still trembling from the stress and anxiety.
"Hiro..." She opened her arms, and he didn't hesitate to step into her embrace. "It's over now."
"No. It won't be over until it goes to trial. Right now, the only things that matter to me are you and our children."
"Hiromi..."
"I love you, Y/N. You've always made me happy, and I'm so lucky to have you as my wife and for giving me two wonderful children."
He kissed her tenderly on the lips. When they pulled apart, they noticed Kei and Nanami staring toward an arcade where a dance machine could be seen.
"I want to go!"
"Me too."
"Then let's go. Your father is an amazing dancer."
"No, that's not true. You're making fun of me because I slipped during that date."
"No. I'd completely forgotten about it."
Y/N laughed as she took her children's hands to cross the street. Hiromi followed after them. The family spent another joyful afternoon together—one of many they had already shared, and many more that still awaited them.
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Forever in Malaysia (No magic AU! Nanami Kento x Fem! Reader)
Chapter 10: «Forever in Malaysia»
Shimizu stepped into Hiromi's office. She knocked three times. There was no response. She opened the door and found Hiromi dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and a pair of shorts that reached below his knees.
"Going on vacation?"
Higuruma flinched and turned around. He let out a sigh when he saw it was Shimizu and motioned for her to close the door. She obeyed and walked over to his desk, where she noticed several folders containing Nanami's and Y/N's bank statements.
"Are you investigating Y/N?"
"She's disappeared. It's been a month already, and the police think she probably ran away with her husband's lover after he died."
"Well... maybe Y/N did leave with the lover."
"Shimizu... That's impossible."
"The police don't have any other theory, do they?" She sat down and sighed. "I remember seeing Y/N with her husband a few months ago. They looked like movie stars together."
"Really?"
Shimizu nodded.
Hiromi glanced at the full-length mirror he had in his office—the one Y/N had suggested he get. He looked himself over and felt ridiculous. He shook his head.
"The police aren't doing anything."
"I'm sure they're doing their job."
"The pressure they get from society ends up making them close cases as quickly as possible."
"Well, Y/N was supposed to go on vacation, wasn't she? Maybe she really did leave with the lover."
"No!" he blurted out.
Startled, Shimizu's eyes widened as she instinctively leaned back.
"Why are you so sure?"
The defense attorney rubbed both his face and his sunglasses, which had been resting on top of his head before sliding down onto the bridge of his nose.
"Because..."
he muttered, making Shimizu lean forward. Hiromi kept mumbling under his breath, speaking so quickly that she couldn't make out a single word.
"I can't understand you. What are you trying to say?"
"That I'm..."
"What?"
"The... the..." His eyes darted from side to side.
"I'm sorry, Higuruma. I don't understand."
"I'm the lover, Shimizu!"
Her mouth fell open in shock. Hiromi sank back into his chair. An awkward silence settled between them. Shimizu continued staring at him.
"No. She's not with me. Why would I be worried if she were?"
"Uh... Maybe she went to Malaysia by herself?"
"What?"
"Maybe she went on vacation alone."
"I meant the other part."
"Malaysia?"
"How do you know about Malaysia, Shimizu?"
"Y/N and I usually have lunch together whenever you lock yourself in your office. She told me about it. Her husband adored Malaysia and had always wanted them to travel there together."
"Reading... in Malaysia?"
"What?"
"Shimizu, I'll explain later." Hiromi picked up his luggage. "I'm taking the first flight to Malaysia. I'm leaving the firm in your hands."
"W-What?!"
Higuruma hurried past his employees. He had to catch a flight to Malaysia. The first one available. As soon as he stepped outside, a taxi was waiting for him.
"I've had the meter running for half an hour."
"That's fine. I'll pay whatever it costs. Take me to the airport."
He climbed into the taxi, and it pulled away. The driver quietly turned on the radio, where the weather forecast was playing. Hiromi kept sending Y/N more messages and even tried calling her.
"Going on vacation?"
"Uh... Yes, you could say that."
"Where to?"
"Malaysia."
"They say Malaysia's beautiful. I've never been myself. Which part are you heading to?"
"To... Malaysia."
"Right, I got that. I meant whether you're going to Kuala Lumpur... or Melaka."
"I hadn't really thought about it yet. For someone who's never been to Malaysia, you know quite a lot."
"Well, I like reading about different places and their cultures."
"Then maybe you'd happen to know where someone looking for a quiet place to read during a vacation in Malaysia should go?"
"Kuantan. It's beautiful and peaceful—perfect for relaxing on the beach and reading without anyone bothering you."
"Then that's where I'm going."
After a twelve-hour flight, Hiromi finally arrived. Exhausted. He picked up his suitcase and closed his eyes as he stepped out of the airport, the sunlight hitting them directly. He turned on his phone and found several messages from Shimizu.
"Higuruma, how could you not check the last paid invoices?"
"Answer me. Y/N must be in Kuantan, Malaysia."
"The last paid invoice was for the hotel: Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort."
"Good luck, Higuruma."
He facepalmed as he realized his mistake. He had been so obsessed with trying to reach her that he'd completely forgotten about the invoices and never checked them.
He looked around.
At least now he knew where to start.
On the beach, Y/N was reading What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama beside Nanami. She turned a page as Nanami pressed a gentle kiss to her shoulder.
"As long as you keep saying 'one day,' your dream isn't over... Life becomes happier when you have something to dream about."
She read the line before closing the book. She looked at Nanami.
"One day we'll have children."
Kento blinked in surprise before giving her a gentle smile. He kissed the tip of her nose, then rested his forehead against hers. They both closed their eyes. The sun had already begun to set. The cool breeze softened the lingering warmth of the afternoon. Only a handful of people strolled along the beach near the hotel.
"One day you'll have children, Y/N. And I don't doubt you'll become the kind of mother every child deserves. One day you'll look back on the past... and you won't cry anymore."
"Why would I cry when you're here?"
"I'm only part of your past now, sweetheart. I've never felt a love as deep as the one I shared with you."
"We hurt each other."
"I was the one who created that cycle. But in the end... Y/N, this was always the moment I dreamed of."
He stood and helped her to her feet. Y/N took his hand, holding on tightly. The sunset reached its most beautiful moment, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange.
"Thank you."
"What are you thanking me for?"
"You loved me. And in the end, after everything I put you through, you still chose me. You chose to save us. You're beautiful, my love. Inside and out. Thank you for showing me how beautiful love can be."
"Kento..." She tightened her grip on his hand, which felt cold. "Your hand's cold. Let's go back to the hotel."
"Y/N... go home. It's time for us to say goodbye."
Y/N swallowed hard. She was about to shake her head, but instead she let go of Nanami's hand. Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Kento..." A lump formed in her throat. "I'll always carry you in my heart."
"Y/N..." He pulled her into a tight embrace and kissed her forehead. "Live your life."
"I will, Kento."
"Without regrets."
"I don't regret us. I never will."
"That's my girl." As they pulled apart, he gently stroked her hair. "Remember... we'll always be together in Malaysia."
Nanami walked away.
Barefoot, he strolled along the shoreline.
Tears streamed down Y/N's face. And yet, she felt lighter, filled with hope that she could finally move forward. She watched the ghost of her husband slowly fade away with every step he took farther from her.
She hugged the book tightly against her chest.
"Y/N!"
She turned around and saw Hiromi, his face as red as a tomato from the heat. Confused, she slowly walked toward him. She stopped for a moment and glanced back.
Nanami was looking at her too.
When their eyes met, he gave her a small wave goodbye.
"Hiromi... What are you doing here?"
"What?" His jaw nearly hit the floor when he realized she seemed far more lucid than she had during their last phone call. "I... I... I..." He took a shaky breath. "I was worried about you! You came here alone and disappeared for an entire month without a single word. I had to come find you."
"I'm here."
She laughed softly when she noticed the thick layer of sunscreen spread across his nose.
"Were you afraid of getting your nose sunburned?"
"Huh?"
Hiromi gently brushed Y/N's hand aside, stepped closer, and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I'm here..."
Y/N hugged him back, comforting him more than he was comforting her. Hiromi was crying against her shoulder.
"I thought you were going to do something reckless. I was so scared... I was terrified."
"I'm sorry. I needed this time with Nanami."
"With Nanami?"
"Yes. With Nanami."
"I need an explanation. A very long explanation for all of this."
"I know. I know, Hiromi. Let's have dinner together, okay?"
"Yes. I want dinner... But even more than that, I want your explanation!"
Y/N picked up one of Hiromi's suitcases as they headed toward a nearby restaurant. She glanced back one last time. Nanami was peacefully reading on a lounge chair. That was the image of her husband she wanted to keep with her forever.
Thank you so much for reading to the end of this story✨.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it, despite the sad moments. I'll be uploading the epilogue tomorrow.
If you liked it, I invite you to read my other fanfics of Jujutsu Kaisen and other fandoms.
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🙅♀️ Please, if you're going to leave negative comments, don't just use two words. If you don't like it, just ignore it.
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Forever in Malaysia (No magic AU! Nanami Kento x Fem! Reader)
Chapter 9: «Behind the Oasis»
The morning had begun before the alarm could ring at 4:00 a.m. The front door opened, and the sound of Y/N's heels echoed through the apartment. Nanami lay on his side, awake in the darkness of his cold bedroom—a room he hadn't shared with Y/N for months.
She noticed the dinner Nanami had prepared for her. Setting her briefcase and handbag down beside the couch, she picked up the plates and dumped the food into the trash. She took off her blazer and draped it over a chair. Then she opened the bedroom door and closed it as quietly as she could, though it still made a sound. She sighed and lay down, trying to get a little more sleep.
By 5:00 a.m., Nanami was already ready to head out for his usual fifteen-kilometer run. As always, he stopped afterward to buy breakfast: two croissants and two black coffees. When he got home, he took a quick shower, got dressed for work, and left, hoping to catch his train on time.
At 8:30 a.m., Y/N woke up. Her takeaway coffee and croissant were waiting for her on the table. She took a sip of the coffee, but the bitter taste—already gone cold—hit her tongue. She wrinkled her nose and took a bite of the croissant, hoping to get rid of the unpleasant flavor. A glance at the clock made her hurry into the shower before getting ready for work. Just then, a message popped up on her phone.
"I'm heading to the law firm. Want me to pick you up, sweetheart?"
"Please."
She smiled and hurried even more. After showering and getting dressed, she locked the apartment behind her. The moment she stepped outside, she spotted Hiromi leaning against his car. He smiled as soon as he saw her and opened his arms. Y/N laughed and melted into his embrace. Hiromi kissed her temple and cheeks over and over before the two of them shared a passionate kiss.
"You're beautiful."
"Hiromi, all suits look the same."
"You make them look different."
"You dork."
"You're blushing..." He kissed the tip of her nose before opening the passenger door for her.
After a long day at work and spending some time unwinding at Hiromi's place, Y/N returned home once again. This time, when she opened the door, the lights were on. Nanami was sitting at the table in front of dinner. Y/N's briefcase and handbag slipped from her hands and hit the floor.
"Nanami?" She closed the door behind her. "It's really late."
"I never realized you got home this late." He spoke in his usual calm, serious voice and let out a sigh before standing up and taking her coat to hang it on the rack.
"Uh... Work's been hectic."
"I understand. You work so hard, and you still have enough energy for the next day." He kissed her on the lips. Y/N pulled away and shook her head.
"Just like you..."
Nanami guided her to the chair in front of a freshly cooked steak and a salad. Y/N licked her lips. Nanami poured her a glass of wine.
"You're hungry, aren't you?"
"A little."
Kento chuckled and gently caressed her cheek. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face before shaking his head.
"I can't keep living like this. I can't..." He knelt in front of her and wrapped his arms around her. "I miss you... Y/N. Just imagine it: the two of us in Malaysia, sitting on a shaded beach, escaping the scorching sun while we read with the ocean breeze around us. Sleeping in late and making love whenever we want."
"I have work, and so do you." She pushed him away, leaving Nanami at a loss for what to do. She had never rejected him before.
"Y/N... I love you."
"My head hurts. I'm going to bed."
"Have dinner, sweetheart." He hugged her tightly. "Let's take a vacation together."
"And leave Hiromi alone with all the cases?"
"No, Y/N, I..."
She closed the bedroom door. Kento rested his forehead against the closed door. His eyes stung with the tears he was trying so hard to hold back. He closed them.
The tears fell.
"Y/N... I'm sorry. I was a terrible boyfriend. And I'm a terrible husband. You have every right to hate me... to spit in my face. But I know how kind you are. You've always been that way. With Yu. With me. With everyone... even Gojo, even though he's an idiot."
Nanami broke down in tears. Y/N froze in shock. She had never seen Nanami cry—not even after Yu's death. She opened the bedroom door and found him kneeling there, completely lost, with nothing left to do. The moment he saw her, he wrapped his arms around her, sobbing even harder.
"I'm sorry... Let's go to Malaysia... I'll change... I will."
"You don't have to beg me, Kento... I love you too. Kento, I love you."
"Y/N... Please... I'm a mess..."
"And even so... you're still the only one..."
"Do you hate me because I quit my job?"
"What?"
"I'm sorry... I quit. I couldn't stand that incompetent boss anymore. I'm always late because I end up doing both my job and his. I come home exhausted... My whole body aches... Even my medical checkups at work kept getting worse."
"Kento..." She looked at him and, for the first time, truly noticed how gaunt her husband had become from stress, exhaustion, and even weight loss from constantly skipping meals.
"Let's rest in Malaysia... I have enough money saved up... Y/N..." He clung to her desperately. Y/N held him even tighter. "Forgive me... I wanted to be a good husband... I wanted to provide for you... I wanted to love you and make you happy... I failed... I'm a failure."
"Oh, Nanami, no... You're not... You aren't."
"I'm not?"
"No. You're just a human being who was pushed beyond his limits. It's okay. My salary is enough to support both of us. You can take a break and look for a better place to work."
"We'll go to Malaysia, my love. We'll rest... We'll enjoy the view. We'll read... Whatever you want, sweetheart."
"Of course, love. We'll go."
Al día siguiente, Nanami se encargó de reservar los billetes para sus vacaciones. Y/N habló con Hiromi y programaron su vuelo para esa misma noche, algo que Kento agradeció, ya que sabía lo mucho que le aterrorizaba volar a Y/N. Habían acordado que Y/N iría directamente al aeropuerto desde el trabajo, mientras que él saldría desde casa.
Y/N had already boarded. Her luggage was checked in, and she was sitting on the plane waiting for Nanami. She looked down at the last text message he had sent her.
"I caught a taxi. Traffic's a little heavy, but I'm on my way, my love. I love you."
"We'll be closing the aircraft doors now."
"Please wait, my husband hasn't arrived yet."
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
"No... Please, wait... There's traffic."
"All right. Two more minutes. That's the most the captain will allow."
"Thank you."
A minute later, Y/N's phone rang. An unknown number. She was about to decline the call, but decided to answer instead.
"Hello?"
"Hello, is this Mrs. Nanami?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Mrs. Nanami, your husband was brought into the emergency department a few minutes ago. The taxi he was riding in collided with a truck. We did everything we could to save him, but we couldn't. We're very sorry. Your husband has passed away."
The phone slipped from Y/N's hand onto the seat that should have been occupied by Kento.
A flight attendant approached her.
"Ma'am, the flight has to depart. We can't wait for your husband any longer."
Y/N didn't respond.
The flight attendant tried again, but Y/N simply stared straight ahead, frozen in shock.
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Chapter 7: «What Are You Looking for in This Band?»
Y/N waited outside the place where they had agreed to meet. She remembered Nanami—his tired brown eyes, his blond hair, the sound of his guitar, and his calm voice.
She smoothed out her black denim skirt. Wearing her old style again felt right. It wasn't rock-inspired or glamorous. It was simple.
Nervously, she lowered her gaze to her white pom-pom boots and the matching leg warmers.
"Y/N!" Yu called from the distance, waving both hands enthusiastically.
"You're making her uncomfortable." Nanami lowered Yu's arm.
Ino was trapped under Yaga's arm in a one-sided embrace. The moment Yaga stepped in front of her, he managed to intimidate Y/N as well.
"You must be Y/N. My boys have already told me all about your wonderful voice. Of course, I know you from Velvet Eclipse, but don't let that go to your head. I take my job seriously."
"Please don't scare her either, Mr. Masamichi."
"Yaga. You can call me Yaga."
He held out his hand to her.
Y/N hesitated for a moment before shaking it confidently.
Yaga laughed.
"And where's Hiromi?"
... ... ...
"Who?" Yaga asked, making Y/N pull her hand away as she looked at him suspiciously.
Ha... ha...
"Yaga, you know... Hiromi."
Ha... ha...
"I'm kidding!" he laughed along with Nanami, Ino, and Yu. "Hiromi had an important family matter come up, so he couldn't make it to today's meeting."
Ha... ha...
"I see. I hope Hiromi is doing okay."
"Y/N, don't worry!" Yu exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around her and lifted her off the ground, startling her before laughing.
"Put her down, Yu," Nanami scolded, pointing at him.
"I will."
"Yu. Put her down. Now."
"I'm getting to it." He nuzzled against her with the contented smile of a puppy cuddling its favorite toy.
"Put. Her. Down."
Pouting, Yu finally let her go. Y/N smiled, amused. Ino checked his phone once more, hoping for some sign from Higuruma.
Meanwhile, Yaga calmly walked into the café across the street, something that surprised Nanami. He was sweating over the lie and terrified of being exposed, but Yaga looked completely at ease, as if he had done this countless times before.
"A black coffee, no sugar. And juice for these boys."
"I'll have a black coffee too," Nanami told the waiter.
"And I'll have a café au lait."
"Well, would you look at that? You're all grown-ups now, huh?" His gaze shifted to Ino and Yu. "What about you two?"
"Juice."
The two answered in perfect unison, making Yaga laugh even harder.
HAHAHAHA!
"You guys are such babies."
"I'm not. I just love juice."
"And you?"
"Strong drinks upset my stomach."
HAHAHAHA!
"Coffee is strong?" He burst into laughter again. "You're all so young and full of energy, yet you've still got the taste buds of little kids."
Ino blushed and tugged his beanie lower, trying to hide his face.
Y/N laughed, while Nanami watched her from the corner of his eye. The last time they'd met, she had been terrified of them. This time, she actually seemed to be having fun.
"How about we talk about the band?"
"Right, T/N..." Yaga cleared his throat and turned serious. "My boys already told me you turned them down, and I don't blame you. I've been on their backs for ages, trying to get them organized and convince them to at least settle on a name for the band. But these brats are a complete mess. Even so, they have clear dreams."
"That's exactly why I don't want to join. I need to know this is serious—not something you'll lose interest in after a while."
"I can promise you, Y/N, that I'll straighten these boys out. They'll never skip another rehearsal, they'll take every concert seriously, and they'll finally choose a name. Your experience won't just guide them... it'll inspire them to aim even higher."
"Yeah, Y/N. Inspire me to eat." Yu nodded enthusiastically, completely missing the metaphor. "I love food... and women with healthy appetites."
"I really like barbecue restaurants."
Nanami covered his face at Yu's and Ino's comments. Y/N laughed, leaving Kento genuinely surprised.
Most people would have gotten angry, thinking they weren't taking the conversation seriously. Instead, she laughed, understanding the innocence of her new bandmates.
"I'm speaking metaphorically, you idiots." He pulled Yu and Ino closer, looking every bit like a father teasing his children.
"You're like a family..." she whispered before taking a sip of her coffee. "It's nice to see." A tear slipped down her cheek as old memories resurfaced.
Kento looked at her, feeling a sharp ache in his chest. She always seemed so lonely... so sad. Even when Yu had shown him recordings of Y/N's live performances with her previous band, she had looked the same.
"We need you..." he murmured softly, catching her by surprise. "And you need us too. We can be a family together. They're good guys."
"What are you looking for in this band, Nanami?"
Kento fell silent. He thought for a few seconds. His heart pounded. His palms grew sweaty. Her question was far more difficult than he had expected.
"Y/N, I hope you don't mind, but..." The intimidating man suddenly looked flustered, almost shy. "I have children—three wonderful kids—and they're huge fans of yours. Especially my youngest. He's seven."
"You have to go meet them, Y/N!" Haibara pleaded, giving her the biggest puppy-dog eyes he could manage.
"Of course. Let's go right now."
Yaga stopped her when he saw she was about to pay. He took out his wallet and treated everyone instead.
Nanami blinked in surprise. He had been convinced he'd have to persuade Ino to use his 50,000 yen—which Ino was, unsurprisingly, still guarding with his life.
The house belonged to Yui and was quite large. Nanami was surprised. He had to stop Yu from taking off his shoes. Y/N went in first, while Ino and Yu competed to walk beside her.
—Who are they, Yaga?
—Honey, these are my bandmates and Y/N, our newest member.
—The singer from Velvet Eclipse?
—That's right. She came to see the kids.
—It's fine if she's here to see Gorilla and Triceratops...
—She's mostly here to see Panda. —Yaga kissed his ex-wife on the cheek before closing his eyes. —Please... Yui...
—Yaga... —she whispered before her ex-husband kissed her again, this time on the lips. She pulled away and let them inside.
The young men froze when they saw the room. It wasn't an ordinary child's bedroom. There was a hospital-style bed, surrounded by Velvet Eclipse and superhero posters, along with books and toys. The medicine, gauze, and the frail little boy with a scarf covering his head were difficult to look at.
—My little one... —Yaga walked over to the bed. —How are we feeling today?
—Dad... —The boy tried to move, but a violent cough stopped him.
—Easy there, buddy... —He kissed his forehead. —Look who I brought to see you.
Y/N stepped closer with a gentle smile. Her loose white knit sweater made her look almost angelic. Panda's eyes widened, and he smiled brightly.
—Y/N! —he exclaimed before coughing again. Yaga handed him a plastic cup with a straw, holding it himself because Panda's hands trembled too much.
—I called her and told her she had to come spend the whole afternoon playing with you and her friends.
—Hi, Panda. —She glanced behind her as Nanami brought over a chair. —Are you excited?
—Yeah. I've always wanted to see you sing live, but my hospital stay lasted so long... and then I had to stay in bed.
—This big guy worked really hard to get better so he could see you.
—That's amazing.
From the doorway, two older children peeked inside. Yu smiled and gestured for them to come closer.
—Come join us. The more people we have, the more fun it'll be.
Yaga smiled as his children ran over to hug him. Y/N looked around the room. She spotted a cardboard box and a toy keyboard. Nanami immediately understood what she had in mind. He found an exercise resistance band and a broom, improvising a one-string guitar.
—Let's put on a private concert. —Kento announced.
The children beamed with excitement.
Yu sat on the box and tapped out a gentle rhythm while Ino tested the toy keyboard. Y/N warmed up her voice, making Panda's eyes sparkle with excitement. Yui stood in the doorway, listening to the music filling the room. She watched Yaga with their two older children, one sitting on each of his legs, while Panda snuggled against him in bed. She quietly walked over, wrapped her arms around Yaga, and kissed him on the cheek.
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