nefarious | bl | jjk | ✓

12: ownership

12: ownership

"Shushu~" Gojo Satoru skipped towards the garden illuminated by incandescent lamps, a plastic bag in hand.

Night had fallen; stars burned bright and the crescent moon hung upon the dark sky.

A young man sat on the porch with a cup of tea in hand, paused his viewing of the garden and shifted his attention towards the sorcerer deemed as the strongest. A smile curved on this man's lips, setting the teacup on the wooden coaster before inviting Gojo Satoru to take a seat across him.

Satoru happily took this invitation and placed the plastic bag on the table. Unpacking its content, it was revealed to be a box of strawberry daifuku.

"I bought this for you," Satoru hummed, opening the lid of the box. "To celebrate your ascension as the clan head."

The genuine happiness behind his voice made the new clan head's smile deepen. Shusei extended his hand, pinched a daifuku between his fingers, and popped it inside his mouth. Across him, Satoru did the same.

"Thank you," Shusei said after swallowing. "Aniue, how did Megumi's mission go?"

"Eh," Satoru's lips quirked in interest. "Well, we kinda picked up an interesting kid. Wanna meet him? I think you'll like him, Shushu."

A touch of surprise flashed on Shusei's features. It was not everyday that his elder brother would be interested in someone. "Oh? Then, I'll go with aniue tomorrow. It's been a while since I had a day-off."

"Sheesh," Satoru rested his elbows on the table, the back of his right hand placed under his chin. With his left, he removed the blindfold around his head and replaced it with his usual sunglasses. "I told you not to listen to those old farts too much. What if Shushu grows thin? It took me years to get you this fat."

"I'm not fat."

"You are."

"... why am I always fat in your eyes, aniue?" Came Shusei's exasperation.

The elder brother snickered and said, "It just means you're healthy in my eyes, my little Shushu."

"Stop that; it's disgusting."

"Ack— don't be mean towards your aniue!"

"Then, stop being creepy all the time."

.

.

"It has been five days. Are you not returning, Naoya?" A soft voice came from the phone on the table. It spoke lovingly, as if it was whispering words of love. But if one were to listen carefully, a hint of ridicule was buried deep within that loving tone.

Sitting across the phone was none other than Zenin Naoya.

When he heard that question, he wanted to say that he will go back, just wait a few more days but he bit back those words. If he did say that, Shusei would not let him step foot into the Gojo Clan.

"I'll return tonight," he said. "At the latest."

"Good. If you come back earlier, you can have a reward."

The sound of his heart beating rang like drums in his ears. Heat traveled across his body, causing him discomfort. The word reward made Naoya impatient; already wishing that he could go to Shusei at that moment. However, there were still things to do at the clan, causing him to delay his return.

The mere thought of not seeing Shusei a second sooner worsened his temper.

Ever since he and Shusei decided to entangle their fates together a few years ago, Naoya spent most of his time by Shusei's side. Of course, the both of them put up a play in public; him insulting Shusei and the other retorting everything he says.