Beyond the Veil | Yuji

4

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
CHAPTER 4
CINEMA
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

I arrive home after a long bus ride, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the street. As I walk up the path to our modest house, I'm lost in my thoughts about Yuji's invitation to the cinema. My mind swirls with excitement and nervousness until I push open the front door.

The moment I step inside, a familiar presence washes over me – Nanami's distinct cursed energy. It's like a sudden chill down my spine, and I nearly drop my keys in surprise. Panic grips me for a moment. How do I explain to Nanami that I'm going out to the cinema with Yuji? He might not approve, or worse, he might overreact and confront Yuji himself.

Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I remind myself that there's nothing wrong with two friends going to the cinema together. I square my shoulders and call out to Nanami in a cheerful tone, trying to mask my inner turmoil. "Nami-chan, I'm home!"

After a brief pause, Nanami emerges from his study, his usually calm expression tinged with weariness. His glasses perch on the bridge of his nose, and he rubs his temple as if deep in thought or lost in calculations. His presence is reassuring yet intimidating at the same time.

Nanami watches me intently as I step inside, the weight of his gaze making me hyper-aware of my movements. "How was your day?" he asks, his voice even but tinged with curiosity.

I smile, trying to keep my tone light. "It was good. I think the science test went pretty well," I respond, hoping the normalcy of school talk will keep the atmosphere calm. But then I falter, my words drying up as I start to fidget with one of the many rings I wear. The smooth metal under my fingertips is oddly comforting as I twist it around, avoiding his eyes.

I feel a shift in the air and glance up to see Nanami leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes boring into mine with a mix of concern and curiosity. "What's wrong?" he asks, his tone gentle but probing.

I panic, my heart racing. "Nothing, everything is okay," I reply quickly, the words tumbling out too fast.

He chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Rei, I know when you're lying or when you want to say something," he says, his perceptiveness cutting through my facade.

The truth bubbles up inside me, and before I can stop myself, I blurt out, "A friend asked me to go to the cinema."

His brows furrow immediately. "What friend?" he asks, the tone of his voice slightly sharper, tinged with protectiveness.

I swallow hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "Just a classmate," I say, hoping the vague answer will satisfy him. But his eyes narrow slightly, clearly not pleased with my lack of specifics.

He sighs, irritation evident in the set of his jaw, but he decides to let it slide for now. "Reina, it's dangerous to go out in the late afternoon. You know how many curses roam around," he begins, launching into his usual protective lecture.

"I know, I know," I interrupt, my voice pleading. "But I'll be careful. Please, Nanami-san, it's just a short trip to the cinema."

He watches me for a long moment, his eyes searching my face for any sign of deceit or recklessness. I stand there, my heart in my throat, willing him to see my sincerity.

"You don't understand," he says, his voice softening but still firm. "There are things out there you might not be able to handle yet. Even with all your training, you're still too young. I can't always be there to protect you."

"I know," I say, my voice barely a whisper. "But I need to try, to live a normal life, at least a little bit."

He sighs deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine," he concedes, his voice reluctant. "But you have to promise me you'll be careful. And text me when you get there and when you're leaving."