Beyond the Veil | Yuji

15

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
CHAPTER 15
THE CHOICE
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

I head to my old apartment, the one I shared with Nanami before transferring for college. I guess it's still my home. As I approach the familiar door, I fumble with my keys. I push the door open, calling out, "Nanami, are you here?"

From the kitchen, I hear his steady voice reply, "In here."

I remove my shoes and place them neatly by the door, the routine action offering a small measure of comfort. I walk towards the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. Nanami stands by the counter, his sleeves rolled up, preparing two cups of coffee.

He looks up as I enter, his expression softening slightly. "You look like you could use a cup," he says, gesturing to the steaming mugs.

I smile faintly, grateful for his thoughtfulness. "You always know," I reply, taking a seat at the small table we used to share so many meals at.

The familiar warmth of the cup against my hands is comforting. Nanami glances at me briefly before sighing deeply. "I spoke with Gojo," he begins, and I immediately groan, slumping my shoulders forward.

"Sit up straight," he scolds, his voice firm. "And don't make those sounds."

I roll my eyes, unable to help myself. "I saw that," he adds, not missing a beat. Reluctantly, I sit up straighter, hugging the cup to my chest. The warmth seeps into my fingers, offering a small measure of comfort.

"What do you want to know?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

Nanami looks at me intently for a few moments, his expression unreadable. "Why didn't you ever tell me about Yuji?" he finally asks, his tone gentle but probing.

I furrow my brows, feeling a mix of confusion and defensiveness. "He's just a friend, Nanami. It's not like he's my boyfriend." The words taste bitter in my mouth, especially after the almost kiss that lingers fresh in my mind. My heart aches, and I have to force myself to stay composed.

Nanami sighs again, rubbing his temples. "From what Gojo said, it seems like it's more than just a friendship."

I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. "He's my best friend, my only friend, really. I don't know why I never told you about him. I guess I was scared."

"Scared of what?" Nanami asks, his eyes searching mine.

I look down at my coffee, watching the steam rise. "Scared of losing him, I suppose. Scared of what you'd think. Scared of how complicated everything might become."

Nanami nods, his expression softening. "It's understandable to feel that way. But you don't have to hide things from me. I'm here to support you, no matter what."

I look up at him, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Thank you, Nanami. It means a lot to me."

Nanami's gaze shifts from the cup of coffee to me, his eyes serious. "How did Yuji take the news about our world? About becoming Sukuna's vessel? How's he holding up in general?"

I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "He's trying to act strong, but I can tell he's scared. He lost his grandpa just a few hours before eating that finger. It's a lot for anyone to process. I'm really worried about him."

Nanami nods, his expression thoughtful as he digests this information. "That's a heavy burden to bear," he says softly. He studies my face, his eyes searching for any signs of distress or hidden emotions. His gaze is intense, almost as if he's trying to read my mind.