Takes And Heartaches | Sukuna x Reader |

Chapter 26

Y/N woke to the gentle warmth of sunlight filtering through the curtains, the soft golden rays caressing her face and coaxing her from the depths of sleep. She stirred slowly, her eyes fluttering open, and she was momentarily disoriented. The room she found herself in was unfamiliar at first—a spacious, well-lit bedroom with dark wood furniture and minimalist decor.

As she sat up in bed, the realisation hit her like a sudden wave: this wasn't her flat. Panic briefly seized her heart as she looked around, trying to piece together the events of the previous night. The covers fell away as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, and she noticed the oversized t-shirt and shorts she was wearing—clothes she hadn't put on herself.

A surge of confusion washed over her. Where was she? How did she end up here?

The smell of something delicious cooking wafted into the room, drawing her attention. Bacon, pancakes, and the unmistakable aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Her stomach rumbled in response, a sharp reminder that she hadn't eaten dinner the night before. Still groggy, she got up and padded quietly toward the source of the smell, her heart racing as her mind spun with questions.

As she approached the kitchen, she heard the sound of sizzling bacon and the faint clinking of dishes. Her steps slowed, and she hesitated in the doorway, her breath catching in her throat at the sight before her.

Sukuna stood by the stove, his back to her, his shirtless form fully on display. His well-defined muscles flexed subtly with each movement as he expertly manoeuvred the frying pan. His tattoos, which she had once traced with her fingertips, stood out starkly against his tanned skin. The sight of him, so familiar yet so distant, stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her.

He turned around, sensing her presence. Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, everything else faded away. The room seemed to shrink, leaving just the two of them in the lingering silence.

"You're awake," Sukuna said, his voice soft but steady, as he placed the pan on the counter. "Breakfast is ready—pancakes, bacon, and cold coffee. I remember you used to like it that way."

Y/N blinked, trying to process the situation. "What am I doing here?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion. She felt a knot forming in her chest, a mixture of anxiety and something deeper she couldn't quite identify.

Sukuna let out a quiet sigh, setting down the spatula he had been holding. He leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest, his expression unreadable. "You don't remember anything, do you?" he asked, though it wasn't really a question. The tiredness in his voice betrayed how emotionally drained he was.

She shook her head, trying to recall the events of the night before, but it was all a blur. "No... I don't," she admitted, her voice small. She was almost afraid of what he might say.

Sukuna took a deep breath, then recounted what had happened—the phone call, her mistaking his number for Satoru's, her passing out in his arms, and how he had brought her back to his place because he didn't know where else to take her. His tone was calm and factual, but there was an undercurrent of something more—regret, perhaps, or guilt.

As he spoke, Y/N felt a sense of shock settle over her. She had called Sukuna? Not Satoru? The realisation was jarring. The memory of Satoru's proposal, their tentative new relationship, and her decision to try to move on with him all clashed violently with the fact that it was Sukuna who had come to her rescue, Sukuna who had cared for her.

When Sukuna finished, silence fell between them, thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. Y/N's heart was pounding in her chest, and she didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to lash out, to deny the feelings that were bubbling to the surface, but another part of her—one she had been trying to suppress—felt a pang of something else entirely. A longing, perhaps.

Her stomach growled again, a reminder of her hunger. But as much as she wanted to eat, she felt a bit self-conscious. She hadn't even brushed her teeth, and the thought of sitting down to breakfast in this state made her uncomfortable.

"Uh, Sukuna," she started hesitantly, her voice breaking the tension. "I haven't brushed my teeth. Is there a spare toothbrush I could use?"

He nodded toward the hallway. "There's one in the bathroom."

Y/N gave him a small, grateful nod and made her way to the bathroom. As she opened the door and stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. The bathroom was immaculate, just as she remembered, and as she glanced around, her eyes fell on something that made her breath catch.

Her old toothbrush was still there, neatly placed in a holder on the counter. It was covered with a small plastic cap, as if to protect it from dust. The sight of it, along with the familiar toothpaste, shampoo, and body wash she used to keep at Sukuna's place, sent a flood of emotions rushing through her.

He hadn't thrown any of it away. Not her toothbrush, not her toiletries—nothing. It was as if he had been holding onto these small pieces of their past, unable or unwilling to let go completely. The realisation hit her hard, and she felt a lump forming in her throat.

Y/N reached for the toothbrush with trembling hands, carefully removing the cap before brushing her teeth. Each stroke of the brush brought back memories—of early mornings spent together, of shared laughter and whispered conversations. The weight of everything she had been trying to forget came crashing down on her, leaving her feeling raw and exposed.

When she finished, she took a moment to compose herself before heading back to the kitchen. Sukuna had already set the table, and she quietly sat down across from him. The breakfast he had prepared looked delicious, but Y/N found it hard to focus on the food. Her mind was still reeling from the revelations of the morning, and her emotions were a tangled mess.

As they ate in silence, the tension between them grew. Y/N was lost in her thoughts, her appetite diminished despite the hunger she had felt earlier. She kept glancing at Sukuna, trying to read his expression, but he was as inscrutable as ever. He ate slowly, methodically, his gaze fixed on his plate.

Finally, when they had both finished, Sukuna broke the silence. He set down his fork, his expression serious as he looked directly at her.

"Y/N, we need to talk."

His voice was firm, yet there was a softness in it that Y/N hadn't heard in a long time. It sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt her heart skip a beat. She knew this conversation was inevitable, that they couldn't keep avoiding the unresolved issues between them. But that didn't make it any easier to face.

Y/N met his gaze, her heart pounding as she nodded slightly. Whatever he had to say, she knew it would change everything. The morning had already been an emotional rollercoaster, and now, as she braced herself for what was to come, she could only hope that she was ready to confront the truth.