A Dead Man's Return

XVIII. Rejuvenating

Nobody's POV:

Same day – Sunday

...

7:50 PM

"Good evening, Itadori. It's gratifying to see you in good health."

"Nanamin?!"

One pink haired sorcerer sauntered through the open doorway expecting to see his sensei awaiting with whatever grandiose spectacle the white haired man was going to show him. What he wasn't expecting was to be met with the sturdy, sincere man known as Kento Nanami! Itadori hadn't seen the blond mentor since he was taken by Gojo all those weeks ago after their battle with Mahito. He could distinctly remember asking the blindfolded sorcerer about it one day at school, but was given the generic answer of, "Nanami's just taking some time off."

"Ah, I forgot that was the name you gave me. It's been rather long, hasn't it?"

However, here he was now, in the flesh, standing before him as he spoke with an eloquence that Itadori couldn't help but feel nostalgic hearing. Yuji stepped into the living room with a gigantic upturn of his lips, then ran up to Kento and raised his arm, exclaiming, "Yep, but Nanamin, you're here! It's so good to see you!"

"Likewise, I can sense that you've grown. That makes me very glad," Nanami commented with a small and satisfied grin, this profound feeling of pride unraveling itself and tightening around Itadori's heart. The pink haired vessel looked around the familiar room with its contemporary style and technology, its distinctive new leather smell tickling his nostrils and forcing his brain to remember the last time he was here. Time sure did fly by, considering that was over a month ago.

"Where's Gojo-Sensei?" Itadori questioned as he yawned and teetered tiredly towards one of Satoru's lengthy, jet black couches at the far end of the living room. He plopped himself down on the soft leather of the cushion, then quirked an eyebrow and turned his head to Nanami as he awaited the older sorcerer's answer. The pleasant feeling in the room was practically palpable– he felt as if he could reach out and grasp it with a hand. Actually, he wanted to do just that, because he wanted to cherish this feeling forever seeing how warm and safe it made him feel.

"I'm right here! Think fast!" Gojo called from within his room as a brown object came soaring through the air and nearly smacked itself against Yuji's face. However, being the superhuman that he was, Itadori's reflexes were sharp and he quickly plucked the object from the air and studied it.

"Chocolate?"

"Well, I sort of have a sweet tooth that's pulled me into an addiction," Satoru shrugged as he walked into his living room with his blindfold off and sunglasses in its stead. "Sugar's what's on my mind usually."

"It does explain why you're borderline insane and rather hyperactive the majority of the time..." Kento let out a breath, sitting himself on a chair next to the couch in a courteous way. Yuji studied the man, realizing that he was wearing casual clothes for once– a white button up with his usual khaki pants. Now, it wouldn't be considered casual for any other person, yet it definitely was for Nanami, especially seeing as the first two buttons of the top half of clothing were undone.

"So what'd you call me here for?" Yuji inquired as he chomped away on the candy bar, his eyebrows lowered in slight bemusement.

"Where's Nobara? I specifically said the 'it's boring' part to get her to come... y'know, reverse psychology?" Gojo sighed, the teen shrugging his shoulders as Nanami intently listened to them.

"She wanted to see the sunset."

The white haired man entered his kitchen in search of some water as he continued, "I wanted to have a talk before school tomorrow in case the time you guys spent together didn't work. Well, I brought Nanami here for that exact reason– we wanted to help you."