CAFFEINE ; jujutsu kaisen oneshots

Late Valentine ; Kento Nanami

Kento has always prided himself on being a hard working man. He needed money. Money was what the world relied on, how people got by, how people were comfortable. 

That was the only thing he thought about, until he met you. His favorite cafe closed down, so he had to start going to a new one. He was annoyed, but all that anger faded away when he walked inside and saw the girl behind the counter. You.

You gave him a sweet smile with those big innocent eyes, welcoming him inside, asking him how his day was, and stating how you haven't seen him around. He was dumbstruck, only giving vague answers before his order.

Kento has been coming to your cafe for a couple months now, and you have his order memorized. At first, it was just because he needed his coffee. That's all he wanted. But then, he started to order little pastries all because you said you liked them.

Then, he realized he started coming just to see you. Nearly every day without fail, he comes in and gets the same thing. He asks you how your day is, you ask him about his, and bid your farewells. 

That was before today. 

There was a comforting smell of coffee and fresh baked pastries in the air. You were bussing the small tables, picking up the empty bags that people apparently were too lazy to carry to the trash. It was around 6:30 in the morning when he came in, as usual. You heard the bell ring, and knew it was him. "Just a minute, Mr. Nanami." 

You hadn't looked at him yet, quickly finishing the table before rushing behind the counter to grab his usual. He cleared his throat, causing you to look up. There was a beautiful bouquet of red roses in one arm, and a small heart shaped box of valentines chocolates in his other hand.

"I know Valentine's was a few days ago, but I still wanted to get you something." He offered a small smile, the tips of his ears tinged pink. You froze mid-motion, fingers hovering over the pastry bag, completely caught off guard.

"I— Thank you, sir." You blinked, snapping out of your daze as warmth crept up your neck. Hastily, you finished wrapping the pastry, your fingers fumbling slightly with the bag as you tried to collect yourself. Your heart hammered against your ribs, the weight of his thoughtful gesture sinking in.

You stare at the bouquet, your fingers frozen around the pastry bag as the realization creeps in. The way his eyes always lingered a second too long when you smiled at him. The way his shoulders tensed ever so slightly whenever your fingers accidentally brushed against his. The way he would freeze mid-motion before gathering himself again. You had noticed all these things in passing, but only now did they click.

Kento cleared his throat again, shifting just slightly where he stands. Then, with quiet certainty, he extends the bouquet toward you. His grip is firm, but there's a slight twitch in his fingers as if he's willing himself to stay composed. "Here," he says, his voice steady, but softer than usual. "And these too." He lifts the heart-shaped box of chocolates, placing it gently on the counter.

As soon as your fingers wrap around the bouquet, he reaches up to adjust his tie—a familiar, absentminded motion, but this time, it feels different. Nervous. You watch as his fingers pull at the fabric, smoothing it over as if grounding himself before speaking again.

"I was wondering if you'd like to join me for dinner sometime." He exhales slowly, his gaze unwavering despite the clear effort it takes to keep his composure. "Somewhere nice."

Your fingers tighten around the bouquet, the scent of fresh roses filling your senses as your brain scrambles to process his words. Dinner? With him? Somewhere nice?

You glance up, meeting his eyes—steady, but filled with something almost hesitant, like he's bracing himself for rejection.

The air between you feels heavier, different. Your mind flickers back to every lingering touch, every fleeting glance, every quiet moment where he seemed to forget himself in your presence. Had he always looked at you like that? Had you just been too blind to see it?

Kento adjusts his tie again, a small movement, but the slight crease in his brow betrays him. He's nervous. The realization sends a strange warmth through your chest, melting away the initial shock.

"I—" Your voice catches slightly, and you clear your throat. "I'd love to." The words come out softer than intended, but his reaction is immediate. The tension in his shoulders eases, the ghost of a relieved smile touching his lips.

"Good," he nods, exhaling as if he'd been holding his breath. "Tomorrow night, then? I'll pick you up after your shift."

You nod, still gripping the bouquet like it might disappear if you let go. "Tomorrow sounds perfect."

For the first time, you see it clearly—the way the corner of his lips lift, the warmth in his usually impassive gaze. Kento Nanami, the man who seemed so indifferent to the world around him, was smiling.

And it was because of you.

A/n: I really like this one even though I don't really care for Nanami.