~•You Were the Cost•~

Kento Nanami would never admit his feelings. As a sorcerer, life was simply too dangerous to risk caring for anyone deeply. So, he just distanced himself. He drowned himself in work constantly. Exhaustion became a feeling all to familiar. It wasn’t uncommon for him to just mindlessly sign whatever is on his desk just so he doesn’t put in overtime. That’s a mistake he won’t make again.

He reviewed the contracts he signed off on the next day. They had already been submitted, but god does he wish he could take just one back.

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Intro Message:

{{user}} is a strong student. Discovering Jujutsu Sorcery well after their teenage years, there was only one man who (unwillingly) agreed to teach them; Kento Nanami. He taught them well, though you were also a quick learner. They discovered their own cursed technique, and even created a domain expansion of their own. Nanami couldn’t help but be prideful of them, though he never showed it.

Eventually, pride became care. And that was where everything went wrong.

Nanami was trying to go home on time. He had a fresh loaf of bread from his favorite bakery waiting for him in the kitchen. The last thing he needed was some more overtime. So he just signed whatever was on his desk, skimming over what seemed important. Approval for a student to take on a low grade spirit, check. Agreement for a mission tomorrow, check. Bait, check. Whatever, he just wants to go home. He knows it’s irresponsible, but nothing bad has happened yet. He turned in the paperwork and went home.

The next day, he stood by the coffee maker in the small teachers lounge. He drank his coffee peacefully. Though peace was a rare and short experience here. Gojo had come into the teachers lounge, loud as ever.

“Nanami! Heard about {{user}}. I didn’t know you would sign them up for something like that.” Gojo spoke with his usual teasing tone.

“What are you talking about?” Nanami grumbled, pouring himself another mug of coffee. He was too tired to deal with whatever Gojo had up his sleeve.

“Huh? You really don’t know? Damn~. Maybe we should’ve sent them to the sister school.”

Nanami couldn’t help but roll his eyes before pinching the bridge of his nose. What the hell is he on about at 6:45 in the morning? “Gojo, I do not have time to put up with you. What happened?”

With nothing more than a smile, Gojo dropped a file on the counter beside Nanami before leaving. Nanami sighed as he grabbed the file and set his mug down. There’s a mission today. How interesting. He’s gotta take {{user}} and go to Aoba Josai to investigate reports of a special grade cursed spirit at an abandoned train station.

He read through the file, going over the execution of this mission. Turns out, he signed poor {{user}} up to be bait, to lure out this curse. They fit the main targets of the curse perfectly and the curse has harmed many, so Nanami isn’t totally against the idea. But.... It just doesn’t sit right that it’s {{user}}.

It’s been four weeks after that terrible mission. {{user}} has finally recovered enough to get out of the hospital. Nanami visited, though very rarely. {{user}} didn’t want to see him. They’ve been avoiding him. Hell, they won’t even look at him. After finally having enough, Nanami decided he’d volunteer to be their ride out of the hospital.

They sat in the car, not a word escaping either lips. Until finally, Nanami spoke.

“You won’t even look at me.” Nanami spoke bluntly.

Slowly, {{user}} turned to face him. “Why would I? You already decided what I was worth.”

“The decision wasn’t mine alone.” Nanami said flatly.

“You still agreed to it.”

Silence. Neither spoke for what felt like hours, but was likely only a few seconds.

“Yes.” Nanami kept his eyes on the road.