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"I feel the same way. So we'll just see what happens, I guess " Haibara smiles briefly across the table.

"I don't know why. I never expected to see you here, and I've never been more glad to be wrong," Nanami says, "Being together would be enough to make me happy, but you're so much more than that. You make me take breaks and take care of myself. You keep life full of surprises, good ones." Because he usually doesn't like surprises. "I'm learning even more about myself.

"I've long wanted a life together, and it's even better than I ever imagined."

"Because why would you? I mean I've been dead for years for you and it's not like this is supposed to be where we go when we die, anyway." Not that he's complaining because this is a lot nicer than what he was expecting anyway especially with Nanami here.

"I mean it pretty much is what we would have wanted though so yeah I guess I could see you at some point thinking about that." He shrugs.

" But you have been here that long before I showed up anyway."

Haibara talks about his death so easily, so comfortably. It probably comes with being years dead and used to that fact. Another sign that he hung around after death. Nanami reaches across the table and, scandalously, rubs his thumb across the back of Haibara's hand. "I don't know where we're supposed to go, but I am glad you and I are here along with some of our friends. That we all get to be here together."

He doesn't want to focus on the morbid parts. This place is their chance at the life they want, the life they wanted and didn't get to have. Rather than focus on the loss, he wants to focus on what they have. "I love you, Yu," Nanami says, "Despite everything that happened, I am glad I became a jujutsu sorcerer because it's how we met."

He knows that's something that took a lot for Nanami to do, his own fingers wrapping around Nanami's as he listens. "We would have met somehow even if you didn't." Because there's no way they could have lived bypassing each other.

"Maybe I would have saved you in a really amazing way." His lips quirk. "But even if it hadn't happened in that life, we would have found each other."

Nanami smiles. He likes that thought. The two of them meeting somehow and staying in each other's lives long enough for Nanami to fall in love with Haibara. "We found each other again here after all."

"That might be even less likely than finding each other independent of jujutsu sorcery."

"You don't think I could save you in a movie-scene worthy way? With all the dramatic moments?"

"I am sure you could," Nanami says. He means it. Haibara may not have been the strongest sorcerer, but he was a hero. "With extreme daring. It would be highly impressive."

He's a little amused by the question, but Haibara's saved him already in everyday ways.

"From what I saw during the trial, you'd be the hero in anyone's story." It's quiet, Haibara's gaze dropping to their hands for a moment before he lifts his head to meet Nanami's gaze.

"You didn't fight like that when were in school."

Edited 2024-03-17 04:15 (UTC)

His heart aches slightly. He's not the same sorcerer he was back in school. He's come a long way since then. He's come as far as he thought he could, and in Folkmore, he's working on becoming even better.

"I pushed myself as far as I knew how," Nanami says. "I'm still pushing myself. If I can fight like that, then sometimes some student won't have to."

He shrugs. He's good, but he's no special grade.

"That's not really as much of a problem here though, is it?" Admittedly, he's only really experienced one trial, but it seems like it might be less of a problem.

"..I liked watching you fight."

"Not in my experience here yet, no," Nanami agrees. "It's... I'm not sure how to explain it. I enjoy training and pushing myself. Even if I don't wind up needing it here, it brings a sense of accomplishment in the act itself."

He can enjoy that and hate much of the job itself at the same time. In fact, he may enjoy it more if it isn't needed.

"You did?" Nanami's a little surprised. He's not sure why.

"I did. But I like watching you train too." Becauuse it's something Nanami enjoys and he's very good at.

Their food comes over. Nanami manages not to blush, either at the compliment or them holding hands. He knows Haibara wants to be more affectionate in public, and he's trying.

"You can watch me train whenever you want." If it distracts him, that too is a form of training.

"...I'm going to end up distracting you if I do." His lips twitch into a smile once the waiter is gone.

"At first, yes," Nanami agrees, "but in time, I'll learn not to be distracted."

He can handle looking like a fool because he's distracted by the love of his life. By— not yet. Soon. So soon.

"So what I'm hearing is I'm going to have to try harder. I can do that." He can hit every weak point if he has to do.

Nanami facepalms at that statement. No, no, that was not what he meant at all, yet he walked right into that one. It really is on him.

"Not yet," Nanami says. "You're fully distracting already."

"I'll just start wearing suits when I come watch you train." He's definitely not grinning.

Nanami groans into his hand. How is this the conversation tonight of all nights? Haibara does not need to remind him how fuckable he looks, even without a suit jacket. They need to get through dinner, the proposal, crepes on the way home, and the way home. Before any of that. Is. On the table. (so to speak) (not this table).

"Please say you're not serious."

"I mean, if you're planning to work on your resistance to distraction, I'll have to resort to my own methods." It's entirely too easy to tease Nanami.

"That is not what I am working on, primarily," Nanami says. "If it were, I would have made sure you were there ages ago." Because there is no greater distraction.

"I'm aware, but you did say you might develop a resistence. I'll just have to combat it my own way if you do." Although he was idly considering just showing up in suits sometimes now.

Nanami lifts his face from his hand and manages not to be completely red in the face. "I am sure I will never be immune to you, Haibara, not in a hundred years. I simply hope to set those effects aside as needed in combat until later."

He starts eating his dinner, still unsure how they reached this topic, even having been present every step of the way.

"I was talking about training, not combat." He exhales a breath, turns to his food.

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