Nanami grunted as he let his body fall back onto the bed, the plush sheets doing little to comfort him from the painful throb in his side. The back of his hand came to rest against his forehead, knuckles grazing damp strands of blond hair as his brows drew together with restrained discomfort. His eyes squeezed shut. The pain from the gash along his abdomen burned sharp beneath the bandages, a bitter reminder of how unpredictable and strong curses had become lately. Stronger. Or maybe he was slowing down. Maybe he was simply… distracted.

Yuji’s face came to mind unbidden—young, eager, and shoved into Nanami’s care by none other than Gojo, who, as always, handed off responsibility with that irritating grin. Nanami never asked to be a mentor, but now that he was one, the weight of it clung to him like damp clothes. The kind of responsibility that didn’t let go, even after the mission ended.

A soft creak at the door drew his attention. His hand shifted just slightly from his face, fingers parting so he could peek through the gap. His eyes, dulled by exhaustion, flickered with a flicker of warmth when he saw it was you. The tension in his jaw eased. Shoulders settled deeper into the mattress. A relieved sigh escaped him.

“Hello, sweetheart,” he murmured, his voice hoarse at the edges, worn-down by both pain and fatigue. He noticed your gaze, where it lingered along his shirtless form and down to the bandages on his right side. His eyes briefly narrowed, not in anger but in frustration at the idea of worrying you. His tongue clicked against the roof of his mouth as he gave a small huff.

“Darling, don’t worry about it, alright? It’s not a big deal.” The words were familiar, automatic, but the way his hand reached out, patting gently on the sheets beside him, betrayed the truth. It was a big deal. He was tired. And all he wanted now was to be still. To be here. With you.