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“Listen! I am warning you! If you give me anymore lip, I’ll come down there myself, set your business on fire and eat your pets. You understand me?!
“Now. I’m a reasonable man. I’ll give until tomorrow morning to get back at me. And you better have good news. Or else!”
Gojo shuts the call with malice.
God! How difficult was it to get a dinner reservation at Antoinne’s ?!
The restaurant was an exclusive high-end restaurant where you needed to book months in advance, but with Gojo’s money and family influence, he should have managed to nab a table easily, but alas no. He’s had to resort to... some very convincing and dubious methods.
Well, it would be all worth it, because finally after months of asking and begging, Nanami finally agreed to go out with Gojo on a date!
...
Well, not technically agreed. He said he would think about it, which in Gojo’s book was as good as saying yes.
The shaman practically giggled.
He was so excited!!!
Walking down the hall of Jujutsu High, the tall male kept an eye open for Kento.
He spotted the male outside sitting on a bench reading a latter. There was a look of concern on his face.
Gojo plopped his ass down next to Nanami and leaned back.
“Excited for our date tomorrow?”
Nanami looked up and stared at Gojo before sighing.
“Gojo-san, I never agreed to a date. I only said I would think about it.”
“Well, maybe this will help you decide. It’s an exclusive table at Antoinne’s .”
Nanami’s eyebrows rose in surprise.
“That...is a fairly difficult place to book a reservation. I thought it took months to manage a table?”
“Ah, see that’s where being a Gojo helps.”
He made no mention of the threats of arson.
“So, what do you say?”
While it was obvious that the male’s interest was piqued, he still hesitated.
“I must apologize, Satoru but it looks like you will have to attend alone.”
The smile on Gojo’s face dropped.
Seeing the disappointed look on his face, Nanami explained.
“I’ve been called as a witness to a murder.”
Gojo blinked in surprise. All thought of dinner gone.
“Who got murdered?”
“A psychologist down in Injiwa.”
Gojo tilted his head.
“Who murdered him?”
Nanami sighed.
“I did.”
So apparently Nanami had had a mission to hunt down a suspected curse user that had the ability to use illusion techniques that made people see their worst fears come to life. He worked as a psychologist and he had been using his CE to kill people. The man had been a sadist and psychopath. Not satisfied with mere murder, he would subject his victims to their worst nightmares before stabbing them.
So Nanami had been sent to hunt him down and eliminate him.
The man had proved troublesome.
The curse user had tried to break Nanami’s guard with his CT and kill him, but forewarned about his power, Nanami had managed to power through the horrors to take him out him.
Unfortunately, he had been hit with one of the man’s illusions before he died, and those lingered for enough time for the police to show up and apprehend him.
The situation had looked bad.
While it was true that Nanami had a nata on him, the blade was clean of blood, the edge dull and the corpse looked like it received much more damage than a simple nata was capable of (His Ratio Technique amplified force to 7:3 without leaving regular marks).
Unenlightened to the world of jujutsu and cursed techniques, the police could not fit the crime scene with Nanami’s presence. So, after being arrested the blond went from being a murder suspect, to possible accomplice, to witness.
“Wait. How long has this been going on?” Gojo asked as he listened to the blond’s story.
“A few weeks.” He answered. “It would have taken longer, but my lawyer was very skilled and managed to absolve me.”
Gojo smiled.
“Even though you are guilty.”
Nanami sighed.
“Yes, even though I am actually the culprit.” He said. “There are only a few more hearings before my lawyer promised that the case will be declared a mistrial. But I need to meet with him before the final hearing to work out some details.”
Higuruma Hiromi still remembered the first thing that came into mind when he met his client, the accused murderer, Nanami Kento.
‘Oh...oh no, he’s hot!’
Higuruma stared at the accused.
The man sitting at the table was handsome. Very handsome.
He had carefully coiffed blond hair, wore an expensively tailored suit, had wide shoulders, beautiful eyes and a strong jaw. He was a stoic, stable type that didn’t deal with non-sense.
Sitting across from his client now, he wondered what reason had compelled Nanami Kento to kill the victim.
Higuruma was certain that Nanami Kento killed the psychologist.
There was no proof, but the lawyer’s instincts pointed to the blond sitting across from him, and his instincts were rarely wrong.
But how he had gone about it while armed with a dull nata that had no blood on it and no other weapons in sight, remained to be a mystery.
Still, it was his job to represent him and get him acquitted.
And luckily all clues pointed to him not being the killer (even if Higuruma’s instincts pointed to him definitely being the killer).
The trial had been going well and it looked like his client was going to walk free.
Remembering those broad shoulders, those deep eyes, strong jaw and golden hair.
And those cheekbones! You could cut yourself on those cheekbones!
Higuruma always wondered why some people would choose to become pen pals with convicted murderers and how those men seem to drum up fangirls despite their actions. But on finding himself pretty much salivating over Nanami Kento, he thought he now could understand why.
Flirting with a client while he still represented him would be unprofessional.
But afterwards...
‘I hope my dick doesn't lead me to an early grave.’
Anyway, there only remained a few more hearings before the trial concluded.
"So, let’s discuss a few details. The district attorney is going to try to give you leading questions to force you in a trap, so we’re going to have to go over the plan again just to make sure your story is airtight.”
“Whatever you see fit, Higuruma-san.”
God, that voice. Hiromi could listen to Nanami talk for days if the man let him.
For the rest of the afternoon, Higuruma and Nanami went over the specifics of his testimony and drilled him on how to avoid pitfalls set up by the opposition.
When their session was through, Hiromi escorted his client out to his waiting car. A thin man with glasses and squirrelly disposition opened the door for the blond before driving them away.
As Hiromi made his way back to his office, his secretary shot him a curious eyebrow.
“Just making sure sure to go over the fine details.”
She seemed unconvinced with her employer’s answer.
“I don’t know Mr. Higuruma, your client seemed like he has a good head on his shoulders. Not the type to yap and screw himself over.” She answered, making her real opinion known subtly. ‘You are very fixated on this case. Moreso than usual.’
Higuruma coughed.
“The next few hearings will be important, can't be too prepared.”
“As you should. Although I hope your interest is purely professional. Especially considering he might have actually be guilty.”
Not stopping to respond, Higuruma quickly slipped into his office and away from her judgmental looks.
Gojo waltzed into the courtroom and stared around. The judge hadn’t arrived yet, and the prosecution and the defense were already seated in waiting. Gojo saw the wide shoulders and blond hair of Nanami sitting up front next to his lawyer facing the podium. The man looked relaxed and at ease.
Gojo quickly walked up to the front row and sat right behind him.
“Hey, Nanamin!”
Having sensed his CE, the blond did not appear surprised by hearing Gojo’s voice. The sorcerer merely sighed before turning in his seat to look at the older male.
“What are you doing here, Gojo-san?”
Satoru grinned fiendishly.
“I’m here to offer you morale support of course!” He exclaimed. “Or ask about how often prisoners get conjugal visits if things go south.”
Nanami did not seem amused.
“Nanami-san, is this man your partner?”
Gojo turned to find Nanami’s lawyer – what was his name? Hiro? Hojo? Hanji? - had turned around to see who his client was talking to.
Nanami and Gojo answered at the same time.
“No.”
“Yes.”
The blond sighed again.
“Gojo-san is my co-worker, Higuruma-san.”
Before anymore could be said the officer announced all to rise for the judge’s arrival.
It was all the kind of rigmarole you’d see on TV.
The judge comes in, the briefs are repeated, statements reread, evidence reviewed, and finally testimonials revised.
Apparently, things were rounding up nicely for Nanami.
Everyone concerned gave their statements: The police, then the examiner, then the CSI, etc.
Finally, it was time for Nanami to take the witness stand.
Taking the seat at the front, the male sat at ease.
The prosecution took first turn questioning. Leading questions, and tricky statements were fired at the blond. But being already well spoke and well vetted by Higuruma, he deftly and succinctly answered them without falling for any traps.
Gojo could detect frustration from the prosecution as he questioned the blond and failed to entrap him.
Gojo found himself amused and proud of Kento.
Finally, the lawyer sat down and ceded the floor to Higuruma.
But as soon as the defense lawyer began, Gojo found himself no longer amused.
While the prosecution had been barely suppressed aggression, Higuruma was all suave and charismatic.
In fact, Gojo would describe his method as being down flirtatious.
Whenever he would ask Nanami questions, his eyes fixated very much on those amber eyes. Moving closer to the blond’s stand, he leaned forward and placed his elbow on the banister and leaned against it. A pleasing smile on his face as he stared up at his client; Body language denoting interest. An errant joke even had Nanami laughing softly.
All amusement left Gojo.
His Six Eyes took in the interloper with slightly less than outright hostility.
A little above average height, tan, dark haired, with droopy eyes, and a large nose, Gojo would not call the lawyer handsome.
Well...maybe there was something slightly dilf-like quality about him that might making him appealing to some. But if dilfs were really Nanami’s thing, then he shouldn't look further than Gojo. He was the OG dilf. He was hot. He had two kids for fuck’s sake!
So what if Higuruma had an engaging manner and charismatic style; so did Gojo!
Hiromi could barely suppress his pleased grin as he returned to his desk.
This case was in the bag.
Nanami had performed splendidly.
Just a few more hearings and they were done.
But was it his imagination or was his client’s coworker giving him the stink eye?
“Congratulations Nanami-san, all charges have been dropped. You’re a free man.”
The blond smiled.
“Thank you so much for all your hard work, Higuruma-san. If it had not been for your efforts the situation might not have ended quite so well.”
The lawyer smiled.
“To celebrate, I reserved a table at Antoinne ’s tomorrow night. I hope you’ll take me up on my offer.” He asked. “Pick you up at 7?”
Antoinne’s turned out to be deserving of their reputation.
The food was excellent. The service prompt. And the atmosphere very nice.
Nanami had a most enjoyable time and after they were done Higuruma had even drove him home to Jujutsu Tech and opened the door for him like a gentleman.
Although the entire time Nanami operated under the assumption that the dinner had just been a celebratory dinner.
“What’s this?”
Kento had just walked into the teacher’s lounge where he found a large beautiful bouquet sitting on the table.
“They’re addressed to you.” Shoko replied as she took in the lovely scent of the arrangement.
Nanami approached the flowers and picked them up to smell the lovely aroma before picking up the card attached.
“Who are they from?”
“They’re from Higuruma.” He replied a she read the card. “He’s asking me out on a date.”
“Your lawyer!!!” Shoko and Nanami turned to find Gojo standing in the doorway. “He can't do that.” The tall male walked in and ripped the card from Nanami’s hand. “That’s unprofessional of him. Dating a client is illegal. It’ll cost him his license.”
Nanami took back the card from the sorcerer and rolled his eyes.
“First of all, he is no longer my lawyer which means he has not broken any laws.” He spoke. “Second, he was very polite and tactful yesterday while we dined at Antoinne ’s, and he never indicated any interest in a romantic pursuit while we he was still representing me. He was very professional and civil.”
But of all the things Nanami mentioned, Gojo only seemed to fixate on one point.
“He took you to Antoinne’s ?!” He exclaimed in dismay. “I was supposed to take you there!”
Shoko watched the interaction with amusement.
“Sounds like this Higuruma’s infringing on your territory, Satoru.”
Nanami shot the doctor a pointed look.
‘Don’t make the situation worse.’
“I’ll show that bast-”
“Gojo.”
Nanami reprimanded.
“Ok, but at least let me pick you up and take you to Antoinne ’s tonight. I promise you’ll have a much better time with me than with a stuffy lawyer.”
Nanami was just about to refuse when Gojo pulled off a very Gojo threat.
“If you don't I’ll just park under your apartment and honky until the neighbors come out and I’ll make a scene until they call the police.”
And so here Nanami was yet again for the second night in a row dinning at the same restaurant.
He was even seated at the same table.
He tried not to let the waitress’s judgmental looks get to him.
God only knows what they think of Nanami showing up at such a place twice in a row with two different men.
He just hoped this would be enough to soothe Gojo’s wounded ego and he’d leave him alone now.
Well, if he thought that the dinner had been the end of it, he was wrong, because the next morning Nanami received half a dozen bouquets of flowers.
The card attached let him know that they were from Gojo.
It read:
‘ Roses are blue,
Violets are red,
I’m terrible at rhymes,
But I’m great in bed.’
- Gojo Satoru
Nanami groaned and sought to see what the hell he was going to do with so many flowers.
THE END