Archive of Our Own

It was unusually quiet in the Gojo household – a rare weekday morning when everyone was allowed to sleep in. The kids were off for school break, and Gojo decided that he, too, would like some time off from taking missions during this. After much internal debate and thorough persuasion from Gojo, Nanami also decided to join his family. 

It was unfair for him to be the only one working while the rest of his family basked in holiday freedom.

Before the kids, Nanami worked gruelling hours at his former company. It was tough not being able to see Gojo most nights during the week, and it was even worse when they’d call him in on the weekend for extra hours (was he really needed?). It was difficult, and Gojo, bless his soul, understood. He tried to put his foot down and get him to stop working those hours once, but at that point, they were thinking about children, and Nanami wanted to ensure he could provide a secure life for his children without any financial worries on their shoulders. Besides, Gojo wasn’t around much either, especially with the spike in curse activity. Even after Nanami left the corporate world and returned to Jujutsu Sorcery, his priority remained the same: to ensure that their family was financially stable and secure.

Nanami was downstairs in the kitchen, quietly making breakfast for himself. The hum of the coffee machine filled the kitchen as Nanami’s morning cup was brewed. The pan continued to sizzle as he cracked another egg into it. If he ate now, it wouldn’t get in the way when the kids came down.

Nanami wasn’t downstairs for long before he heard the sound of padded footsteps dragging against the wooden floor of their ground floor into the kitchen reverberate throughout the house. A pair of warm hands wrapped around Nanami’s stomach, and a mop of snowy hair fell against his shoulder. His husband buried his face deep into Nanami’s shoulder as he let out a muffled groan. 

“Good morning,” Nanami murmured, reaching behind to pat Gojo’s hip, the closest part he could reach without turning around. 

“Mmm, not a good morning. S’too early,” his husband grumbled into his pyjama shirt, the remainder of sleep still evident in the timber of his tone.

From the corner of his eye, Nanami could see the big handle of their wall clock close to striking twelve. 

“It’s nearly ten, Satoru,” Nanami chided softly. 

“Don’t care. You weren’t in bed when I woke up.” Gojo tsked. “Who do you think you are to deny me my morning cuddles?”

Nanami rolled his eyes, paying no mind to his husband’s dramatics. “I’m sorry,” he drawled, his lack of remorse evident. “The kids need to eat.”

The kids were three rambunctious teenagers who were likely still asleep in their rooms. Though they were more than capable of cooking some food for themselves, Nanami preferred to be the one feeding them; it was one of the few things he could still do for all three at once before they grew up too fast and decided to leave the nest.

Gojo smirked, pinching Nanami’s hip. “Heh, you’re adorable, you know that? Mamamin lookin’ out for his not-so-little ducklings.”

Nanami winced, swatting his hand away. 

“Stop that. I’m not some mother duck or hen,” he muttered, turning around to watch Gojo tilt his head back in laughter.

Gojo’s hand then drifted down to Nanami’s ass, giving it a light pat. “Sure, baby, sure.”

Nanami didn’t get the idiocy his husband spewed sometimes. The urge to elbow him in the ribs was strong.

And why wouldn’t he be looking out for his children? They were growing up too fast for his liking. Gojo pretended he wasn’t bothered by it, but Nanami had caught him once staring at Nobara’s packed overnight bag like she’d already moved out.

With Nobara gearing up for her final exams before graduation and heading to university after the summer, Nanami felt that he hardly saw his daughter these days. Her schedule was growing chaotic, and she was spending time after school with her classmates to study for finals. Her mood swings were through the roof, and the stress was building. Whenever time allows it, he makes sure to check in on Nobara to ensure she’s not struggling with anything, and he will always make time to take her anywhere she wants to go, be it as a family or just the two of them.

Megumi and Yuuji still had time, being sixteen and fourteen, respectively. Megumi was growing more independent, and Yuuji’s interests were beginning to stray beyond the safety of their home. This kept Nanami on his toes, which was good; it meant he could be better prepared for future scenarios.

Nanami didn’t want to admit it, but these mornings were too important for him to act so carelessly about something as simple as letting his children feed themselves.

And besides, he wasn’t ready to deal with the kitchen being set on fire due to burnt toast.

“Today’s going to be a lazy day for us, right?” Gojo asked as he littered Nanami’s shoulder blades with light kisses.

One would like to think that after all these years of marriage and simply being together, Nanami would be used to the incessant touch belonging to his husband.

Only a fool would honestly think that.

“For you, maybe. I, on the other hand, need to go grocery shopping,” Nanami replied. “We’re running low on some things, and I want to make something different tonight for dinner.”

Gojo hummed in response. His hold tightened. “Is that all?” Gojo then lifted his head to plant a wet kiss against Nanami’s bare neck. The neckline was too big. He must’ve picked up one of Gojo’s tops before falling asleep without realising.

“I also would like to buy more bread.”

“More bread? Baby, don’t we have enough?”

“This bread’s on sale.”

Bread on sale seven times out of ten always tasted better. Perhaps because it was cheaper than what it retailed at, but who was Nanami to complain? He’d hate himself if he didn’t buy bread on sale.

“I won’t be long, I promise. I just need to buy a few things for dinner tonight and for the kids since the four of you have ransacked the snack cupboard.” 

“The four of us?” Gojo mused. He squished his cheek to the tuft of blond hair before him. Nanami didn’t allow himself to brush away the bed hair after he rolled out of bed. Priorities. “I don’t think you should be including me, Kento.”

“Our children eat their food.” Though messily sometimes. “You, meanwhile, inhale it. There’s a stark difference.”

Gojo clicked his tongue. “And what about you? You didn’t when we had the brats.”

“Don’t call them that.”

Gojo shrugged. “They’re our brats. It’s affectionate.”

Nanami shot him a flat look. “I ate within moderation.”

Gojo smirked, leaning in closer. “Mhm. Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”

Nanami sighed through his nose, adjusting the heat on the stove. “Are you going to keep bothering me?”

Gojo grinned, unabashed. “Yes, but only if you let me and the kids tag along with you grocery shopping.”

“Absolutely not,” Nanami said flatly. “You all turn one aisle into a battlefield.”

Gojo opened his mouth (probably to protest that one time), but Nanami cut him off with a withering look.

“Baby,” Gojo whined. “It’d be nice if the br— I mean, our beautiful children , have some fresh air, plus, they can help carry everything for you while you get your bread. How does that sound?”

He’d never admit it aloud, but having them tag along… wasn’t the worst idea from his husband’s mouth. 

At least it would spare him from dragging a full trolley back to the car by himself. And the kids can be helpful for once instead of lounging at home all day. A change of pace would be nice.

“KIDS!”

Silence.

Nanami blinked.

One minute, Gojo was wrapped around Nanami. Next, he had warped upstairs.

“Gojo Satoru, don’t you dare warp in my house!” Nanami shouted, already knowing it was a lost cause. No answer came sans the muffled groans of three teenagers being jolted from sleep by their ever-dramatic father.

In a flash, Gojo warped back into the kitchen, pushing Nanami into the kitchen counter.

A devious grin was plastered on his face; the man was slightly breathless. 

“Sorry, Kento,” he panted. “Forgot something.”

“Yeah, your ma— mmph!”

As usual, Gojo lunged forward, silencing the blond with a firm kiss, utterly unbothered by the idea of morning breath.

Unsure what to do with his hands, Nanami reached out, fisted the front of Gojo’s t-shirt, and pulled him closer. 

Dumbass, he thought. He parted his lips slightly, letting the warm tongue of Gojo enter inside. A great kisser but a dumbass nonetheless.

“Now it’s a good morning,” Gojo murmured against his lips.

When he pulled away, Nanami stared at him, unimpressed, before leaning in again, with a murmur of his own. 

“If you or any of the kids even think to distract me from buying my bread, I will end you.”

“Aye aye, Captain! No crumb will be left behind!” Gojo grinned and saluted, like he was heading into battle.

“And you’ll be sleeping on the couch if that happens.”

“Of course not, baby.”

“And stop warping in the house. Nobara hates when you do it.”

“No, you hate it.” 

“Your daughter hates it more than I do.”

Gojo winked. “Bet.”

He warped once more, followed instantly by a high-pitched shriek. Nanami would’ve sworn it was a banshee had his daughter not existed. 

“DAD! WHAT THE FUCK?!”

“Language!” Nanami yelled back, already pinching the bridge of his nose. 

He sighed.

Someone out there, please give him strength.

—

The five of them stood outside the supermarket. A sprawling establishment with a large clothing department store inside and a small bakery that Nanami visited whenever he went grocery shopping.

Gojo’s eyes landed on Nanami. He pushed his shades down to the bridge of his nose in a rush and groaned. “Kento, why do you have a shopping list in your hand?”

Nanami frowned, affronted. His hold on the piece of paper tightened slightly. “A shopping list helps me remember what I need to get,” he said.

Now, don’t get it wrong, Nanami has a great memory.

Better than Gojo’s, that’s for sure, considering the idiot forgot the anniversary of when he asked Nanami out. And the day he proposed to Nanami. Anniversaries that Gojo himself insisted they celebrate. They were ‘crucial’. Unlike Gojo, Nanami didn’t forget his own wedding anniversary a few years ago. Really, Gojo should be the one noting down these things, not him. At least, Gojo redeemed himself by whisking him away (there was an attempt at warping, but Nanami had adamantly refused this) to Kauntan in Malaysia, which has a private beach for them to utilise.

“Old people use lists,” Gojo stated.

“You are old,” Megumi, their middle child, muttered.

Nobara snorted, high-fiving her brother. “Agreed. Dad, you’re literally pushing fifty.”

“Wait… Dad’s that old?”

“Yuuji, no.” Nanami sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Your dad isn’t that old.”

He then looked down at his attire: a long-sleeved grey shirt, not too heavy but not too light, paired with black slacks and shoes that he still kept from his salaryman days. If their father was considered old, then what did that make him? After all, Gojo was only seven months older. 

Gojo then snatched the list out of Nanami’s hand with exaggerated offence.

“Peppers… Cereal… Toothpaste— BORING!” He shoved the paper back into Nanami’s hand. “Kento, you don’t need a list for any of this.”

Nanami stared down at the now crumpled paper in his hand. Grocery shopping was supposed to be a quiet, efficient affair. Not a case of Mission Impossible.

He then turned to his husband, tilting his head forward slightly so the man could see his eyes through his green lenses. He gave Gojo a frown that was dangerously close to a pout. 

“Having a list helps me, Satoru. Especially now that all of you have decided to join me.” He gave his brats — angels — a pointed look.

Gojo patted his cheek rather condescendingly. “Baby, I love you, but you don’t need a list.”

Nanami opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it.

He was not prepared to argue in the middle of a supermarket parking lot with this idiot.

“I’m going to forget what I’m here for,” Nanami insisted. “You’re being nothing but a disturbance to me and my shopping.”

“But Papa,” His youngest whined as he latched himself onto Nanami’s arm. Yuuji pleadingly looked up at his father. “You don’t take us grocery shopping. Like ever.”

There’s a reason why.

The last time he took any of them was when they were younger, and he profusely apologised to an elderly woman after Nobara and Yuuji fought over who got to push the shopping trolley, resulting in them accidentally pushing it into her new hip replacement.

It was an understatement to say that Nanami was beyond mortified and strictly made sure he was the one going grocery shopping. Megumi, bless his soul, was the only mature one out of the three, so sometimes he’d take Megumi with him when there was too much shopping for only him to carry. It was likely an open secret that Nanami trusted Megumi the most and could easily let the boy go to the shops on his own if Nanami needed something. Megumi wouldn’t argue against him either, which was good. 

Breaking out of his reverie, he caught Gojo making a dramatic yawn.

“Talking about being old has gotten me tired… Right, my beautiful children!”

“—We’re teenagers.” Megumi interrupted. He glared at his father and crossed his arms.

“Yeah, well, we’re having a family outing today, so I want the three of you to be on your best behaviour or else I’m not buying lunch!”

Nobara leaned into Nanami’s side, whispering: “Papa, you still have Dad’s credit card, right?”

Nanami nodded, patting his trouser pocket where his wallet was. He may or may not be holding Gojo’s credit card hostage, but that’s okay. He wasn’t planning to use his own card to pay for anything today anyway. Frugality at its finest, and also a huge benefit of being married to the Gojo Clan Head. Gojo and his ego don’t need to know that, though.

“Right!” Gojo clapped, four pairs of eyes now falling onto him. “Since Papa wants to do boring adult stuff, I have decided that I’m going to go clothes shopping to look at the sale. Who is joining me?”

“Mememe!” Nobara exclaimed, shooting her hand up high in the air. “Dad, why didn’t you start by mentioning a sale?!”

Gojo laughed, pulling their daughter to his side into a tight hug. “Sorry, princess, I wanted to surprise you. Consider this an apology for this morning.”

He turned to the boys.

“And you two?”

Yuuji looked between his parents. He shifted from foot to foot, guilt written all over his face.

“Papa…”

Nanami sighed. “Yes, Yuuji?”

Yuuji looked at him with a pout. His pink hair almost wilted with him. Silly boy.

“Can I go shopping with you another time?”

Nanami softened. Bless Yuuji for naively thinking shopping with him was a treat and not a form of punishment, unlike his dad.

But there won’t be another time after this. Nanami will make sure of that.

“Sure, buddy,” he lied. “Go with your dad.”

“Really?!” Yuuji gasped, his eyes sparkled.

Nanami nodded.

Megumi remained silent, inching closer to Nanami.

“I’m going to help Papa.”

Reliable as ever, he thought. Like Nanami, Megumi preferred the peacefulness they were occasionally blessed with when it came to their hyperactive family.

Nanami gratefully smiled, albeit with a hint of pain, as he awkwardly patted his son’s sea-urchin hair, not like Megumi showed any of being thrilled over his father ruffling his hair at age sixteen. If only the boy headed his words and invested in some quality hair gel, it wouldn’t be so all over the place, but alas, he won’t force Megumi. It almost felt like Nanami saw his former high school self in his son with his unkempt hair. 

“Well, that settles it!” Gojo announced. “I will be taking Nobara and Yuuji clothes shopping while you two do the boring grocery shopping. Sounds like a plan?”

“Satoru, maybe we should—“

“Can’t you hear, Kento. Love you!”

With that, Gojo shepherded Nobara and Yuuji away, their chatter fading as they headed inside. Nanami and Megumi remained outside, standing awkwardly as other customers passed them.

Megumi side-eyed him. “Seriously, Papa. How did you end up with that guy?”

Nanami shook his head, not bothering to answer. It was a long time ago.

He didn’t regret it. Not one bit. Otherwise, the brats wouldn’t be here. 

He just regretted not being more persistent about shopping solo today.

Nanami looked at the list in his hand once more. It wasn’t stupid. Gojo was just being ridiculous as always.

Please let there still be bread for him to buy.

Please.

—

The first item on the list was spring onions, and fortunately, they were the first thing Megumi picked up as soon as they made it to the vegetables section.

Nanami crouched by the crate and picked one up, inspecting the root, then the tips of the leaves. Beside him, Megumi stood with his head tilted to the side and his brows knitted together in confusion.

Megumi coughed. “Uh, Papa?”

“Yes, Megumi?”

“What are you doing?”

He looked at his son and blinked.

“I’m picking a spring onion.” Nanami gave his son a deadpan look. Was it not obvious?

Megumi gave the crate a once-over. “They all look the same to me.”

Nanami shook his head. He readjusted his glasses.

“They don’t.” He lifted the current one in his hand directly up to Megumi. “This one here has leaves that look like they’re yellowing. You want ones that have bright green tops.”

Megumi narrowed his eyes at him. He then reached down to pick a different one up.

“How about this one?”

Nanami’s eyes scanned the spring onion. Ratio lines were already appearing in front of him for how to slice it perfectly. If only it were the right one to take.

“The leaves may be bright green, but look at the bulb.” He gestured to the base of it. These dark spots mean it’s already spoiling. We want fresh ones.”

“Don’t they all taste the same?” Megumi asked as he put the spring onion back, his eyes examined the other ones left in the crate individually.

Nanami clicked his tongue. “My sweet boy, I did not feed you all these years for your food palate to be bland. That’s insulting.”

His son chortled, a rare sound from Megumi. “Sorry, Papa. I think you overfed me growing up. I look fat in my baby photos.”

“That wasn’t me, that was your dad,” Nanami stated. No way was he going to be blamed for his husband’s tendencies. “And you weren’t fat, you were merely round and chubby.”

“Those are synonyms.”

“No, they’re not,” Nanami argued. They obviously were, but he wouldn’t dare say Megumi was a fat baby. “You were adorable. A pain in my ass, yes, especially when you wouldn’t go to sleep or when you’d scratch and bite your dad but adorable nonetheless.”

Gojo was over the moon to have another baby in the house. He established himself as a Girl Dad once Nobara came into the world and had embraced it to the fullest. So much so, Nanami wanted another one, and ever since then, he was determined to be a Boy Dad when they found out they would have a boy — if only Megumi had been more onboard with the plan, perhaps Gojo would’ve had some success.

To say Nanami had witnessed Gojo crying over the fact that their son was cockblocking him was an understatement. Nobara wasn’t like that, but she kept them up many nights because she wasn’t tired. Nanami may have shed a tear at one point, too.

Meanwhile, with Yuuji, it was equally chaotic and full of sunshine. He was all over both of his parents, grabbing at Gojo’s blindfold to chew on, always tugging Nanami’s suspenders whenever he wasn’t wearing his blazer. 

“…Okay, so you want one with bright green leaves and a spotless white bulb.” Megumi’s hand hovered before gripping onto a different one tucked near the bottom of the crate, and he showed Nanami. “How about this one?”

Nanami took the vegetable and carefully turned it around in his hand. The leaves were indeed bright green, and the bulb was pure white, eerily similar to the shade of his husband’s hair. It was firm, too, and at the base, there were still roots attached to it.

He nodded in approval, giving the teenager a grateful smile. “This one’s perfect, Megumi. Now, why can’t you be this attentive in school, huh? It’d save me and your dad from coming in and getting an earful from Yaga because of you.”

His son gave him a wry smile in lieu of an answer.

After that, their shopping became a little quicker and their basket slowly became fuller with items.

Megumi was slowly getting the hang of it.

As they went down the list, Nanami pointed out more tips and tricks for picking the right produce and other products.

Nanami eyed the bell peppers. Picking one up, he brought it close to his eyes, turned it, then placed it back.

“What’s wrong with that one?” Megumi asked, curious.

“That one,” Nanami said, “has four lobes.”

“Lobes?”

Nanami picked up another one, this time with three lobes. He tapped the base of it. “These things are called lobes. Three is ideal for the stir-fry I’m planning to make. A four-lobed pepper is sweeter and better for salads.”

“Papa, why do you know that?” Nanami jumped. He turned to find Yuuji standing behind them with a half-eaten chocolate bar in one hand and the other holding a paper bag of boxed sweet treats.

“When did you…?” Megumi’s voice trailed off.

“Why does Papa know that about peppers?” Yuuji repeated, this time to his brother. He took a bite of his chocolate bar.

Nanami squinted at the paper bag. “Yuuji, why aren’t you with your dad?” Nanami asked instead.

Yuuji let out an awkward chuckle, his eyes crinkling. “Dad sent me on a mission to grab some and I quote, ‘off-the-record’ grocery items.”

Of course he did.

His eyes narrowed, darting around to look for the idiot in question. Only to find him in the clothes department with Nobara; the two hunched over, laughing over a t-shirt with a graphic design that Nanami couldn’t see, given the distance.

He looked back at Yuuji, and the boy just grinned.

Yuuji was always like this. A chaotic child growing up, but he brought sunshine to his and Gojo’s lives, along with his siblings. From the moment he could crawl or do his little bum shuffle, he’d been glued to Nanami’s side — be it tugging at his trouser leg just to be picked up or attempting to follow him to the bathroom.

To Gojo’s luck, Yuuji indeed did not cockblock him. Though he did try to steal back his love and affection with toys and exaggerated impressions of cartoon animals, Yuuji always found his way back to Nanami in the end.

Nanami loved to preen whenever his children picked him over their eccentric father.

“Fine,” he muttered, loud enough for both of his sons to hear. “But you’re looking after the bag. And please don’t eat more of that stuff — I don’t have the energy to deal with a teenage sugar rush today.”

“Yes, Sir!” Yuuji stomped one foot and puffed out his chest like a soldier ready for battle… for all of five seconds before he started to pout. “Papa, what if I drop the chocolate though?”

Nanami reached out and patted his pink hair, sighing as he gave him an apologetic smile. “You should’ve thought about that before unwrapping one.”

Yuuji sighed dramatically and trailed behind with the bag as if it weighed a hundred kilos.

Yuuji perked up, suddenly remembering something. He rushed back to the pepper crate. He scanned and then reached in, triumphantly pulling out a pepper. “Three lobes, right? How about this one?”

Nanami inspected it carefully, turning it in his palm. There weren’t any blemishes, and it was firm to the touch. The red was vibrant in colour. He turned to the teen and gave a single, satisfied nod.

“Well done,” he said, setting it in the cart. “Maybe your taste buds can be salvaged, after all.”

Yuuji, to his delight, beamed. 

Megumi added another item to the cart, double-checking against Nanami’s list with a keen eye.

“Papa, all that’s left now are some essentials and… Bread? Do we need more bread?”

The bread. On sale, no less — the cornerstone of today’s operation. Without it, this whole family outing was doomed, and Nanami would not have been a happy man or father. 

“Yes,” Nanami curtly responded. “It’s important we go grab that now.”

“N-now?” Yuuji spluttered, tightening his grip on the paper bag as if afraid of the contents spilling out.

Nanami gave a sharp nod. “If you want a proper dinner tonight, I suggest we all go now.”

The air shifted.

It grew tense. You could cut a bread knife with it.

Megumi raised a brow. Yuuji’s eyes widened. The two brothers exchanged an equal look of wariness.

“Should we be worried?” Yuuji whispered.

Megumi shook his head, scoffing. “It’s just bread. It’s not like he’ll kill anyone if it’s out of stock.”

“Yeah… He so wouldn’t do that, right?”

Silence.

“Right?”

Megumi didn’t provide an answer.

Nanami rolled his sleeves up, and the black leather strap watch made its appearance for the first time that day. He readjusted his glasses, his brown orbs narrowing at his sons’ twin, scared faces.

“We’re getting that bread,” he declared. “No exceptions.”

“But—“

“Yuuji,” Nanami warned. “No exceptions.”

His son gulped.

“Okay…” Yuuji whispered. Yuuji straightened up, chest puffed out, as if they were marching into enemy territory. “We’ve got this!”

—

“We so don’t got this.”

They rounded the corner to the bakery after picking up Nobara’s cereal from the cereal and porridge aisle to find the bakery…

Empty?

The bakery shelves were empty.

Absolutely vacant.

Abandoned.

The rows of what were meant to have fresh loaves were now devoid of any kind, like a barren wasteland in some dystopian world.

And the audacity for there to be crumbs lying about under the “SALE!” tag?

Nanami was astounded.

Just then, a bakery staff member walked by.

“Excuse me,” Nanami called, his tone despite the circumstances. “I’m sorry, but is there no more bread available?”

“Uh, unfortunately not, I’m afraid.”

“HUH?! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE’S NO MORE BREAD?!” Yuuji screeched, attracting the attention of some nearby customers. 

Nanami couldn’t care less about apologising for disrupting their peaceful shops. How could he when his own shop wasn’t peaceful?

“Someone came before you not long ago and bought the last two loaves,” the baker explained. “Said something about ‘my own bakery needs it or else it’ll explode’. Weird guy, I’m telling you. If he’s using our goods for his own business, then that’s messed up, don’t ya think?”

Nanami didn’t respond.

He absentmindedly nodded and stepped back.

Then another.

He had one mission today besides restocking the house– just one. And he failed – tragically, too.

His bread… All he wanted was to buy bread today because it was on sale. Quality flavour for a bargain!

And he missed it.

Others may find him odd for saying it, but he just loved having bread, and to be deprived of it, especially when on sale, is ridiculous.

“Hey Yuuji,” Megumi cautiously said. “Go to the cafe and get Papa some coffee. Like, now.”

“But the bag—“

“Give me the bag then, idiot.” Megumi snatched the paper bag out of his brother’s hand. “Take Dad’s card with you, too.”

“Why do you have one of Dad’s cards?”

“Because I’m smart. Now go!”

“O-okay!” Yuuji dashed off, leaving Megumi with their depressed father. Where had he seen such a sullen look before?

“Um, Papa?” Megumi said carefully. “Should we go grab the essentials instead?”

Nanami blinked slowly. He clenched a fist and readjusted his glasses.

“Yes. Let’s do that,” he replied, his voice clipped. “Before I say something inappropriate to that employee.”

On autopilot, he silently followed Megumi around the rest of the supermarket, letting the boy pick everything else for him.

“I’ll go grab the toothpaste and mouthwash,” Nanami announced. “Go see if Yuuji needs help with the drinks. He’s taking a while.”

Megumi nodded and walked away with the basket.

As Nanami went to the health aisle, his mind wandered back to the bakery.

To be fair, it wasn’t the end of the world that he couldn’t get his hands on some bread, but it was still unfortunate that he didn’t get it. Especially the last of it. Whoever did, he hoped their pillow was warm on one side and lumpy on the other.

As he roamed the aisle, his eyes focused on mouthwash. There should be a Cool Fresh one. Yuuji didn’t like the taste of the Mint one Gojo got last time, whining that it was burning his tongue. Like father, like son, clearly.

Out of nowhere, he could feel a pair of arms snake around his abdomen. Gojo nosed at his neck, placing a kiss at the junction of where the neck and collarbone met.

“Missed you,” Gojo mumbled into his shirt. “How’s your boring shopping going?”

“Great,” he replied, drily. “They don’t have bread.”

“No bread?”

He shook his head. “Someone bought it a few minutes before we got there.”

Gojo cooed. He placed another kiss.

“Poor Kento.” Gojo pouted. “It’s okay, there’s always next time.”

But when? Nanami wanted that bread today.

His eyes fell onto Gojo’s hand. 

“You bought another shirt?” Nanami furrowed his brows as he inspected it. “Do you really need another one?”

“Yes, of course! The brats spilt coffee on my last one, and the dry cleaners refused to take it straight-up.” Gojo sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. “I thought using my full name and emphasising that the Gojo Satoru needed a dry cleaning service would make them take it, but even that wasn’t enough.” 

Nanami rolled his eyes. Money and influence may be beneficial in Japan, but not to all. 

“You have other ones, Satoru,” Nanami insisted. He looked down at the shirt again — a simple white one, practically identical to the many that resided in Gojo’s side of their shared wardrobe. Nanami wasn’t kidding. His side was neat, while Gojo’s side was overflowing with articles of clothing. It takes brute strength for Nanami not to reorganise Gojo’s clothes himself. 

“But Kento,” Gojo whined. Planting both hands on Nanami’s hips, he tugged him closer till they were flushed together, chest-to-chest with the shirt being the only barrier between them, now with some creases.

“Satoru.” Nanami gasped. His hands fisted the fabric on instinct. The white was a stark contrast to the dark shirt his husband was wearing. He scowled at Gojo. “Let go of me, we’re in public!”

Gojo ignored him as he dipped his mouth into the crevice of Nanami’s ear. He murmured, “All I could think about was how good you’d look walking around the house in nothing but my shirt. Now, think about that. Wouldn’t it be nice?”

Nanami scoffed, albeit his cheeks betraying him, painting themselves with a flush of pink. He looked away from Gojo’s growing smirk to the side, focusing on the nearest shelf. Lube. Condoms. Did Gojo deliberately bring them to the Sexual Health aisle? 

In all his years of living, the nerve of this man…

Spurred on by his silence, Gojo continued. “When you were pregnant, you only wore my clothes.”

“They were the only thing that fit me.”

“Exactly!” Gojo exclaimed. “Watching you waddle like a penguin around the house and campus was cute.”

Pregnancy wasn’t for the faint-hearted. The toll it took on Nanami’s body was heinous. Three times, mind you. Getting back into shape after being out of the field after graduation was one thing, but doing it after having babies? How much energy it took to carry and raise little sorcerers was unbelievable. 

A small smile adorned his face, feeling somewhat reminiscent. “You know, Nobara made me go through the maternity department with her just so she could fawn over the little baby clothes. It reminded me of when we had to do that for the brats.”

“Can you please stop calling our children brats?” Nanami lightly punched his husband’s chest. “You’re ruining the moment.”

“And you ate so much.” Gojo ignored his words, saying, “Your cheeks would puff out, and you just looked so edible— like a mochi for me to bite. Fuck— you wouldn’t even know how hot you looked. Too busy trying to bend over in front of me, showing off that perky ass of yours.”

Nanami scoffed. Perky, huh? Unbelievable. He knew Gojo’s… appreciation for his body. Maybe too well.

“I wouldn’t know. I looked and felt like a whale. Three times.”

Gojo groaned, jutting his hip into Nanami’s. “It was worth it and even Little Gojo was pleased.”

Nanami exhaled sharply through his nose. “You’re actually unbelievable, you know that?”

“That’s what happens when I’m so in love with you,” Gojo replied, softer. He squeezed Nanami’s hips. “You don’t know how proud I am and always will be of you for doing that.”

Nanami immediately looked up at his husband. The bastard dared to have a goofy look on his face. Nanami’s breath hitched.

“I didn’t do anything,” he mumbled. “You were there too. We’re raising them together.”

“But Kento, you did the bulk of it! Seeing you carry them and the way you raised them… makes me such a lucky man.”

And how could Nanami just ignore that?

He had carried their children, each one a surprise and a quiet miracle. They hadn’t planned it, not really, but they didn’t hesitate when they found each time. Not even once. Even when it hurt. Even when it scared him.

The nausea. The swelling. The fatigue was so heavy it made his bones ache. He remembered waddling across campus to meet Shoko, Gojo trailing behind like an overgrown puppy, beaming every time Nanami needed to sit down, ready to hold him if required. He remembered his reflection — stretched, tired, unfamiliar — and how Gojo only ever called him beautiful.

But it’d be wrong to forget the quiet moments — when it was just him in the nursery before each child was born. Sitting in the rocking chair, humming a lullaby he had learnt to help soothe Nobara. He had to fight with Megumi over his feeding habits because no matter what, he just refused to be fed by Gojo, and the nonstop crying made Nanami reach his breaking point with that child. Those moments of tiredness and peace after finally getting Yuuji to go to sleep, the boy was too hyperactive, even as an infant. 

And still, despite everything, he gave it his all because that was what you did for the people you loved. 

Being a parent is more than just feeding them and giving them a roof to live under. It’s loving your children and reminding yourself that yes, there will be days when you will face difficulty, but you’re not alone. 

And with the way Gojo was staring at him, like Nanami was the one who hung the stars in the night sky just for him. Gojo was the same man who drove him right up the wall (and pinned him there too), who carelessly left his socks everywhere, who warped around the house and the school like it was a playground, and who held him together with ridiculous jokes when everything else was falling apart. The father of his beautiful brats (yes, he agrees with his husband, they were brats, but they’re their brats). 

Gojo grinned like an idiot, his eyes full of affection. The kind of affection Nanami had once thought someone like him wasn’t worthy of.

And yet, here it was. Day after day. Unwavering. Unconditional.

God, he was falling in love once again with this man.

Maybe he hadn’t failed as much as he thought. Maybe being tired all the time, maybe crying alone in the kitchen when one of the kids stopped talking to him, maybe the quiet resentment he sometimes felt — maybe none of that made him weak. Maybe it made him real.

He let out a slow breath.

“You’re lucky I love you,” he muttered. But for once, it wasn’t a complaint.

It was a confession.

“Satoru,” he whispered reverently. He could feel his insides loosen as the knot slowly came undone.

Creasing the shirt even more, he reached up on his tip toes and leaned in, his hands reaching for Gojo’s biceps for balance as his eyes focused on the glossy chapstick Gojo wore.

Just then—

Gagging noises came from behind them.

Confused, Nanami pulled away from Gojo.

Speak of the devil…

Said brats were standing there. Nobara and Megumi stared at them with utter revulsion.

With her hands on her hips, Nobara scowled. “And just what are you two doing?”

“Uh…”

The two looked at each other in confusion.

Nanami flinched, taking a step away from Gojo. 

“Nothing,” he coolly replied.

“Your Papa and I are going to have another kid!” Gojo enthusiastically exclaimed. 

Nanami gaped, giving himself whiplash as he glared at his husband. “ Satoru—! No, we are not having another child.”

“Is that why you’re hovering around the condom shelf?” Nobara pressed.

“Papa,” Megumi tsked. Nanami frowned. “I thought you were better than this. You should be more responsible when it comes to things like this.”

He didn’t know what was worse — the public groping, their children catching their parents flirting shamelessly, or the fact that Gojo was now humming a silly tune as he rested his chin on Nanami’s shoulder, like this was the most natural place to talk about waddling and perky asses. In front of their children, no less.

Gojo dropped to his knees dramatically. He brought his hands together in a prayer. “You have to understand! Your Papa is going through it at the moment!”

“I’m what?” Nanami narrowed his eyes at Gojo.

Gojo ignored his stare, continuing to plead his case to their children. “You see, Papa is very upset and hungry— let’s just say he’s hangry because he couldn’t get his bread from the bakery. Very vulnerable right now.”

As he pleaded with their kids, Yuuji appeared at Nanami’s side, holding a paper cup.

“I got you coffee,” he said shyly. “I hope it tastes okay.”

Nanami gave him a small smile, patting his hair gently. The coffee was too sweet, just how Yuuji liked it. Just how he always made it for him.

In the chaos, something clicked into place.

This was his family.

Loud, infuriating, messy. But real. His.

“The bakery—? Dad, did you hit your head against something? We—“

“ANYWAY!” Gojo jumped, grabbing hold of Nobara and bringing her close to his chest. “Have we got everything on that list of yours, Kento? The line at checkout looks busy… we should probably head over soon before it gets any longer.”

Nanami hummed. He turned to Megumi.

“Are we done?” He asked.

Megumi took the list out of his khaki trousers and scanned it before nodding. “We’re done.” As he began walking, Megumi tossed one last scowl over his shoulder. “You two,” he pointed to his parents, “are disgusting. And should be ashamed of yourselves.”

With that, Megumi walked off, basket in hand, with Nobara trailing behind him.

Yuuji looked between his dads. Not missing a beat, he said, “I wouldn’t mind another sibling.”

Nanami facepalmed. “Yuuji. We’re not having another kid.”

“We are!”

“Satoru, no.”

Gojo only whistled as he strolled ahead, Yuuji in tow.

Nanami lingered behind for a moment, warm cup in hand.

The steam curled toward his face, soft and comforting.

He exhaled.

He sipped the coffee, letting the warmth seep into his fingers. Even now, with a headache forming and Gojo declaring more children, he couldn’t imagine life without them. Chaos and all.

—

The line at the tills was long, but eventually, they made it to the front.

With Megumi's help, Nanami began unloading everything from the basket onto the belt. He realised he still had Gojo’s shirt in his hand and added that to the belt, too.

As the cashier scanned the items, Nanami moved to the front and meticulously bagged everything. The produce was in one bag, the meat in another, and the frozen packets in their own bag so that they didn’t mix with the other products. 

Gojo’s shirt wouldn’t fit in any of the bags. Nanami pursed his lips, scanning his kids for a solution.

His eyes fell onto Nobara.

“How much shopping did you do today?” He inquired, gesturing at the heaps of bags hanging off her arms.

His daughter sheepishly smiled. “Dad said I could! They had a few nice things.”

“Can I put your dad’s shirt in one of your bags?”

Nobara nodded.

He thanked her as he neatly tucked it into one of the bags.

Gojo, meanwhile, leaned just a little too close.

Gojo’s hand brushed against Nanami’s, a single finger curling playfully around his wedding band.

“What are you doing?” He whispered.

“Trying to hold your hand.”

“Not like this. The kids will—“

Too late.

“Dad!” Nobara whined. “He’s doing it again!”

Gojo glowered, yet amusement danced in his eyes. “Am I not allowed to touch my husband?”

“Just get your card and pay,” Megumi grumbled. He shoved his hands into his pockets.

Gojo huffed. “Only because my Gumi baby has asked me. Next time, be nicer with it.” He poked Megumi’s cheek, earning another glare from the boy before reaching into his pocket and handing the card to his son. “Just tap the card. It’s contactless.” 

Before he handed the card over, Nanami reached into his pockets and brought out vouchers, placing them in Megumi’s hands. “See if any of these vouchers bring the total down.”

“What the— Papa, how many vouchers are there?!”

“Enough for when I have to do a big shop for you four.”

Yuuji snatched the vouchers and started to count them at the cashier. A young gentleman, probably a university student, looked tired as he eyed the vouchers.

Nanami rolled his eyes and paused when Gojo suddenly turned to him, smiling.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Gojo said, reaching into one of the reusable bags Nobara held.

He pulled something out and handed it to Nanami.

Nanami blinked.

The bread.

This was the exact loaf from the bakery. It is still warm and slightly squashed at the edges, but it is perfect.

“You—?” He looked between the bread and Gojo.

“I got it once Nobara and I finished clothes shopping,” Gojo said, smug and soft all at once. “I told the bakery to set one aside for when we were done. Was gonna give it to you later when we got home, but you looked so grumpy about it.”

Nanami stared at him.

Then, slowly, he broke off a corner of the loaf, brought it to his mouth, and chewed.

Warm. Buttery. Just as he remembered.

He sighed through his nose, closing his eyes. Bliss.

“You’re lucky this is good,” he murmured.

He smiled. Beamed even.

And Gojo ate it all up.

“I know.”

Once everything was paid for and they got the receipt, they made their way to the car.

As the kids walked ahead, Gojo let out a dramatic groan and stretched his arms high above his head. His shirt rode up, flashing a strip of skin. Nanami reached over and tugged it back down without a word.

Gojo chuckled, smirking. “Don’t worry, baby, this is all for you.”

Nanami side-eyed him.

“Was family grocery shopping a success then?”

Nanami hummed. “Somewhat. There was no serious arguing for once, which was nice, and we saved a lot of money thanks to those vouchers.”

“Are you happy with your bread?”

“Very.”

“So.” Gojo whistled, wrapping an arm around Nanami’s waist. He tugged him closer into his side. “Does that mean I’m not sleeping on the couch tonight?”

“No, I think you’ve deemed yourself worthy of sleeping in bed tonight.”

Gojo laughed. “That’s good to know. Does that mean we can try having another kid?”

Nanami pushed him away. “You’re fifty, Satoru. By the time they graduate, we’ll be senior citizens. Have some decorum.”

“Hey— Kento, the fuck?”

“Dad, language!”

“Yuuji, not now.” Gojo let out a frustrated sigh. He yanked off his shades and pushed them messily into his hair, causing a mound of white hair to be formed at the top. He glared at Nanami. “For the record, I’d be hot as an elderly man.”

Nanami snorted. Letting out a rare laugh. “You’re such a dork. It’s disgusting.”

“Nope, what’s disgusting is how I don’t 

“Turning my own kids against me, who do you think you are?”

Nanami followed suit, taking off his own glasses to smile smugly at the older man.

“Your husband and their father. Obviously.”

Gojo squeezed his side, though his glare didn’t last as he sighed dramatically. He grabbed Nanami’s face, mushing their cheeks together like bread dough. 

“Obviously.”

“Dad, please stop flirting with Papa,” Nobara whined. “At least wait till we get home.”

When the kids weren’t looking, Gojo leaned in and stole a proper kiss.

They kept walking. Together.

The bread, the bags, the bickering trailed behind them like the soft echo of a familiar song.

And it was good.

It was home.

fin.