Normal POV
"Alright Itadori now that I've explained what I am, can you tell me about Rynosuke?" Nanami questioned.
Hearing the question causes Yuji to go silent before he sighed "we were taken underground I'd guess in one of the sewer systems, there were a total of twenty-three of us twenty-four if we include myself all caged up, that guy Rynosuke was there...but there was someone else to. He called himself Gilles de Rais. I think he was the one in charge."
Nanami had to do his best to not pinch the bridge of his nose right now, he didn't really consider himself much of a history expert but he did remember some stuff from college and high school.
Giles De Rais was a French knight and firm companion to Jeanne D'Arc in the Hundred Year's War.
He'd later go mad over the unjust death of Jeanne and began to do a number of heinous things such as occult sacrifice, torturing children, the horrific killing of children, and would eventually be the inspiration for Blue Beard's tale.
No doubt he had been summoned under a Caster class...which also confirms that the Holy Grail War of Fuyuki has indeed started.
"The guy wore black robes sort of like the one's you'd see in those cults, greasy hair, and had eyeballs that looked like they'd pop out," Itadori finished his description with a shiver of disgust.
"Did he mention anything about a contract? Maybe something about a servant, master, or an unusual title?" Nanami inquired.
Yuji put a hand to his chin looking up in thought "now that you mention it I did hear that Rynosuke guy call him by Caster whatever that's supposed to mean."
Something in Nanami's expression shifted by a fraction Yuji could tell.
It wasn't surprise exactly but more like a confirmation of something he'd already suspected and hadn't wanted confirmed.
"Continue," he said.
"He had these glass vessels." Yuji's hands went still, "each one had something inside it. Dark, moving tendrils," he looked at his fingers nervously massaging them "he broke them over the other kids. The things went inside them and then-" he choked back a sob.
Nanami waited but if one paid a closer look they'd see how his eyes narrowed and jaw clenched up in anger.
"My three friends went first," Yuji said," because of me. Because I called out to God when I woke up Gilles took offense to it so he-" another stop but shorter this time "he wanted me to watch. So I watched and then I broke out and managed to get the others free using whatever my powers let me did...but even then, I-I couldn't-"
The fluorescent light above them hummed.
"I couldn't stop it from happening to the others too," Yuji finished in a completely broken and flat voice "all twenty-three of them ended up infected by the time we got anywhere close to leaving."
Nanami silently wrote everything down inside a small worn-out notebook.
"You're not planning on going to confront them, are you?...I mean I know your a Wizard-"
"Magus," Nanami cut in but was ignored.
"But those things...I don't think you could take them all by yourself," Yuji finished as he reached over and munched on another cookie.
Nanami closed his notebook with a satisfying thud and placed it back in the depths of his suit jacket "your right I can't go after him myself, painful as it is for me to say but I do know the proper people to report to regarding the matter," he explained.
"But you won't have to worry about that right now I want to ask you something else. You're not a magus are you?" Nanami asked.
"Nope! Had no idea wizards existed till today," Yuji mumbled through his fifth cookie before suddenly choking and rapidly slamming his fist against his chest.
He released a sigh once the cookie went down.
'Right, that was kind of obvious but it never hurts to double check just in case,' Nanami thought while adjusting his glasses.
"Eat slower Itadori the cookies aren't going to run away from you. Now can you tell me the name of any of your deceased relatives?" Nanami quickly scolded and questioned at the same time.
Yuji shrugged "nah I just know my Mom and Dad disappeared who knows where...and my grandfather Wasuke Itadori recently passed away the day before yesterday from his cancer," he said in a slightly sadder voice, "although he always did tell me I was special compared to normal people and I couldn't even do this blood manipulation thing until yesterday night," he added.
Nanami closed his eyes 'so mysterious parents, orphaned, no magic circuits, and can suddenly manipulate blood...yeah that all but confirms Itadori Yuji really is something special. Honestly the whole thing seems like something from one of those manga Haibara used to read,' he solemnly thought.
Standing up from his seat Nanami makes up his mind "Itadori I am going to offer you two choices," he said in a serious tone that caused Yuji to lock in.
"You can either one return back to the custody of child-services where they will most likely either send you to another orphanage or foster care....," Nanami takes a deep breath, "or I can adopt you and in turn teach you all that I know about the supernatural side of this world. Be warned though Itadori once you make your choice there's no going back."
Yuji stared at him.
Nanami stared back.
The fluorescent light hummed.
"You want to adopt me?" Yuji asked.
"I'm offering the option, yes," Nanami stiffly replied.
"You've known me for like forty minutes."
"Approximately, yes."
"And you want to adopt me?"
"I'm not going to repeat myself a third time, Itadori," Nanami said in a slightly tired tone.
Yuji leaned back in his chair and looked at Nanami with the particular squinting scrutiny of someone taking careful inventory.
It was, Nanami noted an unsettlingly thorough look for a seven-year-old to have.
"You don't seem like the dad type," Yuji said finally.
"I'm not any type and you don't have to call me your father I am just going to be your guardian that's all," Nanami dully replied.
"You're also kind of stiff," Yuji pointed out.
"It's called being professional," Nanami fired back.
"Do you even like kids?"
Nanami opened his mouth and then closed it.
Considered the honest answer versus the useful answer and decided on a version that was both.
"I find most children exhausting. You in particular have managed to be exhausting in an impressively short window of time. However-" he held up one finger before Yuji could respond to that, "-I find it considerably more exhausting to watch people get chewed up by the supernatural side of this world because nobody bothered to prepare them for it."
Yuji went quiet.
"You already have abilities you don't understand and can't fully control," Nanami continued in a measured tone "you've been involved in what can already be classified as magi activity. You have no family and no other guardian. Child services will put you in a system that is not equipped to handle what you are or what will inevitably be drawn to you."
"So do you know what I am then?" Yuji asked.
Nanami considered him for a moment.
"I am not quite sure yet," he said, which was the truth "but I believe within a certain time I can probably find somethings out."
Another long silence.
Outside the glass the officers had migrated toward the coffee machine. Someone was complaining about the scheduling rotation. While another went to the break room to eat his donut.
Yuji looked down at the empty cookie plate then he glanced up.
"Do you know how to cook?" he asked.
Nanami blinked "...yes."
"Like actually cook or just like rice and instant noodles?"
"I am perfectly capable of preparing a full meal, Itadori."
"What's your specialty."
"That's not-" Nanami stopped and exhaled through his nose "katsu curry."
"Okay then," Yuji said.
Nanami raised an eyebrow "okay?"
"Okay I'll go with option two," he said it with the decisive nod of someone who had weighed all available evidence and reached a logical conclusion "but I have conditions."
"...What are they then?" Nanami couldn't really believe he was about negotiate with a 7-year-old.
"I only have three of them," Yuji said.
"State them," he said.
Yuji held up one finger "you have to actually explain things to me. Not just be careful and it's complicated and you'll understand when you're older. Real in-depth explanations...but also do it slowly since it takes time for me to genuinely process new things I don't really get"
"Done," Nanami agreed.
A second finger "I want to learn how to cook as well."
"Acceptable."
Third finger "finally katsu curry at least twice a month."
The fluorescent light hummed.
"Once," Nanami said.
"Twice," Yuji replied.
"Once, and I'll teach you to make it yourself during your cooking lessons," Nanami bargained.
Yuji considered this with genuine seriousness, weighing the variables.
Then he stuck out his hand across the table "it's a deal," he said.
Nanami looked at the hand.
Then he reached across and shook it.
Yuji's grip was quite strong for a seven-year-old the detective noted.
"Alright," Nanami said releasing the handshake and standing.
He straightened his tie and picked up his notebook "I have some paperwork to file and several calls to make. You'll wait here."
"Can I have more cookies?"
"No."
"What about-"
"No," was the firm response again "you shouldn't overstuff yourself with too many sweets it's not good for your body. If your still hungry by the time I come back, then I'll make you something," Nanami lectured.
Yuji slumped back in his chair with the theatrical bonelessness of someone registering a great injustice.
Then he glanced back up at Nanami with a thankful expression "hey," he called out.
Nanami paused at the door "yes Itadori."
"Thanks," the word came out softly "for, you know. Not just sending me back."
Nanami looked at him for a moment.
"Hmm," he hummed, "I am only doing what I believe would be right...that's all," with that he opened the door and walked out before his expression could do anything unprofessional.
Behind him through the glass, he heard Yuji say to no one in particular "he totally almost smiled."
Nanami kept walking.
He had definitely not almost smiled.
-end of chapter three-
So...I'd say this was kind of a nice heart-warming chapter no?
Postive comments and power stones are an excellent source of motivation for me…but mainly the positive comments.
Seeing some people enjoy the work I make always makes me happy…like a happy drug or some shi I don't know how to really explain it lmao.