Chapter Text
༺ 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐞༻
It was lunchtime, and every day was a struggle against scarcity that limited their menus. Certainly, it wasn't the first time she had combined rice with noodles, then added some remaining or even borrowed vegetables along with spices to try and fill them up.
Her shoes were causing painful blisters on her swollen feet, but Utahime couldn’t afford the luxury of resting. Therefore, she always tended to the bloodied wounds of her feet at night.
On the way to her father's shoe shop, she would definitely pass by Japanese women in beautiful kimonos, their hair decorated, looking immaculate. Utahime was proud of her white bun and her hanbok, but she often wondered what life was like for girls her age who never had to work and, naturally, who never knew hunger or the chill of the cold as she did. Now, she felt a little self-conscious in the same hanbok that she had worn the day before. She only had two of them.
Mechamaru greeted her with a smile as soon as he saw her, his hands dirty with shoe polish, the smell of wax and glue mingling with a hint of dust (a scent he had grown accustomed to since childhood).
"Thanks for the food" Mechamaru said, wiping his hands on his apron. "Mr. Iori is in the middle of fixing some shoes and said to wait a moment for him"
Utahime placed the bentos on a small wooden table.
"Any good news? I need something to boost my energy."
"Amanai was here, she brought fruit they leave at the hospital. Do you know what Mr. Iori said? That I should propose marriage to her.."
Utahime didn’t like what she heard, so she responded with a warning. "She’s not for you, her heart belongs to someone else."
"Speaking of Amanai’s heart’s owner, how is Suguru? Did your brother recover from his arm?"
She was surprised. Was it so obvious that Amanai and Suguru were interested in each other? But the thought faded as quickly as it came when she remembered the injury inflicted on her brother by a soldier.
"His wounds have healed, so I’m relieved about that."
"I know what Suguru has been going through for a long time, but maybe he will- "
"He won’t" She cut him off before he could mention false hopes."The Japanese won’t let him stop working there, he’s just another slave."
He offered to fix her shoes to change the subject when he noticed that it was uncomfortable for her, she smiled and declined his offer, not wanting to give him more work.
Iori Kaito arrived and sent Mechamaru to the back to repair two pairs of shoes, promising that they would have lunch together once he was done.
Kaito approached his daughter with a smile.
"Go home, take a bath, and dress well. Someone special is waiting for you."
She didn’t seem thrilled by her father’s words, delivered with a certain enthusiasm.
"…now?"
As Gojo and Nanami approached the entrance of the brothel, it was inevitable that the atmosphere changed with the mingling scents of cheap perfume, tobacco, and sex. It was the indulgence and desire of any Japanese man and the nightmare of any woman.
In a dark corner you could see a little girl fainting on the floor, who was soon dragged away by a woman, but Gojo and Nanami remained serene in the face of the horrors of that place.
They were quickly surrounded by prostitutes (a situation the lieutenant was still not entirely accustomed to, though he anticipated it). Gojo tried to act as he always did in front of the prostitutes: rejecting their offers with a smile and ignoring their advances and touches.
Two of them clung to his arms, while another, coming from the front, caressed his free neck.
“Lieutenant Satoru~!”
Two others did the same to the young blonde.
“Charming soldier Nanami~!”
Gojo said without blinking “Call mrs Miyake, ladies. We´re here-“
“You're looking for Yuta, right?”
Concluded the manager of the establishment, an adult lady who was always made up in an exaggerated but not horrible way. That Japanese woman's name was Miyake Mei mei was the manager of this place, of course that meant she had good dealings with the real owner of all this.
《We saw each other more than I would have chosen. 》 Gojo thought regretfully to himself.
He sighed heavily “What did Okkotsu do?”
Mei Mei would contact the soldiers to alert Gojo if Okkotsu caused any trouble, as Gojo had promised Rika that he would look after Yuta. The reason he had made that promise was not only because they are family, but also because it is his duty. It was the elder's responsibility to take care of the younger person. His cousin was a responsibility he bore, much like a duty to an unwelcome child.
Mei mei widened her smile, "What's the hurry? You could stay a little longer. If Korean girls are not to your liking, we also have Japanese, Filipino, Chinese...
“I will satisfy you~ “ The young girls surrounding the lieutenant were still playing while caressing him and rubbing their breasts on him.
“Seeing you makes me hotter sir lieutenant, I can't wait to eat you up.”
Gojo smiled at her “Mrs. Miyake, I'm afraid the charm wasn't passed on to him, but I'm sure we can work something out for the damages.”
“I've already told you that you can call me by my name, there's no need for so many formalities.”
The prostitutes released the soldiers immediately, looking disappointed, Mei had given them the signal to go away. Gojo, sensing the opportunity, dug into his military jacket pocket for money, and in a really trademark genteel gesture, bowed while handing it to her.
"For the inconvenience, just let me know if it doesn’t cover the damages."
A smile appeared on Mei Mei’s face as she saw the bills and took them. "I’ll deduct it from your cousin’s tab" She began counting the money in front of him "You know, Lieutenant, new girls will be coming in soon. Wouldn’t you like to choose one personally? We’d love to have someone like you as a special client."
Satoru approached her to take her hand and plant a kiss on the back of it, offering her a smile as he prepared to leave. "As always, so beautiful, Mrs. Miyake."
Gojo’s captivating eyes were sensual and alluring; his way of speaking and his smile were incredibly attractive to any woman. Moreover, he was clever with his words, knowing that if he said something like 'I’ll consider your offer' it would give Mei Mei the chance to press him into accepting.
《What a charming young man》 Mei thought as she imagined many other things that were not suitable for children.
Mei mei glanced at Nanami and said, "Well, hello there handsome. No girls for you, I’m afraid."
"I didn’t come for the services."
"Oh, really?" She chuckled at him.
When you’re stuck in a place you’d rather avoid, time seems to conspire to stretch on endlessly, dragging each minute into what feels like hours of torment and restlessness, as if time itself were relishing in your distress. That was how Utahime felt with Zenin Naoya and his father. Naoya seemed to be a very distinguished gentleman, impeccably dressed in a suit and carrying a cane. Her hazel eyes, with her blonde hair subtly streaked with white, did little to subtract from her refined presence. Naoya was articulate and loquacious, using complex vocabulary that, even with her considerable command of Japanese, left her puzzled. He had a bearing that bespoke culture and refinement, and from the way he dressed and spoke, she knew he hailed from considerable wealth and high status.
“You look exquisite today.”
Utahime had braided her hair, and the firmly held hanbok she was wearing belonged to her grandmother. Though it didn't quite fit her well, it seemed to be held very well. Iori Kaito sat beside her, sipping his tea with an over-the-top meticulousness, as if trying to be invisible.
She leaned a bit off her seat. "Thank you so much, Mr. Zenin”
He let out a small laugh and said, "This part of the world never ceases to amaze me. When I first arrived, the views were great, though it’s a rather violent place. But then I saw you and couldn’t help but think of you as a lotus flower."
She forced a strained smile, attempting to maintain a calm exterior, but it was inevitable that she dug her nails into the palm of her hand to steady herself and control her breathing.
"It’s unfortunate that Mrs. Iori cannot be here, but I’m very eager to speak with you, Mr. Iori Kaito, and it surely will be an honor if you will accept my marrying proposal. I mean to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."
"Mr. Zenin, are you serious? Did I hear you right?" Kaito asked, stuttering.
"Absolutely Mr. Iori. I am sincere. I hold honor and integrity in the highest regard. I am a man of my word. What do you think, my lotus flower?"
The men both turned toward her, but somehow, Utahime found it difficult to collect herself. Her mind was a jumbled mess and went blank. Her nerves slowly unwound as her mind focused on what was happening. Utahime did not know how she had bent to refuse the offer or how she had fled the house in the most natural manner possible as she ignored the calls of her father.
She fled outside into a crowded street and began taking some deep breaths, pressing her hand against her chest to feel her racing heart.
《Over my dead body.》She thought.
She'd never consider marrying a Japanese man, even if he were the last man standing.
It was rush hour, and within minutes, the streets became crowded with people heading home and others making their way into town. Vendors and merchants also thronged the walkways, and between them, there was a little space. One of them knocked her, and she apologized as she sidestepped him. She turned and concluded that it was time to go home and face the inevitable anger from her father that would hopefully not last long enough.
As she was about to take a step, she saw Lieutenant Gojo with his back turned, walking away with a soldier as they patrolled the area, laughing together. That natural smile refreshed, even from the side view. His bangs, barely brushing his eyes, did not seem to be a bother. He took off his hat and raked his hair sideways.
Her heart pounded as she repeatedly thought to herself.《He’s a man who frequents brothels and exploits women.》
Despite this, Utahime couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt for her thoughts about his attractiveness.
Suddenly, Gojo turned, jabbing his outstretched hand in the very direction that Utahime stood, like he had sensed her or perhaps felt the weight of her stare. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she felt a real, soft flutter in her stomach.
In such a crowded area and from so far away, the lieutenant did not seem surprised to see her. Indeed, he regarded her with interest and fascination, almost as if he was under some kind of spell. He began to approach her without removing his eyes from hers. Utahime, however reproached herself, looked away from him (unable to bear his stare) and turned away, disappearing into the crowd.
༺ 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐞༻