#are all traces of Nanami-Pom gone for good? god I hope NOT

[tsukimefuku]

Thank you for this story, Rahu. It has healed my heart from all the trauma Gege has inflicted in it. 🫂 I love this crack/fluff/comedy stories that you write for Nanami and our favorite trio, please don’t stop.

The Transformation of Nanami Kento, Part 8 (Final Chapter)

In which Nanami regains his human form, but are all traces of Nanami-pom really gone for good?

The arrangements had been made, Ichimura suitably threatened and Gojo had managed to secure a steady stream of transformed people from the sectioned-off area where the curse user had been confined. None of the daycare workers stayed long. Each seemed eager to return to their families and old lives, some still moving awkwardly, having to re-adjust to their normal human forms.

Nanami-pom had stubbornly insisted on going last, ensuring that all of the curse-user's victims had been seen to before allowing Gojo, Ino and the students to escort him down the corridor to the confinement cells.

Stopping outside the door, Nanami-pom paused and turned to them. The small hazel eyes fixed on each of their faces, expression earnest, as if trying to convey his thanks for everything they had done for him over the past few days. Ino's eyelashes were looking suspiciously damp once again. The students, as if understanding Nanami-pom's intentions, knelt one by one.

He first approached Yuuji. The tiny paw reached up and patted the pink hair comfortingly. Yuuji gave a slightly crooked smile.

"See you in your normal body soon, Nanamin. And for what it's worth, I'll train hard and make sure that you never have to put yourself in danger for me again."

Nanami-pom gave a small, solemn nod before moving on to Nobara. He stared at her and his ear twitched slightly. Nobara's lip trembled in delight as he allowed her one last ear scratch and belly rub.

Nanami-pom then turned to Megumi. Reaching into the pocket of his miniature business suit, he pulled something out and placed it carefully in Megumi's outstretched palm. Looking closely, Megumi made out the small vial of conditioner he had been using to brush Nanami-pom's fur twice a day to keep it shiny and free of knots. Even though it had only been for a short while, Megumi realised that he would miss having a small, furry person climb into his lap in the mornings and afternoons, a comb pushed insistently into his hand. He knew that this was Nanami-pom's way of saying 'thank you' and offered the short form in front of him a slight smile in return.

Ino was last. He saluted Nanami-pom smartly and received a dignified little bow in return.

"Can't wait to have you back, chief!"

Ino was carrying a neatly pressed suit of Nanami's, fresh from the dry cleaner's and a small bag with other essentials. He handed them over to Gojo who was still looking a little grumpy from Nanami-pom's trickery the previous day. Opening up the cell, Gojo huffed out a breath before turning to Nanami-pom.

"Guess this is it. You ready to go back to your normal, gloomy self?"

Nanami-pom nodded emphatically and Gojo shook his head in fond exasperation before gesturing him through.

"After you."

The students watched as the diminutive form scampered across the threshold, each of them suddenly feeling a tad emotional. It was silly, they knew. This was Nanami in whichever form, after all. They would, however, miss Nanami-pom's little expressions of mischief and humour, his reliance on them, his cute, polite mannerisms and his tiny paw on their arms, asking for their attention or a cup of warm milk. They were all unanimous in their desire for their reliable mentor to make a re-appearance though, as much as they would miss his strange, transformed aspect.

The door swung shut and they waited with growing anticipation. After some time, they heard movement within, what sounded like footsteps approaching. The students stood anxiously to attention and Ino wrung his hands, sweat beading on his forehead beenath the ski mask. With a creak, the door opened into the corridor.

Nanami stepped out. Once more in his imposing human form, the sorcerer cut a reassuringly familiar figure. Dressed in his usual tan business suit, dress shoes polished to high shine and wristwatch gleaming beneath his sleeve, Nanami flexed his fingers before adjusting his cuffs and raising his hands to sweep back his perfectly styled hair.

He was not wearing his usual tinted glasses, however, and the keen, sharp-cornered eyes looked over his small audience, one eyebrow raising in what looked like slight amusement.

"Oh? I thought you'd be more pleased to see me back to normal. Or do you miss my other form already?"

Hearing that deep, smooth baritone, so comforting to listen to after many days without it, was enough to send Yuuji and Ino into a more 'emotional' state.

"Nanamin! You're really back!"

"And there he is!" Ino cheered, "You really did a number on us. We didn't know what would walk out that door, but ... rest assured, I'd respect you in every form, Nanami!"

"And the fanboys strike again," Nobara muttered, but she came forward and welcomed Nanami all the same, her eyes lingering rather wistfully on his ears.

Megumi concealed it well, but even he glanced momentarily at Nanami's hair, fingers twitching with longing around an imaginary comb. Gojo chose this moment to appear in the doorway, closing it firmly behind him. His face was creased in what looked like a deep desire not to laugh.

"What's going on with you?" Megumi asked, curiously.

Gojo's composure lasted a full three seconds before he burst into peals of laughter.

"Oh, wait ... I can't - You should have seen - "

"What? What?"

Yuuji, who had grabbed Nanami around the middle in a firm hug (in spite of the older man's stiff protests) now stepped back, eyes tracking over the tall form before him.

"What are you laughing at? He's back to normal!"

Nanami clicked his tongue.

"Don't bother with this clown, Itadori - "

"No, no, wait!" Gojo waved them to a halt. "I want to know, for research purposes, who packed those boxers with baguettes on them for Nanami?"

A vein had begun to show prominently in Nanami's forehead, and the students were suddenly covering their mouths and looking anywhere but at each other. Ino raised his hand sheepishly.

"Uh, I did? I mean, I just thought that after everything you'd been through, you might have liked a reminder of your favourite food ... "

His voice trailed off as Nanami sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"You thought I'd like a reminder ... on my underwear?"

"Eh ... "

"No," Gojo managed to choke out, "No. The real question here is ... why do you even own that? And why is the baguette so stategically placed - "

"I don't have time for this. I'm going to get some food."

Posture rigid with fresh irritation, Nanami briskly walked away, buttoning up his coat. He definitely wasn't stomping. Ino and the students scurried after him.

"Hey, to celebrate you coming back, I'll treat you, okay?" Ino called out.

"Hmm. I suppose that would be acceptab- Kugisaki, why are you staring at my ears?"

"Eh? Who me? I'm not!"

"Hey, hey, Nanamin, what does it feel like to be tall again?"

"Much better. Unfortunately, I can now tell that Gojo has a bad case of dandruff again."

"Lies and slander!"

___________________________________________________

Shoko and Ijichi were invited to the small celebration of Nanami's return. Shoko arrived with a bottle of whiskey she had been saving for a rainy day, which Nanami looked at in much the same way as Nobara had regarded his ears. All those days of having to drink milk had obviously taken their toll.

When Ijichi arrived, he brought a considerate gift of his own; a small leather harness that would fit around Nanami's forearm and carry another short blade, in case he ever found himself incapacitated again. Nanami thanked him gravely and Yuuji exclaimed in excitement, begging Nanami to cosplay for Assassin's Creed.

In the days that followed, there were few reminders of Nanami's stint as the most adorable mascot Jujutsu Tech had ever seen. There were those photos that Gojo had taken, however. True to form, he hadn't kept his promise and posted them to the Grade 1 sorcerer group chat at the first opportunity.

Nanami soon settled into his usual routine of working himself to the bone and exorcising rogue curses with practiced efficiency, sometimes with Yuuji or Ino in tow. If one were paying close enough attention, they'd sometimes see Nanami quickly place a hand over his mug when others entered a room he was in, disguising the fact that he actually did fancy a cup of hot milk with honey occasionally.

If one were watching with even closer attention, they might have noticed his surreptitious meetings with Megumi, a small vial changing hands in the hallway, no words required. For a few days after each exchange, Nanami's hair would gleam with even greater lustre, and would smell faintly of caramel pudding.

THE END.