“You’ll be drawing twenty hand studies for next week.”
The collective groan that echoed through the studio was almost loud enough to drown out your professor’s next sentence.
“Hands are one of the most expressive parts of the human body, which is exactly why they’re so difficult. Different angles, different gestures, different people. Observe before you draw.”
Your head fell onto your sketchbook with a dramatic thud. Twenty. Twenty hands. You could barely draw one.
Three days later, your bedroom floor had become a graveyard of crumpled paper. You held your left hand out in front of you, fingers spread awkwardly. It looked simple enough. Five fingers, a palm, some knuckles. Easy.
You looked down at your sketch. “…Why do you look like a bunch of sausages?”
You erased, redrew, erased again. The thumb was too long. Now the index finger looked broken. The wrist somehow disappeared entirely. With an exhausted sigh, you reached for your phone and searched for reference photos.
Perfectly lit stock images filled the screen. They were helpful but they also felt… lifeless. You wanted something real. Unfortunately, asking strangers to let you stare at their hands sounded like an excellent way to get pepper sprayed.
Thursday morning arrived far too quickly. Your general education psychology lecture was thankfully much less demanding than your studio classes, making it the perfect place to mentally recover. You slipped into your usual seat near the middle of the lecture hall.
Only one seat remained empty. Right beside you. Almost on cue, someone slid into it just before class began.
“…Morning.”
It was Megumi Fushiguro.
You smiled. “Morning.”
That was usually the extent of your conversations before class. You weren’t exactly close. Just… seatmates. Somewhere along the semester, sitting together had become an unspoken routine. Neither of you questioned it anymore. The professor began speaking as Megumi quietly opened his notebook.
His handwriting was ridiculously neat. Straight lines, consistent spacing. It somehow matched him perfectly. You tried listening to the lecture. Really, you did for about five minutes.
Then your eyes wandered. Megumi rested his elbow on the desk, absentmindedly twirling a mechanical pencil between his fingers while reading the lecture slides. Your gaze lingered. Long fingers, defined knuckles, slim wrists disappearing beneath the cuff of his hoodie. The tendons shifted beneath his skin every time he adjusted his grip.
Oh. Those were…really nice hands. Artistically speaking. You continued staring without realizing how obvious you were being.
“…What?” His voice snapped you out of your thoughts.
“Huh?”
Megumi glanced sideways without lifting his head completely.
“You’ve been looking at my hand.”
Heat immediately rushed to your face. “I—I wasn’t—”
“You were.”
“…Okay.” You covered your face with your hands in embarrassment. “...I was.”
He waited before finally asking. “…Why?”
You considered lying. Instead, you sighed. “I’m an art major.”
“…I know.”
“My professor assigned twenty hand studies.” You finally rested your hands back on the table, trying to seem calm. “I’ve been struggling all week.”
He looked down at his own hand before looking back at you. “So…”
You swallowed. “…you have really nice hands.”
“…Thanks?”
“No, wait! I don’t mean it like that!”
Your words came tumbling out faster than your brain could stop them.
“I mean they’re proportional! Your fingers are long and your knuckles are really defined and artists like drawing interesting hands and yours just happen to be—”
You took a deep breath. You wanted the earth to swallow you whole.
“…Would it be weird if…I asked if I could draw your hands?”
Megumi blinked once. “…That’s all?”
“…Yeah.”
“I thought something was wrong.”
“…Why would something be wrong?”
“You kept staring.”
You couldn't help but avert your eyes after the statement. He looked down at his hand again, flexing his fingers once.
“…Sure.”
“…Really?” You turn back to look at him again. His face seeming unbothered. He gave a small shrug.
“If it helps.”
The smile that spread across your face was immediate. “It helps a lot.”
After class, the two of you wandered to a quiet courtyard tucked behind the humanities building. Students passed by every so often, but it was peaceful enough that you could hear birds chirping somewhere overhead. You settled onto one side of a wooden bench while Megumi sat across from you.
He rested one hand on the table between you. “…Like this?”
You looked up from your sketchbook. Then laughed. “You’re so stiff.”
“I’ve never done this before.”
“Done what?”
“…Whatever this is.”
“You make it sound like I’m conducting an experiment.”
“You kind of are.”
You smiled despite yourself. “Just relax.”
He loosened his fingers slightly.
“There, better.”
You began sketching. The first few lines came easily. His fingers were long, making the proportions much easier to understand than your own. Every tendon became visible whenever he shifted ever so slightly. The tiny wrinkles around his knuckles gave your pencil something interesting to follow. For several minutes, neither of you spoke. Only the scratching of graphite against paper filled the quiet.
“…Does it normally take this long?”
You looked up. “What?”
“Drawing.”
“I’m trying not to mess it up.” You look back at your sketchbook with a small smile.
“…You haven’t looked at me for like… five minutes.”
The corner of your lips twitch a little. “I am looking at you.”
“My hand.”
“…Your hand is attached to you.”
“…Fair enough.”
You laughed. “So impatient.”
“I’ve been holding the same pose.”
“It’s been eight minutes.”
Megumi tilts his head. “…Has it?”
You playfully roll your eyes. “You sound like an old man.”
Megumi leans over the table and rests his head on his other palm. “…I don’t know how to respond to that.”
Your eraser slipped from your fingers and bounced onto the ground. “Oh.”
Before you could bend down, Megumi reached for it. His hand curled naturally around the small white block. The angle made the tendons along the back of his hand stand out. Your eyes lit up.
“Don’t move.”
He paused mid-motion. “…What?”
“That’s a really nice pose.”
He remained frozen, eraser still in his hand. “…Seriously?”
“Mhm.” You hurriedly flipped to a fresh page. “Just… stay exactly like that.”
He sighed. “…Again?”
“I promise this one’s the last one.”
“…You said that ten minutes ago.”
“I know…Please?”
After a brief pause, he nodded once.
“…Okay.”
By the time you finally closed your sketchbook, six pages had been filled. You stretched your arms above your head with a satisfied sigh.
“I think I can actually finish the assignment now.”
Megumi leaned forward slightly. “…Can I see?”
You hesitated before turning the sketchbook around. His eyes quietly scanned each page. Different angles, different poses. Every crease and shadow carefully rendered in graphite. He stopped on one drawing.
“…You noticed that?”
“The scar?”
He looked at the faint line across one of his knuckles. “…Yeah.”
You nodded. “It catches the light. I thought it looked nice.”
Megumi stared at his own hand. “…I forgot I even had that.”
You smiled as you packed away your pencils. At the last second, you looked up again.
“…Can I ask you another time?”
He met your eyes. “For class?”
“Mhm.”
He thought for a moment before giving a small nod. “…Sure.”
Relief washed over you. “Thanks, Megumi.”
“…No problem.”
"This week's assignment," your professor announced, writing Body Studies across the whiteboard, "is about understanding form."
A few students immediately perked up. You, however, felt a headache coming on.
"I don't want polished illustrations," your professor continued. "I want observation. Study the way clothing folds over the body. Learn to see the figure and the way it shapes the fabric."
She smiled. "Ten studies."
A chorus of groans echoed through the studio.
"You all survived hands."
Barely, you thought. That afternoon, you sat beneath a tree outside the library with your sketchbook open. Students walked across campus in every direction. You tried sketching strangers. Someone moved before you could finish the shoulders. Another adjusted their backpack. One person sat down for exactly thirty seconds before getting up again.
You sighed. "...How is everyone so... busy?"
Your pencil hovered over another unfinished page. You needed someone who could stay still. Someone patient. Someone...
"...Megumi."
Your psychology lecture had barely ended when you started gathering your things. Megumi zipped up his backpack beside you.
"You leaving?" You asked quickly.
"Mhm."
"...Can I ask you something?"
He paused. "What is it?"
You suddenly became very interested in adjusting your pencil case. "So..."
"...Another assignment?"
You looked up. "...How did you know?"
"You've got that look."
"What look?" You tilted your head.
"The one you had before you asked to draw my hands."
"...I have a look?"
He nodded once.
"...Oh." You laughed awkwardly. "Well...This week's assignment is body studies."
He waited for you to continue.
"...Would you maybe...be willing to help again?"
"What do I have to do?"
"Mostly just... sit there."
"...Again?"
"Again."
He considered it for all of two seconds. "...Okay."
"You didn't even ask for details."
"You'll tell me anyway."
"...That's true." You give him a grateful smile.
The two of you found an empty corner of the student union. Megumi set his backpack beside his chair.
"What do you want me to do?"
You looked around thoughtfully. "Hmm..."
He watched as you tilted your head.
"I don't know."
He gives you a skeptical look.
"...Can you... lean back a little?"
He did.
"A little more."
He leaned farther into the chair.
"Perfect."
You immediately began sketching. Unlike his hands, drawing his posture felt...different. You found yourself studying the slope of his shoulders. The loose folds of his black hoodie. The way one sleeve bunched around his wrist. How his legs stretched comfortably beneath the table. Every time he shifted his weight, new folds appeared in the fabric.
"...Am I moving too much?"
"No." Your pencil continued gliding across the paper. "It makes the folds on your clothes look more prominent."
"...Is that good?"
"Mhm."
"It looks more alive."
He nodded quietly, as if he understood.
Several minutes passed. "You can blink, you know." He says, trying to break the silence.
"I wasn't trying not to."
"You've been staring at the same page for a while."
Megumi looked down at himself. "I've never thought about it."
"I can tell."
"What does that mean?"
You just grinned in response. After nearly half an hour, your wrist started to ache. You stretched your fingers before looking over your work.
"...I think I got it."
Megumi stood and walked around the table. His eyes drifted over the page. It wasn't a portrait. There was no face. Just the gentle curve of a relaxed posture. The weight of someone settling into a chair after a long day. The soft folds of a hoodie gathered around bent elbows.
"...That's me?"
"Mhm."
"It doesn't even have my face."
"You don't need one." You tapped the page. "I can tell it's you because of how you sit."
He looked at the sketch again. "...You can tell that?"
"You always lean a little to your left."
"I do?" He raised an eyebrow.
"You also cross your ankles instead of your knees."
He instinctively glanced down. He was. "...Huh."
"You rest your shoulders lower whenever you're comfortable and you tug on your sleeves whenever you're thinking."
He unconsciously released the sleeve he'd been fiddling with. A quiet silence settled between you. Finally, he asked,
"...You notice all that?"
You blinked. "...Artists notice weird things."
For a brief moment, Megumi didn't answer. He simply looked at the sketch again before quietly saying,
"...I think that's kind of nice."
Your heart skipped for reasons you chose not to examine too closely. Instead, you closed your sketchbook with a smile.
"So..." You slung your bag over your shoulder.
"Same thing next assignment?"
The corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly. "...Yeah."
He wasn't sure when helping with your homework had become something he looked forward to but as the two of you walked across campus together, he found himself hoping your professors would keep giving you impossible assignments.
"I'm proud of your progress."
The studio fell suspiciously quiet. Whenever your Professor sounded pleased, it usually meant she was about to make everyone's lives significantly harder. She smiled.
"I think you're all ready."
A few hopeful murmurs spread across the room.
"Ready for muscles."
The room collectively deflated. She uncapped a marker and began sketching a simplified arm on the whiteboard.
"Don't worry," she said with a laugh. "I'm not asking for medical illustrations. I want you to observe how muscles affect the body's surface. Where does the triceps create volume? How does the shoulder change when the arm is lifted? How does the back move when you stretch?
She underlined three words.
Arms and Back
You stared at your notebook. Then at the board. Then back at your notebook.
"...I'm cooked."
The student beside you nodded solemnly. "So cooked."
It was one of the hottest days of the semester. Even before your afternoon lecture, the campus seemed to shimmer beneath the sun. Students had abandoned hoodies in favor of T-shirts. Windows were propped open despite doing very little to help. You stepped into the lecture hall, grateful for the faint breeze from the ceiling fans.
A familiar voice came from beside you. "...Hey."
You smiled. "Hi."
Megumi dropped into the seat next to yours. For a second, your brain stopped working. He's wearing short sleeves. It wasn't a dramatic change. Just a plain black T-shirt instead of the oversized hoodies he usually lived in. But now his forearms were exposed.
His elbows...the line of muscle that shifted whenever he reached into his backpack. You immediately looked away.
Be professional. You're observing anatomy. Nothing weird about anatomy.
"...You okay?"
"Hm?"
"You've been staring."
"I have not...Maybe a little."
The lecture dragged on and unfortunately for you, Megumi took notes diligently. Every movement of his hand made the muscles in his forearm flex beneath his skin. You tried to focus on the professor. You lasted maybe three minutes. Your eyes wandered again.
The muscles tightened as he wrote. His wrist rolled slightly whenever he turned the page. Your artist brain lit up like a Christmas tree.
Those shadows...That tendon...
"...What?"
You blinked. "...Sorry."
"My arm?"
"...Your arm."
He glanced down at it. "...What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing!" You laughed, rubbing the back of your neck.
"My assignment this week is muscles."
"...Ah." He nodded once. "...Makes sense."
After class, the two of you walked toward the student union together.
"So..." Megumi said. "This week's homework?"
You sighed dramatically. "I swear my professor is trying to make my life difficult."
"What is it?"
You opened your sketchbook and handed him the assignment sheet. He scanned it quietly.
Observe major muscle groups without the cover of fabric this time. Include arms and back for anatomical variety. Focus on surface anatomy and the way individual muscles connect and overlap.
"...Without the cover of fabric," he read aloud.
"...Yeah." You let your head fall onto the table. "I was hoping I'd be able to get away with drawing over hoodies."
"I guess not." Megumi read the note scribbled beneath the assignment.
Use a live reference if possible.
"...That's pretty specific."
"I know." You sighed again. "I've been trying to figure out who to ask all day."
He looked up from the paper. "...Do you need help?"
You hesitated. "...Maybe."
He waited patiently.
"It's just..." You scratched the back of your neck. "...This assignment is a little more awkward."
"Because of the shirt?"
You nodded. "I can't exactly ask someone, 'Hey, can you take your shirt off so I can draw your back? That sounds insane."
"You weren't going to ask me."
"I absolutely wasn't."
He looked back down at the assignment for another moment. "...If that's what the assignment requires..." He handed the sketchbook back. "...I don't mind."
You blinked. "...Megumi."
"What?"
"I wasn't fishing for that answer."
"I know."
"I would've found someone else."
He shrugged lightly. "You already know how I sit still."
"...That's your reasoning?"
"It worked the last two assignments."
You couldn't help but laugh. "You're way too calm about this."
"I don't really see the problem."
"You don't?"
"It's for class."
He met your eyes with the same straightforward expression he always wore. "...You're not looking at me. You're studying anatomy."
For some reason, hearing him say it so matter of factly only made your face feel warmer. The Fine Arts building was unusually quiet by the time the two of you arrived.
Most of the studios had emptied out for the evening, leaving only the faint smell of graphite, acrylic paint, and drying clay lingering in the halls.
You peeked into one of the classrooms. "Looks empty."
Megumi glanced inside before nodding. "This works."
You set your sketchbook, pencils, and kneaded eraser across one of the large wooden tables. For some reason...your heart refused to slow down. It wasn't as if this was the first time he'd helped you. He'd sat for your hand studies. Your posture studies.
This wasn't any different...Right?
"Where do you want me?"
His voice pulled you back to reality. "Huh?"
"You look like you're thinking."
"Oh." You laughed nervously. "Sorry."
You looked him over for a moment before pointing toward one of the stools near the windows.
"Could you sit there?"
He did without question. The afternoon sun spilled through the tall windows, outlining one side of his figure in warm light. Your artist brain immediately approved.
"Can you... roll your sleeve up a little?"
He folded the sleeve of his T-shirt once.
"A little higher?"
He rolled it again until it rested near the top of his upper arm. "There?"
You nodded. "Perfect."
He rested one arm across the back of the stool. "Like this?"
"Mhm." You opened your sketchbook.
The moment your pencil touched the paper, everything else disappeared. The nervousness. The awkwardness. Even Megumi sitting a few feet away. Your focus narrowed to lines, shapes, and shadows. The gentle curve of his shoulder. The subtle definition where muscle shifted beneath his skin whenever he adjusted his fingers. The way the light caught along his forearm. Every few minutes, you'd mumble something almost absentmindedly.
Megumi quietly followed every instruction. Neither of you noticed how much time had passed. Only when your wrist began to ache did you finally lean back.
"I think..." You flexed your fingers. "...I got it." You turned the sketchbook toward him. "What do you think?"
Megumi leaned closer. His eyes lingered on the page longer than you expected. "...Huh."
You shifted nervously. "Good 'huh' or bad 'huh'?"
He looked down at his own arm before returning to the drawing. "...I didn't know my arm looked like that."
You laughed. "What does that mean?"
He looked from the drawing to his own arm. "I don't know." He flexed it experimentally before glancing back at the sketch.
"I'm not exactly..." He searched for the word. "...Built."
"You don't have to be." You tapped the page. "I'm not drawing how strong someone is I'm drawing how everything fits together. The shape, the light, the way your muscles move when you're holding yourself up."
Megumi looked back at the drawing. "...It's kind of cool."
A smile spread across your face. "I'm glad you think so."
You flipped to a fresh page. Then your smile slowly faded. "...Right."
"What?"
"...The next study."
He glanced at the page in your hands.
Upper back.
Another beat of silence passed.
"Oh."
"...Yeah."
You laughed once, the sound thin with nerves. "This is where it gets awkward." You rubbed the back of your neck. "I can always ask someone else if you're uncomfortable."
He shook his head almost immediately. "I'm not."
"You don't have to say yes just because we've been doing these assignments together."
"I know...I still don't mind."
Your fingers tightened around the edge of your sketchbook. "I appreciate it."
He glanced around the empty studio. "I'll turn around."
"Hm?"
"So you don't have to look at me while I'm..." He gestured vaguely toward himself. "...doing this."
Your eyes widened. "Oh."
"You looked like you were trying to figure out how to ask."
"...Was it that obvious?"
"A little."
Despite yourself, you laughed. "...Sorry."
"No need."
He picked up the stool and carried it toward the center of the room before turning it to face the tall windows.
"There." He looked back over his shoulder. "Better?"
"...Yeah."
He smiled, a small, almost imperceptible curve at the corner of his mouth. "Good."
With his back to you, he reached for the hem of his shirt. Your gaze immediately darted toward the floor. The wooden floorboards suddenly became incredibly interesting. You heard the soft rustle of fabric. Then silence.
"...Okay." His voice was calm. "I'm ready."
You inhaled slowly before forcing yourself to look up. For a split second, your thoughts scattered. Not because there was anything dramatic in front of you. Just because the situation suddenly felt very real. You had spent weeks studying his hands, his posture, the way he carried himself.
The sight of his bare back in the warm afternoon light made your pulse stutter. The clean, strong lines of his shoulders, the subtle curve of his spine, the way shadows pooled along his muscles, it was exactly what the assignment needed, but being this close felt dangerously intimate.
Your artist's instincts and your self consciousness collided all at once. You forgot to breathe and several seconds passed.
"...You still with me?" His voice carried a hint of amusement.
You blinked rapidly. "O-oh." You cleared your throat. "Yeah." You pause. "Sorry."
"For what?"
"I think my brain stopped working."
A quiet chuckle escaped him. "I noticed."
You covered your face for a second with one hand. "This is so embarrassing."
"Why?"
"Because I'm trying very hard to be professional."
"And?"
"...It's not going great."
Megumi's smile widened just enough that you could hear it in his voice. "I think you're doing fine."
You let out one slow breath, lifted your pencil, and finally allowed your eyes to settle, not on the awkwardness of the moment, but on the shapes, the planes, and the light that every artist learns to see. The graphite touched the page and little by little, your heartbeat found its rhythm again.
You sketched for a while, but the lighting on his upper back still wasn’t quite right. You stood up and moved closer, leaning carefully over his right shoulder from behind to get a better view of the shadows.
Your face hovered just inches from the side of his. You could feel the warmth of his skin, smell the faint scent of his shampoo, and hear the steady rhythm of his breathing.
"Don’t move," you whispered, voice barely audible.
Megumi stayed perfectly still but then slowly turned his head toward you, just enough to check if the pose was okay.
Your faces were suddenly dangerously close.
His dark eyes met yours. Time seemed to slow. Neither of you pulled away. The tip of his nose nearly brushed yours. Your gaze dropped involuntarily to his lips, then back up. His breath ghosted across your mouth.
The air between you crackled. For one heart stopping moment, it felt like the smallest movement from either of you would close the gap completely. Your could hear your heart thumping in your ears. Megumi’s eyes darkened slightly, his lips parting just a fraction. You were so close.
Then your phone alarm blared from the desk.
You both startled apart. You stepped back quickly, face burning. Megumi faced forward again, the back of his neck visibly flushed. The charged silence lingered for another second.
"Same time tomorrow?" he asked, voice a little rougher than usual as he reached for his shirt and pulled it on.
You nodded, still trying to steady your breathing. "For the assignment."
Megumi paused at the door and glanced back at you. That small, shy smile returned to his lips, softer this time.
"Try not to lean in so close next time," he murmured, almost teasing, but his eyes were warm.
Then he slipped out, leaving you staring at the half finished drawing of his back with flushed cheeks and a racing, giddy heart.
The little girl clung to Yuta's sleeve with trembling hands.
"It'll be okay," he said gently, offering the soft smile that somehow always managed to calm people down. "We'll get you somewhere safe."
Around them, screams echoed through the streets of Sendai Colony. You were already ushering the nearby civilians toward a narrow alley between two buildings.
"This way!" you called. "Stay together! Don't stop running!"
Men, women, children, everyone stumbled after you. Once the last person disappeared into the alley, you glanced over your shoulder toward Yuta. He was still with the little girl. Good. Without another word, you sprinted toward the side of a convenience store.
Your cursed energy reinforced your legs as you bounded from an air conditioner unit onto the awning, then to the roof in a practiced series of movements. You dropped into a crouch.
The black sniper rifle fit effortlessly in your hands. Unlike your family's traditional cursed tools, katanas, spears, and bows, you forged modern weapons. Firearms. Something your clan had once mocked.
"A sorcerer should fight with honor."
"Guns are for weaklings."
Until they saw what your cursed bullets could do. The rifle rested comfortably against your shoulder. You peered through the scope and panned towards Yuta.
He was speaking to the frightened girl. You shifted slightly. Behind him floated Rika, towering protectively over both of them. Satisfied, you continued scanning.
The street...Abandoned cars...Collapsed storefront...
Then, you saw movement. Your eye narrowed. A lone sorcerer sprinted around the opposite corner. Not toward Yuta. Toward the little girl. His expression twisted into something desperate.
Your finger settled on the trigger. Yuta couldn't sense him yet. Neither could Rika. The sorcerer was too far for them. But not for you.
Slow inhale.
The world shrank to the circle inside your scope. The crosshair rested perfectly between the man's eyes. You squeezed the trigger.
BANG!
The sound cracked through the colony like thunder. The sorcerer's head snapped backward. He collapsed before taking another step. Kogane appeared beside you.
"Player[name] has earned five points."
You let out a quiet breath. "Thanks."
Below, Yuta instinctively stepped in front of the girl. His eyes searched the rooftops. They landed on you. You stood from your crouch, slinging the rifle over your shoulder. With a sheepish smile, you lifted one hand in a tiny wave. Yuta stared for half a second. Then he laughed. Relief more than amusement.
By the time you climbed back down, the little girl was staring at your rifle with wide eyes.
"You..." she whispered.
You smiled gently.
"The bad person won't hurt you anymore."
Yuta walked over.
"That shot..."
"About six hundred meters."
"...That's really far."
"I've hit farther."
He chuckled. "I don't think I'll ever get used to watching you do that."
You nudged his shoulder. "And I don't think I'll ever get used to watching you run toward danger."
The civilians slowly gathered around the two of you. Yuta looked between them.
"We should keep moving."
You nodded immediately. "I'll take point."
"I'll stay in the back."
"Same plan as always?"
"Same plan."
You bumped your fist lightly against his. "Let's go."
The procession moved carefully through Sendai. You walked several meters ahead, rifle resting across your shoulders. Every rooftop. Every window. Every alley.
Your eyes swept across them with practiced precision. Nothing escaped your scope for long. Behind you, Yuta quietly encouraged the exhausted civilians, occasionally carrying children when they became too tired to walk. Whenever someone stumbled, he was there. Whenever someone panicked ,you heard his calm voice settle them.
It reminded you why you loved fighting beside him. You protected from afar. He protected up close. The two of you fit together naturally.
Night settled over the ruined city. The group eventually found refuge inside another convenience store. The shelves had mostly been emptied long ago, but there was enough space for everyone to rest. Some people cried quietly. Others fell asleep almost immediately.
You leaned your rifle against the wall before checking every entrance. Satisfied, you returned to find Yuta standing near the front windows. His eyes weren't on the civilians. They were fixed on the massive stadium in the distance.
You walked over. "...Everything okay?"
He looked at you. Then back toward the stadium. "Dhruv's territory."
You followed his gaze. "...You're thinking about going."
He nodded. "If I defeat him...the stadium becomes safe."
"It'll be big enough to shelter everyone."
Silence settled between you.
"I need to go now."
Your chest tightened. "I'll come with you."
He slowly shook his head. "No."
You frowned. "Yuta"
"I need you here." He glanced toward the sleeping civilians. "If another player finds them while I'm gone...they'll need someone strong enough to protect them."
You looked away. You already knew he was right. That didn't make it easier.
"...I don't like this."
"I know."
"I should be fighting beside you."
"I know."
He stepped closer. Your protests faded before they even reached your lips. One of his hands cupped your cheek. His other arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you against him. You instinctively rested your hands around his waist.
He leaned forward until his forehead rested against yours. "I'll come back."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
"You can't promise things like that."
"I can try."
You closed your eyes. "...I hate when you're reasonable."
A soft laugh escaped him. "I've learned from you."
You sighed. "...Fine." Your voice came out much quieter than you intended. "I'll protect everyone until you get back."
"I know you will."
You finally nodded. "...Okay."
His smile softened. "I'm counting on you."
He took his forehead from yours and a gentle kiss landed on your forehead.
You immediately frowned. "...Really?"
"Hm?"
"That's it?"
He blinked innocently.
"You kissed my forehead."
"I did."
You crossed your arms. "I've risked my life with you all day."
"Mm-hmm."
"I landed a six hundred meter headshot."
"You did."
"And that's all I get?"
He laughed. Actually laughed. The sound was light enough that a few sleeping civilians stirred.
"So demanding."
"I think I've earned it."
"You definitely have."
He slipped one hand behind your neck. Then kissed you properly. Slow. Warm. Deep. His tongue brushed against yours, teasing, tasting, drawing a soft sound from your throat. You snaked your arms around his neck, pressing yourself closer as his hand on your waist tightened, fingers digging into your skin through your clothes, molding your body flush against his.
The kiss lasted long enough for you to forget, if only for a moment, that the Culling Game still surrounded you. When he finally pulled away, your forehead rested against his once more. Both of you breathing slightly heavier.
"There," he whispered. "Better?"
A tiny smile tugged at your lips. "...Much."
"Good." He gave your waist one last squeeze before reluctantly stepping back. "I'll be back soon."
You watched him turn toward the exit. "...You better."
Without looking back, he raised one hand in acknowledgment before disappearing into the darkness toward Dhruv's stadium. As soon as he was gone, you picked up your rifle, took position near the store's entrance and kept watch until he came back.
The first rays of sunlight spilled over the ruined skyline of Sendai.
You let out a slow breath.
The stadium had been in your scope all night.
You hadn't slept.
Every so often, one of Dhruv's massive shikigami would emerge above the walls before disappearing again. Each appearance was followed by the distant sounds of buildings collapsing, concrete cracking, and cursed energy colliding.
Every time you saw movement, your finger hovered over the trigger. Every time...You stopped yourself. The fight was too close. Too chaotic. One missed shot would be all it took.
So you waited. Eventually the rumbling ceased. Silence settled over the city. You focused through the scope one last time. Nothing. No shikigami. No movement.
You closed your eyes. Dhruv's cursed energy...It was gone. A shaky sigh escaped your lips as the tension finally left your shoulders.
"...He did it."
Your sniper slipped from your shoulder as you sat back against the wall outside the convenience store. Only then did you realize how heavy your eyelids had become.
The civilians had already packed their belongings by the time footsteps echoed down the street. You looked up. Yuta. Dust covered his uniform. Small cuts lined his face and arms.
His breathing was steady, but the exhaustion was written plainly across his expression. The moment his eyes found you his shoulders relaxed.
You smiled. "There you are."
Instead of answering, he walked straight over to you. His gaze lingered on your face.
You tilted your head. "What?"
He slowly raised a hand. His fingertips brushed beneath your eye.
"They're pretty bad..."
You blinked. "...Hm?"
"Your eyebags."
His thumb gently traced beneath one eye. "...You didn't sleep?"
You looked away for a second. "...No."
His expression immediately tightened. "You should've rested."
"I was fine."
"You watched the whole fight, didn't you?"
"...Maybe."
He sighed.
You gave him a small grin. "I'm okay."
"You say that, but—"
"Besides..." You leaned a little closer. "...At least this way we match now."
He blinked. "...What?"
"You have eyebags, so do I. We're matching."
For a full second, Yuta simply stared. Then the realization hit him. His ears turned pink.
"...You..." His eyes darted away. "...That's not..."
You bit back a laugh. "You're blushing."
"I just got done fighting."
"Mhm." You smiled triumphantly.
He rubbed the back of his neck, completely defeated. "...You're impossible."
The moment was interrupted by nervous murmurs from the civilians gathering nearby. Yuta straightened.
"We should move."
His voice became firm. "The stadium's safe now."
Everyone quickly began following him. Just like before, you naturally took the lead. Yuta stayed behind to make sure no one was left alone.
The stadium entrance loomed ahead. Something...Felt wrong. You slowed. Your hand instinctively rested on your sidearm. The hairs on the back of your neck stood.
"...Yuta."
"I know."
He'd felt it too. The civilians began filing through the entrance one by one. Almost everyone had made it inside. You heard a terrified scream from the distance. You whipped around.
One of the civilians was sprinting toward the entrance. Behind him was a black cloud surged through the streets. No. Not smoke. Bugs. A writhing swarm poured over abandoned cars and shattered pavement like a living tide.
Someone screamed. "They're coming!"
Yuta immediately stepped forward. His eyes met yours for only a split second. He gave a single nod. You understood immediately.
"I've got them." You spun around.
"Everyone! Keep moving! Don't stop! Further inside!"
The civilians hurried deeper into the stadium as chunks of broken concrete rained down from the entrance. You stayed beside them until the last child was safely behind cover.
A roar echoed outside. Your heart lurched. You turned. Rika stood nearby, staring toward the entrance. Her massive frame blocked falling debris from reaching the civilians.
You ran over. "I'm going up."
She looked at you.
"I need a vantage point. If I can see him...I can support him."
Rika gave a firm nod. "Protect."
"I will." You smiled faintly. "Take care of everyone while I'm gone."
She thumped her chest. "Leave it to Rika."
The instant Rika manifested beside him, Yuta let out a breath of relief.
"Rika..."
She immediately moved to shield him as Uro and Ryu closed in again. The first thing out of his mouth wasn't about the fight.
"...I hope [name] didn't see what I did."
Rika blinked. "She was actually—"
A granite blast tore through the air. Yuta grabbed his sword again. The conversation ended there.
Much, much later...
The battlefield had finally gone quiet. Broken buildings smoldered around them. The morning sun had climbed higher into the sky. Yuta sat heavily on the cracked pavement beside Ryu. His uniform was torn. His body ached.
Every muscle screamed at him to lie down and never move again. But despite everything, a small, satisfied smile rested on his face.
Then he heard footsteps. His head immediately turned. The exhaustion melted from his expression. A bright smile spread across his face. You walked toward them with your sniper slung over one shoulder.
Ryu noticed the change instantly. "...Is that your girl?"
Yuta couldn't take his eyes off you. "...Yeah."
His voice came out softer than intended. He'd spent the entire fight wondering if you were okay. Now that you were standing in front of him, all he wanted to do was pull you into his arms. Forget the Culling Game. Forget the colony. Just hug you until he fell asleep.
You looked between him and Ryu. "...So." You tilted your head. "Is this the part where you two kiss now?"
"...HUH?!" Both men shouted in perfect unison.
Their jaws practically hit the floor. You folded your arms.
"Apparently we're all just going around kissing everyone and everything nowadays, huh?"
Yuta froze. His face slowly turned red. "...Honey, it was—"
"Save it. Your mouth has been contaminated with bug juice."
Ryu snorted.
"So you're not allowed to kiss me anymore."
Yuta's shoulders visibly slumped. He looked like someone had just told him puppies weren't real. Ryu pressed a fist against his mouth. His shoulders shook. He was trying, very unsuccessfully, not to laugh.
You nodded to yourself. "Since you're disqualified..." You turned toward the towering shikigami standing behind you. "I'll go kiss Rika instead."
Rika's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?!"
You smiled sweetly. "Wouldn't you like that, Rika?"
"Yes!"
She leaned down eagerly. You rose onto your toes.
"...Come here."
Rika happily lowered her face toward yours.
Yuta's eyes widened. "...Wait."
You were centimeters away.
"So cute..."
"...WAIT."
Two hands suddenly grabbed your cheeks.
"Hm—"
Before you could react, Yuta's warm lips crashed against yours.
"Mmph?!"
Your eyes flew open. You immediately tried pushing him away.
"Mm!"
Yuta didn't budge. One hand stayed cupping your face. The other wrapped firmly around your waist, keeping you against him. He wasn't letting you escape. Not this time. Only after several long seconds did he finally pull away. You stared at him in complete disbelief.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU KISSED ME WITH THE SAME MOUTH THAT KISSED KUROURUSHI!"
Your voice echoed across the ruined streets. Several birds took off from nearby buildings. He slowly looked at you with the most pitiful expression imaginable.
"I couldn't..." His voice was barely above a whisper. "...let you give my kiss to Rika."
You blinked. Ryu completely lost it.
"PFFT—HAHAHAHA!"
He doubled over laughing so hard he had to hold his stomach.
"You—" He pointed at Yuta. "You're jealous of your own shikigami?!"
Yuta's face somehow became even redder. "...She's not just any shikigami."
Rika's smile disappeared. She looked between the two of you. Then she pointed at herself.
"...Rika wanted kiss too."
Everyone froze. You looked at Rika. Yuta looked at Rika. Ryu looked at Rika.
She puffed out her cheeks. "...Not fair."
Yuta buried his face in both hands. "...Please don't make this any worse."
You couldn't help it. You burst into laughter. The kind you hadn't managed since entering the Culling Game. Yuta looked up at the sound. Seeing you laugh made every injury he'd sustained feel just a little lighter.
He was too late. The curse was already gone. Exorcised. The shopping mall had fallen silent. Only the ringing in his ears remained.
"...Hey." His voice sounded strangely distant.
He dropped to his knees beside you, hands immediately searching for the wound. "No..."
Reverse Cursed Technique flooded through his palms. The torn flesh began to knit together. Then opened again. As though your body was rejecting it.
"No." His breathing became uneven. "It'll work. It has to. I'm getting better at this. So..." His voice cracked. "...Please."
You looked at him. Not frightened. Not in pain. Just...sad.
"You look tired."
He laughed. A short, broken sound.
"I'm fine."
"You always say that."
"I am."
"You aren't."
His hands trembled harder. "Please don't talk. You need your strength. You can scold me later. You always do."
You smiled. "...Okay."
He couldn't stop healing you. If he stopped, it would become real.
"You know..." Your fingers brushed weakly against his cheek. "I think..." You paused to catch your breath. "...I was really happy."
His vision blurred. "Don't. Please."
"I still wanted..." Another shallow breath. "...more time."
"So do I." His answer came instantly. "We'll have more. You'll be okay. We'll go home. You'll make fun of my cooking again. You'll..."
He couldn't finish. Your hand slipped from his face. He caught it before it could fall.
"...Don't." His voice had become barely audible. "Please."
You looked at him one last time. "I love you."
The words were almost lost beneath the sound of his own heartbeat.
"...I love you too." He leaned forward until his forehead rested against yours. "You hear me? I love you too. So...so stay."
Silence.
"..."
He waited. Surely...surely you were only unconscious. You always answered him.
"[name]?" His grip tightened around your hand. "It isn't funny anymore...wake up."
Nothing. His shoulders began to shake.
"No..." The word escaped as little more than a whisper.
He didn't know how long he stayed there. Minutes. Hours. He held your hand tighter. As if warmth alone could call you back. His mind searched desperately for an answer. A technique. A curse. No. Anything. Anything at all. His thoughts became quieter. Smaller. A vow
"I don't care what happens to me. My life, my future, my soul—the universe can take all of it. Just give them back to me. Don't let her leave me behind. Let us stay together, over and over, until I finally get it right."
Yuta didn't know what he had traded away. Only that, somehow, he would see you again. The world fractured. Light bent inward. The shopping mall dissolved into white. The sound of your heartbeat, the sound he had memorized. Vanished.
...
A chair scraped across the classroom floor. Yuta opened his eyes. Morning sunlight streamed through the windows. Gojo stood inside the classroom with his usual carefree smile.
“Oh, before we start.” His smile softened ever so slightly. “I’ve got someone I’d like you all to meet.”
Yuta stood outside the classroom door. His hand hovered over the handle. For just a moment, he couldn't bring himself to move.
"Come on in." Gojo's voice pulled him back.
Yuta slid the door open. The chatter inside the classroom faded into the background. His eyes searched the room instinctively, and found you. Alive. Breathing. Looking back at him with nothing more than quiet curiosity. Relief hit him so suddenly it hurt. The vow had worked. His gaze lingered for only a fraction of a second before he forced himself to look away. You couldn't know. Not yet. Not ever, if he could help it. He swallowed the lump in his throat and stepped into the classroom.
“My name is Okkotsu Yuta.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “…It’s nice to meet you.”
His smile was small. Carefully practiced. As though this were the first time the two of you had ever met.
Timeline 3
[name] never left Okkotsu Yuta's side. Even after the ambulance arrived. Even after the paramedics gently tried to pull her away. She wouldn't let go. They eventually stopped asking.
The funeral was held the following day. She never cried. Not once. She stood before the fresh grave until sunset painted the cemetery gold. When Gojo offered to drive her home, she smiled. A tired, distant smile.
"...I'll be okay."
He wanted to believe her.
The second day passed in silence. No missions. No messages. No visitors. She never left her apartment.
On the third day...She sat alone on the floor of her bedroom. His jacket rested folded across her lap. She held it against her chest as though it still carried his warmth.
"I'm sorry..." Her voice was barely a whisper. "I tried."
Silence answered.
She closed her eyes. "...I don't think I can hold on any longer." She smiled. "I'll see you soon."
It was a genuine smile. The kind she hadn't worn since before that rainy afternoon. She took one last breath.
Everything faded to black.
Timeline 6
The funeral was quiet. The little girl placed a bouquet of white lilies at the foot of his grave. She thanked him through tears.
[name] never spoke.
The next morning, Gojo stood outside her apartment door. He knocked once. Twice. Three times.
No answer.
He rested his forehead against the wood and closed his eyes.
Everything faded to black.
Timeline 12
Yuta searched for you. Not every day. Not obsessively. Just whenever he happened to pass a familiar street. Whenever he caught himself looking into crowds. Gojo had told him you'd withdrawn from Jujutsu High. Transferred schools. Changed your phone number. Even your name.
Yuta never understood why. Had he done something? Said something? Every question remained unanswered. Eventually he stopped looking or at least, he pretended to.
Five years later, rain drummed softly against the sidewalk. Yuta stepped out of a convenience store, umbrella tucked beneath one arm. Then he saw you. Time stood still. You looked older. Your hair was different. Your clothes were ordinary. You looked...happy.
His feet moved before he could think. "...Hey."
You turned. Your eyes widened. Then, slowly...you smiled. It was small. Bittersweet. As though you already knew this moment couldn't last. He smiled back. For the first time in five years, the distance between you disappeared.
Then something moved. A curse. Its claws reached for you. Yuta didn't think. He never had to. He stepped between you and the attack.
The curse died with Okkotsu Yuta. Rain continued to fall.
[name] stood frozen in the middle of the street. For a long time, she simply stared. Frozen.
The funeral was held two days later. Few people recognized her. She stood beneath a black umbrella at the very back. She left before anyone could speak to her. Gojo heard she'd disappeared again. The apartment she'd rented was emptied overnight. The name on the lease no longer existed. It was as if she'd erased herself from the world a second time.
Three days after Okkotsu Yuta's death...she checked into a small hotel under a name that wasn't hers. She folded his old scarf beside the bed.Sat quietly. Closed her eyes.
"...I guess I couldn't outrun fate after all." She smiled. A sad, tired smile. "...I'm coming."
Everything faded to black.
Timeline 48
The man died at the scene. There was nothing the paramedics could do. The woman still had a pulse. Barely.
The operating room doors burst open.
"Twentysix year old female. Multiple internal injuries. BP dropping." The trauma team moved without hesitation.
"She's crashing."
"Charge to two hundred."
"Clear."
Her body jerked. Nothing. Again.
"Clear."
A flat tone answered. One of the nurses glanced toward the personal belongings that had been hastily placed in a plastic bag. A silver ring box.
Still unopened.
"Time of death—"
Everything faded to black.
Timeline 96
Yuta had lied. The moment he saw the curse's hand close around you, there had never been another outcome. Even after ninety five timelines, even after promising himself this time would be different...His body moved before the thought could form.
I'm sorry.
It was the last thing he ever thought.
...
The curse disappeared moments later. Exorcised. The battlefield fell strangely quiet.
[name] remained exactly where she'd fallen.
She never screamed. Never cried. She simply stared at the place where Yuta's body lay. For a long time...she didn't move at all.
Gojo found her still sitting there after sunset. "...Let's go."
No response.
"...He's gone."
She looked up at him. Her expression was empty.
"I know." Those were the only words she spoke.
She never returned to Jujutsu High. The next morning, Shoko knocked on her apartment door. No answer. She tried the handle. It wasn't locked. The apartment was silent. She lay curled beneath the blankets, one hand resting over the ring Yuta had once slipped onto a chain around her neck. Her breathing had already stopped.
Everything faded to black.
Timeline 99
The mall remained silent. Paramedics rushed inside. Shoko knelt beside Yuta. Gojo never looked away from you. Minutes passed. Nothing happened. No classroom. No reset. The world continued. Gojo's brow slowly furrowed.
"...No."
You looked up weakly. "...Sensei?"
His thoughts raced.
It should have reset. That's what she said. Every single time...
His eyes widened. It wasn't Yuta. It had never been Yuta. His gaze fell to you. To the blood soaking through your uniform. To your trembling hands. To the way your breathing had become shallower with each passing minute. Gojo's mind raced. What could be the trigger for the loop if not Yuta Okkotsu's death? How does a loop even begin? The pieces fell into place all at once. The way Yuta always chose you. A binding vow...
His heart dropped. "...Okkotsu..." The whisper barely escaped him. "You..." His hands clenched into fists. "You were trying to save her."
He looked at you, alive. Not unharmed but alive. For the first time since Yuta's death, hope flickered in his chest. He could tell you. He could explain everything. Maybe together—A sharp crack echoed overhead. You instinctively looked up. A fractured concrete support, weakened by the battle, tore free from the ceiling. It fell directly toward you. The impact thundered through the ruined mall. Dust swallowed everything.
When it settled, Gojo was already tearing the concrete apart with his bare hands.
"[name]!"
Chunks of rubble flew across the floor. Until he finally reached you. He froze.
"...No."
His hands shook as he reached toward your face. The words he'd finally pieced together. The answer you'd spent ninety nine lifetimes searching for...never reached you.
Everything faded to black.
Timeline 100
Timeline One Hundred.
The stars hadn't changed. Every reset, they returned exactly where they belonged. Yuta wondered if they remembered. If they had watched him make the same mistakes ninety-nine times. If they knew something he didn't. He rested his elbows against the wooden railing outside the dormitory and looked up. The night before Africa. Again.
It was almost funny.
He'd reached this point so many times that he could recite tomorrow from memory. Gojo would remind him to call. Maki would tell him not to embarrass Japan. Panda would complain about the souvenirs. Toge would wave him off with a quiet, "Salmon." You would smile and he'd die trying to stop you from dying. Then the classroom. Then another beginning. His fingers curled tightly around the railing.
What am I doing wrong?
He had spent ninety nine lives changing everything he could. Different missions. Different strategies. Different choices. Sometimes he stayed beside you every waking hour. Sometimes he kept his distance, hoping fate would lose sight of you. Sometimes he sacrificed strangers. Sometimes himself. Nothing mattered. No matter what he changed...it always reset.
"...Can't sleep?"
His shoulders stiffened. He knew that voice. He turned. You stood a few steps behind him. He simply looked at you. Alive. Smiling. The moonlight caught your face exactly as it had ninety nine times before. His chest ached.
"...A little nervous," he answered with a small laugh. "I've never been that far from home."
You nodded. "I know."
He smiled despite himself. "...You always seem to."
The words slipped out before he could stop them. They weren't supposed to mean anything. Just another conversation. Just another loop but something in your expression changed.
You took a slow breath. "...Yuta."
"Hm?"
"I like you."
The words settled over him so gently that, for a heartbeat, he thought he'd imagined them. His mind stopped. Every thought about timelines. Every memory of funerals. Every classroom. Gone. All he could see was you. He looked down at the ground, trying to steady his breathing.
Say it. If you don't say it now...Another lifetime would pass. Another goodbye. Another regret.
"...I like you too."
~~~
The grade one curse.
He saw it. Too late. The curse's arm exploded forward. His heart stopped. Again. Every instinct he'd built over a hundred lifetimes screamed the same command. [name].
"No!"
Yuta threw himself forward without thinking. He never had to think. He had made that choice long ago. If one of them had to die—It would always be him. Always.
Then—You moved. Not away from the attack. Toward him. Your hands struck his shoulders, stopping his momentum for the smallest fraction of a second. His eyes widened.
"...What?"
Before he could recover, you twisted. His footing vanished beneath him as you forced him behind you with every ounce of strength you possessed. The world slowed. His hand shot out. Your sleeve brushed his fingertips. Then slipped away. Understanding hit him all at once. Not confusion. Not panic. Recognition. You knew. You knew exactly what you were doing. The curse's strike landed. The sound of your body hitting the polished tile was impossibly small. Almost gentle. The entire mall forgot how to breathe.
Then something inside him snapped. The curse barely had time to exist. Rika's cursed energy erupted around him, answering the grief he could no longer contain. His sword moved once. The curse disappeared before it ever had the chance to attack again. He didn't watch it die. He was already running.
"[name]!" Yuta's knees slammed against the floor hard enough to crack the tile.
He hardly felt it. His hands shook uncontrollably as they searched your body, desperately looking for something, anything, he could fix.
"No..." His voice refused to steady. "No, no, no..."
Reverse Cursed Technique. He knew Reverse Cursed Technique. But your body refused to take it. His breathing became ragged.
"You..." His eyes finally met yours.
There was no fear in them. Only confusion. Only disbelief.
"...Why?"
Why had you stopped him? Why hadn't you let him do what he'd done a hundred times before?
"I'm sorry."
The words shattered something inside him. His fingers tightened desperately around your hand, as though he could anchor you to the world by sheer force alone.
"You don't get to apologize." His voice came out broken. "You don't." His grip tightened even more. "We were supposed to go home." His thoughts stumbled over themselves, grasping for anything that still belonged to tomorrow. "You promised."
His breathing hitched. "We still have places to go."
The apartment. The little café you'd wanted to try. The trip you'd been talking about. The ordinary future he'd finally let himself believe in.
"You said—" The sentence collapsed before it could finish.
A sob tore itself from his throat. He couldn't stop it. He couldn't stop any of it. All he knew was that your hand was still in his...and somehow it already felt like he was losing it.
"...Yuta."
He leaned toward you immediately. Anything. If you needed anything—"I'm here."
Your eyes searched his face with an unbearable tenderness. As though you were trying to memorize him. As though...No. Don't think like that.
"I love you."
His entire face crumpled. "I know." Another sob escaped him. "I love you too."
He'd loved you for a hundred lifetimes. Even if you never remembered them. Even if no one else ever would.
"So..."
A tear slid slowly down your temple.
"...please live."
His head shook before he even realized he was moving. "No."
There wasn't a world where he accepted that. Not after everything.
"Please."
"No."
"You don't understand." His voice rose, frantic. "This wasn't supposed to happen." It was always him. Always. He'd made sure of it.
"I can't." His vision blurred. "I can't do this."
"You have to."
"I won't."
There was no future without you. No reason to keep walking. No point in surviving another day if it meant leaving you behind.
"You will." Your voice had grown so faint he had to lean closer just to hear it. "You always choose me..." A painful pause. "just this once..." Your breathing trembled. "...choose yourself."
He lowered his forehead against yours. His shoulders shook so violently he could barely breathe. "I don't know how."
The confession escaped him before he could stop it. It was the truest thing he'd ever said. He didn't. He had spent one hundred lifetimes choosing you. He had forgotten how to choose himself. He wasn't even sure he ever had.
You closed your eyes. "...You'll learn."
He felt it before he saw it. Your fingers slowly loosened around his. Their warmth faded. Not his. Yours. For the first time, it wasn't his hand that went cold first. It was yours.
You didn’t cry. You didn’t speak. You simply lowered your eyes and remained silent as the classroom welcomed Okkotsu Yuta for the first time. This time, you would stay away. If you followed what happened originally...then perhaps he would live. That had to be it. It had to.
You avoided him. You hadn’t meant to. It was just hard to look him in the eyes without longing. When he smiled politely in the hallway, you pretended not to notice. The guilt in his expression grew with each passing week. He thought he’d done something wrong. You never gave him the chance to ask.
The elementary school mission. Maki went with him. Just like she had in the original timeline. Yuta was laughing. He was alive. You had forgotten how beautiful that sound was. For a brief moment, you almost walked over. Instead, you turned away. The months passed exactly as they should.
Yuta trained. He grew stronger. The bonds between first years deepened. The Night Parade arrived. You weren’t assigned to him. You fought elsewhere, just as Gojo ordered. Hours later, exhausted and covered in blood, you returned to Jujutsu High. Shoko met you at the entrance.
“It’s over.” Her shoulders relaxed. “He’s been defeated.”
You inhaled sharply. “…and Y-Okkotsu?”
She gave you a small smile. “He’s alive.”
Your knees nearly gave out. Alive. He's alive. You laughed. Then cried. Then laughed again. The days that followed felt normal. Gojo sent him overseas to train with Miguel. Months passed. No reset. You counted every sunrise. Every sunset. One week. Two. A month. Three. Nothing happened. Your nightmares slowly disappeared. You allowed yourself to believe that fate had finally given up.
Spring came. The cherry blossoms bloomed. Yuta returned to Japan. Older and more confident. Still painfully kind. When he saw you waiting outside the school gates, surprise softened into a smile.
“I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“…No.”
You hadn’t. Not really. Not in this life. He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I was wondering…” His eyes drifted toward the city below. “…Would you maybe want to catch up sometime?”
You hesitated. Every instinct screamed at you to refuse. But he had survived. Months had passed. The world hadn’t reset. Maybe it was over.
“…I’d like that.”
The friendship came easily.
Without missions forcing you together. Without shared danger. Just quiet afternoons. Coffee. Bookstores. Conversations that stretched until the last train. Somehow, without you noticing, the distance you had worked so hard to build disappeared.
One rainy evening, the two of you walked home beneath the same umbrella. You laughed at something he’d said. He looked at you. Not with surprise. Not with uncertainty. With unmistakable affection.
“I think…” He stopped walking. Rain tapped softly against the umbrella above your heads. “I think I’ve liked you for a long time.”
Your heart stilled. No. Not again. You should have walked away. You should have said no. But
You smiled. “…Me too.”
It happened six months later. Not during a mission. Not during a battle planned weeks in advance. Just another ordinary evening. The two of you were walking back through Shinjuku after dinner, still debating whether the café you'd visited deserved all the praise people gave it.
"You only liked it because they gave you extra whipped cream."
Yuta laughed. "...Maybe."
"You definitely did."
"I definitely did."
You rolled your eyes, unable to hide your smile. The city glowed with warm lights, crowded sidewalks, and the distant sound of traffic. Normal. Wonderfully, painfully normal.
The hairs on the back of your neck stood up. A curse. High above. Perched on the side of a building, nearly invisible against the night sky.
"...Yuta."
He had already sensed it. "I know."
His smile disappeared. The curse dropped. A Special Grade. Its cursed energy erupted through the intersection without warning. People screamed. Cars swerved. Glass shattered. The spirit wasn't after either of you. It was simply hungry.
"Get everyone back!" Yuta was already moving.
You split apart without needing to speak. You evacuated civilians while he intercepted the curse before it could reach the crowd. The battle was short. Violent. Buildings trembled beneath every exchange but within minutes, the curse collapsed beneath Yuta's blade. Its body dissolved into black ash. The civilians were safe.
You hurried toward him. "Are you hurt?"
He looked down at the deep gash stretching across his abdomen. "...Looks worse than it is."
Warm light bloomed beneath his palm. Reverse Cursed Technique. Before your eyes, torn flesh slowly knitted itself back together.
You let out a long breath. "...Don't scare me like that."
He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."
"There you go apologizing again."
"...I learned from someone."
You laughed. "...Shut up."
He grinned. For a moment, everything felt right. Yuta staggered.
"...Yuta?"
The smile vanished from his face. He frowned at his own hand. The light around his palm flickered. Then disappeared.
"That's..." His voice trailed off.
A thin line of black spread beneath the healing wound. Like ink crawling beneath his skin.
You froze. "...What is that?"
Yuta stared at it in confusion. "I...I don't know."
The curse. Its technique. It hadn't been physical. It had waited. It was dormant, hidden beneath the injury until the moment he tried to heal. The black veins raced across his arm. Too fast. Far too fast. Yuta immediately poured more Reverse Cursed Technique into the wound. Golden light flared brilliantly. The corruption slowed. For one hopeful second, it began to recede. Then it surged back even faster. The light shattered like broken glass. Yuta dropped to one knee.
"No..." You caught him before he collapsed.
"No, no, no..."
His breathing grew uneven. He tried again. Reverse Cursed Technique flooded his body. Nothing. It was as though something was consuming the cursed energy the instant he produced it.
"...It's not..." He coughed violently. "...Working..."
"No." You grabbed his shoulders. "You can heal this. You can heal anything."
His eyes searched yours. There was confusion in them. Confusion...and regret.
"I..." Blood stained the corner of his mouth. "...I'm sorry."
"No!" You reached for your phone with trembling hands. "Shoko! Gojo! Someone answer!"
No signal. The residual cursed energy blanketing the intersection disrupted everything. Yuta's grip tightened weakly around your wrist.
"...Hey." His voice was barely audible now.
"It'll..." He paused to catch his breath. "...It'll be okay."
"No, it won't!" Tears streamed freely down your face. "It can't end like this! You promised we'd have tomorrow. So why—"
The question died in your throat. Yuta smiled. The same gentle smile that had always made your heart ache.
"Because..." His fingers brushed against your cheek. "I got...to protect you."
The warmth left his hand. It slipped from your face. His head rested against your shoulder.
"...Yuta?" You shook him gently. "...Please."
The city continued around you. Cars moved. Traffic lights changed. People screamed. Somewhere in the distance, someone called for an ambulance. You held him long after the warmth left his body. Long after the rain washed the blood from the pavement. Long after your own voice had become too hoarse to scream.
Darkness swallowed your world.
…
A chair scraped across the classroom floor.
“Wake up.”
Your eyes snapped open. Morning sunlight. A familiar classroom. Your hands flew to your face.
Dry. No rain. No blood. The classroom door slid open.
“Morning!” Gojo smiled brightly. “I’ve got someone I’d like you all to meet.”
You stared at the calendar.
2017
Again. The truth settled over you with crushing certainty. The world itself had only one rule.
As long as Okkotsu Yuta lived, time moved forward. The moment he died, everything began again.
Timeline 6
You confessed first. You thought maybe if you loved him before he loved you, you could change something. Three years later, a collapsing office building trapped dozens of civilians beneath its foundation.
Yuta smiled at you over his shoulder. "Stay here."
He disappeared into the rubble. He pulled out thirty two people. The thirty third was a little girl. He reached her. The building came down before he could come back.
...
"Good morning."
Timeline 12
You refused to become a sorcerer. You left Jujutsu High. Moved across the country. Changed your phone number. Changed your name. You didn't see Yuta again for five years. Then one rainy afternoon, you crossed paths by pure coincidence. He recognized you instantly.
You smiled. He smiled. A curse recognized you too. It lunged. Yuta moved first. You never even saw the attack that killed him.
...
"Wake up."
Timeline 24
Over the course of the loops, you learned Reverse Cursed Technique. You healed him.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Your hands glowed until your vision blurred. His pulse weakened anyway. Shoko pulled you away.
"...Enough."
"No."
"You can't save him."
"I can."
"You can't."
"...I've done this before."
Shoko stared. She didn't understand. She never would.
...
"Sorry I'm late."
Timeline 48
You accepted the impossible. You stopped trying to save everyone. Only him. If civilians died...so be it. If missions failed, so be it. As long as Yuta lived.
For nearly seven years, it worked. Seven years. Longer than any previous timeline. You began planning apartments together. He started looking at rings. One winter evening, he walked you home after work. You reached your apartment building.
He kissed your forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow."
You smiled. "Tomorrow."
A drunk driver ignored the red light. You survived. He didn't.
...
"There wasn't any traffic."
Timeline 96
You begged him. "Please. Just this once...Don't save me."
He smiled. "I wasn't planning to."
You almost believed him.Hours later, a curse grabbed you from behind. Yuta looked back. You watched the decision happen.
Instantly.
He didn't think. He simply moved. Just as he always had.
...
"You are the worst."
Timeline 99
Gojo found you before class. You were sitting alone beneath the maple tree overlooking the training grounds. The leaves had long since begun to change. You couldn't remember how many autumns you had watched from this exact bench. You'd stopped counting somewhere around fifty. He approached with two cans of coffee.
"I figured you might want one."
You accepted it automatically. "...Thanks."
Neither of you opened yours. For several minutes, the only sound was the wind rustling through the branches overhead. Gojo was the first to speak.
"You know..." He leaned back against the bench. "I've been watching you."
No response.
"You're different."
You stared at the unopened can in your hands. "I am?"
"You smile at all the right places." He shrugged. "You laugh when everyone else laughs. You answer questions before I even finish asking them." He paused. "But none of it's real."
Your fingers tightened around the aluminum.
"You've gotten really good at pretending." Gojo looked sideways at you. "I miss my student."
The words landed harder than you expected. Your vision blurred.
"...I'm still here."
"No." His answer was immediate. "The kid sitting next to me?" He smiled sadly. "She's exhausted."
Something inside you cracked. It wasn't loud. It wasn't dramatic. It was simply...too much. A quiet laugh escaped your lips. Before you knew it, tears were streaming down your face. Gojo didn't interrupt. He just waited.
"...He's going to die." Your voice barely rose above a whisper.
Gojo's expression didn't change. "...Who?"
"...Yuta."
The name hung between you.
"He's going to die. Again." You laughed bitterly. "Just like he always does."
Gojo remained silent. So you kept talking. Because what was the point in hiding it anymore? Tomorrow—No. Not tomorrow. Whenever Yuta died...everything gets erased.
"I've watched him die ninety eight times."
Your gaze remained fixed on the mountains beyond the school.
"I've held him while he bled to death. I've watched buildings collapse on him. I've watched him sacrifice himself for strangers. For children. For me."
Your voice trembled.
"I've watched him survive impossible injuries...Only to die hours later. I've watched him make it to graduation. Make it overseas. Come home."
You laughed through your tears. "One timeline...He made it seven years." Your shoulders shook. "I thought we'd won."
A long silence stretched.
"He died anyway." The words sounded so small. "So..." You wiped at your eyes. "I'm done. I'm tired. I don't want to do this anymore."
Gojo didn't speak. Didn't offer empty reassurance. Didn't tell you everything would be okay. Instead, he asked quietly,
"When does it reset?"
You blinked. "...What?"
"The loop." He looked directly at you. "When does it start over?"
You stared at him. "You...You believe me?"
He frowned. "I believe that my student believes what she's telling me." He gave you a small smile. "and..." He reached over and flicked your forehead. "I know you. You don't lie."
The tears came harder than before. "I thought..." Your voice broke. "I thought no one ever would..."
Gojo looked out across the training grounds. "Then let's assume you're right."
The simplicity of the statement stunned you.
"No arguments? No calling Shoko? No wondering if I've finally lost my mind?"
He chuckled. "I considered it. But this isn't how insanity looks." He tapped his temple.
"This? This looks like grief."
Your breathing hitched.
"So." He stood, brushing fallen leaves from his uniform. "If Yuta dies...You go back to the beginning."
You nodded.
"If he lives...The timeline keeps going."
Another nod. Gojo folded his arms.
"And every single time...He dies protecting you."
"...Eventually." The word barely escaped your lips.
"Eventually."
Gojo was quiet for a long time. Long enough that you wondered if he was finally going to tell you it was impossible. Instead, he smiled. The same confident smile that had reassured countless frightened students before you.
"Then we'll save him."
You almost laughed. "You can't. I've tried everything. I've changed missions. I've changed partners. I've stayed away from him. I've loved him. I've 'hated' him. I've left Tokyo. I've quit being a sorcerer. I've learned Reverse Cursed Technique. I've memorized every day of his life."
Your voice became smaller with every sentence.
"It doesn't matter. He always dies."
Gojo listened without interrupting. Then he asked the one question no one not even you had ever asked.
"...Has he ever stopped choosing to save you?"
Silence. You opened your mouth. Closed it. Memories flashed through your mind. Different years. Different lives. Different deaths. Always the same choice. Your answer never came. It didn't need to. Gojo already understood.
His smile faded. "...I see."
For the first time since you'd met him, Satoru Gojo looked genuinely troubled. Not because he doubted your story but because he believed every word and somewhere deep inside him, in a place even he couldn't explain, the thought of losing one of his students over and over again...felt strangely familiar.
The mission should have been routine. A Grade One curse. Three sorcerers. More than enough. Gojo had insisted on coming. Not because the mission required him. Because he refused to let you and Yuta out of his sight. The entire drive there, he said almost nothing. His blindfold hid his eyes but every few minutes, he glanced toward the two of you. Watching. Waiting. As though expecting the world itself to make its move. The curse died within minutes. The spirit dissolved into ash.
"...Done." He exhaled.
You finally let yourself breathe. No hidden cursed energy. No lingering technique. No delayed activation. You swept the area once. Twice. Three times. Nothing.
Gojo expanded his senses. "...Clear."
He sounded unconvinced. The silence stretched.
Yuta sheathed his sword. "I guess that's—"
A sharp crack echoed through the empty warehouse.
Gojo's head snapped upward. His entire body went rigid. No cursed energy. No curse. No warning. Just instinct. His eyes widened beneath the blindfold.
"No."
You had never heard fear in Gojo's voice before. Not once. He disappeared. The concrete beneath his feet exploded as he launched himself forward.
"YUTA!"
Everything happened at once. The ceiling groaned.
A rusted support beam, already fractured by the battle, gave way. Except...it wasn't falling toward Yuta. It was falling toward you. You looked up. Too late. Your body refused to move. Gojo reached for you first. He was closer. Infinity shimmered around him. Another half second That was all he needed. But Yuta never gave him that half second. He moved. Not because he had time to think. Because he didn't.
He shoved you backward with both hands. Your body stumbled out of the beam's path. Gojo's fingertips were inches away.
"NO!"
The support crashed down. The building shook. Steel screamed. Concrete erupted into a cloud of dust. Everything went still.
"...Yuta?"
You heard a single cough and you were already running. Chunks of broken concrete littered the floor. Twisted steel pinned him beneath the collapsed support. Blood soaked through his uniform. Far too much.
"No..."
You dropped beside him. Your hands were already glowing. Reverse Cursed Technique flooded into the wound. Golden light illuminated the rubble.
Please.
The torn flesh began to close. Then split apart again. You poured more cursed energy into him. More. More. Until your vision blurred.
"It isn't working..." Your voice trembled. "No..."
Gojo was beside you in an instant, throwing aside slabs of concrete as though they weighed nothing.
"Get him out!" You screamed.
"I am!"
The steel shifted. Another beam collapsed. Gojo tore it away with brute force. Finally, Yuta's body was free. You immediately resumed healing. His pulse flickered beneath your fingertips. Weak. Fading.
"No..."
Your cursed energy poured into him relentlessly. Every ounce you possessed. The wound closed. Then opened again from within. As though something invisible refused to let it remain healed. Gojo stared. His expression slowly changed. Confusion. Disbelief. Then recognition.
"No..." It came out as a whisper. Not to you but to himself.
His mind raced back to the bench beneath the maple tree.
"I've watched him survive impossible injuries..."
"Only to die hours later."
"I've learned Reverse Cursed Technique."
"It doesn't matter."
"He always dies."
Gojo's hands curled into fists. "No."
This time his voice carried. Not with fear. With defiance.
"I'm not accepting that."
Cursed energy erupted around him. The warehouse walls cracked beneath the pressure.
"You hear me?"
He looked at no one. At nothing. As though challenging fate itself.
"I don't care what you are. I don't care what game you're playing. You're not taking my student."
Silence answered him.
Yuta smiled weakly. "...Sensei."
Gojo dropped to one knee beside him. "I'm here. We're getting you home. We'll figure this out. We always do."
Yuta's gaze drifted next to him. Finding you still healing. Still refusing to stop. Your hands shook violently. Blood stained your sleeves. Your breathing had become ragged.
"...Enough."
You shook your head. "No."
"You've done enough."
"No."
"I can still—"
"You can't."
The words were gentle. Never accusing. Never afraid. Simply accepting.
Fresh tears spilled down your cheeks. "I'm sorry."
The apology shattered him. Yuta smiled.
"You always..." A quiet laugh escaped him. "say sorry..."
Even now. You couldn't answer. He reached for your hand. Your fingers met his halfway.
"...Thank you. For..." His voice grew faint. His hand relaxed. The warmth left it.
You froze. "...Yuta?"
The warehouse fell silent. Gojo looked from Yuta to you. Then slowly closed his eyes. He had believed you. He had remembered. He had arrived. He had done everything right and still he had been too late.
Darkness crept into the edges of your vision.
Gojo's voice was the last thing you heard. "...I'm sorry."
The world dissolved.
...
“I’ve got someone I’d like you all to meet.”
Timeline 100
You woke before Maki could throw the eraser. You already knew it was coming. Your hand rose without looking. The eraser landed neatly in your palm.
“…Huh.” Maki blinked. “…Lucky.”
You set it quietly on your desk. Lucky. You almost laughed. You had stopped believing in luck ninety nine lives ago.
Gojo introduced Okkotsu Yuta. He bowed.
“My name is Okkotsu Yuta…It’s nice to meet you.”
You smiled politely. Nothing more. Nothing less. No tears. No shaking hands. No grief. Just enough warmth that he wouldn’t think you’d disliked him. Just enough distance that he wouldn’t remember you after today. Hopefully.
The idea came to you three nights later. Not in a dream. Not during training. While brushing your teeth. Such an ordinary moment. You stared at your reflection.
The toothbrush slipped from your fingers. "I survived…” You whispered. “In every…timeline…”
Your reflection stared back. Yuta had died in buildings. On missions. In hospitals. On rainy streets. In your arms. For you. Every single time…you had lived because he made sure of it. Your breathing became shallow.
“What if…” The words caught in your throat. “…I’m the problem?”
Silence filled the bathroom.
“What if…” You squeezed the edge of the sink until your knuckles turned white. “…I die first?”
Would the loop end? Would the world continue? Would Yuta finally get to live?
Or…
Would everything simply go dark? You didn’t know. You couldn’t know. There was only one way to find out.
The next morning, you found Gojo exactly where you expected. Standing on the veranda with a cup of coffee, watching his students train.
“You’re here.” He smiled without looking at you. “I had a feeling you’d come.”
You stood beside him. For a while, neither of you spoke. Then you quietly said,
“I'm in a time loop.”
The smile disappeared. You told him everything. Again. Ninety nine timelines. Ninety nine deaths. Every conversation. Every failure. Every promise. Every goodbye. Gojo listened without interrupting. Not once. When you finished, he exhaled slowly.
“…I wish I could remember.”
You looked over at him.
“So do I.”You pause. “I hate having to tell you this.”
“I hate that you have to.”
The morning breeze stirred his white hair.
“This time…” He looked toward the training grounds where Yuta awkwardly sparred with Maki. “…What are you going to do differently?”
Your gaze followed his. Yuta stumbled backward after taking another hit. Panda laughed. Maki rolled her eyes. Toge clapped once. The scene was so ordinary. So painfully ordinary.
You smiled. “I want…” Your voice came out softer than you intended. “I want to spend time with him.”
Gojo turned toward you. You kept your eyes fixed on Yuta.
“I’ve spent so many timelines trying to change things. I’ve spent so many trying to avoid him. I don’t want another life defined only by fear.” You swallowed. “I want to know him again. The way I did the first time.”
Gojo studied your face carefully. Not the words. Your expression. As though searching for something hidden between your sentences.
“…And after that?”
You hesitated. Only for a heartbeat.
“I’ll think of something.”
It wasn’t a lie. Not entirely. You did think of something. You simply weren’t ready to speak it aloud. Not yet. Gojo held your gaze a moment longer. Then, to your surprise, he nodded.
“…Alright.”
“…That’s it?”
He shrugged. “I can’t promise I’ll understand everything.”
“But if this really is your hundredth try…” A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I’d rather help you make some good memories than watch you spend another year suffering alone.”
Your throat tightened. “…Thank you.”
He lightly bumped your shoulder. “One condition.”
You looked up.
“If you’re going to spend time with Okkotsu…” His grin returned, bright and familiar. “…At least let the poor kid know you’re interested.”
Heat rushed to your face before you could stop it.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He laughed. “Trust me. I’ve watched him looking at you for exactly four days. You’ve already confused him.”
Despite everything, a genuine laugh escaped you.
The sound surprised both of you. Gojo smiled. There it was. For the first time since he’d met you in this timeline, he heard the student he’d been searching for. He silently promised himself that, whatever this loop was, he would do everything in his power to help you carry it. Neither of you noticed Yuta glancing toward the veranda. He saw you laughing. He smiled to himself and hoped he could make you laugh like that too.
Confessing turned out to be much harder than dying. The first attempt lasted all of three seconds. You found Yuta alone after training, your heart pounding so loudly you were certain he could hear it.
"Yuta, I..." He looked at you expectantly. "...Do you know where Panda went?"
You wanted to disappear.
The second attempt ended with Maki walking between the two of you, complaining that Panda had stolen her water bottle. The third ended because Toge suddenly shoved a rice ball into Yuta's hands and dragged him away before you could say another word.
The fourth...was entirely your fault. You had rehearsed every sentence. Every breath. Every possible response. You walked toward him with determination. Then he smiled. Your mind emptied.
"...Never mind."
You turned around so quickly that you almost ran into Gojo. He looked between you and Yuta before sighing dramatically.
"You've looped through almost a hundred timelines and this is what's defeating you?"
You buried your face in your hands. "Please stop talking."
"I'm just saying." He patted your shoulder. "I thought confessing would be easier than fighting Special Grades."
"...It's not."
"Clearly."
It took another two weeks. Not because you lacked opportunities. Because every time you looked at him, all you could think about was every goodbye. Every death. Every hand that had gone cold in yours. You were terrified that loving him again meant signing his death warrant. But...you had already decided. If this really was your last attempt, you wanted at least one life where you stopped running away.
He was leaving for Africa tomorrow. The campus had grown quiet after dinner. Most of the students had already returned to the dormitories. Yuta stood outside, staring up at the stars.
You joined him. "...Can't sleep?"
He laughed softly. "A little nervous. I've never been that far from home."
You nodded. "I know."
He smiled. "...You always seem to."
The words made your chest tighten. You knew. Because you'd watched him leave so many times before. Sometimes you waved. Sometimes you hid. Sometimes he never knew you were watching. Tonight would be different.
You inhaled slowly. "...Yuta."
"Hm?"
"I like you."
The words hung between you. Your heart hammered painfully against your ribs.
"I've..." You laughed nervously. "I've liked you for a long time."
His eyes widened. For several long seconds, he simply stared.
"You..." He pointed weakly at himself. "...mean me?"
You couldn't stop smiling at how cute he was. "There isn't another Okkotsu Yuta standing here."
His ears turned bright red. "I..." He opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
"I thought..." His laugh was almost embarrassed. "I thought maybe...You were just being nice to me."
Your smile softened. "I was. I am. But that's not all."
He looked down at his shoes. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper.
"I like you too." The words were so quiet you almost missed them.
"...Really?"
He nodded quickly. "So much that..." He rubbed the back of his neck.
"I was trying to figure out if asking you out before leaving the country would be selfish."
A watery laugh escaped you. "You idiot."
"...I know. So..." He glanced up hopefully. "Does this mean..."
You answered by taking his hand. His fingers twitched in surprise before carefully intertwining with yours.
"...Yeah. It does."
The year apart felt impossibly long. Phone calls became the highlight of your week. Sometimes they lasted hours. Sometimes only minutes because of missions. He sent you pictures whenever Miguel wasn't looking. Sunsets over unfamiliar landscapes. Strange snacks from convenience stores. The occasional blurry selfie with an exhausted grin. You sent him pictures in return. Panda stealing someone's lunch. Maki pretending she wasn't worried about him. Gojo making ridiculous faces in the background. Normal things. Ordinary things. The kind of memories you'd once taken for granted.
When he finally returned to Japan, you met him at the airport. The moment he stepped through the arrivals gate, he dropped his suitcase. You ran. He caught you effortlessly as you threw your arms around him.
"I missed you." His voice trembled against your hair. "So much."
You held him tighter. "So did I."
After that, neither of you wasted time. Days off became dates. A bookstore tucked away between busy streets. A tiny café that served pancakes shaped like bears. Walking beneath cherry blossoms until the last train home. Watching terrible movies just to laugh at them together. Holding hands whenever no one was looking. You treasured every ordinary moment. Every laugh. Every conversation. Every sunrise you got to share. As though you were quietly collecting memories before someone came to take them away.
Gojo noticed. He never said anything. Only watched from a distance with an expression you couldn't quite decipher. Sometimes it looked almost like he knew you were saying goodbye.
One bright summer afternoon, you stopped outside a familiar building. Yuta tilted his head.
"...The aquarium?"
You smiled. "I've been wanting to bring you here."
His face lit up immediately. "Really?"
You nodded. "It was...a promise."
He blinked. "...A promise?"
You looked toward the glass entrance, where children eagerly tugged their parents inside. Your reflection stared back at you. A hundred different versions of yourself. A hundred different lives.
"...One I wanted to keep."
He reached for your hand. "...Then let's go."
You smiled. For now, you let yourself believe this was just another date. Not knowing that, somewhere deep inside your heart, you were quietly searching for the right moment to let him live. Even if it meant you wouldn't.
The aquarium was quieter than either of you expected. Blue light spilled across the darkened halls, dancing over the glass as schools of fish drifted lazily through the water. Yuta stopped in front of nearly every exhibit. He watched the sea turtles with childlike wonder, laughed when an octopus stubbornly refused to leave the corner of its tank, and spent an embarrassing amount of time waving at a curious seal that seemed determined to follow him from one end of the glass to the other.
"I think it likes you," you teased.
He looked over his shoulder with an almost bashful smile. "I think it's just hoping I have food."
"You'd probably apologize for disappointing it."
"...I probably would."
You laughed. The sound echoed softly through the tunnel. It was the kind of laugh that came easily around him. The kind you had almost forgotten you were capable of. As the afternoon slipped into evening, the two of you wandered beneath the enormous ocean tunnel. Sharks glided silently overhead. Stingrays floated like drifting clouds. The water painted rippling shades of blue across Yuta's face. He looked beautiful. Alive. You committed the sight to memory.
"You've been staring at me a lot today." His voice pulled you from your thoughts.
You blinked. "Have I?"
He nodded, smiling shyly. "...Is there something on my face?"
You reached up and brushed an imaginary speck from his cheek. "There."
He laughed. "There wasn't actually anything there, was there?"
"...No."
"I thought so." He didn't seem to mind.
Instead, he slipped his hand into yours. His fingers were warm. Comfortably familiar.
"I've been thinking..."
You looked up at him.
"I'm really glad you confessed."
Your heart ached. "So am I. I would've regretted it forever if I hadn't." You looked away before he could see the tears threatening to form.
"...Me too."
Neither of you spoke after that. You simply stood together beneath the endless blue, watching countless lives drift peacefully above your heads. For just a little while, the world forgot to be cruel and you let yourself pretend that tomorrow was a promise instead of a question.
The shopping mall had already been evacuated. Shattered storefronts stretched down the empty corridor, glass crunching beneath your shoes as you and Yuta moved deeper into the building.
"Grade One," Yuta murmured, hand resting on the hilt of his katana. "Stay close."
You smiled faintly. "I was planning to."
The curse revealed itself on the third floor. A grotesque mass of limbs and mouths crashed through the ceiling, sending concrete raining down around you. The fight unfolded almost exactly as you remembered. Yuta cut through the first barrage. You covered his blind spot. Your heartbeat synchronized with memory.
It's here.
The thought struck you before the curse moved. You already knew what came next. Yuta would see it. He would think you hadn't. He would throw himself between you and—
"There!"
The curse's arm shot forward. Too fast. Too sudden. Exactly as it had a hundred times before. You saw Yuta's eyes widen.
"No!"
He lunged. Just as he always had. Just as he always would. You stepped into him instead. Your hands caught his shoulders. For a fraction of a second, confusion crossed his face.
"...What?"
Then you turned. You twisted your bodies with every bit of strength you had, forcing him behind you. The world slowed. You felt his fingers grasp desperately for your sleeve. He understood. Recognition flooded his expression.
"No." His voice cracked. "No!"
Your body hit the polished tile with a sound that was strangely small. The mall fell silent. No one moved. But the curse never got a second chance. A flash of cursed energy tore through the air, clean, precise. Yuta didn’t hesitate. He erased it in an instant, the remaining presence of it collapsing like a snuffed flame.
"[name]!"
Yuta was beside you before you could blink. His knees slammed into the floor. His hands were already trembling as they searched for the wound.
"No, no, no..." His voice was shaking too hard to finish a sentence. "You..." His eyes met yours. "...Why?"
Blood spread beneath you, dark against the white tiles. You reached for him. It took more effort than it should have. Your fingers brushed his cheek.
"I beat you to it."
The joke came out as little more than a breath. He broke.
"No." Tears spilled freely down his face. "No!"
His cursed energy erupted around him. Reverse Cursed Technique. Your body refused it. The wound would not close. He poured more of himself into you until his hands began to shake from exhaustion.
"Please." He had never sounded so desperate. "Please...You always...His breathing hitched. "...You always make it."
It was the first time you'd ever seen this side of the story. The side Yuta had carried alone. The desperation. The bargaining. The refusal to let go. It looked so much heavier than you had imagined.
"I'm sorry."
"You don't get to apologize." His grip tightened around your hand. "You don't." His voice rose, raw and uneven. "We were supposed to go home. You promised. We still have places to go. You said—"
His words collapsed into helpless sobs. You had imagined this moment for so long. You thought dying would be frightening. Instead...all you could think was that he was alive. His heart was still beating. His hands were warm. He was here. You had finally reached him before fate could.
"Yuta."
He leaned closer immediately. "I'm here."
You looked at him as though trying to memorize him all over again. The boy you had met and lost a hundred times.
"I love you."
His face crumpled. "I know. I love you too."
"So..." A tear slipped down your temple. "...please live."
He shook his head violently. "No."
"Please."
"No."
"You don't understand. This wasn't supposed to happen..." He looked utterly terrified. "I can't. I can't do this."
"You have to."
"I won't."
"You will." Your voice was barely audible now.
"You always choose me...Just this once..." You swallowed with difficulty. "...Choose yourself."
His forehead rested against yours. His shoulders shook.
"I don't know how."
The words nearly undid you because of course he didn't. Yuta Okkotsu had never learned how to survive if it meant leaving someone else behind. You closed your eyes.
"...You'll learn."
Your fingers slipped from his. For the first time in one hundred timelines, it wasn't his hand that went cold first. It was yours.
when you stop doing the little things for megumi ❀
Megumi didn't notice it at first or at least, that's what he told himself. The sports drink that usually appeared beside his bag after training wasn't there.
Normally, by the time he finished training and wiped the sweat from his face, there would be a cold bottle waiting for him. Sometimes it was his preferred flavor. Sometimes it wasn't. Either way, it was always there. This time, there was nothing.
He stared at the empty patch of concrete beside his bag for a second longer than necessary before looking away. Not a big deal. He could buy one himself. The next day, after a particularly rough training session, he reached into his bag for fresh bandages.
There weren't any. Megumi paused. Usually, whenever he ran low, a new roll would mysteriously appear before he even remembered to replace it himself. Strange.
He ended up borrowing some from Shoko's supplies and didn't think much of it. At least, he tried not to. A few days later, his Divine Dogs approached him during training with its ears lowered. They nudged insistently against his hand. Megumi frowned.
"What?"
The Dogs whined. Then glanced toward the edge of the training field. Toward the spot where you usually sat while waiting for your own classes. The spot was empty. Megumi followed their gaze for a moment. Then looked away and resumed training.
The following week, he found himself noticing more things. No folded note reminding him about a schedule change. No extra umbrella left outside his dorm when rain was forecasted. No casual text reminding him to eat before a mission. No treats slipped for the Divine Dogs when you thought nobody was looking. The absence of those things shouldn't have stood out. Yet somehow they did.
And whats worse, He kept looking for you without meaning to. The cafeteria. The training grounds. The library. The hallways between classes. Every time a figure appeared in his peripheral vision, his attention shifted automatically before he could stop himself. Only to realize it wasn't you.
You were still around. He saw you occasionally. You attended classes. You went on missions. You talked with the others. But whenever Megumi entered a room, you no longer drifted naturally toward him. You no longer sat beside him. You no longer left little pieces of yourself scattered throughout his day. The little things had stopped.
No drinks.
No reminders.
No treats.
Nothing.
Megumi told himself it didn't matter.
Then he realized he'd spent nearly ten minutes staring at his phone after receiving a mission notification because, for a split second, he'd thought it might be a message from you. That realization irritated him far more than it should have.
"You're acting weird."
Megumi looked up. Yuji and Nobara were staring at him from across the cafeteria table.
"I'm not."
"You definitely are," Nobara said immediately.
"I'm not."
"You keep looking at the door."
"I don't."
"You literally just did."
Megumi immediately glanced toward the entrance. Nobara pointed.
"See?"
"..."
Yuji gasped dramatically.
"Wait."
"What?"
"You and (y/n) got into a fight!" Megumi frowned.
"We didn't."
Nobara narrowed her eyes and leaned closer.
"Then why haven't you been glued to each other lately?"
"We're not glued to each other."
Nobara and Yuji exchanged a look. Megumi hated that look. The one that said they knew something he didn't. Fortunately, Gojo appeared before they could continue. Unfortunately, it was Gojo.
"Ooooh."
Megumi immediately regretted being born. Gojo dropped into the empty seat beside him and threw an arm around his shoulders.
"Someone's having relationship problems."
"We aren't dating."
"I didn't say you were."
"..."
Gojo's grin widened.
Megumi considered leaving the country.
Later that evening, after spending an unreasonable amount of time pretending he wasn't thinking about the situation, he found himself standing outside your dorm room.
He stared at the door. Then at the floor. Then back at the door. This was stupid. There was no reason for him to be here. He should leave. Instead, he knocked. A few moments later, the door opened.
You blinked in surprise.
"Megumi?"
He suddenly realized he had absolutely no plan. No explanation. No prepared excuse. Nothing.
You waited patiently.
"Uh... what's up?" You smiled awkwardly.
Megumi shoved his hands into his pockets, unable to look at you.
"You stopped."
You tilted your head.
"Stopped what?"
"The..."
He hated this.
"The things."
"The things?"
"The drinks."
"Oh." Your expression was unreadable.
"The notes."
"Oh."
"The dog treats."
"Oh."
Every response somehow made this worse. You looked at him for a moment. Then your expression softened with understanding.
"I figured you probably didn't want them anymore."
Megumi stared.
"What?"
"You never really said anything." You laughed awkwardly and scratched the side of your neck. "I know you're not exactly the expressive type." That was putting it mildly.
"So I started wondering if maybe I was being annoying."
Megumi's brows furrowed. You continued before he could respond.
"I mean, I was always leaving stuff for you, bringing things, reminding you about things."
You smiled sheepishly.
"At some point I thought maybe I should stop forcing myself into your routine."
The words hit harder than they should have. Because the truth was, he had noticed. Every single one.
The drinks waiting beside his bag after training.
The notes tucked into his textbooks.
The treats that made Divine Dog immediately seek you out whenever you appeared.
The extra bandages.
The umbrellas.
The reminders.
The way you somehow remembered details he forgot himself. The way you quietly took care of things without expecting acknowledgment. The way his day always seemed to run a little smoother whenever you were around. He'd noticed all of it. He just hadn't realized how much he'd come to expect it. How much he'd come to rely on it. Until it disappeared.
"You weren't bothering me."
Your smile faltered slightly.
For some reason, seeing that uncertainty on your face made something uncomfortable tighten in his chest.
"I wasn't?"
"No."
You stared at him. Megumi held your gaze. Neither of you looked away. The hallway suddenly felt very quiet.
"You noticed?" you asked softly, quietly. Face feeling warm.
Megumi hesitated. Then nodded once. His face was also feeling warm.
"I noticed."
Your eyes widened slightly. Because that was probably the closest thing to a confession Megumi Fushiguro had ever given. The silence that followed felt strange. Not awkward. Just... different. Like both of you were realizing something at the same time.
Then suddenly—
"Oh my God."
Both of you froze, turning slowly. Gojo was hanging upside down outside the nearby window. Somehow. Neither of you questioned how.
"THAT'S what it was."
"GO AWAY."
Megumi had never spoken faster in his life. His face turning red. Gojo ignored him completely.
"You missed her."
"I did not."
"You missed her little acts of service."
"I didn't."
"You absolutely did."
"I didn't."
"You spent weeks pouting because nobody was leaving sports drinks beside your bag."
"I was not pouting."
"You were emotionally pouting."
Megumi looked ready to summon Mahoraga. Gojo pointed dramatically between the two of you.
"Congratulations, Megumi. You like her."
The silence afterward was devastating. Because for the first time, Megumi couldn't immediately deny it.
The words just sat there.
His gaze drifted toward you. You were looking at him too, face a bit flushed and suddenly all those little things didn't seem little at all.
Not the drinks. Not the notes. Not the treats. Not the countless quiet ways you'd woven yourself into his everyday life.
Because somewhere along the way, without either of you noticing, you had become part of his routine and the moment that routine disappeared, he'd realized just how much he wanted you there.
You hear a meow as your near the training grounds where Megumi had been since this morning. There, by the grass, sat a fluffy black cat just watching him train, its head and tail moving side to side following Megumi's every move. You kept your eyes on the cat as you walked closer towards them, holding a snack, intrigued.
"Did you know you had a friend watching you train?" Megumi stopped his movements and stared at you, loss for words.
"That cat has been there staring at me since I started." He sighed and picked up a towel to wipe his sweat.
"I think it likes you." You stare at Megumi as he stares at the cat that's rubbing itself on his legs. "Are you sure it's not yours?"
He gives you a pointed look and starts walking away, the cat meowing and following him. "Do I look like a cat person?" You smile and think. Absolutely.
That same day you went to the store and bought some cat food for the stray cat. Since Megumi said it's not his cat, then that means no one is taking care of it. So you plan on leaving food for it in case it gets hungry. You remember seeing it behind the dorms before so you grabbed a bowl and left the food there. Hopefully, it smells the food and comes by.
The next morning, you see the cat by the dorms, grooming itself. "Oh! Good morning kitty. Did you eat the food I left you?" The cat stopped and started rubbing itself on your legs. Your face started feeling warm as you feel that the cat has appreciated your gesture. You crouch and put your hand out and the cat started rubbing its face into your hand as well. You almost squealed in delight. You pulled out your phone and started taking photos.
"What are you doing?"
Megumi's voice came from behind you, startling you.
"I'm having some bonding time with the cat."
Megumi raised his eyebrow and just stared at the cat which also just stared back at him. Then, all of a sudden, it left your side and walked over to him. The corner of Megumi's mouth almost lifted into a smile.
"Hey! That's not fair!"
Megumi crouched down and gave it some treats before leaving and walking away. The cat still following him.
You crossed your arms and watched them disappear around the corner.
"Traitor"
The cat meowed. You swore it sounded smug.
Over the next few days, the routine repeated itself.
You'd find the cat somewhere around campus, spend a few minutes petting it, maybe sneak it a few treats, and then inevitably Megumi would appear. And every single time, the cat would abandon you without hesitation. It was becoming personal. One afternoon, after training, you spotted the fluffy black menace stretched out beneath a tree near the dorms.
"There you are."
The cat lazily opened one eye. You crouched beside it and scratched under its chin.
"Tell me the truth. Did Megumi bribe you?"
The cat purred.
"Unbelievable."
"You know talking to it won't get you any answers."
You looked up to find Megumi standing nearby with his hands in his pockets. The cat immediately sat up. You pointed accusingly.
"See? It only does that when you're around."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You absolutely do."
The cat got to its feet and walked straight past you. Straight to Megumi. Again. You threw your hands into the air.
"This is discrimination."
For the briefest moment, Megumi's lips twitched. You stared.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Did you just smile?"
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You smiled at the cat."
Megumi looked away. The tips of his ears were slightly red. You gasped dramatically.
"Oh my god."
"Stop."
"You're attached."
"I'm not attached."
The cat chose that exact moment to wind itself around his ankles. Silence. You slowly pointed. Megumi sighed.
"...It's just a cat."
"That's the voice of someone who's absolutely attached to a cat."
He shot you a glare, but there wasn't much force behind it. The cat let out a pleased purr. Megumi sat down and started petting the cat. Then, to both of your surprise, it suddenly jumped into Megumi's lap. The world stopped. You stared. Megumi stared. The cat settled down comfortably and closed its eyes.
"..."
You pulled out your phone.
"Don't." You smirk.
Click.
"Delete that."
"No."
"Delete it."
"This is the happiest I've ever seen you."
"It's sleeping."
"On your lap."
"It's a cat."
"It's your cat."
"It's not my cat."
The cat purred louder. You didn't notice how big your smile was while looking at the cat and taking photos.
Megumi did.
And for a moment, he found himself looking at you instead of the cat.
There was a saying among sorcerers. No one remembered who had first spoken it. Perhaps it had simply existed for as long as curses themselves.
The strongest die young.
You never believed it. Not when Satoru Gojo laughed in the face of death. Not when Suguru Geto walked away from impossible battles. Not when Okkotsu Yuta, trembling and apologizing to everyone he met, was declared a special grade sorcerer before he had even learned to hold a sword properly. Yuta wasn't supposed to die. Not him.
It happened on an ordinary Tuesday.
That was the cruelest part. There had been no ominous feeling in your chest when you woke that morning. No prophetic dreams. No signs from fate. Just Yuta standing outside the dormitory with two steaming convenience store coffees balanced awkwardly in one hand.
"You forgot breakfast again," he said the moment he saw you.
You blinked. "...I was going to eat."
His smile was impossibly patient. "You say that every morning."
He handed you one of the cups before you could protest, already knowing which one you preferred. Less sugar. More milk. The paper cup was warm against your fingers.
"You don't have to keep buying me coffee."
"I know."
"...Then why do you?"
Yuta looked away, the faintest blush dusting his cheeks. "I like taking care of you."
It was such a simple answer. No embarrassment. No grand declaration. Just the truth.
You smiled into the rising steam. "...Thank you."
He smiled back, and for a moment, the world felt unbearably gentle. The mission was supposed to be routine. Grade One curse. An abandoned shopping center on the outskirts of Tokyo. You and Yuta had handled worse separately, let alone together. Even the auxiliary managers seemed relaxed as they lowered the curtain.
"Shouldn't take more than an hour," one of them said.
You believed him. Inside, the mall was swallowed by silence. Escalators stood frozen between floors. Storefront shutters were rusted shut. Somewhere overhead, water dripped steadily from a cracked ceiling. You walked beside Yuta, your footsteps echoing against polished tile.
"So..." he began quietly.
"Hm?"
"When this mission's over..." He scratched the back of his neck. "...Would you maybe want to go somewhere this weekend?"
You looked over. "Somewhere?"
"I heard there's a new aquarium." He laughed sheepishly. "I know it's kind of childish but..."
You reached over and hooked your pinky around his. "I'd love to."
His ears turned pink almost instantly. "...Really?"
"Mhm."
"I thought you'd rather sleep all weekend."
"I can sleep after the aquarium."
He laughed, a soft, relieved sound that echoed faintly through the empty corridor. "I'll hold you to that."
"You better."
For a brief, impossible moment, you wondered what it would be like. A normal weekend. No curses. No missions. No blood staining the cuffs of your uniform. Just you and Yuta, arguing over which penguin was the cutest. The thought made you smile. You never noticed the silence disappear. It happened all at once. The air grew heavy. Your skin prickled. Every instinct screamed.
"Yuta—"
The floor exploded beneath your feet. Concrete erupted upward. Steel twisted like paper. The two of you were thrown in opposite directions. Your shoulder slammed against a collapsed pillar hard enough to knock the air from your lungs. Dust swallowed everything. You couldn't see. Couldn't breathe.
"...Yuta!"
No answer. The curse revealed itself with a shriek unlike anything you'd heard before. Not loud. Wrong. Like dozens of voices trying to scream through a single throat. You forced yourself upright. Pain shot through your ankle. Your cursed energy surged instinctively to reinforce it. Across the ruined atrium, you saw him. Already on his feet. Sword drawn. Standing between you and the thing smiling with a hundred human mouths. His eyes found yours immediately.
"Stay back!" You hated those words. You always had because he only ever said them when he intended to shoulder everything alone.
"I'm fine!" you shouted back.
"I know." His smile was small and gentle. "...that's why."
The curse lunged. Yuta met it head on. Steel clashed against cursed flesh. The impact shattered every remaining window in the mall. Glass rained from the ceiling like glittering snow. You pushed yourself forward despite your injured leg. Too slow. Too far. The curse wasn't aiming for him. It was aiming for you. You saw it. Too late. Its grotesque arm pierced through the collapsing debris, racing toward your exposed back. You couldn't move. Your ankle gave out beneath you. The world slowed. There was no time to think. Only enough time to watch Yuta's expression change. Not fear. Not hesitation. Resolve.
"No."
One word. Barely a whisper. He moved. Faster than you'd ever seen. A blur of white. He reached you just as the curse struck. Warmth splattered across your face. For one impossible second, you thought it was yours. Then you looked up and saw the jagged arm protruding cleanly through Yuta's chest.
"...Yuta?"
His body jerked. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. The curse hadn't pierced his heart. It had destroyed everything around it. He shouldn't have been standing. Yet somehow, he smiled.
"I'm glad..." His voice shook. "...I made it."
"No." You caught him as his knees buckled. "No, no, no..."
Reverse cursed technique. He could heal. He always healed.
"Yuta!" Your cursed energy trembled violently as you pressed shaking hands against the wound. "Use RCT!" He tried. You felt it.
Warm energy flickered beneath your palms. Then disappeared. The curse had left behind something. A poison. A binding vow. Something even reverse cursed technique couldn't overcome. His breathing grew weaker.
"...I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize."
"I promised..." His eyelids fluttered. "...the aquarium."
Your vision blurred. "You can still take me. We'll go next week. You said you'd hold me to it. So hold me to it!" Your voice cracked into something desperate. "You idiot!"
People survived worse. Gojo would come. Shoko would come. Someone. Anyone. Yuta reached up with trembling fingers and brushed a tear from your cheek.
"I don't...like seeing you cry." His hand slipped.
You grabbed it before it could fall. "Please." You couldn't remember the last time you'd begged. Maybe you never had. "Please don't leave me."
His lips parted. "I love—" The words never came. His eyes lost focus. His fingers went still in yours. Silence. Complete and absolute.
You stared at him. Waiting. Any second now. He'd breathe. Smile apologetically. Tell you everything was okay. Nothing. Your scream echoed through the empty shopping mall.
Then...darkness swallowed the world.
“Good morning.” The voice was bright. Far too bright.
You frowned. Sunlight warmed your face. Birds chirped somewhere beyond the classroom windows. A chair scraped against the floor.
“…Wake up.”
Something soft struck your forehead. You jolted upright with a sharp gasp. Air rushed into your lungs. Your chest, your clothes...No blood. No dust. No ruined shopping mall. Just the familiar classroom at Tokyo Jujutsu High. Your pulse hammered violently against your ribs.
“…What?” Laughter erupted nearby.
“You were drooling.”
You blinked. Maki Zenin stood beside your desk with her arms crossed, a rolled-up worksheet resting on her shoulder.
“You seriously fell asleep when class hasn’t even started yet.”
“…Maki?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Who else would I be?”
Her voice. Her face. Every detail was exactly the same, except…
“You’re…” The word lodged in your throat.
Panda leaned over the back of his chair with a grin. “She’s still asleep.”
“Salmon,” Toge added from his seat.
Your breathing became uneven. Panda. Toge. Maki. All alive and well. No scars. No exhaustion. No years of missions etched into their faces. You turned toward the front of the room. The blackboard was spotless. The calendar hanging beside it caught your eye.
2017
Your stomach dropped. No. No, that wasn’t—The classroom door slid open.
“Morning!” Gojo Satoru stepped inside as though nothing in the world had ever gone wrong. His blindfold sat crooked across his face, one hand lazily tucked into his pocket while the other held a convenience store bag. “Sorry I’m late.” He didn’t sound sorry. “Traffic.”
“There wasn’t any traffic,” Maki deadpanned.
“I know.” Gojo beamed. “I just wanted an excuse.”
She sighed. “You are the worst.”
“Thank you.”
He set the bag on his desk before glancing around the room. “Oh, before we start.” His smile softened ever so slightly. “I’ve got someone I’d like you all to meet.”
Your fingers curled around the edge of your desk. No. Please. Gojo slid the classroom door open.
“Come on in.”
A hesitant figure stepped across the threshold. Messy black hair. Dark circles beneath gentle blue eyes. A white uniform that looked just a little too large for him. His shoulders were tense, as though he expected the room itself to reject him. Cursed energy surged in every step he took. Okkotsu Yuta. Alive. Your breath stopped. No. No, this couldn’t...He kept his gaze lowered as he bowed.
“My name is Okkotsu Yuta.” His voice was barely above a whisper. “…It’s nice to meet you.”
Exactly the same. Every word. Every pause. You remembered this.
Gojo rested a hand on Yuta’s shoulder. “Okkotsu here just transferred in.” He smiled toward the class. “So let’s all get along, okay?”
Everyone tensed up.
“Is this supposed to be a joke?” Maki said annoyingly and readied her weapon.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Gojo said calmly.
Everything. Every reaction. Every line. Exactly as it had happened before. Your ears rang. This wasn’t a dream. It couldn’t be. Dreams changed. Dreams blurred around the edges. Reality repeated.
Gojo continued speaking. “…He’s had a rough time lately, so don’t overwhelm him.”
Your chair scraped harshly against the floor as you stood. Every head turned toward you. Including Yuta’s. For the first time, your eyes met. He looked exactly as he had before you knew him. Before late night conversations. Before shared cups of coffee. Before quiet weekends that never came. Before he had smiled at you like you were home. Recognition never crossed his face. How could it? To him, you were just another classmate. A stranger.
“…Are you okay?” His voice was gentle and careful. The same kindness that had made you fall in love with him.
You stared. Your throat tightened until it hurt. He was alive. Alive. You should have been relieved. Instead, tears spilled before you could stop them. Confusion flashed across his face.
“I-I’m sorry.”
He instinctively took a step toward you. “Did I… do something wrong?”
The sound that escaped you wasn’t quite a laugh. Nor was it a sob. It was something broken between the two.
Because he was apologizing. Again. Even now. Even before he’d done anything. You covered your mouth with a trembling hand.
“…No.” Your voice cracked.
The classroom fell silent. No one understood why the new transfer student was staring at you with concern or why you looked at him like you’d just watched him die.
Silence settled over the classroom. It lasted only a few seconds. It felt like an eternity. Gojo was the first to move.His uncovered eye flickered toward you, concern replacing the easy smile he wore so effortlessly.
"...You two know each other?"
The question snapped you back to reality. You looked at Yuta. Then at Gojo.
"...No." Your answer came almost too quickly. "I..." You couldn't say it.
I watched him die.
"I don't."
Yuta looked just as bewildered as everyone else. He shifted awkwardly beneath their stares, fingers curling around the strap of his bag.
"...I'm sorry," he said again, bowing his head. "I didn't mean to upset you."
Your heart clenched. He apologized for everything. Even things that had nothing to do with him.
"...You didn't." The words were barely audible.
Gojo studied you for another moment before clapping his hands together. "Well!" His grin returned just as quickly. "Since first impressions are... memorable..."
Maki scoffed.
"...Panda, why don't you show Okkotsu around after class?"
"Huh? Me?"
"You're the friendliest."
"I am pretty adorable."
"You smell."
"Salmon."
The room relaxed almost instantly. Conversation resumed. The strange moment was brushed aside. Everyone moved on. Everyone except you. You couldn't. Not when Yuta quietly walked to the empty desk beside yours. The same desk. The same seat he had taken in your first life. The legs of the chair scraped softly across the floor as he sat down. You remembered that sound. You remembered lending him a pencil because he'd forgotten one. You remembered how embarrassed he'd been. You remembered teasing him for chewing on the eraser whenever he got nervous. You remembered too much.
Gojo began today's lesson. Something about cursed energy reinforcement. The words washed over you like distant static. Your eyes kept drifting sideways. Yuta was taking notes. Neat handwriting. Head slightly tilted. Occasionally glancing toward the board before scribbling something down. Just like always. He was alive. His chest rose and fell with every quiet breath. No blood stained his uniform. No impossible wound split his body open. No trembling smile as he whispered apologies between dying breaths. You dug your nails into your palm. Hard. Pain bloomed instantly. You welcomed it. Dreams didn't hurt. This had to be real. It had to be.
"...Hey."
You flinched. Yuta had turned toward you. His voice was so quiet that only you could hear.
"You..." He hesitated. "...Are you feeling okay?"
There it was again. That unbearable kindness. You stared at him. At those gentle blue eyes that had once looked at you with so much love. Now, they held nothing but concern for a stranger.
"I'm fine."
It was a lie. An awful one. He seemed unconvinced.
"...If you're sick..." He reached into his bag. "...I have some tissues."
Your breath hitched. You had bought those for him once. Not today. Not in this life. In another. He always forgot to restock them. So one rainy afternoon, you'd slipped a travel pack into the side pocket of his bag. He'd laughed when he found them.
"You're starting to know me too well."
You watched as he pulled out the unopened packet. The same brand. The same blue packaging.
"...Here." He held it out awkwardly. "You can have them."
Your hand trembled as you accepted them. "...Thank you."
He smiled. "...You're welcome."
Then he turned back toward the lesson as though nothing extraordinary had happened. You looked down at the packet resting in your hands. Unopened. Brand new. Exactly the same. A chill crawled down your spine. It wasn't just the classroom or the date or Yuta. Everything...Everything was happening exactly as it had before. Every word. Every movement. Every choice. As if the world itself had been wound backward and somewhere deep inside your chest, a terrifying thought took root. If everything was repeating...then someday...Yuta would die again.
Training took place after lunch. Just like it always had. The autumn breeze carried the scent of damp earth across the practice grounds as the first-years gathered near the weapons rack. Gojo stretched lazily.
"Alright." He clapped once. "Since Okkotsu's joining us, let's see where he's at."
Yuta visibly stiffened. "...Right now?"
"Unless you'd prefer next year."
"I..." He looked down. "...No."
Maki stepped forward, already twirling her naginata over one shoulder. "I'll do it."
Gojo nodded. "Just don't kill him."
"No promises."
Yuta paled. You remembered this. Every second of it. The first swing. The panic. The way he'd barely managed to block before Maki completely overwhelmed him. You remembered laughing afterward because he'd hidden behind Panda when Maki offered a rematch. The memory twisted painfully in your chest.
"Ready?" Maki asked.
Yuta swallowed. "...As ready as I'll ever be."
"Good." She moved.
The wooden blade whistled through the air. Yuta barely raised his sword in time. The impact sent him stumbling backward several feet. His shoes dug grooves into the dirt before he managed to steady himself.
"Too slow," Maki said.
She attacked again. Then again. Relentless. Precise. Every strike forced him farther across the field. Your fingers curled into fists. You knew exactly what came next.
"Yuta!" The name escaped before you could stop it.
Everyone looked at you. Including him. His attention shifted for the briefest instant.
Maki's eyes widened. "Idiot—"
Yuta hit the ground hard. A pained gasp left his lips. You stared. Your heartbeat thundered in your ears. Your warning had distracted him. Maki lowered her weapon. Yuta winced before sitting up.
"I..." He rubbed his side with an embarrassed smile. "...I'm okay."
Relief nearly buckled your knees. He was breathing. He was fine. It was just a bruise. Just a bruise.
"...Sorry," you whispered.
No one seemed to hear. No one except Yuta. He looked at you with the same confused concern from earlier.
"...Why are you apologizing?"
Because I keep failing you. The words almost escaped.
Instead, you lowered your gaze. "...Nothing."
Training resumed. You stayed silent. This time, when Maki feinted high before sweeping low, Yuta reacted. He jumped back just in time. He remembered. Not consciously. His body did. The same improvement. The same stubborn determination. Even after everything, he was still Yuta. Hours passed. Eventually, Gojo dismissed everyone.
"Good work!"
Panda immediately slung an arm around Yuta's shoulders. "C'mon, newbie. I know where they keep the good snacks."
"They have... good snacks?"
"The best."
Maki rolled her eyes. "Don't believe everything he says."
"Tuna."
The four of them began walking toward the dorms. You remained where you stood. Watching. Just watching. Yuta laughed quietly at something Panda said. The sound carried on the wind. You closed your eyes. You had forgotten how young he sounded.
"...You're staring." Gojo's voice came from beside you. You hadn't even sensed him approach. He looked toward the group disappearing into the distance. "...Funny."
"What is?"
"I would've expected you to be the least interested in our new transfer student."
You frowned. "...Why?"
Gojo smiled beneath his blindfold.
"Because you've been avoiding people ever since school started."
School...had just started. For him. For everyone. But for you, it felt like you'd already lived an entire lifetime.
Gojo tilted his head. "...Did something happen?"
You looked at Yuta one last time. He turned around unexpectedly. For a fleeting second, your eyes met across the courtyard. He smiled politely. The smile reserved for classmates. For strangers.
You managed a small smile in return. "...No." You lied. "Nothing happened."
Gojo was quiet. He didn't believe you. You could tell. But he let the lie stand. As Yuta disappeared around the corner, one thought echoed through your mind with terrifying certainty. You already knew how this story ended. And this time...you were going to change it.
Winter settled over Tokyo. The first snowfall came quietly. Blanketing the school grounds beneath a thin layer of white that crunched beneath every passing footstep. Life continued. Just as it always had. Morning classes. Training sessions. Mission reports. Late night convenience store runs. Days blurred into weeks. Weeks slipped into months. Somewhere along the way, you stopped counting. It wasn't intentional. One morning, Panda invited everyone into town after training. You almost declined. Then Yuta looked at you.
"...Would you come too?"
There had been something so hopeful in his voice. As though he had already prepared himself for you to say no.
"...Sure."
His smile had lasted the rest of the day. Another time., you caught him asleep in the library. His textbook lay open across his chest. His glasses had slipped crookedly down his nose. He looked peaceful. You almost reached out. Almost brushed the loose strands of hair away from his face. Your hand stopped halfway. You smiled to yourself instead. Then quietly draped your scarf over him before leaving.
The next morning,
"...Was that yours?" Yuta held up your scarf awkwardly. His ears turned pink. "I, um...I washed it. I wasn't sure if you'd want it back after I accidentally fell asleep with it."
You blinked. "...You washed it?"
"I thought..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "...It would've been rude not to."
You laughed. The sound surprised both of you. "...You really are too nice."
His cheeks somehow turned an even deeper shade of red.
The others noticed before either of you did.
"You spend a lot of time together." Panda said it so casually that you nearly dropped your chopsticks.
"We do?"
He looked between the two of you. "...Don't you?"
You opened your mouth. Closed it. When had that happened?
Somehow, meals had become shared. Training became sparring together. Missions became paired assignments. Somewhere between one conversation and the next...being beside Yuta had become normal. Dangerously normal.
"...Sorry." Yuta looked embarrassed. "I didn't mean to..."
"There he goes again," Maki sighed. "'Sorry' should just become your catchphrase."
Toge nodded solemnly. "Salmon."
Everyone laughed. Including Yuta. Including you. For a brief moment, you forgot. Forgot the shopping mall. Forgot the blood. Forgot the way his body had gone limp in your arms. You looked at him across the table. He caught you staring.
"...What?"
You smiled. "...Nothing." Nothing at all.
One evening, as the sun dipped below the mountains surrounding Jujutsu High, you found yourselves walking back from training together. Neither of you spoke. The silence wasn't awkward anymore. It had become familiar. Comfortable. Snow crunched beneath your shoes. Yuta suddenly stopped walking.
"Hm?" He stared upward. Large snowflakes drifted lazily from the darkening sky. "...It's beautiful."
You looked up too. "It is."
After a long pause, he spoke again. "...Can I tell you something?"
You nodded.
"I..." He laughed nervously. "...When I first came here, I thought everyone would hate me." His gaze remained fixed on the falling snow. "I didn't think I'd deserve friends."
Your chest tightened.
"But then..." He smiled. "You stayed."
The words were simple. Quiet.
"...Thank you."
You wanted to tell him the truth. That you hadn't stayed because you were brave or kind or selfless. You stayed because the thought of losing him twice was unbearable. Instead, you smiled softly.
"...I'm glad I did."
Neither of you noticed Gojo watching from the veranda of the main building. His blindfold concealed his expression. Beside him, Maki leaned against the railing.
"...He's going to confess soon."
Gojo hummed. "I know."
"You aren't going to do anything?"
"Nope." He smiled to himself. "Some things are better left alone."
Far below, Yuta laughed at something you'd said. The sound carried through the cold evening air. Gojo watched the two of you disappear down the snow-covered path. For the first time in a long while, Okkotsu Yuta looked genuinely happy and for reasons he couldn't explain, that happiness made him uneasy.
December 24th.
The day arrived wrapped in snow. Tokyo glittered beneath thousands of Christmas lights, oblivious to the darkness gathering beyond the city. Inside Jujutsu High, the atmosphere was anything but festive.
The room was silent. Every sorcerer stood facing the map spread across the table. Red marks littered Tokyo and Kyoto alike. Hundreds. Thousands. Gojo rested both hands against the table. His usual smile was gone.
"At approximately six o'clock this evening..." He looked around the room. "Suguru Geto will begin the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons."
The words settled heavily over everyone.
"His objective is to draw our forces away from Jujutsu High. We'll split into teams and exorcise as many curses as possible."
Maki adjusted the grip on her naginata. "What about him?"
Gojo's expression darkened. "I'll handle Geto."
No one questioned it. No one needed to. Assignments were handed out one after another. Each team quickly found their destination.
"Yuta." Gojo looked toward him. "I need you to remain here."
Yuta blinked. "...Here?"
"Protect the school." His gaze shifted briefly toward the building behind them. "Tengen's barrier and the students who can't fight come first."
Yuta nodded without complaint. "...Understood."
"And you." Gojo's eye landed on you. "You'll stay with Okkotsu."
Your heart skipped. "...Me?"
He nodded. "If Geto comes to the school..." His voice turned serious. "I'll need someone I trust watching his back."
You looked at Yuta. He looked equally surprised.
"...I'll do my best."
"I know you will."
Within minutes, everyone had left. The once bustling campus fell eerily quiet. Snow drifted gently across the empty courtyard. Only you and Yuta remained.
"...It's strange." He watched the others disappear through the gate. "The school's never this quiet."
You forced a smile. "...Let's hope it stays that way."
He laughed softly. "...Yeah."
Neither of you believed it.
Night fell too quickly. The silence broke with the distant echoes of explosions somewhere beyond the mountains. The Night Parade had begun. You stood side by side outside the main building. Listening. Waiting. Minutes stretched endlessly. A wave of cursed energy rolled over the campus. Your blood ran cold.
Yuta immediately looked toward the front gate. "...Someone's here."
Heavy footsteps echoed through the snow. Slow and unhurried. As though whoever approached had all the time in the world. A familiar figure emerged from the darkness. Black robes. Long black hair tied neatly behind his head. A smile as calm as if he'd come for tea instead of war. Geto Suguru.
"Good evening." His voice was warm. Almost friendly. "Merry Christmas."
Yuta instinctively stepped in front of you. The movement was so natural he didn't even realize he'd done it. Geto noticed. The corners of his lips curled upward.
"How sweet." His eyes shifted between the two of you. "So...you're the one who's been keeping Okkotsu company."
The air grew impossibly still. You tightened your grip around your weapon. "...What do you want?"
Geto smiled. "Nothing complicated." His gaze settled on Yuta. "I'm here to take Rika."
Silence. Snowflakes drifted lazily between you. Yuta's shoulders squared. "...I won't let you."
Geto sighed almost wistfully. "I expected as much."
He took one step forward. The pressure of his cursed energy crashed over the courtyard.
"...Then I'll simply have to kill you first."
Without another word, the battle began.
...
The debris exploded outward. An overwhelming flood of cursed energy swallowed the courtyard whole. Rika had emerged. She emerged with a scream that split the winter air. Every curse froze. Even Geto’s smile faltered. Yuta slowly stood from the wreckage. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His breathing was ragged. Yet his eyes never left you.
“…Are you hurt?”
The question stole every ounce of air from your lungs. He was bleeding. His uniform hung in tatters. One arm shook from the force of the impact. And still, the first thing he asked was
“[name], are you hurt?”
You stared at him. Speechless. Geto chuckled softly.
“Remarkable.” He looked almost amused.
“Even now…you only think about someone else.”
Yuta didn’t deny it. He simply looked back at you. Waiting. As if your answer mattered more than the battle itself. Tears blurred your vision.
“…I’m okay.” The words barely left your lips.
The tension in his shoulders eased. Only then did he finally turn back toward Geto. Only then did he raise his sword again. Geto watched the exchange in silence. Something unreadable crossed his face.
“…Love.” He smiled almost sadly. “It truly is the most twisted curse of all.”
The battle was over. Silence settled over the ruined courtyard. Snow drifted lazily from the night sky, settling over shattered stone and splintered wood. Geto was gone. The curses had vanished with him. Only the sound of heavy breathing remained. Yuta stood several feet away, his katana slipping from numb fingers. It struck the ground with a dull clang.
"...We..." His voice was hoarse. "...We did it."
A laugh escaped him. Small and disbelieving. You smiled despite yourself.
"...Yeah."
You crossed the courtyard on unsteady legs. Every muscle in your body ached. Your shoulder throbbed where the curse had struck. None of it mattered. He was alive. Alive. You stopped in front of him. For a long moment, neither of you spoke. The snow fell quietly around you.
Yuta laughed again. "...I thought..." He rubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand. "...I really thought I wasn't going to make it."
Your heart squeezed painfully. Without thinking, you reached up and cupped his cheek. Warm. He was warm. Not cold. Not fading. Warm. His breath stopped. His tired eyes widened as they searched yours.
"You're...” He whispered the words as though afraid they would disappear. "...crying."
Only then did you realize. Tears had been falling long before you'd reached him.
You laughed weakly. "...Sorry."
"There you go again." His smile was gentle. "You apologize too much."
The corner of your mouth lifted. "...I learned from you."
A faint blush spread across his face. The silence between you was no longer awkward. It wasn't uncertain. It simply was. Yuta's gaze slowly drifted to your lips. Then back to your eyes. He looked terrified. More terrified than he'd been facing Geto.
"...Can I..." His voice nearly disappeared. "...Can I tell you something?"
You nodded. He inhaled slowly.
"As soon as this is over..." A nervous laugh. "I was thinking...I'd like to take you somewhere."
"...Somewhere?"
"The aquarium."
Your world stopped. The aquarium. The same promise. The same words. Your vision blurred.
"...Yuta."
He smiled sheepishly. "I know it probably sounds strange, but...I..."
He never finished. A wet sound echoed through the courtyard. His body jerked violently. Your smile vanished. Confusion crossed his face. He looked down. A black spike of cursed energy protruded through his chest.
"...What..."
Behind him, space itself distorted. A curse. Small. Pathetic. One that had hidden beneath the debris, clinging to the last remnants of Geto's cursed energy. No one had sensed it. Not even Yuta. The spike withdrew. Blood poured down the front of his uniform.
"...No."
He swayed. You caught him before he could collapse.
"No."
Not again. Please. Not again. His weight fell against you. Warm blood soaked through your sleeves.
"...No!"
Your voice cracked into a scream.
"Shoko!"
"Gojo!"
"Somebody!"
Footsteps echoed somewhere in the distance. Too far. Yuta coughed weakly. Blood stained his lips.
"Hey..." His hand searched blindly until it found yours. "...Don't cry." Your hands pressed desperately against the wound.
Reverse cursed technique. Anything. Everything.
"...Please." The blood wouldn't stop. "This wasn’t supposed to happen. This didn’t happen the first time. " The words escaped before you could think.
Yuta frowned weakly. "...First...?"
You couldn't stop. "I can't..." Your breathing became frantic. "I can't lose you again."
Again.
The word hung in the freezing air. Confusion flickered across his face.
"...Again...?"
His eyes searched yours. As though trying to remember something. A dream. A memory. A life that no longer existed. He smiled.
"...I..." His fingers tightened around yours with the last of his strength.
"...If there's..." A shaky breath. "...another chance...I'd..." His voice faltered. His hand slipped from yours.
"...Yuta?"
Silence.
"...Yuta."
No answer. You shook him gently. Harder.
"...Yuta!"
Nothing. The snow continued to fall.
Then, darkness swallowed the world.
...
"Good morning."
The voice was bright. Far too bright. Sunlight warmed your face. A chair scraped against the classroom floor.
"...Wake up."
Something soft struck your forehead. Your eyes flew open.
"...Maki?"
She frowned. "Who else would I be?"
Your breathing stopped. No. No. No. The classroom door slid open.
"Morning!" Gojo smiled. "Oh, before we start. I've got someone I'd like you all to meet."
Your entire body began to shake. "No..."
Gojo looked at you in confusion. The classroom door opened. A timid boy stepped inside. Messy black hair. Tired eyes. A uniform just a little too large.
"My name is Okkotsu Yuta." He bowed politely. "...It's nice to meet you."
You stared. Then slowly...very slowly...your hands curled into fists beneath your desk. This wasn't a miracle. It wasn't a second…third chance. It was a prison.
“…Please…” You whispered to yourself. “Please let me not be too late.”
The cursed energy ahead made your skin crawl. It was suffocating. Heavy. Wrong.
A metallic scent reached your nose. Blood. Lots of it. Your pace quickened. A football stadium came into view. The air inside was eerily still.
“…Megumi?”
You stepped through the broken entrance. Your shoes splashed against something wet. Blood. Your eyes slowly lifted. A girl lay motionless across the ruined field. Dark hair spread around her like spilled ink.
“Tsumiki…” Your voice broke.
She wasn’t breathing. Standing over her body was Megumi. His back faced you. He hadn’t moved.
“…Megumi?”
You took another cautious step.
“…Megumi…”
He turned. Your heart stopped.
Those weren’t his eyes. That wasn’t his expression. That wasn’t…
“No…”
The tattoos crawling across his face confirmed what your mind refused to accept.
“…No…”
A familiar grin stretched across Megumi’s face. One that should never have existed.
“Ah.” Sukuna smiled. “So you finally found us.”
Your breathing hitched. “How…” Your voice trembled violently. “…How did this happen?”
“When…When did you—”
“When did I take this brat’s body?” He chuckled.
“While you were busy chasing Yorozu.”
Your entire body went numb. Yuji…Megumi…You left them. You left them alone. Sukuna stretched Megumi’s arms lazily.
“I was going to come looking for you eventually.” His smile widened. “So…” He looked genuinely pleased. “thank you for saving me the trouble.”
“…Megumi.” Your voice cracked. “Wake up.”
No response.You took another step.
“Please.” Nothing. “I know you can hear me.”
Sukuna sighed dramatically. “What a pain. There’s no point calling for him. He can hear every word. He simply can’t answer.”
Your hands shook. “Megumi!”
You saw a flicker. Barely noticeable. One finger twitched. Your eyes widened.
Sukuna clicked his tongue. “Tch. So annoying.”
He flexed the hand. The movement disappeared. “But don’t get your hopes up. The brat’s already drowning.”
Then he vanished. You barely blocked the first strike. The force launched you across the stadium. Concrete exploded beneath your body. Pain shot through your ribs.
Not him. This wasn’t him. You couldn’t forget that. Every attack was perfectly familiar. Shadow manipulation. Hand to hand combat. The way he predicted your movements. Everything belonged to Megumi. Everything was being used against you.
Again.
Again.
Again.
You were forced backward. Your cursed energy was draining rapidly. Then, for two seconds, Sukuna stopped moving. His arm trembled violently. His expression twisted.
“…Move.”
Nothing happened. Your eyes widened.
“Megumi!”
His body shook. Just enough. Just enough for hope.
“You idiot…” Tears blurred your vision. “I know you’re still in there!”
For one impossible moment, Megumi’s eyes returned. They were filled with horror. Run. His lips never moved. But you knew. Run. The tattoos returned.
“Tch.” Sukuna rolled his neck. “What an irritating child.”
You turned and ran. You didn’t want to fight him. You couldn’t. Not when every blow landed on the body of the person you loved. You ducked beneath ruined bleachers, desperately masking your cursed energy.
Please stay hidden—A hand grabbed your throat.
“There you are.”
You were slammed into a concrete wall. The impact stole the air from your lungs. Blood filled your mouth. His expression remained cold. No. Not his. Sukuna’s. You reached up with trembling fingers.
“…Come back…” You smiled weakly despite the tears. “…You’re probably going to think this is stupid.”
Sukuna raised an eyebrow. “What now?”
You cupped his face. Ignoring every instinct screaming at you. Ignoring the danger. Ignoring everything except the boy trapped inside. You kissed him. It lasted only a heartbeat. But in that heartbeat, Megumi surfaced. His eyes widened. Your name escaped his lips in the faintest whisper.
“I’m sorry…” You whispered against his lips.
A sharp pain exploded through your abdomen. You gasped. Warm blood spilled over Sukuna’s wrist. His hand had pierced straight through your abdomen. He slowly pulled away from the kiss.
“…How touching.”bBlood dripped from Megumi’s fingers.
You collapsed to your knees. Sukuna wiped at his lips with the back of his hand.
“I’ll admit…” He smirked.b“Nice try.”
He leaned down until he was eye level with you.
“And…”bHis smile became cruel.b“…thank you for the kiss.”
He withdrew his hand. Agony consumed your body. You crumpled onto the blood soaked grass. Your vision blurred. Sukuna didn’t even spare you another glance. He simply turned and walked away. Behind those borrowed eyes, Megumi screamed. He’d felt everything. Seen everything and just when hope had reached him…he’d been forced to watch his own hands destroy the person he loved. The darkness swallowed him deeper than ever before.
Your breathing became shallow. Your hands pressed desperately against the wound. Reverse cursed technique. Nothing. Your cursed energy sputtered. You’d burned too much chasing Yorozu. Too much fighting Sukuna. It wasn’t enough.
“…No…” Your body felt cold. You laughed weakly through blood.
“So…this is it…”
With trembling fingers, you formed one last hand sign. A tiny bird shikigami appeared beside your face. Its feathers shimmered faintly with cursed energy.bYou smiled at it.
“…Find…”You coughed violently. “…someone.”
The little bird chirped once. Then flew into the night. You didn’t know how long you lay there.Minutes. Maybe longer. The stars blurred together. Your heartbeat slowed.
“I’m…sorry…” Your eyelids grew heavy.
Just as darkness began pulling you under, someone landed beside you.
“…No.”
A familiar voice. It sounded panicked.
“No, no, no…”
Strong hands gently lifted your head. You forced your eyes open. Dark hair. Kind tired eyes filled with terror. His breathing was uneven.
“You idiot…” His voice cracked. “Stay with me.”
Warm reverse cursed energy flooded into your body. Your vision faded anyway. The last thing you heard before unconsciousness claimed you was Yuta desperately repeating your name.
Dark. That was all Megumi had known for what felt like an eternity. No sky. No ground. No sound. Only an endless abyss that swallowed everything. At first, he’d tried to climb out. He’d tried to resist Sukuna. He’d tried to fight. He watched Sukuna wear his face while laughing and finally, he watched you. Your trembling hands reaching for him. Your voice calling his name.
That kiss…for one fleeting second, he’d broken through. He’d felt your lips against his. He’d heard your apology. He’d almost answered. His own hand pierced through your stomach. Your blood coated his fingers. He remembered your expression. Not fear. Not anger. Only sadness.
He’d watched you collapse. Watched Sukuna leave you bleeding on the field. Watched the light slowly disappear from your eyes. Something inside him shattered beyond repair. There was nothing left to save. Nothing left worth returning for.
So…he stopped trying. He sank. Further. Deeper. Into the darkness.
Time lost all meaning. Sometimes he heard distant voices. Sometimes flashes of light. Sometimes battles he couldn’t see. None of it mattered.
“…Megumi!”
Yuji. Faint. Far away.
“…Wake up!”
Silence.
“…Please!”
Megumi didn’t answer. He couldn’t or perhaps he simply didn’t want to. What was waiting for him? A world without Tsumiki. A world without you. A world stained by everything Sukuna had done with his body.
“Megumi…” Yuji’s voice trembled. “I’d be terribly lonely without you…”
The darkness around Megumi rippled. A crack of light appeared. Megumi slowly reached forward. His fingers grasped Yuji’s hand. The darkness shattered.
When Megumi opened his eyes again, everything hurt. His body felt impossibly heavy. The room smelled faintly of antiseptic. Sunlight filtered through the curtains. He blinked slowly.
Alive. He was alive. He sat upright.
“Kugisaki, stop moving!”
“I’m trying!”
“I said crouch!”
“I am crouching, idiot!”
Megumi stared silently. Nobara’s muffled voice echoed from inside the box. Yuji finally shoved it into place with an exhausted sigh.
“There.” He wiped sweat from his forehead.“Perfect.”
Nobara pushed the lid open just enough to glare at him. “I’m going to suffocate.”
“It’s only for like thirty seconds!”
“I’ll haunt you.”
“You literally can’t.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
Megumi watched the exchange without much expression. Yuji finally noticed he was awake.
“Oh!”
“You finally woke up!”
Nobara immediately climbed halfway out of the box.
“Oi, Fushiguro!”
Megumi looked between them. “…What are you doing?”
Yuji grinned. “We were planning a surprise.”
Nobara folded her arms proudly. “The classic.”
“‘Surprise! Kugisaki is alive!’”Yuji nodded enthusiastically. “I told her it’d totally work.”
“It still can!”
Megumi stared. “…Okay.”
Neither of them got the dramatic reaction they’d hoped for. Nobara frowned.
“Seriously? That’s it?”
Yuji scratched his head awkwardly. “I thought you’d be more shocked…”
Megumi simply sighed. Then, his eyes drifted toward the corner of the room. Another box. Already closed. No larger than the first.bHe frowned.
“…What’s that one?”
Yuji and Nobara exchanged a glance. Both of them smiled. A knowing smile. Megumi’s heartbeat suddenly sped up.
No. It couldn’t be.
His legs moved before his mind caught up. Each step felt heavier than the last. His hands trembled. Please…
He stopped in front of the box and slowly reached for the lid. His fingers hesitated. He was afraid. Afraid this was another cruel dream. Afraid he’d open it and find nothing.
Taking one shaky breath, he lifted the lid. Before it had fully opened, the box burst open.
“There you are!” You launched yourself straight into him.
Your arms wrapped tightly around his neck. The force nearly knocked him backward. Megumi froze. His eyes widened. Warm. Real. Alive. You laughed softly, tears already welling in your eyes.
“I missed you.”
He still couldn’t move. His mind refused to believe what he was seeing. Almost cautiously, his hands found your waist. As if he were afraid you’d disappear if he held you too tightly. His voice barely escaped.
“…How?”
You smiled through your tears. “I summoned one of my bird shikigami.”
Megumi looked at you in disbelief.
“It found Yuta. He got there just before I passed out.” You let out a small laugh. “He was… really mad at me afterwards.”
For a long moment…Megumi simply stared. His composure broke. His arms pulled you impossibly close.bYou gasped softly as he buried his face against the crook of your neck.bHis shoulders shook.
“…Megumi?”
He didn’t answer. He only held you tighter. As though letting go meant losing you all over again. You slowly wrapped your arms around him in return.
“I’m here.” You whispered. “I’m okay.”
“I thought…” His voice cracked. “I thought you died.”
You closed your eyes. “I know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.”
He tightened his embrace even more. “I couldn’t save Tsumiki.” His voice was barely audible. “I couldn’t stop Sukuna.”
You gently threaded your fingers through his hair. “But you came back. You came back to us.”
Megumi slowly nodded. The weight he’d carried since that day hadn’t disappeared. It probably never would. Tsumiki was still gone. The scars Sukuna left behind would never truly heal. As he held you in his arms, feeling your heartbeat against his own, he realized something. He wasn’t grieving someone he’d lost. He was holding someone he’d gotten back. Behind the two of you, Yuji quietly wiped at his eyes.
Nobara elbowed him. “You crybaby.”
“I’m not crying.”
“You literally are.”
“It’s allergies.”
“We’re indoors.”
Nobara rolled her eyes before smiling to herself. “…Welcome back, Fushiguro.”
Megumi didn’t look away from you. The corner of his lips lifted into the smallest smile.
That night, No one could sleep. Eventually, one by one, the room grew quiet. Haibara’s gentle snoring drifted through the connecting door. Nanami sighed in his sleep. Shoko had rolled onto her side hours ago. Even Geto’s breathing had settled into a steady rhythm.
You quietly slipped out onto the balcony. The sea stretched endlessly beneath the moonlight. Tomorrow, you would return. Tomorrow, everything would end.
“…Couldn’t sleep either?”
You turned. Satoru stood in the doorway. His hair was messy from sleep or maybe from trying to.
You smiled faintly. “…No.”
He stepped outside, sliding the door shut as softly as he could. The two of you simply stood beside one another, listening to the waves.
“They’re calling us back.”
“…yeah.”
“Are you scared?”
You didn’t answer immediately. Your fingers fiddled with the silver ring that hung around your neck.
Your voice barely rose above the ocean. “…I thought I’d made peace with it.”
You laughed quietly. “…Then this week happened.”
Satoru looked at you. “…Yeah.”
You smiled sadly. “I think…I finally understand why people want tomorrow.”
The words hit him harder than anything you’d said before. Because he understood. He wanted tomorrow too. A tomorrow where none of this ended. Where you could keep adding pages to that notebook. Where you could keep saying his name.
“…Satoru.”
“Hm?”
“…Thank you.”
He frowned. “For what?”
“…For making me feel like I had a life.”
Silence filled the air. He stepped closer. He gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear. Just like he had before your first kiss.
“…Can I kiss my wife?”
The word made both of you smile, soft and warm.
“…You can.”
This kiss was nothing like the first time. It was slow and achingly gentle. Satoru’s lips brushed yours once, twice, before he kissed you fully deeper this time, full of quiet emotion. His hand cradled the back of your neck with the utmost care as he tilted your head slightly. After a moment, he licked your bottom lip with aching tenderness, a silent plea that made your breath hitch. The moment you parted your lips for him, the kiss deepened with sudden urgency. Like all the feelings the two of you had been holding back were finally spilling out without restraint.
Satoru kissed you like this might be the last time.
His tongue slid against yours, slow and deep, exploring you with raw emotion. One hand cradled the back of your neck, fingers threading tightly into your hair as he pulled you closer. The other hand at your waist slipped beneath the hem of your shirt, his warm palm gliding over the bare skin of your lower back, holding you flush against him like he never wanted to let go. Your own hands were all over him, running up his chest, clutching at his shoulders, fingers threading desperately into his soft white hair as you kissed him back just as fervently. Every touch, every shared breath carried the weight of everything unsaid.
Soft, needy sounds slipped between your joined mouths as the makeout grew longer and more consuming. You poured everything into it: the love, the fear, the quiet desperation of knowing time might be running out.
When you finally parted, it was only because air had become a necessity. Your lips were swollen, breaths coming in shaky gasps. You stayed pressed close, foreheads resting together, eyes still closed as if opening them might break the moment.
Your heart felt too full to contain.
“…Can I ask for one more thing?” Satoru whispered, voice soft and low.
You hummed. “Hm?”
“…Can I hug my wife?”
A quiet laugh slipped from you. “…You can.”
The moment you said yes, he held you close with the same tender care. He slipped his other hand underneath your shirt, caressing your bare back and drawing circles absentmindedly. He pulled you as close as physically possible. You buried your face in his shoulder, breathing him in as his steady heartbeat thrummed beneath your ear and wrapped your arms around his neck. For a long moment, neither of you spoke. The silence said everything.
“…I’m scared,” you whispered, voice cracking.
Satoru’s arms tightened around you instinctively. You closed your eyes.
“…I don’t want this week to be over.”
He swallowed hard. “…Neither do I.”
Another long silence. Then, almost too quietly to hear…
“I wish…” He stopped himself.
“What?”
He smiled sadly. “…Nothing.”
Because he knew wishing wouldn’t change tomorrow. So instead, he simply held his wife a little tighter. As though, if he memorized this moment well enough, he could somehow keep it forever.
The flight back to Tokyo was much quieter than the one to Okinawa. No one argued over snacks. Haibara wasn’t bouncing excitedly in his seat. Even Satoru had been unusually quiet. Every mile that brought you closer to Jujutsu High felt like another page of your notebook being turned. Until there were none left. The familiar gates of Jujutsu High came into view just before noon. For a long moment, no one got out of the car. Then Geto quietly switched off the engine.
“…We’re here.”
The words settled heavily over the silence.
Haibara forced a smile. “Well…” He scratched the back of his head. “I guess this is where we split up.”
Nanami adjusted the strap of his bag. “Our assignment ends here.”
Shoko walked over first. She stopped in front of you before reaching into your hands and placing a small paper bag there.
“…What’s this?”
“A souvenir.”
You looked inside. The pair of seashell hairpins you’d admired on your second day in Okinawa.
“Shoko…”
“You kept looking at them.”
“I figured you’d regret not buying them.”
Your eyes stung. “…Thank you.”
She smiled softly. “Don’t thank me.”
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around you. It was brief but gentle.
“…I’m glad I met you.”
You hugged her back. “…Me too.”
When she stepped away, Haibara immediately rushed forward. “You don’t get to leave without a goodbye from me too!”
Before you could react, he pulled you into an enthusiastic hug. “I’m gonna miss you!”
You laughed through the tears threatening to form. “…I’ll miss you too.”
He beamed. Nanami sighed, though there was the faintest hint of one on his own face. Haibara finally stepped aside.
Nanami bowed politely. “It was an honor.”
You returned the bow. “…Thank you. For everything.”
He nodded once. Then quietly turned away. Satoru turned to you.
“…Ready?”
You looked toward the stone staircase leading deeper into the school where Master Tengen waited.
You took a slow breath. “…Ready.”
The three of you began climbing. The school grounds were strangely quiet. Every footstep echoed against the ancient stone. No one spoke. There wasn’t much left to say. Halfway up the staircase, there was sound. So faint you almost missed it. A sharp whistle through the air.
You turn around and your eyes widened. “…Satoru!”
Blood splattered across the stone steps. A blade protruded cleanly through his chest. Time seemed to stop.
A man dressed entirely in black and white trousers pulled the blade out of Gojo’s chest. His expression remained completely unreadable.
He laughed. “…Man.” He coughed once. “…You really got me.”
Your hands trembled. “Satoru, you’re bleeding—”
“I’m okay.” His voice was strained, but steady. Blood poured down the front of his uniform.
You stared in horror. He winced, then flashed you a grin that was far less convincing than usual.
“…Relax.” He pressed one hand over the wound. “…He missed my vital organs.”
Geto stepped in front of the two of you, eyes never leaving Toji. “Satoru.” His tone had become deadly serious. “I’ll handle the assassin.”
Satoru frowned. “You sure?”
“I’ll catch up.” Geto’s cursed energy surged around him. “You take her to Master Tengen.”
The two best friends looked at one another. Nothing else needed to be said.
Satoru nodded once. “…Don’t die.”
Geto smiled faintly. “You too.”
The next instant, Satoru bent down. Before you realized what he was doing, one arm slipped beneath your knees while the other supported your back. You let out a small gasp as he lifted you effortlessly into his arms.
“…Satoru?”
He adjusted his grip. “…Hold on.”
He ran. The world blurred into streaks of green and gray as he leapt from staircase to staircase with impossible speed. The wind whipped through your hair. You instinctively wrapped an arm around his shoulders to steady yourself. Only then did you notice the blood still soaking through the front of his uniform.
Your expression fell. “…Satoru.”
“Hm?”
“…Are you really alright?”
He smiled without looking down. “Mhm.”
“You’re carrying me while you’re injured.”
“I’ve had worse.”
“You shouldn’t be running.”
“I’ll survive.”
You frowned. “…You don’t have to carry me. I can run.”
He laughed quietly. “And make my wife walk? No chance.”
Your cheeks warmed, even in the middle of the chaos. “Satoru…”
He looked down at you for only a heartbeat before returning his eyes to the path ahead.
“You’re light as a feather.” He grinned. “Seriously. I’ve carried grocery bags heavier than you.”
Despite everything, a tiny laugh escaped you.
“There.” He smiled. “That’s better.”
As long as you were still smiling, He could pretend everything was going to be okay. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever. Satoru’s footsteps echoed against the ancient stone as he ran, each stride sending another sharp throb through the wound in his chest. He ignored it. The only thing that mattered was getting you to Master Tengen. Just a little farther.
You tightened your grip around his neck “…Satoru. You can put me down now.”
“I’m good.”
“You’re injured.”
“So?”
“So…”
You frowned at the blood still staining his shirt. “…I’m worried.”
He laughed softly. “I’m supposed to be the one worrying about you.”
“I know, but I still am.”
He smiled. “…You’re cute.”
You immediately hid your face against his shoulder. “…Don’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because…”Your voice became smaller. “…I’ll get embarrassed.”
His grin widened. “Noted.”
A familiar clearing finally came into view. The great stone doors leading to Master Tengen’s chamber stood just beyond. Satoru slowed to a stop. Very carefully, he lowered you back onto your feet.
“…We made it.”
You stood silently beside him. Neither of you moved. The world had become strangely quiet. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. You stared at the chamber for a long time.
“…Satoru.”
“Hm?”
Your fingers slowly found the silver ring hanging from the delicate chain around your neck. The chain glinted softly beneath the afternoon light.
“Do I…” Your voice trembled. “…Do I really have to go in there?”
His smile faded. He had known this question was coming. He just hadn’t expected it to hurt this much.
“…You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.”
You looked down. “…Everyone keeps saying it’s my choice but…” Your fingers tightened around the ring. “If I say no…everything changes.”
He didn’t answer. Because he knew. You looked up at him. Your eyes had begun to shine with unshed tears.
“…I don’t want this to end.”
His breath stopped for a moment.
“I…I want to keep seeing you.” Your voice cracked. “I want to keep seeing Suguru and Shoko and Nanami and Haibara.” A tear slipped down your cheek. “…I want to keep adding things to my notebook.” Another followed. “…I want to see a meteor shower. I want to see the northern lights, the southern cross…I want to grow older.”
You laughed weakly through your tears. “…I want to spend more time with you.”
The words struck him harder than any blade ever could. Neither of you spoke.
“…Satoru…Is it okay…” You looked at him with eyes full of hope. “…If we run away?”
Silence filled the chamber. He looked toward the great doors. Then back at you. For the first time since this mission had begun, he stopped thinking like a sorcerer. He stopped thinking about Tengen, about the higher ups, about duty, about destiny. He only thought about you. About your smile on the beach. Your laughter at the arcade. The way you’d said his name. The way you’d looked at the ocean as though seeing the world for the first time. He smiled. Entirely unlike his usual grin.
“…Yeah.” His voice was almost a whisper. “…Let’s run away.”
Your eyes widened. “…Really?”
He nodded. “Really.”
His hand found yours. He intertwined your fingers.
“We’ll leave.” He laughed softly. “I don’t know where but we’ll figure it out.”
He squeezed your hand. “C’mon.” He smiled at you with a warmth that made your chest ache. “Let’s go home, wi—”
Bang
The gunshot split the silence. The chain around your neck snapped. The silver ring flew into the air. A spray of crimson followed. Satoru felt warm droplets strike his face. Your body went limp. The light disappeared from your eyes before you even hit the ground.
Thud.
The world stopped. Satoru stared. The broken chain lay tangled across the stone. The wedding ring rolled before coming to rest beside your outstretched hand. He didn’t move. He couldn’t. His fingers still remained half curled, reaching for the hand that had been holding his only a heartbeat earlier.
Slow, measured footsteps echoed from the tunnel ahead. A man emerged from the darkness. A pistol still smoking in his hand. His expression was as indifferent as the weather. He looked from your body, to the frozen boy standing above it. Then spoke with the same detached calm as if commenting on the time of day.
“…That was a good show but it’s time to wrap things up now.”
Satoru didn’t answer. He couldn’t. His gaze remained fixed on you. The crimson spreading beneath you. The broken silver chain and the wedding ring lying just beyond your fingertips.
Toji clicked his tongue. “…Oi. You gonna stand there all day?”
Satoru’s head lifted slowly. His blue eyes met Toji’s. Gone was the warmth that had filled them only moments before. There was only silence. Only rage.
Toji smirked. “There you are.”
In an instant, the two strongest figures disappeared from the corridor. The impact of their clash shook the walls as they tore through the temple grounds, crashing through stone and trees alike. The sound of battle echoed farther and farther away until the corridor fell quiet once more.
Several minutes passed. Footsteps echoed through the tunnel. A tall blonde woman walked through the tunnel with one hand tucked into her pocket.
“…Huh?” She frowned. “That’s a lot of blood.”
Her eyes fell on you lying motionless on the stone floor. She immediately crouched beside you.
“…Kid?”
Your skin had already begun to grow cold. She placed two fingers gently against your neck.
“…”
Nothing.
“…Wait.” So faint she almost missed it. A pulse. Weak. Unsteady. But still there. “…You’re kidding.”
Without another second of hesitation, cursed energy flowed from her palms. Reverse Cursed Technique. Warm light enveloped your body as she focused entirely on closing the wound in your neck.
“…Stay with me.”
The bleeding gradually slowed. Your breathing remained shallow but it was there. The blonde woman exhaled quietly.
“…That was close.” She glanced toward the great doors ahead. “So…you’re the Star Plasma Vessel.”
By the time the sun had begun to sink lower in the sky the battle outside had ended. Satoru ran. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest. He ignored it. His only thought was you. He rounded the final corner.
“…”
The chamber was empty. His footsteps slowed. The blood remained. The broken silver chain lay abandoned across the stone floor along with the ring. But…You were gone. For one impossible heartbeat, hope surged through him.
“…She’s alive?” He bolted forward. “[name]!”
His voice echoed through every corridor. No answer. He searched every adjoining passage. Every empty room. Every staircase. Nothing.
“Where is she?”
He searched again and again. Until there was only one place left. The doors to Tengen’s chamber. He shoved them open with enough force that they slammed against the walls.
“Tengen!”
Satoru’s voice echoed through the vast chamber. Silence answered him. His breathing came in ragged gasps as he searched the room.
“…Where are you?”
His eyes darted from one end of the chamber to the other. Nothing. No Tengen. No you.
“…Gojo Satoru.”
His breath stopped. That voice. He knew that voice. Slowly, he turned. There you stood. Your white robes still stained with dried crimson. The wound on your neck was gone. Not even a scar remained.For one glorious, impossible heartbeat, the world returned.
He crossed the room in an instant before stopping himself just short of reaching you. His hands trembled.
“I thought…” He swallowed hard. “I thought I lost you.”
You looked at him. Your expression was gentle. Peaceful. Yet…something was wrong. The warmth that had always greeted him was gone. The sparkle in your eyes whenever you looked at him…gone. The shy smile that would appear whenever he called your name…gone. You looked at him as though you had known him for centuries and as though you had never met him at all. A chill ran down his spine.
“…[name]?”
You smiled. It was your smile but it wasn’t yours.
“…Thank you, Gojo Satoru.” Your voice was exactly the same. “…for delivering the star plasma vessel.”
His smile slowly disappeared. “…No.”
You tilted your head ever so slightly. “The merger has been completed.”
“No…”
The word escaped him before he even realized he’d spoken. He took another step toward you.
His breathing grew uneven. “We were supposed to go home.”
Only those calm, ancient eyes looked back at him. Not uncaring. Not cruel. Simply distant. As though the girl who had laughed with him beneath fireworks, who had held his hand, who had carefully crossed dreams off in a little notebook, had become only one small drop in an endless ocean.
“…Please.” His voice cracked. “Come back.”
For the first time, something flickered across your expression. A sadness so faint it disappeared almost as soon as it came. When you spoke again, your voice seemed to carry another beneath it, older, immeasurably ancient.
“…It is too late. We had to do what needed to be done. Rest now, Gojo Satoru. The Star Plasma Vessel has fulfilled her purpose.”
The chamber fell silent. Satoru stared at you. At your face. Your voice. Your eyes. Everything that looked like you and yet… none of it was the girl who had promised to return to Okinawa with him.
His knees gave way. He collapsed onto the cold stone floor. Not too late to save your life. Too late to save you.
Twelve years later.
The afternoon sun spilled through the classroom windows. Satoru reclined lazily in a chair, his head tipped back as soft snores escaped him. The classroom door slid open.
“Gojo-sensei.”
No response. Yuji leaned closer.
“…He’s actually asleep.”
Nobara sighed. “I can’t believe this guy.”
Megumi crossed his arms. “You’d think a teacher would at least pretend to work.”
Yuji grinned mischievously. “Should we wake him up?”
Nobara smirked. “I’ve been waiting for this.” She kicked the leg of his chair. “Wake up!”
The chair lurched. Satoru jolted upright.
“…Huh?” He blinked once before looking around the room. “Oh. You guys.”
Yuji frowned. “Were you seriously sleeping?”
“I was resting my eyes.”
“You were snoring.”
“That’s slander.”
Nobara rolled her eyes. “You called us here.”
“I did?"
Megumi let out a tired sigh. “…You did.”
“Oh.” Satoru stood, stretching until his back cracked. “Well, since you’re all here…”
He checked the time. “…Actually...I’ve got somewhere to be first.”
Megumi looked up from his seat. “…Where are you going?”
Satoru slipped his hands into his pockets. “Gotta drop something off.”
The familiar halls beneath Jujutsu High hadn’t changed. Stone corridors. Ancient barriers. An endless silence. Satoru stopped before the great doors. He pushed them open. The chamber was just as he remembered.
“…Gojo Satoru.” Your voice greeted him. “What brings you here today?”
He smiled. Hidden behind the blindfold, no one could see his eyes. His gaze drifted to the silver chain resting around your neck. Hanging from it was a simple wedding ring. Years ago, he had asked Tengen for one selfish favor. To keep wearing it for your sake.
“I brought something.” He held up a small paper bag. “Kikufuku.” He scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh. “I figured…you might want to try some.”
The chamber remained still. Your eyes looked at the bag.
“…Very well.”
He walked forward and gently placed it on the floor. Neither of you spoke. There wasn’t much left to say anymore. After a quiet moment, Satoru turned toward the exit. He didn’t say goodbye. He never did.
The doors closed behind him. As he walked down the corridor, another familiar figure approached from the opposite direction.
“Yo.” Yuki lifted a hand in greeting. “Long time no see.”
Satoru smiled. “Tsukumo.”
“Still avoiding paperwork?”
“As always.”
She laughed. “And you’re still visiting?”
He shrugged. “It’s on the way.”
“…Sure it is.”
A comfortable silence settled between them. Finally, Satoru glanced toward the stairs.
“I should get going. My students are waiting.”
He stepped past her.
“…Gojo.”
He paused. Yuki’s expression had become unusually serious.
“…Wait a second.”
He looked back. “What?”
She folded her arms. “…You know. One strange thing about Tengen. They’re never really alone.”
Satoru said nothing. “I can hear them...the Star Plasma Vessels…”
His smile remained in place.Though it no longer reached the rest of his face.
“…Can you?”
She nodded. “Sometimes. Their voices are faint. Like echoes.”
“…”
“There was one today.”
Satoru’s fingers curled slightly inside his pocket. “…Oh?”
He laughed softly. “and what did this mysterious voice have to say?”
Yuki looked directly at him. For the first time in years, she repeated your words.
“Satoru…please live well.”
She paused.
“…and don’t forget. We still have to go back to Okinawa.”
Silence filled the chamber. The corridor suddenly felt impossibly quiet. Satoru’s smile faltered. Only for a heartbeat. So brief that anyone else would have missed it. His throat tightened.
“…I see.”
He looked away, adjusting his blindfold out of habit. “…Thanks. Thanks for telling me.”
Yuki watched him for a long moment. “…You’re welcome.”
Without another word, Satoru continued walking. When he returned to the classroom…it was chaos.
“That’s my seat!”
“It was never your seat!”
“Fushiguro, tell Kugisaki to move!”
“I’m not getting involved.”
“Gojo-sensei!”
“She’s hitting me!”
“I hit you because you’re annoying!”
The room fell silent as he slid the door open. Three pairs of eyes turned toward him. He chuckled.
“You guys done?”
“No,” Nobara answered immediately.
“Alright.”
As the three of them resumed bickering, Satoru wandered toward his desk. His hand paused. Sitting in the corner was a tiny plush manta ray. Its faded blue fabric had begun to wear with age. He remembered it instantly. The aquarium. The gift shop. You had picked it up. Turned it over in your hands, smiled, Then quietly placed it back on the shelf.
“…It’s cute…But I don’t really need it.”
So, he had gone back later and bought it anyway. It had remained on his desk ever since. Satoru picked it up carefully. For just a moment, His thumb brushed over its worn fabric.
“…We’ll get there someday.”
His voice was almost inaudible. “So…Wait for me a little longer.”
Outside the office, his students argued loudly enough for the entire school to hear. A small smile returned to his face. He set the plush back where it belonged. Then turned toward the door.
The walk back to the hotel was quieter than the walk there. The excitement of the festival had settled into a comfortable exhaustion.
Haibara yawned loudly. “I don’t think my legs work anymore.”
Nanami glanced sideways at him. “You’ve said that three times and yet you’re still walking.”
“I walk through sheer determination.”
Shoko laughs. By the time the six of you reached the hotel, the hallways had fallen silent. The only sounds were the distant crashing of waves beyond the balcony and the soft hum of the air conditioner. Geto slid open the door to the suite. Inside, the staff had already laid out everyone’s futons. Yours and Shoko’s rested along the far side of the room near the balcony doors. Gojo’s and Geto’s were positioned closest to the entrance. Just beyond the connecting door, Haibara and Nanami had the adjoining room. Geto glanced around the suite before giving a satisfied nod.
“Good.”
“What?” Gojo asked.
“If anyone comes through the front entrance, they’ll have to get through us first.”
Gojo smiled lazily. “As if they’d make it that far.”
“They won’t.”
It didn’t take long for everyone to settle in. Shoko disappeared into the bathroom first, emerging several minutes later with damp hair and an oversized T-shirt.
“I’m stealing the pillow by the balcony.”
“No one’s fighting you for it,” Nanami replied from the adjoining room.
Haibara poked his head through the open connecting door. “Goodnight!”
“…Goodnight,” everyone answered in varying degrees of exhaustion.
The lights were switched off one by one. Only moonlight remained. It spilled softly through the partially opened shoji, painting silver rectangles across the tatami. You lay awake on your futon. Sleep refused to come. You thought about everything that had happened over the past few days. The ocean. The fireworks. The photograph. The friends you never expected to have. A small smile found its way onto your face.
“…Goodnight,” Shoko murmured sleepily beside you.
You turned your head. She was already half asleep.
“…Goodnight.”
Within minutes, her breathing evened into the steady rhythm of sleep. Across the room, Haibara’s faint snoring drifted through the connecting doorway.
Nanami sighed. “…You’re impossible.”
The room slowly fell still. Almost. Gojo stared at the wooden ceiling wide awake.
“…Satoru.” Geto’s voice was barely louder than a whisper.
“Hm?”
“You’re awake.”
“…So are you.”
The sound of distant waves filled the room.
“…Be careful.”
Gojo frowned into the darkness “About what?”
“The mission.”
“I know.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Gojo turned his head slightly. Moonlight caught the outline of Geto’s face. His eyes were still closed.
“You’ve started looking at her.”
Gojo let out a quiet scoff. “…You’re imagining things.”
“Am I?”
“You are.” There was a long pause. “When the fireworks started…” Geto finally opened one eye. “…You didn’t watch them.”
Gojo didn’t answer.
“You watched her.”
His silence said enough.
“You smiled every time she smiled. You remember everything written in her notebook and…”
Geto’s voice softened. “…You’ve stopped calling her ‘the Vessel.’”
Gojo blinked. He searched his memory. The beach. Dinner. The festival. The fireworks. At no point had he thought,
The Star Plasma Vessel. Only your name.
His chest tightened. “…I didn’t even notice.”
The confession lingered between them. Gojo folded one arm beneath his head.
“I…”
Perhaps the first time in years, he genuinely didn’t know what he was feeling. He enjoyed making you laugh. He looked for you whenever the group split up. He found himself wondering what would make you smile next. He wanted to show you everything you’d written in that notebook. He wanted to be there when you experienced it.
“…That’s bad, isn’t it?”
His voice was so quiet it was almost lost beneath the sound of the ocean. Geto didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stared up at the same moonlit ceiling.
“…Only if you forget why we’re here.”
Gojo closed his eyes. The smile you’d worn while watching the fireworks flashed across his mind. The one that had looked so full of life.
“…I won’t.”
He wasn’t sure whether he was answering Geto or himself. A comfortable silence settled over the room once more. Neither of them noticed the slightest shift beneath the blankets across the room. Your eyes had opened sometime during their conversation.
Not intentionally. Your name, softly spoken between whispers had stirred you awake. You hadn’t heard everything. Only fragments.
“…the mission…”
“…getting attached…”
“…if you forget why we’re here.”
You quietly closed your eyes again. Of course. You should have known. No matter how kind Gojo had been, no matter how many memories he’d helped you make, he was still your escort. Protecting you was his duty. Nothing more. A tiny ache settled somewhere deep inside your chest.
You didn’t understand why. So you simply pulled the blanket a little higher and told yourself not to think about it. Outside, the waves continued to roll endlessly onto the shore. Unaware that, beneath the same roof, two hearts had already begun changing. Neither of them realizing the other was doing exactly the same.
The morning after the festival was unusually peaceful. For the first time since arriving in Okinawa, no one had anywhere they urgently needed to be. Haibara stretched as the group stepped out of the hotel.
“So…” He looked around excitedly. “What are we doing today?”
Shoko shrugged. “I don’t care.”
Nanami adjusted the strap of his bag. “As long as it’s quiet.”
Gojo looked toward you. “What about you?”
You blinked. “Me?”
“Mhm.”
“You get to pick.”
You looked thoughtful for a moment before your eyes wandered to a colorful brochure displayed outside the hotel lobby.
Churaumi Aquarium.
“…An aquarium?” Satoru followed your gaze before smiling. “Done.”
The aquarium was far larger than you had imagined. The moment you stepped inside, your eyes lit up. Schools of brilliantly colored fish drifted through enormous glass tanks that stretched from floor to ceiling. You instinctively walked closer until your fingertips nearly touched the glass.
“…They’re beautiful.”
Haibara immediately darted toward another exhibit. “Whoa! Look at this one!”
Nanami sighed. “…Please don’t run.”
“I’m not running!”
“You are.”
“I’m speed walking!”
Shoko snorted. Gojo watched you instead. Every few seconds your attention shifted to another tank. Every creature was something entirely new.
“So that’s what a lionfish looks like…”
“I didn’t know sea turtles were that big…”
“They’re so pretty…”
You said each observation so earnestly that Gojo couldn’t help but smile.
“…You’re adorable.”
You turned around. “…hm?”
“Nothing.”
“…You definitely said something.”
“I said the fish are adorable.”
You narrowed your eyes. “…uhuh.”
He laughed. The largest exhibit was a tunnel of glass. Sunlight filtered through the water overhead, casting gentle waves of light across the floor beneath your feet. Massive rays glided silently above. Small fish surrounded them like drifting stars. You stopped walking.
“…Whoa…”
You turned in a complete circle, watching the sea life pass overhead from every direction. For a moment, you forgot everyone else was there. You nearly walked straight into Gojo.
“…Oops.”
He hadn’t been looking at the fish. He’d been looking at you. Geto noticed immediately. Satoru had nearly walked into you because he’d been watching you instead of the fish. Geto looked away. He had warned him this would happen. He only hoped neither of you would have to pay the price for it.
The jellyfish exhibit was unexpectedly your favorite. Dozens of translucent moon jellyfish floated lazily through softly glowing blue water. They pulsed gently with each movement.
You stood perfectly still. “…They’re so pretty.”
Haibara blinked. “Really? I thought you’d like the sharks.”
You smiled without taking your eyes off the tank. “They look…” You searched for the right words. “like stars underwater.”
Gojo looked at you. Then at the jellyfish. Then back at you.
“…Only you would compare jellyfish to constellations.”
You laughed quietly. “Was that weird?”
“A little.” He smiled. “I like weird.”
Your cheeks warmed and you avoided looking at him. “…Oh.”
The penguin exhibit was considerably less peaceful. One particularly enthusiastic penguin launched itself into the water with a splash.
Haibara yelped. “My pants!”
Another splash.
Nanami somehow ended up just as wet despite standing several feet away. “…How.”
Shoko doubled over laughing. You couldn’t stop giggling. Even Nanami let out the smallest, most defeated sigh.
“…This is unfortunate.”
Later, the six of you wandered into the gift shop. Rows of plush sea creatures covered nearly every shelf. You picked up a small manta ray plush. It was incredibly soft. You smiled to yourself before glancing at the price tag.
“…” Very quietly, you placed it back exactly where you’d found it. No one seemed to notice.
Before leaving, you paused in front of one final exhibit. A massive whale shark drifted through the deep blue water with effortless grace. You watched it in silence.
“…Gojo?”
“Hm?”
“…Do you think the fish know they’re inside an aquarium?”
He looked at the enormous tank. “Probably not.”
“They’ve lived here their whole lives. I bet they think this is the whole world.” You continued watching the whale shark glide past. “I wonder…if that’s how I looked like.”
He looked at you. “What do you mean?”
You smiled faintly. “…Nothing. Just a thought.”
He didn’t press any further. Instead, he stepped beside you. The two of you stood shoulder to shoulder, watching the fish drift through the endless blue. For the first time in your life, the world felt impossibly vast and you wanted to see every corner of it.
By the time the six of you stepped back outside, the afternoon sun had begun its slow descent. Warm ocean air brushed against your face as everyone wandered aimlessly down the streets of Okinawa.
“…I’m hungry,” Haibara announced dramatically, clutching his stomach.
“You’ve been saying that every two hours,” Nanami replied.
“Because I get hungry every two hours.”
Shoko sighed. “Unfortunately, that’s true.”
Satoru looked over at you. “What do you feel like eating?”
You blinked. “…I don’t know.”
“Then we’ll find something.” He flashed you a grin.
Before long, the delicious smell of grilled seafood drifted through the air. A small seaside restaurant overlooked the water, its patio lined with wooden tables and paper lanterns that swayed gently in the breeze.
Haibara was already halfway through the entrance. “I vote here!”
“You vote for everywhere,” Nanami muttered.
The six of you settled around a table overlooking the ocean. As everyone looked over the menus, your attention wandered beyond the railing. The sea shimmered beneath the afternoon light.
Satoru glanced up from his menu to look at you. Geto looked between the two of you. He quietly reached for his tea. The conversation he’d had with Satoru last night resurfaced in his mind. Getting attached was dangerous. He’d warned him. Now, watching Satoru look at you with such effortless fondness, Geto wondered if either of you even remembered this had begun as an escort mission.
He lowered his eyes into his cup. For just a moment, he wished you had met under different circumstances.
“…Geto?”
He looked up.
You were smiling at him. “The food’s here.”
“…Ah.” He returned the smile. “It is.”
Soon, the table filled with plates of grilled fish, rice, tempura, and bowls of soup. Haibara dug in immediately.
“This is amazing!”
“You say that about everything,” Shoko said.
“Because everything here is amazing!”
Nanami quietly accepted another serving of rice. “…I can’t argue with that.”
Laughter spread around the table. No one spoke about curses or Tengen or the mission. You simply ate together. Like six ordinary teenagers enjoying the last days of summer.
When dinner was over, the sky had begun turning shades of orange and pink. As everyone started walking back toward the hotel, you slowed your pace for just a moment. You took your notebook from your bag. You flipped through the pages until you found the aquarium and crossed it off.
Visit an aquarium.
Another dream. Another memory. One more thing you never thought you’d get to experience.
Gojo peeked over your shoulder. “…Crossing off another one?”
You closed the notebook with a satisfied nod “Mhm.”
He smiled. Without thinking, his hand brushed against yours as the two of you continued walking side by side.
The next morning, light filtered through the windows.
Haibara was the first to stir. “I’m hungry.”
A pillow flew across the room, hitting him square in the face.
“…Ow.”
Shoko lowered her arm. “It’s seven in the morning.”
“I’m hungry at seven in the morning.”
“Be hungry quietly.”
Gojo sat up, stretching until several joints cracked. “Breakfast?”
Haibara immediately recovered. “Breakfast!”
Nanami sighed into his pillow. “You two share a single stomach.”
The morning passed far quicker than anyone expected. After breakfast, Haibara insisted everyone walk along the beach again. Gojo somehow convinced everyone to rent bicycles until Shoko reminded him that not everyone knew how to ride one. So that idea disappeared almost immediately.
Instead, the group wandered through a local market. You sampled fresh tropical fruit for the first time. Bought tiny handmade seashell charms with Shoko. Watched Haibara lose spectacularly at another festival game. Laughed as Gojo argued with an old shopkeeper over whether pineapple belonged on pizza.
By lunchtime, your cheeks actually hurt.
“You okay?” Gojo looked over.
You blinked. “…Hm?”
“You keep touching your face.”
You laughed softly. “I think…” You rubbed your cheek. “…I’ve been smiling too much.”
Gojo stared. Then burst into laughter. “I don’t think that’s ever happened to anyone before.”
The afternoon heat drove everyone back to the hotel. Haibara immediately collapsed face-first onto his futon.
“I’m taking a nap.”
Nanami didn’t even look up from his book “You’ve earned one.”
Shoko wandered toward the balcony with a cold drink. Geto quietly disappeared to make another phone call to Jujutsu High. The suite settled into a comfortable silence. Gojo flopped onto his stomach beside the low table. His eyes landed on something tucked neatly beneath your bag. The notebook.
“…Hey.”
You looked up from where you were helping Shoko untangle one of the seashell bracelets she’d bought.
“Hm?”
“You mind?”
He pointed toward the notebook. You smiled.
“…Go ahead.”
He had practically memorized it already. Still, he flipped through it anyway. Most of the remaining entries made him smile.
Watch a meteor shower.
See the northern lights.
“…That one’s gonna be difficult.” He turned another page. Then stopped. “…Huh.”
You looked over. “What?”
He read it aloud. “‘Have a first date.’”
The room remained quiet. You looked down almost immediately.
“…I wrote that a long time ago.”
Gojo tapped the page thoughtfully. “…That one’s easy.”
Your head lifted. “…Easy?”
“Mhm.”
He shut the notebook. Then looked at you with the same confident grin he always wore whenever he’d made up his mind about something.
“Wanna go on a date this afternoon?”
Silence filled the room. Shoko nearly choked on her drink. Haibara lifted his head so quickly he almost fell off his futon. Nanami slowly lowered his book. Even Geto, who had just stepped back into the room after finishing his phone call, stopped in the doorway. The entire suite had gone completely still.
You blinked. “A…” You pointed weakly toward yourself. “…A date?”
“Yeah.” Gojo smiled as though he’d suggested going for ice cream. “It’s on the list.”
You looked between him, the notebook, and everyone else staring in absolute disbelief.
“…With you?”
“Well…” He looked around the room. “I was volunteering.”
Haibara’s eyes were practically sparkling. Shoko pressed her lips together so hard they were beginning to tremble. Nanami quietly closed his book. Geto pinched the bridge of his nose. None of them spoke because every single one of them had reached the exact same conclusion.
It’s a date.
Gojo, however, looked completely oblivious.
“So?” He tilted his head. “What do you think?”
You felt your heartbeat quicken. You couldn’t tell whether it was because he’d called it a date or because some small part of you had wished he’d asked.
“…Okay.”
The word escaped before you could overthink it. A grin immediately spread across Gojo’s face.
“Great.” He stood. “Then it’s settled.” He looked back down at the notebook. “One first date.” He smiled triumphantly. “Coming right up.”
Across the room, Geto met Shoko’s eyes. Neither of them said a word. Gojo Satoru had just asked the girl he was falling in love with on a real date without meaning to and somehow still believed he was only helping her finish a checklist.
The moment Gojo announced he was taking you on a date, the entire suite erupted into chaos.
“Absolutely not.” Shoko was already rummaging through your overnight bag. “You are not wearing your usual clothes.”
You blinked. “…What’s wrong with them?”
“Nothing.” She held up one of your plain tops. “They’re just not date clothes.”
Across the room, Gojo looked up. “…There are date clothes?”
Five people turned to stare at him.
“What?” he asked.
Nanami sighed. “…Sometimes I genuinely worry about you.”
“I’ve been told I’m fashionable.”
“That’s not what we’re talking about.”
Haibara laughed. “Leave it to us, Senpai!”
Before you could protest, Shoko gently took your hand. “C’mon. We’re borrowing a few things from the shops downstairs.”
“…Borrowing?”
“We’re buying.”
“…Oh.”
An hour later, you stood in front of the full length mirror inside one of the boutique fitting rooms. The outfit Shoko had picked was simple. A soft cream sundress that reached just below your knees. A light blue cardigan rested over your shoulders. White sandals. Nothing extravagant. Nothing flashy.
You looked like any other girl spending the afternoon on vacation. Shoko adjusted the ribbon tying back part of your hair before taking one final step back.
“There.”
You looked at your reflection. “…I don’t look like me.”
“You do.” Shoko smiled. “You just look like the version of yourself you’ve never had the chance to be.”
Your fingertips brushed against the cardigan sleeve. “…Do you really think it looks nice?”
“I know it does.” She tilted her head. “Besides…”A mischievous smile appeared. “I think someone’s going to have a heart attack.”
You looked at her, confused. “…Who?”
Shoko only smiled. “You’ll see.”
Outside the hotel entrance, Gojo waited with his hands in his pockets. He’d traded his school uniform jacket for a loose white shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. The sunglasses were still there, of course. Some things never changed. He looked up as the hotel doors slid open. His smile froze. He simply stared.
You stepped outside cautiously. “…Sorry.” You smoothed the skirt of your dress. “Did I keep you waiting?
Gojo forgot how words worked. You looked different. Not because of the dress. Not because Shoko had done your hair. Because for the first time, you looked like someone who had a future waiting for her. He felt that strange tightness in his chest again. The same one he’d felt at the festival.
“…Gojo?”
He blinked. “Huh?”
“…Is something wrong?”
“…No.” His answer came a little too quickly. “You just…” He rubbed the back of his neck “…Look really nice.”
Your cheeks immediately warmed. “…Thank you.”
He cleared his throat. “Ready?”
You nodded. “…Ready.”
The afternoon became exactly what one would expect from a date planned by Gojo Satoru. Completely unplanned. You wandered wherever looked interesting. He insisted you try every dessert stand the shopping street had to offer.
“This one’s better.”
“It tastes exactly the same.”
“It absolutely does not.”
He dragged you into an arcade. You lost spectacularly at a racing game. He lost even more spectacularly at a claw machine.
“You have the Six Eyes.”
“I do.”
“So how are you this bad?”
“The machine is cheating.”
You laughed so hard you had to lean against the machine just to catch your breath. Later, he bought two ice creams. His melted before either of you had made it halfway down the street. You couldn’t stop laughing. By the time the afternoon gave way to evening, neither of you had realized how many hours had passed.
The two of you found yourselves sitting on a quiet seawall overlooking the ocean. The waves rolled lazily beneath the orange glow of the setting sun. Neither of you spoke. You simply watched the horizon together. After a while, Gojo reached into his bag.
“…Mission accomplished.” He opened your notebook.
You smiled knowingly. “…You’re crossing it off?”
“Mhm.”
He uncapped a pen. With one confident stroke, he drew a line through the words.
Have a first date.
“There.” He smiled proudly before turning the page. “…Let’s see what’s next.”
His eyes scanned the neat handwriting. Then stopped. The smile slowly faded.
Have my first kiss.
The ocean seemed suddenly louder. Gojo stared at the words for several long seconds.
You noticed. “…What is it?”
He turned the notebook toward you. Your heart skipped the moment you saw the page.
“…Oh.”
Neither of you spoke. The sea breeze gently stirred your hair. Gojo looked back at the list. Then at you. Then back again. He scratched awkwardly at his cheek.
“I mean…”
For the first time all day, he sounded uncertain.
“We’re already out on a date…” He laughed once under his breath, almost embarrassed by his own suggestion. “So…”
His bright blue eyes met yours. “wouldn’t it make sense…to end it with a kiss?”
The question lingered between you. The waves continued their steady rhythm against the seawall. Somewhere farther down the beach, laughter drifted through the evening air.
You stared at him. “…A kiss?”
Gojo immediately lifted both hands. “I mean—” He laughed awkwardly.
“Only if you want to. If you don’t, that’s totally fine. I was just thinking…” He glanced down at the notebook again. “…It’s on the list.”
You looked at the page.
Have my first kiss.
When you’d written those words years ago, you’d imagined it would happen because someone loved you. Not because it was another item waiting to be crossed off but somehow, standing here with Gojo, It didn’t feel meaningless. You looked back up at him.
“…Have you?”
“Hm?”
“Had your first kiss?”
He blinked“…No.”
Your eyes widened. “You haven’t?”
“I’ve been kinda busy.” He shrugged sheepishly. “Curses don’t exactly leave a lot of free time.”
A tiny smile tugged at your lips. “I suppose they don’t.”
Silence settled again. You took a small breath.
“…Alright.”
Gojo froze. “…Really?”
You nodded once. “If…” Your fingers nervously twisted together. “…If you’re alright with it.”
Gojo couldn’t think of anything clever to say. He simply nodded.
“…Yeah.”
The two of you stood. Neither of you moved. Neither of you seemed to know what came next. You looked at him.
“…How do we…”
Gojo laughed. “I was about to ask you.”
You couldn’t help but laugh too. “I’ve only read about it.”
“I’ve only seen movies.”
“…Those probably aren’t very accurate.”
“Probably not.”
The laughter faded into a comfortable silence. Gojo took one tentative step closer.
“…Can I?”
Your heartbeat quickened. You answered with the smallest nod. “…Yes.”
He hesitated just long enough to give you the chance to change your mind. When you didn’t, he reached up carefully. Only to brush a loose strand of hair behind your ear. His fingertips barely grazed your skin. You held your breath.
“So…” His voice had become unusually quiet. “…Just tell me if you want me to stop.”
“…Okay.”
Slowly, he leaned in. Your eyes fluttered shut. The world seemed to disappear. No waves. No voices. No breeze. Just the sound of your own heartbeat.
Then the softest brush of lips against yours. It lasted only a heartbeat. Gojo pulled back first. His bright blue eyes searched yours immediately. The two of you remained standing there. Neither of you moved. The space between you was barely a few inches now.
“…So.”
“…So.”
He frowned thoughtfully. “Was that…” He searched for the right words. “…what you expected?”
You considered the question honestly. “…Not really.”
“…Me neither.”
You tilted your head ever so slightly.“Maybe…” Your voice was quiet. “…We did it wrong?”
Gojo blinked. “…That’s possible.”
The two of you looked at each other and almost simultaneously,
“…Should we…”
Gojo smiled. “You first.”
Your cheeks warmed. “…Should we try again?”
The words hung between you. Gojo laughed softly.
“…I was literally about to ask you that.”
“You were?”
“Yeah.”
“I figured…” He shrugged awkwardly. “…Maybe the second attempt is supposed to be better.”
A tiny smile spread across your face. “…For research purposes?”
He pointed at you. “Exactly.”
“We’re gathering data.”
“…Scientific experimentation.”
“Very important experimentation. You laughed.
“So?” He looked at you carefully “No pressure. If you don’t want to, we won’t.”
You looked into his eyes. There was no expectation. No insistence. Only the same gentle patience he’d shown you ever since the journey began.
You found yourself smiling. “…I’d like to.”
This time, neither of you felt quite as nervous. Gojo stepped closer again, closing the distance with deliberate slowness. His hand came up to cup your cheek, warmer this time, more certain. The pad of his thumb brushed gently along your skin, sending a quiet shiver through you. You leaned into the touch without thinking, drawn in by the steady heat of his palm. His eyes softened, a flicker of something vulnerable crossing his usually playful gaze before he leaned in.
This kiss was nothing like the first.
It started soft, almost careful, but quickly deepened as his fingers slid into your hair, tilting your head just enough to fit better against him. The world narrowed to the warmth of his mouth, the faint taste of something sweet on his lips, and the way his breath hitched when you kissed him back. Time stretched. Your hands found the front of his shirt, clutching lightly as heat pooled low in your stomach.
When you finally parted, both of you were breathing a little harder. Neither spoke at first. You simply looked at each other, his striking blue eyes dark and unguarded, your own reflection caught in them.
A small, breathless laugh escaped you.
Gojo’s lips curved into a slow, genuine smile, the kind that reached his eyes and made your chest feel too tight.
“…Okay,” he murmured, voice low.
You raised an eyebrow, still smiling. “Okay?”
He gave a single, soft nod, thumb still tracing lazy circles against your cheek. “Yeah. I think that one was definitely better.”
You laughed again, lighter this time, the sound warm between you. “I think so too.”
Neither of you realized why. Only that somehow, the second kiss no longer felt like something you were crossing off a list. It felt like something neither of you wanted to end. The evening breeze drifted between the two of you. Neither of you spoke. The ocean rolled gently against the shore below, as if the world itself had slowed down. Gojo finally looked down at the notebook still resting in his hands.
“…Guess we should cross it out.”
You smiled softly. “…Right.”
He uncapped his pen. This time, he didn’t hesitate quite as long. With one careful stroke, he drew a line through the words.
Have my first kiss.
He smiled to himself before absentmindedly turning the page.
“Let’s see…” His eyes skimmed over the next few entries.
Watch a meteor shower.
See the northern lights.
Wear a wedding ring.
“…Definitely not today.”
You laughed. “I don’t think so either.”
He flipped another page. Then paused.
“…Hm.”
You leaned over slightly. “What is it?”
He turned the notebook toward you. The neat handwriting stared back at you.
Have a boyfriend.
The two of you fell silent.
“…Oh.”You felt your cheeks warm up. “I didn’t really think about that one when I wrote it.”
He stared at the page for another moment. He tilted his head thoughtfully. “…Maybe.”
You blinked. “…What do you mean?”
He looked at you as though he’d just solved a puzzle. “We’ve already gone on a date.”
“…We have.”
“and we kissed.”
“…Twice.”
“For scientific purposes.”
You couldn’t help but smile. “Of course.”
“So wouldn’t it make sense…”His words slowed as he thought them through. “…If I was your boyfriend?”
Your heart skipped. “…You?”
“I’m already here.”
“…That’s true.”
“And we know we get along.”
“…Also true.”
“And it’d help you cross another thing off the list.” He smiled, completely unaware of how fast his own heart was beating.
“So…would you like me to be your boyfriend?”
You stared at him. The question sounded so simple. As though he were asking if you wanted another ice cream but despite the casual way he’d said it, something about it made your chest flutter.
You hesitated. “…Is that how it works?”
Gojo blinked then he frowned. “…I actually don’t know.”
Neither of you said anything. Then again, almost simultaneously,
“…I’ve never had one.”
“…I’ve never been one.”
You looked at each other and burst out laughing. When the laughter finally settled, Gojo smiled.
“…Guess we’ll both figure it out.”
You looked down at the notebook. Then back at him. The setting sun painted everything around you gold. You realized that if there was anyone you wanted to spend the rest of this week making memories with, it was Gojo.
A shy smile spread across your face. “…Okay. I’d like that.”
Gojo’s usual grin disappeared. In its place was something quieter. Something softer.
“Then…” He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling strangely nervous. “…I guess I’m your boyfriend now.”
You laughed. “…I guess you are.”
Somewhere between the first date, the first kiss and this quiet conversation by the sea… The list had stopped being the reason you were spending time together. Now it was simply giving the two of you excuses to stay by each other’s side just a little longer.
The walk back to the hotel was slower than the walk there. Neither of you seemed to be in much of a hurry. The evening air was pleasantly cool, and the streets were beginning to empty as shops closed for the night. For several minutes, the only sound between you was the quiet rhythm of your footsteps.
“…Hey.”
You looked over. “Hm?”
Gojo shoved both hands into his pockets. “If we’re doing this…shouldn’t we stop calling each other by our last names?”
You blinked. “…What do you mean?”
He looked at you as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. “My girlfriend can’t keep calling me ‘Gojo.’”
The word made your heart skip.
Girlfriend.
It was the first time either of you had actually said it out loud. He scratched the back of his neck.
“So…” A crooked smile spread across his face. “…Call me Satoru.”
You stared at him “It feels…” You searched for the right word. “…very personal.
“I guess it is.” He shrugged. “I don’t mind.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Mhm.” He smiled. “I’d actually like it.”
You looked away for a moment. Then took a small breath.
“…Alright.” When you looked back at him, there was the faintest hint of pink across your cheeks. “…Satoru.”
He stopped walking.
Your eyes widened. “…Did I say it wrong?”
He blinked once. Then laughed quietly. “…No. You just…” He looked away, smiling to himself.“…Sounded really cute.”
Your face immediately grew warmer. “I-I…”
“You can say it again.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“You absolutely can.”
“…No.”
“C’mon.”
You laughed despite yourself. “…Satoru.”
There it was again. His name. Spoken so gently that it barely rose above the sound of the ocean. Something fluttered unexpectedly in his chest. He had heard countless people say his name before but somehow hearing it from you felt entirely different.
You noticed he had gone quiet. “…Satoru?”
“Hm?”
You hesitated. “Would you…”
He tilted his head.
“…Call me by my first name too?” The request was so quiet he almost missed it. “You don’t have to if you’d rather not. I just thought…since we’re…” Your voice became smaller. “…dating.”
He looked at you for a long moment. Then smiled.
“…[name].”
He said your first name.It sounded different. Warmer. Without the distance that your family name had always carried.
You looked up at him. “…Again.”
He laughed. “What?”
“…Could you say it again?”
A grin slowly spread across his face. He leaned down ever so slightly, just enough that only you could hear him.
“[name]…”
Softly. Like it was something precious. You smiled before you could stop yourself.
“…I like the way you say it.”
Neither of you realized you were simply standing in the middle of the sidewalk, smiling at one another. Then Gojo chuckled.
“…Well.”
“What?”
“I think we’ve unlocked a new problem.”
You tilted your head. “…What problem?”
“…Now I’m going to want to hear you say ‘Satoru’ all the time.”
You laughed. “…You’re impossible.”
This time, when the two of you continued down the quiet Okinawan street, it wasn’t Gojo Satoru and the Star Plasma Vessel. It wasn’t Gojo and his mission. It was simply Satoru and you.
The following morning began with the familiar sound of pages turning. You sat near the open window of the hotel room, your notebook resting on your knees as the morning breeze drifted in from the ocean. Satoru wandered over, still half asleep, his hair somehow even messier than usual.
“…Whatcha looking at?”
You turned the notebook toward him. “There are only a few things left.”
He leaned closer, reading each line aloud under his breath until one caught his attention.
“…Go fishing?”
You nodded. “I’ve never been before.”
“Huh.”
He scratched the back of his head. “…Me neither.”
You looked up in surprise. “…Really?”
“Mhm.” He shrugged. “I’ve never exactly had a reason to.”
You smiled. “Then maybe we can both cross it off.”
Before Satoru could answer, Haibara suddenly appeared between the two of you.
“Fishing?!”
Both of you jumped.
“When did you get here?” Satoru asked.
“I heard fishing!” Haibara grinned from ear to ear. “I’ve always wanted to try it too!”
Nanami looked up from the book he was reading. “…You’ve said that about almost everything we’ve done this week.”
“Because everything sounds fun!”
Shoko yawned from her bed. “If we’re going, someone better bring snacks.”
Geto closed the book in his hands with a quiet sigh. “As long as everyone stays together.”
His eyes lingered on you for only a moment. “It is still an escort mission.”
The room fell quiet.
Satoru nodded. “…Right.”
A few minutes later, the six of you were walking toward a small fishing pier along the Okinawan coast. The elderly owner of the rental shop smiled warmly as he handed everyone a fishing rod.
“Six young people?” He chuckled. “Must be a fun trip.”
Haibara enthusiastically accepted his rod “We’re gonna catch so many fish!”
Nanami looked unconvinced. “I doubt that.”
The ocean was calm. Gentle waves lapped against the wooden pier as everyone found a place to sit. Shoko unfolded a beach chair beneath a nearby umbrella.
“I’m claiming the shade.”
Haibara cast his line with far too much enthusiasm. “…Whoa!”
His hook immediately snagged the handle of his own bucket.
“…I meant to do that.”
Nanami pinched the bridge of his nose. Satoru smirked.
“Watch and learn.”
With all the confidence in the world, he cast his line far out into the water.
“…See? This is how professionals do it.”
Not even thirty seconds later, his line caught on a clump of drifting seaweed. He reeled it in with exaggerated disbelief.
“…The fish sabotaged me.”
Shoko looked over from beneath the umbrella. “The seaweed seems thrilled.”
You couldn’t stop laughing. Even Geto smiled to himself.
Time passed quietly. The six of you sat together, watching the water ripple beneath the morning sun. Every now and then someone reeled in a fish. To everyone’s surprise or not, it was usually Nanami.
“…Another one?”Haibara stared.
Nanami simply removed the hook. “…Pure luck.”
“That’s your fourth ‘pure luck,’ Nanamin!”Satoru crossed his arms dramatically. “This is rigged.”
“It isn’t.”
“It absolutely is.”
You glanced down at your own fishing line. Nothing. You sighed.
You laughed softly. “…I don’t think fish think like that.”
“You never know.”
For a while, the two of you simply sat shoulder to shoulder, watching your floats drift with the waves. The silence between you had become comfortable. One that didn’t need to be filled. Your float disappeared beneath the surface.
“Satoru!”
“Hm?”
“I think something’s pulling it!”
He immediately scooted closer. “Reel it in!”
“I’m trying!”
The rod bent. You struggled to keep your balance. Haibara was already on his feet.
“You got one!”
“Careful!” Shoko called from the shade. “Don’t fall in.”
Nanami quietly stepped closer just in case. Even Geto abandoned his own fishing rod. With one final tug, a tiny silver fish flew out of the water. It landed on the wooden pier with a soft flop. Everyone stared. Then Haibara threw both fists into the air.
“She did it!”
“You caught one!”
Satoru laughed so hard he nearly lost his own footing. Your face lit up brighter than the morning sun.
“…I caught one.”
Very carefully, you knelt beside the tiny fish. You gently removed the hook before lifting it with both hands.
Haibara tilted his head. “…You’re keeping it?”
You smiled softly. “No.”
Walking to the edge of the pier, you lowered your hands toward the water.
“…Thank you.”
The little fish flicked its tail once before disappearing beneath the waves.
Haibara blinked. “…You thanked the fish.”
“It helped me complete one of my dreams.”
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then you reached into your bag and pulled out your notebook. Flipping to the next page, you uncapped your pen. With one careful stroke, you crossed out another line.
Go fishing.
You smiled. Another dream fulfilled. Satoru watched quietly from your side. He had stopped caring about crossing things off your list. Now, his favorite part was simply watching you smile whenever you did.
The week passed more quickly than any of you expected. Days blurred together beneath Okinawa’s brilliant summer sky. There were lazy mornings spent wandering along the shoreline. Afternoons exploring little shops tucked away between quiet streets.Evenings filled with festival food, laughter, and Haibara somehow convincing everyone to play games he inevitably lost.
Somewhere along the way, holding your hand had simply become normal. The six of you were weaving through a crowded marketplace when Satoru reached back without looking. His fingers found yours instinctively. Then laced together. As naturally as breathing. You blinked down at your joined hands.
“…Satoru?”
“Hm?”
“…You’re holding my hand.”
“I know.”
“…Oh.”
“…Is that okay?”
You smiled. “…Mhm.”
He gave your hand the tiniest squeeze before continuing to walk as though nothing unusual had happened. Behind the two of you, the rest of the group had come to a complete stop.
Haibara pointed with both hands. “They’re holding hands!”
Shoko looked entirely too pleased with herself. “It finally happened.”
Nanami adjusted his glasses. “I was wondering how long it would take.”
Geto folded his arms. “…Four days.”
Shoko glanced at him. “You were keeping track?”
“I was.”
Haibara gasped dramatically. “You two had a bet?!”
“We did.”
“WHO WON?”
Geto smiled faintly. “I said he’d do it without realizing.”
Shoko sighed. “…I hate that you were right.”
Neither you nor Satoru noticed. You had already wandered too far ahead.
Before long, the final day arrived. The call from Jujutsu High came shortly after breakfast. It was time. Tomorrow morning…you would return. Master Tengen was waiting. No one spoke much after the call ended. Even Haibara seemed quieter than usual. The weight of tomorrow lingered over everyone.
That afternoon, while everyone packed their belongings, your notebook sat open on the low table. Most of the pages were crossed through now.
See the ocean.
Build a sandcastle.
Have a sleepover.
Go on a road trip.
Take a picture with friends.
Have a first date.
Have my first kiss.
Have a boyfriend.
Go fishing.
Visit an aquarium.
Satoru smiled quietly as he flipped through the remaining pages. “…There’s not much left.”
You sat beside him.
He turned another page. Then paused. “…Wait.”
“Hm?”
He pointed toward one of the last unfinished entries.
Wear a wedding ring.
A few lines beneath it,
Get married.
Haibara leaned over immediately. “Oh!”
Shoko followed. “…You’ve got to be kidding.”
Your face immediately warmed. “I…I wrote those when I was little.”
Satoru tilted his head. “…Well.”
He looked at the notebook, then at you. “…We can probably do that.”
Every head slowly turned toward him.
Nanami blinked. “…Excuse me?”
Satoru shrugged. “It doesn’t have to be real.”
Haibara’s eyes sparkled. “A fake wedding!”
Geto pinched the bridge of his nose. “I don’t think that’s how weddings work.”
“It can be.” Satoru grinned. “We’re making memories.”
Shoko looked between the two of you.“…Actually.”
Everyone looked at her.
“I passed a little seaside chapel yesterday.It offers symbolic ceremonies for tourists. They’re not legally binding.”
She looked at you. Silence filled the room. You looked down at the notebook. Then toward Satoru.
“Would you…” Your voice came out much quieter than intended. “…mind?”
He looked at you for a long moment. Then smiled. “…Not at all.”
The ceremony itself lasted barely fifteen minutes. A tiny white chapel overlooking the sea. Fresh flowers. Open windows that let the ocean breeze drift inside. An elderly caretaker smiled kindly as the two of you stood facing one another.
It wasn’t legal. It wasn’t official. Just two teenagers pretending. Helping complete a list. At least that’s what everyone kept telling themselves. The caretaker slipped two simple silver bands into Satoru’s hands. He looked down at them. Something inside him tightened unexpectedly.
“…Your hand.”
You held it out. He slid the ring gently onto your finger. It fit perfectly.
You looked at it for a long moment. “…It’s pretty.”
He smiled. “…It suits you.”
Then you picked up the second ring. His hand felt warm in yours. You carefully slipped it onto his finger. For a brief moment, neither of you let go. The caretaker smiled warmly.
“I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.”
Neither of you answered. Because for the first time all week, the reminder that tomorrow existed hurt.
The scent of burning incense lingered in the air long after the morning prayers had ended. It clung to the wooden beams of the shrine, settled into the tatami beneath your knees, and drifted lazily through the open shoji doors where the summer breeze carried it away. You had long since grown accustomed to it. Just as you had grown accustomed to the whispers.
"...The merger is only days away."
"...Everything is prepared."
"...Master Tengen will finally be complete."
"...The Star Plasma Vessel will fulfill her purpose."
Purpose.
It was a word everyone used so effortlessly. As if your life had always belonged to someone else. You sat quietly while the shrine attendants adjusted the ceremonial robes draped over your shoulders, smoothing invisible wrinkles from the expensive silk before bowing respectfully.
"You've grown into such a beautiful young woman."
Another smiled.
"Master Tengen will surely be pleased."
You returned the same practiced smile you had worn for years.
"Thank you."
It was enough. It always was. Satisfied, the attendants excused themselves, sliding the paper doors shut behind them. The room fell silent. The smile disappeared from your face almost immediately. You waited. Until you were certain no footsteps remained outside your room.
Only then did you lift a loose floorboard beside your futon. Hidden beneath it was a small cedar box. You carefully removed it, brushing away the thin layer of dust that had gathered over the lid before opening it. Inside rested a notebook. The cover was worn. The corners had curled with age. Across the front, written in uneven handwriting from years ago, were the words:
Things I'd Like to Do Before I Disappear.
Your fingers traced the title. You couldn't help smiling. You opened to the first page. The entries were childish.
Pet a dolphin.
Crossed out. The aquarium staff had laughed when you spent nearly an hour feeding one instead.
Eat an entire strawberry cake by myself.
Crossed out. The attendants had scolded you afterward when you complained of a stomachache.
Ride a bicycle.
You had learned exactly one thing that day. Brakes were important. A quiet laugh escaped you. You turned another page. The handwriting slowly matured. The dreams became bigger.
Watch the stars somewhere without city lights.
Go on a road trip.
Go to the aquarium with friends.
Learn the constellations.
Watch a meteor shower.
See the northern lights.
You paused. There was only one page left. Unlike the others, every word had been written carefully, almost timidly. As though writing them down somehow made them real.
Fall in love.
Have my first kiss.
Have a boyfriend.
Wear a wedding ring.
Grow old with someone.
You stared at the final line. For a long while, you simply looked at it.
"...That one's impossible." Your voice barely rose above a whisper.
Growing old had never been part of your future. Ever since you were old enough to understand what the words Star Plasma Vessel meant, you had also understood what they demanded.
One life...for countless others. You had accepted that long ago. At least, you thought you had. Outside, children laughed somewhere beyond the shrine walls. You closed your eyes. You wondered what it felt like to argue with your parents over curfew. To have friends who expected to see you next year. To dream about a future without wondering if you deserved one.
Three soft knocks interrupted your thoughts. You quickly slipped the notebook back into its box and returned it beneath the floorboards before answering.
"Come in."
The paper door slid open. A shrine maiden bowed deeply.
"The sorcerers from Tokyo Jujutsu High have arrived."
Your eyes lifted. "They're here already?"
"They wanted to start the mission early."
The beginning of the escort mission. The beginning of the end. You stood, smoothing your robes.
"I'll be there shortly."
Summer sunlight flooded the shrine courtyard. The stone pathway radiated warmth beneath your sandals as you followed the attendant toward the entrance gates. Two young men stood waiting. One leaned carelessly against a stone lantern, sunglasses perched lazily on his nose despite standing beneath the shade of a maple tree. Snow white hair caught the afternoon light, making him almost glow. The other stood beside him with noticeably better posture, dark hair tied neatly back as he listened patiently to one of the shrine attendants.
"They're about my age..."
The shrine maiden nodded.
"Second year students from Tokyo Jujutsu High."
As if sensing your gaze, the white haired boy turned. His hand lifted to the bridge of his sunglasses. He lowered them just enough to look over the rims. Brilliant blue eyes met yours.
He blinked. "...Huh."
You tilted your head. The attendant quietly announced your arrival.
"This is the Star Plasma Vessel."
The white haired boy looked between you and the attendant.
"...Really?"
The attendant frowned. "Is something wrong?"
"I dunno." He scratched the back of his neck. "I kinda expected..." He gestured vaguely. "...More."
The dark haired boy sighed. "Satoru."
"What?"
"You said that out loud."
"I know."
You couldn't help but smile. "What exactly were you expecting?"
He looked genuinely thoughtful. "I don't know."
He pointed at you. "I thought you'd be glowing."
"...Glowing?"
"Yeah."
"Or floating."
"...Floating?"
"Or have one of those really mysterious shrine maiden auras. You know...star plasma like."
You blinked. Then, despite yourself, a laugh escaped your lips. It was soft and short. Completely unplanned. The white haired boy froze. He slowly turned toward his companion.
"...She laughed."
The dark haired boy pinched the bridge of his nose. "Congratulations."
"No, seriously." He looked back at you. "I wasn't expecting that."
You covered your mouth, trying to hide your smile. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize."
He grinned. "It was cute."
Heat immediately crept into your cheeks. No one had ever called you cute before. Beautiful. Elegant. Graceful. Blessed. Never...cute. The dark haired boy stepped forward before the silence could become awkward.
"My apologies." He offered a polite bow. "My name is Geto Suguru." He gestured toward his partner. "And this idiot is Gojo Satoru."
"Hey." Gojo frowned. "I'm standing right here."
Geto smiled pleasantly at you. "We've been assigned to escort you safely to Master Tengen."
You bowed in return. "Thank you for accepting the mission."
Gojo waved dismissively. "It's just a job."
Geto shot him a look.
"...What?" Gojo shrugged. "I'm being honest." His attention returned to you. "So..." He tilted his head. "Anything you wanna do before we head out?"
The question caught you completely off guard. "...Do?"
"Yeah."
"I don't understand."
He frowned. "I mean, once this mission officially starts we'll probably be busy." He shoved his hands into his pockets. "So if there's anything you've always wanted to do..."
His words trailed off. You looked away. Your gaze drifted toward the distant shrine buildings. Toward the room where your notebook lay hidden beneath the floorboards. Toward the list no one was ever supposed to see.
"...There are many things."
Gojo smiled. "Like what?"
You hesitated. "...Nothing that matters."
Gojo's smile faltered. He didn't know why but something about the way you said those words, as though you had already convinced yourself your dreams weren't worth speaking aloud made his chest feel strangely heavy. He had only just met you yet somehow he found himself wanting to prove you wrong.
The following morning began before sunrise. The shrine was quieter than usual. The attendants moved through the halls carrying luggage and ceremonial offerings, speaking in hushed voices as if raising them too loudly would somehow disturb fate itself. You stood beneath the wooden eaves, watching the morning mist roll over the surrounding forest.
"So this is goodbye..."
You weren't sure who you were saying it to. The shrine. Your childhood or the life you'd never get to have. A familiar voice cut through your thoughts.
"You ready?"
You turned to find Gojo standing a few feet away, one hand tucked into his pocket while the other balanced a paper bag from a nearby convenience store.
"You skipped breakfast."
You blinked. "...How did you know?"
He held up the bag. " Cause I asked."
You stared at him. "You...asked?"
"The shrine ladies."
"They told you?"
"They looked offended that you hadn't eaten." He walked over and held the bag out toward you. "So."
You looked inside. A carton of strawberry milk, packaged melon pan and a small slice of strawberry shortcake.
Your eyes widened. "...Cake?"
He shrugged. "Breakfast cake."
"I don't think that's a thing."
"It is now."
You looked between the cake and him. "I've...never had cake for breakfast."
"Seriously?"
You nodded. "The attendants said sweets should only be eaten after meals."
Gojo looked horrified. "...That's depressing."
You let out a tiny laugh. "I suppose."
"Then today's your lucky day." He gently nudged the bag closer. "Mission Rule Number One."
"There are rules?"
"I make them up as I go."
"...I see."
"No skipping meals."
You accepted the bag with both hands. "...Thank you." His grin returned.
By the time the sun had fully risen, the three of you had already left the shrine grounds. You found yourself looking back more than once. Each step carried you farther from the only home you had ever known. Eventually the red torii gates disappeared behind the trees. You swallowed the lump in your throat and kept walking. Geto noticed.
"You don't have to force yourself not to look back."
You offered him a small smile. "I know...I just don't know if I'll ever see it again."
Silence settled between the three of you. Gojo shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Then don't think that this is the last time."
You looked over. He stretched lazily.
"Plus, you've got two incredibly handsome bodyguards."
Geto sighed. "There it is."
"We're taking you to Tokyo."
"Mm."
"And I refuse to believe you've actually seen Tokyo."
You shook your head. "I haven't."
"There." He pointed dramatically. "That's already one thing to look forward to."
You smiled. "I suppose you're right."
"I'm always right."
"No, you're usually insufferable."
"Suguru."
"I'm stating facts."
You laughed again. Louder this time. The sound caught even yourself off guard. It echoed briefly along the forest path before fading into the morning air. The drive into Tokyo felt unreal. Buildings grew taller. Roads became busier. People crossed intersections in every direction imaginable. Your eyes darted from one side of the window to the other.
"There are so many people..."
Gojo smirked. "You've never seen this much people before?"
"Only once. When I was little. It was during a festival."
He leaned across the back seat. "Okay."
"What?"
"We're making one stop."
Geto sighed from the driver's seat. "Satoru."
"It'll take five minutes."
"The higher ups expect us to—"
"They can wait five minutes. We started the mission early anyways."
"They'll be furious."
"They're always furious."
Geto couldn't argue with that. "...Five minutes."
"Yes!"
The car pulled into the parking lot of a large convenience store.
You looked at it curiously. "...Why are we here?"
Gojo looked genuinely offended. "You've never been to a convenience store?"
You shook your head. "No."
He slowly removed his sunglasses. "...We're fixing that."
A few minutes later, You stood frozen just inside the entrance. Rows upon rows of brightly colored snacks stretched farther than you could see.
"It's..."
Gojo watched your expression. "What?"
"So...big."
He blinked. "...It's just a convenience store."
Your eyes sparkled as they wandered over the shelves. "I've never seen so many choices before."
Something tightened in his chest. To him, this place was ordinary, forgettable. He'd probably been inside a thousand convenience stores but watching you stare at a shelf full of bottled teas as though it were the most amazing thing in the world made him realize just how small your world had been. Without thinking, he reached for a shopping basket.
"Alright."
You looked at him. "What are you doing?"
"You get to pick."
"...Pick?"
"Anything."
You blinked. "Anything?"
"Within reason."
You laughed. Then carefully reached toward a packet of gummy candies.
"I've always wondered what these taste like."
Gojo smiled to himself. He had a feeling they were already crossing things off a list without even realizing it.
By the time the sun had set, the three of you had reached one of Jujutsu High's designated safe houses. It was modest. A traditional wooden home tucked away in the mountains, hidden behind a curtain of cedar trees and protected by layers of barriers. Temporary. Just another place to spend the night before continuing toward Master Tengen.
Geto slid the door open. "We'll stay here tonight."
Gojo dropped his duffel bag onto the floor with a dramatic groan. "Finally."
"You've been sitting in a car for three hours."
"Exactly."
"You did nothing."
"I was protecting our client."
"By sleeping?"
"I was protecting her spiritually."
You smiled unconsciously. "...Is that a real thing?"
Gojo gasped. "See? She gets it."
"No," Geto replied flatly. "She humored you."
You slipped your shoes off at the entrance and quietly stepped inside. The house was...cozy. There were only three futons laid neatly beside one another in the main room. A small kitchen. An old television. A narrow engawa overlooking a quiet garden where cicadas hummed in the evening heat. It felt normal. Like the kind of home an ordinary family might live in. Your fingers brushed lightly against the wooden dining table.
"I like it." You commented.
Geto smiled.
"It's peaceful. It feels..." You searched for the word. "...lived in."
Neither sorcerer answered because they understood. Shrines were beautiful but they rarely felt like homes. Later that evening, while Geto went outside to inspect the barriers surrounding the property, Gojo stretched lazily across one of the futons.
"I'm starving."
"You've said that five times."
"And every time it's been true."
You stood from your place near the window. "I can make tea."
Gojo looked over. "You know how?"
You nodded. "I've prepared tea for visitors at the shrine since I was little."
"Then I'm officially requesting tea."
You gave a small bow. "As you wish."
The kitchen was dimly lit. You carefully filled the kettle and placed it over the stove. The familiarity of the motions soothed you. Gojo leaned against the doorway.
"You need help?"
"I'll be alright."
"You sure?"
"Mhm."
You reached into a cabinet for a small ceramic teapot. It rested farther back than expected. You stretched onto your toes, your fingertips brushed it.
"Oh!"
The teapot slipped. You caught it before it shattered but the sharp edge of its chipped handle scraped across your palm. The teapot landed safely on the counter. A thin line of crimson bloomed across your hand. Gojo was beside you almost instantly.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You just cut yourself."
"It's only a scratch."
He sighed. "Sit."
"...But the tea"
"Tea can wait."
Before you could protest, he gently guided you toward one of the kitchen chairs.
"I'll grab the first aid kit. It's probably in one of the cabinets." He began opening drawers. "No..." Another cabinet. "...No..." One more. "...Seriously?"
You laughed softly. "I don't think they organized this kitchen very well."
"They organized it terribly."
Finally, he spotted a small wooden box tucked onto the highest shelf. "There you are."
He reached for it. As he pulled it down, something else shifted. A thin notebook slid from the top of the cabinet. It landed with a soft thump at his feet.
"...Hm?"
You looked over. Your face drained of color.
"Wait!"
But he had already bent down to pick it up. The worn cover was familiar. Painfully familiar. Across the front, written in faded handwriting, were the words:
Things I'd Like to Do Before I Disappear.
Gojo blinked. "...Disappear?"
Your heart lurched. You stood so quickly your chair scraped loudly against the wooden floor.
"Please..." Your voice came out smaller than you intended. "...don't."
He looked between the notebook and you. The teasing smile he'd worn all day slowly faded.
"I wasn't..." He swallowed. "...I wasn't trying to snoop."
"I know." You walked over and gently took the notebook from his hands, holding it tightly against your chest.
Finally, you forced a small smile. "It's embarrassing."
Gojo frowned. "It doesn't have to be."
"It is." You looked down at the worn cover.
"I started writing it when I was little."
"...Can I ask what it is?"
Your fingers tightened around the notebook. "It..." You hesitated. "...It's just a list."
"A list?"
"Things I wanted to do before..." Your voice caught. You corrected yourself with a practiced smile. "...before the merger."
Gojo had never heard someone say those words so casually. As though discussing tomorrow's weather. As though preparing to disappear was something perfectly ordinary. You looked away.
"There are still a lot I haven't crossed off but that's alright." You smiled. "It was never really meant to happen."
Before he could answer, you slipped past him.
"I should finish making the tea."
The room fell quiet. Gojo remained standing in the kitchen, staring at the doorway long after you'd disappeared. A list. She had made herself a list. Not because she expected to live. Because she expected to die.
For the first time since accepting the mission, it stopped feeling like an escort assignment. It felt like walking someone to their execution. That night, long after everyone had gone to sleep, Gojo lay awake staring at the wooden ceiling. His thoughts refused to settle. He remembered the notebook.The careful handwriting. The title. The way your voice trembled for only a second before you forced yourself to smile again.
Slowly, he rolled onto his side and looked toward your sleeping form across the room. Moonlight spilled through the window, casting pale silver across your face. You looked peaceful. Too peaceful. As if you'd already accepted a future that no one your age should have to accept. Gojo closed his eyes then made a silent promise.
The next morning was supposed to be simple. Leave the safe house. Continue toward Master Tengen. Complete the merger. Simple. At least, that had been the plan.
The explosion came just after sunrise. The windows rattled violently. A deafening crash echoed through the mountains as cursed energy erupted somewhere beyond the barriers. You jolted awake.
"What was that?"
Geto was already on his feet. "Stay inside."
Gojo had his sunglasses on before either of you reached the front door. "I'll check it out."
"No," Geto replied immediately. "We'll both go."
Gojo glanced toward you. "...Don't leave the house."
You nodded. "I won't."
The two disappeared outside. Silence settled over the safe house. Another explosion. The barriers shimmered violently. A curse slammed against them hard enough to make the wooden walls groan. You clasped your hands together, listening helplessly as the sounds of battle echoed through the forest. It lasted nearly twenty minutes. When the front door finally slid open again, Gojo stepped inside first, brushing dust from his uniform as though he'd merely gone for a walk.
"Well." He sounded almost disappointed. "That was annoying."
Geto followed close behind, his expression far more serious. "They found us much sooner than expected."
"So..." You stood. "...Someone knows where we're going?"
"It seems that way." Geto knelt beside the low dining table and unfolded a map. "The direct route is compromised."
Gojo dropped onto the floor beside him. "They're trying to funnel us."
Geto nodded. "If we continue toward Tengen as planned, we'll be walking straight into an ambush."
His finger traced several roads before moving farther into the mountains. "We'll have to abandon the main route."
"...How much longer will it take?" you asked quietly.
Geto hesitated. "...Several days."
The room fell silent. Several days. Gojo noticed the way your shoulders fell ever so slightly.
"...You did the face."
You looked up. "...The face?"
"The disappointed face."
"I wasn't making a face."
"You were."
"I don't think I was."
"You definitely were."
Geto sighed. "Satoru."
"What?"
"This isn't the time."
"I'm asking a question."
He looked back at you. "What were you thinking about?"
You lowered your gaze to the map. "...Nothing."
He waited. Eventually you answered.
"I suppose..." A small smile appeared. "...I just wasn't expecting to have more time."
Gojo tilted his head. "More time?"
"Everything has been planned for so long." You folded your hands neatly in your lap. "I thought we'd go directly to Master Tengen and now...now we won't."
There wasn't disappointment in your voice. Just quiet acceptance. As though another few days didn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. Gojo couldn't stop thinking about the notebook hidden inside your bag.
Things I'd Like to Do Before I Disappear.
Several more days. Several more chances. The detour began before noon. Rather than following the highways, Geto steered the car onto winding mountain roads that twisted between forests and sleepy countryside villages. Every few hours they changed direction. Every destination was temporary. Every safe house uncertain. The farther they drove, the fewer buildings remained.
Concrete gave way to endless fields. Telephone poles stretched alongside quiet roads. Rice paddies shimmered beneath the afternoon sun. You rested your cheek against the window, watching the scenery pass by.
"It's beautiful."
Gojo glanced over. "Hm?"
"I've never seen so much of Japan before."
"You've never traveled?"
You shook your head. "There was never a reason."
"...Right."
The conversation ended there but the words lingered. There was never a reason. Not for someone who had never been expected to have a future. By the time evening settled over the mountains, the sky had turned a deep shade of blue. The road ahead was nearly empty. Only the occasional passing car disturbed the silence.
You watched as one star, then another slowly appeared beyond the windshield. Gojo noticed. Without realizing it, you'd stopped looking at the road. Your eyes were fixed entirely on the sky.
He smiled to himself. "...Suguru."
"No."
"You don't even know what I'm going to ask."
"I do."
"C'mon."
"No."
"It'll only take five minutes."
"You've said that three times in two days."
"And I've been right every time."
"You've been lucky."
Gojo leaned farther between the front seats. "Pretty please?"
Geto exhaled through his nose. "...Five minutes."
A grin spread across Gojo's face. "I knew you loved me."
"I tolerate you."
Five minutes later, the car pulled into a deserted mountain overlook. The engine fell silent.
"So..." Gojo unbuckled his seatbelt. "...Come on."
You blinked. "...Where?"
"Outside."
You stepped out cautiously. The cool mountain air brushed against your skin. The forest surrounding the overlook was silent. No traffic. No city lights. No buildings. Only the gentle chorus of cicadas. Gojo walked a little farther ahead before stopping.
"Look up."
You did. Your breath stopped. The night sky stretched endlessly overhead. Thousands upon thousands of stars scattered across the darkness. The Milky Way arched from one horizon to the other, brighter than you'd ever imagined possible. You simply stared.
"...They're..." Your voice was barely audible. "...So close."
Gojo looked up. Then looked at you. Your eyes reflected the stars themselves. Wonder. Disbelief. Childlike excitement. It wasn't the polite smile you'd worn at the shrine. It wasn't the smile you used whenever someone reminded you of your purpose. This one reached your eyes.
"...I've never seen them like this." You whispered the words as though afraid speaking any louder would make the moment disappear. "They're beautiful."
Neither of you spoke for a while. The mountains were silent. The only sounds were the chorus of cicadas and the occasional rustling of leaves as the night breeze swept through the trees. You slowly lifted a hand toward the sky, tracing invisible lines between the stars.
"...That's the Summer Triangle."
Gojo glanced at you. "You know constellations?"
"A few."
"You've seen them before?"
You shook your head. "No. There was an old book in the shrine library."
He blinked. "You read astronomy books?"
"There wasn't much else to do." You laughed softly. "So I read everything." Your finger drifted from one bright star to another. "I used to memorize them."
Gojo looked back up at the sky. "...Show me."
You hesitated. "I'm not very good."
He folded his arms dramatically. "I can survive a wrong constellation."
A quiet giggle escaped you. You pointed upward.
"That bright star is Vega." Your finger shifted. "And that's Altair. Then..." You connected them with one last point. "Deneb. The three of them make the Summer Triangle."
Gojo followed where you pointed. "...Huh."
"I always imagined what they looked like together."
"You imagined it?"
"I couldn't really see them from the shrine. The trees covered most of the sky."
He looked at you. "So you've spent all this time learning about stars...Without really seeing them."
You nodded. "I wanted to know what was above me."
Your eyes wandered across the endless sky again. "There are so many more."
You smiled wistfully. "I always wanted to see the Southern Cross."
Gojo frowned. "The Southern Cross?"
"It's a constellation. I read that you can only really see it from the Southern Hemisphere." Your voice grew quieter. "I remember thinking..." You laughed under your breath. "...Maybe in another life, I'd travel far enough to find it."
Silence settled between you. Gojo watched as your gaze remained fixed on the heavens. Not wishing for riches. Not wishing for power. Just another sky, another place, another chance to see something beautiful. He looked up, following your eyes until they reached the sea of stars stretching endlessly above them.
"...Then we'll find it."
You turned to him. "...What?"
"The Southern Cross." He shoved his hands into his pockets as if he'd said something completely ordinary. "If it's somewhere out there..." A grin spread across his face. "...Then one day we'll go find it."
You stared at him. For a brief moment, you almost believed him.
You didn't realize how long the two of you had been standing there until the cold mountain air finally settled against your skin. A shiver ran through you. Gojo noticed immediately.
"Cold?"
"A little."
"C'mon." He started walking back toward the car. "We should keep moving before Suguru starts complaining."
"...I can hear you," Geto called from the driver's seat.
"You were supposed to."
You smiled to yourself before following after him. Just as you reached the passenger door, something caught your eye.
"...Gojo."
He paused halfway into the back seat. "Hm?"
You pointed toward the dark grass bordering the overlook. "...What's that?"
He followed your finger. Tiny golden lights blinked in and out between the blades of grass. One. Two. Then dozens more.
Gojo blinked. "...Fireflies."
Your eyes widened. "They're..." You took a hesitant step closer. "...real."
He looked at you. "...You've never seen them?"
You shook your head. "I've only read about them."
Without another word, you wandered carefully toward the field. The fireflies drifted lazily through the night, their tiny lights rising and falling like floating stars. You held out your hand instinctively. One landed gently on your fingertip. You stopped breathing. Its little light pulsed softly against your skin.
"So small..." A smile spread slowly across your face. "It's beautiful."
Gojo didn't answer. He wasn't watching the firefly. He was watching you. The wonder in your expression, the careful way you held your hand still, afraid to frighten it away. It reminded him of someone seeing the world for the very first time. Eventually, the firefly lifted back into the night.
You watched it disappear among the others. "I understand now."
"Hm?"
"Why people write poems about them."
Gojo chuckled. "That's a very you thing to say."
You looked over. "...What does that mean?"
"It means..." He shrugged. "you see things differently."
"Is that bad?"
"No." His answer came so quickly it almost surprised him. "I think..." He looked toward the glowing field. "...It's kinda nice."
For a moment, neither of you spoke.
"You know..." Gojo broke the silence. "I've got a question."
You turned to him. "What is it?"
"If..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "If you really did have all the time in the world..."
You tilted your head.
"...What would you do first?"
You didn't answer immediately. Instead, you looked back toward the stars overhead.
"I think..." A thoughtful smile crossed your face. "...I'd stop making lists."
Gojo frowned slightly.
"No list?"
You shook your head. "If I knew I had tomorrow..." Your eyes softened. "...I wouldn't have to choose."
The words settled heavily between them. Gojo had never thought about it before. How every dream you'd written down hadn't just been something you wanted. They were things you'd been forced to prioritize because you'd believed your time was running out.
He lowered his gaze. "...That's not fair."
You looked at him. "What isn't?"
"You." He laughed quietly through his nose. "You shouldn't have to decide which dreams are worth having."
Your expression faltered. No one had ever said something like that to you before. Everyone else had praised your acceptance. Your devotion. Your willingness to sacrifice yourself. Gojo was the first person who sounded angry on your behalf.
"...Gojo?"
He looked away before your eyes could meet. "Forget I said anything."
"...No." Your voice stopped him. "...Thank you."
He glanced back. You were smiling again.
"...For getting mad for me."
He smiled back, softer than usual. "...Yeah."
Behind them, the driver's window rolled down with a quiet whir. Geto leaned an elbow against the doorframe.
"As touching as this is..." The two of you looked over. "...It's been twenty three minutes."
Gojo blinked. "...Has it?"
"I gave you five." He sighed dramatically. "You two are impossible."
You covered your mouth to hide your laughter. Gojo pointed accusingly at Geto.
"You made her laugh again."
Geto shook his head as a reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I think that was you."
The drive resumed soon after. You rested your head against the window once more, watching the fireflies disappear behind the car as the mountains faded into darkness. Gojo leaned back in his seat, pretending to fall asleep but his eyes opened again a moment later and looked at your reflection in the glass.
By the time the car reached the next town, it was well past ten. The streets were quiet. Warm lanterns glowed outside shuttered storefronts, and the occasional cicada still sang somewhere in the darkness. Geto glanced at the dashboard clock.
“…We’re done for today.”
Gojo looked up from where he’d been half asleep in the passenger seat. “Hm?”
“It’s too dangerous to continue through the mountain roads at night.” He turned the steering wheel toward a narrow side street. “We’ll stay here.”
Nestled at the end of the road stood a small ryokan. Its wooden exterior was softly illuminated by paper lanterns, the warm light spilling across the stone pathway leading to the entrance. The moment you stepped out of the car, the scent of cedar and fresh rain greeted you.
“It’s beautiful…”
Gojo looked over at you. “You say that about everything.”
You smiled sheepishly. A tiny brass bell chimed as the three of you stepped inside. An elderly woman emerged from behind the reception desk, her face brightening immediately. She clasped her hands together.
“Welcome!” The innkeeper smiled warmly as she looked between the two of you. “You must be exhausted after traveling.”
The elderly woman picked up three room keys. “One room with three futons will be enough, then.”
You bowed politely. “Thank you very much.”
The room was simple. Tatami floors, sliding shoji doors and a low wooden table waiting in the center. Outside, through the open window, you could hear the gentle trickle of a nearby stream. You slowly turned in a circle.
“It smells nice.”
Gojo dropped dramatically onto the tatami. “It smells expensive.”
Geto set their bags beside the wall. “It smells like cedar.”
“That’s less fun.” You laughed quietly as you knelt beside the table.
Everything felt comfortable and peaceful. Almost like the world beyond the room didn’t exist. A soft knock interrupted the silence. The hostess carefully arranged the trays before each of you, bowing politely once everything had been set.
"I hope you'll enjoy your meal."
After she left, the room settled into a comfortable silence. Steam curled lazily from bowls of miso soup. Freshly grilled river fish filled the room with a gentle, smoky aroma. Your eyes wandered across the table.
"...I've never seen so many dishes for one meal."
Gojo smiled. "Wait until breakfast."
"...There's more?"
He laughed. "Oh, you're gonna love breakfast."
You picked up your chopsticks carefully. There were so many little dishes. You weren't sure where to begin. You hesitated for only a second. It was enough for Gojo to notice.
"Try that one first." He pointed toward a small ceramic bowl. "The simmered pumpkin."
"...Is it good?"
"It's amazing."
You trusted him immediately. A small bite. Your eyes widened. "...It's sweet."
"I know."
"I've never had pumpkin like this before."
Gojo grinned proudly, as though he'd cooked it himself. "Told you."
Across the table, Geto quietly watched the exchange. You frowned slightly as you stared at the grilled fish.
"...Is something wrong?" Geto asked.
"I've never eaten fish with bones before."
Without a word, Gojo reached across the table. "I'll do it."
He took your plate. Separated the bones with practiced movements. Then slid it back toward you.
"There."
You blinked. "...Thank you."
"No problem."
Only after taking another bite of his own dinner did Gojo notice how quiet the room had become. He looked up.
Both you and Geto were staring at him.
"...What?"
Geto raised an eyebrow. "...Nothing."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You definitely have a face."
"I don't."
"You do."
Geto hid a smile behind his teacup. "Finish your dinner."
Gojo looked between the two of you. "...You're both weird."
You lowered your gaze, hiding a small smile behind your bowl of rice. For some reason, dinner felt warmer than before.
Morning arrived quietly. Soft sunlight filtered through the paper shoji, casting warm rectangles across the tatami floor. For the first time in days, no one was rushing. No alarms. No attacks. No hurried packing. Just the distant chirping of birds somewhere beyond the garden. You sat on the engawa with a cup of tea warming your hands while Gojo lazily sprawled across the tatami behind you.
"...You're thinking again."
You glanced over your shoulder. "I am?"
"You get this look."
"What look?"
"The one where your eyebrows do that."
"My eyebrows don't do anything."
"They absolutely do."
You smiled into your teacup. "I'll have to take your word for it."
Before he could answer, Geto's phone began vibrating across the low table. He glanced at the screen.
"...It's Jujutsu High."
Gojo groaned dramatically. "I don't wanna talk to the old people."
"They're not calling you."
"They should keep it that way."
Geto stood. "I'll be outside."
Sliding the door shut behind him, he stepped onto the wooden walkway overlooking the garden.
"...So." Gojo's voice broke the silence almost immediately.
You looked over. "What?"
He rested his cheek against one hand. "Your notebook."
Your grip tightened ever so slightly around your teacup. "...What about it?"
"I wanna read it."
"...No."
"C'mon."
"No."
"Please?"
"It'll only embarrass me."
"I promise I'll only laugh a little."
You gave him a look. "...That isn't very reassuring."
"It was honest."
"It was."
He grinned. "I like being honest."
You sighed, shaking your head. "It isn't anything special."
"Then let me see."
"...No."
"Pretty please?"
You looked away, hoping he'd eventually grow bored.
Instead, he scooted closer.
"...Please."
"No."
"I'll stop bothering you afterward."
"You won't."
"...Probably not."
A laugh escaped you despite yourself.
"You really don't give up, do you?"
"Never."
You stared into your tea for a long moment. Then, very carefully, you reached into your travel bag. The worn notebook rested exactly where you'd left it. You brushed your thumb across the cover before holding it out toward him.
"...You have to promise not to laugh."
Gojo sat up immediately. "I make no promises."
"...Gojo."
He raised a hand.
"Okay, okay. I'll try."
"...That's still not a promise."
"It's the best you're getting."
You rolled your eyes before placing the notebook into his hands. He accepted it surprisingly gently. For a moment, he simply looked at the cover.
Things I'd Like to Do Before I Disappear.
He opened the first page. His lips twitched.
"'Eat an entire strawberry cake by myself.'"
"I did that one."
"I can tell."
You frowned. "...What does that mean?"
"You seem like someone who'd absolutely make yourself sick from too much cake."
"...I did."
"I knew it."
He flipped to another page.
"'Ride a bicycle.'"
"I crashed into a lantern."
"I wish I'd seen that."
"You were not invited."
"I would've applauded."
You couldn't stop smiling. He continued reading. Every so often he'd chuckle quietly or ask you about something you'd written years ago.
"'Learn all the constellations.' You already know most of them."
"I don't know all of them."
"...We can fix that." He said it so casually you almost missed it.
Then another page. His smile softened.
Go on a road trip.
"...Guess we're already working on this one."
You nodded. "I never thought it'd actually happen."
He turned another page. The teasing faded.
Fall in love.
Have my first kiss.
Have a boyfriend.
Wear a wedding ring.
His eyes lingered there for a second longer than before. Then, deliberately, he snapped the notebook shut.
You blinked. "...That's all?"
"I've seen enough."
"You didn't finish."
"I'll save the rest."
"...Why?"
He smiled. "So I can be surprised."
Before you could ask what he meant, the sliding door opened. Geto stepped back inside. His expression was thoughtful. More serious than before.
Gojo immediately noticed. "...Bad news?"
Geto closed the door behind him. "The higher ups have changed our orders."
You straightened. "What happened?"
"Q and the Time Vessel Association have surrounded Jujutsu High."
Your smile disappeared. "They're waiting for us."
Gojo leaned back on his hands. "So...we're not going."
"Not yet." Geto nodded. "They've instructed us to lay low while they deal with the assailants."
"...For how long?" you asked.
"One week."
Your eyes widened. "...A week?"
"They want to make sure everything goes smoothly."
Silence settled over the room. Then Geto continued.
"There was one more message." His eyes met yours. "...From Master Tengen."
You instinctively sat a little straighter.
"He said..." Geto hesitated. "...That while we wait..." His voice softened almost imperceptibly. "...You should spend your time however you wish."
The words hung in the air. No one said why. No one needed to because all three of you understood what had been left unspoken.
It would be your last chance.
You stared down at your hands. "...Really?"
Geto nodded once. "Those were his wishes."
You couldn't find any words. A week. Not to prepare. Not to meditate. Not to perform ceremonies. A week to simply live. Gojo looked from you to the notebook still resting in his hands.
A slow grin spread across his face. "...Well." He held it up between the two of you. "I guess this is your chance."
You looked at the familiar cover. Then back at him. He gave it a little wave.
"...let's start crossing things off."
You stared at the notebook. Still trying to process everything.
"...Right." Your voice was barely above a whisper.
For the first time since you had written that list as a little girl, it no longer felt impossible.
The morning sun had climbed higher, filling the room with soft golden light, yet you still couldn't quite believe what had happened. A week. An entire week. You had spent years believing every moment of your life had already been decided. Now, someone had handed you seven days and simply said,
Live.
Gojo broke the silence first. "So." He leaned over the table, resting his chin in his palm. "Where do we start?"
You blinked. "...Start?"
"The list." He tapped the worn notebook. "We've got a whole week."
"I don't think we're actually supposed to do everything."
"Why not?"
"...Because." You searched for an answer. "I've never really thought that far."
He slid the notebook toward himself. "Good thing I have."
He was already flipping through the pages.
"Hm..." His finger trailed down one of the lists. "'See the ocean.'" He looked up. "You've never been?"
You shook your head. "The shrine was inland. I've seen pictures...but never in person."
Gojo looked across the room. "Suguru."
Geto, who had been quietly packing their bags, didn't even bother looking up.
"No."
"You don't know what I'm going to say."
"I do."
"C'mon."
"No."
"The ocean."
"We're avoiding populated areas."
"Okinawa."
That finally made Geto pause. He looked over.
"Okinawa?"
Gojo nodded. "We were already considering changing regions. The higher ups want us off the main routes." He leaned back with a grin. "Okinawa buys us time. It also gets us farther away from both Q and the Time Vessel Association while they search around Tokyo. Less curse users there too."
Geto considered it. Strategically, it wasn't a bad idea. Remote enough to avoid attention. Easy to blend into the crowds and if they needed to leave quickly, there were multiple routes back to the mainland.
He sighed. "...I'll make the arrangements."
Gojo pointed triumphantly. "I knew you liked my idea."
"I said it wasn't a bad idea."
"Same thing."
"It isn't."
You looked between them, still trying to process the conversation. "...We're really going?"
Gojo looked at you as though the answer were obvious. "Of course." He smiled. "Didn't you want to?"
You lowered your eyes to the notebook. "...I did."
"So?" He gently nudged it toward you. "Cross it off."
A small laugh escaped you. "...I haven't even seen it yet. You can't cross something off before you do it."
"Fine." He dramatically snatched the notebook back. "I'll allow proper list etiquette."
You laughed again. The sound came easier now. Geto watched the exchange from across the room. Neither of them seemed to realize it but every time you laughed, Gojo smiled. Every single time.
Later that day, you flew to Okinawa. Warm sea air rushed through the airport doors the moment you stepped outside. You stopped walking. The breeze smelled different. Something fresh that you couldn't quite name.
Gojo stopped a few steps ahead before turning back. "...You coming?"
You nodded absentmindedly. "...The air is different."
He inhaled deeply. "...Huh. I guess it is." Gojo smiled to himself. "Wait until you see the water."
The drive to the hotel felt almost dreamlike. Palm trees lined the roads. Bright blue skies stretched endlessly overhead. The closer the car drew to the coast, the louder the distant crash of waves became.
Then you saw it. Between two buildings. A brilliant ribbon of blue stretched all the way to the horizon.
You gasped. "...Gojo."
He followed your gaze. "There it is."
You didn't answer. You couldn't, because no book,no painting,no photograph tucked inside the shrine library,had ever prepared you for just how impossibly beautiful the ocean would be. Gojo watched your expression soften into quiet wonder.
The hotel overlooked the sea. From the balcony, the shoreline stretched for miles, waves rolling lazily onto white sand beneath the afternoon sun. You stood quietly against the railing, unable to pull your eyes away from the water. Even after nearly an hour, it still didn't feel real. A knock sounded at the hotel room door. Gojo looked up from where he had been lying across one of the beds.
"...Expecting someone?"
Geto frowned. "...No."
He crossed the room and opened the door. Standing in the hallway were three familiar faces. Shoko stood at the front, hands tucked into the pockets of her oversized jacket, looking as though she'd rather be anywhere else. Beside her, Haibara waved enthusiastically the moment he spotted Geto.
"Senpai!"
Nanami offered a small nod. "Geto-san."
Geto blinked. "...What are you three doing here?"
Haibara beamed. "We're your reinforcements!"
Gojo appeared behind Geto. "...Reinforcements?"
Shoko sighed.
"The higher ups finally decided sending two second years to protect the Star Plasma Vessel from multiple assassination groups wasn't enough."
"And I thought Suguru and I were supposed to be the strongest." Gojo said with mock amazement. "I'm shocked."
"They're the higher ups," Shoko replied. "can never understand them."
Haibara laughed. "We left as soon as Principal Yaga told us!"
Nanami folded his arms. "Correction. We left because Haibara wouldn't stop asking every ten minutes when we were leaving."
"...That too."
Geto stepped aside. "Come in."
The three entered, carrying travel bags over their shoulders. Haibara looked around excitedly.
"Whoa...this place is amazing!"
Shoko's eyes drifted toward the open balcony. "I forgot Okinawa was this warm."
Nanami quietly set his bag beside the wall. Then his gaze settled on you.
You immediately straightened. "...Hello."
Haibara smiled brightly. "So you're the Star Plasma Vessel!"
Before anyone else could speak, he walked over and offered his hand. "I'm Haibara Yu."
You looked down at it for a moment before carefully shaking it. "It's nice to meet you."
"I'm Nanami Kento." He bowed politely. "It's an honor."
Shoko gave a small wave. "Shoko Ieiri."
You returned the gesture. "...I'm happy to meet all of you."
Haibara looked between you and Gojo. "...Huh."
"What?" Gojo asked.
"I thought she'd be..." Haibara gestured vaguely. "...different."
Gojo burst into laughter. "That's exactly what I said!"
You covered your mouth, laughing quietly.
Haibara's face lit up. You blinked.
"...What?"
"You laughed!" Haibara grinned. "I thought she'd be really serious because of..."
His voice trailed off. The room grew quiet because everyone knew what he meant. Because of what would happen after this week.
Haibara quickly rubbed the back of his neck. "...Sorry."
You smiled gently. "It's alright."
Gojo clapped his hands together. "Okay! No depressing faces." Everyone looked at him. "We're in Okinawa."
He pointed dramatically toward the balcony. "The beach is literally right there."
Haibara's eyes sparkled. "Can we go?"
"I don't see why not," Shoko replied.
Geto glanced toward you. "What do you think?"
Every pair of eyes turned in your direction. You looked past them. Beyond the open balcony doors. The endless blue ocean shimmered beneath the afternoon sun.
A slow smile spread across your face. "...I'd like that."
Gojo stood immediately. "Then what are we waiting for?" He grabbed his sunglasses off the bedside table. "C'mon."
Haibara pumped a fist into the air. "Beach day!"
Nanami sighed, already knowing there would be no stopping them. "I suppose we're doing this."
Shoko walked toward the door. "You boys realize we're technically working."
"We're multitasking," Gojo answered. "Protecting our client." He glanced back at you with an easy grin. "...and helping her make some memories."
For a moment, you simply looked at him. The first page of your list remained unfinished but somehow, it didn't feel quite so impossible anymore.
The beach was far quieter than you had imagined. The waves rolled gently against the shore, each one dissolving into white foam before retreating back into the sea. The water seemed endless. You stood at the edge of the sand, your shoes dangling from one hand.
"...It's warm."
Haibara had already sprinted ahead. "The water's amazing!" He kicked through the shallows, nearly splashing Nanami in the process.
"Haibara."
"What?"
"Watch where you're—"
Haibara froze. "...Oops."
Nanami looked down at his soaked pant legs. Then slowly looked back up.
"...I'm going to pretend that was the ocean."
"It was!"
"It was you."
Shoko laughed from beneath the shade of a beach umbrella. You laughed too.
Nanami sighed. "I appreciate the sympathy."
Gojo walked past them without a care in the world. "Sucks to suck."
Nanami deadpanned. "I hope a crab pinches your foot."
"I hope it tries."
You wandered farther down the shoreline alone. The sand shifted beneath your bare feet with every step. It was softer than you expected. Cooler where the waves reached it. You crouched beside the water, hesitating.Then slowly reached out. The ocean washed over your fingertips.
"It's..." The water slipped through your fingers before another wave arrived. "...Cold. I thought it'd be warmer."
Gojo stopped beside you. "So did I."
You laughed softly as another wave lapped against your hand. "It keeps running away."
"That's kinda what oceans do."
You smiled. "I just didn't think..." You watched the water disappear again. "...it would feel alive."
He looked at you instead of the sea. "You always say things like that."
"Like what?"
"You make everything sound..." He searched for the word. "...important."
Your cheeks warmed. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"I don't know."
He nudged your shoulder lightly.
"You don't have to."
"GOJO!" Haibara's voice echoed across the beach.
The two of you looked up. Haibara was waving both arms frantically.
"Hurry up!"
"What now?"
"We're building a sandcastle!"
Gojo stared. "...You're serious?"
"Very!"
Gojo looked at you. Then at Haibara. Then back at you. "...Wanna?"
You blinked. "A sandcastle?"
"Yeah."
"I've never..." Your voice trailed off. "...made one."
Gojo grinned. "Then it's settled."
Before you could protest, he reached out. Not for your hand. Just your wrist. Gentle enough that you could pull away if you wanted.
"C'mon."
For a heartbeat, you simply stared at where his fingers rested. You followed.
Thirty minutes later.
"This doesn't even look like a castle."
Gojo frowned at the lopsided mound of sand. Haibara looked offended.
"It has character."
"It has structural problems."
Nanami crouched nearby, carefully smoothing one of the walls. "The foundation is uneven."
Gojo stared. "...Since when do you know architecture?"
"I don't."
"Then how do you know?"
"It's obvious."
Shoko, who had absolutely no intention of helping, took another sip of her drink. "I've never seen so many people take sand this seriously."
You knelt quietly beside the castle. "...Can I?"
Everyone looked at you. You carefully pressed a tiny seashell into one side of the wall. Then another. Then one more above the entrance.
"There."
Haibara's eyes widened. "It looks so much better!"
"It was the shells."
"No." He smiled brightly. "It was you."
Your smile lingered as you looked down at the tiny sandcastle. It wasn't very good. The walls leaned. One tower had already collapsed. The moat was crooked and somehow, you thought it was beautiful because you'd helped build it. Because people your own age were laughing beside you. Because for one afternoon, no one was looking at you like the Star Plasma Vessel.
They were simply looking at you.
As the others argued over whether the castle needed another tower, Gojo quietly reached into his backpack. He opened the worn notebook to the familiar page. His pen hovered over one line.
See the ocean.
He glanced toward you. You were smiling so brightly that the sunlight itself seemed dim in comparison. A small smile tugged at his own lips. Then, without saying a word, he drew a single line through it.
See the ocean.
One less dream waiting to be lived. Many more still to come.
By the time the sun began sinking toward the horizon, the six of you had wandered into a small shopping street not far from the beach. Warm lanterns flickered to life one by one as shopkeepers opened their evening stalls. The scent of grilled squid drifted through the air. Somewhere farther down the street, someone was playing a shamisen.
Haibara stopped every few steps. "Can we get this?"
Nanami sighed. "You've asked that six times."
"...Is that a no?"
"That depends."
"On?"
"Whether you plan on carrying all of it."
"...Gojo can."
"I'm not your pack mule."
Shoko wandered ahead with an iced drink in hand. "You kind of are."
"I've been betrayed."
Geto chuckled. "You'll live."
You found yourself slowing to a stop in front of a tiny souvenir shop. The display window was filled with glass ornaments. Tiny turtles. Starfish. Whales carved from pale blue glass. You leaned closer.
"So pretty..."
Gojo stopped beside you. "You like them?"
"They're delicate." Your eyes wandered across the shelves. "I've never seen glass shaped like this before."
He watched the way your attention lingered on every tiny detail. Not because you wanted to buy everything, because you genuinely enjoyed looking.
"You don't have to stare through the window." He nodded toward the entrance. "We can go inside."
"...Can we?"
"Why not?"
You looked toward the others. "They'll keep walking."
Gojo glanced over his shoulder.
Sure enough, Haibara was already dragging Nanami toward another food stall. Shoko had disappeared into a nearby convenience store. Geto noticed the two of you lingering behind.
He simply smiled. "We'll meet you at the restaurant."
Gojo gave him a lazy salute. "Roger."
The others continued down the street. For the first time since meeting, it was just the two of you. A tiny bell chimed as the shop door slid open. Inside, everything sparkled beneath warm lights. You moved slowly between the shelves. As though afraid you might accidentally break something.
Gojo shoved his hands into his pockets. "You know..."
"Hm?"
"I've been wondering."
"About what?"
He pulled your notebook from his bag. "I never actually finished reading this."
You laughed. "You stole it."
"I borrowed it."
"You've had it for two days."
"I'm still borrowing it."
You shook your head. "...You're unbelievable."
"I've been told."
He flipped toward one of the pages he'd skipped. "...Let's see..."
His eyes scanned the neat handwriting. Then, he stopped. His teasing smile faded.
"...Take a photo with friends."
You looked away. "...Ah."
"You've never..." He hesitated. "...taken one?"
You shook your head. "There weren't many children at the shrine and visitors..." You smiled faintly. "They weren't really friends."
Silence settled between you. Gojo looked toward the shop window. Outside, the others were laughing about something Haibara had done. Without another word, he reached into his pocket.
You frowned. "...What's that?"
He held up a small disposable camera. You blinked.
"You carry one?"
"I bought it at the convenience store."
"...Why?"
He shrugged. "I thought it'd be fun."
Then a grin slowly spread across his face. "C'mon." He started walking back toward the door.
"Where are we going?"
"To annoy everyone."
"...What?"
He looked over his shoulder. "You wanted a picture with your friends, right?"
Your steps faltered. "...Friends?"
Gojo blinked. "As far as I'm concerned..." He pointed toward the group waiting farther down the street. "...you've already got five."
For a moment, you couldn't move. Your chest tightened in a way you didn't understand. Friends. You never had anyone to call that before. Not attendants. Not caretakers. Not protectors. Friends.
Gojo frowned. "...Hey. You coming?"
A smile slowly found its way onto your face. One that reached your eyes.
"...Yeah."
By the time the two of you caught up, the others had gathered outside a small restaurant overlooking the beach. Haibara was enthusiastically pointing at the menu displayed outside.
Shoko leaned against the railing, sipping lazily from a bottle of ramune. "I vote we eat before Haibara starts chewing on the menu."
"I would never."
"...You absolutely would."
Gojo cleared his throat dramatically. "Attention, everyone."
Five pairs of eyes turned toward him.
"What now?" Shoko asked.
Gojo held up the disposable camera. "We're taking a picture."
Haibara immediately threw both hands into the air. "YES!"
Nanami sighed. Shoko shrugged.
"I don't mind."
Geto smiled. "Neither do I."
You blinked. "...Really?"
Gojo looked at you. "Really."
He turned toward a passing tourist. "Excuse me!"
The older woman looked over.
"Would you mind taking a picture for us?"
"Of course."
She accepted the camera with a warm smile and stepped back onto the boardwalk. "Everyone together."
Haibara was already dragging Nanami into place.
"C'mon, Nanami!"
"I'm coming."
"You sound thrilled."
"I've accepted my fate."
Shoko wandered over next, standing beside Haibara. Geto naturally took the opposite side. Leaving only one spot. Beside Gojo.
He looked at you expectantly. "You coming?"
You hesitated only for a second before stepping beside him. The ocean stretched endlessly behind all of you, painted gold by the setting sun.
The woman lifted the camera. "Alright. Everyone smile."
Haibara flashed two enthusiastic peace signs. Shoko lazily held up one. Nanami sighed but allowed the corner of his mouth to lift. Geto smiled softly. You looked toward the camera.
Then, Gojo suddenly leaned down into the frame with the biggest grin you'd ever seen.
"Everybody say—"
Before anyone could answer,
Click.
The flash went off.
"...Seaweed!"
Haibara burst into laughter. "You were too late!"
"I know!"
"You ruined it!"
"I improved it."
Nanami pinched the bridge of his nose. "I can't believe that's the picture."
Shoko laughed. "I hope that's the one that develops."
Geto shook his head with an amused smile. "You really are hopeless."
Gojo folded his arms proudly. "It'll have character."
The tourist handed the camera back. "I'm sure it'll turn out wonderfully."
"Thank you very much," you said with a polite bow.
"My pleasure." She smiled before continuing down the boardwalk.
For a few moments, none of you moved. The evening breeze drifted in from the sea, carrying the scent of salt and the distant sound of waves breaking against the shore.
Gojo looked down at the camera in his hands. "We won't know how it turned out until it's developed."
Haibara threw an arm around his shoulders. "That's what makes it exciting!"
You found yourself smiling again. "...I think so too."
Gojo glanced sideways at you.
"So..." He tucked the camera carefully into his backpack. "Can we cross it off now?"
You looked at him. A small laugh escaped you. "...Yes."
He reached inside his bag, pulled it out, and flipped to the familiar page. Your eyes lingered over the words for a moment. Then, with a smile that felt lighter than any you'd worn before, you drew a neat line through them.
Take a photo with friends.
For the first time in your life, you had one.
The festival began just after sunset. Paper lanterns illuminated the streets in warm shades of gold and orange, stretching as far as the eye could see. Laughter drifted between food stalls. Children chased one another with sparklers. Music echoed faintly from somewhere near the waterfront. Haibara looked as though he might explode from excitement.
"This is amazing!"
"We've been here for thirty seconds," Nanami replied.
"I know!"
"And you're already yelling."
"I'M HAPPY!"
Shoko shook her head. "I forgot how much energy you have."
Gojo adjusted his sunglasses. "I think he's got enough for all of us."
Back at the hotel, Shoko stood in front of your bed with her hands on her hips.
"No."
You looked up from your book. "...No?"
"You're not wearing that."
You blinked down at your usual clothes. "...What's wrong with them?"
"Nothing."
"They're just boring."
Before you could ask another question, she placed a neatly folded bundle into your hands.
You looked down. "...A yukata?"
"I bought it this afternoon."
Your eyes widened. "You...didn't have to."
"I know." Shoko shrugged. "I wanted to."
You carefully unfolded it. Soft ivory fabric spilled across your lap. Tiny blue morning glories bloomed along the hem, their petals embroidered with delicate silver thread.
"It's..." Your fingertips brushed across the fabric. "...beautiful."
Shoko smiled. "I thought it'd suit you."
"...I've never worn one before."
"I figured." She gently nudged your shoulder. "Good thing I'm here."
Nearly twenty minutes later,
"There." Shoko stepped back. "Done."
You turned slowly toward the mirror. You simply stared. The person looking back hardly felt like you. Your hair had been gathered loosely with a ribbon. The pale yukata fit perfectly. The obi rested neatly against your back.
"...Is that really me?"
Shoko smiled. "Yeah."
Your fingers lightly touched the sleeve.
"I've never..."
She looked at you through the mirror. "...Never what?"
"...Felt pretty."
The room grew quiet. Shoko's expression softened.
"You've always been pretty."
You looked down. "No. I've always been..." You searched for the familiar words. "...The Star Plasma Vessel."
Shoko walked over and adjusted one crooked fold near your shoulder.
"Tonight?" She smiled gently. "...You're just a girl going to a festival."
Outside the hotel, the others were already waiting. Haibara was attempting to convince Nanami to wear a fox mask.
"It'll be fun!"
"It'll be warm."
"That's the point."
"I don't think that's the point."
Geto noticed the door opening first. "They're here."
Everyone looked up. Gojo turned absentmindedly then froze. His mouth opened slightly. Nothing came out.
You stepped carefully onto the stone path. "...I'm sorry." You looked down at the sleeves. "Did I take too long?"
He was still staring.
"...Gojo?"
Haibara looked between the two of you. "...Senpai?"
No response.
Shoko smirked. "...Satoru."
"Hm?"
"You've been looking at her for about twenty seconds."
"I have?"
"You have."
Gojo blinked once. Twice. Then quickly looked away, rubbing the back of his neck.
"...You look..."
He stopped. For perhaps the first time in his life, Gojo Satoru couldn't find the right words. You waited patiently.
"...Nice."
Shoko groaned. "'Nice?'"
Haibara looked horrified. "'Nice?!'"
Nanami sighed. "I've heard better compliments from elementary school boys."
Gojo frowned "I panicked."
"You absolutely panicked," Shoko said, laughing.
Heat spread across your cheeks. You lowered your eyes, smiling shyly. "...Thank you."
Gojo looked at you again. Just for a second. The lantern light reflected softly in your eyes. The evening breeze stirred a loose strand of your hair and for reasons he couldn't explain, his heart skipped. It was only once. So quickly he almost convinced himself it hadn't happened at all.
"...Let's go," Geto said, smiling to himself.
No one noticed Gojo linger half a step behind the group. No one except Geto. He glanced sideways at his best friend. Then at you, happily listening to Haibara explain every festival game he wanted to try.
A knowing smile tugged at the corner of Geto's mouth. He didn't say anything but for the first time, he had a feeling this mission wasn't going to end the way either of you expected it to.
The festival grew busier as the night wore on. Lanterns illuminated every corner of the streets, their warm glow reflecting off rows of food stalls and game booths. Somewhere overhead, a voice crackled through a loudspeaker.
“The fireworks display will begin in ten minutes. Guests are kindly asked to make their way toward the beach.”
Haibara’s eyes lit up. “Fireworks!”
He was already halfway down the street before anyone else had reacted. “C’mon!”
Nanami sighed, though he followed all the same. “Slow down.”
“We’re going to miss them!”
“We have ten minutes.”
“So we only have ten minutes!”
Shoko laughed. “I forgot how exhausting summer festivals are.”
The six of you joined the steady stream of people making their way toward the shoreline. The closer you came to the beach, the more crowded it became. People brushed shoulders as they squeezed between one another, all trying to find the best place to watch the sky. You instinctively slowed your pace. There were so many people.
Without realizing it, you stepped closer to the edge of the walkway, trying to stay out of everyone’s way. A shoulder bumped into yours.
“Ah—” You stumbled slightly.
Before you could lose your balance, a hand caught your elbow.
“You okay?”
You looked up to see Gojo. His hand was still resting lightly around your arm.
You nodded. “…I’m alright.”
He glanced at the crowd surrounding you. His easy smile faded ever so slightly.
“It’s getting packed.”
Another group pushed past. This time, Gojo stepped forward before they could brush into you again. Not dramatically. Not consciously. He simply shifted until he was walking beside you, taking the side closest to the crowd. The flow of people naturally parted around him instead.
You didn’t notice. To you, the crowd had simply become easier to walk through. Gojo kept his gaze forward.
“C’mon. We’re gonna lose the others.”
You nodded. “Okay.”
A few minutes later, they reached the beach. Haibara waved enthusiastically from farther ahead.
“Over here!”
The six of you gathered near the water just as the lights along the shoreline dimmed. The conversations around you softened into excited murmurs.
Boom.
Your lips parted. “…They’re…”
A brilliant burst of crimson exploded across the night sky. The crowd erupted into cheers. One after another, fireworks bloomed overhead, their reflections dancing across the ocean.
Another explosion painted the sky silver.
“…Beautiful.”
You couldn’t look away. Every color lingered only for a moment before fading into darkness, making room for the next. You smiled without even realizing it. Gojo wasn’t looking at the fireworks anymore. He was looking at you. The shifting colors reflected in your eyes. Every burst of light illuminated your face for only an instant before another took its place. He had never seen anyone look so genuinely happy.
Geto’s voice came quietly from beside him. Gojo didn’t answer.
“…Satoru.”
“Hm?”
“You’ve missed the last five fireworks.”
Only then did Gojo blink and look back toward the sky. “…Have I?”
Geto folded his arms. “Mhm.”
Another firework burst overhead. Its light briefly illuminated the small smile tugging at the corner of Geto’s mouth. He didn’t tease him. He didn’t have to. Gojo had already said everything without saying a single word. The final firework blossomed across the sky in a shower of gold.
The crowd broke into applause. As everyone slowly began making their way back toward town, you turned to Gojo with a smile brighter than the fireworks themselves.
“…Can I add something to my list?”
“I thought you were crossing things off.”
He blinked.
“So did I.” You looked back toward the smoke still drifting across the night sky. “But…” A soft laugh escaped you. “…I think I keep finding new things worth living for.”
For just a second, neither of you spoke. Gojo simply looked at you. Then smiled.
“…That’s good.”
Because somewhere deep down, he found himself hoping the list would never end.
( Prince!Gojo/Prince!Yuta/Prince!Megumi x Reader )
You're working in your office and everything feels normal, until a window turns into a sky that doesn’t belong to your world. Before you can understand what’s happening, you are pulled into a royal palace where princes watch your every move and nothing about your old life matters anymore. In this new place, you meet dangerous, kind, and mysterious men who slowly become tied to your fate. As you try to survive palace life, you realize you are not just lost in time. You are now part of a story that will change your life forever.divider: strangergraphics
series masterlist
The afternoon sun hung low over the town as Prince Megumi lowered his wooden practice sword. His breathing was steady. A thin sheen of sweat covered his forehead. Across from him, Inumaki rested his practice blade against his shoulder.
"...Better." Maki folded her arms. "Your stance is improving but you're still hesitating."
Prince Megumi nodded. "I know."
"Again tomorrow." Maki turned to leave.
Inumaki followed after her with a lazy wave.
Soon, Prince Megumi found himself walking back toward the palace alone. The streets were busy with merchants and shoppers. As he passed a narrow alley, raised voices caught his attention.
"Old man!"
"Hand it over!"
Megumi stopped. An elderly merchant had fallen onto the ground while three rough-looking men surrounded him.
"I-I already told you..."
"I don't have any more money."
One of the men kicked over the old man's basket. Fruit rolled across the street. Without another thought, Megumi stepped forward.
"Leave him alone."
The three men turned. "...Who're you supposed to be?"
Megumi didn't answer. One of them lunged first. Within moments, all three men were lying on the ground groaning. The old merchant stared in amazement.
"T-Thank you, young master..."
Megumi offered him a hand. "Are you hurt?"
Before the old man could answer, several more men rounded the corner. At least ten.
Megumi's expression hardened. "...So you called for help."
One of the newcomers smirked. "Look at those clothes."
"He's rich."
"Grab him."
Megumi fought back. For a while, he managed to keep them away but numbers eventually won. Several men pinned his arms behind his back. Another forced a rope around his wrists.
"...Let go."
One of the thugs laughed. "I don't think so." They dragged him away.
Not far away, you and Yuki wandered through the marketplace.
"I think we should buy those buns before they sell out."
Yuki smiled. "I was just thinking the same—" She suddenly froze. "...Miss."
You followed her gaze. A familiar boy in dark robes was being dragged through the street by a group of suspicious looking men.
"...Prince Megumi?"
Yuki gasped. "We have to shout—"
You immediately grabbed her sleeve. "Wait."
She looked at you in confusion. "If we yell now...They'll know someone's following them." You narrowed your eyes. "...Let's see where they're taking him."
Keeping your distance, the two of you quietly tailed the group through several winding streets. Eventually, they stopped outside a large walled compound. Several armed men stood guard outside. You and Yuki quickly ducked into a nearby alley. You peeked around the corner.
"...That's a lot of guards."
Yuki looked frightened. "What do we do?"
You turned to her. "Go get help."
Her eyes widened. "...What about you?"
"I'll keep an eye on them."
"No!" She shook her head desperately. "What if they catch you?"
You smiled reassuringly. "They won't. You know I'm good at getting out of trouble."
"...Miss..."
"Go. I'll be okay."
Reluctantly, Yuki nodded before hurrying toward the palace. You waited until she disappeared. Then took a deep breath.
"...Alright. Time to make another terrible decision."
Sneaking into the compound turned out to be easier than you expected. The guards were too busy searching the outer grounds. You slipped from wall to wall, avoiding every patrol by pure luck.
"...Please let this luck continue..."
As you rounded another corner, you froze. A familiar head peeked out from inside a small wooden shed.
"...Prince Megumi?"
His eyes widened. "...Lady [Name]?"
You hurried over and whispered, "Shh!"
He stared at you in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to rescue you."
He blinked. "...That was reckless."
"You can scold me later." You pointed toward the wooden beam locking the shed door. "Let's leave first."
You quietly lifted the heavy beam and the door slid open. Megumi stepped outside. The first thing he did was look you over.
"...Are you hurt?"
You blinked. "...No."
He let out a quiet breath of relief. "...Good. There isn't time. We need to leave."
You nodded. "I know the way."
Without another word, Megumi gently grabbed your wrist.
"This way."
You led him back through the same narrow paths you'd used to sneak inside. So far, everything was quiet.
"The hostage escaped!"
A shout echoed across the compound. Your eyes widened. Megumi immediately pulled you behind a stone wall before quickly ducking into a patch of bushes. You stumbled forward. He instinctively stepped in front of you, shielding you with his body. Footsteps thundered past. Voices shouted from every direction.
"Search everywhere!"
"He couldn't have gone far!"
You held your breath. So did Megumi. You could hear how fast his heart was beating. After what felt like forever, the footsteps faded. The shouting grew quieter.
Megumi slowly looked over the bushes. "...They're gone."
You peeked over beside him. "...Let's go."
Still holding your wrist, he guided you toward the broken section of the wall you'd squeezed through earlier. You went through it first and he followed close behind. The moment both of you landed outside,
"Run."
You didn't need to be told twice. The two of you sprinted through the streets until the crowds became thicker and the palace gates came into view. Only then did you finally stop. Both of you bent over, breathing heavily.
For a few moments, neither of you spoke. Then, you started laughing. Megumi looked at you in confusion.
"...What's so funny?"
You straightened up, unable to stop smiling. "We did it! We actually made it out alive!" You threw both hands into the air. "We're amazing!"
Before you could think, you wrapped your arms around him. Prince Megumi froze. His eyes widened. His hands hovered awkwardly in the air. He had absolutely no idea what to do. After a few long seconds, you finally realized what you were doing. Your eyes widened.
You immediately let go and took several steps back. "...I..." You cleared your throat. "...Sorry."
A painfully awkward silence followed.
You rubbed the back of your neck. "...Well..." You forced a laugh. "We make a pretty good team, don't we?"
Megumi looked at you. The corners of his lips lifted ever so slightly.
"...I guess we do."
For the first time since meeting him, you saw him smile. It wasn't long before familiar voices echoed through the street.
"Lady [Name]!"
You turned. Yuki came running toward you, tears welling in her eyes. Right behind her was Prince Yuta. His usually calm expression had completely disappeared. The moment he reached you, his eyes searched you from head to toe.
"...Are you hurt?"
You blinked. "No." You smiled reassuringly. "I'm alright."
You pointed toward Prince Megumi. "We actually worked really well together. Prince Megumi made sure I stayed safe." You looked over at the younger prince with a grin. "So nothing happened."
Prince Yuta quietly let out the breath he'd been holding. "...Good."
A long silence followed. Then he simply said, "...Let's go." He turned around.
You looked back at Prince Megumi. He gave you a small nod. You smiled and gave him a little wave before hurrying after Prince Yuta. Yuki remained behind.
"I'll go tell Lady Rika you're safe."
You nodded. "Thank you!"
Prince Yuta walked quickly. Very quickly. You hurried to keep up.
"Prince Yuta..."
No response.
"...You're walking really fast." Still nothing. You frowned.
...Is he upset?
You tried catching up again. "Prince Yuta?"
He continued walking. You puffed out your cheeks.
"...Fine." You slowed your pace. Then suddenly grabbed your ankle. "Ow..."
Prince Yuta stopped immediately. He turned around. Within seconds he was standing in front of you.
"What happened?"
You looked up. "I think...my foot cramped."
He frowned, realizing you were lying. Without another word, he took hold of both your arms. His hands tightened just enough for you to realize they were trembling.
"Do you have any idea..." He stopped. His voice caught in his throat. "...how worried I was?"
You stared at him.
"When Yuki told me...that you'd gone after those men..." His grip tightened for just a moment. "I thought..." He looked away briefly. Then back at you. "I thought I was going to lose you."
The words hung between you. Neither of you moved. You had never seen him look like this before. Not calm. Not gentle. Just...afraid. Realizing what he'd said, Prince Yuta slowly released your arms. His expression settled back into its usual composure.
"...Let's go."
He turned and resumed walking. This time, more slowly. You remained standing where you were. Still trying to process his words.
"I thought I was going to lose you."
"...[Name]!"
You turned. Lady Rika hurried toward you as quickly as her health allowed. Yuki stayed close beside her. The moment Lady Rika reached you, she took both your hands.
"Are you alright?"
You nodded immediately. "I'm fine. Prince Megumi was with me. He made sure nothing happened."
Lady Rika closed her eyes. A relieved sigh escaped her lips.
"Thank goodness..."
You instinctively looked past her. Prince Yuta had already continued walking ahead. His back was to all of you. He never looked back.
That night, unable to sleep, you wandered through the palace gardens. The cool night air helped clear your thoughts. Without realizing it, your feet carried you toward the prayer stones. From a distance, you spotted a familiar figure kneeling among them. Prince Satoru.
"...Are you destroying them again?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he carefully placed one last stone onto a small cairn. Only after making sure it was balanced did he stand.
"I'm fixing it."
You let out a relieved sigh. "...Good."
For some reason, neither of you left. Instead, you found yourselves sitting on the stone steps overlooking the rows of prayer cairns. A comfortable silence settled between you. You looked over.
"...That was unexpected."
He raised an eyebrow. "What was?"
"You fixing the stones. I thought you'd come back to kick them over again."
He let out a quiet scoff. "I already tried that...Didn't feel any better."
You looked toward the small cairn he'd just rebuilt. "...Did you make a wish?"
He rested his cheek against his fist, his elbow propped on his knee. "So now you're interested in other people's wishes?"
You pouted. "...Forget it." You purposely moved down a few steps, turning your back toward him.
"...I'll be living inside the palace from now on. So...you probably won't see me wandering around here as much."
"I see."
A small silence followed. You smiled to yourself. "So I won't have to deliver your meals anymore. What a relief."
A quiet chuckle escaped him. "You've delivered my lunch once."
You waved a dismissive hand. "Details."
Then, without turning around, you continued. "Try not to threaten people by telling them you'll kill them. Don't glare at everyone. Don't destroy other people's hard work."
"...what are you?"
"Please eat your meals and sleep properly."
His expression softened ever so slightly.
"...Don't have bad dreams."
Silence settled. You finally turned around. He was looking at you. Not saying anything. Just looking.
"...What?" You tilted your head. "Why are you staring at me?"
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I remembered. You told me once...that you weren't afraid of me."
He gave a quiet scoff. "I still don't understand. How could you not be?"
You looked down at your hands. "...It's not that."
He waited.
"I'm not fearless." You smiled faintly. "If anything...I'm more afraid of myself."
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
"My heart..." You searched for the right words. "...doesn't know where it belongs anymore. I don't know where I'm supposed to be. I don't know where I'll end up."
You looked up toward the night sky. "The stars probably don't worry about things like that. They just...stay where they belong."
As if the heavens themselves had been listening, a single snowflake drifted between the two of you. Then another.
You blinked. "...It's snowing."
More flakes slowly began to fall. Your eyes brightened.
"...How pretty."
You smiled as you watched the first snowfall of the year blanket the palace gardens. Beside you, Prince Satoru wasn't looking at the snow. He was looking at you. As though, for the first time in a very long while...the world around him had become just a little less lonely.
( Prince!Gojo/Prince!Yuta/Prince!Megumi x Reader )
You're working in your office and everything feels normal, until a window turns into a sky that doesn’t belong to your world. Before you can understand what’s happening, you are pulled into a royal palace where princes watch your every move and nothing about your old life matters anymore. In this new place, you meet dangerous, kind, and mysterious men who slowly become tied to your fate. As you try to survive palace life, you realize you are not just lost in time. You are now part of a story that will change your life forever.divider: strangergraphics
series masterlist
The courtyard of the Eighth Prince's residence was unusually lively that afternoon. A group of palace maids stood in a circle. One lunch basket was being passed from one pair of hands to another as though it were far too dangerous to hold.
"No."
"You take it."
"I took it yesterday!"
"I'll go tomorrow."
Lady Rika and you exchanged puzzled glances as you approached. "...What's going on?"
The maids immediately straightened.
Yuki bowed. "My Lady. The Fourth Prince's lunch." She pointed toward the basket. "No one wants to deliver it."
Lady Rika sighed. "You are making far too much of this." She looked around the group. "Choose one person, deliver the meal and come straight back."
The maids looked at one another. Then every single one of them slowly turned toward you.
You blinked. "...Me?" You laughed. "Why me? You said I was the lady. It's not exactly my job to deliver meals."
You smiled brightly before looking toward Lady Rika. "...Right, Cousin?"
Lady Rika hesitated. She covered her mouth with a small cough. "...Well...You are rather free this afternoon."
You stared at her. "Betrayed..."
The maids immediately clasped their hands together. "Please, My Lady!"
You looked from the hopeful maids...to the basket...then let out a dramatic sigh. "...Fine. I'll do it."
The maids immediately cheered. Lady Rika smiled apologetically.
"You're very kind."
"I know." You muttered as you bent down to lift the basket. "...It's also very heavy."
By the time you reached the top of the hill, you were already regretting every decision that had led you there.
"...Who...has picnics...on a mountain?" You adjusted your grip. "...Couldn't he just eat in his room?...Did he really need to climb a hill for lunch?"
As if he had heard every word, Prince Satoru slowly turned around. Your complaining stopped immediately.
You quickly looked away. "...Good afternoon."
Without saying anything, he turned back toward the view overlooking the palace and the town below. You scoffed quietly. Dragging the basket the last few steps, you placed it down beside him with considerably less care than the palace etiquette books probably recommended.
"Your lunch, Your Highness." You began opening the basket.
He didn't even look at it. "Leave it."
You nodded. "...You'll just eat alone? Suit yourself."
You stood. Then turned to leave. You took two steps. Stopped and looked back. The wind gently stirred the loose strands of his white hair. He simply sat there, looking out across the rooftops below. Something about the sight made your chest tighten.
You sighed. "...You're making this difficult."
Turning around, you walked back. You sat down on the opposite side of the basket, leaving plenty of space between the two of you.
You folded your arms. "I have to bring the dishes back. So...Please eat."
After a while, he finally spoke. "...You didn't have to come back."
"I know."
"Forget what you saw yesterday. Do not tell anyone."
"I couldn't tell anyone even if I wanted to." You let out a quiet sigh. "I wouldn't even believe it myself."
He glanced sideways at you.
You shrugged. "I'm too busy trying to survive my own life. I don't have time to worry about everyone else's."
Silence settled again. You looked around at the view.
"...So is the food better up here?" You gestured toward the landscape stretching below. "Or is it because the view is nice?"
This time...He answered.
"...My mother used to bring me here."
You turned. "...Your mother?"
He nodded. "We used to have picnics here."
He paused. "...She died when I was five."
Your eyebrows slowly drew together.
Five?
But...Yuki had told you his mother died giving birth.
You blinked. "...Oh...but"
Your brain completely stopped working. You hurriedly opened the basket.
"Y-Yuki said..." You fumbled with one of the dishes. "...the chicken is really good. I think you should eat it before it gets cold."
Prince Satoru looked at you. His expression remained unchanged but the corner of his mouth twitched. Almost. The closest thing to a smile you'd seen from him yet.
That same night, you held Lady Rika's hand as another fit of coughing overtook her.
Your face filled with worry. "Hang in there."
Prince Yuta immediately stood. "Someone!" His voice echoed through the residence. "Go fetch the Imperial Physician!"
The servants hurried out of the room. Lady Rika slowly tightened her grip around your hand. Then she looked at you.
"...Could you give us a moment?"
You nodded. "Of course."
You gently placed her hand back on the blanket before standing. Just as you reached the doorway, you heard her voice.
"...Prince."
You paused.
"...Take another wife."
Your hand tightened around the doorframe. Without looking back, you quietly slipped out of the room before hearing any more.
The room fell silent. Prince Yuta looked at his wife.
"...Rika."
She offered him a small, tired smile. "I'm weak." Her voice trembled. "I haven't fulfilled my duties as your wife. I haven't managed this household the way I should have." She lowered her eyes. "I'm only becoming more of a burden." Tears slowly gathered along her lashes. "So...Please. When the time comes...marry again or..." She struggled to continue. "...divorce me before then."
Prince Yuta shook his head almost immediately. "I don't want to."
She looked at him pleadingly. "You must. You deserve someone who can stay beside you."
Someone who could grow old with you.
The last words never left her lips. Instead, she smiled.
"I've always known...that you married me out of duty."
Prince Yuta's expression faltered.
"I never blamed you for it. You've been kind, patient. You've given me more than I could ever ask for." She reached for his hand.
Her fingers were cold.
"I only wish...I could have been someone you chose."
The room became painfully quiet. Prince Yuta looked into her eyes. His lips parted. He wanted to answer. To deny it. To tell her something...anything but no words came because somewhere deep inside...he didn't know if the answer she wanted would be the truth. So he simply held her hand and remained silent.
The next morning...you sat alone beneath the shade of a large tree in the courtyard. The breeze was pleasant. Birds chirped somewhere in the distance. Yet your thoughts refused to settle. Lady Rika's weak smile. Her coughing. Her voice.
"Prince... please take another wife."
You let out a quiet sigh. Then you feel a poke. Something pressed against your right cheek. You immediately turned. No one.
"...?"
You slowly looked to your left. Prince Yuji stood there with an innocent grin.
"Poke."
He jabbed your cheek again. You gently pushed his hand away.
"Stop that."
He laughed before plopping down beside you. "You've been making that face all morning."
"What face?"
"The..." He exaggerated a deep frown. "...'The world is ending' face."
You couldn't help rolling your eyes. "I'm just thinking."
"You think too much." He nodded confidently. "If something's bothering you...you just have to play."
He suddenly reached behind his back. "Here!" He proudly held out a small wooden toy. "I got you a present!"
You stared at it. It was a colorful spinning top.
"..."
Before you could respond, two attendants hurried over carrying another wooden box. They set it down beside Prince Yuji before bowing and excusing themselves. Yuji immediately opened it. Inside were dozens of children's toys. Pinwheels, toy drums, wooden animals, paper kites and little carved dolls.
You slowly looked from the box to Prince Yuji.
"...How old do you think I am?"
His smile vanished. "...Not old enough?"
You blinked. He frowned. "...Then what do you like?"
You rubbed your temples. "I have a headache. I don't really feel like playing today."
"...Oh." Yuji quietly closed the box. Then turned to face you. "They say sharing a burden makes it lighter." He smiled. "I can help." He stood up proudly in front of you. After puffing out his chest, he declared, "I'm a prince afterall."
You looked up at him. "...Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Have you gotten married?"
His confident expression immediately disappeared. He awkwardly sat back down.
"...Not...yet." He glanced at you. "...Why?"
You rested your chin on your hand. "How many wives do you think you'll have?"
He genuinely thought about it. "...I've never really considered it."
You watched him quietly. "What if...your wife became very sick? Would you marry someone else?"
His answer came almost immediately. "No."
You blinked. He shook his head firmly.
"I hate all the drama that comes from having too many wives." He sighed dramatically. "Just look at Father." He crossed his arms.
"I only want one. The person I love. Then we'll live happily together forever."
He smiled. Simple. Certain. As though there could never be another answer. You looked at him for a long moment. Then smiled faintly.
"...I wish everyone thought like you."
Yuji tilted his head.
"You know..." You stood up. "...You're surprisingly faithful." You dusted off your sleeves. "I'll see you later, Your Highness."
Before he could answer, you walked away.
Yuji remained seated beneath the tree. "...Faithful?"
He repeated the word quietly. Then his eyes slowly widened. His cheeks turned bright red. A giant grin spread across his face. He covered one cheek with his hand.
"...My..." He laughed to himself. "...That's way too fast for me."
He stared after you, unable to stop smiling. Not far away, one of his attendants peeked around the corner.
"...Your Highness?"
Yuji didn't even hear him. He was still sitting beneath the tree smiling to himself like an idiot.
Yuki carefully peeked around the corner. The corridor was empty.
"...Okay."
She took a deep breath before quietly sliding open the door to the Fourth Prince's room. The room was silent. Sunlight poured in through the open window, stirring the white curtains with the afternoon breeze. Yuki clutched the silver hairpin tightly in her hands. She took another cautious step inside. The room was surprisingly neat. There was almost nothing decorating it.
"...He really lives like this?" She glanced around nervously.
Remembering your instructions, she walked toward a small wooden box sitting beneath the window.
"...Not too obvious...but not impossible to find."
She knelt down, her trembling fingers reached toward the box. Just as she was about to set the hairpin inside, the door suddenly slid open. Yuki gasped. The hairpin slipped from her fingers and clattered loudly across the wooden floor. Princess Mei Mei entered the room, followed by several attendants. Everyone froze. Princess Mei Mei's gaze slowly lowered to the hairpin lying on the floor. Then to Yuki.
"...What are you doing here?"
Yuki immediately bowed until her forehead nearly touched the floor. "N-No...! I wasn't trying to steal anything!"
Princess Mei Mei stepped closer. Her attendant picked up the hairpin and placed it into her hand. She examined it for a moment before letting out a quiet scoff.
"...Bring her outside."
"W-Wait!"
"I swear—"
No one listened. Moments later...Yuki was forced to her knees in the courtyard. Her wrists were bound tightly to a wooden post. A maid stood behind her, gripping a long cane. Princess Mei Mei stood before her, idly turning the silver hairpin between her fingers.
"Begin."
Crack!
Yuki cried out. Another strike landed across her back. Blood slowly began to seep through the fabric of her robes. Tears streamed down her face. Princess Mei Mei watched without the slightest change in expression.
"Tell me." She held up the hairpin. "What else did you steal?"
Yuki shook her head desperately. "I didn't steal anything...I swear..."
Princess Mei Mei laughed softly. "Then what? Were you trying to leave a little gift for the Fourth Prince?"
Several attendants covered their mouths, giggling. Another strike. Yuki cried out again.
"STOP!"
Everyone turned. You came running across the courtyard. Without hesitating, you stepped directly between Yuki and the raised cane. The maid stopped just inches away from your back. You looked down. Yuki's clothes were stained red. Your stomach dropped. You turned sharply toward Princess Mei Mei.
"...What has she done to deserve this?"
Princess Mei Mei held up the hairpin. "She stole from the Fourth Prince."
You immediately shook your head. "No. I asked her to put that hairpin in his room."
Princess Mei Mei's eyes narrowed. "And why would a lady like you possess something of this quality? It doesn't make sense."
"It's his."
You answered without thinking. Princess Mei Mei smiled.
"I see. Then she stole it." She looked toward the maid. "Continue."
The maid raised the cane once more. You stepped in front of Yuki again.
"No."
Princess Mei Mei tilted her head. "Move."
"I won't."
"If someone must be punished..." You looked directly into her eyes. "...Punish me. I was the one who gave her the order."
Yuki's eyes widened. "Lady...please...don't..."
Princess Mei Mei's smile slowly widened. "...Very well." She handed the hairpin to one of her attendants. "Tie her."
The maids immediately untied Yuki before tying your hands to the wooden post. Within moments, you stood in the same spot where Yuki was. Princess Mei Mei took the cane into her own hands. She tested its weight once. Then smiled.
"I hope your kindness was worth it."
At that very moment, the group of princes rounded the corner.
Eighth Prince Yuta.
Third Prince Suguru.
Ninth Prince Choso.
Tenth Prince Yuji.
Fourteenth Prince Megumi.
And Thirteenth Prince Kokichi.
They slowed to a stop. Each taking in the scene before them. Princess Mei Mei raised the cane.
"Since you insist on taking her punishment..." A smile spread across her lips. "...then don't blame me."
The cane came down.
Crack.
You squeezed your eyes shut. Pain shot across your back. You bit your lip hard enough to draw blood rather than let out a scream.
"Tsk."
Prince Yuji instinctively took a step forward. "Eighth Brother!" He grabbed Prince Yuta's sleeve. "Please! If she keeps going...Lady [Name] will be seriously hurt."
Prince Suguru folded his arms. "...Why stop her? The rules are clear. If someone commits a crime...they should be punished."
Prince Choso frowned. "...But that servant has already been whipped. Isn't that enough?"
Prince Megumi couldn't take his eyes off you. His fists slowly tightened at his sides. "...She's going too far."
Princess Mei Mei lifted the cane again. Before it could fall, a hand caught her wrist. The courtyard fell silent.
Princess Mei Mei looked up. "...Fourth Prince."
Prince Satoru smiled. "...That's enough."
She tried pulling her hand free. "This is my responsibility. I am disciplining a thief."
He didn't let go. His smile never disappeared. "Are you?"
She frowned. "The hairpin belongs to the Fourth Prince. So naturally...this concerns you."
"It does." He glanced toward you. Then back at the princess. "So I'll handle it."
She narrowed her eyes.
"This has nothing to do with you." He said simply.
"It has everything to do with me." She insisted.
He slowly released her wrist. Then pointed toward you. "...She's mine."
The words echoed through the courtyard. Your mouth slowly fell open. "...What?"
Princess Mei Mei turned to look at you. Prince Yuta stood frozen. Prince Choso's eyebrows lifted. Even Prince Suguru's expression shifted slightly. Only Prince Satoru remained perfectly calm. Princess Mei Mei finally spoke.
"...What did you just say?"
Without taking his eyes off you, he answered, "I said...she's mine."
Your face burned with confusion.
Mine? What does that even mean?
Princess Mei Mei's grip tightened around the hairpin. "...Explain yourself."
Prince Satoru finally looked at her. "The hairpin belongs to me. So whether she stole it...borrowed it...or found it...I'll decide her punishment."
Before Princess Mei Mei could respond, Prince Yuji suddenly darted forward.
"No!" He planted himself between you and the princess. "She didn't steal it!"
Princess Mei Mei raised an eyebrow. Prince Yuji's eyes widened.
He panicked. "...I saw her pick it up!" Everyone looked at him. "...Outside Fourth Brother's room." An awkward silence followed. Yuji quickly nodded. "That's right! I saw it."
Princess Mei Mei looked unconvinced. "...You too?"
Prince Yuta finally stepped forward. His voice, though calm, carried unmistakable authority. "Untie her."
No one moved. He looked directly at the maids.
"I said...Untie her."
The maids hurriedly obeyed. The ropes fell away from your wrists. You stumbled toward Yuki immediately. Supporting her weight, you carefully helped her to her feet. As the two of you turned to leave Yuki weakly lifted her head. For just a brief moment...her eyes met Prince Choso's. He watched silently. Unable to look away.
Prince Yuta turned toward Princess Mei Mei. "...Princess." His expression was gentle but his disappointment was unmistakable. "I believe you went too far." With that, he followed after you and Yuki.
Prince Suguru chuckled. "I disagree." He looked toward Princess Mei Mei. "I think you handled the situation well. People of lower status should know their place." He gave a small bow before walking away.
Prince Megumi quietly grabbed Prince Yuji's sleeve. "...Come on." Prince Yuji reluctantly followed.
Prince Kokichi had already slipped away unnoticed. Soon, only Princess Mei Mei and Prince Satoru remained in the courtyard.
The smile on Prince Satoru's face remained out of politeness. He held out his hand. "My hairpin."
Princess Mei Mei stared at him for a long moment. Then slowly placed it into his palm.
Without another word...He turned and walked away.Leaving the princess alone in the silent courtyard.
( Prince!Gojo/Prince!Yuta/Prince!Megumi x Reader )
You're working in your office and everything feels normal, until a window turns into a sky that doesn’t belong to your world. Before you can understand what’s happening, you are pulled into a royal palace where princes watch your every move and nothing about your old life matters anymore. In this new place, you meet dangerous, kind, and mysterious men who slowly become tied to your fate. As you try to survive palace life, you realize you are not just lost in time. You are now part of a story that will change your life forever.divider: strangergraphics
series masterlist
Prince Suguru had barely rounded the corner before someone grabbed him by the collar of his robes and shoved him against the wall. The impact echoed through the empty corridor. He looked up.
“…Satoru.”
Prince Satoru’s hand remained firmly against his chest, keeping him pinned. His blue eyes never left Prince Suguru’s under his sunglasses.
“Did you send the assassins?”
Prince Suguru let out a quiet laugh. “…That’s your greeting?”
“Suguru.” His voice was low. “Answer me.”
“No.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t particularly care what you believe.”
Silence. Prince Satoru searched his face.
“If it wasn’t you…was it Queen Geto?”
The moment those words left his mouth, Prince Suguru’s expression darkened. His hand shot up and trued to shove Prince Satoru’s arm away.
“Don’t.” His voice was sharp. “Drag my mother into this.”
Prince Satoru didn’t move. “I need to know the truth.”
“The truth?” Suguru scoffed. “The truth is you only come looking for me when something goes wrong.”
“I came because I trust you.”
Those words slipped out before Prince Satoru could stop them. For the first time… Prince Suguru looked genuinely surprised. Then his expression hardened even further.
“You still trust me?” He laughed. “I don’t.”
Prince Satoru’s jaw tightened. “Suguru”
“Stop.” His voice cut cleanly through the hallway.
“You don’t get to say my name like we’re still brothers.”
The words landed harder than any sword ever could. Prince Satoru’s grip loosened and his arms were harshly shoved away.
“You took the only person who ever made this palace feel like home. You’re the reason why she was taken from me.”
With that, Prince Suguru left without another word, leaving Prince Satoru frozen.
Prince Satoru wandered without thinking. His feet eventually carried him to the quiet corner of the palace where hundreds of small stacked prayer stones sat beneath old trees. Some were newly built. Others had long since begun to crumble.
Every stack represented a mother’s prayer. His eyes found it immediately. A small pile of carefully balanced stones. A faded blue tassel fluttered gently from the top.
He remembered.
Five year old Prince Satoru struggled to place the final stone.
“It keeps falling.”
Queen Gojo laughed softly before kneeling beside him.
“Then we’ll build it together.” She steadied his tiny hands. “There.”
The last stone stayed. Little Prince Satoru beamed.
“What does it do?”
His mother smiled. “Every day I come here. I pray that you’ll grow up healthy, safe and happy.”
He tilted his head. “…Really?”
She nodded. “So Heaven will protect you.”
Little Prince Satoru thought for a long moment. Then wrapped both arms around her.
“Then…I’ll become the strongest so I can protect you too.”
Queen Gojo laughed. The sound echoed warmly through the trees. She hugged him tighter.
“I’ll be looking forward to that.”
Prince Satoru stared at the weathered stones. A bitter laugh escaped him.
“…What a joke.”
His foot slammed into the cairn. The top stones tumbled to the ground.
“It didn’t work.”
Another kick.
“You prayed every day.”
Another.
“You still died.”
“Prince Satoru!” A voice rang out behind him.
He didn’t stop. Another stone rolled across the ground.
“Prince Satoru!”
Footsteps hurried closer. You reached him and grabbed his arm.
“Stop!”
He pulled his arm free so abruptly that you stumbled backward.
“Leave.”
You steadied yourself. “No.”
He finally looked at you. His sunglasses had slipped lower on his face than usual. Those striking blue eyes met yours for the first time since the observatory. Cold and empty.
“They told you, didn’t they?” His voice was flat. “About me. The cursed prince. You’ve seen my eyes.”
He took one slow step toward you. “And yet you’re still standing here. Why? Aren’t you afraid I’d kill you?”
You swallowed. “…No.”
A humorless laugh escaped him. “You should be.”
“You don’t know what people like me bring.” His eyes drifted toward the scattered stones.
“Misfortune. Death. Everyone who gets close to me ends up paying for it.”
His gaze returned to you. “So leave.”
For a long moment, neither of you spoke.
Then you frowned. “…Do you actually believe that?”
His expression didn’t change. “I know it.”
“You don’t.” You responded quickly.
He scoffed. “You’ve known me for all of five minutes.”
“And you’ve known yourself your whole life.” You gestured toward the broken pile of stones. “Look what that’s done to you.”
His jaw tightened.
“You keep calling yourself cursed. You keep saying everyone around you suffers. So what? You’re going to spend the rest of your life proving those rumors right?”
You crouched down and picked up one of the fallen stones.
“I don’t know whose mother built this.” You carefully set it back onto the pile. “But I know she didn’t build it so someone could destroy it.”
Another stone.
“You once told me that surviving in the palace is the least that’s expected.” You looked up at him. “So survive. Don’t become exactly what everyone says you are.”
The breeze stirred between you. Neither of you moved. You sighed.
“…They’re just eyes.”
His gaze lifted.
“People give them far too much power.”
You turned to leave. Without looking back, you added quietly,
“And for the record…I don’t think you’re cursed.” Your footsteps slowly faded into the distance.
Prince Satoru remained standing among the scattered stones. His eyes drifted to the cairn. After a long silence, he crouched down and placed the blue tassel back where it belonged. You stepped into Lady Rika's room only to find it unusually busy. Servants carried folded silks and neatly stacked robes in and out, carefully sorting everything into wooden chests. You blinked.
"...What's going on?"
Lady Rika looked up from where she sat. "Oh." She smiled. "I've been sorting through my old clothes."
You looked around the room. "That's... a lot of clothes."
She laughed softly. "Prince Yuta plans to deliver food and clothing to one of the villages that suffered during the recent cold wave. So we're donating what we no longer need."
You nodded slowly. "Are you going with him?"
The question made her hesitate. "...He usually goes alone."
"Why?"
She looked down at the robe folded in her lap. "I don't wish to trouble him."
You frowned. "I think you should go."
She looked back at you.
"You could help hand things out and..." You smiled. "You've been inside the palace for so long. It'd be nice to get some fresh air. Everyone wins."
Lady Rika chuckled. "I'll think about it."
As the servants carried the last chest outside, the room finally grew quiet again. Lady Rika reached for a comb. You tilted your head.
"...Can I try?"
She looked surprised. "My hair?"
You nodded. "I have an idea."
Curiosity won over hesitation. She turned around. You carefully gathered the top half of her hair, twisting it back before securing it neatly with a ribbon, leaving the rest to fall naturally over her shoulders. When you finished, Lady Rika looked at herself in the bronze mirror. Her eyes widened slightly.
"...I've never worn it like this."
You smiled. "It's prettier this way. It's simple but elegant."
She gently touched the back of her hair. "...Where did you learn this?"
You froze. Then smiled awkwardly. "...I saw it in a dream."
"A dream?"
You nodded. "I dreamed I lived somewhere very strange. There were buildings so tall you couldn't see the top. People hurried everywhere. Everyone carried little schedules around. They rushed from one place to another every day."
Lady Rika listened quietly.
"I worked in a place called an office. I had to wake up before the sun came up. There were piles of work waiting every morning. If I made one tiny mistake...I'd hear about it all day."
She laughed softly. "It sounds exhausting."
"It was." You laughed too.
"Sometimes I'd skip meals because I was too busy. I'd stare at papers until my head hurt and somehow...I'd still have more work waiting the next day."
Lady Rika smiled sympathetically. "Was it fun?"
You thought for a long moment. "...Not really." You looked out the window. "I was always tired. I kept thinking...'Maybe next week will be easier.' but it never was."
Silence settled between the two of you. Finally, Lady Rika reached over and gently placed a hand over yours. "I'm glad it was only a dream."
You looked at her. "...Yeah." A small smile crossed your lips. "...A dream."
Your voice was quiet enough that only you truly understood what you meant. Lady Rika smiled, believing your worries had finally faded. She turned back toward the mirror.
"...Though..." She tilted her head from side to side, admiring the hairstyle. "I think I'd like to wear my hair like this more often."
You grinned. "I knew you'd like it. It suits you."
Lady Rika laughed. "I suppose my cousin has good taste after all."
The villagers had been waiting since sunrise. Word had spread quickly that the Eighth Prince would be visiting with food and clothing for those affected by the recent cold wave. By the time your group arrived, the streets were already lined with people. Children peeked out from behind their parents while the older villagers bowed respectfully as Prince Yuta greeted them. You couldn't help but smile. It was your first time traveling this far beyond the palace. Everything felt different. More alive. Several long tables had been arranged along the street. One was piled high with sacks of rice, beans, and grains. Another held neatly folded clothing that Lady Rika had carefully chosen herself. You stood beside her, happily handing out sweet rice cakes to the children waiting patiently in line.
"One for you and one for you and..." You smiled at the little girl in front of you. "One for you too."
She accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, miss."
Before she could take a bite, A little boy darted forward. He snatched the rice cake right out of her hands. Then took off running.
Your eyes widened. "...Hey!" You pointed after him. "HEY!"
Without thinking, you ran after the boy. The sudden commotion drew curious looks from nearby villagers. Across the street, Prince Yuta instinctively looked up. Yuki, standing beside him, continued scooping beans into waiting sacks as though nothing unusual had happened. You caught up surprisingly quickly.
"Come here!"
You gently grabbed the little boy by both shoulders before he could escape again. Breathing hard, you crouched until you were eye level with him.
"Should you steal from your friends?"
The little boy slowly shook his head. You gently pinched both his cheeks.
"Are you going to do it again?"
He shook his head even faster. His cheeks puffed out between your fingers.
"Mmph-mm."
You finally let go. "Good."
You smiled warmly before patting the top of his head. "Let's go give it back."
The little boy nodded sheepishly. Hand in hand, the two of you walked back toward the tables.
Across the street...Prince Yuta watched the entire exchange. A quiet laugh escaped him. The little boy pouted as you pinched his cheeks before obediently following you back to his friends. Lady Rika happened to glance toward the opposite table. She saw the smile on Prince Yuta's face. Her own smile faded, if only for a moment. She lowered her eyes. Just as quickly, she composed herself. She greeted the next villager with the same gentle smile as before. As though nothing had happened.
You looked up. Your eyes met Prince Yuta's across the street. You grinned. Then enthusiastically waved an arm. Caught off guard, he smiled and instinctively lifted a hand to wave back. Only after he had already done it...did he realize every servant and villager nearby had seen him. His ears immediately warmed. He cleared his throat. Then casually brushed his hand through the air as though he had merely been shooing away an insect.
Yuki glanced sideways at him. "...Your Highness."
Prince Yuta kept his eyes firmly on the sack of beans in front of him. "...There was a fly."
Yuki looked up at the clear winter sky. "...I see."
She didn't sound convinced. Across the street...you had already returned to handing out rice cakes, completely oblivious. Lady Rika quietly folded another robe before placing it into an elderly woman's hands.
"...Please keep warm." Her smile was as gentle as ever. But for the first time that day...it took just a little more effort to wear it.
You wandered into one of the empty rooms the villagers had prepared for the relief effort. Bundles of dried herbs hung from the wooden beams overhead. Shelves lined the walls, filled with jars of dried roots, flowers, and tea leaves. You wandered over curiously.
"...Wow." You picked up a small pouch.
Undoing the string, you brought it to your nose. A familiar floral scent filled your lungs. You closed your eyes.
"...I miss milk tea."
"What is milk tea?"
You nearly jumped. Spinning around, you found Prince Yuta standing quietly in the doorway.
"...How long have you been standing there?"
He smiled apologetically. "Long enough."
Heat crept onto your face. "...It's..." You gestured awkwardly with the pouch still in your hand.
"It's tea...with milk."
Prince Yuta nodded patiently.
"So... you boil the tea leaves...then you add milk and..." You paused. "...sometimes little chewy balls."
Prince Yuta blinked. "...Chewy?"
"...Never mind." You cleared your throat. "I explained it poorly."
He chuckled. "I gathered that."
You laughed awkwardly before lifting another pouch. "I was really just smelling the tea."
"I didn't know you enjoyed tea so much."
"It's not that." You smiled faintly. "After I... lost my memories...Whenever I find something I recognize...It makes me happy."
You pointed toward several jars arranged neatly on the shelf.
"That's Jasmine, Osmanthus, Assam, and Ceylon."
Prince Yuta looked genuinely surprised. "...You know all of these?"
You nodded. "I used to work at a boba..." The words just slipped out. "... shop."
He tilted his head. "...Bo...ba?"
You froze. "...I mean..." You quickly laughed.
"I used to make tea for my mother. She liked pretending I owned a little tea shop and...she called it...Boba."
Prince Yuta smiled. "I've never heard a shop called that before."
"...Neither has anyone else." You muttered under your breath.
Before he could ask another question, the village physician entered carrying two small ceramic jars.
"Your Highness. The medicine for your wife and the ointment you requested."
Prince Yuta accepted both. "Thank you."
The physician bowed before excusing himself. Prince Yuta turned toward you. He held out the smaller jar.
"This is for your neck. I wouldn't want a scar to remain."
You accepted it. "...Thank you."
You found a nearby bench and sat down. Carefully, you untied the bandage around your neck. The cool air brushed against the healing cut. You dipped two fingers into the ointment. Then awkwardly tried reaching the wound.
Prince Yuta watched quietly. "...A little higher."
You moved your hand. "...Too high."
You frowned. "...Left." You moved left.
"...Your other left."
You sighed dramatically. "I swear I'm trying."
A quiet laugh escaped him. You looked over.
"...Was that a laugh?"
He covered his mouth for a brief moment. "...Perhaps."
You narrowed your eyes. "You're making fun of me."
"I'm not."
"You are."
His smile only grew. After another failed attempt...
He finally stepped closer. "...May I?"
You looked down at the little jar in your hands. "...Please."
He sat beside you. Close enough that your shoulders almost touched. He gently took the ointment from your fingers. Neither of you spoke. You suddenly became very aware of how quiet the room had become. Prince Yuta leaned in. One hand carefully gathered a few loose strands of your hair away from your neck. His fingertips barely brushed your skin. You inhaled sharply.
"...Sorry." His voice was barely above a whisper.
"My hair?"
He nodded. "It kept falling over the wound."
"...Oh."
Your heartbeat became strangely difficult to ignore. His face was much closer than before. Close enough that you could see the quiet concentration in his eyes. He carefully spread a thin layer of ointment across the cut. The cool medicine stung for only a second.
"...Does it hurt?"
"A little."
"I'm sorry."
"It isn't your fault."
Silence settled between you again. You stared straight ahead. Anywhere but at him.
"...You were missing it."
You blinked. "What?"
"The wound."
He smiled softly. "You weren't even close."
A quiet laugh escaped you. "...That's embarrassing."
"It happens."
He finished applying the last bit of ointment before setting the jar aside. Without saying anything, he reached for the clean bandage. You instinctively lifted your chin. His fingers moved slowly around the back of your neck as he wrapped the cloth into place. When he tied the knot...his hands lingered for just a moment. Not intentionally. Just long enough for both of you to notice. Your eyes met and neither of you looked away. For a brief moment the rest of the room disappeared.
Then Prince Yuta quietly cleared his throat. "...There." He withdrew his hands. "All done."
You looked away first. "...Thank you."
He smiled. The walk back to the carriage was quiet. Not awkward. Simply peaceful.
Lady Rika and Yuki were already waiting outside. "There you are." Lady Rika smiled warmly.
"We were beginning to wonder where you two had gone."
You scratched your cheek. "We got distracted."
Prince Yuta simply nodded. The journey back to the palace passed quietly. By the time the carriage rolled through the palace gates, night had already fallen. Lady Rika had drifted asleep during the ride. Prince Yuta carefully lifted her into his arms. You quietly followed behind, carrying the small bundle of medicine and her belongings.He gently laid her onto the bed inside her chambers. You stepped forward to pull the blanket over her shoulders. As you reached across, your fingers accidentally brushed against Prince Yuta's.
You immediately pulled your hand back. "...Sorry."
"It's alright."
You looked at the sleeping Lady Rika. "...I'll head back to my room."
Prince Yuta nodded. His eyes lingered on Lady Rika's peaceful sleeping face.
"...Thank you." He spoke so quietly you almost thought you imagined it.
"For convincing her to come today."
You smiled. "I'm glad she did."
He looked at her for another long moment. "...So am I."
wc:6.3k Gojo x Reader slight angst with a happy ending?
The first years at Tokyo Jujutsu High liked to joke that history repeated itself. Whenever they caught the four old classmates together, someone would inevitably whisper.
“There they go again.”
No matter how many years had passed, the formation never changed. Shoko walked beside Geto. You walked beside Gojo. It had been that way since you were sixteen.
Back then, the four of you were inseparable. Classes, missions, convenience store runs after late night exorcisms. Long train rides back to campus. If one of you was there, chances were the other three weren’t far behind. It wasn’t planned. It simply became normal.
“You’re late,” Shoko said one afternoon as you and Gojo wandered into the classroom several minutes after everyone else.
“We’re exactly on time,” Gojo replied.
“The class started five minutes ago.” Geto retorted from his seat, arms leaning over his desk.
“Then we’re fashionably on time.” Gojo grinned.
Geto sighed. “You’ll never survive in society.”
“Says who?”
“Says society.”
You laughed quietly as you slipped into the seat beside Gojo.
“You do realize Principal Yaga is going to make us clean the training grounds again.” Shoko complained.
Gojo shrugged. “He was going to make us do that anyway.”
“…You have a point.” You pondered, finger tapping your chin.
“There she is.” Gojo turned to you.
“What?”
“My favorite enabler.”
“I am not enabling you.” You give him a blank stare.
“You literally just agreed with me.”
“I agreed with one thing.”
“Good enough for me.”
The four of you walked back to the dorms together after sunset. Geto and Shoko had somehow wandered several steps ahead, talking about the mission report. Behind them, Gojo matched your pace without either of you thinking about it. He always did. When everyone stopped, he stopped beside you. When everyone started walking again, somehow the two of you fell into step together.
It wasn’t intentional. No one ever mentioned it. It was simply how things had always been. Shoko noticed first. She glanced over her shoulder before nudging Geto.
“They’re doing it again.”
Geto followed her gaze. Gojo was saying something animatedly, his hands moving almost as much as his mouth. You listened with a smile that appeared so naturally you probably didn’t realize it was there.
“They always do that,” Geto responded. “They’re attached.”
“They don’t even notice.”
“They will eventually.”
Shoko looked unconvinced. “…I’m not taking that bet.”
Maybe everyone saw it before the two of you did or maybe everyone saw it except Gojo Satoru. It happened in early spring. The cherry blossoms had only just begun to bloom across campus, soft pink petals collecting along the stone paths between the dorms. You found him where you always did after afternoon training. Sitting on the steps outside the dormitory. One leg stretched out. The other bent lazily toward his chest. His sunglasses rested on top of his head, revealing eyes so impossibly blue that they almost blended into the evening sky. He looked up when he heard your footsteps.
“You’re late.”
“You asked me to come.”
“Yeah, but I expected you to be early.”
“You make no sense.”
“I know.”
You laughed. For a second, everything felt painfully normal. Just you. Just him. Just another afternoon. Maybe that’s what gave you the courage because if anyone asked when you started loving Gojo Satoru, you wouldn’t have an answer. There wasn’t a single moment. There were hundreds.
The way he’d always find you after missions. The way he’d save the seat beside him without realizing it. The way he’d look for you first whenever something exciting happened. Sometimes you caught him looking at you when he thought you weren’t paying attention. It was enough to make you wonder. Enough to hope. Enough to believe that mayb, just maybe he felt the same.
“…Satoru”
“Hm?”
“I have something to tell you.”
His usual grin softened. “What is it?”
You took a slow breath. “I like you.”
The breeze carried another shower of cherry blossoms between the two of you. You waited. Your heart hammered against your ribs. Gojo stared at you. Not surprised. Not uncomfortable. Just quiet. Long enough for hope to begin slipping through your fingers.
“…I’m sorry.”
Two words. Spoken so gently they almost hurt more than if he’d laughed.
“I can’t.”
Nothing else. No explanation. No excuse. Just…I can’t. You looked at him for another second before the corners of your lips lifted into a smile.
“…I figured.”
He blinked.
“It’s okay.” You laughed softly, rubbing the back of your neck. “I kind of expected that.”
“…You did?”
“You don’t have to worry.” The smile came easier than you thought it would. “I’ll get over it.”
For the first time since you’d confessed, his shoulders relaxed.
“…Thank you.” He looked relieved.
Relieved.
You hated yourself for noticing.
“It’s not like we can’t still be friends.”
“…Yeah.”
“We’ll be okay.”
“…Yeah.” You smiled one last time before turning away. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He watched you leave. You never saw the way his hand tightened against the step beneath him until his knuckles turned white.
The next day, things were normal. Mostly. Gojo still joked during class. Still argued with Geto over nothing. Still complained whenever Yaga assigned them extra work. You still laughed. Still talked to him. Still walked with the group.
If someone looked from the outside…nothing had changed. Except Gojo stopped throwing an arm over your shoulders. You stopped instinctively sitting beside him whenever there were empty seats. He no longer waited for you after class. You stopped looking for him after missions. There was never a discussion. Neither of you decided to put distance between yourselves. It simply happened. One tiny habit at a time. Until the space between you became something neither of you knew how to cross anymore.
Shoko noticed first. “They’re quieter.”
Geto looked toward the training grounds. Gojo was laughing about something with Yaga. Across the courtyard, you were helping a younger student clean up cursed tools.
“…Yeah.”
“They’re avoiding each other.”
“No.”
Geto watched as you and Gojo passed one another in the hallway.You smiled. He smiled back. Neither of you stopped walking.
“…They’re trying not to.”
Shoko followed his gaze. The smile didn’t reach either of your eyes.
“…Did something happen?”
Geto was silent for a long moment. “…I think they talked.”
“And?”
He exhaled quietly. “…I don’t think it went the way one of them hoped.”
Neither of them asked. They knew that if either of you wanted to tell them, you would. So instead, the four of you kept moving forward. Only now, there was an invisible space between you and Gojo where there had never been one before.
Years passed. The four became three and then...even three felt like too many. The laughter that used to echo through the halls of Tokyo Jujutsu High disappeared so gradually that no one could remember the last time all of you had smiled together.
Geto was gone. Shoko buried herself in the infirmary. Gojo buried himself in work and you learned that grief wasn't always loud. Sometimes, it was simply the empty space beside you.
You rarely spoke about Suguru anymore because remembering him hurt. There were still moments when you'd walk past the old classroom and instinctively expect to hear him sighing at Gojo's latest antics. Sometimes, you'd catch yourself saving four drinks from the vending machine before quietly putting one back. Some habits were difficult to kill. Others never really left.
The years continued moving, whether any of you were ready or not. You became a Grade 1 sorcerer. Shoko became the school's doctor and Gojo Satoru became the strongest in every sense of the word. The title fit him. The loneliness did too.
When Principal Yaga asked if you'd consider teaching, you accepted almost immediately. The next generation deserved better. Better guidance. Better adults. Better endings. You taught the second years. Gojo taught the first years.
Your classrooms sat on opposite sides of the same hallway. Close enough that your students wandered between them constantly. Close enough that Satoru Gojo wandered in just as often.
"Borrowing whiteboard markers again?" You raised an eyebrow.
"I returned them." Gojo tilted his head.
"You returned one."
"I only borrowed one."
"You took four."
He smiled. "I don't remember that."
"You also don't remember giving them back."
"Sounds like a you problem."
You sighed, opening your desk drawer before handing him another marker. "You have your own."
"I like yours better."
"They're literally the same brand."
"They're emotionally different."
"...That's not a thing."
"It is now." He grinned, twirling the marker between his fingers before walking toward the door. Halfway out, he looked back.
"Oh. I bought kikufuku."
You looked up from the papers on your desk. "...You did?"
"Yeah. I got extra." He held up a small paper bag. "For no particular reason."
Your lips curved despite yourself. "You're unbelievable."
"I've been told." He left before you could thank him.
It was always little things. He'd leave your favorite drink on your desk without saying who it was from. You'd patch the tear in his uniform sleeve because he'd forgotten to. He'd linger in your classroom after meetings long after everyone else had gone home. You'd save him a seat during faculty briefings without even thinking. None of it meant anything.
At least that's what you kept telling yourself. Because you knew Gojo. You knew the boy who had once looked at your confession with heartbreak in his eyes before quietly saying
I'm sorry
Years hadn't changed that. If anything, losing Suguru had only reinforced whatever fear had lived inside him back then. Sometimes, your students would exchange knowing looks whenever Gojo stopped by your classroom. Sometimes they'd ask, with all the tact of teenagers,
"[name]-sensei... are you and Gojo-sensei dating?" Panda asks.
You laughed. "No."
"But he comes here every day."
"He bothers everyone."
"He doesn't bother Kusakabe-sensei."
"...He would throw him out."
"He doesn't bother Ieri-san either." Yuta adds.
You smiled to yourself. "No. He only bothers me."
Your students groaned dramatically. "That's even more suspicious!"
"Salmon!"
You waved them away, pretending not to notice the warmth blooming in your chest. They didn't understand. They couldn't. They saw the teasing. The lingering conversations. The way his eyes instinctively found yours whenever a meeting ended. The way the two of you slipped so naturally into each other's company that it looked effortless. They mistook familiarity for possibility.
But you knew better. You knew Gojo. If there had ever been the slightest chance that he loved you...he still wouldn't choose it. Not after everything he'd lost. Not after Suguru. So every smile he sent your way...every thoughtful gesture...every quiet moment shared after the students had gone home...you tucked them away exactly where they belonged.
Not as promises. Just memories. Because years ago, beneath a shower of cherry blossoms, he'd already given you his answer and you had promised yourself you would learn to live with it.
The mission had been routine. On paper, anyway. You could always tell when the reports lied. A "routine exorcism" didn't leave Gojo sitting alone on the steps outside the faculty building long after sunset. The campus had already quieted for the night. Most of the students were back in their dorms. The only sounds were the cicadas humming in the trees and the occasional breeze rustling through the leaves. Gojo sat with his elbows resting on his knees, sunglasses discarded beside him.
He wasn't looking at anything. Just staring. You slowed your pace.
"...Long day?"
He glanced up. The familiar grin found its way onto his face so quickly that anyone else would've believed it.
"Nah."
"You look like you've been sulking."
"I'm offended. I don't sulk."
"You absolutely sulk."
"I brood."
"That's worse."
He gasped dramatically. "I'll have you know I'm incredibly charming when I brood."
"You just called it brooding."
"I did, didn't I?"
You smiled despite yourself. For a moment, neither of you spoke. The silence wasn't awkward. It never had been.
"...Well," you said eventually. "I'll leave you to your brooding."
"Have fun."
"You too."
You turned toward the parking lot. Halfway there, you stopped. A couple minutes later, you returned carrying a small white paper bag. Gojo looked up as your footsteps approached again.
"I thought you left."
"I did." You held the bag out to him. "I came back."
He blinked. "...What's this?"
"Kikufuku."
His eyes dropped to the logo on the bag. "...From Sendai?"
"I had a mission there earlier and picked it up."
"You drove all the way back with these?"
"They're your favorite."
You said it so casually as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Gojo didn't take the bag immediately. Instead, he looked at you. Not with his usual teasing smile. Nor with that effortless confidence he carried everywhere.
"You remembered."
The words came out softer than you expected. Almost disbelieving.
You frowned. "Of course I remembered."
His fingers finally closed around the paper bag. He stared at it for a long moment.
"...You really don't have to do things like this."
"I know."
"...Then why?"
You shrugged. "I wanted to."
His throat bobbed. For the first time in what felt like years, his smile disappeared completely.
"You always..." He paused, searching for words. "...You've always been like this."
There was something in his voice you hadn't heard since you were teenagers. Something tired. Something painfully honest.
"You make it..." He laughed quietly under his breath. "...Really hard sometimes."
Your heart skipped. "...Hard?"
His gaze lifted to meet yours. Blue eyes met yours in the fading evening light. There was no Infinity. No strongest sorcerer. No invincible Gojo Satoru. It was just Satoru. Looking impossibly exhausted.
"...To keep pretending..." he admitted so quietly you almost didn't hear it.
The words lingered between you. Then his eyes widened ever so slightly as if he'd only just realized what he'd said. The mask slipped back into place so fast it was almost seamless. He puffed out a laugh, waving the bag in the air.
"Wooow free mochi! I should have bad days more often."
You blinked. "...That's your takeaway?"
"Absolutely." He reached into the bag immediately. "You know, if you keep spoiling me like this, people are gonna start talking."
"They already do."
"Oh?"
"They think we're dating."
He nearly choked on his first bite. "...What?"
"Mhm."
"Who started that rumor?"
"You."
"Me?"
"You keep wandering into my classroom."
"I do no such thing."
"You borrowed my markers three times this week."
"They're emotionally superior."
You laughed, shaking your head. "There he is."
"The devastatingly handsome Gojo Satoru?"
"The idiot."
"I'll take it." He smiled again. Bright and effortless.
As though the conversation from a minute ago had never happened. Anyone passing by would've thought he'd been like that the entire time but you knew better. You had seen it. Just for a second. The weight behind his smile. The exhaustion he never let anyone touch and the quiet confession he'd buried beneath a joke before either of you could acknowledge it.
You make it really hard sometimes.
You weren't sure what he'd meant. You weren't sure you wanted to know. So you smiled back. Pretending not to notice. Just as he pretended he'd never said it at all. That night, sleep never came. You lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying the conversation until every word blurred together.
You make it really hard sometimes.
What had he meant? You'd spent years teaching yourself not to wonder. Years convincing yourself that every thoughtful gesture, every lingering glance, every late night conversation was simply...Satoru. He was affectionate with everyone. Playful with everyone. Kind in ways most people overlooked.
It wasn't fair to yourself to mistake that kindness for something more. Not again and yet...that look. That split second where he'd forgotten to be Gojo Satoru. You'd never seen it before. Not since the cherry blossoms. You squeezed your eyes shut. No. You weren't seventeen anymore. You'd promised yourself you wouldn't do this again.
You wouldn't build castles out of maybes. You wouldn't let your heart cling to words he never intended to say. So you tucked the memory away. Right beside all the others. The next morning, everything was exactly as it always was. Gojo strolled into the faculty room twenty minutes late, carrying an empty kikufuku box.
"Tragic news."
Kusakabe didn't look up from his paperwork. "I don't care."
"My breakfast disappeared."
"You ate it."
"You have no evidence of that."
Shoko snorted into her coffee. "I do."
Gojo pointed accusingly at her. "Traitor."
"You left the box on the counter."
"I was framed."
"You were alone."
"Exactly."
Shoko looked at you. "He's getting worse."
Gojo grinned as he pulled out the chair beside yours without thinking. "Morning."
"Morning."
"You know..." He leaned his chin into his hand. "...That kikufuku yesterday?"
You looked up.
"It was really good."
"I'm glad."
"...Thanks."
There it was again. Just for a heartbeat. His smile softened. Not the one he wore for students. Not the one he used to irritate Nanami. The one that belonged only to quiet moments. Then he caught himself.
"A shame there were only six."
You stared at him. "There were eight."
"Were there?"
"Satoru."
"I plead the Fifth."
"That's an American law."
"I plead... diplomatic immunity."
"You don't have diplomatic immunity."
"I should."
"You absolutely should not."
Shoko watched the exchange over the rim of her coffee mug. Then she looked at Kusakabe.
"...See?"
He sighed. "I've seen it for years."
"They're hopeless."
"They're adults."
"Barely."
Gojo looked between the two of them. "What?"
"Nothing," Shoko answered smoothly. "You were just stealing food again."
"It's called appreciating thoughtful gifts."
"It's called being shameless."
He smiled, entirely unbothered. You smiled too. Just as naturally as you always had. Neither of you noticed that your chairs had drifted closer together. Shoko did. She always did.
As the conversation moved on, she quietly glanced toward you. Then toward Gojo. There was no confession. No lingering touches. No grand declaration. Just two people who had spent so many years orbiting each other that neither of them realized they were still caught in the same gravity. She wondered how much longer the two of you could keep pretending.
Deep down, she had a feeling the answer was: Not much longer.
Life continued. It always did.Missions came and went. Students complained about homework. Gojo still wandered into your classroom under increasingly ridiculous excuses.
"I lost my phone."
"You left it charging in your office."
"...How did you know that?"
"Because this is the fourth time."
"That's actually impressive."
"It really isn't."
He laughed. The sound echoed through the empty classroom as your students packed up for the day. One by one, they filed past the two of you.
"Bye, Gojo-sensei."
"See ya!"
"Don't keep our [name]-sensei too long!"
"I make no promises."
A chorus of groans followed him. When the room finally emptied, he leaned against your desk with that same easy smile he'd worn for years.
"So..."
"So?"
"You got any snacks?"
You stared at him. "You have an endless budget."
"I spent it."
"On?"
"...Desserts."
"Obviously."
You sighed, reaching into your desk drawer before tossing him a small packet of cookies. His reflexes caught it instantly.
"Acts of service."
"I gave you cookies."
"You remembered my favorite."
"I remembered because if I bought anything else, you'd complain."
"I would."
"I know."
For just a moment neither of you spoke. Gojo looked down at the cookies in his hand. Then back at you. His smile faltered slightly.
"...You remember a lot."
The words landed softly. So softly you almost missed them.
"I guess."
"You always have."
You smiled. "I've known you a long time."
"...Yeah."
A long time. Long enough to know exactly how he took his coffee. Long enough to notice when his smile reached his eyes. Long enough to hear the exhaustion hiding behind his jokes. Long enough to know when he was about to pull away.
He straightened. Clapped his hands together. "Well!" He slipped the cookies into his pocket. "I've successfully stolen today's snack quota."
"You didn't steal them."
"Then my work here is done." He pointed finger guns at you. "See ya."
The door slid shut behind him. Silence settled over the classroom. You looked at the empty doorway long after he'd left.
You remember a lot.
You did. You remembered everything. His favorite sweets. The way he hated bitter coffee. How he'd scratch the back of his neck whenever he lied. The birthdays he pretended not to care about. The anniversary of the day Geto left. The date he became a teacher. The way his smile changed depending on who he was looking at. You remembered all of it.
Maybe that was the problem. Because every little thing became another reason to hesitate. Another reason to wonder. Another reason to ask yourself what if? You were tired. Not of loving him. You didn't think you'd ever get tired of that.
You were tired of wondering. Tired of trying to decipher the things he never said. Tired of convincing yourself that maybe today meant something or maybe it didn't. You had spent years suspended between hope and acceptance. Unable to move forward. Unable to let go. As you locked your classroom and stepped into the hallway, you caught your reflection in one of the windows.
You smiled at yourself. It looked practiced. Almost convincing.
"...One more time."
The words escaped before you could stop them. One last confession. Not because you expected a different answer. Not because you thought he'd suddenly become someone else. But because you deserved an answer you could finally leave behind. If he rejected you again, you would accept it wholeheartedly and this time, you would let him go.
The rain came without warning. By the time classes had ended, the campus was wrapped in a steady downpour. Students rushed between buildings beneath borrowed umbrellas, laughing as they splashed through puddles.
You stayed behind to finish grading papers. By the time you finally closed the last folder, the faculty room was nearly empty. Shoko sat at the table near the window, absentmindedly stirring a cup of coffee gone cold. She glanced up when you walked in.
"Still here?"
"So are you."
She hummed.
You slipped your bag over your shoulder. "...Forgot my umbrella."
"I've got one."
"I'll just wait it out."
"You'll be here all night."
"Wouldn't be the first time."
Shoko watched you for a moment. "You're still in love with him."
It wasn't a question. Your hand froze around the strap of your bag. The rain filled the silence between you.
"...That obvious?"
"To me."
You let out a quiet laugh. "I thought I was getting better at hiding it."
"You are." She took another sip. "I've just known you too long."
You looked out the rain speckled window. "...I don't know what you're talking about."
"You've been saying that since you were seventeen."
"...Shoko."
"I'm serious." She set her mug down. "You still look at him the same way."
Your chest tightened. "I don't."
"You do."
Silence.
"You've just gotten better at looking away before he notices."
You swallowed. "...It doesn't matter."
"It matters to you."
You smiled. A tired one. "It used to."
Shoko studied your face. "No. It still does."
The room fell quiet again.
Outside, thunder rolled across the sky.
"...He hasn't changed," you murmured.
Shoko didn't answer.
"He still smiles the same way. He still pretends he's okay. He still thinks no one notices." A quiet laugh escaped you. "I notice. I always notice."
Your fingers tightened around your bag. "And that's exactly why I know."
Shoko tilted her head. "...Know what?"
"If..." You hesitated. "If there was even the smallest chance that Satoru loved me..." Your smile faltered. "...He'd never do anything about it."
The words sounded strangely peaceful. Like something you'd rehearsed a thousand times.
"That's just who he is. He'd convince himself I'd be better off without him. He'd call it protecting me and he'd believe it."
Better than anyone. Better than he'd probably ever realize. You knew every smile he wore. Every lie he told. Every burden he carried without asking for help. That was the cruelest part. Understanding him made it impossible to resent him.
"...So what now?" Shoko asked quietly.
You didn't answer right away. Instead, you watched the rain drip from the roof outside.
"I think..." You took a slow breath. "I owe it to myself."
Shoko waited.
"I'm going to tell him."
She blinked. "...Again?"
You nodded. "One last time."
Not because you expected him to choose you. Not because you believed years had somehow changed the answer he'd given beneath the cherry blossoms. But because...you were tired.
Tired of wondering if every almost confession meant something. Tired of asking yourself whether his kindness was just kindness. Tired of carrying feelings that had quietly followed you from sixteen into adulthood. You smiled. Small and gentle.
"If he says no..." Your voice didn't shake. "I'll finally let him go."
Shoko stared at you for a long time. Long enough that you wondered if she'd try to stop you. Instead, she stood, walked over, and wrapped an arm around your shoulders. It wasn't dramatic. It wasn't meant to be. Just comforting.
"You know," she said quietly.
"What?"
"I've always thought the two of you were idiots."
A laugh escaped you. "I know."
"But." She gave your shoulder a light squeeze. "I think you've been brave enough for the both of you."
Your smile wavered. For the first time in years, you wondered if bravery wasn't confessing. Maybe bravery was finally being ready to accept whatever answer came next.
The conversation with Shoko lingered in your mind for days. Not because she'd changed it but because she'd put words to something you'd been avoiding for years. You were tired. Not of loving him. You didn't think you'd ever grow tired of that. You were tired of waiting for a version of him that might never exist.
The next few days passed exactly as they always had. Gojo wandered into your classroom between periods, borrowed things he didn't need and left with snacks he hadn't brought. Your students groaned every single time.
"Gojo-sensei."
"Hm?"
"You know your office is on the other side of campus, right?" Panda leans his head on his palm over the table.
"I get lonely."
A chorus of dramatic sighs echoed through the room.
Yuta looked between the two of you.
"...Sensei."
You looked up from the papers you were grading. "Yes?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"As long as it's school appropriate."
He pointed shamelessly toward Gojo. "Is he why you're still single?"
The classroom fell silent. Even Gojo stopped mid bite.
"...Excuse me?" you laughed.
"I mean..." Yuta scratched the back of his neck. "I've seen couples act like this."
Maki chimed in. "Me too."
"Salmon."
"You guys already act married."
"Shut up."
"We're serious!"
You covered your face with one hand. "You all have too much free time."
Gojo, ever helpful, leaned back in his chair. "I know, right?"
The students stared at him.
"...So are you denying it?"
"Of course."
"So you're saying you've never liked [name]-sensei?" Maki asked with her eyebrow raised.
The question slipped out so innocently. The room went still. You felt your heart stop. Gojo laughed. Way too quickly.
"Your imagination's incredible."
The students groaned. "Boo."
"What a boring answer." Panda sighs.
"Bonito flakes."
One by one, they gave up and drifted back into their conversations. The classroom filled with noise again. As though nothing had happened. You looked back down at the paper in front of you. The red pen in your hand hovered over the page.
Somehow, the answer hurt more than you expected. Not because of what he'd said but because of how easily he'd said it. You should've been used to it by now. You'd heard your answer years ago. So why...why did a small part of your heart still hope?
That evening, after the students had gone home, you found yourself standing outside the empty training grounds. The same place where you and Gojo had once stayed after class to spar until sunset. The same place where he'd laughed after knocking your wooden sword from your hands. The same place where he'd reached out to help you up every single time. Some memories refused to fade. You closed your eyes. Then quietly exhaled.
"...Enough."
The word disappeared into the evening breeze. You smiled to yourself. Not because it was easy. Because it wasn't. Because maybe...loving Gojo Satoru would always be the easiest thing you'd ever done.
But waiting for him was something you could finally choose to stop doing. Tomorrow. You'd tell him. One last time and whatever answer he gave, you'd finally let your heart rest.
The following afternoon found the campus unusually quiet. Most of the students had already left for the weekend. The halls that were normally filled with chatter sat empty, the afternoon sun spilling through the windows in long golden strips across the floor. You found him exactly where you'd expected, halfway through eating another box of sweets. He looked up when he heard your footsteps.
"There you are. I've been looking for you." You smiled.
"So have I." He patted the space beside him on the wooden floor. "C'mon."
You sat. For a while, neither of you spoke. Gojo finished the last bite of his mochi before dusting the sugar from his fingertips.
"...What's up?"
You looked out across the courtyard. The breeze stirred the leaves of the old cherry tree.
"I wanted to tell you something."
He hummed.
You laughed quietly. "I've said those exact words to you once before."
His hand stopped. Just for a fraction of a second.
"...You have. I remember."
"I know."
Silence settled between you. You drew in a slow breath.
"When we were students...I told you I liked you. You said..." You smiled faintly. "'I'm sorry...I can't.'"
Gojo didn't move.
"I always wondered what would've happened if I'd never said anything." Your fingers folded together in your lap. "but...I'm glad I did. Even if it hurt."
The breeze drifted through the courtyard again. You turned toward him.
"I never stopped."
His eyes met yours.
"I tried. I really did. I thought time would be enough. That eventually I'd wake up one day and realize I didn't love you anymore." A soft laugh escaped you. "Turns out I'm not very good at that."
Gojo's expression had gone completely still. Not surprised. Not uncomfortable. Just listening.
"I know what your answer was and I know..." You smiled. "I know you." The words came so gently they almost disappeared into the wind. "I know what you're like. You carry everything by yourself. You always have. You convince yourself it's kinder if no one gets too close. You'd rather break your own heart than risk breaking someone else's."
You shook your head. "I don't blame you for that anymore. I don't think I ever did."
Gojo opened his mouth. Nothing came out.
"So..." You let out one quiet breath. "I'm not here because I think you'll give me a different answer."
His eyebrows knit together.
"I'm here because..." You searched for the right words. "...I think a part of me has spent years waiting. Waiting for you to become someone who was ready." You let out a small smile. "And I finally realized...Maybe that's unfair...to you and to me."
The silence stretched.
"I still love you, Satoru."
The words came easier than they had when you were seventeen. Not because they meant less, because they had lived inside you for so long.
You laughed quietly to yourself. "But..." Your smile never wavered. "I'm not trying to change your mind."
He held his breath.
"If your answer is still no I'll accept it and this time..." Your voice softened. "I'll let myself move on."
You looked towards him, his eyes were concealed behind the blindfold and his expression was unreadable.
"I just didn't want to leave anything unsaid."
And then it was silence. No wind. No birds. Just the sound of your own heartbeat echoing in your ears. You waited. Just as you had all those years ago. Only this time, you weren't waiting for him to choose you. You were waiting to finally set yourself free.
The silence stretched. Long enough that it became familiar. Seventeen years old again. Cherry blossoms drifting between the two of you. You smiled. Not because it didn't hurt but because you had promised yourself this would be the last time.
"...I understand." Your voice was steady. "Thank you for listening."
You placed your hands on the floor beside you and pushed yourself to your feet. For just a moment, you looked at him. The afternoon sun caught against the edge of his blindfold. He hadn't moved. Hadn't spoken.
Maybe this was kinder. You bowed your head ever so slightly.
"I'll see you around, Gojo-sensei."
You turned. Your heart ached but strangely it also felt lighter. You had finally said everything you'd carried since you were sixteen. There was nothing left to wonder about. Nothing left unsaid. You could finally—
"...Don't."
Your footsteps stopped. It was so quiet you almost thought you'd imagined it.
"...Don't go."
You slowly turned around. Gojo was standing where you'd left him. Head lowered. One hand clenched tightly against his side. His shoulders rose and fell with an uneven breath.
"...Satoru?"
His fingers trembled. Just once.
"...I lied."
You frowned. "...What?"
He laughed. It wasn't amused. It sounded tired.
"...Back then." He let out another breath. "I lied."
Your heart began to pound.
"When you confessed..." His voice cracked so quietly it almost disappeared. "...I didn't say I couldn't because I didn't love you." He pulled his blindfold down and finally looked up.
"I said it..." He swallowed. "...Because I did."
Everything around you seemed to disappear. The courtyard. The wind. The distant chirping of birds. You could only hear him.
"I knew..." he whispered. "I knew what would happen if I let myself." His smile was painfully small. "I would've wanted all of it."
He let out another quiet laugh. "Dates, coming home together, holidays."
Growing old.
The words never left his mouth. They didn't have to.
"I wanted things I wasn't supposed to want."
Your eyes stung.
"So I thought..." He rubbed a hand over his face. "...If I rejected you...you'd hate me. You'd move on. You'd find someone who wasn't...Me."
You took one slow step toward him. "Satoru..."
"I kept waiting." He laughed again. "I kept thinking...'Maybe this year.Maybe she'll finally stop looking at me like that.'" His smile broke. "...and you never did."
You were standing in front of him now. Close enough to reach out. Neither of you moved.
"You remembered my favorite sweets. You remembered every birthday. You always knew when I was lying." His voice had become barely above a whisper. "and every time...you made it really hard to keep pretending."
The words hit you all over again. The ones he'd let slip a few days ago. You hadn't misunderstood. He'd meant them. He'd always meant them. Tears blurred your vision.
"You idiot." A watery laugh escaped you. "...You absolute idiot."
"I know."
"You broke your own heart..." Your voice trembled. "...for seventeen years."
He smiled sadly. "I thought I was protecting yours."
You shook your head. "You never asked what I wanted."
"I know."
For the first time since you'd known him, Gojo Satoru looked afraid. Not of curses. Not of death. He was afraid of you. Of what you might say next.
He lowered his gaze. "...If it's too late..." The words barely escaped him. "I'll understand."
You looked at the man in front of you. Not the strongest. Not the honored one. Just Satoru. The boy who had loved you enough to convince himself he didn't deserve to.
You reached for him. Your fingers found his hand. Warm. Shaking. You intertwined them with yours. He held his breath.
"You know..." You smiled through your tears. "for someone who's supposed to be the smartest sorcerer alive..." You gave his hand the gentlest squeeze. "...you can be unbelievably stupid."
For the first time that afternoon he really smiled. Not the grin he showed his students. Not the teasing smile he wore to hide behind.
"...Does this mean..."
You stepped closer until your foreheads rested together.
"It means..." Your eyes slipped closed. "...I'm done waiting. So..." Another tiny smile. "You'll have to do the rest yourself."
For once in his life, Gojo didn't hesitate. His hand came up, fingers threading gently but firmly into your hair at the nape of your neck, tilting your face just enough. The breath he let out was shaky, half laugh, half surrender, before his lips met yours.
It wasn’t careful.
The first press was hungry, almost desperate, like he’d been holding back an ocean and the dam had finally cracked. His mouth moved against yours with a heat that made your knees weaken, soft at first, then deepening as you kissed him back. The taste of him was faintly sweet, mixed with something warmer, more electric.
A low sound rumbled in his chest when your hands fisted in the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. He angled his head, lips parting, tongue brushing yours in a slow, deliberate stroke that sent heat rushing through you. One of his arms wrapped around your waist, anchoring you against him as if he were afraid you might disappear.
When you finally broke apart for air, foreheads still touching, his breath ghosted across your lips. His eyes were half lidded, darker than you’d ever seen them.
“I love you...” he murmured, voice rough, the corner of his mouth curving into a real, crooked smile. "So would you..." His thumb brushed your lower lip. “Stay with me?”
