You accidentally knock on your brother Toji's neighbor's door instead of his. Unfortunately for you, his neighbor happens to be Sukuna.
Warm autumn air drifts lazily across the cracked parking lot, pushing brittle leaves over the worn asphalt. The car finally slows to a stop, the engine cutting off in front of the old red-brick fraternity house.
You climb out, the crisp fall air brushing pleasantly against your skin. Out of habit, you adjust the leather strap of your bag on your shoulder, but it does nothing to ease the tension sitting in your chest.
You won't even be starting college until next year.
The trunk slams open behind you with a dull thud.
Your dad, grumbling under his breath like always, starts unloading boxes while your mom immediately begins counting the endless bags of homemade food they brought for Toji. Of course they couldn't show up empty-handed. Your brother's always had a ridiculous appetite after spending hours at the gym.
"Go get your brother," your mom says without even looking up. "Tell him to help your father."
"Mhm..."
Your answer comes out quiet, almost absentminded. You give a lazy nod before heading toward the fraternity house.
You think Toji's room is on the second floor...
Or was it the first?
The last time you were here, you'd been too caught up in your own thoughts to pay attention to where you were going. By the time you reach the porch, you realize you've completely forgotten the layout.
Thankfully, the heavy oak front door is closed.
You reach out and press the old brass doorbell.
Nothing.
For what feels like forever.
Nearly a full minute passes before slow, dragging footsteps finally echo from somewhere inside.
A heavy lock clicks.
The door swings open.
A guy stands in front of you.
He's ridiculously tall.
Maybe even taller than Toji.
Messy snow-white hair sticks out in every direction like he'd just rolled out of bed. He lets out a huge yawn, lazily rubbing the back of his neck before squinting against the bright afternoon sun.
Only then does he finally look at you.
His eyes—an impossibly vivid shade of blue—study you with open curiosity.
For a few seconds, he just... stares.
Then the corners of his lips curl into an easy, welcoming smile.
"Well, hey there."
His voice catches you off guard.
Deep.
Smooth.
Relaxed in a way that sounds almost effortlessly confident.
You suddenly forget how to speak under that unwavering gaze.
"Uh... hi."
Your voice wavers.
"I'm... Toji's little sister."
You clear your throat.
"My parents are here. I just came to grab him so he can help unload everything."
The blond lifts an eyebrow.
Something playful flickers in those bright blue eyes.
"Sister?"
His tone makes it sound less like a question and more like he's trying to figure out whether you're messing with him.
"Yeah."
He watches you for another second before his smile widens, faint dimples appearing in his cheeks.
Just like that, every trace of sleepiness disappears from his face.
"Satoru."
He gives you a small, polite nod.
"Nice to meet you."
"You too."
Satoru steps aside in one smooth motion, letting you into the cool, dim entrance hall.
"Second floor. End of the hallway, then take a right."
"Thanks."
You nod quickly before hurrying past him, trying very hard not to hold your breath—or look around too much.
You're already halfway up the old wooden staircase when a quiet chuckle reaches your ears from behind.
Heat immediately creeps up your neck.
The hallway upstairs is silent.
You walk all the way to the end where it splits in two.
Two doors.
Facing each other.
You quickly replay Satoru's directions in your head.
Right.
So...
This one.
You knock on the painted wood.
Nothing.
You wait, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other.
A cold knot of anxiety slowly spreads through your chest.
You knock again.
Harder.
Still nothing.
Frowning now—and already annoyed at your brother, who's probably dead asleep—you raise your fist one more time.
This time, much louder.
The door suddenly flies open.
Your fist jerks forward into empty air.
You flinch so hard your heart nearly jumps into your throat.
Instead of a face...
You find yourself staring directly at a broad, bare chest.
It isn't Toji.
The man standing in front of you is built just as solidly—broad shoulders, thick frame, the kind of body that clearly belongs to someone used to hard training. His chest and stomach are completely bare, muscles shifting beneath his skin with even the smallest movement.
But that's not what steals your attention.
It's the tattoos.
Black markings wrap tightly around his forearms before climbing over his shoulders, stretching across the sides of his ribs and branching down his abdomen in thin, jagged lines. You even catch a few smaller markings circling his biceps.
Then your eyes drift to his face.
The same black lines run beneath his eyes and across his cheekbones, making his already sharp features look even harsher.
His hair is an unusual shade of soft peach, still slightly damp like he'd just gotten out of the shower. One loose strand hangs over his forehead, almost covering his right eye.
A desk lamp glows somewhere behind him, spilling warm amber light over one side of his body while the other remains swallowed by shadow.
He's frowning.
You can practically feel his gaze travel slowly over you, sizing you up without a hint of shame.
Slowly, he tilts his head.
There's something animalistic about the movement.
Predatory.
"A...?"
The confused sound slips out before you can stop it.
He doesn't answer right away.
His brows knit together slightly, and his expression shifts into something openly skeptical—bordering on amused.
Then he grimaces, as if the sound of your voice alone is enough to irritate him.
"...Who are you?"
You open your mouth.
Nothing comes out.
Heat rushes into your face, down your neck, even across your chest until your skin prickles with embarrassment.
"I... I'm sorry..."
Your words stumble over each other.
"I was looking for Toji."
Your voice comes out painfully small.
Silence.
His expression only grows flatter.
Bored.
His face practically says, Here we go again.
Apparently, girls using that excuse isn't exactly new to him.
You rush to explain before he can misunderstand any further.
"I'm his sister."
A faint smirk finally appears.
It never reaches his eyes.
He straightens up before casually leaning one shoulder against the doorframe, folding his arms across his chest. The movement pulls at the tattoos stretched over his muscles.
Without saying a word, he lifts one hand and points behind you.
"Toji's room is the one across the hall."
He gives a lazy nod toward the door behind your back.
Even as you turn away, the weight of his attention doesn't leave you.
He doesn't look away for even a second.
You glance over your shoulder—
—and only now notice the faded nameplate hanging on the opposite door.
Oh.
You really did get the rooms mixed up.
"Oh my God..."
You squeeze your eyes shut for a second, wishing the floor would just open up and swallow you whole.
"Thank you."
You practically flee to the correct door, putting as much distance between yourself and him as possible before knocking several times in quick succession.
Even then...
You know he hasn't moved.
His gaze still burns between your shoulder blades, making goosebumps rise across your skin.
A few seconds later, the door opens.
Toji stands there, squinting through sleep-heavy eyes as he rubs at them with one hand.
Then he recognizes you.
"Shorty?"
"Toji!"
The second you hear his voice, all the tension leaves your body.
You throw yourself into his arms, burying your face against his chest.
Still half-asleep, he pats your back automatically.
"Mom and Dad are here."
Your words tumble out in one breath.
"Dad needs help unloading everything. They brought, like... a ridiculous amount of stuff."
"They're already here?"
He drags a hand down his face, trying to wake himself up.
"It's barely fucking nine in the morning..."
You shrug.
Only after he speaks does Toji notice where your uneasy gaze is fixed.
Behind you, still leaning lazily against his own doorway, stands his neighbor.
Toji's expression changes instantly.
Every trace of sleep disappears, replaced by quiet irritation.
His whole body tenses.
"Sukuna."
His voice turns sharp.
"The fuck are you staring at?"
The stranger lets out a low chuckle.
His voice is deep, rough around the edges, but just as rich as Satoru's had been downstairs—
—but unlike Satoru's, there's something dangerous beneath it.
Something aggressive.
Sukuna.
You quietly memorize the name.
"Your kid sister decided she'd stop by my room first."
Toji shoots you a questioning look.
You shrink a little, still hiding against his shoulder.
"I... mixed up the doors..."
Your voice is barely above a whisper.
Toji clicks his tongue in annoyance, his jaw tightening.
He steps out into the hallway, stuffing his hands into his sweatpants pockets before gently nudging you forward.
"You guys heading back tonight?" he asks, never taking his eyes off Sukuna.
"Yeah."
You nod.
"We're leaving later."
"Shame."
That lazy, velvety voice comes from behind you, sending your pulse climbing all over again.
You glance back.
Sukuna hasn't moved.
His arms are still crossed over his chest, every inch of those black tattoos on display.
That crooked smirk is still playing on his lips.
"Aren't you staying for the party tonight?"
Toji rolls his eyes so hard you can almost hear it.
His jaw flexes.
"Shut up," he throws over his shoulder.
"She's not going."
"Why not?"
Sukuna sounds almost amused.
"'Cause she's still too young."
The words sting far more than his attempt to protect you.
"Excuse me? I'm not! I'm already—"
You take a step forward, ready to argue—
—but Toji doesn't even acknowledge your protest.
Instead, he reaches over and plants a heavy hand on top of your head, giving it a firm squeeze.
"And don't even think about checking out my friends."
His tone is serious.
Almost warning you.
"I wasn't going to!"
You grumble, brushing your hair back into place after he ruffles it.
You're about to argue some more.
But your eyes meet Sukuna's.
He's still standing in his doorway.
Still looking at you.
Not Toji.
Not the hallway.
Not anything else.
Just...
You.
The smirk on his lips slowly spreads into something far more self-satisfied.
You don't know how long the moment lasts.
Long enough to make your pulse forget how to behave.
Maybe forever.
Then—
Thwack.
Toji smacks the back of your head.
You let out a tiny yelp, immediately dropping your gaze to the toes of your sneakers, pretending they're suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world while trying desperately to calm the frantic pounding of your heart.
Do not repost, copy, plagiarize, translate, or feed my work into AI in any form!)
Thanks for reading! ♡ Just a little drabble. I'm still a bit unsure about this one, but I hope some of you enjoyed it anyway.
