REALISTIC GOJO HCS! HOW HE ACTS AROUND HIS CRUSH
Truly, if he TRULY did fall for somebody, he would never actually confess.
He'd lean even harder into his role as the "Strongest Sorcerer," making grandiose statements about his power, putting on impromptu demonstrations of flashy techniques (like teleporting across a room just to grab a forgotten pen), or launching into theatrical monologues about the glory of being him. An overwhelming public persona.
Gojo might suddenly unleash a localized, harmless burst of his cursed energy – maybe a vibrant, harmless flash of light, or a sudden, loud (but not damaging) crackle of energy – forcing his crush to instinctively step back or blink, creating immediate distance.
Exaggerated acts, without intimacy. Performing an over-the-top, spinning victory dance after a successful (or even just completed) mission, ensuring he never actually makes intimate contact, but keeps his crush amused and slightly bewildered. This means he leans into the !Gojo is the strongest and is untouchable and flippant.
Before a significant interaction with his crush, he might gaze at pictures as a way to re-establish control: As a perverse form of self-torture and a reminder of the internal boundaries he now must enforce, even as the desire burns. But, this would also mean he gazes at pictures so he can FEEL something instead of becoming a running machine. His crush would blast him out of any grim realities, helping him cope and be flippant. He wouldn't gaze at the pictures if people are around. I don't like the HC that he 'accidentally reveals too much' when this man is the epitome of self control. When Yuta took over Gojo's body, he realized the obscene amount of control he had to be able to control his cursed techniques to a pinpoint. It's scarily perfect for Gojo's characterization. I cringe a bit when I read HC's or drabbles of him 'accidentally' doing certain things to expose his crush.
Therefore, no accidental revelations.
Gojo would lean back on his bed, running a hand through his hair, his usual carefree demeanor completely absent. His mind, usually so flippant, would shift into a state of ruthless, cold analysis. He would dissect every interaction, every casual touch, every surge of unexpected emotion he'd felt around his crush over the past few months, even years. He would trace the lineage of this desire, trying to pinpoint its genesis, its growth, and why it had chosen this precise, inconvenient moment to explode. This wasn't a fleeting fancy; this was profound, unsettling, and dangerous. He isn't a mindless puppy. He was raised as the clan leader and definitely knows how to dissect people. What made you so interesting, is his question. Why YOU?
This isn't about his crushes feelings. It's about the implications and his crushes well-being and the dynamic. He does not want to risk losing a great close friend, chances are - his crush is a person he considers to be a BEST FRIEND. Losing that...no way. He wouldn't DENY the feelings (let's pretend he's past that now, after months of painful 'what is this feeling?/like the scene when he touched the veil EP.18 S1), but he would push it into a locked chamber of his mind.
Gojo knew he couldn't avoid his crush, nor would he want to. Their bond was too important. But every future interaction would now be filtered through this new, scorching realization.
He would be far more guarded, more controlled, less physically casual. The playful touches, the close proximity in playful wrestling, the accidental brushes—these would all be consciously minimized.
He'd put subtle, imperceptible layers of Infinity between them, not just for protection, but as a mental and emotional buffer for himself.
He'd channel his energy more into verbal teasing and grand, distracting gestures, keeping a safe distance while still maintaining their unique, chaotic bond.
His crushed obliviousness was the most important thing. Risking that his crush knew, since Gojo would dissect with his Six Eyes and great intelligence, would kill something inside of him. Realistically, he wouldn't act on this crush. Imagine a very big slow-burn that would never end in a relationship. Yearning but not in a lovesick way, more like a begrudging acceptance of the cruelty yet beauty of the world. To think that the strongest feels such vulnerability was dangerously haunting.
His behavior in several key ways had an underlying tension.
Gojo will consciously, almost imperceptibly, create more physical space between them. Where he might have casually leaned an arm over his crushes shoulder or ruffled their hair (before his feeling developed because with his close friends he's physically affectionate to make up for not getting attention as a child), he'll now opt for a slightly wider stance, a hand resting on a nearby wall, or a sudden "distracting gesture" to avoid prolonged, close contact. Won't be obvious, just a millimeter of extra space, a fraction of a second's hesitation before a casual touch.
As implied before, Gojo acts more. He'll crack louder jokes, perform more dramatic poses, and launch into even grander monologues. The goal is to fill the space with his presence, drawing his crushes attention to his performance AND NOT the (subtle) shifts in his behavior or physical avoidance.
Gojo's protective instincts will subtly increase, but also serve as a convenient distraction. Orchestrating "missions" that give his crush clear objectives and less opportunity for spontaneous, close-quarters interactions. Better for him in the long-run. He might ask more questions about his crushes comfort, make more suggestions for breaks or treats: "Hey, are you feeling alright, That last curse put up more of a fight than I expected. No lingering weirdness, right? You're not stiff anywhere?" During a lull in training: "Your focus seems a little off, is your back bothering you? Or maybe you're just hungry? We can grab something if you need a break." Observing: "You've been quiet. Is something on your mind, or are you just enjoying the silence? Need anything from the convenience store?" LAST ONES FUNNY: "Okay, new mission! I need you to scout ahead into that abandoned building. I'll cover your six from a distance and provide support from up here. Think of it as a recon exercise, crucial for teamwork!" EXACTLY HOW I IMAGINE HIM.
He might spend slightly more time alone in his dorm, grappling with the picture and his thoughts, or simply projecting an aura that discourages others from approaching him when he's processing.
Which means more VERBAL teasing but no touching. Distant competition to keep their dynamic alive. Like matches, races, target practice.
Observant as hell. He will gauge his crushes reactions, not just for cursed energy. He'll constantly gauge whether his crush has noticed any change, whether his distancing attempts are successful, and whether his crush is still enjoying their dynamic. This is incredibly important. Realistically, the chance of a messy relationship or too much cliches would send him into orbit and he isn't the typical romantic partner. He's mostly absent.
A microsecond where his smile might not quite reach his eyes, or a brief, distant stare as his mind grapples with the new realization. These will be rare and quickly masked, but present.
While still spontaneous, maybe Gojo's energy surges might become slightly more controlled, less purely reactive. He'll use them as deliberate tools for distraction or boundary-setting rather than uninhibited expressions of joy.
Controversial, but I think he would look for 'flaws' in his crush so he could just turn off the romantic feelings and go back to his usual self. He would self sabotage. Undermine certain romantic moments within himself. Be in denial or just push it down so far it becomes almost awkward for him. Hands in pockets, a tight lipped smile but then a forced grin. Sometimes when he becomes overwhelmed his voice might accidentally become too rough or too breathy or too strange or too much of a 'meep'. Sometimes, he surprises himself for how EVEN and LEVELED his voice is. Which is a plus for him. His sunglasses, bandages or headband serves as a tool to hide the window of his soul, his eyes. I don't want to put any corny head canons about his eyes, but you can detect a strange look. Not too romantic or soft, just staring almost creepily tight. Observing you in this cynical world. Who knows what the future holds. Reminder, if his crush won't become stronger, then he loses feelings.
Realistically not gonna flirt. Verbal teasing yes, but not flirting. It will be interesting how he does it to cursed beings and others with that dawned-out/teasing smooth voice in the DUB&SUB, but not to his crush.
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