DRIVE ME CRAZY!
starring ... SATORU GOJO?!
for valentine's day, satoru decided that he should stop being a loser and ask to be your valentine. you, the shy girl from his class that he has a crush on. well, safe to say he did a good job! ( 8k )
main ingredients ... SFW◞ student athlete!satoru gojo, fem!reader, NOT PROOFREAD, non-canon au, college au, fluff, basketball player satoru, pov alternating, jjk characters cameo, satoru is down bad ⁝ REPOST from carienations ◞ art © su2kuna. ( ✦ ) more works ◞ song to listen ◞ ao3.
notes in red ... tried proofreading this and realized i couldn’t be bothered, LMAO. i really enjoyed writing this back then, but trying to proofread it in present time actually feels daunting for whatever reasons; do excuse any mistakes, i wrote this while travelling back then, hihi. anyways, i hope you guys enjoy this one! reblogs and comments are always appreciated <3
satoru is, truly, done for.
the student athlete who's one of this university's pride is beyond help, to be precise. he's doomed in any way possible to exist in this dimension he's in. how come? well, this six-foot-three basketball player has yet managed to ask the prettiest girl he ever laid his eyes on, for a date. and valentine's day is tomorrow, which means he only has little to no time on the clock, waiting for him.
oh, no, that's a bit of a stretch. because times never wait for anything or anyone, so it's either he throws away this sense of pride that's lingering in the air or he's doomed for life due to his inability in asking you out. that's right, you.
you, who somehow managed to tug the frosted-haired man's heart and attention, letting it shift to hover around your world. except, you have yet to find out about that truth— because satoru gojo is actually a loser in disguise of a rising star, student athlete.
he has act, at the very least, more than a hundred different scenario of him asking you to watch his match, which will be held tomorrow. to the mirror in his dorm. satoru is at loss of words from how his tongue would twist the moment it reaches the line of spending time with you. he's a student who major in communication, so how come having a conversation with you feels this impossible?
if he, who supposedly is a master at the matter, is unable to ask permission in becoming your valentine … what does it make of him?
what word could, perchance, wrapped this whole thing with a pretty ribbon more secure than the word "loser"? because that word can't suffice this shamefulness he's facing in his incompetency at saying a few words arranged, dedicated for you.
ah, right, there's that one word. failure.
satoru is a failure, if he still can't find it in him to ask for a day spent with you. he's a man who arguably near perfect, so if he by the end of this class still choosing the pride of not wanting to look desperate— he may be referred as "good-for-nothing". it is the title he willingly bear due to how such a bum he is when it comes to you.
then again, it's you. in satoru's defense, anyone should be feeling a little miserable, for even having the thought of wanting to hold your hand during valentine. you're the most enchanting, delicate, woman he has ever come across in his life. and having the honor of breathing your air should've been enough. however, satoru is undoubtedly greedy for a simple brush of your skin against his.
he's more than miserable, he acknowledges it.
you're far divine for this world, he would argue with the mirror. it's a blessing for this earth to have you take a step on it, he swears on his life. every soul should be grateful that you even cast a glance in their way or pay them a little attention. it's a stroke of luck, he might add.
which is why, how is he supposed to not feel his pride crumbling, desperation creeping in, and words scattering around, when you're the target of his attention? it drags him off the cliff at how he keeps hopping between the line of a loser and a failure. you just, exceptionally, drive him crazy!
"suguru, give me a pat on the back," he whispers at the dark-haired man sitting beside him. satoru's gaze is locked at you, surrounded by your friend group at the table far to his right, chattering about one topic to another. "give me some courage to even utter a single word to her," the man added.
suguru, who has been scrolling away at his phone let out a sigh at the absurdity of his best friend. it's just too much for him to bear; the scene of satoru being stupidly down-bad, he lost his way in talking. he was a smooth-talker, all sweet nothing with other girls before the cerulean-eyed man fallen deep into your world. satoru is beyond saving, in his opinion, at the very least.
"you speak as if you're heading to war."
"i might as well."
he was not given the chance to answer. suguru was just about to add another sentence, yet he was three steps behind the man whose fingers were now fidgeting one another. it's almost uncanny how the proud student athlete is now reduced into a soon-to-be-good-for-nothing of a man.
"just talk to her like any other day. weren't you in the same group with her semester one?" suguru asked, his eyebrows raised questioningly.
"yeah, but i haven't liked her at that time! it's a whole different interaction now," satoru grumbled, still watching at how the edge of your eyes would crinkle from how your lips is being painted with a subtle, yet undeniably charming of a smile. "i'm not viewing her as a classmate anymore, you know? it's another side of the world. she's a woman now, to me."
"oh … i get it. still though, didn't you practice everyday? that line of asking to be her valentine?" suguru gaze drifted towards where you and your friends were sitting before his mind struck with an idea, his head turned to satoru. "why don't you ask shoko? they're in the same friend group. i don't see why you can't do that."
the one suguru talked with waves his hand at his face, brushing off the words absent-mindedly, "who do you think gave me the courage to even think about having a date with her?" satoru responded, his tone filled with exasperation. "on second thought, it's a little weird seeing her hanging around with shoko, utahime, and yuki. don't you think they're far off from each other? in personality?"
suguru hummed softly as an answer. somehow agreeing, but at the same time he feels it's just bound to happens. "opposites attract one another, satoru. can't you see? they balanced each other's character." the man let his eyes roam around the group of friends before adding one more thing, "we're the opposite, if you have yet to noticed."
"nah, i know that from a long ago. it's just a little strange looking at their combination—" satoru's words halted the second he saw you letting out a laugh. it's faint, due to the distance between you two, but he can still catch the joy from your laugh lingering in the air before wrapping his heart in a warm blanket of content. "—hah … she really is a hot chocolate in winter season."
both satoru and suguru sat in silence, then. due to many different reasons.
for the blue-eyed man, it's due to his wish to relish in the warmness you let him savor even from some radius. for suguru, on the other hand, is quiet due to how it just hits him now; satoru attraction towards you is far more than a simple infatuation. the man's adoration, or perhaps love, is clearly transcending even the night sky.
all these days, he assumed it was just a lighthearted crush. an excitement that'll only last for a short time— turns out, he's been assuming wrong. satoru is so deep rooted in your world, and you don't even seem to notice the man. it's comically ironic and endearing all at the same time, how this fact unfolds right before his eyes, once for all.
"you'll be fine. nobody is going to boo you if you get rejected, no one would dare to do so. just walk over to her and pop the question," suguru assured. his hand which was holding the phone now raised to pat the back of his loser of a friend. "with the exception of me."
"oh, shut up." satoru let out a low huff at suguru words. his attention is now stolen by the lecturer's arrival to their class. his fidgeting has stopped, although his gaze still wanders back to you.
satoru gojo can't seem to save himself from repeatedly getting lost in you, and everything that sculpted you into the person you are, truly. it's a habit as natural as breathing, it's a routine as repetitive as spraying perfume all over his body; far too engraved in his every fiber.
in today's design graphic class, you got an assignment to make a chosen product a poster, and it's something you've done more than your fingers managed to keep in track. so, like any other day, you'd type away the information on the matter to your to-do-list.
however, no matter how forcefully you try to shrug it off, there's a sense of uneasiness in today's class that keeps on finding its path towards where you are; it's clinging to every trace of you it may grasp, for a while. at first you assumed it was just another day of feeling too exposed to the world— but, now, you're sure it's something more than that.
you feel as if you're being watched.
to be fair, you always do. as someone who's deeply self-conscious, ignoring the slightest change of an emotion becomes something difficult to find in yourself. which is why ignoring the feeling of something about to happen is one of many things which goes beyond your mind, as you don't exactly have the hold to how your inner-self reacts to it.
it's without doubt, that you're a person who's sensitively aware of your surroundings, yet dull at the same time. which is quite the reason behind why you jolted from your seat, when the six-foot-three man greeted you. the man, satoru gojo, your classmate.
"ah, sorry, i didn't intend on startling you—" he quickly spoke to you, oh so gently, as if he's beyond afraid you might slip away from him. satoru seems to glance past you towards your friend group, before collecting himself and clearing his throat, a few times. "—can i have some of your time?"
oh … um, what?
his question truly catches you off-guard. you found yourself blinking a few times, trying to see whether all of this is a reality or an illusion your mind created to throw you off. and being true to yourself, you wished it's the latter. because oh, you have little to no clue at how you should act nor respond if you're to engage in a conversation with him, from out of the blue. or with anyone, really.
"we can talk here, if that's what you feel most comfortable," satoru assured. the way he attentively considered your space, as well as carefully making a move from the hesitancy at how you drifted afar from the dialog, had your breath choke on the back of your throat. he makes it seems like he senses your inside turmoil, and it's untangling your flawless composure in real-time.
it could be self-conclusion, it could be due to how you view it from your perspective. nonetheless, what has you positive satoru is doing this intentionally, are the matter-of-fact at how he examines you as if you're worth pouring his time for. for someone like you, it was almost overwhelming, truthfully. if he were to do another similar gesture, you're convinced you might unravel here and there.
"um, i— sure …?" your fingers mindlessly find each other and start fidgeting. your pair of eyes satoru loves to dive in and wander to look at anything but him, avoiding eye-contact. he learned by watching you from a mile that when you start jiggling your foot, it means you're a second away from detaching with your surroundings.
satoru pressed his lips shut into a thin line. he's mentally patting himself in the back before popping the question the man has practiced longer than his dribbles, shoots, and everything there is related to basketball. you're making him beyond flustered, greater than any victory might capable do. "can i … be your valentine?" he finally asked.
and uh-oh. if only the man understands how your brain stops functioning, the second his question left in-between his lips. it was unexpected, coming from him. you two barely interact with one another, yet he decided to ask if he can be your valentine? well, each other's valentine, to be precise. still, it has you left frozen in your seat as confusion starts to invade your emotions.
"… me? why me?"
of course, you would feel bewildered. it's unprecedented. and everyone that has the privilege of knowing you is deeply aware, at how at this moment, your mind is flooding with scenarios as to why the popular student athlete is asking you, rather than other people who—in your opinion—suits better to stand by his side.
what if he lands on you due to a dare? or a silly joke? worse, just for fun?
the man didn't let you immerse in those negative thoughts longer than a minute, though. when satoru catches how the sparkles in your eyes fades and your gaze reformed into one of discomfort, alongside ghosts of worse-possibilities-imagine crawling inside, he immediately takes one step closer as if he's trying to show you that he's being genuine. in his own silly, fumbling way.
"i was thinking of giving you a ticket to my match tomorrow, then uh …" the man paused for a beat, his hand squeezed into a fist before resting on the back of his neck as he rubs it nervously. "go … on a date? with me?" he continued, tone lower than he intended to. it, adorably, became a whisper instead of solid words spoken; something that's expected from him, out of all people.
"oh."
satoru fingers went to fiddled with the collar of his shirt, looking at you with gleaming hope. "shoko, utahime, and yuki will be there, too." his gaze shifts away towards the ceiling for a minute, before landing back on you. and it almost, almost, feel as if his blue-sky eyes crashes onto you, from how consuming it holds your stare. "you won't be alone there," he assured.
you blink once. the information is known to you, since they had asked some days ago, on whether you wanted to come and see the basketball match between their school to a long-time rival or not. but, hearing it from satoru's mouth somehow relaxed you, even by a bit. your shoulders slumped as the tension built up now slowly but surely uncoil.
for a beat there, you wonder if he had bewitched you; satoru makes it too easy for you to let your guard down, even if it's only for temporary. although he's carefully breaking down your well-crafted walls, this is the first time ever that someone has the courage to ask you out on a date, which is why you're still unsure on how to act on the matter.
and no, it isn't because you're unattractive. you're as beautiful as your other friends, standing side-by-side with them only has you beaming even more. it's due to how much of a closed-off person you are. it's hard for you to open up and take risks, for what seems out of reach from where you're standing— something people can guess about you, with only one look at your way.
so, it's a little baffling for you to even comprehend why he's asking you in the first place.
but … the way he's paying attention to the little things that matter to you, has the proposal being embraced tenderly by your heart, in your own way. his consideration of those invisible stuff, has your heart warming and open itself without throwing another second, as if his existence is already ingrained to your beating heart.
however, doubt is still lingering in the thin air. you don't know the man enough to say yes at the moment, in this place where a few people may peer about. which is why after a few minutes of silence from you, accompanied by overly repeated assurances in your head, you gave him a response that's not what satoru expected, but isn't exactly unwelcome.
"can i, think about it first …? i'll let you know if i, um, decide to go."
your head is slightly bowed, unable to look at him straight in the eyes as his gaze strikes right through you. satoru's icy-blue eyes are as vibrant as the day outside this classroom— it's bright enough to light up the whole place from how much it resembles an angelic, sunny day. and for you? it might as well be a scorching sun because it shines far too bright, for a girl who rather hides beneath the trees.
"yes, of course! i mean—" the man clears his throat a couple times, cheeks tainted with rosy pink at how his voice went an octave higher from excitement. "… yes, no pressure at all. take as much time as you need. no rushing, no nothing. we will go at your pace."
everyone around that's watching couldn't help but snicker at the view of satoru being an open mess for them to gobble at; it's a rare occurrence to see the proud man reduced to a loverboy who can't get a hold of themselves. and you, whose corner lips tilted upward into the faintest, but heart-warming smile, has satoru losing his composure even more like a yarn being untangled.
"okay, then. are you done, gojo? we girls have a place to go to, if you don't mind." yuki slipped through the conversation between you and the man. she had a good laugh seeing you two interact with one another, just a minute before stepping into the whole scene of whatever is happening among you two, since she can't quite name it yet. it's still a gray area to meddle about.
"oh … yeah, for sure. i have a practice with the team, too, so … uh, see you all tomorrow?" he replied. satoru look over his shoulder at suguru who's waiting for him a few steps back. "suguru is waiting as well, i should probably get going. or really get going. same thing."
his face turned to you again, gaze trailing over you as he tries to utter even a single word. "i'll talk to you later? um, uh, have fun with your friends and take care. you three— whatever," he cast a uninterested look towards the women behind you, before sprinting away while utahime tries to throw him her plastic water bottle.
"hey, give us some respect! be grateful we allowed you to speak with her, you narcissist!"
satoru answer came in the form of a mocking facial expression as he leaves the classroom with suguru following behind, laughing at how the air shifted within a second from warmness to chaotic.
well, truthfully, satoru would take hits from utahime's water bottle any other day if it means he finds the courage to speak with you, and is welcome to breathe your air.
the man has really whisked away his pride of not wanting to look desperate, standing in front of you. the man is too far gone to even care about his pride, after having your gaze locked on him even if it only lasts a minute.
he'll be miserable all his life, for you. unashamedly.
you've been staring at your ceiling for approximately two hours now.
it's predicted, of course. however, you didn't think you would actually ponder about the matter this … intently. you're sure it's due to one reason only: you thought you're going to reject his proposal as easy as a child's play.
now it's a matter that has you contemplating your very existence from how it's taking up the spaces inside your head— worse, it sneaks into the gaps of your ribcage. your whole being is infiltrated by whether you should accept him as your valentine, or drown in this foreign emotions which starts to loom over you.
a part of you, in the corner of your soul no one has managed to touch, is tingling with an excitement you can't quite catch, yet.
you roll over in your bed one more time. with your face buried on the fluffy pillow, you let out a scream louder than you thought you can muster about. for a moment there, your surroundings disintegrate into the night breeze. only you, your inner turmoil, and the plushies of yours exist in the stillness at this time of the day.
turning down satoru would stings a little.
accepting his offer, on the other hand, will tug the frightened side of you.
plus, you've never gone on a date with anyone before. if you screw things up, you understand better than anyone how your ability in mingling with other people would reduce back to zero. and preferably, rationally— rejecting satoru is the better path.
building this courage of interacting with someone else took quite a while, you don't wish for anything to crumble this years of dedication and sanity whisked away. and truthfully, if yuki didn't go out of her way to invite you for lunch, you would've never made a close friend. only casual, talk once in a while type of friendship. the present you is credited to the three women who patiently guide you in becoming a more brave person.
earlier, you've asked them about their opinion on the issue mentioned. and they, ever so supportive, encourage you to accept satoru's heartfelt wish in becoming your valentine. the three close friends of yours said it'll be a nice experience for you— which you somewhat agrees. it's the truth which can't be denied; you'll learn something new if you decided to say yes.
you groaned into the covered white bundle, head lifting slightly from the pillow before your gaze fell to the plushies facing you. a feeling of shame washes you for a beat, your mind imagining scenes of the plushies coming to life and mocking your current state.
"this is no fun," you grumble to the serenity of your room. a hint of blush paint your cheeks. even in the darkness of your safe place, hints of it can be seen with a keen pair of eyes.
should you let him be your valentine?
once again, you stare at the plushies. "… what do you all think? should i—" your voice screeches at the end, while your already tomatoes face now turned into an even vibrant red. “—should i accept him?”
no sounds filled the room, then. besides the sound of your quicken heartbeats that noise starts to form a rhythm. your heart is pounding against the ribcage as its way of showing your inner turmoil with no words spoken to the crackling air. it's the only thing keeping you sane in this moment of uncertainty, as you are still deciding which path you should walk into before the time of this day runs out.
thump-thump.
thump-thump.
thump-thump.
"… he's a nice guy. it won't hurt to give this a chance … right?"
your hand, trembling with suspense, stretches out to grasp your phone rested afar on the night table with a feeling of hesitation. understandably so. yet, amidst all of these new waves of emotions you've never experienced first-hand before, a profound fever of excitement is following from behind. albeit its existence as faint as the soft rustling of your sheets beneath you.
a breathy huff left in-between your lips while your fingers carefully arranged words for satoru to read. "just this one time," you heard yourself whispering.
you: i'll see you tomorrow you: good luck for your match 23.45 PM
"stop grinning like an idiot," suguru exasperated.
who is the man referring to? well, it's quite obvious who. there's no other soul which can make him rubbing his forehead as a way to soothe the headache, whilst a deep sigh is let free from his mouth like the satoru gojo can.
no, don't get him wrong. the man is thrilled that satoru proposal to you is accepted with open arms. that six-foot-three man efforts didn't go through the drain, so of course suguru is happy on behalf of the man success. after many seconds whisked away of him listening to satoru practicing his lines to the mirror, he is beyond pleased he won't be going through a phase where satoru is whining and moody from being rejected.
only it costs suguru his hearing sense.
as expected, satoru is all smiley and a total bundle of joy from the message you sent his way last night. hell, the man won't stop peering over his phone while engaging himself in a conversation with the other teammates.
it's a once in a lifetime type of scene, if anyone is brave enough to say it out loud. satoru is a proud man. he loves to taunt everyone—in his own way—at how he is the carrier of the team, which in all truthfulness is the reality, and how his head would be held up high all the time is a side of him everyone is more used to. one that they secretly admire, due to every reason he has the ability and is able to prove his words.
for them, it is justified that satoru acts the way he is.
so, the scenery displayed for them is pretty … odd. bizarre would probably be the word most of them used to describe how satoru is acting right now. it is just way freakier than they thought it would be.
the rumor spreads fast like wildfire. whispers of hot, burning revelation that the rising star, student athlete of the university went ahead of his way to carve a path to your heart is a sensation people absolutely went feral for. it's not everyday they got to see the man make a first move, no. it's a rare occurrence.
most of the time, satoru would receive tons of attention from students across the university, from a variety of majors. whenever satoru has a match, or just practice actually, oceans of human gather to cheers the man on with beverages or snacks in hand to further riled satoru into the "zone". of course they came and gave their support to other athlete on the team— after all, the university basketball team is packed with gorgeous men.
there's suguru geto, the team's small forward who people say is more popular with the girls than satoru. ryomen sukuna, point forward of the team who somehow bestowed upon the title as, 'mr. steal your girl'. and oh, right, choso kamo, the shooting guard is quite well-known among the girls for his awkward, yet gentle personality as well.
everyone has their own charms, for sure. but satoru gojo's appeal is by far the only one who attained even the bits of all souls love. he's the type of man that has someone wanting to build a family with, a fan of the man says. whether it's an opinion or a matter=of-fact buzz from people around him is still undecided. all that matters is that the satoru gojo is loved by many kinds of people.
back to the main topic.
you, who's able to tear down satoru's wall became a huge topic overnight. apparently someone in the same class as you recorded the whole exchange between you and satoru, before posting it on the internet for people to see. it alarms satoru last night— because for all he understand, you aren't that comfortable with the whole 'turned-into-a-huge-deal' matter. he learned of the fact from shoko, ever the so big-hearted.
he was shaking in his boots at the thought that you might despise him for bringing in that much attention to you, something you didn't ask for. however, when satoru frantically messaged you this morning like a kid throwing a rampage, you replied with something that's very you and, well, logical. he should've never underestimated you and he ought to learn for the better.
you: it's alright you: you're a well-known person, it's bound to happen. i already prepared myself for this possibility you: i'm fine, no need to worry 07.30 AM
satoru was half pleased knowing you're doing well and half pissed you told him, "no need to worry." as if there's a single fiber circulating in him with a drop of nonchalance in it. the man is too far gone for you, and you have yet to notice the truth is a trait of yours that's both endearing and maddening.
"gojo!"
the wide-grinning man startled. the sudden yell of his name causes his phone to slip from his hand slightly, and god, satoru let out a roaring scream due to the action. "hey! be mindful, can you?" his eyes narrow at sukuna, before sighing out of exasperation. when, truly, it should be his teammates who're annoyed. not the other way around.
"are you fucking with me? the match is about to start, idiot—" sukuna was just taking one step closer near satoru before stopped by choso's voice. "the coach is waiting."
and ever the self-centered man he is, satoru's eyebrows lifted with his chest puffed in a mannerism of a man overly confident enough to be tripped by himself in near future. everyone in the room can guarantee it. "why didn't anyone tell me since, i don't know, a minute ago?"
dear god … if they're not a second away from the match, sukuna would've strangled him.
"satoru, you're the one who's at fault," suguru commented. the way he gazes at satoru makes it seem as if being in a conversation with that idiotic blue-eyed man reduces his life span. suguru pinched the bridge of her nose. "just … put down your phone and let's went ahead to the court."
"oh, right." satoru placed his phone down, then. the man stood up from where he was sitting, the stupid grin still in-tact to his face. "i have someone to impress in the crowd, gotta make sure i look presentable. let's win this match, my wing men."
satoru threaded a hand through his white locks as he walked out of the locker room, leaving behind his other teammates as if he didn't just utter the most disgusting words arranged to ever be spoken into the day breeze.
"i ought to strangle him," sukuna whispers, eyes twitching out of agitation.
it's currently the second half of the game.
and as expected, your university team is leading. truly a powerhouse in flesh, you heard someone muttering about. well, in all fairness, the basketball team consists of athletes that have been known for their immense talent. each of the players already built up a reputation among those who loves basketball— one which is recognized by anyone who has watched them.
you sat alongside the three women who, excitedly, helped you prepare for today's occasion. shoko, utahime, and yuki all went to your place early in the morning for whatever reason they have for themselves. it was a chaotic mess of you being dressed up by them. even shoko who doesn't talk much fusses over you. for a moment there, you became a doll for them to prettify.
not a single word of protest left in-between your pouty lips that greets them this morning, which truly surprised both them and yourself. it caught them off guard as they expected you to, at the very least, wished for them to not extensively meddle about the whole ordeal. you've always been a person who's adamant of one personal space.
so, when you opened the door with puckered lips that screamed hassled and flustered, the three of your friends couldn't help but feel as if they just took a step into the other side of your world. and funny enough, when they were doing mix and match with your clothes utahime mumbled something along the lines of, "you're way … too compliant right now. it's quite odd to look at." and that got shoko's and yuki's attention.
utahime isn't wrong, of course. the sight of you letting them do whatever they desire with fashioning you is one of those rare moments where you would let down your guard, then let them roam freely as they start to dive deeper into what makes you the person you are. undoubtedly, the time when you unlatch the key to the door of your world is their favorite shared memories with you.
"gojo is the one who scored the most, huh?" utahime hummed. she takes a slow sip to her soda in a cup, while her free hand focuses on the screen of her phone— observing the basketball match on live-stream for a better view and gripping on how the game is unfolding down there.
you've never been to a basketball or any sports event whatsoever in your life. since for the longest time, whenever someone asked you to come watch these tournaments, you would politely turned them down. being in a crowded place where people are either screaming, yelling, or standing and throwing curses at one team is far from your ideal life. it's beyond the comfort zone you've keep secured round the clock.
tainting it with these chaotic athletic events would only bring you an unnecessary headache. dealing with the aftermath is above and beyond fun. for you, it's exceptionally draining. the matter discussed takes way too much space and time from your life. so, logically, you'd rather avoid it, choosing the warmness of your room than the buzzing arena.
if isn't due to satoru's request, you would be whisking away your time on the couch; snuggle up beneath the blanket, tv on display as you lose yourself in your comfort show world, accompanied by the snacks in your lap that change daily on rotation.
an amused snickers left yuki's mouth at utahime's in actuality words. "i bet he's trying harder than usual to impress our pretty baby here," she chatted, her gaze drift towards your way for a beat, then back onto the match a few distance underneath where they're sitting on the bleachers. "he has always been a good player, after all. just probably feels he need to leave an impression to her."
you blushed at her words. suddenly your mind decides to rewind back to yesterday's event when satoru approaches you. that gesture of his alone has colored you into a ripe tomato— yuki's observation on satoru right now is a little unappreciated, since it has you avoid eye-contact with her. whether it's the truth or not.
"he definitely is," shoko mumbled. her fingers rolled around the stick of lollipop she has, before popping them back in her mouth. the brown-haired woman peered at satoru, head tilted to the side as she took in the sight of the man who dribbled past the opponent in front of him. "gojo eyes keep searching the bleachers," she added.
"oh? i didn't notice," yuki responded. as she folded her hands in her lap, the corners of her mouth quirked up when she caught satoru's act that shoko just mentioned. "ah, yeah. he just did it."
it is so obvious for anyone who knows of you and satoru history, one which just starts writing itself, that the reason behind satoru's frequent survey at the bleachers is because he's searching for you; trying to catch the pair of eyes he would love to have a glimpse at right now, in the middle of the game as a way to boost his energy.
the man danced around the court, trying to avoid the challengers who were trying to steal his ball by passing it to another teammate of his. satoru ran fast towards the basket of the opposite team, pivoting his body around to get a hold of the thrown ball headed his way. and when the ball was in his hand, he went his way to do a side-step jump shot which has the team make a basket, earning two points.
"they already secured the victory." utahime turns off her phone after swiping close the live-stream page. she leaned back in her chair, eyes gleamed with astonish at how easy the student athletes paved their way to triumph.
"of course. we're a powerhouse for a reason," yuki said.
you chuckled softly at yuki's words. it's a statement in its own way. the sentence yuki just spoke into the air with dusts of success can be translated as in how glory always trails behind the student athletes steps, securing them their win. of course, all of it is also due to their efforts and focus on aiming for one thing only; accomplishment.
“time remaining is only a minute on the clock,” you mumble, threading a hand to your soft locks.
no one truly needs to pay attention to the seconds that went away, as the winner is already determined, it's true. however, everyone can't help but follow how these student athletes are in their 'zone', and lost in their own world— it's a sight to behold.
and as time runs for their life, disappearing and emerging more with the world, your university athletes keep on passing the ball to another. because even though they've secured their spot to bring home success, the love of the sport keeps them aflame.
shouting from the bleachers roar throughout the arena, everyone is burning hot watching these players fighting for their dignity and pride as an athlete. all with only seconds left, ticking on the clock.
“pass the ball!? oh my god, why did geto hog the ball for too long?!” yuki screams, far too loud. she pointed at suguru who seems like he catches on yuki's words, since he glares her way. "why is he staring? focus on the game!"
“oooh … that doesn't look nice," utahime grimaces at the sight of a player tripping over themselves.
your fingers fiddled with one another, somehow feeling a little stressed at the sight of how down in the arena, everyone is becoming more aggressive. “oh, sukuna lost the ball."
“why didn't he pass it to gojo?! jeez, did something happen in the locker room?!”
“get it, get it, get it— yes, good pass! oh, wow, choso get the ball again! gotta love that man.”
"athletes really are scary," shoko muttered. her hazy pair of eyes blinked, taking in the scenery at how this heated last seconds has everyone standing up. with her lollipop in hand, she gestured at the crowds using the candy's stick. "would you look at that ... most of them root for our team. they have good taste."
as the time on the clock tick-tocking closer to one, whenever a player has the ball on their hand, they would pass the ball to their teammates hastily in order to keep the opponents from making a basket.
five.
"gojo, get that stupid ball!"
four.
"sheesh, did you see how sukuna dodged that player in number six? he's nasty."
three.
"in all realness, the winner is already set. why are we screaming our lungs off?"
two.
"choso is saving the day once again, huh? that man singlehandedly saved the team by staying calculative."
one.
a buzzing sound echoes all over the arena, then. it echoes in a high-pitched noise, signaling the end of today's game as it marks the final score when the clock hits one. each of the athletes who were running across the court, trying to steal the ball from one another, has now stopped in their tracks.
everyone standing on the "battleground" looked over at the scoreboard as they tried to catch their breaths after the intense game— while the winner relishes in their team victory, the losing finalist can only let out a defeated sigh.
satoru gojo, on the other hand, didn't just win a match alongside his teammates on this valentine's day. because in a distance away from where he was standing, when his gaze finally set on the pair of eyes he has been searching for the entire game, the man can feel how his heart skips a beat at the sight of you.
you, who stand at the bleachers among countless other supporters with a small, delighted smile painted on your lips has satoru tripping over himself. with your hands that are far smaller than his, you clapped throughout the whole session of winner announcement and roars of blaring scream.
and truly, the sight of you is all what matters. since from the likes of it, the rising star has just earned a victory right through the door of your heart.
a tiramisu cafe.
satoru brings you to a cafe, specialized in making tiramisu.
"i heard you like tiramisu," he whisper. the man's warmth breathing kisses your skin, ever so sweetly, as he brings his lips close to your ear. one of his hand hold onto the sleeve of your cardigan, gently tugging you closer. "shoko was the one who told me, in case you wanted to know."
you blink a few times, nodding in a slight flustered demeanor. shoko being the one to revealed that side of you to satoru is quite expected, considering how she was the one who has been telling satoru to just go for you and ask to be your valentine.
after the celebration of their university team's success ended, satoru immediately rushes off to wash clean the sweat that lingers to his skin from his body. the man had to make sure he was prepared for his date with you. satoru had one thing in mind when he was choosing his clothes; it has to be a comfortable, yet striking outfit that doesn't scream desperate for compliments.
the man cleared off his throat, "… so, uh, are you— what flavor are you, um, planning on choosing?"satoru takes a step right when the last word left his mouth, creating a distance between you two shortly after realizing he had been too close, and meddling in your personal space.
huft .. get a hold of yourself, satoru chant repeatedly inside.
you let out a soft, low chuckle at his act. his consideration of what you prefer and how it impacts you keeps turning into a mess of a red carnation, as you're still not used to the gesture. it's beyond appreciated by you, though, whenever someone makes sure you're feeling safe and comfortable being around them. always.
"i think i'm going to choose strawberry cheesecake … i never had that one," you replied to him. the two of you move forward after another customer finishes ordering with satoru hand still holding onto your cardigan.
at your answer, satoru nodded. he made a mental note of the flavor to make sure he didn't mess up. a precaution. "okay, i got you."
when the customer standing before them walk away after paying, satoru is in front of the cashier in an instant. he repeated the name of what you wanted and another flavor for himself. of course, as the thoughtful man he is, satoru didn't forget to order a mineral water in case your throat gets itchy in need of hydration. it's what sweet does to you.
both of you settled on a table in the corner of the cafe. it was satoru who chose the spot, taking in deliberation to how the tables are packed with people in the center. you are never that fond of attention, after all.
the order he placed came in less than no time. well, it is tiramisu that has been prepared and chilled. it's not surprising how people come in, taste their dessert, and leave not that long after they finish bit by bit of their tiramisu. this cafe isn't one that is suited for hanging out too long, is what you can only assume.
"how's … your tiramisu?" you started off the conversation, after a few minutes of silence. and did it catch satoru off guard. he was planning on asking you the exact same question after trying his tiramisu. not a single fiber in his was prepared for you to be the one speaking first.
clearing his throat, satoru flashes a smile towards your way. "the matcha taste in this isn't that strong, though i think it's still good." with his eyebrows, the man gestured to your tiramisu plated in front of you, "how's yours? is it to your liking?"
you nodded slightly, heartbeat racing rapidly at the smile laced upon his lips. "um, yeah … i can tell they use a quality cream cheese," you paused for a minute, glancing away for a second as another wave of embarrassment washes over you from how intently he's watching you. "the strawberries taste premium, too. it's pretty sweet," you continued.
"really? well, i suppose from how red and juice the strawberries look, it has to be premium." he let out a soft humming, nodding his head as he inspected your cheesecake. "does it lean more on tiramisu or cheesecake, texture wise?"
"i've never eaten this variant before, so i can't really compare this to other, uh … store? but this one is more on the cheesecake side. it's soft and cheesy like?" your head tilted slightly, lashes batted as you look straight to his pair of cerulean eyes.
satoru blink a few times. the way your lashes fluttered as you try to explain your view on how the tiramisu taste got his brain short-circuiting. the man's brows knitted together as he tried to muster up a reply. "oh. that's— that's cool."
and man, did the way he answered bummed him.
maybe it's due to how you're always closed-off, that you developed a trait of being an observant person. growing up, you can easily tell from people mannerisms about what they're feeling at a certain moment. you've always been perceptive, right into other people soul. and it is pretty clear to see that satoru is disappointed at his reply to you.
which is totally understandable, from your side. ever since the beginning—when he proposed the idea of being your valentine—although the man is confident in his shoes, he has the sparkles of someone that wanted to impress his crush. or maybe you read too many romance stories.
either way, satoru demeanor truly screams one that wished for you to have a great day. so, with all the courage you have in you, you try to brighten up his mood.
"… i have so much fun today," you muttered. your gaze drifted anywhere but him for a beat there, as the whole room suddenly feels too hot for your liking. "thank you for the ticket, um, for the basketball match, as well as this cafe … date."
oh, that has satoru's hearts bursting with adoration. it did a back-flip inside his ribcage, causing the man to tremble slightly for a minute, before blinking his way through to keep himself from doing an actual routine inside the cafe. "i— i, it's good. i mean, you know, that you enjoyed today …"
the two flustered mess of a person stayed silent, then. it's one that's serene and has them filled with content. and even though they're not saying anything else to each other, since they decided that the floor or wall is far better than looking at one another, they both understand the air surrounding them has shifted into something more.
it seems everything that has happened today left a certain impact on both of you. and you're sure that your quicken heartbeat, yet toasty in a way, is trying to tell that today's event overflowed the space in-between your ribcage with a sense of belonging. way different than what one might feel aimed at a friend.
"… you did great at today's game. i'll make sure to watch more. in the future."
may every deities that are listening to the sentence left your lips help the man. because satoru truly can't handle another sweet nothing to be uttered from you, for him and only him to hear.
god, you really have him agreeing that good love feels as if its butterflies suffocating one side. it is beyond him that you're sitting close to him. satoru really shouldn't be allowed to be near you, at all. breathing the same air as you should, genuinely, be forbidden for his own sake. the man is serious, on all certain levels.
well, the words arranged you just let free from your lips conclude one more thing for satoru; he really just won a match and strike opened the door to your heart in a single day.
lucky bastard, he is. no one can argue with that, he's sure of it.
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