Another royal got story. Needs some adjusting. It’s a bit wonky. 🤔
Tessera is the quiet one. She was ever since she arrived to the pack. Omi and Merlin always so loud. They ran around play fighting, nipping each other or pulling pranks on the others. So-yeon sometimes sits next to Tessera but quickly gets bored and starts asking questions from the adults or chasing Merlin if she gets caught up on his pranks. Not Tessera. She is just lays quietly under a tree and watches everything.
Sometimes passing by the grown ups would ask her if she is ok, if she is bothered by something. Arsinoe likes to come and lay next to her in her free time. The Alpha female understands her. Tessera quiet watchfulness and alertness shows she is the daughter of great alpha’s. The way her ear twitch when a quiet noise is heard or how he looks up way before the hunters return to the den shows her potential.
Lost Clan tom/Sewer Cat. Mate to Myth, father of Stormfeather. Brother of Thistlefur, Rock, Silver, and Whispersound. Son of Gorse and Geraldine.
Bramble is the oldest of his siblings. He used to live in ThunderClan after his mother was forced to give him up. He left with his brother Rock just before he became a warrior, leaving Thistlefur behind in ThunderClan and leaving Whispersound to join WindClan.
Living as a rogue, he got into fights and even stole a competetor's collar as a trophy. Even after Rock went back to the lake, Bramble continued to fight kittypets and other rogues, often winning. He takes collar-tags to showcase his wins and power and status. Eventually he happens upon the Sewer Cats, defeating Myth in battle and winning her trust. He was welcomed into the band of rogues, telling about the Clans he left behind.
He and Myth had only one child, River. River ran away, finding RiverClan and being renamed Stormfeather. Bramble won't admit to missing his daughter and his siblings.
It's amazing how quiet the streets become at night.
Stillness settled over the city, only broken by the rhythm of your hurried footsteps against the pavement.
Your breaths came fast and shallow, your heart pounding as Sugisawa Municipal High School came into view.
You'd never been one to stay late at school unless it was for the Bakery Club.
Hours in the club kitchen always left you with a sense of accomplishment, the lingering sweetness of flour and fruit filling the air as you carefully packed up the day's treats.
Today's creation had been homemade strawberry and peach dango. You'd spent extra time perfecting the texture and presentation.
Yuji would have loved them. But by the time you finished the Occult Club had already left and he'd headed to the hospital to visit his grandfather.
A soft sigh escaped your lips as you walked home, the sweet dangos carefully tucked in your backpack.
You'd planned to visit Wasuke soon and figured you could bring the treats then. The thought of the grumpy old man's rare smile made your heart lighter, even as the night stretched on.
Everything felt so normal.
Until you reached your doorstep.
Your phone buzzed as you fished out your keys, the screen lighting up with a voice message from Yuji.
Brows furrowed you clicked play.
"___!" Yuji's strained voice rang out loud and breathless.
Your heart lurched, the urgency in his tone immediately setting you on edge.
"Hey! Who are you talking to?!" another voice heaved faintly in the background. There was the sound of wind whipping and hurried footsteps.
Was he running?
"Something bad is going to happen to Sasaki and Iguchi-senpai at the school!" Yuji's continued in panic.
Your heart dropped.
"Wha—why would you tell her where the danger is if you didn't want her to come?!" the other voice snapped.
There was silence for a moment, only the sound of running.
"Oh..." you heard Yuji's sheepish voice.. "Never mind ___! Everything is fine at the school! In fact—"
"Just give me that!"
"Hey!" There were sounds of a struggle before the message cut off.
You were too stunned to speak.
Sasaki and Iguchi? Danger? And who was that with Yuji? None of it made sense, but the panic swelling in your chest drowned out any attempts at rational thought.
Backpack dropped to the ground, you made a full 180 on your heel and started running back toward the school.
'Just let me make it in time.'
*.·:·.☽✧✧☾.·:·.*
By the time you reached the school gates, your legs burned, and your chest felt tight.
An oppressive weight seemed to settle over the air. A shiver ran down your spine as your instincts urged you to turn back.
But you didn't stop.
It pressed suffocatingly against your chest, making it harder to breathe as you climbed the railing.
Your landing was less than graceful—a stumble bringing you to your knees before you scrambled back up.
The closer you got to the school building the heavier the atmosphere became. It felt like something was clawing at your skin, whispering threats you couldn't hear but felt deep in your bones.
You pushed forward.
"Yuji! Sasaki! Iguchi!" you shouted, your voice echoing in the empty corridors as you ran. There was no answer.
The sound of crashing and a guttural roar from above drew your attention upward to the fourth floor.
Heart pounding, you sprinted toward the staircase, taking the steps two at a time. Relief filled your chest when you spotted him.
"Yuji!"
His head whipped around at the sound of your voice. A flurry of emotions flashed over his face—relief, happiness, worry.
He was crouched protectively over Sasaki and Iguchi who both lay bruised and unconscious, but otherwise okay.
"___!" Yuji called out as you ran over, his voice filled with both relief and worry.
"What's going on?! What happened to them?" you demanded. Your hands hovered over the two, scanning their faces, unsure of what to do.
"They're okay," Yuji quickly tries to reassure you before another roar cut through the air. Your gaze snapped to the source.
A massive hole in the wall led to the rooftop; and under the pale moonlight stood a hideous beast.
Your eyes widened as you took the sight in: Its warped form shuddered with each step as it lunged toward raven-haired boy about your age.
He was fighting desperately but it was clear he was outmatched.
"What...what is that thing?" you whispered, barely able to believe what you were seeing.
Yuji's expression hardened as he gently lowered Sasaki and Iguchi against the wall.
He glances back to you. "Take care of them while I go save Megumi," he said firmly.
"Yuji wait—"
But he didn't wait. He turned and bolted toward the creature, his figure disappearing into the action.
"YUJI!" you yelled after him.
The fight unfolded before your eyes; each movement sharper and faster than you could follow.
Yuji dodged the monster's attacks with remarkable agility, but the creature's sheer size and strength made it a daunting opponent.
Your hands clenched into fists—torn between staying with the unconscious upperclassmen or chasing after Yuji.
After ensuring Sasaki and Iguchi were safe, you turned your attention to the black-haired teen.
You approached him hesitantly with hands twitching nervously at your sides.
Leaning heavily against the rooftop railing, his face was pale whiled blood streaked his temple.
He blinked at you, a little off-put by your sudden presence. His sharp gaze briefly softened before he quickly looked away, a faint flush coloring his cheeks.
"Who...who are you?" he asked, his tone clipped but not unkind as he regained his composure.
"Uh...I'm ___," you said shyly. "Yuji said your name was Megumi right?"
Before he could reply, Yuji's loud cheerful voice cut through the air as he dodged one of the monster's claws. "Megumi, this is ___! ___, this is Megumi! Nice to meet you both!"
"Are you serious right now?!" Megumi snapped at Yuji, his face turning a deeper red for a split second before his irritation took over.
Yuji grinned as he still avoiding being swiped like his life depended on it. "Come on, you can't fight a curse without knowing everyone's names!"
Megumi groaned, clearly regretting every decision that led to this moment. He turned his glare back to you. "Why are you even here? You need to leave—now!"
You frowned and quickly moved to his side as he fell back against the floor.
He stubbornly tries to push your hands away despite his exhaustion. "I don't need your help," he snapped.
"Stop that," you sternly say, carefully sliding an arm under his to prop him up against the railing. Megumi hissed under his breath as he reluctantly allows it this time.
From across the roof Yuji yells, "Hey Megumi! You're in trouble yourself!"
"And so are you!" Megumi shot back hoarsely. "The only chance you have is to take your friend and those two and run!"
Of course Yuji ignored him. He ducked under the curse's attack, his face set in determination. "Is that your idea of a pep talk?! At this rate all five of us are gonna die!"
"You cannot beat this thing!" Megumi stressed, his tone sharp as he glared at Yuji. "Only a curse can defeat a curse!"
Yuji, still dodging with remarkable agility, didn't relent. "If I quit now I'd be having this nightmare for weeks!" He barely avoided being grabbed, stumbling slightly before catching himself. "Besides..."
He glanced at you for the briefest moment, and something hard, something certain flashed across his face.
"I know what I have to do!"
Before either you or Megumi could react, Yuji lunged toward the curse, pulling something small and shriveled from his pocket.
"Yuji! What are you—?!" your voice trailed off in horror as he held the thing into his teeth.
Megumi's eyes widened in pure panic. "Don't do it! That's Sukuna's finger! You'll die!"
Your face twisted in disgust. "Wait...did you just say that's a finger in his mouth? Eugh..."
No one paid your comment any mind, least of all Yuji who pushed back against the curse with everything he had.
The curse snapped its massive jaws shut around the First year in attempt to devour him. But Yuji braced himself against the curse's teeth, refusing to let it happen.
"You idiot! Throw the finger down to me! Or you'll get eaten!" Megumi yelled.
The finger dangled grotesquely from Yuji's mouth as the creature tried to force him down its throat.
Yuji's voice rang out through gritted teeth. "There's a way to save everyone! I just need to have my own cursed energy don't I?"
"No! Don't do it!" Megumi eyes suddenly went wide panic as he struggled to push himself up. "Ryomen Sukuna's finger is a strong cursed object. You'll die!"
You froze where you were, the weight of Megumi's words making your heart drop into your stomach. 'Die?'
But Yuji didn't listen.
He threw the finger up and swallowed it whole.
"NO!" Megumi's voice cracked.
For a single, heart-stopping moment, everything fell still.
Then it happened.
A surge of cursed energy exploded from Yuji sending shockwaves all around.
Air rippled violently as debris flew in all directions, the weight of the blast nearly forcing you to your knees.
You shield your face as fragments of wall shot past you.
The creature screeched as its massive hands disintegrated under the force of Yuji's—transformation, his form now altered.
Strange black tattoos began spreading across his skin, curling up his arms, neck, and face. His light brown eyes, so familiar and warm, were gone—replaced by a blood-red glow.
To your horror a smaller set of eyes opened just beneath his main pair, the sinister crimson gleam sending chills down your spine.
A roar leaves the curse, angry at its amputation before mobbing toward the pinkette for an attack.
Yuji smashes the curse with barely a flick of his wrist causing pieces of the building to be destroyed along with it.
"Look out!"
You glance up in time to see a giant piece of concrete flying toward you. Rolling away with a yelp, the roof shakes as the spot you had been siting moments ago is crushed.
As the dust began to settle, you and Megumi could only watch as the figure stood amongst the crumbling ruins.
Yuji's expression had twisted into something unrecognizable, a wicked grin curling across his face as a low gravelly laugh echoes through the air.
He straightened to his full height; his movements deliberate and unnervingly smooth as though testing his body for the first time.
"I knew it," the voice that came from Yuji's mouth wasn't his at all. It was deeper, more malicious—every syllable dripping with cruel delight. "The light feels best in the flesh."
Without hesitation the figure grabbed onto Yuji's yellow hoodie and ripped it apart with a violent tear. The sound echoed in the air as shredded fabric fell around him.
"Cursed flesh is so boring. But this? So...much better," he purred, flexing his fingers.
His gaze landed on Megumi with a hum of amusement. The teen gritted his teeth as he tried and failed to stand, his glare unwavering despite the obvious strain.
The attention didn't stay on the First Year for long. His eyes shifted—to you.
Time seemed to stop.
You froze under the weight of his stare, every muscle in your body stiffening.
Something flashed within his expression: recognition. Interest. A flicker of cruel delight.
"Well well..." Yuji—no Sukuna—moved closer, his stride slow and deliberate.
Despite the familiar face of the boy you had spent the last two years growing close to, the difference was unmistakable.
A wicked grin stretched across his lips as a heavy malice radiated from his very presence. It made your knees weak.
He tilted his head in mock curiosity, crimson gaze regarding you with a hungry knowing stare. "What a surprise we have here."
He was closer now—too close. You instinctively scramble away only for your back collide with the rubble behind you.
"Stay back!" Megumi growled, hoping to draw his attention.
The King of Curses didn't even glance his way. Instead he stepped over the crumbled infrastructure with predatory ease before stopping in front of you.
"So...this is where you have been hiding. And to think I believed all you Obedient Ones died out."
You blinked. "O-obedient...?"
Sukuna let out a dark chuckle. He crouches down until he was eye-level with you.
"Oh you don't know? How adorable." His black nails grazed your chin, tilting your face upward and forcing you to hold his gaze. "Well let me enlighten you then."
Your trembling didn't go unnoticed. He reveled in it, his gaze drinking in the fear that radiated off you.
"Your bloodline is quite the curiosity. A clan that bends to the will of curse users. The Obedient Ones, as I like to call them."
Your breath hitched as his grin widened.
"Do you know what that means little one?" he crooned, voice soft yet dripping with menace. "It means you're mine to command. Mine to break."
Before you could react his hand darts to the back of your head, grabbing a fistful of your hair.
You yelped as he forced your head back.
The vein in your exposed throat visibly pulsed—a rhythmic beat that made his smile sharpen.
He leaned in, his nose brushing the sensitive skin of your neck before inhaling deeply.
"You reek of fear," the heat of his breath brushed against your ear sending icy shivers down your spine. "How delicious."
"G-get off me" you stammered, voice shaking as you tried to resist.
"Don't worry," he said with a chilling calm, yanking you closer as though you weighed nothing. "I won't hurt you the way you think I will. There's a power inside you've been cursed with. A power I will claim."
The next words he whispered were foreign—a language you couldn't understand. Something ancient and unrecognizable, it seeped into your mind like poison.
Your body began to go slack in his grip, the fear melting away as a strange calm washed over you.
Megumi's heart pounded as he watched the scene unfold.
The wind began to shift unnaturally, pulsing around you and Sukuna as though it had a life of its own.
Your wide terrified eyes took on a faint reddish hue, the same color as Sukuna's cursed energy as your head tilted slightly to stare blankly at the starry night sky.
A faint outline appeared around your neck—a glowing choker with a chain-like leash. It shimmered with energy leading up to Sukuna's free hand.
Megumi's nails bit into his palms as he struggled to rise.
He didn't know what was going on. But what he did know was that if that chain solidified, something terrible would happen.
The red in your eyes deepened causing the cursed energy around you to intensify.
Sukuna's grin widened as choker grew brighter, the leash almost solidifying.
"So beautiful," his voice dripped with satisfaction. "Shall we seal the deal?"
Just as the cursed leash finally harden—
The entire rooftop seemed to shudder. A crackling hum like static pulsed in the silence as a new presence emerged.
And for the first time, Sukuna's grin faltered.
Satoru Gojo.
The wind whipped around him ruffling his pale white hair.
Cursed energy radiating off of him like a force of nature, he casually stood amidst the destruction as though he'd simply wandered onto the scene by accident.
"Now...this is quite the situation," Gojo said with an almost teasing tone as his head tilted to the side. "Can't leave you kids alone for five minutes huh?"
Sukuna's crimson eyes snapped toward the newcomer, his expression darkening into a growl. "Tch..."
His grip on you tightened instinctively, but the cursed chain flickered again, its glow dimming slightly in the wake of Gojo's arrival.
Before Sukuna could react, Gojo made his move. A controlled burst of cursed energy erupted from Gojo with a flick of his hand.
Slamming into Sukuna with enough force to send rubble scattering across the rooftop, the King of Curses grip was torn away causing you to slump forward.
The cursed choker instantly shattered into wisps of energy.
"Hey!" Megumi sprang forward, his exhaustion forgotten as he caught you just before you fell to the ground.
He pulled you protectively against his chest. Your body was limp, your breathing shallow—but you were alive.
The faintest traces of Sukuna's cursed energy still clung to you, a reddish hue glimmering faintly in your half-lidded eyes.
Megumi's relief was short-lived. His gaze darted back to the scene before him as recognition dawned. "Satoru Gojo? What are you doing here?"
Gojo grinned widely as though he'd just been waiting for someone to ask.
"Oh you know, just saving your life and all. Crazy thing about it I wasn't even planning on showing up tonight...that is until I got an earful from the higher-ups." He leaned toward Megumi, unfazed by the destruction around them. "Something about a special grade object still missing and dereliction of duty. Soooo dramatic right?"
Megumi's jaw tightened as he shifted your dazed figure with an deadpan expression. "This isn't the time for jokes."
Gojo dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
"Relax I'm multitasking. Besides you look hella roughed up. Man, did ya even try fighting?" He pulls his phone out his pocket with a flourish and shit-eating grin. "The Second years are gonna love this—Say cheese!"
Phone raised, the shutter clicked multiple times as Gojo snapped pictures of Megumi cradling you.
A look of horror flash across the younger's face as he groaned, twisting his head to avoid the camera.
"Will you stop that!" Megumi hissed through gritted teeth. "Now is not the time!"
Gojo chuckled as he swiped through the taken photos. "You kids are so high-strung these days. Now...did you find it yet?"
"Gojo huh? Still a pest even now..."
At the call of his name, the Limitless Curse user turned his attention back to Sukuna, his demeanor shifting ever so slightly, though his grin remained firmly in place.
"Is this amusing to you, Gojo Satoru?"
"Amusing? Definitely." He began to walk closer as the black tattoos on Yuji's skin began to fade. "So...you ate the thing?"
Sukuna blinked, visibly disoriented, his smugness wavering. "I...did?" he muttered, the arrogant edge faltering into confusion.
The light brown color in Yuji's eyes resurfaced, the marks fully gone as he release a groan. "Um...what just happened...?"
Gojo crouched down in front of Yuji, his grin widening as he peered at the teen. "Ha ha, damn. It really did combine with you. That's hilarious."
Almost like a switch Yuji bolts up. "____!" His voice cracks with urgency, his first instinct to find you. "Where's—where's ____?!"
Gojo held him back effortlessly, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Easy there. Answer a few questions for me and I'll let you see her, yeah?"
"Okay, okay! What do you wanna know?"
"Anything weird about your body?
"Nah...seems okay?"
Gojo rocked back on his heels. "Perfect. Now can you swap out with Sukuna at will?"
Yuji hesitated. "Sukuna?"
"The curse you ate," Gojo clarified, his tone light as though discussing the weather.
Yuji paused then nodded faintly. "Oh? Um yeah I think I can do that."
Gojo's smile sharpened, his gaze flicking toward the barely-conscious Megumi and you, still slumped in his arms. "Good. Then let's test something."
Yuji blinked. "Huh?"
Gojo cracked his knuckles and stretched his legs lazily. "Give us about ten seconds with Sukuna and then switch back into yourself. Easy right?"
"But—"
"Don't worry. I'm way too strong for him," Gojo said nonchalantly, his confidence unwavering.
With that, he tosses a small bag toward Megumi, which the student caught reflexively.
"What is this?" Megumi asked.
"Kikufuku from Kikusuian," Gojo replied nonchalantly with a grin. "It's Sendai's specialty. Super good. I recommend the zunda and cream flavor."
Before he could finish Sukuna erupted with a roar, leaping high into the air with enough force to send cracks through the ground.
"Look out!" Megumi shouted. Smoke exploded through the space as Sukuna landed sending debris flying.
Gojo didn't flinch.
He dodged Sukuna's attack effortlessly, moving with a speed that made the King of Curses' strikes look sluggish.
The rooftop erupted into smoke and rubble as Sukuna roared in frustration, striking at Gojo again and again—only to miss every time.
In fact Gojo was sitting on top of him, completely unbothered as he continued his monologue.
"I think it's the whipped cream inside that really makes Kikufuku stand out, don't you think?"
"Stop MOCKING ME!" Sukuna bellowed, his fury palpable.
Gojo leaned back lazily as he dodged yet another strike. "Hey, since my student is watching and all I might as well show off a little. That's alright with you?" His tone dropped almost conspiratorially, smile never wavering.
The fight escalated into a whirlwind of movement, Gojo's hits precise and unrelenting while Sukuna grew more enraged.
Suddenly Gojo stopped, hands in his pockets as he stepped back and began to count.
"Seven...six...five..."
Sukuna's attack faltered as he blinked in confusion. "What are you doing?"
"Three....two...one."
Yuji's body crumpled to the ground, the tattoos vanishing as Sukuna was forced back into dormancy.
The silence was deafening.
Yuji stirred moments later, groaning as he blinked groggily. "Where's ___? Is...is she okay?!"
Gojo smiled before promptly knocking Yuji out with a sharp tap to the forehead. "Oops. My bad."
Megumi frowned, still holding onto you as Gojo turned his attention back to him. "What about her?"
Gojo approached your dazed form, kneeling beside you as his expression turned uncharacteristically serious.
Megumi shifted slightly causing your head to lolled against his arm, a look of wary in his gaze at whatever the older male was about to do.
"Don't worry Fushiguro. I'm not gonna hurt her," Gojo said smoothly, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "But I do need to make sure she's okay."
Megumi hesitated, his grip on you reluctant, but eventually he loosened his hold just enough for Gojo to reach you.
With a gentleness that seemed almost out of place for him, Gojo slid one arm under your knees and the other behind your back, lifting you from Megumi's hold before placing you carefully in his lap as though you were made of glass.
He slipped off his blindfold revealing piercing blue eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the moonlight.
Gojo softly held your face. His gaze boring into yours intensely, as if searching for something. "C'mon. Don't make me work too hard."
Megumi stiffened, his cheeks flushing faintly as he looked away, finding it all to be weirdly intimate.
But Gojo wasn't paying him any attention. His eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the faint red glow still clinging to your irises.
The cursed energy seemed to hum faintly in response to his gaze, as though recoiling under the weight of his power.
"Yeah... you're a stubborn one huh?" Gojo muttered quietly.
He began to speak words Megumi couldn't understand. The language was foreign, rolling off Gojo's tongue in a melodic cadence that seemed to vibrate through the air.
Wind picking up again, it swirled softly around the three of you, the faint hum of cursed energy growing louder before beginning to dissipate.
Megumi watched your eyelids flutter open as the red in your eyes finally extinguished like a flame.
The first thing you saw was Gojo's uncovered face—shockingly handsome, unfamiliar, and impossibly close.
"Hey sleepyhead," he said teasingly, his lips curving into a faint smirk. "Thought we almost lost you for a second there."
You could only stare at him as the pieces began to fall back into place.
Fragmented memories of Sukuna's voice, the suffocating pressure of cursed energy, and the faint sound of Megumi's shouts all slammed into you at once.
"I... wha—?"
Gojo's smile sharpened. "And enough of that." Before you could speak anymore, his fingers flicked against your temple making you pass out just as Yuji.
Standing, he hoists you into his arms effortlessly, bridal carrying you with practiced ease.
"Ready to go back Fushiguro?" Gojo asked cheerfully, adjusting you in his hold so you rested against his chest. "Oh and don't forget Itadori!"
Megumi shot him a glare but got to his feet. Exhaustion settled in his limbs as he glanced down at Yuji's unconscious form.
And as Gojo led the way, the faint wind still swirling around them, Megumi couldn't help but mutter under his breath.
You expected some awkwardness—it came with the territory of being the new kid, a foreigner no less.
You'd been through this routine before: a new country, a new school, new faces sizing you up like an oddity in a museum.
The perks of being a military brat, as your dad liked to put it, included traveling the world, experiencing cultures you might never have otherwise.
But the downside?
Never staying in one place long enough to belong. You were a perpetual outsider, always a step out of sync.
It had been a few days since your arrival at West Junior High School and the pattern hadn't changed.
Whispers followed your every move, the muffled laughter at lunch, the quick glances away whenever you tried to meet someone's gaze.
You told yourself it was fine. You'd survived this before.
But today as the lunchtime bell rang, the quiet isolation settled heavily on your shoulders.
You shuffled toward the vending machines in one of the main lone hallways. Lunchtime wasn't so bad if you kept to yourself.
At least there was a chance to enjoy your favorite drink—a sweet, fizzy soda that reminded you of home.
Peering into the machine's brightly lit display, you sighed with relief; one lone can remained.
Fishing through your skirt pockets, panic flickered when your fingers found only lint. Of course. You'd left your money on the dresser this morning.
Shoulders sagging, you were about to abandon the idea when a glint caught your eye. A dusty yen coin lay nearly hidden beneath the vending machine.
You dropped to your knees and snatched it up triumphantly. This little victory was enough to brighten your mood.
As the machine whirred, dispensing the can, someone shuffled up beside you. A groan of frustration made you glance sideways.
A girl, slightly shorter than you, was glaring at the adjacent vending machine.
Her mousy brown hair was tied in a loose ponytail, thick glasses slipping down her nose.
Freckles dotted her pale skin, giving her cheeks a reddish tint as she kicked halfheartedly at the machine.
Her uniform looked slightly disheveled and there's an air of exhaustion about her. "Of course they're out," she mutters under her breath.
You vaguely recognize her from passing in the hallways—a girl often ostracized by others, though her isolation seems harsher, marked by teasing and ridicule.
She caught sight of the drink in your hand and gives a dry laugh. "Lucky you. [Flavor] soda huh?"
Unsure how to respond, you gave a polite tight-lipped smile.
"Hey," she interrupted, voice tinged with sarcasm. "Give me that drink. I'm pretty sure my day's been worse than yours."
She meant it as a joke—her tone made that clear—but your body reacted differently.
A strange haze clouded your mind. 'She's thirsty...' a voice whispered in your head. 'You wouldn't let someone in need suffer would you?'
Before you could process what was happening, your arm moved almost against your will, extending the drink toward her.
"Uh...thanks?" she says, her brow furrowing in confusion.
You snap back to reality when she takes the soda out of your hand. You blink, disoriented.
The sound of the bell jolts you both out of the moment.
She blinks down at the can before offering you a small hesitant smile. "Thanks again! Maybe we'll see each other around? Oh, and my name's Akio by the way!"
With that, she hurries off, disappearing into the sea of students. You can only standing there, shoulders slumping in quiet defeat.
It happened again.
And here you thought this move would be different—that this time you'd have control over yourself. But no.
"Just great," you mutter bitterly, dragging yourself back to class.
The weeks that followed blurred into a strange humiliating pattern.
You found yourself spending more time with Akio. Unfortunately, your episodes as you'd started calling them, became more frequent in her presence.
At first her requests were lighthearted—grabbing a book she'd forgotten or sharing a snack when she was out.
You convinced yourself it was just an awkward friendship.
As for Akio, she seemed to think your actions were simply acts of kindness. But as the whispers of your classmates reached her ears, something shifted.
"She acts like a servant," they'd giggle behind their hands.
Akio noticed the attention and popularity she was gaining, all thanks to your constant presence at her side—a foreigner with striking looks at her very beck and call.
And when she realized you didn't follow anyone else's commands the way you did hers, it quickly went to her head.
She began issuing more blatant orders in front of others, her tone was playful but her intent was clear.
"Carry my bag," she'd say, smirking as you complied without complaint. "Try this orange lipstick—it'll suit you better." "Tie my shoes."
Your mind struggled to justify your actions. 'She's my friend.' 'It's no big deal.' 'She needs help...'
But deep down you knew it wasn't that simple. It never was.
The fog in your thoughts always followed her commands, a haze that left you dazed and compliant.
The fog wasn't new. It had followed you from place to place, city to city, triggered by the presence of certain strangers.
Akio was different. You couldn't escape her.
The vacant look in your eyes became a permanent fixture at this point; earning you a new nickname among your peers: the Dopey Foreigner.
The cafeteria was loud, filled with the hum of conversations and the occasional clatter of trays.
You were seated at a table near the corner, quietly eating your lunch and minding your own business.
That was until the crash of a tray and a sudden yelp cut through the chatter.
At first it was easy to ignore. Akio's voice, sharp and teasing, rang out across the room—but that was nothing new.
She loved being the center of attention, and most days, you tried not to think about what she was doing when you weren't around.
Then you saw it.
A quiet lanky boy stood frozen in the middle of the cafeteria, his uniform splattered with curry and rice. His glasses were askew and his hands hovered over the mess.
Akio stood in front of him, her smirk cutting like a blade, a vivid contrast to the boy's horrified expression.
"Oops," she said, her tone insincere as she reveled in the laughter that rippled through the crowd. "You should really watch where you're going."
The student murmured an apology, even though it wasn't his fault.
Your brows furrowed as a flicker of something close to anger stirred in your chest.
You didn't like confrontation, but this—this wasn't right. Before you could second-guess yourself, you were standing and walking toward them.
"Hey," your voice soft but steady as you placed yourself between Akio and the boy. "That wasn't nice. He didn't do anything to you."
Akio blinked. Her gaze swept over you, sharp and calculating, as if deciding how best to respond.
"Oh come on ____," she flipped her hair over her shoulder. "It was just a joke. Right?" She glances over at the boy who stammered something unintelligible, his face pale.
"It didn't look like a joke," you replied, keeping your voice even. "I thought you were better than this."
The silence that followed was palpable.
Akio's smirk faltered, and she turned to fully face you, her expression shifting to one of annoyed disbelief.
Behind her students began whispering, their eyes darting between the two of you.
You could see the crack in her confidence under the weight of the attention. And for a moment, you thought she might back down.
But then her eyes narrowed.
"Oh really?" she sneered, her voice low and cutting. "You think you're so tough don't you?"
Her words were sharp, but the murmurs from the crowd were sharper. The power in her gaze flickered like a fragile flame threatening to go out.
And then, in the way that only Akio could, she reclaimed it.
"Well then. Since you're so eager to play the hero..." the corners of her mouth twitched into something cruel, her hands clapping together as if she'd thought of something brilliant.
She turned toward the boy as she points to the unopened milk carton on the floor. "Give her that."
He stares at her.
"Give it to her," her tone was insistent. "She looks thirsty. Don't you think so?"
The student paused, his eyes darting nervously between you and Akio.
"Now!"
Flinching, the boy retrieves the carton before reluctantly placing it in your hands.
You stared at it confused, the cool surface of the carton damp against your fingers.
Your stomach knotted as you glanced back at Akio who stood watching you with a gleam in her eye.
"Go on," she said, her voice dripping with mockery. "Pour it over yourself."
For a moment the world seemed to tilt. "...W-what?" disbelief colored your voice.
"Do it," Akio repeated, louder this time, the command laced with cruel amusement. "Pour it over your head."
Your hand shook around the carton as you looked between her and the milk; mind reeling, trying to make sense of what was happening.
Why would she ask you to do this? That didn't make sense.
"I...but—I don't understand," you stammer, your voice so quiet it barely carries over the chatter of the crowd.
The protest is clear in your posture—the way your shoulders hunch inward as if trying to make yourself smaller, the way your grip on the carton tightens until your knuckles hurts.
"Do it!" she barks and the cafeteria falls into a tense silence. "Pour the milk over your head! That's all you're good for you dumb little puppet!"
Then something changes.
The confusion settled into something softer, your thoughts warping as the curse within you twisted the command into something reasonable.
'She isn't trying to humiliate you.' a quiet, insidious voice echoes within your mind 'she's just trying to help you...Milk is good for your hair after all. A perfect hair mask!'
Your lips curve into a dazed smile as you open the carton and hold it above your head. "Thanks!" you chirp, the words barely your own.
And you tilt the carton.
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"Hey Itadori! Stop spacing out!"
Yuji blinked, his chopsticks hovering mid-air as his classmate nudged him with an elbow.
He looked up from his half-eaten bento confused by the sudden commotion in the classroom.
"What's going on?" he asked, setting his lunch aside.
A boy poked his head into the room panting as if he'd sprinted from the other side of the school. "Akio and the Dopey Foreigner girl—something's happening in the cafeteria! Everyone's going to watch!"
That was all it took for most of the students to abandon their lunches and head for the door, curiosity fueling their rush.
Yuji sat there, bewildered, until one of his classmates shot him a knowing look.
"You really don't know about them?" they asked with a laugh. "Man you need to stop thinking about sports all the time. Those two are infamous."
"Who?" Yuji frowned, standing to follow the others.
"Akio—the nerdy girl with the glasses—and the foreign transfer student. Akio makes her do all kinds of weird stuff. Like, really weird. And she never says no."
"Never?" Yuji's brow furrowed. "That's not cool. Why does she even let her treat her like that?"
"No one knows," another classmate chimed in as they walked. "But it's pretty entertaining. Like Akio's a total nobody nerd—nothing special! Yet she's got this foreign exchange student wrapped around her finger like her own personal servant. It's weird though—the foreigner looks like she could be popular, but instead..." They trailed off with a shrug.
"She's probably just too polite to say no," Yuji reasoned, though the uneasy knot forming in his chest said otherwise.
"Nah it's more than that," the first classmate countered. "She doesn't listen to anyone else the same way. Only Akio. It's almost like she can't help it."
Yuji didn't reply, his stomach twisting as the cafeteria came into view.
The gasps reached him before he could even make sense of what was happening.
His eyes scanned the room, finding students clustered in a loose circle, voices overlapping.
He could just make out what seems to be Akio at the center of the crowd, her smug grin unmistakable.
Her mousy brown hair is frizzed slightly from the humidity, but it doesn't dull the sharpness of her grin as she stares down the person in front of her.
You.
You were there, milk streaming down on your head, soaking into your hair and dripping onto your uniform.
Laughter erupted around. Phones snapping pictures and recording videos as you stand there.
For a moment Itadori could only stare. You were...cute. Like, really cute. That much he knew immediately.
Your soft features, the way your expression seemed so kind and sweet. That sweetness only made what was happening harder to watch.
The laughter felt like nails on a chalkboard as he watched what you were doing.
Why were you smiling? Why weren't you stopping?
Finishing the carton, you hand it back to the boy who had reluctantly given it to you under Akio's orders.
"I—I don't think you need to—" the boy stammered nervously, his face is a mixture of confusion and guilt. "Y-you don't have to do this—really! Thanks for helping but—"
You didn't seem to hear him. Your hands hung limply at your sides, still smiling dopily—like you didn't even realize how humiliating the situation was.
Yuji's stomach twisted as the milk began to seep through your shirt, making the fabric cling to your skin and become sheer.
He could faintly see the outline of your bra and his face burned, not with embarrassment, but anger.
"Move," he muttered, shouldering past the nearest student.
"Hey! Watch it Itadori!" someone grumbles as he accidentally elbows them aside. He doesn't stop to apologize.
The crowd barely noticed him as he made his way toward the center, his irritation mounting with every step.
"Perfect!" Akio crooned, handing you another carton from nearby. "Let's do one more! Gotta be thorough."
Without hesitation you take the carton and open it—though your brows furrowed slightly as if some part of you was resisting.
As you tilted the new carton, Yuji finally broke through the last ring of onlookers. "Stop!" he yells louder than intended.
To everyone's shock you listen.
The carton hovers mid-pour, its opening tilted just enough for a few drops to dribble out.
Slowly, your head lifted, your dazed expression giving way to something wide-eyed and confused.
The milk carton slips from your fingers, hitting the ground with a dull thud as milk pools around your feet.
Your gaze flicker down to your shaking hands as if they didn't belong to you. It was as though the spell had been broken, leaving you stranded in the aftermath of your own actions.
Akio's smirk faltered. "What the hell—"
"Enough!" a sharp voice cuts through the tension. The teachers had arrived.
The cafeteria erupted into groans they pushed through the crowd, confiscating phones while shooing students away.
Several teachers surrounded Akio, pulling her aside, ignoring her protests as was escorted out.
You look through your tears to see a teacher approaching you, her stern expression softening when she sees your trembling form.
She said something you didn't register before placing a hand gently on your back, guiding you out of the cafeteria.
You stumbled forward, moving on autopilot, the noise of the crowd faded into a muffled hum behind you.
Everything felt heavy—your limbs, your chest, your head—as if the aftermath of what had just happened weighed heavily on you.
You weren't sure how much time had passed when you finally sat down on the bench outside the principal's office.
The world was a blur; sounds and colors blending together like a smeared painting.
You blinked slowly, the faint scent of milk still clinging to your skin, the cold dampness of your clothes barely noticed.
Inside the office you could vaguely hear the boy you helped recounting what had happened.
His voice wavered as he described the scene, supported by what sounded like the faint playback of a video.
Words like "proof" and "disciplinary action" drifted out along with phrases like "contact parents."
None of it felt real. Your thoughts spiral as you sit there.
'Why...' Your hands clenched tightly in your lap as the smell of sour milk fills your senses. 'Why did I do it? Why did I listen to her at all?'
The question pounded in your mind, relentless and suffocating.
You'd told yourself Akio was your friend, that her requests were just playful teasing. But the truth was impossible to ignore.
A choked sob slipped out before you could stop it.
You squeezed your eyes shut, willing the tears to stop, but they came anyway—hot and relentless as they rolled down your cheeks.
Head bowed, your shoulders tremble as shame and confusion wash over you.
Why were you like this?
Why did you obey?
Why couldn't you say no?
You try to swallow the lump in your throat, but the effort only made your shoulders tremble harder.
All you could do was sit there, shaking, as the tears spilled silently down your cheeks.
"Hey." A voice breaks through the fog.
Eyes fluttering open, you hesitantly look up.
He was crouched in front of you, pink messy hair slightly tousled, the undercut at the sides making the strands at the top stand out even more.
Warm brown eyes filled with a mix of concern and uncertainty meet yours. His expression softened as he noticed the tears streaking your face.
"...you" you croaked barely above a whisper. Recognition flickered faintly in your chest.
It was the voice from the cafeteria. The one who told you to stop.
He offered a small awkward smile. "My name's Yuji Itadori....Are you okay?"
Your lips parted only for a shaky breath to escape, followed by a choked watery sob. You wanted to say something—anything—but no words came out.
Quickly lowering your head to avoid his gaze, you stare at your lap as more tears surface.
You barely noticed the warmth of fabric being draped over your shoulders until Yuji's hands brushed against you.
Glancing down, you saw his blazer now wrapped snugly around you. You looked up in surprise as he gently fastened the top button of the blazer to keep it from slipping.
"There," he murmured, leaning back slightly. "That's better."
The kindness in his action was small but oddly comforting. It made your throat tighten again.
And the scent of him—a grassy smell with a faint freshly washed laundry undertone— it enveloped you, comforting you in a way you hadn't expected.
"Can I ask you something? You don't have to talk right now," he added quietly. "But...why did you listen to her? Akio I mean. Why did you do it?"
You trembled as the words struggled to come out. "I...I don't...know," you managed brokenly. "It's always been like this..."
The honesty of your words felt like an admission of guilt. Yuji stayed silent for a moment, his gaze unreadable as he watched you.
Then he broke the silence.
"I don't know what's going on," he began lowly. "I don't know why you listened to Akio—or why you even listened to me back there. But..." He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "It's not your fault."
You blinked at the quiet conviction in his tone. He met your gaze, his warm brown eyes filled with determination.
"It's weird," he sheepishly admitted scratching the back of his neck, "but it's pretty clear you're not doing this because you want to. And whatever it is, I don't want it to happen to you again."
He leaned forward slightly, meeting your gaze with an intensity that felt both grounding and reassuring.
"We'll figure this out okay?" he said firmly. "Whatever this is, whatever's causing it—we'll find a way to break it...together."
The sincerity in his words—the warmth in his voice...it broke something inside you, but in a good way.
It caused the tight knot in your chest to loosen just a little. And for the first time in years, you felt a fragile sense of hope.
It's been two years since the incident at junior high—the milk, the laughter, the phones raised in cruel fascination.
Akio didn't stay long after that.
The expulsion came swiftly when the evidence against her—videos, testimonies, and accounts from the few students you'd unknowingly helped—painted a clear picture of her manipulative bullying.
Her presence was considered detrimental to the school's environment, her behavior a bad influence on others.
Without her, life should've gone back to normal. No more orders, no more fog clouding your mind. But it didn't.
Because there was Yuji.
Yuji's presence in your life was like the Sun breaking through storm clouds—warm, constant, and impossible to ignore.
He became your protector, always at your side, his easy grin and boundless energy a shield against the whispers that followed you both.
No one could explain why his voice carried the same weight over you as Akio's once had.
But unlike Akio, Yuji didn't use it to hurt you.
If anything, he seemed determined to protect you from it, stepping in whenever someone else came too close to testing the limits of your strange compulsion.
The "Tiger of West Junior High," as he was called, had a reputation—an untouchable combination of strength, speed, and charisma.
He could bend goalposts, outrun the fastest sprinters—once even lifted a car during a neighborhood emergency.
His athletic feats alone made him a legend, but his warm personality cemented his popularity. And yet, despite his social status...
Yuji spent every free moment with you.
Lunch breaks? He'd ditch his friends without a second thought to sit by your side, ignoring their groans and teasing.
Even during class Yuji managed to find ways to check in on you. His notorious bathroom breaks soon became a common occurrence.
Teachers groaned, your classmates giggled, and you could only stare in horror as he popped his head into your classroom door.
"Hey ____!" he'd call out cheerfully giving you a quick wave.
"Itadori!" your teacher groans, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Do you need something?"
"Nope! Just saying hi," he'd reply, completely unbothered by the mounting irritation in the room.
Despite the detentions and scolding from his grandfather, Yuji never stopped.
Eventually teachers relented—begrudgingly accepting his antics as part of daily life.
After all, he brought the school number of medals and trophies. A little leeway because of his stellar performance in sports if you will.
His spontaneous visits left you embarrassed, face furiously hot as you'd bury your face in your hands.
Still, you couldn't deny the warmth his presence brought.
Though you always found a way to get him back.
It was during school tournaments where his athletic prowess won him so many victories it was almost absurd.
You'd be at every game; decked out in homemade Yuji-themed outfits as you waved signs and chanted his name like a dorky cheerleader—much to his embarrassment.
But he never told you to stop. If anything he ran harder, jumped higher, and fought stronger whenever you were there.
And while Yuji had become a constant in your life—his grandfather had so too.
The front door opens.
"Gramps?" Yuji is seen at the front entrance "I'm home!"
A nervous yet bright smile sits on the pinkette's face as he turns behind him.
"Try not to take it personal about how scary he is..." he said, scratching the back of his neck. "He's like that with everyone. But don't worry! I'll be there so it'll be fine!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth a slipper came flying through the air.
"Where the hell have you been brat?!" an old man's voice barked from inside.
Yuji ducked with a squawk, the footwear bouncing harmlessly off the wall before he straightened with a groan.
"Gramps wait! I was just—"
But Wasuke Itadori wasn't waiting. A second house shoe was already in hand, poised to launch.
He stepped into view, his thin frame wrapped in a wooly green sweater and a pair of pajama pants that looked like they'd seen better days.
"You told me nothing! No call, no heads-up! You think I've got all day to wait for your sorry ass?! You're lucky my hip's been acting up or I'd come over there and—" before Wasuke could launch the next slipper, the door creaked open wider, revealing you.
You stepped inside, wearing an oversized orange t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts that looked suspiciously like Yuji's gym clothes
For a moment Wasuke blinked. He lowered the shoe.
The harsh lines of his face smoothed into something softer as he took in your quiet frame. "And who's this?" Wasuke asked, his tone surprisingly gentle.
Offering a polite bow you shyly introduced yourself.
"My....my name is ____! I'm a friend of Yuji's. I'm sorry for keeping him out so late—it's my fault. He wanted to check on me after something happened at school. And sorry if this may be sudden, but..."
The grip on the strap of your bag tightened as you nervously met the older man's gaze. "...would it be alright if I stayed over until my parents get off work? They don't want me home alone right now."
Wasuke's eyes flicked over to Yuji then back to you. Then, to the pinkette's utter shock, the older man's lips curved into a genuine (and rare) smile.
"Ah don't worry about it Sweetheart!" The Senior Itadori waves off your apology with a dismissive hand. "Come on in. Don't want you standing out there any longer."
He shuffled forward, gently placing a hand on your shoulder to guide you inside. "You're here welcome anytime! And no need to cover for that idiot. He's always getting into trouble."
Yuji's jaw dropped at the entire exchange. "Gramps?!"
"Shut up," Wasuke shot back without missing a beat, giving his grandson a light shove against the head with his free hand. "And quit blocking the damn door like that!"
Yuji stood frozen, watching as you and his notoriously grumpy grandfather made your way into the house like old friends.
"Make yourself comfortable," Wasuke said, gesturing toward the couch as he shuffled to the cupboard. "You hungry? Thirsty? Yuji's got snacks hidden in the bottom shelf over there. Don't tell him I told you."
You laughed softly, your shoulders relaxing as the tension melted away. You couldn't help but be reminded of your own grandfather who had passed not too long ago.
Like Wasuke, your grandfather had been crass and sharp-tongued with most people but endlessly gentle with you. The thought made the corners of your smile lift just a little more. "Thank you. And...I won't tell him."
Yuji finally stepped inside all the way, shutting the door behind him as he leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
His mind raced to catch up with what was happening.
Wasuke Itadori—the same man who could nag for hours about the state of Yuji's room or the amount of rice he ate—was smiling.
You and Wasuke were already deep in conversation. He asked about your day, listened with surprising attentiveness, and even made a few dry jokes that had you laughing.
Yuji couldn't help but stare as his disbelief slowly softened into something warmer—a quiet sense of pride.
"Welp. If Gramps likes her...that must mean something, right?" he muttered under his breath before walking over to join the two of you with a fond smile.
