@thehighpriestess1 - Tumblr Blog

Dec 4, 2025

Almost Mine: Chapter 8

Pairing: Gojo x y/n, Nanami x y/n

Theme: Drama, Angst, Smut

Taglist: Open Warning: Use of curse words,smut ,Minors Do Not Interact

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We chased our futures, bright and clean, Blind believers in a childhood dream. Hands stained with hope, we painted skies Unmarked by loss, untouched by lies. The world felt small, its edges kind, A simple maze for simple minds.

The wind howled outside the window, rattling the panes like an animal desperate to be let in, and fat raindrops slid down the length of the tall French windows, blurring the world beyond into streaks of grey and silver. Each drop hit the glass with a muted thud, a steady rhythm that should have been calming, but wasn’t. Inside, the air was warm,almost too warm for such a night,yet a quiet chill clung to the room, settling on your skin like a warning. Shadows trembled with every flicker of the lights, the storm’s presence creeping in at the edges.

But the storm wasn’t just outside. It was in your head too,loud, relentless, whipping through your thoughts with the same violent force as the winds battering the estate. Every worry, every unanswered question, every emotion you’d tried to swallow down rose up again, crashing inside you like waves against rock. The tempest beyond the windows was nothing compared to the one twisting in your chest, threatening to tear through the fragile calm you were trying so desperately to hold together.

You walked through the halls to the library, heels clacking sharply against the marble floor, head buried in your iPad, scrolling, double-checking, triple-checking,this was bad. The universe was throwing you curveball after curveball, and for the first time in a long while you felt as though something,someone, some force, some invisible hand,wanted to alter your destiny, to bend it, to twist it into a shape you hadn’t consented to. You pressed your lips together and kept walking, refusing to break stride.

The butlers opened the door for you without you needing to look up, as though the entire house had memorised your rhythm.

“You’re late,” Ayaka said immediately, arms crossed, a saccharine smile tugging at her lips.

You stopped, finally looking up at the group. “Yes. Thank you for letting me know, Ayaka. Observant as usual. Anyway,” You set your iPad on the table and shrugged out of your Isabel Marant red twill coat, tossing it carelessly onto the polished surface. “We have a situation.” Rolling up the sleeves of your black cashmere sweater, you walked toward the board, posture tense, energy sharp.

“What situation?” Gojo asked, tone shifting as he leaned back.

“We have our debate round in three days and,”

“We know that,” Ayaka cut in.

You shut your eyes for a brief second and inhaled, steady and slow. “Please let me finish,” you said with a taut smile that didn’t reach your eyes. “And Shoko is indisposed. I was late because I was with her. It’s nothing serious, but it’s highly unlikely she’ll be able to participate in the rounds.”

Geto shot to his feet so fast his chair scraped loudly across the floor. “What?! What happened to her?”

“She has the flu. It’s not serious.” You kept your voice calm, controlled, unbothered.

“I must go see her,” Geto said, already grabbing his coat like a soldier ready to defect.

“Sit down, Suguru.” You scoffed, a cold little laugh. “The last thing she needs right now is a headache.”

Geto stared at you, shoulders collapsing, eyes pleading in a way that would’ve been amusing if it weren’t so earnest. “You’re cruel.”

“I’m doing what’s best for my best friend. So please. Sit down.”

“You can’t stop me”, Geto said.

He tried to walk past you but you firmly kept your hand on his chest and looked up, “It’s not my call, it’s Sho’s.. Respect her request”.

His jaw tightened, but he obeyed, sinking back into his seat even as his mind raced with ways to sneak out later.

“So,” Nanami leaned forward, elbows on his knees, “it’s just you and Suguru for the debate round?” He looked at you, then at Suguru, then back again, like he was already predicting disaster.

You exhaled. “That brings me to our second problem…” Your gaze slid to Gojo. “We’re up against Kyoto Sovereign in the debate round.”

Gojo blinked, then let out a low, disbelieving laugh. “Fucking hell.” He dragged a hand through his hair and shook his head. “We need to change our strategy.”

You nodded once, firm, confirming the gravity of the situation.

Nanami looked between you and Gojo like he was missing the obvious. “Wait,why?”

You straightened slightly, voice cooling into something crisp and strategic. “Kyoto Sovereign are our biggest rivals. Historical and formidable.” You sounded like a commander briefing her army. “We’ve been winning alternate years for the last… ten, maybe fifteen years. Neither school has ever secured consecutive victories.” And as the words left your mouth, something clicked,why the administration, the teachers, even the student council had been so desperate to ensure you and Gojo stood on the same side. Elysian Hall would rather burn than let its strongest contenders turn their rivalry inward.

“Who won last year?” Ayaka asked.

You and Gojo turned to each other, eyes cold, sharp, aligned in a rare moment of perfect unity and in the same breath, you answered, “We did.”

Nanami cleared his throat, “So.. what do we know about their team?”.

Geto looked at you, “Is it Naoya?”.

You nodded and looked at Nanami, “Naoya Zenin is leading their team”.

Ayaka looked at everyone’s tensed faces, she was a part of the group and yet felt like an outsider looking through the glass, “Who is Naoya Zenin?”.

You bit your lip and walked over and sat down next to Nanami, “Aren’t you from somewhere near Kyoto? Don’t you know the Zenins?”.

Ayaka chuckled, “Yes and No, so can someone please tell me why this person is of any interest?”.

Gojo twirled his pen in hands, “Naoya Zenin is from the Zenin clan, who until about five years ago, controlled all of agriculture production in Koto. He hates all of us but he especially hates y/n”. Gojo smiled wickedly.

“Why?”, Ayaka asked, still confused.

Geto chuckled, “Because five years ago the l/n family took over about what..”, He looked at you, “thirty percent of the agriculture market share?”.

“Thirty five”, you corrected him and looked at Ayaka, “He is a vindictive pig and would go to any lengths to demean us”.

“I see..”, Ayaka nodded. Though she was curious to meet someone who hated you just as much as she did. Maybe this vindictive pig could be useful…

“Don’t worry y/n”, Nanami offered a sympathetic smile, “You and Suguru will wipe the floor with him”

You smiled and looked down. You knew you were alone enough for him but the stakes were higher now. The pride of the school and your family hinged on this and you absolutely could not lose. You looked up at Gojo but his eyes were already on you.

So you turned to Geto, “I want Satoru for debate, can you take over the pitch section?”.

Geto smirked, “I need to respect my friend’s wish y/n.”. Geto looked at Gojo then at you, “He’s all yours”.

You rolled your eyes, “Great then. You guys can stay in this room and practice your pitch, Satoru and I will be in the other room”. You stood up and grabbed your coat.

Gojo stood up as well and grabbed his deep purple wool coat. “We will need one more person to take notes and direct”.

You looked around and bit the inside of your cheeks, this was truly the most unfortunate time, you didn’t have Shoko, and you couldn’t pull Nanami away from the pitch, that left you with only one option, “Can we take Ayaka?”, you asked Geto and Nanami.

“Yeah”, Geto nodded.

Nanami got up and turned to you, “Hey.. umm.. Please don’t go too hard on yourself”. His eyes softened and his words carried a caring tone.

You smiled, “I won’t”.

“Y/n.. you know what happened last time an-”.

“Kento”, you smiled, “I promise I will be fine”.

Nanami nodded and sat back down. But Gojo registered the short exchange and wondered what happened last time. He looked at Ayaka, “Get up, you’re coming with us”.

You, Gojo, and Ayaka walked down the long hallway toward the room at the far end, your footsteps muted under the soft carpet runners while the storm raged just beyond the walls. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, but heavy,filled only with the distant roar of the wind and the relentless drumming of rain against the estate’s windows. It felt like the whole house was holding its breath.

You reached the large mahogany door and pushed it open, leading them into a quiet, dimly lit study. “This should do,” you murmured, slipping out of your coat and hanging it neatly on the brass stand near the entrance.

Ayaka stepped inside, eyes sweeping around the room. It wasn’t nearly as grand as the library,no soaring ceilings or crystal chandeliers,but it was undeniably larger than any normal study. A long oak desk sat near the tall windows, flanked by velvet curtains that shifted faintly with the draft. Thick Persian carpets absorbed every footfall. A forest-green leather sofa rested near the wall of bookshelves stretching nearly floor to ceiling. Everything about the room felt lived-in, intentional, protected. It was clearly private.

“Is this your study?” Ayaka asked, curiosity dripping from her tone.

You froze for half a second. “No,” you said quietly, “it’s Isaac’s.”

“Who is Isaac?” she asked immediately.

You turned around and gave her a small, polite smile. “My brother.”

Ayaka’s jaw practically dropped. “You have a brother?! Where is he now?”

“Yes,” you replied simply as you crossed the room to switch on the lights. Warm yellow filled the space. “And he’s in Kyoto.”

“I see,” Ayaka said, drawing out the words with a deliberate slowness. “It must be nice to have a sibling.”

Gojo let out a low chuckle from behind her. “Do you want to know a fun fact, Ayaka?”

She shrugged and sank into the leather sofa. “Sure.”

“Only two people”,Gojo glanced at you, smugness radiating,“in the history of Elysian Hall have ever received perfect scores on the NSB exam.”

“What?!” Ayaka gasped, eyes wide. “Who?!”

“Satoru,” you replied dryly, shooting him a bored look. You’d endured this story so many times you could recite it in your sleep.

Gojo ignored your expression and winked at you before turning to Ayaka. “The first was Isaac L/N.” His smile widened as he gestured to you with a flourish. “And the second is Y/N L/N.”

Ayaka shot to her feet like she’d been electrocuted. “WHAT?!” She stared at you with new, almost frantic disbelief. “You,you got a perfect score?” Her voice cracked upward.

You nodded, unfazed. “How do you think I got the first rank?”

“I,I thought maybe it was like 99.7 or 99.9 or something! Isn’t it almost impossible to get full marks?”

You shrugged lightly. “Didn’t seem impossible to me.”

Ayaka sank back into the sofa, shaking her head. “Wow, y/n… so it’s in your genes to be smart.”

Her comment sliced through the room like a cold blade. The shift in energy was subtle but unmistakable. Gojo’s eyes flicked to yours immediately; he saw the way your shoulders tightened for just a breath before you masked it. He knew. He always knew.

Because both of you understood the truth: being Isaac’s sister was not a blessing. Not for you. Not in the way people assumed. Growing up in the shadow of a prodigy meant you had to race just to keep up with expectations you never asked for. Every achievement came with an unspoken footnote,of course she did; she’s Isaac L/N’s sister. You had worked ten times harder to be seen as your own person, to earn a name that wasn’t borrowed from someone else’s brilliance. That weight had followed you from childhood like a second spine.

You inhaled slowly, turned back to the table, and forced a bright smile. “Well, if we’re done gushing about my genius brother, shall we start?”

But Gojo saw the cracks. He heard the strain in your voice. He felt that familiar protective instinct flare. “Sure,” he said softly. “How do you want to go about it?”

You thought for a moment, eyes sharpening with resolve. “Question me on everything. Don’t stop until I’ve justified every full stop in the proposal… or until I die. Whichever comes first.”

Ayaka pressed her lips together and pulled out her notepad. “I’ll keep track of every comment you make and check for consistency.”

You nodded, moving between the two of them with a commanding presence. “Ayaka, remember,assume nothing and question everything.”

Gojo watched you closely, worry hidden behind his casual posture. Your determination burned like a flare, too bright, too intense. He knew you would win,he never doubted that. But he also knew what perfection cost you. He knew how relentless you could become when the world demanded excellence from you. And he knew you wouldn’t stop,not until you set the entire storm inside you on fire and walked through it victorious.

Ayaka kicked off her heels the moment she stepped into her room, barely bothering to turn on the main light before she opened her laptop. The storm still beat violently against her windows, but she barely heard it,her mind was stuck on one name, one revelation.

Issac L/N.The myth. The legend. The prodigy your entire generation whispered about.

As soon as the browser loaded, she typed his name with eager fingers. Within seconds, her screen filled with article after article, glowing headlines stacked one on top of another like a shrine built in his honour.

“Elysian Hall’s Brightest Star: Isaac L/N Sets Unbreakable Academic Record.”

“Child Prodigy or Genius Reborn? The Making of Isaac L/N.”

“The Heir to the L/N Empire: A Future Built on Brilliance.”

Ayaka clicked through them one by one, absorbing every word. Every accolade. Every impossible milestone. She read until her eyes stung, scrolling deeper into the archives like a woman possessed. The more she learned, the faster her pulse raced.

Eventually she grew tired of articles and switched to videos. Interviews. Panels. Competitions.

And when the first image loaded, when Isaac L/N appeared on her screen in crisp interview lighting,Ayaka’s mouth fell open. He was breathtaking. Tall. Broad shoulders under a perfectly tailored navy suit. Sharp, focused eyes that seemed to see everything and miss nothing. A jawline and smile that looked like they were carved to intimidate. Even pixelated on a screen, he radiated quiet supremacy, the kind that didn’t need to announce itself. He was exactly what a girl could ask for,intellect, presence, charm, and unsettling beauty rolled into one impossible package.

For one fleeting moment, Ayaka almost felt… sorry for you. Almost. It must have been suffocating,growing up in the shadow of a boy like that. A boy who was not just brilliant but spectacular. Someone who conquered every academic stage with effortless dominance. Someone everyone loved, feared, admired.

But then again… even the shadow of Isaac L/N was better than the spotlight most people ever got. Ayaka replayed the scene of you earlier,your jaw tight, your smile too bright, the way you answered every question, meeting each of Gojo’s challenges with manic precision. The way your eyes burned as if you were battling ghosts no one else could see.

It clicked. You weren’t perfecting the debate for victory. You were perfecting it for validation. For comparison. For Isaac.

Ayaka’s lips curled slowly into a smile. Of course you were competing with him. You had been your entire life. Which meant there was a weakness. A crack. A chink in your armor she could exploit.

This,this was her opportunity. A strike so precise, so deep, that you might never recover from it. A wound you’d carry for life. Ayaka straightened in her chair, her determination sharpening into something dangerous.

If she wanted to ruin you, she needed someone equally brilliant. Equally terrifying. Someone who could destabilize your world just by breathing in the same room. With that, she opened a new tab and typed the name that would change everything. Naoya Zenin.

Shoko groaned as another bout of coughing ended and woke her up from her sleep. She hated being sick, she hated being useless. Lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, she wondered what the team might be up to. A part of her felt guilty, first Kitay and now her. You must be having a tough time. Her muscles cramped and she tossed and turned but nothing helped. She needed movement.

With a groan she tossed the covers aside and got up balancing herself on the bedpost. Her nose burned with dryness and she made her way to her dressing table for some moisturiser. It took her a while to adjust to the darkness, she could turn on the light but that would only exasperate her headache. So he stretched her torso and walked gingerly to the dresser.

The quietness of the room soothed her, surprisingly so did the thunder outside. She looked in the mirror and applied a good amount of La mer cream on her face, as expected her skin soaked it up in no time.

Another thunder roared and lightning illuminated her background. That’s when she saw it. She grabbed a bottle of her YSL perfume and threw it at the intruder, “The fuck!”.

Geto grabbed the glass bottle with one hand and stepped out of the shadows. “Nice aim”.

Shoko’s heartbeat rang in her ear, “What the fuck! You gave me a heartattack!”. She flicked on the lamp near the dresser, casting a warm light in the room. “What are you doing here? How did you get here?”, she frowned, still rattled by the sudden appearance.

Geto walked and placed the bottle on the dresser softly, “Isn’t this your favorite perfume?”.

“Suguru!”, Shoko ran a hand through her hair, “What the fuck are you doing here?!”.

“Y/n told me you were sick”. Geto looked down, scanning her face. There were many beautiful women but Shoko was beautiful in a way that fresh flowers over a grave were beautiful, like a purple thunder over the Tokyo skyline was beautiful.

“Did she also tell you that I don’t wish to see you?”.

Geto shrugged lazily, “Maybe. How are you feeling?”.

Shoko’s mouth hung open, “How long have you been here?”.

Geto pouted, “Umm since you started having the cough”.

Shoko opened her mouth then closed it. “You… you just broke in my room. You realize that right?”.

“Mmhmm”.

“And you know I hate you, right?”.

“Well… hate is a strong word. I think our relationship is going through a hiccup”.

Shoko scoffed, “What relationship? We are over! You fucked up!”.

Geto took a deep breath, “Yes I fucked up but we are not over. I love you”.

Shoko’s head spun and she pinched her nose, “You know what? I don’t even want to talk about this. Please leave”. She turned around but a strong pair of arms pulled her back.

Her back collided with his chest. Geto leaned down and whispered, “You can’t run from me Sho. I know you love me too an-”.

His words died down when her palm collided with his cheek. Shoko chuckled, “You! Are so delusional! How dare you come here and pretend to be a hero when you have caused nothing but pain!”. She took a step back, “Yes, I loved you, but now, when I see you, all I feel is a hot hatred! I wish I had never known you!”.

Geto stepped forward flexing his jaw, “I know. I am no hero Sho. I just..”, he looked away and shoko saw the tears lining his eyes.

Was Geto-fucking-Suguru crying? She wanted to laugh.

Geto pressed his lips, “I was an idiot. I knew I fucked up when I– when I refused to commit to this”, his pointed between them, “So I brought in Utahime because I thought it would make you jealous and you’s come back to me”.

Shoko laughed dryly before another bout of coughing took over. Geto stepped forward but she held her palm out flatly, “You are so ridiculous”.

“I know. I have not been in my senses but Sho..”, Geto stepped forward, “I will make it right. I just want one chance”.

“Why should I even entertain you?”, Shoko crossed her arms.

Geto tried hard to bite back his tears but eventually they rolled down his cheeks, “when y/n told me that you were sick and you didn’t want to see me it.. It.. hurt Sho. I used to be by your side when you were sick or hurt and now I have to sneak in like a thief.. I saw you with Kento and Kitay and I realized what I had lost.. I want .. I need you Shoko. I need you like I need air. I know this all my fault and I deserve every bit of pain but it’s not that pain that brought me here.. It’s you. You can hurt me, hit me, curse me, I will take it all but I can’t bear being away from you”.

Shoko looked away. “Please leave. I need to rest”.

Geto shook his head, “No. I won’t leave until you are better. I will stay here. If you kick me out I will find a way. Fuck the competition, fuck everything, I will not leave your side”.

Shoko wasn’t made of concrete. She was strong and stubborn but she wasn’t a robot. She knew this was coming. She knew Geto had been trying, in his own ways, to make things right. She knew the notes and flowers in her locker were from him. She knew that it was him who mysteriously stocked the vending machine with all her favorite snacks and drinks. She suspected, knew?, that Geto was behind Utahime’s departure from the team.

“Look Suguru.. I am not in the state to have this conversation right now..”, she looked up, “If you want to do something for me then make sure that you win the next round”.

Geto nodded, “Can we.. talk after that?”.

Shoko sighed, “Maybe”.

“Shoko…please”, he begged.

“Fine”, Shoko breathed out, “Yes. We will talk after that”. She turned around and walked over to her bed, “Let me rest now”.

You stared at the ceiling and counted sheep for the tenth time. Sleep eluded you tonight. Maybe it was the nerves, or the pressure, or both. The competition was tomorrow, you had prepared for months, sacrificed everything, but what if…. no . There was no what ifs. You had to win. You couldn’t lose after tethering yourself to the brink of burnout and to your new best friend turned semi-lover turned sworn enemy turned semi-friend. Somehow thinking about Gojo brought comfort. You knew that he wouldn’t let you lose. But you didn’t want to think of him either, that opened a whole new can of worms.

You couldn’t stop your thoughts from drifting to the quiet, disarming moments you’d shared with Gojo over the past few days,how he wasn’t imposing like before and yet somehow still set your nerves alight.

You remembered the evening in the study room after everyone had left, when instead of flirting he simply worked beside you, and you told yourself you didn’t miss his teasing remarks. You thought of the coffee he brought you, perfectly ordered without needing to ask,just familiarity, surely.

You replayed the way your fingers brushed whenever you both reached for the board, telling yourself it was nothing more than proximity. And then there was yesterday, when you’d asked a question and he stepped behind you, leaning in and caging you between his arms as he explained something on the laptop; you knew you didn’t catch a single word he said, but that had to be just hormones… right?

You need sleep to focus tomorrow! After a heavy sight you closed your eyes, you knew what you wanted to do, why were you denying yourself the release you knew you needed? “Fuck it”, you muttered under your breath and rolled over to open the drawer in your night stand.

Thankfully your trusted old purple clitoral vibrator was charged.

You slipped out of your silk shorts and got under covers spreading your legs. Eyes closed, vibrator in place, you pressed the soft button. The soft hum of vibrator filled the room as your nerves tingled. You had done this countless times and knew your body well enough to edge yourself or chase a quick relief.

Though you wanted a quick relief earlier, the pleasure made you want to drag this a bit further. Eyes closed in ecstasy, you arched your back and let out a soft moan as you played with the settings. You could see the finish line already but for some reason it kept running away from you.

Before you could cross over, another buzz had your eyes opened. Normally you wouldn’t have given a hoot about your phone but what if something had happened? Some emergency?

“Fuck”, You reached for your phone with the free hand while the other hand stilled between your legs. Gojo’s name flashed on the screen as you held it over your face. He can wait, you rolled your eyes. You wanted to toss the phone aside, your brain knew what to do but one slip of the finger and you pressed the assuring button.

“Hello?”, Gojo’s voice rang in the empty room.

“Fuck fuck fuck”, you muttered under your breath and tossed the vibrator aside. “Hello.. Yes… hi”. You shut your eyes and tried to pace your breathing.

Gojo squinted and then heard the faint buzz in the background, “What’s the noise?”. He smirked.

You glanced at the tossed vibrator and immediately crawled over to grab it and turned it off. But Gojo was attentive, it didn’t take long for him to add the faint buzz, the heavy breathing, and the ruffling of the cover. His smile widened. “Y/n… were you-?”.

“What do you want ,Satoru?”, You asked as you rubbed the other hand over your face. You sank onto your knees in the center of the bed, the mattress dipping softly beneath you. You felt a soft trail on a droplet sliding over your inner thigh and then dropping on the bed.

Gojo’s voice dropped an octave, “I called because I couldn’t sleep but it looks like you beat me to the solution”.

Heat crawled up your neck but you were not going to give him the satisfaction of teasing you, “Figure out your own solution Satoru and let me get back to mine”.

Gojo chuckle, low and dark, “Oh y/n.. Tell me what you were thinking about?”.

“That’s gross and intruding!”, You bit your lip in frustration, not only had he ruined your mood he had also ignited something deeper that you didn’t want to acknowledge.

“You haven’t answered my question…”, Gojo chuckled, “.. I can help you”.

Your eyes shot open and you swallowed harshly. Did you want his help? No. Did you need his help? Maybe. Did you desperately need a release? Yes.

Gojo sensed your hesitation on the other end. Hesitation was good. Hesitation meant you were considering his offer. “Turn on that excuse of a toy princess”, He whispered.

Goosebumps rose over your arm. You gulped and looked at the toy. The logical part of you wanted to cut the call, but there was no logic when it came to him. You picked up the toy and turned it on.

Gojo smiled at the sound, “Good… now lie down princess and spread your legs for me”.

You followed with heavy breaths and brought the toy between your legs. A soft moan escaped your lips as you touched the sensitive spot.

“Not so fast princes..”, Gojo closed his eyes and imagined you laying on your bed, legs spread, mouth parted. His cock twitched in his boxers and he wasted no time in taking them off and lying down on the silk sheets. One hand holding the phone and the other wrapped around his cock. “..Strip…now”. He commanded as he squeezed his mushroom tip.

You kept the phone aside and slipped out of your top leaving you only in the silk lace thong. “You’re vicious”, you bit back. All the logic flew out of the window the moment cool air hit your nipples and lust took control of the barin.

Gojo chuckled through his spaced breathing, “Tell me princess..are you naked?”.

“I– n.. Just my thongs”, You breathed out as you rubbed the vibrator over your underwear.

“Take. It. Off! ”, Gojo spoke through gritted teeth.

You didn’t hesitate and wiggled out of the flimsy thongs. “Fuck”. You moaned as the cold air hit your clit.

“Good girl!”, Gojo groaned. “Fuck! I bet you’re dripping right now! I bet you taste so fucking good”, He groaned as he pumped his cock.

You clenched around nothing as the vibration intensified. “Wouldn’t you like to know”, you chuckled.

Gojo groaned on the other end. “Fuck yeah I would. Oh the things I would do to you princes…”.

Your eyes shot open, dark thoughts clouded your brain, “You wouldn’t know what to do even if it hit you on the face”.

Gojo stilled, hands frozen on this throbbing cock. “You’re playing with the fire princess”.

You chuckled, “Am I? All I see is a kindling”.

“How about I come over and prove you wrong?”, Gojo chuckled.

“If you can be here in seven minutes then you can do what you want”, You smirked.

Gojo’s breath caught in his throat, “Are you-”.

You heard the ruffling of clothes and sheets. “Tick tock tick tock”, you teased.

“Fuck! Start the time princess and pray to god”. Gojo cut the call.

This was dangerous. This was reckless. This was everything you shouldn’t be doing. But this was everything you wanted right now. You set the time for 6 minutes and 30 seconds. There was no way he could be here at that time. Even if he ran across the lawn and climbed through your window. You turned the vibration to a higher setting and your back arched. You were close, so close, you could taste the white hot release.

High, low, high, high, high, “Fuck?”, You craned your neck up and your mouth hung open. Gojo stood in front of your window, panting, in a loose barely buttoned linen shirt and black jeans that stuck to his legs like a sin.

Before you could say anything the timer went off and Gojo smiled like the devil incarnate. “Hello”.

You gulped as he moved towards your bed, agonizingly slow. Unbuttoning his shirt, one button per step. “How..did you-”.

Gojo chuckled breathlessly as he tossed his shirt away, “You underestimate me princess”.

Your eyes travelled from his eyes to his neck to his chest to his defined abs. He was huge. The uniform and regular clothing really hid his true form.

“Like what you see?”, He smirked. The mattress dipped under his weight as he knelt. He tossed the cover aside and looked at you. His cock twitched in his pants. He had imagined what you would look like and his imagination did no justice to the view in front of him. You looked no less than a goddess, a goddess waiting at the altar waiting to be worshiped.

Gojo’s eyes travelled from your core to your eyes as he crawled up to you until he was right above you. His hand caged your head as he looked down and smirked. “Cat got your tongue princess?”.

You opened your mouth to say something but Gojo crashed his lips on yours. This was wrong, you knew. This was crossing a dangerous boundary. But the line between right and wrong was as thin as the space between your body…. nonexistent .

You fisted his hair and pulled him closer, when he groaned the last shred of resolve crumbled. Your lips parted and Gojo wasted no time in exploring your mouth. Your hands roamed his back and slid down to his torso. You felt every muscle moving and god you couldn’t get over how hot he was. Not just attractive, not just hot, he was carved by god himself.

Gojo could have come undone right there at the feeling of your body against his. His one hand slid under your back and pulled you closer to him, god he never wanted to let you go or let this moment end. He had fantasized about this moment in the depth of the night fisting his cock. But this was better, no different. This was real. This was heaven. This was salvation.

His mouth slid down from your lips, to your neck, to your collarbone. He slid his hand out and kneaded your left breast while his mouth attached to your right breast. He flicked the nipple with his tongue and looked up to gauge your reaction. Your moan was enough of an indication for him to continue. He grazed his teeth over it before sucking on it harshly.

Your hands threaded his hair and you lifted your hips up to grind yourself against him for any friction. You had never had anyone touch you like this and Gojo seemed to have mastered the art of your body.

Gojo lifted his face up, a thread of saliva connecting his lower lip to your nipple, “Eager are we?”, he smirked.

You threw your head back and groaned. The ache between your legs had grown to a hot, burning, pain. “Fuck you Satoru!”.

“Oh you will, princess. Patience”. Gojo left a trail of kisses down your torso until he reached the top of your soaking, dripping, cunt.

Without any warning and attached his mouth to your clit and sucked harshly. Your back arched and you let out a moan loud enough for the whole mansion to hear. But Gojo didn’t stop. He didn’t care who heard, who saw, he was not going to stop tonight.

He slid one finger in gently and pulled it out almost immediately. You groaned and clenched around nothing. He slid it in again and this time bent his finger tip inside you to graze the soft stop.

Your eyes widened, you didn’t know this was possible. Sure you knew your body well enough and you had used your fingers but it paled shamefully in comparison to his fingers. Gojo slid another finger in and stilled when he was knuckles deep.

“You’re dripping princess”, He looked up and smirked.

“I–”, your breath hitched. “..so close”, you gritted your teeth.

“Good..cum for me”, Gojo smiled. He pumped his fingers in and out while sucking harshly on your clit.This was a new feeling, you had cum before, but the wave that was crashing over you wasn’t like a splash of water, it was going to drown you. Or maybe it was him, Gojo Satoru, Devil incarnate, the unreachable, the strongest, now between your legs focused on pleasuring you. His fingers pumped in and out at a ferocious speed with dangerous accuracy. It didn’t take long for you to gush all over his hand.

Gojo groaned when he felt you clench around his fingers. He licked every drop that trickled down. Your presence was always addictive, your voice was addictive,Your skin was addictive ,but now, Gojo realised that your taste, the sweet and salty taste of your release, was more addicting than any drug in this world.

Your head spun as the tsunami of pleasure crashed over you. Your chest heaved and vision blanked. All you could thing was, “Satoru..”, you breathed out, “fuck…”, you pressed your palm over your eyes. You had expected that the release would bring you peace but now you wanted more. More of pleasure, more of him.

Gojo straightened up and licked his fingers, “Fuck..you’re delicious”.

You stared at the scene, Gojo on his knees in those sinful jeans, shirtless with moonlight accentuating every muscle on his torso. It should belong in a painting. Gojo crawled up until his face hovered over yours. His eyes hooded, pupils blown out leaving a deep pool of blue with streaks of pale blue lust swirling in them. “What do you want, princess?”.

You knew what you wanted, he knew what you wanted. “You”.

“Are you sure?”, Gojo smirked, rubbing small circles over your skin. “This night exists y/n, it will exist tomorrow and the day after that”. He closed his eyes and kissed the length of your neck, when he reached your ears he whispered, “You can’t run away after this”.

Your eyes flicked to the semi-healed bruise on his torso. After all that, he should hate you. But he didn’t, he was here. You looked up at him and clicked your tongue, “I thought you wanted me”.

“Oh I want you princess..don’t you fucking question that! But I want you outside of this. I want you with me”.

You looked up and smirked, “Why?”.

Gojo fisted the sheet by your head.

“Say it and I’m yo-”.

“I love you”. Gojo breathed out. “I love you so fucking much!”.

“Show me”.

Gojo got off the bed and unbuttoned his pants, “I won’t let you walk away from this, y/n. You can stop this”.

You smirked and rolled to your side, “Performance anxiety?”.

Gojo looked down and smirked, shaking his head, “Oh y/n..”, he unzipped his pants and got out of them.

Your mouth parted. You had seen porn and your fair share of dick pics. But this was… a third leg in itself. His cock stood hard and pulsing, two blue green veins ran along from the tip to the base. Would it even fit?

Gojo walked over and got on the bed, his thighs caging you. “No backsies princess”. His jaw tensed, “You want to really see how much I love you?”, he rolled you over so you were on your back, “Can you handle it?”, he hooked his hand under your thighs and pulled you forward, “Can you really handle the extent of my love and obsession?”. He slid two fingers in and started rubbing small circles over your clit with his thumb. “Last chance to back out princess..”. He smirked.

Your mouth hung open in pleasure, “Show me”.

Gojo’s jaw tensed and he slid his fingers out. He ripped open the blue packet with his teeth and rolled the condom over his cock. “Try to keep your voice down..”, he looked up and winked, “..or not. Let the whole hill hear you”.

He positioned himself between your legs and grabbed your hips, “Take a deep breath for me”.

You followed and with each ounce of breath you took he slid in inch by inch. You shut your eyes as pleasure mixed in with pain. Gojo froze once he was fully inside you. He gritted his teeth trying not to cum right there. Your cunt wrapped around him perfectly. You were made for him.. Of course you were made for him.

He pulled out partially before slowly easing back in. fuck you were already clenching around him. He repeated the motion until he was convinced that you could take him. Once he was convinced, there was no holding back.

Gojo leaned forward, hooking your left leg under his arms and pressed into you, “Are you okay?”, he asked, scanning your face for any discomfort.

“Yes”, you breathed out.

Gojo picked his pace up, in and out, in and out, when you didn’t try to stop him all restraints broke. His other hand slid under your waist and pulled you close while his face buried in the cross of your neck. “Oh fuck…you take me so well”. He breathed as he rolled his hips into you.

Your eyes rolled back as you felt every inch of his cock pumping inside you. “Oh god… Sa–toru! Fuck!”. Your hand flew to your mouth.

Gojo grunted at the sound of his name, “Don’t hold back princess! Let them know who owns you”. He picked up his pace and the room filled with the sound of moans and skin slapping on skin. Gojo took his hand out from under your waist and held himself up above you as he fucked you deeper and harder now. “Fuck y/n! I love you! I love you so much”. Gojo muttered as he looked down at your hazy eyes and parted lips.

You were a mumbling mess, “fuck… so..fucking..ngh!..good”.

Gojo switched his pace when he felt your cunt fluttering. “Are you close princess?”.

You bit your lip and nodded as your nails dug in his shoulders.

Gojo straightened up and rested your legs on his shoulders and kissed your ankles,“Cum for me!” The new angle had you feeling cock in places that you thought were impossible to reach and within minutes you came around him.

But Gojo wasn’t done yet, he wanted to savor you. He put your legs down and leaned forward to gently kiss your forehead before he flipped you around on your stomach and lifted you so you were on your knees with your back pressed to him. “Oh I’m not done with you yet”, he whispered and kissed your neck.

You turned your face and captured his lips in a heated needy desperate kiss. Gojo’s one hand wrapped around your stomach and the other kneaded your breast, eliciting a moan from you. He entered you once again and you let out a shaky breath at the new angle.

“Look up princess”, Gojo smirked as he snapped his hips back and pound into you with a force that knocked the air out of your lungs. You looked up and saw yourself in the mirror with Gojo behind you. Your body was sweaty, hair messy, lips swollen. But the view made something inside you twitch.

“Satoru… fuck…”, you breathed out as Gojo pumped into you. “You’re..”, you swallowed as you felt the knot tightening inside you, “..crazy”. You let out a breathy chuckle.

“So I’ve been told. But I am crazy for you!”, Gojo sucked harshly on your shoulder, “You are mine y/n. Fuck!”, he groaned, “You’re fucking mine!”. His hand that was wrapped around your stomach slid down and his finger rubbed your clit.

You gasped as the knot threatened to break, “You’re mine”, your hand rested on top of his. Your eyes met his’ through the mirror and Gojo smiled.

“Fuck, I’m yours y/n. I’m yours. For now, forever”. He picked up his pace as he felt his own end coming closer.

“I–’m close”, You shut your eyes and welcomed the incoming tsunami.

“Cum with me princess! Fucking come with me!”. He groaned as he felt you clench tightly around him and he followed you as you both sailed over the wave of pleasure.

For a moment neither of you moved or said anything. You winced when Gojo pulled out. He immediately lay you down and pressed a soft kiss on your forehead. He lied down next to you and pulled you in his arms. “You okay?”. He asked softly.

“Mmhmm..can’t move”. You mumbled as you snuggled closer and relaxed in his warm embrace.

Gojo chuckled and pressed another kiss on your head. “It’s okay…”. He let your head rest on the pillow and got out of the bed.

You let your eyes remain close and only opened them when you heard the sound of water running. “Satoru?”.

Gojo came out of the ensuite with only a towel slung low around his hips, droplets of water sliding down his collarbone. Without a word, he crossed the room and gently scooped you into his arms as if you weighed nothing. You didn’t protest, you couldn’t. Your body leaned instinctively into the warmth of his chest as he carried you to the bathroom.

“Hot bath helps,” he murmured, his voice a low, soothing rumble against your ear. He knelt by the tub and lowered you carefully into the steaming water filled with soft white bubbles. The heat enveloped you instantly, loosening your muscles, unwinding the tight knot of tension in your chest.

Your eyes fluttered shut. “This… feels good.”

Gojo settled beside the tub on his knees, and reached for your hand. He held it with both of his thumbs brushing slow circles over your knuckles. “I love you, y/n,” he said quietly,as if the words had been knocking against his ribs, desperate to get out again.

You let out a small laugh and turned your head toward him. “I know.”

He didn’t laugh back. His heart clenched; he had said those words at least fifty times tonight, trying to reassure you, trying to anchor you,and every time, your response had been the same gentle distance.

“Do you…” His voice cracked before he caught himself. “Do you not feel the same?”

The bubbles swirled as you shifted, your eyes sinking down to the water. “I… I don’t know,” you whispered. “I did love you. But…” The rest crumbled on your tongue,too complicated, too raw.

Gojo inhaled softly and shook his head with a small, sad smile. “It’s okay. Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.” His grip on your hand tightened just a fraction,firm, steady, grounding.

You managed a small smile back, fragile but real.

He cleared his throat, trying for lightness but failing to hide the hopeful hesitation in his eyes. “Do you think you can… maybe give this,give us,a chance?”

You took a long breath, letting the heat soak into your skin. “Yes,” you said finally. “I can do that.”

His face lit up immediately, boyish and bright, so unguarded it made your chest twist. “Great then… will you go on a date with me?”

You threw your head back and laughed, warmth bubbling through more than just the bathwater. “Yes! But wow, I was expecting something a little more romantic.”

Gojo smirked, leaning in, confidence sliding back into place. “Fine,but you already said yes, so no backsies.”

“No backsies,” you echoed, pulling him closer by the edge of his towel.

And when your lips met his, he kissed you like he had been waiting his whole life for this one chance.

When he pulled back he looked at you with admiration and devotion, “Will you go on a date with me tomorrow?”.

“We have the competition tomorrow”.

“After that.. Just you and me?”, he asked as he rubbed your arms.

“Yes, I will”.

You woke up in an empty bed, a flicker of disappointment tugging at your chest, but today wasn’t a day you could afford to feel anything less than focused. Elysian Hall was hosting the competition, and students from every corner of the world were arriving; though teams represented their respective businesses, the school had still mandated a no-uniform dress code to maintain neutrality. After stepping out of the shower, you found your outfit laid neatly on the bed,just as you’d arranged the night before to spare yourself any morning decision fatigue. You unzipped the garment bag and slipped into the black Khaite satin midi skirt, pairing it with your silk black halter neck top; not exactly a high-society gala, but you still needed to look polished.

You clasped your Marie Lichtenberg mesh bracelet around your wrist, fixed your Pomellato gold diamond earrings, and gave yourself one last assessing look in the mirror before grabbing your Bottega Veneta large tote,already weighed down with your laptop, charger, makeup kit, first-aid pouch, and a stack of printed documents. You were halfway out the door when the realization hit you. “Fuck,shoes!” You sprinted to your shoe closet, grabbed your Christian Louboutin So Kate heels, slipped them on, and exhaled. “Okay, now I’m ready.”

You rushed down the stairs toward the dining room, only to freeze in the doorway when you spotted Gojo,in crisp deep blue suit, sitting with your parents, laughing comfortably as if he belonged there. “Umm… good morning,” you managed.

“Good morning!” your father boomed cheerfully.

You forced a smile and walked over. Gojo rose, leaning in for a kiss, but you sidestepped him smoothly and wrapped him in a hug instead. “Morning, Satoru.”

He blinked, thrown off for a moment, before quietly taking his seat beside you.

“All the best to both of you!” your mother beamed. “I know you’ll win.”

You laughed softly, nerves humming beneath your skin. “Thanks, Mom.”

Gojo reached for your hand under the table, but you pulled away instinctively. Something dark and heavy tightened in his chest. Were you retreating again? Did you regret last night? Did you think it shouldn’t have happened? He swallowed those questions with a sip of black coffee, forcing himself to wait,hoping for the right moment, the right words, the right chance not to lose you again.

Once in the car, Gojo shut the door a little harder than necessary and turned to you, his jaw tense. “What was that about?”

You blinked up from your iPad, genuinely confused. “What was what about?”

He let out a sharp scoff, leaning back in his seat as he dragged a hand through his hair. “You,ignoring me. In front of your parents?”

You exhaled, closing your iPad and setting it aside. “Look, I was just… surprised, okay? And speaking of my parents, I don’t want them to know about us.”

Gojo frowned, eyes narrowing. “Why?”

“Because the moment they get even a hint, they’ll start planning a wedding.” You rolled your eyes, more anxious than amused. “Let’s just take things slow and see how it goes.”

“Take things slow?” Gojo repeated, the words landing bitterly on his tongue. “Y/n, what’s going on with you? First you wanted me to commit and now you want to hide our relationship?”

You straightened in your seat, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Firstly,there is no relationship. Not yet.” You watched the way his expression froze, but you continued. “We had sex, and we’re going on a date. I’m not your girlfriend, so I don’t see the point in telling anyone anything. And secondly, I don’t want anyone to find out about last night because there’s already tension between our groups, and…” You looked away, your voice softening. “Let’s just see how things go before we put a label on it.”

Every word felt like another blade driven straight into him. Since when had you become so measured, so guarded, so painfully calculated? He wanted to fight back, demand answers, demand you,but he bit down on every impulse. You were already on edge, the competition was looming, and he knew he was standing on thin ice with you.

“I see…” he said finally, forcing the tightness in his chest into something that resembled a calm breath. “We’ll take things slow.”

But his hands were clenched so tightly in his lap that his knuckles had gone white.

You marched ahead with Gojo following a few steps behind, your heels clicking sharply against the polished hallway floor as you approached the meeting room you’d booked for the pre-round catch-up. The tension from the car ride still clung to the air, but there was no time to indulge it now.

“Morning, everyone,” you greeted Nanami and Geto as you placed your tote on the chair beside you.

Nanami looked up from his laptop with a calm smile. “Morning, y/n. Do you want the news now or after?”

Your stomach tightened instantly, mind spiraling to catastrophe. “What news?” you asked, voice lower than intended.

Across from him, Gojo dropped into a chair and shot Nanami a pointed glare. He hated how comfortable Nanami always seemed around you,how easily he earned your attention. God, how he wished he could make it obvious that you were with him now.

Nanami stood, hands casually tucked into his pockets. “Two good news,” he said lightly. “First,we qualified for the art history final.”

You squealed, an unrestrained burst of joy as you clapped your hands in front of you. “That’s wonderful! Oh my god! Yes!” You took a breath, cheeks flushed. “What’s the second news?”

Nanami took one step closer. “Kitay is awake.”

Your mouth fell open. Relief washed over you so intensely you almost felt lightheaded. Without thinking, you threw your arms around Nanami. He wrapped his arms around your waist, steady and warm, grounding you. “Oh god… that is the best news,” you exhaled, voice trembling with emotion.

Across the room, Gojo’s fists clenched until his knuckles turned stark white. Nanami’s hand rested a second too long on your waist and it made something feral crawl up Gojo’s spine. He wanted to rip them apart.

You pulled back with a shaky breath. “Fantastic start to the day!” You looked around. “Where’s Ayaka?”

“She’s on her way,” Nanami replied, sitting back down.

You nodded, then turned your attention to Geto,who looked like a ghost of himself. Dark circles, red-rimmed eyes, posture deflated. “You feeling alright?”

Geto cleared his throat. “Yeah… so wh,”

“Morning everyone!” Ayaka burst in, chirpy and bright, her ponytail bouncing. “How are we feeling today?”

Her cheeriness was answered by a thick, unimpressed silence.

“Anyway…” you continued, picking up where she interrupted. “I won’t take much of your time. I just want to thank everyone for the hard work these past two weeks. I know it wasn’t easy and we hit more than a few bumps, but I really appreciate that everyone put their differences aside and worked together. Thank you,and all the best.”

Ayaka flashed you a confident smile. “Don’t worry, y/n. We’ll qualify this round.”

Gojo leaned back with a grin of his own, “We won’t just qualify. We’ll win both rounds.”

When the meeting wrapped and everyone filtered out, you caught up with Geto. “Hey,you were saying something earlier.”

He shook his head, already turning away. “All good.”

You grabbed his wrist gently. “Suguru, wait.”

He stopped, shoulders sagging a little. “What?”

“Look, I know things have been… different. And difficult.” Your voice softened. “But I still consider you a friend. You don’t look well, and it concerns me.”

Geto scoffed lightly. “Don’t worry, y/n. I won’t jeopardize the team.”

“This isn’t about the team or the competition.” You took in the exhaustion etched on his face, the red in his eyes. “What’s going on with you? Please. Tell me… as a friend.”

He exhaled, long and shaky. “I just… Shoko is still mad at me. And I know I deserve it. I’m pissed at myself for letting things go this far. I,I love her, y/n. And it’s killing me. She won’t talk to me or… well, she said she would talk to me, but I think she hates me too much.”

You nodded slowly. “I see. But I’m going to tell you what I’ve told you a hundred times before,go back to the basics. Whether it’s academic or personal, go back to the fundamentals and work your way up.”

He frowned. “What does that even mean?”

“Try being her friend. She didn’t just lose a partner, Suguru. She lost a friend.” Your voice was gentle but firm. “I’m not defending what you did. But that’s the only advice I can give you.” You gave his arm a light pat and walked off to prepare for the competition.

Geto stood frozen, replaying your words. Try being her friend.

He took out his phone, thumb hovering before typing:

Geto: You’re missing all the action. Sucks to be you.

He hesitated, debating deleting it,but then the typing bubble appeared.

Shoko: Don’t fuck it up.

For the first time in two days, he smiled,small, tired, but real. It wasn’t forgiveness. It wasn’t even a conversation. But it was Shoko’s way of wishing him good luck. And for him, that was enough.

“y/n l/n”, A voice echoed as soon as you stepped inside the debate hall. Gojo had gone to get your name card leaving you alone in the centre of the ruby hall.

You turned around to see the tall blond with slanted eyes, “Naoya Zenin”. You gave a tight smile. Naoya’s team was your biggest and only competitor and you both were competing in the same sector. Which meant that you had to win the debate round to get a point advantage.

“You look radiant as always”. Naoya smiled. “Where’s your teammate?”.

“He is getting our name tags. Where is your team?”, you asked.

“Somewhere around, networking”, Naoya chuckled, “You know how the new money always try to network at these things. Their desperation is adorable”.

You nodded, “That's an awfully disrespectful way to talk about your teammates”.

Naoya shrugged, “Truth stings. But I only need them to fill the quota for the competition. Speaking of team”, he tilted his head, “I heard your team went through quite a revamp”.

Naoya Zenin was in the top three of the free-pass murder list. Of course the sleazy bastard was keeping a tab on his competition. “We did but it all worked out for the best”.

“Time will tell if it all worked out for the best or not”. Naoya grinned.”So sustainable farming.. Why?”.

“Why not?”, you shrugged. You knew what he was doing. He was trying to get out as much information about your solution as possible. But you weren’t a novice, information was the biggest currency in circles where money didn’t matter.

“Is it because of Issac? Trying to follow your brother’s footsteps.. Cute”. He chuckled.

Don’t punch him. You just did your nails and he is not worth it. “Speaking of Issac, I heard he is doing quite well in Kyoto. One l/n is enough to scare dynasties… imagine what two can do”, you winked.

Naoya’s smile dropped and a dark shadow fell over his face, “Sharp as usual y/n.. Tell me did you decide to partner with Gojo to secure a win or to secure a husband?”.

“Neither. My fourth team member had an accident and I had to form a new team. I am quite adaptive that way. I have always believed that being rigid in your own ways can be detrimental”. You smirked.

“Oh an accident”, Naoya quipped, “How unfortunate and what an interesting timing”.

Before you could ask him what he meant Gojo walked over and placed his hand on the small of your back, “Zenin”, he nodded.

“Gojo Satoru!”, Naoya beamed. He looked at the two of you and smiled, “I heard you’re single y/n.. Is it true?”.

You felt Gojo’s hand stiffen behind you, “My relationship status is not your business”.

“Ahhh I see… so you are single. You know many men in this room are eyeing for a date with you”, He beamed, “myself included. What do you say, dinner tonight?”.

“She is busy”, Gojo answered before you could.

“Tomorrow?”Naoya raised a brow.

“Busy”, Gojo replied again.

“Let the lady speak Satoru. It’s rude”, Naoya spoke sarcastically.

“Good bye Naoya, may the best team win”. You smiled and turned around.

Naoya watched you walk away and smiled to himself. You were right, Issac had been a thorn in their market expansion but there was a way to tackle that. When aggression didn't work, the coalition did. y/n zenin has a nice ring to it.

The auditorium quieted as the moderator stepped forward. “Team ZenGro, you may begin with your business model presentation.”

Naoya rose, immaculate in a charcoal suit, confidence radiating. “Our venture is ZenGro AgriChain, a vertically integrated sustainable farming initiative utilising a centralised farming cluster supported by satellite partner-farms. The model emphasises high-efficiency crop cycles, drone-assisted irrigation, and incentive-linked yield bonuses for participating farmers.”

He clicked to the next slide. “Our hub-and-spoke system reduces decision-making delays, improves supply-chain forecasting, and maintains quality standardisation across all partner farms. Through optimised land rotation schedules and AI-assisted pest detection, we project a 32% yield improvement within the first 18 months.”

Polite applause followed.

The moderator nodded. “Team GreenMesh MicroFarms, you may begin questioning.”

You leaned forward, composed, “Thank you. Mr. Zenin, your model emphasises centralised control. Could you clarify how your incentive structure accounts for environmental volatility,unexpected rainfall, pest infestations, monsoon failures? Your forecast assumes consistent high yield.”

Naoya’s jaw twitched before he answered smoothly, “Our model rewards farmers who meet performance thresholds. Volatility is mitigated by AI forecasting.”

You nodded once. “But AI forecasting does not eliminate unpredictability,it anticipates it. Your model penalises farmers for variables outside their control. How do you ensure retention?”

A ripple went through the audience.

Naoya stiffened. “We offer training modules to improve farmer capability.”

Gojo leaned forward slightly. “Capability cannot override climate. Your model appears efficient but structurally fragile. A single failed crop cycle collapses your incentive scheme.”

Naoya’s smile sharpened. “Only if poorly managed.”

“Or poorly designed,” Gojo countered.

The moderator intervened before the tension could spike. “Thank you. Team GreenMesh you may present”.

Gojo stepped up with quiet authority. “Our venture, GreenMesh MicroFarms, operates on a decentralised network model. Instead of one large cluster, we create clusters of small, independent farms connected through a cooperative sales platform. Profitability is built on diversity: crop rotation, reduced transportation costs, and community-managed distribution channels. This model is slower to scale but significantly more resilient.”

You took over. “Our five-year projection shows moderate but stable EBITDA growth,averaging 11–15% annually,due to reduced land degradation and lower operational volatility. Revenue streams include produce sales, co-op membership fees, and data licensing from soil analytics.”

The moderator gestured to the other team. “Your questions.”

Naoya rose with predatory calm. “Your model sacrifices speed for resilience, but investors prioritise rapid growth. How do you justify slow scalability in a competitive market?”

You responded evenly, “Fast scale without structural stability leads to rapid collapse. Our model avoids the boom-and-bust cycle typical of incentive-driven hubs.”

Mai Zenin stepped in, voice sharp. “Your margins are razor-thin in year one. What guarantees investor confidence?”

Gojo answered, “Consistent returns. Not inflated projections. Our financial model accounts for bad seasons. Yours doesn’t.”

Naoya’s eyes narrowed. “And your co-op structure,unrealistic at scale. Governance becomes inefficient.”

You lifted your chin slightly. “Only if poorly designed. Our governance is decentralised, democratic, and cost-efficient. The farmers are partners, not labour inputs.”

The Zenin table fell silent. Mai ruffled papers and passed some over to Naoya but he cursed something and glared at her.

The moderate pressed a bell, “Your time for question is over. Team GreenMesh will now present their technological solution.”.

You stepped forward. “Our solution is TerraSense, a handheld device combining soil analytics, hyperlocal weather forecasting, and crop-cycle optimisation. Farmers insert the probe into the soil and TerraSense provides real-time data: nutrient composition, moisture, acidity, predicted rainfall patterns, and recommended sowing timelines.”

Gojo clicked to a demonstration slide. “The device works offline, runs on solar power, and syncs with our co-op network to crowdsource data, creating highly accurate, community-driven forecasting models. This reduces crop failure risk by up to 40%.”

The audience murmured,impressed.

The moderator nodded. “Team Zengro, your product.”

Naoya rose, expression confident again. “Our product is YieldSphere, an automated drone-based monitoring system. Each drone patrols the designated fields, capturing multispectral images that detect early-stage crop stress, pest infestations, and irrigation gaps. The drone feeds this data into a centralized dashboard monitored by agronomists, who generate weekly action reports for farmers.”

Mai added, “YieldSphere ensures uniform quality and predictable supply-chain outputs. The system integrates with Zenin’s central hub and uses predictive analytics to adjust resource allocation based on projected market demand.”

It was undeniably impressive,and undeniably expensive. The moderator motioned for cross-questioning.

You went first. “YieldSphere relies entirely on top-down communication and centralized decision-making. What happens when farmers require real-time decisions and the dashboard team is delayed? Or when connectivity fails in rural areas?”

Naoya kept his voice cool. “We have backup systems.”

Gojo folded his arms. “Your system costs nearly ten times more per hectare than ours. Your model assumes farmers can afford,or want,continuous external supervision. It removes autonomy entirely.”

Mai bristled. “Autonomy is overrated. Accuracy matters.”

You replied calmly, “Accuracy is useless if the farmer cannot act on it immediately. TerraSense empowers them; YieldSphere depends on them obeying instructions.”

The room tensed.

Naoya stepped forward, eyes cold. “And your device requires farmer competence. What if they ignore recommendations?”

Gojo smirked. “Then they learn. Which is the point. Sustainability is education, not surveillance.”

A murmur of approval rippled through the hall.The moderator finally raised a hand. “That concludes all three rounds. Judges will now deliberate.”

Both teams stepped back from the podiums,tension crackling, pride wounded, and the competition more alive than ever.

You let your shoulders drop as you entered your designated room. Gojo followed silently behind you. “That was… oof… I am glad it’s over”. You exclaimed.

“Mmhmm”. Gojo nodded.

“What?”. You turned around. But before you could say anything Gojo’s hand snaked around your waist and he pulled you close. “Satoru…”. Your eyes widened.

Gojo looked at you and his eyes traveled from your eyes, to your nose, then to your lips. Without wasting another breath he crashed his lips to yours. Your hands immediately landed on his shoulder for support and he leaned down to deepen the kiss. Your lips parted and Gojo slid his tongue in, exploring your mouth.

You moaned and then gently pushed him away, “We..”, you swallowed deep breaths, “We can’t do this here…”.

“Why not?”, Gojo smirked, “I have been waiting all day to do this”

You chuckled and pushed yourself away, “Someone might see us…”.

Gojo’s smile dropped and he slid his hands in his pocket. “Right. I forgot I’m your secret”.

“Hey…”, You spoke softly and took a step towards him, “... we are a secret. But only until things settle down”.

“Is it because you don’t trust me? You think I will fuck things up again?”, He frowned. His eyes carried the pain of consequences and the shameful truth that he did fuck things up.

You looked down and bit your lip, “It’s… complicated..”.

Gojo wanted to fight but he knew better than to push you. Things were so sensitive that a gentle push might carry you far away from him. And he didn’t want to even entertain that possibility. “It’s alright. I understand”, he smiled. “Take your time y/n”.

You smiled back, “Look I really like you but.. I have to be honest with you..”.

Gojo frowned, “about what?”.

You took a deep breath, “Right now this competition means more to me than whatever we have. This means more than my own happiness. Call me egoistic but.. That’s just how it is. When I was on house arrest I just thought about one thing everyday every second.. How I wanted to be independent. I didn’t want to depend on my parents, or you, or anyone else!.. This is more than a competition for me, it’s my chance to start my own business and step out of my family’s shadow…And I won’t let anything jeopardize this”.

Gojo stared at you calmly. He often wondered why you were so obsessed with winning. What drove you to this? But as he heard the determination in your voice his questions were answered. You were no longer the l/n princess, you were y/n. He stepped towards you and cupped your face, “You will achieve everything you set your mind to. You don’t need me, I know, but I will always be at your disposal”.

You smiled, “Thank you, for understanding”.

“Let’s go check on everyone else”. Gojo smiled and grabbed his coat.

“Sho!” You practically screamed as you bolted toward Shoko, throwing your arms around her. She smelled faintly of antiseptic and mint,like she’d rushed straight from the hospital. “What are you doing here?” you asked, stepping back, scanning her face for any discomfort. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better.” Shoko waved you off, though you noticed the slight tremor in her fingers. “I was going crazy waiting for an update, so I decided to come see for myself.” She smiled, warm and tired.

Geto, Nanami, and Ayaka approached shortly after, and your hopeful eyes locked onto them immediately. “How did it go?”

Geto smirked like he had personally invented victory. “We wiped the floor with the other teams.”

You laughed, tension draining from your shoulders. “That’s good to hear!”

Shoko, despite her nonchalance, kept darting soft glances toward Geto… though her gaze always returned to you before he could catch her. Mostly.

“Well,” you cleared your throat, “now that we’re free… any plans?”

Ayaka clapped in excitement, her bracelets jingling. “How about drinks? We deserve a treat!”

Everyone chimed in enthusiastically,except Gojo.

Your phone buzzed. You pulled it out, heart dipping when you saw the name.

A text from Gojo. You looked up at him instinctively. He wasn’t looking at you. If anything, he looked bored, scrolling on his phone like the whole world was background noise.

Gojo: What about our date?

Fuck.

You pressed your lips together, glancing at the overly excited group. “Umm… but Shoko isn’t feeling well. I think we should wait for her to recover before celebrating…”

Shoko shook her head instantly. “I’m fine. Actually, I think a night out could benefit me.”

Double fuck.

You looked at Gojo for backup like he was your last lifeline. He didn’t even look at you. He just smiled. Too casually. Too smoothly.

“I’d prefer something more relaxing,” he announced, sliding his hands into his pockets. “Today’s a good day for a barbeque. How about barbeque at my place?”

Your eyes widened. Barbeque? At his place? Today?

“Y/n…” Nanami whispered, leaning close enough that you felt the warmth of his breath on your ear. “You feeling okay?”

“Huh?” You blinked and turned to him quickly. “Oh,yeah. Totally fine. Peachy!” You laughed, but it came out too high-pitched, too strained.

“Umm.” Nanami frowned. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something…”

“What?” you asked, suddenly alert.

Nanami chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Actually, never mind. It can wait.”

“Are you sure?” You touched his arm gently.

“Yeah. Let’s focus on the competition.” He gave you a small wink.

You laughed and smacked his arm lightly. “Don’t give me a heart attack!”

“Hello! Earth to Ken and Barbie!” Shoko waved a hand between you two.

Both you and Nanami jerked apart, faces heating. Your eyes flicked toward Gojo,just in time.

His jaw was clenched. His shoulders were stiff. His hand,resting casually on the back of a chair,tightened so hard the wood creaked. He didn’t say a word, but his stare at Nanami could’ve cut steel.

He hated the nickname. He hated how close you leaned toward Nanami. He hated that you laughed at Nanami’s jokes. He hated that Nanami winked.

Instead, he just stood there,too still, too calm, too polite,with jealousy so fierce it warped the air around him.

You wondered if his eyes hurt from how hard he was glaring. They probably did.

You decided to pre-game with Shoko before the barbeque.You hadn’t heard from Gojo after you parted ways.. What was he up to? You wondered but it didn’t matter. There was no point in predicting the future when it came to Gojo.

You slipped into your Isabelle Marant while lace trim short skirt and put on your Nili Lotan polka dot chiffon halterneck top. The weather outside was surprisingly warm for this time of the year but you weren’t complaining. You were one foot in your knee high brown chloe boots when a soft knock echoed through your room.

“Come in!”. You gruntled as you quickly slipped into the other shoe.

“Hey!”, Shoko smiled. She looked way better than two days before in her leather mini skirt and a plain white t-shirt.

“How are you feeling?”, you asked.

Shoko rolled her eyes and collapsed on the baby pink chaise lounge in the corner, “That’s the fourth time you have asked me that, I am fine y/n!”.

You chuckled and shook your head, “Just checking Sho”.

“Sho straightened and looked at you intently, “So… what’s with the barbeque at Gojo’s place? Why not just go out for drinks?”.

You laughed nervously, “How would I know?”. You walked in your closet and opened the jewelry drawer.

Shoko, not buying even a syllable of your answer, followed you in like a bloodhound. “You’re hiding something from me.”

“What?”, Your head snapped up, “No!”.

“Y/n..”, Shoko leaned against the counter, “I have known you for almost 18 years now… what’s going on?”.

You clasped the tennis bracelet around your wrist and took a deep breath. You have to tell Shoko. It’s a crime to hide something this big from your best friend. What if she gets angry? Or mad at me? Will she? How do I even word i-

“Hello?”. Shoko broke your chain of thought. “What’s going o-”

“I had sex”.

Shoko’s eyes widened and mouth closed immediately. She opened her mouth to say something but you cut her off-

“With Satoru”.

Shoko sucked in a sharp breath unblinkingly, “wh-”.

“Last night”. You answered before she could finish her question.

She tilted her head and looked at the lamp in the corner and then back at you. Murder won’t look good on her record. She is your best friend. Don’t kill her.

“Please don’t kill me… not before finals at least”, you gulped.

“What.the.actual.fuck?”. She scoffed. “You’re joking”.

You shook your head, “But I promise that’s it. We are not dating or anything. But we might..I mean I don’t know..please say something!”. You clenched your fists by your side.

Shoko stayed quiet for a minute that felt like an hour, then she slowly nodded, “Okay. It’s okay. You have needs. It’s valid. But… I don’t approve of this”.

Your heart dropped. You knew Shoko’s concerns and they were valid. “I know…”.

Ayaka was the first to arrive, on purpose. She was led to the back garden where fairy lights hung between the trees and white circular camp table sat on one end surrounded by lounge chairs. Ice buckets with beers and champagne lay on the ground between every chair. On the other side a row of grills smoked as chefs tossed ingredients onto them. Her eyes eventually landed on Gojo who was standing in the centre with his back to her. He wore a casual white linen shirt and blue jeans. Ayaka scanned his profile with a glint in her eyes as she slowly made her way to him.

“Hi”, She said softly.

Gojo turned around and smiled, “Oh.. hello…you’re early”.

“Yeah.. sorry about that”, she gave a nervous smile.

“Oh don’t be. Drink?”. He asked.

“Sure”. She followed him to the camp table and sat down on a lounge chair next to him.

“Beer or champagne?”Gojo asked, looking up at her.

Ayaka bit her lip, “Beer”.

Gojo chuckled and opened a can and handed it to her. “There you go. Though I must say you might be the only high society girl that prefers beer over champagne”.

Ayaka’s cheeks flushed, “I know. But I don’t like to identify as a high society girl”.

Gojo opened his can with a pop and leaned back, “Why not?”.

Ayaka took a sip and let the cold fizzy drink soothe her throat, “Because I wasn’t born into it.. Things just worked out”.

Gojo hummed and checked his phone for any update from you.

“Does it ever get tiring?”, Ayaka asked.

Gojo looked up from his phone, “What does?”.

“Being you”, She took a sip, “I mean being Gojo Satoru. Don’t you ever feel suffocated?”.

Gojo thought about it, he did feel suffocated at times. He had expectations to fulfill and a name to uphold but he loved his life…mostly. “Not really. It’s not all peachy but..”, he shrugged, “I don’t think about it”.

Ayaka laughed and shook her head, “I don’t buy that. I have known you for quite some time now and I think you feel more than you let on”.

Gojo smirked, “Really? I didn’t know you were so observant”.

“You would if you ever look beyond y/n”, Ayaka stilled, her words coming out too quickly.

Gojo looked down, he wasn’t oblivious, he knew about Ayaka’s feelings and he felt bad for her but he knew he’d never feel the same way for her, “I guess I am guilty of that”.

Ayaka shook her head, “Let’s not continue that conversation”, she turned to him, “What would you be if you weren’t born to inherit a company”.

Gojo leaned back and looked up at the stars, “Hmmm never really thought about it but..maybe a teacher”.

Ayaka snorted, “You’d be a terrible teacher!”.

“No I won’t!”, she laughed, “I taught you so many concepts, remember?".

Ayaka held her hand up, “Fair but that makes you a good tutor not a good teacher”. She laughed.

“Is there a difference?”, Gojo asked, confused.

“Of course there is!”, Ayaka giggled, “I can’t imagine you as a teacher”.

“Are we interrupting?”, Shoko’s voice drowned out their conversation.

Gojo turned back and immediately stood up when he saw you standing next to Shoko and looking between him and Ayaka. “No no… hi..”, he breathed out looking at you, “Have a seat”.

Shoko walked over and sat down next to Gojo, sandwiching him between her and Ayaka. You smiled and sat down next to Shoko. “This place looks beautiful”. You smiled looking at the tiny light hung over you.

Gojo sat down nervously, he wanted to be next to you. Should he get up under the guise of a good host and then come back and sit next to you? No.. that would be too obvious. He had to respect your wishes.

Shoko smiled at Ayaka, her eyes flickered to the beer in her hand and a flash of judgement passed her face, “Interesting choice of drink Ayaka”. She smiled and grabbed a glass of champagne.

Gojo looked at Ayaka with sympathy as she spun the can in her hand. He looked back at you, wondering what you were thinking about.

“What were you guys chatting about?”, You asked as you picked up a glass of prosecco.

“Oh just.. Random things”, Ayaka smiled.

Shoko observed Gojo and Ayaka like a hawk. She was not going to let him hurt your feelings again. She looked at you and smiled, “Where’s your ken?”.

Gojo’s jaw tensed. Your ken?. Since when did Nanami become your ken? Ayaka chuckled next to him, “That is such a fitting name, Barbie and Ken”.

You rolled your eyes, “I call him Ken sometime because it’s short for kento…There is no barbie and ken”.

“Yet”, Shoko quipped and looked at the two men walking towards them.

Geto and Nanami,surprisingly, walked in together. Nanami, in his dark blue linen shirt and light blue jeans, sat down next to you and Geto took the last seat between Nanami and Ayaka. His eyes, you noticed, were almost always fixed on Shoko.

After five rounds of drink and four rounds of grilled fruits, veggies, mushroom, and countless banter, everyone seemed visibly more relaxed than before. Ayaka looked around the group, everyone seemed tipsy enough to talk freely, heck even Gojo and Nanami were talking. “Let’s play truth and dare!”.

“Let’s do it!”, You smiled cheerfully. You took an empty bottle from the ice box and placed it in the centre. “Should I spin? Is everyone ready?”.

Everyone agreed and leaned forward. You spun the bottle and the mouth landed on Shoko. Shoko rolled her eyes, “Okay..Who will ask the question?”.

“I say anyone can”, Nanami said.

“I’ll ask!”, Gojo smirked. “If you had to kiss one person from this group… who’s getting lucky?”

“Of course y/n”.

You opened your arms and beamed, “I am honoured”.

Shoko spun the bottle and the mouth landed on Geto. She looked up, mischief glinting in her eyes. Geto groaned, “This game is sappy”.

“Hey!”, Shoko titled her head, “Wussing out?”.

Geto raised a brow “Ask the question”.

You hummed to yourself, “What's your hair care routine?”.

“What?!”, Geto’s eyes widened and Gojo laughed so hard he choked on his drink.

“Come on… don’t gatekeep”, You shrugged.

“There is no routine. Just plain old shampoo and conditioner”, Geto smiled.

“Liar…”, You squinted.

Geto shrugged and spun the bottle, the mouth landed on Nanami. Nanami smiled nervously. “Okay.. shoot”.

Gojo leaned forward, “Who is Kasumi?”.

Nanami’s smile dropped. A heavy silence fell over the group. You frowned, did you miss something? You looked at Gojo. “What?”.

Gojo corked a brow towards Nanami, “Ask him”.

Nanami cleared his throat, “She is.. Just a friend”.

Gojo scoffed, “Come on now, don’t lie to us”.

Nanami pressed his lip and looked at you, “Kasumi and I went on a couple of dates..”.

“What?!”, Ayaka exclaimed. What the fuck was Nanami doing going on dates when he should be focused on making you fall for him.

Nanami put his drink down, “We met in the gym and just went for coffee”.

You looked at Gojo, how did he know? Gojo looked at you and winked and you made a mental note of it. “Anyway..”, You turned to Nanami with a smile, “Spin it”.

Nanami spun the bottle and it landed on Ayaka. Ayaka smiled, “Go fo it guys”.

There was nothing you wanted to ask Ayaka but Shoko had a different plan, “Ayaka..”, she leaned back, “...If you had to kiss one person from this group, who’d be the lucky guy?”.

You wanted to smile but took a sip to hide your smile. Leave it to Shoko to stir the pot.

“Sho..that’s personal”, Gojo interjected.

Shoko raised a brow, “Why are you defending her? You asked me the same question, remember? I am happy to change my question if you admit that you want to protect her”.

Gojo looked at you, he knew you wouldn’t be happy. But he also knew why Shoko was doing this. His motivations were different, Shoko had you. But Ayaka didn’t have any other friend here except him.

Ayaka sensed the hesitation, “It’s fine. I will answer..Satoru”. She smiled tightly and took a long sip. Your eyes flickered from Gojo to Ayaka. Ayaka held the bottle and looked at you, “Y/n has been quite lucky at the game.. How about we ask you directly instead of spinning”.

You shrugged, “Sure”.

“Since you’re the last one..”, Ayaka continued, “How about we all ask you one question each? Penalty for good luck”, She smirked.

“Bring it on”. You smiled and finished your drink in one gulp.

Shoko smiled and turned to you, “Why did you reject max?”.

“Who’s max?”, Gojo asked immediately.

“He is someone I went on one date with and I rejected him because he was terribly frisky and was only trying to date me because of my… last name”. You chuckled.

Gojo made a note about looking into this max guy later. Frisky? What did it even mean? Did he force himself on you?

“I’ll go next”, Nanami leaned forward, “What’s your ideal date?”.

You hummed and looked up at the stars, “I am bored of all the fancy places. My ideal date would be doing an activity together, something unique and fun and something I hadn’t done ever”.

Gojo glared at Nanami, why did he want to know your ideal date? Was he planning something?. But he smiled to himself after hearing your answer. It lines perfectly with what he had planned.

“Best kiss you’ve ever had”, Geto smirked.

You raised a brow, “Shoko”. You chuckled.

“Bullshit”, Geto looked at you with piercing eyes.

“Well fine. I don’t remember his name. I was quite drunk but it was the best kiss ever”.

“When was this?”, Geto asked.

“No follow-up question”, you winked.

“If you had to pick..”, Ayaka continued, “..between your dream, or your friends, what would you pick?”.

“That depends on which friend”.

Ayaka nodded, “Everyone except Shoko or your dream”.

“I would always pick my friends”, you replied in a heartbeat.

“Really?”, Ayaka smiled sarcastically.

You nodded, “Absolutely, my dreams mean nothing if I don’t have people to share my success with and my friends and family are my anchor… I would always pick them”.

“Always?”, Nanami asked, surprised by this. He knew you were ambitious and driven but he never knew that you were this sentimental.

You nodded slowly, “Yuppp”.

“What about love?”, Geto asked.

You took a deep breath, “Well that’s complicated. If my partner makes me choose between my dreams and our relationship then he was never the right one for me”.

Gojo cleared his throat, “Guess it’s my turn to ask a question”.

You moved your gaze from Shoko to Gojo, “Sure..”.

Gojo smiled, if you wanted him to put you before everything else he would do it. If you wanted absolute devotion he would devote his every breath to you. “If I have to ask you to be my girlfriend, would I need to take permission from Shoko?”.

Heat crept up your cheeks. Technically he was still keeping a secret. But..what the fuck?

Shoko looked at him, “Yes and the passing barrier is very very very high”.

Gojo winked, “I have a habit of jumping over barriers”.

“Thank you for coming, y/n.” The interviewer smiled that same sticky-sweet smile you’d been assaulted with for the past week , the kind of smile that looked warm on camera and hollow in person.

“Thank you for having me,” you replied, returning the smile with practiced ease. You had agonised over your outfit the night before, tearing through racks and garment bags until your room looked like a boutique hit by a tornado. In the end, you chose the black Victoria Beckham dress , elegant, sharp, uncompromising , paired with diamond studs that caught the light just right. You needed to look untouchable. You needed to look like success.

“Congratulations on the massive success of your company. When would you say this knack for business began?”

You blinked, keeping your posture poised. “Deep down, I always knew this is what I wanted to do. You could say I was born to do this.”

The interviewer laughed , a crisp, overly polished sound perfected through years of studio training. “Well, we did some digging, but only because our viewers wanted to know more about the mysterious y/n l/n.” She laughed again, as if branding you “mysterious” was the most charming thing in the world.

Jesus. Ten more minutes of this and you might genuinely shoot yourself. The studio lights were blisteringly bright, drying out your eyes until you had to blink rapidly just to keep tears from forming. “I’m not mysterious,” you joked lightly. “I’m just boring.”

The host clicked a button on her remote, and the massive LED screen behind you lit up. You turned,and your smile froze.

There it was. A photo of you grinning ear to ear, your arm slung around Shoko’s shoulders, the other tucked behind Gojo. A group photo. You scanned every face in a heartbeat: Geto’s lazy grin, Shoko’s half-smile, Gojo’s hand dangerously close to ruffling your hair, Nanami’s tight-lipped patience, Ayaka in the corner trying her best to look composed. You all looked so happy. So young. So untouched by the chaos that would come after.

“This is from the NSB finals,” the host narrated cheerfully. “You look so different.”

You let out a breathy laugh. You did look different , hopeful, naive, unscarred. “Yes, but it was also… what, ten years ago?” You squinted at the image, as if distance could shield you.

“Eleven years,” the interviewer corrected, smiling knowingly.

You hummed. “Right.”

“Are you still in contact with anyone?” she asked, tilting her head with faux innocence.

Your eyes darted to Paloma standing stiffly behind the teleprompter. This was not in the script. But you couldn’t falter , not on live television, not with millions watching, not with your past plastered on a screen behind you. So you faced the interviewer again, smoothing your expression into neutrality.

“Yeah, as much as one can.”, You smiled, you had to be perfect.

“I am sure you’re attending the wedding then!”, The woman exclaimed, “He is your closest friend after all”.

You wanted to punch her and storm out, but one look at you manager and you knew what you had to say, “I will try. Things are quite busy”. You chuckled lightly. You remembered when you got the invitation, it felt like a slap on the face. He knew you wouldn’t attend. You weren’t even sure if he wanted you to attend. Not after everything you did…

“Ahhh, I see.” She leaned back as though she’d unearthed something scandalous. “Would you say NSB played a crucial role in where you are now?”

“Oh, absolutely,” you said, smiling like the model success story they wanted you to be. “It taught me the fundamentals of starting a business. No business degree, in my opinion, can match the rigour of that competition.”

The conversation shifted , business milestones, your early setbacks, the resilience everyone admired you for , but the photo remained behind you, glaring, unavoidable. You never looked back at it. You didn’t have to. That girl was gone. That world was gone. You were not the same wide-eyed, hopeful dreamer they captured in that frame.

Across the ocean, Gojo poured himself a drink , whisky, the good kind, the kind he only drank when he needed courage or wanted to drown something out. He watched the interview from his dim living room, the glow of the TV reflecting in his glass.

He didn’t expect the photo.

Tears slipped down his cheeks the second it appeared , no warning, no pause, just a crack in the dam he pretended no longer existed. He watched you smile on screen, watched the way you’d mastered the art of sounding untouched and unbothered. He watched the girl he grew up with speak like a stranger.

He watched every interview you ever did, even though it tore him apart every time , hearing your voice, seeing your face, witnessing the life you lived without him.

Are you happy? he wondered as his throat tightened. Do you ever regret your decisions… or am I the only one who still bleeds from them?

Taglist: @alebrasil0101 , @kamshotseverywhere, @bubera974, @broilovegojo, @kanaojacksonofc

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