3 months | in which Sae's manager is replaced with someone else for 3 months
itoshi sae x reader . ch3 . art credits to owner
Two weeks had passed since the team celebration dinner. Long enough for her to become familiar with the team’s usual chaos. The flight to Paris was quiet compared to the usual atmosphere surrounding the team. The club had a private flight for the players and staff, allowing everyone a brief escape from the attention that followed them everywhere. With an upcoming match awaiting them, most of the team seemed content to use the journey as an opportunity to rest.
She sat in her assigned seat, glancing occasionally at the schedule displayed on her tablet while listening to the conversations happening around her.
“Y/N” Blake called out from the row beside her.
“What?”
“Nothing. Just checking if you are ignoring me today.”
She sighed and set down her tablet and looked at him. “I am considering of starting that you know.”
Blake placed a hand over his chest dramatically, as if her words had personally wounded him. "That is cruel.”
"You flirt with everyone you meet. I doubt your confidence is fragile enough to be damaged by one person ignoring you.”
The comment earned a laugh from Aria, who was seated beside him. "Finally, someone said it.”
Blake turned toward her with an offended expression. "Why are you always taking her side?”
"Because you're annoying.”
"I am charming."
"You are a problem."
Y/N couldn't help but laugh quietly at their argument. It was only recently that she had found out that the two of them were siblings. The discovery had honestly explained a lot. The constant bickering. The effortless way they insulted each other.
Luna and Ana, the other two female managers, popped up from their seats and looked over. “Can you guys shut it?” Luna asked, though the amused expression on her face made it clear she wasn't actually annoyed.
“You have been arguing since we sat down.”
“It wasn’t me, It was her! I was just trying to talk to Y/N.” Blake immediately defended himself.
Ana laughed as she leaned back in her seat. “I still don't understand how you have this much confidence.”
Everyone snickered at the comment, and Y/N sighed as she looked toward the person sitting beside her. The flight was about to take off, and the playful atmosphere slowly disappeared as everyone began settling into their seats. The cabin lights dimmed slightly, conversations became quieter, and the sound of seatbelts clicking echoed through the aircraft.
Sae sat by the window, his attention directed outside as the aircraft began moving along the runway. Unlike the others, he had barely spoken since boarding. He hadn't joined the conversations, hadn't bothered with his phone, and hadn't even attempted to sleep.
He was simply there.
She glanced at him for a few seconds before looking back at her tablet. "The hotel arranged the recovery session for the morning after the match," she said quietly.
A simple acknowledgment would have been expected. Instead, Sae only hummed. She looked at him. That was unusual. "You know, most people pretend to listen when someone is talking to them.”
"I heard you.”
Again… this was also unusual. He didn’t bicker like before. His eyes were still directed outside the window, but his expression had changed. There was a certain level of concentration in his face, the same expression she had seen when he watched match footage or analyzed plays.
She followed his gaze for a moment before looking back at him. "You're thinking about the match, aren’t you?”
His eyes shifted toward her. For a second, he looked genuinely surprised. “How did you-”
“You shouldn’t be worrying too much.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “I'm not worried.”
She turned slightly toward him. "You're analyzing every possibility before the match even begins.”
"And?”
"And that can be useful, but sometimes it makes you focus on everything that could go wrong instead of what you already know you can do.”
For a moment, Sae didn’t answer. He looked back toward the window, watching the clouds beneath the aircraft before finally speaking. "Their midfield is the biggest problem.”
She looked at him. "The opponent?"
He nodded. "They rely heavily on controlling the center of the field. Their transitions are fast, and their midfielders are good at forcing mistakes before the opposing team can organize themselves."
His tone changed the moment he started talking about football.
"You think our midfield can't handle them?"
Sae glanced at her.
"We can."
A pause.
"But the others hesitate too much."
Y/N listened carefully.
"They're good individually, but when they lose possession, they don't recover quickly enough. They wait for someone else to cover the space instead of immediately closing the gap."
She nodded slowly. "Because they're used to relying on a defensive structure instead of reacting instinctively."
Sae looked at her. The response came so naturally that it caught him slightly off guard. "Exactly."
Y/N rested her chin lightly against her hand, thinking. "Their left side is probably going to be their weakness then.”
Sae raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because their left-back pushes too high when they attack."
She turned slightly toward him. "He creates a lot of opportunities, but the problem is that he leaves too much space behind him. If your team can force them to shift their formation quickly, there will be openings."
Sae stared at her for a moment. He was genuinely impressed by her for the first time. "How do you know that?" The question came out before he could stop himself.
She looked at him and a small formed on her face. "You really thought I was just organizing your schedule this whole time?”
Before he could say anything, she opened her tablet and a few taps later, she pulled up a folder. Match footage, player statistics, formation analysis, reports. Everything was neatly organized.
Sae's eyes moved toward the screen. "You made this?”
"Yeah."
She shifted closer, turning the tablet so they could both see it properly. The movement was completely natural to her. She didn't notice the distance between them disappearing. She didn't notice how her shoulder brushed against his arm. She didn't notice how easily she leaned toward him while explaining. She was too focused on the screen.
"I watched their previous five matches.”
"Five?"
"Six, actually."
Sae looked at her. "You had time for that?"
She shrugged. "I was curious."
She pointed at the screen. "Look here.” Her finger moved across the footage. "This match is the best example. They struggled whenever the opponent forced them to defend from a disadvantageous position. Their defensive line is disciplined, but only when they have time to set up.”
She zoomed in. "When they're forced to react quickly, they become predictable.”
Sae leaned slightly closer, his attention moving between the screen and her explanation. "You noticed that?”
"Of course." The answer was immediate. "They're a strong team, but every team has patterns. You just have to pay attention."
"You know a lot about football.”
The statement slipped out of no where. Even he processed it after he spoke them.
She blinked and smiled. "You love it so I thought I should learn more too.”
The words were simple. But for some reason, they stayed with him. He had spent years surrounded by people who admired his talent, his reputation, and the results he produced on the field. People talked about his skills, his vision, his ability to change the flow of a match with a single pass.
But very few people actually cared enough to understand the thing behind all of it.
Football itself.
She wasn't trying to impress him. She wasn't throwing out facts to prove she belonged in the conversation. She was simply talking about something she had genuinely grown interested in.
Because it mattered to him. And that realization felt strangely unfamiliar. Sae looked back at the tablet, though his attention was no longer entirely focused on the analysis displayed on the screen.
"You studied all of this because of me?"
She finally looked away from the screen, slightly confused by the question. "Well... yes?" Her answer came with such obviousness that he didn't know how to respond.
She tilted her head. "You're the player I'm managing. Understanding your game makes my job easier."
A professional answer. Yet somehow, it still felt different.
Before he could dwell on it further, she continued explaining another point, completely unaware of the effect her words had. She leaned closer, tapping on a specific section of the report.
Sae's eyes shifted from the tablet to her. She was closer than before. Close enough that he could see the concentration in her expression, the way her eyebrows slightly furrowed whenever she was trying to explain something properly. Her hair fell over her shoulder as she leaned forward, and the faint scent of her perfume mixed with the quiet atmosphere of the plane.
It was annoyingly distracting.
Sae looked away first. "You're weird."
She blinked. "That's your response?"
"Yes."
"I just spent hours analyzing your matches."
"Exactly."
She narrowed her eyes. "Are you insulting my effort?"
"No."
"Then?"
A small pause.
"...It's unexpected."
The honesty of the answer made her expression soften slightly. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Eventually, she leaned back into her own seat and closed the tablet. "Well, I'm glad you think it's unexpected and not useless."
She glanced around the cabin. Almost everyone was asleep now. Blake had his head tilted, Aria was resting with her arms crossed, and even Luna and Ana had stopped talking.
She looked back at Sae. "You know..."
"What?"
"I never thought I would have a serious football conversation with you."
Sae raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because when I first met you, I thought you were incapable of having a conversation that wasn't either an insult or an order."
Sae rolled his eyes.
She laughed quietly.
The sound made him look at her for a moment longer than necessary. It wasn't something he had noticed before.
A few minutes passed before the conversation slowly faded. The excitement of discussing football had disappeared, leaving behind the comfortable silence of the long flight.
She reached for her tablet again, but after a few seconds, she stopped.
She looked tired.
Sae noticed. "You should sleep."
She looked at him. "Are you telling me what to do?"
"Yes."
"Wow. Back to being annoying already."
"You have been working since before we boarded."
"And?"
"And you're tired."
She stared at him.
For someone who claimed not to care, he was surprisingly observant. Before she could respond, Sae reached into his bag and pulled out his earphones.
He held one side toward her. "Here."
She looked at the earphone. Then at him. Then back at the earphone. "...Are you sharing your music with me?"
"Don't make it weird."
A small smile immediately appeared on her face. "You're such a cutie."
Sae's expression immediately changed. "What?"
"You heard me."
"No."
"Yes."
"You're annoying."
"You're giving me your earphones. That's actually very sweet."
Sae sighed and moved to put the earphone back in his own ear. Before he could, Y/N reached out and lightly grabbed his hand. The movement stopped him.
For a second, neither of them moved.
Her fingers were wrapped around his hand without hesitation, completely natural and without any awareness of the sudden closeness between them.
"Wait."
Sae looked down at their hands. Then at her. "What?"
"Don't take it back."
Her voice was quieter this time.
A strange feeling passed through him. It was such a small thing. Something meaningless. Yet he found himself unable to immediately pull away.
After a moment, he looked away. "You're unbelievable." But he didn't take his hand back.
Instead, he let her take the earphone.
The two of them sat quietly, sharing the music as the plane continued through the clouds. She leaned back into her seat, her eyes slowly becoming heavier with each passing minute.
Sae kept his gaze directed toward the window. Or at least, he tried to. Because after a while, he noticed that the sound of her breathing had changed.
She had fallen asleep. He turned slightly. Her head had tilted toward him, resting against his shoulder.
For a moment, Sae froze. His first instinct was to move. To wake her up. To tell her that his shoulder was not a pillow.
But he didn't. He simply sat there. His eyes lowered slightly. Sae frowned slightly. What was this? It wasn't irritation. It wasn't amusement. It wasn't anything he recognized.
He looked away, trying to ignore the strange warmth settling somewhere in his chest.
"...fuck."
The word came out quietly. But there was no irritation behind it this time.
a/n - are you liking the slow burnnn. idk if I am doing it right lmao
3 months | in which Sae's manager is replaced with someone else for 3 months
itoshi sae x reader . ch2 . art credits to owner . next
The team celebration was held at one of the city's most exclusive restaurants, a place large enough to accommodate the entire team while still maintaining the sense of privacy expected for professional athletes. The venue had been reserved for the evening, allowing the players, staff members, and managers to relax without worrying about the attention of the outside world.
For most people there, it was a familiar environment but for Y/N, it was the complete opposite.
She stood near the edge of the room, holding a glass of water while watching her surroundings. Everywhere she looked, there were people who seemed to have known each other for years. They laughed about old matches, teased each other about training sessions, and casually brought up memories she had no connection to.
Meanwhile, she was the new person standing in the middle of a group that already had its own rhythm.
Sae, unsurprisingly, had adjusted perfectly.
He was surrounded by his teammates and coach, participating in conversations when necessary and listening when he had no interest in speaking. Even though he was not the most social person, everyone around him understood his personality well enough to include him.
She, however, was still trying to figure out where she belonged. She attempted to join a few conversations, but every time she stepped in, she felt as though she was interrupting something that had already existed long before she arrived.
"This is painful," she muttered quietly to herself.
A waiter passed by with a tray of drinks, offering one to her. She politely declined before looking around the room again.
"I want to go home."
Her eyes moved toward Sae. For a brief moment, she considered walking over to him. After all, he was the only person here she actually knew.
But the sight of him standing with his teammates made her stop. He looked comfortable, and she didn't want to become the manager who constantly followed him around like a lost child.
So instead, she walked toward an empty table and sat down. The moment she pulled out her phone, she knew she had given up. Trying to force herself into conversations with strangers was somehow more exhausting than managing Sae.
At least with Sae, she knew what she was dealing with.
"You look like someone who is regretting every decision that brought her here."
Y/N immediately looked up.
Standing beside her was a man she had never seen before.
He had dark brown hair, sharp black eyes, and a confident smile that suggested he had never struggled with approaching anyone in his life. Unlike Sae's usual formal appearance, he wore a white suit that somehow matched his personality perfectly.
"I haven't seen you before," he said, taking the empty seat beside her before extending his hand. "Blake."
Y/N hesitated for a second before shaking his hand. "Y/N."
His eyes moved slightly in curiosity. "Y/N...?"
"Sae's manager."
The surprise on his face was immediate. "Sae's manager? Wasn't that Girolain?"
"Originally, yes." She explained. "But he got injured recently. He's recovering in the hospital, so I'm temporarily taking over until he returns."
Blake nodded, leaning back against the chair. "That explains why I haven't seen you before."
She gave a small smile. "And you are?"
"The striker of the team."
Her expression brightened slightly. "Oh, that's great."
The excitement lasted only a second before she looked away. Then her thoughts immediately changed.
Why is he sitting here?
What does he want?
She turned back toward him, trying to understand the situation. "So... shouldn't you be with everyone else?"
Blake laughed softly. "Why would I be with them when I can be here?"
She blinked. Then came the answer she should have expected.
"You're exactly my type."
She stared at him but before she could respond, another voice interrupted.
"Blake, you bastard! Why are you flirting with every woman you see?"
Blake immediately sighed. "Aria."
The girl approached them with an expression that suggested this was not the first time she had dealt with this problem.
"And why do you always make it awkward?"
Y/N turned her attention toward her. And for a moment, she forgot what she was going to say. The woman standing before her was stunning.
She had a natural confidence that made her stand out without even trying, and the way she carried herself reminded her of someone who had complete control over any situation.
Blake immediately pointed toward her. "Ah, Y/N, this is Aria. She's my manager."
Before he could continue, Aria hit him lightly on the head. "Stop introducing me like I'm the reason for your problems."
Blake rubbed his head. "Violence against players should not be allowed."
"Neither should your personality."
He ignored her and looked back at Y/N. "See you later." Then, with a small wink, he walked away.
She watched him leave. "...Is he always like that?"
Aria sighed as she sat beside her. "Unfortunately."
She looked genuinely apologetic. "I'm sorry. He doesn't know when to stop."
Y/N immediately nodded. "Yeah. I noticed."
The two of them laughed. Then Aria turned slightly toward her. "So you're Sae's manager?"
The question alone made Y/N's expression change. She slowly placed her forehead against the table. "I don't know how much longer I can survive."
Aria immediately understood. "That bad?"
"He is impossible."
She lifted her head. "He ignores everything. He forgets schedules. He acts like basic communication is a personal attack."
Aria placed a hand over her heart dramatically. "My condolences."
"Thank you."
"The world is cruel."
"Very cruel."
The two of them continued their dramatic performance until they eventually started laughing. And somehow, that small moment was enough. For the first time that evening, she no longer felt like an outsider.
A few minutes later, two more female staff members joined them after being introduced by Aria. Soon, the conversation shifted from awkward introductions to stories about working with the players.
Mostly complaints.
"They are talented, but sometimes I wonder if talent removes common sense."
"I swear football players have the same brain."
"Except Sae." Y/N looked at them.
"What about Sae?"
Everyone became quiet for a second. Then Aria sighed. "He's a different category."
That was enough to make all of them laugh.
By the time Sae finished speaking with his teammates, he noticed that Y/N was no longer sitting alone. His eyes moved toward the table where she was sitting. She was laughing and that sight surprised him slightly.
When he first saw her standing alone earlier, he had assumed she would struggle throughout the evening. She knew no one here, and this team had already formed its own group long before she arrived.
But somehow, she had managed to find her place.
Good.
At least he wouldn't have to deal with her complaining about being bored for the entire ride home.
"You got yourself a pretty manager."
Sae turned slightly.
Blake was standing beside him, following his gaze toward Y/N.
"Can I get her number?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Blake looked at him. "Wow. That was fast."
Sae looked away. "If you want it, ask her yourself."
"You're not even going to help your friends?"
"We're teammates. Not friends."
Blake smiled. "Cold as always."
Sae ignored him and walked away.
The party ended much later than expected. By the time they entered the car, both of them were exhausted. Or at least, Sae was. Y/N, somehow, had discovered a second source of energy.
"The other managers were really nice," she said, looking out the window. "I thought it would be awkward, but they actually understood what I was going through."
Sae remained silent.
"And Aria is amazing. I don't know how she handles Blake."
Still silent.
"Honestly, I think I got lucky."
Sae finally opened his eyes. "Can you stop?"
She turned toward him. "Stop what?"
"Talking."
Her expression immediately dropped. "You're mean."
"I know."
She looked away from him and then the car become quiet. A few minutes later, Sae glanced toward her. Her head rested against the window, completely unaware of the world around her.
For once, she wasn't arguing, complaining and she wasn't telling him what he was doing wrong.
Sae looked away. "Make sure you don't get too comfortable around the others."
No response.
He frowned slightly. "Y/N."
Still nothing.
Only then did he realize she was asleep. He stared at her for a moment. "...Seriously?"
A small sigh escaped him. He reached over and carefully moved a strand of hair away from her face. "You're annoying even when you're asleep."
The words were quiet, almost absent-minded.
Then his eyes drifted toward the dress she was wearing, lingering for a second too long before he looked away with a faint crease between his brows. The silence in the car suddenly felt heavier, more aware of itself, as if he had only just realized how close she was sitting beside him.
After a moment, he removed his suit jacket and placed it over her lap, his fingers brushing the edge of her thigh for the briefest instant before he pulled back.
The driver noticed through the rearview mirror but wisely said nothing.
For someone who claimed not to care, Sae was becoming increasingly difficult to read.
a/n - I have been loving the revamping process lmao. It makes me realize how much my writing has changed haha
3 months | in which Sae's manager is replaced with someone else for 3 months
itoshi sae x reader . ch1 . art credits to owner . next
"Three months for the treatment?"
Sae muttered the words under his breath as his eyes remained fixed on the equipment beside the bed. His tone held no obvious concern, only a quiet disbelief at the inconvenience of the situation. He moved toward the nearby couch and sat down, his posture relaxed despite the seriousness of the circumstances.
"How did the accident happen?" he asked.
Girolain let out a small sigh, adjusting himself carefully against the pillows. Even the slightest movement seemed difficult with his injuries, though he attempted to hide the discomfort.
"I was just being reckless," he replied with a faint smile. "Nothing that serious. You don't need to worry about it. The doctor said I'll heal soon enough."
Sae remained silent for a moment, observing him with the same analytical gaze he used when studying a match. He had never been someone who expressed concern openly. His emotions rarely reached the surface, buried beneath layers of composure and indifference. However, Girolain had worked with him long enough to understand that Sae's questions were often the closest thing he had to showing that he cared.
"So you won't be working until then?"
"Yeah..." Girolain admitted. "But I already arranged a temporary replacement through the agency. She'll be handling your schedule, appointments, travel arrangements, and the other responsibilities outside of football until I'm able to return. She's still a junior manager, but she's more than capable of handling the role. She should be arriving soon.”
Sae gave a small nod, accepting the information without further comment. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and immediately shifted his attention away from the conversation. His fingers moved across the screen as he browsed through various applications and websites, appearing completely uninterested in the situation around him.
A knock echoed through the room a few moments later, drawing Girolain's attention toward the door. Sae, however, remained exactly where he was, his eyes still focused on his phone as if the outside world held little importance.
The door opened.
The young woman stepped inside, her gaze immediately finding Girolain on the hospital bed. Her expression softened slightly when she saw his condition.
"Ah, hello, Y/N," Girolain greeted. He instinctively attempted to sit up straighter, but the movement was quickly interrupted by the pain from his injured limbs.
"Please remain as you are," Y/N said as she walked toward him. Her voice carried a calm authority that suggested she was not someone who easily accepted arguments. "There is no point in forcing your broken body to do something it cannot handle."
As she approached the bed, her eyes briefly shifted toward the other person in the room.
Itoshi Sae.
The momentary glance was enough for her to take in his presence, though Sae barely acknowledged it. He remained focused on his phone, seemingly unaffected by the arrival of someone new.
After a moment, Sae finally looked up.
The moment their eyes met, there was an immediate sense of contrast between them. Y/N carried herself with an open confidence, while Sae's expression remained unreadable, his gaze cold and distant as though he had already decided that the interaction was unnecessary.
Without saying a word, Sae stood from the couch and slipped his phone back into his pocket. His hands rested casually inside his pockets as he walked toward the door.
"Organize my schedule for today."
It was not a request.
It was an order.
His hand reached for the doorknob, fully expecting the matter to be handled without question.
"I think you should introduce yourself to your new manager first."
Her voice stopped him.
Sae paused.
Slowly, he turned around and looked at her. His expression remained unchanged, though there was a clear hint of irritation in his eyes. To him, introductions were unnecessary formalities. If someone was capable of doing their job, that was all that mattered.
"Itoshi Sae."
The introduction was brief. Almost painfully brief.
For a moment, nobody spoke.
She stared at him, clearly waiting for something more. Girolain looked between the two of them, already sensing the difficult dynamic that was beginning to form. Sae, however, seemed completely unaware of the awkwardness he had created. He looked at her as if she were simply another person occupying the room, nothing more.
"That's it?"
She folded her arms across her chest and turned toward Girolain with an expression of disbelief. "Isn't he a little too rude?" she asked. "Seriously, how do you deal with this brat?"
Girolain opened his mouth to respond, but no words immediately came out. It was difficult to defend Sae when, even by his own standards, the introduction had been unusually dismissive.
Sae raised an eyebrow at her choice of words. "You fucking annoy me." His voice remained calm, but the irritation behind it was obvious.
Instead of being offended, she only looked more amused. "That's unfortunate," she replied. "Because for the next three months, you're going to have to listen to me.”
Sae's expression remained unchanged.
"I'm not your coach, and I'm not here to tell you how to play football. But when it comes to your schedule, responsibilities, and everything outside the field, what I say goes.”
She tilted her head slightly. "Talent doesn't mean you get to ignore basic discipline.”
The statement caused him to pause.
Not because it hurt his pride, but because it was a reminder of something he often ignored. Talent, reputation, and achievements did not change the fact that he was still young. Like many athletes his age, he still required someone to manage the aspects of his life outside the field.
Girolain watched the exchange carefully before deciding to intervene. "Umm... Y/N, you do realize you're only eighteen yourself, right?"
She looked back at him without hesitation. "Yes. And he's seventeen." She shrugged.
"I'm not saying I'm some wise adult figure. I'm saying I'm legally old enough to handle the responsibility assigned to me, and he's still young enough to need someone keeping him from turning his schedule into a disaster.”
Sae's expression shifted slightly.
"I'll be eighteen soon," he replied, already turning toward the door. "So shut it."
Before either of them could respond, he walked out of the room, leaving behind an atmosphere that was somehow both tense and strangely amusing.
---
A week had passed since Y/N officially began working as Itoshi Sae's temporary manager. And somehow, despite knowing him for only seven days, she had already reached a conclusion.
Managing a world-class football player was not difficult. Managing Itoshi Sae was.
The problem was not his workload. His schedule was demanding, but nothing beyond what she had expected when she accepted the position. Appointments, travel arrangements, meetings, training schedules, all of it was manageable.
The difficult part was Sae himself.
He had a strange ability to turn even the simplest tasks into something unnecessarily complicated, especially when he considered them irrelevant.
Like choosing a suit.
His apartment was unusually quiet despite the amount of preparation taking place inside it. Several suits had been arranged neatly across the room, each one carefully selected by the stylist according to the theme and formality of the team's celebration dinner that evening.
Everything had already been prepared and the only thing left was for Sae to choose.
She stood near the couch with a tablet in one hand and the, waiting for the person responsible for making the final decision to actually acknowledge the existence of the suits.
But unfortunately, Itoshi Sae had other priorities. He was lying comfortably on the couch, completely absorbed in whatever was playing on the television.
She stared at him. "Itoshi Sae."
No response.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your suit."
Still nothing.
The only sounds filling the room were the voices coming from the television and the occasional tap of her fingers against the tablet as she reviewed his schedule.
She waited.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Nothing.
"Are you planning on attending the dinner wearing whatever you currently have on?"
Sae didn't even look away from the screen. "That would be easier."
Her expression remained blank. "That was not a serious suggestion."
"It was."
Y/N slowly lowered the tablet and then she reached forward and switched off the television.
The sudden silence finally managed to capture his attention. Sae looked up at her, his expression calm but clearly questioning her actions. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like?"
"Being annoying."
A polite smile appeared on her face. "Interesting. I was about to say the same thing about you."
Sae stared at her.
"The dinner is in a few hours. The stylist sent these options specifically because you need to choose one. I have other responsibilities besides standing here while you ignore everything placed directly in front of you."
"I was watching something."
"Are you being serious right now?"
For a moment, the two of them simply stared at each other. Neither willing to back down. Eventually, Sae let out a quiet sigh and stood up from the couch.
"You're exhausting."
"And yet somehow, I'm still managing to do my job while you are avoiding yours."
He ignored the comment and picked up the first suit.
The next thirty minutes passed in a silence that only existed between two equally stubborn people.
Sae moved between the bedroom and the living room, trying on the different options while Y/N remained seated on the couch, focused on her tablet.
Unlike him, she had no intention of involving herself in every little detail of the decision.
She had already done her part. The stylist had sent the options. She had organized everything. She had ensured that every necessary preparation was complete.
And the final choice belonged to him.
"Sae."
"Hm?"
"Your schedule for next month still needs confirmation."
"I'm not going anywhere next month."
"You are."
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
"Because you didn't check your schedule."
A brief silence followed. He walked out wearing another suit and glanced at himself in the mirror.
Y/N looked up. "Actually, I was just thinking about the people who have to spend an entire evening with you."
Sae raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"The team dinner."
She returned her attention to the tablet.
"I feel sorry for your teammates. Imagine having to sit across from someone as boring as you every time your team wins."
"I am not boring."
"You spend your free time watching football analysis videos and criticizing people."
"That's how I get better."
After trying on several options, Sae finally settled on one.
The suit was simple, refined, and suited him naturally. It did not attempt to make him appear older than he was, nor did it rely on unnecessary details to emphasize his status.
It simply looked like Sae.
"I'll wear this."
"Finally."
She stood and began gathering the remaining suits. "I'll return these." She carefully placed each suit back into its cover.
"Make sure you get ready by 7." And with that, she walked away before he could respond.
Later that evening, Sae was almost ready.
The apartment had returned to its usual silence. The chaos of preparation was gone, leaving only the faint sound of him adjusting his cuffs while checking the time.
The team celebration was nothing special to him. They won. They celebrated. Then they repeated the process again. It was a routine he had become accustomed to, one that carried little meaning beyond another obligation attached to his career.
The sound of the doorbell interrupted his thoughts. Assuming it was someone from the staff, he walked toward the entrance and opened the door.
And stopped.
Y/N stood on the other side.
For a moment, Sae simply looked at her.
It was strange.
He was used to seeing her with a tablet in her hand, reviewing schedules, making calls, or reminding him about things he had forgotten. She always looked prepared, professional, and focused on whatever task needed to be completed.
This was different.
She was dressed for the occasion. The unexpected change caught him off guard for a second longer than he would have liked.
Y/N tilted her head. "What?"
Sae immediately returned to his usual expression. "Why are you dressed like that?"
She looked down at herself before looking back at him. "Because I'm going to the party."
"You weren't invited."
"I am your manager." She stepped inside without waiting for permission. "The moment I found out managers attend these events too, I decided I was coming."
She turned around, letting the dress move slightly with her before finishing with an exaggerated pose.
"So?" A confident smile appeared on her face. "Do I look beautiful?"
Sae stared at her. For a brief moment, there was silence. Then he scoffed and closed the door behind her. "You look absolutely ridiculous."
The smile disappeared immediately. "Excuse me?"
"The dress is fine." He walked past her. "You are the problem."
Y/N narrowed her eyes. "You're lucky we're going to a formal event."
Sae continued walking. "Why?"
"Because otherwise, I would have already hit you."
She had barely finished speaking when her gaze dropped to his collar. Then she stopped.
Sae, who had been adjusting the cuffs of his shirt, noticed the change in her expression and frowned slightly. "What?"
Y/N pointed at him. "Where is your tie?"
He looked down at himself as if the answer might suddenly appear. "...I don't need one."
Sae looked away.
Y/N's eyes widened a little as realization hit her. "No way."
He glanced at her. "What."
"You don't know how to tie a tie."
His silence was answer enough.
For a second, she just stared at him and then she burst out laughing.
Sae's face went flat. "Stop laughing."
She covered her mouth, but that only made it worse. "You really don't know?"
"Can you help me or not?"
That made her laugh harder. Sae's brows furrowed.
"Do you know how tie a tie?"
Y/N stopped laughing just long enough to look at him. "No."
He blinked. "Then why were you laughing?"
She shrugged, still smiling. "Just for fun."
Sae stared at her like she had personally offended him. "You're unbelievable."
"And you're helpless."
He opened his mouth to argue, but she was already pulling out her phone.
"Wait."
He watched as she opened YouTube and typed something into the search bar.
Sae frowned. "What are you doing?"
"Saving your life."
She found a tutorial, propped her phone up against the mirror, and stepped closer to him.
Sae went still. Up close, it was harder to ignore how different she looked tonight. She was still Y/N, still sharp-tongued and infuriating, but the dress suited her far too well. It framed her figure elegantly, and the soft way her hair fell around her shoulders made her look almost unreal.
Sae looked away first.
Y/N, completely unaware of the effect she was having, reached for his collar.
"Hold still."
"I am holding still."
"You're glaring."
"That's still still."
She rolled her eyes and adjusted the fabric around his neck. The distance between them disappeared almost immediately.
Her fingers brushed the side of his neck as she straightened the tie, and Sae's shoulders stiffened before he could stop himself.
Y/N noticed. "Are you nervous?"
"No."
"You're red."
"I'm not."
She leaned in slightly to check the knot on the screen, and Sae's entire body went rigid.
The scent of her perfume was faint but unmistakable, and now that she was this close, he could see the small details he had missed before, the careful makeup, the soft shine of her lips, the way her expression changed when she concentrated.
It was distracting.
Annoyingly so.
Y/N glanced up at him and Sae immediately looked away.
She narrowed her eyes. "...Are you flustered?"
"No."
That answer came too quickly. Her lips twitched. "You're definitely flustered."
"I'm not."
"Then why won't you look at me?"
Sae's jaw tightened. "Because you're being annoying."
She smiled, clearly pleased with herself, and returned her attention to the tutorial. "Mm. Sure."
A few seconds later, she finished the knot and stepped back to inspect her work. "There."
Sae looked down at the tie. It was neat. Perfect, even. He should have said something. Instead, he found himself looking at her again.
She was still standing close enough that he could see the faint curve of her smile, the confidence in her posture, the way she looked completely satisfied with herself as if she had not just made him lose his composure over something as stupid as a tie.
Y/N noticed his stare. "What?"
Sae looked away immediately. "Nothing."
She studied him for a moment, then smirked. "Good. Because if you say anything stupid now, I might actually hit you."
For the first time that evening, Sae had no comeback. And Y/N, seeing that, looked far too pleased with herself.
3 months | in which Sae's manager is replaced with someone else for 3 months
itoshi sae x reader . contents . art credits to owner
This is a revamped version of the original story I wrote on wattpad. You can check it out if you want. But this version is going to be the better one ^-^
BOOK 1 of INTERTWINED SERIES
CH1 , CH2 , CH3
a/n - I first wrote this in 2023 lmao. Love visiting my old work and revamping them 😭☝️ This also has a little haikyuu crossover hehe <333
also!! to join the taglist comment '⚽️' and I'll tag you in all the upcoming chapters.
the appointment - prince!gojo x knight!reader . art credits to owner
in which crown prince gojo finally finds a perfectly legitimate excuse to keep his girlfriend beside him at all hours of the day.
The palace grounds stretched wide beneath the morning sky, lined with rows upon rows of armored knights standing at perfect attention. Sunlight caught against polished steel, turning the vast assembly into a sea of silver that shimmered with every passing breeze. Banners bearing the royal crest fluttered above them, their crimson and gold commanding silence long before a single order was given.
Today was not a day of battle.
It was a day of honor.
Every year, the knights from across the kingdom gathered within the royal capital for the Crown's Selection, a ceremony where the most distinguished soldiers were chosen to join the Royal Guard, the elite force entrusted with protecting the royal family and the palace itself.
To wear the royal crest upon one's armor was more than a promotion. It was the highest recognition a knight could receive.
The Royal Guard stood closest to the Crown, answered directly to the royal family, and carried a prestige unmatched anywhere else in the kingdom. Every knight present had dreamed of standing among them at least once.
The conversations that had quietly drifted through the assembled ranks came to an abrupt halt. The palace gates opened. A trumpet echoed across the grounds.
One by one, the royal guards lining the ceremonial path lowered their spears in salute.
"The Grand Marshal!"
The announcement rang across the courtyard. Every knight straightened instinctively. Through the gates rode the kingdom's Supreme Commander.
The Grand Marshal of the Crown. The Northern Duke. Lord Zairis.
Even without the title, he was impossible to mistake. Years of war had carved discipline into every movement he made. His black ceremonial armor bore traces of countless campaigns, its dark steel edged in gold, while the crimson cloak draped across his shoulders carried the insignia of House Zairis, the house that had commanded the kingdom's armies for generations.
He did not acknowledge the attention.
He expected it.
A single step behind him walked the Knight Commander of North.
Lady Y/N Zairis.
Unlike her father, she wore no cloak.
Only the crisp white and black uniform of the Northern Command, tailored with immaculate precision and marked by the insignia of her rank. A sword rested at her side, untouched yet ever present, while her posture remained perfectly straight, every movement measured with the effortless confidence of someone who had spent her entire life on battlefields rather than in court.
The murmurs began almost immediately.
"The Knight Commander..."
"They say she won the Battle of Frost Pass."
"I heard she became Knight Commander before twenty-three."
She paid none of it any mind. Her gaze remained fixed ahead. Behind her marched the Northern Army. Hundreds of soldiers moved as one. Not a single step fell out of rhythm. Not a single head turned. Not a single banner wavered.
The deep call of ceremonial horns echoed through the palace grounds.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Every knight present lowered themselves onto one knee in perfect unison, the synchronized movement rippling across the vast courtyard like a single living tide of steel.
The great doors leading onto the royal balcony opened.
"Their Imperial Majesties." The announcement carried across the palace grounds with practiced clarity.
The Emperor stepped onto the balcony first.
Clad in white ceremonial robes embroidered with gold, he carried none of the grandeur expected of a ruler trying to impress. His presence alone commanded the attention of thousands. Beside him stood the Empress, elegant in crimson silk trimmed with the royal crest, offering the assembled soldiers a warm smile as she surveyed the courtyard below.
Together, they represented the Crown.
The heart of the kingdom.
A moment later-
The Crown Prince emerged.
Satoru Gojo.
Unlike his parents, his attire was distinctly martial. A pristine white military coat rested neatly over black formal attire, accented with gold embroidery befitting the heir to the throne. A ceremonial sword hung comfortably at his waist, not merely decorative, but earned.
As he stepped forward beside the Emperor, a quiet murmur swept through the gathered ranks before disappearing just as quickly.
"The Crown Prince..."
Y/N's gaze lifted only briefly.
Just long enough to acknowledge the royal family. Then, with practiced discipline, it lowered once more.
The Emperor stepped toward the edge of the balcony. "My loyal subjects." His voice carried effortlessly across the palace grounds. "Today we gather not to celebrate victory upon the battlefield, but excellence upon it."
His gaze swept over the thousands assembled before him.
"The strength of this kingdom has never rested upon its walls, nor its wealth, nor even its throne."
"It rests upon those willing to defend it."
A pause.
"And among those defenders stand a chosen few whose service has distinguished them beyond expectation."
The Emperor turned slightly toward the assembled officers standing at the front of the formation.
"The recommendations submitted by the Grand Marshal..." His gaze settled briefly upon Duke Zairis. "...the Knight Commanders of the North, South, East, and West..." A respectful nod followed toward each of them in turn. "...along with the records reviewed by the Royal Military Council, have been carefully considered."
He looked once more upon the gathered soldiers. "Today, thirty knights shall be welcomed into the Royal Guard."
A wave of anticipation swept through the formation. For every knight standing in the courtyard, this was the moment they had spent years chasing.
The Emperor raised a single hand. "Let the ceremony commence."
A herald stepped forward, unfurling a long scroll sealed with the royal crest. "The first knight selected..."
One by one, the names echoed across the palace grounds. Each chosen knight stepped from their formation, crossed the courtyard beneath the watchful eyes of thousands, and knelt before the royal balcony to receive the white-and-gold cloak bearing the insignia of the Royal Guard.
Some had distinguished themselves through remarkable campaigns. Others had earned the unwavering confidence of their commanding officers. Several bore recommendations signed personally by the Grand Marshal himself. Others had been put forward by the Knight Commanders of the South, East, and West after years of exemplary service.
With every new name announced, another place within the Royal Guard was filled.
By the time the final knight stepped forward to receive the royal cloak, thirty of the kingdom's finest now stood together beneath the balcony, the newest guardians of the Crown.
The applause that followed rolled across the palace grounds like distant thunder.
"To the thirty knights chosen today..." The Emperor's voice carried warmly across the palace grounds. "...you have distinguished yourselves through unwavering courage, discipline, and loyalty to this kingdom."
His gaze settled upon the newly appointed Royal Guards standing proudly before the balcony.
"From this day forward, you shall bear not only the crest of the Royal Guard, but the trust of the Crown itself."
A faint smile crossed his features.
"Congratulations."
The palace grounds erupted into applause.
The newly appointed guards bowed deeply, unable to hide the pride spreading across their faces as cheers echoed through the assembled ranks.
Even among the officers standing at the front, smiles appeared. Y/N found herself applauding alongside the others. She recognized several of the names that had been called. One had trained beside her years ago at the Royal Academy. Another had served under the Northern Command during the Frost Campaign.
They had earned it. Every single one of them.
For a brief moment, the atmosphere softened into celebration. Until the Emperor spoke again. "There remains..." The applause gradually faded. "...one final appointment."
A ripple of confusion spread quietly through the gathered knights. Final appointment? The ceremony had never included anything beyond the Royal Guard selection.
The Emperor stepped aside. "As is the tradition of the royal family..." His gaze shifted toward the man standing beside him. "...the Crown Prince is granted the right to appoint his Personal Knight."
Murmurs broke out almost immediately. "A new Personal Knight?"
"I thought Sir Atsuya still held the position."
"Has His Highness dismissed him?"
"It must be a routine replacement."
Nothing about it seemed particularly unusual. A Crown Prince choosing a Personal Knight was hardly unprecedented. What surprised people was the timing. Such appointments were usually made privately within the palace, not before the entire military.
The Emperor inclined his head toward his son. For the first time since the ceremony began, Satoru Gojo stepped forward. The courtyard fell silent almost instinctively. His expression remained unreadable as his eyes drifted over the assembled officers.
"I hereby appoint..."
A pause.
"...Lady Y/N Zairis."
Silence.
Not the respectful silence of ceremony. The kind that arrived when an entire kingdom forgot how to breathe. No one moved. No one spoke. Thousands of eyes turned toward the Knight Commander of the North. This was impossible. The thought echoed through the courtyard without anyone daring to voice it.
A Knight Commander did not simply lead soldiers. They commanded entire regional armies. They stood at the very foundation of the kingdom's military. Below only one person. The Grand Marshal. To appoint such a commander as a Personal Knight...
It was akin to asking one of the kingdom's four pillars to leave its place and stand beside a single man. The appointment wasn't insulting. It was unthinkable. Even the newly appointed Royal Guards stared in disbelief. The murmurs that followed were no longer whispers of curiosity.
The Grand Marshel slowly turned his head. His gaze settled upon the Crown Prince. There was no visible anger upon Duke Zairis's face. Years of commanding armies had taught him that true authority rarely required expression.
Yet the unwavering stare he fixed upon the royal balcony carried enough weight to make seasoned generals uneasy.
Y/N felt it before she even looked. Against every instinct urging her to remain perfectly composed, her eyes shifted ever so slightly toward her father.
The look wasn't unknown. It's the same one she had witnessed before impossible military inspections, before commanders found themselves quietly dismantled for incompetence, before entire battle strategies were rewritten with nothing more than a calm order.
Her heart sank.
...Oh no.
She resisted the urge to close her eyes. Of all the people standing within the palace grounds today, there was only one whose opinion truly concerned her in this moment. And he was currently glaring at the Crown Prince.
Around them, the silence finally fractured. Whispers spread through the assembled knights, growing louder with every passing heartbeat.
"Lady Zairis...?"
"The Knight Commander?"
"Why her?"
"What happens to the Northern Command?"
"Who replaces the Knight Commander?"
"Has House Zairis agreed to this?"
"Why would the Crown Prince choose someone of her rank...?"
Only one person standing upon the balcony appeared entirely unsurprised. Satoru Gojo. His gaze never left her. As though, long before today... He had already made this decision.
---
The palace had fallen quiet by nightfall, but Suguru Geto was still working. A few documents tucked beneath his arm, he made his way toward the Crown Prince's chambers, intending to discuss tomorrow's schedule.
The guards outside immediately straightened. "Lord Geto."
"Is His Highness available?"
The guards exchanged a glance. "My apologies, my lord. His Highness has ordered that no one disturb him tonight."
Geto paused. "Oh?"
One of the guards nodded seriously. "His Highness and Lady Zairis are currently discussing something important."
A brief silence followed. Geto looked at the closed doors and then back at the guards. "Discussing something important."
"Yes, my lord."
"Right." A slow smile appeared on his face.
The guards looked confused. Geto had spent the last two years listening to the Crown Prince create increasingly ridiculous excuses to spend time with Lady Zairis.
Military discussions, security evaluations, strategic planning and now apparently, they had now moved on to "important discussions."
How creative.
"Very well," Geto said, turning away. "I won't disturb them."
"Should we inform His Highness that you came by?"
"No."
Geto adjusted the documents in his hand, hiding his amusement. "I'm sure whatever they're discussing is far more important than paperwork." At this point he wasn't even surprised.
Inside the chambers... the "important discussion" was not happening over documents. Instead, the bathing room was filled with warmth and quiet. Steam curled lazily through the air, softening the edges of the grand marble chamber. The glow of countless candles danced across the surface of the water, their golden reflections flickering gently with every movement. A faint fragrance of roses lingered throughout the room, carried by the warm mist and the delicate petals scattered across the bath.
The large bathing pool, was more than spacious enough for two people to forget the rest of the world existed beyond its walls.
His hands found their way around her waist, holding her close as she settled against him, her body fitting naturally against his. With his back resting against the edge of the pool, he looked at her as though he still couldn't quite believe she was truly there..
The warmth of the water surrounded them, the quiet crackle of candlelight filling the silence between soft laughter and whispered words. He pressed closer, burying his face against her shoulder, leaving gentle kisses along her skin as if trying to make up for every moment they had spent apart.
"You know," he murmured, his voice softer than it ever was in court, "I think I like this arrangement."
She smiled. "The one where I am forced to follow you everywhere?"
"The one where I don't have to let you go."
He never broke eye contact. His hand moved gently along her thigh, his finger making its way to her folds. She leaned in, wrapping her arms around his neck and captures his lips for a kiss as he brushes his thumb over her clit, making her whimper against his mouth.
He leaned deeper into the kiss again, as though he had completely forgotten that the rest of the world existed beyond those doors. But the moment didn't last long. A knock echoed through the chamber. Neither of them moved at first, but then another knock followed.
"Your Highness." The voice of the guard immediately pulled them back to reality. "The Empress has arrived."
The silence that followed was almost painful. Both of them froze, and then slowly looked toward the door, before sharply looking back at eachother.
Her eyes widened as she immediately pulled away. "Satoru."
"I know."
"No, I don't think you do."
"I really do."
The panic in his voice suggested otherwise. Another knock came. "Your Highness?"
Gojo looked toward the door, then back at her, completely unwilling to accept the situation. "Tell her to wait." He shouted on top of his lungs.
Y/N stared at him. "She is the Empress."
"She has waited before."
She glared at him which made him click his tongue in annoyance. "Five minutes!" He instructed.
She shook her head, already moving toward the edge of the pool. "We do not have five minutes."
"We absolutely have five minutes."
"We have, at most, two."
The Crown Prince of the kingdom, who could command armies and negotiate with foreign rulers without hesitation, looked genuinely distressed. "This is unfair."
The next few minutes were nothing short of chaotic.
The elegance expected of the Crown Prince and his Personal Knight disappeared entirely as they rushed to make themselves presentable. The careful composure they displayed before the court was replaced by whispered complaints, hurried movements, and Gojo desperately trying to find where he had left his coat.
"Where is my jacket?"
"You threw it over the chair."
"I did not."
"You did."
"...Why do you remember everything?"
"Because one of us has to."
A few moments later, the room were transformed back into the image of royal professionalism. The candles were adjusted. The bathing chamber was tightly shut. The documents that had been untouched all evening were suddenly placed across the desk.
By the time the doors finally opened, there was no trace of the chaos that had existed moments before. Satoru Gojo sat behind his desk, perfectly composed, a stack of reports arranged neatly before him.
Y/N stood nearby in her uniform, holding several documents in her hands, her expression calm and unreadable. The picture of a Crown Prince and his Personal Knight discussing matters of state.
Exactly what everyone expected.
The guards opened the doors. "The Empress."
Gojo straightened slightly. "Mother."
The Empress stepped inside, her gaze moving between the two of them, then the desk, the documents and the suspiciously rushed atmosphere.
A small smile threatened to appear on her lips as she noticed how the crimson cloak draped over Y/N's shoulders was fastened incorrectly, the belt at her waist had been secured in haste, missing one of the loops it normally sat through. A few strands of damp hair escaped around her face, refusing to cooperate with the image of perfect discipline she was trying to maintain.
Then her gaze shifted to her son whose hair was equally damp. His collar was slightly uneven. And his expression carried the unmistakable look of someone who had been caught off guard.
The Empress had to resist the urge to laugh. "Am I interrupting something important?"
Gojo answered far too quickly. "Very."
Y/N's eyes immediately moved toward him. The Empress noticed. Of course she did.
Gojo seemed to realize his mistake a moment later and cleared his throat, attempting to recover his dignity. "Important matters." A pause. "Regarding the Crown."
The Empress hummed quietly, looking between the two of them. She had heard that phrase countless times before. Ever since they were teenagers. Back then it had been secret meetings in the gardens, suspiciously time walks around the palace, and far too many excuses about "discussions" that somehow always involved the same two people.
They truly believed they were subtle. They believed that careful words and composed expressions could fool everyone around them.
But a mother noticed things others didn't. She noticed the way her son looked at Y/N when he thought no one was watching. She noticed the way Y/N's stern expression softened only around him. She noticed the small details they never thought to hide.
And after all these years, they still hadn't realized that nothing escaped a mother's eye.
EPILOGUE (FEW HOURS BACK)
The ceremony had finally come to an end. The palace grounds that had been filled with thousands of voices slowly returned to their usual rhythm. Knights dispersed into their respective formations, officials returned to their duties, and the echoes of celebration gradually faded into the quiet order of the royal palace.
But Satoru Gojo barely noticed any of it. Instead, he was thinking about tomorrow. And the day after that. And every day that would follow. She would be beside him every day.
The thought alone was enough to bring a smile to his face. He could already imagine it. Morning briefings with Y/N standing beside his desk. Training sessions where he could finally annoy her without having to worry about appearances. Meals where he wouldn't have to pretend he didn't notice whether she had eaten enough. Meetings where he could simply glance to his side and know she was there.
It was perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
So perfect, in fact, that he failed to notice the guards stationed outside his chambers watching him approach with increasingly concerned expressions.
"Your Highness."
No response.
Gojo continued walking, completely lost in thought.
"Your Highness."
Still nothing.
One of the guards exchanged a glance with the other. Perhaps they should try again. "His Grace, Duke Zairis, has been waiting inside for some time."
Nothing.
The Crown Prince simply reached the doors with the faintest smile still on his face.
The guards hesitated. "Your Highness-"
But it was too late. The doors opened and the smile disappeared immediately.
Because sitting by the window of his chambers, looking entirely too comfortable for someone who had not been invited, was the one person in the kingdom who could make Satoru Gojo forget every ounce of confidence he possessed.
Duke Zairis.
The Grand Marshal of the Crown.
Y/N's father
He sat calmly upon the couch, one arm resting against the side, his expression unreadable. Just a quiet, intimidating presence that made the room feel several degrees colder.
Just a quiet, intimidating presence that made the room feel several degrees colder. Gojo stopped in the doorway. For a moment, neither man spoke. The cheerful thoughts from moments ago vanished completely. Perhaps he should have taken a longer route back to his chambers.
The door slowly closed behind him. "Your Grace." His voice was noticeably more careful now.
Duke Zairis looked toward him. "Your Highness."
The way he said the title made Gojo's shoulders tense. Because somehow... It sounded less like respect and more like a warning.
"May I ask why you are waiting in my chambers, Your Grace?" Gojo carefully asked.
The Duke's gaze remained fixed on him. "Do you truly need to ask?"
He exactly knew what that meant. "Ah."
The Duke stood and Gojo's body automatically took a step back. "I have spent years watching men approach my daughter."
"Your Grace-"
"I have watched nobles attempt to impress her. Commanders attempt to win her respect. Young knights attempt to earn her attention."
He walked closer. "And every single time, I have removed them from consideration."
Gojo blinked. "...Removed?"
The Duke stopped in front of him. "And then you."
Gojo pointed at himself. "Me?"
"You." The Grand Marshal's expression remained completely serious. "You decided that instead of simply asking for my approval..."
Gojo's eyes shifted slightly.
"...you would announce before the entire kingdom that my daughter is now your personal knight."
A silence followed.
Gojo swallowed. "When you phrase it like that-"
"How else should I phrase it?"
Gojo opened his mouth then closed it. Because unfortunately, he could not think of a better explanation.
The Duke stared at him for several long seconds. "You took the Knight Commander of the North, a woman who has spent years earning the respect of an entire army, and placed her directly in the line of fire beside you."
The Duke took another step closer. "If she is standing beside you, she will put herself between you and any threat without hesitation."
Gojo didn't respond.
The Duke's expression remained firm. "And if she gets hurt because of that?"
The room fell silent and then without a warning, the Duke's hand moved. The sound of steel leaving its sheath echoed through the chamber.
Gojo froze completely. His eyes dropped to the blade that was now drawn, the edge resting dangerously close beneath his chin.
For the first time in his life, he forgot every word he knew. "Duk- Duke... Zairis"
The Duke's expression did not change. "If my daughter is harmed because she is protecting you..." The blade shifted slightly. "Or if she sacrifices herself because she believes it is her duty to stand between you and danger..."
His voice remained calm.
"I will forget that you are the Crown Prince."
Gojo stared at him. The terrifying part was not the sword. It was the complete certainty in the Duke's voice. Because he believed every word.
"I will not care about your title."
"I will not care about the throne."
"I will only remember that you are the man who put my daughter in harm's way."
Gojo swallowed very carefully. Because moving seemed like an incredibly bad idea. "I see."
The Duke watched him. "Do you?"
"Yes."
A moment passed. Then Gojo, unfortunately, remembered that he was still Satoru Gojo. Which meant he had to say something. Anything. And that was his mistake.
"But..."
The Duke's eyes narrowed.
Gojo immediately regretted continuing. "That's what a Personal Knight does."
Silence. Absolute dead silence.
The blade remained exactly where it was. The Duke slowly looked at him. "Your Highness."
The way he said it made Gojo's soul leave his body.
"I mean-"
"YOUR HIGHNESS."
Gojo immediately raised both hands. "I apologize."
Hi don't know if you remember my request about Han Sugang x reader who is like Yeon Sieun? I was wondering if you still have it and you have not forgotton it? 🫂
I do have a suggestion for actor!gojo au (if you don't like it, that's totally fine), but maybe, since they filmed their movie, it's time for the interviews together to promove it, right? but then their fans notice some sort of tension, since the last one ended with the kiss and their tension, idk, i'm throwing some ideas...
hiyaaa! suggestion for actor!gojo seriesss: they react to something together or like timeskip to an interview about the movie they star in orrrr hot ones! (the chicken wing show!)
The new chapter is outttt hehehe. Enjoy reading it!!!
The cameras turn toward the stars as Gojo and Y/N celebrate their film’s success and revisit the moments that made it unforgettable.
The studio was quieter than most interview sets. There were no screaming fans outside the entrance, no flashing cameras waiting beyond the doors, no rush of people trying to capture a single moment before it disappeared.
The lighting was warm. Soft enough to feel inviting, but carefully placed enough that every frame looked like it belonged on screen. The kind of set where the conversation mattered more than the spectacle of it.
A large screen stood behind the stage, paused on a still from the film. Two characters. Above it, simple white lettering.
THE SCENE STUDY.
The audience settled as the opening music faded into the background. The camera moved slowly across the studio, catching shelves lined with scripts, framed posters from previous episodes, and a wall covered with handwritten notes from actors who had appeared before.
The host walked onto the set with an easy smile.
“Welcome back to The Scene Study.”
The applause that followed was warm. He waited until the room settled before continuing. “Every film has moments that stay with audiences.” A pause. “Sometimes it’s a line. Sometimes it’s a performance. Sometimes it’s a scene that changes the entire way we understand a character.”
The screen behind him shifted. Clips from previous episodes appeared briefly. Actors discussing their roles. Directors explaining choices. Scenes being paused and examined frame by frame.
“Today’s film has been one of the most talked-about releases of the year,” he continued. “A story built around two people who couldn’t be more different, forced into trusting each other when everything they believed about one another was challenged.”
The screen changed again. The title appeared and the audience reacted immediately.
“And joining us today are the two actors who brought that story to life.” The camera moved toward the entrance.
“Please welcome… Gojo Satoru and Y/N.”
The applause began before they even appeared. Gojo walked out first, as effortlessly composed as always. He offered a small wave toward the audience, a smile appearing naturally as he stepped onto the stage.
Then Y/N followed. She smiled as she walked beside him, greeting the audience with the same warmth she always carried.
They took their seats across from the host, adjusting slightly as the applause faded into quiet conversation. The host smiled between them. “Thank you both for being here.”
“Thank you for having us,” Y/N replied.
Gojo nodded. “Happy to be here.”
The host glanced briefly toward the screen behind them. “I want to start by saying congratulations. This film has had an incredible response.”
“Thank you,” Y/N said.
Gojo nodded again. “It’s been really special.”
“And I think what makes this movie interesting,” the host continued, “is that audiences connected with the relationship between your characters not because it was easy…”
He paused. “But because it wasn’t.” The screen behind them shifted. A still image from the film. Their characters standing opposite each other.
“Your characters spend a large part of the movie fighting against each other before they ever start fighting for each other.”
A small smile. “So today, we’re going to do something different.” He turned slightly toward the screen. “Usually, I personally select the scenes that are discussed during the interview but for today, we had asked our audience to select the scenes.”
The camera briefly caught Gojo and Y/N exchanging a glance. Because they both knew exactly what scenes were coming. The host smiled. “Welcome to The Scene Study.”
SCENE 1
The hallway was already a mess. Broken glass covered the floor. Alarms blared. Several men surrounded her, confident they had the advantage. They were wrong. She moved first.
The first attacker barely had time to react before she grabbed his arm, using his own momentum to throw him into the wall. She immediately turned toward the next one, ducking beneath his swing and driving her elbow into his side.
Another came from behind. She saw him through the reflection of the glass. A quick turn. A kick. He dropped. The remaining men rushed her together, expecting strength to win. Instead, she used the room.
A table became a barrier. A loose weapon became a distraction. Every movement was calculated. She wasn’t fighting harder. She was fighting smarter.
One man charged at her. She stepped aside at the last second, letting him crash into the others behind him.
Silence.
Y/N stood in the middle of the hallway, breathing steadily as the last attacker fell. She adjusted her jacket, looked at the locked door ahead, and walked forward. Like none of it had been a challenge.
The screen faded back to black. The applause continued for a few seconds longer before slowly settling down. The host smiled, glancing between the screen and Y/N.
“I think that scene speaks for itself,” he said. “It’s one of the moments from the film that has been praised the most. The choreography, the pacing, the way the camera follows the entire sequence without losing the intensity…”
He looked toward Y/N. “I think a lot of people assumed there were multiple stunt doubles involved for something like this. How much of that was actually you?”
Before Y/N could answer, Gojo immediately leaned slightly forward. “All of it.”
The host blinked. Y/N looked at him and Gojo smiled, completely unbothered. “All of it,” he repeated. “She didn’t use a stunt double for that scene.”
The audience reacted immediately. A wave of surprise moved through the room. The host turned back toward her. “Not even for the more dangerous parts?”
She shook her head slightly, already looking a little embarrassed by the attention. “No, I mean-”
“She did everything,” Gojo interrupted again, like he was genuinely amazed all over.
She glanced at him again “Satoru.”
“What?” he asked innocently. The audience laughed. “I’m just saying,” he continued, turning back toward the host, “I remember watching the rehearsal for that scene and thinking they were going to bring in someone else for some of the more difficult parts.”
He gestured toward the screen. “And then she just did it.” Y/N looked away, trying not to smile.
The host noticed. “It sounds like you were pretty impressed.”
“I was,” Gojo answered immediately.
There was no hesitation. That earned another reaction from the audience. Gojo didn’t seem to notice. “Because it’s not just about being physically capable,” he continued. “A lot of people can learn choreography. But that scene required her to think while moving. She had to know where the camera was, where every other actor was, what the timing was…”
He nodded toward the screen. “And she never broke character.”
Y/N’s expression softened slightly. The host smiled. “That’s a pretty strong compliment.”
“She deserves it,” Gojo said simply.
For a second, Y/N looked like she didn’t know what to do with herself. She adjusted slightly in her seat, clearing her throat. “Okay, now I’m just sitting here while he talks about me like I’m not here.”
The audience laughed and Gojo shrugged. “You’re bad at complimenting yourself.”
“That’s not true.”
“It is.”
“It’s not.”
“It is.”
The host laughed, watching their exchange.
“Alright, I think we’ve established that Gojo was very impressed.”
Y/N covered a small smile. “Apparently.”
The host turned back toward her. “So, what was the preparation like for a sequence like this? Because this isn’t just a fight scene. It’s a very physically demanding scene.”
Y/N nodded, becoming more thoughtful. “It was a lot of training.”
“How long?”
“About four months before filming started,” she answered. “We worked on the choreography, strength training, flexibility, endurance. A lot of repetition.”
She glanced toward the screen. “The biggest thing was making sure it didn’t look like a sequence of moves. It had to feel like she was actually trying to survive.”
The host nodded. “Because your character isn’t a traditional fighter.”
“Exactly,” Y/N said. “She’s not the strongest person in the room. She knows that. So she doesn’t try to overpower everyone.”
Gojo nodded beside her and looked back at the screen. “Actually, this scene was shot in one take.”
The room immediately reacted. The host turned toward him.
“Wait. The entire sequence?”
Gojo nodded. “The entire thing.”
The audience reacted again, louder this time. Y/N laughed softly. “It just happened. Even I don’t know how I did it.”
The host looked impressed.
“As I was watching the scene being filmed, I legit had goosebumps. Everything was so in sync. And this was also the first day of shoot. She left quiet an impression on me.” Gojo laughed.
The host looked between them, smiling. “I think this might be the first time an actor has come on this show and accidentally become their co-star’s biggest fan.”
The audience laughed. Y/N immediately shook her head. “He is just exaggerating.”
Gojo looked at her. “I am not!”
SCENE 2
The room was already tense. Two people standing on opposite sides of the same problem. Two people who were far too stubborn to admit the other person might have a point.
The argument had clearly been going on for a while. Y/N stood in front of him, expression cold and unimpressed. Gojo character looked just as irritated. Neither of them looked willing to back down.
Then
Slap.
The sound echoed. The entire room went still. Gojo’s head turned slightly from the impact. Slowly, he looked back at her. The disbelief on his face lasted only a second before it was replaced by a sharp glare.
Y/N didn’t move. She simply stared back. Then, as if proving a point-
Slap.
The second one landed. His expression changed instantly. Just pure disbelief. The two of them stared at each other in silence. Completely unwilling to surrender.
Gojo laughed the moment the scene paused. Not a small laugh either. The kind that made him lean back in his chair, shaking his head as if he had been waiting for that exact clip to appear.
The audience laughed along, mostly because of his reaction rather than the scene itself. Y/N covered her mouth slightly.
The host looked amused. “I think we have our answer on whether this scene was difficult to film.”
Gojo was still laughing. “Yeah.”
He looked at the screen again, then at Y/N. “Yeah, it was.”
The host smiled. “How many takes did this take?”
There was no hesitation. “Ten.”
The audience reacted immediately.
“Ten?” the host repeated. Gojo nodded, completely serious. “Ten.”
Y/N turned toward him. “That’s actually a lot considering the scene is five seconds.”
“Exactly,” Gojo said. “Five seconds.”
The host laughed. “So what happened?”
Gojo looked like he was about to answer, but Y/N got there first. “He kept ruining it.”
The audience immediately laughed. Gojo looked offended. “I did not.”
“You were laughing.”
“That’s part of my acting process.”
“That is not a process.”
The host watched them exchange looks, clearly entertained. “Alright, I need the story behind this.”
Y/N sighed, shaking her head slightly as she looked back at the screen. “The thing is, the scene itself wasn’t complicated. It was just supposed to be this really intense moment between two characters who genuinely hated each other.”
She gestured toward the screen. “My character is angry. She’s not trying to be nice about it.”
Gojo nodded. “Exactly.”
“And before filming,” she continued, “he told me…”
She pointed at him.
“‘Don’t hold back. Actually slap me hard.’”
The audience reacted. The host turned toward Gojo. “You asked her to actually slap you hard?”
Gojo shrugged. “Yes.”
“Why?”
He pointed toward the screen. “Look at the scene. They’re enemies. There’s years of anger there. If she just lightly touched my face, it wouldn’t make sense.”
Y/N nodded. “That’s what he kept saying.”
She looked back at the audience. “He was like, ‘Your character is angry at him. She wouldn’t go soft. She wouldn’t apologize halfway through. She would actually hit him.’”
Gojo smiled proudly, like he was quoting himself. “And I agreed.”
The host raised his eyebrows. “So you actually slapped him?”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
Y/N immediately answered. “He laughed.”
The audience burst out laughing. Gojo covered his face briefly, already smiling. “I couldn’t help it.”
The host laughed. “So the first take failed because he laughed?”
“Yes,” Y/N said.
“And the second?”
“He laughed again.”
Gojo lifted a finger. “Okay, but the second one was because she surprised me.”
Y/N stared at him. “You literally told me to hit you.”
“I know. But I didn’t expect you to listen that well. That was a tight slap.”
The audience laughed.
The host looked between them. “So every time she slapped you, you broke character?”
“Not every time,” Gojo defended himself.
Y/N looked at him. “Most times.”
“Most times,” he admitted.
She shook her head, smiling despite herself. “He kept saying, ‘Again. Harder.’ And when I did, he would wince.”
Gojo looked back at the paused scene.
“That’s the thing about filming something like this. You can’t think about the actor. You have to think about the character. My character wouldn’t be offended because she slapped him. He would be angry because of what that slap meant.”
A small pause. “And her character wouldn’t stop herself because she’s worried about hurting him.”
The host nodded, impressed by the explanation. “So eventually, you got the take?”
“Take ten,” Y/N said.
Gojo smiled. “The final one.”
“And that was the one they used,” the host said.
“Yes.”
SCENE 3
“You never listen,” she snapped, shoving against his chest as the argument continued from the previous take. “That’s your problem. You think you can control everything.”
“And you think recklessness fixes things?” he shot back. His voice was sharp now. Frustrated. Intense enough that even knowing it was acting didn’t stop the way it hit her.
Rain poured between them. Down his face. Across his mouth.
“You don’t even trust me,” she said.
“I do!” He shouted which actually startled her.
And then he moved. Fast enough that her breath caught. One hand tightened at her waist as he leaned in. Her fingers slipped immediately into the damp strands at the back of his hair, gripping tightly enough to pull a quiet breath from him as she kissed him back with the same frustration that had been building between their them the entire night.
Gojo’s hand tightened instinctively at her waist, pulling her closer against him with enough force that she slid slightly forward on the hood of the car. His other hand came up to her jaw, thumb brushing briefly against rain-soaked skin before tilting her face more firmly toward his.
It felt angry.
But not entirely.
There was something desperate hidden underneath it now. Her heartbeat slammed painfully hard against her ribs as his mouth moved against hers again, slower this time, deeper.
A small sound escaped her somewhere between a breath and his name when his fingers pressed more firmly into her waist, and she felt him react to it instantly.
Rainwater dripped from his hair onto her face, onto her lips, cold against skin already burning hot beneath it. Her hands tightened in his hair again and he stepped even closer between her legs, chest pressing fully against hers now.
The argument still lingered between every breath they took. It lived in the roughness of the kiss, in the way he kissed her like he was still angry at her, like he wanted to win something neither of them understood anymore.
And she gave it back just as fiercely.
Gojo’s hand slid from her jaw to the back of her neck, fingers disappearing into wet strands of hair as he kissed her again with enough intensity to pull another breathless sound from her lips.
The rain continued pouring over them in heavy sheets while neon lights blurred around the edges of the set. The hood of the car creaked softly beneath her shifting weight when Gojo stepped even closer, and she could feel the rapid rise and fall of his breathing against her through his soaked shirt.
The audience was completely silent for exactly three seconds. Then the clip ended. The screen faded to black. And the entire studio erupted.
A mix of laughter, cheers, and surprised reactions filled the room. Some people clapped. Others were still staring at the screen like they needed a moment to process what they had just watched.
Back on the stage, neither actor was looking at the audience. Y/N had immediately grabbed the pillow from beside her chair and buried her face into it.
Completely. Only the top of her head was visible.
Meanwhile, Gojo had both hands covering his face, leaning back in his seat like he was physically trying to escape the memory. The host looked between them, trying and failing not to laugh. “I think…” he started, pausing as the audience continued laughing, “I think this might be the first time a scene has ended and both actors immediately tried to disappear.”
Y/N made a muffled noise from behind the pillow. “Why did you play this scene!”
The host laughed, clearly entertained by the fact that neither of them seemed capable of recovering. “Because,” he said, gesturing toward the screen behind them, “our audience voted for it.” Y/N slowly lifted her head from behind the pillow just enough to glare at the screen.
Gojo finally lowered his hands from his face, though he still looked like he regretted every decision that had led him to that chair.
The host laughed, looking between them. “Alright, alright. Let’s try to talk about the scene.”
Both of them immediately looked nervous again. Y/N slowly pulled the pillow back up. “No.”
The audience laughed. The host smiled. “Just a few questions.”
Gojo sighed dramatically. “This is a trap.”
The host turned toward the screen. “This was one of the most talked-about scenes from the movie. The chemistry between your characters was something audiences really noticed.”
He looked toward them.
“What was the most challenging part of filming it?”
A very long pause.
Y/N looked at Gojo.
Gojo looked at Y/N.
Neither answered.
The host raised his eyebrows. The audience started laughing again.
Finally, Y/N lowered the pillow slightly. “Um…”
“The rain.”
Both of them answered at the same time.
“The rain was difficult,” Y/N repeated.
“Yes,” Gojo agreed.
That made the entire audience laugh.
The host covered his smile, trying to stay professional. “Okay. The rain. Anything else?”
Y/N looked down. Gojo looked away.
The host slowly nodded. “Interesting.”
Gojo Satoru & Y/N Rewatch Their Most Iconic Scenes From the Film | The Scene Study
12.4M views · 2 days ago · 89K comments
comments
cinemalover “the rain was difficult” BRO WE KNOW THAT WAS NOT THE ONLY DIFFICULT PART 💀
actoranalysis you can actually tell how much respect they have for each other as actors. the way they talk about the scenes is really sweet
behindthescenes the slap scene story was actually so funny because Gojo was like “hit me harder” and then got surprised when she actually did
filmarchives this interview proved their chemistry isn’t just on screen. they genuinely enjoy working together
yunjinarchive waiting for the behind-the-scenes footage of scene 3 because there is NO WAY that was normal filming 😭
filmnerd88 the way Gojo answered “all of it” BEFORE Y/N could even explain the stunt scene… sir you are supposed to be talking about the movie not promoting your co-star 💀
actioncinema the one take fight scene is insane. also the way she explained that her character fights smarter, not stronger >>>>>
gojossunglasses Gojo: “don’t hold back, actually slap me hard” Y/N: actually slaps him hard Gojo: surprised pikachu face
ynlover this episode started with “let’s analyze their acting” and ended with two actors refusing to discuss their own chemistry 10/10 interview.
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INDUSTRY INSIDER - Gojo Satoru and Y/N Spark Dating Rumors After Private Resort Appearance
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Fans may have a new reason to believe that the chemistry between Gojo Satoru and Y/N extends far beyond the screen.
The two actors, who recently starred together in the critically acclaimed film, have sparked fresh dating rumors after reportedly being spotted together at a private luxury resort following the film’s promotional schedule.
Neither Gojo nor Y/N has addressed the speculation, but photos from the location have quickly spread across social media, with fans analyzing every detail of their appearance.
In the images circulating online, the pair can be seen spending time together away from the spotlight, walking around the resort grounds, talking casually, and appearing noticeably comfortable in each other’s company.
One photo in particular has gained significant attention. Gojo can be seen looking toward Y/N while she appears distracted by something else, causing fans to immediately draw comparisons to his behavior during their recent The Scene Study interview, where he openly praised her dedication to the film.
“He has never looked at anyone like that,” one fan wrote.
Others pointed out that the two actors have displayed an unusually close friendship throughout the film’s press tour, from playful interview moments to their constant support of each other’s performances.
During the interview, Gojo quickly defended Y/N’s stunt work, revealing that she completed one of the film’s most difficult action sequences without a stunt double.
“She deserves the recognition,” he said at the time.
Fans have since revisited previous clips of the pair, claiming that their interactions show a level of comfort that goes beyond a typical co-star relationship.
However, sources close to the actors have stated that the two have always maintained a strong friendship since filming began and that their current relationship status remains private.
For now, Gojo Satoru and Y/N have given fans no official answer, leaving the internet to continue doing what it does best: investigating every smile, every glance, and every interaction.
And if the reactions online are anything to go by, fans are already convinced there is more to the story.
comments
y/nfanclub she went from “I admire his acting” to “vacation photos with him” IM CRYING 😭
popculturewatcher Guys remember, actors can be friends. Not every interaction means dating.
gojoswhitehair I AM SORRY BUT THE SECOND PHOTO???? THE WAY HE’S LOOKING AT HER?????
satorus “they’re just friends” yeah and I’m the director of the film
midnightviewer The funniest outcome would be if they’re actually dating and everyone spent months calling it “chemistry.”
gojolover y/n is achieved her fangirl dream.
y/nxgojo that right there is a successful fangirl
a/n - DID YOU GUYS ENJOY IT??!?!?! IT'S BACKKKKKK.
no pressure!!! i just really miss your actor!gojo au soooo much, it's damn good! hope to see more of it soon <3
Awww thank you so muchhh for loving it!! I am just out of ideas for that au now 😭😭 I can continue it if I ever feel some inspiration flowing through me. Or if someone requests something!!
I started overrule because I wanted to write royal au gojo. But now I don't wanna write like a full fledged story! And I realised I have free will 😭 So I will be only writing scenes that I wanted to write lmaoooo