With the release of JJK chapter 236, many people are shocked, confused and outraged at his characterisation at the end of his run in the manga. There are claims of character assassination, of blatant disregard for everything he has done so far, of telling instead of showing. The portrayal of Gojo as someone whose primary motivation was strength has left multitudes of fans reeling.
Nanami states that Gojoâs reason for wielding jujutsu was not his own survival, nor the protection of others, but rather in pursuit of wanton satisfaction. Gojo does not deny this and neither can we. After all, in chapter 233 it was stated by the narrator that as the possibility of defeat crossed Gojoâs mind, an intense feeling of satisfaction bubbled up in him as well. The truth is, Gojo loves jujutsu. He loves his own strength. He loves to use it, to show it off, to flex. He revels in his own power.
Gojo enjoys being The Strongest.
However, he doesnât enjoy being The Strongest, alone.
The contradiction in Gojo is that, much like Sukuna, he sees himself as More Than. They are beyond humans, beyond curses, beyond anything of this world. They exist in a realm of their own. Make no mistake, Gojo harbours great affection for those around him. He says as much in 236 (ăżăăȘć€§ć„œăăćŻăăăŻăȘăăŁă - I really liked everyone and I wasnât lonely). But he also admits that there was a separation between himself and other other living creatures. This phrasing is crucial. Gojo is effectively admitting here that from his perspective, other humans are as different from him as any other creature of this world. He doesnât even really consider them to be the same species. This is further reinforced through his analogy of flowers. He states that you can admire a flower and make it bloom, but you donât wish to be understood by it. Gojo cares for those around him and he cultivated his students to help them blossom, to achieve their potential, but they were flowers to him. They were inferior beings, incapable of understanding his superior existence, and so why should he open himself up to them? Shoko mentally chastises him for this in chapter 220, pointing out that she was right there alongside him even with the loss of Geto, that all his talk of being alone was idiotic because she was there and he couldâve relied on her. But he didnât because in his mind, Shoko, like everyone else, is inferior and incapable of understanding him. To him, it is pointless to try.
But where Gojo differs significantly from Sukuna, is that Gojo desperately wants to be understood.
Gojo is so painfully human in that way. Perhaps he wouldnât be, had he never known Geto. But he did know him, and for those 3 years, Gojo knew companionship. He felt understood by Geto because Geto, being equally The Strongest, was capable of understanding Gojo, in Gojoâs own mind. When Geto defected, he called Gojo arrogant in his own strength for saying killing all non-sorcerers would be impossible for Geto and attempting the impossible was pointless, when such a task would not be impossible for Gojo himself. He asks of Gojo, âare you the strongest because youâre Gojo Satoru, or are you Gojo Satoru because youâre the strongest?â. This exchange, unfortunately causes Gojo to misunderstand Getoâs reason for defecting, or at least to oversimplify it. Gojoâs takeaway is that the issue was in Getoâs inability to keep pace with him. This would further solidify his belief that he exists apart from all of humanity. Yet he could not make peace with that. He mourned Getoâs departure and disliked his newfound loneliness (which, mind you, was only the case because of that very belief that only an equal in strength can understand him).
This would drive Gojo to seek out Megumi, something he could have done at any point in the year since Tojiâs death but had no motivation to do. The words he says to Megumi are crucial - âćŒ·ăăȘăŁăŠăăćă«çœźăăŠăăăăȘăăăăâ or âGet strong. Enough to not be left behind by me.â From this, two things are clear. First, that Gojo has no intention of slowing down. Second, that Gojo wants Megumi to be on his level. Heâs essentially seeking out another Geto, one that he wonât lose to their own inability to keep up with him. Heâs not willing to come down from his superhuman level to connect with the average - as previously said, Gojo revels in his own strength - but rather he wants others to ascend to his level. Gege stated in the fanbook that the reason Gojo went to find Megumi was because heâs seeking talented people, and the reason he helps problem children like Yuta and Yuji is because theyâre strong so he doesnât care about the other details. There is no mention of righteousness or kindness in his actions here. Now, the fanbook is secondary material so I will always err on the side of the main text taking precedence. But since the main text does not give us any explanation from Gojo as to his true reason for saving Yuta and Yuji, and Gegeâs explanation in the fanbook on Gojoâs recruit of Megumi aligns with what we see in the manga, itâs likely that his interest in Yuta and Yuji is indeed purely due to their strength potential, at least at first. He does grow fond of them as people, and he wants them to enjoy their youth. But ultimately, his reason for raising them remains that, selfishly, he doesnât want to be alone at the top.
His idea of âresetting the crappy jujutsu worldâ is making it so that life as a jujutsu sorcerer is as fun for everyone as it is for him, or at least as he imagines it would be if his youth hadnât been interrupted by Getoâs spiral. Being a jujutsu sorcerer is Gojoâs job, but he doesnât resent it at all. Because unlike all the other sorcerers who are here because they have no choice, or because they feel a sense of responsibility to protect the defenceless, or because they fear being killed by curses and using jujutsu as a retired sorcerer is illegal (looking at you, Kusakabe), Gojo is here because jujutsu is fun. He doesnât feel that inherent drive to protect the defenceless (he actually finds that part of it kind of exhausting) and he doesnât feel that fear because no curse could remotely threaten him, so he just gets to enjoy jujutsu for what it is. Gojo wants the same for his students. He wants them to enjoy the experience of life as a jujutsu sorcerer, without fear, and without suffering and being forced to question what the hell theyâre even doing this for. If they can be as strong as him, there is nothing to worry about - nobody dies, nobody gets left alone, nobody falls behind. Itâs an idyllic picture for Gojo.
There seems to be a misconception that 326 suggests that Gojoâs only reason for training the students was to eventually fight them at their best. That is not the case. Gojoâs love of fighting and Gojoâs desire for an equal are two separate things that only got amalgamated in Sukuna. After all, Gojo never sought to fight Geto. We know they scuffled sometimes, but itâs not like Gojo was constantly trying to instigate a death match. His desire for an equal is, on its own, simply a desire to be understood, something he does not believe is possible by a weaker being. He longs for companionship but wonât let himself find it in people he views as inferior. Regardless of having an equal, Gojo still loves his own strength. He loves toying with opponents, and showing off, and brutal violence. The more challenging the opponent/situation, the further he gets to stretch his limbs.
Fighting Sukuna presented Gojo with an opportunity to satisfy both of these things.
Does Gojo have anything against Sukuna or the way he lives his life? Not really. There isnât an ideological opposition at play here like there is between Yuji and Sukuna, they just happen to be allied with parties who are in conflict. And, with them both being the jujutsu-loving, strength merchants that they are, theyâre genuinely excited at the prospect of fighting each other. Gojo does want and plan to save Megumi, sure, but in any case that requires defeating Sukuna. He wasnât bluffing when he said heâd worry about that later - fighting Sukuna genuinely takes priority, both strategically and selfishly.
In terms of the fight, Gojo has a blast. He gets to go all out like heâs never gone all out before. Heâs pushed to invent things on the spot or legitimately just die. He doesnât even have to toy with his opponent to keep the fight going, heâs sprinting from start to finish and is giddy with it. This is possibly the most fun heâs ever had.
In terms of the emotion, Gojo has been desperately trying to find someone as strong as him because (he believes) only they can understand him. Itâs to the point that he has spent the past decade trying to basically build-a-bear some equals. Suddenly, heâs presented with one, fully formed, requiring no additional shaping on his part. Itâs believable that he would be excited to take that chance of being understood, being seen wholly, by the only person alive in the world at this moment that he believes capable of wrapping their mind around him, since theyâre both so far above every other living being.
And so Gojo fights Sukuna and pours everything he is into it. He pushes his body to its physical limits, he uses every jujutsu ability heâs ever learned, he comes up with new ideas on the spot, he throws out multiple max output attacks. Everything we have ever been told that Gojo is capable of doing gets put on show in this fight. He does all this because he wants Sukuna to see him in his entirety, because nobody else ever has. If he tried to unleash all of this on anybody else, it would kill them before he could even get a quarter of the way through.
See, on the one hand, Gojoâs self imposed isolation is born of his own arrogance but on the other hand, heâs also right in a way; because jujutsu is a part of the makeup of Gojo Satoru - its something he enjoys and it will always be a part of him. Yet he does not fight with allies because in doing so, he would be forced to limit himself. Like Yuta acknowledges in 235, if they were on the battlefield Gojo would have been unable to perform that AoE purple blast without harming them too. He must choose between being alone when doing jujutsu, or restricting himself in this thing that he loves. This feeds into the notion that they canât understand him - he literally has to contain himself so as not to be too much for them.
Heâs not too much for Sukuna, though.
Against Sukuna, Gojo gets to exist in his entirety, unrestrained, and for that he is appreciative. But we also see Gojoâs kindness, or rather empathy. He personally was satisfied by the fight - he was able to be seen wholly. He could simply have a âfuck you, got mineâ mentality about it, but we see that he actually feels sorry to Sukuna for not being able to take everything Sukuna is the way Sukuna was for him. Sukuna could not afford to go all out if it meant dying to the other sorcerers as soon as the fight with Gojo ended. I believe this is why he looked less impressive throughout the whole fight - a Gojo giving it his all puts on more of a display than a Sukuna sticking to a pre-determined plan and doing minimal improvisation. But even though Sukuna didnât let himself go all out, he still won. This would lead Gojo to believe (and itâs not an illogical conclusion) that if Sukuna had been going all out, Gojo wouldnât be able to take it all. Gojo feels bad about it because he was unable to be for Sukuna what Sukuna was for him, he feels bad that Sukuna will seemingly never experience that same satisfaction (because, of course, if itâs not Gojo himself giving him that, he thinks nobody else can). This isnât Gojo feeling bad about himself for being weaker, it is genuine empathy for Sukuna because Sukuna is someone that Gojo does actually perceive as the same species as him, not someone he necessarily considers evil or an enemy.
Itâs not as bad as he thinks, though, because Sukuna did take immense enjoyment in this fight. Itâs true that he wasnât pushed to the point of having to give everything here, but he was still pushed further than ever before. Many people have confused âhe wasnât going all outâ for âhe wasnât even tryingâ and thatâs such a dichotomous way of looking at things - zero or one hundred. Sukuna was absolutely trying in this fight. For the first time in a thousand years, he actually felt the nervousness of possibly losing, because Gojoâs final purple could have killed him. Itâs only because it was an AoE attack and not directly aimed at Sukuna that he survived, and visibly in the worst condition of his life. And after slicing Gojo, he praises him (âyou were magnificentâ is crazy levels of acknowledgment from Sukuna!) and admits that he will never forget him for as long as he lives. This is coming from the guy that called Gojo ordinary and unenlightened just 6 chapters prior. Gojo moved him, this much is undeniable. And Gojoâs smile in his final moment suggests that he heard Sukuna. In the end, he knows that he did reach him in some way.
(Brief side note: Gojo never says he would definitely have lost to Sukuna even without the ten shadows. What he actually says is simply that heâs unsure as to if he wouldâve won. And thatâs because he, unlike much of the fandom, recognises that Sukunaâs skill and genius understanding of CE and jujutsu mean that without the ten shadows, he wouldâve approached the fight very differently, especially those domain clashes, during which itâs clearly stated that Sukuna refrained from using his CT or even domain amplification too much so that the ten shadows could continue adapting in the background. Take out that element and of course Sukuna has more resources freed up to put into fighting Gojo actively.)
So this is the nuance of Gojoâs character. Heâs selfish, yet capable of true empathy. He cares deeply, despite his unfathomable arrogance. His motivations are questionable, without being malicious. He sees himself as beyond human, yet at his core is painfully so. Heâs not a hero, nor even really a âgoodâ person. But he influenced those around him in ways they will carry forever.
With the release of JJK chapter 236, many people are shocked, confused and outraged at his characterisation at the end of his run in the manga. There are claims of character assassination, of blatant disregard for everything he has done so far, of telling instead of showing. The portrayal of Gojo as someone whose primary motivation was strength has left multitudes of fans reeling.
Nanami states that Gojoâs reason for wielding jujutsu was not his own survival, nor the protection of others, but rather in pursuit of wanton satisfaction. Gojo does not deny this and neither can we. After all, in chapter 233 it was stated by the narrator that as the possibility of defeat crossed Gojoâs mind, an intense feeling of satisfaction bubbled up in him as well. The truth is, Gojo loves jujutsu. He loves his own strength. He loves to use it, to show it off, to flex. He revels in his own power.
Gojo enjoys being The Strongest.
However, he doesnât enjoy being The Strongest, alone.
The contradiction in Gojo is that, much like Sukuna, he sees himself as More Than. They are beyond humans, beyond curses, beyond anything of this world. They exist in a realm of their own. Make no mistake, Gojo harbours great affection for those around him. He says as much in 236 (ăżăăȘć€§ć„œăăćŻăăăŻăȘăăŁă - I really liked everyone and I wasnât lonely). But he also admits that there was a separation between himself and other other living creatures. This phrasing is crucial. Gojo is effectively admitting here that from his perspective, other humans are as different from him as any other creature of this world. He doesnât even really consider them to be the same species. This is further reinforced through his analogy of flowers. He states that you can admire a flower and make it bloom, but you donât wish to be understood by it. Gojo cares for those around him and he cultivated his students to help them blossom, to achieve their potential, but they were flowers to him. They were inferior beings, incapable of understanding his superior existence, and so why should he open himself up to them? Shoko mentally chastises him for this in chapter 220, pointing out that she was right there alongside him even with the loss of Geto, that all his talk of being alone was idiotic because she was there and he couldâve relied on her. But he didnât because in his mind, Shoko, like everyone else, is inferior and incapable of understanding him. To him, it is pointless to try.
But where Gojo differs significantly from Sukuna, is that Gojo desperately wants to be understood.
Gojo is so painfully human in that way. Perhaps he wouldnât be, had he never known Geto. But he did know him, and for those 3 years, Gojo knew companionship. He felt understood by Geto because Geto, being equally The Strongest, was capable of understanding Gojo, in Gojoâs own mind. When Geto defected, he called Gojo arrogant in his own strength for saying killing all non-sorcerers would be impossible for Geto and attempting the impossible was pointless, when such a task would not be impossible for Gojo himself. He asks of Gojo, âare you the strongest because youâre Gojo Satoru, or are you Gojo Satoru because youâre the strongest?â. This exchange, unfortunately causes Gojo to misunderstand Getoâs reason for defecting, or at least to oversimplify it. Gojoâs takeaway is that the issue was in Getoâs inability to keep pace with him. This would further solidify his belief that he exists apart from all of humanity. Yet he could not make peace with that. He mourned Getoâs departure and disliked his newfound loneliness (which, mind you, was only the case because of that very belief that only an equal in strength can understand him).
This would drive Gojo to seek out Megumi, something he could have done at any point in the year since Tojiâs death but had no motivation to do. The words he says to Megumi are crucial - âćŒ·ăăȘăŁăŠăăćă«çœźăăŠăăăăȘăăăăâ or âGet strong. Enough to not be left behind by me.â From this, two things are clear. First, that Gojo has no intention of slowing down. Second, that Gojo wants Megumi to be on his level. Heâs essentially seeking out another Geto, one that he wonât lose to their own inability to keep up with him. Heâs not willing to come down from his superhuman level to connect with the average - as previously said, Gojo revels in his own strength - but rather he wants others to ascend to his level. Gege stated in the fanbook that the reason Gojo went to find Megumi was because heâs seeking talented people, and the reason he helps problem children like Yuta and Yuji is because theyâre strong so he doesnât care about the other details. There is no mention of righteousness or kindness in his actions here. Now, the fanbook is secondary material so I will always err on the side of the main text taking precedence. But since the main text does not give us any explanation from Gojo as to his true reason for saving Yuta and Yuji, and Gegeâs explanation in the fanbook on Gojoâs recruit of Megumi aligns with what we see in the manga, itâs likely that his interest in Yuta and Yuji is indeed purely due to their strength potential, at least at first. He does grow fond of them as people, and he wants them to enjoy their youth. But ultimately, his reason for raising them remains that, selfishly, he doesnât want to be alone at the top.
His idea of âresetting the crappy jujutsu worldâ is making it so that life as a jujutsu sorcerer is as fun for everyone as it is for him, or at least as he imagines it would be if his youth hadnât been interrupted by Getoâs spiral. Being a jujutsu sorcerer is Gojoâs job, but he doesnât resent it at all. Because unlike all the other sorcerers who are here because they have no choice, or because they feel a sense of responsibility to protect the defenceless, or because they fear being killed by curses and using jujutsu as a retired sorcerer is illegal (looking at you, Kusakabe), Gojo is here because jujutsu is fun. He doesnât feel that inherent drive to protect the defenceless (he actually finds that part of it kind of exhausting) and he doesnât feel that fear because no curse could remotely threaten him, so he just gets to enjoy jujutsu for what it is. Gojo wants the same for his students. He wants them to enjoy the experience of life as a jujutsu sorcerer, without fear, and without suffering and being forced to question what the hell theyâre even doing this for. If they can be as strong as him, there is nothing to worry about - nobody dies, nobody gets left alone, nobody falls behind. Itâs an idyllic picture for Gojo.
There seems to be a misconception that 326 suggests that Gojoâs only reason for training the students was to eventually fight them at their best. That is not the case. Gojoâs love of fighting and Gojoâs desire for an equal are two separate things that only got amalgamated in Sukuna. After all, Gojo never sought to fight Geto. We know they scuffled sometimes, but itâs not like Gojo was constantly trying to instigate a death match. His desire for an equal is, on its own, simply a desire to be understood, something he does not believe is possible by a weaker being. He longs for companionship but wonât let himself find it in people he views as inferior. Regardless of having an equal, Gojo still loves his own strength. He loves toying with opponents, and showing off, and brutal violence. The more challenging the opponent/situation, the further he gets to stretch his limbs.
Fighting Sukuna presented Gojo with an opportunity to satisfy both of these things.
Does Gojo have anything against Sukuna or the way he lives his life? Not really. There isnât an ideological opposition at play here like there is between Yuji and Sukuna, they just happen to be allied with parties who are in conflict. And, with them both being the jujutsu-loving, strength merchants that they are, theyâre genuinely excited at the prospect of fighting each other. Gojo does want and plan to save Megumi, sure, but in any case that requires defeating Sukuna. He wasnât bluffing when he said heâd worry about that later - fighting Sukuna genuinely takes priority, both strategically and selfishly.
In terms of the fight, Gojo has a blast. He gets to go all out like heâs never gone all out before. Heâs pushed to invent things on the spot or legitimately just die. He doesnât even have to toy with his opponent to keep the fight going, heâs sprinting from start to finish and is giddy with it. This is possibly the most fun heâs ever had.
In terms of the emotion, Gojo has been desperately trying to find someone as strong as him because (he believes) only they can understand him. Itâs to the point that he has spent the past decade trying to basically build-a-bear some equals. Suddenly, heâs presented with one, fully formed, requiring no additional shaping on his part. Itâs believable that he would be excited to take that chance of being understood, being seen wholly, by the only person alive in the world at this moment that he believes capable of wrapping their mind around him, since theyâre both so far above every other living being.
And so Gojo fights Sukuna and pours everything he is into it. He pushes his body to its physical limits, he uses every jujutsu ability heâs ever learned, he comes up with new ideas on the spot, he throws out multiple max output attacks. Everything we have ever been told that Gojo is capable of doing gets put on show in this fight. He does all this because he wants Sukuna to see him in his entirety, because nobody else ever has. If he tried to unleash all of this on anybody else, it would kill them before he could even get a quarter of the way through.
See, on the one hand, Gojoâs self imposed isolation is born of his own arrogance but on the other hand, heâs also right in a way; because jujutsu is a part of the makeup of Gojo Satoru - its something he enjoys and it will always be a part of him. Yet he does not fight with allies because in doing so, he would be forced to limit himself. Like Yuta acknowledges in 235, if they were on the battlefield Gojo would have been unable to perform that AoE purple blast without harming them too. He must choose between being alone when doing jujutsu, or restricting himself in this thing that he loves. This feeds into the notion that they canât understand him - he literally has to contain himself so as not to be too much for them.
Heâs not too much for Sukuna, though.
Against Sukuna, Gojo gets to exist in his entirety, unrestrained, and for that he is appreciative. But we also see Gojoâs kindness, or rather empathy. He personally was satisfied by the fight - he was able to be seen wholly. He could simply have a âfuck you, got mineâ mentality about it, but we see that he actually feels sorry to Sukuna for not being able to take everything Sukuna is the way Sukuna was for him. Sukuna could not afford to go all out if it meant dying to the other sorcerers as soon as the fight with Gojo ended. I believe this is why he looked less impressive throughout the whole fight - a Gojo giving it his all puts on more of a display than a Sukuna sticking to a pre-determined plan and doing minimal improvisation. But even though Sukuna didnât let himself go all out, he still won. This would lead Gojo to believe (and itâs not an illogical conclusion) that if Sukuna had been going all out, Gojo wouldnât be able to take it all. Gojo feels bad about it because he was unable to be for Sukuna what Sukuna was for him, he feels bad that Sukuna will seemingly never experience that same satisfaction (because, of course, if itâs not Gojo himself giving him that, he thinks nobody else can). This isnât Gojo feeling bad about himself for being weaker, it is genuine empathy for Sukuna because Sukuna is someone that Gojo does actually perceive as the same species as him, not someone he necessarily considers evil or an enemy.
Itâs not as bad as he thinks, though, because Sukuna did take immense enjoyment in this fight. Itâs true that he wasnât pushed to the point of having to give everything here, but he was still pushed further than ever before. Many people have confused âhe wasnât going all outâ for âhe wasnât even tryingâ and thatâs such a dichotomous way of looking at things - zero or one hundred. Sukuna was absolutely trying in this fight. For the first time in a thousand years, he actually felt the nervousness of possibly losing, because Gojoâs final purple could have killed him. Itâs only because it was an AoE attack and not directly aimed at Sukuna that he survived, and visibly in the worst condition of his life. And after slicing Gojo, he praises him (âyou were magnificentâ is crazy levels of acknowledgment from Sukuna!) and admits that he will never forget him for as long as he lives. This is coming from the guy that called Gojo ordinary and unenlightened just 6 chapters prior. Gojo moved him, this much is undeniable. And Gojoâs smile in his final moment suggests that he heard Sukuna. In the end, he knows that he did reach him in some way.
(Brief side note: Gojo never says he would definitely have lost to Sukuna even without the ten shadows. What he actually says is simply that heâs unsure as to if he wouldâve won. And thatâs because he, unlike much of the fandom, recognises that Sukunaâs skill and genius understanding of CE and jujutsu mean that without the ten shadows, he wouldâve approached the fight very differently, especially those domain clashes, during which itâs clearly stated that Sukuna refrained from using his CT or even domain amplification too much so that the ten shadows could continue adapting in the background. Take out that element and of course Sukuna has more resources freed up to put into fighting Gojo actively.)
So this is the nuance of Gojoâs character. Heâs selfish, yet capable of true empathy. He cares deeply, despite his unfathomable arrogance. His motivations are questionable, without being malicious. He sees himself as beyond human, yet at his core is painfully so. Heâs not a hero, nor even really a âgoodâ person. But he influenced those around him in ways they will carry forever.
Pairing: Geto/Shoko, Gojo/Utahime
Rating: M (eventually)
Summary: forcing two jujutsu sorcerers to live together is a dangerous game. Shoko and Utahime are just hoping to make it through the year - the last thing either expects is to fall in love
ao3 link
"I wish you could visit us in Kyoto more often, Shoko," Utahime sighs wistfully, appearing in the kitchen doorway with three bottles of wine in her arms, "This almost feels like one of our student-day get-togethers. Ah, what a time that was!"
Utahime's deep in her cups - she, Shoko, and Mei Mei have been drinking at her apartment since late morning, enjoying the rare day off together - and Shoko cannot help but chuckle when she meets Mei Mei's knowing gaze - Utahime's has always been an overly nostalgic drunk.
"I wish I could come out here more often, too," Shoko says, leaning languidly against the armrest of the couch, "But, thanks to Principal Yaga and certain idiots who seem to think that getting injured on a mission is a requirement, I barely get any days off without getting called back to school to treat someone."
"Just don't pick up the phone when you are not on the clock. The way I see it, if you aren't getting paid, it's not your problem," Mei Mei smiles, taking a drink of her wine, "Perhaps, realizing that they can't always rely on you will teach certain sorcerers to think twice before blindly rushing into a battle."
"I'm not sure there's anything that could get through their thick skulls," Shoko sighs, shifting in her seat to let Utahime settle down on the couch beside her.
"No one's immune to a lesson that's taught the hard way," Mei Mei tilts her head to the side, studying Shoko's face.
Shoko hums, considering Mei Mei's suggestion - perhaps, there's some merit to her words. Utahime shifts in her seat, distracting Shoko from her thoughts, and offers her wine. Though rather tipsy, Shoko doesn't refuse.
"Thank you," Shoko murmurs when Utahime generously fills her glass almost too full. Taking a long, slow sip to ensure it doesn't spill, she continues, "Still, despite all my grievances, I'm grateful at least that I'm only a doctor and not a teacher. With patients, once they are out of the clinic, they are off my hands, but with students, it seems there isn't a single moment when you don't have to worry for them. I don't know how you do it, Utahime."
"Working with students can be very rewarding. And there's never a dull day when you are teaching young sorcerers," Utahime smiles, slumping against the back of the couch, "Though, at times, it could be a little tiring."
"So, it seems you two are in desperate need of a vacation," Mei Mei chuckles, pouring more wine into her glass, "It could be fun to travel together this summer⊠I'm thinking somewhere warm, with a nice beach."
"I'd love to go to Bali or Malaysia," Utahime sighs dreamily before turning to Shoko, "But you just reminded me of something."
"Huh?" Shoko says, confused.
"When you mentioned the students, I thought of my conversation with principal Gakuganji just two days ago," Utahime explains, "Apparently, we most likely won't have any first-year students this term⊠Do you know if Tokyo's getting any first years?"
At Utahime's words, Shoko frowns, remembering the faculty meeting she'd been forced to attend a few weeks prior. She used to try to get out of the faculty meetings - after all, she didn't teach, so there was no reason for her to be there - but Principal Yaga always insisted that it was essential for everyone working at Jujutsu High to attend, which left Shoko with no choice but to comply begrudgingly.
Most of the time, these faculty meetings consisted of mind-numbing drivel that Shoko could easily tune out. Still, the one that Utahime's words brought to mind stood out against the rest - she'd never seen Principal Yaga quite as grim as when he'd told them that there would be no first-year students starting at the school come April.
"I thought we were the only ones not getting new students," Shoko places her wine glass on the low table in front of her, "I actually assumed that your school must be getting students since we aren't."
"Well, it's not certain quite yet," Utahime replies, crossing her arms before her, "Principal Gakuganji said they'll keep looking - but with the school year looming so near, I don't think they'll be able to find anyone."
"I suppose this shouldn't come as too much of a surprise," Shoko muses, "After all, the classes have been getting smaller for years - I can't remember the last time we had more than four students at the school at the same time."
"And I thought our grade was tiny since there were only two of us," Mei Mei laughs, brushing her hair out of her face as she leans back in her seat, "But, perhaps, instead, it was way too crowded."
Shoko chuckles, nodding - though there were only three people in her class, Gojo and Geto's antics often made it feel as though there were a dozen. And the only reason they've gotten away with those antics was because even as students, they were as powerful as at least a dozen fully-fledged sorcerers.
Though somewhat concerning, the revelation that neither Tokyo nor Kyoto schools are getting new students is not surprising to Shoko. After all, people who could see cursed spirits were exceedingly rare - and, among them, those with enough cursed energy and enough talent for using cursed techniques to become career jujutsu sorcerers were rarer still.
And, even among those with innate talent and abilities, only some were ready - or willing to take on - the burdens of a sorcerer's life. Looking back, Shoko sometimes wondered if she'd still choose this path if she knew then what she knows now.
"I just hope this will be a one-off year if they don't find anyone," Utahime says, distracting Shoko from her thoughts, "I'd really hate for this to become aâŠregular occurrence."
"Oh, trust me, it won't," Mei Mei chuckles, leaning against the armrest of the couch and resting her chin on her hand, "If the higher-ups notice the flow of new sorcerers running dry, they'll send Principal Gakuganji and Principal Yaga - and, perhaps, the rest of us too if we are ever so unfortunate - to scour the ends of the earth for new students. And that likely wouldn't even be the worst of it if they ever decide that there just aren't enough sorcerers around."
A shiver runs up Shoko's spine at the thought. Though the higher-ups and their decision were largely unpredictable, one thing was for certain - they could always be relied on to make an already bad situation worse.
"Let's not dwell on such dreadful scenarios," Shoko says decisively, "How about we discuss something less morbid?"
"Like that summer vacation you mentioned," Utahime chimes in.
"Very well," Mei Mei smiles. She gets up from her seat and walks over to the couch where Shoko and Utahime are sitting and gestures for them to make space for her, "I want to show you the hotel I stayed at last year when I went to Malaysia - I think you'll like it."
"Can't wait to lie on the beach all day and do absolutely nothing, "Utahime says, shifting over and letting Mei Mei sit between them. Shoko nods in agreement - perhaps, if she's in another country, too far to be called back to the school's clinic in the middle of the night, she'll finally be able to catch up on sleep.
Just as Mei Mei's about to pull up the pictures of the hotel, Shoko's phone rings. She doesn't want to pick up - after all, it's her well-deserved day off - but when she sees the caller's name, an all-too-familiar uneasy feeling uncoils in her chest.
"Who is it?" Utahime asks, frowning as Shoko gets up from the couch.
"It's Yaga," Shoko sighs, downing the remainder of her wine, "Which means one of those idiots has likely gotten into some sort of trouble⊠I'll be right back."
With that, Shoko heads over to the kitchen. Her phone doesn't stop ringing, not for a moment, and Shoko knows it must be something serious. Taking a deep breath to ward off the uneasy feeling welling in her chest, she picks up the call.
"Took you long enough to answer," Principal Yaga says instead of a greeting, "Are you in Tokyo now? Can you stop by the school?"
"I'm in Kyoto, so it will take at least a few hours before I can make it back," Shoko responds calmly, "Is someone injured?"
Principal Yaga doesn't respond, not for a long moment, and the silence that stretches between them does little to quell her unease.
"Are you with Utahime?" Principal Yaga asks suddenly.
The question catches Shoko off-guard - why does he need to know that? Worrying thoughts swirl in Shoko's head, but she chases them away. Perhaps, it's nothing too serious; maybe they are just getting sent on a mission togetherâŠ
"Yes," Shoko says, "And Mei Mei's here too."
"I see⊠Has Principal Gakuganji contacted them yet?"
Why would he? UnlessâŠ
"Has someone died?" Shoko asks flatly, unable to stave off her unease any longer.
"What? No, no one's dead; why did you think that?" Principal Yaga replies, clearly frustrated, "I knew this would be easier to explain in person, but since you're in Kyoto, I suppose this will have to do. Can you put the phone on speaker so the others can hear?"
Shoko frowns, confused. If no one's injured or dead, why is he calling her on her day off? What could possibly be so urgent? And why do Utahime and Mei Mei need to listen in on the call?
"One moment," Shoko says, "They are in another room - I'll go there now."
Muting the microphone, she walks out into the living room. Mei Mei and Utahime are still sitting on the couch, scrolling through the pictures of different hotels, their focused expressions betraying just how seriously they take the selection process.
"Is everything alright?" Utahime looks up at Shoko, concerned.
"I'm not sure," Shoko replies, frowning, "The only thing I know is that no one's injured or dead, but whatever it is, it must concern all of us since Principal Yaga asked to include you two on the callâŠ"
"There's only one way to find out," Mei Mei says, and Shoko nods. She approaches the couch, settles down, and, taking a deep breath, unmutes the phone.
"We are all here now," she says.
"Very well," Principal Yaga says after a brief pause, "I will be frank; I do not think there is a way to broach the subject delicately, so I'll get straight to the point. This morning, the higher-ups called for a meeting that Principal Gakuganji and I attended."
Shoko looks up from her phone, her gaze shifting between Utahime, who's hugging her knees close to her chest and nervously twirling the bracelets on her wrist, and Mei Mei, who's lazily leaning against the back of the couch, taking a long, slow sip of her wine.
"As you may know, no new students are enrolling in either Tokyo or Kyoto Jujustu High this year."
Shoko exchanges surprised glances with Utahime and Mei Mei. Is that what this is about? Mei Mei better not have jinxed it - the last thing Shoko wants is to travel to some god-forgotten village in search of potential new students for their school.
"The higher-ups have expressed their concerns regarding what this means for the jujutsu society⊠Especially since fewer and fewer sorcerers are born every year," Principal Yaga continues.
Mei Mei chuckles airly at these words, and Shoko can only scoff - it is hardly a surprise. Only a union of two sorcerers could guarantee a sorcerer offspring - but unions like that were exceedingly rare, and for a good reason. Jujutsu sorcerers lived hard, short lives that often ended in a horrifyingly macabre manner. Of the many willing to walk this difficult path, few were ready to entrust their hearts to someone else bound to this gruesome fate, and Shoko could not blame them.
For her part, Shoko much preferred dating outside the jujutsu sorcerer community. The secrecy required by their profession all but guaranteed that those relationships would not last, but it's not like Shoko was ever looking for something serious or long-term. She'd gladly do short, meaningless flings all her life if that meant she'd never get a heart-wrenching call in the middle of the night telling her that the person she loved the most had just been ground into a fine paste and smeared around the block by an unexpectedly present special grade curse.
"âŠAnd so a decision was made," Principal Yaga says, distracting Shoko from her thoughts, "To ensure the continuation and proliferation of the jujutsu sorcerer society, all unmarried jujutsu sorcerers are to find a match with whom they must form a union that shall last at least a year."
Shoko blinks slowly, wondering if the wine has finally gotten to her head and made her imagine things. To her chagrin, judging by Utahime and Mei Mei's expressions, it seems she heard Principal Yaga correctly.
"You can't be serious!" Utahime exclaims, a bright, angry blush rising high in her cheeks.
"I wish I was, even if this would make for a terrible joke," Yaga replies grimly.
"Huh, now that's something I didn't expect," Mei Mei chuckles darkly, "A puppy mill, but make it jujutsu sorcerers⊠Those old men really are some twisted creeps."
It is not common for Mei Mei to be this crass, but then again, this is no ordinary situation.
"Don't be rude," Principal Yaga says, but there is no force behind his words, only exhaustion, "And don't twist my words. No one is demanding that any of you have children within the year. The official order only requires that each unmarried sorcerer finds a match - and that they live with that match for at least a year. Of course, ideally, this arrangement will become permanent and will result in children. But, if in a year's time, you no longer wish to live with the person you picked, you are free to leave without suffering any repercussions."
"That hardly sounds any better," Shoko scoffs. There are few things she appreciates in life more than having her own space, and the thought of sharing her apartment with someone for an entire year makes her highly annoyed.
"Another important thing to mention," Principal Yaga says, ignoring Shoko's words, "You are free to pick whoever you want as your match. If they agree, you'll need to come to my or to Principal Gakuganji's office to register your union. There's only one restriction - if someone who is a higher grade sorcerer than you requests you as their match, you cannot decline."
Shoko almost laughs - as it turns out, being a grade one sorcerer was good, at least for something. At least no one could force her into a match.
"Those who have not registered their union by Friday, two weeks from now, will be entered into the lottery for a random draw," Principal Yaga concludes.
"I'd like to clarify - just so there are no misunderstandings," Mei Mei's voice is calm and businesslike, her face focused - however shocked she may have been at Yaga's announcement, she's clearly pulled herself together and was already making plans, "All this new order requires of us is to find someone to live with for the next year - is that right?"
"That's correct," Principal Yaga replies, "But the underlying expectations of the higher-ups are as I discussed. And, since this is an order, new living quarters will be provided to all the couples as well as some extra compensation. With the deadline looming so close, I imagine you have a lot to think about - and I have a few more phone calls to make. Just make sure you don't delay too long."
Silence falls upon the room as soon as the call disconnects. Shoko slumps against the armrest of the couch, resting her chin on the palm of her hands. Whoever cautioned people to be careful of what they wished for was right. As much as she didn't want to be called into work because some idiot got into an avoidable scuffle with a cursed spirit, that would have been much better than whatever just happened.
For the first time in weeks, Shoko almost regrets the promise she made to Utahime to try and quit smoking - the more she thinks of Principal Yaga's words, the more she yearns for a cigarette.
"I need a drink," she says, finally, trying to distract herself from the urge to smoke. Mei Mei nods, then picks up a bottle and pours her a full glass.
"I know we've long suspected it, but this seals it," Utahime's voice is full of anger, and the next thing Shoko knows, she's pacing the room, "Seems these old men have nothing better to do than to torment us. This order is an atrocity!"
"It's quite annoying," Mei Mie offers calmly, "But if you think about it, it's not that bad."
"Not that bad?" Utahime almost hisses.
"As you've heard, all the order really requires is to find someone you can tolerate living with for the next year - and, after that, both of you can be on your merry way. As long as you find someone who views this the same way you do, I'm sure it won't be too difficult to come to an understanding," Mei Mei drawls, taking a drink of her wine, "While the situation is far from ideal, I'm sure an acceptable arrangement is possible."
"Easier said than done," Shoko chuckles. Utahime and Mei Mei were, perhaps, the only people she could fathom sharing an apartment with for an entire year, but, much to her chagrin, that would not be allowed.
"Yes," Utahime agrees, "You are saying it like it's so easy to find someone "tolerable." Have you met most of our colleagues?"
"They aren't all that bad," Mei Mei laughs airily, leaning against the back of the couch, "You just need to know how to look."
Shoko looks at Mei Mei with curiosity, wondering if she has someone specific in mind, but she doesn't ask - the last glass of wine has finally gotten to her head, leaving her very tipsy and a little tired.
"Sure," Utahime scoffs, crossing her arms before her, "And then there's the lottery⊠Do you think there's any chance that one won't get paired up?"
"There are more male than female jujutsu sorcerers," Shoko says, placing her wine glass on the table, "So, as a woman, I'd say your chances of not getting assigned a match through the lottery are zero."
"Besides," Mei Mei interjects, "Why would you want to leave something like this up to chance? If you get a random match, it's far from guaranteed that the two of you will see eye to eye on what this order means⊠Which may cause very undesirable issues."
"This order really is a way to cause a short-term demographic problem in an attempt to solve a long-term one," Shoko chuckles darkly, "Given that none of us are exactly above murder. I'll give it a few months before everyone's at each other's throats - let's see what the higher-ups do then."
"All the more reason to pick someone you can tolerate," Mei Mei shrugs, "Getting rid of bodies can be quite cumbersome. Now then, shall we continue looking at the hotels? I liked the first one we saw, but I want to stay somewhere I haven't been before."
"You still want to go on a vacation?" Utahime asks, surprised.
"Of course," Mei Mei chuckles, "Now even more so - given everything we have to deal with, we absolutely deserve it."
Shoko hums appreciatively - she's always admired Mei Mei's eye-on-the-prize attitude. It seemed like nothing could ever sidetrack her from something she really wanted. And, given everything that has just transpired, she could really use a distraction.
"I suppose you are right. "After all, that would be the perfect excuse to get away from those thrice-cursed matches the higher-ups want to saddle us with," Utahime muses momentarily, then looks at Shoko, "Are you in?"
"Of course," Shoko nods. Principal Yaga's words are weighing heavy on her mind, but Shoko pushes them away and smiles, "At this point, I'll do anything that will let me catch up on sleep."
in a MOOD. anyway...have some SuguShoko smut, as a treat (ao3 link)
Shoko rolls her eyes inwardly as Suguru drones on and on about how he kicked Gojoâs ass at the cursed technique demonstration exam (even though Suguru ranked second place), how the referees made a bad call and that it was all rigged. Â
ââŠanyway, Gojo may have near limitless cursed energy but the idiot doesnât know how to use it, heâs got no style at all, heâs just a big noisemaker- all flex but no finesse, you know what I mean?âÂ
âBig talk coming from someone who technically lost.â Shoko replies boredly.
Suguru scoffs. âIt's not big talk if it's coming from a âbigâ man.â He wiggles his eyebrows with a devilish grin.
Shoko suddenly pauses mid step, turning to look him straight in his eyes. Â
âProve it then. Whip it out.â Â
His grin drops like a curtain as his eyesbrows do the exact opposite.Â
ââŠexcuse me?â
Shoko sighs, unimpressed as always. âYou heard me. You talk a big game, let's see what you got.â She cocks her head downward unabashedly.
Suguruâs mouth is agape but no words make it past his lips; instead his eyes frantically scan for any indication of jest but her trademark poker face betrays nothing.Â
âIâŠI'm not going to just pull out my d*ick in public! What the hell is wrong with you??â He balks, hands outstretched in exasperation.
âIf you talk the talk, you should walk the walk.â She counters evenly.
âWhatever. You couldnât handle it.â He retorts with a dismissive hand gesture.
It's her turn to scoff. âOh? What are you so afraid of? That you wonât compare to a certain fellow student?â
There. That ever so subtle yet unmistakable twitch at the corner of his lip. Â
Men were so mind-numbingly predictable.
Suguru licks his lips unconsciously. ââŠ..so youâŠyouâve seen his...â, he trails off, flustered.
She shrugs, struggling to keep a knowing smirk at bay. âI wonât confirm or deny because thereâs this thing called doctor-patient privilege, but I work in the medical profession. We obviously have to closely examine and operate on people, you think we can do that properly when you're fully clothed? I have to see all sorts of butts and boobsâŠâ, but her facade cracks ever so slightly under the sheer glee of watching his progressively stupefied expression. Â
âŠand big d*icks.â she finishes with a sly grin.
Suguruâs face instantly pulls upon realization. Â
Bingo. Â Victory is sweet but Shoko canât get enough.
âAnyway, just forget it, I get why you wouldnât want to.â She teases. âLetâs get going- â she cuts herself off when his large hand suddenly wraps around her slender wrist, yanking her towards him, his grip tense. The intensity of his glare could unnerve an Elder but Shoko wasnât shaken in the slightest.Â
âIâm going to need that hand backâŠunless you need to borrow it for something?â She doesnât bother to hide her devious smirk this time.
Suguruâs stony face betrays him once again with that telltale twitch, much to her delight.
He leans down, his face so close she can feel his heated breath along the bridge of her nose. Â
âYouâre such a bitch, you know that?â He grouses under his breath.
Without another word he turns on his heel and marches with Shoko in tow towards the wooded area of the school grounds that was well overdue for maintenance. Â
Shoko goes along with it, intrigued in the urgency in his step, the tension in his grip; it was all very uncharacteristic of him. Â
Letâs see how this plays out.Â
They come in a bit of wilderness amongst some dense shrubbery in need of a trim when he releases her wrist. His back towards her, he approaches a large sakura tree, his eyes peeled to the ground as if suddenly engrossed in counting the soft pink petals scattered across its tangled roots.
Shoko gives him a moment while she lights a cigarette. She eyed a few petals drifting down from the branches to his feet as she took a slow drag and exhaled before clearing her throat impatiently.Â
He briefly shoots her an irritated glance over his shoulder before he fumbles with his pants with a frustrated growl.
âFINE! If thatâs what you want, then HERE.â
And suddenly there he was; in all his glory.
Shoko stood there, stunned, but held her cool countenance as she surveyed his exposed flesh. She wasnât sure if it was the fact that he had actually called her bluff or that he packed a healthy trouser snake that left her speechless; but whatever it was had her mind (and heart) racing.
Suguru, upon exposing himself couldn't meet her eyes so he had turned his head back, eyes toward the sakura tree. After a few seconds, he clears his throat in the same manner she did.
âWell?? Satisfied? I told you you couldnât handle- eeeeep!?!â
The embarrassment of producing such a pathetically undignified squeal was lost on him the moment he felt her soft, warm hand envelope his oh-so-sensitive flesh in the heat of her palm. When or how she closed the distance between them without him noticing was a complete enigma but it didn't matter. The world could be on fire but in that moment, nothing else mattered.Â
Shokoâs head was close enough to touch his chin as she examined his tender flesh leisurely with her left hand, slightly chewing on the butt of her cigarette while absorbed at the task at hand (literally). Â
She was able to determine the weight (nice) as it rested in her palm, the circumference (very nice) by lightly closing her long slender fingers around him until they met her thumb, but as he was only semi-erect, the length would have to wait.
âŠ.or would it?
âQuite the specimen you have here, Suguru. Results are better than expected.â She remarked casually, not bothering to look up at him.
Suguru frowned slightly, glaring at her but said nothing. She may be a doctor but still had miles to go as far as bedside manner.
However, his sour mood vaporized instantly when she abruptly crouches down to study him more closely, so close he could literally feel those wispy tendrils of smoke caressing his bare skin.Â
It felt utterly divine, and his flesh within her grasp involuntarily demonstrated as such to the fullest. Suguru is suddenly hot, unbearably hot under his stifling uniform; he had no doubt his face was flushed red but his body was no longer under his control, paralyzed within her clutches. Â
His hopeless ordeal is not lost on Shoko. No. In fact, it was quite the discovery.
âHmmâŠâ she muses aloud. â...a bit sensitive, but otherwise healthily responsive to stimuli.âÂ
Still palming him, she brings her hand forward so her thumb rests on the tip of the head, then delicately traces up his shaft with her thumb pad, her palm following it up when her thumb was overstretched until it brushes the wisps of hair on his pelvic trail. Â
Very, VERY nice.
Shoko takes another long drag, the cigarette nearly down to the nub, dangerously close to burning her fingers, exhaling directly into his crotch before looking him straight in the eyes.
âMind if I give it a little blow?â
Suguru choke-coughed, sputtering. Clearing his throat in vain he desperately tries to find his composure (and his voice) again but is only partially successful.
âUhh...sure.â His voice cracked, cringing as cleared his throat again. âYou can, you know, do whatever you want.âÂ
She smiles widely at that, exuding a brightness and warmth he had never seen from her- so much so that it nearly unsettled him. Almost.  Â
âWell alright then. As long as youâre sure.â She tosses the cigarette butt and adjusts her grip, steadying him comfortably within her grasp. âHere it goes. You ready?â
Words (and sanity) escape him, his eyes locked on hers as he manages to nod ever so slightly.
Shoko turns her attention back to his hips, making a show of licking her lips, slowly widening her mouth to form a perfect âOâ.Â
Suguru canât stop himself from twitching in her hand, time seems to slow as she bridges the distance, her lips just a hair shy of brushing against his achingly hard flesh. Heâs light-headed as heâs been unconsciously holding his breath for quite some time- well that, amongst otherâŠreasons.Â
And in what was the longest moment of his life at that point, it was all over in an instant.
That oh-so-perfect shape of her mouth falls away as her lips suddenly draw back into a pucker, blowing out a quick gust of air across his skin with a comical âpfft!â sound. Â
âAll set! Thanks for obliging me.â
She straightens up and turns on her heel, casually strolling away without any sort of acknowledgement.
Suguru eyes go wide; jaw dropped, red faced. Â
âShoko!! What the fu- youâŠ.BITCH!!!â
She slows to a halt, coolly eyeing him over her shoulder. âWhat? Were you expecting something else?â She asks coyly.
He scowls, glaring daggers at her before turning away from her jeering eyes; vehemently grumbling under his breath all the while as he struggles to stuff his erection back into his pants.
âYou knowâŠâ Shoko starts with a grin, relishing in his frustration, â...like I said, youâve got quite a specimen there. Wouldnât mindâŠconducting further experiments sometime, if youâre game.â Â
She doesn't bother waiting for his response as she darts into the dense shrubbery, making a quick retreat before she lost herself at the ridiculous sight of a dumb-stricken Suguru; slack-jawed, pants down, his semi-flacid c*ock in hand.Â
Oh yes, she could (and would) dine on that for years and years to come.
************
This scene is technically a flashback, i guess u can consider it a preview of a companion smut fic to my Gojohime smut fic which kicks off the SuguShoko (and NanaMei) goodness. In my delusions of grandeur this was supposed to be a fic series with a Nanamei companion smut fic as well but alas, life woes! Anyway, thx for reading xoxo
cut all the flowers (can't keep the spring from coming)
Pairing: Geto/Shoko, Gojo/Utahime
Rating: T
Summary: University!AU, in which Shoko and Suguru attempt to play matchmakers for Satoru and Utahime and end up falling in love along the way
ao3 link
Chapter 1
"I didn't know it was possible to be this unbearably pathetic, but Satoru never ceases to amaze," Shoko sighs, impatiently flicking through the pages of her textbook.
"It's not nice to pick on the afflicted, Shoko," Suguru chuckles, leaning against the back of his chair.
"Is that what we are calling it now?" Shoko scoffs, unamused.
"Seems appropriate, given allâŠthis," Suguru smiles lazily, gesturing vaguely in Satoru's direction.
As she watches Satoru pass by Utahime's table for the third time that hour, trying to catch her eye yet again, Shoko can hardly suppress a sigh. They'd been friends since high school, so she's had the misfortune of seeing just how foolish Satoru could get whenever he had a crush on someone - but she's never seen him be down this bad for anyone. Perhaps, Suguru's right - nothing short of a mystical affliction that vanquished every rational thought from Satoru's brain could explain how he'd been acting the last few weeks.
Shoko, Suguru, and Satoru came to the library straight from the dining hall to work on their physics problem set. Satoru had barely gotten through the small stack of chocolate chip cookies he nabbed from the dessert station when he saw Utahime sitting at a low table near vending machines, working on an essay for her history class.
"I'll be right back," Satoru got up from his seat, "My brain needs more sugar."
"I'm pretty sure it hasn't even had the chance to process all the sweets you've downed just now," Suguru replied, but Satoru was already out of earshot.
Shoko could not help but roll her eyes when Satoru stopped right by Utahime's table - a good five feet away from the vending machine - and stood there for five minutes, frowning in a way that would make the onlookers believe he was fighting a life and death battle rather than choosing chocolate over caramels. To Satoru's chagrin - and Shoko's delight - Utahime ignored him.
Shoko thought that was the end of it, but Satoru wouldn't be Satoru if he gave up that easily. For the next hour, he'd made three more forays to the vending machine, trying - and failing - to get Utahime's attention.
"Perhaps, you are right," Shoko turns to Suguru, "And still, "affliction" seems almost too kind for how pathetic this is."
"Well, he is our friend - I have to be kind," Suguru chuckles. Shoko shakes her head - when it comes to Satoru, Suguru's always been way too indulgent.
A satisfied smile blooms on Shoko's lips when Utahime, too consumed by the paper she's writing, ignores Satoru again. That's what he deserves.
The problem set was supposed to take them less than an hour, but due to Satoru's incessant vending machine breaks, they'd barely gotten through half of it, and Shoko's patience was wearing thin. She'd promised herself not to take any smoke breaks until she finished all her homework and was already utterly regretting that promise. If he doesn't hurry upâŠ
"At this rate, we'll be here all evening," Shoko glances at her problem set.
"You've got other plans tonight?" Suguru tilts his head to the side, eyeing her curiously.
"Plans or not, I certainly have no intentions of spending the night at the library."
Satoru's still standing by the vending machine, acting as though the world's fate depends on his choice of a sugary snack, sneaking what he most certainly believes to be discreet glances at Utahime.
"I wish he'd just tell her already," Shoko sighs, frustrated, "This is getting unbearable to watch."
"That would require Satoru to stop being in denial and actually examine his feelings," Suguru chuckles, "And for someone like him, that's a big ask."
Shoko nods - she's never seen someone as deep in denial as Satoru had been for the past few weeks, and it was infuriating. Sure, he may have been a fool - but did he think the rest of them were fools too and couldn't see the obvious signs that he was utterly, desperately smitten with Utahime?
When Shoko and Suguru first noticed Satoru's interest in Utahime, they teased him about it the way friends do. Satoru reacted with righteous indignation, claiming that he's only been spending so much time around Utahime because it was fun to tease her. Shoko could not help but roll her eyes - of course, he'd been acting like a lovesick fool all because Utahime took his jokes a little too close to the heart.
Satoru has always been quite whimsical and impermanent in matters of the heart - Shoko couldn't remember him remaining interested in the same girl or guy for longer than a few weeks - but it seemed, this time, things were different. Suguru thought Satoru's fascination with Utahime began right after they came back from the summer break, but Shoko was confident that it started way earlier, during their first year - it just wasn't quite as obvious back then.
"And besides," Suguru continues, distracting Shoko from her thoughts, "Didn't you say that you liked seeing him squirm?"
"I like watching Satoru get embarrassed," Shoko corrects, "What I don't enjoy is getting embarrassed on his behalf - and I think we've just crossed into that territory."
"Aren't you kind," Suguru laughs, pushing his bangs out of his face.
"Must be your good influence, Suguru," Shoko half-smiles, reaching over and patting his forearm, "You should be proud."
"Such high praise, coming from you," he chuckles, "I will cherish it forever."
Over by the vending machine, Satoru finally makes his selection. From what Shoko can see, it's the same chocolate he got during his last trip there - and the one before.
"We should get back to the problem set if we don't want to be here till midnight," Shoko says, "Have you looked at question six yet? I think it's very similar to the problem we did in class last week. I was certain I wrote it down, but I've been looking and cannot find it in my notes - can I take a look at your notebook?"
"Of course," Suguru nods, sliding his notebook to Shoko.
Flipping through the pages filled with Suguru's neat handwriting, Shoko quickly finds the problem she had in mind, but before she can read through the steps, she's distracted by a loud whisper.
"What is this?" Utahime frowns at Satoru, who is standing by her side.
"It's chocolate, of course," Satoru smiles, bright and condescending, "This paper's got you looking sour and gloomy - clearly, you're in desperate need of a sweet pick me up."
Shoko almost recoils - that was bad even for Satoru.
"That was a mistake," Suguru murmurs, wincing.
"You know I don't like sweets," Utahime almost hisses, "And, perhaps, I look sour because you keep hanging around - have you considered that?"
"Now, now, no need to be like that," Satoru replies, "Being sullen isn't a flattering look on anyoneâŠ"
Fortunately for Satoru, the librarian appears next to them before Utahime has a chance to respond.
"Please respect other students and refrain from raising your voices in the library," she says.
"My apologies," Utahime replies, "It won't happen again."
"Yes," Satoru agrees, "We just had a little misunderstanding."
He's about to return to the table where Shoko and Suguru are waiting for him when the librarian notices the snacks in his hands.
"Food is not allowed outside of the library cafe, you must know that," she frowns, crossing her arms in front of her. With a sigh, Satoru nods and heads over to the tiled area behind the vending machines, settling at one of the small tables there.
"That ended better than I expected," Suguru chuckles, twirling his pen in his fingers.
"Were you anticipating something dramatic?" Shoko tilts her head to the side, looking at him.
"After the "gloomy and sour" comment, definitely. That was bad even for Satoru."
"The more I see, the more I think you were right - this must be some sort of affliction that utterly destroyed Satoru's ability to reason," Shoko says, "There is no other rational explanation for what just happened."
"Love makes fools of us all," Suguru shrugs, and Shoko cannot help but eye roll.
"Is that what they teach you in your philosophy classes?" she scoffs.
"That was actually my first-year literature class," Suguru smiles, pushing his bangs out of his face.
"Glad I didn't let you talk me into enrolling in that class then," Shoko shakes her head, and Suguru only hums in response.
Watching Satoru sulk while eating his sweets and Utahime furiously type the remainder of her paper, Shoko sighs - it seems that, yet again, Suguru might be right.
"Every time I think this cannot get any more embarrassing, Satoru surprises me. It's getting unbearable to watch," Shoko muses, twirling her pencil in her fingers, "Perhaps there's something we could do⊠He really needs all the help he can get."
"Did I hear that right?" Suguru looks at her wide-eyed, "You want to help Satoru? Shoko, are you feeling alright?"
Suguru's face is full of faux concern when he reaches over, resting his palm on Shoko's forehead as though to check if she has a fever. His hand is warm against her skin, yet Shoko doesn't pull away from his touch.
"The only person I'm trying to help here is me," she says, "So I don't have to sit through another debacle like this one."
"I thought you liked watching him suffer," Suguru chuckles.
"I do," Shoko nods, "But I have a suspicion nothing can make Satoru squirm quite like having to confess his feelings to Utahime."
Anyone who Satoru ever pursued would say that he had quite an easy way with words when it came to matters of romance - but both Shoko and Suguru knew all too well that he was painfully awkward when it came to difficult topics and real feelings.
"Besides, I'd pay good money to see his face when Utahime rejects him," Shoko adds.
"That's cold," Suguru murmurs appreciatively, leaning closer as if they are sharing a secret, "Do you think she will?"
"Unfortunately, no," Shoko sighs, "I'm certain that she likes him back, which is a shame - if she didn't, that would have at least made this situation entertaining."
"You really think she likes him back?" Suguru muses, frowning, "How can you be so certain whenâŠ"
"She does," Shoko interrupts.
Shoko and Utahime have been friends for years, and Shoko could always tell when her friend fancied someone. While Utahime complained about Satoru rather frequently, there was no real bite behind her words. Sometimes, Shoko felt like she'd bring him up almost as an excuse to talk about him. Utahime never did that with the people she profoundly disliked, often avoiding mentioning them at all.
"I'll trust your judgment," Suguru smiles easily before adding, "So then, if we are going to be matchmakers for these two lovebirds, what's our plan?"
"I was hoping you'd have some suggestions, seeing as reading trashy romance novels is your guilty pleasure."
"You are never going to let that one go, are you?" Suguru lets out an exaggerated sigh.
"Never," Shoko chuckles, leaning against the table and resting her chin on the palm of her hand as she looks at Suguru, "So, got any ideas?"
"I don't think stranding them in a hotel room with only one bed or getting them snowed in at a remote cabin would be particularly helpful - or feasible," Suguru muses, pensively chewing his pen.
"Just what kind of novels are you reading?" Shoko scoffs, unimpressed by the suggestions.
"You are the one who asked for ideas from the trashy romance novels," Suguru chuckles, "A blind date, maybe? No, how would we even pull that offâŠ"
"We can set them up on a blind date," Shoko explains, glancing around to ensure that Satoru's still away at the cafe area.
"And how would we do that?"
"Have you read any of the emails from the Student Activities Office in the last month?" Shoko asks, and Suguru shakes his head in response, "They are hosting a blind date event soon for some charity."
"That's the first I hear about it."
"Really?" Shoko raises her eyebrow, "Have you been avoiding Mei Mei for the last few weeks? That's all she's been talking about! In fairness, she's in charge of that entire process as the Social Chair of the Student Council, but still⊠Anyway, I've heard good things about it - last year, three girls from our floor participated, and all are still dating the people they met through the event. Maybe that's just the push these two need."
"That's not bad," Suguru chuckles, "At that rate, perhaps, we should all sign up."
"What, did your sweet-talking skills get rusty over the summer? A shame truly," Shoko teases, tilting her head to the side as she looks Suguru in the face, "Well, not to worry, I'm sure Mei Mei will set you up with someone nice."
"Is Mei Mei the one pairing everyone up?" Suguru asks, shifting to rest his elbows on the table.
"She is - which means we'll need to convince her to help us," Shoko muses, knowing full well that "convincing" Mei Mei usually involved bribing her. By the amused expression on Suguru's face, it's clear that he recognizes that as well.
"I see," he murmurs, "Well, suppose we manage to convince Mei Mei to pair Satoru with Utahime - but how will we convince them to participate? It's not like we can just enter their names in this blind date event - you and I both know they won't just accept that."
"Huh, looks like you really didn't listen to what Mei Mei said," Shoko smiles, "All captains of sports teams and all presidents of student organizations are automatically enrolled in this event - I think that's supposed to make it more enticing for other students to participate - which means both Satoru and Utahime are already participating."
"Mei Mei thinks so too," Shoko shrugs, leaning back in her chair, "She told me that the system works so well, it hasn't been changed in over a decade."
Shoko sees Satoru get up from his seat - it seems like he's finally finished off all his sugary snacks.
"It's half past five," she says, looking over at the clock on the wall, "If I hurry, I bet I can still catch Mei Mei at the Student Council office."
"Do you need me to come along?" Suguru asks.
"I think it's best I go alone - both of us suddenly having to leave the study session might look a little odd," Shoko stands up and grabs her bag that hangs off the back of her chair, "I'll meet you afterward and tell you how it went."
Suguru looks at her for a moment before nodding.
"Very well," he says, "Good luck."
To Shoko's relief, by the time she makes it to the Student Council office, Mei Mei is the only one there. As she walks into the room, she sees Mei Mei standing by the desk, looking over a book that reminds Shoko of leather-bound medieval ledgers.
"Shoko?" Mei Mei turns to her, "I didn't expect to see you here."
"I need a favor," Shoko says - she knows Mei Mei's always preferred a straightforward approach.
"Straight to business, huh?" Mei Mei smiles, leaning against the desk, "I like that. So tell me - what is it you need?"
"I'd like you to pair Satoru and Utahime together for the blind date event," Shoko says flatly.
Mei Mei tilts her head to the side, her perplexed gaze never leaving Shoko's face. Between a breath and the next, her expression shifts from surprise to confusion to amusement, finally settling on curiosity.
"That's an interesting request," she muses, "And certainly not something I expected to hear. I didn't take you for the kind to do charity."
"Trust me, this is pure self-interest," Shoko sighs, "I don't think I have it in me to stomach another incident like I saw earlier in the library."
"Oh?" Mei Mei raises an eyebrow, "Was it worse than what happened last week at the dining hall?" Shoko nods eagerly, and Mei Mei chuckles, "In that case, it must have been painfully embarrassing to watch."
"I didn't know it was possible to feel secondhand embarrassment to that degree," Shoko crosses her arms in front of her, the memory of the argument over the chocolate still making her shudder.
"Live and learn, I suppose," Mei Mei replies, then adds, "Well, Shoko, you are in luck - even though it is not customary to pair up two sports team captains together, I like you, so I will help you. But I am curious - how do you think setting Satoru and Utahime up on a blind date will improve the situation?"
"I'm hoping going on a date with Utahime will snap Satoru out of denial," Shoko explains with a shrug, "Seemed to have worked for quite a few people from our dorm last year."
"Satoru's nothing if not stubborn - I can see this going either way," Mei Mei ponders, "But let's hope you are right. Now then, since you're asking for a favor that involves deviating from the long-held custom, I suppose it's only fair if I get something in return, don't you think?"
And there it is.
"What do you have in mind?" Shoko asks.
"You see," Mei Mei says, picking up the leather-bound ledger from the table, "This year, we didn't quite get the participation we expected, so if you could get a few people - let's say three - to participate, that would be very helpful."
Shoko frowns, mulling over Mei Mei's words. She'd expected she'll have to pay her, but she did not anticipate being personally dragged into this whole blind dates ordeal. To make matters worse, she could not for the life of her think of three people she could ask to participate.
"And do I count towards those three people?" Shoko asks, looking at Mei Mei.
"Of course," Mei Mei smiles, "Why wouldn't you?"
"You can also add Suguru to the list," Shoko says after a brief deliberation. While he may not have explicitly agreed to participate, this was a necessary sacrifice for their cause - and, besides, he did seem rather interested in this blind date event when they discussed it. It should be fine.
"Very well," Mei Mei nods, "You just need one more person."
Shoko ponders for a moment before pulling out her phone. "Give me a second," she tells Mei Mei as she types up a message to Yu.
Her phone pings with a response not a minute later, and Shoko smiles. Yu agreed without so much as wondering why she asked him to participate. If only it was that easy with all of their friends. Had Yu already enrolled, she'd probably have to give up on finding three people for Mei Mei.
"Yu says he'd also like to participate," Shoko says, "That's three total."
"Perfect," Mei Mei smiles, making a note in the ledger, "Now just one more small thing remains - the issue of yourâŠdonation."
Of course.
"I think three hundred dollars sounds reasonable," Mei Mei continues.
"I thought the fee was twenty per person," Shoko pushes back lightly.
"That is the entry donation amount, which you must pay to the student council account. But I am talking about a moreâŠprivate donation for the opportunity to pair up your friends without them finding out that you had a hand in the process at all," Mei Mei's voice drips with honey as her smile widens.
Shoko pulls out her phone without argument and transfers Mei Mei the money. When financial matters were involved, Mei Mei's always been highly reliable, so Shoko is confident she will do just as she promised.
"Wonderful," Mei Mei nods, once her phone pings with the notification that money's been received, "It's been a pleasure doing business with you."
"Likewise," Shoko nods and turns around to leave, "I'll see you later."
"By the way," Mei Mei says before Shoko heads out the door, "You might not know, but all of the blind dates happen on the same day. But not to worry - I'll ensure you are in the same location as Satoru and Utahime, so you can have a front-row seat toâŠwhatever will happen."
Shoko sighs - she'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious to see how things would turn out, but a part of her wants to be as far from that debacle as possible.
"Knowing Satoru, it will either go really well or really poorly," she notes.
"Either way, you'll be entertained," Mei Mei chuckles, and Shoko cannot argue.
By the time Shoko walks out on the quad, the sun has set, and the air has cooled significantly. A slight chill runs down Shoko's spine - she'd been too lazy that morning to get her jacket. Now, dressed only in a short skirt and a long-sleeve top on a crisp fall evening, she almost regrets it. Pulling out her phone, Shoko's about to text Suguru when, suddenly, a familiar voice distracts her.
"Hey, Shoko!" Hayate - a guy she'd seen casually a few times since the school year started - smiles brightly as he walks up to her, "Fancy seeing you here. I was just about to message you to see if you wanted to catch up on the show we were watching the last time."
His expression is hopeful - almost a little desperate - and for a split second, Shoko considers his offer. He's not an unpleasant company, and it is cold outside, and in truth, she could just text Suguru to let him know what happened with Mei Mei⊠But that's not what she wants to do.
"Sorry," she says calmly, "But I have plans."
Hayate's face drops briefly before he smiles again and nods, "Ah, that is unfortunate. Well then, maybe next time."
"Yeah," Shoko nods absent-mindedly and walks past Hayate.
"Meet at our usual smoking spot in ten," she texts Suguru.
Their regular smoking spot was a small nook between the corner of the library and the dining hall. Shoko arrives first and, not wasting any time, pulls a cigarette out of her pack. She pats the pockets of her skirt for a lighter, but cannot find it, then proceeds to search her bag. Realizing that it's not there either, Shoko curses under her breath.
"Need a light?" Suguru asks from behind her. Shoko turns around and sees him holding a lighter, smiling.
"Thank you," she says, "I must have misplaced my lighter."
Suguru nods, stepping closer to her. With a flicker, a small flame is lit, and he cradles the lighter with both hands when Shoko leans in to light her cigarette. A fond smile tugs at Shoko's lips - she'd always found his habit of offering her a lighter that way peculiar but endearing.
"Where's your jacket?" Suguru frowns as Shoko pulls away, "It's cold tonight."
"I'll be fine," Shoko breathes airily.
"You are shivering," Suguru shakes his head. Next thing Shoko knows, he's sliding his jacket off his shoulders and draping it over her, "Here."
Shoko looks down - Suguru's much taller than her, and his jacket ends way past the hem of her skirt. The fabric's warm and soft, and the coat smells of Suguru's cologne - which Shoko really enjoys but would never admit - and she pulls it tighter around herself without even realizing it.
"I look ridiculous," she complains half-heartedly, taking a drag of her cigarette.
"At least you won't catch a cold," Suguru chuckles, lighting his own cigarette, "You know, you are unbearably cranky when you're sick."
"It's not like you personally will have to deal with any cranky attitude. It's not like we are roommates," Shoko scoffs, "So I don't see why you are complaining."
"I cannot believe you'd think so low of me," Suguru's voice is full of faux indignation, but there's a glimmer of amusement in his eyes, "To think that I'd leave you alone in your sick bed."
"You are right; my apologies," Shoko responds solemnly, barely suppressing a chuckle. She's almost successful until her gaze meets Suguru's, and they both burst out laughing.
"So," Suguru asks after a pause, "Did Mei Mei agree to help us?"
Shoko takes another drag of her cigarette. The wind has picked up, making the already crisp evening even colder, but Suguru's jacket is so warm and comfortable that she barely feels it.
"She did," Shoko nods, blowing out smoke, "But her help came at a steep cost. And I'm not just talking about money."
"I wouldn't expect anything else of Mei Mei," Suguru chuckles, "What did she ask for - your firstborn?"
"I wish," Shoko scoffs, "But that would have been too easy. Instead, you and I are now participating in the blind date event."
"We are?" Suguru asks, confused.
"Yes," Shoko nods, "That was another thing Mei Mei demanded besides the payment - she needed three more people to join."
"I see," Suguru muses, "Who else did you ask?"
"Yu - and he'd agreed right away. I was fortunate he wasn't participating already. Otherwise, I'd probably have to ask Kento. And I can already tell I'd have a better chance of getting the statues from the quad to participate than convincing him."
"Can't argue with that," Suguru chuckles, flicking the ashes from his cigarette.
"Mei Mei said that since all the blind dates are on the same day at the same time, she'll make sure we're in the same location as Satoru and Utahime," Shoko adds, "Given how much she'd asked for, it's only fair we'd be getting front row seats to this debacle, I suppose."
"Oh?" Suguru raises his eyebrow, "Well then, at least we'll be entertained - regardless of what comes of this."
"Fair," Shoko nods, bringing her cigarette to her lips, "Although with all the work we've put in, Satoru better get his shit together."
It's very silly, but it was very fun to make, specially Hancock's expression! đ€ Love this two and their dinamic, they're so sweet.
I love to imagine a few years after Luffy becomes pirate king, in one of the visits the strawhats pay to Amazon Lily, Hancock would ask Luffy to marry her like she always does and everyone (including her) would be like "oh, poor Hancock will get rejected again" and OUT OF NOWHERE Luffy would accept it, because why not? And that's how they would get together and start a family in the most random way lol
Collection of eremika drabbles, vignettes and short one shots. All of them set in the "around the corner" universe, a life-changing fic writen by @ili-akkaman <3
basorexia -Â (n.) the overwhelming desire to kissÂ
Mikasaâs face was flushed, the angle of the way she looked up at him was almost enough to make him act purely out of instinct.Â
Nobody else was around, would it really hurt to indulge for once?Â
He may have wiped the tears from his eyes moments ago, but the way they stayed damp blurred the look of confusion in her face into some ethereal beauty he thought he was accustomed to by now. It only made his heart beat faster.Â
But why was he nervous?Â
He anticipated her coming out here to see him, maybe even expected it. To Eren, Mikasa had always been a charm of good fortune. A blessing from above, a guardian angel, his north star. Really, it was hard not to think so when every time he seemed to get himself into trouble, her timing was impeccable.Â
Except when the trouble became internal, and his most annoying dilemma was not the worldâs burdens, but the fact that he really, really wanted to kiss her. There was simply no way she could help him when he was left fighting every urge inside him to reach out and close the distance.Â
Eren is pretty sure he fell in love first.Â
And this lovely realization was followed by his visions of a future with freedom for everyone becoming blurred with Mikasa, Mikasa, only Mikasa.
Since then, looking directly at her held a different weight, like he understood too much. At first it was frustrating, considering it seemed like a curse on him in different flavors. But as more time passed it seemed more comforting to understand exactly what she meant to him.Â
He wondered briefly if she felt the same, but the thought was fleeting. Of course she loved him too, right? Then came the realization that he never asked, and it had all been such a wild assumption up until now.Â
His attention is brought back to the girl in front of him when she makes a small sound akin to confusion, âhuh?âÂ
Erenâs eyes focus on her again, remembering what he had asked in the first place.Â
âWhy do youâŠconcern yourself so much with me?â
Like hell was he going to ask that again, his ears heated up at the thought of repeating the question. His gaze travels downward and stop at her lips, and he realizes that was a mistake. Her mouth was slightly open in confusion and the basorexia worsens.Â
Eren panics instead, hoping that perhaps giving her options will answer the question faster.Â
âIs it because you were saved by me as a child,â
He swallows, willing himself to finish the question, and another soft âhuh?â escapes her.Â
Gods above, perhaps just kissing her will solve this whole dilemma; then neither of them have to answer any more questions.Â
âOrâŠâ he continues instead, vaguely aware that he had unconsciously drawn closer to her. She hadnât moved back. âIs it because Iâm family?â
Mikasa seems completely frozen at this point, the blush on her cheeks spreading rapidly to her ears. Part of Eren feels comforted by this, and he instantly grows bolder.Â
âWhat am I to you?â
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