Seasonal Depression

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/52102321.

Rating: Explicit
Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Category: M/M
Fandoms: 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen (Anime), 呪術廻戦 | Jujutsu Kaisen (Manga)
Relationships: Getou Suguru/Gojo Satoru, Getou Suguru & Gojo Satoru
Characters: Getou Suguru, Gojo Satoru, Nanami Kento, Mei Mei (Jujutsu Kaisen),
Iori Utahime, Ieiri Shoko, Fushiguro Toji, Haibara Yu (Jujutsu Kaisen),
Yaga Masamichi
Additional Tags: Top Getou Suguru, Past Getou Suguru/Gojo Satoru, Student Getou
Suguru, Gojo Satoru is a Little Shit, Bottom Gojo Satoru, Gojo Satoru
Needs a Hug, Getou Suguru Needs a Hug, Soft Getou Suguru, Protective
Gojo Satoru, Gojo Satoru is His Own Warning, Hurt Gojo Satoru, Getou
Suguru/Gojo Satoru Angst, Angst, Fluff and Angst, Heavy Angst, Did I
Mention Angst?
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2023-12-07 Updated: 2023-12-28 Words: 69,154 Chapters:
10/?
 Seasonal Depression
by ryn735

Summary

"In the melancholic symphony of life, a caveat echoes like a haunting refrain, a cautionary
note etched in the margins of existence. Beneath the gray clouds of uncertainty, every
moment carries the weight of a whispered warning, a reminder that even in the dimmest
corners, hope may find itself entwined with the thorns of despair"

In their high school days, Suguru Geto and Satoru Gojo formed an unexpected friendship,
despite the stark contrasts in their lives. Satoru, born into the privileged Gojo Clan, led a
sheltered existence free from hardship, fostering the ugliest ego that he wears proudly for the
world to see. In contrast, Suguru, a serious and principled boy with a mysterious past,
somehow found common ground with Satoru. Within the superficiality of their friendship,
something will snap, forcing that bond to cut deeper, unveiling the profoundly complex
layers of Suguru's mind and revealing the essence of compassion to Satoru.
 Dancing Flames
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

What will I have left when even the hurt is gone

And I can't feel a thing?

Would you have been there when I came home?

Could you hold on another day?

I wish I had not held, held onto you so long

But I was just so damn afraid

I wish I hadn't used you to pull me

Out of this dark and lonely place

–The Fountain

Cicadas drone on into the evening, echoing with the call of summer as its heat seeps into the
cracked windows of Suguru’s dorm. He lays with his eyes glued to the notches in the ceiling,
his arm over his forehead to feel the aftermath of the muggy air. His blankets lay in a
disheveled heap by his legs as his cotton shirt, however thin it may be, sticks to his sweaty
back.

He drowns out the voices of other students outside as they walk idly by. Mostly, they’re just
about as disturbing as the cicadas. It’s normal in the summertime when missions are slower
than usual for the students to get together toward the evening and hang out after mealtime.

Deep down, Suguru wants to join them, but his tired eyes tell him no. His legs won’t move
from their tangled position on his bed and the sweat on his body won’t stop suffocating him.
He shuts his eyes, focusing briefly on the sting that settles along his lash lines, begging him
to keep them closed but they only fly open again. It’s only for those notches in the ceiling
that seem so much more interesting than sleep, even at 7 PM on a Friday. His gaze remains
fixed on them, each one more captivating than the prospect of joining his peers. The voices
outside become an indistinct murmur, akin to the monotonous hum of the cicadas. Despite the
yearning to be a part of the communal atmosphere, Suguru's fatigue keeps him anchored to
his bed.

As he lies there, his body sticky with sweat, Suguru succumbs to the weariness that envelops
him. The sting in his eyes intensifies, urging him to surrender to sleep, yet his mind resists.
The notches in the ceiling become a peculiar focal point, drawing him into their patterns as if
they hold the answers to unspoken questions.

The weekend calls for fun with his classmates, a night out scheming pranks for their
superiors or plans to get in with some hot girls. Yet, for Suguru, the solitude of his dorm
room and the hypnotic rhythm of the cicadas provide a refuge from the demands of social
interaction, falling for the allure of solitary contemplation.

Suguru removes his shirt, disregarding that someone could peek in and see him with the open
windows. He simply didn’t care. Even so, it doesn’t resolve any of the pressing discomfort of
the heat.

As the evening progresses, the ambient noises outside his windows transform into a gentle
lullaby. The once-disturbing hum of cicadas now becomes a melodic serenade of crickets, a
natural symphony that cradles Suguru's tired mind. The disheveled blankets and the discarded
cotton shirt become no more than silent witnesses to his gradual surrender to the tranquility
of sleep.

Suguru lets his mind drift away from the pressures and stresses of life. The crickets guide
him into a realm of dreams where the worries of the day dissolve. Everything that was once
important to him now fades into the background as his consciousness succumbs to the
serenity of the night.

Suguru's brief reprieve is shattered as the tranquility in his mind gives way to the clamor of
life against its forge. His peaceful cocoon is disrupted by the unmistakable sound of Satoru
Gojo's voice, a force of nature that pounds against Suguru's mental fortress. Satoru's voice,
with its pestilent charm, slithers through the gaps around Suguru's closed door like an
untamed beast.

"Suguru!" The mischievous undertone in Satoru's call is not lost on him. A defeated sigh
escapes Suguru's lips as he realizes that evasion is futile. He knows all too well that Satoru
Gojo is not one to accept "no" as an answer, and attempting to escape whatever request or
scheme his friend has in mind would be an exercise in futility.

Resigned, Suguru contemplates the impending intrusion into his peaceful haven. The room
and the remnants of his contemplation bear witness to the battle between serenity and the
impending chaos that Satoru brings. With a sense of reluctant acceptance, Suguru prepares
himself for the inevitable interaction, slumping out of bed with a tired look in his eye as he
opens the door, a stark contrast to his shaded friend.

There’s a smile on Satoru’s face. Suguru knew before even opening the door—he could hear
it in his voice. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” he says with a tease. “What’re you doing?
You’re not getting ready for bed already, are you?” Satoru peeks around Suguru's stalwart
defense, inspecting the room guarded by its tired occupant. The discarded clothes and the
disarray of blankets tell a silent tale of Suguru's interrupted solitude.

Despite the weariness that clings to Suguru, he offers a resigned half-smile in response.
“Well, I was until you showed up,” he retorts, his tone carrying a feigned nonchalance that
thinly veils the underlying appreciation for Satoru’s showing up at his door. Deep down, he
appreciates the intrusions, even if he won't admit it outright. With a weary yet curious
expression, Suguru adds, "What do you want?" It's a question laden with the expectation of
some scheme, a testament to the unpredictable nature of his friend.

Satoru responds with a smug expression, folding his arms as he playfully mocks Suguru's
reserved attitude. "Man, you're lame," he declares, his tone resounding with satirizing
playfulness. The mischievous glint that shines in Satoru's eyes behind those sunglasses he’s
always wearing suggests that he is determined to coax Suguru out of his solitude and join
whatever spontaneous escapade he has in mind, his manipulative antics already coming out to
play. "It's the weekend. Don't you wanna go do something?" Satoru questions, emphasizing
the allure of the free time they don’t often get.

“Like what, exactly?” Suguru mimics his friend’s folded arms.

Satoru, undeterred by Suguru's failed attempt to challenge the wellspring of ideas he surely
has, grins wider, reveling in the banter. "Oh, you know, the usual. Stirring up trouble, causing
a little chaos, maybe even making memories that we'll cherish forever," he replies with an
exaggerated air of mischief and a hint of sarcasm toward the end.

Suguru sighs in response, a mixture of amusement and resignation in his expression. "You
never run out of energy, do you?" he remarks, acknowledging the endless stock of enthusiasm
that is Satoru Gojo.

Leaning against the doorframe, Satoru raises an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Me? Never!
Life's too short to be boring, Suguru. Come on, live a little!"

Suguru rolls his eyes but can't hide the smirk that tugs at the corner of his lips. “Get to the
point, Gojo,” he retorts, meeting Satoru's gaze with a mix of amusement and annoyance.

Satoru leans in slightly, his eyes glinting around his lenses. "I wanna have a huge bonfire
with me, you, and some of the others," he suggests, breaking the mold of his usual outrageous
proposals. Suguru's brow scrunches in mild shock, a rare expression given the unexpected
simplicity of Satoru's idea. For once, Satoru hasn't come all the way to Suguru's dorm just to
suggest the most out-of-pocket nonsense he could conjure. Instead, he presents a solid and
relatively normal idea.

Suguru takes a moment to process this departure from the norm, then raises an eyebrow. "A
bonfire?" he repeats, as if confirming the reality of the proposition and Satoru nods.

“It’s summer, perfect time for getting cozy by the fire. Who knows, maybe we’ll find some
girls to take back to our dorms,” he says.

Suguru rolls his eyes again at the last part of Satoru’s statement. “Right…as if you have to do
any sort of ‘finding’ when it comes to women in the first place. The women find you,”
Suguru replies, injecting a hint of venom and perhaps even jealousy into his words. It's a
playful jab at Satoru's charismatic and often flamboyant nature, highlighting the stark
difference in their approaches to socializing.
Satoru chuckles at Suguru's response. "Well, some of us just have that natural charm,
Suguru," he says, winking theatrically. "But in all seriousness, it'll be a good time. Trust me."

Suguru shakes his head, still wearing a bemused expression. "Fine, fine. A bonfire sounds
decent. But let's keep the 'finding girls' part to a minimum, shall we? I'm not in the mood for
your dramatic romantic pursuits tonight."

Satoru feigns offense, placing a hand over his heart. "Dramatic? I’m really hurt, Suguru,” he
drones in a pretend melancholic voice, grinning. "But all right, we'll keep it low-key in the
romance department. Just good company, good vibes, and maybe a few roasted
marshmallows."

With a final nod of approval from Suguru, he dresses into something a bit more fitting for
their “adventure”—a night around a bonfire, shared laughter, and the comforting crackle of
flames. The two make their way to the school’s community yard where there’s already a fire
pit all set up with logs and different plastic chairs surrounding it. But there isn’t any fire just
yet, nor any other classmates, just Suguru and Satoru standing beside an empty pit.

“So um…what marshmallows are we roasting? And with what classmates?” Suguru asks
against the silence.

Their laughter bursts forth, filling the darkness like the swell of a symphony. It's a familiar
sound, a melody that encapsulates the two as though nothing else matters. Satoru grins, the
flames of mischief dancing in his eyes without the kerosene. "Ah, details, details. I can go
and gather everyone up if you don't mind heading to the store for snacks?" he proposes,
already digging into his pocket for his wallet. With a casual gesture, he hands Suguru some
money, setting the plan in motion.

Suguru, taking the money with a raised eyebrow, nods in agreement. "Sure, I'll take care of
the snacks. You work your charm on the others," he says with a wry smile, acknowledging
Satoru's knack for rallying people together.

As Suguru heads to the store, his thoughts meander between the anticipation of the night
ahead and a subtle sense of dread that lingers beneath the surface. The echoes of their
laughter still resonate in his mind, bringing with them a newfound excitement for the
impending bonfire. However, mingled with this anticipation is a growing apprehension as
Suguru contemplates the dynamics between himself, Satoru, and their other classmates.

Satoru, the social butterfly of the two, thrives in the midst of crowds, reveling in the energy
of social interactions. In contrast, Suguru prefers the periphery, finding solace in observing
the unfolding fun from a more reserved vantage point. The contrast in their social preferences
sets the stage for a growing resentment for his friend. That carefree attitude Satoru fosters is
one thing that Suguru truly enjoys about him, but it certainly makes hanging out with him a
double-edged sword. While Satoru effortlessly charms his way through social circles,
attracting attention like a magnet, Suguru often finds himself in the background.

As Suguru reaches the corner store, the anticipation and dread intermingle, creating a
complex emotional landscape as he navigates the aisles for snacks. He doesn’t linger at the
store for long before he’s returning to the school, a generous bag of snacks hooked on his
fingers. Upon reaching the school courtyard, Suguru spots the glow of the fire which seems
to have already begun in his absence. He hurries over—all while trying not to seem too
desperate. Upon entering the communal yard, to his relief, Satoru is there, sitting alongside
their classmates—Shoko Ieri, Utahime Iori, and even Mei-Mei, all women. It's a common
occurrence for Suguru and Satoru to convene with the female sorcerers in their year, forming
a tight-knit group. However, there's a stark difference in their approaches. While Suguru
tends to act nonchalant, Satoru puts on an extra show for the women, even if not all of them
particularly enjoy his exuberant performances.

As Suguru approaches, he's greeted with a mix of welcoming smiles and a raised eyebrow
from Mei-Mei, who seems to have caught on to the internal struggle playing out in Suguru's
mind. Satoru, noticing Suguru's arrival, grins and pats the empty seat beside him.

Suguru, trying to maintain his composed demeanor, takes the offered seat beside Satoru. The
warmth of the fire mixes with the muggy night air, somehow creating a reprieve from the
discomfort and creating a cozy ambiance that envelops the gathering.

Satoru greets Suguru with a nudge and a playful grin. "Took you long enough. We were just
getting started without you," he teases, earning a few chuckles from the others.

Suguru smirks in response, a subtle acknowledgment of Satoru's playful banter. He observes

the familiar faces around the fire, each one contributing to their woven experiences at the
school. Shoko, with her stoic demeanor, gives Suguru a nod of acknowledgement. Utahime
offers a friendly smile, and Mei-Mei maintains her fixed gaze upon Suguru.

“I thought I made good time for having to walk and carry everything,” Suguru responds,
brushing off the eyes that seem to stare into his soul across from him. He spreads the bag of
goodies he picked up with a package of wooden skewers, a bag of extra large marshmallows
and other ingredients for making s’mores.

Satoru's eyes light up at the sight. "Now this is how you contribute to a gathering," he
exclaims, his enthusiasm contagious as he starts preparing the skewers for roasting
marshmallows.

The courtyard comes alive with the sound of laughter and the sizzle of marshmallows
meeting the open flames and cheeks burnt with red hues. Suguru, though initially reserved,
finds himself drawn into the rhythm of the evening.

As the night progresses, Suguru finds himself easing into the subtle conversations between
his friends, the initial apprehension giving way to the warmth of shared laughter and the
subtle sense of connection Suguru is grasping for. The flames of the bonfire dance, casting
flickering shadows on their faces, and the symphony of voices weaves a tale of friendships,
quirks, and the shared challenges they face in their unique roles as sorcerers.

Satoru, of course, takes center stage as a story begins to overtake the conversation, his
animated storytelling and theatrical gestures captivating their classmates. Suguru, content to
remain a bystander, enjoys the unfolding spectacle, finding comfort in the simplicity of the
moment. Lost in the sounds of laughter and the warmth of the bonfire, he momentarily shuts
his eyes, allowing himself to be immersed in the familiar sounds.
However, as he tunes back into Satoru's storytelling, a particular statement grabs Suguru's
attention. "I swear on my life, this guy was definitely flirting with me," Satoru declares, and
it's this moment that Suguru's brain decides to fully engage with the conversation.

"It's not that surprising," Shoko chimes in, offering a nonchalant response.

Utahime, on the other hand, seems less convinced. "Sure it is! Listen, Gojo likes to think he's
popular with women, but he's not. He's just another stuck-up arrogant brat. Nobody wants
that."

Satoru, unfazed by the blatant slander, laughs and drops his sunglasses along the bridge of his
nose, revealing his bright blue eyes. His teasing gaze fixes on Utahime, who reacts with a
shriek, hastily scooting back and pushing to the far side of the log they were all sitting on.

"Nobody cares about personality out on the streets. It's the eyes they can't get enough of,"
Satoru teases, his playful demeanor further emphasizing his self-assured charm. Utahime's
reaction, a mix of irritation and amusement, adds another layer to the lighthearted banter that
characterizes their interactions.

Suguru rolls his eyes off to the side, unamused by Satoru’s theatrics, refusing to participate in
the conversation out of spite.

“The only reason he can’t pull any women is because it’s painfully obvious that he’s gay,”
Mei-Mei interjects. She looks quite composed but a closer look reveals a mischievous glint in
her eyes as a grin tugs at her lips. She appears to be looking at Satoru from this angle, but her
real interest is in Suguru’s reaction to this information.

As an upperclassman, Mei-Mei enjoys a bit of light-hearted teasing, especially when it comes

to her underclassman. The revelation, whether true or part of the banter, adds a new layer to
the ongoing conversation. Satoru, caught off guard, blinks in surprise, while Utahime and
Shoko exchange glances, their expressions unreadable.

Suguru, despite his attempt to remain indifferent, can't help but raise an eyebrow at Mei-
Mei's remark. Just as she’d hoped, Suguru bites the bait. Suguru falls right into Mei-Mei's
trap as the flicker of intrigue in his eyes betrays his feigned lack of concern. Mei-Mei,
satisfied with the reaction she's elicited, can't help but smirk in response.

Finally, Satoru interacts with Suguru for the first time since he unveiled his bag of snacks. He
nudges him. “I don’t know, Suguru, what do you think? I’d make a fine gay man. Maybe
she’s right. Maybe I’ve been looking at things wrong all this time,” he says, his tone dripping
with sarcasm.

Suguru, caught in the crossfire, forces a small smile at Satoru. The playful exchange
continues, and Suguru, momentarily drawn into the light-hearted teasing, decides to play
along despite the off beat that rattles in his heart. "Well, you've always had a certain flair to
you. Maybe you've just been hiding your true calling all this time," he responds, matching
Satoru's sarcasm with his own, though it sounds painfully imposed, at least as far as Mei-Mei
can tell.
Shoko interjects with her own joke. "In a glass closet, maybe," she quips, her remark
accompanied by a hint of laughter shared among the group.

Satoru’s laughter seems to shine louder than the rest. “Come on, you guys don’t actually
think I’m gay, do you?” he asks.

As Satoru playfully challenges their assumptions, Suguru decides to diffuse the situation with
a good-natured chuckle. "We all know you're far too in love with yourself to be interested in
anyone else," he retorts, injecting a touch of humor into his response.

The group shares a collective laugh, the tension lifting as his joke prevails. Mei-Mei observes
the interplay between Suguru and Satoru, noting the nuances beneath the surface. Shoko
maintains her stoic demeanor, while Utahime sports a knowing smile, her gaze flickering
between the two.

Satoru, reveling in the attention, smirks with a dramatic heart-stopping expression over his
lenses. "You're all just jealous of my irresistible charm," he declares, embracing the narrative
his friend set up for him.

As Suguru manages to extricate himself from the interaction, he redirects his attention to the
dancing flames of the bonfire. The warmth washes over him, but there's an odd rhythm that
lingers in his heart, a subtle disquiet that nags at the edges of his consciousness.

The crackling of the fire becomes soothing background music to the narration of his
thoughts, and Suguru allows himself a moment of quiet introspection. As Suguru gazes into
the flames, the beat in his heart becomes more pronounced. The warmth of the fire seems to
intensify the complex emotions swirling within him. His thoughts involuntarily turn toward
Satoru who has been a constant presence in his life since the day they met, whether he liked it
or not.

There's a unique connection that transcends the ordinary ones he feels with the rest, a bond
that Suguru can't easily define. Satoru just has a way of pulling Suguru out of his reserved
shell, nudging him into the realm of shared laughter and camaraderie.

Yet, amidst the playful banter, Suguru senses a deeper undercurrent. He acknowledges the
strange rhythm with which his heart beats, a rhythm that seems to sync with the dance of the
flames. The warmth of the bonfire reflects the warmth he feels when Satoru is around, and
Suguru can't help but question the nature of these feelings.

Mei-Mei can practically read his thoughts as she watches his silent contemplation. He stands
as a monolith of calm quietude despite the war she’s sure is raging behind his eyes. However,
Satoru’s wild nature runs rampant between the group of friends. They make the perfect
opposites of one another and she can’t help silently rooting for Suguru’s feelings to finally
come to the forefront.

As the night progresses, the once vibrant flames of the bonfire begin to dwindle, their fiery
dance gradually succumbing to the exhaustion of their fuel. The crackling sounds diminish,
and the warm glow of the fire casts a softer light on the faces of Suguru, Satoru, Mei-Mei,
Shoko, and Utahime.
Shoko, displaying a stretch, and Utahime, letting out a weary yawn, showcase the signs of a
night well spent. The night has left its mark, and as the bonfire's embers glow dimmer, a
sense of contentment settles over the group.

“We should head back to our dorms,” Utahime suggests in a groggy voice. “Thanks for
inviting us,” she says, flicking her tired gaze toward Satoru and Suguru.

Shoko nods in agreement.

The exhaustion is met with a shared understanding, and the sorcerers begin to shift, preparing
to disperse for the night as they share “good nights” and “see you laters.” As the excitement
goes quiet, Suguru's contemplation finds a temporary pause, leaving room for the quiet
satisfaction of the night’s events.

As Mei-Mei stands up, her eyes find Satoru and Suguru who are still sitting on the log they
all once shared. Distracted by all the movement, Suguru just happens to make momentary
eye-contact with their upperclassman who sends him a knowing smile. “Good night, Geto,”
she says before turning to head back to her dorm.

As the others disperse, Satoru and Suguru remain, watching the remaining embers die out,
couched between the quiet hum of crickets in the night. “You should ask Mei-Mei out,”
Satoru blurts out, interrupting the silence.

Suguru’s eyes fly wide open as he whips toward Satoru. “What?” he exclaims, which is met
with a bout of Satoru’s laughter.

“She was practically staring at you the entire time,” Satoru points out with a smirk.

“She didn’t say a single word to me until she left,” Suguru responds, trying to disperse the
implied accusation as quickly as possible. His attempt to downplay the situation is evident,
wary of the teasing that could follow if any misconceptions arise.

Satoru, still wearing a mischievous smirk, nudges Suguru playfully. "Come on, Suguru,
you're not fooling anyone. Mei-Mei might not be the most straightforward person, but her
eyes were practically screaming 'look at me.'"

Suguru sighs, realizing that Satoru isn't about to drop the subject. "It's not that simple. People
have different ways of expressing themselves. Besides, we're just friends. I don't want any
rumors circulating."

Satoru, seemingly undeterred, leans back and gazes at the starlit sky. "Rumors or not, you
can't deny there's a certain tension between you two. Maybe it's time to address it."

Suguru, feeling a mix of discomfort and frustration, decides to change the topic. "What about
you, Satoru? Any romantic escapades on the horizon?" he asks, attempting to redirect the
focus away from his own situation.

Satoru chuckles, his carefree demeanor returning. "Eh, I like to live in the moment. No time
for serious stuff. When have I ever shown any actual interest in someone?" he responds,
steering the conversation away from the potential romantic tension between Suguru and Mei-
Mei like a hook line and sinker.

Suguru's tone remains laced with seriousness, highlighting the disparity between the two.
"You make it hard to answer that question. It's impossible to read you," he responds,
expressing the difficulty he often faces in deciphering Satoru's intentions.

The night air hangs heavy with unspoken thoughts as Suguru's contemplative gaze returns to
the dying embers of the bonfire. The subtle tension between them lingers, a reminder of the
complexities woven into their friendship. Satoru, seemingly unburdened by the weight of
such matters, observes Suguru with an air of curiosity.

Suguru breaks the silence, his voice carrying a weight of sincerity. "You know, it's okay to
show a little genuine interest now and then. Not everything has to be a joke or a fleeting
moment," he offers, his words carrying a touch of concern for his friend and maybe even the
slightest desire to have some of that energy for himself.

Satoru considers Suguru's words. "Maybe you're right. But life's short, and I've always
believed in making the most of every moment."

Suguru nods, acknowledging the truth in Satoru's words. "That's true, but there's a difference
between making the most of the moment and avoiding anything meaningful. Sometimes, it's
okay to let people in."

Satoru shifts his gaze from the stars to Suguru, a hint of sincerity in his eyes. "I let you in,
didn't I?" he points out, a slight quirk to his brow.

Suguru responds with a mutter, "Hardly..."

Cocking an eyebrow, Satoru seems genuinely puzzled. "What're you talking about? You're
my best friend, you idiot," he says, the humor leaving his tone, replaced by a note of genuine
shock and even a hint of hurt.

"I know that, but..." Suguru starts, his voice hesitant, refusing to meet Satoru’s gaze. As he
thinks on how to word his next response, he starts to back away from the idea of going any
further. He fears what may happen if he expresses an interest in a deeper, more meaningful
connection.

“But, what?” Satoru's question hangs in the air, laden with a tinge of defensiveness. The quiet
night seems to outline the shift in the nature of the tension between them as Suguru grapples
with the unspoken thoughts that linger between them.

Suguru takes a deep breath, contemplating how to proceed. The vulnerability of the situation
is palpable, and he senses the need to tread carefully. "But, it's complicated," Suguru finally
admits, his voice a mixture of honesty and reservation.

He glances at Satoru, searching for understanding in his friend's gaze. But it’s lost on him as
he folds his arms. "So you went through all the trouble of saying I hardly let you in just to say
it's complicated?" Satoru questions, a hint of frustration evident in his voice. He challenges
the enigmatic nature of Suguru's words with a dismissive 'tsk.' "If you've got something to
say, then just say it. What is it, Suguru, am I not good enough for you? What exactly are you
looking for from me?"

Satoru's barrage of questions hits Suguru like a storm, each one carrying a weight that he
struggles to shoulder. Attempting to dodge a genuine answer, Suguru finds himself caught in
the realization that Satoru's probing questions are forcing him to confront the depth of his
own feelings.

"I'm sorry," he says, opting for an apology rather than delving further into the complexities of
his feelings. "I didn't mean what I said."

Satoru returns a knowing look and it seems more irritated than understanding. “Clearly you
did. You’re mad at me for not being open but here you are not being honest yourself.”

"I guess I’m not," Suguru admits, his tone heavy with a mixture of frustration and
introspection. "It's just...complicated. I didn't want to make things more difficult."

Satoru remains silent for a beat, his expression unreadable. The subtle dance of shadows from
the dying bonfire disappears, leaving the two in the dark.

Suguru continues, "I'm not mad at you, Satoru. I just...I don't know how to navigate this
without causing more problems." He looks at his friend, seeking understanding in the midst
of the emotional turbulence.

Satoru's expression softens slightly, the irritation giving way to a touch of empathy. "Stop
being such a baby and just say what’s on your mind, Suguru. I’m not gonna judge you."

"Maybe some other time," Suguru says, breaking the heavy atmosphere that had settled
between them. Rising from the log that once held both of them, Suguru creates a physical
distance that matches the emotional one.

Satoru stares at the back of his head, another pang of frustration toward his avoidant friend
rippling through his body that leaves a lingering sense of longing to hear what Suguru was
trying to say.

“Good night.” As Suguru walks away, Satoru remains seated on the log, contemplating the
unspoken words that hang between them. Satoru watches him go, a tumultuous sea of restless
thoughts swirling within him.

In the aftermath of their conversation, a sense of unease is left behind, leaving both friends
suspended in a moment of emotional ambiguity, and Suguru wishing he’d never even spoken
in the first place. He can’t help feeling he’s now driven some sort of wedge between him and
his friend, left with the uncertainty of whether or not Satoru will start to resent him.

As Suguru walks into the dorms, a sense of regret starts to gnaw away at him before stealing
into the hideaway of his own dorm, his only respite from the difficulties awaiting him in the
outside world. Here, he is safe.
Closing the door behind him, Suguru finds solace within the familiar walls of his dorm. The
room, with its notched ceiling and the muffled sounds of the dormitory beyond, becomes a
haven where Suguru can confront his thoughts and emotions without the prying eyes of the
world.

Suguru, seeking the intimate refuge of solitude, can't be bothered to provide relief from the
oppressive heat of the summer night. The weight of unresolved emotions lingers, and rather
than shedding the suffocating layers of his clothes, he retreats further into the sanctuary of his
own covers. The familiar embrace of the bedding becomes both a physical and metaphorical
shield, protecting him from the complexities that tangle his thoughts.

In the suffocating darkness of Suguru's dorm room, the anger laced within Satoru’s words
bears down on him, tightening like an invisible vice around his chest. The air feels thick, and
the muggy heat only intensifies the sense of confinement. As the notched ceiling looms
overhead, Suguru's breaths quicken, becoming shallow gasps that struggle to draw in much-
needed air.

His heart pounds like a relentless drum, each beat echoing the anxious rhythm of his
thoughts. The covers that once provided a sense of shelter now feel like a heavy shroud,
trapping him in a suffocating embrace. The hot summer night seems to press in from all
sides, adding to the overwhelming sensation of being trapped in his own skin.

Suguru's mind becomes a tempest, thoughts swirling and colliding in a disorienting dance.
The images of Satoru’s face as he snapped at him blur into an indistinct haze as he clutches at
his chest, fingers searching for relief that eludes him. The rhythmic drone of the crickets
outside, once providing a sense of stability and normalcy, now feels like an intrusive
symphony intensifying the disarray within.

As the panic tightens its grip, Suguru's body trembles involuntarily, and beads of sweat form
on his forehead. His attempts to slow his breathing falter, each gasp only exacerbating the all-
consuming feeling of being enveloped by the invisible forces of anxiety.

In the silence of his dorm room, Suguru grapples with the intensity of the panic attack, a
storm raging within him that threatens to drown out all reason and leave him stranded in the
depths of his own turbulent thoughts.

Suguru becomes lost in a cyclone of helplessness and self-deprecation. Words such as

“pathetic” and “pitiable” spiral into his mind like a drain from the well of his own absolution
hanging above his head.

Gradually, the storm of panic begins to wane. The air, once thick and oppressive, starts to feel
less suffocating. As Suguru clings to the edge of the covers, his breathing begins to slow,
each inhalation and exhalation becoming more measured.

Suguru's trembling gradually subsides, and the tension that had coiled around him starts to
loosen its grip. His fingers, once desperately searching for relief, ease their tight grasp on his
chest.
 In the dim light of the dorm room, Suguru's features begin to relax. The panic that had surged
through him starts to retreat, leaving behind a sardonic calm in its wake.

As the last echoes of the panic attack fade, Suguru finds himself in the quiet aftermath. The
covers, which had felt like a heavy shroud, now provide a comforting embrace. The notched
ceiling above, once a looming specter, becomes a familiar sight again.

In the hushed serenity, Suguru, exhausted but no longer as overwhelmed, begins to drift into
a more peaceful state. The panic that had gripped him starts to dissolve, giving way to the
tiredness it masked, allowing the promise of rest to take its place, taunting at the edges of his
eyes as he begins to close them.

Chapter End Notes

Mei-Mei being HELLA problematic like the mommy queen she is. I'm loving the big-
sister energy I gave her (and thankfully not the kind she has toward Ui-Ui)

I hope I portrayed Suguru well :) Satoru's not too difficult. He's pretty typical. But
Suguru's attitude is more nuanced in the show it seems, showing a hint of care toward
Satoru while maintaining a more rough exterior.

Tbh, I don't have too many ideas upon the direction this will go, but hopefully you guys
can enjoy anyway :)
 Games
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

The next morning dawns with a soft glow, casting a gentle light through the cracked windows
of Suguru's dorm room. The remnants of the panic attack from the night before have faded,
replaced by the quiet calm of a new day.

Suguru stirs beneath the covers, his movements slow and deliberate. The air, now cooler and
more inviting, feels refreshing as he takes in a deep, steady breath as his eyes open to greet
the day.

As Suguru rises from his bed, the events of the previous night linger in the recesses of his
mind. The panic attack, though subsided, leaves a sticky residue. Yet, in the morning calm,
there's a renewed sense of clarity, however short-lived. Suguru, having weathered the storm
within the confines of his dorm room, takes his first dreaded steps of another free day without
classes. However, like a doctor, sorcerers are always on call, so there’s always the chance he
could be called on a mission. In a way, he sort of wishes he had that kind of distraction from
the day ahead. He isn’t exactly sure what will happen once he sees Satoru again.

The routine of getting ready for the day unfolds—a splash of water on his face, the rustle of
clothing, and the soft shuffle of footsteps. He doesn’t bother putting up his hair. The cicadas
outside, no longer a dissonant hum, provide a more soothing sound to the morning's quiet
proceedings.

Leaving the dorm, Suguru steps into a new day—the real new day. No longer protected by his
dorm room, but forced into his harsh reality. The school grounds, bathed in the early sunlight,
hold the mocking promise of a fresh start as the events from the previous night cling to his
shoulder like a curse.

As Suguru moves between buildings toward the cafe, the weight of unresolved emotions
follows him like a shadow. The sunlight, though warm, offers little solace as his mind
torments him with different scenarios, each one a potential minefield of emotions and
reactions. The vivid scenes play out in his mind like a relentless movie, leaving him on edge.

The familiar faces of his classmates and the casual chatter around him provide a stark
contrast to the turmoil within. As he passes by groups of students engaged in animated
discussions or laughter, Suguru finds himself detached, lost in the labyrinth of his own
thoughts. The difference between the seemingly normal interactions around him and the
internal storm intensifies the feeling of isolation he can’t seem to escape.

The cafe, usually a place where Suguru can relax and spend time with his friend, now carries
a heavy anticipation. Suguru braces himself for the possibility of encountering Satoru, unsure
of how the dynamics between them will unfold. The aroma of coffee and the low hum of
conversation within the cafe become white noise in comparison to the buzzing thoughts in
Suguru's mind.
Suguru takes a deep breath, attempting to ground himself as he scans the cafe for his white-
haired friend. Satoru is usually hard to miss, with the distinct sound of his voice and his
unique hair that outshines the rest of the world around him. Finally, Suguru spots him, but for
once, Satoru isn't the center of everyone's attention. He's by himself, tucked away in a corner,
leaning back on two chair legs with his knees pressed against the edge of the table in front of
him.

There's food sitting on the table, but Satoru seems far more engrossed in his cell phone. The
usual vibrancy that accompanies Satoru's presence appears subdued. Suguru hesitates for a
moment, uncertain of whether or not it would be a good idea to approach him in such a state.
Suguru knows well enough by now that when Satoru gets like this, he’s pretty pissed off.

The distant exterior of his friend makes it seem that much easier to just avoid him, as he’s
clearly exuding such an aura. But Suguru isn’t about to allow one little fight to ruin
everything. With a determined exhale, Suguru makes his way toward Satoru, weaving
through the tables and chairs with his hands in his pockets, trying to create the same
unbothered atmosphere around him as Satoru does. The ambient noise of the cafe becomes a
distant hum as he nears the corner where Satoru is seated. As Suguru approaches, he catches
a glimpse of the emotions playing across Satoru's face—perhaps a mix of resignation and
boredom.

"Satoru," Suguru says, his voice a careful blend of familiarity and caution as he pulls out a
chair to join him. Satoru looks up from his phone, meeting Suguru's gaze with a flicker of
recognition. The atmosphere between them holds an unspoken tension, a silent
acknowledgment of the complexities that linger beneath the surface.

Satoru's reaction is a subtle interplay of emotions, a dance of recognition and guarded

curiosity. As he looks up from his phone, his vibrant blue eyes meet Suguru's gaze, and for a
moment, the usual sparkle seems tempered by a flicker of something deeper.

"Hey," Satoru responds, his voice carrying a hint of warmth but also a note of reservation. He
sets his phone down, giving Suguru his full attention. The corner of his mouth quirks into a
half-smile, attempting to mask the undertone of uncertainty that lingers beneath the surface.

“So…are you gonna be mad at me all day?” Suguru finally asks.

Satoru's attempt at a half-smile disappears, replaced by a more serious expression as Suguru's

question hangs in the air. There's a brief pause, a moment that carries their worries and
unspoken words.

"No," Satoru responds, his voice holding a genuine sincerity. "I'm not mad at you, Suguru."

The atmosphere between them softens slightly, but the burden of their unresolved conflict
persists. Satoru leans back in his chair a bit more, folding his arms as if preparing for a
conversation that might delve into the depths of their unspoken feelings.

"I get it. Things got a bit heavy last night," he continues, his gaze steady. "We can talk about
it if you want. Or not. Your call." The open-ended offer hangs between them, leaving room
for Suguru to decide the direction of their conversation.
“Let’s just leave it for now,” Suguru says, the tension he can feel between them all too
palpable. He isn’t sure his heart, still a bit heavy from his panic attack, would be able to
handle another argument with Satoru.

Satoru, despite a tinge of disappointment, gives an understanding nod. At the end of the day,
he can't exactly force Suguru to talk about his feelings. All he can do is listen if he makes that
decision on his own. "You should get something to eat, then," he suggests, attempting to steer
the conversation toward a more lighthearted direction. "And you look like a mess. Did you
even try to get ready this morning?"

With that playful remark, Satoru's pep returns, and a spark of his usual vibrancy shines
through. The comment returns to something familiar, a dynamic that, for a moment, bridges
the gap between the weighty emotions of the night before and the friendship they've shared
for so long.

Satoru's banter succeeds in eliciting a small smile from Suguru, a fleeting moment of light
breaking through the clouds that hang over him. "Not really," Suguru responds with a hint of
amusement, and then, lifting out of his seat, he adds, "I'll be back. I'm gonna go get food."

With that, Suguru heads off to the cafe line to pick out some breakfast for himself. With a
hint of reprieve from the weight that once hung over him, he slips in an earbud to listen to
music to help drown out the pressing noises around him. He never much liked the crowded
noises, so having the distraction was a welcoming respite.

Unbeknownst to Suguru, as he loses himself in the rhythm of the music, he receives a light
tap on the shoulder from behind. Turning around, he finds Mei-Mei—the very subject that
sparked the argument between him and Satoru the night before.

Suguru, caught off guard but maintaining a casual tone, greets her with a simple, "Oh, hey,
good morning."

The air holds a subtle tension as Suguru wonders about Mei's intentions, considering the
words Satoru had shared about her supposed interest in him. However, Mei's demeanor
appears nonchalant. It could have been nothing more than a joke since he didn’t notice his
upperclassman making any unusual eye-contact with him. Then again, he did tend to
dissociate during social gatherings, so maybe he just missed it.

"Morning," Mei responds with a subtle glint in her eyes as they move across the line. The
question that follows, "So, how did things go last night?" leaves Suguru a bit confused.

A smile forms on her lips as she picks up on the oblivious look in her classmate’s eyes. “I’m
not sure what you mean,” Suguru responds.

She gives a mischievous chuckle at that, leaving Suguru to shift uncomfortably in the
moment between his words and her response. “Come on, you can’t be that dense…you’re
only a year below me…” she says.

In the face of Suguru's continued silence, Mei chuckles again. "With Gojo?" she finally says,
spelling out the unspoken dynamic between Suguru and their eccentric classmate. The air
around them holds a sense of playful intrigue as Suguru attempts to untie the implications of
Mei's words.

Still, his confusion holds on. It’s almost adorable how unobservant the boy could be. “When I
mentioned Gojo being gay, I was looking for your reaction…you tried to hide it, but you
looked like you were really considering whether or not he might be. Why’s that, Geto?” she
asks.

Suguru feels his heart sink as he finally begins to piece everything together. What Satoru
noticed from Mei-Mei the night before was not subtle flirting or genuine interest in Suguru,
but rather, her attempt at teasing him. He isn’t sure how, but Mei has managed to delve past
the surface level of the interactions between the two friends, starting to rummage around for
something deeper.

As Suguru’s face starts to heat up with embarrassment, Mei-Mei nudges into him. “The line’s
moving…” she coos in a taunting voice.

Suguru, caught off guard, follows her gaze, realizing they've reached the counter. He fumbles
with his wallet as he pulls it out of his pocket and searches for his student card to pay for his
meal. After completing his transaction, he steps off to the side, giving Mei the space to pay
for her own meal.

As they wait for their orders, Suguru's mind continues to churn with thoughts. Mei's casual
probing into his mind about Satoru has left him feeling exposed, and the unease from the
previous night resurfaces.

Feeling a mix of embarrassment and the need to save face, Suguru decides to play along with
Mei's teasing. He raises an eyebrow, offering her a sly smile.

"Well, Mei-Mei, maybe I was just deep in thought about the mysteries of the universe," he
responds, his tone lightly mocking.

But it’s impossible to hide from her. She’s already seen the vulnerability strike his face once
she revealed the truth of her intentions around the bonfire the previous night. “You can’t fool
me,” she says, shaking her head dismissively at Suguru’s pathetic attempt to hide what she
can already see plain as day. “You have feelings for Satoru,” she finally says. “Romantic
feelings.”

Suguru's attempt at deflecting with humor falls flat as Mei-Mei sees through the façade. Her
straightforwardness again catches him by surprise. He looks away for a moment, a flicker of
defenselessness crossing his features. Mei-Mei's blunt assessment has hit its mark, laying
bare the feelings Suguru has been reluctant to acknowledge, probably for much longer than
just last night when they began to surface.

He takes a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "Well, it's not like that," he mutters, but
his words lack conviction. Mei-Mei's perceptive gaze seems to cut through any attempts at
denial, leaving Suguru with a sense of exposure he hadn't anticipated.
“There’s no point in hiding it from me at this point, Geto. You make it so obvious that you
do. It’s cute,” she teases. “I’m not going to tell him. But I am going to encourage you to tell
him.”

Suguru glances back at his friend off in the corner and tenses up as he notices Satoru’s
watchful eyes directly on him. Great. Seeing him and Mei-Mei standing together has
probably given him the wrong idea. Quickly, he faces forward again, staring at the floor.
“Look, Satoru thinks you have a thing for me,” Suguru responds.

“Then it’s the perfect cover,” Mei-Mei replies. “If he sees you getting closer to me, maybe
he’ll start to get jealous and say something first.”

“What makes you think he likes me that way?”

Mei-Mei lets out a sardonic chuckle. “Well, at least you’re not denying it anymore,” she says
and glances at Suguru. “It’s pretty obvious he likes you too.”

Suguru sighs as he realizes his mistake and shuts his eyes in disappointment for himself.
“Come on, what I said last night was true. Satoru is way too caught up with himself to want a
real relationship,” he responds, deciding to simply accept that Mei-Mei now knows his little
secret.

Their conversation is cut short as the little order bell rings and Suguru’s food appears at the
pick-up counter. “Why don’t you come to my dorm later on? We can talk more about this,”
Mei-Mei says.

Suguru, still reeling from Mei’s teasing, nods silently at Mei-Mei's suggestion. “Okay,
fine…”

After they collect their food, they part from one another, Mei heading out of the cafe to eat
while Suguru returns to his table with Satoru. After taking his seat again, Suguru can't help
but steal a quick glance at Satoru.

Mei-Mei's playful teasing and encouragement leave Suguru in a state of inner turmoil. The
prospect of addressing his feelings for Satoru weighs heavily on him, and he wonders
whether facing the truth will lead to a resolution or further complications.

“Guess Mei came to find you again today, huh?” Satoru remarks with a sly grin.

“Trust me, Satoru, it’s not like that,” Suguru responds, quickly shutting down any
implications his friend may have had.

Satoru raises an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Really? Because it seems like she
enjoys your company," he teases, his grin widening.

Suguru forces a smile, attempting to play off the comment. "I doubt it. We're just friends.
Anyway, she wanted to talk about something else."

Satoru leans back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Oh? Something interesting?"
Suguru hesitates for a moment but opts for a vague response. "Just some personal stuff.
Nothing major."

Satoru's playful demeanor shifts to a more serious one. "Well, if you ever need to talk about
anything, you know I'm here, right?" he says, genuine concern etched on his face.

His friend nods, appreciating the offer. "Thanks, Satoru. I'll keep that in mind."

“What personal stuff, anyway? Did she say?” Satoru asks.

“Nope,” Suguru replies, the lie slipping off his tongue effortlessly.

But the ambiguity only leaves room for more teasing and another smirk finds Satoru’s lips as
he leans across the table, grabbing onto Suguru’s forearm suddenly with a tender grasp. He
pulls a mocking vulnerable face, his eyes soft, his lips parted as he speaks. “Oh, Suguru, I’ve
always been madly in love with you. Let’s make out under the covers and get naked,” he says
in just about the worst female voice Suguru has ever heard. It doesn’t even sound like
something Mei would say—nor does it sound a thing like her real voice.

However, the words themselves coming from Satoru are enough to make Suguru’s cheeks
turn a little pink and his heart flutters at the sensation of Satoru’s hand on his skin. Noticing
the moment of bashfulness that meets his friend’s face, Satoru pulls back abruptly and starts
laughing. “You liked that idea, didn’t you?”

Caught off guard by Satoru's unexpected display of humor, Suguru can't help but chuckle in
response, his initial discomfort giving way to a shared moment of laughter. "You're
unbelievable, Gojo. I wouldn't have expected such a romantic confession from you," he
quips, playing along.

Satoru winks, leaning back in his chair with an air of mock elegance. "Well, you know, I was
referring to Mei with all of that, but…" he trails off and brushes some hair behind his ear.
“You know I’ll always have a spot in my bed for you, Suguru…~” he purrs in that honeyed
voice of his.

Suguru's attempt to maintain a nonchalant demeanor falters for a moment, a subtle blush
betraying the impact of Satoru's playful tease. He rolls his eyes, aiming for a dismissive tone.
"You wish, Satoru. Maybe in your dreams," he retorts, though the lightness in his voice
doesn't quite match the lingering warmth on his cheeks.

“What, you mean you wouldn’t cuddle with your one and only homie?” Satoru asks, feigning
a sense of hurt.

“Maybe Mei was right to assume you’re a little fruity,” Suguru teases back, wresting some
confidence back into his grasp. “And you definitely strike me as the little spoon type,” he
adds, peeking over at Satoru as he starts to pick through his breakfast.

Satoru touches his finger to his bottom lip. “What can I say, I like to be held,” he replies.
Suguru chuckles, allowing the banter to momentarily distract him from the weight of his
unspoken feelings. "Guess I'll have to get you one of those huge teddy bears. We can’t have
you getting all lonely at night," he quips, a smirk playing on his lips. The light-hearted
exchange creates a veneer of normalcy, concealing Suguru's genuine curiosity about the
mysteries that lie beneath Satoru's playful masquerade.

“How thoughtful of you, babe,” Satoru responds effortlessly through his smile. “But I’d
rather just have you be my teddy bear.”

Suguru rolls his eyes with another chuckle. “All right, all right, pack it up, Pride Parade,” he
says, trying not to let their wisecracks get too out of hand.

Satoru finally laughs, bringing down his flirty exterior and returning to his normal demeanor.
As the two settle, they fall into a more comfortable rhythm, the transition between banter and
genuine conversation seamless.

Eventually, breakfast comes to an end and the two decide to head to the rec center to continue
their day with a little basketball. Despite Suguru being the hermit that he is, he does enjoy at
least a little physical activity from time to time. However, that interest only came up when
Satoru started to pull him out of his shell. Normally, on a day like this, Suguru would prefer
reading or being holed up in his room over anything that might tire him out.

The rec center is alive with activity as Suguru and Satoru step inside. The rhythmic echoes of
basketballs bouncing on the court and sporadic cheers from other students create an energetic
backdrop. While Suguru typically leans toward more solitary activities, the change of pace
feels refreshing.

Satoru, as always, heads straight for the basketballs, tossing one to Suguru with a playful
smirk. "Ready for me to kick your ass again?" he teases, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

Suguru smirks back, accepting the challenge. “Not this time, Satoru,” he replies, brushing
him off.

The two engage in a friendly match, the sound of the ball reverberating through the air as
they dribble and shoot. Despite Suguru's initial reservations, the game captivates him, and he
finds an unexpected enjoyment in the physical activity.

As they take a break between games, Satoru wipes sweat from his forehead. "Yeah, all
right…you’re only wiping the floor with me a little," he jokes, as a smile lights up his face.

Suguru chuckles, grateful for the backhanded compliment. "How humble of you to finally
admit you’re losing," he replies, nodding toward Satoru.

“Only ‘cause I’m going easy.” At that, Satoru flings the ball at Suguru with both hands,
putting some significant force behind it. But Suguru slaps the ball to the floor with ease,
gently dribbling it.

“Whatever you say,” he responds with an arrogant side-eye.

Despite the competitive edge, Suguru can't help but appreciate the rare moments of
vulnerability that surface between their exchanges. The sweat on their brows and the rhythm
of the games create a foundation for a deeper connection—one that exists beyond the
uncertainties that linger in their friendship.

As the games draw to a close, Suguru and Satoru share a moment of exhaustion and
satisfaction, catching their breaths on the sidelines.

“That’s 7 for me, 3 for you, Satoru,” Suguru says as a sense of accomplishment wells within
him. He hasn’t beaten Satoru in such a landslide probably ever. “You must be off your game,”
he adds and slides the ball back onto the rack.

Satoru chuckles, his chest still rising and falling with the remnants of their intense game. "Off
my game? More like letting you win for once," he retorts with a grin.

Suguru smirks, not fully buying into Satoru's claim. "Sure, Satoru. I believe you," he replies,
enjoying the banter that has become a staple of their interactions.

As they sit on the sidelines, the exhaustion mingling with the satisfaction of a good game,
Suguru feels a renewed sense of content. But it doesn’t last. Soon, his mind begins to shift
toward what his night will look like once he goes over to Mei-Mei’s dorm. He knows they’re
probably just going to talk about Satoru the whole time, but he isn’t entirely sure he’s ready
to lay bare all his feelings—even if just to Mei.

Just as he’s about to open his mouth to speak, Satoru’s ringtone blares from beside him,
echoing off the walls of the rec center. It earns a few laughs from some of the other students
inside the court and Satoru smirks back at them as he picks up his phone to answer so they all
know it came from him. Why he had to have a ringtone rendition of “Hey Daddy,” Suguru
couldn’t say.

“Gojo,” he greets the party on the other end.

Suguru can’t hear whoever is speaking to him, but Satoru smirks at whatever response he’s
received. “Awe, miss me already?” he asks with a little chuckle.

There’s a brief pause as the caller replies. “I can meet you tonight,” Satoru says, lowering his
tone.

Suguru tries not to fully eavesdrop on the conversation, after all, it’s not exactly his business.
But his body forces him to admit that those responses invoke a sense of panic in Suguru.

Suguru tries to push aside the anxiety bubbling within him as Satoru continues his
conversation. The prospect of Satoru meeting someone else tonight fuels Suguru's inner
turmoil as Satoru’s demeanor adds context as to what kind of meeting it will be. He attempts
to focus on the rhythmic bouncing of a nearby basketball, but the unease persists.

As Satoru ends the call, he glances at Suguru with a playful grin. "Well, looks like I've got
some exciting plans for tonight too," he announces, deliberately leaving the details vague.
Suguru forces a smile, suppressing the surge of discomfort that threatens to surface. "Sounds
thrilling," he replies, feigning nonchalance.

Suguru feels a bit trapped in the moment, caught between the desire to awkwardly shift the
conversation elsewhere and to just run away and hide.

“What’s wrong, Suguru? Jealous? You’ve already got plans with Mei,” Satoru points out, a
light tease to his voice.

Caught off guard by Satoru's directness, Suguru hesitates for a moment, choosing his words
carefully. "I'm not jealous. Just surprised, that's all," he says, injecting a casual tone into his
response.

Satoru chuckles, seemingly amused by Suguru's attempt to downplay his emotions. "Well,
you know me, always full of surprises," he remarks, a glint of mischief in his eyes.

The mention of Satoru's plans for the night, coupled with Mei-Mei's teasing from earlier,
leaves Suguru grappling with the intricacies of his emotions. He wonders how much longer
he can keep his true feelings hidden, especially with Mei-Mei seemingly intent on unraveling
the threads of his heart.

“Yeah, for sure,” Suguru responds distantly and then leans off the wall he’d been against.
“Well, I’m gonna head off. I have a couple things I gotta do,” he says and glances over at
Satoru. “I’ll see you later.”

Satoru raises an eyebrow at Suguru's abrupt departure but offers a casual wave. "Sure thing,
Suguru. See you around," he replies, his playful demeanor unchanged.

As Suguru makes his way out of the rec center, a sense of conflict accompanies him. The
meeting with Mei-Mei later in the day looms on the horizon, promising a continuation of the
emotional maze Suguru finds himself navigating. It’s growing exhausting. There’s been no
break from the grip on his heart that Satoru seems to have full control of, probably without
even knowing.

As the evening dawns upon him, his thoughts about what Satoru will be doing start to creep
in on him. He can’t ignore the crushing weight that’s begun to bear down on his spine. He
was certainly lying when he told Satoru he wasn’t jealous of his plans. He couldn’t get it off
his mind. Suguru would rather scrape his face off with his own nails than have to live in a
reality where Satoru went through with whatever escapade he had planned that night.

While making his way to Mei’s dorm, he tries to soothe his mind with deep breaths. They
don’t do much, but it may just be the one thing keeping him from spiraling into someplace
darker.

As he arrives at Mei-Mei's dorm, Suguru takes a moment to collect himself. The dimly lit
hallway serves as a quiet backdrop for the emotional confrontation he is about to face. He
knocks on Mei-Mei's door, and after a brief pause, it swings open to reveal her mischievous
grin.
“I wasn’t sure you’d show, Geto,” she says in her breathy voice and then steps aside to
welcome him in.

Her room is neat, unlike Suguru’s own. Her bed is all made up and all her clothes are put
away. Regardless of whether or not she had been expecting the company, Mei struck Suguru
as the sort to be pedantic about a clean space.

“Well, I did say I would…” he points out hesitantly.

Suguru steps into Mei-Mei's dorm room, taking in the meticulously organized space. The
neatness of the room contrasts sharply with the chaos brewing in his own mind. Mei-Mei's
attention to order creates an environment that seems almost clinical, amplifying Suguru's
sense of vulnerability.

The room, with its subtle fragrance and carefully arranged belongings, is completely
unfamiliar territory. Suguru has never even been in another girl’s dorm. Mei-Mei gestures
toward her desk chair, inviting Suguru to take a seat. As he settles into the chair, he can't help
feeling as exposed as the clean floor underneath him. Mei sits across from him on her bed,
adding to her expectancy. But there’s no way Suguru is just going to start speaking without
some sort of incentive to do so.

Mei-Mei, perceptive to the nerves writhing beneath the surface of Suguru’s skin, arches an
eyebrow and gives Suguru a playful smirk. "All right, let's start with something easy. How's
your day been? Anything exciting happen?"

Suguru appreciates the attempt to ease him into the conversation, but even such a question
prompts a tidal wave of negative emotions. He glances around the room, his eyes
inadvertently drawn to the well-organized shelves and neatly folded clothes. The room's
orderliness serves as a stark reminder of the chaos within him.

"Uh, my day... it's been fine," Suguru replies, a vague response that barely scratches the
surface. Mei-Mei, undeterred, continues to watch him with a knowing glint in her eyes,
silently urging him to delve deeper.

Sensing the need for more, Mei-Mei leans back on her bed, resting on her elbows. "Just
'fine'? You know you can't fool me, right? Spill it. What's really going on?"

Suguru sighs, a mix of frustration and relief escaping with his breath. Mei-Mei's directness is
both intimidating and oddly comforting. "It's just... complicated. I'm dealing with some
stuff."

Mei-Mei raises an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate. Suguru hesitates, grappling with his
words. "It's about Satoru," he finally admits, the name carrying a weight he hadn't fully
acknowledged until now.

Mei-Mei smirks knowingly. "Ah, the infamous Satoru Gojo, who would've guessed? Well,
what’s going on between you two?"
Suguru runs a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture. "It's just...I don't know how to deal
with my feelings. And he... he doesn't even realize. I accidentally started to talk about it last
night…but it came across like I didn’t think he was a good enough friend to me." He averts
his gaze to the floor. “I was just trying to tell him that it felt like we weren’t as close—but I
guess I might’ve been projecting. We’re probably close enough as friends…but…”

Mei-Mei's expression softens, and she offers a sympathetic smile. "But, you want something
more, don’t you? Why don't you just tell him?"

Suguru chuckles wryly. "Oh, you make it sound so easy. Satoru's not exactly the type to take
things seriously. I'm afraid it'll ruin our friendship."

Mei-Mei leans forward, her tone gentle. "Look, Geto, you can't keep this bottled up forever.
Maybe he's clueless about your feelings, or maybe he's just waiting for you to make the first
move. You won't know until you try."

Suguru glances down, contemplating Mei-Mei's words. The idea of confessing his feelings to
Satoru is both terrifying and enticing.

“I don’t think he likes me, Mei. I think…he was talking to someone earlier. He got a phone
call and then told me he’s got ‘exciting plans’ for tonight,” Suguru explains.

“Oh please. He’s not fooling anyone. He’s just as much of a virgin as you are and I doubt
that’s going to change unless you say something,” Mei-Mei responds, rolling her eyes.

Suguru raises an eyebrow, a mix of surprise and confusion on his face. "Wait, you think he
was lying about having plans tonight? But I heard the phone call."

"Please. Satoru is the king of mind games. He's probably just trying to make you jealous or
get a reaction out of you," Mei-Mei asserts, her confidence unwavering.

Suguru contemplates Mei-Mei's words, a spark of hope flickering in his eyes. "You really
think so?"

"Trust me, Geto. I mean, you’ve known him longer than I have and even I know he's not one
to commit to plans. Besides, if he's got something exciting lined up, he wouldn't be so vague
about it. If he’s doing anything, it’s provoking you. He loves trying to get a rise out of you.
You’re probably his favorite person to rile up."

A mixture of relief and frustration washes over Suguru. Mei-Mei's insights offer a new
perspective on Satoru's behavior. Perhaps there's a chance that Satoru's mysterious plans are
nothing more than a tactic to provoke a reaction.

"Well, if he's trying to play games, I won't give him the satisfaction," Suguru declares, a
newfound determination in his voice.

Mei-Mei smirks. "That's the spirit. Don't let him mess with your head. I’d say, muscle up the
confidence and start trying to mess with his head and see how he likes it."

Suguru cocks an eyebrow at her suggestion. “How would I do that?” he asks.

“If you exude a bit more confidence when you speak to him, I’m certain it’ll catch him off
guard. Gojo thinks he knows everything about everyone. To him, you’re another easy target
for his games. Make him play by your rules.”

Suguru considers his upperclassman’s words for a long moment, contemplating what exactly
they mean and to what scenario he could apply them. But he can find nothing.

Perceptive as ever, Mei can read Suguru’s ongoing confusion and chuckles. “Let’s start off
small. When you see him tomorrow, challenge him. Ask for details about his night. If he
struggles to provide any, then you’ll pretty much have your answer. But you could take it
even further than that. Tell him how desperate he looks when he’s trying to make you
jealous,” she explains.

Suguru glances off to the side. The image of Satoru becoming bashful isn’t an easy sight to
imagine, which makes it all the more enticing to see for himself what it might look like.
“But…won’t that just confuse him if he doesn’t understand the context…?”

Mei sighs and lowers her head in disapproval. “Suguru, you told me earlier that Satoru seems
to think you and I have a little thing going on. I’m assuming he knows you planned on
meeting me here tonight? Doesn’t it just sound like the most Gojo thing to do to try and make
you jealous by faking a phone call? As I said before, if he struggles to give you any details
about his night, that’ll pretty much confirm it,” she explains.

“I’m just worried I overthought the whole thing and that the whole thing will just turn back
onto me making myself look like an idiot,” Suguru responds.

“You’re overcomplicating this…” Mei groans.

“It seems like a genuine fear to have,” Suguru says with a slight pout.

“Fear?” Mei asks. “What, you’re scared of Satoru Gojo? Scared he’ll make you look like the
hopeless loverboy you are?”

With a sigh, Suguru drops his head between his shoulders. “You’re not helping…”

“Come on, Geto. You’re not an idiot. Just do what you feel in your gut. Don’t feel the need to
hide behind some mask. At the end of the day, Satoru is going like the you that you already
are. Be firm. And when the time comes—and it will come—just tell him exactly how you
feel about him,” Mei-Mei says. “You could technically call me your wingman, now, you
know. Look, if things get messy along the way, I guess I could lend an ear every so often—
keep Gojo on his toes.”

“I guess you’re right… Thanks, Mei,” Suguru responds, lifting his head toward her.

“I’ve got your back…” she replies.

As their Sunday comes to a darkening close, the two decide to part for the night. After all,
they’ll have classes in the morning—and Mei knows Suguru will need his rest with all those
nerves wriggling beneath his skin. She could practically feel them herself, exuding a sense of
 suppression. There’s much more on Suguru’s mind than he lets on that she still can’t get to
around those walls he’s built up. It makes her wonder if even Satoru has seen what more he
hides.

Chapter End Notes

god…

Suguru: *has crippling anxiety*

Mei: just don’t

i genuinely love their dynamic tbh

 Reciprocate
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Monday.

Suguru’s eyes flutter open, finding his familiar ceiling as it bears into his body like a
weighted blanket ten times too heavy. Surprisingly, sleep found him easily the night before,
dragging him off into a dreamless state hours before he normally would have—truly some
kind of record. But now the sultry summer harkens him to a new day where he’ll have to face
the scenarios that he and Mei came up with.

It all unravels like a fever dream in his mind as he wipes his night sweat from his brow. Still,
he can’t help feeling the subtlest hint of excitement at the prospect of getting to see Satoru the
way he’s always seen Suguru; embarrassed, struggling to find words. He knows it won’t be
easy to accomplish, but at the very least it gives him something to look forward to. The
sudden excitement that flutters into his belly is inescapable, and suddenly Suguru feels like a
man on his wedding day.

Suguru climbs out of bed far too excitedly for the energy of a Monday morning. The act of
gathering clothes for a shower is like a dance between finding a fresh uniform and smiling
against the face of a new day. His enthusiasm doesn’t nearly match that of his classmates.
Then again, it never truly did no matter what end of the spectrum his mood fell upon on any
given day.

After his shower, Suguru gets dressed, his crisp uniform clinging to his body as he makes his
way back to the dorms. This time, however, his goal is Satoru’s dorm. Given there’s still
about an hour before their classes begin, Suguru reasons his friend has probably just woken
from his slumber and is beginning his own morning routine. But this gives him just enough
time to confront Satoru before the two must go about their day.

Suguru gives a curt knock at the door, standing as he waits for Satoru to respond from the
other side.

“It’s open,” he responds nonchalantly and Suguru swings open the door.

He wears his own mask of indifference upon his face as he stands in the doorway, watching
as Satoru packs up some bags with his clothes that are all folded on the bed. Satoru takes a
pause to glance back at his friend. “Hey, morning,” he greets him. He barely registers the
confidence on Suguru’s face before returning to his task. Not that it matters since it didn’t
last.

“Hey,” Suguru responds. “What’s with all this?” he asks. The other points of conversation
he’d had in the front of his brain are all pushed to the back.
“I’m heading out for a little business trip,” Satoru answers, not even giving Suguru a glance
as he says this.

Just when he thought he’d finally broken free of the chokehold Satoru had on him, he’s roped
right back in. If just for a moment, Suguru is left unable to fathom how he manages to do it;
keep him buried beneath his thumb no matter how he attempts to seem unbothered by
everything Satoru does.

“Are you leaving today then? You never mentioned that,” Suguru says, unable to hide the
disappointment that invades his voice.

“What, gonna miss me or something?” Satoru teases with a little smirk, finally
acknowledging him across the room. “Well, I would’ve told you, but you left in such a hurry
yesterday, I didn’t get the chance,” he adds, ignoring his own question. Based on his tone,
Satoru seems to already have an idea as to the answer.

Suguru finally invites himself fully inside the dorm, trudging to Satoru’s desk to plop down
in the chair. His hair flings into a mess, falling into his face, barely hiding his defeat. It seems
no matter what he does, Satoru is always two steps ahead of the game. He’s had this view
already. Just the night before, he was sitting in a desk chair similar to Satoru’s with this exact
view of Mei’s Jujutsu Tech dorm room. Only now, he’s in Satoru’s dorm room, watching him
prepare for a trip, and the atmosphere in the room feels so much more suffocating than it did
when he was talking to Mei-Mei.

“Speaking of which,” Satoru replies to himself. “How’d your night with Mei go?”

“It was fine,” Suguru replies, abandoning any details. There’s still a chance to save this little
chat and win at least one power struggle. Suguru sits up straight in his chair and tilts his head
up confrontationally. “What about yours, hm? Your ‘exciting plans?’” he asks, denying
Satoru the chance to question him further.

Satoru quirks an eyebrow at his friend. “Huh?” Only then does a half-smirk break his genuine
confusion. “Oh, right. I was just messing with you. It was Yaga. He’s the one who’s sending
me out on this mission. Not exactly my idea of exciting, really,” he explains, laughing the
whole thing off as if it didn’t send Suguru into complete disarray after it happened. Or maybe
that’s just what he was hoping for.

Once more, Suguru’s plan to take over the conversation falls flat on its face. He knew Satoru
was messing with him, yet he still failed to find a comeback. Satoru makes it all look so easy.
As his confident exterior fades into annoyance, Suguru stands up, eye-level with Satoru.
“You know, you make quite a lot of jokes like that,” he says with a wry smile. “Funny, that,
huh?”

Satoru smirks, once again preparing to brush off any suggestions Suguru might have had in
stock behind that inexpressive smile. “What’re you trying to imply?” he asks.

Suguru shrugs, a careless look on his face before it tilts up again, giving Satoru the
impression that he’s just a bit taller. “Couldn’t say.” The room seems to shrink with the both
of them inside; the tension could be cut with a knife. “I think you know, actually,” Suguru
says.

The look that finds Satoru’s face is inscrutable, but Suguru doesn’t care to try and read it. He
can’t focus on anything but the fact that what he’s expressing is anything but his usual fun-
loving demeanor. He can feel it—his walls cracking with this strange pressure that seems to
exude from Suguru.

“Look, if this is another gay joke—”

“You’re so annoying.” The words fly out of his lips so effortlessly that Suguru can’t even try
to suck them back in. It comes across like an insult, but Satoru doesn’t respond as if he’s been
offended. Instead, his eyebrows shoot up. “Aren’t you worried? That those jokes you make
might give someone the wrong idea?” he asks, very obviously referring to himself. “If that’s
not something you’re worried about, you should be. Unless…it’s not the ‘wrong’ idea.”
Suguru finds a chuckle rumbling in his chest as he chooses his next words carefully. The
metaphorical wall between him and Satoru is about to crumble. He can feel it. “I’m not
joking, Satoru. I’m serious,” Suguru declares, painfully self-assured. The atmosphere in the
room shifts, and for a moment, the air is charged with rigid emotions.

Satoru’s chest flutters with something he doesn’t recognize. Although Suguru is firm and
daunting, Satoru can only hold onto the impression that he’s still being teased. Their usual
banter is normally so light and fun, but he’s never seen Suguru like this before. Something
about him isn’t quite the same as usual.

Finally, it breaks. With a dry swallow, Satoru’s gaze lifts toward Suguru and the most
vulnerable eyes stare at his friend like cornered prey. Satoru’s head swims with Suguru’s
cologne and the scent of his freshly-washed hair. The room is like a cardboard box taped shut
with no escape. Satoru has never felt so small standing beside Suguru before.

"Suguru..." Satoru starts, his voice softer than usual, but he falters, unable to find the right
words. The air between them thickens, the unspoken words echoing louder than anything
else.

Suguru watches Satoru's usual bravado shatter, and it's both disconcerting and just as
captivating as he thought it would be. He might even venture so far as to say, adorable .

As the seconds stretch into a silence that feels agonizingly sweet, Suguru decides to break the
tension, opting for a lighter tone. "I'm not asking for you to admit anything in particular,
Satoru," he says with another wry smile, attempting to inject a bit of their usual humor back
into the moment. “To be honest, I was the one banking on your reaction this time. You
definitely didn’t disappoint.” Suguru put some distance between the two of them, his ears
attentive to the sound of Satoru remembering to breathe again. “I can see why you like it so
much.” He glances back, an almost sultry look in those dark eyes of his. “I’ll see you when
you get back.”

Suguru takes his leave before Satoru has the chance to drag him back inside with another
word.
As Satoru watches Suguru walk away, his departure feels calculated, the air thick with both
the ambiguity and tension Suguru has left behind. The satisfaction Suguru radiates is
undeniable as he disappears around the corner of the doorway, leaving Satoru in a state of
both confusion and intrigue. He rubs his temples, trying to shake off the unusual sensation
that Suguru has successfully left upon him.

Satoru exhales a breath he didn't realize he was holding. The room feels emptier in Suguru's
absence, and for the first time, Satoru is left alone with his thoughts, grappling with the
tension that lingers even as Suguru is gone.

The realization that Suguru might be playing a game of his own dawns on Satoru. He's used
to being the one in control, the master of teasing. However, Suguru's unexpected move has
left him off balance.

With a shake of his head, Satoru mutters to himself, "What the hell just happened?" He
gathers the rest of his belongings, still processing the encounter. The upcoming week feels
more like an obstacle now. But one thing is for sure, Satoru has been forcibly shoved into
Suguru’s shoes, leaving him with a despicable sensation of longing—something beyond what
he normally feels.

The one consistency Satoru can always count on is to be the one needed, the one desired, the
one Suguru looks forward to. The only way he can describe this new feeling is as if he were
chained with Suguru holding the key. That's something Satoru isn't entirely comfortable with.
But discerning whether or not he could be is another subject entirely, one Satoru isn’t sure
he’s prepared to face.

The halls now gathering with students preparing to attend their classes feel like uncharted
territory. Satoru is stiff with the vulnerability of being exposed, even growing frustrated with
himself. There’s no sensible reason he should be allowing Suguru to rattle him so much. But
those emotions are walled off from the world, all behind the sunglasses he wears.

Suguru has left his mark, and it’s so large that Satoru wonders if the rest of the world can see
it, irrationally speaking. In reality, his classmates are far too concerned with making it to their
lessons on time to notice the grave wound in Satoru’s ego.

For once, Satoru finds a sense of dread against the prospect of seeing Suguru after this trip, or
even messaging him while he’s on it. He doesn’t know if he’ll have the words to say.

Still, the cogs of the day continue to turn despite Satoru’s unpreparedness and he leaves the
school grounds, making for the chauffeur that awaits him just outside. As Satoru reaches the
car, the sun casts a warm glow over his surroundings, outshining his internal struggle. The
chauffeur, standing by the vehicle, acknowledges Satoru with a nod as he approaches.

"Good afternoon, Gojo," the chauffeur greets respectfully.

"Afternoon. Let's get going," Satoru replies tersely, his usual charisma subdued by the
lingering thoughts of his unexpected encounter with Suguru.
The chauffeur opens the car door for Satoru, who slides into the back seat. As the car begins
to move, Satoru gazes out of the window, lost in his thoughts. The familiar sights of the city
blur into a drab splatter of colors against the turbulent emotions swirling within him. His
pallid complexion meets the outside world with such a dull feedback when compared to the
norm. He isn’t bouncing in his seat as he watches some of his favorite food stalls pass the
window in front of his face.

He finds himself wishing Suguru had just been honest. No, even before that. After the
bonfire, when the two of them got into a heated little spat, he wishes Suguru would have said
what needed to be said back then. It would have been so much simpler, rather than being
forced to actually contemplate his feelings deeper than the surface level.

Perhaps an outright confession would have put it all in the limelight. But the truth is, Satoru
has been confused for quite some time himself. He’s considered it: the idea of being with
Suguru, but in truth, he can’t help dreading that it would just be so much more complex than
just being friends. With friends, he doesn’t feel obligated to share the more sensitive parts of
himself with anyone. In regards to Suguru, it’s at the very least optional. It’s a rarely-chosen
option, but comforting to have the open door without it attempting to drag him inside.

If there’s one thing Satoru can’t stand, it’s being pried apart. He finds solace in the façade he
wears and he’d begun to accept that it just might be the way he lives for the rest of his life.
The idea of lowering that mask and exposing his true feelings is terrifying . But allowing
Suguru to be the only one permitted to gaze upon his true face makes it just a bit less scary.
And even…comforting.

There’s part of him deep down that cravenly desires that comfort but it feels so distant. He’s
hardly sure it’s waiting for him anywhere—that no matter where he turns, he will always be
forced to chase after it.

Suguru remains in a distractible state throughout the duration of his class. He’s normally very
attentive, only staring off into space when he doesn’t feel the lesson is very beneficial to him
—which is rare. Suguru usually finds most of his lessons useful, often pedantic about
absorbing as much knowledge of sorcery as there is to absorb. But today, he can’t bring
himself to focus. Any time he tries, his mind just drifts off into Satoru’s dorm room where,
for the first time, he showed Suguru a raw sense of naked vulnerability.

On the other hand, a nagging uncertainty lingers, calling to question the consequences of this
newfound boldness. At the very least, he can now say with confidence that he isn’t alone in
how he feels. The only question that remains now is how the rest will unravel; who will crack
first?

As the class progresses, Suguru's internal struggle intensifies. He glances at the clock, willing
the hands to move faster, yearning for the moment when he can talk to Satoru again as if the
end of class would bring that closer by much of a margin.
Finally, the instructor signals the conclusion of the lesson, and Suguru wastes no time
gathering his belongings. This would normally be when most sorcerers would be assigned
missions or go about the rest of their day training, but instead of prioritizing such things, he
decides to find Mei-Mei.

He recalls that she often spends her free time in the garden near the main library.

As Suguru approaches the garden, he spots Mei-Mei sitting on a bench, engrossed in a book.
The sunlight filters through the leaves, casting a warm glow on the surroundings. He takes a
moment to observe her, appreciating the way she's completely absorbed in her reading.

Deciding to approach her, Suguru clears his throat to announce his presence. Mei-Mei looks
up from her book, a curious smile playing on her lips. "Well, look who decided to join the
land of the living," she teases, marking her place in the book.

Given all the time they’ve spent together over the last few days, it’s easy to see why others
might begin to think there’s a certain tension between the two. Instead, Suguru has found
quite the confidante in Mei. Mei, on the other hand, has found the way that Suguru has begun
to seek her guidance like a lost puppy dog rather amusing.

Suguru takes a seat beside her. “A book about investments, why doesn’t that surprise me?” he
asks, taking note of the cover of her book as she sets it aside.

“Speaking of investments, have you spoken to Gojo yet? I noticed him leaving earlier. I
didn’t realize he was going on a trip today. Judging by the luggage, I assume he’ll be gone for
a bit. Do you think you’ll survive without him?” Mei asks.

Suguru lets out a nervous chuckle. “I don’t know how to feel about you referring to my love
life as an investment,” he says. “Anyway, I did talk to him before he left. And you were right,
the whole phone call situation from yesterday was just a ploy to make me mad.”

Mei-Mei raises an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, so our dear Satoru really
was trying to play mind games with you, was he? Classic, and painfully predictable. How did
you handle it?"

Suguru sighs, running a hand through his hair. "It caught me off guard at first, even though
we’d already considered it as a possibility," he replies. “But I decided I didn’t want to let him
control the situation again, so I knocked him down a few pegs.”

Mei-Mei's eyes widen with curiosity. "Really now? That must have been a priceless sight to
behold. I can only imagine the look on his face. So what did you say?"

Suguru smirks, playing along with Mei-Mei's excitement. "Well, it was definitely a departure
from our usual power dynamic. I did what you told me to and gave him a dose of his own
medicine. The atmosphere got pretty charged for a moment there. He asked if I was trying to
make another joke about him being gay and I stared him straight in the face and told him I
was dead serious.”
Mei-Mei leans back, studying Suguru with interest, watching as he revels in his self-
satisfaction. "And how did our fearless Gojo react to that?"

Suguru chuckles, recalling the expression on Satoru's face. "Let's just say he looked a bit lost,
Mei. It was...different. I left him with something to think about before he left for his trip."

Mei-Mei grins, giving Suguru a playful nudge. "Well, look at you making bold moves. Now,
we wait and see what happens when he returns. The ball is in his court for once, isn’t it?”

Suguru nods, a mix of uncertainty and determination in his gaze. "Yeah, it is. I don't know
how he'll react when he comes back. I've never seen him quite like that before."

Mei-Mei laughs, finding amusement in the unfolding drama. "I can't wait to see how this
plays out, Suguru. It's about time Gojo got a reality check. And who knows, maybe he'll
realize a thing or two about himself in the process."

Suguru smirks, appreciating Mei-Mei's enthusiasm. "We'll see. Either way, from here on out,
I think I’m a lot more confident about moving forward if I’m the one taking the lead."

"Are you sure you're ready for whatever comes next?" she asks, causing the excitement to
hold its breath with the moment.

“What do you mean? Are you trying to make me second-guess myself?” Suguru responds
with his own question.

Mei-Mei shakes her head in response. “It’s important to let Satoru know how you feel—and
equally as important for him to tell you how he feels. However, that isn’t the end of it. I seem
to recall you telling me last night that the two of you got into a little argument about how
Satoru isn’t very open with you. Do you think that will carry into a relationship if that’s the
direction you both decide to go?”

Suguru considers her words and all of a sudden, the whole thing doesn’t seem as flirtatious
and fun anymore. The real issues rear their ugly heads, using the validity of her questions as
leverage to fill Suguru’s mind with doubt.

“I was hoping I might deal with that after the fact,” he answers.

“Are you sure it’s not something you should address beforehand?” she asks. “Even if you
don’t decide to date one another, don’t you still want to feel like you’re someone Satoru can
confide in? Let’s be honest, your reaction to him lowering his guard with you speaks volumes
to the fact that he isn’t as authentic with you as he ought to be. He is your best friend, isn’t
he?”

Suguru glances to the side as her words slip beneath his skin, unwrapping a new layer of
anxiety. His mind calls back Satoru’s anger toward him at just the mention of him being more
open. That anger has continuously made him wonder if such a request was selfish if they
weren’t as close as lovers. Even if they were to be, would Suguru still feel selfish for wanting
to move past Satoru’s shallow exterior?
“It feels wrong to demand he open up to me more…” Suguru replies but it feels weak.
There’s something else that begs to be said. There’s a sense of entitlement to those emotions
Satoru keeps hidden under lock and key and he can’t piece together whether or not it’s
justified.

“Sure, it’s wrong to demand it,” Mei replies. “But at the very least, someone who claims to
be close to you should want that statement to be true. Don’t you want him to want that
openness with you?” she asks.

“I’m not entirely sure he doesn’t. It feels more like he’s holding himself back…like he’s…
scared.” Suguru manages to meet Mei’s gaze with a sense of uncertainty.

“That would make sense,” Mei reasons. “For as long as I’ve known him, Satoru has always
been the face of sociability, but being sociable doesn’t make him an open book. He can spew
all the nonsense he wants to make people laugh or draw a crowd, but at the end of the day,
nobody actually knows what’s going on beneath the surface,” she explains. “I hoped that you
might, but I realize I was mistaken. It’s a little…concerning.”

Suguru nods his head in agreement. These heavy thoughts have always lingered in the back
of his mind, but he rarely addressed them. “Yeah, it is…”

“You’re no different, you know,” Mei says, giving him a pointed look. “It’s only easy to read
you when it comes to Gojo because you make it glaringly obvious how you feel about him.
But other than that, I can’t decode you. You’re as much a mystery to me as Satoru Gojo
himself.”

Suguru tilts his head, absorbing Mei-Mei's words. It's a rare moment of introspection, and he
finds himself contemplating the layers he's built around himself. "I suppose we all have our
walls, don't we?" he remarks with an enduring enigma surrounding his words.

Mei-Mei smirks knowingly. "Exactly. The challenge lies in finding someone who makes you
want to tear those walls down, or at least peek behind the curtains every now and then."

“I want Satoru to be that person…” Suguru admits, dropping his desire to remain hidden.
“And I want to be that person for Satoru,” he adds, his words like a boomerang.

“Take things one step at a time, Suguru. You know him best and it seems like your intuition
might be correct. Just give him time, continue to assure him that he can be open with you,
and I’m sure that eventually, he will,” Mei says, ultimately bringing Suguru’s anxiety back
down to its usual levels.

Suguru nods as her words sink in, watching the stone pathways with a distant look in his
eyes. “One last thing…should I wait to see if he messages me?” he asks. Part of him already
knows what she’ll say.

“Oh, absolutely not,” she replies with a definitive abruptness, confirming what Suguru
thought. “I told you, the ball’s in his court. Don’t show him you’re pining for his attention.
Let him miss you for once.”
Suguru takes in Mei-Mei's advice, and a determined glint appears in his eyes. "You're right. I
shouldn’t let myself dwell on it so hard," he says, a newfound resolve coloring his words.

Mei-Mei draws a smirk of approval "There you go. Show him you're not always at his beck
and call. Make him work for your attention a bit."

As Suguru rises from the bench, he feels a renewed sense of purpose. The intricate dance of
emotions continues, but he's ready to face it head-on. "Thanks, Mei. I appreciate the insight,"
he says, offering her a genuine smile.

Mei-Mei gives him a more genuine smile. "Anytime, Suguru. And who knows, maybe this
week apart will do wonders for both of you."

Suguru chuckles, the weight on his shoulders lifted, at least for the moment. With a casual
wave, he heads out of the garden, ready to navigate the maze of emotions that lies ahead. He
tries to find other things to occupy his thoughts. After all, if he’s going to put any stock into
his convictions, he can’t allow Satoru to be at the forefront of his brain all week.

He finds the idea of heading back to his dorm for the rest of the day to be all too alluring. But
he knows if he does, his mind will race in the solitude. So instead, Suguru decides to make
for the rec center, this time finding his way to the gym. As he prepares for a little workout
session, he pushes the thought that he’d normally be there with Satoru out of his mind,
instead replacing it with his earbuds in his ears.

He spends the afternoon at the rec center, breaking for a late lunch in between before
returning to finish off his session. The sweat that plasters to his body in the aftermath serves
as a reflection of his intrusive thoughts bleeding out of him, replaced only by refreshing
clarity.

But that clarity isn’t bound to last long. No matter how Suguru tries to convince himself he’ll
be just fine without Satoru all week, it takes a pathetically short amount of time for thoughts
of him to come trickling back into his mind as he returns to the cafeteria for dinner.

His encounter with Satoru keeps replaying in Suguru's mind as he sits alone in the cafeteria.
The echoes of their conversation, the heavy atmosphere, and the vulnerability he glimpsed—
all of it lingers like an indelible bruise. He picks at his food absentmindedly, lost in thought.

A group of students at a nearby table catches Suguru's attention, their laughter and chatter
momentarily remind him of his night around the fire with his friends and pull him from his
loneliness. For a moment, he contemplates joining them, seeking distraction in the company
of others. However, the pull of solitude proves stronger, and he decides to finish his meal in
peace.

The cafeteria is a sea of conversations and activity, yet Suguru feels a sense of isolation. He
glances at his phone, half-expecting a message from Satoru, but the screen remains devoid of
notifications. A tinge of disappointment washes over him, quickly replaced by a
determination to resist the urge to reach out first and he turns off his phone.
After dinner, Suguru decides to visit the library, thinking that immersing himself in a good
book might offer a welcome escape. The quiet ambiance of the library provides respite from
the bustling cafeteria. As he browses the shelves, his mind continues to drift back to Satoru.

In an attempt to redirect his thoughts, Suguru picks a random book and finds a quiet corner to
read. The words on the pages do little to captivate him, and he finds himself rereading the
same paragraphs without absorbing their meaning. The library becomes like a prison of his
own making.

As the evening progresses, Suguru grapples with the emptiness of Satoru's absence. The
week ahead stretches before him, a daunting expanse of time to navigate without the comfort
of his best friend's presence.

Having been sat in a beanbag chair, Suguru leans back into its rustling embrace with a sigh,
just wishing the right distraction would come to take him. It’s starting to become quite
obvious he won’t survive the week in these conditions. In forcing Satoru to come to terms
with his own feelings, Suguru neglected to realize his importance in his own life. It’s not as if
Satoru hasn’t gone on solo missions for extended periods of time before. But the stakes now
seem much weightier. There was always an equal level of boredom, but no restrictions upon
his communication with Satoru. Within reason, he really just texted Satoru whenever he
pleased to keep himself entertained in the gaps between activities and the mundanities of the
day. Not only that, but there was usually a mission or two to embark upon to assist with the
sameness of day to day life.

Suguru shifts in the beanbag chair, his mind wandering between the pages of the book he
holds but doesn't read. The quietness of the library amplifies the solitude he feels, and he
longs for a distraction to pull him away from the persistent thoughts of Satoru.

The library feels like a cavernous echo of his own isolation. The hushed whispers of other
students browsing the shelves are white noise to Suguru's internal monologue.

In an attempt to break free from the grip of his own thoughts, Suguru considers his options.
The gym had provided a temporary respite earlier in the day, but he knows that physical
activity alone won't suffice to fill the void left by Satoru's absence. Besides, his muscles now
ache.

With a resigned sigh, he decides to venture outside. The campus at night takes on a different
character, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. Suguru strolls along familiar paths, the cool
night air offering a welcome contrast to the stuffiness of the library.

He finds a bench overlooking a serene pond and takes a seat. The moonlight reflects on the
water's surface, casting shimmering ripples. Despite the tranquility of the scene, Suguru's
mind continues to race, searching for a way to escape the solitude that threatens to engulf
him.

As he gazes at the moon above, Suguru can't help but wonder what Satoru is doing at this
very moment. The uncertainty of their week apart looms over him, and he comes to terms
with the realization that he might not have fully considered the impact of this temporary
separation.
Lost in contemplation, Suguru leans back on the bench, the cool night air providing a gentle
caress.

Finally it happens: a gap in his internal suffering. A distraction. “Hey, Geto, mind if I take a
seat?” Suguru nearly jumps up with excitement at the prospect without even fully realizing
who has come to rescue him. Still, he manages to mask his relief and merely scoots over after
lifting his head to find Shoko standing there.

“Go ahead,” he responds plainly, folding his hands as the koi pond captivates his attention
again.

With a relaxed sigh, Shoko sits down on the other end of the bench, digging around in her
pocket. She then pulls out a pack of cigarettes and Suguru glances over, watching the
mechanical action of her removing one from the box and lighting the end of it.

Noticing his fixation, Shoko looks at him. “What?” she asks.

“You know, you really should be more careful about that habit,” he says. “Like, at least doing
it off school grounds?”

“Don’t be such a killjoy. You won’t tell, will you?” Shoko asks after taking a drag off her
cigarette and the summer breeze blows the smoke in Suguru’s direction.

Suguru can’t be bothered to care enough about putting an end to her addiction or even
scolding her further about it so he just shrugs lazily. “Nah…it’s fine…” he says, giving up
surprisingly easily.

Even Shoko could be pretty keen about Suguru’s sense of responsibility and adherence to the
rules. He’s always been disciplined, which is why it shocked her that he was so close with
someone like Satoru Gojo—someone who couldn’t give less of a damn about any rules.

Something is off.

“Oh right…” she says. “Satoru left today, didn’t he?”

Suguru turns his head toward her, almost offended by how quickly she figured him out. Still,
he disguises any sense that he knows she’s caught onto any offish behavior, much less that
Satoru’s absence is the reason for it. “Yeah, what about it?” he asks, almost defensively, but
nonchalantly enough that it could pass as indifference.

Maybe if he weren’t dealing with another individual who was about as like-minded to
perception as Mei.

She sends him a bored but knowing look and then slides another cigarette out of the box,
offering it to Suguru. “Here, that’ll take the edge off,” she says.

Suguru genuinely considers the offer, staring at the white stick between her fingers. The
smell never really bothered him. In fact, it sort of reminded him of his childhood. But was an
addiction like that really something he needed right now?
“I probably shouldn’t.” It isn’t a definitive ‘no’ so he could definitely be pressured with a bit
more prying.

Shoko rolls her eyes. “Just take it. You’ll feel better.”

Suguru considers her again, this time taking the cigarette from her hand into his. He rolls it
between his thumb and index finger, trying to see if the idea of a calmer mind is tempting
enough to try it.

He then holds the end out to Shoko. “I don’t have a lighter.”

She takes care of that issue quite swiftly, striking the spark wheel and igniting it for him
before shoving both the box and lighter back into her pocket. As the cigarette slowly begins
to burn away, Suguru watches it for a long moment before bringing it to his lips and taking a
long, almost soothing breath from the end.

Suguru exhales a plume of smoke, the sensation lingering in his lungs as he flicks off some of
the ashes like he’s done it a thousand times before. The act is oddly calming, a momentary
distraction from the whirlwind of thoughts that have been occupying his mind since Satoru's
departure.

Shoko smirks, recognizing the subtle shift in Suguru's demeanor. "See? No need to be so
uptight all the time. It's not like you're going to become a chain smoker from one cigarette."

Suguru raises an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You sound like you're trying to
justify your own habit."

Shoko waves a dismissive hand. "I've got it under control.”

They sit in companionable silence for a while, the rhythmic sound of crickets providing a
subtle environment for Suguru’s thoughts to nestle into, comforted by the nicotine seeping
into his brain. Suguru feels a certain camaraderie with Shoko, appreciating her
straightforward nature.

"So, missing Gojo already?" Shoko teases, breaking the silence.

Suguru takes another drag from the cigarette, exhaling slowly. "Maybe a little. It's weird not
having him around,” he replies, severely downplaying the nature of just how much he misses
him.

“Doesn’t surprise me. You two are always together,” she replies, taking a puff of her own
cigarette.

Suguru smirks, realizing the truth in Shoko's words. "Well, we're a package deal, I suppose.
Can't have one without the other."

Shoko chuckles, nodding in agreement. "True enough. But hey, absence makes the heart grow
fonder, right?"
Suguru raises an eyebrow at her, a pang of panic settling in as he wonders if Mei-Mei has
been talking to the other girls about their exchanges. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

She smirks, blowing a stream of smoke into the night air. "Oh, come on. I've seen enough of
you and Gojo to know a thing or two. Besides, it's just common sense."

Suguru laughs, letting his oblivious act melt away. The calming effect of the cigarette allows
him to not feel as invaded by her ability to read him. But it makes him wonder if he really
was that obvious about it. "Common sense, huh? Mei didn’t talk to you, did she?" he asks,
attempting to figure out whether or not Mei would run her mouth to the others.

“Oh, so you talk to Mei-Mei about it but don’t save any tea for the rest of us. I see you,
Geto,” Shoko responds. “But, no. She didn’t. I figured it out on my own. Utahime pretty
much knows too but she’s been in denial because she also has a massive crush on Gojo,” she
explains.

Suguru goes rigid with jealousy as he hears that, glancing at Shoko.

Shoko chuckles at Suguru's reaction. "Relax, Geto. Utahime is harmless. She just has a soft
spot for our dear Satoru."

Suguru takes a moment to process the information. "Does everyone know about this?" he
asks, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice.

Shoko waves her hand dismissively. "Not the whole school or anything, just those who pay
attention. People talk, you know. But hey, it's not a bad thing. The two of you are entertaining
to watch."

Suguru relaxes again, leaning back on the bench. "Entertaining, huh? I don’t know whether to
take that as a compliment or not."

“Well, the alternative is being offended and there’s really no reason to be,” Shoko responds as
she finishes off her cigarette and flicks the butt into the pond.

“I guess not.” Suguru shrugs and takes another drag of his cigarette. He finds enjoying it
comes much slower than Shoko who has already finished hers.

"Now, lighten up, Geto. It's just us girls sharing a smoke and some gossip. Enjoy the break
from Gojo; it might do you some good."

Suguru chuckles, realizing that Shoko's insight and nonchalant attitude are helping him ease
into the idea of spending a week without Satoru. As they continue their conversation, the
weight of Satoru's absence starts to feel a bit more manageable, thanks to the tranquility he
finds in Shoko's company.

Soon enough, he finishes his own cigarette and mimics Shoko, flicking the end into the pond.
“Thanks for the company, I needed it,” he says and then stands up, looking down as she
stands with him.
“Anytime,” she responds, wearing that dull expression of hers that momentarily glimmers
with appreciation.

The two part ways after that, and Suguru decides it’s finally time to return to his dorm room
for the night. There’s only so much procrastination he can do before finally giving in to the
beckon of solitude.

The dorm room feels unusually quiet as Suguru enters. He glances around, half-expecting
Satoru to be there, as if the past few hours were just a brief interlude in his absence.
However, the room remains still, devoid of Satoru's vibrant presence.

Suguru sits on his bed, taking a moment to reflect on the day. It doesn’t feel as suffocating
now that he’s taken a moment to relax with Shoko, and he starts to take off his clothes that
now carry the distinct stench of smoke in his room. He makes a mental note to wash them
tomorrow before they can stink up his entire room and puts on some more comfortable
clothes before settling into bed.

As he prepares for sleep, Suguru takes out his phone, briefly hesitating as he decides whether
or not to send a text to Satoru. Mei did warn him to restrain himself. But at the end of the day,
he shouldn’t let such things stop him from doing what he wants. And right now, he wants to
speak to Satoru. Though, for a moment, it does bother him that Satoru hasn’t messaged him
either. Still, he decides to reason it’s simply because he’s too nervous. So, he plays off that
anticipated tension and types a simple message, "Miss me yet?" He hits send, anticipating
how Satoru will respond, if at all. Despite the uncertainty of if he’ll respond to him, he makes
a promise that if he doesn’t, Suguru won’t bug him with more messages. He doesn’t want to
appear desperate, of course.

The room is alight with the dim glow of the phone screen as Suguru waits for a response.
Minutes pass, and the silence hangs in the air. Suguru's mind races with possibilities, from
Satoru ignoring the message to the chance that he might not have seen it yet.

Just as Suguru is about to put his phone aside, a familiar notification chime breaks the
quietude. He quickly checks the message, a mixture of anticipation and relief building within
him.

Satoru lays back in his luxury hotel room, his back aching as it hits the plush mattress
beneath him, his body absorbing the cool blankets of the air conditioned room. Weary from
travel and the thoughts weighing on his mind, all Satoru wants to do is sleep, but the buzzing
doesn’t give him even a moment of quiet.

Suguru has managed to infest his mind all day long, continuously distracting him with a
picture-perfect repeat of what happened in his dorm room that morning each time he shut his
eyes. Now is no different. Even as he attempts to close them again, he can see the imprint of
Suguru’s intimidating expression and posture looming over him—even though they’re the
exact same height—branded behind his eyelids.

He loathes how much he wishes to see Suguru upon opening his eyes, not standing in front of
him, but with his hands on either side of Satoru’s head as he lays on the bed, peering down at
him from above.

As his eyes flutter open, he banishes the filthy thought from his mind, helped along by the
fact that Suguru isn’t even there in the first place.

Satoru weighs the option of sending Suguru a message before making a real attempt to get in
bed and get comfortable to prepare for the next day, but he lacks the words to say to him.

The sound of his phone going off in his pocket signals to the relief that he may not have to
start the conversation. Then, his eyes find the message that Suguru sent him and his heart
wrenches in his chest. Once more, Suguru presents with a dominant attitude that catches him
completely off guard. At least behind a screen, it’s much more manageable. But the invitation
to just imagine how Suguru might look with those words leaving his mouth is all too
tempting.

Rereading the message a few times, Satoru decides to respond with something a bit more
honest, "Maybe a little. It's too quiet here without you." He rolls to his side as he waits for
Suguru’s response, almost wondering if his own reply came a bit too quickly. At this point, he
can’t bring himself to care all that much if it did. He just wants to talk to his friend, and he’s
giving Satoru the open door to do so. Hell if he was going to pass that up.

Suguru types back, "You’ve been avoiding your phone all day, haven’t you?" He adds a
teasing emoji of his own.

Satoru flashes a little grin at his screen, just like he would if he were in person with Suguru.
“Actually, Suguru, I’ve been busy all day. You sure you’re not projecting?” he asks. Suguru
can try to be coy all he likes, but they’re close enough for Satoru to know what it’s like for
Suguru when he isn’t around. Of that, at the very least, he can be confident.

“Not at all. Mei and I hung out a little more today and then Shoko and I shot the breeze,”
Suguru responds, only leaving out the part that they were distractions so that he wouldn’t
think about Satoru. “Other than that, I’ve been training.”

Satoru doesn’t like how nonchalant Suguru seems to be. He can only find solace in the hope
that Suguru is upselling his ability to keep Satoru off his mind.

“Look at you being a social butterfly,” Satoru replies. “Maybe I should go on solo missions
more often,” he adds on, hoping to provoke some kind of reaction from Suguru—anything to
help soothe the blow his ego took earlier.

Suguru's response to Satoru's playful remark comes with a touch of sarcasm, "Oh, I'm sure
the world would love a break from your antics. Maybe I'll throw a party while you're away."
The reply doesn’t exactly spark the desperation he craves from Suguru’s end, but
nevertheless, he’s still having fun with the back and forth.
Satoru chuckles, appreciating Suguru's wit even through the text. "Don't have too much fun
without me. I might get jealous," he replies, a hint of mock possessiveness in his words,
deciding to take the underdog once more in their conversation.

Slowly embracing his new role as the provocateur, Suguru fires back with, "Jealous, huh?
Didn't know you had it in you." He adds a smirking emoji, teasing the idea that Satoru might
be more affected by Suguru's absence than he lets on.

Despite Satoru’s desire to win back just a sliver of the control that seems to have disappeared
over the course of the day, he can’t shake the feeling that this new air of confidence in his
friend is evoking a dangerous sensation inside of himself.

He likes it.

He hates that he likes it.

He hates how much he likes it.

Suguru’s normal responses to his teasing have always been one of two things: a painfully
obvious façade of jokes that play off his own, or an irritated retort. These are still jokes, but
there’s something different about them, and it’s that something that Satoru finds himself
drawn to.

As his mind latches onto what lies beneath, Satoru decides to shift the conversation to a more
serious tone, likely catching Suguru off guard. “Hey, by the way. When I come back, there’s
no pressure to talk right away, right? I think I might need more time to think about
everything. Without this whole mission thing clouding my judgment.”

“I’m not asking for a declaration of undying love from you, Satoru,” Suguru asserts in
response and the honesty that drips into every word nearly suffocates Satoru as he reads it.
It’s a step closer to acknowledging what they both know is coming.

Satoru drags a hand down his face as it starts to heat up, grateful that he’s in the protection of
his hotel room where no one else can see his reaction. “Well, that’s a relief because I suck at
grand gestures,” Satoru replies, trying to keep the humor alive despite the fact that now both
of them have acknowledged the heavy subject that awaits them.

“Relax, I’m not trying to overwhelm you. I’m just looking for some honesty. So, yeah, no
pressure, okay?”

Satoru, appreciating Suguru's understanding, responds, "Yeah, honesty sounds good. No

pressure, and we'll figure things out later. But, for now, let's focus on surviving this week
without driving each other crazy."

Suguru agrees, "Surviving sounds like a plan. Just don't do anything reckless on your
mission, okay? I don't want to have to come save you."

Satoru smirks, "Lol, you, save me? Seems like someone’s letting all that confidence go to his
head."
 Suguru's response is swift, "Confidence is a good look on me, don't you think? I know you’re
used to being the one all tough and strong, but I think you like taking the back seat."

Satoru groans as another wave of heat settles into his cheeks. At this point, the level of
enjoyment he’s taking from this is almost laughable. “Yeah, it’s definitely doing something
for me,” he replies honestly, deciding to be a bit bold. Before he’s forced to elaborate, he
quickly sends another text. “Anyway, I should get some sleep. Long day tomorrow.”

“Don’t think you’re getting away with not explaining what you meant by that,” Suguru
replies, blatantly ignoring Satoru’s attempt to leave it a mystery. “Another time though. Go to
bed.”

Satoru lets out a drawn out sigh. “Yeah, I’m sure you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” He chuckles
at his own little tease. “Good night, Sugu~”

Suguru, deciding not to respond to Satoru’s first statement, simply responds with his own
“good night,” allowing the conversation to rest with him.

As Satoru settles into his hotel room, the hum of the air conditioner grounding him from the
whims of his imagination, he starts to reflect on his feelings. Sleep beckons, but his mind is
alive with thoughts of Suguru and the unspoken words that seem to hang in the air.

Meanwhile, Suguru reclines in his dorm room, the soft glow of his phone illuminating his
features. The banter with Satoru has added a new sense of longing for his return. As he sets
his phone aside and nestles into his sheets, Suguru relaxes into the relief he finds in that their
conversation went as smoothly as ever. Not only that, but he seems to be getting the hang of
the whole confidence thing.

In the quiet moments before sleep claims them both, the uncharted territory of their evolving
relationship lingers, promising a journey that neither could have predicted.

Chapter End Notes

everybody say it with me:

codependency :)
 Darkness
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Suguru stands between the walls of two buildings, leaning into one of them as he waits for
his objective to fall into place. His break from Jujutsu sorcery was never bound to last very
long, especially in the busiest season for his profession. The seasons usually work like two
peaks and two valleys with summer and winter being the height of negative emotions for the
general population and spring and autumn being the more mellow seasons.

He stands there boredly with his hands in his pockets, waiting for his prey to fall into view.
But right now, the curse’s energy is distant, so he has some time before it’s upon him.
Though, he wishes he didn’t. He wishes he could go back to his normal routine, enjoying
breakfast by himself, training in the gym by himself, and going to sleep by himself. Despite
the implications, it’s much better than this. Right now, his mind doesn’t have room for the
lighthearted enjoyments of life. It’s filled with the hatred and anguish of the world.

He removes a cursed core from his throat, staring at the solid brackish sphere in his hand.
Each time he is reminded of the presence of those spheres inside him, it all comes rushing
back; the dark, tormented thoughts of the curses he’s absorbed. He can’t hear them. They
aren’t a tangible thought that he can grab onto and interpret. It’s more like a malicious shroud
that blankets his mind. At the very least, when he fights alongside Satoru, he can take brief
respite from that darkness. The vibrancy he displays as he fights is inspiring; a light that
dissolves the dark.

Unfortunately, much like this very moment, the two can’t always go on missions together. As
they graduate into full-fledged sorcerers, they will be assigned to even fewer missions with
one another. Suguru tries to perish the thought of that; live in the moment, as Satoru would
say. But every so often, the idea sneaks into his mind and that veil that covers it begins to
choke him.

Suguru can’t remember the last time he’s ever loved someone or something. With that being
said, he is terrified of being apart from Satoru. His ego makes that thought somehow tangible.
Satoru has always referred to the both of them as the strongest. But even with such sultry
words, Suguru has always known the truth: that Satoru looks in the mirror and sees a god
staring back at him.

Suguru consistently recognizes Satoru’s strength. He doesn’t brag for no reason. Satoru is
head of the Gojo Clan, far past comfortably rich, and his technique is one in a million. But
while he recognizes that strength and wealth, he has never seen Satoru as any of those things.
He has always seen him as his best friend—the person he wants to spend the rest of his life
with, even if not as lovers. Suguru realizes that those desires are nothing more than fever
dreams—that eventually, it would be their power that separates them as reality takes hold.

Even so, Suguru has done everything he can to ensure that won’t happen. Training has been
one thing. But the other worries him as of late. And that is ensuring Satoru knows he can
confide in him. Without that, what is he other than just another friend?

Suguru finds himself dwelling on these thoughts as he waits for the cursed energy to draw
near. The cursed core in his hand serves as a stark reminder of the darkness that lurks within
him, likely fueling these negative thoughts.

As the cursed energy draws closer, Suguru pushes these thoughts aside, focusing on the task
at hand. The duality of his existence as a sorcerer—dealing with curses while seeking
moments of connection and understanding—defines the intricate tapestry of his life. It's a
delicate balance, and Suguru navigates it with a mix of determination, fear, and an enduring
desire for the closeness he shares with Satoru.

At last, the curse steps into the lion’s mouth. Suguru activates his cursed core and pounces
out of the shadows toward the evil being. It’s a First Grade curse—not to be taken lightly, but
nothing that Suguru can’t handle himself. His own cursed spirit approaches from another
angle, and the two work together to weaken the First Grade curse.

Suguru's movements are swift and precise as he confronts the curse. The shadows seem to
dance around him, merging with his cursed spirit's form as they coordinate their attacks. It's a
choreographed dance of curses and sorcery, an intricate display of Suguru's formidable skills.

The cursed energy pulses in the air, the clash of forces echoing between the buildings.
Suguru's focus is unwavering, and the determination in his eyes reflects the gravity of the
situation. His every move is calculated, exploiting the weaknesses of the curse with the
finesse of a seasoned sorcerer.

His cursed spirit, an extension of his own power, moves in tandem with him. They
complement each other seamlessly, anticipating the curse's movements and launching
coordinated strikes. The air crackles with energy as Suguru and his spirit work in harmony to
weaken the malevolent force that dared to cross their path.

As the battle unfolds, Suguru's mind momentarily shifts away from the complexities of his
personal feelings. In the midst of combat, he finds a different kind of clarity—an exhilarating
focus that drives him forward.

Then the battle comes to an abrupt end as Suguru absorbs the now-weakened curse into a
cursed core and reverts the other curse that he used back into its core. He swallows them both
and strains momentarily as their darkness swells like a tide inside of him, breaking against his
body like bluffs. Part of his training has been to learn to keep that negativity at bay,
separating himself from all the curses inside. As a result, he’s never addressed whether or not
his constant shitty mood has anything to do with the cursed cores he houses.

He takes a moment to center himself, allowing the darkness to settle. The cursed cores inside
him echo with residual negativity, a constant reminder of the foul emotions he carries. Not
only that, but the taste on his tongue lingers. It's like filthy mop water. Sewage mixed with
the most foul amalgamation imaginable. Yet he swallows it.

His surroundings, once filled with the chaotic energy of battle, now regain a semblance of
calm. Suguru checks for any remaining threats before making his way back to the city, the
shadows once again becoming his ally as he blends into the night. The mission may be
complete, but the shadows of his own emotions linger, waiting for the opportune moment to
surface once more.

Regardless, it’s another job well-done. And yet, Suguru can’t quite grasp any sense of
accomplishment upon completion of his mission. As he begins his walk back to the school,
his thoughts press in on him again. This feeling of being unfulfilled wraps its hands around
his neck and it grows harder to think about anything positive.

Despite knowing the effects of absorbing powerful curses, Suguru indulges these thoughts,
allowing them to roam the corners of his mind as they please as if they’re all his own. This
wouldn’t be the first time Suguru found himself questioning why he’s even here, absorbing
these curses and fighting these battles. With such power, what is there to live for other than
the greater good?

The thought of protecting those who can’t protect themselves is something most good-
natured people wouldn’t think twice about. Sweeter words than that of being named a hero
could not be spoken. Though, due to the fact that most non-sorcerers can’t see the curses that
plague their streets, their homes, their lives, Jujutsu sorcery is a thankless job. Suguru has
come to terms with that fact. He takes solace in the camaraderie that comes with taking on
missions with his classmates. That’s the most rewarding part of it.

If Suguru were a better person, he might take the idea of simply knowing there was one less
curse to roam the streets as enough to push forward—to keep pulling each drop of darkness
inside of himself until it’s all that’s left. But Suguru isn’t that kind of person. He’s always
thought logically, therefore, he can only best understand the actions of himself and others
when provided a reason. A good reason. For now, he clings to the reason of bettering himself
—to stand on equal footing with Satoru, and to continue their lives as equals. That, and
protecting others. But such things are merely a thinly-veiled lack of any real conviction.

Before returning home, Suguru absentmindedly turns toward a convenience store. The
cashier welcomes him in. He’s the only one inside. Suguru acknowledges the cashier with a
wave and his eyes flick to the rows of cigarette cartons behind her and the neat stack of
lighters in all different colors right on the counter. He isn’t old enough to purchase them. As a
matter of fact, he’s never even considered how Shoko manages to get her hands on them. But
he could really use the calming sensation right about now.

Suguru approaches the counter, trying to act nonchalant despite the internal turmoil. The
cashier glances at him, waiting for his order. Suguru, deciding against the cigarettes, grabs a
bottle of water instead. He pays for it, exchanging a few words with the cashier, and exits the
convenience store.

The night air is cool, and the city lights cast a comforting glow on the streets. Suguru takes a
sip of his water, the cold liquid doing little to ease the tension within him.

Lost in his thoughts, Suguru almost doesn't notice the familiar surroundings of the school
approaching. The night has deepened, and the campus is quiet. He contemplates whether he
should head straight to his dorm or find another distraction to delay the solitude awaiting
him.
He makes for the dorm rooms after checking in with Yaga about the completion of his
mission. But instead of making for his own dorm, he walks down the halls to find Shoko’s
dorm. He hesitates, debating whether or not to knock but he does in the end. After a moment,
the door swings open and she smiles at him. “Hey, back from your mission?” she asks, her
voice as dull as ever.

Suguru nods his head and then looks off to the side, one hand shoved in his pocket while
clutching his nearly-empty bottle of water in his other. “Do you…have a cigarette I could
bum off you?” he asks her.

Shoko displays a sly grin and then steps away from the door. Suguru peeks in to see what
she’s doing and then she returns with an unopened package of cigarettes and a lighter,
handing them both to him. “Don’t worry about paying me for them,” she says. “Wanna take a
walk?”

Suguru accepts the cigarettes and the lighter, offering Shoko a grateful nod. The prospect of a
walk sounds appealing, a chance to distract himself from the weight of his thoughts. He
closes the door behind him, and they start strolling through the quiet campus.

The dimly lit paths create a tranquil atmosphere as Shoko takes a drag from her own
cigarette. Suguru follows suit, the familiar scent and ritual providing a momentary respite
from his internal struggles.

"So, how was your day?" Shoko asks casually, exhaling a puff of smoke into the night air.

Suguru hesitates for a moment, contemplating how much to share. "It was...uneventful.
Completed the mission, but you know how it goes." He shrugs and finally lights up his own
cigarette to take that first calming drag.

Shoko nods, understanding the nature of their work. "Yeah, I get it. Need a distraction from
the thoughts?"

Suguru smirks, acknowledging her perceptiveness. "You could say that."

They continue their walk, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the quiet night. Suguru finds
solace in the shared silence, appreciating the company without the need for extensive
conversation. As they reach a more secluded area of the campus, Shoko speaks up. “Gojo
will be back in a couple days, are you excited?”

“I mean, I’m not jumping up and down or anything. But, yeah. I am happy to see him again.”
He takes another reflexive puff off his cigarette as the stress of that situation tries to infest his
mind but he blows it out with a cloud of smoke.

“Did you two get into some kind of argument? I know you’re not the most expressive guy in
the world, but you don’t seem that thrilled.”

Suguru shrugs. “No, it’s not that,” he says. “We just haven’t talked that much because he’s
been busy.”
Shoko nods, seemingly satisfied with the explanation. "Fair enough. Life has such an
annoying way of interfering."

Suguru’s gaze flicks over, acknowledging the truth in her statement. “I guess I’m a little
scared of that," he admits.

“How cute,” Shoko comments with a small chuckle.

“How is that cute?” Suguru cocks an eyebrow at her.

“Just how badly you want to be attached to his hip; it’s cute,” she elaborates. “At the very
least, there won’t be any question as to whether or not life will get in the way of you two if
you start dating.”

“That’s not always the case. People split up all the time because their lives take different
paths,” Suguru points out.

“How different can your lives possibly be? You’re both Special Grade sorcerers and
extremely strong.”

Suguru lets out a stream of smoke at that. “I don’t know…” The lie slips out effortlessly. He
wonders for a moment if he’s the only one who can see the margin of difference between
their power.

They continue their stroll, the quiet conversation punctuated by the occasional sound of
footsteps and the soft glow of their cigarettes in the darkness. Suguru glances at Shoko,
noticing the way her expression remains steady, as if nothing can faze her.

"I envy your ability to stay so calm," Suguru admits, breaking the silence.

Shoko exhales another cloud of smoke. "It's not about being calm. I just don't let things
bother me too much. Life's too short for unnecessary stress."

Suguru rolls his eyes, but still has some understanding of her perspective, even if slightly
hypocritical. "She said as she took another drag off her cigarette."

Shoko smirks at that. "Sure, sure, but at least you can see that I face things a lot easier than
you do. I mean, you said it yourself, after all. It's liberating not to let every little thing get
under your skin. That’s why I’m not addicted to these.” She waves her half-stick around as if
to tease Suguru. “You, on the other hand…well…I can tell you might be forming a dangerous
little habit. My bad," she says, glancing over as Suguru indulges the last few slivers of his
cigarette before tossing it away carelessly. It’s not like anyone will know it belonged to him.

“It’s fine, I can handle it,” Suguru assures her.

She shakes her head with a knowing smile on her face but doesn’t look at him. “Did Mei tell
you? She’s planning a little party for when Satoru gets back,” Shoko says, deciding to stray
from the subject.
“No, actually, she didn’t,” Suguru responds and then takes a deep breath. He’s never done
well with parties—especially if it’ll be beyond their little friend group. He was hoping to just
spend some time alone with Satoru the day he came back, but it seems Mei has other plans.

“Well, you were out on your mission, so I guess she just never got the chance,” Shoko says.

“Shocking she wouldn’t throw the party in his absence,” Suguru quips, only lightly hinting at
the fact that he’d rather there not be a party when Satoru returns. It seems he hid that well
enough, however.

“She doesn’t hate the guy,” Shoko reminds him. “She thought it might be a good chance for
you to unwind and have some fun with Satoru.”

Mei must not have known him at all. Suguru is one of the most antisocial students on
campus, if not, in the world. What exactly made her think a party was “a chance for him to
unwind?”

Suguru hums with mock appreciation. “I’ll have to thank her for looking out for me later,” he
says with a wry smile.

Shoko chuckles. "You're welcome for the heads up. And don't worry, it's not some big fancy
event. Just a few friends getting together, you know?"

Suguru raises an eyebrow, skeptical. "Mei's definition of 'a few friends' usually involves half
the school. But fine, if it's just a casual thing, I suppose I can endure it for a little while."

"She plans on hosting it after hours in the rec center. This way there’ll be enough room and
some activities to do," Shoko replies, seemingly unfazed by Suguru's reservations.

Suguru sighs, realizing he won’t be able to avoid the gathering. "Yeah, sure. I'll be there.
Can't let Mei down. Even if I tried, I’m sure she’d just bring the party to my dorm."

Shoko smirks, her dull eyes briefly glinting with amusement. "You're a good sport, Geto.
Besides, it might be good for you to socialize a bit."

Suguru grumbles under his breath, muttering something about preferring the company of
curses over large crowds. Shoko just laughs, enjoying Suguru's deadpan humor.

As they approach the dorms, Shoko tosses her empty cigarette pack into a nearby trash bin.
"Well, this is my stop. See you around, Geto. Don't let the party stress you out too much."

Suguru nods, acknowledging her farewell. "Thanks for the company and the smokes, Shoko.
I'll survive the party, somehow."

As Shoko disappears into the dorm building, Suguru can't help but feel a mix of anticipation
and dread about the upcoming celebration. He contemplates how he'll navigate through the
social gathering, knowing that his true desire is to have a quiet moment with Satoru after his
return. However, fate, in the form of Mei, seems to have other plans for them.
Suguru steals away to his dorm, setting aside his new little crutch in the form of cigarettes
and a lighter. He removes his clothes, opting for something more comfortable and glances
toward the pile of dirty clothes and uniforms forming on the floor. He’ll have to take care of
that soon. The past five days haven’t been easy for the student.

The conversation between him and Satoru from a few days ago has been the only thing
pushing him through his day-to-day life. Other than that…he’s been struggling.

He checks his phone for what must be the hundredth time since that night, and still, nothing.
Even so, he decides to inform Satoru about that party Shoko had mentioned. There are a few
messages here and there from times that Suguru messaged him. But Satoru was never able to
answer. So, he decided to just leave him be so as not to seem desperate and not distract him.
Thus, there haven't been any messages between them for the last three days.

Suguru breaks that silence with his next message. “Hey, you should be happy to know we
haven’t partied since you’ve been gone. But apparently Mei’s planning a little something for
when you get back,” he says.

After that, Suguru flops down into his bed, groaning as his back touches the hot mattress and
unmade sheets. He drapes his arm over his forehead, hoping for just a little relief from the
summer heat, but the action does little to ease the discomfort.

It’s so hot.

Suguru rubs his fingers into his eyes, trying to wipe away the exhaustion from inside but it
seems no matter what he does, he just can’t soothe the piling inconveniences. His eyes find
those same notches in his ceiling that he’s looked upon time and time again. At times, it is the
only thing he can rely on to remain the same each time he casts his gaze in their direction. He
finds relief in their monotony, always staring back with the same pigment and the same
splinters in the wood, always in the same spot; never moving.

When he takes refuge in their soullessness, often Suguru can’t tell how much time passes as
he derealizes his own existence. The corners of his vision blur, as though he’s watching his
life through someone else’s eyes. His heart calms, however. Most, when faced with the
prospect of their consciousness drifting away from their body, might panic. But Suguru finds
such security in existing far from his thoughts and the ever-bound grip on his stomach and
heart. He can just breathe without the burden of feeling anything at all.

A tear inches down his cheek, providing another hot, nagging presence on his skin, but he
can hardly feel it in this state anyway, to the point where Suguru doesn’t realize it’s
happening. But once he does, a shaking breath pulls him back into his body—breaking the
boundary between feeling and unfeeling that once split him apart. He can feel everything all
over again; his fears and worries and doubts swimming like worms beneath his skull; the
claws goring his stomach and chest, but all Suguru can do is lie motionless on his back as he
stares at the ceiling.

He checks his phone again, ensuring he didn’t somehow miss a notification from Satoru.
Even dissociated, he knows the chime would have brought him back into reality. But still, he
clings to that brief hope that he didn’t hear it.
His phone remains drier than a desert, and Suguru sighs.

Unable to distract himself any longer, Suguru decides to send another message to Satoru. "I
miss you, you know. Life without your annoying presence is far too quiet. Looking forward
to having you back."

He hits send, hoping for a response that will bring some relief to the restless thoughts
swirling in his mind. The seconds tick by, stretching into minutes, and Suguru is left alone
with his thoughts once again. As the silence persists, he can't shake the feeling of something
important slipping through his fingers.

Just as Suguru is about to resign himself to the lingering silence, his phone finally buzzes
with a new message. Relief washes over Suguru as he eagerly clicks the message to read it.
The rush of dopamine that floods his brain is far more powerful than it should have been.
Especially due to the fact that it wasn’t Satoru who responded at all. It’s Mei instead.

“I’m bringing vodka to the party,” she says.

Suguru reads the message with utter disappointment on his face, all the relief draining away.

“Why? We’re gonna get in huge trouble,” Suguru responds. “Thanks for telling me about
that, by the way.”

“Oh, come on, do you remember First Year graduation night?” Mei-Mei asks.

“Unfortunately.”

“Satoru is such a damn lightweight. And he’s so funny when he gets drunk. You should drink
too, you know,” Mei replies.

Suguru rolls his eyes at Mei's suggestion, typing out his response. "I'll pass. I prefer to keep
my wits about me. Plus, someone needs to be responsible when Satoru inevitably makes a
fool of himself."

Mei's reply comes swiftly, "Don’t be a wet blanket, Suguru. Make a fool of yourself with
him. It’ll be fun.”

“Yeah, fuck that.”

“Come onnnnnn, Getooooo. It's been too long since we had a good party."

Suguru can't help but sigh at Mei's enthusiasm for the upcoming celebration. He
contemplates the idea of joining in on the festivities but remains hesitant. The prospect of a
lively party doesn't align with his usual preferences, and the thought of navigating social
interactions with a crowd makes him uneasy.

As he contemplates his response, Suguru can't shake the longing for a simple, quiet reunion
with Satoru, without the added chaos of a party. The idea of finding solace in the presence of
his friend and perhaps addressing the unspoken tension between them becomes increasingly
appealing.
Nevertheless, Suguru decides to play along with Mei's excitement for now. "We'll see how it
goes. Just don't blame me if things get out of hand."

Mei responds with a devilish emoji, and Suguru shakes his head at her antics. With that, he
sets his phone aside, his lingering disappointment replaced by a renewed sense of uncertainty
about the upcoming party.

Then, his phone chimes with another notification. Suguru knows it’s likely Mei, but he
checks anyway, delighted by the surprise of a response from Satoru. He pulls his phone back
into his hand, delaying the prospect of sleep to reply to his message.

His eyes scan Satoru’s words over and over like they’re a love letter written just for him.

"Awe, I miss you too, Suguru. I can't wait to be back."

The honesty of Satoru’s response is a bit jarring but Suguru doesn’t dare question it. It seems
their talk from five days ago really worked wonders on Satoru’s ability to be forthcoming and
share genuine emotions.

Another message pops up shortly after Suguru finishes rereading the first. “Looking forward
to that rager too. After this mission, I’m gonna need it.”

“I can't imagine anything more stressful, to be honest. Seriously, I don’t understand how you
and Mei consider things like that to be relaxing."

Satoru's response is quick, "Don’t be such a baby.” He adds a little tongue emoji for the
playful tone of his words. “It’s a chance to be wild for us. And plus, I like when the two of us
get to let loose together. It’s fun—even though you’re hard to pry out of your shell.”

Suguru chuckles, "Fun for you, maybe. I'll probably end up hiding in a corner, trying to
escape the chaos."

“Baby,” Satoru quips back.

Suguru fully realizes it’s just Satoru calling him names, but it’s also almost like a little pet
name, and that makes his heart flutter a little.

“Dw, I’ll make sure you’re not stuck in the corner all night,” Satoru adds with the same
devilish emoji that Mei used before.

Suguru can't help but smile at Satoru's playful banter, appreciating the lightheartedness in
their exchange. As he types his response, he considers playing along with the teasing tone.

"I like my comfort corner, thank you," Suguru replies.

Satoru's response is quick, "You saying you don’t even wanna dance with me? I'll be your
knight in shining armor, saving you from the horrors of small talk and forced social
interaction."
Suguru rolls his eyes at the dramatic imagery but can't deny the warmth spreading through
him. The light-hearted jokes mixed with Satoru's genuine expression of missing him,
provides a comforting reassurance. It's a welcome change from his earlier thoughts.

“You’re not even any good at dancing,” Suguru texts with a rolling eyes emoji.

“Sounds like you wanna teach me,” Satoru fires back with intent in his words.

Suguru considers that response for a moment. The thought of their bodies moving beside one
another, skin and clothes brushing against each other is exhilarating and Suguru’s cheeks get
a bit warm as he imagines it. With his heart resounding like a war drum, adrenaline courses
through his next reply. “Oh, I can teach you lots of things.”

Satoru’s answer comes delayed, and for a brief moment, Suguru panics, wondering if he just
made Satoru uncomfortable. However, Suguru holds out on the hope that he merely
embarrassed him. “Yeah? Like what?” he asks, testing the slowly-wavering boundary of the
conversation.

Suguru smirks, sensing a chance to steer the conversation into more suggestive territory.
"Well, let's just say it involves moves that don't belong on the dance floor," he replies, adding
a smirking emoji to punctuate his implication.

Satoru's response is swift, and Suguru can practically hear the mischievous tone in his virtual
voice, "What, like private lessons? I'm intrigued. When can I sign up?"

Suguru can't help but chuckle at Satoru's enthusiastic response. It seems he's successfully
managed to inject a bit of playful flirtation into their conversation. "Well, I don't give those
lessons to just anyone. You'll have to earn them," Suguru teases, reveling in the back-and-
forth.

“Challenge accepted,” Satoru replies. “How can I do that?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Suguru can’t seem to wipe the grin off his face as he continues
typing to Satoru. He has no idea what got into him—and he might even regret talking like
this later. But for now, it’s relieving an itch he didn’t know needed scratching. “I guess you’ll
have to show me how badly you want it.”

Another delayed response. Now he knows this must be getting to Satoru, and in the gaps
between their replies, Suguru can feel it too: the warmth spreading unchecked in places he’d
rather not say.

“Oh, I will. Maybe you’ll even get me to beg.”

Suguru's heart races as he reads the words, and he can't deny the thrill that comes from
flirting with Satoru. It's a vast departure from their usual dynamic, and Suguru finds himself
enjoying the change.

"Looking forward to it," Suguru responds, adding a smirking emoji to match the suggestive
tone.
 Being able to finally let out some of the thoughts he’s kept buried deep inside in the form of
flirtatious teasing is a welcome relief, each message carrying the subtle promise of something
more. He tries to keep the worry of something more superficial invading what Suguru really
wants—a truly deep connection with Satoru. For now, he holds onto faith that Satoru won’t
let him down when it comes to hearing his real feelings.

As the conversation gradually comes to an end, they exchange goodnight messages, and
Suguru sets his phone aside. In the quiet of his room, Suguru lies back on his bed, thoughts
swirling with a mix of anticipation and curiosity.

He can’t stop his heart from racing as he replays their messages in his mind, a subtle blush
staining his cheeks, hidden away in the darkness of his room. When he closes his eyes, he can
practically see Satoru, his chest flooding with more warmth as his heart swells at the sight of
him. His eyebrows raise as he imagines what sweet words Satoru might have to share with
him—words he’s longed to hear. His mind doesn’t dare jump ahead to any suggestive
thoughts as their texts implied. Instead, it borders on thoughts of fingers brushing against one
another, a hand on the supple skin of Satoru’s cheek, gazing into the eyes of one another.

His mind propels before those thoughts can come to any completion, skipping to later in their
lives; dinner for two, watching movies in a shared home, maybe even a child to raise. Those
thoughts play like a dulcet song, drifting through each crevice of his mind, driving away any
and all darkness they touch.

Suguru opens his eyes and those visions of a happy life fade away into the reality of his
messy room, notched ceiling, and sticking summer heat. It is in this moment of weakness, his
mind bordering on the idea of a fulfilling life and of an isolated one, Suguru Geto reasons
with himself at long last that he is hopelessly in love with Satoru Gojo.

Chapter End Notes

blawg we been knew

also suguru is lowkey autism-coded and i'm living for it????

 Return
Chapter Notes

refer to fanfic rating for this chapter ;)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Suguru stands at the precipice of a battle between himself and a curse. He stares down at the
cursed core in his hand from the curse he’d taken, a blank look in his eyes. With a sigh, it
slithers down his gullet and into his stockpile; another curse added to his collection. His body
tenses as he absorbs the dark energy into himself, his mind and soul shiver from the
disturbance in the balance between light and dark and he nearly retches from the rancid taste.

When he blinks, he’s back at the school dorms, almost as though he missed the entire walk
back, his mind elsewhere. Suguru finds his own dorm and glances at the time. The party is
nearly upon him, which comes with mixed emotions: dread for the sociality of it, and relief
for the return of his friend.

Suguru digs through his closet for something to wear, absent from the action which becomes
mechanical. After his mission that evening, he really doesn’t want to see anyone at all. Even
the thought of seeing Satoru makes his stomach churn. His nerves have him on edge like a
live wire, yet no one would ever know by looking at the vacant expression on his face.

Suguru decides on a simple wide neck half-sleeve shirt and some baggy pants. It’s something
that won’t leave him too hot in the heat in a space with a bunch of people. Suguru turns
toward the mirror in his room. He doesn’t frequent the sight but tonight’s a bit different. He
doesn’t show much interest in whether or not his clothes fit him well or compliment his body.
Instead, his eyes are on his face, examining it to ensure he doesn’t look too much like a
killjoy. He pulls a smile at his reflection which shares it back with him. It doesn’t fit well
with the exhaustion in his eyes. With a sigh, Suguru gives them a deep rub, only to check and
see if that did anything to help.

It didn’t.

Suguru takes one last look in the mirror, unsatisfied with the image he sees but unwilling to
dwell on it any longer. He grabs his phone, double-checks the time, and realizes he's running
a bit late for Mei's party. The prospect of socializing doesn't excite him, but he knows he can't
avoid it forever.

As Suguru steps out of his dorm room, he is immediately greeted by the lively atmosphere of
the campus. Students are heading to Mei's party, laughter and chatter filling the air. Suguru
feels a subtle tension building within him, a mix of anticipation and apprehension.
Navigating through the other students, Suguru heads toward the recc center. He spots Mei at
the entrance, holding two cups with a mischievous grin on her face. As he approaches, she
notices him and waves him over.

"Hey there, Suguru. Fashionably late, as always," Mei teases, handing him a cup filled with a
colorful concoction.

Suguru offers a wry smile, accepting the drink. "Sorry, I spent a little extra time making sure
I looked fashionable enough to be late. How's the party so far?"

"Oh, it's just getting started. Wait until Satoru arrives; then, it'll really kick off," Mei replies
with a wink.

The mention of Satoru brings a flutter of discomfort to Suguru's chest, but he pushes it aside,
focusing on the present moment. Mei gestures toward the lively gathering, encouraging
Suguru to join in.

"Come on in. Satoru will be here soon, and we want to give him a warm welcome, right?"

Suguru nods, taking a sip of his drink, and reluctantly immerses himself in the grip of the rec
center. The noise and energy of the party swirl around him, and for a moment, he lets himself
get lost in the crowd, trying to forget the weight on his shoulders.

He scans the crowd, desperate to find a familiar face and manages to spot Utahime. She’s not
his first choice, but it’s better than nothing. He weaves through his classmates and arrives at
her side. But when he gets there, she’s already talking to two others. They seem familiar, but
Suguru can’t quite recognize them. One of them is a bit short with styled brown hair. The
other, taller than him, blond, with an indifferent look on his face. He seems to share the same
apprehension for being there as Suguru does.

“Oh, hey, Geto,” Utahime greets him, turning slightly toward him with a smile. She too has a
colorful drink in her hand. “Have you met the First Years yet? This is Yu Haibara and Kento
Nanami,” she says.

Nanami, the blond one, offers an indifferent wave while Haibara perks up. “Hold on—Geto?
Like, Suguru Geto?” he asks. His dark eyes light up with excitement. “I’ve heard so much
about you! It’s good to meet you!” he exclaims.

His enthusiasm catches Suguru off guard. “Oh, yeah, that’s me. I didn’t realize I was
famous,” he replies, offering a smile and a wave. “Also, why did Mei decide to invite First
Years to a party with alcohol?”

“Did you learn nothing from First Year graduation?” Utahime asks him. “Mei-Mei doesn’t
give a damn. Besides, they don’t have to drink,” she adds.

“Believe me, I’d rather not be here. But Haibara said I had to meet people,” Nanami
grumbles off to the side.
Suguru smirks at Nanami's reluctance, finding some comfort in their shared disinterest in the
party. "Well, nice to meet you both. And if you're not into parties, you can join the club.
Seems like we're already members," Suguru says with a chuckle.

Haibara, still buzzing with enthusiasm, seems unfazed by the less-than-enthusiastic response.
"It's really an honor to meet you, Geto-senpai. I've heard about your techniques and battles.
You're kind of a legend among us First Years."

Suguru raises an eyebrow, slightly amused by the admiration. "Legend might be pushing it,
but I appreciate the sentiment. And please, just call me Suguru. 'Senpai' makes me feel
ancient."

Utahime laughs at Suguru's comment. "You're not that old, Suguru. Anyway, I'll let you guys
chat. I'm going to grab another drink. Don't cause too much trouble, okay?" With that, she
heads toward the makeshift bar in the rec center gym.

Suguru watches her go, some discomfort pressing in as he realizes he’ll now have to try and
find small talk with these underclassmen. He takes a moment to observe Haibara and
Nanami. "So, how are you finding the world of Jujutsu sorcery so far?" Suguru asks, taking a
casual sip from his drink in an attempt to take the edge off.

Haibara nods eagerly. "It's incredible! I mean, I never thought I'd get to meet powerful
sorcerers like you, and I even heard Gojo-senpai will be here!. The missions are intense, but
I'm learning a lot."

Nanami, on the other hand, maintains his calm demeanor. "It's a job. It’ll pay well,
eventually, and it keeps curses in check. Can't complain too much."

Suguru nods in understanding. "Fair enough. It's good to have a pragmatic perspective. Well,
if you ever need advice or someone to complain about the chaos of sorcery with, I'm here."

The conversation continues, with Haibara asking Suguru about some of his notable missions
and Nanami sharing a bit about his own experiences. Suguru, despite his initial reluctance,
finds the exchange surprisingly pleasant. The genuine interest from Haibara and the dry
humor from Nanami create an interesting dynamic.

As they chat, Suguru occasionally scans the room, searching for any sign of Satoru. The
anticipation of seeing his friend again mixes with the underlying anxiety that parties tend to
evoke in him. Suguru wonders if Satoru is as enthusiastic about this party as he seemed in
their earlier messages.

Haibara, noticing Suguru's occasional glances around the room, asks, "Looking for
someone?"

Suguru smirks. "Just waiting for a friend to show up."

Nanami raises an eyebrow. "Friend, huh? Not a girlfriend or something?"

Suguru chuckles. "No, no, I’m talking about Satoru Gojo. He’s been away on his mission. He
and I are good friends. We've been through a lot together. You'll meet him once he arrives."

Just as they continue the conversation, Suguru spots a familiar shock of white hair entering
the room. Satoru has finally arrived, drawing Suguru's attention away from the conversation.
Suguru waves him over, a genuine smile forming on his face.

"Speak of the devil," Suguru mutters with a grin. "Here comes trouble."

Satoru, upon seeing Suguru, breaks into a wide grin and makes his way through the crowd.
"Suguru!" he exclaims, pulling Suguru into a tight hug.

Suguru returns the embrace, a warmth spreading through him at the familiar contact. "Hey,
welcome back," he greets him gently. He steals a glance at the First Years, realizing this hug
probably doesn’t look like one that two close friends might share.

He pulls away and clears his throat, looking over at his friend. His heart begins to race at just
the sight of him. The last time they saw one another turned into a heated little exchange, not
to mention the texts they’ve shared. It definitely knocks Suguru’s confidence down a peg.

“Ah, it’s good to be back,” Satoru muses and then starts to take in the rest of his
surroundings, including the drink in Suguru’s hand and the two First Years he’d been chatting
with. “Look at you cutting loose.” Without hesitation, he leans his nose into the cup. “Ooh~
That smells good.”

Suguru’s hand flashes over the cup and he pulls it away. “Don’t sniff my drink, idiot.”

Satoru rubs his hands together. “I’ll have to get some booze in me too,” he says.

“Just be careful, lightweight,” Suguru replies with a little smirk.

“Wow, I didn’t realize you two were such good friends,” Haibara pipes up with a smile,
forcing Satoru to finally acknowledge the two underclassmen fully.

“Couple of fanboys?” Satoru asks, glancing at Suguru.

“One fanboy,” Nanami corrects, maintaining the bored expression on his face.

Haibara tenses up, a little shocked by the notion. “Nanami, don’t call me out like that! It’s not
like that anyway!”

Suguru and Satoru exchange glances before sharing a moment of laughter with one another.
“Hey, I like you two, you’re kind of adorable,” Satoru says with a wide grin on his face.

The atmosphere lightens as Satoru's infectious energy spreads through the group. Suguru
finds himself relaxing, grateful for the familiar banter. The presence of Satoru has a way of
grounding him, easing the tension that had built up in his absence.

Haibara, still a bit flustered, tries to regain composure. "Well, we've heard a lot about you,
Gojo-senpai. It's an honor to meet you in person."
“You’ll regret saying that soon enough,” Suguru warns him playfully.

“Oh, and no need for formalities, by the way,” Satoru says. “Like, what am I, an old man?”

“That’s what I said,” Suguru adds with a little chuckle.

Satoru laughs with him and then stretches out. “All right, I’m gonna go get a drink and then
the party can really start.” He begins to walk through the growing crowd of students before
glancing back at Suguru. “Coming?”

Suguru glances back at the two First Years and then offers a wave. “I’ll see you guys
around.” With that, he joins Satoru, walking beside him as they approach the makeshift bar,
which is just a foldout table with a party cloth draped over it.

“I was so proud of you when I walked in and saw you actually talking to people and not
hanging out by yourself,” Satoru comments, glancing at his friend as he pours himself a
drink. “Especially new people. That’s a big step for you.”

“I get it, I’m anti-social,” Suguru shoots back.

Satoru turns to him, resting his gaze upon Suguru as he takes a sip of his drink. His eyes eat
him up from top to bottom and back up. He isn’t wearing his usual sunglasses, so his piercing
eyes are unfettered and Suguru can see their every move.

Suguru crosses his arms as Satoru devours his body with his eyes. “Something on your mind,
Satoru?” he asks, a smug look on his face.

Before he can come up with an answer, Mei-Mei appears behind Satoru, hooking her arm
around his neck. “Good to have you back, Satoru,” she says, a huge smirk playing on her lips
as she looks at Suguru.

Satoru lets out a laugh and looks at Mei. “Good to be back, Mei-Mei. How nice of you to
celebrate my return,” he says.

Mei knows in her own mind this party is for far more than celebrating the idiot’s return, but
she’ll allow him the satisfaction of thinking that it’s all for him for the express purpose of
hiding the real reason. “Anything for our favorite boy,” she says, though, it’s extremely out of
character for her, so Satoru can tell she’s up to something.

“So what’s on the menu for tonight’s activities?” Satoru asks, deciding to avoid the subject.

“I wanna play drinking games,” she says.

Suguru rolls his eyes at the suggestion. "Of course, you do. Mei, this isn't a frat party."

Satoru, always up for some mischief, grins. "Drinking games, huh? I'm in. What's the first
game?"

Mei's eyes gleam mischievously. "We're starting with a classic: 'Never Have I Ever.'"
Suguru sighs, already anticipating the chaos that will ensue. "Fine, let's get it over with."

The makeshift bar transforms into a game area as Mei gathers a group of students. Suguru,
Satoru, Utahime, Shoko and even Haibara and Nanami were somehow convinced to join with
a few others. They form a circle around the table, each holding a cup filled with their drink of
choice.

Mei kicks off the game with an easy one. "Never have I ever failed a subject in school."

Suguru, taking a sip, raises an eyebrow at Satoru, who chuckles and raises his cup as well.
Haibara and Nanami, seemingly unaffected, remain unfazed as some raise their cups and
others don’t.

Shoko grins as she falls next in line for the prompt. “Never have I ever used a foreign object
to masturbate,” she says.

Most of the group doesn’t take a sip of their drink, however, Mei-Mei takes a proud sip while
Utahime opts for a more shy one, trying not to be noticed. With Suguru’s eyes on them, he
almost doesn’t catch the movement of Satoru’s cup to his lips. His head whips toward his
friend. “What?” he asks with a little laugh and most of the others in the group do the same.

Satoru grins widely, chuckling at some of the boys. “What, you guys have never used a
pillow before?” he asks, earning some laughs from some of the others.

Next, it falls to Nanami’s turn, who thinks for a moment before sharing his own prompt.
“Never have I ever kissed someone.” He tries to keep the prompt amusing but light enough
not to gross himself out.

Most people in the circle take a sip, but that leaves out Satoru and Suguru. Noticing this,
Shoko speaks up. “You two better not cheat, take a drink,” she says.

Suguru cocks an eyebrow. “What’re you talking about? I’ve never kissed anyone,” he says,
looking over at Satoru to see his confusion is mirrored.

“I mean, if you want me to take a sip, I guess you’ll have to come over here,” Satoru says
with a little chuckle, maintaining his jokes bordering on flirtation. Suguru does find a pang of
jealousy in hearing that which spreads through his body. But he tries to ignore it.

“Oh, shit, they don’t remember,” Mei comments with a chuckle.

“You two made out during Spin the Bottle at graduation, no way you don’t remember that,”
Shoko says.

Suguru’s jaw drops and horror sinks in. He prays they’re only messing with him.

“I was so plastered that night, I hardly remember anything,” Satoru says and then shares a
glance with Suguru who’s speechless.

“Does it really count if we don’t remember it?” Suguru asks.

“A kiss is a kiss,” Nanami points out with a shrug.

The revelation hangs in the air, leaving Suguru and Satoru momentarily stunned. The
realization that they had shared a kiss during the chaotic festivities of their graduation night
sends a ripple of awkwardness through the circle.

Mei smirks. "Well, well, looks like we've uncovered a hidden gem. Suguru Geto and Satoru
Gojo, making out in the shadows.

Suguru shoots a glare at Mei, his cheeks tinted with embarrassment and then takes a reluctant
sip of his drink. "Can we move on to the next question, please?"

Utahime, attempting to diffuse the tension, chimes in. "All right, let's keep things light. Never
have I ever stolen something."

The group responds, taking sips or abstaining based on their experiences. Suguru appreciates
the change in topic, hoping to divert attention from the unexpected revelation. However,
Satoru can't resist a teasing comment.

"I bet Suguru stole someone's heart at some point," Satoru says with a playful wink.

Suguru rolls his eyes, trying to play it cool. "If we’re going by those rules, you have to drink
for every fangirl of yours.”

Satoru shrugs and grabs the cup between his teeth, downing the entire rest of his drink, some
even carelessly spilling past his lips and soaking into his clothes and down his neck. The
circle cheers with excitement, riling him up and even Suguru can’t help but smile and laugh.
Mei passes him a fresh cup and then begins to chant. “Chug! Chug! Chug!”

The others quickly join, and Suguru along with them, nudging into Satoru as he powers
through another concoction of vodka and drink mixers. Satoru tosses the cup carelessly
behind him, the tint of the drinks starting to stain his cheeks. Mei hands him another cup and
then ushers the others to settle down.

The game continues, and Suguru attempts to shake off the lingering awkwardness. As the
questions become more lighthearted, the atmosphere shifts, and the initial surprise fades into
shared laughter.

Soon, it reaches Suguru’s turn and he speaks his own prompt. “Never have I ever had sex
with someone,” he says.

Shoko and Mei take a simultaneous drink but the rest of the circle abstains. Suguru’s real
interest is with Satoru’s response and to his relief, he does not raise his cup to drink. But
Satoru isn’t oblivious. He glances at Suguru with a little smirk, realizing the intent of that
prompt.

Finally, the turn falls to Satoru, and Suguru anxiously awaits his own prompt.

Satoru, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, begins, "Never have I ever fantasized about a
fellow sorcerer."
The circle reacts in various ways—some take sips, a few chuckle nervously, and others
exchange knowing glances. Suguru feels a flush of heat creeping up his neck as he notices the
subtle shift in attention toward him.

With an exaggerated expression of innocence, Satoru looks directly at Suguru. "Well, Suguru,
what's your move?"

Suguru smirks, refusing to back down. "I've got nothing to hide." He confidently lifts his cup,
taking a sip. “But I personally think the prompter is lying,” he adds, shooting Satoru a side-
eye.

At this point, the tension between the two is palpable between all in the circle, which was
exactly Mei’s plan.

Satoru shrugs at that, smirking back at Suguru before he downs his entire cup. “There,
happy?” The group erupts into laughter, and Suguru shoots Satoru a mock glare. Mei claps
her hands in delight. Everything is falling perfectly into place.

The game doesn’t last for much longer as Satoru can hardly speak without slurring, and his
excitement for the rest of the night ripples through him. He gets up pretty abruptly and grabs
Suguru’s hand. “Come on, Sugu, let’s go dance,” he purrs, his eyes glazed over in drunken
elation.

Suguru is momentarily taken aback by Satoru's sudden enthusiasm, but he quickly recovers
with a smirk. "Dance? Even though you’re horribly shit-faced and terrible at dancing?"

Satoru lets out a lazy laugh, pulling Suguru to his feet. "Well, I am. But who said we have to
be good at it?"

They stumble onto the makeshift dance floor, the mix of colorful lights and pulsating music
creating a vibrant backdrop. Satoru, still holding Suguru's hand, starts moving to the rhythm
in a way that can only be described as chaotic, but undeniably enthusiastic.

Suguru can't help but laugh, both at Satoru's lack of coordination and the infectious joy
radiating from him. The initial awkwardness of the party seems like a distant memory as they
spin and sway to the music. The night air is alive with energy, and Suguru finds himself
enjoying the moment more than he expected.

As they dance, Satoru leans in, his lips close to Suguru's ear. "Having fun, Suguru?" he asks,
his voice dripping into his ear. It sends a chill down Suguru’s spine but he’s prepared for a
comeback.

“Seems like you’re the one having most of the fun, here, Satoru,” he responds.

The alcohol in their systems has completely removed any sense of shame, the filter on their
words dissolved in the truth of their desires for one another. “What, you don’t like my
dancing?” Satoru purrs against the shell of Suguru’s ear and then spins around slowly,
purposely letting his hip brush against Suguru’s crotch as he does.
“You know I’m not all that into parties and loud music…” Suguru replies. “We should go
back to my dorm,” he says, a soft but suggestive look in his eyes as his hand reaches for
Satoru’s slim waist. Suguru can hardly focus on anything else but the scent of the alcohol he
and his friend had ingested and his cologne—that, and the feeling of the curve of his waist on
his palm.

“I like that idea…” Satoru replies, leaning into Suguru’s hand.

The pulsating music and vibrant lights fade away as Suguru and Satoru navigate their way
out of the party. The night air, cool and refreshing, contrasts with the heated atmosphere they
left behind. As they reach Suguru's dorm, a wave of anticipation washes over them.

Once inside, the door closes behind them, sealing them off from the noise of the party. The
room is dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls. Suguru turns to face Satoru, the air heavy
with a different kind of tension.

Satoru smirks, his playful demeanor still intact. "So, what's the plan, Suguru?"

Suguru steps closer, closing the distance between them. "I think we both know the plan."

Their lips meet in a hungry kiss, the pent-up desire from months of suppressed emotions
finally finding an outlet. Suguru's hands roam Satoru's body, tracing the contours beneath his
clothes. Satoru reciprocates, pulling Suguru closer as if afraid to let go.

Their breathing is heavy and uneven between their lips, the smell of booze filling both their
lungs. The kiss is electrifying and Satoru welcomes it with his hands tangling into Suguru’s
long hair. He eagerly removes the hair tie from his bun, casting it aside.

Suguru’s heart pumps overtime. He feels light headed and even a bit flustered. But what
would have been a far more embarrassing moment becomes confidence in his every move.
The sensation of Satoru’s touch sends tingles through his body. Suguru walks him into the
bed and their lack of coordination drops them both down onto the mattress, briefly breaking
their kiss so as not to slam their heads together. But nothing can keep them separate from one
another for very long.

Suguru presses his body against Satoru, spreading a warmth through both of them that rivals
the summer heat and connects their lips once more. It’s such an odd feeling, one he’s
apparently felt before but can’t seem to remember—which is a shame because Suguru would
have loved to remember the taste of those lips. They lean into the kiss simultaneously, tilting
their heads. The act sends Suguru into a strange but pleasant euphoria, his heart fluttering.
His hands blindly search for one of Satoru’s, lacing his fingers through the gaps that seem to
fit so perfectly together. Suguru ever so slightly curls his fingers against Satoru’s, reluctant to
ever let go.

Satoru’s own fingers curve into the back of Suguru’s hand, reciprocating the gesture as their
lips continue against one another in a passionate dance. “Unh-” Satoru murmurs softly.
Suguru captures the sound between his lips and seizes the opportunity to slide his tongue
between Satoru’s.
Satoru responds with another sound, his fingers clutching a handful of Suguru’s hair while
his other hand tightens its grip on Suguru’s hand. Suguru, allowing his drunken mind to take
over, lets out a sound of his own, an honest noise in response to the delightful touch against
his scalp.

Satoru’s body shudders when the sound of Suguru’s voice meets his ears, a shudder riding
down his spine as he gives Suguru free reign over his mouth, offering a skillful tongue in
reply for Suguru to play with.

Suguru is already weak in the knees from the way Satoru kisses him. It’s intoxicating, almost
more so than the alcohol. It all leaves him feeling hot and breathless and Suguru’s control of
the situation nearly begins to waver. It feels so wrong but so right at the same time.

Satoru pulls away from the kiss all too soon, almost to observe the mess he’s made of his
friend. “You’re so hot…” he whispers between them and Suguru almost dives in for another
kiss right then and there. He manages to hold back, however and tries to focus on a response.

“You are too…the sounds you make are adorable…” Suguru teases, their voices drifting in
the quietude of the room, only punctuated by the sounds of their uneven breaths.

“I bet you fantasize about that all the time,” Satoru replies, harkening back to his prompt in
their game as his hand runs through his hair.

“Shut up,” Suguru responds, shaking his head as their foreheads press together.

“Make me…”

They both shut their eyes, obeying the gravity pulling their lips back together as they find
themselves tangled in another hot kiss. Satoru’s lips chase hungrily after Suguru’s, pulling
him deeper with the hand against the back of Suguru’s head. Satoru lets out a vulnerable
whine in between their mouths, surrendering to Suguru.

Suguru responds to the whine exactly as intended, kissing Satoru harder while Suguru’s free
hand begins to wander down the front of his body.

Satoru relaxes into the bed a bit more, a hot sensation spreading through his stomach as he
feels Suguru overtake control of the kiss. “Mmh…” Unable to stay still, Satoru’s leg raises
up, rubbing the side of it against Suguru’s hip as if beckoning his body down on top of his
own, begging to feel more of their warmth together. All the while, their hands remain
connected and Satoru’s fingers continue running through Suguru’s hair, petting it gently.

Suguru can’t resist his call. He slowly moves his body over top of Satoru’s, his weight
pressing against him in a gentle way. All of his heat is against Satoru’s heat. The kiss breaks
once again as Suguru moves his lips to Satoru’s neck. His hand cups Satoru’s hip while the
one linked to Satoru’s keeps his grip from loosening.

Satoru leans his head to the side to offer Suguru more of his neck, a shiver going down his
spine as Suguru’s lips delicately touch his skin and even a sound escapes Satoru. With his
body now against Satoru’s, he wraps his leg fully around Suguru’s waist to ensure he stays
close. “Nnh…Suguru…” Satoru’s fingers clutch a handful of Suguru’s hair, urging him
further.

The way Satoru begs him for it drives Suguru even more wild. It sends this wave of heat
through him and it only makes him more eager. His lips leave Satoru’s neck and then kiss
him once more for good measure before Suguru begins placing little kisses along his neck.
Satoru can feel Suguru’s heartbeat where his chest is pressed against Satoru’s.

Satoru lets go of a shaky breath and all the confidence he had before is gone, swept away by
Suguru’s kissing against his neck “Mmh…if you mark me, please don’t do it somewhere I
can’t hide it…we have classes…” Satoru’s voice sounds very whiny and vulnerable, his hand
still grasping Suguru’s hair for stability. It would be so easy to give Satoru what he wants, yet
a hint of mischief says it would be much more fun to make it a challenge to hide any marks
on his skin from their classmates.

Satoru catches Suguru’s curiosity at the mention of leaving any marks. He had been about to
place another kiss along Satoru’s neck, but he begged Suguru to leave no proof. The thought
of that makes Suguru want to do it even more. Satoru’s voice is like a trigger to Suguru’s lust.
His whine sounds so hot, as if that’s what really pushed him over the edge, that and Satoru’s
words of letting Suguru mark him.

“I’ll get creative,” he whispers, his breath tickling Satoru’s neck.

Satoru shivers again as Suguru talks against his neck and Satoru releases another moan.
Finally, Satoru’s hand dares to leave Suguru’s hair, gliding down the back of his neck and
down his back. Satoru can feel Suguru’s muscles through his loose shirt. Satoru’s legs are
beginning to slowly squirm with each kiss against his neck, begging for much more.

Suguru’s heart thunders in his chest. Satoru can practically feel it. Every kiss, every sound he
makes, is a turn on for Suguru. He feels so dominant but at the same time, so vulnerable as he
lay on top of Satoru. His legs and his words serve as Suguru’s cue to go further.

“You’re just asking for it,” Suguru whispers between kisses. His free hand begins working its
way down Satoru’s hip to his thigh.

Satoru’s eyes dart down toward Suguru’s hand, peeking over his body to watch as it moves
down further. He whimpers at the words entering his ear, his hips involuntarily pushing up
into Suguru’s and he can feel his excitement. “Ahh…please, Suguru…~” he moans, unable to
hide his desire any longer.

Suguru’s hand burns into Satoru’s thigh like a brand, trembling as his body begs for it to
move anywhere else.

Suguru loves the way Satoru writhes under him. It makes his begging for more irresistible.
Suguru moans softly in response. Satoru’s pleas empower him. Suguru proceeds to slide his
hand under Satoru’s thigh, moving it slowly up to his hip. With Satoru’s leg in a better
position, Suguru inches his hand toward Satoru’s groin. His mouth finds Satoru’s neck again,
finally giving in to Satoru’s desire—and of course his own—to leave a mark.
His lips suck into Satoru’s skin, pulling it back like an elastic as he does so in a very obvious
spot. But Satoru is too drunk to care.

Satoru can hardly hold himself together any longer. “Fuck—Suguru, please touch me…”

Satoru’s words hit Suguru like a brick wall and his lips slide off Satoru’s neck, leaning up to
look down at the mess he’s made. Reality sets in all too hard as he notices the tent Satoru has
pitched in his pants and then Suguru’s eyes travel back to the look on Satoru’s face.

He looks desperate.

“That’s so fucking hot…” Suguru murmurs, his hand squeezing Satoru’s groin a bit tighter.
“What’s wrong? I thought you liked teasing…”

Satoru groans in frustration, likely fueling Suguru’s entertainment and lust. He gives the ends
of Suguru’s hair a tug “You’re so mean…” Satoru’s clothes feel like a prison, his mind racing
faster than Suguru is going. The pace is so agonizingly slow that it’s driving Satoru crazy,
wishing for their clothes to be on the floor, their skin touching. And yet, Suguru’s teasing
persists, starving Satoru’s body of its every desire.

“Aw, I don’t think I’m that mean,” Suguru replies, the words dripping into Satoru’s ear.
Satoru tugging his hair only makes his teasing worse. Suguru runs his hand down to Satoru’s
thigh again and this time, he doesn't back away. Instead he uses his one hand to hold Satoru’s
thigh in place while he lets go of Satoru’s hand, teasing the other side of him with his fingers.
Suguru’s movements are slow but filled with sadistic intent. He’s trying to get a well-earned
beg from Satoru.

Satoru whimpers again, his head tipping back into the bed as Suguru’s hand meets his thigh
again and holds it down. Satoru’s hand runs back into Suguru’s hair, gripping a fistful of it.
Even if he now knows retaliation worsens the punishment, it feels worth it to pull his hair
anyway. In response to the shivers his touch invokes, Satoru’s other hand snakes up Suguru’s
shirt, clawing into his back against his bare skin. “You’re really mean…” Satoru responds to
his words with desire in each one of his own, even as they insult him.

Suguru laughs quietly as the insult tickles his ears. Suguru keeps his eyes on Satoru’s body,
watching each response to his touching, his eyes running up and down Satoru’s clothed form.
His lips curl into a devilish smile. He’s having way too much fun with this.

“I could do worse, you know,” Suguru teases, his voice hot and breathy. Satoru can tell he
means what he’s saying: that Satoru was going to beg and whine some more.

Finally, Suguru leans down, rejoining Satoru’s lonely neck and rewarding it with some more
kisses and even a hot tongue trailing up to Satoru’s jaw. He stops at his ear, biting it and
Suguru can feel the shudder that rides Satoru’s body. “If you beg for me one more time, I’ll
give you what you want…” His thumb brushes against the hot, throbbing lump in Satoru’s
pants, just to ensure he understands that Suguru is entirely serious.

Satoru’s hand grabs onto Suguru’s wrist once he feels his thumb, a little gasp leaving him
from the anticipation. His face is red with embarrassment as Satoru forces out another plea.
“Fuck…please fucking touch me, I want you so fucking bad…” Satoru’s words are a mix of
frustration and desire, all a delicious concoction that Suguru drinks right up.

He hums against Satoru’s ear and meets his request with a firm hand over Satoru’s boner.
Suguru’s hand begins to work against his crotch. As another guy, he knows the exact
movements and pressure to drive Satoru up the wall.

Satoru’s hips squirm, almost as if trying to escape the touch against his sensitive parts but
Suguru’s hand persists, holding Satoru against the bed with his body. “Don’t run,” he
commands him. “After all that work you did to get me to touch you, you’re gonna squirm
away from my kindness?”

Satoru lets out a delighted moan as Suguru squeezes his cock through his pants. “Fuck…shut
up…” he responds in another whine.

“I don’t think I will…” Suguru replies. “You’re throbbing so much…do you want your
clothes off?”

“Both of us…” Satoru replies.

“You really need to learn how to be polite, Satoru…” Suguru answers, stilling his hand to
tease him.

“ Please, ” Satoru begs.

With a chuckle, Suguru rises to his knees, straddling Satoru’s body as he begins to remove his
party clothes, discarding them onto the floor. If he were maybe a bit more sober, he might
find a bit of embarrassment as he felt his cock spring into the open air as his pants went down
his legs. His presence is dominating, far too much for the small space of that room.

Satoru’s eyes eat up Suguru’s body, trailing along every inch of it. He can hardly register
when it’s his turn for clothes to come off. The only coherent thoughts in Satoru’s mind is that
Suguru’s body is so nice, he smells good, and that his clothes have somehow disappeared and
Suguru is now kissing a trail down Satoru’s stomach. His skin burns with desire and
anticipation, waiting for the moment he can feel Suguru’s lips meet his cock.

He twitches when they finally do, and they’re every bit as soft as when they were against his
own. The sensation is enough to leave Satoru melting into the bed. Excited tickles flicker
straight to his core as Suguru’s lips wrap around the head of his cock, a hot coil of lust doing
the same to his stomach.

Satoru’s hand flies to Suguru’s head, immediately slipping his fingers into his silky raven
hair. He lets out a moan encapsulating the release of tension as relief finally meets his aching
dick in the form of Suguru’s mouth. “Fuck…I wasn’t expecting you to go down on me…” he
murmurs, his hips shaking.

Suguru’s lips pull back with a dirty pop as his eyes flicker toward Satoru. “Are you
complaining?” Suguru asks, keeping his eyes on Satoru as he lowers again, slipping his tip
back into his mouth.
Satoru almost laughs because of his teasing and the look in his eyes. It seems Satoru’s mind
is beginning to tangle up his normal perception of Suguru and this new one, so intense. But
he can’t because he can barely get in a full breath, too nervous to dare while Suguru is
watching him so intently.

“Mh…no…” Satoru murmurs in reply.

This time, Suguru doesn’t wait for Satoru to catch up, starting to devour his length with both
the messiness of his current state of mind and his inexperience. Suguru squeezes his cock
with a grip that makes Satoru’s body jerk, adding to the pleasure as he bobs his head, sucking
in as much as he can without choking.

“Suguru…” Satoru whines, his voice tight as he forcibly turns his face away, unable to meet
Suguru’s gaze. Satoru’s body is taut like a bowstring, his dick pulsing and twitching in
Suguru’s mouth as the eagerness of both his mouth and pumping hand makes Satoru shake
and whimper. “Fuck…”

“You’re fine,” Suguru says, briefly pulling away, ignoring the way Satoru writhes against his
mouth, the unsteadiness of his breath. Satoru only makes it worse because now that Suguru is
focusing, he pumps his hand at a relentless pace, his added mouth intensifying the feeling.
Vulgar wet sounds fill the room only hidden by the sound of Satoru’s moans choking in his
throat. Satoru’s feet kick pathetically against the bed and an honest cry leaves his mouth
when Suguru goes down further, moving his hand down with it to accommodate.

Beyond articulating any comprehensible words, Satoru just squeezes his eyes shut, trying to
focus on his breathing because he can feel himself bordering on the edge of consciousness,
his brain overwrought with the fire blazing through his veins, the ever-intensifying heat
building with each obscene thrust.

Then it comes to an abrupt stop, Satoru letting out another whine as the relieving warmth
leaves his groin. When he opens his eyes, Satoru finds Suguru hovering close to his face.
“Let me fuck you…” he whispers carrying his lips along Satoru’s jaw. Suguru can’t contain
himself any longer, his hard-on starting to grind against Satoru’s leg.

All those previous smiles and mirth are now replaced by focus and unbearable desire. Satoru
glances to the side. “You want our first to be while we’re both drunk as hell?” he manages to
ask, preventing himself from just saying “yes” by some miracle.

Suguru lets out a frustrated sigh. “Fuck…you’re right…” He collapses into Satoru’s neck,
moving his hips to the side so that their cocks squish together, providing only momentary
relief to both of them. “Wouldn’t want to ruin that like our first kiss…” Suguru bucks his hips
into Satoru, mocking what it might feel like to thrust into him. The feeling of Satoru’s slick
cock against his own provides a pathetic example of the sensation of being squeezed.
Suguru’s hand guides Satoru’s hips as the two begin to grind against one another, both with
the mutual desire to finish.

Suguru pulls back only slightly, taking in the sight of Satoru’s neck in the dark, laden with
plenty of marks that’ll be impossible to explain away. Suguru’s eyes trace along the tendons
in Satoru’s neck and all the empty space where his lips could be and the dips in his
collarbones. As their hips work against one another, Suguru leans in to leave another mark,
right on the crest of one of Satoru’s collarbones.

Soon, the exchange becomes too heavy to focus on anything else. The precum dripping from
the both of them provides hot lubrication as they frot against one another, their moans
beginning to fill the room in unison. In the moment of explosive passion, Suguru’s fears and
worries are nowhere to be found. All his mind can comprehend is Satoru and the pleasure
he’s giving to him.

“Uhnn…Satoru…”

Satoru clings to Suguru, giving back another moan. “I know…” he replies, erratic breaths
leaving him. “I’m gonna cum,” he whimpers, his hips starting to move more desperately,
clawing his way to his peak.

Suguru can hardly keep up and allows Satoru to take what he wants. He can feel Satoru’s
body go rigid beneath him as it explodes with release, his warmth shooting in hot ropes
between them, providing even more lubricant for Suguru. “Fuck—hahh…cum for me—good
boy…” Suguru pants, now taking his own turn. Hearing Satoru’s orgasm from beneath him
was enough to set his body on fire. Now he can feel the desperation that Satoru must have
felt before.

His stomach coils, begging for his own release, his hips working overtime for it. Finally, he
lets out a couple gasps into Satoru’s ear before a moan accompanies his orgasm, their cum
mixing with one another as Suguru’s pulses out of him.

The tension settles and Suguru is left panting on top of his equally-tired friend. The two take
a moment to bask in the afterglow of their exchange and Suguru pulls from Satoru’s neck
where his face was once buried. “I should probably get us cleaned up…” he says, his
disheveled hair falling into his eyes, blocking him from fully seeing the mess they’d made
together.

Satoru agrees with a nod, maintaining eye contact with Suguru.

They separate as Suguru stumbles through his room to find a towel and quickly wipes
himself off. He then does the same for Satoru and tosses the towel somewhere
inconsequential he can gather later. With that, he slides back into bed and adjusts their
position so they’re laying properly on the bed with the covers over them, tangling his body
back up with Satoru’s, the warmth of his bare body now so familiar yet still providing such a
foreign sensation.

“I missed you so much…” Suguru mutters, hardly able to speak and Satoru can only respond
with a murmur, his eyes already closed.

In the quiet moments that follow, as they lie entwined, Suguru can't help but marvel at the
peaceful face Satoru makes as his mind pulls him to the edge of sleep. The room is filled with
the hushed aftermath of their shared intimacy. The weight of Suguru's words hangs in the air,
blending with the quiet sounds of their breathing. Satoru, nestled against Suguru's chest,
seems to absorb the sentiment without needing to articulate a response.
 In the stillness of the moment, Suguru's fingers trace absent patterns on Satoru's skin,
savoring the closeness they've found. The outside world, with all its complexities, feels
distant and inconsequential compared to the night they just shared.

As sleep begins to claim them, Suguru presses a gentle kiss to the top of Satoru's head. The
murmur of affection lingers, a soft echo of the still-unspoken bond that has deepened between
them.

Chapter End Notes

when the horny too strong

you will never again know peace :)

 Mission
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Two days.

It’s been two days since that night of fated passion between two high school boys head over
heels for one another. And yet somehow…Satoru feels even more distant than ever. The
weekend has passed into the week and now the two are forced to focus more on their studies.
Even still, Suguru finds himself struggling to see how such things could have driven a wedge
between them.

They’ve been assigned to a rescue mission together, yet even walking side by side, the two
are held apart by something neither of them can see. But both are avoidant in their own ways.
Suguru has only recently become confrontational—and not in a “talk about your feelings”
type of way. And Satoru…has never been great at talking about his feelings. That’s what
scares him so much about all of this, being forced to come to terms with how he feels in
complete nakedness. He wishes the sex could have been enough to portray it.

But Suguru wants more.

Suguru needs more.

Suguru deserves more.

And yet, his fears maintain their hold on him. He can hardly describe those fears in his
thoughts, let alone in a conversation. So instead, they walk, quietly, with nothing but their
years of friendship holding them together.

Satoru can feel it too, of course, the distance he’s put between them. He knows it’s his own
fault. Suguru has tried hinting about what he’d like to talk about, but each time, Satoru has
brought up the promise Suguru made not to put pressure onto it—to let him talk when the
time is right. But Satoru knows there’s only so much time until that excuse will become
obsolete.

“This is it, right?” Suguru’s voice snaps Satoru from his thoughts as he gestures to the
abandoned building in front of them. He peeks at Suguru from behind his glasses and then
moves his attention toward the building in question.

“Looks like it…and it seems like our friends are alive and well inside, so that’s good,” Satoru
replies as he points toward it. “So…how about we juuuust…” Ripples of blue spark at his
fingertip, swirling as it amplifies and then releases, hurtling straight into the building before
them. The powerful technique utterly decimates the building, sending both Utahime and Mei-
Mei hurtling out of it—and a repulsive cursed spirit.
Satoru lets out a laugh as he watches the two get sent onto their asses in an explosion of
rubble, disregarding whether or not the aftermath might’ve hurt them. “Satoru, why the hell
are you laughing!” Utahime shrieks as she scrambles out from beneath a pile of dirt and
concrete.

“You look like you’re about to cry,” Satoru replies through more laughter and then focuses
his attention on the cursed spirit emerging from the rubble.

Satoru aims his hand at it but Suguru places his hand on his arm to stop him. “I’ll capture it
and absorb it later. It’s strong,” he says and steps forward, holding out his hand to force the
curse into a core.

“Good to see you’re both all right. We were getting a bit worried after hearing you’d been
gone for two days,” Shoko says as she jogs up beside Satoru.

Satoru adjusts his glasses and glances toward Shoko. “Oh, you finally caught up with us,” he
says. “Yeah, I was a little shocked considering Utahime had Mei holding her hand the whole
time.”

Mei-Mei lets out a little chuckle of her own. “Well, it wasn’t that much trouble, but it seems
like there must’ve been some sort of time shenanigans at play,” she says.

“I’m just glad you’re both all right,” Suguru cuts in, throwing his newly-formed cursed core
into the air and catching it before shoving it into his pocket. “Let’s head back.”

“Yeah, well, we’re fine. But you two kind of forgot the barrier,” Mei says, starting to walk
past them.

Satoru goes rigid at the sound of that. “Whoops…”

Shoko chuckles. “Guess you must’ve been distracted,” she adds, following Mei and Utahime
is quick to pick up behind them, clinging to Shoko.

Utahime glances back at Satoru with a mirthful grin. “You two are in big trouble.”

Suguru and Satoru exchange glances with one another before falling in step behind the
others. “Whatever, we all know Yaga-sensei isn’t gonna do any more than yell at us,” Satoru
says.

“Yeah, but it’s still annoying when we get scolded,” Suguru mutters.

Satoru looks over at his friend again, nudging into him. “Hey, how does absorbing curses
work for you anyway? You’ve never shown me,” he says with a bright, innocent smile.

“What does that matter?” Suguru asks. “They get absorbed, end of story,” he says, keeping
his responses curt.

“Well…yeah, but I’ve always been curious to see exactly how,” Satoru replies, maintaining
his smile. The others look back, all their eyes on Suguru. He’s never really shown anyone but
his sensei, so of course they’d want to know as well.
Suguru shrinks noticeably, not meeting any of their eyes. “It’s not something I’m comfortable
sharing,” he murmurs.

Mei-Mei gives a little snicker in response to that. “What’s so embarrassing about it? What, do
you have to shove them up your ass like anal beads?” she teases.

“Mei, that’s disgusting!” Utahime yelps but Shoko and Mei-Mei share laughter with one
another at the thought.

Suguru lets out a wry chuckle, trying to indulge as well. Satoru sneaks a glance at Suguru,
picking up on the fact that he maintains his secrecy about the exact method he uses to absorb
curses.

“All right, that’s enough, you two. You know Suguru can be a little sensitive,” Satoru says, a
bit of a back-handed save which causes Suguru to shoot him a glare. Satoru chuckles in
response to it.

The group continues their walk back to the school, Suguru and Satoru maintaining a subtle
distance between them. The playful banter and teasing from Mei-Mei and the others create a
façade of normalcy, but beneath the surface, a tension lingers.

As they approach the school, Suguru decides to break away from the group for a moment. He
needs some time alone to collect his thoughts and address the growing unease within him.
Satoru notices his departure but doesn't insist on accompanying him. Instead, he continues to
engage in conversation with the others.

In a secluded corner of the school grounds, Suguru takes a deep breath, attempting to dispel
the internal turmoil. He retrieves the cursed core from his pocket and stares at it intently. The
memories of the night he and Satoru shared flicker in his mind, entwined with the
complexities of their current situation.

Then, he swallows the core. The core swathes his tongue in a grotesque texture while Suguru
does his best to ignore the taste as it glides down his throat. His body goes stiff and he
hunches for a moment. The powerful ones always tasted the worst. Suguru reaches for his
throat, attempting to hold down his breakfast but he nearly loses it. He pants, attempting to
regain his composure.

Satoru, observing from a distance, senses Suguru's internal struggle. Mei-Mei notices his
distant gaze and nudges him. "Something on your mind, Gojo?"

Satoru offers a nonchalant smile. "Just worried about Suguru. He's been a bit off lately."

Mei-Mei smirks. "Well, you two did sneak off during the party. Don’t think I don’t know
what happened. He’s probably still processing everything."

Satoru glances back at Suguru, contemplating the truth in Mei-Mei's words. The night they
shared was more than just a physical encounter; it opened a gateway to unspoken emotions
and desires. His gaze flickers back to Mei-Mei. “Yeah…we haven’t really talked about it
since then…” Satoru replies with a little wince.
“You’re both such idiots,” Shoko groans, leaning into Utahime.

As Suguru rejoins the group, the unspoken tension between him and Satoru persists. They
resume their journey back to the classrooms, a quiet understanding hanging in the air. The
prospect of facing the consequences of their neglected duties looms over them.

Mei-Mei splits off from the group as they do. After all, it’s not her fault the two idiots failed
to lower a barrier over their short encounter with that curse. That left Suguru, Satoru, and
Shoko to take the heat for their shortcomings—but mostly Satoru. It was his assignment, after
all, given to him by Yaga himself before the three even set off to retrieve Utahime and Mei-
Mei.

Once the tongue-lashing is over, Shoko splits from Suguru and Satoru to go and smoke,
something Suguru has been indulging a lot more over the past couple of days—in private, of
course. But Satoru remains by Suguru’s side, an awkward silence hanging over them for one
uncomfortable moment too long. “You up for some basketball?” Satoru suggests, swinging
his foot in place as he averts his eyes from Suguru, awaiting his response.

Suguru lifts his head, looking toward Satoru in response. “Yeah, that’ll be good,” he agrees,
though the tension between them is still quite palpable.

The two make their way over to the rec center, which is normally quite vacant on class days,
no one to cheer them on nor anyone to observe the strange vibe they both give off.

Grabbing a ball, Satoru dribbles it lazily against the gym floor, but he isn’t exactly looking
for a fun, competitive game, just a chance to talk to Suguru. The quiet remains, punctuated
only by the sound of the dribbling basketball. Eventually, Suguru also realizes they aren’t
there to play and shoves his hands into his pockets as he waits for Satoru to inevitably speak.

“Swallowing, huh?” he finally says and shoots the basketball into the hoop behind Suguru.
The ball hits the floor after passing through the hoop.

Bounce.

Bounce.

Bounce.

And then it rolls to the side.

“I saw you…” Satoru adds. “The core?”

Suguru lifts his head toward Satoru and his cheeks flush a little. He feels disgusting, as if
Satoru has just reached inside his stomach and scrambled his guts like eggs. But he doesn’t
speak. He doesn’t know how after being called out for his moment of weakness.

“It looked disgusting,” Satoru continues and then crosses the gym to Suguru, stopping in
front of him. He reaches into his pocket and then pulls out a lollipop, handing it to Suguru.
“Here, I was gonna eat it later. But I think you need it more.” He leans his head down a bit,
trying to catch Suguru’s vacant gaze.
He watches Suguru’s eyes flicker with a dim light of appreciation as he takes the candy from
Satoru, muttering, “Thank you.”

Satoru’s lips curl into a half-smile as Suguru sticks the lollipop into his mouth and the
gloomy expression on his face momentarily disappears. He stands up straight again, finally
able to look Suguru in the eyes. “Hey…I’m sorry I’ve been distant,” he says, offering Suguru
a bit of reassurance. “I promise we’ll talk about everything soon…I’m just not ready yet.”

Suguru nods his head. “It’s okay, Satoru. I understand,” he replies. “It’s a lot. I wish I’d been
thinking more clearly that night. I wouldn’t have allowed things to get as far as they did.”

Satoru’s expression drops. “What do you mean? You don’t regret it, right?”

Suguru shrugs, looking off to the side. “A little…not because it was you, just…the way it
happened, I guess. We were both really drunk…it’s a bit of a blur…”

Satoru sighs, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I get it. It wasn't exactly the most ideal
situation. But Suguru, I don't regret it. Not at all." He looks at Suguru earnestly. "I just need
some time to figure out what it means for us—for me."

Suguru meets Satoru's gaze, his expression softened. "Take the time you need, Satoru. I'll be
here when you're ready to talk."

They continue shooting hoops in the quiet gym, the rhythmic sound of the bouncing
basketball filling the space between them. The unspoken understanding hangs in the air, and
while the tension has eased a bit, the complexities of their relationship linger beneath the
surface.

After some time, Satoru breaks the silence again. "I’m kind of annoyed with Yaga. Why’s he
such a hardass about a stupid barrier rule, anyway?"

Suguru stops, looking over toward Satoru as he then holds the ball in his hand. "You should
know why. It’s to protect any curses we provoke from getting out and attacking innocents."

Satoru brushes him off with a groan. “Sounds like weak shit to me,” he says.

“What’re you prattling on about? Haven’t you been paying attention in your classes? The
best way to prevent the formation of new curses is by ensuring the mental calm of the general
population,” Suguru explains matter-of-factly.

Satoru always hated when he got all smart like that. “It’s so annoying having to conceal it—
having to look after people like they’re a bunch of babies.” Satoru shoots his shot across the
room and it zips right past Suguru’s head.

Suguru arches an eyebrow. It calls to question his morals without a doubt. If not for the weak,
for whom do they fight? “We exist to protect the weak,” he replies, but the conviction lacks
any real substance.

“Ugh, you know I hate moral arguments, Sugu.”

Suguru has always hated that about Satoru. His aloof behavior seemed to fuel this lack of any
real reason for being a Jujutsu sorcerer. And that is something that just irks Suguru about
him.

“What?” Suguru asks, his brow furrowing a bit. They’ve never gotten into a conversation
about their morals and reasonings. But spending so much time together, they’ve mostly
painted a picture of what they both fight for. Although, Suguru has never quite been able to
read Satoru’s reasoning.

“Assigning morals, reasons and responsibilities to strength is something that weak people
do,” Satoru says. “When are you gonna quit making yourself feel better by spouting all that
bullshit?”

That's all I have.

That’s what Suguru wants to say. But he can’t. The words won’t come out. Instead, all he can
feel is rage starting to boil up in the face of Satoru’s ignorance. “Why are you acting like an
asshole?” Suguru asks, his eyes piercing daggers into Satoru but he seems completely
unaffected, as if that infinity of his just blocks it out completely.

“I’m just telling the truth,” Satoru replies with a shrug, turning away from Suguru. “I’ve
never understood your need for having a reason for all this,” he says.

“You’re telling me you don’t have a reason?” Suguru asks, crossing his arms as he glares at
the back of Satoru’s head.

“Sure I do. But it’s not as important as you make it out to be,” Satoru replies with a little
chuckle.

“I wish you weren’t so nonchalant about these things,” Suguru grumbles, turning his head
away from Satoru.

Satoru smirks, turning his head back toward his sulking friend and side-eyeing him. “You’re
kinda cute when you get all worked up like that,” he teases, attempting to steer the
conversation away from heavier topics.

Suguru, caught off guard, brings his attention back to Satoru, his face turning a bit red. “Were
you just messing with me?” he asks.

Satoru shrugs. “Not really,” he answers. “Seeing you get all huffy was just an added bonus.”

Suguru rolls his eyes and then walks up to Satoru, shoving his chewed up lollipop stick right
into his hand. “You’re so annoying,” he retorts.

Before Satoru can come up with another joke airing on the side of flirtation, the doors of the
rec center swing open, revealing a slightly-more-displeased-than-normal Yaga-sensei.

“What are you two doing?” he asks and the two simultaneously jerk in shock of the intrusion,
turning their heads toward the door in unison.
“Playing basketball,” Satoru replies swiftly.

Yaga’s eyes fall onto the basketball lying meters away from the two across the gym floor.
“Right.” He crosses his arms. “I need you both to come with me. I have a mission for you,”
he says.

Satoru and Suguru look at one another, both sharing a silent excitement about getting to go
out on a mission together. They share a grin amongst themselves before following their
sensei out the rec center doors and to their classroom where he was leading them.

Satoru lets out a groan as they enter the empty classroom, both pulling stacked stools off the
tabletops to sit down. “Y’know, I did just come back from a pretty long mission. Is this gonna
be another long one?” he asks, lazily adjusting his glasses as he peers out the window.

“Not as long as the one you just went on,” Yaga responds. “But don’t complain. If you plan to
become a professional sorcerer, consecutive missions like this will be normal for you,” he
says.

“So, what’s this about?” Suguru asks, attempting to get to the point around Satoru’s
protesting.

“It’s about Tengen,” Yaga replies. “In three days’ time, Tengen’s Star Plasma vessel will
assimilate with Tengen. The Star Plasma Vessel is a young woman named Riko Amanai.
Your mission is to bring her here to Jujutsu High to erase her.”

Both Satoru and Suguru exchange a skeptical look with one another before returning their
attention to Yaga. “Erase her…?” Satoru asks.

“Yes,” Yaga replies, refusing to elaborate. “However, before she gets here, you will ensure
the girl’s last days before her assimilation are fruitful for her.”

Satoru pulls an annoyed face. “Oh, great. So we’re babysitting? Why’d you assign us to this
mission, anyway?” he groans.

“Tengen asked for the two of you specifically. Not only that, but this isn’t going to be some
walk in the park, you know,” Yaga explains, the proposition causing Satoru’s head to perk up
with intrigue. “There are two groups who know of the girl’s existence who would wish to kill
her or interfere with her assimilation.”

Satoru sighs boredly. “It’s always something…” he mutters.

“There are two very likely candidates who would be hunting this girl. And it’ll be your job to
both protect her from them and ensure she doesn’t have to worry about any who might be
hunting her down,” Yaga explains over Satoru’s complaining. “The first is a group called Q.
They want to stop the assimilation because they wish to break down Tengen’s barriers and
cause him to lose all reason, which would, in turn, cause immeasurable chaos to disrupt not
only our lives but the lives of many others. I think it goes without saying why they must be
stopped,” Yaga says. “The second suspect is one called the Star Religious Group. Their belief
lies in Tengen and the fact that he is a god-like being. They believe that allowing a human
like Riko Amanai to assimilate with Tengen would soil his image of perfection—tainting him
with mortal blood.”

Yaga, noticing Satoru’s boredom, chucks a stick of chalk at his head. “Pay attention, you
idiot!” As the chalk hits Satoru directly in the forehead, Suguru chuckles from beside him,
covering his mouth. “This is important. These two groups are widely known, so they’re the
most likely to try and come after the Star Plasma Vessel. But I wouldn’t doubt if there were
others after her as well. So stay vigilant. Are we understood?”

Satoru waves his hand a few times. “Yeah, we got it. Babysit this girl for three days, make
sure she doesn’t get kidnapped or killed, and then bring her back here, right?” he repeats
nonchalantly.

“You should really be taking this more seriously, Satoru…” Suguru says.

Yaga takes an exasperated breath. “Thank you, Suguru,” he says, pinching the bridge of his
nose. “Right, well, in any event, we’ll get you into contact with the woman who’s looking
after Riko and the three of you can decide on a place to meet from there.”

After the two begin to leave, they receive a message from Yaga that contains all the
information they need for the mission. As they start to exit the school grounds, Suguru shoots
a sidelong glance at Satoru. "You know, it might be good for us. A distraction
from...everything."

Satoru grins, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, I guess so,” he responds, stepping up onto a
dwarf wall along the sidewalk to balance on. “And who knows, maybe this Riko Amanai is
interesting. We can't let her get killed or kidnapped, but that doesn't mean we can't have a bit
of fun, right?"

Suguru rolls his eyes at Satoru's antics but can't help a small smile. "That’s part of the
mission, I believe, just try not to make her uncomfortable."

Satoru chuckles. "What, you mean hitting on her? Would that make you jealous?" he asks
with a knowing look.

“You know how you are,” Suguru replies with a firm tone. “Just try to be normal.” He pulls
out his phone after that, typing the number in his phone that Yaga provided them with to send
a message. “So, where should we meet with them?” he asks, derailing the subject to focus on
the task at hand.

“I dunno, a nice hotel in the area would probably be good,” Satoru suggests. “Then we could
have her come with us to visit some attractions nearby, end the days off at the hotel and then
bring her right to the school when her time’s up,” he says.

Suguru hums as he types out a message to the number in his phone. “Ooh! Come on, I wanna
get a drink!” Satoru exclaims, dragging Suguru along in the middle of typing to some nearby
vending machines.
Suguru scoffs as the jostling causes him to misspell some words. “You’re such a child—calm
down for a second,” he mutters, still being reluctantly dragged to the vending machines.
Suguru finishes off the message as Satoru pays for a soda, cracking it open to sip on.

“You and that sweet tooth…” Suguru mutters, tucking his phone away. “I’m having them
meet us at a nearby hotel, we should probably start heading that way.” He parts from the
vending machines after that and Satoru follows after him.

“Before we get there, there’s something I want to talk to you about,” Suguru says, glancing
over at Satoru. “About Yaga…he made it seem like the most important part of this mission
was protecting Riko Amanai, but also to ensure she lives out her last few days happily? It’s
weirdly humanizing…and yet the end of this whole thing is a girl’s life being given up to
ensure Tengen refreshes his immortality,” he explains.

Satoru looks over, raising an eyebrow at Suguru. “Yeah, so? It’s important, isn’t it?” he asks.

Suguru sighs. Satoru is probably the last person who could’ve made sense of the cogs
beginning to turn in Suguru’s mind. “Use your brain for a second, will you?”

Satoru groans, just about sick of being scolded for his lack of attentiveness and ability to
think straight. It’s quite normal for Satoru to be aloof, which is probably why no one seemed
to notice he’s much more off his game than usual. “I’m always using my brain. I don’t think
you realize how much mathematics goes into calculating my cursed technique,” he answers.

“Yes, we get it, Satoru, you’re very smart,” Suguru says, causing Satoru to grumble a bit as
he shoots a little glare at his friend. “But listen: I can’t say what the situation might be for
you, but if I were in Riko Amanai’s situation, I might do everything I can to not assimilate
with Tengen,” he explains.

After taking a sip of his soda, Satoru’s tight expression loosens a little, attempting to piece
together Suguru’s words. “You wouldn’t want to assimilate with a god-like being?” Satoru
asks.

Suguru sighs. “I knew you’d see it like that,” he says. “No, Satoru. I wouldn’t. Because I
think Yaga’s use of the word ‘erase’ when he talked about what assimilating with Tengen
would do to this girl was intentional,” Suguru explains, earning another confused eyebrow
from Satoru. “This isn’t just ascending to godhood, Satoru…this girl will die.”

“Why should that matter to us?” Satoru asks, giving his friend a bored look. “This sounds
like another one of your justifications for weak people. Tengen maintaining his immortality is
pretty important for our protection…and besides, if it’s not her, it’ll just be some other person
that’s reborn as a compatible vessel,” he says. “It’s not like she has a choice, right?”

“I really dislike the way you speak so loosely of other lives,” Suguru mutters with a sigh.

“I’m just being realistic. Unfortunately, this is just the way things are,” Satoru says.

“Well, you could stand to have a little empathy once in a while,” Suguru retorts, crossing his
arms.
“I have empathy, just not for some girl I’ve never met before,” Satoru replies, brushing off
Suguru’s blatant irritation.

With another sigh, Suguru continues. “Well, I’m not so sure she doesn’t have a choice,” he
says. “I think Yaga was trying to tell us that with the words he was using. As a teacher at
Jujutsu High, it would be wrong of him, even taboo, to outright suggest we give the girl a
choice when it comes down to the day of her assimilation,” he explains. “It’d be going
against what he knows is the right thing to do to ensure our safety…but…what really will the
school do should Riko refuse to assimilate with Tengen?”

“That’s fine and all, but I don’t think we should be putting the idea in her head,” Satoru says.
“I don’t feel like being held responsible if she does end up making that decision.”

As the two come upon the hotel that Suguru had scheduled for the meetup, Suguru looks up
at the building. “I wasn’t saying that we should. We won’t even know what she’ll be like until
we meet her. If she’s set on carrying out her duty, then I certainly won’t be the one to
convince her otherwise. I’m just saying…I don’t think it’s her only option.”

Suguru stops in front of the hotel, turning toward Satoru. “I’m going to head in by myself,
okay? I want you to stay out here and keep watch of things while I do. Make sure there aren’t
any unwelcome visitors waiting to ambush us,” he says.

Satoru lets a smile onto his lips, vanquishing the heavy subject. “See? This is why the two of
us are the strongest.”

Suguru smiles back at that. Those words always sounded so sweet when they came from
Satoru’s lips. Deep down, he knows the power dynamic between them. But hearing Satoru
refer to the both of them as equals just seems to lighten the weight on his shoulders. “I’ll call
you once I’m inside so you can report anything suspicious to me.”

Satoru nods, still sipping on his soda. "Got it. I'll be the vigilant lookout. And who knows,
maybe I'll make a new friend out here." He grins mischievously.

Suguru raises an eyebrow. "Please, just behave yourself. We're here for a mission, not your
personal amusement."

"All right, all right, I'll be on my best behavior," Satoru says with an exaggerated salute.

As Suguru heads into the hotel, Satoru leans against the exterior wall, casually observing the
surroundings. He keeps an eye out for any unusual activities or potential threats. While doing
so, his mind wanders back to the conversation with Suguru about Riko Amanai and the
impending assimilation.

Why is he so hung up on this? It's just another mission, Satoru thinks to himself. Sure, there's
a girl involved, but we've dealt with curses and dangerous situations countless times. What
makes this one different?

As he ponders, Satoru notices a figure approaching from a distance. It's a man in his twenties,
dressed in casual attire. Something about his demeanor raises Satoru's suspicions. The man
seems to be eyeing the entrance of the hotel and checking his surroundings as if waiting for
someone. Not only that, but his six eyes can sense a greater level of cursed energy within him
than that of any normal human.

Satoru straightens up, narrowing his eyes. Could this be one of those groups Yaga mentioned?
Q or the Star Religious Group? He’s definitely not just some bystander…

Deciding not to take any chances, Satoru dials Suguru's number to inform him of the
situation. "Hey, we might have a situation here. There's a guy hanging around, acting a bit
suspicious. Stay alert when you're inside."

Suguru's voice comes through the phone. "Got it. I'll be cautious. Let me know if anything
changes out there," he says. “And by the way, I was looking through the information Yaga
sent me. Apparently the Star Religious Group is made up of a bunch of non-sorcerers. I don’t
believe they’ll cause us very much trouble unless they decide to hire someone to carry out
their dirty work,” he says. “The ones we’ll have to keep an eye out for most are Q.”

“Well, I’m sure it’ll all be fine, whoever comes after us—if anyone does,” Satoru replies,
keeping his eyes on the man as he digs into his pocket for a cellphone. “Hey, by the way,
you’re not mad at me, are you?” he asks. “Seems like we’re finding a lot of differences
between one another today. I hope you’re not having any sort of second thoughts about me.”

“Of course not,” Suguru replies. “What we’ve talked about is just like you said, nothing more
than differences between us. Though, I do think you should stop being so full of yourself…”
he explains.

Finishing off the last sip of his soda, Satoru crushes up the empty can with his cursed
technique before tossing it away. “Huh?” The sound of an elevator bell rings from Suguru’s
end of the call.

“Especially when you’re addressing your superiors…you say you hate being scolded but you
sort of welcome the negative attention when you act all high and mighty—as though nothing
bothers you,” Suguru says. “Especially if we end up meeting Tengen-sama after this. You
should learn how to be more humble.”

Satoru scoffs, a little laugh leaving his throat with it. “Yeah, screw that,” he says.

“Come on, Satoru… You come off so unapproachable sometimes…like you just don’t care
about anything because you’re untouchable.”

“That’s because I hardly do,” Satoru replies.

Suguru sighs audibly from the other end. “Whatever…we’ll talk about it more later…”

Suguru presses on the bell of the room Riko Amanai and her caregiver are supposedly
staying in. Conveniently enough, the two have been hiding there in order to stay safe from
the groups that are after Riko. So, this was the place Suguru decided they should stay.
“Coming!” a voice rings out from the other side of the door. But something else rings as well,
and Suguru squints as he tries to register the noise.

“Huh…?”

Satoru lifts his head as an explosion suddenly shakes the entire building and rumbles in his
ear from the other end of the call. “Shit, you alive?” he asks.

Suguru skids back from the blast, having protected himself at the last moment with one of his
curses. “I am, at least…” he says as the curse dissipates from around his body. The stirring air
from outside blows into the hallway, a massive hole having been ripped into the side of the
hotel. He inspects the wreckage of the explosion, searching for Riko and her caregiver.

“You think we’ll be blamed if the brat dies from that?” Satoru asks, rather nonchalantly,
considering the situation.

Suguru peers out the hole in the side of the building, finding exactly the girl he’d been
looking for currently plummeting to her death. Jumping into action, Suguru bursts out from
the hole, diving down after the girl. He calls upon a curse from his stockpile, a manta-ray-like
curse forming beneath his feet which zooms down to catch the girl mid-fall. She lands safely
in his arms, though, seemingly unconscious.

Suguru looks toward the hole in the building, finding a man in what appears to be a sailor
uniform, spouting some nonsense about Tengen which he can’t quite hear considering the
wind whipping in his ears. “Would you please quit making us stand out?” Suguru asks the
man, though, doubting he can hear what he’s saying. “We just got yelled at for that this
morning.” He looks down at the girl who he assumes to be Riko as she’s dressed in a sort of
school uniform, assessing her condition. She’s alive, but still, unconscious.

The man starts to speak again, but Suguru can only make out pieces and parts of his words.
“Can’t hear you!” he shouts back with a grin on his face. “Come closer and talk!”

“Nice catch,” Satoru says into the phone as a plethora of knives are thrown in his direction.
But his infinity holds them in place, stopping them from touching him.

“You’re Satoru Gojo, aren’t you?” a man asks as Satoru turns toward the direction the knives
came from. “You’re famous. I hear you’re strong. How about we find out if those rumors are
true?”

Satoru hangs up the call, realizing he and Suguru now have their own battles to fight. He
stuffs his hands into his pockets. He feels only the slightest bit insulted by being referred to
with such infant words like “strong.” But he doesn’t show it. “Sure, I’m down for a little fun.
But first, why don’t we set some rules?”

The combatant tilts his head, leaning against the railing on the stairs he’s standing upon with
intrigue. “Rules?” he asks.

Satoru begins to walk through the knives floating in mid-air around him and they make way
for him as the bubble of infinity around his body forces them apart. “Here’s the thing. I don’t
wanna get yelled at for going overboard…so if you cry and beg for your life, I won’t kill
you,” Satoru replies with a confident smirk.

The man in the sailor uniform glares at Satoru, clearly offended by the suggestion that he
might beg for his life. “You think I’d beg? All this is a lot more important than your teenage
mind can possibly comprehend. The teachings you follow of Tengen are wrong. If you
sacrifice this girl, you’ll be contributing to the system of this world.”

Satoru chuckles, unimpressed. “Sure, sure. Teachings, sacrifices, whatever. But if you change
your mind and want to live, just let me know. I’m a reasonable guy.”

The smirk playing on his lips displays an air of overconfidence and as Satoru looks his
opponent in the eye, he readies himself for the kill, vastly unconcerned with his life.

Suguru helps himself to the remnants of the hotel room, boiling a kettle of hot water as he
prepares a cup of tea. The wind from so high up in the hotel whips into the room, only barely
covering the panicked screams of the man wrapped up in a curse behind him. Suguru barely
pays him any mind, casually preparing his tea before walking over to have a seat on the chair
in front of Riko and a woman in a maid’s uniform, who Suguru can only assume is the girl’s
caregiver, who are both passed out in slumber.

“Please! Listen to me!” the man begs as Suguru sips on his tea.

“Ooh, hot…” he murmurs softly, blowing on the liquid.

“I was wrong!” the man pleads. “I’m sorry! I’m really sorry! I’ll pull out of this job! Please,
I’ll do anything! I’ll stop being a curse user! I’ll quit Q and become a farmer!”

As the man continues to beg for reconciliation, it falls on deaf ears as Suguru sips rather
smugly from his teacup. He peeks over at the man all wrapped up in his curse’s clutches and
puts his hand to his ear. “Huh?” he asks, pretending to be unable to hear him.

“I know you can hear me!” the man screams, irritated by Suguru’s boredom.

“As if someone like you could cut it as a farmer…” Suguru mocks the man, turning away,
disinterested in the man’s pleading as he takes another sip of his tea.

“Damn kid! You’re just a high schooler, but you’re acting all condescending! Just wait until
Bayer gets here! He’s Q’s strongest combatant!”

Suguru smirks to himself as he sets down his teacup to check his phone that vibrated while
the man behind him spouted his nonsense. “A little pathetic, having to wait for him to come
and save you, huh?” Suguru chuckles as he reads the message Satoru sent him: a picture of
another man, dressed similarly to the one struggling against Suguru’s curse, all beat up
against a wall with Satoru posing in front of him.

The message beneath reads, “What do you think of that little sailor jacket, kinda cute, huh? I
think it’d look great on you. I can take it as a souvenir.”
“It’s covered in blood, moron. Meet me upstairs, 10th floor,” Suguru responds and then flips
his phone, showing the man the photo Satoru sent to him. “This the Bayer you were talking
about?” he asks.

The man hisses through his teeth, sighing with defeat. “Yeah…that’s him…shit…”

In the end, Suguru allowed the man to scamper off to whatever pathetic life he lived. After
all, he doesn’t see a point in killing such a pathetic man—especially after all that begging he
did. Suguru finishes off his tea after that, walking over to the couch to try and wake the two
women sleeping leaned against one another. The maid woman manages to open her eyes and
Suguru takes on a much gentler approach to her than with the man from Q.

“Good, you’re awake,” he says with a relieved smile.

The woman looks around, a bit disoriented, but thankfully mostly unharmed. “Hello…are
you Suguru Geto? The man I spoke to from Jujutsu High?” she asks.

Suguru nods his head. “I am. I wasn’t provided with your name. Are you all right?” he asks.

“I’m okay, yes,” she says, leaning off of Riko. “My name is Misato Kuroi,” she says to
answer his question. “I’m Riko Amanai’s caregiver.” She glances over to the girl. “Riko…
will she be all right?”

“I believe so,” Suguru replies. “She just seems to be unconscious for now.” He stands fully
from being knelt beside the couch. “My partner is on his way up. My apologies for the
chaotic introduction.”

“It’s all right…as I told you in the messages, Riko and I have been on the run for a little
while now. We’re used to the chaos,” Kuroi replies, giving Riko’s head a gentle pet. She then
stands from the couch as she spots Satoru turning toward the hotel room with the door blown
off with a massive hole to the outside.

“Yo,” Satoru greets as he peels into the room. He whistles dramatically. “Some explosion,
huh? Everyone okay?” he asks.

“Riko’s still out, but other than that, we’re all fine,” Suguru replies.

“Are you Satoru Gojo?” Kuroi asks.

Satoru nods with a little wave. “Nice to meet you.” He gestures to Riko with his head,
crossing the room toward the couch. “So this is the brat, huh?”

“Satoru, you really shouldn’t call her a brat…” Suguru scolds him gently.

Satoru shrugs and lifts the girl into his arms. “We should get out of this room before the
police and fire department show up—or before the place collapses, whichever comes first,”
he says and starts to walk out of the room, holding the girl close to himself.

“Yes…there’s a sitting room downstairs we could go to while we wait for her to wake up,”
Suguru replies and starts to follow Satoru with Kuroi at his side.
The three head down a few floors to the room Suguru mentioned and once they reach it,
Satoru looks down at the girl in his arms. “Should we get her to a doctor, or…?” he asks.

“If only Shoko were here…I have no idea how to use any kind of reverse cursed energy,”
Suguru replies.

Satoru glances at Suguru as he speaks. “Yeah, that’s impossible,” he replies. “I can’t

understand a word she’s saying whenever she tries to explain it.”

As his voice rings out, Riko begins to stir and Satoru brings his attention back to her slowly-
awakening form. Then, her eyes flutter open and she looks around, attempting to regain her
bearings. But then she finds Satoru’s face.

“Oh, you’re awake,” he says.

She stares up at him like a deer in headlights and then catches him completely off guard with
a wailing slap to the face. Riko springs out of his arms, taking on a battle stance. “You scum!
If you think you’re gonna kill me, you better be ready to die first!” she shrieks.

Suguru finds the exchange adorable, smiling even though the girl just slapped Satoru. But
Suguru knows a little thing like that was nothing for him, especially from such a tiny girl.
Suguru offers a comforting hand on Satoru’s shoulder as he holds his face, his blood boiling
as he holds back a bunch of unsavory names to call this girl.

Suguru, on the other hand, offers a smile. “Calm down. You have it all wrong. I know you’ve
been on the run for some time now, but we’re not members of the group that attacked you
earlier,” he says.

“You’re a liar! I can see it all over your faces! And what’s with those bangs! They’re not a
fashion statement, you know, just put them up with the rest of your hair.”

Suguru’s genuine smile turns wry, his eyebrow twitching at the girl’s insult. Satoru lets out a
laugh at this, taking back a bit of his own humiliation from being slapped. “She’s right, the
bangs kinda make you look like a prude,” Satoru says.

“I’ll shave my head bald if you don’t shut up,” Suguru replies, maintaining his smile. He
knows this is a weak point for Satoru as he’s given Suguru the impression plenty of times
before that he’s quite attached to his hair.

“All of you, calm down,” Misato says, walking over to place her hand on Riko’s shoulder.
Riko, noticing her suddenly, looks at her maid with relief in her eyes. “Young lady, these men
happen to be our allies,” she corrects the girl.

“This brat is a lot more aggressive than I expected her to be,” Satoru mutters as he takes a
seat on one of the couches. “Here I was trying to be more considerate like you said, Suguru. I
thought she’d be more sentimental about the whole assimilation thing.”

“Sounds like a commoner’s way of thinking,” Riko retorts, crossing her arms.

“Huh?!” Satoru exclaims, taken aback by her insults.

 “Listen. Tengen-sama is me. And I am Tengen-sama. Some might mistake assimilation for
death, as you two seem to, but there’s a big difference,” Riko explains. “I might become
Tengen-sama through the assimilation, but Tengen-sama will also become me!” she goes on
enthusiastically.

Though, through her zealotry, Suguru can see something else. That perhaps Riko is merely
crusading her duty. No one could truly be that avid about giving up their life. Suguru decides
to write off her vibrant explanation as nothing more than a desperate cover up for what they
both know is the truth.

“See, Suguru? I told you there was nothing to worry about. Hey, look at my home screen,”
Satoru says, showing Suguru his phone as the girl prattles on about her duties.

Suguru leans in to inspect. “Hey, when did you take that?” he asks, embarrassment setting in
as he realizes it’s a picture of himself fast asleep, his cheeks turning pink.

“Oh, you know, a couple days ago,” Satoru replies, heavily implying exactly when he took it.
“You’re so cute when you’re asleep.”

“Listen to me!” Riko squeals in frustration.

Satoru groans, rubbing his ear as it buzzes from the pitch of her shriek. “I bet you don’t have
many friends with that kind of attitude,” he says.

“I’m starting to think I won’t feel so bad sending you off to Tengen,” Suguru adds to the
banter with a little smirk.

“I talk normally at school!” she shoots back defensively. She pauses. “Wait…school! Kuroi,
what time is it?” she asks in a panic.

“A little after noon, but do you really think going to school is—” Misato starts but is cut off
by Riko.

“Shut up! I said I’m going to school, so I’m going!” Riko exclaims.

Satoru can already tell this is going to be a long three days, and the more this girl shouts and
whines, the more he can feel himself growing annoyed with her. But, there’s not much he can
do other than try to convince Yaga to let them come back and offer up the girl prematurely.
However, he has a feeling that conversation wouldn’t get very far. Instead, he’ll have to
endure the excruciating pain of babysitting this brat.

Chapter End Notes

oh, the fated mission :')

i don't plan to have things directly follow the plot of jjk, but we'll be sticking pretty
close for the next couple of chapters

get ready :'D

 Empathy
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Satoru groans as he hangs up the phone with Yaga. As he suspected, the conversation of
trying to persuade him to let them come back with Riko early went nowhere. Misato, Suguru
and Satoru are perched by an old outdoor swimming pool, the water green and leafy from
neglect. Satoru sighs, kicking the water in annoyance as he stands. “‘Listen to all her
demands…’ We’re not her servants, does he realize that?” he grumbles.

“Don’t be like that, Satoru,” Suguru says, now in front of him since he’d turned around.
“Despite what she says, once she assimilates, she’ll spend her whole life as Tengen-sama in
the deepest depths of Jujutsu High,” he explains. “She sounded very excited about that…but
I’m just having a hard time believing she was being genuine.”

“If she wants to be absorbed into a tree, I don’t see why you’re so reluctant to let her,” Satoru
retorts, crossing his arms.

Suguru’s brow tightens, determined to make Satoru understand his side of the situation. “She
won’t be able to see her friends, her family, or anyone precious to her ever again,” he says.
“Try to imagine what that would be like, Satoru.” His gaze softens. “Let her do what she
wants…that’s part of our mission.”

Misato stands from her spot on the bench she’d been sitting on behind Suguru. “Riko has no
family,” she butts in to add context to their little back-and-forth. Satoru and Suguru both look
in her direction as she speaks. “Her parents were in an accident when she was little—and she
has no siblings. I’ve taken care of her ever since then,” Misato explains. “I know she can be
stubborn…and I understand why you might be annoyed with her, Gojo. But I want her to at
least spend what little time she has left with her friends.”

Suguru offers a smile at that. “So you’re her family, then,” he concludes.

Misato lifts her head toward him. “Yes…I am,” she replies.

He smiles more. “Don’t worry, we’ll do whatever we can to make sure her time left here
makes her happy,” Suguru says.

He isn’t quite sure why he’s grown so attached to the idea of allowing this girl to live a
normal life, not just that, but a happy one. He’s never been the most sentimental, and despite
Satoru’s disinterest in the whole thing, he doubts the reason has anything to do with trying to
set an example. No, his feelings are definitely authentic.

Satoru rubs at the back of his neck and it seems as though something has clicked inside his
head. His gaze shifts toward Suguru briefly. If Satoru were made to assimilate with Tengen,
he would surely miss Suguru. And in turn, Suguru would miss him. That, he can say for a
fact.
He decides not to outwardly acknowledge his realization with the others. After all, Satoru has
a tendency to cling to his beliefs, refusing to admit when he’s wrong.

Satoru walks up behind Suguru, resting his arm on his shoulder. “Hey, what’s the status of the
cursed spirits you sent to look out for her?” he asks.

“Well, I just wish I could share my senses with them like Mei-Mei can,” Suguru replies.
“Even so, they’ll let us know if anything happens,” he adds. Then, like clockwork, Suguru
shivers as he senses a void where there should be cursed energy, an indicator of the presence
of his cursed spirits. “We need to hurry and get to her.” He pulls from Satoru and starts to
walk to the exit of the abandoned pool. “Two of them were just exorcized.”

The three rush to the nearby school without another word, all three recognizing the urgency
of the situation. As they reach the courtyard, Suguru immediately begins divulging a plan
with them. “Misato, you wait outside. Right now, that’s the safest place for you since the
presences I’m detecting are inside the school. Satoru, you’ll go after Riko and get her out of
here. I’ll look for any assailants.”

Satoru nods in understanding and with a little wave, he heads into the school to look for
Riko.

Suguru takes to his own part of the plan, heading into a side entrance closest to one of the
presences he felt from before. He rushes up a flight of stairs and then turns into a hallway
where an older man stands blocking his path. Suguru can already see he isn’t a staff member
—based solely on the fact that this is an all-girls school—but also on the talisman that floats
in front of his hand, swathed in cursed energy.

“That uniform…you’ve come to stop me, haven’t you?”

The old man summons two shikigami to shield him right away, one in front, the other in the
back and Suguru stands at the ready, already strategizing his first move. The man appears
shocked as Suguru summons a few curses without a catalyst, most likely assuming that the
curses are shikigami.

“Curse manipulation, then?” the man questions.

“Yes, that’s correct,” Suguru replies. “I can see that living a long life comes with a number of
perks, huh?” he quips.

“Well, I’m not sure if the perks outweigh the problems. After all, it costs a lot of money to
stay alive.” Right away, Suguru can tell this isn’t a member of Q. No, it’s more than likely
that after defeating Bayer, Q was dissolved. This must be someone hired by the Star
Religious Group—either that or someone else entirely. Regardless, there isn’t time to figure it
out. Suguru needs to focus on ending this quickly and efficiently.

A dark portal appears from behind him, and one of his larger curses sails forth from it,
charging straight toward the man and negating his opportunity to attack. Suguru pauses,
momentarily dropping his guard as he believes he’s just ended the fight. Suddenly, the man
then bursts through the window beside Suguru wielding a dagger as he prepares to strike. But
Suguru grabs his arm, rushing him with a flurry of quick blows. The man’s body can’t take
much of Suguru’s strength before he’s sent directly into the wall in a bloody heap.

“You…brat…” the man gurgles over the blood running down his nose. “You lured me in,” he
grunts.

“Of course I did,” Suguru replies. “It’s only natural that someone might assume I’m shit at
close combat just because I use curse manipulation…but you’re wrong. It’s actually
something I’ve improved on quite recently. What do you think?” he asks with a smile.

The old man growls back, refusing to answer his question. “Now then…are you with Q?
Or…the Star Religious group?” Suguru asks, kneeling down to lift the man’s head toward
himself.

Satoru strolls through the halls of the school, asking staff about the whereabouts of Riko
Amanai. Once he receives his answer, he starts down a hallway where he can hear the faint
sounds of singing. It actually sounds quite nice for a bunch of school girls. He bursts in
through the doors and the playing of the organ he heard comes to a stop on a long note, and
the choir of girls stop their singing, all their attention drawn to the door, and more
importantly, to Satoru. “Amanai!” he shouts with urgency in his voice.

Among them, Riko stares down the line of girls with a look of utter horror on her face to see
who has just interrupted her class. Immediately, the class of school girls jumps into a wild
crowd of crazed lunatics, squealing and shrieking as they all begin to fawn over Satoru’s
handsome face. “Wow! Riko! I didn’t know you had a boyfriend!” one of the girls squawks.

“No! No, he’s a cousin!” she defends vehemently.

“You’re a smooth operator,” another girl purrs.

“I told you, he’s family! He’s not my boyfriend!” Riko shrieks back at her.

Another girl gasps, turning to gawk at Satoru. “A high schooler~!” she squeals.

“He’s so tall!” another swoons.

“Hey, mister!”

“Take off your sunglasses!”

Satoru chuckles, never one to pass up the chance to cause a little mischief, and removes his
sunglasses to show off what he’s always been told are the most beautiful blue eyes. The entire
classroom practically screams out yet again as he flaunts for them. “Hey…” he says with a
little grin, chuckling as their voices all blend into an unholy amalgamation of fangirling.

“Quit getting carried away!” Riko fumes, glaring at Satoru.

The teacher claps her hands, walking through the crowd of girls. “Quiet down, everyone,”
she says. “This is disgraceful,” she scolds them, looking amongst them with disappointment
on her face.

“Aren’t you curious about him too?” one of the girls pipes up as the teacher walks up to
Satoru.

“This is very inappropriate. Even if you are a relative, you can’t just barge in and interrupt
our class,” she says to him.

Satoru slides his glasses back on, deciding to wear an oblivious front as he chuckles, rubbing
the back of his head sheepishly. “Please forgive me. It was a family emergency,” he says.
“Sorry…”

The woman then takes out a small notebook and scribbles something down, ripping out a
page to hand to Satoru. “Okay, here’s my phone number.”

The entire class erupts into complaints and rage at their teacher’s equally outrageous behavior
which turns into a bickering match between the students and their teacher. They go on about
how there isn’t much chance to meet men at an all-girl’s school and whatever else about his
age. But Satoru merely sidesteps the chaos and disappears into the angry crowd of girls,
pulling Riko out from them to leave the chorus classroom.

“What a fascinating group of classmates you have,” Satoru says to Riko with a grin as they
sneak out of the room.

“You idiot! I told you, I didn’t want any of my friends to see you!” Riko exclaims as they
begin to run through the courtyard.

Satoru, annoyed with her reluctance, speaks over her before she can erupt into another fit of
rage. “Curse-users are attacking. Figure out the rest on your own,” he says as he then lifts her
by the back of her shirt, carrying her off and away from the school grounds. “This is
ridiculous. We’re going to Jujutsu High now. I don’t care what Yaga says. We’re not going
through all this bullshit just so you can live a few more days. You can live somewhere safer if
it has to be that way. You don’t want your friends to get hurt, right?”

As Satoru prattles on, Riko looks down in shame, finding a bit of sense in his words. Both of
them are oblivious to the eyes that watch them from a distance, a man with a bag over his
head, muttering to himself about the two. Even more so oblivious is the very man himself as
Misato stands behind him poised with a mop in her hands.

“Are you from the Star Religious Group?” she threatens, causing the man to turn toward her.
“Amazing. The members from Q wore even weirder outfits than you do,” she mutters.

The man whose upper body is quite built relaxes his stance, clearly unconcerned with her.
“Are you a rookie?” he asks. “If you’re killing someone, do it without talking,” he suggests,
mocking her.

Misato takes that advice, wrenching the mop in her hands and then bolts toward him. She’s
undeterred by the man’s build, much larger than her smaller frame. He readies himself to
fight again, raising his fists to punch but Misato ducks, going in for a strike with the mop
handle. He blocks with his other fist, attempting another punch with it.

Misato maintains the rage in her eyes and dodges, adrenaline and a bit of loose technique
going into her movements. Hearing this man mutter to himself about killing Riko set her off.
Even without much to call power, Misato refuses to allow this man to get away without
putting up a fight. After another few dodges, Misato finally lands a blow right between the
man’s legs. He buckles immediately, groaning as he collapses from the pain, leaving Misato
standing victorious. “Don’t you dare go near that girl,” she growls, glaring at the man who’s
still reeling in pain. “Or I’ll kill you.”

Just in time, a black void appears beneath the man on the ground and some grayish hands
spring up, grabbing the man and holding him against the ground. “I’m glad you’re all right,
you’re pretty strong,” Suguru says, approaching from behind Misato. “Things have gotten
pretty chaotic here. Where’s Riko?” he asks.

“Gojo left with her a few minutes ago,” Misato responds, keeping her guard up as she stares
at the man with the bag on his head.

“We should probably be heading that way as well, then,” Suguru responds.

The man on the ground chuckles at Suguru’s words. “So that really was the 30 million
earlier…” he mutters before his body disappears into thin air, melting like ice onto the ground
until he’s gone.

“A shikigami?” Misato questions, raising an eyebrow.

“No, it’s not quite the same thing as when a shikigami disappears,” Suguru replies, raising his
phone to his head as he dials Satoru’s number. “You there?” he asks when his friend picks up.

“Hey, is there a 30 million-yen bounty on Amanai’s head?” Satoru asks from the other line,
currently surrounded by innumerable clones of that same buff man with the bag over his
head.

“Yep, it was posted on an underground site for curse-users. The man I fought earlier told me
everything,” Suguru replies. “Apparently, it expires in two days at 11AM,” he adds.

Satoru nods, seemingly unfazed by the surrounding clones as he cradles his cellphone
between his shoulder and face, Riko still clutched in his other hand. “Mm…now things make
sense,” he says. “I gotta go.” He hangs up the phone with that and then slips his phone back
into his pocket.

“I see…one, two, three—there are so many. Shikigami?” Riko asks, peeking around.

“Probably. And to think, Jujutsu sorcerers are short-handed all-year-round,” Satoru replies
nonchalantly. “If you’re looking to change jobs, we’ll welcome you!” he calls out to
whichever one of them would listen.
“Nah. Public employment ain’t easy work either,” he says as he raises another copy of
himself. “Just hand over the kid and everything will be fine.”

“First tell me this: what’s so great about her, huh?” Satoru asks, waving his hand as he
manipulates the infinity around him, pulling in two of the clones with ease. They fly through
the air with terrified screams before colliding above his and Riko’s heads. They soar off to
the side, crashing to the ground.

One of the other clones widens his eyes, only visible through one of the holes in the bag on
his head. “What did you just do?” he asks in shock.

“They’re not disappearing! Which is the real one?!” Riko exclaims.

“They’re not shikigami,” Satoru responds, quickly realizing that fact for himself. “They’re
clones. And each one is the real one,” he says as the other clones begin to surge toward
Satoru, readying themselves to attack.

The battle unfolds in a series of flashing movements and Satoru’s quick dodging. He easily
puts the clones out of commission, even with Riko clutched in one hand. His power allows
him to knock them around as he pleases, all the while untouchable by them.

Satoru continues to effortlessly dismantle the clones, displaying his incredible agility and
curse techniques. Riko watches in awe as the clones, despite their numbers, prove to be no
match for Satoru's overwhelming strength.

As the last clone falls, Satoru turns to Riko with a grin. "See? Piece of cake."

Riko blinks, still processing the spectacle she just witnessed. "What...what are you?" she
stammers.

“Oops, missed one, I guess,” Satoru says as he turns to find one final clone standing in the
wake of the others. “Protect your head.” He raises his hand toward a distant building,
teleporting them straight into the window. Before the shattering glass can harm her, Riko
covers her head as instructed, crying out in fear. “This one is the divergence of infinity,”
Satoru says to the clone with a wild look in his eyes, flipping his hand to motion the
activation of his cursed technique. “Red.” A glaring crimson light glows at the tips of
Satoru’s fingers.

He’s getting cocky, and he knows this. He hasn't yet been able to pull off a successful Red
before, but with the adrenaline of battle rushing through him, and this strange urge to show
off a bit, Satoru makes the attempt anyway, aiming the blast right at the clone. His smile
drops as the light fades away and all the objects that had been floating within Satoru’s
infinity, including the clone, drop to the ground. He lowers his hand, laughing a bit yet
defeated. “Damn, I failed,” he says, punching directly into the clone before it can hit the
ground. He stares at his hand, still tingling from the power and adrenaline that once coursed
through. “I really thought I was gonna be able to do it that time…” he mutters.

A ringing sound interrupts his monologue and Riko pulls out her phone. She’s immediately
mortified by the photo that flashes on her screen. A pang of fear ripples through her chest.
“Oh no…” she says. “Kuroi’s been taken!” she screams, turning the phone to show Satoru the
picture displayed on it.

“Shit…we need to meet up with Suguru then,” Satoru says, pulling out his own phone to call
Suguru. His heart races for a moment, worried that he may have been hurt in the crossfire. He
lets out a breath he didn’t even realize he was holding when Suguru picks up the phone.
“Hey, what’s going on? Amanai just got a message from Kuroi, a picture of her all tied up.
What happened over there?” Satoru asks.

“I’m gonna send you my location, meet me there and I’ll explain everything,” Suguru replies,
swiftly hanging up the phone.

Suguru leans against the wall of an alleyway, staring down at the ground as he waits for his
friend’s arrival. This is bad. He knows he messed up, and he knew this would likely be the
outcome. And still, here he is in the aftermath of his mistake. He lets out a sigh filled with
frustration for himself. But all he can really do is hold out hope that he and Satoru can fix the
mess he made.

Satoru arrives with the girl shortly after, turning into the alleyway, and Satoru finally sets
Riko on her feet again. Satoru turns to his friend, looking at him with what seems to be the
slightest bit of worry on his face. “Hey, you okay?” he asks.

“I’m fine,” Suguru says, though the scrutiny on his face is unmistakable. “I’m sorry. This was
my mistake,” he adds. “Kuroi begged me to catch up with both of you to ensure that Riko
was safe…”

Satoru’s concern drops, turning into a pinch of annoyance. “Seriously? I don’t even think this
counts as a ‘mistake,’” he says. “Why would you think it would be a smart idea to leave
Kuroi by herself with a bunch of dudes running around trying to collect a bounty?”

“I underestimated how much our enemies would value Kuroi,” Suguru admits.

“I’m starting to think you’re a little too attached to these two. You’re not using your head,”
Satoru says. “Regardless. Their next move is probably going to be offering an exchange for
Kuroi. But we have the leverage in any negotiation since we have Amanai. After that? We’re
taking her back to Jujutsu High, no matter what,” he says. “I’ve already decided. This whole
thing is so stupid it’s making my head spin,” Satoru says. “I’ll take whatever heat Yaga has to
give about it. But we’re putting all our lives in danger by waving Amanai around, letting her
be a normal girl with all these people after her.”

“Are you saying you can’t handle it?” Suguru challenges, crossing his arms at Satoru.

“Of course not. But look what’s already happened. I’m confident, but even I know this is all a
stupid risk,” Satoru replies.

“Hold on!” Riko shouts, stopping him. “I’m going to be part of this. I still can’t trust you two
yet,” she says.
Satoru looks over, furrowing his brow at Riko. “You’re still saying that after all this?” he
asks, still irritated.

“Even if you save her, what if Kuroi isn’t back before I assimilate with Tengen?” Riko asks,
her voice starting to waver into something a bit more…vulnerable. “I never even got to say
goodbye to her…” she adds, tears imminent in her tone.

Suguru looks off to the side, staying silent. He knows he doesn’t have any place to take
Riko’s side after the mistake he made. Satoru has a point. If he can’t keep himself together
and prevent things like this from happening, then there’s no way he can defend Riko.

Satoru’s footsteps echo in the alleyway as he approaches Riko. “The kidnapper will reach out
to us eventually. But if we realize they’re smarter than we expected, or it turns out that
bringing you will only lessen Kuroi’s chance of survival…” Suguru lifts his head as Satoru
begins to talk. It sounds as though he’s actually considering the option of bringing Riko with
them. “Then we’ll have to leave you behind.” Satoru tilts his head at the girl, the glint of his
glasses allowing her to see the serious look in his eyes behind them. “Understand?”

“All right…that’s fair…” Riko replies, wiping the tears that had begun to form in her eyes.

“On the other hand. If you get scared part-way through and want to go home? We’ll just
ignore you,” he says, attempting to put a bit of fear into the girl. But she seems unreceptive to
his tactics.

“Satoru…” Suguru murmurs from behind him.

“Don’t,” Satoru snaps, turning to exit the alleyway. “We’ll talk later.”

Suguru lowers his head upon Satoru’s blatant display of anger toward him and then motions
for Riko to follow him. They lag a bit behind, allowing for Suguru to share a few words with
Riko. “I’m sorry about him…Satoru has a little trouble with compassion and empathy toward
others…especially those he doesn’t really care about,” Suguru says quietly.

“Well that’s comforting,” Riko mutters.

“I know…he and I have been friends for a long time, and I’ve only recently begun to decode
the ways he shows he cares for others…” Suguru replies. “But…I was shocked by this,” he
says. “I wasn’t expecting him to give in to you. But he did. I think he might be starting to
slowly understand why this mission is so important…”

“Why is it important to you? Aren’t you two the same? You don’t know me…” she says.

Suguru averts his eyes. “Well…I’m still trying to figure that out for myself…” he replies. “I
always try to look for the reasons as to why I do certain things…Satoru is much different. He
lives in the moment without question. I’ve never been able to do that. I think we’ve started
getting on each other’s nerves with how different we are in that regard. But I guess the reason
I find most logical is to help others however I can…those that are weak…” he explains.

“Why are you telling me all of this?” Riko asks.

Suguru gives a shrug. “I’m not really sure…I know you’ll be gone in a few days but, well,
you’re here now, aren’t you?” he says and looks over. “So I guess I’m trying my hand at
living in the moment.”

Riko cracks a small smile. “Hey, are you in love with Gojo?” she asks out of nowhere
because apparently it’s no secret to the entire universe.

Suguru raises an eyebrow, caught off guard by the unexpected question. "What? No, it's not
like that at all. Satoru and I are just friends. We've known each other for a long time, and our
relationship is more like...well, brothers, I suppose," he explains, the lie rolling unsteadily off
his tongue. It feels strange to refer to Satoru as his brother.

Riko squints at him, seemingly unconvinced. "Really? You two seem like an old married
couple."

Suguru chuckles awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Well, that's just how we are.
But trust me, there's no romantic involvement between us."

Riko smirks mischievously. "You sure? Because it really seems like you care about him a lot.
More than just friends."

Suguru sighs, realizing that trying to explain the complexities of his relationship with Satoru
might be futile. "Look, it's complicated. Let's just focus on getting through this situation, and
maybe you'll understand a bit better along the way."

“Well that’s a relief. Because for a moment it seemed like he might’ve been serious when he
was flirting with my entire choir class,” Riko blurts out, seeming to take his response as
confirmation of her suspicions. This drags Suguru’s attention back toward her.

Suguru blinks in surprise, processing Riko's unexpected revelation. "Flirting with your entire
choir class?" he repeats, his brow furrowing. "You mean Satoru was hitting on your
classmates?"

Riko nods, her expression a mix of embarrassment and amusement. "Yeah, it was a disaster.
He walked into our classroom and caused chaos. The girls went wild, and he...well, he
seemed to enjoy the attention a bit too much."

Suguru can't help but chuckle at the mental image. "That sounds like Satoru, all right. He has
a way of turning any situation into a spectacle."

"He even got the teacher's phone number," Riko adds, shaking her head. "I've never seen
someone so shameless."

Suguru laughs heartily, finding the situation more amusing than he expected. "Well, that's just
Satoru being Satoru. He can be a handful, but deep down, he's a good guy."

“You don’t seem very jealous about that, despite what you said,” Riko replies.

“I’m not sure what you mean, I have no reason to be jealous,” Suguru says nonchalantly.
“Yeah, right,” Riko replies, unconvinced.

Before she can continue digging at Suguru’s little secret, her phone goes off, a message from
Misato’s number, but unmistakably not from her. She gasps. “Okinawa! They took her to
Okinawa!” she exclaims, causing Satoru to turn back in her direction.

He walks over, inspecting the message. “Hmph…shit…now we’re gonna have to jump on a
last-minute flight to Okinawa…” he grumbles. “All right, well, let’s get going, then.”

“I had contacted the school earlier to have them bring some luggage to the hotel we were
going to stay in. I’ll see if someone can drop it off at the airport,” Suguru replies.

The two pull out their phones, beginning to make their arrangements and Riko looks between
the two of them. They really are no different than a married couple.

It only takes them about an hour to get to the airport and onto the soonest flight to Okinawa
—surprisingly quickly considering Satoru’s ability to convince others. But with that in mind,
the seating situation was a bit of a mess. Riko and Suguru managed to get a seat beside one
another, but Satoru sat in another row entirely. Though he made sure to check every row to
ensure there wasn’t any danger, it was still the smartest move to have at least one of them by
Riko’s side. And Suguru was sure they might have had to stop the plane entirely if Riko and
Satoru had sat together.

The flight is long, and Suguru dislikes the fact that he can’t sit with Satoru to speak with him
throughout the whole flight. However, he does steal glances back toward him through the
cracks in the seats every so often. Not only that, but Satoru doesn’t seem to have any interest
in messaging Suguru.

But there’s more. Satoru has not released his cursed technique since the flight took off, his six
eyes constantly scanning for danger.

Nevertheless, they arrive in Okinawa in the early midnight hours without any trouble. The
rescue mission itself is pretty much a blur, considering the ones who orchestrated it had been
nothing more than half-baked sorcerers.

After that, they’d checked into a two-bed hotel for the night and pretty much crashed the
moment they got there. Suguru had been looking forward to sleeping beside Satoru again at
the very least. But Satoru never slept. He stayed awake through the night to keep watch over
everyone, and it was starting to grow concerning. Despite Suguru’s insistence for him to get
some sleep, Satoru remained awake all night.

Despite his sleepless night, Satoru somehow had the energy to suggest a beach trip as a way
to ease the tensions the day before had brought them. Satoru and Riko choose the water to
splash around in while Suguru and Misato take to a spot in the sand with some shade atop a
blanket and some beach bags they’d brought with some snacks and drinks. Suguru watches
them mess around from a distance, still a bit hesitant to join Satoru after the little incident in
the alleyway back in Tokyo.
The waves serve as a calming backdrop to the chaos of the day, bringing Suguru a bit of relief
as he watches the water sway back and forth across the sand. But what warms his heart even
further is the way that Satoru and Riko…seem to be getting along.

“I can’t believe I got captured by the Star Religious Group. And worse yet, by a non-
sorcerer,” Misato says, looking over at Suguru. “I’m just so ashamed of myself…”

“You couldn’t help it if they caught you off guard like that,” Suguru assures her. “Part of the
blame lies with me too,” he admits. “I shouldn’t have left you by yourself.”

“Was I really caught off guard? I thought I was on high alert after the incident with Q. I still
don’t have much recollection of when I was captured. And you guys came here by plane?
Were you okay? You weren’t attacked?”

“Satoru’s got some good eyes on him…he made sure to inspect everyone on the plane before
we took off,” Suguru replies. “And I used one of my curses to keep watch throughout the
whole flight. But what I’m confused about is why they’d choose Okinawa as the exchange
spot. It’s so far away…”

“I’d assume to buy time,” Misato suggests. “Even if they fail to kill Riko, they could keep her
from making it back in time for the deadline,” she says.

“If that were the goal, why not just choose a rural area with poor transit infrastructure?”
Suguru questions.

“Maybe they’re planning to take over the airport and attack us when we try to go home,
trapping us here,” Misato says, starting to come up with all the worst scenarios in her head.

“That’s a possibility,” Suguru reasons and then pulls a little smile, looking toward Misato.
“But we’re gonna be fine. The school sent some backup yesterday. They’re a bit behind us
but they’ll be on the lookout during our time here,” he says.

A horrid shrieking bout of laughter erupts from in front of the two, revealing the sight of
Satoru holding a sea cucumber in his hands. “It’s a sea cucumber!” he exclaims, laughing
hysterically as it sloshes around like jelly in his fingers. Riko can only laugh with him as she
gawks at the creature.

“Gross!” she squeals as she presses on its body, causing it to spew out a white stringy
substance. “Ah! That’s so gross!”

Satoru grins and then reaches into the water for another. “Too gross for you, huh?” he says,
holding the two sea cucumbers out at her. Riko shrieks again, running away as Satoru runs
after her, waving around the poor creatures. “Get over here! This is for being a little brat!”

It’s moments like these that Suguru is reminded that he and Satoru are still both teens
themselves, and especially that Satoru has a bright and fun-loving side beyond all his
frustrations. Suguru smiles as he watches the two, his heart beginning to flutter.
“Should we really be vacationing like this?” Misato asks over the sounds of their laughter
and splashing.

“Satoru suggested it, actually,” Suguru answers. “It seems to me like he’s starting to care
about Riko…and this is his way of showing that.” He raises a knee, resting his elbow atop it
while holding his chin. “I just wish he’d stop caring so much about being wrong…”

“Yeah…he seemed really upset about all this before. They kind of look like brother and sister
out there, don’t they?” Misato says with a little laugh.

“They do…” Suguru replies. “But…we really shouldn’t linger too long. Satoru really wants
to try and limit the danger you and Riko will be in,” he says, recalling back to the mistake he
made the day before—and the reason Satoru was upset with him. “Satoru!” he calls out as he
witnesses him clobber Riko straight in the face with a sea cucumber, knocking her into the
water. “We should start heading back!”

The laughter and smiles stop when Suguru says this, and a look of disappointment is evident
on Riko’s face even at a distance. Satoru, noticing this, glances down at her and then back at
Suguru. “Suguru, let’s head back tomorrow morning, yeah? We already got a hotel room and
everything, and we’ll make it back in time before midnight,” he says, sounding like a child
begging for extra time on a video game.

Riko perks again at his suggestion, an excited smile on her face and Misato gets up to go to
the water. Satoru, on the other hand, approaches the beach, walking up to Suguru as he
stands. “I thought you wanted to get back to the school as soon as possible,” Suguru says.

Satoru looks to the side, realizing he’ll probably have to admit to being an asshole but he
postpones it as long as he can. “The weather’s holding steady, right? Besides…there are
fewer curse-users in Okinawa than there are in Tokyo,” Satoru says, attempting to make it
sound like this would be the most logical decision instead of going back.

Suguru gives him a look and then steps right in front of him, only a couple inches between
the two. “First off, admit that you were wrong about all of this,” he says, crossing his arms as
he narrows his eyes. “And that you acted like an asshole yesterday.”

Satoru sighs, looking away from Suguru’s chiding stare. “Okay, fine. I’m sorry I was an
asshole yesterday,” he says reluctantly.

“Good,” Suguru replies. “Now then. Second off.” He leans in a bit closer. “You haven’t
released your technique since yesterday, have you? You haven’t slept either,” Suguru says,
his eyes softening. “And you don’t plan to sleep tonight, do you? Are you sure we shouldn’t
go back?”

Satoru gives him a playful punch in the chest, urging him to back up a bit. “It’s not a
problem,” he groans, trying to ease Suguru’s worries but Suguru grabs onto his wrist.

“I’m worried about you,” Suguru says, staring at the tiredness he can see beginning to pull at
the corners of Satoru’s eyes. He reaches forward with his other hand, sliding down his
sunglasses so he can see his eyes better. “Your eyes aren’t as vibrant as usual…” His voice is
so gentle, enough to lightly caress Satoru’s heart as they share a moment of vulnerable eye
contact.

Satoru sighs, looking away from Suguru's penetrating gaze. "I appreciate the concern,
Suguru, but we've got a lot on our plate right now. I can handle a night without sleep. We'll
get through this, and then I'll rest. And besides…you’re here with me too."

Suguru tightens his grip on Satoru's wrist, not satisfied with the response. "You can't keep
pushing yourself like this. If you’re not in good shape, it affects all of us."

Satoru chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. "Wow, Suguru, you sound like you care about
me."

Suguru rolls his eyes but doesn't let go. "I do care about you, and that’s not a joke."

Satoru's expression softens, and he relents, giving Suguru a small smile. "All right, all right.
I'll consider taking a nap or something later. Happy now?"

Suguru nods, satisfied with the concession. "Much better. Now, let's enjoy what's left of our
day," he says and finally lets go of Satoru’s wrist.

Riko, who had been carefully eyeing the display—with much more intrigue than Misato—
gives out a little giggle and Satoru whips around. “Hey, what’re you laughing at over there?
Don’t make me get the sea cucumbers again!” He runs past Suguru and back into the water to
join Riko and Misato.

Suguru finally allows a smile onto his lips as he watches the life return to both their eyes and
they begin to play once more in the water. Suguru observes them once more from a distance,
watching as the chase between Satoru and Riko starts up once more, even Misato joining in
on the fun. After a few minutes, Satoru looks over toward Suguru and waves him down.
“Hey, come join us!” he yells over to him.

Suguru’s smile grows, a strange feeling spreading through him that he doesn’t recognize,
something deeper than just happiness. He shakes his head but decides to join them anyway.
Their laughter swells again as the waves splash at their legs. Water flies into the air as Satoru
flings some at Suguru and a huge splash fight ensues. The echoes of their laughter go on into
the afternoon until Riko suggests another activity to add to their day: canoeing on the river.

And so they do. After leaving the beach, their next destination is a nearby wildlife reserve
with a canoe rental. Riko insists upon sharing her canoe with Satoru, and Suguru doesn’t dare
to object. Misato is good company anyway, and he does enjoy watching the way Satoru and
Riko interact with one another. The wilderness is peaceful, chirping and humming in the
gentle midday, accompanied by the calming sound of water as it sloshes around their oars.

As they glide along the serene river in their canoes, Suguru can't help but appreciate the
tranquility of the moment. The lush greenery surrounds them, creating a peaceful oasis away
from the chaos of his usual life. The rhythmic sound of paddles dipping into the water
provides a soothing melody, punctuated by occasional laughter and conversation.
Suguru and Misato navigate their canoe with ease, exchanging casual conversation and
enjoying the beauty of the natural scenery. Meanwhile, ahead of them, Satoru and Riko share
a canoe, their growing dynamic evident in their playful interactions. Suguru observes them, a
subtle warmth settling in his chest at the sight of Satoru's carefree laughter and Riko's
infectious joy. The worries and challenges that had burdened them just hours ago now seem
distant as they immerse themselves in the simplicity of the present moment.

For once, his thoughts are quiet—not silent and foreboding, but much like the river and the
surrounding woods, filled with a calm that hums like background noise in the back of his
mind. Right now, nothing hurts. Nothing is dark and painful. In fact, this moment leaves such
an impact on Suguru’s psyche that he can hardly remember what that feels like anymore. He
doesn’t have the need to smoke a cigarette and there isn’t a note of panic to be found in his
chest. All he can feel is…tranquility.

As Suguru paddles through the gentle currents, the rhythmic dip of the oars becomes a
meditation, a cadence that syncs with the beating of his heart. The dense foliage overhead
creates a verdant canopy, filtering sunlight that dapples the water's surface. Despite the
punctuation of chatter around him, Suguru finds himself immersed in a reflective silence.

The natural beauty surrounding him acts as a mirror, reflecting not only the lush scenery but
also the inner landscape of his thoughts. The weight of responsibility that often hangs over
his head momentarily lifts, allowing Suguru to appreciate the simple pleasure of navigating
that canoe through the winding river.

Glancing over at Satoru and Riko in the adjacent canoe, Suguru is struck by the genuine
smiles on their faces, the unbridled laughter that reverberates through the forest. It's a stark
contrast to the usual gravity of their missions and the constant vigilance required in their line
of work. In this moment, Suguru realizes that there's more to life than the pursuit of strength
and the relentless battle against curses.

The beauty of the present moment unfolds before him, and Suguru, typically reserved and
analytical, begins to unravel the layers of his own emotions. There's a warmth in his chest, a
feeling of fulfillment that goes beyond the satisfaction of completing a mission. It's the
simplicity of gliding along the river that stirs something profound within him.

As the canoes meander through the winding river, they encounter a peaceful stretch adorned
with overhanging branches and the gentle rustle of leaves. Satoru, ever the adventurous spirit,
suggests they take a moment to dock their canoes and explore their surroundings on foot.
Suguru agrees, appreciating the chance to stretch his legs and absorb the serenity of the
forest.

The group ventures into the heart of the reserve, surrounded by towering trees and the
symphony of nature. Suguru finds himself caught in the infectious energy of the moment. His
senses swirl with a breath of euphoria as the smell of nature greets his nose and Satoru’s
voice fills his ears as he points out little insects and spiders. They spot different types of birds
and flora, each moment carving an intricate brand in Suguru’s mind that he’ll likely be
reminded of for the rest of his life.
Their next destination leads them to the flower garden within the reserve. This time, Satoru
decides to take the back seat, allowing Misato and Riko some time to themselves as they
begin to frolic along the paths while Satoru and Suguru maintain their distance, watching
them giggle and chat together.

Suguru is reminded of what Misato told him the day before, how she’s the only real family
that Riko has. Observing their interactions together brings a deep sense of gratification to
him, as though he’s done the right thing in allowing this day to continue as it has.

As Suguru observes Misato and Riko exploring the vibrant flower garden, a subtle smile
plays on his lips. The kaleidoscope of colors surrounding them seems to reflect the newfound
hues of his own emotions. He appreciates the laughter echoing through the air, the carefree
steps that dance among the blossoms.

Glancing sideways, Suguru finds Satoru beside him, both contentedly silent as they witness
the joyous scene unfolding. The connection shared between the two girls seems to mirror
what Suguru feels with Satoru, a bond that extends beyond the battlefield into the mundanity
of ordinary moments, though this is far from ordinary to Suguru.

Satoru, sensing Suguru's introspective mood, nudges him playfully. "Enjoying the view,
Suguru?" he teases, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Suguru chuckles, a rare display of levity. "I suppose I am," he replies, his gaze lingering on
the flowers and the laughter that weaves through the garden.

The fragrant blooms and the delicate petals seem to hold a profound beauty that transcends
the ephemeral nature of their battles. Suguru contemplates the significance of these moments,
the fragility and resilience of life encapsulated in the delicate petals surrounding them.

As Misato and Riko walk, their faces adorned with genuine smiles, Suguru feels a quiet
affirmation. The mission to protect, the battles fought against curses—all of it finds meaning
in these simple, shared moments.

Satoru, attuned to the nuances of Suguru's thoughts, gives him a knowing look. "Not bad for
a detour, huh?" he remarks, his tone light but carrying a depth of understanding.

“I’m having a great time…” Suguru admits and then looks toward Satoru. He glances ahead
at Riko and Misato, making note of their distance before reaching beside him and grabbing
hold of Satoru’s hand, lacing their fingers together.

Despite the fact that neither of them has yet had the chance to share much of their feelings for
one another, Suguru has longed to feel Satoru’s fingers between his own again, just like he
had that fateful night they shared together which still dances on the edges of his mind. But he
can’t bring himself to care about the complexities of their situation right now. He just knows
that all he wants is to hold Satoru’s hand.

Satoru, taken aback by the gesture, looks down at their intertwined hands, a blush creeping
onto his cheeks.
The warmth of their intertwined fingers sends a gentle current through Satoru's being, calling
back to memory the night they shared as well. The touch is a silent affirmation, a bridge
between unspoken sentiments. As their hands find each other, Suguru steals a glance at
Satoru, catching the subtle blush coloring his cheeks.

Satoru, usually the embodiment of confidence and playfulness, seems momentarily disarmed
by the boldness of the gesture. His vibrant eyes meet Suguru's, revealing a vulnerability that
peeks through his usual mask.

"Guess we're making our own detour," Satoru comments with subtle laughter, his tone light
but carrying a hint of something more. He tightens his grip on Suguru's hand, the unspoken
connection grounding them amidst the floral beauty surrounding the group.

Their journey continues through the garden and to the seaside boardwalk where they decide
on lunch at a nearby stand. The adventure is put on hold as they enjoy their food together.
Even here, Satoru continues his antics, nearly succeeding in dumping hot sauce into Riko’s
noodles before she noticed and smacked the bottle out of his hand.

He was then forced to clean the mess.

The day draws into evening, the clouds painted with an enticing red glow as the group of four
find themselves drawn to an aquarium. It’s massive, dark but illuminated by the lights inside
the tanks housing the tropical fishes.

Once more, Suguru is pulled into the marvels around him, standing by Satoru’s side as they
watch Riko explore the Kuroshio Sea exhibit. Her body glows in the illumination coming off
the water inside the tank, bathing her in a soft blue light. The shadows of whale sharks and
other schools of fish fall over her skin as she observes them, filled to the brim with life as
they circle their tank about as big as the sea itself.

As Riko wanders through the aquarium, the vibrant marine life captivates her attention. The
Kuroshio Sea exhibit, in particular, holds a unique allure. The soft glow of the tank's
illumination casts an otherworldly hue on her surroundings. As she stands before the colossal
tank, watching the majestic whale sharks and schools of fish gracefully navigate the waters, a
quiet revelation begins to dawn upon her.

For so long, Riko has been tethered to the weight of her role as a potential sacrifice. The
looming deadline of assimilating with Tengen, the fear of being hunted by those who seek her
for their own gain—it has been a constant shadow over her existence. Yet, as she witnesses
the intricate dance of marine life, a newfound appreciation for the beauty and vitality of the
world takes root within her.

The shadows of the sea creatures play across her skin, and for the first time, Riko feels a
profound connection to the life teeming within the exhibit. The underwater canvas of colors,
the graceful movements of the creatures—it's all a light within the darkness and fear that
have defined much of her recent past.

Beside her, Satoru's genuine enthusiasm for the marine spectacle is infectious. He points out
different species, sharing tidbits of information with a playful energy that momentarily
distracts her from the weight of her fate. As he gazes at her with a warmth that seems so
genuine, Riko senses a glimmer of something she hadn't expected—hope.

Satoru's carefree spirit, his ability to find joy in the simplest moments, begins to chip away at
the walls around Riko's heart. The aquarium becomes a mirror of Riko's soul, a place where
she confronts the possibility that there might be more to life than the predetermined path she
has reluctantly embraced.

Suguru is captivated by the interplay of shadows and light, the underwater world casting its
spell on both the marine creatures and those observing. The sheer scale of the exhibit,
resembling a sea in miniature, leaves Suguru in awe.

Satoru watches Riko with a fondness that Suguru can't help but appreciate. The genuine smile
on Satoru's face reflects something deep inside that Suguru has longed to see from him;
compassion and understanding for even the most insignificant of lives. It all has meaning.

As the group explores other exhibits, Riko finds herself drawn to a tank filled with jellyfish.
Their ethereal movements, the way they drift through the water with a delicate grace, evoke a
sense of wonder within her in contrast to the rigid expectations that have governed her life.

In her quiet moments of contemplation, Riko begins to entertain the idea that perhaps she
wants to live. The richness of the world around her, her shared laughter with newfound
friends, and the warmth of Satoru's presence all contribute to a growing realization—there is
beauty in living for oneself, not solely as a sacrifice for others.

"It's incredible, isn't it?" Satoru remarks, his gaze fixed on the mesmerizing dance of the
jellyfish.

Suguru nods in agreement, keeping a subtle watch of Misato and Riko nearby. “Yeah…”
Suguru says. “Hey…I wanted to tell you something.” He turns his head toward Satoru. “I
think…I’m starting to understand what you meant yesterday…when you were trying to say
that not everything you do has to have a reason—even being a sorcerer,” Suguru admits.
“You just do it because…you want to, right? It’s your life…and it makes you happy—
fulfilled. Is that what you were trying to tell me?”

Satoru offers a gentle smile, leaning into Suguru. “Now you’re getting it…” he says.

Suguru turns to Satoru at that. “What about me then?” Suguru asks, now standing in front of
Satoru as he stares at him, cast in the glow of different colors of jellyfish and the prominent
blue of the water.

“Huh?” Satoru asks.

“I do need a reason to do this,” Suguru says. “Because otherwise…I see nothing fulfilling
about what we do. My mind ventures to such dark places if I think about not doing this for
the sake of helping other people,” he admits in a moment of vulnerability, even concern for
himself on his face.
Satoru's expression softens as he hears Suguru's candid admission. The ambient glow of the
jellyfish accentuates the vulnerability in Suguru's eyes. The weight of their shared
experiences and the lives they've touched—all of it hangs in the air as Suguru lays bare his
inner conflict.

"I get it, Suguru," Satoru responds, his voice soothing. "We're different in that way. You find
purpose in helping others, and that's admirable. But remember, it's okay to find joy and
fulfillment in the small moments too, even if they don't come with a grand purpose."

Satoru takes Suguru's hands into his own, interlacing their fingers again. "I'm not saying you
have to abandon your reasons. Just...don't forget to live a little for yourself. It's not a
weakness to seek happiness in being a little selfish."

Suguru gazes into Satoru's eyes, the play of light from the jellyfish creating an almost
ethereal atmosphere around them. The realization dawns on Suguru that maybe, just maybe,
there's room for both purpose-driven actions and the pursuit of personal joy.

"I'll try," Suguru admits, a subtle smile playing on his lips. In that quiet moment, surrounded
by the enchanting beauty of the aquarium, a shared understanding blossoms between them,
one that caused conflict before.

As they continue to explore the aquarium, Suguru carries with him a newfound perspective.
The glow of the jellyfish illuminates not only the aquatic wonders around them but also the
possibility of finding balance amidst the responsibilities they shoulder. The journey through
the darkened halls becomes a metaphorical dive into the depths of their hearts, revealing
layers of emotion and connection that go beyond the confines of duty.

The echoes of laughter and the soft glow of the jellyfish create a symphony of emotions, a
harmonious blend of purpose and personal fulfillment. And as they exit the aquarium, Suguru
takes a silent vow to navigate the currents of his own desires while continuing to stand by
Satoru's side in the turbulent sea of their shared existence.

The night dawns upon them, ushering them back to their hotel along the beach of Okinawa,
offering a serene seaside view of the tropical landscape. Though, the day has brought more
than enough views to appreciate and upon returning to their shared room, Riko and Misato
pass out pretty quickly after changing into something more comfortable.

Satoru and Suguru, however, remain awake. Satoru takes a cautious peek out the window
before drawing the curtains closed. Suguru, reading a book on one side of the bed beneath the
dim lighting of his bedside lamp, steals a glance at Satoru. “Are you going to sleep tonight?
You never got the chance to nap like you said earlier,” Suguru points out and then pats the
bed beside him. “It’s comfortable…and I’ll hold you,” he adds, trying to make the offer
sound more tempting to Satoru, though he still seems reluctant.

Satoru glances over at Suguru, a mix of weariness and stubbornness in his expression. "I'm
fine, really. I can catch up on sleep later," he says, trying to downplay the obvious signs of
fatigue settled on his eyelids.
 Suguru closes his book, setting it aside, and shifts closer to the edge of the bed. "You know,
it's not a weakness to take care of yourself," he remarks, his voice gentle but firm. "You've
been running on empty for too long. A good night's sleep won't make you any less of a
sorcerer."

Satoru huffs a small laugh, running a hand through his hair. "You're starting to sound like
Yaga."

"Maybe because he's right," Suguru replies with a smirk. "Come on, Satoru. Just for tonight,
let yourself rest."

Satoru's gaze lingers on Suguru for a moment before he finally relents. With a sigh, he moves
to the side of the bed and sits down, leaning against the headboard. Suguru scoots closer, and
without further hesitation, Satoru lies down, his head resting on Suguru's chest. Satoru can
hear Suguru’s heartbeat start to pick up at his closeness, but decides against commenting on
it.

Suguru runs his fingers through Satoru's hair in soothing motions. The quiet of the room is
only interrupted by the rhythmic sounds of the waves outside. The warmth of their shared
space envelops them, creating a sanctuary away from the chaos they usually face.

As Satoru starts to drift into sleep, Suguru whispers, "Rest well, Satoru. We've earned it."

With Satoru's breathing evening out, Suguru closes his eyes, allowing the gentle lull of the
ocean waves to accompany their shared repose. He was going to try and put Satoru’s mind at
ease by keeping watch in the night, but couldn’t help answering sleep’s call, oblivious when
Satoru was forced awake by his paranoia a few hours later, keeping him awake the remainder
of the night.

Chapter End Notes

sobbing because we all know what happens next. also i tried really hard to characterize
everyone's beliefs and emotions throughout the fun-day montage scene so i hope i did
well :DDD also two chapters in one day help i need to not sit like a cashew for hours

i also did not bother proof reading either of the last couple chapters, forgive me if there
are errors i eepy
 A Thousand Deaths Could Not Compare
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

For a long time, I had considered the possibility of one day caring for and raising children of
my own. I never quite indulged in thoughts of such a lofty future. But the prospect of
children always seemed to set my heart at ease. I never venture to any thought past that—
such as where we’d live or with whom I’d raise those children. Or maybe I might be on my
own. Though, ever since meeting Satoru Gojo, I had this premonition, that perhaps the one
standing beside me in my future might be him. This might be much less a premonition and
more a fervent dream.

For whatever reason, the night I held Satoru in my arms, I felt that dream cross paths with my
mind once more. Suddenly, this pictureless future became etched into my mind as the
painting of a loving home and a family—with him—with Satoru. Everything coalesses into
this wonderful thing—this hope that perhaps I might be able to reach that burning image in
my head.

I lag toward the back of the group as the four of us approach the torii gates lining the entrance
to our school and I feel so very vacant as I watch Riko and Satoru walk side by side. Even
exhausted, he still finds a way to be so full of life as he bumps his body into her, maintaining
his teasing and laughter. But I can feel it—a bond that’s begun to grow between the two, even
after just the short time we’d all spent together.

Observing the interactions between Satoru and Riko, a subtle ache tugs at my chest. Despite
their jovial moods, a hollow feeling pervades my being. Satoru, blissfully unaware, continues
to weave his magnetic charm, drawing others into his orbit with jokes and laughter.

Yet, beneath the surface, I sense the weight Riko carries, an impending destiny that hangs
over her like a shadow. The dichotomy between carefree laughter and my own somber
undertones acts almost as a mirror to the two futures I see inside my head.

There’s this certain look to Riko Amanai’s gaze, something befitting a person who’s about to
lose everything. This vision I have each time I see her and him side by side, it both comforts
and unnerves me. For its clarity contrasts with what I know to be the reality of my life and
the labyrinthine future I’ve always faced.

In the quiet recesses of my contemplation, I question the authenticity of the dreams I harbor.
Can the visions of a shared future with Satoru withstand the barrier of our lives as Jujutsu
sorcerers? The torii gates, symbolic of transitions, stand before me as I navigate the delicate
dance between the present and the indistinct future that lies ahead.

In an instant, it’s all decided for me, as though Fate, like the cruel bitch she is, has reached
down with her own bare hands and shoved us apart. The divide comes in the shape of a
sword piercing Satoru’s heart the moment he turns around to face me, his technique
unraveling right before my eyes just like the rest of his composure.
Blood oozes around the blade shoved in his back and peeking from his chest. I stand frozen
as I watch the pain in his eyes flip like a switch to confident stoicism. “Excuse me…have we
met before?” he asks, still attempting to make jokes as he’s impaled.

“Satoru!”

The worm-like curse I house within my stockpile springs forth from the black, targeting
Satoru’s assailant who I’d only just barely caught a glimpse of before the curse slams them
against a nearby boulder.

I then rush toward Satoru. Despite the panic eating away at me, still, I can somehow picture
this battle being easily-won. Before I can get too close, Satoru holds out a hand to stop me.
“Don’t. Just take Amanai and Kuroi and get into the school. Now,” he says. “I can handle
this.”

“Stop trying to do everything all on your own for once. You’ve just been stabbed straight
through, let me help, Satoru,” I protest, every word rippling through me with all the rage I
can muster.

“Calm down, the blade missed my vitals,” Satoru replies. “I didn’t make it in time with my
technique, but I did manage to take it with some cursed energy.”

I stand my ground, the muscles in my face pulling tight. “I’m not leaving you here,” I retort.

Satoru turns away toward my curse now lying motionless atop the boulder, its long body
strung along its mass. “I’m fine. Seriously. Prioritize getting Amanai and Kuroi to the
basement.”

This is not the first time I’ve felt my will falter. I felt it back then too—back when Misato
begged me to go after Riko to ensure her safety. My conscience begs me to stay while Satoru
begs me to leave, and there isn’t enough time in a second to decide which of them to obey. In
disbelief, I find myself grabbing both Riko and Misato, sprinting as fast as my legs can carry
me through the pathway.

Thoughts of what would have been the correct decision swirl in my head like noxious fumes
and they continue to infect my mind as the three of us come upon the barrier leading to
Tengen-sama’s holding chamber. I wonder for a long moment if I should break away to go
and find someone—anyone, just to warn them about Satoru’s predicament.

Still, despite the screams beginning to wail in the back of my mind, I just continue onward. I
want to have faith in Satoru, yet I can’t stop remembering the exhaustion in his eyes before
taking off from Okinawa this morning. He told me he only slept a few hours.

It all feels wrong. I should never have left his side and yet I find myself already descending
the elevator to Tengen’s chamber. The hum of the machinery serves only as a nagging hum to
accompany my racing thoughts. But then Riko breaches the chaos. “Is…Satoru going to be
okay?” she asks.
Hesitantly, my gaze drops toward her and my chest aches as I see the worried look in her
eyes. Against my better judgment, I respond, “He’ll be just fine. We need to focus on getting
you to your destination…we’re almost there.”

Riko goes quiet again, almost as though she’s afraid to keep asking about him and I thank her
silently for that. I’m not sure I have the resolve to continue putting my faith in a positive
outcome out there. But Riko needs to spend her last moments feeling like she left him alive,
so I do what I can to seem assured of his victory.

Then, the elevator reaches the basement. A few steps later, Misato’s voice echoes into the
hall. “Riko,” she says. “This is as far as I go.”

Riko turns around to face her and I observe the knowing looks in their eyes as they come to
terms with what happens next. They crash into one another, breaking down into tears and
sobs that resonate through those empty halls. I stand in the background, allowing them their
moment with each other—a chance to say goodbye. I briefly wonder if I’ll ever get that
chance with Satoru, though I make an attempt to drive out such thoughts.

“I love you, Kuroi,” Riko cries out.

“I love you too, Riko—I love you so much.”

Will I ever get to say those words to him? I turn away from the spectacle as I feel tears start
to well in my eyes. Then they turn away from one another and Misato steps back into the
elevator while Riko turns to follow me.

“Let’s go,” she says and we continue to walk toward her destiny.

Soon, we’re standing before the many doors and barriers of Tengen’s chamber, the root of his
tree springing up into the atrium. We stop and I turn to her. “This is it…” I say. But she can’t
take her eyes off of everything else. “Once you descend the stairs, find the base of the tree
and enter there.”

She’s silent for a long, uncomfortable moment. I can feel ants crawling under my skin as I
wonder again if Satoru is doing okay on the surface.

Her eyes are vacant with that same expression I saw when she was still laughing with Satoru
—deep contemplation and fear. She holds still, as if time itself has frozen her before she
speaks. “Suguru…after I’m gone and all of this is over…promise me you’ll tell Satoru how
you feel,” she says. “It’s hard…even though I’ve always known this was how things would
turn out for me, I still need some assurance that the world will go on without me,” she goes
on. “I need to know that good things will happen to both of you…so please…it’s my one
request.”

“I could do that…and you could carry your faith that I’ve made good on my promise until the
moment you become one with Tengen-sama…or we can turn back around…and go home
with Kuroi,” I suggest, shutting my eyes as disappointment in myself creeps in.
I promised myself from the end of that conversation I had with Satoru—about how Riko
might have a choice—that I would not interfere with her decision. But the look on her face,
that image of a happy family I kept envisioning, it all weighs on me, dismantling my will to
keep that promise. For once in this god-forsaken mission, I need to obey my conscience.

The sound of my words makes Riko lift her head, her eyes widening at the revelation. Finally,
she turns to me, her bright eyes, so full of life and youth, look at me like I’m some sort of
savior; as if her years of being weighed down by this burden are about to be lifted off her
shoulders.

“Huh…?”

“When our teacher first told us about this mission, he told us to erase you. I think he wanted
us to really grapple with the intensity of what we were doing. I understood that three days
ago. Satoru didn’t want me to get attached…because he wanted to do what would favor us in
the end. He knew that our teacher was attempting to make us see you as a human life. When
Satoru acted coldly with you, I think it was just his way of keeping a distance from it. But it
didn’t take him long to change his mind. He may act like this won’t affect him much…he
may not have outright said it, but I think Satoru cares about you. And I do too, Riko. And so
does Misato…” I explain to her as she gazes at me with wonderment in her eyes. “We are the
strongest,” I say. “No matter what decision you make, we’ll support you.”

She takes a moment, almost grappling with my words until she opens her mouth to speak. “I
have…always been special. Since the day I was born,” she says. “Everyone always told me
that I was different, even if I failed to see it. But it was my normal. And I spent my life
running from danger for the sake of this day. I don’t remember the day my family was taken
from me in that accident.” She pauses, considering her next words. “I always assumed that
I’d be fine…that once I was assimilated, I wouldn’t have to worry about coming to terms
with the life I’d been forced to live. Most of my memories are with Kuroi…attempting to live
a life I can call normal until this very day. I always held onto this hope that today would be
the end of the loneliness I’ve felt.” Riko looks off to the side. “But…yesterday, in that
aquarium we visited, as our day came to an end, suddenly I felt more alive than I ever have. I
felt a part of all the lives I once felt so distant from. I thought for just a split moment that
maybe…I could seize those feelings—take control of them and make my own life.” She
starts to tear up, closing her eyes as those same tears start to roll down her cheeks. “For once,
I felt like…I actually wanted to live—I do want to live, Suguru!” she cries out, her body
shaking as wracking sobs leave her. “I want to go places and try new things! I want to spend
more time with Kuroi! And I want to see you and Satoru live happily together!” Her sobs
build like waves breaking at a storm’s peak and her trembles uncover the profound emotions
spent far too long inside.

An unexpected smile finds its way to my lips as my dream draws closer. All that’s left is to
extend my hand toward it. I flip my palm, offering a tether to that life she desires, linked with
mine. “Let’s go home, Riko…” I reply softly, a ball of emotions beginning to form in my
throat.

She begins to wipe away her tears, looking at the lifeline I’ve offered to her. And with a
smile, she reaches back.
Pop.

Fate really is a cruel bitch.

Before I can even register what just happened, Riko’s body is already slamming against the
floor, blood pooling from her head. A bullet-sized wound in her temple steals away the future
we dared to dream.

Disbelief grips me as I stare at the lifeless body of someone who, just moments ago, was
animated with hope in her eyes. The weight of her words lingers, haunting me. "I want to
live...I want to see you and Satoru live happily together."

The echoes of Riko's laughter, her dreams, and the shared moments of our brief journey
together reverberate in my mind. The darkness of our mission has claimed her as its victim,
leaving me to face with the aftermath and an irrevocably altered future.

It’s all shattered before me, leaving only the harsh reality of her premature death bearing
down on me. For a moment, I stand frozen, as if all the life in my own body has drained away
with her and I can feel the blood leave my face. “Riko…?” I dare to ask her corpse as if that
would change a thing.

“Okay, job’s done,” a voice echoes into my desecrated sanctuary, tainting the happiness I
once felt.

My stunted hand lowers, the lifeline severed by this gunshot—this voice belonging to it.

“You’re free to go now.” The nonchalant voice scrapes against my eardrums and I nearly
break out into a violent rage but all I can do is tremble.

I slowly turn to face the voice that sounds so vaguely familiar.

“Don’t worry, I forget the names of guys I meet too.” That was its response to Satoru
earlier…wasn’t it? After the man standing before me stabbed him?

Panic drops from my throat and into my aorta, wrapping around my heart and squeezing with
all its strength. “Why are you here?” I ask. My voice is so quiet in the emptiness of the Star
Tomb compared to the typhoon inside me.

The man with short hair and a scarred lip who looks back at me scratches his head. He seems
so indifferent holding onto the gun he just used to kill Riko. “Why?” he asks. “Oh…I get
what you mean.” He pulls a wide grin, as if this spectacle is the most amusing thing in the
world. “Because I killed Satoru Gojo.”

A chilling silence envelops the Star Tomb as the weight of his words settles over me. The
very air in the chamber seems to thicken, stifling any attempt at normal breathing. The
audacious proclamation sends shockwaves through my core, and I feel a storm of conflicting
emotions surging within.

"You're lying," I manage to utter, my voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and utter denial.
"Satoru can't be killed that easily."
The man's grin widens, mocking and devoid of empathy. He seems to revel in the chaos he's
sown. "He put up a good fight, I'll give him that. But in the end, he couldn't escape the
inevitable." He casually gestures toward Riko's lifeless form. "Just like her."

The world around me warps, and I find myself on the precipice of an abyss. Satoru, the
indomitable force that defined our existence as Jujutsu sorcerers, has fallen. The anchor that
held me steady in the turbulent seas of life and curses has been severed, and I'm left adrift in
a tempest of uncertainty.

"Why?" The question escapes my lips, choked with grief and anger. "What purpose does
killing them serve?"

The man chuckles, a callous sound that grates on my nerves. "It's a job. Orders from above,
you know? Can't argue with that. The Star Religious Group decided it was time to clean
house with that girl, so here I am. But killing Satoru Gojo was more of a personal goal of
mine."

The revelation is a bitter pill to swallow. The whims of those in power, the callous decisions
that dictate the lives of sorcerers and the cursed alike, lay bare before me.

"Clean house?" I repeat, my fists clenching at my sides.

A surge of rage courses through me, fueling a burning desire for retribution. The boundaries
between right and wrong blur as the raw emotion threatens to consume me. The Star Tomb
transforms into a battlefield for the remnants of my shattered life, the pieces scattered around
me.

As the man with the scarred lip watches my internal struggle with detached amusement, the
resolve to kill him claws at my body, begging for me to bend to its will. Satoru may be gone,
and Riko lost to a senseless act, but their memory ignites a flame of defiance.

"You’ll die," I declare, my voice firm with rage like I’ve never felt in my entire life.

I send forth some of my strongest curses, Rainbow Dragon and Kuchisake-Onna, the Slit-
Mouthed Woman. Kuchisake-Onna disappears, blending into the labyrinth of halls that make
up the Star Tomb while Rainbow Dragon flies forward, grabbing the assailant into its mouth
as it then flies around the atrium of the tomb, slamming the man into a wall.

The Star Tomb reverberates with the furious clash between curses and the relentless assault
of my vengeful onslaught. Rainbow Dragon, a manifestation of my wrath, spirals through the
atrium, carrying the man with the scarred lip in its grasp. The echoes of his grunts of pain
harmonize with the crescendo of hatred boiling inside me.

The man, now at the mercy of my relentless curses, struggles against the spectral grip of
Rainbow Dragon. The scarred lip twists into a grimace as he attempts to break free, but my
curse holds him fast, determined to extract a semblance of justice from the chaos that has
unfolded.
"You thought you could take everything from me and escape unscathed?" I seethe, my voice
a guttural growl that mirrors the wrath consuming me. "You won't leave this place alive."

The man breaks free from Rainbow Dragon’s hold as he lets out a cursed weapon from the
curse wrapped around his body, cutting straight through Rainbow Dragon’s hide. “You
shouldn’t be so damn cocky,” the man replies, plummeting toward me as he throws my body
into one of the shoji doors, encapsulating me in the maze of halls where I know Kuchisake-
Onna hides in wait.

I scramble to my feet, shaking out a fighting position as the assassin approaches me. “There
was another woman in here with us. What happened to her?” I ask.

“Oh…the one in the maid outfit,” the man replies. “Yeah, she’s probably dead…I didn’t
bother checking but she’ll be lucky if she’s alive.”

I growl again but hold back my rage as time slows and the assailant falls into Kuchisake-
Onna’s domain. “Tell me…” she whispers to him. “Do you think I’m pretty…?” she asks in a
haunting, distorted voice.

Her technique forces non-hostility onto the target until he answers the question and by the
look in his eye, it seems he’s beginning to figure that out. “Hmm…let’s see…to be honest,
you’re not really my type,” he says.

Kuchisake-Onna’s slices begin to tear away at the man with the scarred lip’s skin, creating
slices in his hair and around his face. But since he’s answered the question, he’s free to move,
drawing a new weapon and slashing away at all the scissors that had appeared around him
due to her technique.

“It’s over,” the man says.

“For you,” I reply as I run up behind him, my hand outstretched to absorb the curse he
continues drawing weapons from.

But it doesn’t work, an unknown force breaking the two of us apart, and then searing hot pain
I can hardly register as I watch the wounds being inflicted upon my body. This evil man
carves into my skin through my clothes, leaving behind gaping wounds in my chest and
upper body. Disoriented, I’m thrown to the ground as the man’s foot collides with my
stomach, leaving me helpless.

He stands over my body, victorious. “I didn’t cut deep enough to kill you.”

I’d already gathered as much, although the wounds prevent me from expending any further
energy to fight back. “I would’ve killed you…but since you use cursed manipulation, there’s
no telling what might happen to the curses you’ve absorbed. And I’m not stupid enough to
find out.”

He approaches me as my head rings, my body searing in agony along the lines of each cut he
made. I try to peel open my eyes, still reeling in pain and my vision blends and blurs as I
watch him step closer to me. “You had the blessing of parentage,” he says, kicking my face
so it jerks away from him. All I can do is grunt as his foot crushes into my jaw. “But even
with that blessing…you were all beaten by a monkey like me with no cursed energy. If you
want to live a long life, never forget that.”

I don’t know why he’s still speaking to me. His voice continues grinding into my flayed
nerves and my body trembles still, not just with pain but with the remnants of hatred and rage
that reside within me.

Finally, he turns to leave, allowing me a rare moment of peace despite the pain. I lie there in a
slowly-forming pool of my own blood. I attempt to summon the strength to get up, perhaps
retaliate, to rise against the tormentor who revels in my suffering. Yet, my body rebels, the
pain serving as a cruel reminder of my limitations. The man's final admonition echoes in my
ears, a venomous reminder of my inadequacy.

With every labored breath, I inch closer to the precipice of consciousness. The Star Tomb
seems to loom over my body, hanging the weight of lost lives over me and I’m helpless to do
a thing about it.

I allow my eyes to slip shut, and for a moment, I wished that man would have finished me off
too. How am I to return to a normal life on the surface without Satoru? To fathom it seems
impossible, and I’d give almost anything for this place to be my tomb.

Behind my eyelids, the future I’ll never be able to seize flashes and my heart aches as the
assassin’s words tear at my mind. “I killed Satoru Gojo.”

I can’t begin to imagine that sight. Considering the condition in which he left me, I doubt he
was any less ruthless to him. A spark returns to me and by sheer adrenaline and will, I
manage to sit up. I feel the warmth of my blood trickle down my body as I stand to my feet.
My hair hangs disheveled in my face as I drag myself out of the labyrinth of the Star Tomb,
reaching the top of the stairs. I prepare myself for what I might see. But all that’s left behind
in Riko’s wake is a puddle of her blood.

My gut wrenches and tears prick my eyes. I hold my chest, trying to keep myself together as I
trudge past toward the hallway leading to the elevator. I spot a collapsed body in the distance
and can only assume it must be Misato. My lip quivers as I draw closer, holding the wall for
support and a quiet sob escapes me. I don’t even have the strength to drag her body out of
this place. All I can do is haul myself into the elevator and hit the button to reach the top.

I slide down the far wall of the elevator, trying to ignore the blood splattered inside that
clearly isn’t my own. He must have caught Misato when she reached the surface from below
and pushed her inside. My mind begins to flash with possibilities of each scenario while I
attempt to will those visions away.

A hot tear glides down my face, adding to the stinging warmth that accompanies the rest of
my body. My whimpers fill the quiet elevator as it makes its mechanical way to the surface
and look down at my hand clutching my wounds to see that I’m still shaking. I don’t think it
ever stopped.
The journey to the surface feels like an eternity, each passing moment weighed down by the
burden of loss and the haunting echoes of the Star Tomb. The elevator ascends, carrying with
it the remnants of shattered lives, leaving behind the labyrinthine depths that have become a
graveyard for dreams.

As I sit on the floor of the elevator, the stinging warmth of tears mingles with the blood that
adorns my battered body. The reality of the massacre I witnessed claws at my consciousness,
threatening to pull me into the abyss of despair. I close my eyes, attempting to shield myself
from the images that replay in the recesses of my mind.

The words, "I killed Satoru Gojo," reverberate through my thoughts again, a merciless
reminder of the cruelty that has befallen us. The pain of Satoru's absence, the loss of Riko's
newfound will to live, and the sight of Misato's lifeless form create an unbearable weight that
settles upon my shoulders.

As the elevator nears the surface, I brace myself for the harsh reality that awaits. The metallic
doors open, revealing the world outside the cursed depths. I drag my weary body forward,
guided by a mixture of determination and the gnawing emptiness that now occupies my soul.

The surface is an unwelcome juxtaposition to the horrors below. The air feels colder, the
world less forgiving, as if nature itself recoils from the darkness that has stained the Star
Tomb. I stumble toward the entrance of the cursed site, my steps faltering with the weight of
grief.

The sun hangs low on the horizon, casting long shadows that dance across the landscape. It's
a cruel irony—a world that continues to turn, indifferent to the anguish that has unfolded in
its depths. The beauty of the sunset clashes with the agony within, a harsh reminder of the
irreparable rift between the living and the lost.

I glance back at the entrance to the Star Tomb, a portal to a realm now tainted by blood and
sorrow. The realization that I am one of the few who emerged from that abyss intensifies the
solitude that envelops me. The friends and comrades who ventured with me are gone, leaving
only the echoes of their presence lingering in the recesses of my memory.

With each step away from the cursed depths, I carry the weight of a burdened survivor. As I
emerge into the fading light of day, I cast a final glance over my shoulder, a silent farewell to
the tomb that now holds the secrets of the fallen. The sun sinks below the horizon, casting the
world into darkness, and I continue forward, carrying a heavy toll within my fractured heart.

The journey feels like it takes a year, but I eventually reach the last place I saw Satoru. I
stumble from gate to gate as I make my way down the path, but I can see a massive crater in
the ground. And blood. So much blood.

“Suguru!” a panicked voice shouts.

I almost can’t recognize whether or not the voice is disembodied. I turn my head sluggishly
to find Shoko sprinting toward me. Despite her usual gloomy attitude, she looks startled.
“Suguru! Thank god you’re alive,” she says, relief wavering in her shaking voice. She looks
to be straining to hold back tears. “I’m so sorry. Let me help you.” Shoko lays her hands upon
my body, using her reverse cursed technique to heal the wounds and already I can feel some
energy beginning to seep back into me.

“Satoru—where is Satoru,” I say, hardly able to hold onto my breath. I feel humiliated. I
know she can see the tears I’ve already cried. I’ve staked so much to ensure no one would
ever have to see me in such a state.

“I have no idea,” Shoko replies. “A bunch of us ran to the entrance when we heard these loud
explosions.” Her hands shake as she turns her palms to stare at them. “There’s so much
blood, Suguru,” she says through a trembling voice, hardly able to speak her words clearly.

“I was told he’d been killed,” I reply, pushing past her. “I have to find his body.”

“W-Wait…the vessel, is she…”

“Riko and her family, Misato Kuroi are both dead, and Riko’s body has been taken,” I answer
as firmly as I can. I make my way to the crater in the ground and venture toward the center
with my regained strength.

The only thing waiting for me in the middle is a lake of what I can only assume is Satoru’s
blood. My vision goes blurry as tears brim at my eyes. “Satoru!” His name leaves in a scream
that shakes my body and scrapes against my throat. My breathing is ragged and I can feel the
grip of a panic attack starting to take me. I try in vain to will it away. There isn’t time to
break down. But my body simply ignores my desires to keep moving and I collapse to my
knees.

The realization of the devastating events that unfolded in the crater hits me with a force I can
hardly bear. The lake of blood, a macabre reflection of the life force that once animated
Satoru, serves as a haunting testament to the brutal fate that befell him. The weight of grief
presses down on me, threatening to crush my already shattered resolve.

"Satoru!" I call out his name once more, the echoes of my anguish reverberating through the
desolate landscape. My vision blurs as tears stream down my face, each drop carrying the
weight of an irreplaceable loss. The ground beneath me feels cold and unforgiving, mirroring
the emptiness that now resides within me. My breaths come out in shallow gasps every half
second and I hold onto my chest as I try to bring back what’s been lost—the air in my lungs,
Satoru, Riko and Misato. Their absence leaves a void in my chest and each breath rubs it raw,
irritating the wound.

Shoko stands a few paces away, her presence a silent witness to the devastation. The gravity
of the situation hangs in the air, heavy and suffocating. The healing touch she offered
moments ago seems futile in the face of the irreparable wounds inflicted on my heart.

I crawl toward the edge of the blood-stained crater, as if hoping to find some trace of Satoru
that defies the cruel reality. The crimson pool reflects the dimming light of the day, casting an
eerie glow over the scene of tragedy. My fingers run through the dark liquid, as if attempting
to grasp onto the remnants of a life extinguished too soon.
"Satoru...I'm sorry," I mutter through choked sobs. The words feel inadequate, unable to
convey the depth of remorse and regret that courses through me. I can't shake the feeling that
I failed him, that my inability to protect him led to this outcome.

Shoko approaches quietly, her solemn gaze reflecting the shared sorrow between us. "We
need to leave this place, Suguru. It's not safe, and we can't change what has happened," she
urges, her voice a gentle plea.

But I'm paralyzed by grief, anchored to the edge of the abyss that has claimed everything
dear to me. The reality of the losses endured crashes over me like relentless waves,
threatening to pull me under. In this desolate moment, surrounded by the remnants of a
shattered world, I find myself torn between the harsh truth and the desperate yearning for a
reality where Satoru's laughter still echoes in the air.

As Shoko offers a steadying hand, I cling to the edge of the crater, my heart heavy with the
weight of an unbearable emptiness. The echoes of Satoru's absence reverberate through the
desolation, a haunting melody that lingers in the silent aftermath of a tragedy that defies my
understanding.

My eyes trail around one more time before I prepare to take her hand. But then I catch a
glimpse of something else. More blood…but in the shape of footprints. My body goes cold as
I stare at them, unsure who they belong to. “Shoko, look…” I mutter over the silence, my
trembling hand pointing to the footprints.

“Suguru…that could belong to anyone.”

“It could belong to Satoru,” I say, desperate. “Or…the sick fuck that killed him.” I stand on
knees that feel like jelly. “Stay here…you should go to the basement and recover Misato’s
body…I doubt you can save her but…if there’s any life left in her, please try to save it,” I
plead.

“Are you sure you’re in any condition to go after that man?” Shoko asks. “Suguru, please…
you were barely clinging to life when I first saw you. If he takes you too, I’ll—”

“I have to.” Ignoring her cautionary words, I continue on, following the footsteps that
eventually fade into the dirt. If they lead anywhere, it’s to one of the Star Religious Group’s
organization buildings, no matter who they belong to.

I feel like a husk drifting through the streets of Tokyo as I make my way to the nearest
building. The sidewalks are mostly empty as I float toward my destination. But I’m cut short
in my path by the severed body of a cursed spirit. But I recognize it. It’s the same one that
had been wrapped around that man.

It drags its broken body toward me, looking at me with desperation in its disgusting eyes.
“Mo…mmy…” it stammers softly. “Help…me.”

I hold out my hand toward the curse and absorb it instantly. I ignore the foul taste as it goes
down my throat. A curse never tasted sweeter.
I approach the doors to the chapel and walk down the halls to reach the main room. In the
distance I can hear what must be the worst sound to ever enter my ears.

Clapping.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

The doors swing open and a crowd of worshippers all wear twisted smiles on their faces,
their hands clap, clap, clapping. The crowd parts and through them walks Satoru Gojo
carrying the small frame of a corpse all wrapped in a white sheet. His body is bathed in a
hallowed light that shines from above.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Her legs hang limp from inside the sheet.

Satoru is covered in blood and his eyes are expressionless.

They’re clapping for Riko Amanai’s dead body.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

“I want to live! I want to see you and Satoru live happily together!”

I see the tears of an unburdened soul cradled in eyes that carry a bright future.

I see her corpse cradled in Satoru’s arms.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

“For once, I felt like…I actually wanted to live!”

I see her unbridled heart cradled in a youthful body.

I see her corpse cradled in Satoru’s arms.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

I can’t feel anything at all.

“You’re late,” Satoru says in a voice I thought I’d never hear again. “Actually, you’re right on
time…considering how many other Star Religious buildings there are around here.”

“Satoru…” My voice hardly carries over the applause. “Is that you…?”
I’ve never seen such a lifeless look in those eyes. He may be standing before me in the flesh,
but another part of him is surely dead. I can see it. “What happened?” I ask.

“I see you already saw Shoko,” he says, ignoring my questions as though one should be a
given and the other…well…isn’t something he wants to answer right now.

“Yeah, she healed me…” I respond. “I’m fine now.”

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

Her arm slips from the sheet from the corner of my eyes and I can hardly look.

“I’m sorry…I should have stayed behind to help you,” I say, my eyes wrenching toward
Riko’s limp arm.

The hum of the fluorescent lights begin to filter in with the clap, clap, clapping.

“I screwed up,” Satoru says, admitting his shortcomings without a second thought. “It’s not
your fault.”

“Let’s go home,” I say.

“Suguru,” Satoru says, still staring at me with an expression that’s simply gone. “Should we
kill these guys?”

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

“The way I feel right now, I don’t think I would feel anything at all.”

He’s in front of me, but he isn’t here.

I lower my gaze to the floor as the line between right and wrong blurs, the line between me
and these clapping fools. I squeeze my eyes shut.

Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.

“No…there’s no point,” I finally reply. “It looks like there are only common believers here.
The ones we’re really after have probably already fled.”

Satoru begins to walk past me with the body in his arms. “No point, huh…?” he asks with a
flat voice.

I shut my eyes, the ghost of my realization the previous day coming back to haunt me as I
stand before all these people celebrating Riko Amanai’s corpse.

“Does there really have to be a point to it?” Satoru asks.

“I don’t know anymore…”

My weak resolve gasps some of its final breaths.

Chapter End Notes

i actually cried a few times writing this :(

 Suppression
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

Sleeplessness pries at Suguru’s eyelids, forcing them apart when all he wants to do is close
them. He can’t stop shaking at night when he hears the claps, the applause of the masses.
That’s when they become most prominent; when the room is silent and there’s nothing more
than the sound of his mind. It has become a warzone, the bane of sleep for the past few days.

Suguru wants to close his eyes but he can’t, no matter how they ache, the claws of his
insomnia gore his eyeballs night after night. They force him to watch the notches in the
ceiling against his will, chained down to his mattress until the sun rises like a prisoner.

He hasn’t left his room. He can’t even pretend to be fine anymore. He locks his door, keeps
the blinds shut and refuses any outside interaction. Suguru only leaves once every so often
for food that he can hardly muster down anyway. He drinks from the tap water in his
bathroom. But mostly, his bedroom has become a burial chamber as he waits to either
somehow miraculously feel better or utterly waste away. And he can’t see the latter anywhere
in sight.

He ignores his phone as it goes off day after day, shut off from the world. There must be
hundreds of messages from both Mei-Mei and Shoko by now but Suguru hasn’t read a single
one. Satoru, on the other hand, hasn’t said a word to him and that worries Suguru to his core.

Satoru has always been there to drag Suguru out of the darkness, but this time, there’s just
this absence—as though he never truly returned from the dead. Sometimes, Suguru wonders
if that puddle of blood he stuck his hands into in the middle of that crater was the last of
Satoru’s exuberance. Sometimes, the flashback hits and he sees the reflection of Satoru’s
lifeless eyes staring back at him.

All of Suguru’s memories from a few days ago blend and merge together, forming an almost
incomprehensible amalgamation of sheer trauma that torments him every single day.

Today is no different. Suguru’s routine consists of simply sitting up out of bed, a sardonic
sensation of freedom wrapping around his body, as though the night kept him shackled
against it.

Suguru holds onto his knees as he watches the late summer sun peek through his curtains.
Yesterday was supposedly his last day of reprieve. Three days to grieve is all the school was
willing to offer before sending him back into the system.

Suguru didn’t bother setting his alarm last night for school. He knew he’d be awake anyway.
With a sigh, he directs his gaze toward the alarm clock to read the time. 7AM. Right when
he’d normally be getting ready for lessons for the day or starting training. But Suguru buries
his face into his hands, groaning into them.
Eventually, Suguru manages to drag himself out of bed and opens up his closet door. “Shit…”
he trails off and then glances at the pile of uniforms on the floor. He sighs and then grabs the
one clean pair of pants hanging up before digging through the pile to find a shirt. It’s a bit
wrinkled but it’s better than anything stained or smelling bad.

He inspects the mirror—or rather, the one looking back at him. His hair is a mess and the lack
of nutrition is starting to show in his face. Suguru shakes his head. He doesn’t have the
energy to care about his reflection now. He brushes his hair but doesn’t bother to put it up.

Suguru's reflection stares back at him, a testament to the toll grief and trauma has left behind,
overtaking his appearance. The hollow gaze in his eyes echoes the void left behind from
days’ past. He can hardly recognize the person in the mirror, a mere shell of the resilient
sorcerer he used to be.

With a heavy heart, Suguru proceeds to get dressed, the motions mechanical and devoid of
the usual meticulous care he once invested in his appearance. The uniform now hangs on his
frame like a threadbare emblem of a life that once held purpose.

The world outside his bedroom remains a distant reality, and Suguru's reluctance to engage
with it speaks volumes about the depth of his despair. The air in the room is laden with the
weight of unspoken pain, a suffocating atmosphere that mirrors the internal struggles he
holds within.

As Suguru contemplates facing the day ahead, a sense of numbness pervades his being. The
routine that once brought structure to his existence now feels like a mechanical procession,
devoid of the passion and purpose that used to propel him forward.

The alarm clock continues its relentless ticking, each second echoing like a somber reminder
of the irreversible losses he has endured. School awaits outside the confines of his room, a
prospect that seems both daunting and inconsequential in the face of his overwhelming grief.

In the dim light of his bedroom, Suguru wrestles with the decision to step back into the world
that has been irreversibly altered. His scars cut deep, and the prospect of rejoining the stream
of normalcy feels like an insurmountable challenge.

The door to his bedroom serves as a gateway to that world and he opens it reluctantly. He
slouches more than he used to when he walks and the shadows of loss cling to him as he
makes his way down the hallway. He slinks through his fellow students making their way to
the café. Some of their eyes cast in his direction and he can feel every single one, though he
ignores them all.

There’s about 40 minutes until school officially starts, giving him the time to eat. He walks
by the café windows, peering through to try and spot any familiar faces. He can’t see any sign
of Satoru nor Shoko.

Spotting Mei-Mei and Utahime at a table, Suguru contemplates joining them. However, the
weight of his grief seems to anchor him to his solitude. He hesitates, torn between seeking
solace in the company of others and the impulse to retreat into the recesses of his own world.
Opting for a simple bowl of rice, Suguru finds a vacant seat, his appetite diminished by the
turbulent emotions churning within. The once-appetizing sight of fluffy white rice now
triggers a visceral response, his stomach rebelling against the prospect of nourishment.

The murmurs of his fellow students, the clinking of cutlery, and the distant hum of
conversations blend into a dissonant symphony. The bowl of rice before him becomes a
symbol of the mundane struggles that now overshadow his existence.

Zoned out on the table, he nearly doesn’t notice the shadow that looms over him in the
morning sun. Suguru lifts his eyes, finding Satoru standing there with one hand in his pocket,
the other with a tray of food. “Hey,” he says and then sits down across from Suguru.

Suguru shifts uncomfortably upon seeing him. “Hey…” He’s seen Satoru’s face far too many
times in his flashbacks or waking nightmares, either as a corpse covered in blood or a shell of
his friend. But right now he actually has a semblance of normalcy.

“Haven’t seen you in a few days,” Satoru replies, taking a bite of a rice ball. Suguru watches
his friend, struggling to read him behind those sunglasses over his eyes. It’s even more
difficult than usual. He doesn’t seem upset, to say the very least.

“Yeah…the school gave me a few days of reprieve after what happened,” Suguru says. “I’m
sorry I haven’t really been around.” He rubs the back of his neck, keeping his gaze away
from Satoru.

“It’s fine,” he says. “I don’t really understand why you’d need that long…it was just a
mission. Like any other…”

Suguru lifts his gaze, a bolt of sudden rage burning through him. He pauses, waiting to see if
this is some joke, but Satoru just takes another bite of his food. “Are you kidding me?”
Suguru retorts. “You almost died, Satoru. Riko was shot dead right in front of me and I had to
drag my bleeding body past Misato’s corpse. What part of any of that is just like any other
mission?”

“I lived,” Satoru replies. “We barely knew the others. You can’t get all emotional anytime we
have a mission like this. It’s gonna get tough. If you needed three days of reprieve after every
mission, they’d never send you out on anything big.”

Suguru clenches his fist, keeping his eyes glued to Satoru. His tone and his demeanor are
reminiscent of the man who tried to kill him—whose name he learned was Toji Fushiguro. It
scrapes like nails against his nerves. “So you’re just gonna pretend like that had no effect on
you?” Suguru asks.

“If I let every death affect me, Suguru, I’d never be cut out for any of this. Death happens
way too often when it comes to Jujutsu sorcery.”

Satoru's nonchalant demeanor, shielded by his sunglasses, further deepens the rift between
them. Suguru's fist tightens as he struggles to comprehend how Satoru can trivialize the loss
of lives, including their own near-death experiences. The weight of the trauma sits heavy in
his chest, and he refuses to let Satoru's detachment invalidate the pain he carries.
"You're acting like it's just another day at the office," Suguru retorts, his voice edged with
frustration. "People died, Satoru. It's not something you can just brush off as if it's routine.
Riko, Misato—they weren't just casualties on a mission. They were people with lives, with
dreams. How can you be so callous about it?"

Satoru looks at Suguru with an impassive gaze, unfazed by the rising tension. "This is the
reality of our world. Death is a constant. You'll burn out if you let it get to you every time."
His eyes look Suguru up and down. “Look at you, you look like you’ve lost weight. And you
look like you haven’t slept at all. You’re skipping school and abandoning your ability to
move on,” Satoru says.

Suguru feels a mix of anger and sadness, his emotions swirling like a tempest. The gulf
between their perspectives widens, and he slowly begins to realize that the Satoru before him
might not be the one he once knew. The scars of Riko’s death mar their friendship, and
Suguru struggles to find common ground with the man who seems to have embraced a
starkly different outlook on their perilous lives.

“Yeah, well, at least I’m not an inconsiderate asshole,” Suguru mutters.

“Where has being considerate gotten you?” Satoru retorts, crossing his arms.

“Look, Satoru. You can act however the hell you want to. Like you’re so tough and unfeeling
because it makes you look stronger. But you better not be looking down on me because I’m
not like you. Showing emotions is not a weakness,” Suguru snaps back, his words punctuated
by the sound of his chair screeching against the floor, drawing the attention of some other
students. But Suguru ignores them and begins walking out of the café, leaving behind his
fresh bowl of rice.

Suguru's departure from the cafeteria is accompanied by a palpable tension that lingers in the
air. The exchange leaves a bitter taste, echoing the unresolved conflict between the two
friends. As Suguru strides away, he grapples with the weight of his emotions, the frustration
and hurt cutting away at him.

The day stretches before Suguru like the maze of the Star Tomb, seemingly endless and
confusing. He tries to perish the thought of the rift that seems to have formed between him
and Satoru. But he can’t seem to find a resolution that might repair the brokenness.

He’ll have to see Satoru again once their class begins, but it won’t matter since he won’t have
to speak to him. He thought Satoru might deal with things like this—the same way he always
does; hiding it. But Suguru didn’t think Satoru would go so far as to push it onto himself.

Suguru knows they have differences. They’re entirely different people. But the way he spoke
of Riko Amanai and Misato Kuroi so callously makes Suguru rethink a few things about
Satoru.

Suguru arrives at the classroom about a half-hour early and sits down on his normal stool.
Yaga, who is drawing up the day’s lesson on the chalkboard, follows Suguru with his eyes as
he goes about taking a seat in his stool.
“Suguru,” he says. “You’re in early today.”

Suguru nods, the sleeplessness evident on his face and Yaga can see it well. Yaga places
down the chalk he was using to write and then walks around his desk, leaning against it to
face Suguru.

“I can see things have been rough for you the last few days,” Yaga says. “And I have this
feeling you aren’t going to be fully there for today’s lesson.”

Suguru sighs. “Probably not. To be quite honest with you, I’d really rather be back in my
dorm,” he replies.

“There’s not much more I can do,” Yaga replies. “You got your reprieve. You’ll be
disciplined if you don’t attend your classes and show effort toward your training,” he says.

Suguru winces a bit at the mention of punishment, a harsh reminder of the ever-turning world
in the wake of what he’s had to endure. “I understand that…that’s why I’m here.”

Yaga nods in understanding. "I appreciate your commitment, Suguru. We'll take things one
step at a time. Focus on what you can handle, and we'll support you as best we can." It seems
like such a trivial offering in the face of what Suguru knows he’ll have to go through in the
coming days. But at least it’s an attempt.

Suguru offers a small nod of acknowledgment, his thoughts still clouded by recent events.
Yaga returns to the chalkboard, continuing to prepare for the upcoming lesson. The classroom
slowly fills with students.

As class begins, Suguru braces himself for the inevitable encounter with Satoru. The air in
the room feels heavy with unspoken tension as Satoru walks in, and the weight of their
fractured friendship hangs over Suguru like a specter. He watches Satoru enter the classroom
and takes a seat at the table beside Suguru where he usually does.

He just rolls his eyes, preparing to simply ignore Satoru throughout the duration of class.
Satoru himself seems indifferent to the energy between them, leaning against the table.

The classroom atmosphere remains strained as the lesson progresses. Yaga does his best to
engage the students, attempting to draw their focus away from the tension in the room.
However, Suguru finds it challenging to concentrate on the material at hand. His mind keeps
drifting away from him, both out the window and at Satoru.

In the midst of the lecture, Something about Satoru begins to shift. Restlessness seeps into his
bones, fidgeting in his seat, and a subtle, underlying tension emerges. Unable to contain
himself, he speaks out with an impulsive outburst, surprising both the students and Yaga.

"Come on, Yaga-sensei! This lesson is so dull. Let's talk about something more interesting.
This is baby stuff. We’re Second-Years. We don’t even need any of this." Satoru's usually
carefree tone takes on a sharp edge, revealing a sense of frustration beneath the surface.
His eyes, shielded by sunglasses, portray a turmoil that contradicts his casual demeanor. The
students exchange glances, sensing an unexpected change in the normally charismatic Satoru
Gojo. Suguru breaks away from his vacant gaze out the window and looks toward Satoru,
observing the cracks forming in his exterior.

Yaga clears his throat. “Satoru, we’re just going over basics. They’re important after all,” he
says.

“If you can’t remember the basics this far in? You might as well just quit,” Satoru retorts, his
cheek resting against his hand.

Suguru glances between the two, sighing as Satoru chooses to be disruptive. He’s done things
like this before, but something about this feels different. “If you don’t want to listen to the
lesson, you should just leave, Satoru,” Suguru replies, tapping his nail against the table’s
surface.

He hadn’t meant to add fuel to the fire, but he couldn’t stop his rage from spilling out of him.
“Or maybe if everyone could focus on the new material, we wouldn’t have to review the stuff
we already know,” Satoru retorts, neither of them looking at one another.

The tension could be cut with a knife. The two would sometimes banter and bicker in the
midst of class, but this is different. And everyone can feel it.

Suguru finds himself glancing at Yaga at the sound of Satoru’s words. He quickly pieces
together what’s going on. It seems Yaga purposely dumbed down the lesson, anticipating that
Suguru wouldn’t have paid attention to anything new. Satoru must have realized that before
he did.

Satoru shoves his glasses up his nose. “I mean, really…do we have to cater to everyone who
happens to fall behind? They can catch up on their own time, can’t they, Yaga?”

Yaga maintains his composed demeanor, choosing not to escalate the situation. "Satoru, it's
essential for everyone to grasp the basics. We have diverse skill levels in this class, and
reviewing fundamentals ensures everyone's progress."

Suguru, frustrated with both the disruptive atmosphere and Satoru’s blatant targeting toward
himself, interjects, "We're all here to learn and improve. If you have an issue, Satoru, address
it appropriately instead of disrupting the class."

Satoru smirks, a blend of mischief and genuine discontent dancing in his eyes. "Fine, fine.
Let's all play by the rules then." He leans back, folding his arms, yet the antagonism lingers
beneath his casual façade.

The rest of the class proceeds, but an uneasy atmosphere hovers, with the undertone of
hidden grief seeping through. Suguru can't shake the feeling that the disruption is more than
just Satoru's usual antics.

Suguru wishes he could’ve gotten straight out of his seat and slapped Satoru. It would’ve
made him feel so much better in the moment. At the same time, Suguru holds back, hiding
behind the hope that there’s something more to this behavior than meets the eye.

When class ends, Satoru makes his way out of the classroom in a loud fashion, exhaling a
dramatic yawn and stretching widely. “Man, what a boring lesson,” he says before
disappearing around the corner.

Despite wanting to return to his refuge, Suguru lingers as his classmates file out of the room.
After waiting an uncounted amount of time, Suguru gets up to leave and as he turns the
corner, he’s stopped by a hand coming out in front of him. Upon looking down, Suguru finds
Shoko standing by the doorway. “Wanna smoke?” she asks.

Suguru looks off to the side, patting his pants. “Shit, I forgot them in my dorm…” he says.

“I’ll share. What’s new, anyway?” she jokes with a laugh and starts down the hall to the exit
to the courtyard. Once there, she hands Suguru a cigarette, lighting it up for him and they
begin what’s become something of a routine for them: smoking as they walk and talk.

“It’s been a rough few days…kinda hard to sleep,” Shoko says, taking a long, soothing drag
off her cigarette. “Never really been through something like this before. I was really worried
about you two, you know.”

Suguru nods his head. “Yeah…I think I’ve gotten maybe an hour of sleep combined these last
three nights,” he admits. “Sorry we worried you.”

Shoko shakes her head. “You’re fine. Things will go back to normal soon enough. We had to
be broken in on the harsh reality of all this sooner or later. Sucks that it happened the way it
did but…well…what can you do?” she says.

The two stroll around the courtyard, no longer hiding either of their little habits as the other
students mill about on the warm summer day, finding their next activity. “I don’t know what
to say…” Suguru trails off. “I don’t know if there’s a normal to go back to after this.”

Shoko turns her head his way. “What do you mean?”

Suguru breathes in a deep breath. “I’m struggling…” he says, horribly downplaying the
reality of his situation as he takes a puff of his cigarette. “Much more than I expected myself
to. It’s almost like whiplash. And Satoru…doesn’t seem affected at all.”

“Are you serious?” Shoko asks. “He’s been out of control every day since you two came
back.”

This catches Suguru’s attention, turning his head toward Shoko. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you saw first hand how he acted in class. He just seems so much more reckless. And
not in a funny, joking way,” Shoko explains. “Apparently, Satoru really did die. But he
managed to use reverse cursed energy to heal himself before he did,” she says. “You probably
don’t understand much of the technicalities when it comes to death but, the thing is? When
you’re about to die, your brain releases a chemical called DMT, which is basically like a
psychedelic drug. That shit fucks with your head, you know. And from what we saw, it looks
like Satoru was right at death’s door before healing himself. He seems so off now. I know you
haven’t left your room or anything but honestly? I think Satoru really needs you right now.”

Suguru pauses to consider Shoko’s words for a long moment of silence. His mind briefly
flashes to the arguments they had; the first thing that happened when they interacted for the
first time in three days was fight. Working through Satoru’s complex emotions is almost even
more of a challenge than working through his own. “We had an argument in the cafeteria this
morning,” Suguru replies. “He basically told me to get over it…that the whole mission—the
people who died—he talked about them like they meant nothing to him.”

“Seems pretty classic to me,” Shoko says.

“I refuse to believe he’s that callous of a person,” Suguru says, quick to come to Satoru’s
defense as he flicks some ashes off the end of his cigarette. “Shoko, if you could’ve seen the
look in his eyes when he interacted with this girl we escorted…and after what happened in
class, it really feels like this is affecting him more than he’s letting on.”

Shoko nods in agreement. “Sounds about right. As we know, Satoru is the king of running
from his emotions. And with everything fueling him, he’s just acting out even harder to
ensure those feelings stay far away from him,” she explains.

“I don’t know how to talk to him…” Suguru replies, discouraged. “I’m not sure he even
wants to talk to me.”

“Oh please. Satoru can pretend he wants nothing to do with you all he wants, but we all know
the truth,” Shoko says, earning a half-smile from Suguru.

“I hope you’re right,” he replies.

The courtyard breeze carries away the remnants of their conversation and smoke as Suguru
contemplates the tangled emotions surrounding Satoru. Shoko provides a momentary
reprieve from the heavy burden Suguru carries and has become something of a confidante.

As they finish their cigarettes, Shoko pats Suguru on the back. "Give it time. You two will
figure it out. It's never easy dealing with this stuff, but it doesn't mean you have to do it
alone."

Suguru manages a small, grateful smile. "Thanks, Shoko. I appreciate it."

The two part ways, starting to navigate different paths. Suguru, armed with a bit more insight
into Satoru's mind, braces himself for the inevitable confrontation that lies ahead. Despite
Shoko’s encouragement, Suguru is a bit hesitant to go to Satoru first. He wishes for a brief
moment that Satoru would have the nerve to come to him. Hasn’t he proven that he’d be
there regardless of what was spiraling around inside of Satoru, begging to be let out?

Then again, the thought sounds very hypocritical, considering he himself won’t even go to
Satoru. Perhaps there isn’t as much emotional trust in one another as there ought to be.
Suguru finds the koi pond, reminiscent of his first cigarette he shared with Shoko. He peers
into the water as his arms lean against the guard rail. He should probably be training but his
body feels far too weak to put in the effort. His stomach rumbles, begging for something to
eat.

He closes his eyes, trying to decide if eating is really a good option for him right now. Then,
he turns, about to head toward the cafeteria to give eating a try but then his phone rings. He
pulls out his phone, finding that Yaga is the one calling him. He groans, putting his fingers up
into his hair, tears even starting to prick his eyes. “No, please…”

With a deep breath, he picks up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Suguru,” he greets, a somber undertone to his voice. “I’m very sorry to have to do
this, but the higher ups would like me to send you on a solo mission,” he says. “I’ve picked
something light for you to take on. But I think they’re testing your resilience.”

Suguru’s hand shakes as he clenches it into a fist. He doesn’t have any resilience left to show
off. “Okay…what is it?” he asks.

“There’s a low-level curse outbreak in a nearby school. I’ll message you with the details, but
it should be easy enough. You can do it,” Yaga explains.

Suguru inhales audibly, shutting his eyes. “I’ll do it,” he says.

After hanging up the phone, Suguru puts his head into his hands as he turns back toward the
koi pond, resting his elbows on the railing. He isn’t sure he can handle the rancid taste of
curses right now. But what else is he supposed to do? He can’t just say no to a mission.

He feels utterly pathetic, breaking down like this over the prospect of going on such a low
level mission. Then, in that moment, for the first time ever, Suguru wishes he’d never been
born into this life—that he could’ve grown up a normal kid. He doesn’t think for even a
moment of the implications of that, but right now, he just can’t bring himself to care.

His phone hums with the details of his mission, signaling that it’s time to head off.
Reluctantly, Suguru pulls his head out of his hands to check the address he’ll be heading to
and then starts toward the exit of the school.

Walking through the torii gates, once a serene gateway to the outside world, is now a
haunting journey, each step calling back to when Suguru had to drag himself down this very
pathway to find his dying friend. The remnants of the incident have since been cleared away,
even the crater repaired as if the whole thing only happened in Suguru’s mind. But even with
all traces of evidence erased, Suguru knows the exact place he found the blood that Toji
spilled.

Suguru tries to avoid looking at the ground as he passes through, afraid that he’ll awaken the
memory in full color if he does. Instead, he looks at the sky, breathing in shaky breaths of
fresh air that feel like needles going down his throat and into his lungs. There’s nothing
pleasant about it, and suddenly Suguru finds himself wishing he had gone back to his dorm
for cigarettes first. The soothing sensation of when he smoked with Shoko has already started
to fade.

Soon, Suguru finds his way to the school where his mission has been assigned. Given that it’s
summertime, the students of the school are on break. How convenient that none of them has
to witness what Suguru must go through to ensure they don’t return to a curse-infested
school.

The school emanates a dreadful aura as Suguru approaches the courtyard. Despite the
missions Suguru has taken on so far during the summer, tasks like these make up the majority
of the season. Cleaning out the filth that schools gather up all throughout the year ensures the
students come back to a fresh atmosphere. But because of Suguru’s Special Grade status, he
hardly finds himself on such easy missions.

For a moment, Suguru even wonders if Satoru’s words about how he’s letting this affect him
too much are true. Such a mission is not befitting someone of Suguru’s skill. However, he’s
reminded of the sickening feeling that returns to him with a vengeance upon entering the
school and seeing the innumerable curses slinking about through the halls and classrooms.
And Suguru will have to absorb most of them.

It’s important that he absorbs lower-level curses. They’re mostly fodder in his arsenal, but
they make for great cover in combat. Unfortunately for Suguru, his last mission ate up a good
portion of the low-level curses he had in stock.

The gloomy corridors of the school stretch out before Suguru like a labyrinth, each classroom
door a potential gateway to curses waiting to be eradicated. The air is thick with the stench of
malevolence, a stark contrast to the ordinary days of students attending classes and teachers
imparting knowledge.

As Suguru moves through the building, the curses react to his presence, their grotesque forms
writhing and squirming in anticipation. Though they may lack the potency of higher-grade
curses, their collective numbers pose a challenge, especially given Suguru's current depleted
state.

The first classroom he enters harbors a small congregation of curses, their distorted features
illuminated by the dim light filtering through the windows. Without hesitation, Suguru
channels his cursed energy, conjuring forth his technique to dismantle the curses before him.
The room echoes with the eerie sounds of curses dissipating, their malevolent energy
absorbed into Suguru's hand in the form of cursed cores.

Suguru takes the first plunge of many, swallowing down the curse and he shivers, his
stomach already rebelling against him as the foul taste lingers on his tongue. He takes a deep
breath as he reels against a wall, dark thoughts accompanying the taste of the curse. Then, he
swallows down another, and another, his body starting to shake and shudder. Finally, the
cursed cores earn a dry heave from him and Suguru grabs a nearby desk for support, his body
lurched over. He tries to muscle down the nausea, but with his stomach already upset and
churning from a lack of food, it’s proving difficult.
Room after room, Suguru repeats the process, exorcize, absorb, repeat. With each curse he
absorbs, a nauseating feeling continues to gnaw at his stomach and he can feel vomit in his
throat, begging to spew out. Suguru can’t even bring himself to think about anything else.

As he reaches the upper floors, the curses become more varied, some exhibiting a slightly
stronger resistance. Suguru's fatigue, both physical and emotional, threatens to compromise
his efficiency. In the stillness of the empty hallways, he can almost hear the whispers of the
curses, taunting him with echoes of his shortcomings and patheticness.

By now, Suguru has broken into a sweat. The halls of the school close in on him, and the
humidity from outside doesn’t help with the oppressive feeling that begins to press into his
entire being. Suguru shrinks to the floor after clearing the hallway, a pile of cursed cores on
the floor in front of him. He closes his eyes, his stomach wrenching as another feeling
overwhelms it—grief. He breaks down into tears, burying his face into his arms folded
against the floor.

He wishes Satoru were there to offer him a lollipop, the same way he did when he saw for the
first time what absorbing curses was like. But the reality of what would actually happen
floods into Suguru’s imagination.

Satoru would probably walk in and scoff at the sight of him. He’d spit at Suguru and call him
weak before telling him to pull himself together and finish the mission Satoru could have
cleared with one move.

The dreams that died with Riko seem to rot even more as the prospect of even being with
Satoru seems to draw further away from Suguru. However, the thought of that does awaken a
memory he’d nearly forgotten about beyond all the other memories that had been plaguing
him. It was the moment Riko made Suguru promise that he would tell Satoru how he feels
once she was gone. And he did promise her. But is that even an option anymore?

Finally, Suguru sits up on his knees, wiping away his tears as he stares down at the cursed
cores in front of him, knowing he’ll have to swallow down each of them. Slowly, he picks up
the cursed cores, each one a manifestation of the curses he faced within the confines of the
school. The ritualistic act of swallowing them down is both a physical and symbolic
endeavor.

As the cursed energy courses through him, Suguru feels another surge of nausea. The pain of
absorbing the curses makes waves throughout his body, and his stomach twists and turns as
he holds back, now beginning to dry heave after each swallow. It's a bitter concoction that
leaves a foul aftertaste. There are tears in his eyes again, not due to grief, but as a natural
response to his continued gagging.

With the last cursed core consumed, Suguru pauses, trying to compose himself while knelt on
the floor. He focuses simply on breathing for a few moments before rising to his feet.

The emptiness of the school hallway seems to reflect the void within him, a void that was
once filled with love and zeal toward the prospect of the future. Now, the silence is
punctuated by the echo of Suguru's footsteps as he makes his way back through the desolate
corridors.
As he exits the school, the sun casts long shadows on the ground, a stark contrast to the
darkness Suguru faced within.

Suguru’s face flashes hot and then he sprints to a nearby planter box, his body lurching over
it to let go of whatever keeps begging to come out. The bile sears into his throat, some even
dripping out his nose from the violent expulsion. The sound of his retching echoes on the
empty streets as his body forces him to keep going. All he can do is hold onto the stone
planter box, his fingertips rubbing raw against the grainy texture with each intense push.

In the end, he’s left breathing ragged breaths, his throat catching on built up mucus to protect
him from the raw stomach acid he threw up. He coughs on the stinging feeling in the back of
his throat, spitting out the last taste of bile before standing up straight to catch his breath.

Suguru looks away from the mess he made in the dirt, only hoping it wouldn’t kill the plants
inside. Now he feels completely empty.

After taking a moment to compose himself once more, Suguru begins his walk back to
Jujutsu High. Upon returning to the familiar grounds of the high school, Suguru takes a
moment to catch his breath. The courtyard, once a place of solace, now feels different. He
contemplates the promises he made, both to Riko and to himself. The prospect of confronting
Satoru with his true feelings remains daunting, but Suguru recognizes the importance of
honoring those promises.

With an uneasy resolve, Suguru heads toward Satoru's usual hangout spot—a place where
their paths have crossed many times before. The air is thick with unspoken tension, and
Suguru braces himself for a conversation that may unravel the complexities of their strained
friendship.

As he nears the zen garden, he spots Satoru, seemingly lost in thought. He stands on a bridge
going over the sand in the garden. The sunglasses that shield his eyes from the world add
another layer of mystery to his demeanor. Suguru takes a deep breath, stealing himself to face
the demons that reside within the depths of their shared history.

Satoru turns his head slightly away from his approaching friend, keeping his eyes averted as
Suguru reaches the crest of the bridge beside Satoru. “I’m surprised you’re out,” Satoru says.
“Thought you’d have gone back to your room for the day.”

“Yeah, well, we need to talk,” Suguru replies. “We can either do this here or somewhere more
private. Your choice.”

Satoru finally turns his head toward Suguru. “What’s there to talk about?” he asks.

“Plenty,” Suguru answers, folding his arms as he waits for Satoru’s response.

Satoru lets out an exasperated sigh and Suguru can almost hear the eye roll beyond his
glasses. “Okay, fine. We can talk here,” he says.

“Great, now tell me. What the hell is your problem?” Suguru asks, casting an accusatory gaze
Satoru’s way.
“I don’t have a problem,” Satoru replies.

“Clearly you do,” Suguru insists. “Satoru, you’ve always had your own way of dealing with
things. But you’ve never imposed that onto me before. You basically told me to get over what
happened to us,” he says.

Satoru’s sunglasses hide the shame that begins to creep in as Suguru calls him out. “I’ve
always been like this,” he answers but Suguru shakes his head.

“No, you haven’t. We wouldn’t be friends if you invalidated my feelings all the time,” he
says. “What worries me is that I feel like you tell yourself the things you said to me earlier.
And not just for this. You’ve always struggled to share your feelings.”

Satoru’s lips twist into a frown as he leans against the railing of the bridge. “So what?” he
says. “It doesn’t matter whether or not it hurts. You have to move on regardless.”

“And why do you think it’s not worth your time?” Suguru asks.

Satoru bites his tongue, his brow furrowing. “You don’t need to be my counselor, Suguru.”

Suguru huffs. “For heaven’s sake, Satoru, just talk to me. I’m your best friend. You’re
supposed to be able to share your feelings with me,” he says.

Satoru remains silent for a moment, the internal struggle evident in the subtle tension of his
posture. The zen garden around them seems to hold its breath, as if nature itself awaits the
resolution of their unspoken conflict. Suguru watches his friend, his patience wearing thin.

Finally, Satoru lets out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly. "It's not that
simple, Suguru. You don't get it," he says, his voice carrying the weight of years of
internalized emotions.

"Then help me understand," Suguru implores. "We've been through so much together, Satoru.
I can't just stand by and watch you drown anymore."

Satoru shifts his weight, his gaze fixed on the ripples in the sand below the bridge as the
silence grows thick between them. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been ‘the strongest,’” Satoru
says, finally opening a small hole within his stalwart defenses for Suguru to see past.
“Everyone looks up to me. Everyone always has their eyes on me, watching my next move.
Because of my talent, I was spoiled. And I’m not stupid, I know what kind of person that
turned me into,” he says. “You know I’ve always done this for myself, I told you that…but
Riko…” Satoru seems to shrink upon the mention of that name. “I think it was the first time I
actually found myself carrying out a mission for someone else’s sake.” Satoru digs his nails
into his arms upon admitting that. It hurts inside to say it. It makes him feel incredibly
exposed in the same way he did when he died—when he felt truly powerless.

Suguru keeps his attention on Satoru as he shares the innermost depths of his heart, ensuring
Satoru knows that he’s listening and most of all that he won’t be judged. “I could tell that you
cared about her,” Suguru says.
“I don’t understand how you do it…how you can bring yourself to care so much about all
these people if it hurts so bad when they are taken from you,” Satoru says, his voice cracking
as he keeps his eyes away from Suguru all the while, his grip on his arm tightening. “I knew
Riko was going to die…but at the very least I knew that she’d still be…something if she
assimilated with Tengen…but she never got the chance.” Satoru dips his head and Suguru
watches as a tear slips from beneath his glasses and down his cheek. But it doesn’t stay for
long as his hand swings up to brush it away. “And it’s my fault…”

Suguru’s heart weighs heavily as Satoru cries for the first time in front of him. In one swift
movement, Suguru reaches over, pulling Satoru into a hug, holding the back of his head
against his shoulder. “It’s not your fault,” Suguru whispers softly to him and comforting
Satoru seems to be therapeutic for himself. As much as Satoru needed to hear those words, so
too did Suguru. “Being the strongest doesn’t have to mean you have to hide your emotions
from the world—or at the very least, from me, to start,” he explains.

“I don’t know how else to deal with them otherwise,” Satoru replies, still attempting to hide
the fact that he’s crying, even though Suguru can hear it in his voice and the way his body
shudders upon taking a breath.

“I want to be someone you feel safe talking to,” Suguru admits and his heart begins to beat in
anticipation for the words that begin to rise from his chest and into his throat. He pulls away
so that he can look Satoru in the eyes. “I care about you…a lot,” Suguru says, noting Satoru’s
tear-stained cheeks.

Satoru looks up, his tear-filled eyes meeting Suguru's sincere gaze. There's a vulnerability in
that moment that contradicts Satoru's usual behavior. It's a raw connection, unfiltered and
genuine.

"You do?" Satoru asks, almost as if the idea surprises him, and yet, there's a flicker of hope in
his eyes.

Suguru nods, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, Satoru. You're not alone in this. We've
been through hell and back together, and I care about you more than you realize," he admits,
a warmth in his words that reaches beyond the cool exterior they often wear.

Satoru's defenses seem to crumble further as he absorbs Suguru's words. The weight on his
shoulders feels a little less burdensome, knowing that someone is there to share the load. "I
don't know if I deserve someone like you," Satoru confesses, his voice tinged with a mix of
gratitude and self-doubt.

Suguru chuckles softly, giving Satoru's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You're stuck with me,
whether you like it or not. And guess what? I think you deserve all the support and care in the
world," he says, his tone unwavering.

There's a pause as the two share a moment of understanding, the zen garden offering a serene
backdrop to their emotional exchange. Satoru wipes away the remaining tears with the back
of his hand, composing himself.
"Thanks, Suguru. I...I appreciate it," Satoru admits, a genuine smile breaking through the
shadows that clouded his features. “I…care about you too…” he adds, a bit quieter.

The tension that had gripped them begins to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of
compassion for one another. Suguru smiles more in response to those words. “I couldn’t hear
you very well, could you repeat that?” he teases.

Satoru huffs. “I said I care about you too,” he says more clearly while turning his head away.
But Suguru can see the corner of his eye around his sunglasses.

Suguru chuckles again at the sight of Satoru getting flustered, a sense of fulfillment returning
in the wake of the void he’s dealt with. “I’m glad…and I’m proud of you for being brave
enough to open up to me. It means a lot that you did,” Suguru says.

Satoru sighs, keeping his gaze averted. “You don’t have to patronize me like that…” he
murmurs.

“I’m not patronizing you,” Suguru replies. “I’m being serious,” he adds. “And because you
did that, I think I’d like to open up to you a little as well.”

This catches Satoru’s attention and he turns his head back to Suguru. “Yeah? About what?”
he asks.

“Well…before Riko was killed, I got the chance to talk to her,” he says. “She ended up
deciding that she wanted to live…and I think that’s what’s messed me up so much about all
of this,” he adds. “But before she made that decision, when she was convinced she was going
to carry out her duty, she wanted me to make a promise to her that I’d do something after she
was gone, and I think it’s only right that I do as she asked now that she’s gone.”

“So what was the promise?” Satoru asks.

Suguru goes silent, looking away from Satoru for a long moment as he makes his last
decisions about whether or not to say what he’s longed to. “She wanted me to say that I love
you,” he admits with a genuine look in his eyes, his cheeks flushing a bit red as his heart
beats faster. “I know you’re not ready to respond to that right now…but I made a promise
so…I’m saying it now,” he quickly adds.

Satoru's eyes widen, the reflection in his sunglasses capturing the mix of surprise and
realization. The weight of Suguru's confession hangs in the air, the vulnerability laid bare
between them.

"You...you love me?" Satoru repeats, almost as if testing the words on his tongue. His usual
composure seems momentarily shaken, and Suguru can sense the intensity of the moment.

Suguru nods, an earnest expression on his face. "Yeah. Again, I don’t want you to feel
pressured to say it back. I just wanted you to know," he says, his voice steady but filled with
sincerity.
Satoru remains silent, his gaze fixed on Suguru. It's as if time has momentarily frozen,
allowing them to exist in between the moment. Satoru has considered such things, of course
he has. But getting to the point of admitting it has proven to be a challenge for him.

After a prolonged moment, Satoru exhales, a mixture of emotions playing on his features.
"I’m sorry…I should have told you this sooner but…well…I was actually considering
remaining friends," he admits, his tone measured.

Suguru pulls a confused look, his brow scrunching. "What?” he asks. “Why?”

Satoru winces a bit as he watches the hope in Suguru’s eyes crumble. “You saw for yourself
today—even now, I can’t even get myself to talk to you about my feelings. I hurt you today.
I’m just…not sure I could be the person you need me to be,” he explains.

“You think you’re not good enough for me?” Suguru asks, challenging the notion.

Satoru hesitates before responding. "It's not about being good enough. It's about... I've always
been selfish. I've always put myself first. Even with Riko, it took me until after she was lying
dead in my arms to see beyond my own desires and realize what she meant to me. And now,
with you... I’m just afraid of being unable to meet your needs," he confesses, his gaze
focused on the ground.

Suguru reaches out, gently placing a hand on Satoru's cheek. "Satoru, we've been through so
much together. I know you're not perfect, and neither am I. But love isn't about finding
someone perfect; it's about accepting each other, flaws and all. I can handle your quirks, and I
believe we can make this work," he says, offering a reassuring smile. “We have opposing
views about things…but we worked it out in the end before the day was over, right?”

Satoru looks up, meeting Suguru's gaze, searching for any signs of doubt. "I don't want to
hurt you, Suguru," he admits, vulnerability etched across his face.

Suguru brushes his thumb against Satoru’s cheek. "We won't know unless we try. And I'm
willing to take that chance if you are," he says, his voice filled with genuine sincerity.

Satoru takes a moment to consider Suguru's words, his face remaining unreadable, obscured
by his glasses. "You really think I can be a good boyfriend to you? I haven’t been the best
friend…" he asks, his voice filled with self-doubt but the dim reflection of his eyes that
Suguru can see beyond his glasses portray hope.

“We have a lot on our plates right now,” Suguru says. “We don’t have to do anything at the
moment. Things can continue as they’ve been if you need us to take things slowly…but I
don’t want you to use your insecurity as an excuse to hesitate. If you want me then let
yourself want me,” he explains, his eyelids lowering into an expression that commands a
strange feeling from Satoru—almost a sort of obedience.

“Okay…so…are we gonna start dating then?” Satoru asks.

“No, not yet,” Suguru replies, betraying his inner desires as he lets go of Satoru’s cheek. “I’m
not sure either of us is ready to take that plunge. I, for one, can hardly pull myself out of bed
in the morning. And I think if it happens…I’d like for you to ask me out when the time is
right,” he says, offering an almost teasing smile.

Satoru can't help but chuckle at Suguru's response. "Well, aren't you playing hard to get?" he
says, the tension lifting as a more playful atmosphere settles between them.

Suguru smirks. "Maybe a little. But seriously, Satoru, I want this to be a decision we both
make when we're ready," he says, his tone softening.

Satoru nods, appreciating the understanding in Suguru's words. "Fair enough. We'll take it
slowly, then," he agrees, feeling a sense of relief at the prospect of not diving headfirst into a
relationship. "Now, how about we grab something to eat? I'm starving," he suggests, trying to
steer the conversation toward lighter matters. “I know you haven’t eaten, and I feel like I owe
you for this morning—for putting up with my bullshit.”

“Some food would be great,” Suguru replies but hesitates to part from the bridge. “Mm…but
first…can I kiss you?” he asks and kneads at the back of his neck. “I’m sorry, I know we just
agreed to go slow but…” he trails off, glancing away for a moment. “I keep being reminded
of that night we spent with one another…remembering what it felt like…” Suguru traces his
finger against his lower lip. “I’ve been craving it,” he admits, a light blush rushing to his
cheeks, a vulnerability that betrays the sultry look in his eyes.

Satoru looks at Suguru, a mix of surprise and amusement in his eyes. He can't help but
chuckle at Suguru's candidness. "You're really something else, Suguru," he says with a grin.

Suguru raises an eyebrow. "Is that a yes or a no?" he teases.

Satoru's grin widens. "Of course, it's a yes," he replies, stepping closer to Suguru.

Suguru smirks, closing the gap between them. The moment their lips meet, a soft warmth
envelops them and the world around them fades away, all their trials and tribulations nothing
more than leaves in the wind. The feeling of those soft lips brings Suguru back to that night
once more, for once glad to be remembering something. Their mouths gently part and meet
back again, a slow dance between them, much more tender than the passion-filled night
Suguru remembers, and it’s a welcome change.

Suguru is the first to pull away, attempting some restraint before he can get carried away. He
takes a moment just to peer into Satoru’s eyes before putting some less-intimate distance
between them. “All right, let’s eat.”

Satoru grins, still caught in the moment. "Lead the way," he says, his usual carefree demeanor
now carrying a subtle warmth that wasn't there before.

The two leave the bridge with that, each of them carrying a newfound sense of relief and
having shared their burdens with one another. Still, Suguru holds onto some disappointment
in himself. Because despite the fact that he managed to tell Satoru how he feels, he failed to
mention all the rest of what he’s been holding onto since Riko’s death; the flashbacks, the
genuine fear of falling asleep, and the depths of the reason this hurt him so badly. It feels
almost hypocritical of him to judge Satoru for not sharing his feelings while simultaneously
 doing the exact same thing. After all, Suguru’s reservations come from that same fear of
being judged.

Maybe he’ll gain the courage to divulge his pain some other time.

Chapter End Notes

oh the irony of this entire chapter :)

 Echo
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

9 YEARS AGO

“Suguru! It’s time for breakfast!”

Suguru shifts beneath his duvet covers, nestling further into the warmth with a little groan. If
he just closes his eyes a bit longer, perhaps his mother’s call to him will go away.

Five minutes passes and he finds himself drifting back to sleep. Then his door swings open.
“Suguru, come on downstairs. You’re going to be late,” Asami Geto says, her hands on her
hips as she stands in the doorway.

Suguru lets out another groan, lifting his head only slightly off the pillow to look at his
mother with vision blurred from tiredness. “I didn’t sleep a lot, Mom,” he complains softly
rubbing his eyes.

“Why not?” she asks, maintaining a disciplined demeanor with only a hint of concern as she
walks in to start opening the blinds.

“I got scared…” he answers, shrinking from the light that comes in through his window as
Asami pulls open the shades.

“Scared of what?” she asks.

Suguru looks to the side as he sits up, pulling the blanket to his mouth. “I heard something
under my bed last night…” he murmurs, looking to his mother for understanding, but she
pulls a dissatisfied expression.

“You’re getting a bit old for that sort of thing,” Asami replies. “You’re heading into first
grade this year. Do you think the other kids are scared of monsters under the bed?” she
chides.

Suguru shakes his head, shame sinking into his little frame.

“Right, then. There’s no such thing as monsters. Now hurry and get dressed so your food
doesn’t get cold.”

Suguru watches his mother walk out of the room and then slinks out of bed, finding the
clothes folded up on the chair beside his bed which he’d prepared the night before. After
getting dressed, Suguru walks downstairs, finding his breakfast waiting for him.
“Hold on,” Asami says before Suguru can pick up his chopsticks to eat. Suguru lifts his gaze,
finding his mother standing there with a comb in her hands. “If you want it long, you have to
take care of it,” she says, handing him the comb.

Suguru takes the comb from her and sighs as he brushes through his hair. Once finished, he
sets it aside to dig into his breakfast. “Thanks for the food, Mom,” he offers in the middle of
chewing.

“Speak politely, Suguru,” she says. “Chew and then speak.”

He swallows down his food. “Sorry.” He watches as his mother begins to clean up from
cooking breakfast. “Is Dad already at work?” Suguru asks.

“He left before you woke up,” she replies and Suguru slumps a bit in his seat.

“Posture,” Asami corrects, causing him to straighten again. “And hurry, we won’t have much
time to get you to school.”

Suguru does as told, finishing up his breakfast before accompanying his mother out the door
to head to school, a book bag on his back. Asami holds his hand as they walk and Suguru
ensures to keep a straight posture.

“Make sure you’re kind to your classmates, Suguru,” Asami says as they near the school.

“I will, Mom,” Suguru replies, lifting his head to her.

“And your lunch is in your backpack, make sure you eat it all. Don’t waste food,” she says.

“Okay, Mom.”

Asami stops at the school gates, letting go of Suguru’s hand. She gives him a wave as Suguru
looks up at her, only to turn and head into the school after waving back.

He tries to recall the tour him and his mother took a week ago to find his new classroom. The
school is large like a beast waiting to swallow his tiny frame, looming over him as he walks
in. The hallways are big and long, filled with other children, big and small all trying to find
their way. Some of the little kids have parents with them while the older ones go it alone.

Suguru finally makes his way to his new classroom, noting his teacher whom he’d already
met, giving him affirmation that he’s in the right place. He walks around to find his name
assigned to one of the desks and sits down, waiting for the day to start.

The new setting is a little overwhelming, but Suguru can’t bring himself to care too much
considering how tired he is. With a bit of free time, Suguru cradles his head in his arms
against his desk, shutting his eyes.

As he enjoys his moment of reprieve, Suguru tries to take his mind off the whispering he
heard last night. Soon, his moment of quiet is interrupted by the start of class. Although it’s
an easy first day, Suguru is still challenged by the prospect of a new place to navigate.
During lunch, Suguru opens the bento his mother packed for him, a bit lonely without a
familiar face to share the meal with. But being lonely has never quite bothered Suguru much.
He thrives in solitude as the pressures of social interaction are often too taxing. Watching
from afar has always been Suguru’s preferred method of getting to know others—observing
how they act and react to others. It gives Suguru a flat perspective of their nature.

Some kids are too loud, others disrespectful, and some are kind, others judgmental. But all of
them are far too unapproachable for timid little Suguru.

At the end of the day, Suguru is expected to head home by himself, now armed with the
knowledge of how to get there on his own. Once he walks through the front door, Suguru
takes off his shoes, hangs up his backpack and then places his empty bento on the counter
while Asami sweeps the kitchen.

“How was your day?” she asks, glancing at Suguru from the corner of her eye.

“It was okay, Mom,” Suguru responds, turning to her as he tries to sound optimistic. “I made
it through the day.”

“Did you make any friends?” she asks.

“No, I was too scared to talk to anyone,” he says, forgetting his earlier weakness.

“Friends are important,” Asami replies, emptying her dustpan into the garbage. “You
shouldn’t be so anti-social.”

“I’ll try to talk more,” Suguru replies—more of an empty promise.

In kindergarten, Suguru was graded on 3 things: his skills, habits, and sociability. He excelled
in everything except sociability, and it seems that may continue into elementary school.

The day progresses into dinnertime as Asami prepares a meal for three, though Suguru's
father hasn’t yet returned from work.

Once she’s finished, Suguru sits waiting at the table while Asami waits by the door for
Suguru’s father. Soon, the door to their home opens, revealing him and Asami bows to her
husband. “Welcome home, Samuru,” she greets him.

“Welcome home, Dad,” Suguru says from the table.

Samuru slides off his shoes, offering Asami a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you,” he says,
removing his coat to hang up before making his way to the table. “Suguru, how was your first
day?” Samuru asks.

“It was good,” Suguru replies, maintaining his straight posture in front of his parents.

There was always a strict sort of demeanor between both of Suguru’s parents. But Suguru
does his best to ensure he follows their instructions. After all, he knows it’s for the best in the
end. He wants to lead a respectable life when he’s older. However, it leaves him with a sense
of emptiness where parental love and nurturing should be.
The family all sits together for dinner, and eventually, it’s time for Suguru to get ready for
bed—the exact thing he’s been dreading since he woke up. Still, he goes about his routine.
He takes a shower, brushes his teeth, flosses, and then he has to get to his bedroom. He stands
at the end of the foreboding hallway as a sense of dread floods into him.

Suguru leaves the hallway and finds Samuru’s study, standing by the doorway. “Dad, can you
tuck me in tonight?” he asks and Samuru turns toward his son.

“You’re growing up now, aren’t you, boy? A bit old for being tucked in,” he says.

Suguru shrinks against the doorway, whining a bit. “But my room is scary…” he adds.

“Scary?” Samuru turns in his chair, looking at Suguru. He notices his son’s posture and the
genuine uneasiness in his eyes. “What’s so scary about it? It’s the same room you’ve had
since you were born,” he points out.

“I heard something under my bed last night,” Suguru replies, repeating the same story he told
his mother that morning.

“There’s no such thing as monsters,” Samuru replies dismissively but Suguru only whines
again.

“Can you come check?” he asks.

Samuru sighs and then lifts out of his chair, walking past Suguru to head to the hallway
where his room resides. Suguru walks fast to catch up with Samuru, clinging to his side as
they head down the hallway and into Suguru’s room. The boy holds onto his father tighter
once they enter and the oppressive darkness grips Suguru.

Samuru walks over to the bed and lifts the blanket. “See? Nothing.”

But there isn’t “nothing.” There is a monster and it’s staring right at Suguru who looks like a
deer in headlights as he lays eyes on the creature gurgling and muttering beneath his bed. For
the first time, Suguru feels an honest sense of fear strangle him and he clings to Samuru
harder, tearing up. “Y-Yes there is!” he cries out, burying his head in his father’s arm.

Samuru furrows his brow, trying to pry his son off of him. “Suguru—this is absurd,” he
scolds him. “Come on, now. There’s nothing there!”

But Suguru only keeps crying, doing his best to stay at his father’s side despite his attempts
to pull Suguru away. At the comotion, Asami enters the room. “What’s going on?” she asks
and Samuru looks to her for advice.

“He thinks there’s a monster under his bed,” Samuru replies.

“Suguru, enough with this nonsense,” Asami says, pulling her wailing son away from his
father. She turns and then leans down to peek under the bed for herself. “There’s nothing
under there at all.”

“Maybe the boy’s just acting out because he doesn’t want to go to school,” Samuru suggests.
Suguru turns from his mother to see if what she said was right, but the monster remains, its
grotesque form writhing beneath his bed as it lets out a guttural noise. “Don't...sleep…” the
monster murmurs.

Suguru shrieks, now clutching his mother as he breaks down into more tears. “I’m not lying!
Please, Mom! I don’t wanna go to sleep here!” he sobs.

Asami and Samuru share a look with one another in the face of their hysterical child.
“Suguru, you have to sleep in your bed. You’re too old to sleep with us,” Asami says.

Suguru peeks up at his mom, his eyes filled with tears. “I don’t wanna—I can sleep in the
living room—on the floor—I don’t wanna sleep in here,” he begs her.

Asami sighs, torn between her son's distress and the need for structure. "Fine, you can sleep
in the living room tonight," she concedes, exchanging a glance with Samuru.

Suguru's tears begin to subside as his mother leads him out of his room. He glances back one
more time, fear lingering in his eyes. The grotesque murmurs from under the bed continue,
but Suguru's parents dismiss them as the product of an overactive imagination.

In the living room, Suguru lies on the makeshift bed of cushions and blankets, seeking solace
in the familiarity of the common area. Asami covers him with an extra blanket, looking down
at her son with discontent in her eyes.

"You’ll be in your bedroom tomorrow night, understand? You can’t be disruptive like this
every night," she says.

"I’m sorry, Mom," Suguru mumbles, his eyes still wary. As Asami turns off the living room
light, Suguru feels a momentary reprieve from the darkness that haunted his bedroom.

However, as he drifts into an uneasy slumber, Suguru can't shake the sense that something
lurks in the shadows. The night stretches on, and the soft hum of the living room space heater
is the only comfort against the ominous whispers that seem to follow him even here. Suguru
clings to the hope that sleeping outside his room will keep the unseen threat at bay.

As the night progresses, Suguru’s troubled dreams weave a tapestry of unsettling images. He
finds himself in a surreal landscape, a distorted version of his home, with shadows that dance
eerily. The whispers persist, now audible echoes in his dream.

In the early hours of the morning, Suguru awakens with a start. The living room is cloaked in
darkness, and the whispers are still present, intertwining with his subconscious. His heart
races as he recalls the creature under his bed.

Unable to shake off the uneasy feeling, Suguru cautiously stands and tiptoes to the hallway,
casting a wary glance toward his room. The door is slightly ajar, and an ominous energy
emanates from within.

Curiosity mingled with trepidation, Suguru pushes the door open, revealing a surreal sight.
The monster from his nightmares is still slunk beneath his bed, its form more vivid and
disgusting than ever. It seems to pulsate with an otherworldly jitter.

"No…escape," the creature hisses, its voice a haunting growl.

Suguru recoils, his breath catching in his throat. The living room now feels like a distant
refuge, and the whispers grow louder. Panic sets in as Suguru grapples with the surreal reality
before him and he lets out a scream as he turns to run out of the room.

In his moment of desperation, Suguru's parents stir in their bedroom, awakened at the sound
of their son's distress. Asami rushes to the living room, concern etched across her face.
"Suguru, what's wrong?" she asks, her voice cutting through the night and his father trudges
around the corner to observe.

Suguru, caught between the surreal nightmare and the relief of his mother's presence, points
shakily to the hall leading to his room. "It's there, Mom. The monster. It's in my room!"

Asami glances down the hall, not even giving the effort to walk all the way down to check.
“It’s the middle of the night, Suguru,” she says. “Just go back to sleep, you’re safe in the
living room.” Her tone is comforting but Suguru can tell both of them are frustrated with him.

But the whispers persist, and Suguru remains shaken by the lingering fear. He lays back
down on his makeshift bed as his parents make their way back to their own bedroom to go
back to sleep and Suguru tries to do the same.

In the faint glow of dawn, Suguru drifts into a fitful sleep, the whispers gradually fading into
the recesses of his dreams.

The next couple nights carry on largely the same; Suguru’s parents urging him to sleep in his
own bed while Suguru screams and cries until they concede to let him sleep in the living
room. Suguru has even begun avoiding his room during the day as well.

That and…monsters have begun appearing everywhere, not just Suguru’s room. They’re in
his school, wrapped around some of his classmates and teacher, looming above strangers he
passes on the streets, and peering at him from behind trees and light poles. Suguru has
become paranoid, looking behind every dark place he can find and avoiding people who
harbor monsters.

As Suguru enters his home after school on the third day, he shrinks past his mother who has
grown more frustrated with him as the days have gone on. He contemplates telling her about
all the other monsters he’d begun to see. But decides against it for a while. Thankfully, the
only monster that seems to be in his home is the one that hides under his bed.

Then, dinner comes, his family all sitting together and Suguru remains quiet in the oppressive
presence of his parents. “Um…” Suguru murmurs softly. “I…started seeing monsters in
school today…and outside,” he says.

Samuru slams his fist against the table, earning a scared shudder from Suguru. “Dammit,
Suguru! Can we go one night without hearing you talk about monsters!” he yells.
Asami places her hand on Samuru’s tense one, trying to soothe him. Suguru looks at the
table, avoiding the wrath in his father’s eyes. “I’m sorry—I’m just scared,” he says, a whine
edging into his voice.

“You’re always scared! Asami, get the boy to a doctor tomorrow. Clearly there’s something
wrong with him,” Samuru says, standing from the dinner table to storm off into his study,
slamming the door behind him.

Suguru goes rigid, keeping his eyes away from his mother. “He’s serious, you know,” Asami
says. “Do you really want me to bring you to the doctor because of some monsters? Do you
think the doctor will believe you?” she asks.

Suguru clenches his fists, his expression dropping as he simply longs to be believed. A doctor
is not someone who would. “I’m not lying, Mom…you have to believe me…” he says, lifting
his gaze to her with tears in his eyes.

Asami sighs, surrendering to the reality of the situation that maybe there was something
wrong with her son’s mind. “Okay…I’ll take you to the doctor’s tomorrow.”

The next day comes and Suguru is taken to his pediatrician. He sits on the exam table while
his mother waits in a nearby seat. The room is silent as they await the doctor’s arrival.

The door clicks open, and Suguru’s stomach sinks as he sees the massive monster hanging
around the doctor’s shoulder. The horror on his face is visible but he swallows down an
honest reaction to it. “Good morning, Geto,” he greets the boy. “You look pale.” He turns to
Asami. “What seems to be the problem?” he asks her.

“Suguru claims that he’s been seeing monsters. It started with one under his bed, and
yesterday he told us he sees them everywhere. It’s gotten to a point where he refuses to sleep
in his room and he’s screaming and crying until we let him sleep in the living room. It’s
become very exhausting,” Asami explains.

“I see,” says the doctor and then turns to Suguru. “Well, are there any monsters in the room
now?” he asks.

Suguru nods, his hands shaking. The doctor hums, inspecting the boy’s demeanor before
approaching, putting on his stethoscope. And with him, the monster comes face to face with
Suguru as the doctor listens to his heart. He can hear as it races, thundering against his
ribcage.

“Well, an overactive imagination is one thing. But fear is hard to fake when your body gives
you lots of signs,” the doctor explains to Suguru. “What do the monsters look like?” he asks.

“Um…” Suguru trails off. “Some are big…and some are small…and they’re all really
scary…some are slimy…and some have more than one mouth or lots of eyes…” he explains.

“And how about the monster in the room?” the doctor asks.
Suguru lifts his head, still shaking as he looks at the monster wrapped around his doctor.
“It’s…dark blue…and really big…” he says, starting to tear up.

“And do you hear their voices?” the doctor asks.

Suguru nods.

“What do they say?”

He looks to the side. “Weird things…” he says. “They don’t speak fully…they just whisper
stuff. But it’s all really scary.” Suguru then begins to wrack his brain for some things he’s
heard. “The one under my bed said ‘no escape.’ I’ve heard another say ‘i need groceries.’”

The doctor nods, trying to put the boy at ease. “I see,” he says and then turns to Asami. “Well
we’ll need to run some more tests, but this seems like a case of Schizophrenia,” he says. “To
help with the hallucinations for now, we’ll prescribe an antipsychotic.”

Suguru’s mind reels with all the big words, looking to his mom for understanding but she
looks disappointed in the revelation from the doctor. Asami nods. “Thank you, doctor. We’ll
get him the medicine right away,” she says.

The two finish up the appointment, getting things in place and updating information before
Suguru and his mother begin walking out.

She holds Suguru’s hand as they start toward the nearby pharmacy. It’s silent until Suguru
speaks. “Mom, what’s happening to me…?” he whimpers, trying to avoid looking at
passersby for fear of any more monsters.

“You’re going to be just fine,” Asami assures him. “The doctor gave you medicine that’s
going to get rid of the monsters, okay?”

Suguru nods, only half understanding what any of this means. Regardless, they soon have the
medicine in their possession and upon reaching home, Asami offers him his first pill. “Here,
you’ll have to swallow this,” she says, handing him a glass with some water to go with his
medicine.

Relief settles into Suguru’s gut as does the pill washed down by the water. He hopes this will
allow him a restful night’s sleep for once.

Soon, it’s time for Samuru to be getting home to eat dinner like usual. Like clockwork,
Suguru waits at the table while Asami waits by the door.

Then, Samuru enters. But he isn’t alone. A huge monster is attached to his tired father’s
shoulder and Suguru’s stomach sinks as he sees it and he shrinks against his chair, his eyes
not moving from his father as his mother kisses his cheek, welcoming him home. But Suguru
doesn’t welcome him. Even with such a subtle change in their routine, Samuru notices his
son’s fear and sighs with disappointment.

“Asami, I thought I told you to get Suguru to a doctor,” Samuru says.

“I did,” she says. “He prescribed him medicine—he thinks he may have Schizophrenia,”
Asami says.

“Well, did you get it? He’s looking at me like he sees a monster right now,” Samuru says,
staring right into his son’s soul, as if commanding him to stop looking at him that way and
just be normal.

“He took it earlier,” Asami says and looks toward her son as Suguru averts his gaze from the
monster on Samuru’s shoulder. “Suguru, are you still seeing things?” she asks.

“There’s a monster on Dad’s shoulder…” he murmurs.

Samuru lets out an exasperated sigh. “One dinner, Suguru. One dinner. That’s all I’m asking.
Not a word about monsters. And so help me if you try throwing a fit about sleeping in your
bed, I’ll lock you in there.”

Suguru nods his head quietly, resolving to follow his father’s request. Dinner is silent save for
the clinking of utensils and the groans and moans of the monster sitting on Samuru’s
shoulder. “Useless…son…” it gurgles and Suguru presses his lips together. “Mistake…kill
him…”

Suguru tries not to show any reaction to the words the monster is saying, but they almost
sound like things his father would be saying if he spoke right now—as though the monster
were a parrot on his shoulder.

Dinner ends as it began: in silence. And then it’s time for Suguru to get to bed. He gulps as he
walks with his parents down the hallway and into his room. The familiar feeling of dread
sinks into his skin, infesting his bones. But he tries to stifle his fear, determined to keep his
parents happy.

The three stand inside the room in front of the bed. Suguru is rigid with terror as he hears the
whispers and growling from under his bed, even a peek of the monster’s horrid form. “Well?”
Samuru asks, looking down at his son.

“Everything’s fine,” Suguru replies and walks his shaking body over to his bed, swiftly
climbing up to ensure the monster can’t grab at his ankles. “S-See? I’m all better,” he says as
he looks toward his parents in the doorway, trying to avoid eye contact with the monster still
muttering on Samuru’s shoulders.

“Good riddance,” Samuru murmurs before walking out of the room.

Asami’s gaze lingers upon her son for a long moment before turning to do the same after
shutting off the light. This leaves Suguru alone in his room—with no one but the monster’s
company. His body trembles as he clings to his blankets, only allowing his eyes outside the
safety of his makeshift cocoon.

The room is cloaked in shadows, and Suguru's senses are on high alert. The whispers persist,
a haunting chorus that surrounds him. The monster beneath the bed seems to writhe in the
darkness, its grotesque form barely visible in the dim light.
Suguru's eyes remain glued to the edge of his bed, searching for any sign of the unseen threat.
His breath catches as he hears the monster's guttural mutterings, the words like a venomous
serpent weaving through the air.

"Sleep…Suguru. Forever…together," the monster hisses, its voice a disconcerting blend of

malice and familiarity.

Suguru clutches the blankets tighter, attempting to shut out the nightmarish presence. He
feels a knot of fear tightening in his chest, his heart pounding in rhythm with the monstrous
whispers. He slips further into the blankets, just barely able to see around it now as he
trembles uncontrollably. Then, a hand begins to slowly emerge from beneath the bed on the
floor. It reaches out…then up, grasping his bedsheets.

Suguru whimpers as he slinks away from it. “Please don’t hurt me…” he whispers, unable to
take his eyes off the approaching hand.

He backs up more as the hand tries to touch him, the rest of the monster’s body emerging
from beneath the bed so Suguru can see its form in the moonlight flitting into his room.
Finally, he shrieks, holding out his hands to stop the encroaching darkness. But there’s
nothing—no horrible pain or whispers, nothing more than the feeling of something round in
his hand.

He peeks his eyes open after a moment to see that there is no monster anymore…only a
brackish orb in his hand. Suguru isn’t sure what motivates his next action, but he then
swallows the orb that appeared in his hand. It tastes awful and he leans over his bed,
immediately losing his dinner onto the floor. But there’s no more sign of the monster.

For once, his room is completely quiet…and Suguru feels safe again after eating the monster
under his bed.

From then on, the monsters never bothered Suguru anymore. He grew accustomed to
absorbing and eating them. But with that came the consequence of their darkness filling
Suguru’s heart, turning him into quite the rebellious teenager. He didn’t attend much of high
school until one fateful day when he was scouted by Jujutsu High, who began to recognize
his abilities as he went on absorbing some of their registered curses.

Suguru was sitting beneath a tree in the woods, playing with one of his cursed cores, tossing
it up just to catch it back in his hand, a mundane but somehow entertaining cycle. He lifts his
head as he hears the rustling of footsteps coming toward him, lifting his eyes just to find
someone approaching.

He isn’t like anyone Suguru has ever seen before, walking so casually toward him, hands in
his pockets. But what really draws Suguru’s attention to him is that distinct hair color—frost
white. That, and his bright blue eyes.

“Hey you, the gloomy one sitting under the tree,” the boy says.

Suguru glances around and then points to himself. “You’re talking to me?” he asks. “Do I
know you?”
 “I wouldn’t doubt it. Then again, I hear you’re kind of a normie,” the boy with white hair
says with a snide laugh. “So, you can see and absorb curses, right?” he asks.

Suguru eyes the boy with white hair cautiously. "Yeah, so what if I can?" he replies, not
willing to reveal too much about himself.

The boy smirks, seemingly unbothered by Suguru's guarded demeanor. "I'm Satoru Gojo, a
student at Jujutsu High. We've been keeping an eye on you. You have potential, kid," Satoru
says with a confident grin.

Suguru raises an eyebrow. “Who are you calling a kid? You look younger than me.”

“Actually, according to our information, I’m a year older than you,” Satoru replies.

Suguru grimaces and then decides to press Satoru’s offer. "Jujutsu High? What’s that?" he
asks, skeptical.

Satoru leans against a tree adjacent to Suguru, looking casual. "It's a place where you can put
those curse-absorbing skills to good use. We deal with curses, and you seem to have a knack
for handling them. Plus, we can teach you how to control your power," he says, his eyes
glinting with mischief.

Suguru contemplates Satoru's words. The idea of a school that deals with curses intrigues
him, and the prospect of honing his abilities appeals to his rebellious nature. "And why
should I trust you?" Suguru asks, not one to easily accept offers.

Satoru chuckles. "Trust me or not, it's up to you. But if you want to see what kind of world
exists beyond your little monster-eating routine, you should really consider coming with me,"
he says.

As Satoru begins to explain and almost sell the school to him, Suguru finds himself
reluctantly intrigued by the idea of joining Jujutsu High. Satoru Gojo's charismatic and
confident demeanor, combined with the promise of a world where he can apply his unique
abilities, begins to wear down Suguru's initial resistance. In the end, Suguru agrees to visit
Jujutsu High and see for himself what it has to offer.

Chapter End Notes

okay, yeah, i know this chapter is a bit out of place but i've been waiting to find a good
place to put it. the idea for Suguru's past comes from an artist's work i found on twitter
called @frey

please support them!!

also, made up some names for suguru's parents since they don't have canon ones
Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!