Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Lilac" by Mrs Green Aplee

Satoru had noticed his classmate's strange behavior for two days now. Sukuna seemed both annoyed and ecstatic at the same time—an odd combination, especially the latter part.

Yaga-sensei was explaining something that Satoru quickly understood, despite his attention being slightly divided. Witnessing such clumsy behavior from Sukuna was unusual, and he was sure Suguru had noticed it too.

When their teacher finished the class, he asked the devil himself to stay behind for a few extra minutes. Sukuna respected Yaga-sensei, but at that moment, he seemed so irritable that even Shoko, who usually ignored her classmates' tantrums, was surprised.

The three of them left the classroom to give the two some privacy. Satoru wanted to act noble, but meddling in other people’s business was something he often couldn’t resist. That’s why he dragged his two friends to stay and eavesdrop on the conversation unfolding behind the door.

"Yuuji returns from overseas tomorrow. I know you’re aware of this because I told you two weeks ago, and your brother also informed you; you’re just ignoring it on purpose." Satoru couldn’t see Sukuna, but he bet his expression wasn’t exactly friendly. Not that it ever was, but he was sure it looked even worse now. "His exact words, not mine," the teacher added as Sukuna cursed under his breath. Even so, Satoru could hear it clearly.

"His older brother?" Suguru and Shoko asked in unison. Just as nosy as him, they pressed closer against the door to hear better. Hypocrites.

The three of them had heard about Sukuna's older brother, but none of them had met him yet. He was a special-grade sorcerer who had been working abroad with Okkotsu-san for years. They didn’t know much else since Sukuna wasn’t someone who openly talked about his life, let alone his family.

"I thought he wouldn’t come back so soon." Satoru was dying to see his classmate's face, but judging by his tone, it was clear he was annoyed. Still, there was also a hint of excitement—something unusual for him. That emotion only appeared when destroying curses like a sadist brought him pure joy.

"Fujitaka will retire in a few weeks due to personal matters. That’s why I need a new teacher for the first years, and your brother has been preparing for this recently."

Interesting. They were finally going to meet this mysterious man. Satoru wondered if he would be as friendly and sweet as Sukuna (note the sarcasm).

"Yuuji said he’d never come back after… that." Sukuna’s voice sounded hesitant. It was clear there was something Satoru didn’t know, and he doubted his friends knew more. Maybe Nanami did, as he was Sukuna’s only real friend.

Satoru heard Yaga shuffle some papers and take a significant pause, given the circumstances. "Yuuji is stronger than he seems and has received help. He hasn’t been alone all this time, Sukuna."

"I know. It’s just that, after…" Sukuna trailed off, which was even stranger. His classmate always had something to say and rarely faltered in his words.

"You’re worried about him."

"No." Sukuna replied definitively, but Satoru didn’t believe him one bit.

"Okkotsu will travel with him as well, but he won’t be a teacher. I need him for another task." Satoru wasn’t sure if Yaga was trying to reassure Sukuna by mentioning a third party. He knew Okkotsu, the curse manipulator with a power strong enough to rival his own. However, he hadn’t seen him since he was fifteen.

"Fushiguro will pick him up tomorrow at noon. I wanted to know if you’d like to join him. Your brother is worried since you haven’t answered his calls." If Satoru didn’t know Yaga well enough, he’d bet he was slightly enjoying this situation. Despite the cryptic tone of his words, there was an almost comical undertone to seeing this strange side of Sukuna.

He could hear Sukuna get up, as the chair made such a loud noise that it practically made them grit their teeth. "Whatever. Tell Fushiguro-san to let me know that idiot's schedule, and I'll go with him. Otherwise, he won't leave me alone afterward."

Those tender words didn’t fool Satoru or anyone in their group, not even their teacher. He was sure that, deep down, Sukuna was probably jumping for joy, which was a very odd image to imagine.

Satoru and his friends had good reflexes. It’s just that this situation was too strange, and their survival instincts faltered as Sukuna opened the door. All three lost their balance, with Shoko ending up on top of a pile of bones composed of Suguru and himself.

Sukuna looked at them with the same expression he always gave them. Such a sweet guy. Satoru was almost certain he was going to die that day, so crashing in Suguru’s room tonight seemed like the best idea. If Sukuna came for them, he could drag Shoko along too.

"Everything okay?" Satoru asked with a toothy grin as he adjusted his sunglasses, still crushing Suguru with Shoko leaning on his back. Satoru wasn’t afraid of hell, even when he could see it reflected in his classmate’s eyes.

"Screw you." Sukuna graced him with those tender words. Suguru whistled quietly as an angry Sukuna stormed off down the hallway and disappeared. Sometimes, his tantrums were almost adorable.

Shoko took an unlit cigarette and placed it between her lips. “I heard Sukuna’s brother is super hot.” Her weight wasn’t much, but the position they were in must have been bothering Suguru, considering he was also bearing the weight of Satoru.

Satoru didn’t know, but if the brother resembled Sukuna, his friend might be right. However, the “super hot” part didn’t quite fit, especially given Sukuna’s “sweet” personality—sweet enough to scare off the worst curses.

“Satoru, get off…” Suguru muttered, exhausted, but his friend ignored him, lost in thoughts about everything that would unfold in the coming days. He was far too curious about this long-lost brother and the strength everyone seemed to talk about.

“What kind of technique do you think he has?” Satoru admitted his intrigue. Plus, teasing Sukuna about it was always a bonus. Tomorrow, he’d have to witness the interaction between the two, or his curiosity would eat him alive.

"I think he manipulates anti-gravity, but I also heard there’s more to it. That’s why he was abroad..." Shoko, now lying on his back, tried to recall more details but didn’t seem to have much luck.

Satoru wasn’t entirely sure either. There were rumors, but he’d never paid much attention. Sukuna’s brother only came up occasionally in random conversations among sorcerers, mostly from Fushiguro or Kugisaki. Sukuna never mentioned him—not around them, at least—but Satoru was certain Nanami knew much more.

After a few minutes, Suguru finally toppled him over, tired of being cruelly abandoned and crushed by his two friends. His words, not Satoru’s.

[...]

Half an hour later, while the three of them enjoyed the warm weather, he asked aloud, 'Do you think he’ll be as terrifying as Sukuna?' He couldn’t help but think about it while stretching his legs on the bench. Anyone who had grown up close to Sukuna had to be just as intimidating.

"We'll know tomorrow," Suguru concluded as the three of them went out to get drinks from the vending machine, then sat on the benches under the trees. Sukuna was nowhere to be seen; he was probably still cursing the universe like he did every day, though perhaps with less fury this time.

“Please, don’t be a headache with your sharp tongue, or Sukuna will kill us all because of you.” Shoko lit her cigarette for real this time, her tone weary, and Satoru grinned, making no promises.

[...]

What Satoru didn’t know was that, damn it, the Itadori genetics were a lethal threat. Specifically, that Itadori. He was pretty sure he was about to have a heart attack. Oh, God, he was so screwed. That man looked like a Greek god with a radiant and dazzling smile that could rival the sun.

Beyond his muscles and imposing physique, what stood out the most was the soft and reciprocal side Sukuna showed with his brother. It was creepy. Satoru definitely needed to record it for future blackmail.

Itadori-sensei finally stopped hugging his brother, who didn’t budge an inch, just to address the three of them with a brilliant smile. Satoru was certain his other two friends had to blink at the light emanating from him as well.

“Oh, you must be my little brother’s friends.” He tightened his hold on Sukuna, who gave him a half-hearted kick. But Satoru noticed something interesting: it wasn’t strong enough to actually hurt him.

None of them could manage a single word. They were too captivated by the Greek god standing before them.

“My name is Itadori Yuuji. I hope we’ll get along. We’ll be spending a lot of time together.” That man was the embodiment of an entire constellation. Satoru didn’t know where such cheesy thoughts came from until it happened—those beautiful eyes landed on him, and he knew.

Sukuna was going to kill him for looking at his brother like that.

Chapter Text

"Antenna" by Mrs Green Aplee

Yuuji was happy to see Sukuna again. He literally left his suitcase behind at the airport to hug him. He was his only brother, and one of the reasons he decided to return to Japan was him.

Yaga had talked to him a few months ago. It had been a pretty tough conversation, filled with topics he knew he had to face. He couldn’t always run from the past, especially when Sukuna was his only living family member.

At first, he wasn’t sure of Yaga’s intentions when offering him the teaching position. He had never been a brilliant student; together with Kugisaki, they were always at the bottom in terms of grades, and that had been the case throughout all of his school years. The only exception had always been Fushiguro, but his friend was a born nerd, so that didn’t count.

"You have a brilliant technique. The boys will learn a lot from you, and you're much stronger than you think." That was his response, with an implicit language that Yuuji could read perfectly. There was a harsh truth in the last part. Yuuji believed he knew what he was referring to. Yaga had seen it all back then, he knew exactly what had happened that time.

He thought about it a lot. He spent several nights with disturbed sleep. He talked to Okkotsu about it on several occasions, being quite honest about his concerns. They had become good friends, especially since Yuuji ended up living in the same country as him a few years ago. On more than one occasion, he had opened his heart and shared his worries, and his friend always listened.

"Sukuna-kun will be happy to see you, and you need him too. You've been suffering because of it for a long time, and I think going back would be a good idea." He told him the truth he had preferred to hide for a long time. It wasn’t that he didn’t see his brother often; Sukuna always made the effort to travel, even when he insisted he didn’t want to see him. No matter what, Sukuna always crossed the continent to be with him.

Yuuji always tried to bring out his friendlier side, wanting to soften those hard edges. When he succeeded, they would have a pleasant time together. But he suffered horribly every time they parted, and that’s why, in addition to Yaga’s offer, he decided to accept becoming a teacher.

Sukuna was small when all the shit went down. Yuuji took him with him out of the country when he was only eleven. Later, Sukuna expressed his desire to become a student at Jujutsu Tech, and Yuuji had no choice but to accept and let him go. He wasn’t going to imprison him with his selfish desires, especially because he knew the potential he could reach in that place. So, he let him attend, even though it hurt terribly. But it was something that sooner or later had to happen.

The first year he was very worried, since Sukuna used to be an evasive person, especially when it came to showing affection. He knew that this often gave an unfair image of his brother, which is why others assumed that he wasn’t good at connecting with people or talking about what was happening to him. Fortunately, Fushiguro, Kugisaki, and Yaga always kept him informed when Sukuna distanced himself from him. Even Sukuna’s friend, Nanamin, would send him updates when his brother was being uncommunicative. Yuuji blamed it on age; he knew he had been a difficult case back then as well.

He is clear that Sukuna was never good at making friends. He was the complete opposite of Yuuji, who had always been much more extroverted. Sukuna may have a terrible character and a rather blunt temperament, but, contrary to what the idiots say, his brother isn’t a bully. Even though he has that bad boy vibe, he is kind and polite when he gets the same treatment.

He knows his younger brother is smart and much sharper than him. His mind has always worked at a speed Yuuji has struggled to follow, and that has always amazed him. He is fascinated by how brilliant Sukuna is and how he has used his intelligence to help others, even when very few notice it.

Sukuna has told him countless times that his classmates are not his friends, but Yuuji isn’t so sure about that.

Yuuji recognizes them because he’s seen photographs of them, though not provided by his brother.

That’s why he already knows who they are the moment he sees them. The curse manipulator, Suguru Geto, has a judgmental look, but with more curiosity than hostility, and Yuuji likes that. Then there's the only woman in the group, Ieiri Shoko, whose healing technique is so necessary in the world of sorcery. Of course, he’s also heard of the prodigy, the young promise of the Gojo clan, who holds the Six Eyes and is one of his brother’s greatest headaches: Gojo Satoru.

Yuuji smiles at them when the three of them arrive and see him still crushing Sukuna with a hug. Yuuji had missed him a lot, and he knows that, even though his brother doesn't say it, he missed him too.

He laughs when Shoko takes out his phone and starts recording Sukuna. He’s sure this will be used as possible blackmail, so he messes with his little brother's hair a bit more, only to receive a gentle tap on his hand from him, just enough to be categorized as a caress.

[...]

"Satoru, if you leave your stupid sweets on my bed, I’m going to tell Sukuna that you’re still drooling like an idiot over Itadori-sensei." Satoru ignored his best friend’s tantrums as he relived the first encounter with that Greek god while swallowing another piece of cake. Sukuna could come find him and chat about how sexy his older brother was, since he was sure that, in the near future, they would both get pretty close.

"Ugh, I can hear you thinking. It’s disgusting, so stop doing it." Shoko wrinkled her nose and lit one of her cigarettes while opening the window in Suguru's room a little so the smoke wouldn’t completely fill the space.

The two had sneaked into his room, since Sukuna would probably come looking for them later to kill them. It was better three against one, though he knew Suguru wasn’t too sure about that.

"I’m going to ask again: why are you two here? I just wanted some peace," his best friend asked in a tired voice.

Satoru ignored him while fantasizing. Shoko, on the other hand, took a drag of her cigarette, her attention elsewhere. She was probably thinking about something, just hoping it wasn’t about Itadori-sensei, as she didn’t like to share, not even her thoughts.

"Do you think in a hand-to-hand fight, Itadori-sensei would drown me with his pecs?" He couldn’t stop thinking about that possibility. He had been working hard to keep his infinity always up, but for his teacher, he might just forget about it and let himself die that way.

"Hey, I asked you a question," Suguru insisted impatiently. Satoru wanted to be a good friend and answer the obvious, but his attention drifted to Shoko when she kindly responded.

"You’re the strongest. I highly doubt Itadori-sensei thinks he’s beaten you. But I can be a good friend and test the theory for you." Shoko smiled like the cat who stole the cream. Satoru was about to make all her cigarette packs disappear for such a suggestion.

"I’m fed up." I could hear Suguru’s voice cursing loudly as he told Shoko how much of a bad friend and homewrecker she was being by saying things like that. "Sukuna? Yeah, I need to tell you something very important. It turns out that Satoru..."

Satoru had to teleport to his side, grab his friend’s phone, and hang up the call. "What’s wrong with you, Suguru? Do you want Sukuna to kill us?" he scolded him, his voice getting sharper, almost at the end. Satoru was seriously considering rethinking their friendship since Suguru was about to sell him to the devil himself.

"You’re so messed up, Sukuna already knows you’re looking at his brother like a thirsty dog. He’s probably planning the best way to get rid of you right now." Suguru had no mercy; he was really going to put an expiration date on their brotherhood.

But Satoru wasn’t fooled. Those two had also noticed how sexy his new teacher was. Satoru had no choice but to mark him so the idiots wouldn't stare at what he had already claimed as his.

[...]

They had another day of life. No one committed murder yesterday, but Satoru knew he had to be careful. Sukuna was a lot less sweet when he was angry, and he didn’t want to provoke his future brother-in-law even more.

Yaga had asked them that morning to meet in one of the most secluded areas of the campus, as they would have a special class. Almost no one used that area; it wasn’t suitable for training, so it piqued his curiosity enough to wake up earlier, though not as early as the others.

When he arrived, he saw his three companions. Sukuna looked at him with a disapproving face, but that was nothing new for Satoru. He could also spot Okkotsu, Fushiguro, Yaga, and of course, the sexiest man he had ever had the chance to meet. Satoru sighed unconsciously. He was seriously screwed, as he hadn’t stopped thinking about his exquisite pecs.

"You’re late, Satoru, eight minutes to be exact." Satoru tried to downplay it. It was true that he had the bad habit of being late, especially when it came to classes.

He stood next to his best friend and adjusted his glasses a bit to get a better look at the Greek god in person. Satoru was going to die; if he kept looking at his teacher like that, Sukuna would come for him and turn him into pig food.

"Hi, Gojo-kun, I'm glad you came!" What the hell, Satoru had to blink several times in a row. It was like a ball of light fell directly into his face. He was pretty sure he dissociated halfway through his words. You couldn't blame him; anyone who did was an idiot.

"I asked Yuuji to show you his technique," Yaga-sensei explained. "It was better for you to see it with your own eyes. For obvious reasons, Sukuna knows it, but you three don't."

He wasn't going to deny that he was curious. He had heard about antigravity, but he had never witnessed it for himself. Plus, he wanted to draw his own conclusions, as he didn’t want a weak future husband. He needed someone as strong as he was by his side, so he hoped that Itadori-sensei would meet his expectations.

"I know you had another activity planned for today, so I'm sorry about that." Itadori apologized sincerely. He looked so adorable as he scratched the back of his neck. Satoru could sense a bit of nervousness behind all of this. As far as he knew, they would be his first students, so he could sympathize, especially when the four of them were as stressful as their teachers said. "But I promise this demonstration will be fun."

Satoru had to squint because of the sunlight radiating. He was sure the rest of them had to do the same.

"If it's boring, I'll leave." As always, the life of the party had to give their opinion. Itadori just smiled at his brother while Fushiguro lightly hit him on the side. It was clear that he wanted him to shut up, and that worked.

"The first thing you should know is that antigravity isn't just about floating things. It's about total control over the space around an object," Itadori explained. His voice was so beautiful that Satoru could listen to a podcast every night before sleeping.

"I'm going to start with something simple. We need an object. Nothing too small or dangerous." He looked so cute while thinking. Satoru liked it a lot.

"Why only objects? How about we use Satoru? It would be more useful to practice with something that talks too much, so we can finally shut it up." Suggested his former best friend. Shoko let out a laugh at his indignant expression.

"Or can you throw people into space? Because I'm sure I can think of a couple of candidates..." Sukuna glanced at Satoru with little enthusiasm.

Suguru's calm voice came back with another stupid suggestion. "If we're talking about small things, I still think Satoru could be a good start."

"Can we just go straight to the disaster? I like watching chaos," Shoko vocalized her desires out loud and saved the situation before Satoru retaliated with those two idiots. He was going to have a talk with Suguru and get revenge on Sukuna for this.

Itadori's smile wiped away all his bad thoughts toward his teammates. And he looked directly at him as he began his demonstration.

Suddenly, Itadori made a small rock levitate in the air in front of him. The rock began to spin in circles, floating with perfect precision.

With a fluid motion of his hand, Itadori-sensei made the rock spin faster and faster until it disappeared from sight. A few seconds later, it appeared floating high in the air, but now accompanied by dozens of other rocks that followed the same pattern, forming a kind of floating field.

Satoru understood and marveled equally. His teacher was creating an "influence field" around the rock he was manipulating. This field didn't just affect the main rock, but also any nearby objects within this "field." By altering the gravity of the main rock (or rather, its antigravity), the nearby rocks began to behave the same way and levitate.

He wasn’t just manipulating the antigravity of one rock; he could direct that energy to affect other rocks around it. The rocks didn’t follow a random pattern; they all followed the same one because Itadori was "guiding" them through his technique. Thus, he created a kind of "floating field" with several rocks moving in a controlled manner, as if they were part of the same set.

The reason the additional rocks followed the same pattern as the initial rock was the antigravity field he had created, which affected everything within its reach. It was a way to control the gravity of multiple objects at once, not just one particular rock.

"Itadori-sensei, can you make the rocks change direction in the middle?" Shoko asked without taking her eyes off what was happening.

Yuuji laughed and quickly answered.

"Of course!"

Suddenly, he made the tornado of rocks come to a complete stop in mid-air, and the stones changed direction, forming a spiral downward before gently scattering towards the ground.

"Alright, guys. You’ve seen the basics. Now it's time to show you why my antigravity technique isn’t just for lifting things. Let’s take it to the next level!"

Satoru was amazed, but not impressed enough. Sure, it was cool, but he wanted to see much more than this technique. He wanted to witness its true potential, so he couldn’t help but keep his mouth shut.

"To what level? You’ve already made a good impression, but it’s still not enough. Not for me." He had to be honest. He could feel Suguru’s critical gaze, but no one was going to take away the words he wanted to say. He really liked his teacher, and that’s why he wanted to see so much more than these small examples.

"You always speak your mind, huh?" Okkotsu asked him with a genuine smile. Satoru frowned at his question, but he was right.

"Obviously, I want to know what else my teacher can do, and it’s better if I say it directly, don’t you think, Itadori-sensei?"

Screw them all. He had the right to say whatever he wanted.

"You’re right, Gojo-kun. I hope the next part exceeds your expectations a little more." Itadori winked at him, and Satoru almost died from that simple act. This man was going to be his downfall.

Then, his teacher steps away a few paces from them and stops in the center of the training field, which is empty for the occasion. They’ve all formed a semicircular shape, watching expectantly for what will happen next.

Satoru watches as, with a deep sigh, Itadori closes his eyes and concentrates. The earth beneath him begins to tremble slightly. At first, it’s imperceptible, but little by little, everything starts to rise. First, some dry leaves on the ground, then a few small stones. Everything lifts as if gravity had momentarily ceased to exist. Itadori isn’t just using his ability to levitate objects; he’s creating an antigravity field around him, affecting a large area.

“That’s… that doesn’t seem like just object control…” Suguru adds, surprised.

Suddenly, the air around him distorts slightly, as if he were looking through water, and his teacher levitates into the air, without a single physical movement. His entire body seems suspended in an energy field, flowing and spinning gracefully.

“Is… is he levitating himself?” Satoru asks in a bit of shock, while Itadori smiles at them as if all this is just too fun.

Not only is he levitating. He’s manipulating space itself, as if creating a bubble of antigravity. Suddenly, with a swift flick of his wrist, Itadori releases a burst of energy that lifts the entire training field: some trees, bushes, and even the wooden benches float in the air.

His teacher smiles at them while playing with the antigravity. He makes the large rocks float in the air, spinning at great speed. Then, suddenly, he makes them explode into floating fragments that follow their trajectory as they move through the air around him, not falling to the ground. It’s like a storm of floating debris forming almost an artistic shape, all under his control.

“How can you control so much space, sensei?” Shoko asks with quite a bit of interest. It’s strange to see her so absorbed in something that’s not her field of expertise. It makes him a little jealous.

Itadori, with a relaxed yet confident smile, answers her: “It’s all about controlling gravity on a large scale. When antigravity is applied to a broad area and controlled, I can move everything at will.”

Suddenly, he drops a rain of floating objects, each one disintegrating before hitting the ground in a controlled explosion. After that, everything stops in the air for a second, as if time itself had suspended. Finally, that Greek god falls gently to the ground, effortlessly.

Satoru is in love. There’s no going back now.

His teacher patiently answers all of their questions. Satoru is equally focused. One of them understands perfectly what Itadori is saying.

"Why did the objects disintegrate before hitting the ground?" Fushiguro asks. Satoru believes the man knows the answer, probably just asked that to help Itadori guide his explanation better and keep it on track.

So he explains it, still smiling. Even Sukuna seems a bit softer as he listens to his brother talk about his technique.

He explains that the objects he lifted were under his control thanks to his technique, but when he let them fall and disintegrate, it wasn’t just because of gravity: he released all the energy accumulated during his manipulation. When he manipulates objects with antigravity, they remain "suspended" by counteracting natural gravitational forces. By doing so, the objects also accumulate potential energy (the energy they have due to their position) and some internal structural tension, because they’re being manipulated in ways they normally wouldn’t experience.

When he "lets them go," he doesn’t just drop them. At the end of his control, he applies an additional impulse to the antigravitational field holding them, which creates a wave of energy that destabilizes their physical structure. This causes the objects to disintegrate into particles before they hit the ground, releasing the remaining energy in a small controlled explosion. It’s like each object collapses from within.

"It was hard to put all the physics of this into words. But I know you’re all brilliant students and could understand most of it. Anyway, I can answer any further questions you might have." This man was too kind. Satoru didn’t need to mark him, as figuratively, in his mind, he already had.

His smile was his best feature. Satoru had many questions and recognized that he was a little jealous of his teacher, knowing this was nothing compared to his own power. He would love to see him in a more extreme situation, to see just how far his control over antigravity could go.

For now, he knew the most important and conclusive lesson from this lesson: Satoru was going to make him his husband at some point.

Chapter Text

"Umbrella" by Mrs Green Aplee

The midday sun illuminated the training yard, where Itadori-sensei and Okkotsu were in the middle of their practice. The movements were fast and precise, but there was a familiarity between them that made the training feel more like a friendly game than a serious duel.

"Is this really your best, Okkotsu?" Satoru could hear his teacher joke, easily dodging a blow. "I thought you were stronger after all these years."

"I don't want to embarrass you in front of your students," Okkotsu replied with a smile, launching an attack that Itadori gracefully deflected.

From the steps, Satoru watched the scene with his brow slightly furrowed. He was sitting, but his relaxed posture was a facade; anyone who knew him well could notice the tension in his jaw and the way his eyes didn’t leave Itadori-sensei. Satoru was very irritated.

"This is ridiculous," Sukuna murmured, standing beside him with his arms crossed. Although he was his teacher's brother, he didn’t share much of his passion for martial arts, preferring instead to cut curses like a madman. "Why do we have to stay here?"

"Because watching Gojo suffer is more fun," Shoko answered without looking up from her book.

"I agree. Satoru likes torturing himself," Suguru added, sitting on the floor with a smile as he watched the fight between his two superiors.

Satoru snorted, crossing his arms. "Torture me? Please. I'm just making sure Okkotsu-san doesn't get hurt. It's not like he's particularly skilled."

He was a terrible liar, as he knew that his superior was a special-grade sorcerer who earned his rank not just by taking down a couple of curses, but he wouldn’t admit that out loud.

"Sure, sure," Shoko said, rolling her eyes. "Nothing to do with the fact that sensei seems more comfortable with Okkotsu-san than with you."

In the center of the training yard, Satoru watched as Okkotsu attempted an unexpected attack, quickly spinning to surprise Itadori. But his teacher, as always, reacted in time, deflecting the blow and trapping him in a soft but effective lock. The smile on his face was wide and bright.

"Nice try, but you need to anticipate your opponent's move better," Itadori told the man for whom Satoru wasn’t jealous.

"Yeah, sure, sensei," Okkotsu responded ironically, with a tired smile as he called him ‘sensei.’ "How is it that you always have the advantage over me?"

"Natural talent, I guess," he joked, laughing like a sunny spring day. Satoru wanted to die from frustration hearing them.

He tensed at hearing that laugh. There was something about the way the two interacted, the ease with which they spoke and laughed, that gave him a pang of discomfort and jealousy simmering slowly.

"Are you going to jump in and mark your territory, or are you just going to keep watching him like a jealous puppy?" Suguru asked, enjoying the moment.

"Jealous? Me? Ridiculous," Satoru replied, though he was already standing and walking towards the center of the yard with a calm but somewhat forced smile.

"Hey, sensei!" he called, interrupting just as Okkotsu was preparing for another attempt. "Why don’t you let me show Okkotsu-san how it’s really done? Looks like he could use some help."

Itadori raised an eyebrow, amused. "Are you sure? I thought you preferred watching from afar."

Satoru didn’t respond, he just stretched his arms and got into position. Sukuna, from the corridor, let out a laugh. "This is finally going to get interesting."

[...]

Yuuji liked his students. They were smart, even strong—three special grades and a healer in a generation that always lacked sorcerers with incredible skills.

It had been two months since he returned from abroad, and in the last few weeks, he had taken on the responsibility of the senior students. Yaga had been very busy with the school, and his class schedule had been complicated by that and the director position they were offering him.

He would lie if he said the change bothered him. He enjoyed spending more time with Sukuna, and being his teacher was something he never expected, and it was demanding, as he always felt the theoretical side was harder for him than the practical, but he had worked hard, really studied to be a good teacher. He knew it would take years to reach Yaga’s level, but he believed that over time, he could improve.

And he was happy with his group of students. He felt comfortable with them, but sadly, in just a few months, all of them would graduate and decide which path to take. Yuuji would do his best to support them and help them through that process.

Now, Yuuji wasn’t stupid (contrary to what Fushiguro and Kugisaki said), though he was a bit absent-minded and often didn’t see the signs in time. But there was something about one of his students that was different from the others' behavior, and this situation might confirm his suspicions a bit more.

He joined the rest of his students and younger brother to watch the Gojo and Okkotsu match from a little farther away. He didn’t want to be collateral damage in this confrontation, so he looked for a slightly safer spot.

"Gojo-kun, only martial arts. So lower your Infinity." Yuuji remembered telling him that. It wasn’t that his student was cheating, but he hadn't missed his irritability toward Okkotsu.

"Do you think I’m going to use my technique against the weak? Sensei, I thought you thought better of me." He watched as his student took off his glasses and tossed them aside. Yuuji had to take a deep breath. This was going to end in disaster, and that was confirmed when Okkotsu looked at him with amusement. Oh God, his friend had noticed too.

[...]

"Come on, Gojo-kun," Okkotsu said in a calm tone, his eyes studying the young man in front of him. "Show me how fast you are."

The boy furrowed his brows, his shoulders tense as he assessed his opponent. He took a step forward with a quick attack, trying to surprise him, but Okkotsu easily deflected the blow, slightly pivoting to break the offensive.

"Is that all? I thought you were faster," he commented with a light smile, stepping back a couple of steps to maintain distance. Gojo seemed really upset.

It didn't escape him how Gojo gritted his teeth, launching another attack, this time with more power but less precision. It was blocked without problems, although Okkotsu noticed something odd in Gojo's movements: they were clumsy, rushed, as if his mind were somewhere else.

"Gojo-kun," Okkotsu said while dodging another strike. "You’re not focused. What’s going on?"

"Nothing!" he responded quickly, though his tone betrayed him. His gaze hardened as he attacked again, but once more, Okkotsu neutralized him with an ease that was starting to get frustrating for the young man.

Okkotsu took a step back, lowering his arms slightly. "If you keep moving like that, you won’t get anywhere. What’s distracting you so much?"

Satoru shook his head, trying to hide the blush that was starting to creep up on his face. "I’m fine. Let’s continue."

But Okkotsu didn’t move. Instead, he observed him with a calm look, as if he were seeing something beyond the fight. He approached carefully and lowered his voice. It wasn’t necessary for the rest to hear them, though he thought he’d have to talk to his friend later. After all, he was practically the protagonist of this mess. "Does this have to do with Itadori?" he asked after a moment, his tone so soft it almost seemed more like a suggestion than a statement.

Satoru took a step back, surprised. "What does he have to do with this?"

Okkotsu smiled slightly, tilting his head. "Nothing, really. But you seem... restless. Itadori and I trained together, yes, but that doesn’t mean anything else. We’re just friends, that’s all."

Silence filled the space for a moment as Gojo lowered his gaze, as if processing what he had just heard.

"You’re distracted because you care. That’s not a bad thing," Okkotsu continued softly. "But if you let those things cloud your mind, you won’t be able to improve. Come on, try again. This time, don’t think about anything else."

Gojo lifted his gaze, frowning, but there was something different in his eyes, as if the tension had eased. He got back into position, more relaxed this time.

"Alright," he murmured, before attacking again, his movements now more fluid, more focused.

Okkotsu smiled as he deflected the blow, but this time with a bit more effort. "That’s better."

The training continued, with Gojo-kun showing more confidence and fewer missteps, while Okkotsu guided him patiently. Though he knew that jealousy wouldn’t disappear overnight, at least he had planted a seed of calm in the young prodigy.

[...]

Satoru still felt annoyed. A little less than before, but he needed to release his frustration, so he asked his master to train with him, and Itadori-sensei agreed immediately.

As they prepared for this match, Satoru overheard his friends talking. Shoko looked at Suguru and murmured, "This isn’t training; it’s a desperate attempt to get sensei’s attention."

Suguru smiled. "I know. But it’s more fun this way."

They had changed after fighting with Okkotsu for a while. The man had really seen enough to know that no matter what, Satoru had already set his sights on his sensei.

Satoru received the first blow from his master, which he managed to dodge, but he still felt tense, even more than before. Determined to prove his point, he attacked with unusual energy, while Itadori blocked each blow with his usual unshakable calm.

"You’re putting more force than necessary," his master commented, deflecting another strike before creating some distance. "Are you sure you’re alright, Gojo-kun?"

"Perfectly fine," his student replied with an almost sharp tone, launching a new attack.

Yuuji dodged it easily, though now he observed him more closely. There was something in Gojo’s behavior that didn’t quite add up. His energy was too intense, his movements a bit careless, and above all, it seemed like he was avoiding looking him directly in the eyes.

"This is interesting," Shoko murmured from the corridor, resting an elbow on the grass.

"More like uncomfortable," Suguru corrected, though his smile indicated that he was enjoying the show.

Sukuna, sitting nearby, simply let out a snort. "Is that idiot trying to get himself killed?"

Sukuna’s comment briefly distracted Gojo, enough for Yuuji to take advantage of the opportunity. In a swift move, he grabbed his student’s arm and forced him back a few steps, momentarily unbalancing him.

"First rule, Gojo-kun: never take your eyes off your opponent," Yuuji said with a slight smile, releasing his grip.

Gojo quickly straightened up, his eyes flashing with a mix of irritation and embarrassment. "I wasn’t distracted, I was just giving you an advantage."

"Sure, whatever you say," Yuuji replied, but his gaze remained fixed on his student. There was something about his tone and attitude that felt... off.

Finally, Yuuji decided to break the rhythm of the training a few minutes later and raised a hand, signaling it was time to stop. "Want to take a break?"

Gojo-kun crossed his arms, glaring at him. "Why? Are you getting tired?"

"No, but I feel like something’s bothering you, and I doubt it’s my technique."

The comment made his student look away, a reaction that Yuuji immediately noticed. "What’s going on with you? You’ve been acting strange."

"I’m not acting strange," Gojo protested quickly, though the slight blush on his cheeks said otherwise.

Yuuji tilted his head, studying him closely. "Is it about Okkotsu? Does it bother you that he trained with me before you? You should’ve told me you wanted to practice earlier."

"Of course not!" The response was so quick and defensive that even Shoko let out a laugh from the hallway.

"He’s jealous," Sukuna murmured with a mocking smile, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"I’m not jealous!" Gojo snapped, turning toward Sukuna with exaggerated fury.

Yuuji watched Gojo, a mixture of confusion and amusement crossing his face. He’d known his student for a relatively short time, but long enough to know something else was going on.

"I don’t understand why this bothers you so much," Yuuji finally said, his voice calmer.

Gojo pressed his lips together but didn’t say anything. Instead of responding, he turned away, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the conversation was taking.

Yuuji sighed, dropping to the floor and inviting his student to join him. It was hard to have a conversation when you didn’t know exactly what was going on. He just assumed something was happening. Maybe he knew, but wasn’t ready for that kind of talk. Not particularly, but something needed to be said.

"Listen, I don’t know exactly what’s going on with you, but you don’t have to feel like that. It’s unnecessary." He tried to sound relaxed, not wanting to make his student uncomfortable, but he hoped Gojo could read between the lines and understand the implication.

Gojo lifted his gaze, his eyes briefly meeting Yuuji’s. For a moment, something softer and more vulnerable crossed his expression before he returned to his typical arrogant façade.

"I know," he finally said, his voice lower. "I’m just... adjusting."

Yuuji smiled, moved a little closer, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Well, let’s adjust together. But try not to kill me while we do, alright?"

"No promises, sensei." For now, his student’s smile would be enough for him.

[...]

Satoru was fascinated. It was strange in concept because it rarely happened, especially with another human being who wasn’t him.

Observing from the edge of the group, Satoru couldn't help but focus on how his teacher took charge once again, with a natural ease that left him silent while finishing up his training with the others. There was something about his presence that always attracted attention, something that made him seem so sure, so competent, even when the situation didn’t require it.

"Guys," said Itadori, his tone as calm as always when everyone sat in a semi-circle after finishing the practical lesson. "I have to leave. A mission outside of Tokyo. It's nothing serious, just for a day. So Fushiguro will be with you tomorrow."

The rest of the group looked at him in silence, but Satoru noticed that no one seemed truly worried. Sukuna, beside him, stretched his arms disinterestedly. "Just one day. And that's it? The worst that could happen is that you'll get bored."

Satoru saw how Itadori smiled at his brother's comment, as if it were nothing unusual. "You're right. Just a bit of cleaning up, and everything should be resolved."

Satoru observed silently. Something didn’t add up. The mission didn’t seem dangerous, yet seeing his teacher so calm gave him a pang in his chest. It was that unshakable confidence, the way he handled things so calmly, that had always captivated him. But now, more than ever, it made him feel... insecure.

Besides, this wasn’t the first time this had happened. It wasn’t that his teacher always went alone on missions, no, but when it was clear they could send someone else with him, there were times when Itadori-sensei would adamantly refuse.

Okkotsu, as always, tried to ease the atmosphere. "It's nothing your teacher hasn’t done before. He's dealt with worse things. It's just a cursed anomaly, it shouldn’t be complicated."

Okkotsu’s always serene words seemed to calm the others. But Satoru stood firm in his place, watching Itadori with an expression he couldn’t completely hide. Why did he feel like this mission was different? Why did the simple idea of him going alone stir something in his stomach?

"Where exactly are you going, sensei?" asked Shoko, raising an eyebrow, though her voice conveyed more curiosity than concern.

"It's a small village near the border with Saitama," replied his teacher, without losing composure. "The reports from the area have been unusual lately. But the sorcerers sent before couldn’t resolve it well. It’s isolated, so it shouldn’t be much of a hassle."

Satoru noticed that Itadori-sensei avoided mentioning the details. Something didn’t add up, but there was no time to discuss it. The worry in his chest grew, though he tried not to show it. It wasn’t like he didn’t trust his teacher’s power, but there was something in the situation that unsettled him. He had mentioned that the area was familiar, but no one seemed to have detailed information.

"That sounds weird," Suguru commented, his gaze more focused. "If other sorcerers couldn’t handle the mission, why go alone?"

Itadori glanced at him, then at Satoru. "Nothing to worry about. Like I said, just cursed anomalies. Nothing I can’t handle."

His teacher's tone was so calm, so confident, that Satoru couldn’t help but feel like there was a missing piece, even though he couldn’t quite pinpoint it. Sukuna looked at him sideways and, as if reading his thoughts, let out a low laugh.

"Are you worried, Gojo?" Sukuna asked in a whisper, his tone mocking, while playing with a stone on the ground. "No need. If it were something serious, Yuuji wouldn’t be going alone. Or do you think someone else could do it better than him?"

It was clear to Satoru that Sukuna was proud of his brother, even if he didn’t show it. He glared at him with an obvious threat for even thinking that Itadori-sensei was weak.

'I could go with him,' he wanted to say out loud. But he knew it wouldn’t be welcome on this mission, and he didn’t want to upset his teacher.

So, he didn’t respond immediately. Sukuna always had that provoking tone, but Itadori’s words echoed in his mind. This wasn’t a typical mission, not at least in the way everyone treated it. He wasn’t comfortable with it, and that feeling only grew as he watched his teacher prepare.

However, he raised his voice to calm the group's unease. "There’s no need for everyone to worry. I’ve got it under control."

Satoru crossed his arms, struggling to maintain his calm while watching his teacher. "Just come back soon," he murmured, before his own tone became softer than he had intended.

Itadori looked at him for a moment, smiling with that calmness that had always confused him. "I will. Don’t worry."

But for some reason, his words didn’t fully ease his mind. While the rest continued chatting without worry, Satoru stayed there, watching as Itadori walked away to prepare for the mission, feeling like something in the air had changed, even though he couldn’t identify exactly what.

[...]

The room was silent, something Satoru appreciated in moments like this. He was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling without really seeing anything. His mind was spinning, restless, while the echoes of Itadori-sensei's mission continued to resonate in his head. One day passed too slowly for him. There was something in all of this that kept him awake. He couldn’t stop thinking about what he had heard about the place Itadori was going to. Near Saitama, a place where even the most experienced sorcerers had crashed against an unknown force. And his teacher, despite everything, seemed determined to go alone. No support.

Satoru couldn’t fully understand it. Though he had only arrived a few months ago, he had noticed something about Itadori-sensei that made him stand out from the rest: his self-confidence, his experience, and that intensity that made it clear he had lived much more than his age suggested. And Satoru still felt like a novice compared to him. But it was something more than just his teacher’s experience that troubled him. There was a story behind that strength, a story not everyone knew. A fact that Itadori had never openly shared with them.

Satoru got out of bed, unable to relax. The anxiety still took over his mind, but the worst part was not knowing why. His teacher had said there was nothing to fear, that it was just a routine mission, but there was something in the way he had said it, something in the details left out, that bothered him. And he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

He knew Itadori-sensei had gone through many tough trials, that his power was impressive. However, something about the way he faced all of this, without even hesitating, seemed even more worrying. Was he making decisions on his own? Why did he insist on going alone when he had a team that could support him?

He had heard about his time abroad, living with Sukuna and Okkotsu. Although Sukuna had returned to study Jujutsu a few years earlier, Satoru knew that Okkotsu had been the one who had offered a place for both Itadori and Sukuna to stay when everything seemed too dark for his teacher.

He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened during that time. And although Okkotsu had supported him back then, something in this story told Satoru that there was more to it than what was shown. An unspoken topic, something everyone avoided. Sukuna never spoke of it. But why? Satoru wasn’t sure if he wanted to know or if he was prepared for the answer.

He had never denied anything to himself, not even curiosity, and he knew he could figure out what had happened. But he also knew himself, and this time he didn’t want to address something that wasn’t his to ask, not for now, he thought he could wait.

Determined to clear his mind, he couldn’t keep obsessing over thoughts that led nowhere. He left his room and walked through the campus hallways, intending to get a drink. The dim lights illuminated the path to the vending machine, but just before reaching it, his gaze shifted.

In the distance, he saw two figures, Itadori-sensei and Okkotsu, in a conversation he couldn’t hear. Something in his teacher’s expression made him stop. His posture, the way he moved, alerted him. His six eyes quickly scanned his figure. His face showed signs of exhaustion, and there was something else, a shadow in his eyes that didn’t go unnoticed. It wasn’t just a physical wound, but something deeper.

Satoru stood there, motionless, watching from the shadows. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he could see Okkotsu’s gestures, trying to calm him, and that only heightened Satoru’s concern. There was something in the air that made him uneasy. It wasn’t just the mission; it was Itadori’s state. What had happened?

He got distracted with his observation and realized when they noticed him. His teacher’s eyes turned in his direction. Although he wasn’t looking directly at Satoru, he felt it. That familiar sensation, as if his teacher could perceive his presence despite everything. But what shocked him most was what he saw next: he was injured. His clothes were disheveled, torn at the edges, and his face showed a mix of irritability and... sadness? Something was very wrong.

Itadori’s tired gaze, so full of unresolved emotions, told Satoru that something deeper was going on. It wasn’t just a scratch or a superficial bruise. No. This was something much bigger. The wound wasn’t only on his body; it was in his mind, in his soul. And that made a knot form in his stomach.

Silence fell again, and Satoru felt unable to do anything but remain in the shadows, not intervening. He wanted to approach, to ask if everything was okay, but something stopped him. He knew that Itadori, despite everything, didn’t want to be seen as a burden. And while it was clear that his teacher was strong, Satoru felt that there was a particular situation he still didn’t understand, but which clearly affected his present.

He stepped back a little more. It was hard to maintain control in these matters. He had never been like this, never felt like this for anyone, and it was okay, Itadori had become that important to him.

The juice he had gone to get was forgotten. He didn’t know whether to feel irritated, furious, or sad. The jealousy was still there, but he thought he had to stop seeing things that didn’t exist in the relationship of friends his teacher had with Okkotsu. Now he was more concerned about Itadori; the rest didn’t matter that much.

He slumped onto one of the benches near the dorms and stayed there longer than necessary until he heard his voice. “I knew it was you.” Satoru would say he was distracted, that’s why he didn’t see it coming, or maybe he hadn’t wanted to hide his energy completely.

“You should’ve let me go with you, sensei.” Well, he said it. He really considered keeping his mouth shut and holding his thoughts back, but seeing him like this made him change his mind.

His teacher gestured for him to let him sit next to him, so Satoru gave him some space, but not too much. He liked being close to him and no longer cared about hiding his excuses.

Itadori had remained silent. Maybe thinking about an appropriate response, but Satoru wanted him to be honest with him. Not to give him half-truths. "I had my reasons for not bringing anyone with me to that place. Not even Okkotsu or Fushiguro. Much less one of you."

"But I'm the strongest..."

"Not yet." His teacher interrupted him, but not without kindness. Satoru had discovered that he didn’t mind keeping Infinity close to him, so he recognized that his teacher wouldn’t harm him. That’s why the caress on his hair felt so natural and comfortable. "Eventually, you will be, but you still have some things to learn."

Satoru could forget all his frustrations if his teacher kept showing him this kind of affection. He felt so comfortable this way that he still had trouble understanding why the familiarity of his company felt like a secure but unexplored connection.

"And when you are, I will protect you." A promise that came from the depths of his being. Sometimes, Satoru didn’t measure the meaning of his words, but he was sure that these words were meant for an event that would make him look back at this past.

He could see the moment Itadori-sensei was surprised by his words. It was adorable. He had to physically restrain himself from throwing himself into his arms.

"I want to be the one to tell you those words, but thank you," his teacher said with a smile that spoke of things Satoru still couldn’t see.

A quiet silence settled between them. Satoru watched him calmly, looking at his uniform in tatters, the cut under his chin that hadn’t healed, his hair turned into a mess of dirt, mud, and nature's remains. To hell with it, Satoru took his hand. If his teacher was smart, he could read him more than anyone else ever could.

There was a sad look on his face, but he never withdrew his hand. He wasn’t looking at him, but Satoru could see his body tense with some memory. He wanted to calm him down, give him peace, but he really didn’t know how. He had never seen his teacher like this.

Itadori leaned back on the bench, the fingers of his other free hand fiddling with the dirt that had stuck to his clothes. Something in his posture showed there was more than what he had shown so far, and Satoru, ever attentive, realized this conversation wasn’t going to be a typical chat.

"Gojo-kun... there’s something I want to tell you, as I have a selfish request to ask of you," Itadori said after a silence that seemed heavy.

Satoru looked at him intently, not moving a muscle, ready for anything. It was rare for his teacher to be so direct, almost as if he were about to reveal something deeper than the surface.

"What's going on?" Satoru asked, relaxed, but with a focus that made it clear he wasn’t taking anything lightly.

His teacher took a deep breath and, for a moment, seemed to choose his words carefully. "Do you know what singularity displacement is?"

Satoru furrowed his brow slightly. Although it wasn’t something he used in his daily life, he understood the concept well. The distortion of reality through extreme space-time alterations was not an unfamiliar territory for him. However, he was surprised that Itadori-sensei decided to share it, knowing how dangerous it was.

"Yes, of course," Satoru said, nodding as he processed the information. "It’s a technique that manipulates space-time so severely that the laws of physics become distorted... a vacuum where time and space become irrelevant, almost as if everything is at a collapsing point."

His teacher nodded, satisfied with Satoru's understanding. "Exactly. But there's more. Singularity displacement doesn’t just create a distortion. It completely breaks the rules. It’s like... a distortion of reality itself, where nothing in its path matters. Whatever is in that singularity, it gets destroyed."

Satoru thought for a moment about what he had said. It was fascinating, yet dangerous. He himself had an ability related to reality manipulation, Infinity, which slowed everything in its path. However, Itadori’s singularity didn’t just slow things down, it destroyed everything in its wake.

"What you’re describing... is kind of the antithesis of Infinity," Satoru continued with a slight smile on his lips. "My ability is precisely to slow down time and space, to stop the advancement of anything. It's like everything that enters my Infinity is trapped in a sphere that decelerates time and the forces trying to cross it."

He paused briefly before adding, "But the singularity you're describing is more like what you call anti-gravity... but taken to the extreme. Your anti-gravity technique affects the way forces are distributed in space, creating a vacuum where gravity itself becomes unstable. The singularity, however, takes it even further. Instead of just manipulating gravity or space, the singularity collapses everything it touches, irreversibly distorting the flow of time and space around it. It’s like a rupture of reality itself."

Itadori looked at him, trying to gauge if Satoru really understood the magnitude of what he was saying. "Yes, that's it. Anti-gravity affects space, but the singularity... destroys everything. And it’s so unstable that you can’t always predict how far it will go."

Satoru nodded slowly, understanding better the scope of his teacher’s ability. Anti-gravity was a subtle manipulation, controlled by the user, that deformed space in a specific way. But singularity displacement, as Itadori explained, was far more chaotic and dangerous. In a way, both techniques were connected by their ability to alter space-time, but for completely opposite purposes.

"That sounds... unpredictable," Satoru said, with a light smile. "Though Infinity has the advantage of being almost impenetrable, the singularity has the power to destroy, not to slow down."

His teacher nodded, his expression more serious now. "Exactly. And the worst part is, I don’t know when I might lose control. If I ever cross that line, I need you to stop me."

Satoru looked at him intently, the seriousness of the situation not going unnoticed. Though there was trust in Itadori’s words, Satoru couldn’t help but feel the weight of the responsibility. "I’ll do it," he said firmly, knowing that promise went far beyond just a technique. "If that power ever gets out of your hands, I’ll be there to stop it."

Itadori looked at him, a faint glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. "I know. That’s why I trust you. You’ll be the strongest."

They both sat in silence, on the bench, holding hands for a few minutes. Satoru watched silently, thinking that Yuuji probably took missions on his own to better handle his technique. However, he didn’t say anything, knowing that any attempt to stop him would only make things worse. They didn’t know that, just a few months later, Satoru would be forced to fulfill the promise he had just made.

Chapter Text

"Circle" by Mrs Green Aplee

Breakfast was always one of the best parts of the day for Yuuji, especially after a rather intense training session. He took a sip of his peach tea and relaxed as he watched the sun slowly becoming more present.

He was never much of a sleeper. Since adolescence, his sleep routines were never very long, especially since he started his life in this world of sorcery.

His parents had told them from the beginning who they were, and they did the same with Sukuna when he was old enough to understand that things on this side of the world were different. The four of them were fine, until they weren’t, and Yuuji had to learn to mature much faster than most, especially because Sukuna was still small and he had to learn how to raise him.

There were too many papers on the table. Yuuji sighed with exhaustion at the amount of senseless leads he had followed over the years, both in Japan and abroad, only to find nothing substantial yet. His friends had told him more than once that maybe everything was lost that day, that the singularity had taken it all, but Yuuji didn’t believe it. Maybe it was a gut feeling; he couldn’t confirm it, but he hoped that eventually those answers would come.

Still, he could hear the murmurs: that his mother's singularity had consumed everything, even themselves.

Yuuji never knew whether to feel blessed or cursed for having a technique inherited from his mother, one that carried the singularity as a dangerous point, especially for those who couldn’t control it. He had spent years perfecting his technique, one he didn’t want to use unless in extreme cases. He had managed to control it to a manageable scale, but he knew he couldn’t fully trust it, especially when his emotions were involved.

He finished his breakfast and washed his dishes before taking a quick shower and heading to school. He had a class to teach.

He met up with Fushiguro while realizing he still had twenty minutes before his students would arrive. He felt like getting out of the house, since there were days when he felt like the walls were closing in, making it a bit hard to breathe. He had learned to deal with this better over time, but sometimes it was hard to ignore.

"Do you still want me to accompany you to the city?" Yuuji could read his reluctance and smiled at his misfortune as he bumped shoulders with him.

"Come on, it won’t be that bad. They’re easy-going..." Although, as he spoke, he wasn’t as convinced of his words.

"Are we talking about the same demons you teach? Because describing them like that isn’t quite accurate. Ieiri-kun is maybe the only exception."

Yuuji wasn’t entirely sure about the last part. Shoko could hide her inner chaos behind a calm facade, but to him, it was obvious. Maybe she was the calmest of the four, but living with them daily made certain habits stick to her inevitably.

"Come on, don’t be mean, I’ll buy you expensive sushi." Yuuji had to negotiate a bit more. He knew Fushiguro would prefer to be doing anything other than dealing with noisy people, but he trusted that his friend would give in eventually.

"I want expensive sushi too, especially if I have to deal with these idiots for longer than necessary." Sukuna appeared at his side, giving a brief greeting to Fushiguro.

"You’re one of those idiots too. So go get your own expensive sushi," Fushiguro replied indifferently.

Yuuji laughed at the reply, while Sukuna glared at him and muttered curses under his breath, crossing his arms.

"Enough, you two. It’s always the same. Fushiguro, stop provoking him. And you..." Yuuji gently tapped his brother’s cheek with a finger. Sukuna shot him a warning look, clearly considering biting him, so Yuuji quickly withdrew his hand. "Don’t be rude or there’ll be no food for you today."

"Why do I have to go on that stupid field trip? I’ve had enough of these idiots... and of Ieiri," Sukuna grumbled, though Yuuji noticed his brother rarely included Shoko in his biting comments.

"Because I’m your teacher, after all." Sukuna shot him another murderous look, but to Yuuji, it was more adorable than intimidating. "And because I’m your older brother and I want to spend time with you, my favorite grumpy little brother."

Without waiting for a response, Yuuji wrapped an arm around him and pulled him in. Although Sukuna protested, he didn’t pull away from the hug. He was taller, but Yuuji knew his brother would surpass him in a few years.

"You two are unbearable to watch." Fushiguro rolled his eyes but then flashed a small smile. Everyone knew Sukuna had a particular weakness for Yuuji, something their close friends had noticed over time. "See you at noon by the exit. Good luck with your beasts, Itadori."

When Fushiguro left, Sukuna pulled away from the hug, though he did so more calmly than usual. Yuuji smiled at the gesture, thinking how his brother sometimes forgot to keep up his intimidating facade. Sukuna was kinder than he let on, except when it came to his classmates, especially Suguru and his biggest headache: Gojo.

The latter was becoming a more complicated problem than Yuuji wanted to admit.

Since lately, he had been living in his mind more than acceptable.

If this continued, he would get into a lot of trouble, and this time, Sukuna would really kill him for being an idiot. With a resigned sigh, he grabbed his brother’s sleeve and dragged him to his first class of the day. He had cleared everyone’s schedule to have an enjoyable afternoon in the city, and besides, he wanted to spend some time with his students outside the classroom.

[...]

The classroom was quiet, almost too quiet. Yuuji stood by the blackboard, his hand holding a piece of chalk as he tried to explain a concept about cursed weapons. In front of him were his three students, while Sukuna, leaning against the window frame, seemed more entertained by the view than paying attention.

"Then, the most effective cursed weapons are usually imbued with an energy proportional to the curse of the user and..." Yuuji paused for a moment, his mind going blank.

He didn't need to turn around to know who was staring at him.

From the front row, Gojo was leaning over the back of his chair, his blue eyes, barely visible under his glasses, fixed on him with an intensity that would have made anyone uncomfortable. Apparently, his student had no scruples. He seemed to enjoy it.

Yuuji tried to concentrate. "These weapons not only amplify the physical attack but also... also channel cursed energy to deal direct damage."

He couldn't help it. Every time he looked up, there he was, Gojo, watching him with a mixture of curiosity and something else that he couldn't quite decipher. The room was too silent, and while he suspected that Suguru and Shoko didn’t seem to notice anything strange, Yuuji felt like he was the only one in the center of a stage.

"Is something wrong, sensei?" Suguru's voice broke the silence. His tone was calm, but there was a touch of amusement in his smile.

"What? No, nothing." Yuuji cleared his throat and turned to the blackboard, writing some words to get back on track. "I was just thinking about how to explain this better."

From his seat, Gojo let out a small laugh, barely audible, but enough for Yuuji to hear. He felt the chalk slip a little in his hand.

"The strongest cursed weapons, like the Reversal Sword, can even counter cursed techniques... if used with enough precision," he continued, trying to sound confident.

"And what if the user doesn’t have precision?" Sukuna intervened, not even looking away from the window but seemingly paying some attention. "I imagine they just die."

"Thanks for your helpful input, Sukuna," Yuuji replied without looking at him, smiling in the process. His brother could be more annoying if he was in a bad mood.

Yuuji saw Suguru exchange an amused glance with Shoko, who simply raised an eyebrow and shrugged.

Yuuji sighed, knowing he needed to regain his composure. He turned to the others, but his eyes met once again with his current problem, whose gaze wasn’t completely hidden under his glasses. This time, there was something else in his look. It wasn’t just observation; it was... a game.

He quickly looked away, aware that his heart was beating a little faster than usual.

This had happened more times than he wanted to admit. It was an attraction in itself. Sometimes he wished he could use his antigravity to push away his thoughts or send Gojo into space. He wasn’t sure how to deal with the situation, but it had happened without him even realizing it.

It was too easy to spin around him.

He still didn’t feel capable of talking about this with anyone. Yuuji was an adult, while Gojo was just a few steps away from turning twenty. The seven-year difference weighed on his mind, constantly repeating that this wasn’t right, that it was inappropriate. Besides, Gojo was his student and was the same age as Sukuna.

In a few months, the four of them would have to decide what to do with their lives after graduation. Would they continue living as sorcerers or become something else, like teachers? The uncertainty about the future worried him more than he was willing to admit.

He knew that sooner or later, he would have to have a deeper conversation with them about the future. It was inevitable. They needed to plan what would determine the course of their lives.

For example, he was almost sure that Sukuna wanted to dedicate himself exclusively to hunting and destroying curses. He’d probably even want to travel abroad to perfect his skills. Though the idea broke his heart, Yuuji was determined to support his younger brother’s decisions. Sukuna had the right to choose his own path.

As for Shoko, he had a suspicion about what she might do after graduation, but he couldn’t be completely sure. The other two, however, were a mystery. He would have to talk to them later to understand their aspirations and help them find clarity.

[...]

Noon arrived faster than he had anticipated. Yuuji asked his students to prepare and wait for him at the main entrance in an hour.

He quickly went to his house, one provided by the school since he was a teacher. The first month, he had considered renting a place outside the campus, but then he realized he preferred to stay close to his brother and the other students as well. So, the idea was forgotten for now.

He showered quickly and preferred to wear something other than his uniform. Jeans and a gray sweater that Kugisaki had forced him to buy during one of their outings were the perfect choice, as he wanted to be comfortable. He took a photo in the mirror in his room and sent it to his friend. Kugisaki always liked to get involved with his wardrobe, especially when it came to dates. Yuuji gave himself a figurative pat on the back; he couldn’t quite remember the last time he had one, and he had to remind himself that this wasn’t one at all.

If Okkotsu or Kugisaki didn’t drag him to a bar, he hardly connected in that context with others. He could recall the times when he and his friend felt a pang of envy when Fushiguro had such an easy time attracting others. Even Okkotsu had that ease, even though both were introverts. But well, his friends were totally attractive, so it made sense.

Kugisaki 👑

Are you going on a date?! You have to tell me about these things, Itadori. Who is he? Where did he come from? I can't believe you didn’t tell me anything.

But you look good. Those jeans make your butt stand out more than mine. I hate you.

Oh my God. Yuuji didn’t dress with that intention, he just wanted to be comfortable. Well, he did want to look good, to be honest. He hated admitting this to himself, but it was true. Kugisaki was going to kill him, especially when she found out that it was about that certain person who had made him divert his thoughts more than usual.

He decides to answer with a half-truth. Most likely, she would get the rest of it out of him later.

Yuuji

I’m not on a date. I’ll be going out with my students, Sukuna, and Fushiguro too. We’re going to Shibuya to do something different that doesn’t have to do with curses.

Yuuji threw the phone on his bed and sat down on it. He seriously thought about changing his outfit. If his friend assumed he was going on a date, it might mean he was putting in a bit more effort than he usually did, and that made him think. His phone rang with a message, and Yuuji only read it through the lock screen.

Kugisaki 👑

Do I need to call Fushiguro? You’ll have to tell me about this sooner or later, or I’ll find out on my own.

Good luck on your date with your 'student'

Yuuji wanted to fly straight to the stratosphere. He thought that would be a great hiding place for him and his embarrassment. His phone rang again with a second message:

Kugisaki 👑

Don’t you dare change your outfit or I’ll kill you. You look good.

Love you.

He decided to stay as he was. Most likely, within the day, she'd send Fushiguro proof of his outfit. A few minutes later, he closed the front door, noticing that he had everything he needed, and left for campus.

They were going to do something outdoors that had nothing to do with curses or lessons, so he told his students to wear casual clothes for the outing. The uniforms could stay behind. Yuuji had been excited for this opportunity to connect with them in a different way. After all, he had been a student once too, and he knew how overwhelming and stressful the demands placed on them could be.

Fushiguro was already at the entrance when Yuuji arrived. He had asked his friend a few days ago to come with him. He had also invited Okkotsu, but he was on a mission Yaga had sent him on a week ago, so they would have to go out with him another time.

He took out his phone and took a photo as he got closer. He didn’t seem sorry at all, especially when he told Yuuji that Kugisaki had asked for proof of his outfit.

"She’s right," his friend said while finishing the message and putting his phone away. "You’re dressed for a casual date."

"You’re horrible, you know that?" Yuuji was a bit indignant and somewhat uncomfortable. He was seriously considering going back home and putting on sports clothes. He told Fushiguro this, who smiled knowingly.

"If you put on those sports clothes from that brand you love to wear, you’ll give Gojo a heart attack. I literally don’t know how he hasn’t fainted, I imagine it must be something with his technique." Yuuji had forgotten how open his friend was with his closest people.

It was stupid to assume he wouldn’t notice Gojo. He was hoping for a little more time before he started reading into him as well.

He was talking with Fushiguro when he realized. It wasn’t that he didn’t feel the cursed energy from his students, but his was different; it was different when he felt Gojo-kun’s gaze on his back. He couldn’t help but get nervous, and every time it happened, he wanted to bang his head against the wall to get those thoughts out of his mind.

After that conversation, where Yuuji came out more injured than usual from a mission, he shared some of his fears with his student. He knew Gojo was on the verge of becoming the strongest sorcerer of his generation. Also, he couldn’t help but see the similarity in their techniques. If he could leave a message, if things ever went south, it would be to him, because, given his abilities, he would be the only one who could see him and save him from the chaos that the singularity would cause.

But it wasn’t just that. Gojo was the only person who could take his life if he ever lost control.

And it was a selfish request. He knew that perfectly well, but something in Gojo, from the very first moment, told him he could trust him.

It’s not that Yuuji was expecting to die on the battlefield, but there were some clues, and things could get more dangerous if they got out of hand. He had spent years looking for the culprit who took half of his family, his parents, and would do whatever it took to find out the truth.

That curse user was stronger and more cunning than him, more than Sukuna, and even more than Okkotsu. That’s why he believed that only Gojo could counter the damage if, when finding that man, he failed. He scolded himself and let those intrusive thoughts go when he felt like he was straying too far from his problems. He wanted to have a nice afternoon with his students; he didn’t want to waste it with his current hell.

"Itadori-sensei, I didn’t know we’d have company. What a shame, now I won’t have all your attention." His student smiled at him with a forced grin. He had forgotten how charming Gojo could be when he was upset, and his flirtatious cockiness was something he was getting used to.

"Don’t be rude," Yuuji scolded him gently but firmly. "I haven’t lived in Tokyo for years; Fushiguro knows the city better than I do."

"You could’ve asked for my opinion, sensei. You didn’t have to ask anyone else." Gojo was so shameless that for a moment Yuuji worried it might upset his friend, but Fushiguro only replied in his usual way when someone tried to be rude to him: he struck where it hurt.

"I can stay at the school if Gojo’s bothered by me joining your group. Another day, we could go just the two of us." Fushiguro’s expression softened slightly, and he lowered his voice, intending for only Yuuji to hear, but he knew it was a show, as he also wanted Gojo to hear the last part.

It was so strange seeing this side of Fushiguro, but he had witnessed it before. He still remembered the first time he saw him behave like that with someone else. It was when Kugisaki dragged both of them to a bar, which ended with their dignity— and that of his two friends— completely shattered. Good memories.

He also knew his friend was only doing it to annoy his student. Fushiguro had already caught on to Gojo’s intentions with him, and one thing Yuuji had learned over the years was that anyone who messed with Fushiguro would get double the biting remarks. Gojo had walked right into this jealousy problem. Yuuji could only sigh internally.

"Why does Satoru look so constipated?" Suguru chimed in with a question, accompanied by Shoko and Sukuna, who simply watched the scene, looking ready to hit both Gojo and Fushiguro in the process.

"Good thing you’re here! We’ll use public transport to get into the city." The mood of some shifted with this news, but Yuuji would drag them along if necessary. "We can’t fit everyone in one car, and I think this way is better."

He made them go through the main door first, then walked a few steps behind with Fushiguro as his friend told him about the latest mission. As he listened, he couldn’t help but notice how Gojo looked; his clothes were clearly expensive, those high-waisted black pants were impossible to ignore. They fit him so well that Yuuji was sure that, if he weren’t a sorcerer, he might’ve ended up as a high-fashion model.

He had a relaxed but sophisticated air, as if everything he wore was perfectly natural for him. He was incredibly beautiful, and the thought made Yuuji feel bad. So guilty that he almost wanted to bang his head on the pavement once again.

They quickly arrived at the train station. It was about a thirty-minute ride, one that was relatively crowded at that hour, as several people were moving through the station to reach their destinations. So everyone was a bit cramped. Yuuji flinched when he felt Gojo’s hand on his back, pulling him a little closer.

"I don’t want the other passengers bumping into you." His soft, low voice was meant to make him faint. Yuuji wondered internally how many times Gojo had used this tactic with someone else.

"It’s normal. Tokyo’s city center is pretty crowded at this hour." Yuuji tried to sound as normal as possible. He wasn’t sure if he had pulled it off. A few minutes later, the door opened to let out and allow another group of passengers to board. Gojo pulled him a little closer to his chest. Yuuji was seriously thinking of flying out of there and using anti-gravity to reach his destination.

But what he hated most about this situation was how comfortable and good it felt in those moments.

It’s worth mentioning that the rest of the trip passed by while ignoring the looks some gave them, even when Gojo didn’t let go of him, though by the third station, they no longer needed to squeeze into such a small space.

[...]

Fushiguro had recommended a sushi place famous for its variety, as, after a consultation, all the students liked that choice. He had several more plans; he also wanted to stop by a pastry shop, since Gojo loved sweets. He also thought of Suguru, who enjoyed reading, and he knew there was a particular manga he had been looking for. Maybe he had to ask his brother for information to get that important detail. As for Shoko, she liked makeup. This time, he had to ask Kugisaki for help since he didn’t understand much about that area, but he already had a solid idea of what to look for for his student. And finally, his brother, Sukuna, loved many things, but secretly, he adored cooking. Sometimes, Yuuji wondered if this had something to do with his own technique. Part of him believed it did, but it could also be influenced by his father, who had always encouraged him to cook.

When they arrived at the city center, Gojo settled next to him, talking about all the incredible places in the area. Yuuji could notice that, with his enthusiasm, he was also trying to take the lead, leaving Fushiguro behind. His friend just rolled his eyes and joined the rest of the other students without much enthusiasm. He knew he would have to apologize later.

"Sensei, when you have time, I can invite you to a Korean restaurant that opened recently, but just the two of us." Gojo got a little closer and winked. That guy was a natural flirt. Many times, Yuuji didn’t know how to respond, especially when he felt like that behavior didn’t bother him as much.

"Sure, but we should bring your classmates too." He wanted to add, just in case his student assumed he was accepting a date.

As expected, Gojo complained instantly, saying he didn’t need to spend twenty-four hours a day with those idiots, and with Shoko. Yuuji smiled. It wasn’t the first time he realized that when they referred to their classmates in such a rude way, they always left Shoko out of their biting comments. It was quite an adorable gesture.

[...]

The restaurant was located in a quiet corner of Tokyo, on a side street adorned with warm lights and small wooden signs written by hand. It wasn’t a luxurious or extravagant place, but it had that unique charm that only places with history and a good reputation can offer.

Upon entering, they were greeted by the gentle aroma of fresh fish and vinegared rice. The walls were decorated with traditional Japanese illustrations and photographs of award-winning chefs, alongside celebrities who had visited the place. In the center, a polished wooden bar allowed them to see the chef working, his movements fast and precise like a choreography.

The group was guided to a private tatami area at the back, separated from the rest of the restaurant by sliding wooden panels. Low tables and warm-colored cushions invited relaxation, and from the windows, they could see a small Zen garden with a koi pond.

It was a place where time seemed to move slower, where every detail—from the handmade dishware to the impeccable presentation of each dish—reflected love for tradition and quality.

Gojo claimed his spot right next to him, surrounded by his student and Suguru. Gojo’s intentions were becoming more evident, and it was clear he wasn’t holding back with his insinuations, which were becoming bolder. Maybe he should talk to him privately someday.

However, he decided to focus on another aspect. Like, for example, not getting distracted by Gojo’s scent. So, to avoid a disaster, he leaned toward his group and said a few words.

“After these days of training, I think we deserve this,” he said with a broad smile, pointing to the table where carefully prepared sushi plates were already waiting.

“I hope it’s worth it,” murmured Sukuna, crossing his arms while watching the tray in front of him.

Shoko, sitting next to her brother, picked up a piece of sashimi with her chopsticks and gave him a challenging look. “What’s wrong? Don’t you trust sensei’s taste?”

Sukuna snorted, but couldn’t help but take a bite. Although he wouldn’t admit it, the satisfied expression on his face said it all.

Gojo, on the other hand, had already taken the lead, trying various types of sushi while talking nonstop. “This is amazing! Have you tried it? And the uni? This is art, pure art!”

Suguru looked at him with a calm smile, but it became somewhat annoyed when he realized his friend was finishing everything. “Could you eat a little slower? You’re leaving us with nothing.”

“Then hurry up,” Gojo replied with a laugh, holding up a nigiri before bringing it to his mouth.

Fushiguro simply smiled softly at his friend’s antics.

[...]

Shibuya was buzzing with activity, and the group followed Yuuji, who had a very clear plan for their day together. He had spent days organizing everything with a personal touch and Fushiguro’s help, making sure each of his companions enjoyed it to the fullest.

They made their first stop: the bakery, a place decorated in pastel tones with display cases full of sweet temptations. Yuuji opened the door and pointed to the counter filled with cakes and macarons. His companions approached the counter, and Yuuji couldn’t help but smile at the expression of his particular student.

“Gojo-kun, pick whatever you want,” he said, inviting him to choose.

His student, always eager to impress, leaned toward the counter. “Are you sure? I could pick the whole store.”

“I mean it,” Yuuji insisted, amused.

“What if I choose you?” Gojo suggested, lowering his voice so only he could hear, while the rest entertained themselves with a huge aquarium in the place.

“That’s not possible. Just pick a cake.” Yuuji felt like he was pleading. He could feel his face turning red while the blue in Gojo’s eyes, hidden behind his glasses, kept staring at him. He was about to say something else, but his student just smiled and turned toward the counter.

In the end, Gojo chose a giant raspberry cake and two cartons of strawberry milk. But Yuuji didn’t stop there. He also ordered a set of macarons for Shoko, a cheesecake for Suguru, an apple tart for Fushiguro, and a green tea pancake for Sukuna.

“I see you got it right,” Sukuna commented, a mix of surprise and approval as he looked at his choice.

“I almost always do, right? Besides, I know you like matcha,” Yuuji replied, shrugging.

They sat at one of the tables inside the shop and enjoyed their gifts happily. Even Sukuna seemed comfortable, despite his complaints about not wanting to spend more time than he was required with them.

He also didn’t overlook every glance Gojo gave him. Yuuji often looked away when he started to get nervous, but there were times when he just didn’t want to. That’s how he found himself lost in eyes he still couldn’t fully see.

The next stop was a makeup store. Shoko, who rarely showed interest in anything beyond practicality, followed Yuuji as he searched for a specific product.

“Kugisaki recommended this for you,” Yuuji explained, taking a lipstick and an eyeshadow palette from a special luxury brand. “She says it really makes your eyes pop.”

“Since when does Kugisaki-san give makeup advice?” Shoko asked, raising an eyebrow. However, Yuuji could see that she was also excited about the choice.

“Since she started using me and Fushiguro for her makeup experiments when we were all students,” Yuuji replied, laughing. Reminiscing about those good times. Fushiguro, a little further but not too far, snorted a laugh while picking up some eyeliners.

Gojo, who had been watching from the palette section, crossed his arms. “Do you also get makeup recommendations from Kugisaki-san for me?”

“No,” Yuuji responded naturally. “You don’t need makeup to stand out.”

(You’re already pretty enough like this), he was about to say, but kept it to himself. He didn’t think it would be very successful. Not after seeing the wide smile his student gave him.

The next stop was a quiet bookstore, a pleasant contrast to the hustle and bustle outside. Yuuji headed straight to the manga section, pulling out two volumes of a series Suguru had mentioned during one of his breaks. They talked a little about the story. Maybe Yuuji had found a reading companion. He could never get his friends into that particular interest. Fushiguro read, but wasn’t very fond of mangas.

“I saw them in a catalog and thought of you,” he said, handing them over.

Suguru looked at the mangas with a slight smile. Then it was a good choice, and Yuuji was very glad about that. “Thanks, sensei. I didn’t think you’d remember.”

“I always listen when you mention things you like,” Yuuji replied, with a genuine smile. “You’ll have to tell me what you think of it. We could read the story together and talk about it.”

Yuuji liked that soft expression on his student’s face. He had sometimes noticed that Suguru would get lost in his thoughts or have a somewhat particular view of the world. He would like to connect a little more with him, and he hoped that this would help him get a little closer to his heart.

Satoru, who had been pretending to read the synopsis of a nearby book, turned to Suguru. “I hope you’re not taking advantage of his good memory.”

Suguru smiled slyly. “Jealous, Satoru?”

“Not at all,” Satoru replied, though his tone said otherwise.

Yuuji couldn't hear what they were saying, as he had stepped aside to look for a book for Fushiguro. But with one look, he could see that Gojo wasn't very happy, only to then see him in a grapple with Suguru. So things must be fine.

Finally, the kitchen store was a place no one had expected to visit, but Yuuji entered with determination, heading to a shelf filled with recipe books. There were too many, but Yuuji already had his eye on one in particular. He had read recommendations online.

"Sukuna, this is for you," he said, handing over a well-bound, black leather volume.

Sukuna raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think I care about this?"

"Because you mentioned some time ago that you wanted to perfect your knife skills, and this book has techniques for classic Japanese cooking. I think you'll like it," Yuuji explained with a calm smile, watching Sukuna's expressions closely.

Sukuna flipped through the book, showing a slight gesture of approval. "Maybe you're not such a useless master after all." Yuuji knew he was trying to sound cruel, but his eyes and expression betrayed him. So he took it as a win, especially when he used his hand to ruffle Sukuna's hair, and Sukuna didn’t push him away.

After leaving the store, they decided to visit a cat café that Fushiguro had recommended. Everyone seemed happy with the choice. They had walked quite a bit, needed a break, and Yuuji provided that.

When they arrived, the place met exactly their expectations. Yuuji was happy to see everyone enjoying themselves.

The cat-themed café was a change of pace Yuuji had planned specifically to relax them. While the others scattered to interact with the animals, he took a moment to observe them from his seat.

Gojo was completely absorbed with a white cat that settled in his lap. Meanwhile, Suguru was surrounded by many of them. It was very cute, and Yuuji took out his phone to snap a few photos.

Fushiguro, on the other hand, was standing aside, seemingly unaware, though a small black cat had decided to settle near his feet.

"That was a strategic move, Fushiguro," Yuuji commented with a smile.

"I didn’t do anything," Fushiguro replied, though he was eagerly petting the cat.

Meanwhile, Sukuna was sitting next to Shoko, watching a ginger cat trying to climb his leg. Eventually, he picked it up with a neutral expression and placed it on the table in front of her.

“You get along with them,” Shoko said, raising an eyebrow as she reached out to pet the kitten.

"I'm not as heartless as you think," Sukuna responded with a touch of irony, which made Shoko and Yuuji smile slightly.

As they walked toward the train station to return to school after a productive day, Gojo-kun once again seized the opportunity to walk beside Yuuji. Yuuji could see how passersby were staring at them. Gojo-kun was a person who stood out to everyone. Yuuji knew it was wrong, but he didn’t know how to feel with all those annoying feelings when he overheard some girls walking past him and complimenting him on his looks.

"Are you always this attentive with everyone, or just with your favorite students?" asked his student, leaning slightly toward him. That didn’t help at all, especially when his spiral of thoughts became even more stupid.

Yuuji looked at him, not fully understanding the question. At first, it was hard to connect, but then he understood what he meant. In his defense, he had been a bit distracted. "Why do you ask? I just try to make everyone feel appreciated."

His student smiled confidently. "Sure, sure. But you know, if you ever need special attention, I'm available."

Yuuji was thankful no one else in the group was seeing his face. He felt so trapped in front of him, but he couldn’t help but smile at his words. "You're so transparent, Gojo-kun. It's charming."

The smell of his perfume overwhelmed his remaining senses when his student moved a little closer to him while steering him away from a passerby. He could feel the warmth of his hand through his sweater and the softness with which he touched him. His synapses were about to collapse. Maybe he should use anti-gravity and lose himself in outer space.

"You should call me Satoru." Yuuji sighed, defeated and charmed at the same time. This flirtatious behavior would lead him to his downfall, and Yaga would send him abroad again.

"No. I don’t think so, Gojo-kun." He tried to sound authoritative, but he knew he hadn't succeeded, not with that pout and adorable smile that spoke of some sentimental foreboding.

Yuuji was in trouble.

"Yuuji~" Gojo tried, stretching the last syllable and leaning a little closer to his side.

"I’m your sensei," Yuuji reminded him, referencing the contract. One that was at home and reminded him of everything that could go wrong in this interaction. That’s what he wanted to tell himself, but deep down, he knew he didn’t feel that bad about it.

"Sure, but you can be that in other areas too." As if the devil read his thoughts. He couldn’t help but lightly punch him in the arm, but with a bit more force when Gojo began laughing a little louder. Then, he guided him and placed one arm around his shoulders. Despite his age, Gojo was a little taller than him; Yuuji didn’t want to imagine what his appearance would be like in a few more years.

Yuuji should pull away, but selfishly, he didn’t want to, so he let his student hold onto him a little more and accepted being dragged through the streets of Shibuya.

He had noticed that Gojo kept his Infinity turned off near him or controlled it automatically. He hadn’t discussed that with him yet, so he wasn’t entirely sure how his power worked.

But that wasn’t the point now. Gojo knew that Yuuji was dangerous with his singularity. He could hurt many people, even him, if he ever lost control of his technique. They had talked about that one night, one where he had been honest enough with him. That’s why, after that, he couldn’t help but wonder if his student was aware of that detail, that Yuuji could become a threat to him. Knowing him, it was most likely, but still, he chose to stay close to him.

Yuuji couldn’t help but smile at him and admire whatever this would bring them. He knew it from the first moment, and he knows it now: he had been attracted to Satoru since he saw the universe in his eyes, and not even his anti-gravity could save him from it.

Chapter Text

"Omochanoheitai" by Mrs Green Aplee

The school's training field was bustling with activity. The relentless rays of the sun beat down mercilessly, but not enough to deter the students. Satoru, as always, was the center of attention. He moved with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, his technique so refined it seemed flawless... at least to anyone who didn’t look too closely.

But Yuuji saw beyond that.

Six months. That was how long it had been since he arrived at the school, carrying the responsibility of being a teacher. He had taken on the role with seriousness, though more than once he questioned if he was truly prepared to lead such a diverse and complex group. Shoko was meticulous, almost obsessive in her pursuit of perfection. Suguru, on the other hand, was a natural strategist, always analyzing every situation before acting. Sukuna… well, his younger brother always seemed more interested in watching than participating.

And then there was Satoru.

Satoru, who seemed incapable of accepting the idea that he might have limits. That ego, that unwavering belief in his invincibility, was both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. Yuuji had seen those cracks from the beginning. Small fissures in the facade of perfection that Satoru presented to the world.

"Your stance is open, Gojo-kun," Yuuji called out, never taking his eyes off him.

Satoru turned his head, that arrogant smile on his face. "Oh, really? Doesn’t seem like anyone’s taking advantage of it."

The light tone masked something deeper, something Yuuji wasn’t sure how to address without breaking the delicate dynamic between them. But he knew he had to. If not, those cracks would eventually consume Satoru.

"It's not my intention to crush your confidence," Yuuji said, watching him with a mix of frustration and affection. "But if you don’t learn to look beyond your power, that same power will destroy you."

"Why does it always feel like you’re against me, sensei?" Satoru asked, his tone light but with a hint of irritation.

"I’m not against you," Yuuji replied, crossing his arms. "I’m here to make sure you survive. And the only way to do that is to make you see your weaknesses before someone else does."

Before Satoru could respond, Yuuji raised his voice. "Shoko-kun, Geto-kun, come here. Sukuna, get up."

The four quickly gathered, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation. Yuuji observed them, taking a moment to gauge how much they had progressed over the past few months.

"Today we’ll train differently," he announced, his tone calm but firm. "I want you to work together to defeat me."

Satoru raised an eyebrow, his confidence shining in his eyes. "All four of us against you? That doesn’t seem fair… for you."

Yuuji’s smile was slight but enough to convey his message. "Try. You’ll learn more than you think."

As his students took their positions, Yuuji stepped back a few paces. The gravity around him began to shift, the air growing heavier. "First lesson," he said, his eyes fixed on Satoru. "Your strength is nothing if you don’t know when and how to use it."

The training began with an explosion of energy. Suguru and Sukuna demonstrated impeccable coordination, while Shoko seized every opportunity to strike from a distance. Satoru, on the other hand, remained apart, gathering energy and observing carefully. Though his strength was evident, his lack of integration into the team was equally clear.

"To your right, Geto!" Sukuna shouted, launching a barrage of quick strikes.

Suguru responded without missing a beat, adjusting his position and unleashing an energy attack that perfectly complemented Sukuna's movement.

"Good synchronization," Yuuji remarked as he dodged their attacks. But his tone quickly changed. "Though it won’t be enough if you don’t think ahead."

With an agile move, Yuuji deflected both attacks simultaneously, countering with a wave of energy that forced Suguru and Sukuna to retreat.

"Too predictable," he said, his tone firm. "If you’re going to work together, you need to be less obvious."

"Understood!" Suguru responded, resetting his stance.

Sukuna, however, smirked. "Is that all you’ve got, Nii-san?"

Exchanging a quick glance, Suguru and Sukuna charged at Yuuji in unison. Sukuna attacked from the right with a flurry of physical strikes, while Suguru unleashed a wave of energy from the left.

Unfazed, Yuuji raised a hand and activated his antigravity technique. The invisible force lifted them briefly off the ground, destabilizing them before letting them fall back with control. It wasn’t a devastating attack, but it served its purpose: breaking their rhythm.

"We knew you’d use that," Suguru said, resetting his position again.

"I know," Sukuna replied, a defiant grin on his face as he lunged at Yuuji once more. "But if you’re using it against us, that means we’re putting some pressure on you."

Yuuji blocked the next attack effortlessly, countering with a quick strike that Sukuna barely managed to dodge. "That depends on how you see it," he said, deflecting another attack from Suguru without apparent effort. "If you really understand how my antigravity works, you should be doing something more to counter it."

"We understand, sensei," Suguru replied, his tone serious. "We’re just warming up."

From the back, Shoko let out a sigh. "And we’re the ones who need to think faster?" she muttered to herself, preparing to intervene.

While Sukuna and Suguru maintained the pressure, Shoko seized a moment of distraction to launch a surprise attack from the rear. It was quick, precise, and aimed directly at one of Yuuji’s blind spots.

"Well thought out, Shoko-kun," Yuuji said, barely managing to deflect the attack. "But you’ll need more strength if you want it to work."

"I’m working on it," Shoko replied calmly, already preparing her next move.

Amid the chaos, Satoru finally decided to join. His energy shone brightly as he launched a direct attack at Yuuji. The impact was strong enough to shake the ground, but Yuuji blocked it with relative ease.

"Too much force, without control," Yuuji said, his tone harsher than he had used with the others. "That’s not teamwork, Gojo-kun. That’s just showmanship."

Satoru gritted his teeth. "What’s wrong with using my power to the fullest?"

"Everything, if you don’t know when and how to use it," Yuuji replied, his gaze fixed on him. "And if you can’t trust others to cover your weaknesses, you have nothing."

Taking advantage of the tension, Sukuna launched a coordinated attack with Suguru. While Suguru kept Yuuji’s attention with a frontal assault, Sukuna appeared from the side, delivering a direct blow to his brother’s torso.

The impact was enough to make Yuuji step back slightly, but it also opened an opportunity for his counterattack. With a quick turn, Yuuji slammed Sukuna to the ground, hitting him hard enough to leave a wound on his arm.

"Sukuna!" Suguru exclaimed, stepping toward him, but Yuuji raised a hand, firmly stopping him.

"Shoko-kun, take care of it," Yuuji ordered, his calm authority unshaken.

Shoko rushed to Sukuna’s side, kneeling next to him with a precision that seemed almost mechanical, though there was something more in her eyes. "Stay still," she said, quickly placing her hands over the wound.

Sukuna, despite his usual disdain for any kind of help, didn’t take his eyes off her. "I’m fine," he muttered, his tone firm, though his gaze remained fixed on Shoko’s face, evaluating her with an intensity she deliberately ignored.

"Of course, you are," Shoko retorted, with a hint of irritation barely contained as she channeled her reverse curse technique. "Just shut up and let me do my job."

The wound began to close slowly, the glow of her technique enveloping Sukuna’s arm. Unlike his usual indifference, this time he didn’t look away, watching as Shoko worked with unwavering focus.

"Are you always this bossy?" Sukuna finally asked, his tone low and almost teasing, but lacking the usual sharpness he used with others.

"Are you always this unbearable?" Shoko replied without looking at him, though the slight curve of her lips betrayed her attempt to stay serious.

Sukuna let out a soft sigh, his eyes never leaving her. When the energy finally dissipated and Shoko withdrew her hands, he broke the brief silence. "Thank you, Ieiri," he said, his voice as firm as ever, but with a tone he didn’t use with anyone else.

Shoko looked up, visibly surprised. For a moment, their eyes met, and something in Sukuna’s intensity made her pause longer than necessary. But professionalism won out, and she quickly averted her gaze.

"Don’t get used to it," she replied, her tone curt as she stood up. However, as she walked away, her expression softened, though she tried to hide it.

Sukuna watched her leave, crossing his arms as if nothing had happened. But the faint touch of his hand over the spot where Shoko had healed him spoke more than his words ever would.

Yuuji observed the scene intently, but his gaze quickly shifted to Satoru, who remained slightly apart from the rest.

"This training isn’t just about showing your strength, Gojo-kun," Yuuji said, his tone firm but weighted with meaning. "It’s about understanding that there will always be something more important than your power. Learning to trust others doesn’t make you weak. It makes you better."

Satoru didn’t respond, but the tension in his face was evident. His jaw was clenched, and his hands were tightly fisted as he crossed his arms. Yuuji studied him carefully, and it was in that fleeting, but unmistakable, moment that he noticed.

When Sukuna was injured, for just a brief second, Satoru’s confident façade had cracked. Yuuji had seen something in his eyes: concern, though repressed, hidden behind that mask of indifference.

He didn’t say anything. He didn’t do anything. But Yuuji saw it. He saw how Satoru averted his gaze from Sukuna’s bleeding arm, almost as if looking at it made him feel too exposed. He saw the slight shift in his posture, as if he wanted to step forward but stopped himself.

It was an instinctive reaction, almost imperceptible, but it was there: a spark of humanity struggling to break through his pride and his need to appear strong.

Yuuji stored that moment in his mind, fully aware of what it meant. "You’re better than you think, Satoru," he thought to himself. "You just have to let that part of you come to the surface."

After confirming that his brother was fine, Yuuji turned to the rest of the group. "That’s all for today. Please take Sukuna to the infirmary, and I don’t want to hear any objections," he said, letting the air return to normal.

Suguru helped Sukuna to his feet, while Shoko watched them both with a faint smile. "Try not to rush in so quickly next time," she said, addressing Sukuna.

"I know, Ieiri," Sukuna replied, his tone more relaxed.

While the others began to disperse, Yuuji stayed on the training field a little longer.

He watched Satoru walk toward the edge of the training area, following his teammates, arms crossed and a pensive expression on his face.

There was something about Satoru that always made Yuuji stop and think. He was a good kid, Yuuji knew that. The way he protected his friends, even Sukuna with his complicated attitude, was proof enough. He valued them, even if he never openly admitted it.

However, when it came to teamwork, everything fell apart. That need to rely solely on himself kept him from becoming what he could truly be. There were moments when Yuuji saw glimpses of what Satoru could achieve if only he trusted others, but he was still far from understanding it.

Yuuji let out a sigh. There was time to work on it, but he also knew that time wasn’t infinite. If Satoru didn’t learn soon, that same strength he valued so much could become his greatest weakness.

Finally, he turned on his heels and began walking toward the dormitories. Despite the challenges, he knew there was hope. But that hope depended on how much Satoru was willing to open himself to change.

[...]

The bar had a relaxed atmosphere, with soft music in the background and the constant murmur of conversations from other tables. The dim lighting created a cozy effect, reflecting off the bottles lined up behind the bar. Yuuji, Fushiguro, and Okkotsu sat in a corner, away from the main bustle. On the table were three beers and a large plate of fries loaded with shredded meat, melted cheese, and sauce, which they were nearly done with.

"I'm pretty sure I got the most boring mission of the month," Okkotsu said, grabbing a cheesy fry. "A low-level spirit at a high school. It was so quiet I thought I’d gone to the wrong place."

"At least you had time to rest," Fushiguro commented, not taking his eyes off his beer. "I got sent to a village in the middle of nowhere. Three days searching for a spirit that turned out to be a wild animal. A complete waste of time."

Yuuji let out a soft laugh, leaning back in his chair. "You both should be grateful. My workload doesn’t just include missions but also teaching. And it’s not always easy."

Before Okkotsu could respond, a waiter approached the table, picking up the empty glasses and the plate of leftover fries. "Anything else for now?"

"Yes, please, another plate of the same," Okkotsu said with a polite smile. "And three more beers when you can. Thanks."

The waiter nodded, returning the smile before walking away with the dishes and glasses.

"So?" Okkotsu pressed, turning his attention back to Yuuji. "What’s wrong? Because it’s clear something’s bothering you."

Fushiguro, who had remained silent, finally lifted his gaze. "It’s Gojo, isn’t it?"

Yuuji set his glass down on the table, exhaling deeply. "Yes, it’s Gojo-kun. During training today, he showed the same thing as always. He’s talented, but he doesn’t know how to trust others. It’s frustrating."

"It's not surprising," Fushiguro commented in his usual tone. "Gojo has always been treated as someone unique, even as a child. The clan saw him as their living legacy, their proof that they were the best. Everyone told him he was invincible, that no one could match him. That idea doesn’t just disappear as you grow up. It becomes a part of you."

"That sounds terrible," Okkotsu said, taking a sip of his beer, which the waiter had brought a few minutes ago.

Fushiguro nodded slowly. "It is. But it’s also complicated. Gojo grew up under a pressure that few could understand. He was isolated, not because he wanted to be, but because everyone placed him on a pedestal. It’s no wonder he’s the way he is."

"That explains a lot," Yuuji added, leaning an elbow on the table. "But despite that, I’ve seen a softer, more selfless side of him. I see it in the little moments. Gojo-kun cares about his teammates, even Sukuna, though he denies it outright. I’ve noticed how the four of them look out for each other, even if they don’t admit it."

He paused, taking a sip of his beer before continuing. "Despite growing up in a clan like that, where everything was about perfection and power, Gojo-kun has a human side he doesn’t show openly. I’ve seen it in how he reacts when someone gets hurt or when he thinks no one’s watching. It’s subtle, but it’s genuine. That makes him… good. Not perfect, but truly good."

Okkotsu set his beer on the table, observing him with a small smile. "It seems you understand Gojo-kun better than he understands himself."

Fushiguro remained silent for a moment but finally said, "Then maybe that’s what he needs, Itadori. Someone who sees that part of him, even when he doesn’t."

"Maybe you need to put him in his place," Okkotsu suggested, shifting the conversation slightly.

Yuuji raised an eyebrow. "Put him in his place? What do you mean?"

"Face him in a battle," Fushiguro intervened, his tone calm but resolute. "But not just to prove you're stronger. Do it so he sees that his power has limits, that even he can be surpassed if he doesn’t learn to work with others."

"Besides," Okkotsu added, "we all know you're strong enough to pull it off. It wouldn’t just be a lesson for him but also an opportunity for you to see how he responds under real pressure."

Yuuji remained silent, reflecting on their advice. He knew they were right. Perhaps a battle wasn’t just what Satoru needed but what he himself needed to better understand how to manage this complicated relationship.

"You know, Itadori, I’ve been thinking…" Okkotsu said with a slight smile, "there’s something more to this, isn’t there? It’s not just that he’s your student. There’s something else."

Yuuji didn’t respond. Instead, he set his glass down on the table and fixed his gaze on the empty plate of fries. Such interesting utensils.

Okkotsu leaned back, his tone becoming more serious. "I’m not going to push you, but you have to be honest with yourself. You can’t guide him if you keep suppressing what you feel."

Fushiguro, less direct but equally perceptive, added, "Itadori, just remember that it's not just about him. You also need to find your own balance. Don't forget about yourself in the process."

The weight of their words hung in the air. Yuuji nodded slowly, not looking at either of them. He appreciated their honesty, but that didn’t make things any less complicated.

When they finally got up to leave, the bar was nearly empty. Even though there were no clear answers, Yuuji felt the conversation had given him something he needed: a direction, even if he wasn’t ready to take it yet.

[...]

The conversation with Fushiguro and Okkotsu still echoed in Yuuji's mind as he headed to the training field. They had been honest, even blunt, in pointing out what he already knew: Satoru needed a lesson that went beyond words. Something that could break through that wall of pride keeping him isolated. And now, Yuuji was determined to try.

That morning, he had sent Satoru a simple but direct message: "Meet me at the field. Just you and me." He hadn’t given any explanations, nor did he expect Satoru to ask for any. He knew his student wouldn’t be able to resist a challenge, even if he disguised it as curiosity.

When Yuuji arrived at the training field, the fresh air and the stillness around him prepared him for what was to come. He didn’t have to wait long before he saw Satoru approaching in the distance, walking with the same carefree confidence he always seemed to carry with him.

Satoru crossed the field with firm steps, his hands in his pockets and a smile bordering on insolence. When he finally stood before Yuuji, he tilted his head slightly, as if evaluating him.

"Satoru," Yuuji said, breaking the silence before the other could speak.

The effect was immediate. For a brief moment, almost imperceptible, Satoru's smile faltered, and his rigid posture seemed to relax for a second before he regained his composure.

"And what's this, sensei? A private training session? Have you finally admitted you need a real opponent to keep things interesting?" he said with a light laugh, trying to regain his usual tone.

Yuuji watched closely, noticing how Satoru worked to maintain his facade. It was subtle, but clear to someone who had spent so much time observing him. That slight flicker in his expression when Yuuji called him by name. That small moment of vulnerability before his pride took control again.

"I thought this would be more productive," Yuuji replied, his tone calm but firm. "No distractions. Just you and me."

Satoru raised an eyebrow, but his smile remained. "Ah, I see. Is this so I can learn from you, Itadori-sensei? Because, honestly, I'm not sure you have much to teach me."

The cheekiness was there, but Yuuji wasn’t fooled. He could see what was really happening. Every word had a sharp edge, too deliberate, as if Satoru was trying harder to be tougher than he actually was.

"I’m not sure I’m the one who needs to teach you something today," Yuuji replied, stepping toward him. "Maybe this is more about you proving something to yourself."

Satoru let out a dry laugh, glancing away for a moment before regaining his facade. "And what exactly am I supposed to prove? That I’m the best, as always?"

Yuuji let the silence speak for him, crossing his arms and standing firm.

"Why are you being so hostile with me, Satoru?" he finally asked, his voice softer but full of intent.

The question seemed to disarm Satoru. For a moment, his posture tensed further before he tried to mask it with a nonchalant shrug. "Hostile? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m the same as always."

"No, you’re not," Yuuji countered, leaning slightly toward him. "You’ve always been cheeky, yes, but this is different. You’re not trying to prove something to me; you’re trying to protect yourself from something. What are you afraid of?"

Satoru's smile faltered again, more visibly this time. But he quickly recovered it, his tone hardening. "I’m not afraid of anything," he finally replied. "Why would I be? You’re not someone who could scare me."

That stung, but Yuuji didn’t take the bait. He simply continued listening to Satoru’s one-sided monologue for a few more minutes. He could clearly see how his student’s irritation was building.

"Then let’s make this interesting," Satoru said abruptly, recovering his defiant tone. "If I win, you treat me to dinner. Something good and expensive. Just the two of us. No complaints."

Yuuji raised an eyebrow, allowing a faint smile. "And if you lose?"

Satoru grinned smugly. "That’s not going to happen. But if it does, I’ll admit I still have things to learn. Although... you won’t see it often."

"Alright," Yuuji finally said, straightening his posture. "But don’t forget, Satoru, this isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about what you understand when it’s over."

For an instant, Satoru seemed to hesitate, but he quickly regained his confident expression. "Sure, sensei. Whatever you say."

Both of them knew the words were just a shield. Yuuji took a deep breath, preparing for what was to come.

And so, they took their positions.

The field remained silent, save for the faint crunching of the ground beneath their feet. Yuuji watched Satoru from across the distance, waiting. There was something about his posture that made him seem more rigid than usual. That barely concealed tension in his shoulders, the slight furrow of his brow, were signs that Satoru was feeling the weight of what was about to happen.

"I want you to attack me with everything you’ve got, Satoru," Yuuji finally said, his voice firm but not harsh.

Satoru seemed to remain still for a moment, as if he was weighing Yuuji’s words more than he would admit. The question came soon after. "And you, Itadori-sensei? Are you going to return the favor?"

"Don’t worry about that," Yuuji replied, taking a step back to create space.

The response wasn’t evasive, but neither was it clear enough to ease Satoru. Yuuji noticed the slight hardening of his expression, an instinctive reaction, almost as if Satoru were trying to reinforce his pride.

Satoru raised a hand, letting his energy flow naturally. The air around the field shifted immediately, charged with palpable force. The first attack, "Red," shot toward Yuuji with precision.

Yuuji didn’t move. He raised a hand and allowed his anti-gravity technique to activate, stopping the attack before it reached him. The impact dispersed in the air, leaving only a faint shockwave that quickly dissipated.

Satoru's reaction was subtle: a slight tightening of his jaw, a shift in the direction of his gaze. It wasn’t frustration; it was a mix of bewilderment and something deeper, something he couldn’t easily articulate.

The ground beneath Satoru began to tremble as Yuuji adjusted the gravity in the area. It was a calculated technique, designed not to intimidate but to destabilize. Yuuji could see how Satoru reacted, quickly adjusting his stance, but he also noticed how that movement carried a defensive undertone.

It wasn’t the first time Yuuji had seen Satoru protecting himself, even if the young man wasn’t always consciously aware of it. In moments like this, his pride served as a shield, and Yuuji knew that maintaining his own firmness was essential. But it wasn’t easy. Between them, there was something that softened these interactions, a connection that always threatened to break any attempt at authority.

"You’re holding back. Your technique didn’t have enough force," Yuuji said, breaking the silence with a calm that bordered on provoking. "If this is all, you won’t learn anything."

Satoru gritted his teeth, a spark of irritation lighting up his eyes. Without a word, he raised a hand and concentrated his cursed energy, taking Yuuji’s words more seriously this time. In an instant, another "Red" shot forward, tearing through the air and leaving a vibrant trail in its wake.

The impact was immediate. Yuuji raised an arm to counter it, using a calculated defense that absorbed part of the attack, but the residual force reached him. His uniform tore from the shoulder to the elbow, and a cut appeared on his arm, leaving a trail of blood that dripped slowly.

Satoru saw the result with a mix of satisfaction and confusion. He had struck his teacher, an achievement that should have filled him with pride. But something about the scene—the stillness of Yuuji, the dripping blood—left a strange taste in his mouth. It wasn’t what he had envisioned.

"That’s better," Yuuji said, not taking his eyes off Satoru. His tone was firm, but there was something else there, an intensity that made his words feel heavier. "But you’re still holding back."

Satoru tensed his shoulders. "Holding back? You call this holding back?" he replied, his tone defiant but unable to completely hide the doubt beginning to creep in.

Yuuji took a step forward, his presence dominating the space between them. The blood continued to drip from his arm, but his focus didn’t waver for a second. "You think that strike means something. That because you managed to hurt me, you’re in control. But you’re not, Satoru. And until you understand that, this will mean nothing."

The declaration fell like a hammer on Satoru. His hands clenched into fists as an unfamiliar tension settled in his chest. He didn’t want to admit it, but something in Yuuji’s words unsettled him, as if there was a hidden meaning he couldn’t quite grasp.

Yuuji remained in place, his stance unwavering despite the injury. He gave no further instructions, nor did he show any signs of advancing. He simply waited, letting the silence between them speak louder than any words could.

Satoru raised his energy once more, determined to prove Yuuji wrong, to show that he didn’t need any more lessons. But deep down, a small spark of doubt still flickered. And as he prepared his next attack, he couldn’t help but wonder what Yuuji was truly seeking from him.

The challenge had its effect. Satoru’s energy intensified, his Infinity enveloping the field with greater force. The air grew denser, heavier, and for a moment, Yuuji felt the full brunt of Satoru’s power being unleashed.

The ground began to groan under the pressure. Particles in the air stirred, swirling into eddies that shimmered with cursed energy. Satoru extended a hand, and the space around him seemed to warp. The "Red" he unleashed this time was different—more ferocious, more unpredictable. The wave of energy exploded forward, tearing through everything in its path and causing even the ground to fracture.

Yuuji stood firm, his stance unyielding as the explosion reached him. He felt the impact rip through his body, as if gravity itself had shifted around him. His left arm, the same one already injured, bore the brunt of the attack, causing the blood to flow more freely. His uniform tore further, and the cut on his arm deepened, leaving a visible mark.

Satoru saw it. The blood, the open wound... an indescribable pain surged through his chest as he realized what he had done. He didn’t want to hurt Yuuji, but he knew he had to. He knew that if he held back, he would never demonstrate his true potential, nor meet the expectations of the lesson Yuuji was trying to teach him.

He gritted his teeth, swallowing the lump in his throat as the contradiction of his feelings weighed heavily on him. "I’m sorry," he thought, though his lips didn’t form the words. "But this is what you wanted. This is what I have to do."

Yuuji noticed the hesitation in Satoru’s gaze, though he said nothing about it. He simply observed, analyzing every detail of the attack, every fragment of energy dispersing around them.

"It’s impressive," Yuuji thought as the energy subsided, his gaze locked on Satoru. "But it’s also chaotic. He doesn’t fully control his power. He clings too much to the impact, not the intent."

Satoru’s breathing was heavy, but his eyes gleamed with determination. He had poured everything into that attack, and even though he knew it wouldn’t be enough to defeat his teacher, he wanted Yuuji to understand one thing: he wasn’t going to give up. However, in the silence that followed, the disorder in his technique became apparent. Despite his strength, the power he had unleashed wasn’t entirely his own. There was still a part of him that didn’t understand how to channel that intensity.

"He’s strong, yes..." Yuuji murmured to himself, stepping forward as the dust began to settle. "But strength without control can destroy more than it protects."

Satoru looked up, noticing Yuuji’s state. The blood, the specks of dust on his clothing, the sweat on his face... all of it indicated that he had achieved something. But his teacher’s expression remained the same: unshaken, calculating.

“That was better,” Yuuji finally said, his tone dry but tinged with an odd respect. “But it’s still not enough, Satoru. And you know why.”

The silence between them echoed with what was to come. Satoru’s cursed energy still rippled around him, but deep down, he knew Yuuji was right. He still didn’t understand what control truly meant. And as he braced himself for what was to come, that truth tormented him more than any wound.

With a deliberate movement, Yuuji raised both hands. This would be his turn to attack. The space around him began to warp, as if the very air was being folded. A small dark sphere appeared in the center of the distortion, slowly growing as it absorbed everything around it.

“This,” Yuuji said in a low but clear voice, “is Singularity.”

The air shifted immediately. The sphere, though small, carried an almost unbearable weight. Everything in the field seemed to lean toward it, as if space itself was collapsing.

Satoru stepped back, his expression hardening, but he couldn’t stop a shadow of uncertainty from crossing his face.

Yuuji watched him intently. There was no arrogance in the way Satoru faced the unknown, but neither was there surrender. In that mixture of defiance and protection, Yuuji saw a battle that went beyond the physical: Satoru’s struggle to understand what this confrontation meant, and Yuuji’s own need to remain steadfast for both of them.

The Singularity pulsed with an unbearable weight, bending space and time around it. The training field had turned into a chaotic whirlwind of fluctuating energy, with Satoru trapped in the center of its crushing gravity. Every attempt to move was a relentless reminder that, for the first time, his Infinity was not enough.

Satoru felt the air around him grow oppressive, heavy as lead, and each breath felt like a lost battle. His legs trembled under the invisible weight, his hands pressed against his knees as he struggled to stay upright.

“Is this all, Satoru?” Yuuji’s voice cut through the air like a blade. It was cold, distant, but there was a deeper note in his tone, something Satoru couldn’t quite identify. “Is this the limit of the strongest?”

Satoru gritted his teeth, lifting his gaze toward Yuuji with restrained fury. “Don’t underestimate me!” he spat, but even as he spoke, he could feel the tremor in his own voice.

“Underestimate you?” Yuuji responded, stepping forward. His presence seemed to amplify the weight already crushing Satoru. “I’m not underestimating you, Satoru. I’m showing you reality. This isn’t a game. If someone with ill intentions had my power, you wouldn’t be here right now.”

The gravity increased, and Satoru felt his knees buckle under the pressure. He collapsed to the ground with a dull thud, his arms trembling as he tried to keep his body upright. Sweat poured down his face, and for the first time in a long while, he felt something he rarely allowed himself to: fear.

The weight wasn’t just physical. It was psychological. It was the weight of realizing that even with all his power, there were forces in the world that could surpass him. That his arrogance and blind confidence in his invincibility weren’t enough.

“Is this the best you’ve got?” Yuuji asked, his tone firm but carrying a faint crack he barely managed to contain. “The strongest can’t handle a little pressure? Prove me wrong, Satoru!”

“This isn’t… a little pressure!” Satoru gasped, his breaths ragged. “You’re… crushing me like you’re trying to kill me!”

Yuuji stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Satoru. "This is what would've happened..." he continued, his tone icy as he stared down at him. "If I'd truly wanted to kill you, Satoru, your bones would have been pulverized. Your organs collapsed. Your body... reduced to nothing. You wouldn't have stood a chance. By now, you'd just be a name on a gravestone."

Amid the tension, Yuuji lowered his gaze and spotted Satoru's glasses, lying off to the side from the struggle. Slowly, he bent down, picking them up with one hand while his other still maintained control over the Singularity. He held them up, turning them slightly, as though assessing their fragility.

Do you see this, Satoru?" he said, his voice calm but firm, raising the glasses so his student could see them through his exhaustion. "They're just an object, like your Infinity, like your strength. And just like these glasses..." His tone dropped, becoming almost a whisper laden with intent. "I can destroy them if I choose. Without any effort."

Without breaking eye contact, Yuuji opened his hand and let the glasses drift toward the small, dark sphere of the Singularity. The gravitational distortion drew them in immediately, as if they were leaves falling into a bottomless abyss. The moment the glasses touched the edge of the sphere, they began to unravel.

First, the lenses fractured, cracks spreading rapidly like lightning trapped in glass. Then, the metal frame twisted and snapped, its fragments spinning around the Singularity before disappearing entirely into its core.

The sound was barely audible-a faint crackling and metallic whisper that dissipated into the air. As the Singularity stabilized, there was no trace of the glasses left. It was as though they had never existed.

Satoru watched the act, his breathing uneven, his gaze fixed on the empty space where his glasses had been. It wasn’t just the loss of the object itself—it was what they represented. His control, his invulnerability, his image of perfection… all had been consumed and destroyed in an instant. The Singularity hadn’t just shattered glass and metal; it had broken something deeper within him.

“Do you understand now?” Yuuji continued, his tone icy but laden with an unshakable purpose. “This is what I could do to you if I truly wanted to.”

The words pierced Satoru more deeply than any physical attack. It felt as though the weight of the Singularity wasn’t just crushing his body, but also the core of his confidence. His breathing, erratic and labored, echoed in his ears as he tried to suppress the growing sense of vulnerability. Never before had his pride felt so fragile, so exposed. Yet beyond the physical pain, it was Yuuji’s gaze—unyielding and cold—that truly disarmed him.

As Yuuji spoke, the Singularity intensified, its oppressive influence stretching toward Satoru’s Infinity. The layers of protection that had always made him untouchable began to fracture, tiny fissures resonating like echoes in his perception. Satoru felt the pressure not only attacking his body but delving deeper, destabilizing the very core of his defense.

"Get up," Yuuji said, his tone firm but not unkind, as the Singularity continued tearing through Satoru's barrier. "Prove that you’re more than arrogance. Prove that you can learn. Because if you can’t get up now, you won’t survive when it really matters."

Yuuji's cold tone persisted as he stood over Satoru, but inside, he felt a pang of guilt. Seeing Satoru, someone so full of life and arrogance, reduced to this state hurt more than he cared to admit. Every word he spoke was a reminder that if he softened now, if he failed to be cruel in this moment, he would be failing him as a teacher. "I’m sorry, Satoru," he thought, though he did not say it aloud. "This hurts me more than you know, but it has to be done."

Satoru panted, sweat dripping from his face as his trembling hands pressed against the ground. The Singularity was crushing him, physically and mentally, every second a reminder of how small he was against a power he couldn’t fully comprehend.

For a moment, he closed his eyes, desperately searching for an answer with his Six Eyes, trying to analyze every fragment of the Singularity, every movement that might give him a chance to escape the suffocating pressure. Images, patterns, and energy flowed through his mind with a clarity that was almost unbearable. It was like trying to read a book in the middle of a hurricane, but he didn’t stop searching. Finally, a spark of understanding flashed through his mind—a barely discernible solution, but enough.

His wounded pride and humiliation mixed with a deeper sense of vulnerability. But beyond that, there was something that kept him fighting. Something in Yuuji’s voice, in the way he looked at him, pushed Satoru not to give up. Even as cracks formed in his Limitless, even as he felt the weight of the impossible, he knew he couldn’t let it end here.

The pressure remained overwhelming, but Satoru began to rise, slowly but surely. He activated Blue at the precise point he had identified with his Six Eyes, managing to relieve some of the crushing weight. His eyes burned with a mixture of defiance and desperation. Each step forward was a victory in itself, a rejection of the idea that he wasn’t enough.

At last, he reached Yuuji, raising a trembling hand in an attempt to strike. But his body could go no further. He fell forward, and Yuuji deactivated the Singularity just in time to catch him before he hit the ground.

[...]

The air remained heavy, laden with unspoken emotions. Yuuji watched Satoru, feeling a weight in his chest that had nothing to do with the battle. Slowly, while kneeling in front of him, he closed the distance between them. Gently, he wrapped his arms around Satoru, pulling him into his chest.

The contact made Satoru finally yield. He buried his face in Yuuji's neck, his hands weakly clutching at his uniform as a tremor ran through him.

"I'm sorry, Satoru," Yuuji murmured, his voice carrying a weight he rarely let show. His fingers gently combed through Satoru's damp hair. "I know this was too much, but I had to do it. You're too important to me to let your arrogance end up killing you someday."

Satoru slowly raised his head, his tired eyes meeting Yuuji's. For the first time, his usual arrogance seemed absent, replaced by a vulnerability he rarely displayed. "I’m important, huh?" he murmured, his lips curving into a faint smile. "That's quite a scandalous thing to say, coming from you, sensei."

Yuuji let out a soft laugh, though his eyes still reflected concern and something deeper. "You might be right," he admitted honestly, resting his forehead lightly against Satoru's. "But don’t use that as an excuse to keep finding ways to get yourself into trouble."

"And what if I use it as an excuse to stay here with you?" Satoru tried to joke, though his tone lacked its usual cheekiness. Instead, there was a genuine desire to remain in the moment, to hold onto the closeness he felt.

"First, try not to pass out," Yuuji replied with a sigh, but his fingers continued tracing soft circles through Satoru’s hair. "You know that someday, you'll be stronger than me. But until then, you need to learn this: you can’t always count on walking away unscathed."

Satoru closed his eyes, letting Yuuji's words and touch sink deeply into his mind. But Yuuji wasn’t finished.

"This," Yuuji continued, his tone softer but still full of intent as he pulled back slightly to cup Satoru’s cheek, "could have gone differently in another scenario, you know? If you had worked with your friends instead of relying only on yourself, you could have beaten me."

Satoru opened one eye, barely reacting, but listening intently.

"Imagine this: Geto-kun using his curses to neutralize part of my technique. Shoko-kun, healing you and the others from a distance while the fight continues. And Sukuna… you know my brother would’ve attacked me mercilessly the moment he saw an opening. If you had worked together, you could have defeated me."

Satoru frowned slightly, letting out a heavy sigh. "All of this just to prove I’m an idiot, sensei?"

"No," Yuuji replied with a small smile, gently pressing his forehead against Satoru’s after wiping away one of his tears. "All of this is to show you that even you need others. You can’t do everything alone, Satoru. This world isn’t just about being the strongest. It’s about trusting the people who stand by your side."

Satoru let out a shaky sigh, his hands still clutching Yuuji’s uniform. "I get it… I get it now," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "But… don’t expect me to stop trying to impress you."

Yuuji let out a genuine laugh, though his fingers remained in Satoru’s hair, offering silent comfort. "I don’t expect you to. In fact, I’m counting on it."

For a moment, they stayed like that, sharing a silence filled with more than words could convey. Yuuji could feel Satoru slowly relaxing, the tension in his shoulders starting to fade. Despite everything, he knew this hadn’t been easy for either of them.

Finally, Yuuji helped Satoru to his feet, holding him firmly as he guided him toward the infirmary. But Satoru, still weak, stumbled and, without thinking, ended up leaning fully against Yuuji, his forehead resting against his teacher’s neck.

"Sensei…" he murmured, his voice low and tired but unmistakably playful. "If I asked, would you hold me tighter?"

Yuuji felt his heart skip a beat at those words. A small part of him wanted to scold Satoru for joking even in this state, but the other, the more honest part, knew he couldn’t deny him anything in this moment. Without saying a word, he adjusted his hold, wrapping both arms around Satoru, holding him tighter, almost as if afraid he might fall apart.

"Just this once," he murmured, though they both knew it wasn’t true.

Satoru weakly smiled, his eyelids heavy as he closed his eyes, allowing himself to rest in his teacher’s arms. "Thank you, sensei… for everything," he whispered, his voice barely an echo.

"You don’t have to thank me for anything," Yuuji replied, his voice soft but tinged with a pain he couldn’t hide. As he spoke, his hand instinctively moved to Satoru’s damp hair, gently brushing aside a strand stuck to his face with a tenderness that seemed too intimate for the situation, but Satoru didn’t pull away.

For a moment, they remained silent. Yuuji could feel the weight of exhaustion in Satoru, but also the weight of the lesson he had just imparted. His fingers, still tangled in Satoru’s hair, moved slightly, almost like an unconscious caress. Satoru said nothing, but the faint sigh he let out spoke volumes.

"It wasn’t easy for either of us," Yuuji finally said, his voice softer now, laden with emotions he didn’t dare fully express. "But you had to understand, Satoru. Because… I don’t want to lose you. Ever."

Satoru looked up, his face exhausted but with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Those words sound pretty romantic, sensei."

Yuuji let out a low, warm laugh, though his eyes still reflected the tension of the moment. "Maybe they are," he admitted, leaning in slightly to make sure Satoru could see him clearly. "But don't let it go to your head, alright?"

"Too late," Satoru murmured, his smile weak but genuine as he leaned back against Yuuji, finding a comfort in their closeness he wouldn’t dare ask for outright.

With a resigned sigh, Yuuji adjusted his hold, supporting him more carefully as he started to walk. "I’m not letting you go until you’re completely okay," he promised in a low voice, though he knew that promise meant far more than the words themselves.

After a few steps, Satoru, still leaning against him, murmured something barely audible. "You said if I won, you’d take me out for an expensive dinner…"

Yuuji raised an eyebrow, glancing at his student. "Satoru, you didn’t win."

"Details?" Satoru replied, his tone weak but laced with humor. "You promised."

Yuuji let out a light sigh, though his expression softened even more. "Fine. You didn’t win, but you learned something far more important. That deserves dinner, I suppose. But don’t think this will become a habit."

"Whatever you say, sensei," Satoru said, his voice barely a whisper as he nestled a bit closer to Yuuji, letting the closeness fill the void his exhaustion had left.

Yuuji looked at him, feeling a tightness in his chest—a mix of affection and tenderness he couldn’t put into words. His hand gently slid through Satoru’s hair, brushing a strand aside to get a clearer view of those beautiful blue eyes. "You're a lost cause," he murmured with a faint smile. "But you're my lost cause."

And so, they walked together, each step marked by the weight of what they had learned but also by a connection that, despite all barriers, continued to grow. Meanwhile, Yuuji couldn’t help but think that, despite everything, he wouldn’t trade this moment for anything.