*Author's note: Minor spoilers ahead for the Gojo's Past Arc! If you haven't read the manga chapters 65-79, skip ahead to the end of the chapter for a brief summary!**
When Qian finally reached her car, she was out of breath and had to lean against the hood, shrugging her bag off her shoulders. Ieiri-sensei did say that my body hasn't fully recovered yet. She recalled, silently noting the ache in her limbs. Taking a shaky breath, she quickly began rummaging through her bag for her car keys. Finally, after several minutes of digging with her recently-healed hand, she felt the coolness of familiar metal.
However, as she pulled it out, her trembling fingers caused the keyring to slip from her grasp, clattering to the ground. Just as she began to reach down to retrieve it, a hand swiftly plucked it from the concrete pavement. Her head shot up to thank the samaritan before her eyes widened in surprise and recognition.
"O-Oh…" She straightened herself. "G-Gojo-sensei, what are you doing here?"
The man scrutinized her. Her cheeks were flushed a healthy shade of pink, but her arm and leg still appeared to be pain based on her labored breathing. He sighed and opened the door, shoving himself between her and the vehicle as he plopped down into the driver's seat.
"U-Um…" Qian nervously shifted in her stance, interlacing her fingers together. "Sensei…I need my car please-"
"Get in." He stated, turning on the ignition.
She gaped like a fish out of water. "B-But-"
He rolled his eyes, though his mask covered the gesture. "Are you really going to make me repeat myself? Just get in, we're wasting time.""
Qian opened her mouth to retort but snapped her jaw shut, unsure of how to respond. While she was grateful, she felt a bit guilty having him accompany her. After another moment of hesitation, she finally hobbled around the hood of the car and slipped into the passenger's seat.
"So? Did they text you?" Satoru, peered over his shoulder as he pulled out of the parking lot.
"Y-Yes, it looks like they want a large pepperoni pizza and a large supreme pizza from Pizza Hut." She responded, pulling out her phone as she scrolled through her texts.
As they broke through Tengen's barrier, they ended up on the ramp leading to Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular Route. He naturally merged into the lanes, easily swerving in and out of the packed cars. Qian couldn't help but grip her seat tightly, unsettled by the speed and ease he was driving her 2006 Honda Civic.
He peered at her frightened form from the corner of her eye and couldn't help but grin. "Let me guess, you don't drive above 45mph?"
"N-Not if I don't have to! Especially in Tokyo's rush hour traffic!" She protested, leaning further in the cushions of her seat as they narrowly squeezed past a semi-trailer truck, who honked loudly in protest.
Thankfully, after several minutes of borderline heart attacks… they finally pulled up to Pizza Hut. Satoru easily parallel-parked the car and pulled up the emergency brake in a fluid movement, with Qian staring at him in silent awe.
His lips twitched at her bafflement, popping open the door and strolling onto the sidewalk, stretching his arms above his head. He turned and quirked a brow at the girl, who immediately fumbled with the inside door handle, raising out of the vehicle herself.
"I-I placed the order online before we left so it should be available to pick up in about five minutes." Qian explained, adjusting her glasses as she peered down on her phone.
Satoru nodded. "Alright. Sounds good."
She craned her neck to look inside the restaurant. "I-It looks pretty busy in there, should we just wait here?"
"Sure." The two of them remained outside, with Qian sitting down on the nearby bench and Satoru standing in front of her, quietly looking around his surroundings.
"E-Eh? Gojo-san, is that you?"
They turned to see an older woman with dark hair, her bangs parted down the middle and framing her cheekbones. Her hair was tied up in a bun, covered with white fabric. She carried a tote bag of groceries on one shoulder, her ankle length plaid dress fluttered in the spring breeze.
Satoru's eyes widened in recognition. Qian stared at the two of them as silence stretched across the atmosphere.
Finally, after a tense few minutes, Satoru plastered on a smile, squaring his shoulders to face the woman in front of them. "Kuroi-san, it's been a while."
"It really has! How have you been?" The woman asked curiously, folding her hands together over her abdomen.
"I've been good, now a teacher at Jujutsu High." He replied, placing his hands in his pockets.
Qian noticed, however, a slight tremor to his fingers before they were hidden in the cloth.
"That's wonderful! I'm sure if Riko was still here…she would be so impressed." Misato sighed, her eyes downcast as she recalled her prior charge.
There was another awkward pause as they continued to wordlessly stand in place. Satoru was the first to look away. "Kuroi-san, I-"
Misato held her hand up demurely, shaking her head. "Gojo-san, I hold no anger or remorse over what happened. We all tried our best to keep Riko safe, we just weren't quite enough."
Satoru was quiet as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Still…"
"Geto-san especially…I know he was distraught after Riko passed." She sighed quietly, peering up at the sky with forlorn eyes. She then regarded the man in front of her with a concerned gaze. "How is he, by the way? I hope he is doing well…he was such a lovely boy-"
As she continued chattering away, Qian glanced at Satoru curiously. She furrowed her brow in concern upon seeing his face suddenly turn pale.
—-
Satoru was frozen as the memories of his best friend flooded into his system… the laughs they shared in class… the pranks they pulled on Masamichi… them fighting side-by-side during tough battles…
All he had to do was look over his shoulder and there he was, giving him a knowing grin in return. I got your back. Always have. He would say as they crushed their enemies.
But then…once Riko died… he saw him less and less. Satoru kept getting called on solo missions and his friend drifted further and further away. Finally, it came down to their own battle, the psychotic glare in his best friend's eyes, the bodies that were thrown in a slaughtered pile underneath his deranged smile…
"Gojo-san? Are…you alright?" He could hear the woman in front of him beginning to sound worried, but he couldn't respond. Blood pounded through his ears, his vision began to blur… his pulse was… racing… he realized he wasn't breathing properly… but he couldn't-
—-
Without thinking, Qian reached forward, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. She turned to the woman. "S-Sorry! Gojo-sensei unfortunately caught a bit of a bug this morning so I-I originally thought going for a walk would hopefully ease his cold."
"Oh goodness, is that so? I apologize, Gojo-san! I had no idea you weren't feeling well!" Misato apologized profusely, bowing her head.
Qian dipped her head deeply in response. "O-Oh no, don't apologize! He's really touched to see you, he's just a bit under the weather!" She laughed nervously, hoping the woman didn't sense the falseness in her voice.
Fortunately, she appeared unfazed as she straightened her back. "Well then, I will leave you both alone. I hope you recover soon, Gojo-san. You have such a wonderful student with you, I can tell you're a phenomenal teacher." She gave a gentle smile and dipped her head once more. "It was lovely seeing you again, and thank you again for all your service. I wish you a long and prosperous future. Take care!"
She raised her hand in farewell and continued down the sidewalk. After she disappeared around the corner, Qian stared up at the man, her eyes wide in worry. "Gojo-sensei, are you alright?"
However, he remained unresponsive. She bit her lip and shifted her grasp, tucking her arm under his own, before slowly leading him to the car. She opened the door and gently led him into the passenger's seat, closing the vehicle with a soft click.
She checked her phone and saw the notification, quickly hobbling into the pizza shop. As she came out of the vehicle with two boxes, she noticed the man still remained dazed. She gently placed the pies in the backseat before sitting down on the driver's side. She started the car.
The ride was silent as she cruised down the highway. Fortunately, traffic had lightened and there were less cars, so she was able to cruise at a comfortable speed. She glanced out of the corner of her eye and saw the man's expression remained unchanged.
"G-Gojo-sensei, are you alright?" She asked timidly, looking back at the road quickly before returning to the man beside her.
He remained silent and she sighed, uncertain of what to do. She turned her gaze back to the road, peering up at the sky that was painted with pinks and purples due to the setting sun.
She bit her lip tentatively. Suddenly, an idea came to her mind and she took out her phone, sending a quick apology text, before she signaled to take the next exit.
*Brief summary: Gojo encounters an old acquaintance, who inadvertently brings up some traumatic moments in the past. He freezes, lost in his memories. Qian notices his reaction and decides to do something to help ameliorate his current state.*