For the rest of the day, Sayuri could not shake the image of Suguru Geto from her mind. Hours later, her heart still fluttered with each reminder of how he had studied her in silence. Not that she would ever give a second-year boy the satisfaction of knowing that.
Their interaction was not enough to ease the pain of losing her mother, but it felt nice to know someone else cared. Life as a jujutsu sorcerer and those she met along the way were all she had now. Akiko Gojo had set aside her past to allow her daughter to train as a jujutsu sorcerer, and she was proud to know Sayuri would use her technique to help others. And if nothing more than to honor her mother, Sayuri knew she had to make the most of her time at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
But then she thought of Suguru Geto again—his soft words echoing between her ears as clearly as they had hours earlier. Sayuri cursed under her breath, flopping face-first into her comforter and mattress. While she welcomed a distraction from her sadness, this was not ideal. And the most frustrating part was that their paths would cross again. As long as they shared the campus, it was inevitable.
She lay awake that night, her tears having long dried, wondering when that might be.
Sayuri was slow to wake the next morning. She groaned, her limbs heavy with sleep as she rolled over, squinting at the blurry white digits on her alarm clock. Mid-yawn, her heart dropped into her stomach as the time registered—8:45 AM. Panic surged through her veins, the sensation enough to yank her from a sleep-like state.
Class started in fifteen minutes.
Bolting upright, Sayuri flung the covers aside, her mind racing as she scrambled to dress. The remnants of her peaceful slumber were dashed and divided as she yanked on her uniform—the high-collared top customized to her liking so that it clung to her petite frame. Her pants were loose in comparison, hugging only the small of her waist beneath the hem of the top. She slid on a pair of black boots and grabbed what was needed for class, long strands of white hair bouncing behind her as she hurried out of her dorm. By the time the door slammed shut, Sayuri leaped from the bottom steps of the stone staircase and was breaking for the building across the cobblestone path.
Inside, however, the weight of the unknown pressed down on her shoulders. A hand lingered on the door handle as she contemplated turning around and trying again tomorrow. She had avoided the last two days of classes. Yesterday, after the news of her mother's death, and the first because she was afraid.
After middle school, school was difficult for Sayuri. She tackled the curriculum with ease but struggled with friendships. Her classmates whispered, calling her a freak and often excluding her from things she once enjoyed. Even her closest friend began to distance herself in eighth grade, which was devastating for any young girl. Sayuri pretended that she didn't care, but she did. So, to avoid them, she skipped class altogether. Her value to the chess team was the only thing keeping her from expulsion.
Sayuri took a deep breath, repeatedly reminding herself that this was a different school. These were not the same kids—these kids were like her. Her other hand reached upward, finding the locket secured around her neck—a gentle nudge of encouragement from her mother.
The classroom door opened slowly enough that the hinges creaked. The sound drew the two boys' attention inside, and Sayuri felt heat flood her pale countenance. If she could shrink inside of herself or disappear altogether, she would.
Seated at a neatly arranged desk, Kento Nanami glanced up from his book. Cool and calculating, his eyes assessed her quickly before returning to reading. Yu Haibara, on the other hand, broke into a wide, welcoming grin. His sunny disposition was almost palpable as he leaned back in his chair, balancing precariously on the two back legs.
"She's here!" Haibara leaned forward, slapping Nanami on the arm.
He was less than enthused. "I can see that."
"You are Sayuri, right?" the dark-haired boy asked, his voice warm and inviting as he waved her inside. "I'm Yu Haibara, and this is Kento Nanami."
His more reserved companion sighed, refusing to look up from his textbook.
Sayuri swallowed, her nerves easing with Haibara's friendliness. She managed a small smile and stepped forward hesitantly. "It's nice to meet you both."
Yu's chair thudded back to the ground as he stood up, crossing the room with arms outstretched for a hug. She wasn't expecting a hug, let alone the intensity of the one he offered. Sayuri froze as he enveloped her—her arms remaining limp and awkward at her sides.
"Nanami bet you'd never show up for classes, but I knew he was wrong."
Nanami's attention finally shifted from his book. He watched his classmates through pieces of blond hair, smirking at their awkward embrace. However, this amusement was brief. "I was beginning to doubt there truly was a third first-year."
Once Yu had released her, Sayuri's grip tightened on the bag strap slung over her shoulder. She turned to the blond first-year, her lips slow to part. "I'm, uh… sorry about missing the first few days. I had some things to take care of." Not a complete lie, but not the full truth either. She could explain later. "I'm here now, though. That's all that matters."
Haibara beamed. "Don't worry about it," he reassured. "We have each other's backs from now on, don't we, Nanami-kun?"
"We don't have a choice, Haibara." Nanami closed his textbook and sighed as he sank further into his seat. "I cannot say the same for her, but I do not skip class."
Sayuri stared at Nanami, a smile pulling at either corner of her mouth despite these humorless accusations. Oddly enough, the young woman felt a sense of relief in their presence. Moments ago, she had no idea what to expect from her classmates. And while they were clearly very different, Sayuri was pleasantly surprised. As Yu settled into the seat behind Nanami, the classroom started to feel like a place she could belong.
She took the last empty desk near the window and set her bag down, her gaze drifting outside to the serene courtyard. She let herself soak in the tranquility momentarily, knowing it was a rare commodity in the world of jujutsu sorcerers. Turning back as their teacher entered the classroom, Haibara blabbed on about a recent mission he had read about while Nanami corrected him on the finer details. They began to bicker, and Sayuri smiled, knowing she had made two new friends.
A week later, Sayuri sat cross-legged on the gymnasium floor, a chessboard meticulously arranged in front of her. The rhythmic sound of a volleyball's impact and sneakers squeaking on the gym floor echoed through the space as Nanami and Haibara played one-on-one. As they broke into petty arguments and dove for the ball, Sayuri's fingers danced over polished pieces, her mind running through countless strategies as she easily navigated both sides of the board.
Chess was her sanctuary, a place where gifted minds could find solace and clarity. By watching their volleyball game unfold, Sayuri could only assume she had won more chess matches than Haibara and Nanami had won volleyball matches.
Invested in her next move, Sayuri failed to notice another student enter the gymnasium. The second-year crossed glossy wooden floors, both hands shoved into the pockets of bontan pants. Neither Nanami nor Haibara paid him mind as he passed the volleyball game. Sayuri was about to move her queen when she noticed the shoes at the edge of her chessboard.
Looking up, Sayuri found Suguru Geto, his long, dark hair tied back in its usual bun. For a moment, she could have sworn her heart stopped. Unsure what to say or how to greet him, she wanted to disappear as he quirked a brow and slowly sank to her level. Meeting his gaze from across the board, Sayuri forgot how to breathe.
"I'm not sure this was what Yaga-sensei meant by team sports." While his voice held a smooth, amused undertone, Suguru was glad to see her with the other first-years. The transition was difficult for most, and the road ahead did not get easier if one chose to spend it alone.
"Jujutsu sorcery is an individual sport," Sayuri reminded him, hardly skipping a beat despite her nervousness. Could he tell? She hated this. "Besides, I deserve a break from them."
Suguru chuckled, his eyes scanning her game with mild interest. He motioned to the board. "Do you mind if I join? It's been a while since I've played, but I imagine having an opponent beats playing yourself."
She blinked, watching the second-year hover across from her. While she enjoyed new opponents, he was nothing but a distraction. Sayuri looked past him momentarily, wondering what he was doing in the gymnasium in the first place. "Sure," Sayuri finally replied, her anxiousness tempered by confidence. There was not a doubt in her mind that she would beat him.
With her permission, Suguru lowered himself onto the gymnasium floor. A comfortable silence fell over them as he organized his side of the board, and inwardly, Suguru wondered what the hell he was doing. A game of chess? That was his plan? Since their first interaction on the stairs, he thought about the sad eyes that now studied him. The thought of her distracted him in the days that had passed. And like the latest tune stuck in his head, the only remedy was to listen again. So, here he was, buckling in for a game of chess.
"How was your first week?" Suguru asked after deciding on a pawn.
"It was alright." Sayuri moved her knight. "Haibara and Nanami are great, but..." Her voice faded.
"Your mother," he murmured.
Her stomach sank.
Dark eyes searched hers from across the board. "I heard… and want to apologize. I…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Had I known, I would've stopped Satoru from being a complete ass the other day." And that was the truth. As much as he loved Satoru, his friend could be uncharacteristically cold… sometimes, without even realizing it.
How the hell did he know about her mother? Sayuri stared at him, her eyes narrowing. As much as she wanted answers, she also feared what else he knew. "Thank you," Sayuri murmured. "...and it's your move."
Suguru nodded, finally moving his bishop. "Were you close with your mother?"
What a dumb question. Were they close? Fifteen years with her mother flashed before her eyes. By no means was their life easy. Money was tight, and their apartment was old and small, but her mother had always been there. They relied on each other and needed no one else. Their memories tightened in her throat, but somehow she responded. "We were." Her sharp gaze flickered from the board to find him. "How did you find out about her?"
The second-year shrugged. "Does it matter?"
To her, it did. Even though she trusted Yaga-sensei, if Suguru was snooping in her business, it was only a matter of time before he discovered she was a Gojo. Better yet, a Gojo exiled from the clan before she was even born. A disgrace. With Satoru as his best friend, there was no telling how long before the information spread. She imagined dying of embarrassment.
"It does," she told him, rather matter-of-factly. "No one has ever stuck their nose in my business before."
Again, he quirked a thin brow. At the time, he hadn't considered asking Yaga about her as sticking his nose in her business, but perhaps that was a boundary he shouldn't have crossed. Even so, Suguru found himself accepting her subtle insults with pride. She was disarming—and each response was as unexpected as it was curious.
"Oh? And that concerns you?" he mused. "Are you hiding anything else that I should know about?"
What nerve.
She scoffed. "If I were hiding something, I wouldn't give it up so easily to a stranger."
The corners of his lips tugged upward to form a faint smirk as he met her gaze. "I would hope not." Suguru rested his forearms on either knee. "I believe it is your turn."
It was her turn.
Sighing, Sayuri refocused… something complicated with Suguru sitting across from her. And that was new for her, having had dozens of previous opponents. Well aware of how his gaze trailed her fingers as they hovered over a rook, her pale countenance flushed with color. "What about you?" she asked after capturing his first bishop. "Are you close with your family?" Sayuri didn't expect an answer—she hadn't exactly been forthcoming.
Suguru shifted, his chest expanding with a slow inhale. He didn't look up, though. His eyes remained on the chess pieces between them. "My parents are non-sorcerers," he told her. "It's strange… after spending so much time here, finding things in common with them becomes more difficult. That's why I rely on my friends."
She chewed on the inside of her cheek, analyzing the information he offered even if she struggled to relate. And unsure of how to respond, Sayuri said nothing. They continued their game as Nanami and Haibara took turns scoring on each other across the gym. She occasionally felt their eyes on her and Suguru but paid them little mind. Sayuri focused on the chess pieces, her movements swift and precise, and her mind several steps ahead. Geto's attempts were admirable, but she sensed subtle hints of frustration as he struggled to keep pace. It left cracks in his defenses, leaving him vulnerable to nothing more than her curiosity. Sayuri's thoughts slowly shifted from chess strategy.
As she moved her queen, cursed energy drifted between them, attracted to Suguru's subconscious like a magnet. Delicate tendrils floated toward her opponent to glimpse his inner thoughts, but his eyes narrowed at once. Masked by his calm exterior and a mere flicker of recognition, Sayuri sensed the effort he exerted to keep her out. She pressed gently, brushing against his barriers, but found them resilient and well-constructed.
Their eyes met, and Sayuri released her technique.
"Is my chess-playing boring you?" It wasn't the first time he had defended his mind from intrusion. It certainly wasn't a pleasant experience, but her presence had felt different. Suguru felt her warmth linger in his mind well after the cursed energy had faded. "Your technique is interesting," he told her. "Will you tell me more about it?"
Sayuri pursed her lips, considering his query as she begrudgingly refocused on the chessboard. "No," she finally said. "I can't focus on the game and teach you at the same time."
The second-year leaned back, his palms resting on the gym floor. "Show me then."
Dark brows creased with his demand. No matter how strong or revered he was by their elders, Suguru wasn't her teacher. She didn't have to do anything. But as much as his persistence irritated her, it also posed a curious challenge. "Fine," she muttered. "But you have to let me in this time."
He nodded, a smirk flickering across his lips. "Yes, sensei."
Sayuri rolled her eyes in response, those pale hues eventually closing as Suguru lazily reached for his knight. Seconds later, a shimmering wave stretched between them again. Faint in color, her cursed energy was powerful nonetheless. The wave reached Suguru once more and faded as his hand hesitated.
Closed eyes twitched as she dove deeper into Suguru's mind, navigating through layers of memories and thoughts. Moments with Satoru and Shoko and previous missions flashed before her eyes. Sayuri lingered there momentarily—in younger memories with two folks she assumed were his parents. But before she could make sense of it, the faces of childhood acquaintances and images of his past sped by. And just as she was about to move on, Sayuri found herself sitting on the dormitory stairs. Staring at herself from his perspective, she panicked, knowing Suguru felt her there too.
A wave of embarrassment crashed over him, and instinctively, Suguru erected a formidable mental barrier, severing her connection and shielding his thoughts from further exploration.
His sudden display of resistance ripped the carpet from beneath her. Sayuri fell even deeper, settling into his subconscious's surreal landscape. The vast expanse had transfigured into a chessboard of black and white with towering pawns. Sayuri moved through this space purposefully, ignoring the slight pressure his defenses provided. She studied the pieces, deciding which move to make for him. "Pawn to E5," she whispered to herself.
And at the chessboard, her cursed energy guided Suguru's hand. He reached for a pawn instead of the knight, moving it forward with confidence. "Pawn to E5," he muttered.
Her eyes snapped open as he spoke, watching how the pieces shifted so her queen could check his king. "Check," Sayuri announced.
As if under a spell, Suguru slowly came to. Looking at the board to assess the pieces, he glared at Sayuri. "Now you are the one digging through other people's business."
He wasn't mad about the game, but the memories she so easily sifted through.
Sayuri laughed, and across the gymnasium, rare amusement distracted Nanami from blocking Haibara's spike. The ball smacked him square in the face, and he fell backward, grumbling under his breath as his comrade rushed under the net to help him up. They looked to Sayuri and Suguru with interest, watching as she placed a hand over her mouth to stifle the laughter.
"I was only doing as you asked," Sayuri reminded him. Neither the conscious nor the unconscious mind was safe under her influence—something she was still navigating in her training.
Suguru shook his head, amused by her laughter."It's an impressive technique," he admitted. "But I wasn't blocking you, remember? Had I pushed back, you would not have been so lucky..." He looked at the board, ensuring she had truly blocked his king. And, after a moment, his chest expanded with a defeated sigh. "Checkmate."
Her mouth formed half a knowing smile. "I know… I always win."
The second-year grinned as he regarded her, his head tilting as the sounds of the volleyball match faded into the background. "Chess requires strategy, foresight, and adaptability—all qualities for a jujutsu sorcerer. You're well on your way it seems, first-year."
Her eyes widened. Did he really feel that way?
Sayuri thrust her thoughts back on solid ground, annoyance simmering beneath a composed exterior. Why did his opinion even matter? Suguru's intense gaze and subtle charm were more distracting than she cared to admit. It was frustrating; she prided herself on focus and discipline, yet her thoughts scattered around him. She stole another glimpse of him as she packed away the chess pieces.
Despite lingering embarrassment, he couldn't help but admire her subtle confidence—she had undeniable promise as a young jujutsu sorcerer. Something about her drew him in, something he couldn't quite pinpoint but felt deeply intrigued by. And as she returned the chess pieces to their box, Suguru felt a pang of disappointment. The game was over, and with it, the precious time he had to unravel the enigma that was Sayuri Sato. Suguru could feel her presence lingering inside his subconscious, an indelible mark that only deepened his desire to understand her.
"You're staring," she muttered.
He averted his gaze immediately, clearing his throat as he moved to fold the checkered board. Neither noticed how Satoru Gojo and Shoko Ieiri walked into the gymnasium, their casual conversation drifting off as they spotted the unlikely duo.
"Well, well, look who we have here," Gojo called as he approached, his grin mischievous as he nudged Shoko. Standing, they towered over Suguru and Sayuri.
Shoko raised an eyebrow. "Suguru playing chess? That's a new one."
"Hey, buddy!" Gojo teased. He placed a hand atop his friend's head and shook some of the hair from his bun loose. "I've never considered chess romantic… But hey, I won't judge."
"Leave it." Suguru huffed. He swatted the fallen hair from his eyes. "We were just playing a game, Satoru."
Maybe it was the gym lighting, but Sayuri swore color momentarily painted his features. It made her nervous. Still gathering her belongings, Sayuri's lips parted as she pushed herself to stand. "Do I sense jealousy, Gojo? We just finished our game… You can have Geto back if it bothers you so much."
And to her surprise, Suguru laughed.
"Jealous? Me?" Gojo placed a hand over his heart, feigning offense as his friend stood. "Never! I'm happy our dear Suguru has found someone who matches his wits."
"Sayuri beat me pretty quickly." Suguru crossed his arms and smirked. "I'd watch your back, friend."
"Such charisma!" Gojo clapped his friend on the back, grinning as he studied Sayuri. "You have indeed met your match, Suguru..."
Geto groaned, shaking Gojo's arm away. "Stop talking."
Haibara and Nanami had paused their game to watch the scene unfold. Nanami's serious expression softened with curiosity while Yu gawked through holes in the volleyball net, clearly entertained by the presence of all three second-years.
"Hey, Gojo, wanna join us for a match?" Haibara called. For once, Sayuri was relieved by his interruption—however brief it was.
"Another time." Gojo waved him off, still grinning at Sayuri and Suguru. "I'm enjoying this too much."
"That makes one of us," Shoko muttered. "Leave it be, Satoru! We have lunch plans." She grabbed at the collar of her friend's uniform, tugging him along. "Suguru, we will wait by the door."
Suguru remained as his friends made their way to the gymnasium doors, watching the playful wave Satoru offered before turning back to Sayuri. "I'm sorry about him…" He handed her the lid to the box, their fingers brushing briefly. "Thank you for the game, Sayuri."
She shrugged, though a small smile played on her lips. "Whenever you want to lose again, just let me know."
Suguru merely laughed in response, his steps faltering before he finally turned. As he met his friends at the door and stepped out of the gym, Sayuri resented the disappointment in her chest.