Ijichi glanced at the clock on the dashboard of his car… he sighed… 6PM. Work was finished for today, he wanted to relax.

Maybe buy a coffee on the way back home? Or maybe stop by the shop he frequented where they served his favorite, udon.

Ijichi never really had many outlets for himself to distress after was usually the endless cycle of work, home, work, home, work and straight back to home, again. And he liked it that way, it was a schedule he had adhered to working at Jujutsu High.

A way to maintain a sort of balance in his life.

Though he'd never actually been in the line of combat, it hadn't made his job any easier. Still experiencing the aftermath of the many battles the sorcerer's fought daily. Not to mention the horrific reports he'd have to read and repeat back once too many times.

Today would actually be one of the rare days he'd get to go home early, on time. But the relief would almost always come to halt by a phone call from his superior Gojo, then back to work…again.

As he drove, he thought back to you and the small exchange you two had. It was a pleasant one, a breath of fresh air. Which is something that he isn't usually graced with when he works with seniors as harsh as his own. He had wanted to ask if you would've liked a ride home, but his practical side had told himself to not make any assumptions that you'd actually accept the offer. Well you weren't inclined to at the least, you've only just greeted each other and made some surface level small talk.

Ijichi had always striven to be seen as someone responsible…reliable. Especially those whom he worked alongside; and if you two were going to be working together the least he could do was get acquainted with you one way or another.

Not giving into the unrelenting voice that was telling himself it wouldn't be feasible, he decided to turn around and drive back towards the direction of where you two had parted ways.

He drove quickly but carefully, watching along the sidewalk so as to not overlook any street you could have ended up on by now.

He found you coming from off the corner of the street you two had previously spoken on. Slowly pulling to a stop before examining his surroundings and rolling down the window to catch your attention.

You watched his car steadily come down the street as his window rolled down, being met with Ijichi's eyes, plastered with a look of uncertainty. You returned his gaze with a look of amusement and a puckish smile.

"Came back to give me a ride hmm?"

Ijichi felt his face getting hot as a nervous smile came across his face at your words. He hadn't expected you to be so straightforward. Startled by the smirk placed on your face, he forced himself to hold his composure.

"Um, were you headed home?" he asked, unlocking the door to let you inside.

"I was, but I thought to stop by the cafe not too far from here on the way there." you say pointing north.

That was a lie.

You weren't actually on your way to the cafe at all, you were exhausted from the day and all you wanted to do was to get straight home so you could take a hot shower. But the idea of spending some more time alone with Ijichi amused you enough to where your exhaustion magically subsided.

"I can escort you there if you'd like." He stepped out of the car and made his way over to the passengers side, opening the door as he waited for you to make your departure on the sidewalk.

You watched as he exited the car and made his way over to the passenger door opening it, and you couldn't help but feel a little taken aback by the gesture. Had he done this for everyone he rode with? Or maybe you were just looking too deep into it.

It was a small gesture, sure,but it was something you appreciated. You were beginning to value Ijichi's presence more and more with each passing moment. You made your way over to the car and hopped inside before Ijichi gently closed the door shut.

As you briefly waited to be rejoined by Ijichi you took in the state of the car, it was a clean black Lexus. So clean, it was almost like he'd just purchased the car that very day. The air was filled with a light scent of fresh linen and leather, maybe he really had just recently purchased it. You shifted comfortably in your seat realizing the warmer had been on, how thoughtful…

Ijichi had made his way back into the car before putting his seat belt on, then pulling off.

You followed suit.

"My apologies, I should have asked beforehand if you were in need of a ride. I just wasn't entirely sure you'd accept my offer. Though I should've asked regardless of if I thought you were to reject or accept my offer. I shouldn't have placed my assumptions onto you."He spoke, keeping his eyes focused on the road as he tightened his grip around the wheel, hoping his words would somehow minimize the damage he felt he had already done.

You let out a half suppressed laugh, tickled by his over apologeticness.

"It's fine, it's fine, it's really no big deal." You say to reassure him. "I do the same on occasion, where I overthink certain things and act out in worry because I felt I've done something wrong after certain interactions. It's definitely not a good feeling, but it's a feeling I'm used to."

That was true.

Anxiety was something you were used to dealing with. In years gone by you thought that you'd found some ways to manage it, but through many occasions that was proven to be untrue. Hearing how Ijichi spoke with so much apologeticness in his voice, reminded you of yourself and your own dilemmas. It filled you with empathy, making you only want to get closer to him.

Ijichi felt himself loosening up at your words, seeing as how you didn't view him in a negative light, while seemingly also understanding his thought process. He felt relieved hearing that you two shared a likeness and weren't judgmental of him. This wasn't something he was accustomed to working as an assistant director for Jujutsu High under Gojo and his grating nature. Stacked on top of having to take orders from multiple others who weren't very privy to the pressures he was faced with daily as an assistant.

"I…appreciate your understanding."

"Of course, I would never ridicule someone for habits I have of my own." You felt yourself getting a little embarrassed at your sudden involuntary honesty, but hoped that doing so would make Ijichi feel more at ease.

"Thank you…" He realized he had been driving with no real destination in mind and hadn't yet asked the location of the cafe you two were headed to.

"Oh- the cafe, do you know its name?" He began to pull up his GPS before you stopped him.

"Oh there's no need for that, I'll just tell you when to turn." He nodded before returning his hand back to the wheel.

"Coffee enjoyer?" he asked, attempting to make some more small talk to fill in the silence.

"Oh not necessarily, I just really enjoy the pastries they make there even though I never make it in time for a warm one. They're always cold or lukewarm by the time I make it. On a few occasions I asked them to reheat it and I honestly like them way better when they're cold. I don't really know why I do; it may just be that I got used to eating them like that. To me they just genuinely taste better when they're cold and stiff. Weird, right? Or so I've been told."

"No no, not at all. I have some odd food preferences myself." he answered, attempting to reassure you that it wasn't all that weird to him.

He listened as you spoke of the cafe and the pastries you seemed to enjoy, allowing your words to flow through his ears like a euphony. It was nice hearing someone speak to him so casually, without all the formalities. No harsh criticism being told, no stern orders being given.

Just talking.

A conversation outside of work. Filled with genuine likes and interests. Ijichi savored every passing moment he had with you, he'd use these moments for once he'd yet again be met with the unrelenting words of the higher ups. Something to bring him a peace of mind, something to ground himself from falling out in exhaustion at the constant berating. He'd look forward to speaking to you again.

"Just keep going straight, I'll tell you when to turn." Ijichi pulled himself out of his reverie at your admission to giving him directions.

"How about you? Are you a fan of pastries?" You asked hoping to get to know him better even if it was a little bit. He seemed so timid and reserved, and you wanted to make him feel a little more at ease when he was around you.

You turned to analyze his face. He didn't seem as tense as he was before and you took it as a sign that you've been doing a decent job at making him a little more comfortable . It had given you a sense of gratification knowing you'd at least done that much. He'd only been a pleasure to be around since you've two met, and you hoped to reciprocate the feeling.

Ijichi took a second before answering your question, he hadn't been asked about his personal interests or likes since, when was the last time? He can't remember. "Um- yes i do enjoy pastries I-"

"Really?! Nice!" You unintentionally cut him off at his words en-kindled by the new information you've just learned. "I knew we had more in common than just being over-thinkers." You admired being able to learn more about the seemingly reserved Ijichi.

He smiled at your enthusiasm."It seems so." You both shared a quick glance and a smile before he turned his attention back to the road.

"Take a left here." you tell him noticing the familiarity of the street.

After a couple of more lefts and turns you both make it to the cafe you spoke of. It was a small shop in the middle of the block that had various shops on each side. The block was full of trees that lined up on the sidewalk. The trees were surrounded with fallen leaves as fall was in full motion. Since there had been no parking near you two were forced to park nearly two blocks away from the shop.

As the two of you exited the car, a harsh gust of the cool autumn air swept past the both of you causing Ijichi and you to shift your jackets around yourselves.

"I'm sorry, I didn't expect there to be such little parking, it's not usually like that."

Another lie.

You knew this cafe in particular never had any parking near, you were just using this 'setback' as a means to prolong your time with Ijichi. Though he'd never know unless you told him directly.

"Oh it's no problem, I'm used to there not being much parking space for any place I travel around here. I almost always have to walk long distances from where I park." he says, holding his jacket closed tighter as the wind blows harder.

You watch him maneuver his jacket around his torso attempting to better shield himself from the cold… you sense another ploy.

"Wanna hold hands to keep warm?" you say with a smile as you extend a hand from your jacket pocket.

Ijichi felt his body tense up at your request, taken aback by your bold and sudden suggestion. He wasn't able to respond, only repeating your actions and extending out a hand and gently gripping your warm soft hand.

Now walking hand in hand, Ijichi felt his heart pounding with anxiety, making the blood in his body grow hot, rushing faster. In an attempt to stop his nervousness from being so noticeable, he kept his gaze stuck to the ground, trying to divert his focus away from the fact that your two hands were now intertwined with each other. Feeling his palms start to lightly sweat, he clenched his teeth in hopes you didn't feel.

You felt it.

You had noticed.

You were enjoying teasing Ijichi like this, watching the way he tensed up at your cheeky offer, the way he darted his eyes away whenever you two shared a glance. The way he awkwardly held his fingers around your own. It was all too much for you, and you couldn't help but want to tease him even more.

You almost felt sorry, seeing as he clearly wasn't used to this kind of gesture. Something tells you that maybe you should keep it to a minimum, but the sadistic arousal inside of you wants to keep going, to see how many times you can push his buttons before he voices his apprehension.

You watched as Ijichi kept his eyes glued to the ground not wanting to meet your eyes. Watching his breathing become unsteady, periodically stopping his breath in a failed attempt to regulate it. Analyzing his flushed face and the desperate effort to conceal the timid smile that formed on his lips.

This was too fun, you wanted (needed) more.

"Your hand is so warm Ijichi." you speak with endearment in voice aiming to fluster him a little bit more; to satisfy the hungry desire that burned inside you. Wanting to watch him struggle to respond.

"T-hank, thank you…" All his vocabulary was slowly ceasing to exist as he continued to hold your hand. It made you all a flutter, excited to see what squeamish reaction you could pull out from him next.