A/N at the end
CHAPTER 6
{POV: Suzue Kujou}
«Can I see him?» she asked in a calm, flat voice.
She sat composed, kneeling with her back perfectly straight on a small cushion, her gaze fixed ahead and her hands clasped.
Her heart felt heavy, though she showed no sign of it.
«Noble Kaede, you know that's not possible. Don't worry. The child is fine.»
The attendants, sitting at a distance, watched her with a mix of compassion, but none of them met her gaze directly.
«Tora?» she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. The name carried with it a world of meaning, a plea for reassurance.
The attendants exchanged worried looks. Her composure wavered, and for a brief moment, the sadness in her eyes was visible.
«He said he will visit you in due time.»
She didn't move, her face impassive. She clenched her fists slightly, gripping the fabric of her dress. The smooth silk felt cool against her skin, a stark contrast to the storm of emotions brewing inside her. It was a mixture of longing and fear, hope and despair. A sense of helplessness washed over her, and she fought to keep her composure.
Then she began to feel it: an emotion she still couldn't name.
«I understand.»
Suzue opened her eyes, the remnants of the vision still clinging to the edges of her consciousness like a fading dream. The disorientation was overwhelming, and for a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. The scene in the noble hall, the attendants' cold responses, her unfulfilled yearning—it all felt so real. The vision had been so vivid, so real, that it left her questioning the very nature of her own identity. Was she truly Suzue Kujou, or was she something—or someone—else entirely?
Her vision was blurry, and her ears were ringing as she struggled to regain her bearings. The last thing she remembered clearly was speaking to Yuji, trying to help him control his cursed energy. Then, there was Sukuna's voice—mocking, taunting her with that name, "Kaede"—and everything had gone black.
She focused and met Satoru's gaze, at a safe distance in front of her: his blue eyes were clouded with concern. The playful, teasing demeanor that usually defined him was absent, replaced by a seriousness that unnerved her.
Behind him, Megumi, Nobara, and Yuji stood, all with varying degrees of confusion and concern etched on their appeared to be taking cover behind Satoru, as if they had been unsure of what she might do next.
The acrid smell of burning reached her nose, and Suzue's gaze drifted downward. The ground around her was charred and smoldering, the remnants of her cursed technique still flickering out. The radius of destruction was at least four or five meters, and she couldn't help but feel a wave of horror wash over her. She had lost control, something she had never allowed herself to do before, and the result had been a dangerous outburst that could have harmed the students.
Suzue pressed her hands against her temples, willing herself to calm down
Her breath hitched as she took in the full extent of what had happened. The ground was scorched, the students were confused and wary, and the hem of her pants was singed. Panic clawed at her chest, and her breathing became shallow and erratic.
The events of the past few minutes replayed in her mind, each detail more horrifying than the last. How could she have lost control like that? She prided herself on her mastery of her cursed technique, yet in front of the students, she had nearly caused a disaster.
Suddenly, she couldn't breathe. She couldn't bear to meet Satoru's gaze any longer, not after the danger she had put the students in. She couldn't stay there.
«I… I'm sorry.» Her voice was fragile, trembling with the effort to keep herself together. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked briskly away from the group, her steps quickening as she put more distance between herself and the training ground. She didn't know where she was going, only that she needed to get away, to find somewhere—anywhere—she could be alone.
{POV: Satoru Gojo}
Satoru had sensed it, that morning, when Suzue showed up at his door at six o'clock. Yet, the day had turned out to be far more complicated than anticipated. The moment she had stood there, eyes wide with that blend of determination and innocence, he had known something was off.
Her request had been earnest, almost pleading, and despite his usual nonchalance, he could sense the weight of whatever was troubling her. He had given in easily, much more easily than he normally would have, and that alone had been enough to set off alarm bells in his head.
He could tell she was on edge, and while he had decided to play along, he had also resolved to keep an eye on her.
But he hadn't expected it to escalate so quickly, or so dramatically.
Suzue had been particularly attentive to Yuji, helping him with the exercise as Satoru watched from a distance. It was amusing to see how she had taken to Yuji, who, despite being the most troublesome of the three first-years, had managed to earn her protective instinct. Satoru had almost relaxed, leaning against a wall as he observed the proceedings, but then everything had gone sideways.
It had started innocuously enough. Sukuna had appeared on Yuji's face, manifesting as that small, malevolent mouth that enjoyed taunting anyone within earshot. Satoru was no stranger to Sukuna's insults; he had learned to shrug them off, knowing that reacting would only give the cursed spirit more satisfaction. But Suzue's reaction had been anything but normal.
When the incident occurred, it was like watching a slow-motion disaster. Sukuna's taunt, Suzue's sudden pale complexion, the eruption of her cursed energy—each moment had been a tick of the clock toward chaos.
Fortunately for everyone, he was Satoru Gojo and had managed to react in no time, instincts honed from years of experience kicking in to protect the students from the sudden inferno that had ignited around Suzue. His Six Eyes had given him a clear view of her flames, and he had seen firsthand the devastation they could cause if left unchecked. He had expected many things from Suzue, but this? This was beyond his calculations.
Even Nobara and Megumi had gathered behind him, partly to check if Yuji was okay, partly curious about what was happening; overall, except for the scorched ground beneath Suzue's feet, everyone was fine.
Satoru carefully scrutinized the center of the flames, clearly distinguishing Suzue with his Six Eyes, still immobile at the heart of the chaos she had created.
For just a moment, doubt crossed his mind: had he misjudged her? Had he just witnessed a deliberate attempt to eliminate Yuji?
"No, impossible. I'm sure I haven't misjudged her."
The Suzue he had come to know wasn't the type to lash out without cause. She had proven herself trustworthy, and he couldn't believe she would suddenly turn on them like this. But the doubt lingered, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts.
But what troubled him more than the flames themselves was the look on Suzue's face when she finally realized what she had done. The terror in her eyes, the way her entire body trembled as if she were about to shatter into a million pieces—it all spoke of someone who had just lost control in the worst possible way. That was enough to reassure him that this had not been an intentional attack.
«Suzue?» His voice was calm, gentle even, as he tried to reach her through the haze of fear and confusion that surrounded her.
She didn't respond. She looked around like a frightened animal, until suddenly she seemed to realize what she had done and looked devastated. She looked at the scorched earth, then at the students—thankfully unharmed—and finally at him. The devastation in her eyes was heart-wrenching, and Satoru felt a pang of sympathy. She looked like she was about to break.
«I… I'm sorry.» Her voice was barely audible, trembling as much as she was. Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked away, her steps unsteady as if the ground beneath her might give way at any second.
And as quickly as she had caused the chaos, she left. Satoru thought back to their first meeting at the Zenin clan estate and how she had disappeared at the end of the meeting.
"Well, she certainly is a master at fleeing awkward situations."
But this time, he couldn't just let it slide. He had ignored many contradictions about her and wasn't at all regretful, as she had proven herself trustworthy. But this time was different. This time, she wasn't just running from an awkward situation. This situation needed to be addressed.
Losing control of one's cursed technique like that wasn't unusual if you were a child who had just discovered it. But for a seasoned sorcerer like her, it was a different story.
«Alright, everyone, self-study!» he called out to the first-years, his voice light but firm. He plastered on a reassuring smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes, and didn't give them time to object. They were confused, of course, but he didn't have time to explain. He had to find Suzue before she disappeared completely.
He paused, thinking: a column of smoke was rising from the training ground. It wouldn't be long before someone problematic noticed. Someone like Principal Yaga.
«If anyone asks, just say it was me!»
He quickly resumed walking, leaving Megumi, Nobara, and Yuji visibly confused. In a normal school, a teacher abandoning students like that would probably be fired instantly, but fortunately for him, Yaga couldn't do without him. Besides, the students were safe for now, and Suzue wasn't.
He had crossed the entire field and turned the corner to enter the main building. As he had predicted, she was really good at running and hiding; but he had the Six Eyes and, unfortunately for her, had clearly sensed where she was.
Satoru entered the cafeteria. The place was deserted and not in use, as always. At the moment, only the three first-year students were present at the school, but even if the others had been there, a cafeteria in a school like that would have been of little use.
He immediately spotted Suzue sitting, or rather huddled, on a bench. She had drawn her knees to her chest and rested her face on them. Suzue, who usually carried herself with such composure and quiet grace, looked utterly defeated, like the world had finally become too much to bear.
"That bad, huh?" he thought to himself, as he approached her.
Satoru sighed. He knew she needed time, silence, and space to process whatever had happened. It wasn't his style to wait—he was a man of action, of quick decisions—but with Suzue, he knew that patience was key. She wasn't like the others; she needed to be handled with care.
If he wanted to have a healthy and functional conversation with her, he first had to wait and respect her timing.
He sat down next to her, gently; obviously, she had heard him and knew he was there, so he trusted that when she was ready, she would let him know.
The silence between them was thick.
He watched her out of the corner of his eye, seeing how she was struggling to regain her composure. Her breathing was ragged, and she seemed to be fighting back tears. He wanted to reach out, to offer some form of comfort, but he knew that any sudden movement might only make things worse.
Instead, he settled for a soft, reassuring presence, letting her know that he was there for her, without pressuring her to speak. Minutes passed in silence, the only sound the faint hum of the cafeteria's old refrigerator and the distant chatter of birds outside.
Then, the door creaked open, and Shoko's head poked in. She looked around, immediately registering the scene in front of her with a raised eyebrow. Her expression clearly said, "I've walked in on something I shouldn't have."
Satoru didn't even need to speak; his quick gesture toward the door said it all: "Disappear."
Shoko, always one to pick up on unspoken cues, gave him a knowing look—one that promised this would come up in conversation later—before quickly retreating and closing the door behind her.
Satoru returned his attention on Suzue.
He was used to seeing her as a facade of calm and composure, behind which she hid great inner strength, yet there, in that moment, she seemed like a confused girl on the verge of breaking down. It was unsettling, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing something crucial.
"Who knows what the King of Curses said to her to make her fall apart like this?"
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Satoru, Suzue was ready to speak, though her face remained buried in her knees, and her voice was anything but steady.
«Is anyone hurt?»
There was a flatness to her tone, a kind of numb detachment that worried him more than any outburst could have. It was as if she had shut down, retreated so far into herself that she was speaking on autopilot.
Satoru offered a half-sarcastic smile, trying to lighten the mood. «If we don't consider the fact that nothing will grow in that field for the next 100 years, then you can relax.»
But Suzue didn't take the bait. Instead, she raised her head slightly and looked at him with a frown, her eyes still red and swollen from the tears she had been holding back. The sight of her like that—so raw and exposed—stripped away any pretense he had left.
Resigned, he dropped his cocky attitude for a moment, feeling that despite his efforts, every emotional barrier he had put up had crumbled. He made room for the seriousness the conversation required.
«Everything's fine?» he said finally, meeting Suzue's eyes.
«Everything's fine.» Suzue held his gaze, her expression unreadable, but there was a spark of the resilience he admired so much.
Good. She had been knocked down, but she wasn't out.
«Don't you have any questions for me?» she asked, her voice still shaky, but there was an edge to it, a challenge almost, daring him to pry further into the mess she was trying to hold together.
For the first time, Satoru felt a flicker of discomfort under her intense gaze. Those red eyes, usually so calm and composed, were now searching his, almost demanding something from him, something he was not sure he could give. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation that needed to happen.
«Of course I do! But let's start with what's bothering you.» he replied, keeping his tone steady, trying to offer her the stability she seemed to need.
Suzue seemed to mull over his words for a moment before speaking again, her voice firmer this time. «I'm not an assistant… and I'm not even really a fourth-grade sorcerer,» she admitted, as if laying down a heavy burden she had been carrying for too long. The admission hung in the air between them, a truth that had been obvious for some time but had never been spoken aloud.
Satoru nodded, unsurprised. «I know. And you know that I know. Is that what this is about?» he asked, trying to keep the conversation grounded.
Suzue seemed to reflect carefully. They both knew that the charade was over, that there was no longer anything particularly secret about the true nature of her presence at the school, but it was the first time they were discussing it so openly. She seemed to wrestle with the weight of her own words before continuing
«No, you're right. It's Sukuna's fault. Every time I come into contact with his cursed energy, he… I think he deliberately torments me with visions. Visions of the Kujou clan's past, at least I think. I know it sounds crazy, but just now he deliberately provoked me and triggered a vision and… I lost control. I didn't even realize it, one moment I was talking to Yuji, and the next… I had caused that mess and put the students in danger. And now I'm afraid I've ruined everything.»
Satoru looked at her, almost incredulous, as she sighed, visibly frustrated. Since he had known her, he had never heard her say so many words in such a short time.
He listened carefully, processing her words. Visions weren't unheard of among sorcerers, though they were rare and often tied to powerful cursed techniques or traumatic pasts. But the fact that Suzue was experiencing them in connection to Sukuna… that was troubling. It suggested a deeper connection, something that neither of them fully understood yet.
The King of Curses was peculiar, to say the least, but Satoru couldn't see a reason for him to torment her specifically, unless there was something more to the story—something that hadn't come to light yet.
«Sukuna seems to know something about my clan. Just now, he provoked me by calling me Kaede and that's the name of the same woman I always see in these visions and… I don't know, from what little I've seen, her story doesn't seem like a happy one.» She sounded exhausted, as if the weight of these visions was slowly crushing her spirit.
Satoru chose his next words carefully, trying to keep the conversation grounded. He needed to help her stay calm.
«Suzue, you're taking too much blame. The King of Curses likes to provoke, that's all. I wouldn't be surprised if centuries ago he had clashes with the Kujou clan, among others, and doesn't have fond memories of it. Maybe he holds a particular grudge against this Kaede. Is that why you wanted to see the historical archive this morning? To look for information about Kaede?»
It wasn't a complete lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. He didn't want to alarm her further, not when she was already on the edge. There was something about this situation that didn't sit right with him, but he needed more information before he could draw any conclusions.
Sukuna had certainly been an unpleasant acquaintance for all the clans of the time, major and minor, but the choice to specifically target her with visions… didn't add up.
Seeing that she was still staring at the floor, lost in her thoughts, Satoru leaned in slightly, trying to reassure her.
«Suzue, you haven't ruined anything. Ohi, look at me,» he insisted, waiting until she finally raised her eyes to meet his. «You haven't ruined anything. Yuji is fine, the kids are fine. We've had worse training sessions.»
She didn't seem entirely convinced, but she gave a small, reluctant nod. Satoru could see that she was still carrying a lot of tension, her body rigid with anxiety and a troubled expression.
«If Sukuna's messing with you, we'll figure it out together. But you can't keep everything bottled up. I mean, look at me. I annoy people for a living, and it works out pretty well.»
That drew a tiny, reluctant smile from her. Progress. It wasn't much, but it was a start. He mentally scolded himself. "I hate to admit it, but Shoko is right. I'm getting too involved."
He sighed, his hand moving almost instinctively to the top of her head. Satoru patted her head gently, trying to convey through that small gesture that she had someone in her corner, even if she didn't fully realize it yet.
«You know what I think? If you had told me earlier, I could have helped you avoid this kind of explosion. I'll see if I can find some information on this Kaede. Okay?»
To Satoru's relief and amusement, her shoulders visibly relaxed, in contrast to her face, which turned an absurd shade of red. The atmosphere had definitely lightened.
«I'm not a dog» she replied weakly, but she didn't pull away from his hand, a clear sign that she was beginning to trust him, even if just a little.
Suzue huffed softly, her blush deepening, but there was a hint of a smile playing on her lips. Satoru felt the corners of his own mouth twitch upward in response.
Satoru chuckled. «No, indeed. I was thinking more of a kitten!»
{POV: Suzue Kujou}
Suzue returned to the training ground with Satoru, her steps feeling lighter despite the recent chaos. The students, left to their own devices, were predictably slacking off, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation at the sight.
The scorched patch of ground where her outburst had occurred was still clearly visible, a stark reminder of her earlier loss of control. Thankfully, the smoke had stopped rising, but the damage was done.
How long had they been gone? An hour, maybe two?
It was hard to tell with everything that had happened. Satoru had resumed his confident and cocky demeanor, walking ahead of her as if nothing out of the ordinary had transpired. Suzue watched him for a moment, trying to reconcile the playful, often infuriating man she knew with the one who had just listened to her deepest fears and offered genuine comfort.
Talking with Satoru had done her... good.
She had feared she had ruined everything with that incident, that she had lost the trust of the one person who seemed to believe in her, despite her situation. But he had been understanding and, at times, almost... caring.
The thought made her cheeks flush slightly, and she could feel the warmth rise to her face. She was used to handling everything on her own, used to carrying the weight of her burdens without complaint. Yet, in Satoru, she had found someone who, despite his flaws and quirks, had shown her that she could rely on his help.
For someone who had always relied solely on herself, this was a significant change. In such a dangerous and deceitful world, finding someone you could trust was rare.
Satoru had proven to be that person, despite his sometimes irritating demeanor and his way of enjoying putting her on the spot. She wasn't sure how or when it had happened, but she had come to trust him in a way she hadn't trusted anyone in a long time.
As they neared the students, she stopped, feeling the need to say one last thing. There was something she needed to acknowledge, something she needed to express before the moment slipped -and her courage- away. «Thank you… for listening to me and for not doubting me these past weeks. I'm sorry for putting the students in danger,» the words came naturally, her voice tinged with sincerity.
He stopped, turning slightly with a sardonic smile.
«Yeah, I know» he paused, meeting her eyes with a veiled seriousness, then put his characteristic blindfold back on. «Next time something's bothering you, talk about it right away.»
She nodded, noticing Yuji approaching with some urgency behind Satoru.
She would have to postpone the matter related to the Zenin clan mission and the binding vow, as she certainly couldn't discuss it openly in front of the fifteen-year-old boy she was technically supposed to eliminate.
«Kujou-san, I'm sorry! That guy is extremely annoying, and I can't always stop him from talking out of turn!» Yuji was extremely agitated and had a remorseful expression on his face. Suzue smiled gently, feeling a bit guilty.
«Yuji, it's not your fault. I'm the one who should apologize, I must have scared you all.»
Megumi and Nobara had approached, and Satoru took the opportunity to put a definitive end to the matter.
«Make sure not to piss off Suzue, or next time she might burn down the entire school!» he quipped, his tone light and teasing, though there was an underlying note of seriousness.
Finally feeling lighter, Suzue allowed herself a weak laugh, watching the group of students relax slightly as they resumed their training. Satoru had noticed that they had been slacking off in their absence, and he had pointed it out in not-so-gentle terms. The students were quick to get back to their exercises, perhaps eager to avoid further reprimand.
As the students got back to their training, Suzue was about to follow them when she felt the phone in her pocket vibrate.
She quickly pulled it out. Receiving a call or a message on that phone was never a good sign. And she got confirmation when she read the message just received from Naoya
Suzue froze.
Her heart pounded in her chest, the cold reality of her situation crashing down on her. The binding vow, the mission, the pressure from the Zenin clan—it all resurfaced with a vengeance.
The words on the screen seemed to blur as her mind raced. The Zenin clan was reminding her of her true purpose, the reason she was here. They were giving her an opportunity—a forced one—to carry out the mission she had been dreading from the moment she was forced to accept it.
Her hands trembled as she clutched the phone, the screen now dark. She couldn't do it. She couldn't betray the trust that had been placed in her, couldn't bring herself to harm the students, especially Yuji, who she had come to care for as if he were her younger brother.
"Starting tomorrow, Satoru Gojo will be assigned to a mission that will keep him away for a few days. Don't waste this opportunity we've created for you."
A/N
Facts:
It's not that Satoru doesn't believe or trust Suzue, but should he really be that surprised? Certainly, Suzue is in the midst of a panic attack, and his goal is to calm her down and stabilize her, but… He fights curses, cursed spirits, and has literally seen the worst things in his life. "Visions? Okay, well, if you want, I can look into it, but just relax," essentially.
I love the dynamic that's developed between Satoru and Suzue, where he's like, "You're clearly here on someone's orders, but you care about the students, and that's all that matters to me." I don't know, I find it a beautiful display of trust.
On the other hand, Suzue knows that he knows, and she's silently grateful to him for not exposing her and letting her stay in peace.
My disdain for the Zenin clan is pretty visceral if that wasn't clear, so even though it's not specified in the series, it feels natural to me to think that they orchestrated things with the higher-ups to get Satoru out of the way. Sorry, but I'm not sorry!
And with this bit of information… I'll leave you! ❤️