A/N at the end of the chapter
CHAPTER 14
{POV: Suzue Kujou}
As Suzue peeked into the classroom, she felt her heart sink at the sight of Megumi and Nobara. Their expressions were dark, their postures heavy with grief, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Satoru had explained the plan to her in detail, telling her not to worry, but now, standing there, she doubted she could keep up the façade.
Megumi sat with his arms crossed, staring into space, his usually sharp eyes clouded with a darkness that made Suzue's stomach twist. Nobara, on the other hand, had her head resting on her hand, staring blankly at the ceiling as if it held the answers to a universe that had suddenly become cruel and unfair. The vibrant, fiery girl Suzue knew seemed to have been extinguished, and it tore at her.
They were grieving, and Suzue wasn't sure she could keep her face from revealing everything she knew. The truth felt like a heavy burden pressing down on her, and every second she stayed silent felt like an eternity. She tried to take some solace in the fact that their injuries were healed—physically, at least. But the emotional wounds were still raw, and she could see it in every line of their bodies.
"At least their injuries seem completely healed" she thought with some relief.
Satoru, ever the optimist—or at least, ever the enigma—had reassured her before they came in. "Don't worry, I know Megumi very well and Nobara well enough to guarantee they won't dwell on it too much" he had said, with that infuriatingly calm smile that Suzue was beginning to find more and more aggravating.
But now, as she looked at their downcast faces, she seriously doubted Satoru's words. Did he really know them that well? Or was he just bluffing, like he seemed to do with everything else in life?
Suddenly, Satoru's voice, jarringly cheerful and out of place, broke the heavy silence like a sledgehammer. «Hey! What's with the funeral faces?»
He strode into the room with the kind of confidence that made Suzue's stomach turn. He didn't even spare her a glance as he passed by, completely ignoring her as if she wasn't standing there on the verge of a meltdown.
"He didn't just say that—"
Megumi slowly lifted his gaze, his expression a mixture of confusion and irritation. «Gojo-sensei…»
Nobara, clearly struggling to find the right words that wouldn't sound entirely disrespectful, sighed heavily and straightened in her seat. «Gojo-sensei, really? How can you be so… so…» She waved her hand in frustration, searching for a term that would encapsulate just how tactless he was being.
Satoru, unfazed and entirely in his element, leaned casually against the desk, hands in his pockets, looking as if he hadn't a care in the world. «So what, Nobara? Optimistic? Confident? Fantastic?»
«Insensitive!» Suzue, unable to hold back any longer, snapped at him, her voice sharp with frustration.
She could feel the truth clawing at her insides, desperate to break free, but Satoru had made it clear that now wasn't the time. She bit her lower lip, struggling to maintain her composure. How was she supposed to keep up this charade when all she wanted to do was blurt out that Yuji was alive? It felt wrong, deceitful, and the guilt gnawed at her.
Satoru, however, seemed to be having the time of his life. He sighed, an ironic smile playing on his lips, completely unfazed by her outburst. «Hey, guys, I didn't kill him… In fact, it's thanks to her he's no longer breathing!» He pointed dramatically at Suzue. «Remember to thank her for saving your skins.» his tone light, almost playful, as if they were discussing the weather rather than their friend's supposed death. «Remember to thank her for saving your skins.»
Suzue's glare could have cut through steel. Was he serious? She could feel her heart racing, anger and frustration boiling inside her. "He's painting me as the villain who killed their friend! Now they hate me!"
Megumi and Nobara turned to look at her, their expressions unreadable. Suzue could feel the weight of their gazes, the silence that followed heavy and oppressive. She could almost hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.
«I… I didn't want to…» Suzue mumbled, her voice trembling as she tried to defend herself, though she felt like she was sinking deeper into a hole she couldn't climb out of.
«That's true. Kujou-san, if you hadn't intervened, I don't think I'd have made it out alive from the fight with Itad—Sukuna.» But then, Megumi, who had been silent up until now, spoke, his voice measured but firm.
His words were a small lifeline, and Suzue clung to them, though she could still see the hint of mistrust in his eyes. Nobara, too, seemed to soften slightly, leaning heavily on her desk as she spoke. «Or gotten out of that building before that special grade curse tore us apart…»
The two of them fell back into their thoughts, staring at random spots around the room, clearly still processing everything that had happened. Suzue felt like she was walking on a tightrope, one wrong move away from crashing down. She hesitantly approached Satoru, her eyes wide and pleading, silently begging him to tell them the truth and end this unbearable charade.
But Satoru just smirked back at her, clearly finding the situation amusing. Suzue could feel a wave of irritation wash over her. Did he think this was some kind of game?
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Satoru raised an eyebrow, observing the scene with an air of nonchalance. «Now, you can choose to sit here and mope like a bunch of wimps… or you can do something to get stronger so you don't lose any more friends in the future!»
His words, as blunt and tactless as they were, seemed to reignite something in Megumi and Nobara. Their eyes lit up with a fierce determination that Suzue hadn't seen in them since before all of this started. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding; despite his completely inappropriate methods, Satoru really was good at motivating people.
«The second-year students just got back from a mission! I'm sure they'd love to train with you freshmen. I think they're already waiting for you! »
Almost immediately, Megumi and Nobara stood up, their expressions set with resolve. They started stretching, clearly ready to put aside their doubts and focus on something productive—something that would make them stronger.
Satoru smiled, watching his students regain their energy. As they left the room, Suzue instinctively moved to follow them, but Satoru grabbed her shoulder, stopping her.
«I… I didn't want to…» he mocked her with exaggerated theatrics. «If that's the best you can do in acting, we definitely need to rethink our plans. Do you remember you're the hero who defeated the King of Curses, yes?»
The blush that had spread across her cheeks only deepened at his words. She had barely done anything, she thought. It was Yuji, it was the others—it wasn't her. But Satoru wasn't having any of it. His grip on her cheeks tightened slightly as his eyes locked onto hers, the sudden closeness making her breath catch. «I-I didn't do anything—»
«Wrong answer.» Satoru snapped, gently pinching her cheeks with a tenderness that contrasted his stern tone. His unnaturally blue eyes locked onto hers; the sudden closeness made her heart race. «Say it.»
There was no room for hesitation in his voice, no space for the doubts that clouded her mind. She felt like a child being scolded, the weight of his expectations pressing down on her. But even more than that, there was an underlying kindness in his gaze, a silent reassurance.
«I… I killed Sukuna's vessel. I'm the hero who defeated the King of Curses…» Suzue mumbled, the words tumbling out awkwardly, her voice trembling as warmth flooded her cheeks. It felt wrong, like she was trying on a costume that didn't fit, and she couldn't help but cringe at how hollow it sounded.
Satoru stared at her for a moment, his expression clearly unimpressed. He released her cheeks with a sigh, scratching his neck with an air of resignation that made her feel even smaller. «Sure, and I'm the Queen of England.» he muttered, shaking his head as if wondering how they had even gotten to this point.
But then, his demeanor shifted. His teasing smirk faded, replaced by a seriousness that Suzue rarely saw from him. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes softening as he looked at her with something akin to genuine concern. «Listen.» he said, his voice steady and firm. «You have to believe in yourself. It's not all a lie; you really did survive Sukuna. You made a difference out there. I mean it. Now, you just need to convince yourself that you're worthy of what you've done. Got it?»
The words hit her like a wave, and for a moment, Suzue felt as if the air had been knocked out of her. She had spent so long doubting herself, questioning every decision, every move she made. But here was Satoru, the strongest sorcerer, telling her that she was worthy, that she had made a difference. It was almost too much to take in.
She nodded slowly, still feeling the heat in her cheeks. Satoru's determination, so close to her own eyes, made her feel a bit more confident, as if some of his boundless energy was transferring to her. «Okay… I'll do my best.» she whispered, her voice steadier this time.
Satoru smiled, this time more reassuringly, a smile that felt like it was meant just for her. «Good! Now, let's hear it.» he said, his tone encouraging but with an edge that told her he wasn't going to let her off the hook easily.
Suzue took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she tried to summon the courage to say the words again. She clenched her fists near her chest, feeling the tension in her body as she forced herself to meet his gaze. Her cheeks were still red, but there was a new resolve in her eyes.
«I killed Sukuna's vessel. I'm the hero who defeated the King of Curses!» she declared, her voice louder, more confident than before.
Satoru stared at her, his expression unreadable at first. For a moment, the silence between them stretched on, as if he was letting her own words sink in. Suzue held her breath, waiting for his reaction, her clenched fists trembling slightly until she couldn't help it anymore—and let out a small, breathless laugh.
With an exaggerated sigh, Satoru let the moment break, rolling his eyes to the ceiling as if beseeching some higher power for assistance. «Oh God, someone please help us.»
{POV: Satoru Gojo}
With the first-years now training under the watchful eyes of the second-years, Satoru could focus entirely on Yuji's training. Unlike his classmates, Yuji was still relatively new to the world of sorcerers and controlling cursed energy.
After three days of intense training, Satoru noticed a dynamic he hadn't anticipated.
Satoru had always believed that he was the undisputed center of Suzue's attention—a belief that had been thoroughly shattered by the sight of Yuji, who had apparently dethroned him. Suzue had developed a fierce, almost maternal, protectiveness over the boy. It wasn't hard to understand why, given the traumatic events she had endured to save his life. But still...
«Kujou-san, you've really never seen 'The Lord of the Rings'?» Yuji's voice broke through Satoru's thoughts. The boy was sprawled out on the couch, still channeling cursed energy into the training doll he held. His tone was incredulous, as if Suzue's lack of exposure to classic movies was some kind of crime.
Suzue, sitting between them, looked equally engaged in the movie. «I didn't have a TV while living with the Zenin clan, but… this stuff is incredible. Someone so small and peaceful, where do they find the courage to face the Dark Lord?»
Satoru, who was leaning back with his arms crossed behind his head, watched the scene unfold with a satisfied smile. The irony of Suzue, who had faced down the King of Curses, being amazed at a hobbit's courage was not lost on him.
"Well, talk about the pot calling the kettle black," Satoru thought with amusement, "the one who faced the King of Curses is now amazed at a hobbit's courage."
Since the incident at the prison a week ago, Yuji had started to cling to Suzue like a lifeline, finding in her a source of stability and security. Even when she didn't say much, which was often the case, her presence seemed to have a calming effect on him. It was clear that, in Yuji's eyes, Satoru had taken a backseat, replaced by his assistant. Suzue, for all intents and purposes, had become more of a babysitter—or perhaps an older sister—to Yuji, a role that the boy desperately needed but had never had.
Satoru smirked at the thought that, if everything went according to plan, Suzue would only be his assistant for a few more hours before officially becoming a full-fledged sorcerer. There was, of course, one small obstacle: herself.
Suzue was too honest, too transparent. The higher-ups would see through her lies before she even started telling them. Satoru knew he would have to speak on her behalf; she'd have to wait outside, preferably where no one could see how uncomfortable she was with the hero role that the sorcerer society was thrusting upon her.
The doll in Yuji's hands suddenly sprang to life, delivering a solid punch under Yuji's chin. Suzue quickly grabbed the doll, channeling cursed energy into it to calm it down.
«Yuji, you got distracted. Are you okay?» she asked in a sweet, concerned tone.
Yuji, rubbing his chin, nodded with a slightly embarrassed smile, while Suzue gave him advice and suggestions. Satoru could only watch the tender mother-son scene with a hint of disapproval.
"Wow," Satoru thought with a hint of sarcasm, "maybe if I got myself killed by Sukuna too, I'd get at least half of this attention."
«Do you realize that's a giant spider? Gross.» Yuji resumed the conversation about the movie, while Suzue continued with her exclamations and comments.
That brief moment of distraction was enough for the doll to spring to life again, this time shooting up and crashing straight onto Yuji's head. Satoru noticed Suzue immediately moving closer to the boy, worried, but before she could reach him, Satoru interrupted her with his usual confident and relaxed demeanor.
«Suzue, if you keep acting like a mother hen, Yuji will never learn to control the flow of cursed energy.» he commented, his voice tinged with mild irritation.
Suzue turned sharply toward him, her cheeks flushing slightly at his words. Satoru couldn't help but feel a small surge of pride at his ability to get under her skin with such ease.
«Mother hen?!» she protested, not very happy with the nickname.
Behind her, Yuji had managed to regain control of the rebellious doll and was rubbing his sore head.
«Well, I've never knew her, but I have to admit that's exactly how I have always imagined my mom! Kind and caring! Damn, I think I've got a concussion…»
Suzue deliberately ignored the first part, more concerned about the second; she got up and moved closer to Yuji, running her hands through his short pink hair, looking for a bump. She sighed, evidently finding nothing, and dropped back onto the couch with a reproachful look. «Focus, Yuji, or you'll end up taking more hits from that doll.»
Not to be outdone, Satoru leaned forward, adopting a mock-whining tone. «Suzue!» he called out, leaning in close. «I hurt my head too! Can you check if I have a concussion?» His dramatic delivery was accompanied by a playful pout.
She looked at him incredulously, not budging an inch. «Satoru… that's not possible with your Infinity technique.»
He stared at her in silence for a few seconds, then pouted even more, clearly disappointed at not being able to elicit even a hint of sympathy from her. Determined to end the situation on his terms, he stood up and stretched, his usual confidence returning.
He addressed her again, this time in a serious tone. «Are you ready? It should be time now, and I think Ijichi has already brought the car to the entrance.»
Suzue suddenly tensed up; it was the day when the great Satoru Gojo would try to deceive the higher-ups and convince them to give his assistant a big promotion. And although the movie moment had been a pleasant distraction, Suzue clearly hadn't forgotten about it.
«R-Right!» she jumped to her feet, nervously gesturing with her hands. «I'll grab my things and meet you at the entrance.»
Wanting to close the matter as soon as possible, she quickly waved at Yuji, who gave her a thumbs up in encouragement, and hurried up the stairs leading out of the hidden room in the school's basement. Satoru remained unfazed, confident he would secure the promotion one way or another. He gave Yuji a few final recommendations with a reassuring smile.
«Yuji, keep at it for a couple more hours, make sure you put that doll in its place!»
With a wave, he headed towards the stairs, only to pause and turn back to Yuji, who was still waving at him.
«Yuji,» he began with a more serious tone and a sly smile. «If Suzue is the mom, who am I?»
Yuji lowered his hand, thoughtful, then responded without hesitation. «The dad, I'd say.»
Now, Satoru was truly satisfied and gave the boy a knowing nod. «Good boy!»
He quickly put on his blindfold and climbed the stairs, chuckling.
Satoru reached the car that Ijichi had dutifully parked at the bottom of the long staircase leading to the school's entrance. Normally, he reveled in making others wait, enjoying the way their nerves frayed in his presence. But this time was different. This time, it was Suzue who was slightly late, and the sight of Ijichi's growing agitation, bordering on a full-blown panic attack, didn't bother Satoru in the slightest. In fact, his attention was elsewhere, his mind focused entirely on the woman who was now descending the stairs toward him.
Finally, he saw her—a breathless figure with flushed cheeks, her hurried steps betraying the fact that she had probably sprinted the entire way. There was something endearingly clumsy about the way she almost stumbled down the last few steps, and Satoru couldn't help the amused thought that crossed his mind.
"Oh god… her stamina is terrible. She definitely needs physical training, or having a powerful technique will be perfectly useless." he noted mentally.
He had already begun planning a training regimen for her, knowing exactly who to recruit to help her improve, but he decided to save that conversation for later. For now, he was more focused on the way her oversized white shirt and wide black pants seemed to swallow her small frame, the casual outfit completed by a pair of white sneakers that made her look more like she was heading to a lazy day at the park than a critical meeting with the higher-ups.
Satoru couldn't help but smirk sarcastically. It was a far cry from what one would expect of someone who had just faced down the King of Curses and lived to tell the tale.
Here he was, the strongest sorcerer, having put in more effort than usual by actually wearing a shirt—a sign of how seriously he was taking this. After all, he knew that in the world of sorcerers, appearances often outweighed reality, and those higher-ups were particularly susceptible to a well-polished image.
He mentally noted another task: giving her a crash course on how to navigate the world. Not that he was the best example, but at least he knew how to act and get what he wanted.
Suzue smiled weakly, trying to hide her nerves. Her innocent air, the way she seemed so out of place in this harsh world of sorcery—it tugged at something inside him. For a moment, he was caught off guard, a sensation he rarely experienced. It wasn't just amusement he felt; there was a genuine fondness there, something that almost made him… well, protective.
And that thought surprised him.
She smiled at him, a small, weak smile that didn't quite reach her eyes but was endearing all the same. Satoru found himself smiling back, a real smile, not the mocking one he usually wore. Ijichi, ever the dutiful driver, started the car, his hands shaking slightly as he tried to remain composed.
In a move that surprised even himself, Satoru hurried to open the car door for Suzue. It wasn't something he typically did—chivalry wasn't exactly his style—but as she awkwardly ducked under his arm and slid into the back seat, he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Oh. Now I look more like her assistant."
As they settled in, Satoru allowed himself a moment to simply watch her. She was nervous—he could see it in the way her hands fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, in the way her eyes darted around, never settling on one spot for too long. And yet, there was a quiet determination in her as well, a resolve that belied her unassuming appearance. It was something he had noticed before, but in this moment, it hit him harder than usual. He didn't realize it, but his gaze lingered on her a little longer than necessary, his usually sharp eyes softening as he took in every detail of her expression.
As Ijichi started the car, still throwing nervous glances at him through the rearview mirror, Satoru leaned back in his seat, his usual confidence returning. He reached out and gently patted Suzue on the shoulder, a reassuring gesture that was uncharacteristically soft for him.
"Alright. Let's do It."
A/N
This chapter is a bit shorter than usual and more slice-of-life, but I need it to transition into the next arc, which will start in the next chapter! *◡*
Facts:
-Nothing will convince me that Satoru didn't take advantage of the whole situation to lounge around on the couch and slack off a bit. And Suzue got dragged into all of this. And, all things considered, she actually enjoyed it. In my interpretation (but I believe also in canon), the Zenin clan is part of the conservative faction, so no television for Suzue, and now she has to make up for lost time!
-Suzue has an incredible maternal instinct, and she's going to direct all of it toward Yuji.
-I think manga readers will hate me for two jokes in particular—don't worry, I hated myself too.
-The entire jujutsu society sees Suzue as the hero who "defeated" Sukuna, and Satoru is more than happy to let them believe that. In fact, when Suzue made the binding vow with Sukuna and Yuji regained control of his body, there was no one around except the two of them, so no one knows what really happened.
And with these little bits of information, I leave you ❤️
