A/N at the end of the chapter
CHAPTER 16
{POV: Satoru Gojo}
Money-Sucker Crow – 8:53 PM
Here's the bill for defending your girlfriend to the death. You can send the money to the usual bank account.
P.S. How did a nutjob like you find someone so adorable?
P.P.S. Watch out, if she doesn't wise up, she'll get herself killed.
Xoxo
Mei Mei
"Great, of all the people she could talk to, she chose a mercenary." Satoru thought, mentally sighing as he frowned at his phone.
He was... tired.
The sorcerer society was a place of hypocrisy, corruption, and power games. Satoru was well-versed in that environment, but despite knowing how to navigate its murky waters, he couldn't help feeling disgusted every time.
Every interaction, every decision seemed driven by hidden motives and manipulations.
The old men at the top were the worst, clinging to their power and traditions as if they were the only things giving them meaning. The hours spent in their company, always trying to stay a step ahead, had mentally exhausted him. Not that he didn't do it willingly; for him, it was always worth annoying those insufferable bureaucrats, and if he had to do it for Suzue, all the better.
Anyway, he had won the game, though with more opposition than expected, and they seemed to have bought the story about the defeat of the King of Curses. In the end, they were even satisfied with the outcome of their ridiculous plan to get rid of Sukuna's vessel.
"Stinking old carcasses," he cursed mentally, imagining their pleased expressions on their withered faces.
«...Satoru?» His reflection was interrupted by Suzue's soft voice.
He pocketed his phone, looking up to meet her gaze; she was sitting in the car next to him, her red eyes always revealing whatever thoughts and emotions flitted through her mind. Now, for example, he could see they were slightly irritated, even though she was trying not to show it.
Suzue, with her disarming honesty and naive view of the world, was a stark contrast to that environment and represented everything the sorcerer society was not: pure, sincere, without ulterior motives.
Satoru took his time to observe her perpetually blushed cheeks, her slightly pouty expression, and the way she nervously played with a hem of her dress.
He needed a breath of fresh air, something genuine after those suffocating hours of hypocrisy. And she, she was the perfect antidote. Just looking at her made him feel better already.
«Are you listening to me?» she asked, not breaking eye contact. Despite a slight irritation slipping through, her voice still had a calming effect on him.
His mind flashed back to the first time he saw her at the Zenin clan estate. Back then, Suzue had avoided talking to him at all costs, and when she arrived at Tokyo Jujutsu High, he had to work hard to get a few words out of her.
He smiled, amused by the change: now she even worried if he was listening or not. It was ironic and comforting at the same time.
«Always. I like listening to you.» He relaxed against the seat, letting go of the arrogant mask he had worn all day; with her, everything was easier.
«So... what do you think?» Suzue repeated, a hint of impatience in her voice.
At her words, Satoru tensed, remembering why he had zoned out earlier.
Despite all the wonderful things he thought about her, it was also true that Suzue was undoubtedly his greatest source of headaches and problems.
"Oh no. Not again." His mind raced to pick up the thread of the conversation and formulate a sensible, least brutal response.
«After thinking it over for the third time, I'd say... No, Suzue. You cannot 'kindly return' the special grade.» He huffed with a disapproving frown. Since they had left - just 30 minutes ago - this was the third time they had tackled the subject.
She seemed unable to come to terms with deserving that grade. Sure, she hadn't really defeated the King of Curses in a duel - that was a carefully crafted lie by him - but he was genuinely convinced she deserved that recognition regardless.
Probably, if she had grown up normally in her clan, in a healthy environment, and developed proper self-perception and confidence, she would have made it anyway with or without his help.
He watched her, still nervously turning the ID in her hands, eyeing it suspiciously as if it were some ancient precious relic.
«Anyway, it's not like you stole the spot from anyone. And it's not like there was a line of sorcerers who could aspire to special grade! It's just a formality, one more or less makes no difference to those old...» he paused for mental appeal «In fact, with you, there are only five in all of Japan, although obviously, I'm still the strongest sorcerer.» He bit his tongue, realizing the touchy subject he was broaching.
"Dangerous."
His smile faded but he recovered at the last moment. «Four. Now we're four with you.»
From his perspective, he was trying to reassure her, but incredibly, it had the opposite effect. Suzue seemed even more agitated than before.
«What?! This story will attract even more attention!" she complained. «I... I hate attention.»
"Oh, I know." Satoru commented sarcastically, though only in his head, continuing to observe her with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
«If the Zenin clan hears about this, and they surely will... They'll kill me. This time for real.» she concluded with resignation, burying her head in her hands.
Satoru couldn't help but chuckle. «I'd love to see them try!» The idea of Suzue setting fire to acres of land, making it impossible for that arrogant Naoya to escape with his super speed... was enticing.
«Trust me, they'll think twice now before bothering you. And besides, you're backed by the fantastic Satoru Gojo and the entire Tokyo Jujutsu High. It's not worth it for them to go against the whole institution!»
«I don't know, I still feel like I somehow cheated...» she murmured, conflicted, her eyes still fixed on the ID.
Satoru sighed, but an ironic smile appeared on his face. «Oh, sure, and you know how many out there got their grade without doing anything?» He sighed theatrically, placing a hand on his forehead in an exaggerated gesture of exasperation, and slumped against her.
«Suzue, you're tormenting yourself over a piece of plastic. Don't you think that's a bit much? If it bothers you that much, give it to me; I'll use it as a coaster.» Satoru tried to keep a serious tone but with a smirk that betrayed his intent. «Think, I could start a business. 'Special Grade Coasters,' limited edition. We could make a fortune!»
Suzue pouted, bracing herself against the car door to avoid collapsing under Satoru's weight, but couldn't help a small smile. «It's not funny.»
«And you're too hard on yourself.» he retorted, lifting himself, his tone more serious.
Suzue seemed to ponder his words, the tension in her shoulders slightly easing. «But...»
«No buts.» Satoru interrupted, raising a hand to stop any objections. «Don't underestimate what you've done. You faced Sukuna, you managed to save the kids, and you kept calm in a situation that would have broken many others. If that doesn't deserve recognition, then I don't know what does.»
Suzue thought for a long moment. «Maybe you're right...» she nodded slowly, gripping the ID and absorbing his words.
Satoru smiled triumphantly, tilting his head and seeking her gaze. «Finally! My wisdom has made an impact!»
Finally, she looked up, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to that small space where they were, to those red eyes looking at him with disarming sincerity. Her lips trembled slightly, a clear sign she was trying to find the right words to express her feelings. «Thank you for everything... Satoru.»
A few simple words followed by a long silence, which didn't seem uncomfortable. In fact, it was as if Suzue's words had created a protected space between them.
Her eyes were full of gratitude and something that made Satoru incredibly uneasy. When did Suzue become so good at holding his gaze? He couldn't look away from her eyes and at the same time found it difficult to sustain them.
«Suzue...» The words got stuck in his throat, and he realized the mistake.
Suzue tilted her head slightly, leaning closer -too much for what he could manage at that moment- to listen. She seemed to sense the change in him, her gaze becoming more intense, almost expecting him to say something.
He felt his throat dry, and every attempt to formulate a response seemed futile. For the first time, he felt vulnerable in front of her but still unable go look away.
"...Stop it," he cursed mentally, unsure if directed at Suzue or himself. Every passing moment seemed to amplify the tension between them.
He was used to handling high-pressure situations, but this was different. This was personal.
«So, is the promotion issue... settled?» The words he had prepared suddenly seemed trivial and out of place.
Satoru swallowed, trying to stay calm, but his usual arrogant smile was slowly melting away, leaving room for a more nervous expression.
«Satoru... are you okay?» she insisted with genuine concern, increasing the intensity of her gaze.
Satoru shivered and wondered if she knew what She was doing and if It was on porpuse; Suzue's voice, in that moment, seemed even softer than usual.
Her eyes, showing no signs of wavering, were now less tense and more serene; they had a brightness that hypnotized him. Yet there she was absolutely clueless.
Usually, he was the one who managed to poke and make her uncomfortable, and now that the roles were reversed, he didn't know how to react.
Suddenly, he could almost feel his hands tremble, and he realized he was fighting against an impulse he definitely hadn't anticipated.
"...Okay, time to change the subject!"
Finally, with a huge effort, Satoru looked away, lowering his head and running a nervous hand through his hair, searching for a topic, any topic, to steer the conversation back to safer ground.
«Damn!» he began, his voice louder than usual. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his usual confident and carefree tone. «I just realized I forgot the souvenir you asked for!» he admitted dramatically.
With the devastating news that had come and the fact that he had to rush back and sort out that mess, he had indeed forgotten.
Suzue blinked, surprised by the abrupt change of topic. «Oh, don't worry. I didn't really think you'd bring me something...» she murmured, looking away in the opposite direction.
"Wow. Really couldn't think of anything better?"
Satoru leaned forward slightly to catch her reaction. He managed to see her face: she was pouting.
"Really? Did it mean that much to her? Is she five?"
He cursed himself for jumping from the frying pan into the fire but couldn't help a chuckle seeing her pouting face. «Alright, I'll make it up to you!» he said, raising his hands in surrender. «Whatever you want!»
She turned her face slightly toward him, her expression still childlike and her cheeks blushing. «Whatever I want?» she asked weakly.
«I'm rich.» he admitted, with some satisfaction, waiting for her response.
She seemed to think about it very carefully, her face going through at least five different expressions of pure concentration, then she looked him in the eyes with renewed determination.
«A new phone, with a new number.» Then she hastily added, «And a Kimono. Formal. Black with red decorations.»
«I said I'm rich, not a bank.» he cut short.
Satoru remained silent, incredulous, not knowing what to say in the face of that request, but Suzue looked at him seriously, certain of what she had just said.
"Seriously? I get the phone but... A black and red Kimono? What does she need it for— oh!"
Suddenly a realization hit him. Black and red like...
«Ha! Black and red like the Kujou clan colors, right?» he asked with a mischievous smile, seeing a change in her expression.
A small shy and determined smile had appeared on Suzue's face, once she understood that Satoru had perfectly get what she needed it for. And he, for his part, had never been happier that one of his provocations had been taken so seriously. Things would really get interesting; probably end up in another mess, but he couldn't wait.
«I admit I'm disappointed, though. I thought you were about to ask me for some fancy dinner at a luxury restaurant.» now it was his turn to pout.
He watched with satisfaction as Suzue blushed.
Finally, Satoru had restored the natural order of things: the one where he made her uncomfortable, not the other way around.
«If you have so much money to waste, I'll accept both things!» she quickly stammered. «...But I really need the phone and Kimono.» she concluded in a whisper, looking at her hands that she nervously intertwined in her lap.
"Ah, also the fancy dinner? Good, noted."
He chuckled, satisfied, relaxing back into the seat; they were probably only twenty minutes from the school. Maybe it was time to deal with that problem following them, before leading it straight to the entrance of Tokyo Jujutsu High and then facing Principal Yaga's wrath.
Next to him, Suzue quickly raised her head, looking around like a deer aware of danger.
"Oh, she noticed then."
On the other hand, that curse that had been tailing them for a while didn't seem to hide its presence; in fact, it seemed to want to be noticed.
«Ijichi, stop the car!» he ordered in an amused tone. They were in the middle of nowhere, on a secondary road winding along a hill. Perfect spot, they wouldn't cause too much damage.
Ijichi seemed to hesitate, but as soon as he placed a hand on his shoulder to underline his request that brooked no objections, he immediately pulled over.
Satoru got out calmly and walked around to open Suzue's door; she, without moving, looked at him with a confused expression, and visibly not very keen on getting out there in the middle of nowhere. Seeing that Satoru, however, didn't move and continued to hold the door, she timidly got out of the car, sighing in resignation.
«Go on, Ijichi, we'll make our way back!» he began nonchalantly. «Ah! If you turn this into gossip, I'll know and I'll make sure you don't have an easy life. Forever!» he concluded with a cynical tone and a threatening smirk.
Making Suzue get out in the dead of night, in an isolated spot, alone with him? The kind of gossip his colleagues adored and would surely use to torment him. And her, especially her.
He saw Ijichi sweating from stress, so he closed the door and gave a light tap on the car; at that signal, the driver quickly took off, leaving them in the silent and dark night there on that deserted road.
He put his hands in his pockets and confidently walked, focusing on a point behind them; behind him, he felt Suzue following him hesitantly. She didn't seem happy with the situation, but for once, it wasn't his fault.
«Come on! You can show yourself... curse.»
{POV: Suzue Kujou}
"Damn. I'm tired and still need to go to the bathroom... how long is Satoru going to take?"
Suzue, sitting on a roadside wall, probably looked like a beaten stray dog at that moment.
Since Satoru had unceremoniously forced her out of the car in the middle of nowhere and started toying with that special grade curse following them, at least 20 minutes had passed.
The curse following them was... unusual. Highly intelligent and articulate, as much as a human. Sure, its appearance was grotesque, as expected of a curse. Short stature, one eye, and a head shaped like a volcano.
Jogo, as the curse had introduced itself, was certainly the most anomalous and dangerous Suzue had ever faced, even more than that special grade she had fought at the prison, but... openly confronting Satoru Gojo had been a stupid move.
Satoru was tormenting the curse with insults, effortlessly dodging every kind of attack, and showing off his Infinity technique; he wasn't even trying, yet he was giving it a hard time. And while toying with it, he was trying to glean information about the unusually high appearance of special grade curses and how they seemed to be organizing into a sort of secret society.
All very valid but...
"It won't talk. He could just end this non-fight and let me go home—"
Suzue wrinkled her nose.
"Home."
Being able to call Tokyo Jujutsu High "home" gave her a feeling of joy and disbelief. The sense of belonging that enveloped her was almost too much to bear, and if it weren't for that absurd situation, she might have cried from happiness.
It was like Satoru had said, as a special grade sorcerer she could do pretty much whatever she wanted, and that meant she could choose her "home" and pursue her own independence. And that meant more than any other privilege that grade could grant her.
Suzue, still sitting on the roadside wall, allowed herself a smile and hugged her knees, contemplating that rare moment of happiness. The city lights spread out like a shimmering carpet beyond the hillside road, offering a view that seemed almost magical. She tried to ignore the sounds of battle and the noise of a large explosion behind her, not wanting to ruin that brief moment of serenity.
«So this is—?» the guttural voice of the curse, Jogo, suddenly emerged behind her, breaking the spell of the moment. Suzue tensed slightly but remained calm.
Jogo landed a short distance from her, still covered in the smoke of the explosion. Out of the corner of her eye, Suzue noticed a satisfied grin on his face. It was a grin that exuded arrogance and confidence, as if he had already won the battle.
«So he was weak. It seems we all overestimated him.» Jogo muttered, scanning the forest where he had fought Satoru, his single eye narrowed in a frown.
"I take it back. Maybe he's not that smart." Suzue thought to herself, not moving an inch and not at all worried that this curse might have actually defeated Satoru or that it now seemed to be targeting her.
Suzue stared back at the curse. She didn't feel endangered, not with Satoru Gojo nearby, but this curse wasn't to be underestimated. She let go of her knees and slowly stood up, keeping her guard up and her eyes fixed on Jogo.
The curse turned fully towards her with a threatening, almost annoyed expression. He advanced, flames starting to form in his hands.
«If you have to blame someone, blame him. It was stupid to bring his woman to the battlefield.»
Suzue stared at him, annoyed not only by the inaccuracy of the statement but by the fact that he sounded like a cliché villain from one of those blockbusters she had watched with Yuji.
With a studied calm, Suzue planted her feet firmly and channeled cursed energy into her hands, where sparks began to form. She was ready to defend herself if necessary, though she hoped it wouldn't come to that. However...
"Where did Satoru go?"
She was fairly sure he was enjoying the scene with some amusement, hidden somewhere among the trees.
Without warning, Jogo lunged forward, sending a wave of flames at her. The murderous intent was clear, but the attack was surprisingly weak—he was clearly underestimating her.
Suzue instinctively touched the ground and erected a wall of fire that blocked Jogo's attack, consuming its cursed energy. Then, with her other hand, she quickly generated a fireball. She launched it from behind the flame wall, aiming for the element of surprise, forcing Jogo to leap back as Suzue's attack hit the ground, partially demolishing the road.
The curse stared at her with that single eye, clearly not expecting her counterattack and now visibly annoyed.
Suzue didn't lose focus, maintaining her distance while charging another fireball in her hand, watching the flame wall slowly dissipate. Having watched Satoru effortlessly put Jogo in his place, Suzue had almost forgotten that he wasn't a fair comparison and that unlike him she was just a mere human.
«Satoru...?» she called out weakly, unable to hide a certain frustration.
«Sorry, but with all that fire, it seemed more your thing! You were handling it pretty well.» Satoru had reappeared suddenly behind her, perfectly relaxed and with a mocking smile; Jogo, in front of them, looked visibly confused and annoyed to see him alive and well, and especially still as fresh as a daisy.
«From the brief exchange of blows I saw, I'd say you'd come out on top. Your fire is hotter. And more aggressive. Don't you think?» he mused aloud, evidently taking his time to analyze the situation. His tone was casual, almost as if they were discussing the weather.
"He's really a jujutsu fixated..." Suzue noted mentally.
«...Considering the isolated location and not having to worry about collateral damage, I think I could somehow come out victorious, yes... But not unscathed.» Her voice was calm, then she paused, carefully analyzing what she had seen of the curse's attack. «I think my fire is stronger...» she murmured, unintentionally joining Satoru's reflections.
The truth was that only he could hope to handle curses of that caliber without suffering severe damage, but sometimes he seemed to forget that.
Next to her, she heard Satoru chuckle, evidently satisfied with her response.
Jogo, with his eye wide open, watched them motionless; a slight tremor ran through his hands, probably poorly concealed anger.
«What the hell are you two mumbling... Are you ignoring me?» his voice was laden with contained fury, and his patience was rapidly running out.
Satoru shrugged innocently, amused by Jogo's reaction. His words had literally thrown fuel on the fire, and now that curse seemed intent on unleashing its full strength.
Cursed energy began to accumulate around Jogo, a clear sign that...
"Does he really want to do it? Is... he this stupid?" Suzue didn't know whether to be incredulous or admire the curse's tenacity.
Did he really want to engage in a domain battle with Satoru Gojo? There was a limit to madness.
«Ah! He seems really convinced!» Satoru chuckled beside her, finding the situation extremely amusing. «Suzue, you trust me, right?» he looked at her, for a moment serious again.
Suzue returned his gaze, blushing slightly and pouting. "Does he really think this is the time for...?"
«...Yes?» she finally answered, with a hint of hesitation, unable to fully understand why Satoru wanted to probe their trust just then, when there was no time for sentimentality.
She observed the curse for a moment, now ready to expand its domain, the cursed energy emanating from it had become heavy and oppressive. She blinked and turned back to Satoru.
«Satoru—»
Nothing. Satoru was no longer beside her. He wasn't in the vicinity, actually, if her senses weren't deceiving her at that moment. His presence, which had been an anchor of security until a moment ago, had vanished.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, feeling frustration rise within her. Anger mixed with confusion, creating a whirlwind of emotions she tried to control.
"Did he...Did he just leave me here alone with this curse?"
A/N
So, no vacation for me because the day before we were supposed to leave, my son started having a high fever. Fortunately, he's better now! Because of this, the chapter is out earlier than I had anticipated, so I hope you at least enjoy this surprise! (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞
Facts:
In the early chapters, Suzue had maybe two or three lines per chapter at most. Now, our girl talks a lot and makes sure Satoru is listening to her. Character development for you ❤️
So, I'm not sure if making sexist comments like "uh uh, you brought a woman onto the battlefield" is something a curse would typically think, but oh well, I went with it.
I think it's pretty canon, but Satoru is OBSESSED with sorcery—like, he has to understand and study a technique obsessively; otherwise, he's not satisfied. That's why Suzue calls him "Jujutsu fixated." In fact, he takes all the time he needs to let Suzue face off against Jogo for a bit just to analyze which of the two flames is stronger.
And with these little pieces of information, I leave you ❤️
