A/N at the end of the chapter


CHAPTER 18

{POV: Suzue Kujou}

The first day had fooled her.

It was tough, exhausting, and several times she felt on the verge of fainting, but all in all, she made it to the evening with the sense that she could actually pull it off.

The following days, however, she brushed the line between life and death and realized that it was all an illusion, and no, she couldn't do it.

By the seventh day, things had started to get a little better. Every muscle ached and seemed pushed to its limit, she was covered in bruises, and her will to live was completely drained, but at least she was starting to see some slight improvements.

The next two weeks of training continued to get better. She felt more energetic, her stamina was gradually improving, and the muscle pain was decreasing day by day; the same couldn't be said for the bruises, but she'd take that small victory.

"The special training program designed by the fantastic Satoru Gojo exclusively for Suzue Kujou" or so he called it. She would have called it more simply a "Lethal Program."

She knew very well that it was necessary and that deep down, very deep down, he had come up with all this hell for her own good, but what he was putting her through was a true dictatorial regime.

The alarm was set for 5:30 AM sharp every morning, and there was no escape from that since Satoru Gojo himself would knock incessantly on her door until she dragged herself out of bed out of sheer exasperation. Then, until the start of classes, which meant for a couple of hours, he would carefully watch her do all her exercises on the training field.

Satoru transformed during training; there wasn't a trace of the kindness he usually showed her, he became literally ruthless, and any method she tried to soften him seemed to be a waste.

Not even bringing up the tear-jerking story of her clan's extermination seemed to have any effect in that context, and that was usually an infallible technique with him.

Stretching, running, push-ups, sit-ups... every day, she seemed to be getting better, and every day he managed to increase her workload to push her beyond her limits. And her starting limits were very low.

At that point, the actual lessons would begin, and even though she was no longer officially an assistant, Satoru had insisted that she continue to support the first and second-year students during the theoretical and practical lessons.

"That way, you'll learn the basics since you've never properly attended a Jujutsu school and seem to rely only on instinct." Satoru had said, comparing her to some sort of wild animal. She could very well have directed that complaint straight to the Zenin clan's doorstep, considering she certainly hadn't had any say in the matter.

And besides, she had always managed somehow, albeit using her technique in a very wild and unorthodox way and poorly managing her cursed energy. But she had always managed.

But he, of course, had a ready response for that too. "Sooner or later, your technique won't be enough, and then you'll thank me for making you build some muscle!" or something like that.

The worst part, though, came in the afternoon. While Satoru retreated to secretly train Yuji, she was at the mercy of Maki Zenin, a second-year student, who taught her hand-to-hand combat. According to Satoru, she was the perfect teacher for Suzue, unlike him, who, due to the physical differences, would have been unsuitable for teaching her hand-to-hand combat techniques.

"You two have a lot in common." he had said with conviction. Sure, right; the only thing they had in common was their resentment towards the Zenin clan.

Maki was... a true force of nature. Solid, strict, confident, and damn strong in both combat and the use of weapons. The exact opposite of Suzue, who couldn't even throw a decent punch and seemed to suffer from chronic insecurity.

Suzue would end the day covered in bruises and contusions. But she also had to admit, with a decent amount of new knowledge. Naturally, she wasn't even remotely close to landing a punch on Maki, but at least now, after three weeks, she could last more than two minutes before being taken down.

Two painful minutes, where she could only stay on the defensive, but at least it was a start.

Despite everything, Maki had proven to be an excellent teacher and had given her plenty of ideas on applying her cursed technique to hand-to-hand combat or how using cursed weapons could make her life easier.

For example, she had suggested carrying around a pre-made cursed weapon instead of wasting cursed energy to generate one every single time.

Or she had advised her to modify her sorcerer's uniform, choosing one more suited to her technique. Maybe a fire-resistant fabric, so she could avoid the risk of ending up naked during a fight, though Suzue feared that even that might not be entirely sufficient against her flames.

Perhaps, she had to admit Satoru was right. The experience with Maki was turning out to be really formative, and despite their diametrically opposed personalities, she held a certain respect for the girl, and a solid camaraderie had formed between them.

The most interesting suggestion, though, was undoubtedly the one she was testing at that moment...

«Ouch—» she was abruptly brought back to reality by a burning sensation on her arm. That was the price for getting lost in her thoughts: she had lost control over the flames she had covered her arm with and had burned herself. The flames had scorched the edge of her shirt sleeve.

"Another shirt ruined…" she sighed, then looked at the tree in front of her, discreetly pleased to see it split in half, the trunk still smoking from the flames.

Yes, this trick could definitely work, though in her heart she could only hope she'd never have to use it in a real fight. To be honest, she really hoped she'd never have to be in a real fight again, but it would be foolish and naive of her to truly believe that.

"I have to show this to Maki next time... If it weren't for her, I don't think I would have figured out how to use my cursed technique this way." She murmured in her head with gratitude towards the student.

She extinguished the weak flames still burning on the broken trunk and her sleeve and, satisfied, decided that she could declare the training session over for the day. It was late afternoon, after all.

It was Sunday, and Sunday theoretically meant a day off for everyone. However, reality was different.

The entire faculty, who were also active sorcerers, continued working for one reason or another. And since the meeting with the Kyoto school was approaching, the students were all focused on their training.

With her, Satoru had been very clear. "On Sundays, you train your cursed technique since you don't do it during the week."

And so, Suzue hadn't practically seen Yuji in the last three weeks except for brief moments; she missed lounging on the couch watching a movie with him.

But even more, since that time they had gone together to the Jujutsu Headquarters, she missed... Satoru. Or at least, the "old" Satoru, stripped of his role as a strict coach, the one who showed humanity, compassion, kindness, and occasionally worried about her. Not the one who, in the last few weeks, seemed only interested in counting the sit-ups she could do.

The thought made her frown. If it seemed before that they had found some understanding, now Suzue almost felt like he was avoiding her.

While she was overthinking, her feet started to lead her to the faculty room in autopilot mode, and when she found herself in front of it, she heard voices coming from inside. Satoru's voice in particular, filled with its usual arrogance.

"Damn feet, you know me too well… Did you bring me here knowing he'd be inside?" she lamented mentally.

She was stuck there, standing, unsure whether to enter or not. The truth was that she didn't have a real excuse to seek a conversation with Satoru. Improvising wasn't her forte, and the thought of an awkward encounter made her even more hesitant.

«What!? No way. Refuse, I'm not setting foot in that place, not even if I'm dead.» Satoru's voice rang out loudly and irritably. Suzue moved closer to the door, listening intently. Ijichi's trembling voice followed right after.

«Gojo-san, I-I'm not in a position to refuse, I just delivered the message, I'm not your secretary—» It was Ijichi's voice, in its perpetually stressed tone.

She heard Satoru huff. «What? When Suzue was the assistant, she sent rejection letters without batting an eye.»

Suzue could almost imagine the scene: Satoru, with his usual arrogant air, putting the assistant in a difficult position, which was not at all unusual. She smiled faintly to herself.

"Did he really bring me up just to torment Ijichi? Well, I could use that as an excuse to go in..." The thought quickly turned into action as she lightly knocked on the door and made her way inside.

As soon as she entered, both men turned toward her. Ijichi's face lit up with relief, as if he saw her as a savior from an uncomfortable situation, although since her promotion, he had started to have a sort of reverential fear of her as well.

Satoru, on the other hand, was sitting in a chair, arms crossed, and a decidedly childish and angry expression painted on his face. Suzue noticed with surprise that he was dressed unusually elegantly for his standards, even wearing a shirt. The last time she had seen him dressed like that was during the meeting with the higher-ups three weeks earlier. His usually lively blue eyes momentarily softened when they landed on her.

«Good… afternoon?» Suzue said uncertainly as she closed the door behind her. The tension in the room was palpable, and for a moment, she wondered if it had really been a good idea to enter.

«…Ijichi, what's this about?» she tried to break the silence with a nervous smile, but she could feel Satoru's eyes annoyingly fixed on her like two laser beams.

Ijichi wiped the sweat from his forehead and gave her a gentle smile. Talking to Suzue seemed to relax him, but it was clear that he would rather be anywhere than there with Satoru in that state. God, he really seemed angry. «Ah, Kujou-san, tomorrow there will be a meeting between the main institutions and the three great families... But Principal Yaga won't be able to attend and—»

«If Yaga's not going, I'm not going.» Satoru interrupted him brusquely, his tone even more irritated and childish.

Suzue shot a sympathetic glance at Ijichi, who had shrunk even further into his shoulders, clearly overwhelmed by the situation. She decided to step forward and take the letter from Ijichi, all under Satoru's inquisitive gaze, who continued to behave like a sulking child.

«Let me see.» Suzue said sweetly, taking the letter and beginning to read it carefully.

"Ah, now I understand Satoru's disdain." She thought, raising an eyebrow.

A meeting among many unpleasant figures of the sorcerer society in an equally unpleasant place: it was to be held right at the Zenin clan's estate. It seemed that before the annual meeting between the two schools, they urgently needed to discuss some training deficiencies noted in the two Jujutsu schools.

Suzue thought deeply. Perhaps this was finally the opportunity to address that issue and put an end to that chapter of her life. After all, she was already planning to do so, and this seemed like the perfect chance to meet Naobito Zenin.

«I'll go» she said finally, giving Ijichi a gentle smile, whose face lit up upon hearing those words.

Satoru, on the other hand, jerked in his chair, staring at her with an indecipherable expression. «Why?»

«Well, because... You know I've left some matters unresolved with them and besides... it seems like someone has to go.» Suzue explained, blinking and gesturing toward Ijichi, who looked on the verge of fainting from relief.

Satoru continued to stare at her in silence, with an indecipherable frown on his face. A slight twitch shook his eyebrow, and then he looked away, turning back to the assistant. «Then I'll go too.» he concluded with a mocking smile and nodded to dismiss him.

"Ah. Is he a child?" she grumbled mentally, incredulous at that childish behavior.

Ijichi didn't need to be told twice and quickly stepped past Suzue, exiting the room. She couldn't help but give him a look of solidarity, noticing how Satoru always managed to make his life difficult, and the assistant seemed to appreciate the gesture.

Now that they were alone, the room fell into a tense silence. Suzue realized that she didn't have a real reason to continue the conversation with Satoru, except for the simple and stupid fact that... she wanted to see him.

Suzue felt the heat rise to her cheeks, the blush spreading as she nervously intertwined her fingers behind her back. Her insecurity grew as she watched Satoru frantically rummaging through the drawers of his desk, ignoring her as if she were invisible.

Determined not to let it get the better of her, Suzue took a deep breath. «So—» she began, but her voice broke into a barely audible whisper. She didn't even have time to form a complete sentence before Satoru brusquely interrupted her, emerging from under the desk with a large paper bag that he handed her without warning.

«New phone and black and red kimono.» he declared, his expression oddly relaxed, but his eyes avoided hers. He waited for Suzue to say something, but it was clear he didn't really want to have that conversation.

Suzue stared at him for a long moment, confused, blinking as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Hesitantly, she gently took the bag and peeked inside. «Ah, thank you so much... you know, I've received my paycheck now, so I can—»

«If there was nothing else important, I have a fantastic and super fun meeting with Principal Yaga and the old man from the Kyoto school!» Satoru didn't give her time to finish. He quickly slipped on his sunglasses, turning his gaze away from her and preparing to leave with hurried steps. «You know, the strongest sorcerer, head of the Gojo clan, and all that.» he added nonchalantly, almost as if to justify himself once again.

Suzue remained motionless, watching him as he turned his back on her and headed toward the door. There was something deeply wrong with that haste. «O-ok...» she murmured, feeling her spirits sink.

Was she really asking too much? Perhaps it was selfish of her to demand attention from someone who bore the weight of the Jujutsu society and was the head of one of the three great families.

With a twinge of guilt, Suzue thought, "Maybe I'm being selfish." The last few weeks had been a constant rush, and Satoru always seemed too busy to have a real conversation with her. She watched him walk away, his steps quick and determined, but something caught her attention.

«Satoru...» she called out, her voice soft but determined, making him stop mid-step. She quickly approached him, making him turn around. «You have a paperclip in your hair. It must have been when you ducked under the desk.» she explained calmly, raising her arm to remove it. But the absurd height of that man almost forced her to stand on tiptoes, making the gesture more awkward than she would have liked. Satoru, for his part, didn't move, didn't bend down; instead, he seemed to tense up even more.

When Suzue reached out her hand toward him, it felt as if there was an invisible wall preventing her from reaching him.

She paused, confused, slightly pulling back her hand.

«If you don't deactivate Infinity, I can't take it out.» she said with a slightly irritated tone, but mainly to cover up her embarrassment.

«Tell me where it is, and I'll do it myself.» he grumbled, his voice low and barely audible.

Suzue felt slightly irritated but tried not to show it. She pointed to the general area in his hair and watched as he tried to follow her directions, ruffling his hair with no success. The paperclip stubbornly remained in place.

«Deactivate Infinity, and I'll handle it—»

«No-» he replied, his tone resolute as he messed up his hair even more, turning it into a disheveled mess. Now it was hard to tell if the paperclip was still there or if it had flown off somewhere.

«Better now?» he asked without looking at her, his voice filled with a strange mix of frustration and embarrassment.

«Fine.» Suzue replied, her voice a mix of incredulity and resignation. She watched him walk away, his hair a wild mess, probably still with the paperclip stuck somewhere in it.

"Wow. So he's really avoiding me on purpose. What the hell did I do?" she thought, feeling the disappointment grow inside her.

«So—» he stopped at the door, giving her a quick glance over his shoulder. «See you tonight?»

Suzue stared at him, a bit surprised by the sudden interest, and weakly nodded. It seemed like a sufficient answer for him, and he left the room, satisfied.

She remained there, motionless, lost in her thoughts as the door closed behind Satoru with a dull sound. The silence that followed was almost deafening, leaving room only for her doubts and unanswered questions. It was strange for her to feel uncomfortable in the silence and solitude, when until recently she had seen them as her only safe refuge.

«Sometimes he's such an idiot...» she muttered to herself as she slowly made her way to the door, still deep in thought. But before she could leave, someone barged in, pushing the door against her. The impact was sudden, and Suzue stumbled back a few steps, dropping the paper bag from her hands.

She looked up, ready to apologize, and found herself face to face with Shoko, who was looking at her with a mix of confusion and irritation. The coffee the doctor was holding had completely spilled on her white coat.

Suzue felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, realizing how distracted she had been.

«Suzue... you really should pay more attention when you're moving around.» Shoko commented irritably, as Suzue quickly bent down to pick up the paper bag.

She stood up with a regretful expression, letting Shoko pass into the room. «Sorry, I was lost in thought... I'll get you something to clean up.» she murmured, with a tone of sincere concern.

The doctor approached the desk, removing her coffee-soaked coat and placing the now-empty cup she was holding down. Fortunately, she didn't seem truly angry with her. «Does this have anything to do with the way Satoru just stormed out of here like he was running from a pack of lions?» she asked, her voice tinged with sharp wisdom.

Suzue sighed slowly, feeling a tight knot forming in her chest. Hearing it put that way made it even more painful. «Well, I don't really know what I did or why, but it seems like he's deliberately avoiding me.» she finally admitted, discouraged, while handing Shoko a cloth.

She knew she could talk to Shoko; despite her direct and cutting ways, she was a great friend and had known Satoru for many years, so maybe she could shed some light on whatever she had done to make him so upset.

«Avoiding you? Nah.» Shoko remarked, a bit surprised. «He can't go without you. And besides, he keeps mentioning you all the time.»

Suzue didn't respond, continuing to stare into space, thoughtful and frowning. She heard Shoko's words but couldn't fully believe they were true.

"I can only imagine the kind of sarcasm I'm mentioned with. Like, 'Today Suzue managed to do 15 sit-ups in a row, isn't that amazing?' or something like that…"

Shoko seemed to decipher her thoughts because her expression softened slightly, becoming more comforting. «You know, sometimes Satoru is his own worst enemy.» she added, irritated. «He's just in some stupid, messed-up phase of denial.»

Shoko, with her usual nonchalance, poured herself another coffee and turned towards Suzue, who seemed even more lost in her thoughts. The doctor sipped her coffee, watching her with an expression that was a mix of affection and frustration.

Even more bewildered, Suzue mentally repeated the last word Shoko had said: "Denial?... What denial?"


{POV: Satoru Gojo}

Satoru averted his gaze, trying to escape the intensity of the situation, and leaned even more heavily against the wall as if he wanted to merge with it to avoid his thoughts.

His eyes wandered around the room, searching for an escape, something to distract him from the uncomfortable conversation.

When he and Yaga returned from their meeting with the old principal of Kyoto, they found Yuji's "secret room" decorated for a party. Suzue and Shoko had transformed the space into a small, impromptu celebration that radiated warmth and familiarity.

"This is so we can properly say goodbye before he leaves." she had said with that sweet, caring tone that defined her. To Satoru, Suzue was the protective, affectionate "mom" that Yuji never had, a role she took on with disarming naturalness. It was clear to everyone how much she cared for him, and Satoru couldn't help but admire her for it.

Shoko, of course, had strongly supported the idea, though Satoru knew it was mainly an excuse for her to have a few drinks in good company. The light-hearted, homely atmosphere was a rare occurrence for all of them, and despite his initial reluctance, Satoru couldn't say no.

Yaga was busy entertaining Nanami, who seemed to grudgingly accept the responsibility of training Yuji for the next week. The introductions between him and Yuji had been made, though not without some difficulty. Nanami's stoic nature didn't exactly help matters, and Satoru knew the real challenge was earning Suzue's trust. She had overseen everything with meticulous attention, her senses always on high alert for any sign of danger or inadequacy. Satoru was fully aware that a peaceful separation wouldn't be possible unless Suzue was confident that Yuji was in good hands.

Yuji, in his usual naivety, was trying to pour himself some alcohol without being noticed. But nothing escaped Suzue, who was firmly scolding him, which made Satoru involuntarily smile. His gaze lingered on her a moment longer than necessary.

«So, tell me, are you a virgin or something?» The blunt and unfiltered question from the figure beside him was right on brand for her.

Satoru stared at her for a moment, incredulous. «What? Of course not—»

«Then do us all a favor and stop acting like one! You're making everyone uncomfortable.» Shoko shot back, clearly not one to tolerate nonsense. At that moment, to her, Satoru Gojo was the very definition of nonsense. She leaned against the wall next to him, her expression a mix of irritation and concern, as the silence between them grew heavier.

«I don't know what you're talking about.» he lied, crossing his arms defensively, trying to maintain his usual mask of sarcasm and arrogance.

Shoko shook her head, her patience clearly wearing thin. «Want me to spell it out for you—»

Satoru sighed, glancing at her sideways, almost pleading. «Have mercy on my soul…» he said, a mixture of exhaustion and resistance in his expression.

He knew Shoko wouldn't back down easily, and more importantly, he knew she was right. He didn't want to face this conversation, but it was inevitable now. It was a battle he had lost the moment he started dodging her questions.

Sure enough, Shoko's retort came swiftly. «So your brilliant idea to deal with this is to avoid her like the plague? You can do better.» she provoked, clearly satisfied with having forced his hand.

Satoru felt cornered, struggling to maintain his usual nonchalant demeanor under Shoko's scrutinizing gaze. «You should be praising me for the self-control I'm showing! You have no idea.» he muttered weakly. It was an admission, though a veiled one. «Earlier, she wanted to touch my hair. Terrifying!» he added with ironic dramatization, trying to lighten the mood.

Shoko followed his gaze, which, of course, landed on Suzue. The obviousness of it only seemed to irritate her further, making her sigh in exasperation. «I get it, you don't want another Suguru, but here's the shocking truth: she's not Suguru!»

That mention stirred up a flood of painful memories, guilt, and regrets. It was a low blow, one that genuinely got under his skin. «Wow, Shoko, how classy, bringing up Suguru!» he raised an eyebrow and smiled nervously, shooting her a sharp and intimidating look.

But Shoko wasn't about to be intimidated, and she stared right back at him, defiant.

He hated that he couldn't deny Shoko's words.

The truth… The truth was that he was scared, a fear that paralyzed him, making him feel weak and vulnerable. He had built his entire life around the idea of being invincible, unstoppable. But this was a battle he didn't know how to fight.

«You know if something goes wrong, if Sukuna decides to cash in on that favor in the worst way possible, I'll have to make a drastic decision? And you'll still tell me it's not another Suguru even then?» he forced a smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. «I'm Satoru Gojo, and I have a responsibility to all of you, to the sorcerer society. I can't afford to be selfish.»

«So if you could go back, would you erase your friendship with Suguru and all the time you spent with him?» she asked, her voice softer but still firm.

Satoru paused, reflecting on those words. A tangle of conflicting emotions surged through him, and his voice finally came out tired and resigned. «Damn it, no.» Even with all the pain and loss, he wouldn't trade those moments for anything.

Shoko didn't say anything else, basking in the satisfaction of having hit the mark. She simply lit a cigarette, a smug grin on her lips. Satoru didn't even bother to reprimand her, not that it would've done any good.

«You and your damn speeches, how are they always so damn on point?» he finally said, with a tired smile, nervously running a hand through his hair. Maybe Shoko was right, maybe he was letting fear control him too much.

«Shoko, your ways suck, but you know what?» Satoru said, with a smile that betrayed a decision just made. «They only suck because you're right.»

Shoko didn't respond immediately, continuing to stare ahead, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

Then, as if she suddenly realized something, she abruptly moved. «Oops! I'm out of here.» She pushed off the wall, blowing a cloud of smoke, and quickly headed in the opposite direction.

Satoru watched her go until his attention was drawn back to Suzue, who was trying to catch his eye with a shy wave, looking intensely focused.

"Great timing."

He hadn't even had time to gather his thoughts before Suzue was already approaching him with determined steps, holding two glasses in her hands.

Her gaze was downcast, and her expression seemed to hide something more than a simple offer of drinks. When she got close enough, she handed him one of the glasses with almost excessive delicacy.

«Did you want this?» she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper but with a tone that seemed to hide some irritation.

He looked at the glass she was offering him, a bit confused. «This?» It was rare for Suzue to be irritated, and it worried him.

Her gaze became more insistent, almost accusatory, and she finally met his eyes. Her expression was puzzled and questioning. «You… You kept staring over there, so I thought you were thirsty.»

"Ah no. Actually, I was just like an idiot staring at you." he cursed mentally, berating himself for not being more discreet.

For a moment, he got lost in those red eyes but tried to recover. He took the glass from Suzue's hands with a forced smile. «Thanks!» he said, trying to sound casual.

He quickly took a sip, hoping to buy some time to reorganize his thoughts, while Suzue calmly took a seat next to him, leaning against the wall. However, the bitter taste of the drink hit him like a punch. He struggled not to spit it out.

He struggled not to spit it out. «Suzue… what is this?»

She responded with that tone you use with children who don't understand the obvious. «It's… beer.»

Satoru's face twisted in pure disgust, feeling the tension in him start to slowly dissolve thanks to the spontaneity of the moment.

«How can you drink this stuff?!» he exclaimed, the disgust in his voice partially genuine, partially exaggerated to make Suzue laugh, and fortunately, it worked.

Suzue stared at him in disbelief for a few seconds, her eyes widening in surprise before a playful smile began to spread across her face. It was the kind of smile that lit up her entire face, transforming her usual calm demeanor into something warm and infectious.

Finally, she couldn't hold back, trying to stifle a giggle, covering her mouth with her hand. «Really? You don't like alcohol?» she asked, her voice lighter now, almost amused by his reaction.

The situation, which had been teetering on the edge of awkwardness, was now infused with a lightness that made everything feel easier, more natural.

Satoru found himself laughing along with her, the heaviness he'd been feeling just moments before starting to dissipate. There was something about Suzue's laughter that was disarming, something that made the world seem less complicated.

«Next time, I'll bring you a hot chocolate.» she teased, her tone gentle but carrying a playful edge that made Satoru's smile widen

"How did she manage to drink this stuff all night without getting drunk? She could probably even keep up with Shoko…" he wondered, looking down at her with a mix of admiration and curiosity. The red on her cheeks caught his attention—was it the usual blush that he had grown so fond of, or was it the alcohol finally making its presence known?

Then, suddenly, the laughter died down, replaced by a silence that settled between them like a soft blanket. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence; rather, it was one of those rare, peaceful moments that only Suzue seemed capable of creating. A silence that felt like it wrapped them in their own private world, where the noise and bustle of the others—Nanami, Yuji, Shoko, Yaga—faded into nothingness.

Suzue lowered her gaze for a brief moment, as if gathering her thoughts, then looked up at him again, her eyes filled with a resolve that caught Satoru off guard. He found himself captivated by her, unable to look away as her red eyes locked with his blue ones, the intensity between them growing with each passing second. It was a strange sensation for Satoru, who was used to being the one in control, the one who commanded attention with ease. But now, it was as if the roles were reversed, and he was the one being drawn in, caught in a web of emotions he didn't quite know how to handle.

The weight of the earlier conversation with Shoko, all came crashing down on him at once, leaving him paralyzed. He couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even think; he was simply… there, caught in the moment, unable to break free from the bubble that seemed to encase them.

And then, with almost agonizing slowness, Suzue moved closer, her gaze never wavering from his. Satoru's breath hitched, his confusion and anticipation mounting as her hand inched closer to him, her movements hesitant, as if she were reconsidering her actions with every inch. It felt like an eternity, the distance between them closing in slow motion, every second stretching out longer than the last.

When her finger finally brushed against his hair, Satoru nearly flinched. The touch was light, barel.

Suzue, with a delicate, almost sad smile, murmured, «You finally deactivated Infinity.» Her voice was so gentle, and yet there was a trace of something else—perhaps the lingering annoyance from their earlier encounter that morning, when she had been frustrated by his refusal to lower his guard.

«Yeah… I deactivated it.» he replied in a quieter voice. His gaze never left Suzue's face, studying every small reaction, every slight movement of her lips, every blink.

Her fingers lingered in his hair for a moment longer, as if reluctant to break the contact, before she slowly withdrew them, the warmth of her touch leaving behind a strange sense of loss.

Finally able to breathe again, Satoru tried to ease the tension that had built up between them. He furrowed his brows in mock confusion and let out a nervous laugh. «Who are you? Where's the introverted assistant I know?»

Suzue's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red, and she dropped her gaze, her earlier confidence seeming to wane. «I…» she started, her voice small and uncertain, as if she wasn't quite sure how to respond to his teasing.

«You know,» she began again, her voice steadier this time, though there was still a hint of hesitation, «Shoko told me about… this phase of denial you're going through.»

Satoru's heart skipped a beat, and suddenly the bubble burst.

Shoko told her? Did she really not know how to mind her own business? He widened his eyes slightly, waiting for her to say something.

«…And?» he prompted weakly. He could feel his pulse quickening as he waited for her to continue, his mind racing with all the possible ways this conversation could go wrong.

«I think I understand what she was referring to.» Suzue said, nodding as if to convince herself of her own words.

«You do?» Satoru shot a glare at Shoko, who was minding her own business on the other side of the room. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He thought he knew what Suzue was talking about. He was ready to explain, to tell her it wasn't denial, but fear. He was ready to lay it all out, to be honest with her in a way that terrified him.

She paused, lightly biting her lip, which only heightened Satoru's anxiety.

«I know that Yuji now… well, idolizes me more than you. You don't need to worry, I really mean it!» Her voice was calm, reassuring, as if she were consoling a child. «It's not a competition, Satoru. I know you've been a great friend and teacher to him. I'm just an addition, a support.»

Satoru's brain short-circuited. "...Really?" was all he could think. Suzue had completely misunderstood, and the worst part was that she was speaking with such seriousness and kindness that Satoru didn't have the heart to interrupt her.

Her words, spoken with the best of intentions, almost made Satoru burst into hysterical laughter. It was the furthest thing from the truth, but the irony of the situation left him speechless. He swallowed it down, trying to keep his composure.

«Suzue…» Trying not to burst out laughing—or crying, he wasn't sure—Satoru struggled to stay composed. «You're incredible. Yuji admires you just as much as he admires me. There's no need to worry about that—»

«Right! Yuji admires you just as much as he admires me, really, you should never doubt that again!» Suzue continued, with a smile that was meant to be reassuring but only deepened the irony of the situation for Satoru.

He looked at her, incredulous, trying to understand how he ended up in this absurd situation. He, the most powerful sorcerer, who could obliterate entire armies with a flick of his hand, was standing there, being consoled like a child who had lost a toy.

And the worst part? Suzue was completely serious, convinced that his problem was… jealousy over Yuji's attention.

«Well… great, then.» Each word came out of his mouth with difficulty, like he was playing a part in a comedy where he was the only one who didn't know the next line.

«So…» Suzue looked at him with an expression that grew slightly more concerned, almost anxious to ask that final question. «…Friends like before?» There was an almost anxious edge to her voice, as if she feared his response.

Satoru forced a smile, one that felt more like a grimace, and nodded. «Of course, friends like before!» he replied nervously, trying to convince himself it was the right thing to say.

Suzue's smile returned, genuine and full of affection, and Satoru felt his heart clench. There was something in her eyes, a mix of gratitude and warmth, that left him feeling both comforted and utterly defeated.

As she began to walk away, gesturing and mumbling something about the meeting with the Zenin clan the next day, Satoru just stood there, his mind reeling from everything that had just happened. He was only half-listening to her, his thoughts elsewhere, still trying to process the events of the evening.

The most powerful sorcerer, the one who had defeated the most formidable curses, had been reduced to a simple "friend."

A friend who, on top of that, had to deal with being consoled for a nonexistent jealousy.

He thought with bitter amusement: "Sorry, Shoko. I think I just got friendzoned."


A/N

Hi everyone, I hope your summer is going well ️

So, here we are with this chapter, which was originally going to be split into two parts, but since the fanfiction is already quite long, I decided to condense a few things! I hope I didn't upset anyone, but Satoru is an idiot, and like a good idiot, he reaps what he sows.

I can imagine everyone in that room looking like סּ_סּ while Satoru and Suzue are in their own little bubble. Especially Shoko, who's really busting her back.

Facts:

-So, I think I mentioned this in the initial info, but I'm not a fan of random power-ups or characters suddenly becoming OP for no reason, so did I structure an entire chapter just to make Suzue a bit stronger? Well, yes.

-It absolutely makes sense that Satoru isn't the right person to train Suzue in hand-to-hand combat (as much as he might like to, come on). He's 190 cm of pure muscle, and she's tiny without a hint of muscle! The physical difference is just too big! Plus, Suzue has never attended either of the Jujutsu schools, but she did have some basic training within the Zenin clan. Let's just say she's missing the fundamentals and has learned a bit by instinct!

-At this point in the story, it's around August, and Suzue has been at Jujutsu High for about two months.

-Here, too, you can see my interpretation of the bureaucracy between clans, and my interpretation is mainly based on the disgust Satoru feels in the canon series at the mere thought of it.

"Did a leaf move? Call an urgent meeting!" Something like that.

And with these bits of information, I leave you! ️