TW: slight mention of SA
A/N at the end of the chapter
CHAPTER 20
{POV: Satoru Gojo}
«I'm sowwyy...»
Suzue's voice was so faint it was almost a whisper, but Satoru wasn't about to let it slide.
He firmly pinched her cheeks, tilting her head slightly, forcing her to look him straight in the eyes. «For what?»
«Fow hidinn... behinn wour back...» she whispered, so softly it seemed she feared provoking his anger.
«And?» he pressed, raising an eyebrow.
«Fow leavinn you thewe alone...» she finally admitted, and for a moment, a spark of satisfaction flickered through Satoru.
Suzue looked up at him, guilt written all over her face, her hands trying to free themselves from his grip on her cheeks.
"Left alone?" he thought bitterly, his lips twisting into a forced smile. "No, no, no, not left alone, abandoned in the middle of a room full of people, with my arm raised like an idiot."
They had entered the grand hall together, following the flow of people heading to their seats.
Suzue, wrapped in that perfect kimono, was the very image of grace and determination. And him? He was convinced that today, she'd finally show everyone who she really was. He had confidently led her toward the central area, reserved for the high-ranking figures, the clan leaders, the place where he usually sat. Where she should have sat. Because that was the point of the whole day, right?
"Suzue Kujou, the head of the newly reformed Kujou clan, everyone take note."
But apparently, Suzue had forgotten to mention a tiny detail of the plan: her sudden and inexplicable disappearance.
And so, one moment, Suzue was there, clinging to his arm, as tense as a bowstring, as they moved toward the center of the room. And the next moment... poof! Gone! Vanished! He was left standing there, arm still raised, holding... nothing. And all this under the watchful eyes of everyone.
"Seriously, Suzue? In front of everyone? Right now?"
He, Satoru Gojo, reduced to a shadow desperately searching for his vanished lady in an illusion worthy of the best magic trick. An image that would surely spread through all the clans by evening.
He forced a cocky, confident smile, one that usually fit his face perfectly but felt as tight as a noose at that moment, and with maximum nonchalance, he took his seat. And then he saw her. Sitting in the outer rows, her face bright red, sending him vague gestures of apology. With Mei Mei beside her, elegantly covering her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Of course, go ahead and laugh," Satoru thought, "because I'm the only one who's made a fool of himself here."
Feeling all eyes on him, he pretended nothing had happened, hoping not to draw even more attention to the disaster that had just unfolded. He was the head of the Gojo clan, after all; he couldn't afford such a glaring misstep in front of everyone.
The meeting that followed was pure torture for Satoru. Endless hours of pointless discussions, where every word seemed placed there just to irritate him. It was like being trapped in a bureaucratic nightmare, where every statement felt like a veiled provocation.
And the conservative faction? Oh, they seemed to have woken up with the sole goal of tearing down the reputation of Tokyo Jujutsu High, as if every word was a well-aimed jab. But without Yaga there to mediate, every minute felt like an hour, and Satoru had to call on all his self-control to avoid making someone cry... though, let's be honest, the idea of making a couple of those old fogies break down wasn't so bad. But no, better not. After all, the goal was to maintain peace, or at least something vaguely resembling it.
"What a crappy day."
And then there was Suzue. Even though she had managed to avoid laughing in the middle of the meeting this time—a feat that had previously nearly blown any semblance of seriousness—that little escape act would be seen as a sign of insecurity. And no matter how much he tried to protect her from criticism, there was a limit to what he could do without her cooperation.
At the end of those agonizing hours, when the meeting finally came to an end, Satoru wasted no time on formalities. He deliberately ignored everything and everyone, doing exactly what he did best: brushing off formalities with absolute nonchalance. He stood up, stretching his shoulders slightly as if he had just finished a nap, removed his blindfold, and walked briskly towards Suzue. Even from a distance, he could see her nervously gesturing, head down like a child caught red-handed in the middle of a mischief, standing there in the inner courtyard outside the grand hall.
And now there she was, with those puppy-dog eyes, desperately trying to get his forgiveness. He slightly loosened his grip on her cheeks, tilting his head as he looked at her with a mix of reproach and amusement. «Suzue, I'm not mad because you didn't feel up to sitting in the most exposed area,» he began, his tone betraying a hint of exaggeration. «But please, next time, let me in on this brilliant idea of yours!» His smile widened, taking on a cynical, almost mocking edge, as if to say, "Don't leave me alone with those idiots again."
«I-I'm sorry, I thought I could handle it, but when I was there in the middle...» Suzue, with a look that genuinely seemed sorry, looked up at him, gently massaging her reddened cheeks. «For today, I'll settle for just talking to the clan head...» Suzue concluded, trying to sound more resolute than she actually felt. It was clear she was trying to piece together her confidence, convincing both him and herself that she was still in control.
At that moment, looking at Suzue, he realized he couldn't do anything but let it go. Despite everything, he knew that today had been even harder for her than it had been for him.
«And you, Mei Mei...» Satoru's tone turned sharper as he cast a cynical glance at the sorcerer. Mei Mei, for her part, stood calmly behind Suzue, that usual amused smile on her lips, as if the entire day had been a particularly entertaining show. «'Tokyo Jujutsu High right now feels more like a monkey training center than a sorcery school.' Really, who paid you to say something like that?» The thought that someone had paid Mei Mei just to sit in the stands and throw mud at Tokyo Jujutsu High was the cherry on top of an already disastrous day.
Mei Mei just chuckled, with that air of defiance that suggested nothing really bothered her. «I maintain the utmost confidentiality about my clients. That's why you hired me as a babysitter, right?» She raised an eyebrow, casting an ironic glance at Satoru.
«And when the time comes,» Mei Mei continued in an enigmatic tone, «I hope you'll call me to babysit the next generation of the Kujou clan too.» Her gaze slid to Suzue, who was looking at her with a confused and perplexed expression.
«Next... generation?» Suzue asked, her eyes full of sincere and innocent curiosity, almost endearing.
Mei Mei's smile widened, becoming almost predatory. She cast a quick glance at Satoru, who was watching the conversation with a raised eyebrow. «Well, you want to rebuild the clan, right? How do you plan to repopulate it? It'll be up to you, since you're the only member.» Mei Mei paused briefly, her mischievous gaze growing more intense. «How many children will you need?»
Satoru couldn't help but stifle a laugh, not so much at Mei Mei's joke but at Suzue's predictable reaction. He decided to play along, knowing he was about to witness an adorable explosion of embarrassment. He tilted his head slightly towards Suzue, with a sly smile hiding a glimmer of amusement. «Ah, yes, the number of future members of the Kujou clan is a matter of national importance.» He exclaimed, his tone deliberately exaggerated, as if discussing an international crisis. «What do you think, Suzue, how many will we need? Five? Ten? Let's make it fifteen just to be safe?»
He expected an embarrassed reaction, a sudden blush, or maybe an expression of indignation. Perhaps Suzue hiding her face in her hands, blushing like a tomato. But what he didn't expect was the seriousness with which she responded.
«I hadn't really thought about it yet, but...» Suzue began, her voice thoughtful, as her red eyes rested on him with a calmness that made him internally shudder. Satoru felt a chill run down his spine, one that had nothing to do with fear. «I think five would be a good number to start with, don't you?»
Satoru's smile froze for a moment. Five? To start? His brain went into emergency mode. She had to be joking, right? His instincts screamed not to take it seriously, but looking at Suzue's face, it was clear she wasn't joking. No trace of irony, just pure, innocent seriousness.
"Seriously? She has no idea, does she?" he thought, incredulous. Suzue seemed genuinely focused on that calculation, and to make matters worse, she was looking at him as if she wanted a concrete opinion.
«Five? Isn't that a bit much?» he asked, trying to keep his voice steady, though a hint of panic crept into his words. «You know, maybe start with one, see how it goes, before jumping into... mass production of the next generation of sorcerers?» he added, with a smile growing more and more strained, while internally wondering how long it would take Suzue to realize what she was implying.
Mei Mei, of course, seemed to be having the time of her life watching the scene.
«Mei Mei is right,» Suzue continued, thinking aloud, as if she were making a logical decision. «If I want to rebuild the clan, I should start thinking about it seriously. Five seems like a good number to start with... not too few. They'd make a solid foundation.» And as she said it, she took her chin between her fingers, staring at an undefined point in the air, as if making a precise calculation.
Satoru looked at her, incredulous. How was it possible that a simple joke had turned into such a serious discussion? He suddenly found himself contemplating scenarios far beyond his initial joke. The idea of facing five little demons with white or black hair -hard to say made him shiver. «I already gave you Yuji—listen, I can throw in Megumi if you're really set on it, but the other three... you want them all?» he started, an ironic smile creeping back onto his lips.
«Yes, five kids would be a good base, considering it takes at least a couple of generations to rebuild a clan...» she murmured, her tone increasingly focused.
Satoru leaned slightly towards Suzue, his usual sly smile playing on his lips, but this time there was a hint of concern he couldn't completely shake off. «I'm not a fan of big families, but I'll do my best if you're really keen on it,» he teased, his tone deliberately provocative, hoping that a well-placed joke would be enough to make her reconsider or at least think twice about what she was suggesting.
He saw her nodding gently, still lost in her thoughts. Suzue was clearly focused on what seemed to her a practical matter, not realizing what she was really implying. She was talking, with disarming calmness, about having five kids... with him? It had to be with him, right, because... Who else? Must be him.
Satoru felt a slight pang of panic hidden behind his smile. "Maybe I should change the subject, distract her a bit." He thought quickly. "Or better yet, convince her that one is a magic number. Five... seriously, what kind of number is that? It sounds like a threat." His sly smile grew a bit more worried, as his brain raced to find an escape route before the conversation took a too serious turn.
"Or maybe she's just plain crazy. Yeah, Suzue is probably crazy. And I'm crazy enough to go along with it." He couldn't help but wonder how she hadn't yet grasped the gravity of the matter while he found himself weighing the implications of those words. But the reality was that, despite all his initial resistance, the idea was starting to grow on him. "Five... it actually sounds kind of nice."
With a resigned sigh and a glance of reproach, he shot a look at Mei Mei, as if partly blaming her for putting him in this situation. But the sorcerer, apparently satisfied with how things had played out, had already stopped paying attention to the conversation and was typing something on her phone. Evidently, the chaos she had sparked was enough for her.
Satoru straightened up, accepting this new prospect with a surprising calm that caught him off guard. «Alright, five it is.» he finally said, his tone more determined than he would have liked to admit. And then, with a hint of provocation, he leaned even closer to Suzue, his sly smile returning to his lips: «Make sure you don't change your mind; I'm already getting used to the idea.»
As he said it, he saw Suzue look up at him. «...You?» For a moment, he could swear he saw the gears in her mind slowly turning, replaying every word of that conversation. Then, finally, the implications of what they had been saying seemed to dawn on her, and Satoru watched with a mix of amusement and concern as the blush began to spread across Suzue's cheeks, timidly at first, then furiously. «N-No-That's... I didn't...!» Her eyes widened in a flash of realization, and for an instant, Satoru feared she might actually explode on the spot.
"She's about to blow." he thought, amused but with a slight tinge of worry. Just as he was seriously considering the idea of explaining to Suzue how babies are made, a stern voice cut through the silence.
«Gojo.» The severe, decisive tone immediately caught their attention. Naobito Zenin, followed by his attendants, had approached and was looming behind them, glaring at Satoru with eyes full of disdain and challenge.
"Oh right. This whole thing almost made me forget my duties." he thought with a hint of irritation, rolling his eyes.
He stuffed his hands in his pockets and straightened up, leaving Suzue in a state of emotional combustion. With all the calm and confidence that characterized him, he approached the head of the Zenin clan, standing face to face. «What a coincidence! I don't have time either, you know, I just became the father of five imaginary children!» he flashed his best arrogant, sarcastic smile, stepping even closer with an intimidating air.
Naobito stared at him with icy coldness, not backing down an inch. «Congratulations on your bullshit.» he retorted sharply, a sneer of disdain curling his lips. He wasn't the type to be rattled by Satoru's provocations, and that was evident. He turned, starting to walk toward a side corridor, the message clear: "Follow me if you want to talk about that matter."
Satoru hesitated for a moment, glancing at Suzue, still frozen in place, as red as a tomato. Could he really leave her alone in that state? Fortunately, behind her, Mei Mei, with her usual elegant and enigmatic smile, gave a reassuring nod. "After all, it was smart to hire a babysitter for Suzue today." Satoru thought, a rare moment of seriousness briefly replacing his usual sarcasm. He could only hope Mei Mei would manage to keep Suzue out of trouble just long enough for him to confer with the head of the Zenin clan. Or, he reflected with a hint of worry, avoid finding another potential father for those five kids. Suzue, all dressed up in that kimono and with the promise of a cursed technique like Divine Flame, wouldn't have much trouble finding someone willing to help repopulate a clan with her.
"Ah... I really don't want to leave her alone here."
Satoru turned to Naobito; now his desire to follow that old man down the side corridor was practically nonexistent, but he couldn't shirk his duties. He sighed, rolling his eyes and mentally cursing, as his feet moved in the direction dictated by the head of the Zenin clan.
"What a crappy day."
{POV: Suzue Kujou}
"Liar."
Suzue felt the fabric of her kimono tighten between her fingers as she tried to find something solid to hold onto in a moment that felt increasingly out of control.
Satoru had wrapped up his meeting with Naobito Zenin incredibly quickly, but those thirty minutes had been enough to change his usual relaxed demeanor into something different.
She had waited outside with Mei Mei, silently thanking the sorceress for protecting her from certain advances she wouldn't have been able to handle on her own. They had only been looks, a few suggestive comments that made Suzue shiver, but Mei Mei had stepped in with her usual sharp elegance, keeping anyone who got too close at a distance. Naoya Zenin had hovered around a couple of times, and every time his gaze, full of hate and contempt, pierced her like a cold blade. Fortunately, he hadn't spoken a word, just stared at her with an intensity that made Suzue tremble inside. She hoped with all her heart that things would stay that way, that Naoya would keep his distance from her and her already troubled mind.
Then, finally, Satoru had emerged from the room. Suzue noticed immediately: something was wrong. His posture was too stiff, his shoulders tense, and his normally bright and lively blue eyes held a coldness that couldn't be hidden behind his usual mischievous smile. This time, that smile didn't reach his eyes.
«Everything's fine?» she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.
«Everything's fine.» That tired smile, that short answer, were clear signs that things were far from fine.
"Liar."
Then, in a pathetic attempt to lighten the mood, he added, «But hey, sorry, I don't think I can hand Megumi over to you anymore!» He chuckled and approached her without meeting her eyes.
"Liar."
It was obvious that no, everything was not fine, and the fact that he was trying to force her to believe it didn't sit well with her. Something must have happened during that half-hour meeting.
A Zenin clan servant who had been following Satoru motioned for her to enter. Now it was her turn, her chance to speak with Naobito, but her focus was wavering. Satoru's stubbornness, his relentless refusal to share his worries with her, was undermining her confidence, and Suzue knew she couldn't afford that. Not right now.
He gave her a small nod of encouragement, accompanied by a smile that never reached his eyes.
"Liar—damn it, Suzue, focus."
She snapped out of her thoughts, focusing on the man in front of her, who sat arrogantly in the center of a dimly lit room. Across from her, Naobito Zenin sat imposing, with the arrogance of a king on his throne, his face cold and impenetrable. The aura he emanated was that of a ruler in his domain.
Suzue, in contrast, felt like a small insect, kneeling with every nerve in her body stretched to the limit. Every detail of the scene around her seemed amplified: the coldness of the floor beneath her, the dry smell of ancient wood in the room, and that dense silence, broken only by the distant rustling of some movement outside the room.
She swallowed hard, trying to gather all the courage she had left. Her fingers were still clenched in the fabric of her kimono, desperately seeking an anchor as she prepared to face a man who would show no mercy.
Every fiber of her being begged her to run, but a part of her knew she couldn't afford that. Not now. Not in front of him.
Naobito's voice boomed through the room like thunder, cold and full of disdain. «Are you planning on wasting my entire day?» the man growled, already visibly irritated, though it was hard to tell whether it was because of Suzue's presence or something that had happened during his time with Satoru.
In any case, her reaction was instinctive: she jumped like a spring, trembling slightly as she lowered her gaze, trying to find the right words. «N-No, I…» she stammered, quickly taking a breath. «Clan head, I'm here as the head of the Kujou clan—»
«I don't have time for bullshit, and it seems like everyone's in the mood to spout it today. Leave.» His words cut through the air like blades, and Suzue felt the world crumble around her.
The conversation had started horribly, but Suzue wasn't willing to let herself be defeated so easily. Despite the trembling in her voice, she gathered all the courage she could and tried to continue.
«The Kujou clan has always been a minor branch of the Zenin clan, and I was hoping for a prosperous collaboration to ensure the reconstruction—»
«Collaboration?» he repeated, his voice dripping with sarcasm. «What could you possibly have to offer me? You like calling yourself a clan head? Lift your head and stop shaking like a leaf, stupid brat!»
His words hit her like a slap to the face, but Suzue, almost automatically, obeyed that imperious command. With a rigid movement, she straightened her back and lifted her head, forcing herself to look the man in the eyes, even though every fiber of her being begging her to lower her gaze.
«I want the deeds to the Kujou clan's lands, which are still in the Zenin clan's possession.» she said, her voice beginning to steady despite the turmoil inside. «I'll need them for the clan's reconstruction plan. It's in the Zenin clan's interest to show its strength, and if you support the reconstruction of the Kujou clan, you'll be demonstrating the unity of the Zenin clan to the outside world.» It was surprising for Suzue to be able to finish a sentence without being interrupted, and she could feel her voice becoming more stable with each word she spoke. «Even if it's a minor branch, a group of sorcerers wiped out in one night is surely a stain on the clan's reputation. I think that—»
«You came here to lecture me?!» Naobito exploded again, his voice thundering with anger, making Suzue flinch. She felt her breath hitch, her legs almost giving way under the pressure of such a brutal confrontation.
«An entire branch of ours eradicated in one night without explanation—do you think it wasn't in my interest to immediately remedy that and show strength, unity?» Naobito continued mockingly. «But how the hell could I do that when all that was left was a stupid, defenseless little girl who couldn't even say her own name without crying?!»
Every syllable dripped with contempt, and for a moment, Suzue felt like a helpless child in front of an adult scolding her for something that wasn't her fault. But something inside her snapped. Naobito's words had wormed their way into her mind like poison, but among that poison was a truth that was slipping through her fingers. It was as if a fog was lifting, revealing a hidden detail she hadn't seen until now.
«…without explanation?» Suzue repeated, her voice betraying a mix of confusion and suspicion. It was as if all the sound in the room had been sucked away, leaving her in a deafening silence. «It was a curse user. You said it yourself when I arrived here,» she continued, trying to find a foothold in the narrative she had been fed.
Naobito remained silent for a moment, his gaze enigmatic and unreadable. Then, with a slowness that seemed deliberate, he replied. «A curse user. Promptly found and killed. Or at least, that's the story everyone knows.»
His words made her stiffen. Something was terribly wrong with all of this. «And… the real story?» she asked, almost dreading the answer, her heart pounding as she waited.
Naobito snorted, a sound that almost seemed amused, as if her persistence entertained him. «How should I know? You're the only one who was there that night.»
Those words hit her like a direct blow to the chest. Suzue felt herself falter, as if the floor beneath her was about to give way. She had told her version of the events many times, but now, for the first time, she wondered how much of that story was real and how much was the product of fragmented, confused memories. Her mind raced back to that night, trying to piece together the puzzle. «I… I was talking to someone, maybe an elder of the clan, but the memories… they're confused, blurry. Then, I think I was thrown into the river… maybe someone was trying to save me, and after that… chaos. Desperate screams, and the fire consuming everything.»
Naobito continued to stare at her, his gaze unyielding, as if he was waiting for a revelation, a truth that she herself couldn't see.
«That… that's what I remember,» she finally said, her voice weaker, as if admitting her confusion was already a defeat.
But he didn't seem surprised. He nodded slowly, as if he had heard all of this before, scrutinizing her carefully like a predator assessing its prey. «If you still can't find anything strange in this whole story, then you're more foolish than I thought,» Naobito said, his tone biting, the words stinging as much as the message they conveyed.
Suzue remained silent, trying to make sense of his words. What was Naobito insinuating? What was she missing?
The clan head looked at her with a sinister half-smile that didn't bode well. «Doesn't it seem strange to you that an entire clan of sorcerers, whose cursed technique was control over fire, was wiped out… by fire?»
Those words were like a bucket of ice-cold water. Suzue felt the blood freeze in her veins, every drop of warmth fleeing her body. «Are you saying that… the responsible one was… a member of the clan?» she asked, shaking her head, refusing to believe such a possibility. «That's impossible. None of us would have ever done something like that. And there was no one with a manifestation of the technique powerful enough to cause such a massacre.»
Naobito looked at her with an unreadable expression, almost amused. His gaze grew more penetrating, as if he was trying to dig inside her, searching for a secret even she didn't know, while he leaned forward, increasing the pressure on Suzue. «Are you sure there wasn't anyone? Are you sure there wasn't someone with hidden potential, someone who might have been underestimated?» His words were like poison, slowly seeping into her veins. «Someone who would later become… the 'hero who defeated the King of Curses'?»
Suzue felt the ground tremble beneath her feet. Those words, spoken with such venom, were an accusation disguised as a question. For the first time since the beginning of that discussion, she managed to meet the clan head's gaze without difficulty, but inside, she was battling a terror she couldn't control. "What is he saying? Is he… is he crazy? No—"
But his gaze didn't waver, leaving no room for doubt. He meant it, and she realized it with a shudder of terror. Suzue's mind raced, desperately trying to piece together the puzzle, but every attempt seemed to lead her to one terrifying conclusion.
«I… I was just a child.» she whispered, but the words sounded empty even to her own ears, a distant echo of a truth that seemed increasingly difficult to grasp. But as she said it, for the first time, she felt the crushing weight of suspicion, the possibility that everything she believed she knew was a lie.
Finally, Naobito stood, his towering figure over her. His words were sharp, full of venom. «You should thank me, Suzue Kujou,» he began, his deep voice echoing through the room. «You were kept safely hidden in the Zenin clan while we told the world that some mysterious curse user was responsible. I don't think a trembling little girl could have committed such a massacre. But the higher-ups, oh, they would have seen things differently.» Naobito nodded, as if conceding a trivial point. «Do you think we could openly admit that one of our branches was wiped out in a single night and we had no fucking idea of the cause or the culprit? Hell, that would have been a serious blow to our reputation!»
Anger and terror clashed within Suzue, forming a tight knot that choked her. The thought that she might have been accused of something so horrible, and that she had been "protected" only to keep the Zenin clan's reputation intact, was a truth too bitter to swallow. And...
"He really expects me to thank him?" Suzue thought, feeling a wave of anger mix with fear. The years she had spent in the Zenin clan had been hell, and now this man expected her to be grateful for being "protected"? It was such a grotesque, absurd idea that Suzue felt almost crushed by the weight of that injustice.
But despite her anger, Suzue knew she had to keep control. She couldn't afford to lose her cool now. The truth, or at least her version of it, was the only thing keeping her anchored to reality.
So, she took a deep breath, gathering all her courage, and spoke in a firm voice, free of tremors. «Clan head… I'll never thank anyone for those years of suffering,» she said, each word a sharp blade. She wouldn't allow Naobito to take credit for "saving" her, not when she knew what she had endured under their "protection." «It doesn't matter what you think of me or what you suspect. If I don't get support from the Zenin clan, I'll find another way. Maybe by seeking support from other clans. Maybe the Gojo clan.»
The provocation was deliberately venomous, an arrow shot with precision to hit Naobito where it would hurt the most. Suzue knew well the bitterness between the clans, understood how even mentioning Satoru Gojo could ignite tempers. She wanted Naobito to understand that she wasn't willing to bow down, that she had other options, even if it meant throwing fuel on the fire of clan rivalries.
His eyes, cold as ice, betrayed a flicker of something Suzue couldn't fully decipher, an interest hidden beneath layers of contempt and indifference. Finally, his mouth twisted into a sneering smile, followed by a brief, mirthless laugh. «I don't approve of you, Suzue Kujou,» he finally said, his voice delivering a final verdict. «You have nothing to offer me, just empty words and arrogance.»
His expression remained impassive, but every word was a jab, an attempt to belittle her, to make her feel small and insignificant. However, Suzue didn't waver. She knew she was just a pawn in a much larger game, a game of power and intrigue where every move had to be calculated with precision. «The Kujou clan must remain under the Zenin clan's umbrella. You're in no position to negotiate otherwise. If you don't like it, you can forget about those lands.»
«I won't forget this.» Suzue replied, her voice sounding more confident than ever, even though inside she felt a storm of conflicting emotions.
A thin smile spread across Naobito's lips, a smirk that promised nothing good. With a wave of his hand, one of his servants approached. «I'll have the property deeds sent to you. Not that I believe you'll actually manage to rebuild the clan, but if you do succeed… the credit will go to the Zenin clan. Now get out of here before I change my mind.»
The way he kept scrutinizing her, with those eyes that pierced her like blades, made her feel like she was just a pawn in a grand power game, a game where he pulled all the strings. Suzue was aware of that, she knew that look well, and understood that to Naobito, she was nothing more than a means to an end, a controllable variable in his grand plan. There was no respect in his words, only calculation and manipulation.
But for the moment, that was fine. She certainly hadn't come this far with the foolish belief that she would gain any respect, after all. She knew that in this world, respect wasn't earned through kindness.
«Thank you, clan head.» her voice rang cold in the room, as she rose with all the grace and composure she had learned within those very walls, bowing deeply in a gesture of gratitude. Every movement was calculated, every word spoken with care. She knew she was being tested, and she wouldn't give Naobito the satisfaction of seeing her falter.
But as she stood, her mind kept drifting back to that night, and to Naobito Zenin's insinuations that were beginning to burrow under her skin like a subtle, deadly poison.
"What a crappy day."
She had won that small battle. That first step toward rebuilding her clan.
And yet, she felt even more defeated.
The unmistakable tall figure of Satoru Gojo was a sight of relief for Suzue, a solid anchor in a world that seemed to be crumbling around her. He was there, waiting for her right at the exit of that long corridor leading to the inner courtyard.
Not too close to where she had fought her battle with Naobito Zenin, but not too far either—close enough to support her as soon as possible. It was like Satoru knew exactly where to position himself, like he had a sixth sense for her presence, for the exact moment she would need him the most.
He was fiddling with his blindfold on his hands, one of his usual habits, but his eyes lacked their usual lightness. There was still that coldness, that distance that had unsettled her earlier. But how could she blame him? Suzue herself felt the same rigid mask on her face that she struggled to shake off. Talking with Naobito Zenin could put anyone under immense pressure, even the unstoppable Satoru Gojo.
She approached him with uncertain steps, trying to keep her head high and flash the most reassuring smile she could muster at that moment. She didn't want Satoru to worry about her any more than he already did. When he saw her, a faint reassuring smile appeared on his face, but Suzue noticed how his blue eyes quickly scanned her, as if searching for any signs of damage she might not even have realized.
«Everything's fine?» Satoru asked, his voice tinged with a hint of concern.
«Everything's fine.» Suzue replied, trying not to let any emotion slip through. She felt her shoulders tense slightly, and the smile she had fought so hard to maintain became a bit strained. "Ah. He's probably thinking I'm lying, too." she thought bitterly.
Meanwhile, Mei Mei had disappeared, as if she had vanished into thin air. Suzue had never expected the sorceress to stay until the end, but the sudden absence of that enigmatic presence made her feel even more the weight of the scrutiny she faced from Satoru.
She desperately tried to lighten the mood. «Somehow, I convinced him. I'm officially the head of the Kujou clan now, even in his eyes! And apparently, I'm a landowner too… He's going to give me the deeds.» She tried to sound confident.
Satoru, with his usual sly smile, stepped closer to her, nodding in approval. «Well done, Suzue!» he said, his tone light but with a note of sincerity that reassured her more than she wanted to admit. «I knew you'd get what you wanted. I always knew.»
Those words, spoken with such simplicity, had the power to ease the anxiety gripping her chest, at least a little.
For a moment, Suzue sighed and let the silence envelop them. She searched Satoru's eyes for a safe place, a place where she could push away all the terrible implications that had surfaced from that conversation with Naobito.
It was as if she needed a moment to reorient herself, to remember who she truly was, away from the shadows of the past and the fears Naobito had stirred in her. And perhaps it was just her impression, but he seemed to sense her need, giving her the space to breathe, to seek comfort without saying anything, simply being there, present. It was a silent language, made up of small gestures and glances, but for Suzue, it was enough. For a moment, she felt less alone, less overwhelmed by the weight of everything she had faced.
When Satoru grew more serious, almost understanding, he offered her a way out. «Shall we get out of this place? I think Ijichi's already waiting.» he suggested, with a tone that suggested a shared desire to leave everything behind.
Suzue felt her smile relax a little, a slight crack in the mask she had built. She was pretty sure she had a rather exhausted expression at that moment, and she couldn't agree with him more. «It's about damn time,» she responded with a sincerity that didn't need to be hidden.
Satoru's smile widened ever so slightly, and with a determined step, he set off, gesturing for her to follow. They walked together, the darkness of evening now enveloping everything, through the inner courtyard, a necessary passage to reach the exit of that immense estate. But this time, Suzue didn't suffer too much from the stares and whispers that rose as they passed. Her gaze remained fixed ahead, focused on Satoru's back, as if she wanted to deny the existence of anything else outside the sense of protection that his presence gave her in that moment. And for a moment, she managed to calm the inner turmoil that was tearing her apart.
But the day seemed determined to disastrous until the very last second. As they walked, she suddenly felt a violent grip on her arm, a gesture that made her jump. Suzue turned sharply, and in the instant of movement, her instinct for self-defense kicked in automatically, releasing a few uncontrolled sparks. It wasn't enough to cause harm, but the cursed energy she unleashed was enough to mark the tension of the moment.
Behind her, with a brutal grip that still held her, was Naoya Zenin. She recognized him immediately, even before meeting his eyes, which gleamed with cruel and perverse malice.
"What a crappy day."
She felt Satoru by her side, his solid and reassuring presence, but she knew that if she let him intervene, the situation could quickly spiral out of control. She gave Satoru a small nod, a silent signal to tell him not to interfere. This was a battle she needed to fight on her own.
She couldn't let him publicly fight with the heir of the host clan now that they had almost managed to leave without causing any tragedies. Not after both of them had painstakingly negotiated and perhaps secured something from the head of that very clan.
It would be a foolish move to compromise everything now over some empty, stupid provocations. But as Naoya stepped closer with that contemptuous smile, a part of her knew things were about to take a turn for the worse.
«Oh, look who we have here.» Naoya began with a smile that had nothing friendly about it. «Little Suzue, finally out of her shell. And under the protective shadow of Satoru Gojo, no less. How pathetic.»
Suzue felt her blood turn cold, but she tried to remain calm. «Naoya.» she stated, her tone neutral but with a subtle layer of coldness.
Naoya chuckled, the sound grating like nails on a chalkboard. «Oh, don't worry, I'm just here to congratulate you. After all, it's not every day you see a traitor recognized as the head of a dead clan. I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.» Naoya stepped closer, deliberately ignoring Satoru's menacing presence beside her. «Quite the achievement, isn't it? A piece of burned land inhabited only by ghosts.»
The tension between them was palpable, and Suzue could feel the crowd around them pausing, the whispers beginning to spread among those present. But she didn't let herself be intimidated. She yanked her arm back, freeing herself from Naoya's grip, who didn't bother to hold her. But despite her efforts, Satoru tensed beside her, his blue eyes narrowing as he watched Naoya's approach.
«I don't need your approval, Naoya. I've already gotten what I wanted.» She responded calmly, even though she felt the weight of every word. Naoya chuckled, but Suzue noticed out of the corner of her eye that Satoru beside her was losing patience more and more, as if he was just waiting for an excuse to step in.
«A piece of paper? You think that makes you equal to us? Worthy of respect?» Naoya continued, his voice dropping lower, more insinuating. «Maybe someone should remind you what you've been all these years… so weak, so obedient… so easy to bend.» His words were like knives, trying to cut her to the bone. «All those years spent being the little servant, the plaything for anyone who wanted some… fun.»
She clenched her teeth, trying to maintain her composure. She kept a stoic facade, staring Naoya in the eyes with disdain. «Do your empty provocations hide your insecurity? The weak little girl got the title of special grade.» Now it was her turn to strike. «Isn't that what you secretly desire so much?»
Naoya's expression darkened further, and Suzue realized she had hit a nerve. But at the same time, she sensed that the energy beside her was becoming increasingly dangerous. Suzue had never seen Satoru like this, and it terrified her more than Naoya's words.
«Ah, yes. Did you have to stay quiet and spread your legs for that too? A simple trick: just be good at never saying no.»
And so, Naoya's final misstep came.
Suzue felt a wave of nausea wash over her, her hands began to tremble. Naoya's insinuations were clear, disgusting, and most importantly… false. Empty, false provocations filled with malice meant to break and humiliate her. But it wasn't just that making her hands tremble. It was Satoru.
Before Suzue could react, before she could find the right words to defend herself, Satoru stepped forward, getting dangerously close to the Zenin clan sorcerer. «Ah, Naoya, Naoya… You've got one warning, just one.»
Suzue snapped to attention, sensing the drastic change in atmosphere, the sharp look in Satoru's eyes as he focused on Naoya with a chilling calm. He let out a cynical, sadistic smile that promised danger.
"Not good."
She knew this situation was getting out of hand, that Naoya was about to unleash something he wouldn't be able to control.
She took a step forward urgently, trying to stop him before things escalated. «Satoru… He's provoking, it's just empty words. Lies—» She grabbed his arm, trying to pull him away, but he didn't budge an inch, as expected.
«Or what? Need I remind you, this is my home?» Naoya's voice was full of arrogance, convinced he had control of the situation.
But Suzue could see that Satoru wasn't listening anymore, not in any rational sense. Then she noticed something disturbing: she could no longer pull Satoru back, couldn't even touch him. He had activated Infinity—why had he activated Infinity?
"Not good."
She needed to stop the escalation and quickly, but Naoya was not of the same idea.
«Ah, I see,» Naoya concluded with a sneer. «Looks like she let you use her too, like a well-trained whore—»
That was the last straw.
It happened so quickly that Suzue didn't even see the punch with her own eyes. And maybe, Naoya didn't see the punch too. One moment Satoru was beside her, as still as a statue of ice, and the next, Naoya was sent flying backward, crashing into a wooden support post of the porch and ending up right inside the grand hall. The noise was deafening, and Suzue could only watch in horror as blood began to pour copiously from Naoya's nose and mouth.
«What a crappy day.» Satoru, next to her, casually shook off his hand as if he had hurt it throwing that punch—which was impossible since he had done it with Infinity activated. His face was impassive, but his blue eyes glowed with a dangerous light. «Damn, I told you, you only had one warning. Scum.» His tone was one of blatant fake lightness, making it even more menacing. His voice was calm- too calm.
Naoya remained motionless, unable to respond, while Satoru stared at him with an intensity that would have made anyone tremble. Around them, the crowd began to murmur, whispers spreading quickly among those present. Suzue could only stare wide-eyed at the disastrous scene, a mix of disbelief and panic welling up inside her.
Then, before she could fully process what had happened, she felt herself being grabbed by the hand and pulled away.
A/N
Guys... WHAT A CRAPPY DAY FOR SATORU AND SUZUE!
And here we are with this chapter which, my god, I think is the longest one in the fanfiction! I apologize, I didn't realize it while I was writing, but there were so many things that needed to be said, so here we are.
I had a very clear idea in mind; I wanted the chapter to be an escalation that starts off light and gradually builds in tension. Did I succeed? I'm not sure—I'll leave that up to you all to decide.
Guys… I've wanted to punch Naoya for 20 chapters, you have no idea!
Facts:
- Suzue dreams of having a big family, and Satoru learns this the hard way. (But he doesn't really mind!)
-For the manga readers... We all know what Naobito and Satoru discussed, right? No one will ever convince me that it was an easy and stress-free conversation!
- I have no idea if Naobito was already the head of the Zenin clan in 2007, but I believe he was, so in this fanfiction, that's the case.
- The Kujou clan was a minor branch of the Zenin clan, so logically, once all the members of the Kujou clan were killed except for Suzue, all the clan's possessions reverted to the Zenin clan.
- Reputation and appearances are very important themes for the Zenin clan, as we know from the canon series. So what happens when one of their branches is attacked, wiped out, and they can't find any trace of explanations or culprits? Simple. They cover it all up. Makes sense!
- So, does that make Naobito a good person? Hell, no. Absolutely not! But from what might be his twisted point of view, he did Suzue a favor. Instead of letting the higher-ups interrogate her, he kept her close within the clan and buried the whole affair.
With these quick bits of information, I leave you! ️
I always enjoy reading your comments, so if you feel like sharing your thoughts on this work, I'd love to hear them! (⁀ᗢ⁀)
