"The question that sometimes drives me hazy: Am I or the others crazy?"
- Albert Einstein
Itadori was sure she finally understood what true hatred was because for the last three weeks she has come to hate Hyogaiji-sensei. She thought she trained hard before. That was child's play compared to what he was having her do now.
She ran harder, faster and longer than she ever had before. And don't even get her started on all the punches and kicks he had her doing. He was teaching her judo on top of all the other exercises.
The pink haired girl was dead on her feet by the end of the three hour workouts. If she was lucky enough she could make it to her desk without stumbling because of how bad her legs were shaking. She was able to relax during class. For the first time in her life Itadori looked forward to class. It gave her body a break.
The upside to all this intense working out was her mind didn't wonder during class anymore. It was like she was "normal" again. Well not quite normal, she was still very self-aware and mature compared to the rest of her class.
Or as her sensei likes to call them "snot nose brats" that always made Itadori laugh when he said that.
Yes, these workouts helped a lot during school. After? When her body finally recovered. She would go back to being her changed self but still for a few hours she was given a break.
So maybe she didn't hate Hyogaiji-sensei as much as she liked to joke. After all this wouldn't have been possible without his help.
She got pulled out of her thoughts from his yelling.
"You're slacking brat" he yelled at her from his spot beneath the shady trees. A light cigarette between his fingers.
Itadori couldn't help but smile as he yelled at her. Every time she would think back to her nightmares he would pull her back and work her to the bone so she didn't have time to think. And this was one of those times.
"I'm adding three more sets to your high kick regimen since you want to be smiling like an idiot" Hyōgaiji barked at her.
Itadori's smile only grew larger on her face as she thought "right on cue." She yelled back at him. "Hyōgaiji-sensei you need to lighten up and smile some more! Don't get mad at me because I can feel happiness."
The pink haired girl went on to three more sets of her high kick exercises. As the old man smirked at her words.
"I am picking you up early from school today" Itadori's grandpa said as she took a bite of her breakfast.
"What, why?" she asked curiously. Shoving another bite of food into her mouth, Itadori studied her grandfather's face. She could tell something was off. He instantly looked worried or was that guilt, with her question.
Whatever it was, it was causing Itadori to start feeling anxious. Afterall her grandpa never has taken her out of school early before.
Wasuke hesitated for a moment at his granddaughter's question. He could feel her eyes on him as he sipped his coffee.
After putting his mug down he answered her, with a fake annoyance tone "Brat have you forgotten already? I told you before, that you have a doctor's appointment"
Straight away Wasuke knew that he shouldn't have said anything.
Because Yuji now looked like she seen a ghost. Her face went pale and he could see the fear creep into her eyes. And just like a switch it was gone, replaced by a fake frown. Or maybe the frown was real because she did seem angry at him. It was just her way of hiding her fear from him.
She has been hiding her fear from him since he had noticed the nightmares. And that broke his heart because even with how different she was acting he was still her grandpa and she didn't feel like she could show him when she was scared.
Wasuke didn't know why she couldn't or when she decided to hold all this fear to herself but either way it wasn't healthy and he was going to get her help.
"I don't need to go to the doctors. I'm not sick." the pink haired girl argued with a frown on her face.
She said it with annoyance but Wasuke could hear the small bit of fear that seeped through her voice.
It worried him more, why was she so scared of the doctors all of a sudden? Yeah kids are usually scared of doctors but Yuji didn't have a reason to be this scared.
In his fear, the old man sounded more angry than he actually meant to sound when he replied. "Brat, stop acting like im stupid. I can see something is wrong with you."
Without thinking Itadori yelled back, responding in toe to his angry voice "but I am doing better!"
She got up from her chair, standing up and turning in a circle. As if it would help prove her point, if she showed her body and the fact she was putting on weight again.
"See I'm not losing weight anymore" Itadori said in a defensive tone.
Wasuke started to get frustrated with the fact his granddaughter didn't want help. He didn't understand why she didn't understand that he was just trying to help her. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he said with a tight voice "It doesn't matter if you think you are getting better you need to see a doctor"
Itadori argued back louder but her voice sounded more desperate "Why?! I already said I-" "because I said so, Yuji and that's final!" Wasuke yelled back in anger. Because of the frustration he yelled louder than he meant to.
He instantly regretted it when he looked over to his granddaughter's face. She was staring at him in fear. Her eyes went wide as her body started to shake.
"Yuj-" before he could even finish saying her name she took off. Faster than Wasuke had ever seen. She shot outside the door in one quick motion that he didn't even see her put her shoes on.
Wasuke put his head in his hands as he sighed not knowing what to do. They have never fought like this before. Yeah, he and his granddaughter yelled at each other but it wasn't in a malicious tone. It was just how they spoke to each other.
They joked, yelled and answer in smart tones but they never fought.
He used to count himself lucky that his granddaughter was never a handful when it came to listening to him. She sometimes would drag her feet when he asked her to clean but she never once didn't listen.
So he was in new territory when it came to this and he was afraid that he might have just messed up bad.
The image of Itadori's scared face passed through his mind causing him to curse at himself.
Yeah, he messed up big time. Wasuke promised to himself that when he picked up his granddaughter after school he would apologize to her. That he wouldn't be stubborn when it came to this.
Wasuke looked at the clock and knew he needed to hurry and start heading to work or he would be late. The one reason he didn't run after her was because he had work and he was already getting off early to take her to the doctor's appointment so it wasn't like he could show up late.
The old man sighed one last time before getting out of his seat.
Itadori knew she messed up as soon as her foot stepped out of the door but it was like her body was moving by itself. Like she wasn't in control of her actions.
Or maybe she was telling herself that because she didn't want to deal with the guilt of yelling at her grandpa like that. Not once had she ever felt angry at her grandpa but she couldn't help it this time.
She was just scared. Itadori did not want to go to the doctors and once she realization settled in that she wasn't getting out of it
It terrified her.
So she ran. She ran and kept running. Doing her normal routine, dodging and weaving in between people and buildings. But she wasn't as proficient as she normally was. Itadori had already ran into three people. She then hit two buildings hard but that didn't stop her. She kept breathing was off as well. She could normally get there without breaking a sweat but by the time she got to the school she was breathing heavily.
The pink haired girl leaned over with her hands on her knees to catch her breath. Trying to calm herself down. After a few minutes Itadori finally stood up straight and made her way to the normal spot she met her sensei at.
He wasn't there of course, she was much earlier than usual. Even without Hyogaiji she started her workout.
What stretches of course as he taught her. Then she ran around the school for her warm up like usual.
Itadori was doing everything she usually did but she felt off. No matter how many times she had done this high kick before, today she couldn't do it without falling now. It frustrated her and as she continued to workout her frustration grew.
She couldn't do one thing right. Everything she tried wouldn't come out right. By the time she reached the middle of her workout routine she was breathing heavily, body was shaking and sweating like no other.
Itadori didn't notice when Hyogaiji showed up, She didn't notice when he watched her with calculating eyes and she didn't notice when he walked up behind her.
She did notice him when he side swept her legs from underneath her causing her to fall flat on her back. Knocking the air out of her lungs. All she could do was gasp out for air as she looked at him in shook in confusion.
He looked down at her with his typical annoyed face but Itadori could see something else mixed with his usual set face she just couldn't make out what. After all she was gasping for air.
"Breath kid" He demanded with a intimidating tone but Itadori could tell he didn't mean it in a mean tone with how he tried to soften the demand by using "kid" instead of the usual "brat".
Again he said it with more of a command behind it this time "Breath kid"
So used to following his orders itadori listened without a second thought. It was slow but she got her breathing under control faster than before.
The entire time she kept eye contact with Hyogaiji-sensei as he watched her get breathing in check. His black intimidating eyes grounded her back into reality. She didn't even realize she had slipped back into her thoughts of her nightmares until she came out of it.
The pink haired girl sat up when she was breathing back to normal.
"You back?" Hyogaiji asked her.
She nodded, not trusting her voice at the moment for some reason.
"Good. Now start over from the beginning." the older man ordered. Before he walked away to his usual spot under a tree, he already had a cigarette light by the time he got there.
Without thinking Itadori got up and started her workout again from the start. This time she didn't feel out of place. she was actually present in her body as she went through each set of workouts.
By the time she was back in the same set that her sensei interrupted her at, Itadori was in complete control of her body. She wasn't angry or scared anymore.
Itadori finished sooner than normal since Hyogaiji-sensei didn't correct her form or add more sets like he normally would. Tired and out of breath she made her way over to him. He was watching the sky as he finished his cigarette.
The pink haired girl plopped herself down on the floor looking up at the sky as well. For a few minutes they stayed in peaceful silence only interrupted by the sounds of a few birds passing by.
"I fought with my grandpa" Itadori wasn't sure why she said it but she did and it wasn't like she could take it back.
Hyogaiji-sensei didn't respond right away so she wasn't sure if he even heard her until he spoke. "What was the fight about?"
Itadori hesitated for a moment unsure with how she should answer. "He is taking me to the doctor because he thinks something is wrong with me and I don't want to go"
She said almost as if she was trying to convince her self with a tight voice. "I am getting better."
Again Hyogaiji took a few moments to respond. "The problem isn't fixed though, is it?"
She closed her eyes and sighed as she answered. "no"
The old man sighed as well, causing her to look up at him for the first time since they started this conversion. Hyogaiji-sensei looked worried, well not like a normal person would but he had a small frown that tugged at his lips and his eyebrows were slightly pinched together.
Hyogaiji hesitantly asked "Is your grandpa hurting you, is he the reason for-""no!" before he could even finish his sentence Itadori injected loudly.
Student and teacher stare at each other, studying each other's faces. Hyogaiji looking to see if he could spot a hint of a lie on her face. And for Itadori, she was making sure that the older man knew that her grandpa would never hurt her.
Itadori's voice hardened as she said "my grandpa would never hurt me." Her face set in controlled anger.
The older man instantly knew that she was telling the truth. Hyogaiji had seen many emotions on Itadori. The weeks that he spent with her let him get to know her very well. She was an open book other than the ptsd episodes that would drag her back into a flashback, those she would hide.
But everything else she would show on her face. If she was happy, she would show it. If she was excited, she would show it. If she was annoyed with the lunch room running out of strawberry milk, she would show it. She never was anything other than happy, most of the time. It was quite annoying at times for Hyogaiji.
Hyogaiji had never seen Itadori angry so this shocked him but also showed him that it was in fact not her grandpa, who was giving her these ptsd episodes.
He started hesitantly, making sure that the young girl knew he believed her. "Okay, I believe you."
The older man thought of what to say, since Itadori was really upset with the fight she had with her grandfather. This was evident in how he found her this morning. Completely out of control of her movements and deep in a flashback. She didn't react when he called to her. Telling her to stop but his words didn't reach her. So he knew he needed to say something to her, to help her handle this sensitive situation she had.
Hyogaiji continued even though he was unsure with himself and unsure if he should be giving her advice since he himself didn't take help from others. "People fight and people get over it. That's just the way the world works. You're a good kid for a brat so I don't think your granddad will be an ass and not get over it."
He thought he might have messed up until Itadori smiled sadly at him and replied with a tired tone "Your right"
Relief washed over the older man. Hyogaiji was glad he somehow helped. After all this wasn't in his wheelhouse of expertise. How to kill a man? Yeah he could do that any day of the week. How to deal with emotions? He would rather go back to boot camp again even at his old age.
So this was something he was glad he got right. Hyogaiji looked over when he sensed the pink haired child staring at. She was wearing a goofy smile that made her look stupid.
He barked annoyed at her staring "what brat!"
Her smile only grew larger as she said happily "You care for me old man"
The retired soldier's eyes widened for a second at her statement but only for a second. His face quickly set back to its usually annoyance as he yelled at her "Shut up brat before i make you run around the school five more times"
But Itadori was already standing up and grabbing her bag, heading to the school quickly yelling over her shoulder "You love me sensei you can't deny it!" then taking off faster before he could say anything else.
Hyogaiji will never admit it but he did allow himself to smile a little at her words.
Although that didn't last. Instead his face quickly turned into a deadly expression. If someone happen to see him they would feel fear. His face was that of a killer. His face dead but eyes set in control anger with one thought in his mind.
"Who is hurting Itadori"
Hyogaiji knew that she didn't have any other family than her grandfather. He looked through her records when he thought she was being abused. But if her grandfather wasn't hurting her, who was?
He was already planning a way to deal with her grandfather but this changes things.
Hyogaiji sighed and with a tight voice. "I need to talk to my wife about this"
As Itadori came out of the restroom from changing her workout clothes to her school uniform. She couldn't help the small frown that slipped onto her lips.
Even though talking to Hyogaiji helped it didn't relieve all the anxiety that came with going to the doctors. Not even the workout helped, she came to realize. Her heart was still pounding faster than normal when she looked at the time on her phone. School hadn't even started, she still had hours before he would come to pick her up but that didn't stop her heart from pounding.
"Yuji-chan are you okay?" a voice asked into her right ear.
The closeness and suddenness caused Itadori to squeal and jump in surprise. She turned around and looked at who was talking so close to ear. Her home teacher was leaning over, bent down so he could be level with her height. And her ear.
Kiiroibara Niwa was a tall man that had a slender build but Itadori had seen him move chairs ten stacked on top of each other with ease so she knew he had some muscles just not as much as Hyogaiji-sensei. The older man had soft blonde hair that was longer, it fell a little below his ears but he slicked it back in the front but it had a few hairs fell so it could frame his face. His nose was straight, he had high cheekbones that went well with his sharp jawline and his lips full. The blonde man had deep blue eyes that matched his face perfectly. Even with his sharp features, his appearance came off very gentle.
All of the girls in school swooned over Niwa-sensei, Itadori didn't however. She just liked that he was nice and let her get away with not doing homework sometimes. Although ever since the nightmares started she never missed an assignment. Overall her grades have improved enormously, staying all night bored of course she was bound to studying to help take her mind off the nightmares. So overall, Itadori liked her home room teacher just not like the other girls did.
He had a soft smile on his lips, his blue eyes showed amusement. He laughed at Itadori's surprise reaction, his smile growing wider.
"That's rude Niwa-sensei" Itadori whined holding the ear he just spoke into.
Her teacher stopped laughing and looked at her with a small frown as he stood up to his full height towering over her. He said with a slightly hurt voice. "I told you to call me Kiiroibara-sensei, Yuji-chan" his voice turned gentle when he said her name.
"But Niwa-sensei it's rude at call teachers by their first names" The pink haired girl argued while smiling at her teacher. Finding it funny he always tries to get her to call him by his first time.
Her teacher argued back with a smile on his lips as well his voice turning teasing. "But everyone calls me by my first name Yuji-chan"
"Oh, no don't tell me, It's because you don't like me?" He pretended to have a shocked face that turned into fake hurt.
Itadori laughed at the blonde man's antics. As she spoke. "No Niwa-sensei, my grandpa just taught me to be respectful"
Kiiroibara smiled down at Itadori, watching her closely. As he spoke softly. "That's good Yuji-chan, you always listen"
He patted her head and fixed a few strands of her hair to frame her face as he spoke "So why were you frowning? Such a cute face like yours shouldn't be frowning."
His face turned into a fake anger as he spoke. "Don't tell me it's because of a boy? Did a mean boy hurt your feelings? Or worse, did a boy try to kiss you well confessing his feelings?"
Itadori also didn't want to say since the start of nightmares she sees everyone in her classroom as children. Hell, everyone in this junior high she sees as children. It didn't matter if they were older then her, in her mind she was much older now. If she had to put an age on herself she wouldn't know what to say, other than older than a child and teenager. She was now an adult in her mind. So instead she went with the easiest answer.
"Ew no sensei, boys are gross" Itadori said while laughing, pushing his hand away from her hair.
Because it was gross the thought of kissing a kid her age.
"I was just sad. I have to go to the doctors today." Itadori continued as she messed up her hair again, sticking her tongue at him.
Kiiroibara softly smiled down at Itadori as he spoke "oh thank goddess, I thought I was going to have to give some boy detention and we both know I don't like doing that"
He reached out and gently started to fix her hair again as he spoke. "Well I am sorry you have to go to the doctors, you don't feel sick are you?" He moved his hand from her hair to her forehead, checking her temperature.
She moved his hand away as she spoke. "No Niwa-sensei, it's just for a check up"
Before he could respond the school bell rang out, cutting off the conversation. Itadori eyes widen realizing the time, she said in shock "I'm going to be late! I need to hurry before the teacher gets there" She quickly turned and started to run towards her home room.
"See you in class sensei" She called over her shoulder.
Kiiroibara couldn't help but laugh at Itadori, shaking his head as he spoke to himself. "I am your teacher."
He carefully watched her every movement as she ran to their classroom. His eyes set in amusement.
She couldn't pay attention in class all day. Well not to the teaching anyways, all her attention was spent watching the clock tick by.
With every hour that passed Itadori's anxiety grew. By the time the lunch bell rang she couldn't stop bouncing her leg or tapping her pencil. As soon as the teacher gave the ok to go get lunch. Itadori shot out of her seat and was down the hall before any other student even got out of their desk.
She hurried outside, to the spot her sensei usually stood watching her at. As she did her exercises. Most kids didn't venture out this far, so it gave her a moment to herself.
The nervous pink hair girl walked in circles around the tree, trying to calm herself down. She would run but she didn't want to draw attention to herself. So the best she could do was walk around a tree.
Itadori was thinking of every worst scenario that could happen when she went to the doctor. How they would somehow know about the nightmares and say she needs to stay in the hospital until she is better. But she wasn't going to get better. She couldn't reverse what the nightmares did to her.
What if she slipped up and talked about the demons in her dream, that would surely get her locked in the looney bin. If she started to say how there are ghosts and demons all around us the doctors would call her crazy.
But maybe she was crazy because after all she had never actually seen any monsters. This caused her to pause in her tracks.
She had never seen the monsters. Weren't they supposed to always be around? Shit. She is crazy. Her nightmares are fake.
"This isn't helping" she thought to herself in frustration.
Before Itadori could convince herself that she actually wasn't crazy the bell rang out.
"How long had I been thinking?" she asked herself.
Her anxiety grew, realizing she had to go back to class. Itadori's heartbeat started to pound in her ears, her eyes dilated in fear and her breathing quickened slightly.
Before she realized what she was doing, Itadori was already on top of the brick fence wall that surrounded the school. She easily climbed over and jumped down landing safely on her feet.
The pink haired girl didn't look back as she ran down the street making her way away from the school. Where was she going? Itadori didn't know all she knew was that her grandpa couldn't pick her up early if she wasn't at school.
Itadori ended up in a busy street shopping center that she was familiar with. She stopped running and just started to walk around. Weaving in between adults, as she walked around her anxiety started to fade.
Only problem with that was she could finally realize how hungry she was. Itadori didn't eat breakfast (she ran out before she could eat her breakfast) and she didn't eat lunch (She was too busy worrying to eat lunch). Her stomach growled at her, demanding to be fed.
So she walked up to one of the street vendors and got herself some food. Itadori ended up getting three okonomiyaki and four Ikayaki. The man behind the counter asked if she was sure with that amount of food. She smiled and reassured him she would be back for some more since she couldn't carry anymore then that.
After securing her food. Itadori made her way out of the shopping district and walked to a small park she knew had seating.
Itadori didn't pay much attention as she sat down on a bench. She quickly started to unpack her food, almost drooling at the smell. With a big grin she thanked for the food and started eating.
As she ate on her Ikayaki stick she swings her legs happily over the bench, looking around the park. She wasn't really paying attention until her eyes landed on a figure that also was sitting on a bench across from her on the other side of the park. The park being so small it wasn't much distance between them.
So she could easily make out the teenagers appearance.
He was sitting down leaning back against the bench, his arms spread out on the top of the bench as he looked up at the sky. He wore a plain black long-sleeved t-shirt and jean pants. He wore black sunglasses on his face. The teenager's pure white hair shined in the light, the sun was hitting it just right to make it look like it was glowing.
She swallowed hard as one thought raced through her mind. He is from my nightmares, he is much younger-looking but there is no mistaking it.
His face would put Niwa-sensei looks to shame. He had a sharp jawline that matched perfectly with his high cheekbones, his nose was straight and pointed, his lips full even with them pulled down in a frown. This caused Itadori to pause her observation because every time this man appeared in her nightmare he had a smile on his face.
She didn't hear him speak often but when he did it was always nothing but happy tones when he spoke to her older male counterpart.
It didn't look right on his face with how upset he looked. For some reason it made Itadori feel sad. She didn't know this teenager but she did know the man in her dreams was always nice to her male counterpart.
Plus a kid like him shouldn't look so sad, she didn't knowledge the fact that he was older than her and she was actually the kid out of them.
Itadori suddenly sighed in relief, her body relaxing by itself. She didn't realize how much her thoughts of her nightmares being fake was affecting her. The dread she was feeling but not acknowledging slowly started to fade away, thanks to seeing this teenager.
When she looked back, he still had that upset expression on his face as he looked up to the sky.
Itadori got up without thinking and made her way to the vending machines at the end of the park. For some reason she wanted to get the teenager a soda, maybe it was some small form of way she could thank him for proving she wasn't going crazy or maybe she hoped that it would help take that frown off his face if he got a free drink.
She looked up at the choices, she wanted to get a Sprite for him and a Coke for her but unfortunately, Sprite was at the very top. Which she couldn't reach. Now it was her turn to frown but to be fair it was more of a pout. She hated being shorter, especially with how she felt older.
Still with a pout on her face, she walked back towards her seat but pivoted towards the teenager. Once she was in front of him she asked him "Hey kid, can I borrow your long legs?"
The teenager blinked at the sky. Then, he looked down towards her his face changing from upset to confusion once he looked her over.
"What?" he asked in confusion. His deep voice had a hint of his displeasure.
Which made sense, Itadori did interrupt his thoughts which seemed to be upsetting him, so he was already in a bad mood which was apparent.
That didn't detour her though, she rubbed the back of her neck smiling as she said sheepishly, "I need to borrow your long legs" She pointed to the vending machines. "I can't reach the button I need"
He stared at her for a moment but to Itadori it felt longer with how intense his blue eyes were looking at her, even behind the sunglasses he wore she could feel them on her.
The white hair teenager snickered at her dilemma and said with a smirk. "Alright, you can borrow my long legs"
When he stood up Itadori could finally see how tall he was, he towered over her easily. The white hair teenager took his time walking over to the vending machines. Itadori walked in front of him to the machine she needed. She put the money in for two sodas.
He looked down at her and before he could ask which one she answered "A2" He reached over her and pushed the button she said. Itadori then pushed B6 and the sodas fell to the opening at the bottom of the machine.
The teenage boy turned around and started to walk away when she called to him. Itadori ran up to him and held out the sprite to him. "Here you go kid, for helping"
He looked at her for a moment, with an expression Itadori couldn't make out what he was thinking. But he did end up taking the soda. Causing Itadori smiled up at him.
She nodded her head to him and walked away, making her way back to her bench and sitting down. Feeling satisfied with herself. Since she got to thank him for helping her realize she in fact wasn't crazy without actually thanking him and as a bonus she got him to snicker and smirk, taking that upset look off his face. So overall she accomplished what she set out to do.
But what she didn't account for was him following her and sitting on the other side of her beach, her food in between them. He leaned back into the beach sitting like he was before, relaxed but this time he was looking at her.
She looked back at him in confusion and asked, confused "do you need something kid?"
He chuckled at her and said with a smile. "The sprite was at the top" He held up the sprite in his hand showing her.
She blinked at him and tilted her head in confusion. "Yes I know" Itadori's stomach growled at her causing both of them to look down at it.
She laughed and started to open up her food again. She took two Ikayaki out, she started to eat one and then held out the other one towards the teenager. As she spoke with a mouth full of food. "Did you come here because you wanted some?"
The white hair teenager smirked at her but said in a serious tone that didn't match his smirk. "I'll take it when you explain why you had me get a soda when you could have reached the one you wanted" His smirked started to have more of a dangerous edge to it.
Itadori didn't notice though, she blinked and sheepishly smiled. "Ah you caught me" she took another bite of her food and looked forward as she spoke "honestly? Because you looked so sad."
This time it was the teenagers turn to blink, his smirk fell and his eyebrows pinched slightly together. His lips frown ever so slightly as he said. "I looked sad so you bought me a soda?"
The pink haired child looked over at him as she said with a smile on her lips "Yeah, you looked sad and for some reason that didn't look right on you."
This just made Gojo more confused because when he looked into her eyes he saw nothing but honesty and he didn't know what to make of it.
When the young girl entered the playground he ignored her for the most part, stuck in his thoughts. although subconsciously he watched her from the corner of his eyes.
He seen how happy she was eating, not a care in the world. So he was going dismissed her all together but suddenly she stopped swinging her legs when her eyes landed on him.
Which he is used to girls being distracted by his looks and stopping what they were doing but today he wasn't in the mood.
Gojo was actually in a really bad mood since he heard some whispers about Geto. Nothing concrete but that just pissed off gojo more since he wasn't sure about anything when it came to his old classmate.
So yeah when the kid was in front of him, he ignored her not wanting to deal with some girl's attempt to flirt with him, especially a child.
He was going to tell her to fuck off but she spoke first. "Hey kid, can I borrow your long legs?"
There's a million ways he thought this was going to go. A million pick up lines he has heard but he didn't expect that.
Gojo could feel his face turn to confusion as he asked, still annoyed "what?"
The young girl rubbed her neck, smiling wide but nervously. She sheepishly said, "I need to borrow your long legs." She pointed to the vending machines. "I can't reach the button I need"
Gojo wondered if that's what Shoko meant when she said Gojo was smiling like an idiot. This thought made him snicker. It also helped that she wanted to borrow his legs which was a weird way to ask for help. He can't say he has been asked that before. He smirked as he answered her "Alright, you can borrow my long legs"
He helped her and was ready to walk away but then she gave him a soda, thanking him for his help.
The only problem with that was the fact it was the top button she couldn't reach. She could have gotten her soda without his help. This set Gojo on edge because why did she want his help.
Was he being paranoid? Maybe but he honestly didn't care. After all he knew that just because someone didn't have curse energy, didn't mean they weren't a threat. Toji Fushiguro taught him that lesson he would never forget. So he would do what he wanted to check if this child was a threat.
So he followed her. Sitting down next to her. It wasn't like she was any real threat to him. He knew that since he was able to control his power completely no one would hurt him again.
He went to question her but once again she beat him to it "do you need something kid?"
That made him chuckle because she kept calling him kid for some reason. As he tried to explain why he followed her, the kid's stomach growled both of them to look down at it.
Gojo started to get frustrated with how nonchalant she was being. So when she asked him if he wanted some of her food he dropped the nice act and got straight to the point. Not wanting to deal with this any longer if she had alternative motives.
"I'll take it when you explain why you had me get a soda when you could have reached the one you wanted" He made sure that his smirk came off more threatening.
But it seemed like she didn't even notice, which annoyed him more.
"Ah you caught me" The little pink-haired child said as she took another bite of her food and looked forward as she spoke "honestly? Because you looked so sad."
He blinked at her answer as he spoke confused. "I looked sad so you bought me a soda?"
Gojo finally actually looked at her. Yeah, he was looking at her before but it wasn't closely, it was just him assessing a potential threat.
Her eyes made him think twice when trying to guess her age. They were a chestnut color with a hint of golden hue. But that's not why he had to rethink her age. It was the level of intelligence they seemed to hold. He couldn't tell if she was a short first year high scholar or she was still in junior high.
She wore a school uniform, one he wasn't familiar with. Not that he knew a lot of school uniforms but he knew it wasn't a school close. Her uniform was wrinkled and dirt all over it, the bottom had a tear in it.
She had a unique shade of pink hair that shined when the sun hit it, giving her a pink glowing hue. That made her skin look more pink than her warm skin color. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail but her hair was a mess, her bangs shooting in every direction. Some stuck to her forehead for sweat.
He could see bruises on her arms and legs. Some were dark black and purple, well others were fading from time. Her knees had scrapes with blood that finally started to scab over. If he had to guess it happened this morning. She was only tall enough to reach a little above his waist.
Overall this kid looked worn out and beat up.
Gojo felt a hint of guilt start to form in his chest because he didn't realize he was really thinking this kid was here to kill him. Maybe Masamichi was right, he was high strung. Not that he would admit that to the old man.
The white hair teenager looked at her face, her cheeks were sunken in from lack of nutrition. Her eyes looked extremely exhausted, the white of her eyes had red vines from lack of sleep. The large bags underneath her eyes were dark with color and set deep with how much time must have passed with lack of sleep.
The expression she wore was sadness mixed with tiredness as she looked forward. He knew it well; it was something he wore often when he was alone and allowed himself to think of his old classmate. His old friend. But he would never admit that now.
Her voice came out soft as if she was in deep thought, still looking forward "You looked like you were on the edge"
Gojo's eyes widened ever so slightly at her words. He couldn't help but laugh. However to his ears he could hear how fake it sounded. The white hair teenager looked away from the kid and looked up at the sky. A fake smile on his lips.
He knew that he laughed because she was right, just like Masamichi. Gojo didn't like how well this kid read his expression but it was his fault after all. He did let his emotions show on his face.
The facade he wore since geto left and he had to pretend like it didn't affect him, so the higher ups couldn't use it against him. After all, they were always looking for a crack in his veil.
The kid spoke again, not looking at him. She was lost in her own thoughts. Her voice came out soft and almost gentle. "So what's wrong kid? What's pushing you over that edge?"
Gojo kept looking at the sky, he too lost in his own thoughts. He didn't understand why but he answered with a vague answer. His voice almost come out almost as a afterthought "Got into a fight with a classmate"
The white hair teenager would never admit that Geto was anything more than a classmate.
It was quiet for a few moments. Which Gojo didn't mind, his thoughts distracting him. Just as he thought the kid was going to ignore him she spoke.
Her voice was still lost in thought. "My sensei says people fight and people get over it. That's just the way the world works"
This caused Gojo to let out another tired laugh, he was going to say something along the lines of, No that's not how the world works but she spoke before he could. Almost as if she was responding to his laugh as his answer to her words.
This time her voice held nothing but sadness even as she was still lost in thoughts. "And some people aren't meant to be in our lives forever, some are just passing through to teach us a lesson"
Even with her eyes still looking forward, Gojo could see the misery in her expression.
This time Gojo didn't laugh. No, he stayed silent as he thought over her words. Which somewhat annoyed him but other emotions were mixed with his annoyance. He couldn't place what they were or maybe he didn't want to admit that, it was sadness that was mixed with his annoyance. Because maybe Geto was a lesson.
But that was a stupid thought because there wasn't any lesson he learned.
Was there?
Before he got too lost in his thoughts again, the girl turned towards him and held up an Ikayaki to him. She was smiling sadly. Her eyes were more focused but still had that glazed over look to them as if she was lost in her thoughts still.
Her voice was tired but it had a hint of amusement as she spoke. "Now will you eat? Since I explained why I got you a soda."
Gojo couldn't help but smirk because he did say he would take it if she explained herself. He took the Ikayaki and he couldn't help but laugh because what the fuck was going on with him. This kid made him suspicious, confused and tired, really fucken tired.
Maybe he was delusional from the long mission he just came back from. Yeah that was it or if he admitted to himself. He was so tired of everything. But no Gojo was way too prideful and stubborn to admit that after all "Throughout Heaven and Earth. I alone am the Honored One" He thought to himself a smirk on his lips.
He took a bite of the Ikayaki the girl gave him. The two duo sat there, eating in silence for a few minutes. Only broken by the noise when she turned and opened her bag pulling out two containers. She handed him one without saying a word and he took it without saying anything either. When he opened it there was okonomiyaki in the containers, without looking at her he took the chopstick she was holding towards him.
Again they ate in silence. It was a comfortable silence that washed over them. Maybe it was something they both needed. To be able to sit down with another person and not feel the pressure to hide oneself. Just to be able to sit with someone that understood to an extent what the other was feeling.
That thought made him laugh that was mixed with a scoff because how the hell could this kid ever understand what he was feeling.
The pink-haired girl looked over at him with tired eyes that were filled with a hint of amusement. This caused Gojo to look over her appearance again. From her bruised up beaten body to her sunken cheeks from malnourishment.
Gojo turned and looked up at the sky. So she couldn't see his smirk fall off his face. One thought in his mind. "It's not like I could understand what she is going through either"
The white hair teenager didn't feel guilty for the weak often or even ever but for some reason he felt something that could be mistaken as guilt.
She spoke with amusement as she teased him "I see you are feeling better if you can laugh without faking it."
Gojo laughed this time without the scoff, it was the first genuine laugh he had since meeting this kid. He said with a cocky smirk. "I never fake anything"
The pink haired girl snorted and gave him an amusing smile as she lifted one eyebrow. She spoke with a sarcastic voice. "Yeah, okay. Whatever you say, kid. That's totally not bullshit.
This time it was his turn to raise an eyebrow to her. He chuckled before he spoke. "I am not the kid out of us, kid"
He ignored the fact she called him out, not willing to argue about it because in some way that means she got to him, if he was willing to put effort into arguing.
She answered without hesitation. "No"
It was a simple No but she said it as a matter of fact, like it was the most obvious thing to anyone. This caused Gojo smirk to widen by her audacity. His eyes filled with amusement. In some way it was close to how he spoke to the higher ups about him being the most powerful sorcerer.
Because obviously he was. He was the best.
She spoke as if he wasn't allowed to argue. "Look kid, who gave who advice?"
Before he could reply sarcastically, I didn't need advice.
The pink-haired girl went on, as if she was explaining to a child. "See, so I am the older one out of us. Hell, I am the teacher if anything. Since I gave you such amazing wisdom" by the end of her since she was laughing through her words.
Gojo couldn't help but ask in a sarcastic voice. "Oh, you're my teacher?" The thought of anyone being his teacher when he was going to be soon graduating was downright hilarious to him.
The girl replied with ease "Of course, don't worry my young student, I am one of the best teacher out there. I'll teach you everything you need to know."
Now Gojo was laughing without holding back because how the hell did she just say that she was the best after he just thought it.
The pink haired kid laughed with him. She looked over at him as she finished laughing. A smile on her lips. Her eyes watching his smile. Gojo finished laughing and looked over at her as well.
She turned and started picking up her trash, putting it in the bag that once held her food. She held out her hand to him. He gave her his empty container which she put in the bag as well. She stood up and put her backpack on. The pink haired girl looked over at him.
She smirked as she said with the same matter of fact tone. "I was right."
He matched her smirk as he inquired about her statement "Right about what?"
Her smirk turned into a genuine smile as she looked over his face, studying it closely. Gojo's eyes filled with confusion as to why she was looking so close at his face. Her eyes showed nothing but honesty as she said softly. "A real smile suits you better"
Before the pink-hair girl could see his reaction, she turned and walked away towards the trash can. She threw the bag away and turned back to Gojo. Smiling brightly as she called out to him happily. "See you around kid, be a good student and stay out of trouble"
She waved to him before walking away, making her way out of the park. Walking across the street into the busy shopping district.
And the entire time Gojo watched her, even as she disappeared behind people. He kept watching her as she weaved in between adults much taller than her. Gojo's face was unreadable as he watched her.
He then turned back looking up at the sky as he leaned back against the bench stretching his arms across the top of it.
She never saw the way his eyes widened at her words or how his smirk fell as he swallowed. If anyone saw his face they would say it was the first time Gojo Satoru was genuinely speechless.
Thoughts ran through his mind. Somehow that girl made Gojo feel unsure about himself. Because how the hell did she see through him so easily. It wasn't like she caught him lost in his thoughts about his old classmate like before. No he was in total control of his facial expressions by the time he was interrogating her with questions.
Yet she saw through him. That's not how it was ever supposed to go. No, Gojo has seen through people his whole life and will continue to see through people to the very end. She didn't get to see through his mask.
He didn't like it. He didn't believe it. He wouldn't believe it. So prideful Gojo will just chalk this up to her not actually seeing anything. It was just a kid acting like a kid. Nothing more and nothing less.
If only Gojo knew how much this kid actually knew. How much she knew about him and his future. About a lot of people's futures. Even if it was slowly changing because of the girl's actions. One thing was certain, this isn't the last time Satoru Gojo will meet Yūji Itadori.
Hello!~ I hope you enjoyed the story.
This chapter was a lot longer than my last one. Because I wasn't able to cut it off without it feeling unfinished. I hope you enjoy the longer chapter.
Just wanted to say a few things. I am dyslexic, so no matter how many times I proofread my work there's going to be stuff I missed. So I apologize for that.
If you enjoyed the story please feel free to comment, like and follow. It shows me that I should continue writing for this story.
Important note: Just a reminder, this isn't the same timeline as we know it. Some things will change as Itadori does different things from guy Itadori. But things have already changed because this isn't the same timeline, such as Gojo being 16 when he meets 12 year old Itadori. And obviously Itadori being a girl.
Next Chapter:
She was having a panic attack that was the only explanation she could think of. On why she couldn't get her breathing under control. Or why the world was spinning around her.
Itadori fell to her knees as tears ran down her face, her eyes widened in fear. As every nightmare she has ever had came flooding to the front of her mind. Every scream, every demon, every dead body, every fear. EVERYTHING was being shoved down her throat.
That's why Itadori didn't see or notice when a foot smashed into the back of her head. Hard. Knocking her to the floor, blood spilling out of her new broken nose. Her mouth filled with blood as she bit down on her cheek from impact.
