Once a year, representatives from all sorcerer clans in Japan —no matter how big or small— are gathered for a banquet led by one of the big three clans. This year it was held at the Gojo estate.
Its an important meeting discussing recent events and how it affects clan politics.
However, one person in particular is clearly not listening. And he's not ashamed to show it.
Gojo rested his chin in his palm while his other hand is busy twirling a white ribbon between his fingers.
Its the ribbon he stole from Utahime when he visited Kyoto while she was busy with paperwork and was ignoring him. He succeeded on getting her attention albeit temporarily, causing her to ran after him at the school yard. After a while, she stomped her foot in frustration and gave up on getting her ribbon back.
He chuckled not-so-subtly at the memory, ignoring the itchy feeling of his throat for the third time this week.
No one bothered to reprimand him since a man as special as he is could afford to be arrogant.
He is THE Gojo Satoru after all.
A lot of people could agree that he is a man who can get anything and anyone he wanted.
So imagine everyone's surprise when he of all people started coughing loudly in the middle of a clan meeting no less. Purple petals soaked with blood lay on the palm of his hand as he stared at it blankly as if processing what just happened while everyone in the room is either concerned or just as confused as he is.
After a moment, Gojo started cackling loudly at his sudden realization. He is once again reminded that love is the most twisted curse of them all.
Everyone in the room was too stunned to speak thinking that the man in front of them finally went mad.
"It's the Hanahaki Disease." Shoko confirms as she crosses her arms, obviously too tired to deal with this unnecessary workload from Gojo. "It's an extremely uncommon life-threatening love sickness among people with cursed energy."
Gojo only hummed in response not even surprised nor concerned at her words and unnaturally happy for someone who just receive news of his serious illness.
"You know how it works." Shoko continued, when she received no response from the idiot sitting in front of her. "Confess or get a surgery or die. Your choice."
"You're so mean, Shoko. I'm dying here but you sound like you don't even care." Gojo, like the overdramatic person that he is, put a hand on his chest feigning hurt. "You're not even asking who it is."
Seeing that her friend doesn't seem to be considering surgery at the moment, she promptly kicked him out of the infirmary so she can get her well deserved rest.
News about Gojo Satoru's illness spread like a wildfire which is unsurprising considering the scene he made during the banquet. It goes without saying that gossips about him have increased tremendously.
When Utahime heard about his illness her initial reaction was to laugh. Out of all the rumors she heard about him for the past decade this one takes the cake, because who in their right mind would believe that THE Gojo Satoru is love-sick to the point of dying.
Gojo Satoru.
One of the most popular bachelors among sorcerers.
The Head of one of the most influential clans which means he's rich.
The strongest sorcerer and the user of the infamous six-eyes and limitless technique.
Good-looking, not that she'll ever admit that to him.
The list goes on.
However, her amusement with the gossips is short-lived when she found out a week after from Principal Gakuganji that Gojo Satoru is, in fact, ill.
He then gave her orders to temporarily take over Gojo's teaching duties as per Principal Yaga's request.
So now, Iori Utahime must go to Tokyo with her students in tow to do his job.
Chapter 2
Summary:
This happens during the week before Utahime is ordered to go to Tokyo.
Notes:
I ended up posting early lol. Sorry in advance for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Haha...
I belatedly realized how short the first chapter is and so I tried to make this longer than the last one...
Tell me if its still too short...
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
It was shortly after Shoko's examination that the first years found Gojo coughing up petals on the hallway.
"Gojo sensei, is it true!?" Yuuji, along with Nobara, is running while dragging an annoyed Megumi towards their teacher. "They said you're dying!"
"No way! Is that Hanahaki?" Nobara stared incredulously at the scattered petals on the floor then at his palm. "Oh no. Whose the unlucky woman you fell for?"
"Hana...what? What's that?" Yuuji's brow knitted to a frown and tried to whisper —even though everyone can hear him— to Fushiguro who only sighed in response.
"Hah? You don't even know that?" Kugisaki said, crossing her arms and forgetting the question she asked earlier.
Gojo watched them with amusement as the three of them huddled in a corner while Kugisaki is trying but failing to explain it to Itadori so in the end Fushiguro ended up explaining.
After a few minutes, Itadori finally understands it. They turned around to face their teacher who, somehow, is eating a popsicle while waiting for them.
"Gojo sensei, is it true!?" Yuuji said, repeating his first line as if to resume the scenario from earlier.
"Its true, Yuuji-kun. I'm so sick I can't even stand straight." Gojo said, without missing a beat. He put an arm around Itadori's shoulders as if to prove his point.
"Oh no, sensei! Hang in there!" Yuuji said, matching Gojo's dramatic flare as he tries to support their 190 cm teacher.
He looks genuinely worried in contrast to the other two first year who looked mildly unamuse at the drama in front of them.
"If you're so sick, why are you eating ice cream?" Megumi shook his head while Nobara nodded in agreement.
"Shush, Megumi. Dying or not, I still have time for ice cream."
"He's right, Fushiguro. Don't be so mean. This may be Gojo sensei's last moments."
"His last moments is eating ice cream? Now that's lame." Nobara scoffed at them and Megumi rolled his eyes, silently thankful that he's not the only sane one here.
Itadori gaped at his two classmates and then turned his attention back to their teacher. "Don't listen to them, sensei. If there's anything you need, you can tell us. We'll do anything."
"Anything?"
"Anything!"
"Promise?"
"Promise!"
Gojo stood up straight and looked at the three of them. "Then... there is something you can do for me."
Noticing the sudden seriousness of the mood the three first years became silent and gulped in anticipation of his request.
"Fifty..."
"Fifty?" The three said in unison, impatiently waiting for their teacher to continue.
"Submit fifty pages essay of 'Why you love the GREAT teacher Gojo Satoru' before next week." Gojo declared while posing like a magical girl —using the popsicle as a wand prop— and winking at them.
There was a beat of silence.
It took a few moments for them to process what nonsense they just heard.
"WHAT!?" Kugisaki and Fushiguro yelled in unison when they finally regained their bearings.
"You have got to be kidding me." Nobara's nose wrinkled in distaste, clearly disgusted at the idea of homework. "I'm not doing it."
Itadori raised his hands as if they're inside the classroom. "Fifty pages is too much, sensei. At least give us more than a week. Wait, are you still alive by next week?"
"Why do we have to do something like this?" Fushiguro scowled, clearly against writing THAT kind of essay, he'd rather die. "Just confess and get this over with."
Itadori and Kugisaki snapped their head towards Fushiguro, as if just realizing the solution to their problems.
As they were about to support Fushiguro's idea, Gojo is already running, quickly saying goodbye.
"Don't forget. Before next week." Gojo yelled at them as he waved his hands before he disappeared from their sight.
"Gojo sensei!" They tried to go after him, but he already teleported away.
"I-ta-do-ri," Kugisaki and Fushiguro slowly turned and glared at the person responsible for this.
Itadori chuckled nervously, slowly stepping backwards just in case he needs to escape.
"You're so dead!"
They ran around the school —accidentally breaking some stuff while they're at it— until Principal Yaga caught them and scolded them for the rest of the day.
On the third day after hearing about Gojo's illness, his condition was noticeably worse than before.
Whereas before he was only coughing up a few petals —with a bit of blood on it— a few times a day, now he's coughing up a portion of flowers that are yet to fully bloom.
The second year students found Gojo —more like he found them and was waiting to be noticed— coughing obnoxiously loud near the training grounds.
Maki rolled her eyes at his antics and decided to take a break from training and finally acknowledged his presence.
She, along with Inumaki and Panda, approached Gojo who was pretending not to notice them until they're literally in front of him.
"Oh? You guys are here? I didn't realize." Gojo said in the most fake, albeit a bit hoarse, voice she ever heard. "What's up?"
"What's up, my foot. What do you want?" Maki huffed as she crossed her arms.
"Hmm? I don't know what you're talking about. You're the ones who approached me." He said as he blinked at them 'innocently' which earned a stink eye from Maki. When he got no response, he feigned coughing and added, "Don't you think you're forgetting about something?
"Like what? The fact that you're love-sick and dying?" Maki stared at him deadpan.
"Your favorite teacher—" Gojo said, only to be interrupted.
"You're not anyone's favorite." Maki corrected him.
"—has a very serious life-threatening illness."
"Its not that serious if you just confess your feelings and get this over with, Satoru." This time it was Panda who interrupted him.
"It breaks my heart how unconcerned you are of my well being." Gojo continued unfazed by the constant interruption, wiping his fake tears with a tissue. "I worked so hard to raise—"
"Okaka."
"—you all and this is how you treat me."
"I feel sorry for whoever it is that made you vomit flowers." Maki shook her head, pitying the woman who'll be stuck with this idiot for the rest of her life.
"Now that I think about it, who's the unlucky girl, Satoru?" Panda asked as he scratched his chin, waiting expectantly for an answer.
Gojo ignored the jabs that his students gave him and smirked smugly at them.
"Why don't you take a gue—" Before he could finish his sentence Gojo suddenly coughed up —for real this time— not yet fully bloomed flowers.
The three second years stared blankly at his flower vomit until realization dawn on them.
The color gave it away. There's only one person with that particular shade of purple.
They gave their teacher their best pity faces which only result in offending him.
Panda is the first to speak up. "Satoru... don't mind. Just get a surgery."
"At least that way, you don't have to experience getting rejected." Maki added while Inumaki nodded in agreement. "Shake."
"Hah?! Why do you guys assume I'm getting rejected?" Annoyed at the lack of faith from his second years, Gojo grumbled as he took out his phone. "Tch, only Yuta believes in me..."
"Don't bother Yuta. You know he's busy." Maki's brow bumped together in a scowl, her warnings was completely ignored by their teacher as he proceeded to call his student who is currently overseas.
"Hello, Yuuta-kun. I just called to let you know that I'm dying." Gojo said, as if casually talking about the weather. "And also Maki said she li—"
"Ugh. Don't you dare!" Maki leapt forward, ready to hit their stupid teacher with her cursed tool, but he only snickered in response while evading her assaults.
Gojo threw his phone upwards when Maki almost snatched it from him.
"Uh... hello? Gojo sensei? Are you there?" Yuuta said from the phone, while it was high up in the air.
"Shake shake," Inumaki answered after catching their teacher's phone.
"Toge? What happened?"
"Don't worry, Yuta." Panda said, answering for Inumaki. "Maki is just trying to kill Satoru."
"Eh?"
Yaga has known Satoru ever since he was a student. But even now, he finds himself thinking for the umpteenth time that he has no idea what goes on with that idiot's head. And now with his sudden illness, even more so.
Satoru only needs to either confess or get a surgery and yet he does neither of those.
Instead, he deemed it as a proper use of his time to annoy everyone in the school.
From pestering his students to make essays on why they love him to ordering around both students and faculty members because he has 'dying rights' he says. He even went to annoy Nanami and Ijichi during a mission.
Despite Gojo becoming lethargic and visibly more in pain with each passing day, his mood seems to be the same as usual. Upbeat and annoying.
On the contrary, everyone else's mood is sullen. Due to stress from Gojo's constant harassment or worry for his deteriorating health or both.
Yaga doesn't understand why Satoru kept wasting his time like this since it would be better if his illness disappears quickly for the sake of his health and for everyone's sanity. When he confronted him about this he only laughed, dismissing his concerns, and continued to bother everyone all throughout the week.
He tried to be patient with Satoru, knowing full well who the person in his heart is, and tried not give away his pity towards him.
Even if his former student did try to confess, he doubts his feeling would be reciprocated. After all, he watched Satoru's horrible attempt at flirting —calling her weak and the like— for the past decade.
Yaga had enough with this when Gojo finally collapsed due to his constant vomiting of almost fully bloomed flowers with blood on it, chronic headaches, fatigue and fever —it's a surprise how he manage to last that long with all those ailments— and so he decided to intervene to this idiot's love life.
He made a call to Principal Gakuganji, requesting for Iori Utahime's help.
Now he just hopes some kind of miracle would happen.
Notes:
Gouta moments in the next chapter. I'm not sure when I'll post it since I'm currently cramming my work lol.
Chapter 3
Summary:
Utahime finally arrives. Yay!
Notes:
I know I said there would be GoUta moments this chapter, but this chapter is longer than I thought so decided include it on the next one instead.
Sorry for any typos or grammar mistakes.
I should really stop writing during midnight.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
From the moment Utahime and her students arrived at the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School they could sense something is off.
They expected to see a grim atmosphere in the school considering THE Gojo Satoru is supposedly bedridden. After all, despite how annoying Gojo is, he is a colleague they could all rely on.
So imagine their surprise when they step into the school only for it to be so... chaotic. Not in an emergency kind of way but more like a festival kind of way. Which is ridiculous. Ridiculous to the point that Utahime has to double check if they're in the right school.
"Is there a festival?" Toudou asked no one in particular as he put a hand on his chin.
"There's no way there's a festival in this kind of situation." Nishimiya said, slightly doubting her statement as she saw someone pass by with a box of party goods. "...probably."
"Shouldn't they be mourning instead?" Mai twirled her hair with her fingers, obviously not caring about the whole situation.
"For once I agree with you." Noritoshi said, equally nonchalant.
Utahime clapped her hands to get their attention. "That's enough, children. No one's going to mourn since no one died."
"Yet." Mai added.
The Kyoto teacher sighed and led her students to the dorms to drop off their luggage. It's odd to see the usually quiet school bustling with people. No doubt Gojo is the one responsible for this. Utahime pinched the bridge of her nose, sensing the oncoming headache for the duration of her stay in Tokyo.
"Utahime sensei look! They have food stalls on the school ground." Miwa said as she pointed outside the window.
"No matter how you look at it, isn't this a festival?" Mechamaru said, standing next to Miwa as he observes the crowd outside.
Utahime frowned in confusion.
If the school is celebrating like this it could mean that Gojo is already better. She was informed that it was a hanahaki disease so it's possible for Gojo to get better as soon if his love problems are solved. But if that were the case Principal Yaga would inform her as soon as possible and there would be no more reason for her to stay here.
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone suddenly shouted.
"My brother! I've come for you!" Toudou exclaimed as he jumped off the window.
"Toudou wai—" Utahime tried to stop him but he's gone before she could. She shook her head at his antics and turned to her other students who are looking at her expectantly.
Utahime sighed, "Since we just arrive, I'll give you some free time."
She watched as her students run off to the festival before she proceeded to go to Principal Yaga's office. As she walked on the hallway she recognized some of the people she passed by are mostly Gojo's family servants and sorcerers loyal to the Gojo clan. Now she's sure that Gojo's funding this whole festival. She shook her head, not wanting to think how much money was spent.
Her brows knitted in a frown when she didn't find Principal Yaga in his office. She contemplated if she should wait for him in his office or if she should find him herself. With her curiosity winning her over, she decided to go to the festival under the pretext of looking for the principal.
As Utahime walked around the school grounds she couldn't help but notice the gaze of the people she passed by. Perhaps it's because her shrine priestess outfit stands out among the people wearing uniforms or suits, but she feels there's more to it than just that. She got even more suspicious when the people passing by are making way for her.
Before she could think about it further, she heard a familiar obnoxiously loud laugh. Utahime headed to the crowd where she heard the voice and the people divided like a sea parted by Moses as soon as they noticed her.
Although she's thankful for making it easier to walk towards her destination she couldn't help but be uncomfortable by the sudden treatment.
As Utahime got near, she noticed people are currently acting a play on a small and poorly set upped stage. She recognized them as Gojo's first year students and... is that Toudou?
She stared at the stage incredulously and then put a palm on her forehead, silently berating herself for letting him loose. Now he's gone and hijacked a play.
She's about to scold Toudou when she saw a man with white hair sitting crossed legs —on the most comfortable sofa she's ever seen— across the stage. She forgets about her student for a moment and approached the man in front of her.
Utahime narrowed her eyes as she crossed her arms. "Gojo, aren't you supposed to be sick?"
Gojo flinched and slowly turned his head towards her. His eyes widened at the sight of her.
"Utahime?"
This happened after Gojo fainted and a day before Utahime and her students arrived from Kyoto.
Gojo woke up with a throbbing headache at the school infirmary. He groaned as he sat up, clutching his head. Upon reaching for a glass of water at his bedside, he stiffened when he noticed the other people in the room.
It's his first year and second year students, huddling on the floor and using Panda as a large cushion at the center while Maki sat crossed legs, leaning on the wall near them.
Gojo chuckled at the sight of their sleeping faces. He vaguely remembers passing out in front of his students, which must be why they're on stand by in case something were to happen. He appreciates the thought, but what's the point if all of them are asleep.
Then he belatedly realized that he's not wearing his blindfold and it seems he no longer needs it. He must be reaching his limit now that even his Six Eyes are failing him.
He didn't think much of it when he first heard he's dying. A small part of him doesn't care. Maybe its because he already died once during his battle with Fushiguro Toji or maybe deep down he wanted this to happen.
He's aware of how much he inconvenienced everyone around him. He's aware of this, yet he can't stop even if he tried. Since having people worry about him is strangely more addicting than the sweets he usually indulges.
And yet the more he basks in other people's attention, the more unsatisfied he gets, and the more he craves her presence.
Utahime.
It's normal for them to be apart for long periods of time, considering they work far away from each other. But now, it felt much, much longer.
He knows he can't have her.
Not when he knows fully well how greedy and twisted his love can be.
That's why from the moment his illness manifested, he had to stay away from her, lest he loses his sense of reason and breaks her.
Gojo quickly shook his head, stopping himself from thinking about her any further as he doesn't want to trigger his flower vomit. But it only made his headache worse.
He desperately needs a distraction from his illness and his thoughts, and his students are the only ones who could help him. They're definitely not going to be happy about what he's thinking. Alas, this is for the greater good.
Gojo made a silent apology to his students before he repeatedly slammed his hands on the table near his bed to wake them up.
"Attention!"
"Huh, what!? Fire!? Earthquake!? Curses!?" Itadori sat up flabbergasted, frantically looking around if there's any danger despite the fact that his eyes has yet to adjust from his sleep.
Kugisaki muttered in her sleep, asking them to shut up while Fushiguro buried his face on Panda's fur, ignoring Gojo's protests.
"Satoru, it's still night time..." Panda said, covering his ears with his paws.
Maki adjusted her glasses, silently cursing at him for being a nuisance, and Inumaki was still fast asleep, unaffected by his loud disturbance.
"Wake up! Wake up!" Gojo said in the most enthusiastic voice a sick person can manage. "We have lots to do to prepare for the festival."
There was silence.
He could almost see the gears of their heads turning at the mention of a festival. His students —mostly still drowsy— looked at each other and then back at him.
"Festival?"
It's the day of their impromptu festival.
Everything was hastily prepared because some idiot decided it was a good idea to have one.
That idiot being Gojo Satoru.
Despite the last minute preparations, it could pass off as a regular school festival, except the stalls were managed and provided by the Gojo clan and not by students.
This was made possible with the power of money.
Although Gojo got an earful from Principal Yaga for doing whatever he pleases, but his complaints amount to nothing as he has no intention of listening in the first place.
All that's left is for the students to do well with their impromptu school play.
Gojo sat comfortably on the front row seats with Principal Yaga beside him, absolutely done with his antics.
He watched his students embarrass themselves with their Cinderella rip off play in front of the random crowd.
The crowd was mainly for show since you can't have a festival with only a few people, but that's beside the point.
The longer he watches his kids on stage, the more he realize they don't have any talent in acting. He thought this could somehow work since he's the one who pick their roles.
Yuuji as Cinderella, Nobara as the evil stepmother, and Megumi as the 'grumpy' fairy godmother.
It was entertaining even if its an extremely low quality play, mainly because he was making fun of his students.
That was until the Prince Charming appeared.
It was supposed to be Maki's role, and yet the one who appeared is not Maki but Toudou Aoi.
His students is just as surprised and confused as he is. Now, Yuuji's trying, but failing to keep their story on track because of Toudou's nonsensical lines.
He would find this hilarious if it happened any other day, but not today.
Because the fact that Toudou Aoi is here could only mean one thing.
Gojo's heart pounded erratically, whether it's out of nervousness or anticipation he can't tell.
And then, he recognized it.
A graceful song that stood out among the surrounding noises.
Her cursed energy.
He sat still when he felt her approach him. And his heart beat louder than ever.
"Gojo, aren't you supposed to be sick?"
Gojo hesitantly turned his head towards her.
Once he locked eyes with her, he knew he wouldn't be able to take his eyes off her.
"Utahime?"
Notes:
Thank you guys for the kudos and comments. I really appreciate it. I'm sorry for not replying since I'm too shy.
Chapter 4
Summary:
Utahime and Gojo moments finally!
Notes:
I'm sorry it took this long to update. Honestly speaking I forgot about this. Hahaha... I have no excuses.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Utahime didn't know what to think when she heard Gojo is sick. A part of her finds it hard to imagine what he's like when he's ill since Gojo Satoru is a man who hardly shows his weakness to anyone. So she wasn't expecting anything when she approached him, but he still managed to surprise her.
Anyone who could see Gojo right now would have difficulty telling how sick he really is. If it weren't for the bucket filled with blood-stained flowers and a box of tissues on his lap, along with his 'paler than usual' face and his hoarse voice, some may think that he's not sick at all. Only Gojo can pull off looking this good despite his sickness.
But that's not what surprised her.
Gojo is uncharacteristically silent and nowhere near as upbeat and annoying she expects him to be.
"Gojo?"
Her brows knitted in a frown when she heard no response from him and grew even more concerned as he continues to stare at her with bewildered eyes as if a million thoughts are passing through his head.
She had never seen him so... out of it. Even with his tinted glasses she could tell.
Utahime bent down on his eye level and pressed her hand on his forehead.
He's burning up, but what's more alarming is that his infinity is not activated. Perhaps he can't. If so, then his condition is a lot worse than she expected.
The contact of her hand to his forehead seems to snap him out of his stupor.
She sees a sudden glint in his eyes and something else she doesn't recognize.
Before she can figure out what it is, a smug smile slowly formed on his face. And the tiniest amount of worry she had for him vanished.
Utahime immediately stood up straight and pulled her hand away from him, realizing what the look on his face meant.
"Oh my, Utahime." The grin on his face only grew wider, perfectly satisfied when he saw her narrow her eyes at him. "Are you perhaps—"
"No."
"—worried about me?"
"I'm not—"
"To think you'd come all the way here—"
"No—"
"—just to nurse me back to health." Gojo said, with a shit-eating grin on his face.
Her eyes twitched, resisting with all her might not to throw hands at a supposedly sick person.
As if sensing her murderous intent, Principal Yaga showed up beside the two and interrupted them.
It was then that Utahime realized everyone is watching them, even the students who were supposed to be acting in a play stopped to watch them.
She greeted the principal, ignoring the heat creeping up on her face and pointedly avoiding Gojo's smug grin.
The first year students watched the principal and the teachers curiously from across the stage.
"I can't hear what they're saying from here." Nobara said as she inched closer to them without getting off the stage.
"Hm? I can hear them though." Itadori cupped one of his ears to proved his point.
"What? Tell me!" Nobara grabbed Yuji's shoulders, demanding the answers out of him.
"Why are you two eavesdropping in the first place?" Fushiguro shook his head at his classmates but was completely ignored by the two.
"Ack! Wait!" Itadori tried to steady himself as Nobara kept shaking him. "I think they're heading back inside!"
As if on cue, they saw Gojo sensei with a stupid grin on his face getting dragged by a grumpy Iori sensei by the hand without making a fuss.
"Wait, does this mean we're done with this stupid play?" Nobara asked, looking at Yuji for confirmation.
"Uh... probably?" Itadori shrugged his shoulder.
They both looked at Megumi who took his wig off and threw it to the floor.
"Whatever the case is, I'm not wearing THIS anymore." Fushiguro grumbled, gesturing to his fairy godmother costume. "Besides, Maki and the others left already."
"What?!" Both Nobara and Itadori looked at the back of the stage. "They ditched us!"
Fushiguro walked away as fast as he can before anyone can think of stopping him.
"Ah! Don't leave without us!" Itadori and Nobara yelled in unison, chasing after him.
Meanwhile, Toudou was all alone on the stage, not realizing Itadori and the others are gone while he was busy rambling on how he became a hokage from planet Namek so that he can save his sister Yujirella from the pirate king.
"Why are you even outside when you're supposed to be resting?" Utahime huffed as she drags Gojo by the hand, too annoyed to care how the people they passed by look at them strangely.
It must be strange to see the world's strongest sorcerer letting himself be dragged by an angry shrine maiden.
She wouldn't be doing this if it weren't for Principal Yaga's request to usher Gojo back to his designated room so he could rest.
"But I'm bored!" Gojo whined, swinging his arm along with hers childishly. "Do you know how agonizing it is to stay indoors while there's a festival going outside?"
"There shouldn't be a festival to begin with. What were you thinking?" She rolled her eyes as she tightens her hold on him just in case he decided it would be fun to play hide and seek with her.
"Well, since I'm dying I should have fun all I want, right?" He shrugged, not caring a bit about his predicament.
Utahime stopped abruptly while he looked at her curiously for a moment.
"You—" She turned around gritting her teeth, but was interrupted when Gojo put something in her mouth.
"Its an ichigo daifuku." Gojo informs, raising a bag full of festival snacks. How did he even get those while they were walking is beyond her.
"Delicious, isn't it?" He says with a boyish grin and feeds her another one which she accepts without much of a thought.
"Mhm." Utahime looked away as heat crept up her cheeks, taken aback by seeing anything other than his usual annoying smugness.
Her anger dissipates and the things she wanted to say were long forgotten as the sweet delicacy melts in her mouth.
"Though it would be better if it was sweeter." Gojo added, eating another daifuku.
She looks at him with disgust as she was reminded how much sweet this idiot consumes on a daily basis.
He pulls her hand, leading her to another food stall. And she almost followed him. Almost.
"Don't think I've forgotten. Gojo, you need to sleep." She then drags him away from the food stall and head towards the infirmary.
Gojo whines in response, but lets himself be pulled by her.
Contrary to Utahime's expectations, it wasn't difficult to put Gojo to sleep. She thought he would protest more, but he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. He must have been more sick than he lets on.
"Woah, the idiot's actually sleeping." Shoko commented while leaning against the wall.
"Hm? You talk as if this never happens." Utahime arched a brow as she tucks him in bed.
"Other than the time he fainted, he never rests as far as I know. Not since his illness started."
"Why would he do that?" She frowned at the sleeping man beside her, pushing away the strands of hair on his forehead before placing a wet towel. Even though she was informed of Gojo fainting, she never heard of what he was actually doing until now. "Now that I think about it, why didn't you tell me that he's sick?"
"You didn't know?"
"Not until Principal Gakuganji told me." Utahime sighed as she massaged her temples. "I thought it was all just rumours since I never heard from you."
"Huh, that's odd. I thought Gojo told you already and you're just ignoring him." Shoko said, confusion showing on her face.
"Well, Gojo has no obligation to tell me anything so I suppose it doesn't matter." Utahime glanced at Gojo briefly before she stood up and headed towards the door. She muttered, "He doesn't even respect me as his senpai."
"Where you going?"
"To the principal's office. I was supposed to go there after I'm done with Gojo."
"Oh? Then I'll go with you."
"Aren't you supposed to stay here?"
"And watch Gojo sleep? No thanks."
The two of them went to their destination as Shoko tells Utahime what Gojo has been up to since he was diagnosed with his illness.
Principal Yaga is unsure whether he should be the one to tell her the truth about Gojo's illness, but he figured it would be better to be direct towards the issue. "Utahime, about Satoru..."
Utahime raised a hand, effectively stopping the principal from talking. "There's no need, I could guess the reason you called for me here."
"Uh... you do?" Principal Yaga raised a brow at her statement, urging her to go on.
"You want me to convince Gojo to get a surgery or to confess, am I right?" Utahime crossed her arms while maintaining eye contact with her superior.
"Well..."
"I was informed that Gojo gave everyone a hard time. And now, you had to resort for every help you can find, correct?"
"That's..."
"I can't imagine any reason as to why you would call me all the way from Kyoto just to teach in Gojo's stead when there are other people available for the job."
There was a moment of silence until Principal Yaga decided to break it.
"You, you're correct." He reluctantly agreed, finding it harder to tell the truth now. As much as he wanted to tell the real reason she was called here, he had a feeling that she won't believe him at all.
Utahime nodded in satisfaction, standing up as she prepares to leave. "Don't worry, Principal Yaga. I'll convince Gojo no matter what. You know how stubborn I can be."
"Too stubborn..." Shoko muttered as she shook her head.
After saying her goodbyes, Utahime went out with a determined look on her face. When they were sure she's far enough, the principal spoke.
"What do you think, Shoko?"
"I say we have better success in operating Satoru while he's sleeping." Shoko answered, pulling out a cigarette and lighting it.
The principal rubbed his temples, already feeling things will go very wrong.
Notes:
It seems I can't finish this fic with 5 chapters... But I'll try to finish it at chapter 6 at least. Hopefully... I blame my poor planning skills.
Also I'm glad some of you noticed my small dose of dark Gojo lol
Thank you for the kudos and comments!
Chapter 5
Summary:
Utahime tries her best to understand Gojo, but immediately regrets it when she does.
Notes:
I'm sorry if the chapter is too long. I combined two chapters because I don't want you to think I'm dragging the story lol and also because I promise to finish the story with chapter 6.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Utahime went out of the principal's office with a look of determination. She can go back to Kyoto and watch baseball in the comfort of her own home once she deals with Gojo.
She nodded to herself as she makes her own plans to talk to him as soon as he wakes up.
After all, he has been unnaturally cooperative since she arrived, no doubt due to the fever, so surely she can convince him, right?
She spoke too soon.
Really, she should've known. This is Gojo Satoru we're talking about.
If there's anyone who could ruin her plans its him. Always him.
Utahime stood outside of the opened door of the infirmary, glaring at the empty bed of the 'major pain in the butt' Gojo Satoru.
She knew Gojo won't stay put in one place for too long, but she didn't expect him to be gone as soon as she came to check on him in the afternoon after teaching both the Tokyo and Kyoto students.
"Honestly, is it so hard to stay indoors for just a few hours?" She huffed, stomping her foot as she went out to look for him.
Fortunately, she found him easily enough thanks to some witnesses, aka Gojo's random crowd. However, there's one problem.
Gojo is avoiding her.
And she doesn't know why.
Every time she gets a glimpse of him, he immediately runs to the other direction without looking at her. Some might say it's just a coincidence, but this is Gojo Satoru, he can sense people from miles away.
He doesn't seem averse to her presence earlier. What's with the sudden change of treatment? Or is he playing hide and seek with her now?
Knowing how persistent Gojo can be, Utahime gave up and head back inside. He'll approach her on his own whenever he's bored.
Since she has some free time after her class, she decided to borrow the kitchen to bake some cookies for the students... And also for Gojo while she's at it.
As she was busy dividing the biscuits after baking it, she felt a presence standing behind her.
So he finally decided to show himself.
"You made cookies?"
"Its for the kids, not for you." She says, but expects him to take a cookie for himself regardless.
Gojo silently watched her as she continues to put the cookies on separate paper bags.
She raised a brow, seeing as none of the sweets are being snatched away by the notorious troublemaker.
Utahime stopped at what she was doing and finally turned around to face him. She immediately frowned once she saw him, "Please tell me you did not walk around like that."
"Like what?" Gojo blinked innocently, standing in front of her with an extremely fluffy blanket wrapped around him.
Yes, the kind of blanket usually bought for kids.
And yes, the one with anime characters all over it.
Anyone would think that after knowing someone for a decade you'd hardly get surprised by their antics.
Utahime rolled her eyes, deciding its best to leave him be. "Nevermind."
There was a moment of silence between the two of them.
"What?" She finally asked, a bit unnerved by his lack of reaction.
"Feed me."
"Excuse me?"
"Feed me. I'm tired from all that running and I can barely stand." Gojo said, being as dramatic as possible.
"And whose fault is that?" She huffed, remembering her annoyance from earlier.
"Yours, obviously." Gojo said with a smug face, earning a glare from her.
The audacity! Why blame her when he was the one so eager to hide from her? Once all of this is over, she's going to go on a vacation far, far away from him and she'll make sure he doesn't find her.
"Utahime, hurry up," He nudged her with his elbow playfully. "My life depends on you."
She stared at him for a moment. There's something about the way he said that bothers her, but she can't put her finger on it. Eventually, concern preceded her anger as she was reminded of Gojo's unusual behavior ever since her arrival.
Utahime sighed as she picked up a cookie from the tray, holding it up for him to eat.
She's just doing this because he's sick that's all. And also because Gojo is the type of person to pester someone until he gets what he wants.
Gojo widened his eyes and his mouth agape as he looks repeatedly at her and then the cookie on her hand as if not really expecting her to follow through.
She frowned, anticipating him to make fun of her. "Well? Hurry up before I change my mind."
But no teasing remarks came. Instead, he obediently ate the cookie as he looks at her expectantly for another one.
And there's that look again. The one from earlier. She's unsure of what it is. But that's not important right now.
Utahime gives him another cookie, thinking this is the best time to talk as she has his attention. "Gojo, when are you going to confess?"
Gojo suddenly choked on his cookie, coughing loudly as she hands him a glass of water. After that he looked at her warily as he asked, "What?"
She cleared her throat, ignoring the way her chest tightens. "Shoko told me you refused to get a surgery. So that means you're planning to confess your feelings, right?"
"Oh..." He sighed, whether its out of disappointment or relief, she can't tell.
"Gojo?" She prompted him to answer her when he was simply staring at the windows.
"Hear that?"
There was nothing much to hear aside from the wind rustling the trees and the birds chirping. The school returned back to its usual quiet atmosphere since the festival was canceled by the principal earlier.
She is unsure of where this is going. "Hear what?"
"That's the sound of the ice cream truck!" Gojo snatched a bag of cookies and dashed towards the door, leaving behind his blanket when she tried to grab him.
"There's no ice cream truck!" She gripped the soft fabric tightly, a bit tempted to strangle him with his stupid blanket. "Gojo, come back here!"
The next couple of times were spent just like that.
Gojo disappears every now and then while she searches for him to talk. He only shows his face once he's finally bored. Whenever they're actually having that conversation, he dodges her questions in any way he can. And in between those times, she teaches their students.
It goes without saying that Utahime's patience is slowly but surely running out.
She can't figure out why he's so eager to avoid her and then spend time with her as if nothing happened.
Its like he can't decide if he wants to see her or not.
Utahime thought that this will last for a while, but she was mistaken. Gojo's health took a turn for the worse. It came to the point where even walking is a difficult task.
His time is running out.
And now she needs to be more persistent to convince him.
That's why she spent as much time with him as possible.
Even going as far as to shorten the class hours while still making sure the students are still keeping up with their studies and training.
Lately, she doesn't even bother using her room anymore.
Just like now.
Utahime slides the door to the infirmary open. She is immediately greeted by the sight of Gojo Satoru. Seductively lying on the side with his hand propped up to support his head.
"Welcome home, dear. How was work today?"
"Do you want me to punch you?"
He simply snickered in response while she doesn't even have the energy to get mad at him.
Despite Gojo's deteriorating health, his mood is the same as before. At this point, she's genuinely impressed and also very much concerned.
She placed her bag and a couple of teaching materials on the couch she's been sleeping on the past few days.
Utahime grimaced once she saw a bag of candies and other unhealthy snacks littered on the table. "I hope you ate something other than candy."
"Hm, I ate some chocolate too." He said, sitting up with a bit of difficulty.
"That's not any better." She frowned, taking a bento box from her bag. "Be honest. You're doing this on purpose, right?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." He said as she set up the bed tray and placed the bento box in front of him. "Woah! Utahime's homemade bento?"
"No. I ordered that from the canteen."
"Oh." He said with utter disappointment.
Utahime shook her head at him. Why must he be so dramatic? She takes this time to clean up his mess and put away all the unhealthy snacks before he can even think of complaining.
She noticed a separate paper bag at the table.
"Its from my students." Gojo explained as he was eating his food. "They gave it to me this morning."
"Don't talk with your mouth full." She sighed, then took a closer look on the contents of the bag.
It was filled with papers and cheap sweets from the school canteen with a note saying, 'Get well soon, Gojo sensei! Sorry, we ate some of the candies!'
Now that she looked closely, most of the candies inside were only wrappers.
Utahime can't tell whether they're bullying Gojo or simply broke.
This reminds her of when Gojo stole a bag of cookies the other day. She smiled softly, thinking they take after Gojo.
"What's with the papers? Homework?" She said, taking out the papers from the bag. It's a paper with a title, 'Reasons why I love our great teacher, Gojo Satoru.'
She looked at him with disbelief, showing him the papers in front of him. "Gojo, what the heck is this?"
"An essay paper, obviously."
"Are you serious?!"
He stopped eating for a moment and looked at her with pity. "Utahime, don't you know what an essay paper is?"
"That's not what I meant!" She pinched him, thankful for the first time that he can't activate his infinity. "I'm asking why you're making them write such a ridiculous essay."
Gojo gasped, putting a hand over his chest. "Its not ridiculous. Its one of my dying rights."
"Dying rights, my foot." Utahime clicked her tongue and then sat at the chair beside his bed. Its no use scolding him now. What's done is done. "I'm surprised they actually did it."
"Of course they would." He said, finishing up the rest of his meal. "They love me more than you do."
She glared at him and he stuck out his tongue in response.
They spent the next couple of minutes to read the essay together. Itadori Yuji's paper was a short essay, barely filling up the page while Kugisaki Nobara's paper was noticeably longer. Although most of her reasons were a roundabout way of saying he's rich. At least, Itadori kun's paper was lot more sincere.
Gojo complained how its supposed to be a fifty pages essay.
"Now now, there's still Fushiguro kun's paper." She chuckled, covering her mouth as she hands him a stack of paper. "Look, it has a lot of pages."
"Utahime, you meanie." He took the essay paper and then went silent after flipping the pages.
"Hm? What's wrong?"
"..."
"Gojo?"
"Megumi gave me fifty pages of blank paper."
"..."
Utahime burst out laughing while Gojo pouted childishly at her.
Maybe she laughed a bit too much, because the next thing she knows is that Gojo started hacking up flowers and blood.
She immediately grabbed a bucket and gave it to him.
This is the first time she saw him cough up flowers. For some reason, he doesn't do it in front of her. Whether its on purpose or a coincidence, she can't tell.
Even though she knew it's a hanahaki disease, its still jarring to see someone throw up flowers.
Utahime rubbed soothing circles on his back once he finished. He smiled weakly as she took the bucket from him.
The bucket was filled with roses.
Dark purple roses.
She knitted her brows, trying to remember what those flowers meant but to no avail.
"I know you're tired of hearing me say this, but why aren't you doing anything about this?" Utahime said, staring at Gojo who is currently avoiding eye contact. "At first, I thought you have plans on confessing, but now it feels like you don't want to do that either."
She continued when she got no response from him. "Gojo, just get a surgery."
"No."
"Gojo—"
"No. Not in a million years."
Utahime sighed in frustration.
She doesn't understand Gojo.
She doesn't understand love in the way he does.
She doesn't understand why he would go as far as dying for someone.
Her experience with love is nothing like his.
After all, her chances of loving someone and being loved were nonexistent the moment she got her scar.
They were complete opposites.
Gojo Satoru is loved from the moment of his birth, while she has to earn it.
Her heart clenched as she feels a sudden lump in her throat.
"Gojo, just think about it." Utahime held his hands firmly. "Please."
Gojo opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. He simply nodded in the end.
The two of them haven't talked to each other since then.
Mainly because she decided to give him some space to think about what she said.
Or at least that's how it should have been.
It's been a few days already. She's finding it harder to go and talk to him.
Utahime slumped back into her chair. She's at the library at the moment. Usually, she spends time with Gojo during her break, but now she just wastes her time in the library.
Well it wasn't a complete waste of time.
She did found some books about flowers.
"Why am I doing this?" Utahime grumbled, skimming through the pages of the book until something in particular caught her attention.
Purple roses are used for symbolizing love at first sight.
Love at first sight.
What is he a romantic?
She scoffed at that but still continued to read this stupid book.
Dark purple roses represent a long-lasting love relationship.
This flower effectively expresses the wish that the love or marriage would remain forever.
She can't stop staring at the words in the book.
The wish that love would remain forever.
Is it because he's the user of the infamous Limitless technique that he has this kind of mindset?
Ever since they were teenagers Gojo has always been an 'All or nothing' kind of person.
Now that she thinks about it, Gojo has consistently been in her life.
Even if most people she knew would die or leave, she knows Gojo will always be there.
Unbeknownst to Gojo, she has always been comforted by his presence.
She trusts him to stay alive even during the most difficult times.
She knows he will always be there to annoy her no matter how many times she gets angry at him.
She expects the usual banter they have whenever they're together.
She always thought she would die before him.
And yet, now Gojo is dying.
Even if the solution is simple, there's nothing she can do about it.
"I'd hate that..." Utahime whispered to herself, oblivious to the presence behind her.
"You'd hate what?"
"Wha— Gojo?!" She stood up from her seat abruptly, hiding the book she was reading.
"What are you— How— what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see you." Gojo said, wobbling a bit as he stands.
"Why would you— Nevermind that, just sit down." She forced him to sit on her chair while she went to get another one. "You should've asked someone to call me instead of going all the way here. So, why are you looking for me?"
"Utahime you're so mean. Do I need a reason to see you? You've been avoiding me these days even though you said you'll take care of me."
"I never said that." Utahime pinched the bridge of her nose. Although its true that she has been avoiding him. "Gojo, have you—"
"I know. I've thought about it like you said. That's why I wanted to talk." He said, staring straight at her without any hesitation. "And my answer is still the same."
"At least tell me why." She said, but for some strange reason, she doesn't really want to know.
Gojo ruffled his hair and sighed as if mentally preparing himself for this conversation. "If I did that, I would forget."
"What do you mean?"
"Shoko didn't tell you?" He chuckled, flipping through the book she was reading earlier. "I would lose a decade worth of memories if I did that."
Gojo glanced at her as if gauging her reaction before continuing what he was saying. "She said I would lose my feelings and my memories of that person as a side effect."
Her eyes widened at the revelation. He smiled wistfully and kept talking about that person. And she listens to him speak, not daring to say anything.
She didn't get an opportunity to ask who it was.
No. The truth is, she never wanted to ask.
Nor does she want to listen anymore.
His adoration for that unknown person is evident in his tone the longer he talks.
A person who is kind, caring and loved by the people around her. They must be blessed to be cherished so deeply.
She feels numb except for that pricking sensation in her chest.
"To wake up everyday with nothing to look forward to. How is it different from dying?" He said, unaware of her inner turmoil.
Maybe that's what love is.
Its nothing but pain and misery, but its also something to look forward to.
It's how she's been seeing him after all these years.
For once, she understood Gojo Satoru, but not in the way she wanted.
She understood love a little too late.
No, she never had a chance to begin with.
It's hard to breathe. Every time she does, it's as if her heart is being poked by thorns.
And then, a loud cough was heard.
But it wasn't Gojo who did it.
Utahime stared at her palm, dread filling up inside her as she slowly understands the implications of what is happening.
A blood-stained petal lay on top of her hand.
A blue petal which reminds her of his eyes.
She glanced at Gojo, whose now staring at her with wide eyes.
Utahime winced, wondering if he knew.
Unbeknownst to her, something inside Gojo broke.
His cursed energy slowly but surely slips out of his control.
And for the first time since his illness started, his facade crumbles.
Notes:
Thank you for the kudos and comments! Reading your comments made me feel better when I was having a bad day. So here's an extra long chapter from me haha.
Chapter 6
Summary:
Who is going to confess first?
Notes:
Me. I'm going to confess first lol.
It took me this long to update because I was actually having a writing block. And also because writing confession scenes are hard. I've never written one before so... I'm sorry if its not good haha.
But then I saw jjk Ch 223 lol I was like 'Oh look, I can write again hahaha.
This chapter is longer than the previous one lol.
I hope you guys like this chapter as well.
Your comments never failed to make me smile.
Thanks for reading! (/◕ヮ◕)/
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
A heavy silence settled around them.
Gojo remained still, mouth pressed into a tight line. His eyes was staring unblinking at the blood stained petal at her hands.
Unable to bear his judging stares, Utahime closed her fist in attempt to hide the evidence of her feelings for him.
Apparently, it was the wrong thing to do as it only caused him to shift his attention to her.
Now that his eyes are burning into her, she realized that his eyes changed. Although it was still beautiful, it no longer has its unique kaleidoscopic radiance it usually has.
And for the first time since she arrived, she sees his pain.
"Gojo, I can explain." She cleared her throat, shifting her eyes away from him. "I... this is—"
She knows she should be honest, but for some reason the words can't be expressed properly.
How do you tell a man who is in loved with someone else that you're in love with him?
"Who is it?" He said with an eerie calmness in his voice.
"Huh?" She blinked in confusion.
When the fluorescent lights flickered abnormally she became aware of the cursed energy that is steadily yet dangerously emanating out of Gojo Satoru.
"The person you like..." Gojo stood up and grabbed her hand that was holding the petal. Even though she's clearly in front of him, he was staring with a glazed look in his eyes. "Who is it?"
"Wait, Gojo—" She winced when his hold on her tightened.
This caught his attention and immediately released her hand, slowly backing far away as if he's too afraid to touch her.
A suffocating pressure enveloped the whole room, intensifying as the seconds pass.
"Why... Why now?" He clutched his chest, finding it difficult to breathe as if the ache in his chest was rising up his throat. "I... Just when I decided to tell you..."
"Gojo, what's wrong?" Utahime carefully stood up from her seat, her uneasiness growing tenfold along with the pressure.
His face contorted with pain, coughing up several flowers drenched in blood.
"Gojo, calm down!" She yelled, unable to get any closer as his cursed energy was in complete disarray, spiralling out of control.
The glass windows shattered and the lights in the room kept breaking one after another. The walls cracked and the shelves fell due to the force.
"Who is it?" He smiled, yet there was no mirth in his eyes. A large amount of blood drips out of his mouth and yet he doesn't care. "Since when?"
It hasn't been this quiet since Gojo Satoru's started bothering everyone.
To say that Utahime's presence in the school helped is an understatement.
Thanks to her, the students and the other sorcerers are no longer being treated as a source of entertainment, mainly because Satoru's attention and annoying tendencies are now directed at her.
Although the Principal feels a bit sorry for subjecting Utahime to deal with Satoru all on her own, he's grateful to her for lessening the source of his headache.
However, one problem still remains unsolved.
Principal Yaga crossed his arms as he leaned back on his chair. "Shoko, what's the progress?"
Shoko sighed, shaking her head. "Utahime has been persistent in convincing Gojo until recently, but to no avail. They stopped talking since the other day. Something must have happened."
"At this rate, Satoru will die." He frowned, tapping his fingers impatiently.
They can't wait anymore for both Satoru and Utahime to talk things through.
Was he too foolish to hope for a miracle?
No... in the first place, he should've been more direct with Utahime regarding Gojo's illness.
After a long moment of contemplation, he finally decided.
"Shoko, prepare for Satoru's surgery."
She raised a brow, stopping midway in lighting her cigarette. "Are you sure about this? If we proceed, he'll lose a decade worth of memories."
"We have no choice." Principal Yaga pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing deeply. "If we don't do anything, we'll lose Satoru—"
There was a sudden pressure in the air, causing both the lights and windows to break from the force.
The principal manage to cover himself from the glass shards that came flying while Shoko was fortunate enough to stand far away from the windows.
An untamed cursed energy dominated the whole school and caused Master Tengen's protective barrier to crack.
"What's happening?" Shoko moved towards the window, looking for the source of disturbance. "It's coming from the east building."
Principal Yaga stood up, brushing the shards of glass on his clothes, and looked at the fissure in the sky. "This cursed energy... It's Satoru!"
Both the Tokyo and Kyoto students are currently in the classroom since Utahime decided it will be better to combine their classes despite the difference in year levels.
It goes without saying, all of them have been spending time with each other whether they like it or not.
To avoid conflicts, it's been agreed upon that the students needs to solve their disputes through a card game.
Kugisaki frowned at her card and glared at the person beside her. "You're cheating."
"Am not." Mai scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Isn't it because you suck at this game?" Momo added, polishing her nails.
"What did you say?" Nobara took out her hammer and rolled up her sleeves while glaring at the Kyoto students.
Itadori stood up, holding her back from using violence. "Now, now, Kugisaki... maybe it's just a coincidence?"
"No, she's definitely cheating! How else can you explain this?" She shoved the joker card right at his face. "This is the 7th round! Why do I keep on losing?"
"Maybe you're just unlucky." Panda said, scratching his chin.
"Shake." Inumaki nodded in agreement.
"Shut up you two! Whose side are you on?"
The door slammed open and everyone in the room turned to look at the person by the door.
"To-todou." Itadori grimaced.
Todou shook his head in disappointment, crossing his arms. "Hmph. Amateurs. You're nowhere my level. As the hokage of planet Namek who mastered the arts of Card games and a saiyan with an IQ of 530 000, let me teach you how its done."
"Hah? What's with that title? So lame." Nobara looked at him with disgust and the two Kyoto girls agreed with her for once. She tossed her card at the table. "I'm not interested anymore."
"Nonsense. Isn't that right my brother... No, my sister, Yujirella!"
"Stop it, man! Why haven't you moved on from that?!" Itadori cringed, trying to forget his dark past.
"Nevermind that, class should be starting soon." Maki said, propping her chin at the palm of her hand.
"Iori sensei is late." Megumi said as he checks the time on his phone.
Kamo frowned, glancing at the door. "Its not normal for Utahime sensei to be late."
"She's probably with Gojo sensei." Mechamaru said. "I saw him walking towards the library earlier."
"Eh— Wait, really? Tell me more." Miwa leaned at Mechamaru's desk, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Now that you mention it... don't you think those two are always together?" Yuji said as he was trying to get as far away as possible from Todou.
"Are you an idiot?" Fushiguro said, scrolling on his phone.
"Eh? What I'd do?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Maki said, adjusting her glasses.
"I still don't get it. You're both not helping."
"Satoru likes Utahime." Panda answered.
"Ehhh?!" Both Itadori and Kugisaki shouted in unison.
Itadori pointed at Nobara. "Eh? Why are you surprised as well?"
"What? I didn't know either." She said, shrugging her shoulders.
A sudden burst of cursed energy stopped all of them from what they're doing.
The students ducked for cover just in in time. Glass shards from the window were sent flying and the walls of the classroom cracked due to the force.
An oppressive pressure lingered suffocatingly in the atmosphere, preventing them from moving so freely.
"Who broke the windows?!" Nobara huffed, reaching for her hammer on the floor.
"I swear it's not me this time." Itadori said, stumbling as he tries to get up.
"To be fair, no one was blaming you." Megumi sighed, shaking his head.
"Now's not the time! Cursed Spirits are entering the school." Maki pointed outside the window.
Although the barrier did not break completely, small curses managed to get through the crevice in the sky.
"I never thought it was possible... you never showed any interest until now." Gojo said, grunting in pain in between his words.
"Gojo, listen to me!"
The intensity of the pressure around them blurred the distinction of their voices and the surrounding noises.
"Even if it was one-sided, I thought I'll be fine. As long as you don't belong to anybody. I was fine with that." He hacks up again and this time there's more blood and flowers.
She knows he's saying something but his voice doesn't reach her.
"Gojo!" Utahime yelled, wishing nothing but for this invisible wall between them to disappear.
Gojo's immense cursed energy is violently trashing the surroundings, but for some odd reason it does not hurt her.
It's pushing her away from him, blocking her from the debris and the ongoing chaos.
As if...
It's simply protecting her.
Oh.
Oh.
Her blood ran cold as the realization dawned on her.
Utahime stared with wide eyes at his crouched figure surrounded by blood and flowers.
She should've realized it sooner.
How could she have been so blind when the clues are blatantly in front of her?
Gojo has been dropping hints all this time.
The reason why she was called to Tokyo.
The reason why the people around her look at her strangely.
The reason why he's acting so recklessly .
The reason why he's gasping in pain right now.
The reason why he's throwing up blood as he hacks up flowers on the floor.
The reason why he's currently dying in front of her.
It's because of her.
"Gojo, stop it!" She yelled as she tries to use her own cursed energy to force her way through but the force continued to be unrelenting.
Utahime gritted her teeth, concentrating her cursed energy in her hands and the pressure start to budge a little.
The more she pushed through his cursed energy, the more it feels like her hand is inside some sort of vacuum chamber.
At this rate, the circulation of her blood will be affected.
Her sleeves start to tear against the dominating pressure. The pain shot up her arm, nevertheless Utahime pressed on.
Little by little.
To close the gap between them.
"Why..." His shaky voice was laced with perplexion as he struggles to breath.
His face is pale and his eyes are dull. As if he's in the brink of consciousness. Like he's going to drop dead any minute now.
"If you die, I won't forgive you!" She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping she could endure the pain at least until she reached him.
As if her prayers were answered, she can feel his cursed energy gradually loosening, finally allowing her to enter his space.
Utahime quickened her pace, running to embrace him.
"Don't die." She whispered to him like a prayer, hugging him tight, afraid to let him go.
She had never been good with words, even so she needs to tell him.
He needs to hear it.
She takes a deep breath, resolving her self to say those three words. "Because I... I—"
"I love you too."
Her breath hitch while her heart start to beat loudly.
Then she realized the rampaging cursed energy from before was now calm like nothing ever happened.
Utahime leaned back to take a look at him. Her thumb brushed against his cheek, looking for any signs that he's getting better. His face is still pale, however the dullness in his eyes are gone.
Gojo lift his hand up to cover hers, leaning his face against the palm of her hand as if to reassure her.
"Utahime, you cryin'?" He grins at her, wiping away the tears trickling down her cheeks.
That's all the reassurance she needs.
She punches his shoulders, ignoring the pain in her arms. "Never do that again!"
"Ow!" He rubbed the sore spot on his shoulder, frowning at her. "I still haven't fully recovered you kno—"
"Gojo, seriously you— Why do you always have to be so dramatic?" Utahime sniffles, covering her face from him as she wipes her tears on her own. "I really thought you're going to die..."
Gojo notices how haggard she looks right now. Her clothes were tattered, stained with his blood and her ribbon was nowhere to be found. Her arms are swelling red and covered with scratches and blood clots.
His chest tightens at the sight.
It's his fault.
He did that to her.
"Utahime..." He touches her arms gently, ignoring the needle stab to his heart when she flinched at the contact.
"Don't look."
She turns away but he stops her. Instead, he pulls her in an embrace.
"Sorry." He whispered to her ears, pressing her frame against his, careful not to hurt her.
Utahime relaxed in his hold and put her arms around him.
Gojo leaned his chin on top of her head as he waited for her to feel better.
They remain in silence for a while, sitting on the floor of the ruined library and simply soaking in each other's presence.
He wanted to stay like this much longer, alas it didn't happen since Utahime suddenly moved away from his hold.
She stared at him for a moment and then her face turned red as if she just realized the intimacy between them.
"Utahime, earlier—"
"Wa—wait!" She held hands up, effectively stopping him from talking any further. "Can we not talk about this right now."
He frowned and grabbed her hands when she moves away, but before he could ask her why they hear thumping footsteps coming from outside.
"Gojo sensei! Iori sensei! Where are you?" Itadori's voice echoed from the hallway.
Both the Tokyo and Kyoto arrived shortly at the entrance of the library.
"Gojo sen—"
The students froze at the sight of their teachers.
Iori Utahime's face is flushed and her clothes are tattered. She's injured and yet being restrained by a disgruntled Gojo Satoru.
The Kyoto students rushed to their teacher, shoving Gojo in the process.
"Utahime sensei, you're injured!" Miwa said, helping Utahime to stand up."
"Don't worry. It's not a big deal." Utahime said, a bit embarrassed to be seen by the students in her current state.
The rest of her students glared at him as if he's some kind of scoundrel who made their teacher cry.
Well, he did technically made her cry, but not for the reason they're thinking.
"Gojo sensei, how could you?" His first years looked at him with disappointment.
"What?"
Maki clicked her tongue, giving him a stink eye. "What did you do to Iori sensei?"
"Hah?!"
"This too much even for you, Satoru." Panda shook his head.
"Shake."
Gojo gaped at his students, offended by their lack of faith in him.
Principal Yaga and Shoko arrived at the scene. It took them a while to process what happened and then they both looked at him with disapproval.
"Satoru, what did you do to Utahime?" The principal pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I'm innocent!"
"Then how do you explain this." He gestured to the whole room.
"That's different!"
"Principal—" Utahime said, but was interrupted by her friend.
"It's fine, Utahime. Leave them be." Shoko ushered her to the infirmary to tend her wounds, knowing the idiot will get another scolding.
Meanwhile, Gojo had to be dragged by the ear to the Principal's Office.
Gojo Satoru's condition is noticeably better than before. He no longer vomits flower and is able to walk around campus with no issues.
Although he hasn't fully recovered in terms of cursed energy, this can easily be recovered as the time passes.
Now, this should've been a good news, but he is not in a celebratory mood.
He haven't talked to Utahime since the time at the library.
Her students are acting like her bodyguards, preventing him from being with her.
Even his kids are cooperating with the Kyoto students.
Those little brats.
Now that they knew he's all better, they're getting back at him for that Cinderella rip off play.
Even the Zenin twins are bonding over his misery.
Out of all the times they choose to get along, it just had to be when he wanted to speak with Utahime.
Since the students were tasked to eliminate the curses that slip through the barrier, he does get a chance to be alone with Utahime
But there's still a problem.
Utahime is avoiding him.
He doesn't understand it.
They clearly like... love each other. His health is the evidence to that.
So what exactly is the problem?
Gojo grumbled, kicking a pebble as he walks at the school ground.
As he was thinking on how to deal with the meddling kids, something dropped on his head.
It's a candy.
Gojo rubbed his head as he picked up the candy before he searched where it came from.
He blinked in surprise. His displeasure disappears as soon as he saw Utahime leaning over the window, waving at him from the third floor.
He grinned at her and used his teleportation technique to get to her even though he was nowhere near his full health.
As a result, his calculations were slightly off and teleported at the edge of the window. He would've fallen if it weren't for Utahime scrambling to pull him inside the room.
"What the heck! Gojo, are you crazy?!" She looked at him incredulously, thoroughly checking if he's all right.
Gojo slid his arm around her waist, pulling her against him. Her breath hitched. "You're not avoiding me today?"
"That... that's only because I was busy sorting out my thoughts."
"You're not thinking of leaving me, right?" He frowned, holding her tighter.
"No, far from it." She said, relaxing in his embrace and patting his head.
"Even if I do something stupid?"
"You always do."
"What if I hurt you?"
"I'm not as weak as you think I am."
"You'll regret this."
"I won't."
He nuzzled at the crook of her neck. "I love you."
"I know."
Gojo leaned back to look at her and pouted childishly. "Utahime, that's not what you're supposed to say."
She chuckled at his reaction and then stood up on her toes to press her lips ever so gently against his.
His eyes widened, the warmth sensation on his lips was gone before he could process what happened.
"I love you too, Satoru." Utahime smiled, a pink hue tinted her cheeks.
He went silent and she wondered if she crossed the line.
Gojo cupped her cheeks and closed the gap between them. His mouth moved against hers with gentle urgency as his eyes roamed all over her face, memorizing every single detail.
He bit her lower lip, causing her to part her lips in surprise.
"Gojo—" She said breathlessly, only to be interrupted when he kissed her again.
It took a couple more kisses before Utahime can convince Gojo to let her go.
"Are you happy now?" She crossed her arms, looking at him unamused and yet with fondness at the same time.
"I will be, if you kiss me again." He smirked at her, twirling her hair with his fingers.
The tips of her ear turned red. She headed towards the door and muttered, "I shouldn't have indulge you so much."
"Huh? Where are you going?" He asked, following after her.
Utahime twisted the door knob and opened the door. "To Kyoto."
Gojo halted in his tracks. "What?"
"You don't know? We're leaving today." She raised a brow, glancing at him.
"Why?!"
"Because you're not sick anymore."
"But why?!"
"Because you need to do your job soon that's why!"
He blocked the door before Utahime could exit the room. "But you're leaving so soon!"
"You're in the way." She huffed, crossing her arms. "We both have a lot of work we need to catch up on. So don't even think of teleporting all the way to Kyoto until you finished all of it and you're all better.
"But—"
Utahime tried to squeezed through the gap between Gojo and the door, swatting his arm when he blocked her. "No buts. While you're at it, use this time to reflect on how you bothered everyone for weeks."
He gasped at her and put a hand on his chest. "Preposterous! I never bothered anyone. This accusation is unfounded."
She sighed, and began to list all of his crimes. "You made your students write stupid essays and forced them to act on a play. You got in the way during Nanami's mission. You kept ordering everyone around. More importantly, almost destroying the school and made a crack in the barrier, causing some cursed spirits to go in."
"I was just exercising my dying rights." He reasoned, ignoring the school part.
"Well your dying rights are revoked now." Utahime said, finally getting past Gojo.
"Utahime, I thought you said you love me? And yet here you are, leaving me already." Gojo whined as he clings to her arms.
"Don't be so dramatic, Gojo. It's not like we won't see each other."
"Not Gojo, it's Satoru." He corrected, following after her yet still refusing to let go. "It's still too long, Utahime!"
In the end, Principal Yaga had to put Gojo in a headlock just to let Utahime go.
Notes:
Thank you so much for reading the last chapter.
I discovered what Hanahaki disease just recently and I find the concept of fictional diseases interesting. The confess or die thing can be a little too much even for me so I made them both have it lol I didn't think it would get some positive comments from you guys.
I appreciate all your kudos and comments. It really helped me finish this fic haha because the truth is I tend to not finish what I write... Haha... Ha... Yes, I'm reflecting on my inability to update consistently. Next time, if I ever write, I'll make sure to update weekly. Promise. That is, if I overcome my writing block hahaha!
I'm not good at expressing myself and I don't have a sophisticated vocabulary, but I'm glad some of you liked the simplicity of my writing. (´,,•ω•,,)
WARNING Manga 223 spoiler
Did you guys read the latest chapter?
I'm so happy we finally got to see Utahime's CT.
I like powers that involves some kind of ritual. That's why I love her CT so much (≧∇≦)/
Though there are some people on Twitter who are disappointed to see her as a support character...
I actually prefer her to be the ultimate support character rather than some mid fighter character that can easily be replaced by any other characters in the series.
Utahime as a support can mean that she's an irreplaceable War asset.
Imagine if her buffs could enable the other students to do their domain expansion for the first time?
This is the only way I could think to shorten the large power gap against their enemies because I don't like training arcs in stories (￣﹁￣) lol
I read a headcanon that I like on Twitter. The one where it says the reason she remained unmarried is because of her CT as it would upset the balance of the jujutsu world.
I hope someone writes that because I can't write angst but I want to read hahaha.
I hope we get more canon gojohime content ( • ̀ω•́ )
Okay I'm just rambling sorry bye!