The next day, (Y/n) wanted to sleep in. She needed it. But, of course, Satoru wouldn't let her.

He had to go to Jujutsu High-some meeting about the previous day's events, then the second day of the Goodwill Event would continue, keeping him busy. But he wasn't about to leave her unattended. Not after everything that happened.

That was how she found herself here, once again feeling like a guinea pig under Ieiri's watchful gaze.

The medic adjusted her gloves, inspecting (Y/n)'s wrist with a sharp eye. "You know, I've looked at these before, but now I'm even more curious."

(Y/n) sighed, shifting slightly on the exam table. "I'm fine, by the way. Thanks for asking."

"Oh, I know," Ieiri drawled, pressing lightly along the faint markings on (Y/n)'s skin. "That's what makes this so interesting. After everything, you're in surprisingly good shape."

(Y/n) tensed slightly. "I thought you were supposed to be doing a checkup, not poking around my marks. Or worse-cutting me again like last time."

Ieiri looked somewhat sheepish. "Yeah... You're right. I got a little carried away back then. Sorry." She straightened, snapping off one glove. "But I heard you and Gojo talking yesterday. About you absorbing cursed energy. And how you apparently picked up healing along the way."

Excitement flickered in her eyes, and (Y/n) groaned. "God, you're just as bad as he is."

Ieiri smirked. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It wasn't." (Y/n) shot her a flat look. "You only see the bright side, like it outweighs everything else."

The amusement in Ieiri's expression faded slightly as she studied (Y/n) more closely. She didn't push. Not this time. Instead, she leaned against the counter, arms loosely crossed. "I'm sorry," she said, voice quieter. "I didn't realize how much this messes with you."

(Y/n) looked away, tension still coiled tight in her shoulders.

Ieiri exhaled, her tone lighter this time. "I won't poke around anymore." She paused, then added, "But I hope you know I'm here if you ever want to talk about it."

(Y/n) hesitated before giving a small nod. "...Yeah. Thanks."

For a few moments, neither of them spoke. The usual teasing edge to their conversations had faded, replaced with something else-something almost comfortable.

Then Ieiri smirked. "But speaking of things messing with you... How's it going with Gojo?"

(Y/n) groaned, throwing her head back. "Oh my god."

"Come on." Ieiri grinned. "I was there from the start. I saw how you two played that dangerous game with each other, how you fell in love even though neither of you wanted to admit it."

(Y/n) rolled her eyes but didn't interrupt. Mostly because-well, Ieiri wasn't wrong.

"And then things got messy," the medic continued, her tone casual, but there was an unmistakable sharpness in her gaze. "But I was never convinced you two could keep things strictly professional." She smirked, tilting her head. "Gojo, though? He insisted on keeping you close."

(Y/n) scoffed. "That sounds like him."

Ieiri leaned back, arms crossed, clearly waiting for some kind of response.

With a tired sigh, (Y/n) decided to indulge her. She saw Ieiri as a friend anyway-there was no harm in getting some things off her chest. "I guess Satoru and I are similar. We're both committed to our goals."

"Pff, I'd call that stubborn," Ieiri interjected with a smirk.

Rolling her eyes, (Y/n) huffed. "Yeah, okay, maybe you're somewhat right."

"So, how did you two end up together after all?"

(Y/n) hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice quieter. "Even if the reason Satoru kept me close at first was probably because of his plans... he also cares about me. And when I needed him, he showed me just how much." She paused, the memory of his unwavering presence flashing in her mind. A small flush crept up her neck. "I guess that made me admit my feelings too."

Ieiri's curiosity was finally satisfied, and she grinned. "If you two stubborn idiots aren't made for each other, I don't know who is."

Shaking her head in amusement, she stood up and grabbed her clipboard. "Alright, I need to check on other patients, but you stay put, okay? Gojo's still worried about your cursed energy acting up."

(Y/n) groaned but didn't argue. "Yeah, yeah."

Ieiri smirked as she walked toward the door. "Try not to let your emotions get too out of control, lovebird."

(Y/n) threw a pillow at her.

Later that day, Ieiri checked on (Y/n) again, but she was asleep. She was about to leave when something caught her attention-the markings on (Y/n)'s arm. They were vibrating again.

A flicker of concern crossed her face. "This isn't good..." she muttered under her breath. But there was nothing she could do.

When (Y/n) woke up, she felt even more drained than before. With a sigh, she decided she had enough of being alone and went to look for Ieiri. As expected, the medic was working, probably writing reports on her computer.

Before she could approach, faint cheering drifted in from outside. That's right-Gojo had mentioned something about playing baseball with the students to help them unwind.

'If I stay hidden, no one will know I'm there.'

And so, she went to see the game.

It was pure chaos. Todo was lying dramatically on the ground while Yuji comforted him, everyone else ignoring the third-year's theatrics. Meanwhile, Gojo was off to the side, clearly amused as he antagonized the two school directors.

(Y/n)'s gaze instinctively found him. She had to admit-she loved seeing him in a button-down shirt, and his hair looked better down like this.

Then, in the blink of an eye, he vanished.

Before she could react, two arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and a familiar velvet voice whispered near her ear.

"What are you doing here, kitty?"

She turned to face him, unimpressed. "I was just curious about the game... and bored of being alone in the infirmary."

Gojo grinned. "I'm almost done here-just need to give my students a pep talk. Gotta make sure they're back on their feet for missions."

Before she could protest, he silenced her with a firm, lingering kiss. And just as quickly as he appeared, he teleported away again, leaving her slightly off balance.

She huffed. 'Show-off.'

With nothing else to do, she made her way back to the infirmary.

But she wasn't there alone for long.

Without warning, the door opened, and an unexpected-unwanted-visitor stepped inside.

The Kyoto school director.

Gakuganji's curiosity had been piqued when Meier, the head of the Swiss Jujutsu community, called him regarding his little project gone wrong. It was a shame he couldn't discreetly discard Gojo, but the revelation that he hadn't traveled alone was an unexpected advantage. As soon as their plane landed in Tokyo, the so-called couple had been watched.

Tracking flight data made it easy to identify the woman. Unraveling why she was there, however, was another matter. The relevant files had been well buried, hidden away due to the involvement of a now-deceased higher-up.

It was chaos, but eventually, Gakuganji understood everything.

(Y/n)'s parents had been killed by a curse-a Matryoshka doll, a cursed object requested by Anthony, her former high school director. His ties to the now dead higher-up had ensured the case was covered up, the details quietly erased. Back then, Satoru Gojo had been sent to eliminate the curses drawn to the object. He must have met the girl then.

Her classification as a curse user stemmed from her desertion-an act driven by her search for the truth. That, of course, hadn't sat well with Anthony's powerful friend.

So, what was she doing with Gojo now?

The answer seemed obvious. If she was still searching for the truth, her only lead would be Gojo himself.

Gakuganji hoped Gojo had promised her information in exchange for her loyalty. If so, breaking them apart would be all the more satisfying.

Without knocking, Gakuganji stepped into the room, his presence imposing yet composed. The woman sitting inside stiffened at the sight of him. Good-she already knew who he was.

"Oh, I apologize for startling you," he said, his tone polite yet unreadable. "That wasn't my intention." He studied her carefully. She was more guarded than he had anticipated. "You may already know who I am-I'm Yoshinobu Gakuganji, one of-"

"I know who you are," she cut him off, making no effort to hide her hostility.

He chuckled. "Then we can skip the introductions." Slowly, he walked further into the room, clasping his hands behind his back. "I thought it was time we spoke. You may have the wrong idea about me."

(Y/n) crossed her arms but remained silent. That was good. She hadn't dismissed him outright.

"You are aware, of course, that Gojo and I are not exactly allies." He let the words settle, watching her expression for any flicker of reaction. "It would be a fair assumption to think I'm here because of him. But you'd be mistaken."

Her gaze narrowed slightly, wary but listening.

"I have my own interests," Gakuganji continued. "And sometimes, the pursuit of knowledge leads to unexpected discoveries." He gave a knowing hum. "For instance... You."

(Y/n) didn't react, but Gakuganji could tell she was weighing his words. Good.

He let the silence stretch just long enough before continuing. "You've been a ghost for years. And yet, somehow, you end up back in the jujutsu world-standing next to Satoru Gojo, of all people." He smiled, but there was no warmth behind it. "Curious, isn't it?"

She tilted her head slightly, unimpressed. "Is there a point to this, or are you just here to waste my time?"

His amusement didn't waver. "Patience. I imagine you don't like being kept in the dark, do you?" He took another step forward, slow and deliberate. "You left because you were searching for something. The truth."

That made her tense, just a fraction.

"And now you're here." He exhaled as if in thought. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

(Y/n)'s lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't answer.

Gakuganji nodded slightly, as if he had expected that. "Let me spare you the trouble. If you were hoping Gojo would have the answers... I'm afraid he never even looked into it."

This time, her reaction was more visible. A barely noticeable shift, a flicker in her expression.

"His mission in (country) never involved investigations, only the eliminations of curses."

(Y/n)'s fingers twitched. It was subtle, but Gakuganji didn't miss it.

He tilted his head slightly. "Oh? Did he tell you otherwise?"

She said nothing, but her silence spoke volumes.

He let out a low chuckle. "I see. So he let you believe he was going to give you informations?" He shook his head, as if disappointed. "That's quite the gamble, isn't it? Trusting Gojo Satoru to prioritize anything other than himself?"

Her jaw tightened.

Gakuganji took a slow step forward. "Let me be clear-I don't care about whatever... relationship you have with him. But I do care about the balance of power. And I know why you're still here." His eyes narrowed slightly. "You haven't found what you're looking for, have you?"

(Y/n) exhaled slowly, her posture controlled, but he could tell she was holding back something. He pressed on.

"The truth was buried a long time ago. Convenient, isn't it? A cursed object, a senseless tragedy... a curse to blame." His voice remained steady, almost casual. "And yet, somehow, you're still chasing ghosts."

Her gaze was cold now. Guarded. But she was listening.

Gakuganji let the silence linger before delivering the final push. "Tell me, (Y/n). How long are you willing to wait before you realize Gojo Satoru was never going to give you the answers you seek?"

(Y/n)'s lips pressed into a thin line. She wasn't the type to lash out without thinking, and Gakuganji respected that-manipulating impulsive fools was easy, but breaking someone patient and calculating was far more rewarding.

Her silence stretched, the tension between them thick, but he remained patient. She was turning his words over in her mind, testing them, searching for the lie.

Finally, she spoke, her voice controlled. "And what makes you so sure Gojo doesn't know anything?"

Gakuganji smirked. "If he did, don't you think he would have told you by now?" He gestured vaguely. "A man like Gojo doesn't do favors for free. If he truly had answers, he'd hold them over you like a leash around your neck. But he hasn't, has he?"

(Y/n) exhaled through her nose, unimpressed. "You think you know everything, don't you?"

He chuckled. "Not everything. Just enough."

Another pause. Her gaze was sharp, searching.

Then she asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Ah, there it was-the moment she started questioning his motives instead of Gojo's. He had planted the doubt, now it would fester.

He gave her an almost amused look. "Consider it a kindness."

She scoffed. "Kindness? From you?"

Gakuganji didn't react to her skepticism. "Believe what you will. But sooner or later, you'll realize Gojo Satoru was never going to help you. And when that moment comes..." He let the sentence hang, as if the conclusion was inevitable.

With that, he turned, walking toward the door. He had given her the seed of doubt-there was no need to push further.

But just before leaving, he glanced back. "Your former principal, Anthony... You might want to pay him a visit. He was the one requesting the cursed object, the matrioska doll."

Then he paused, as if considering something. Without turning, he spoke again.

"You know, if you were to leave Tokyo... if you were to cut ties with Gojo..." His voice was smooth, almost casual. "I could arrange for your status as a curse user to be revoked."

(Y/n) tensed, but he continued before she could interject.

"No more being hunted. No more hiding. You could step back into jujutsu society as if none of it ever happened." He turned slightly, watching her from the corner of his eye. "I imagine that would make certain things... easier for you."

Her expression was unreadable, but he could see the shift-the way her fingers curled slightly, the subtle stiffening of her posture. She was considering it. Or at least, considering what it meant.

"And all I have to do is leave?" she asked, voice neutral.

"Leave and never look back." He gave a thin smile. "Gojo is a sinking ship, (Y/n). He may seem untouchable now, but even he can't fight everyone forever. Sooner or later, he'll fall, and when he does, do you really want to be dragged down with him?"

(Y/n) didn't answer.

He let the silence settle, let the weight of his offer linger. Then, with a final look, he opened the door.

"Think about it."

And then he was gone, leaving her alone with the choice.

Ieiri had just finished reviewing her notes and was going to check up on (y/n) when she heard an unfamiliar voice coming from (Y/n)'s room.

She paused. Gakuganji?

She couldn't just barge in-he was one of the Higher-ups. But whatever he was discussing with (y/n) it couldn't be good.

Dammit, Gojo... pick up!

She didn't waste another second before calling him.