Curate, connect, and discover
Fair warning, this is the first time I’ve written for Gojo, so sorry if it’s a little off!
Enjoy my darlings ✧˖°.
🌸
⋆˚☆˖°⋆。° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚⋆˚☆˖°⋆。° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚⋆˚☆˖°⋆。° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚⋆˚☆˖°⋆。° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚
Gojo yawned as he walked down the side walk, the people bustling about around him. Things had been slow that day, surprisingly.
His errands were taken care of, he’d caused Ijichi grief, and handed Yuji off to Nanami. Yup, everything was done and accounted for.
Now it was time for his favorite part of the day. He strolled lazily through the side walks, before making his way to a flower shop.
Gojo hummed as he passed by gorgeous bouquets, really though, all he was looking for, was a pretty pink bouquet of roses.
He’d never even celebrated Valentine’s Day before recently, when a certain someone managed to catch his eye.
He chuckled lightly to himself and shook his head. There he was, a special grade sorcerer, buying pretty pink roses for his little secret.
He eventually found them, taking a modestly sized bouquet and strolling to the counter.
Gojo smiled at the woman at the register, who looked starstruck by his silky white hair and blindfold over his eyes.
“Well hey there, it’s not nice to stare” he teased lightly, the cashier stiffening before quickly accepting his money “right! I’m sorry-“ she scrambled sheepishly for his change and receipt.
She handed him the change and slip of paper. He chuckled and shook his head “it’s alright, just don’t get distracted next time” Gojo said with his cool, laid back tone. He took the flowers and chirped a ‘Thanks’ to the cashier, who embarrassedly returned it.
He took a deep breath, enjoying the cool Febuary air in his lungs and on his skin. He smiled a bit, his usual grin on his lips as he made his way back to his apartment.
✧˖°.
It wasn’t long before he was walking in the front door, excited to greet his little secret. “Y/n! I’m home baby girl” he called out, looking around before hearing soft footsteps.
You peeped out from the hall and smiled “Satorou, hey” you walked over to your secret lover, wrapping your arms around his neck, his arms wrapping around your waist “how was your day?”
Gojo shrugged and let out a sigh, chuckling a bit “boring, no curses or anything.” He shrugged and cupped your cheek with the hand that wasn’t holding the roses “I’m sure my pretty girl missed me. Hm? Heaven knows she can’t live without me”
You huffed and smirked, rolling your eyes “you wish, bone head” you kissed your boyfriend’s cheek, turning and beginning to walk off.
Gojo wasn’t having any of it.
“Hey, baby girl, where do you think you’re going?” You squeaked as you felt an arm snake around your waist and pull your back to a warm and broad chest. “I bought you flowers you know” he smiled from behind you, you could hear that bastard’s smug and attractive smile in his voice.
You shivered as he whispered in your ear, but blushed even harder as flowers suddenly were held out in front of you. Pink roses. They were gorgeous. “Oh..Satorou..” you murmured softly
He chuckled softly and pressed his face to your neck “I know. I’m the best aren’t I?” He expected some quippy remark, however, he didn’t get that.
“Yeah..” you murmured softly, leaning back against him.
Gojo’s heart paused in his chest, seemingly stopping forever at your soft and genuine expression of affection.
He smiled softly and pressed a kiss to your cheek “you’re too sweet, baby girl, you know that?” He mumbled, his hand releasinf the flowers as you took them in one of yours.
You angled your head to the side, smiling at him softly. You cupped his cheek with your free hand, your thumb running over his cheek bone “only for you, Mr. Special Grade Sorcerer”
Gojo chuckled lightly and sighed, shaking his head “I love you, Y/n” he said with a small grin.
“I love you too, Satorou” you murmured before gently placing your lips on his.
Sure, he kept you a secret, god knows what would happen if a curse found out about your existence, but that didn’t mean he loved you any less.
⋆˚☆˖°⋆。° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚⋆˚☆˖°⋆。° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚⋆˚☆˖°⋆。° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚⋆˚☆˖°⋆。° ✮˖ ࣪ ⊹⋆.˚
AGHGHGTH I hope you liked this, I was a little nervous writing this, because Gojo has a kind of sarcasm that i don’t really know how to write into a romance? So I hope this was good, if not, feel free to leave your criticism in the comments. Enjoy your nights, loves 🩵
THIS WAS SO ADORABLE I LOVED EVERY SINGLE SECOND OH MY GOSHHH!!! im gonna go hunt for more long gojo fics.
THE MAN ACROSS THE STREET — SATORU GOJO
pairing — neighbour!satoru gojo x fem!reader
summary — when you inherited your grandparents' victorian home, you thought the biggest challenge would be the renovations. what you weren't prepared for was satoru gojo—your insufferably perfect neighbour with his perfect smiles and unexpected talent for home repairs. but maybe, just maybe, he's exactly the kind of renovation partner you need. because four seasons might not be enough to fix a century-old house, but it might be just enough time to fall in love—moment by moment, season by season.
word count — 14 k
genre/tags — home renovation AU, neighbours to lovers, slice of life, mutual pining, slow burn, domestic fluff, idiots in love, misunderstandings, found family, tension, happy ending, gentle romance, cozy vibes
warnings — 16+ ONLY. contains suggestive sexual content, small renovation accident, references to past family deaths (grandparents)
author's note — would you believe this fic has been sitting in my drafts since last year haha. but i finally finished it after months of adding scenes and expanding seasons. i wanted to keep it shorter but well, now it is what it is lol. hope you enjoy <3
masterlist + support my writing
When you inherited your grandparents' old Victorian home, you thought the biggest challenge would be the renovations. The sagging porch, the outdated wiring, the kitchen that hadn't been updated since the 1970s — these were all problems you could tackle with enough time, money, and YouTube tutorials.
What you hadn't counted on was Satoru Gojo.
Your new neighbor lived in the equally grand house across the street, though his was perfectly maintained with its pristine white paint and perfectly tended rose bushes. You'd noticed him the day you moved in, impossible not to really, with that white hair and those eyes in the colour of summer skies that seemed to find you no matter where you were.
It was frustrating, to say the least.
You'd first noticed him through your kitchen window one morning, still half asleep and clutching your teacup. He was at his mailbox, and for a disorienting moment, you thought you were still dreaming. No shirt. Sweatpants low on his hips. It was really way too early for someone to look that good. It felt almost unfair, frankly. But then he turned, caught you staring and flashed you a smile that could belong in a stupid toothpaste commercial.
You'd ducked under the counter so quickly you'd spilled tea all over yourself. It was ridiculous, really—hiding in your own kitchen.
Your first actual meeting came three days later, when you were balanced precariously on a ladder, trying to clear the gutters of last autumn's soggy birch leaves. You were reaching for a stubborn clump when a voice drifted up from below.
"You might want to secure that ladder before it slides."
You looked down. Satoru stood there, one hand casually steadying the ladder, the other holding a steaming mug. His white hair caught the spring sunlight, shimmering like spun moonlight, and his eyes were the kind of blue that made you grateful you were already holding onto something.
“It’s fine, really” you said, even as the ladder wobbled slightly.
“Famous last words.” A corner of his mouth quirked. “But humor me? I’d hate to call an ambulance before I know my new neighbor’s name.”
That had set the tone for everything that followed.
He had an uncanny ability to appear whenever you were struggling—or perhaps he was stalking you. Either way, he had a way of offering help in a way that somehow never felt condescending. It was subtle at first—the way he'd bring over coffee when he saw you starting an early morning project, or how he seemed to have an endless supply of useful tools that were "just gathering dust anyway", as he always said.
He never pushed, never overwhelmed, but he was always there, across the street and you found yourself looking over to his house more often than you'd care to admit.
You told yourself it was just practical. He knew the neighborhood, understood old houses, and happened to be surprisingly knowledgeable about house renovation. The fact that he had a smile that made your chest tight, or that he looked unfairly good in everything he wore was entirely irrelevant. He's just a neighbour, you told yourself, even as heat rose in your cheeks. A ridiculously attractive neighbour—unfortunately.
But as spring melted into summer, and summer faded into autumn, you started to realize two very inconvenient truths: One, restoring this house was going to take far longer than you'd planned. And two, Satoru Gojo was becoming a much more relevant aspect of this restoration than you'd wished.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. It all began with the pipes in spring.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Spring was supposed to be about fresh starts and birdsong or whatever stupid idyllic nonsense romance movies peddled. Your old Victorian home, however, had other ideas. Because on one peaceful Sunday morning, the pipe under your kitchen sink decided it had had enough of gravity and time.
You were making coffee when you heard it—a suspicious gurgle, followed by a crack that could only mean trouble. And suddenly, your cabinet was a fountain. Lovely, really, if it didn’t threaten to turn your kitchen into an indoor pool. You managed to shut off the water and were now flat on your back under the sink, surrounded by tools, muttering curses at the rusted pipe, when a knock sounded.
“Having fun down there?”
You jumped in surprise and, naturally, hit your head on the cabinet. Of course it was him. Of course your ridiculously, unfairly attractive neighbor would appear right when you were sprawled on the kitchen floor, soaked and probably looking like a drowned rat.
“Ha ha,” you called dryly, not bothering to move. “I’ve got this.”
“That’s why there’s water running down your driveway?”
You closed your eyes. Counted to ten. “Don’t you have your own house to maintain?”
“Much less entertaining over there.” A rustle of movement, and then Satoru was crouching beside you. His white hair fell forward as he tilted his head, those stupidly handsome blue eyes assessing the situation. “You’re using the wrong wrench.”
“I am not.”
“You are.” He reached past you, picking up a different wrench. “Pipe wrench, not adjustable. Unless you’re aiming for an indoor pool, in which case, carry on.”
You glared at him, which was significantly less effective from your position on the floor. "Don't you have someone else to annoy?"
"On a Saturday morning? Please." He settled onto the floor beside you, his shoulder brushing yours as he leaned in to examine the pipe. "Besides, this is a two person job. One to hold the pipe, one to remove the fitting. Unless you've grown extra arms?"
You hadn’t. Hence the problem. You'd spent the last hour trying to manage it alone and had only succeeded in getting thoroughly soaked and increasingly frustrated.
"Fine," you sighed, scooting over to make room. "But if you make one more smart comment—"
"Would I do that?" He gave you an exaggeratedly innocent look that almost made you smile.
Working together, it took only minutes to remove the damaged section of pipe. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing toned forearms, the sleeves bunching just below his elbows. You tried not to notice how he smelled faintly of sandalwood, or how his presence made your kitchen feel suddenly so much smaller.
"You'll need to replace this whole section," he said, examining the corroded pipe. "The hardware store opens in an hour."
"I know that." You definitely hadn't known that.
"Of course you did." His smile made you want to punch him. "Just like you knew about using the pipe wrench?"
"I will set your house on fire."
He laughed, the sound filling the small space. “No, you won’t. You like having someone around who knows a pipe wrench from an adjustable one.”
A strange warmth spread through you, followed by a healthy dose of suspicion. Was he…flirting?
No. Impossible. Satoru Gojo didn't flirt. Or better said, he flirted with everyone—the barista at the coffee shop, the elderly woman selling tomatoes at the market, even the hardware store clerk he’d charmed into giving you a discount the other day. It was just his way.
Still it did make the small space feel a little warmer. And the worst part was, he wasn't entirely wrong. You did appreciate his help. But you'd rather deal with a thousand broken pipes on your own than admit that and witness his self-satisfied grin.
“Don’t you have your own projects?” you asked, pushing yourself up, feigning a nonchalance you absolutely did not feel.
“Nope.” He popped the ‘p’, looking far too comfortable sprawled on your kitchen floor. “My house is perfect. Which leaves me free to watch you struggle with yours. Better than Netflix.”
You grabbed a dish towel and threw it at his head. He caught it easily, because of course he did.
"Come on." He stood in one fluid motion that had no right to look that graceful. "I'll drive you to the hardware store. Unless you want water running down your driveway all day?”
You looked between him and your ruined cabinet, weighing your options. Pride demanded you handle this alone. Practicality pointed out that he actually seemed to know what he was doing, and you really did need that pipe fixed today.
"Fine." You sighed. "But I'm buying my own supplies." You blurted it out, remembering how he’d somehow paid the entire bill before you’d even reached for your wallet last time you'd run into him in the hardware store.
"Whatever you say." He was already heading for the door, keys jingling in his hand. "Though you might want to change first. Not that the wet look isn't working for you, but—"
You looked down at your soaked clothes, then back at him. Your white shirt clung to you like a second skin and was practically see through. Heat rushed to your face.
Why was he only mentioning this now?
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
After the Saturday sink incident, you'd sworn to handle the rest of the plumbing yourself. You weren’t entirely sure why—maybe it was pride, maybe it was the way he’d teased you endlessly about it, or maybe it was the strange flutter in your chest whenever he was near.
Whatever the reason, you’d plotted your renovation schedule around his presumed absences, binged YouTube tutorials until your eyes blurred, and even took your coffee breaks in the backyard, convinced he couldn’t possibly find you there.
But somehow, Satoru Gojo kept appearing anyway.
"That pipe threading looks wrong," he'd say, appearing beside you like some stupid house ghost. Or, "Those measurements seem off," right when you were about to make a cut. Or worst of all, saying nothing at all. He’d simply stand there with that look until you finally snapped and asked for help.
On one stupid cursed Monday afternoon, the bathroom pipes were your breaking point. You'd been at it for hours, surrounded by copper fittings and pipe dope, when his shadow fell across your work. You really needed to start locking the door.
“Don’t,” you warned without looking up.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were thinking it loud enough.”
“I was just admiring your work.” His voice held that familiar amusement that made your skin prickle. “Though if you’re planning on running water anytime soon—”
Your wrench clattered to the floor. “Fine. What am I doing wrong?”
“Would you believe me if I said everything?”
But the most infuriating part wasn’t just that he was right. It was the way he showed you. His large hands moving gently as he demonstrated the proper technique, his voice low and soft as he explained what you were doing wrong with such patience that made it impossible to stay annoyed with him.
By the time the bathroom was finished, you’d stopped pretending you didn’t need his help. By the time you tackled the upstairs pipes, you’d stopped pretending you didn’t want it.
It became a routine. You’d start a project, he’d appear with some tedious fact about old houses, and together you’d work until the sun dipped below the horizon. He never pushed, never took over, just quietly adjusted your grip on a tool or handed you the right fitting before you even asked.
“You know,” you said one evening, both of you tired and dusted with grime, “for someone with a perfect house, you spend a lot of time in my disaster zone.”
He was quiet for so long you thought he might not answer. Then, his voice, when it came, was different—softer, the usual teasing edge gone. “Maybe I like watching something beautiful come back to life.”
You looked up, a question forming on your lips, but he was already focused on the pipe in his hands again, his expression shadowed in the fading light.
The last pipe was replaced on a cool evening in late spring. You both stood in the basement and looked at your work.
“Guess you’ll have to find someone else to annoy now,” you said, trying for a light tone, though a strange heaviness settled in your chest.
“Your electrical panel looks pretty old.”
“Satoru—”
“And those windows definitely need reglazing before summer.”
“You don’t have to—”
“And don’t even get me started on that porch roof.”
You stared at him. “You’re not going to let me do any of this alone, are you?”
He smiled. “Now you’re getting it.”
And standing there in your basement, covered in dust and sweat, you finally admitted what you'd been fighting all spring—maybe you didn't want to do this alone after all.
Even if you’d never say it out loud.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Summer arrived like a slow exhale, bringing humid days and the kind of heat that made everything a sweltering ordeal.
The porch was your next project so that you could reclaim the space before the season completely slipped away. You envisioned lazy afternoons spent sipping iced tea in the shade, reading a book or simply napping. But looking at the porch now, with its peeling paint, crumbling railings, and warped floorboards, that vision felt miles away.
It had become normal to find Satoru on your porch in the mornings, armed with iced coffee and opinions about latest movies. You'd stopped questioning how he always seemed to know your schedule, or why he willingly sacrificed his free time to help you strip old paint from equally old wood.
“This is bad,” he said one stifling morning, poking a section of railing that crumbled at his touch. “How did it get this neglected?”
You swiped at the sweat trickling down your forehead, probably smearing paint stripper across your cheek. “Ask that my grandparents’ bank. Two years of bureaucratic hell before I could even touch the place.”
“I’m more concerned about what you’re doing there. You’re taking off more wood than paint.” His hands hovered for a moment before gently adjusting your grip. “Like this. Gentle but firm. Let the stripper do the work.”
Months ago, the correction would have annoyed you. Now you just moved your hands and noticed how the work immediately became easier. But the warmth of his breath on your neck and the familiar scent of sandalwood still sent a shiver down your spine. You swallowed, ignoring the flutter in your stomach. "Not all of us have a natural talent for restoring historic houses."
"No, some of us just inherited beautiful old houses and decided to learn through trial and error." His voice carried that warm amusement that had become familiar. "Mostly error."
You turned to glare at him, but he was already moving on to the next section, the muscles in his arms flexing as he worked. Not that you were staring. You definitely weren't staring. And if you were, it was purely to study his scraping technique.
So the days fell into a rhythm. Mornings were for demolition—tearing out rotten planks and stripping paint before the heat truly settled in. Afternoons were for repairs, matching new wood to old, rebuilding piece by piece as sweat dripped down your backs.
"My grandmother used to bring us lemonade out here when we were kids," you said one afternoon, both of you sprawled in the shade of the half-finished porch, and as you said it, you could almost smell the lemon, tart and sweet. Hear the clinking of the ice in the heavy glasses. "She had this really pretty set of vintage glasses."
Satoru lay on his back, one arm thrown over his eyes against the sun. “Let me guess—they’re still in the attic somewhere?"
“Along with about a hundred years’ worth of other stuff.” You took a long sip from your water bottle. “I’m almost afraid to look.”
He propped himself up on his elbows, the movement pulling his damp t-shirt tighter across his chest, revealing the faint outline of his abs and the curve of his bicep. A few stray beads of sweat trickled down his temple, catching the sunlight. "We should check it out. After the porch is done."
"We?"
"Unless you're planning to handle whatever horror show is up there alone?" He smiled. “Besides, I’m invested in this house’s resurrection story now.”
"Is that what this is?"
"Isn't it?" He gestured at the porch around you. “Old becoming new. Though hopefully with better plumbing this time.”
You threw a paint chip at him, which he dodged easily. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
“Never.” He stood and offered you a hand. "It's too good a story.”
You took his hand, and for a moment, you simply looked at him. It struck you then how familiar his presence had become—the easy banter, the shared work, the comfortable silences. It felt like you’d known him forever.
“Alright, let’s get back to it,” he said, his hand still holding yours. “This porch isn’t going to rebuild itself. Unless you’re planning on serving me lemonade on a pile of rotted wood?”
“Who says I’m making you lemonade?”
He tugged you closer, just a little, until you were almost toe to toe. You tilted your head, your gaze locked with his, and something playful flashed in those sky blue eyes of his. “Aren’t I entitled to a little refreshment after all this hard work?”
“You have quite the ideas.”
“Hmh. I have another one.” He released your hand. “You should have a party here when it’s finished. Lemonade and those vintage glasses of your grandmother’s.”
“To celebrate what?”
He glanced over his shoulder, something soft in his expression. “That good things are worth the work.”
You looked away first and focused back on your own section of railing. If your cheeks were warm, it was definitely just the summer heat.
The porch took two more weeks to finish. Every board was carefully replaced or restored, every detail attended to with a gentle care that would have made your grandmother proud. You spent the final evening painting together, working in silence as the sun set.
“It’s beautiful.” You stepped back to admire your work. The fresh white paint glowed in the twilight, making the whole house seem to breathe easier.
“It is.” But when you glanced over, Satoru wasn’t looking at the porch. His gaze was on you.
You cleared your throat, suddenly very interested in cleaning your paintbrush. "So, about that attic..."
His smile, when you dared to look back, was warm and genuine. "Tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow," you echoed, trying to ignore the way your heart quickened at the way he said it—like a promise, like there would always be another project, another reason to spend these long summer days together.
And it felt… good.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
The attic turned out to be exactly the treasure trove you'd hoped but also feared it to be—a cavernous space choked with dust motes dancing in the faint light filtering through grimy windows. Air hung thick and still with the scent of dried wood and dust. Piles of furniture shrouded in white sheets were scattered among stacks of old books with brittle pages and dusty hatboxes tied with faded ribbons.
It was chaotic, let's just say that.
But it was also so familiar it tugged at the edges of your memory, a feeling of coming home to a place you hadn't seen in years.
The attic had started as a simple weekend project, mostly to fix the insulation before autumn. But each box you opened was like a time capsule of memories. You'd find yourself lost in old photo albums or mesmerised by your grandmother's book collection, renovation plans long forgotten as you sifted through the memories of their lives—and yours. And what you'd initially considered a "weekend project" had clearly been a wildly optimistic estimate.
You were so absorbed in sorting through another box that you didn't hear the footsteps on the stairs until Satoru's head popped through the access panel.
"Your door was unlocked," he said, as that would explain why he always appeared out of nowhere is your house. "I brought lunch."
"Normal people call first," you replied, not looking up from the box in your hands.
"Normal is boring." He pulled himself up without any effort, which was almost offensive considering how you'd stumbled up here earlier. "Besides, you skipped breakfast again. I heard your stomach growling from across the street."
"That's not even possible." But the gnawing in your stomach told a different story. You were hungry, but you hadn't even noticed between the years and years of memories coming back to life.
"And yet." He settled beside you, closer than strictly necessary in the cramped space, and peered into the box. "What's caught your attention this time?"
You held up a bundle of letters, tied together with a red ribbon. "I think they're my grandparents' love letters."
His eyebrows rose. "From the war?"
"Maybe?" You were surprised for a second, not expecting him to remember the little detail you had told him one lazy afternoon in the sun—that your grandfather had served in the army and had been separated from your grandmother for some time. You untied the ribbon, handling the aged paper like it might crumble. The first envelope was postmarked 1943. "Oh. They are."
Satoru leaned in, his shoulder brushing yours as you pulled out the first letter. His body was warm in the cool attic air next to yours, and you caught a subtle hint of sandalwood—a scent that had become inseparable from these shared afternoons.
"My dearest heart," you read aloud, then paused, suddenly feeling like you were intruding on something private. But it’s been over half a century, you reminded yourself. They wouldn’t mind, surely. After all, they left all this to you. You continued, "The cherry trees are blooming here, and all I can think about is how we walked through the park last spring. Do you remember? You were wearing that blue dress, the one that matches the sky, and I knew right then I would marry you—"
"Your grandfather was a romantic," Satoru commented, a soft smile in his voice.
"Shh." You elbowed him lightly. "I carry your picture with me everywhere. The other men tease me about it, but I don't care. When things get dark over here, I just look at your smile and remember what I'm fighting for..." Your voice caught unexpectedly at the written words of your grandfather.
Satoru shifted closer and whispered, "Let me.” His chest brushed against your shoulder and his fingers slid over yours as he took the paper, the touch lingering for a moment longer.
“Sometimes I close my eyes and imagine I'm back home with you," he continued, lips close enough to your temple that you could feel the words as much as hear them. His usual playful tone was gone, replaced by something that made your heart melt. "Sitting on that porch swing, watching the sunset. Nothing grand or fancy, just you and me and the quiet. That's what keeps me going, the thought of coming home to you."
Satoru stood up, brefting you of his warmth and sat down on a dusty stack of boxes near the small window opposite you to get a better view of the letters. The afternoon light caught the silver strands in his white hair, making them glimmer like starlight. He looked younger, almost boyish in the soft light as he continued to read the letter. You watched him, struck by this unfamiliar sight.
"There are dozens more," you said after he finished, gesturing to the box. "Looks like they wrote to each other every week."
"Different time.” His startlingly blue eyes met yours, and for once there was no trace of his usual teasing smile. "People knew how to love back then. They took their time with it."
"You don't think people know how to love now?"
"I think we've forgotten how to do it slowly. How to let it build, letter by letter, moment by moment."
Your heart fluttered strangely, like a trapped bird. It was like glimpsing a part of him he usually kept hidden, a hint of the man beneath the playful nonchalance. Before you could process the feeling, before you could even form a coherent thought, he picked up another letter, breaking the moment with a small, almost apologetic smile.
“My darling," he read, "Today Mrs. Henderson's cat got stuck in our rosebushes again, and all I could think was how you would have laughed..."
You smiled and settled back against the old boxes as he read, his warm voice washing over you like a soothing dream. The afternoon light caught dust motes dancing in the air, and somewhere in the distance, a church bell chimed.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
August arrived with a heatwave so oppressive, even the cicadas seemed to fall silent. You suggested starting at dawn, hoping to get some work done before the worst of the heat set in, and to your surprise Satoru had no objection, even though you knew he hated early starts and loved sleeping in.
And you were even more surprised when Satoru showed up right on time and you didn't even have to wake him up, armed with paintbrushes and a concerningly large supply of water bottles.
"You really don't have to help with this," you’d told him. "I can do it on my own, really. It’s not complicated or something.”
He arched a brow. "When has that ever stopped me?"
The house was a dull greenish colour. It had originally been a soft sage green, but it had faded over time. It was a colour your grandmother had loved, a shade that reminded her of the rolling hills of her childhood home. So you decided to paint it sage again. But by midday the heat had become almost unbearable, pressing down on you. Air thick and shimmering.
"You need to take a break," Satoru said, watching you sway slightly on the ladder. "You look pale."
"I'm fine," you insisted, even as your head throbbed. "We're almost done with this section."
"The paint will still be here in a few hours." He was already taking the painbrush from your hands. "Go rest before you fall off that ladder and give me a heart attack."
You wanted to argue, but the world was starting to spin in a way that suggested he might have a point. "Just for an hour.”
"Whatever you say." His hand steadied you as you climbed down the ladder, swaying slightly. "Go. Sleep. I've got this."
You wanted to lie down for a moment, just until the throbbing in your head subsided. Instead, you woke to the first gentle breeze of early evening, carrying the distant hum of a lawnmower from a neighboring garden. You stumbled outside, still groggy, and stopped dead.
The house.
It was finished.
Every inch of peeling paint had been replaced with perfect sage green and the trim was crisp white. It looked like a completely different house, restored to its former beauty.
Satoru was putting away the last of the brushes, his white hair darkened with sweat and plastered to his forehead, his clothes splattered with green. He looked exhausted, but a genuine smile touched his lips when he spotted you.
"You did all that?" you asked, still not quite believing it.
He lifted the hem of his shirt to wipe his face, revealing a fleeting glimpse of his toned stomach with sharply defined abs that you quickly looked away from. He must have seen your reaction, but for once, he didn’t comment. When you looked back, his shirt was down.
“You needed the rest. And I had the time.”
"Satoru, this would have taken days—"
“A few hours with the right motivation.” He shrugged, as if it were nothing. “Besides, couldn’t leave it half finished. Would have ruined the aesthetic of the street."
You knew that wasn’t the real reason. Just like you knew he didn't spend every free moment helping you with this house because he was concerned about the aesthetic of the street.
It was absurd. He was Satoru, infuriatingly charming, impossibly handsome Satoru. There was no way he could—no, it couldn't be. But the evidence piled up. It was the way his eyes lingered on yours, the way his voice softened when he spoke to you, the way his presence filled every corner of your attention. It was a ridiculous notion, a phantom feeling that had no place in reality. He was a neighbour, a friend, someone who was simply helpful.
That's all.
The setting sun painted everything in shades of gold, catching in the wet paint and making your house shimmer like a scene from a fairytale. Satoru was still putting away brushes, his movements slower now, betraying his weariness even as he tried to play it off.
"You didn't have to do this," you said. "Any of it, really. The pipes, the porch, and now this."
He glanced at you, then back at the house. “I wanted to.”
"But why?" The question that had been burning in your throat all summer, since spring, since the first leaky pipe, finally escaped. "You have your own perfect house. Your own life. Why spend every free moment helping me with mine?"
“Would you believe me if I said I just like restoring things?”
"Not really," you said, trying to ignore the way your heart picked up speed when he moved closer.
He reached out to brush something from your cheek. "You have a little…paint.” His thumb lingered against your skin, sun-warm and gentle. "Right here."
Time seemed to slow, the moment stretching like honey in the golden light. You could see the flecks of darker blue in his eyes, the fine lines at the corners, the way his hair curled at his temples from sweat, and the small smudge of sage green along his jaw. He was so close. Too close.
"Satoru," you breathed, not sure if it was a question or a warning.
"Besides, watching you love this house back to life, even without knowing anything about renovations—" He paused, his thumb tracing along your cheekbone. "It's unexpectedly cute."
You could feel his breath against your lips, could see the question in his eyes as he leaned slightly closer. His other hand came up to cradle your face, and you found yourself swaying towards him, drawn in by the gravity of this moment you'd both been circling since spring.
But then a car door slammed somewhere down the street and broke the spell. You both stepped back.
Had that…had that almost just happened? You blinked, trying to clear the lingering warmth from your face. It must have been the heat. Or the paint smell. There was no way—
"I should—" He gestured vaguely at the remaining equipment.
"Right. Yeah. Sure" You were babbling, your heart racing like you'd been running. You desperately tried to convince yourself that you’d imagined the whole thing, that the almost kiss was just a figment of your overheated imagination.
He turned to gather his things, nearly dropping his water bottle twice. You watched him, trying to think of something to say that wouldn't sound desperate or awkward, but your mind was stuck on the phantom feeling of his thumb against your cheek.
At the garden gate, he paused, turning back with that smile that never failed to make your stomach flip. "Try not to break anything else before tomorrow?"
You smiled. "No promises."
He lingered for a moment longer, as if wanting to say something else, but then just nodded and stepped out onto the street. Just before he reached his door, you found yourself moving, yanking open your garden gate without thinking. "Satoru!"
He turned.
"Thank you!" you called out, hoping he could hear everything else you couldn't say in those two words. Thank you for helping. For caring. For almost kissing me.
His smile softened into something genuine, something that made your heart stumble in your chest. "Anytime!”
You stood there long after he'd disappeared into his house, your fingers absently touching the spot on your cheek where his hand had been, wondering how you were supposed to go back to normal after almost kissing your irritatingly perfect neighbour.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
You'd never felt more ridiculous than when you found yourself standing on Satoru Gojo's immaculate porch, holding a slightly lopsided stawberry cake in your hand. After three attempts to ring the doorbell without letting the cake fall to the ground, you were seriously considering just leaving it on his doorstep with a note and running back across the street. But before you could execute your escape plan, the door swung open, and suddenly all coherent thought left your brain.
Satoru stood there in low-slung sweatpants and a fitted dark blue shirt that clung slightly to his still damp skin. A towel was draped around his neck, and his white hair was darker with moisture, falling into his eyes in a way that should be illegal. Droplets of water traced down his neck, disappearing beneath his collar.
Not that you were staring, of course.
His eyes widened and a stupid, handsome smile lit up his face. "Don’t tell me your kitchen is underwater again?”
"No, no…no emergencies today.” You thrust the cake forward like it’s something hot. "I made this. To say thank you. For all the help." The words tumbled out in a rush. "It's stawberry. Though now I'm realizing you might not even like stawberries, which would be really inconvenient, and—"
"I love them," he interrupted your rambling and took the cake out of your hands. "Did you make this just for me?"
"Don't let it go to your head."
"Too late." He stepped back, gesturing inside. "Come in. It’s too hot to stand out here."
You hesitated at the threshold. In all these months of him appearing at your house, you'd never actually been inside his. It felt like crossing some invisible line you hadn't even realized existed.
"Unless you're scared," he added with that familiar teasing note in his voice.
You groaned and stepped inside. Where your house was still a work in progress, his was... perfect. Somehow both modern and classic, with original hardwood floors that gleamed and a fireplace in the centre of the living room. The furniture was clearly expensive but comfortable, and large windows filled the space with natural light.
"This is—"
"Not what you expected?" He walked past you towards what you assumed was the kitchen, and you caught another whiff of his shower fresh scent.
"I was expecting more mirrors, actually. You know, so you could admire yourself from every angle."
He laughed. "Those are all in the bedroom."
You felt heat creep up your spine at his words and tried very hard not to think about Satoru and bedrooms in the same sentence. You followed him into his kitchen that was equally perfect like the rest of his house. Without thinking, you hopped up onto the wooden island and watched him move around the room.
"Coffee?" he asked, already reaching for mugs.
“Please.” Your legs swung idly as you watched him slice the cake. "Though I should warn you, I don’t bake often.”
“Should I be afraid?"
"I take it back. No cake for you."
"Too late." He slid a plate across the counter. He leaned against the island opposite you, close enough that your knees almost brushed his. "So, I was thinking about your kitchen.”
"What about it?"
"You need new countertops. And fresh paint." He took a bite of cake, his eyebrows rising. "This is actually good."
"Don't sound so shocked."
You tried not to focus on how silly domestic this all felt—you on his kitchen island, sharing cake and talking about future projects like you were some kind of … couple.
"I was thinking," he continued, "we could start on that next week? I know a good carpenter who makes really cool wooded countertops that would match the original—"
Your gaze wandered as he spoke, taking in the space. That's when you saw it—a framed photo on the windowsill above the sink. Satoru, looking unfairly handsome in what appeared to be a suit, and a stunning woman with pale hair pressing a kiss to his cheek.
They looked intimate.
Happy.
Like an actual couple.
Your stomach dropped.
"—and the marble could be saved if we—" He paused, noticing your distraction. "What's wrong?"
"Actually." You set down your cake, sliding off the counter, "I just remembered I have this... thing. I need to go."
"Now? But we haven't even finished—"
"It's important." You were already heading for the door, trying to ignore how low his sweatpants hung, revealing a bit of his perfect abs, how at home he looked in this perfect kitchen with its perfect photos of him and his perfect girlfriend. "Thanks for the coffee. And, um, good luck with... everything."
"Wait, what about your kitchen?" He followed you into the hallway. "Shouldn’t we talk about it first, before—"
"I'll figure it out," you said quickly, nearly stumbling in your haste to reach the door. "You probably have other plans anyway. With... people. Important people. I'll just YouTube it or something."
"Other plans? What are you—"
"Bye!"
You practically fled down his porch steps, not daring to look back at his bewildered expression. You made it across the street with lightning speed, slamming your front door behind you and sliding down against it.
"Stupid," you muttered to yourself, pressing your palms against your burning cheeks. "Stupid, stupid, stupid."
Of course he had a girlfriend. Someone that hansome, that charming, that annoyingly perfect—how could he not? And here you were, bringing him cake like some lovesick teenager, reading too much into things.
He was just being polite, probably feeling sorry for the disaster of a neighbour who couldn't even fix a leaky pipe without flooding her kitchen and you were making a complete fool of yourself. You wanted to melt into the floor and disappear.
You could never face him again. How were you supposed to look him in the eye knowing you'd been almost kissing him in your backyard while his gorgeous girlfriend smiled at him from picture frames in his perfect kitchen? How could you ever stand on your porch again without remembering how you'd practically fled from his house like a guilty teenager?
Your kitchen tabletops would just have to stay ugly forever. You'd learn to love them. You pressed your forehead against your knees and groaned.
And now you'd just have to avoid him for... oh, the rest of your life.
Easy.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Summer melted into autumn with surprising speed, the maple trees lining your street turning from green to orange and crimson. As the days grew shorter, your grandmother's herb garden was dotted with fallen leaves that crunched underfoot. Even the air felt different—crisper, carrying the scent of woodsmoke and the promise of colder days to come.
And you threw yourself into the next project—the kitchen, armed with nothing but YouTube tutorials, sheer stubbornness and the grudging advice of the grumpy guy at the hardware store (who, you were convinced, hid whenever he saw you approaching).
Things weren't exactly going smoothly. You'd managed to miscalculate the measurements for the new cupboards (twice), and you were pretty sure you'd cracked the new sink while trying to install the tap. But it was your mess, your project, and you were determined to see it through, even if it meant several trips to the hardware store and more withering stares from grumpy guy.
"Back again?" he'd grumble. "What'd you break this time?"
"Nothing's broken," you'd insist, even as you clutched a piece of pipe that was definitely not supposed to bend that way. "I just need... clarification."
Your kitchen was slowly, painfully coming together. Sure, the subway tiles weren't perfectly aligned, and maybe one cupboard door hung a little lower than its neighbours, but it was yours. Every imperfect angle and slightly wobbly shelf represented hours of YouTube research and grumpy guy's reluctant advice.
If sometimes, late at night, you found yourself staring at your uneven grout lines and remembering how easily Satoru had fixed your sink that first day—well, that was between you and your slightly tipsy reflection in the new (only somewhat streaky) backsplash.
You'd gotten good at avoiding him. Early morning hardware store runs, late evening painting sessions with your curtains drawn. You'd even mapped out his routine—when he left for work, when he usually arrived home, which days he typically did yard work. All so you could time your own activities to minimize any chance of running into his blue eyes.
This was all totally normal, of course. Perfectly reasonable behavior for an normal adult obviously.
Some days were harder than others. Like when you could hear him on his porch in the evenings, chatting with Miss Tanaka about the weather and whether he wanted to go out with her granddaughter. She's so pretty and can cook such good beef stew, she'd say. As if Satoru didn't already have a girlfriend. A perfect girlfriend who could for sure cook a fantastic, wonderful, amazing beef stew. While you ate burned toast.
But you were managing. Mostly. The kitchen was... well, "finished" might be a strong word, but it was functional. Sort of. If you didn't mind that one burner that heated unevenly, or the fact that the new faucet made a strange gurgling sound when you ran hot water.
Even grumpy guy had stopped wincing visibly when you showed him your progress photos, which you counted as a win. "Could be worse," he'd said last week, which was basically a compliment coming from him.
You told yourself it was better this way. Better to have a slightly crooked kitchen than to face the mortification of asking for help from your impossibly perfect neighbour with his impossibly perfect girlfriend. Besides, character was important in old houses. That's what all the renovation shows said. And your kitchen certainly had... character.
It happened on one of those perfect late autumn evenings, when the sky turned deep purple and the air smelled like pine and fallen leaves. You were trying to hang a lamp in your dining room—the sort of task that would definitely require two people, but stubbornness had convinced you otherwise.
The ladder seemed stable enough. The wiring looked mostly right. You stretched, straining to connect the final wire, when you heard it. A soft groan from above, followed by the distinct sound of old plaster giving way. Everything happened at once. The ceiling cracked, raining down decades of dust and debris. The lamp slipped from your fingers, and your balance followed.
You hit the hardwood floor hard, the light crashing beside you in a shower of glass and plaster. For a moment, you just lay there, staring up at the hole in your ceiling and questioning every life decision that had led to this moment.
The sound of your front door bursting open echoed through the house, followed by rapid footsteps.
"Hey! Are you—" Satoru’s voice trailed off as he appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening as he took in the scene—you sprawled on the floor, surrounded by debris, the ladder tipped against the wall, and the sad remains of what was supposed to be your new dining room light.
"Don't say it.”
"Say what?" He crossed the room in quick strides and knelt beside you. "That trying to hang a lamp by yourself is stupid? Or that you're lucky you didn't break your neck?"
"Both. Neither." You winced as you tried to sit up. "How did you even get in here?"
"Your door was unlocked. I was on my porch, heard you scream." His hands hovered near your shoulders, like he wasn't sure if he was allowed to help. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine.”
You tried to push yourself up, but your ankle protested.
"Don’t be stupid." He moved closer, dust from your ceiling clinging to his dark sweater. "Let me see."
"It's nothing—"
"Let me take care of you.” His usual teasing smile was gone, replaced with genuine concern that made your chest tight. "Please?"
The 'please' did you in. You nodded weakly, and before you could process what was happening, Satoru slid one arm behind your shoulders and the other under your knees. He lifted you effortlessly, as if you weighed nothing at all.
"What are you—" you started, your hands automatically gripping his sweater.
"Kitchen has better light.” He carried you through the doorway, nudging it open with his shoulder. He set you down gently on the counter, careful of your ankle. His hands were warm where they rested at your waist, steadying you.
For a moment, he stayed close, closer than he had any right to be, and you found yourself level with those sky blue eyes that always made you weak.
"Stay," he whispered, finally stepping back. "Let me take care of this."
You wanted to protest, to maintain even a little bit of distance. But your ankle really hurt and you were really tired. So you sat there, perched on your counter (which was definitely not as level as you'd claimed to grumpy guy) and watched Satoru move around your kitchen.
He found a clean dish towel in the second drawer he tried and wrapped some ice in it. His movements were precise, practiced, like he'd done this a hundred times before. Probably for his girlfriend, you thought.
"Your cabinet organization is creative,” he said.
"It's a new system I'm trying out."
"Is that what we're calling chaos these days?" He returned, ice pack in hand. The counter put you at perfect height for him to—no. My god. Stop that train of thought immediately.
He carefully lifted your ankle, his touch impossibly gentle as he pressed the ice against it. The cold made you flinch, and his other hand came to rest just above your knee.
"Too cold?"
“No, it’s…” You swallowed, trying to ignore the warmth of his hand through your jeans. “It’s fine.”
He hummed, his attention focused on your ankle. He slowly rotated it, checking for damage. You studied his face—the slight furrow of concentration between his brows, the way his hair fell across his forehead, begging to be brushed back.
“Doesn’t seem broken,” he finally said, looking up at you. “But you should stay off it for a few days.”
“I have renovations to finish.”
“The renovations can wait.”
“Says the man with the perfect house.”
He frowned. "You know, for someone so smart, you can be surprisingly dense about—"
A phone buzzed loudly, making you both jump. His phone, you realized, as he pulled it from his back pocket with his free hand, the other still holding the ice pack against your ankle. Probably his girlfriend wondering where he was.
You pulled your leg back, ignoring the pain. "I should let you go," you said, trying to figure out how to get down the counter without falling on your face. "I'm sure you have... plans."
“No wait.” He kept you were you sat with his hand on your leg. He spoke briefly to the caller, then said, “Just work,” and silenced the phone. His hand returned to your ankle, adjusting the ice pack.
"Oh." You fidgeted with the hem of your shirt, heart hammering. "I thought... maybe it was your girlfriend." The words came out small, hesitant. "I wouldn't want to keep you. From her, I mean. She probably wouldn't want you touching other women's ankles and all that..." You were rambling now, a nervous habit you'd never quite kicked. "Not that you're really touching my ankle, I mean you are, but medically, like a doctor, not that you're a doctor—"
"What girlfriend?"
“The one in the picture? In your kitchen? Pretty. Blonde. Kissing you?”
To your surprise, Satoru started to laugh. "That's my sister. From her wedding. Is that why you've been avoiding me the last few weeks? Because you thought I had a girlfriend?"
"Your... sister?"
"She'd kill me if she heard you thought we were dating."
"But you're so..." Your mind scrambled for words that weren't 'anyoingly attractive' or 'unfairly perfect.' Like, for real, how can he still be single?
"I'm so...?" He was definitely teasing now, thumb stroking your skin just above your ankle in a way that made it very hard to think straight.
"Annoying," you finally managed, which only made his smile widen.
"Annoying enough that you made me cake, then ran away?" He moved closer, until he was standing between your legs, still holding the ice pack but now definitely invading your personal space. "Annoying enough that you've been avoiding me for weeks because you thought I was taken?"
"I wasn't avoiding you," you said. "I was very busy. With renovations."
"Mhm." His free hand came up to brush some plaster dust from your cheek. "Is that why you tried to hang a lamp by yourself?" His fingers traced your jaw and you swayed towards him despite yourself, your heart pounding.
"You're insufferable."
"Some of us," he murmured, now close enough that you could feel his breath on your lips, "believe good things are worth waiting for. Worth doing slowly, properly." His thumb brushed the corner of your mouth. "Letter by letter, moment by moment. Remember?"
Before you could respond, he stepped back. "Your ankle should be fine in a few days. Try to stay off it. And maybe..." He paused at your kitchen door. "Maybe next time you need help with something, ask your annoying neighbour instead of risking you life?"
You managed a nod, your mind still reeling.
"Oh, and by the way?" He looked back at you, his smile softening. "I really like stawberry cakes. In case you feel like baking again."
With that, he was gone, leaving you perched on your counter with a rapidly melting ice pack and the strange feeling that renovating this house wasn't the only project that was going to take time to get right.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Autumn fully arrived, bringing crimson leaves, cloudy skies, and more of Satoru's overbearing everything. Your renovation plans resumed, though now with significantly less chance of bodily harm as Satoru was helping you again. He'd show up at your door with brownies and supplies, his teasing somehow both more and less bearable now that you both knew why you'd been avoiding him.
The universe, however, had a sense of humour. It was on a warm Saturday afternoon, while you were both covered in paint from freshening up your living room panelling, that his sister showed up unannounced. She burst into your house, barely containing her glee at finally meeting the neighbour who had mistaken her for her brother's girlfriend.
You wanted to sink into the floor as she told you cheerfully how hard she'd laughed when Satoru called to tell her about the misunderstanding. Her amusement only grew as she took in the sight of the two of you, splattered with paint and clearly at ease in each other's company. She left you with her phone number and the promise of embarrassing childhood photos of her brother, while Satoru tried and failed to get her out before she could do any more damage.
The rest of autumn rushed swiftly into the frozen stillness of winter as the lines between your lives began to blur more and more—his tools mixed with yours in the garage, his coffee mug claimed permanent residence in your cabinet, and his presence became as much a part of your home as the creaky floorboards and old doorknobs.
It felt…natural in a way.
Natural that he'd show up at your house in the morning with fresh pastries and you'd make coffee for the two of you, and natural that you'd work on your house and do something fun at the weekends. Even the way your heart stuttered whenever he was near felt strangely normal, a natural rhythm in this new, unexpected something—something you never named. And yet, amidst the rush, there were moments when time seemed to slow, stretching out like taffy, each shy glance, each lingering touch, each shared laugh becoming a precious memory.
One of those moments was at the pumpkin patch. You'd been wandering through the rows of pumpkins, Satoru trailing behind you, searching for the perfect ones to decorate your house for Halloween. It was a tradition you loved since childhood, bringing back memories of visiting the local patch with your grandfather. You could almost feel the scratchy wool of his sweater against your cheek as he hoisted you onto his shoulders, hear his happy laughter, and feel the warmth of his hand in yours.
"Wait!" you called out, stopping so suddenly that Satoru almost bumped into you. "Look at that one!"
Off to the side sat perhaps the largest pumpkin you'd ever seen. It was definitely lopsided, one side bulging more than the other, and its stem curved at an odd angle.
"That's...quite a pumpkin." Satoru tilted his head. "Though maybe something a bit more manageable would—"
"It's perfect." You already tried to figure out how to lift it. The thing had to weigh at least twenty kilos.
"Perfect might be a stretch." His lips quirked up at the corners as he watched you circle the massive thing. "It's practically your size. And that's definitely not its best side."
You shot him a look. "Not everything needs to be perfect to be beautiful." Your hands settled on your hips as you studied your chosen pumpkin. "Sometimes the imperfect things are the best things."
"Like your crooked kitchen cabinets?”
You ignored his comment and attempted to lift the pumpkin, managing to get it about two centimeters off the ground before setting it back down. "It’s called character."
“Character?” He watched your continued attempts with clear amusement. "It's a safety hazard."
“Are you going to help me or just stand there looking pretty?”
“Oh, so you think I’m pretty?”
“Shut up and help me with this pumpkin.”
“As my lady commands.”
He stepped forward, effortlessly lifting the massive pumpkin like it weighed nothing. Show-off, you thought. Was there anything he wasn’t good at? Renovations, apparently, and now this.
Back home, he carried the pumpkin to your porch, the orange leaves rustling in the gentle wind. You carved the pumpkins on your newly renovated porch as neighbours raked leaves, the crisp autumn air carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. Later, his pumpkin looked like some stupid sculpture out of a museum. Of course. Because apparently, Satoru Gojo was good at literally everything. Yours? Well, yours was…cute. You’d call it ugly. Satoru insisted it was cute, and you almost, almost, believed him.
“Why are you so good at everything?” you sighed, more to yourself than him, leaning back and gazing upwards. "Any other hidden talents I should know about?"
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“I would, actually.” Your cheeks flushed as you quickly sat up, a nervous stumble sending you straight into his face, as he leaned in too. “Oh, I didn’t mean—”
Something flickered in his expression, a subtle twitch of his brow as his gaze flickered down to your lips. For a heartbeat, you thought he might—but then a single leaf drifted down and the moment shattered. He cleared his throat and turned back to his pumpkin.
"So, where do you want to place them?" he asked.
You let him return to safer topics, frustration washing over you, trying to ignore the way your skin still tingled where his leg had brushed against yours. This had become your new normal—these almost-moments, these near-misses that were driving you absolutely mad. Were you imagining things? Reading too much into every look, every touch? Or was he intentionally playing some game, dangling the possibility of something more, only to snatch it away at the last moment? It was agonizing, a slow torture that was getting harder and harder to endure.
You placed the pumpkins on your porch. Satoru excused himself, saying he had some work to do. Apparently, he was working on something international, fielding calls from overseas offices at ridiculous hours.
"I've got that conference call at two," he said, already backing towards his house. "Dinner later? I'm trying out a new recipe."
It wasn't the first time he'd invited you over—these casual dinners had become a natural part of your... whatever this was. But was it just natural? Or was it something more? You'd thought, with every invitation, every lingering look, every almost-kiss—and at this point, with almost-kiss number 3000, you were starting to lose count—that this time would be different. But maybe, just maybe, it was all in your head. Maybe you were reading too much into everything, again.
"What time?" you asked.
"Seven? Bring wine. And maybe that stawberry cake recipe you've been perfecting?"
"You just want me for my baking."
"Among other things." Before you could respond, he was already heading back to his house, calling over his shoulder, "Don't be late!"
You watched him go, your heart stuttering, wondering if he knew exactly what he was doing to you.
Dinner at Satoru's had become a natural part of your week, but something felt different that evening. Perhaps it was the early autumn darkness pressing against the windows, or the intimate warmth of the kitchen under the amber pendant lamps. Or maybe it was just how he moved around you in his kitchen, always somehow managing to brush past even though there was plenty of space.
He'd outdone himself with dinner, though you'd never tell him that—his ego was big enough already. But he was, you had to admit, a surprisingly excellent cook. Watching him plate the food with the same careful attention he gave to everything, you had to admit he had a talent for this too. Of course he did. It was starting to seem like there wasn't anything Satoru Gojo couldn't do perfectly.
The wine you'd brought paired perfectly with his cooking, because of course it did. He'd probably somehow predicted exactly what you'd choose and planned the meal around it. You wouldn't put it past him, not with how he seemed to anticipate your every move these days. Conversations flowed easily between you. He shared work stories, you gave updates on your projects, and somehow, your feet ended up on his lap beneath the table. He massaged them absently, after you complained about standing all day.
When he suggested a movie afterward, it felt natural to say yes. You watched him make popcorn on the stove and then moved to the couch. The movie was something neither of you really paid attention to, both too aware of how close you sat on his ridiculously comfortable couch. Every time you reached for the popcorn bowl between you, your hands would brush, sending little sparks up your arm. You caught him watching you more than the screen, but whenever you turned to catch him at it, his eyes were innocently focused forward.
As the evening wore on, the warmth of the wine and his presence made your eyelids heavy. You tried to stay awake, but when he gently draped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer, resistance melted away. You drifted off against his shoulder, the last thing you remember is the soft brush of his lips against your hair as sleep pulled you under.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
November deepened into December, and the air grew cold with the promise of winter. One morning, the first snow fell, lightly covering your porch and making everything look like a Christmas card. The holiday market downtown was in full swing by mid-December, stalls lined with evergreen boughs and twinkling lights that reflected off fresh snow. You'd been surprised when Satoru suggested you both go, casually mentioning it while helping you install new crown molding in your dining room.
"They've set up an ice rink this year," he'd said, measuring tape in hand, not looking at you directly. "Thought it might be fun."
Which is how you found yourself wandering between market stalls on a Saturday afternoon, your breath clouding in the cold air as Satoru walked beside you, unfairly handsome in a charcoal peacoat and blue scarf that matched his eyes.
"Have you tried the hot chocolate?" Satoru asked, nodding towards a stall where steam rose from copper pots. "I've heard they make it with real Belgian chocolate."
"Are you trying to fatten me up for winter?" But you were already moving.
He followed, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Just trying to keep you warm. Can't have you catching a cold before we finish that bathroom tilework."
The hot chocolate was rich and velvety with a hint of cinnamon, the warmth spreading through your chest as you continued to wander the market. Your fingers grew numb despite your gloves, and Satoru must have noticed because he suddenly handed you his cup.
"Hold this a second." Before you could question him, he removed his own gloves—expensive-looking leather ones—and handed them to you. "These are better insulated. Trade me."
"I can't take your gloves."
"You can and you will." His tone left no room for argument. "Besides, my hands run hot."
You reluctantly made the exchange, noticing how his gloves swallowed your hands but feeling instantly warmer. Something about wearing his gloves made your heart do a strange flutter. As it always seemed when you were near him.
As afternoon stretched into early evening, the market lights came on, making everything look magical. That's when you spotted it—the ice rink, lit up with fairy lights, skaters gliding in circles across the surface.
"Ready to try?" Satoru asked, following your gaze.
"I haven't skated since I was a kid."
"Perfect time to remember then. I'll make sure you don't fall."
Ten minutes later, you stood at the edge of the rink, wobbling precariously on thin blades while Satoru waited patiently beside you. He'd stepped onto the ice with infuriating grace, as if skating were as natural to him as breathing.
"How are you already good at this?" you said, clutching the railing.
"Can’t help it," he replied, like that would explain it. "Come on. I've got you."
Taking a deep breath, you placed your hand in his. His fingers closed around yours, warm and steady, as he pulled you onto the ice. Your legs immediately threatened to slide in opposite directions, but Satoru kept you upright.
"Small steps." His other hand came to rest at your elbow for support. "Don't think about it too much. Let your body remember."
You focused on not falling, even though all you could focus on was his hand in yours, his presence beside you as you slowly made your way around the edge of the rink. Other skaters whizzed past, some holding hands, others chatting to their friends.
After one cautious lap, you began to find your balance. Your death grip on Satoru's hand loosened slightly, though you weren't about to let go completely.
"See? You're a natural," he said, his voice warm.
"I wouldn't go that far. You're doing most of the work."
He smiled, adjusting his pace to match yours. "We make a good team."
The way he said it—so casually, so confidently—sent your thoughts spiraling. Did you make a good team? The evidence was certainly there—the beautifully restored porch, the new plumbing that never leaked, the kitchen with its even countertops that you'd finally finished together. But was that all this was? A renovation partnership?
Because holding his hand like this, skating side by side under twinkling lights with Christmas music playing softly in the background—it felt like more. It felt like a date.
Like something couples did.
Your mind raced as you made another lap around the rink. When had Satoru Gojo become more than just your annoying neighbour? When had his smug smile started making your heart race instead of your blood pressure? And why, despite all the lingering touches and loaded glances over the past months, had he never once tried to kiss you?
"You're thinking too hard again," Satoru said, interrupting your thoughts. "I can practically hear the gears turning."
"Just trying not to fall."
"Relax. I've got you." He squeezed your hand reassuringly, and you couldn't help but wonder if he meant it beyond the ice rink.
Was it possible you were imagining the whole thing? Maybe he was just being nice. Maybe this outing was purely neighborly. Maybe he wasn't interested in you that way at all. Or worse—what if he was gay? No, that couldn't be it. You'd met his ex-girlfriend when she stopped by to drop off some mail that had been mistakenly delivered to her place. Besides, no straight man looked at a woman the way he sometimes looked at you when he thought you weren't paying attention.
So what was it then? Was something wrong with you? Were you not his type?
"Ready to try without the railing?" Satoru asked, pulling you from your spiral.
"Um, I don't think—"
"Trust me," he said softly, and despite your better judgment, you did.
He guided you towards the center of the rink, one hand still firmly clasping yours, the other now resting lightly at your waist. The contact, even through layers of winter clothing, sent a jolt through you.
"You're doing great," he said as you wobbled slightly. "Just find your balance."
"Easy for you to say. You're apparently good at everything."
He laughed. "Not everything."
You didn’t believe him for a second.
Your right skate hit a rough patch of ice, and suddenly you were pitching forward, arms flailing. Time seemed to slow as you prepared for the inevitable crash onto hard ice. But instead of cold pain, you felt strong arms wrap around your waist, catching you. Satoru pulled you against his chest, steadying you both.
You found yourself pressed against him, your hands clutching his coat, faces inches apart. His blue eyes were wide, a few strands of white hair falling across his forehead. You could feel his heart racing—or was that yours?
"Are you okay?" he asked, breath warm against your cheek.
You nodded, unable to speak, certain that this was it—the moment he would finally close the distance between you. His gaze dropped to your lips, lingering there as one of his hands moved up to brush a strand of hair from your face. Your eyes fluttered closed in anticipation, heart hammering against your ribs.
"You know," Satoru said, amusement colouring his tone, "for someone who managed to restore an entire Victorian house, you're surprisingly bad at staying upright on a little ice."
Your eyes snapped open to find him grinning down at you and the moment shattered. He set you back on your feet, though he kept one arm loosely around your waist for support.
"I think I need a break," you said, trying to hide your frustration. "My ankles are killing me."
"Of course." He led you to the exit, his hand returning to yours like it belonged there. "Hot cider? My treat."
As you made your way off the ice, you couldn't help but think that for someone so skilled at fixing things, Satoru Gojo seemed determined to leave whatever was between you two beautifully, frustratingly unresolved.
Despite your disappointment at the almost kiss, the rest of the evening at the market had been pleasant enough. You'd shared warm cider at a wooden table, watching children chase each other through the snow while Satoru told stories about his own childhood winters. He'd insisted on buying you a knitted scarf when he'd caught you admiring it, and wrapped it around your neck himself with aching tenderness. And it made you want to die that he didn't kiss you while he wrapped the scarf around you.
By the time you'd explored every stall, your earlier frustration had mellowed into a dull ache of confusion. Satoru seemed completely at ease, carrying your purchases and guiding you through the crowd with a gentle hand on your lower back—another gesture that felt so intimate, yet so casually offered.
The drive home was quiet, snowflakes dancing in the headlights as Satoru navigated the slippery roads. You stared out the window, watching the familiar streets of your neighbourhood change under the touch of winter, your mind replaying that moment on the ice over and over again. Why hadn't he kissed you?
He must have felt it—that perfect alignment of circumstances, that electric current running between you. For months now, you'd been dancing around this thing, this unspoken whatever it was.
"You're quiet," Satoru said, his voice breaking through your thoughts as the car came to a stop in front of your house. The snow was falling harder now, collecting on the windshield.
"Just tired." You forced a smile. "Thank you for today. It was fun."
"Are you sure that's all it is?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"
Before he could answer, you gathered your bags and pushed open the car door. "Goodnight, Satoru."
You hurried up the now perfectly restored steps of your front porch, fumbling with your keys as snowflakes clung to your hair and eyelashes, desperate to bury all those confusing feelings deep down, underneath a lot of chocolate and trashy romance Christmas movies. But then the sound of a car door closing behind you made you stop.
"Hey," Satoru called, his footsteps crunching through fresh snow. "Wait a second."
You took a deep breath and turned to face him. He was standing at the bottom of your porch steps, snowflakes catching in his white hair, his forehead furrowed. "Something's wrong. I can tell."
"It's nothing. Really, I'm just tired."
"After all these months, I'd hope you'd know you can't lie to me." He climbed the steps slowly until he was standing in front of you. "Did I do something? Say something?"
You shook your head. "It's not about what you did."
"Then what?" He took another step closer, and you could see the genuine confusion in his eyes. “What is going on?”
"It's about what you don't do, Satoru." The words escaped before you could stop them, tumbling out in a rush of frustration and longing. "What you never do."
He blinked. "What I don't do?"
You gestured helplessly between the two of you. "This. Whatever this is. You fix my pipes and paint my house and take me ice skating. You look at me sometimes like—" You paused. "But then nothing. You never... you never try to..."
"You think I don't want to kiss you," he said.
"Well, what am I supposed to think? You spend every waking moment at my house, you bring me coffee every stupid day, you watch movies with me and like, you buy me cute little scarves and, I mean—who does that?”
You were pacing now, your frustration building as months of confusion spilled out. Snowflakes swirled around you as you moved, melting against your flushed cheeks.
"Do you have any idea how confusing that is? One minute you're touching my face like you can't help yourself, the next you're acting like we're just neighbours working on a house together. Am I imagining things? Are you just being nice? Is there something wrong with me—"
Your rant was suddenly cut short as Satoru closed the distance between you in two quick steps. His hands came up to frame your face and before you could process what was happening, his lips were on yours. His mouth was warm despite the cold, his lips soft but insistent against yours, effectively shutting down every coherent thought.
You stood frozen for a split second before your body caught up with reality. Then you kissed him back, your hands fisting in his coat, pulling him closer as his thumbs gently stroked your cheeks. The kiss deepened, his tongue teasing yours as one of his hands slid to the back of your neck, fingers tangling in your hair.
When he finally pulled back, you were both breathing hard, little clouds forming in the cold air between you, his hands still cupping your face.
"For the record," he said, his voice deeper and rougher than you'd ever heard it, "I've wanted to do that since the moment I steadied your ladder that first day. Every time I've been in a room with you. Every time you've chewed your lip while concentrating on something. Every damn time you've worn my chequered shirt".
You blinked up at him, still dazed from the kiss. "Then why didn't you?"
"Because I was trying to be a gentleman." His thumb traced your lower lip, still sensitive from his kiss. "Because I didn't want to complicate things when you were already dealing with so much. Because I wanted to be sure you felt the same way." A small, self-ironic smile touched his lips. "And because every time I worked up the courage, I'd get lost in those eyes of yours and forget how words work."
"So instead you taught me about crown molding?"
"I'm better with my hands than with words," he admitted, then immediately looked chagrined at the unintended innuendo. "That's not what I—"
This time, you cut him off, rising on your tiptoes to press your lips to his. He responded immediately, his arms wrapping around your waist and lifting you slightly so you fit perfectly against him as snowflakes continued to fall around you.
"For future reference," you said as you broke the kiss, "I'd much rather you kiss me than explain proper grouting techniques."
"Noted."
Without another word, he scooped you up in his arms, one hand supporting your back, the other beneath your knees, and carried you towards your front door with the same effortless strength he'd shown lifting drywall and moving furniture.
"The door," you reminded him, fumbling with your keys.
"I've got it." He somehow managed to balance you perfectly while taking the keys and unlocking the door. "I'm very good with my hands, remember?"
Satoru carried you over the threshold and kicked the door shut behind him. Snowflakes melted in his white hair as he set you down in the dim entryway, but he didn't step back, holding you between his body and the wall.
"You have no idea how many times I've imagined this." His hands slid up your sides as his mouth claimed yours once more. "How many nights I've lain awake across the street, thinking about you in this house."
And you nearly fainted as you imagined him in his house across the stress, thinking about you, his hand down his pants and—
"Every room in this house," he said, his voice rough as he pushed your coat from your shoulders. "I've thought about having you in every single one."
"We did renovate them all." Your voice faltered as his lips found your neck, trailing kisses down to the sensitive spot where it met your shoulder. "Seems only fair we should... test our work."
"I think I’d like that." His hands slid beneath your sweater, warm against your chilled skin as they traced up your sides. Your own fingers tangled in his snow dampened hair, pulling him back to your mouth for a kiss that quickly burned away any remaining cold.
"Bedroom?"
"Too far," you breathed, already tugging at his sweater. "Besides, we just redid the living room couch."
He smiled. In one fluid motion, he lifted you again, your legs wrapping around his waist as he carried you towards the living room. The last snowflakes in his hair melted as he lowered you onto the couch you'd spent three weekends reupholstering together. His body covered yours perfectly, like he belonged there, had always belonged there.
And as the snow continued to fall outside, covering your Victorian home in a pristine blanket of white, Satoru Gojo finally showed you exactly what his hands were capable of—proving once and for all that some things were worth the wait.
── ⟢ ・⸝⸝
Spring arrived with a gentle persistence, coaxing crocuses from the soil and washing away the last traces of winter. Your Victorian house looked lovely in the morning light, its sage green paint gleaming, and its porch ready for the warmer days ahead.
The sound of knocking preceded Satoru's arrival, followed by a short pause and his usual sigh when he'd remembered he had keys, before his familiar footsteps echoed across the parquet floors you'd refinished together. You were in the kitchen, still in your pyjamas, going over the plans for the sunroom you'd decided to add to the back of the house.
"Morning," Satoru called, appearing in the doorway with his usual—two coffee cups balanced in one hand, a small paper bag of pastries in the other. His white hair was slightly dishevelled, as if he'd rushed out without taking the time to comb it properly.
"You know you don't have to knock anymore," you said as he handed you the coffee. "You have a key."
"Force of habit." He pressed a quick kiss to your temple before sliding into the chair next to you. "Besides, what if you were up to something scandalous?"
"At seven in the morning?"
"I distinctly remember yesterday morning getting pretty scandalous. And the day before that—”
Heat rushed to your cheeks as memories flooded back of the way he'd pinned your wrists above your head with one hand while the other explored your body with agonizing slowness. The way he'd whispered in your ear exactly what he was planning to do to you, his voice dropping to that low register that always made you shiver. The way he'd taken his time, so thorough in his attention that you'd been reduced to breathless pleas before he finally gave you what you needed and—okay, stop. Not now.
Three months into your relationship, and he still made you blush like a stupid teenager—among other things.
"Those were special circumstances," you said, trying not to smile.
"Oh yeah? What kind of special circumstances?"
"You brought croissants." You peeked into today's bag, ignoring his teasing. "Are these the chocolate ones from that bakery downtown?"
"Maybe." He smiled, watching you with that soft expression that still made your heart skip. "I had an early video call with our research partners about the new pharmaceutical trial. Thought I'd pick up breakfast on the way back."
You paused, coffee halfway to your lips. "Wait, you already had your meeting? I thought that wasn't until nine."
"Started at five." He shrugged, stealing a piece of your pastry. "The Munich lab had some promising results they wanted to discuss right away. Worked out, though—wanted to catch you before you got too deep into those sunroom plans."
Warmth blossomed in your chest. In the months since that snowy night on your porch, Satoru had slowly woven himself into every aspect of your life. He still brought you coffee every morning, still helped with renovations, still looked at you as if you were the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
The only difference was that he now often spent the night, his clothes gradually migrating into your wardrobe, and his shower gel suddenly appeared one day in your bathroom. Even his microbiology textbooks and research papers had found their way onto your coffee table, his lab notes sometimes mixed in with your renovation plans.
"Speaking of the sunroom," he continued, "I think the windows we recently found in the attic would look great in there. The original glass has that slight waviness that would catch the light beautifully."
"I was thinking the same thing." You slid the blueprints towards him. "I've been playing with the dimensions to make sure they'd fit."
He leaned closer, his shoulder pressing against yours. "This looks perfect. Though we might need to adjust the framing here to account for the original hardware."
You smiled at his use of “we”—so natural now, so right. Every project had become a shared undertaking, every decision made together.
"By the way," he began, "I've been thinking—"
"A dangerous pastime for you."
"I'm serious." He took a breath, suddenly looking uncharacteristically nervous. "The house is looking amazing. We've fixed almost everything that needed fixing."
"Except that creaky step on the back stairs," you reminded him.
"And the slight warp in the pantry door," he added.
"And the—"
"Okay, so there's still a list." He laughed. "But my point is, we've done so much work here. Together."
"We have," you agreed, wondering where he was going with this.
He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it further. "Meanwhile, my house is just sitting there. I'm barely even there anymore except to grab clothes or check if anyone's stolen my mail."
Your heart began to beat faster as you caught his meaning. "Satoru Gojo, are you trying to say something specific?"
“What if we just... you know, focused on one house instead of two?" His eyes met yours, vulnerable in a way you rarely saw. "Maybe focusing on just one house instead of maintaining two?"
"Are you asking to move in together?" You couldn't help the smile spreading across your face.
"Well, technically I'm asking which house we want to live in. Though I'm kind of partial to this one. We've put so much of ourselves into it."
You twisted in your chair to face him fully. "You'd leave your perfect house with its perfect kitchen and perfect view?"
"My perfect house feels empty without you in it." The simple honesty in his voice made your throat tight with emotion. "Besides, this house has better bones."
"Yes," you said, sliding your arms around his neck. "Yes to consolidating our renovation efforts. Yes to deciding which house. Yes to all of it."
"You sure? I know you like your space and I don't want to, like, suffocate you or—"
You cut him off with a kiss, soft and sweet and tasting of chocolate pastries. "Satoru, you've been in my space since the day you showed up to fix my stupid leaky pipe. At this point, it doesn't feel like my space without you in it."
He rested his forehead against yours, eyes closed for a moment. When he looked at you again, there was that softness, that tenderness that still made your heart flip.
"I love you," he said simply. "In case that wasn't clear."
"I figured that out somewhere between you painting my entire house during that insane heatwave."
He laughed, the sound echoing in the kitchen you'd rebuilt together. "And here I thought it was my extensive knowledge of old pipes that won you over."
"That helped," you admitted, fingers playing with his hair. "Though it was really your hands that sealed the deal."
"My hands, huh?"
"Mmhmm." You pressed closer, coffee and blueprints momentarily forgotten. "Very skilled hands."
"Well" he murmured, those hands already finding their way under your pajama top, "some things deserve special attention to detail.”
"Are we seriously still doing renovation metaphors?"
He laughed and pressed a kiss to your neck. "Some traditions are worth keeping."
Later, as sunlight streamed through your kitchen windows—windows he'd helped you restore months ago when you were still pretending to be just neighbours—you lay tangled together on the kitchen floor.
"You know," you said, tracing patterns on his chest, "your house does have that amazing bathtub."
"True." He pressed a kiss to your hair. "But this house has you."
You smiled against his skin. “We could always redo the bathroom here. Get an even better tub."
"I like how you think." His arms tightened around you. "Though we'd need to check the floor supports first, maybe upgrade the plumbing—"
You propped yourself up on one elbow to look at him, at this impossible man who'd somehow become your everything.
"I love you," you said simply. "Even when you're being a total renovation nerd."
His smile was soft, genuine, the smile he saved just for you. "Especially then?"
"Especially then."
Outside, spring painted the neighborhood with fresh green. But inside, in this house you'd brought back to life together, you'd found something even better—a future you were building together, room by room, day by day, one cup of morning coffee at a time.
masterlist + support my writing
author's note — omggg, we made it through all four seasons and a complete house renovation ! kept thinking while writing that the most unrealistic thing about this story is not satoru gojo being a perfect neighbour and fixing leaky pipes for us, but owning a house in this economy lol.
anyway, thank you so much for reading this silly little story and i hope it brought you as much joy as it did me while writing it. until next time ! <3
ps: if you want to get notifications for future updates, you can join my taglist here.
tags — @fayuki @starmapz @snowsilver2000 @starlightanyaaa @sxnkuna
@cocomanga @nanamis-baker @rosso-seta @sugurbo @janbannan
@bloopsstuff @ihearttoru @momoewn @yokosandesu @90s-belladonna
@fairygardenprincesss @juneslove21 @glenkiller338 @gojossugarcandy @wiserion
@moucheslove @nanasukii28 @sugucultfollower @leuriss @raendarkfaerie
© lostfracturess. do not repost, translate, or copy my work.
goosebumps. i cried. i laughed. i cried some more. i giggled. SPECTACULAR GIMME 14 OF EM RIGHT NOW. AND THE REFERENCES?? "Nah we'd win" "The Strongest" LIKE CMONNN YOU DONT GOTTA MAKE ME CRY LIKE THAT MANE 😞
{olympic figure skater!satoru gojo x olympic figure skater f!reader}
summary: you and satoru have known each other since childhood, two little birds navigating through life together as you shared one dream in common— to win gold at the olympics, you both a figure skating pair as you moved and performed and fell in love as the years went by, both balancing off a trembling tight rope and holding on to keep each other in place, a silent agreement that if you indulged and fell into the depths of the truth of what you were, you’d run the risk of losing your careers and each other, yours and satoru’s biggest fears. but you’re growing, and it’s getting harder to hold back… especially for satoru— that trembling tight rope on the verge of snapping in two.
warnings: MDNI. afab!reader, childhood best friends to lovers trope, cursing, DIABOLICAL ANGST BUT WITH HAPPY ENDING I PROMISE!, mentions of death and loss, mentions of injury and blood, FLUUUFFF, satoru loves loves loves you, SMUUUTT, unprotected p in v sex (wrap it y’all), creampie, pussy eating, dom satoru, pussy drunk satoru, DIRTY TALK, pet names, figure skating, the olympics, true love <3
word count: 22.3k (I KNOW PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE PLEASE—)
authors note: YYYOOOUUU GUUUYYSSS THIS ONE IS MY BABBBYYY AND IM CRYING NOW WRITING THIS LMFAOAOAO. i hope you all love it seriously i GLADLY worked day and night writing this and i’d do it all over again just to see y’all happy :) THANK YOU for your support it is UNREAL, and like always, I LOOVEEE YOUUU MWAAHHH <333
you first met satoru when you were six at the skating rink.
he was only a year older than you, both of your mothers coincidentally signing you up for the same youth ice skating lessons for beginners, meeting and chatting it up seeing as you and satoru were the youngest in age out of the rest of the parents there and their children, you both automatically put together by your coach and separated from the older kids to do warm ups.
and even though the age difference was only a year, satoru at first treated you like a little helpless tiny thing who needed assistance in everything— the cute pink ribbons in your hair doing you an injustice and further implementing the image of a little girl who had no clue of what was going on around her, thinking you were cutesy and he was determined to be your little knight in shining armor when the time came.
until he saw you skate.
what satoru didn’t know, was that you were a prodigy— related to one of the most famous ice skaters in olympic ice skating history, akira, as her talent was blessedly passed down to you through your fruitful system and the lucky processes of genetics— chosen as you barely even had to be taught, you catching everything right away by the coach without any sort of slip and fall… unlike satoru who was clumsily struggling to even glide through the ice without wobbling.
and little satoru was astonished by you and your talent, his first impression of you drastically changing by the end of the first lesson as he shakily slid across the ice over to where you were, patiently doing little turns on the ice while you waited for your mother to finish up talking to another lady (it was satoru’s mother).
“hi!” he had greeted you, a huge goofy smile on his face as you slowed down and looked at him, returning a shy smile of your own.
“hi.”
“i’m satoru!” he extended a hand, eyes shooting wide as he suddenly lost his balance and slipped forward, on the brink of face planting on the ice as his hands quickly flailed out and gripped the edge of the rink to save himself.
you giggled, tiny hands reaching and holding his arm steady as he tried to regain his balance.
“are you okay?” your shy voice asked, and he grinned through his wobbling.
“yeah! i’m okay! don’t worry!”
but he still couldn’t stabilize himself.
“maybe we should sit on the bench?” you suggested sweetly. “so you don’t fall…”
“okay!”
you gripped him as hard as you could (which really wasn’t a lot for a six year old) and slowly moved with him on the ice, supporting him until you were both out of the rink and seated on the bleachers.
“what’s your name?” he chirped, his hands clutching on the edge of the bench as he leaned forward and looked at you kindly, legs swinging.
“y—y/n.”
“nice!” he cheesed, looking at you. “i saw you skate. you’re really good!”
“t—thank you.” you mumbled, shy and alarmed that a boy was talking to you.
“when did you start skating?”
you looked at him confusedly. “um.. today?”
his eyes bulged.
“hah?! today?!”
you jumped at his outburst, cheeks pink as you quickly nodded.
“wowww!…” he gushed with stars in his eyes. “that’s great! i saw you doing turns and things. i can barely move on the ice… it’s slippery.”
“well—” you peeked up at him shyly. “my—my aunt taught me some stuff… but not a lot.”
“you have someone in your family that skates?” he asked excitedly with huge blue eyes. “how cool! hopefully i can catch up to you and at least move…”
“that’s okay...” you smiled. “i know you will.”
“really?!” he gushed again before leaning back, nodding his head cutely. “if you think so, then i know so!”
and you giggled at him, your timid wall slowly crumbling down at his bubbly and kind personality as he was a chatterbox and talked to you about anything that had to do with olympic ice skating— him knowing so much about it and nearly screaming his head off and panicking when he found out that your aunt was none other than akira, now knowing exactly why you were so good at skating in the first place.
satoru looked up to you. so much so that it was comical— seeking your approval over the following years during lessons and not even listening to the damn coach himself as he listened more to you, wanting you to teach him how to do bunny hops or backward crossovers and giving a big fat attitude to anyone else who tried to coach him, whining and snoring away until you and your little bows skated over to him to teach him.
and because of that you spent a lot of time with satoru in and out of lessons, even more than you ever spent with your own friends at school as you clung to him at all times— him cheering and encouraging you on when you were shy in certain situations, and you teaching him everything you could about skating and bringing him little bags of strawberry gummy puffs since he had the biggest sweet tooth you had ever seen, you both cemented and stubbornly attached to the hip with neither wanting to let go.
and when your mother’s planned a little playdate at the local outdoor ice skating rink on a chilly december day— an enormous christmas tree sitting tall and glorious by the rink with twinkling star-shaped fairy lights and jingle bells surrounding the plaza, you and satoru spinning each other around and dancing and giggling over the murmur of classic christmas songs, they saw the potential… an idea sparking in their heads amongst their cooing and picture taking.
you and satoru were both originally put into the ice skating world to train and be independent professional skaters, olympic athletes to be more specific when the time came.
but that concept quickly changed the second you met.
now— you and satoru were an olympic ice skating pair, the subject materializing when your mother’s pulled you out from those simple ice skating lessons (you both already way past getting the basics down since your skill combined with you teaching satoru had you both surpassing the class) and paying for a professional couples figure skating coach to get you guys started now and early.
and the both of you were over the moon, especially satoru, as he absolutely adored you and begged his mother literally every fucking day if he could go over to your house or over to the ice skating rink with you to dance, you doing the same and the two of you crying and wailing on the floor whenever times wouldn’t work out and plans fell through, your mother’s having to give in and drag you to each other’s houses so you would both stop crying.
when akira found out you were officially figure skating, she nearly drove into the side of a building speeding over to your house from being out of the country for so long competing.
“is it true?!” she burst through the doors, your mother rolling her eyes after being startled half to death over her bizarre behavior. “is my little niece gonna be a figure skater like me?!”
you gasped excitedly upon seeing her, getting up from your spot on the rug and running over to akira’s open arms, leaving your coloring book and crayons behind as she swung you around.
“she started when she was six you know that…” your mother grumbled, folding various kitchen towels.
“but you just told me now that she’s not independent!” akira countered, setting you down and holding you out at arms length, eyes wide and eager. “—but partner figure skating! like me!”
she shook you. “where is he?! your partner! is he here? is he your age? is he nice?”
you perked up and looked over to the kitchen. “oh mommy! satoru should come and meet—”
“his name is satoru? oh my goodness how cuteeee!” she cooed, pinching your cheeks. “is he handsome? do you like him? do you have a crush on him—”
your little cheeks blazed as your mother threw a kitchen towel at her.
“she’s eight aki! jesus christ.”
“love has no limits.” akira wiggled a finger, and you giggled.
your mother called satoru’s place soon after, his mother excitedly conversing over the other line about how the akira was finally back in town and how satoru was gonna lose his mind once he saw her— you knowing he was the biggest fan and sometimes told you facts during lessons that you didn’t even know about your own aunt.
and when they finally did arrive, satoru was stiff— frozen in place with tight arms at his sides by the living room as his alarmed big blue eyes looked at akira with a sickly pale face, you snickering behind him.
“hi satoru!” akira greeted, leaning down with her hands on her knees to look at him at eye level. “it’s nice to meet you! y/n tells me you like my skating?”
“u—uhuh.” he responded dumbly, and you slapped a hand over your mouth to stop yourself from laughing, knowing satoru would cry and whine about it later if he heard you.
“that’s great! i’m happy you skate too… and with my niece i should say!” she spoke kindly, ruffling his snowy colored hair up and standing upright, placing her hands on her hips and looking like a straight freaking superhero in satoru’s eyes. “you wanna compete in the olympics?”
“uh huh.”
a laughing breath hurled from your throat and your cheeks puffed up like a squirrel, clasped hands still over your mouth and face going red from how hard you were trying to keep it in.
“that’s what i like to hear.” she smiled, a shiny impressive one as satoru still stood there in a stuck daze.
“work hard okay? the both of you. so you can catch up to me someday, yeah?”
your hands slowly fell from your mouth then, eyes filled with admiration and determination as you both eagerly nodded, looking at each other hopefully.
“you think—” satoru stammered, looking at akira. “you think we can… win three gold medals like you?”
“oh absolutely!” she shrugged. “i don’t doubt it at all.”
you and satoru gushed, glittering little eyes as you stared up cutely at akira, her giving you both a silly grin.
“how long have they been doing partner work?” she asked your mother suddenly, watching the way you and satoru chattered then excitedly about the actual possibility of competing for the olympics someday.
“mmm, i wanna say for about a year and a half? maybe two?” she looked over at satoru’s mother, who nodded in agreement. “they’re with a couple’s figure skating coach right now.”
akira hummed and shifted her gaze back down between the two of you.
“i’m training them from now on.”
both mothers froze, eyes wide as they stared at her.
you and satoru hadn’t even realized what she said, still caught up in your little bubble of the olympics and metals and competitions until your mother caught your attention.
“did you hear?”
you shook your head. “hear what!”
“akira wants to coach you and satoru.”
his jaw dropped and he nearly passed out on the floor, you quickly grabbing his shoulders as he reeled over.
“are— are you sure?” your mother continued, looking at her sister now. “aren’t you busy? i thought you were only here for the weekend.”
she waved her off. “i need a break from skating for a little… at least until the next olympics.”
akira turned to you then and smiled warmly. “and i wanna coach my little niece and her new buddy! if that’s okay?”
“yesyesyesyes!—”
both you and satoru bounced up and down and cheered, arms up as you tackled and hung off of akira like a jungle gym, her laughing and smiling big at your enthusiasm.
akira was the most important figure in your life, right next to satoru as she became a mother figure to the both of you as well as your mentor.
and training with her was not easy— your age not an excuse at all whatsoever in her eyes to not learn proper figure skating moves and technique, saying it would only serve you right in the end if you started adapting your bodies to it now rather than later.
and like most things, akira was right. but even though practices were grueling and tough to the point where you had to drag satoru across the ice to get up, she always tried to make them fun in the end— cracking jokes and teaching you guys silly little tricks that you could do with each other on the ice that she figured out over her years of skating with her partner, taking you both out for ice cream frequently after and telling you of her travels competing around the world, the people she’d met, and the titles she’d won— all things that were you and satoru’s ultimate dream as you listened eagerly.
by the time you were twelve and satoru was thirteen, it was obvious you guys were meant to be olympic athletes together.
“you need to pick your leg a little further up on the spin, toru.”
he stuck his tongue out. “says who.”
“says me.” you poked his cheek. “and i’m pretty sure aki told you before she left too.”
“yes ma’am!” he nodded, gliding a bit further away from you on the ice before picking his momentum up and reaching you, him bending his knees and wrapping his arms around your torso as you both went into fast spins, one leg extended for the both of you as your arms gripped over his shoulders— practicing the routine akira had given you for your upcoming competition.
“yeah like that!” you smiled, spins gradually slowing down and satoru coming back up from his bend until you both stood still on the ice. “good job toru!”
he grinned and ruffled your hair. “thanks!”
“mhm!” you responded, turning and skating away to the edge of the rink to hide the blush that was rising in your cheeks.
“what?!” he whined. “where are you going? do i stink?”
“no!” you laughed, shaking your head. “just the usual sweat and B.O.”
“aw no!” he quickly skated to the edge of the rink and out before flying for his duffel bag. “i hate being a man i hate puberty this is ridiculous—”
“i’m kidding im kidding!” you called from across the ice, cackling when he stopped and whipped his head over, glaring at you. “you’re fine toru— not stinky.”
“well you’re stinky for putting me in distress how about that?” he huffed, an eventual smile playing at his lips as he put down his duffel bag and went inside the rink again.
akira was currently on her way to compete at the olympics for her fourth gold medal in partner figure skating, you and satoru having no doubt in your minds that she was going to absolutely clear everyone else there and get it, as she’s never gotten silver or bronze or anything lower than that.
“when do we fly to see aki again?” satoru called from across the ice, gliding to and fro in figure eights. “don’t say tomorrow morning because i haven’t started packing yet heh… oops.”
you giggled. “it is tomorrow morning, dummy.”
“no!” he stopped and shoved his hands in his hair. “i haven’t even started planning my outfits! oh i was gonna take so many pictures what am i supposed to do now—”
you laughed loudly and skated back over to him, hands wrung behind your back as you looked at him cheekily. “you’re silly toru. outfits for what? literally just show up.”
“it’s not everyday we leave the country y/n!” he whined. “i wanted to sport my best and look cool, dang it.”
you playfully rolled your eyes and lifted your hand, patting his head.
“i’ll show up in pajamas and you show up in yours, and we’ll call it a day. hm?”
he grinned.
“matching? or seperate? and what color? plaid?”
“toru!”
he laughed and skated past you, nudging your shoulder with his in the process. “i’m just messing with youuu, matching obviously!”
satoru came back around, reached up and straightened the ribbons in your hair, little white bows sitting pretty as a blush rose to his cheeks when he was done.
“wanna run it three more times and call it?” he suggested. “i wanna make sure i get what you told me down before we go.”
you smiled and quickly nodded, taking satoru’s extended hand and skating together to first position.
watching akira win gold in person for the first time in your life was an experience you’ll never forget.
and she did it fucking beautifully.
with every precise move, with every articulate angle you and satoru screamed and yelled like crazy people in front of the rink while waving around your countries tiny flags, cheering with fat tears rolling down your faces when she successfully landed each time, holding each other so tight with mushed up cheeks throughout her routine with her partner and still in anxiousness when the time came for revealing final scores.
no one could skate like her. absolutely no one as she speedily glided across the ice and spun, prepped herself for the hardest most impressive turns you had ever seen in your life, and performed a quadruple axel rotation in the air all on her own— things that have always earned her the highest scores for three successive olympic years.
and four now— because when akira and her partner stepped up on that podium, you and satoru had to basically be yanked back by your mothers with the way you both tried to jump over the edge of the rink to her, her standing there like a beacon of light on the first place podium, a gold medal hung rightfully around her neck with flowers in her arms as she smiled so so big and happily, her eyes not once leaving you and satoru.
eventually when the ceremony was over, amongst all of the buzz and the crowd roaring and picture taking— akira quickly skated over to the two of you and leaned on the edge of the rink.
“akiiii!” you both wailed and flung your arms around her neck, her giggling and hugging you both back as best as she possibly could despite the mass amount of bouquets in her hands.
“did i do okay?!” she yelled over the noise.
you both pulled back and looked at her like she was insane.
“did you do okay?!” you gawked.
“aki— you won a fucking gold medal!” satoru yelled.
“HAH!” she laughed loudly. “don’t say that word in front of your mommy satoru she’ll chop my head off and kill me!”
you both giggled uncontrollably.
akira leaned her head in then and you and satoru followed through, all three foreheads resting against each others.
“listen to me for a second.“ she started. “you guys are birds of a feather, okay? you need to stick together and fly together as one.”
she let you both go and dropped the bouquets she was holding on the icy floor before placing a hand on yours and satoru’s outer cheeks, bringing you in. “don’t fight. don’t separate. don’t leave each other. you need to keep each other and what you have safe.”
you both quickly nodded, tears funnily gathering at the corners of your eyes at what she was saying, and she smiled.
“yes partner figure skating is about chemistry and technicality, but it’s about love… and sometimes just that. without genuine love, nothing will click.” she let your cheeks go and grabbed her shiny gold medal, holding it up. “this will be yours. i promise you.”
akira put down her medal, wiping both yours and satoru’s wet cheeks. “birds of a feather. stick together. keep each other safe. do you understand?”
the two of you sniffled and nodded.
“and i need to stop cussing in front of you guys during practices, don’t i?!” she smiled warmly, and you and satoru shook your heads frantically.
“no keep doing it!—”
“it’s funny please!—”
ever since akira told you that, it became you and satoru’s thing.
before and after every competition, with every hello and every goodbye at the beginning and end of the day, throughout the hours randomly whenever you both felt like it, you’d lock pinkies and reiterate ‘birds of a feather’ before kissing your thumbs and locking your promise in place— another one of the many other ways you’d show that you loved each other.
but whether it was platonically or romantically remained unknown until you both hit high school.
perhaps it had always been romantically… that you weren’t exactly sure of. but the way you and satoru had been treating each other since you were literally the age of six, made the technicalities of what it was blurry and a little confusing— for you couldn’t even remember when it was that you started loving satoru.
maybe it was that very first day when he skated over to you, wobbly and clumsy with a cheesy smile.
and as if it wasn’t already confusing enough of what the two of you were, the way you acted made it ten times worse.
but you’d been that way since forever— embracing each other a little longer than you should, innocently kissing each others cheeks and heads and hands, calling each other pet names and being each other’s dates to every single school dance—
but it was all harmless. not a single bad thought behind it and doing it like a reflex.
it was like you both were line balancing across the thinnest tight rope known to mankind— flimsy and unsteady, always on the verge of toppling over and falling completely into the darkening depths of the truth of what you were, but catching each other just before you did to regain balance back on the rope.
neither of you said it, but if you and satoru ever dared to be anything more than friends, and if something were to happen where you had to break up— you’d lose your first love, your best friend, and your entire career all in one.
the consequences were too drastic— you both knew that.
and you didn’t want to break your promise… so you acted blind to it.
by the time you were seventeen and satoru was eighteen, akira started training you for the international skating union competition to earn a spot for the olympics.
well— she actually started when you were about fourteen, but as the years progressed, her coaching and critiques got increasingly more difficult and nitpicky as well as the moves she taught you, wanting you both to build endurance to it and perfect it so that by the time you reached the age requirement for the olympics— it would be easier to train for it and be formidable competitors against the other pairs.
you and satoru wanted to be olympians more than anything else in your lives, and akira knew just how important this was for the both of you— making it her absolute mission to help accomplish solely that as she saw herself through the two of you.
your dreams were just like hers, and she respected and nurtured the fact with everything that she had.
“up! aaand up! and take her— throw— land oh shit—”
just as you had landed a semi complex throw jump, you lost balance and landed right on your ass, sliding across the ice on your side.
it was rare when you fell, and you absolutely despised when you did.
“fuck!” satoru quickly skated over to you and knelt down. “are you okay?!”
“why can’t i land that man?” you whined, covering your eyes.
akira smoothly traveled over to you both.
“it’s okay! we just learned it today sweets like— right now… you’ll have it down in the next five minutes.” satoru smiled softly, carefully helping you up on your skates and checking you over.
“don’t overly punish yourself, y/n.” akira reached and pinched your cheek. “i love that you’ve always been so serious about your technique, but you have to leave room for error my love or else you’ll choke yourself out.”
satoru ran a soothing hand along your back and you smiled cutely up at him, his heart jittering so much from it that he had to quickly retract his arm.
you nodded, always taking satoru’s and akira’s words seriously like inscriptions to a stone wall. “okay!”
he grinned and kissed the side of your head before taking your hand and leading you to first position like always.
akira smirked.
“are you guys together yet!” she blurted from across the ice and you both choked as she skated over.
“are we— are we—” you stammered.
“what?” she breathed out, placing her hands on her hips. “are you at least in love?”
satoru’s blue eyes bulged open with a furious pink tint to both of your cheeks.
“aki!” you whined, embarrassed. “stop it—”
“have you guys at least gone on one date?”
satoru pouted. “no.”
“i’m—” you played with your fingers. “i’m going on one today—”
“you’re what?!” he whipped his head in your direction, eyebrows furrowed.
“yeah…” you looked at him. “i’ve never gone on one and some guy at school asked me so i— i just thought—”
you thought it’d do you some good, since the one you wanted you couldn’t really have.
“are you actually..?” satoru trailed off, an unfamiliar strike of something in his chest making him a little upset.
but he knew damn well what it was.
“but—” akira stared at you wide eyed, pointing at satoru. “but it’s— it’s supposed to be—”
“aki!” satoru quickly grabbed her arm and lowered it, eyes snapping to you next. “is it that one guy you told me about? from your english class?”
“uh huh.” you fidgeted. “he asked me again and i felt bad saying no so i— said yes…”
satoru swallowed, nodding.
“oh you big dummies!” akira groaned. “we’ll talk about this later or else i’m gonna go into fucking cardiac arrest from frustration—”
she skated off to the edge of the rink and out, leaning on it from the outside with her head dramatically hung.
you both got into starting position, but you faltered when you noticed satoru was oddly quiet and stiff.
“…toru?”
he blinked down at you. “huh?”
“you okay?”
“oh!— yeah.” he smiled weakly. “i’m fine baby.”
“you sure—”
“what time is your date?”
you gnawed at the inside of your cheek. “it’s a bit after this... i told him to just give me time to shower and get ready.”
“if he can’t accept you stinky then he’s not for you.” he shook his head in distaste. “he’s already failing in my eyes sweets absolutely flunking. maybe you should cancel it? yeah i say cancel it—”
you laughed, heart in your throat as your eyes gleamed up at him. “i can barely accept you stinky so i wouldn’t blame him—”
“hey!” he placed an exaggerated hand on his chest. “it’s not my fault i literally put my heart and soul out on the ice just for you to skate all over me—”
you gasped offendedly. “i don’t skate all over you—”
“do too!”
“do not!”
“do to—”
“you guys!” akira called. “you know i love it when you guys love on each other it makes me so happy and envision your wedding but right now we have to grind!”
you both froze up and snapped your heads in her direction with red faces, whining.
“aakkiii!—”
you practiced what you had of the routine a couple of more times, a few new moves and jumps added after each run until akira called it a day upon noticing you and satoru were practically sweating your asses off and messing up several times out of exhaustion.
“good job today you guys!” she smiled, patting you both on your shoulders. “i feel like the next time we meet we’ll have the choreography down... from there we just need to perfect it and you should be good for the next competish, okay?”
you both nodded and thanked her, sweet smiles on your faces as she reached up and pinched a side of both your cheeks.
“my little babies.” she cooed. “oh how you’ve grown! you guys were so little when we started now satoru is huge man jesus christ—”
she lifted her hand and reached up to measure satoru’s height from his forehead, her passing it over the top of her head and eyes widening at the huge gap.
he laughed and puffed up his chest. “i got big and strong too aki see?” he flexed an arm. “see? eh?”
“that you did!” she laughed brightly, ruffling up his hair. “the strongest.”
you giggled and skated over to the edge of the rink to pack up, internally panicking a little that you guys went overtime and it was almost time for your date.
“satoru..” akira whispered, looking over her shoulder to make sure you weren’t listening. “what’s going on? you still haven’t asked her out? i thought you said you were gonna do it.”
“no..” he mumbled. “but we can’t. and she knows that too so— so what am i supposed to do—”
she gawked. “do you not see what’s happening?! she’s gonna go on a date with someone else! off with this stupid fear you guys have already seriously.”
“we caan’tt aki.” he pushed sadly. “it’s too risky.”
“but it’s not though!” she threw her arms out. “you guys have known each other since practically birth i feel like if it wasn’t meant to be you would’ve separated by now!”
satoru gnawed at his bottom lip in thought, eyes trained to the way your bows moved in your hair as you swung your duffel bag over yourself, smiling softly once he realized you had kindly packed his things for him too as you sat on the bench and waited for him to take you home.
akira sighed.
“it’s not my place to tell you guys what to do… but love has no limits. you know that.”
he nodded, smiling weakly at her as they skated out of the rink and prepared to lock up, akira hugging you both goodbye with a family kiss to your cheeks and you separating ways with her for the day, but not before her reminding you guys of practice tomorrow and that she loved you over her shoulder.
satoru was dreading you going on your date as he drove— the both of you normally talking about random things like always but his mind unable to stray from the fact that you were actually giving some random dingbat a chance.
it was rare when either of you would talk to or date other people, never even as your heads have always been so focused on figure skating and competitions… but also on each other— taking care and loving one another that you never needed anybody else since you were everything to satoru and satoru to you, and you were both confident that absolutely no one could ever step up to that level.
so why were you going on a date?
but he shouldn’t be like this. he knew that. there was a silent agreement between the two of you to never fall off that thin tight rope and keep each other balanced. and you were allowed to see and date whoever you wanted— something that he probably should do as well to try and get over the fact that you’d never really be his.
satoru pulled up to your driveway and shifted his gear into park.
“thank you toru!” you smiled sweetly, leaning over and pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“you’re welcome.” he murmured. “can i— can i come in with you? and hang while you get ready?”
you quirked a brow. “i thought that’s what we were already doing silly.”
“okay well invite me woman!” you both got out of the car and walked up the steps to your front door. “you can’t just assume. what if i was busy? what if i also had a date? hm?”
you gave him a sly grin as you twisted in your keys to unlock the door. “do you?”
“… no.”
you giggled and pushed open the door, the both of you immediately clasping your hands over your mouths to keep your laughs in at the sight of your mother sprawled out on the couch dead asleep with drool coming out of her mouth, the tv softly playing in the background as you quietly shut the door, went up the stairs and into your room.
satoru sat on your desk chair lazily while you quickly hopped in the shower to get ready for your stupid date, staring at the framed photographs on your nightstand that all consisted of you and him over the years, smiling softly at his favorite— a picture of the two of you when you were babies, cheek to cheek with huge smiles at the park as you held ice cream cones in each of your hands, satoru more than sure akira was the one who took that picture.
the sound of your door clicking shut pulled him from his thoughts as you walked in, drying your pretty hair with your little fuzzy towel and throwing it in the hamper once you were done.
“oh! i was gonna show you! i got these ribbons the other day—” you got down on your knees and looked under your bed, sticking a hand in and pulling out a white box as you picked it up and shuffled with your knees closer to satoru— sitting back on your ankles.
“—i was running out of ribbon so i got these!” you held up the box and satoru took it, examining the various pastel colors with warm eyes. “some of them are polka dotted and i thought that was cute.”
“it is sweets!” he agreed.
satoru loved the ribbons in your hair, and you’d always wear them without fail because you knew just how much he did.
“i wanna start wearing bows too.” he wiggled his eyebrows, and you giggled.
“are you saying you wanna steal my brand toru?” you picked up a blue roll of ribbon from the box, a color that matched satoru’s eyes. “thought you were an honest man?”
he gasped. “i am an honest man! is it not obvious enough when i help you with your math homework? when i sacrifice my dignity and text you answers during your tests?”
you giggled and unrolled a strand of ribbon. “not when you eat all of my sweets that you actively dig through my room for—”
“but they’re always the strawberry gummy puffs!” he whined. “they make me a slut.”
you playfully rolled your eyes and stood, grabbing your little scissors and snipping off a piece of blue ribbon from the roll, stepping in front of satoru and leaning.
“watcha doing?” he asked, placing his hands on your waist.
“i’m putting a little bow in your hair before i leave!”
he hummed. “don’t think it’ll look as good on me as they do on you.”
you blushed, taking little pieces of white hair from the top of his head and wrapping the ribbon around, tying it the same way you’ve been doing for yourself since you were the age of nine.
you took a step back once you were finished and laughed. “you look cute toru!”
he raised a silly brow. “do i still look big and strong?”
“big and strong and pretty—”
“please don’t go.”
you stilled.
“what?”
satoru looked down, his bangs hiding his gorgeous eyes as he did.
“on your date.” he mumbled. “don’t go.”
you placed your hands softly on his shoulders, and his hold tightened a little around your waist.
“why?”
“because like i said if he doesn’t accept you stinky then he can’t have you when you smell like vanilla—”
“toru...” you spoke sternly, softly. “why not?”
you didn’t know why you were pushing it so much… maybe you were trying to see if you could get it out of him— if he had the will to actually say it unlike you…
and you hoped to god he would say it.
he slowly lifted his head and propped his chin up on your tummy, a sour expression on his face as he puckered his lips to the side like a little fish.
“dunno…” he muttered, his gaze flickering to yours and a sense of guilt swarming his chest at the uneasy look you had, his face relaxing as he sighed.
“sorry.” he smiled sheepishly, pulling back and letting go of your waist. “i’m kidding you have every right to—”
“m’not going.” you mumbled as you slid your hands away, looking down and playing with your fingers.
“huh?” he furrowed his brows. “no baby go you should go—”
“i don’t want to.”
you never did in the first place. you had foolishly thought that letting someone else in like this would be good for you and help you establish some sort of… barrier with satoru so you weren’t always suffering so fucking much.
but you were absolutely stupid for that.
all you’ve ever wanted was satoru, and doing something to pull you away from the type of relationship you had with him (whether platonic or romantic you had no freaking clue), was not only hurting you, but hurting him.
you didn’t need anyone else, truly. all you needed was satoru and his silly smile and dramatic antics— to spend time with just him and skate and eat dinner together after practices every night while watching horror movies, laughing so much over his screams that your stomach hurt while he whined about how you were making fun of him.
that’s all you needed… just satoru.
regardless if there was something more in question.
“you don’t want to?” he repeated softly. “why?”
“you know why, toru…”
you had said it so softly he barely caught it, but he did, his breath hitching in his throat.
that was the closest you two had ever gotten to acknowledging it.
you both were silent for a moment, the soft murmur of your tv downstairs filling the void as you looked at each other, tense and waiting for either of you to say something… anything.
but it was like the gravity of the foreseeable consequences settled onto your shoulders, and the pair of you could only sadly smile.
satoru stuck his pinky finger out towards you then.
“birds of a feather?” he murmured.
you breathed out a little through your nose and looped your pinky with his, nodding.
“birds of a feather.”
he kissed his thumb and you did the same before locking the promise.
for the rest of the night, you and satoru watched a bunch of shitty unknown movies to try and see who would break and laugh first— you feeling bad that you had to cancel so last minute on that guy from your english class, but not regretting it at all as you watched satoru scarf down two slices of pizza in one sitting and nearly throw up, you almost falling off the bed from laughing so much and him having to catch you midway down and pull you back up, saying that he was your hero and therefore you should give him your last stash of strawberry gummy puffs as a reward.
it was nearly two am when you and satoru finally settled down, both sprawled over each other on the bed as you stared up at the ceiling and talked about literally anything that came to your minds— stubbornly fighting off sleep for whatever unknown reason in the dark.
“you know this is aki’s last olympics right?” you spoke softly, your arm propped up as you watched the way satoru played with your fingers.
“yeah..” he replied. “i don’t really know how to feel about that.”
“me neither.” you shook your head. “but she said it came at a perfect time because she’d been wanting to retire for a while.”
and now it was yours and satoru’s turn to try and fill the legacy she had built.
he hummed, delicately interlacing your fingers together as the outline of it through the darkness made you blush and smile, the nooks between his digits blessedly made entirely just for you as your fingers slotted perfectly in each spot every time.
and satoru silently vowed for the millionth time in his life that he would always be your hero and keep you safe, a promise that was already tied into your birds of a feather contract, but needing to repeat it to himself anyways while he listened to the sound of your voice talk about your excitement for the upcoming olympics.
and my god were you excited, the both of you— looking forward to seeing akira gracefully take home her fifth fucking gold medal like she always did with no repercussions, seeing her fans and the mass amounts of support she got every year with bouquets and teddy bears and picture taking, but also looking forward to spending even more time with her— for not just practices… but for forever, even more than you already did now as you two were greedy and just loved akira.
you were looking forward to forever, the three of you.
until akira’s accident.
“oh my god i’m gonna throw up—”
satoru hurled over just as you both stepped onto the bleachers at the olympic arena, you laughing and placing supporting hands on his shoulders as you followed your mother and satoru’s to your designated place by the front.
“toru i told you you’d make yourself sick if you didn’t leave that damn dessert table alone.”
“there were cinnamon rolls baby. cinnamon rolls how on earth could i possibly just walk by a platter of cinnamon rolls—”
“okay!” you giggled, carefully leading him to sit down and ruffling his hair once you settled. “i get it! you love cinnamon rolls.”
“not as much as i love you—”
“yuck!” you stuck your tongue out and pushed him away by his cheek, him laughing loudly as he shooed your arm away and grinned.
“toru— this is the last time we’re gonna be sitting here in the bleachers watching aki.” you mentioned. “isn’t that fucking nuts?”
“now i’m gonna cry and throw up.”
“no!” you giggled and nudged his shoulder. “then you’ll make me cry.”
he smiled and leaned over to plant a quick kiss to your cheek, reaching up and fixing the bows in your hair before looking straight ahead, his sparkling blue eyes staring at the rink.
the crowd roared suddenly and a mix of big and tiny flags of several individual countries waved in the air as you and satoru jumped and screamed when akira glided out with her skates and glittery dress, a huge dazzling smile on her face as she waved at the crowd, her eyes scanning around quickly before they finally landed on you and satoru.
as if she wasn’t already smiling enough, it grew bigger at the sight of you both practically over the fucking rink calling her name, her blowing you both a kiss and connecting her hands together to form a little bird, fluttering it up funnily and making you laugh before spinning around and going to starting position with her partner.
“oh she’s gonna wipe again.” satoru breathed out. “wipe absolute buttcheeks.”
you cackled as you both watched her routine— incredibly fast paced and technical, filled with spins and throw jumps and lifts as she made it known that it was her last year and wanted to leave with a mark, you and satoru absolutely mesmerized by the choreography as a dramatic symphony of a classical piece drummed through your ears by the speakers.
each move was executed beautifully, you and satoru at the edge of your damn seats as akira’s partner lifted her by the arms to settle over his shoulders into a split formation— halfway through the routine already.
“maybe we could do a move like that for when we compete!” you suggested over the music. “i feel like technically it could—”
a hand flew over your mouth as you watched akira topple and slam to the ground upon coming down from her split lift, the spinning blade of her partner slicing through her abdomen as her head nastily collided with the ice— the crowd screaming in terror.
“oh my god!—” your chest moved frantically and you and satoru looked at each other, horrified faces as you watched the backside of her limp body on the ground surrounded by paramedics, her partner hovering over her in complete and absolute distress.
and there was so much blood.
blood that pooled all around her figure and stained her shimmering dress, blood that wouldn’t stop fucking spreading as a stretcher finally made it out on the ice.
“baby.” satoru’s voice shook. “why isn’t aki moving.”
“i— i don’t know—”
“aki!”
you both snapped out of your shocked daze and screamed over the rink and jumped, shoes slipping against the ice as the two of you tried to reach her through your panicked tears and calls, security speeding through and pulling you both back as you watched the paramedics lift her frail body onto the stretcher and away from the rink.
“that’s—” you sucked in a sharp sob. “that’s my aunt please let us go—”
“you need to stay out of the rink—”
“fuck you!”
satoru shoved security away and grabbed your arm, wishing you had your skates on as you both practically crawled over to where akira was being carried out, not giving a single shit about the way your mothers yelling demanded you back as security had to literally pull you and satoru by the ankles, further and further away from the scene and away from akira until the only thing left was her pool of sickly crimson blood in front of you, you and satoru wailing.
akira died at the hospital later that night.
the collision of her head against the ice brought such blunt force trauma that it caused irreversible brain damage, and with the amount of blood that she was already losing from the laceration of the blade— those elements combined didn’t give her a single fighting chance at survival, her fate sealed from the moment her body hit the ground.
it was completely unexpected… an incident like that had never happened in not just olympic partner figure skating, but figure skating competitions as a whole— the severity of the situation so grave that the complex move akira and her partner performed that led to her death was banned from the olympics moving forward.
and you and satoru were fucking ruined.
ruined and crying and clutching over her arms and hands at her hospital bedside, it scaringly cold and stiff and not her usual warmth at all as you couldn’t accept that this was your reality, that akira had left you both all alone after not only her initial familial love that you’d gotten since birth, but after nearly a decade of giggles and skating, her picking you both up from school and cussing up a storm because it made you and satoru laugh as kids, buying you ice cream and taking you out for beach days because she said the sun was good for your skin, harassing you and taking a million pictures of the two of you as she uttered over and over again that love had no limits— your dream of forever with her cruelly severed over the sport you all loved most.
yours and satoru’s mentor, friend, your fucking mother figure— was gone.
your aunt was gone. your own blood.
the entirety of that bullshit situation sort of settled into your minds by the time her funeral came— painfully holding back tears as your family members gave their speeches and final wishes before the lowering of her casket, you and satoru not saying a single word throughout the entire thing until it was just you and him standing in front of her grave site— your mothers waiting for you in their cars.
you both chose not to give speeches. you couldn’t.
“toru.” you sniffled, drowning in your tears as satoru strained to keep his back, lips pulled into a thin line.
“yes pretty.”
“this is so fucked.”
satoru breathed out a weak laugh and let a couple of tears slip down his cheeks, wiping them with the sleeve of his black suit as he grabbed your hand and interlaced your fingers, squeezing it.
“diabolically fucked.” he responded.
there really wasn’t much you could say at that moment in time, the two of you staring at the carvings on her tombstone as the wind softly blew over the petals of her flowers and letters, the day cloudy and cold and just fucked as you silently choked back sobs and whimpers, satoru lamely trying his best to stay strong for you— be your hero as he pulled you into his chest and squeezed you with everything that he had, nose buried in your hair as his tears fell and dampened a few strands.
“birds of a feather, toru.” you spoke softly, both of your frames shaking as the saying itself came from none other than akira.
he firmly nodded, lifting his head and kissing your cheek twice hard before looking at you.
“birds of a feather sweets.” his red teary eyes made your heart ache. “you can’t leave me too, okay?”
you scoffed and wiped your eyes, a sad smile on your face. “i could never… you know that.”
it didn’t really get easier from there, as everything in your lives reminded you of akira.
and though your mother was grieving the loss of her sister, she wanted to be left alone, and the only person that really understood the level of mourning you were on was satoru— him always there in the blink of an eye when you would call him in the middle of the night crying your eyes out while he held you, or when broken sobs wrecked through satoru’s trembling body as he cried into your chest while you held him and vice versa, endless amounts of ‘i miss her’s’ and ‘bring her back’s’ as you took turns depending on the day rolling on the floor unable to physically breathe over the loss as you tried to anchor each other back to normalcy, wondering how the world could be so cruel and continue spinning when you’d just lost half of your hearts.
but it did. it continued to spin and turn and carry on as you and satoru day by day tried to patch over what happened, be there for each other and heal each other as you graduated high school and caught up with satoru in college, still together and still in your stupid limbo of ‘is there something more’ except worse, and still inseparable three years later after akira’s passing.
it didn’t hurt any less, but the days definitely got easier… some harder than others as the time you spent with her became cherished distant memories, feeling eternally grateful for the way she raised and took care of you, for the work she had done, and for the legacy she had built for figure skating olympians around the world.
and because akira was so good and taught you both just as so, satoru and you had a little name of your own as you’ve been sweeping competitions since the age of thirteen, ninety eight percent unbeatable and competitive as other pairs always knew who you were the minute you stepped onto the ice, eager and curious to see if you would make it into the olympics when the time came just like your mentor had done.
some deemed it cheating— unfair due to the fact that you had a four-time gold medalist olympian training you since childhood, but that assumption quickly diminished after her passing when you both continued to wipe competitions and take trophies home purely based on your talent.
and you both agreed to continue your careers without a coach, a decision that didn’t even need to be thought twice over— and you were twenty and satoru twenty one when the time drew near to try for the olympics.
finally.
“my legs are gonna fall off and my balls are gonna droop to the icy floor if you don’t give me a kiss right now.”
“toru!” you giggled loudly, pushing his face away as he puckered up his lips and made obnoxious kissy noises, pulling you in by the waist. “toru focus we’re on a time crunch—”
“time crunch where?” he whined, stomping his blade down on the ice. “we’ve been at it for so long already i’m cold i’m thirsty and i think we should go to that cute christmas festival patch thing you told me aboouuttt!”
“right now?” you asked. “i don’t know toru… i had a set goal for us tonight and if we don’t get it—”
“oh you damn perfectionist.” he scowled, letting you go and quickly skating to starting position. “fine.”
you gave him a knowing smile and skated over to his dramatic sulking figure, kissing his cheek softly and wringing your arms around his neck, pulling him in.
“let’s run it three more times and then we can go to the festival, okay?”
he jumped up like a little kid, eyes hyper and wild. “really? honestly? truly?”
you nodded, gleaming up at him.
“is this a prank?”
“jesus toru you’re making me think i’m keeping you hostage here with how excited you are—”
“yiiippeeeee!—” he grabbed your upper thighs and lifted you before spinning on the ice, the both of you laughing as he roughly turned until he gradually came to a stop, big goofy smiles on your faces as he did so.
satoru loosened his hold as you slowly slid down against his body, faces close and lovesick as his half lidded eyes looked at you, lips stinging to plant directly over yours after so many years of hopeless pining and avoidance, still refusing to acknowledge the situation, but it glaringly obvious at this point.
“what?” you whispered, your eyes fixed on his lips as your blades touched the ice again.
he softly shook his head, blue eyes greedily drinking in your pretty face as he retracted a hand from your waist and brushed his palm over your hair adoringly, hand raising to cup your cheek gently.
was he about to…?
you swallowed, hands gripping his black t-shirt as you waited… anxious, hoping that he would do what you thought he was about to do.
but satoru squeezed his eyes shut in a grimace and quickly kissed the corner of your mouth before turning his back to you and skating to starting position— leaving you incredibly dumbfounded and disappointed.
satoru’s skin felt like it was on fucking fire as he looked at your stunning doe eyes blinking at him from across the rink, heart pulsing uncontrollably as you slowly skated to him and got into position, neither of you uttering a word about it as you ran the choreography three more times like you had agreed on.
you and satoru have had plenty of moments like that… but lately?
it’s been borderline dangerous with how close you’ve gotten to breaking your unspoken rule.
by the end of practice you and satoru excitedly packed up for the christmas festival, more or less stumbling out of the doors of the rink and locking up before throwing your things in satoru’s car and speeding off to the main plaza, cheesy dorky smiles on your faces as you babbled on about all of the things you were gonna do once you got there.
“the s’mores stand! the s’mores stand!” satoru whipped his head comically back and forth between you and the snowy road. “we have to go there and get five nothing less and maybe more—”
“wait! i wanna get some of that hot chocolate we got last year!” you quickly reached and gripped his shoulder. “the one with the chocolate bits in it! and the whipped cream! and the drizzle—”
“oh fuck yeah how could i forget?” satoru made a turn, the shining glimmering lights of the festival and christmas trees coming into view and riling you both up in pure exhilaration. “i gulped down like four cups of those and then threw up in a bush.”
you laughed loudly and shook your head. “i forgot about thaaaattt! toru you always shove shit in your mouth and throw up we have got to work on that—”
“no we don’t!” he cheesed, reaching over and patting over your hair— the smooth ribbon of your thin bows sliding underneath his palm. “i love sweets even if they hurt me. what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. where there is no struggle there is no strength—”
“the only strength i see is a man hunched over puking his guts out.”
“hey!” he pouted, pulling into the lot before parking and turning off the ignition, the both of you hopping out of the car and locking it as you walked towards the main entrance. “and i’ll do it again so what.”
you giggled and interlocked your fingers with satoru’s. “silly silly.”
the festival was lively— huge decorated christmas trees everywhere you went as twinkling fairy lights adorned every corner and direction of the lots premises, several open stands that continuously wafted chocolate and cinnamon and vanilla throughout the entire night that had satoru practically floating through the air following the scent, kids giggling and running around as the soft familiar tunes of christmas music hummed in the background.
“what do you want for christmas, sweets?” satoru asked while chowing down a giant s’more.
“a kiss!” you quipped, giving him a cute silly look as you blew a bit of air over your steaming hot chocolate.
he stopped chewing.
“really?” satoru spoke with his mouthful. “i can literally give that to you right now c’mere—”
“no toru!” your cheeks buzzed a vibrant pink, completely flustered. “you’re supposed to say a big fat no!”
“now why the fuck would i do that...” he grumbled, shoulders slumping from disappointment as he took another big bite of his dessert.
you giggled, looking at him apologetically before standing on your tippy toes and licking a bit of melted chocolate from the corner of his mouth.
and he blinked at you, dumb and still as his cheeks copied the same exact shade as yours.
my god.
you were about to turn him into a freak.
“okay now you have to kiss me.”
“why?!” you laughed. “you had chocolate on your face! i was helping you out.”
“yeah right you little minx.” he scarfed down the last bit of his s’more and threw his little paper tray in the trash can behind him, putting his hands together and shaking off excess crumbs. “that’s actually the most torturous thing you have ever done to me.”
“dramatic!” you exclaimed, laughs escaping you and increasing as you watched satoru’s flustered face pout and glare at you.
you breathed in deeply and settled down, standing up straight as you took a tiny sip of your hot chocolate and smiled. “now i feel bad.”
“you should.”
“can you forgive me?”
“not unless you kiss me.”
“toru!”
“what?!” he pushed. “baby it’s only fair! really! just once and that’s it. a harmless peck nothing more we aren’t doing anything crazier.”
you gnawed at your bottom lip in thought.
technically he was right… it was just one little peck, entirely harmless and cute and wouldn’t have you both falling off of that thin tight rope you guys were still balancing off of.
this would only shake it a little… but then you’d be fine! right?
you were too far gone in the considerations of his proposal as you looked at his absolutely breathtaking blue eyes and face, somehow looking even more angelic as his pinky cold cheeks and nose and scarf covered neck did nothing but make you fall deeper in love with him than you already were.
how someone could look as good as satoru was beyond you.
“just—” you peered up at him. “just one peck okay?”
his eyes widened.
holy shit.
“yes!” he breathed out. “yes yes just one.”
“toru.” you spoke sternly. “i’m serious.”
he frantically nodded, arms already snaking around your waist and bringing you in.
you both couldn’t believe it.
you were about to have your very first kiss.
the two of you leaned in then— softly, timidly, afraid as satoru’s chocolate breath fanned against your nostrils and filled your lungs, lips coming closer and closer until they met in a simple, solid, tiny harmless peck.
satoru felt like his veins were about to pop and explode at the feeling of your delicate soft lips finally on his, the feeling actually fucking unreal as his fingertips went numb and his body tingled all over.
but it quickly became clear that it was not just one harmless peck.
because when it was supposed to be the time for you both to pull away, you and satoru only opened your mouths and kissed deeper— eyelids blissfully closed as your lips smacked so slowly and tenderly, the two of you actively relishing in the moment and just drinking each other’s mouths in as they moved and shifted, deep breaths through your noses as you daze-fully made out with the faint fuzzy sound of jingle bells and christmas music growing increasingly distant.
you tasted so sweet. just like he’d imagined.
but the moment came to and end when you both snapped your eyelids open in realization and released lips, pupils frantic and wide as you searched each other’s eyes for any sign of anger since you both had slipped up and did way more than just a peck.
but there was nothing. obviously there was nothing like that as your shoulders relaxed simultaneously and bashful smiles crossed your faces.
“you taste like chocolate.” he grinned.
you bit your bottom lip in a smile. “so do you.”
“twins.”
“uh huh.”
“i love you.”
you stilled.
you’ve told each other that thousands of times for years, since childhood.
you’ve always said you loved each other and have both known it was laced with those unspoken feelings you had, and you accepted that for as long as you could remember.
but somehow… in someway… it just felt different this time around. profound. more serious.
“i love you.” you responded.
satoru smiled softly and leaned his forehead against yours, basking in each others authentic infatuation for a moment before pulling away.
“can i get another s’more—”
“no!”
satoru ended up getting his second s’more, and you surprisingly ended up partaking in satoru activities and downed three fucking cups of that hot chocolate you loved so much, your tummy full and about to literally burst, but not really giving a shit as you and him were having so much freaking fun— buying little christmas trinkets from the santa shop and building tiny snowmen in the snowy play area filled with a bunch of kids (satoru literally making a tiny dick for one of the snowman and you immediately destroying it and wacking him), even skating in the rink but purely just for enjoyment and not a single thought of what you do professionally crossing your minds.
you stayed there until it was nearly closing time, money absolutely spent from all the things you bought, but your souls happy and warm as you happily walked to the car so satoru could take you home.
on the drive there, you showcased all of the trinkets you both had bought, a particular one catching your eye that you remembered you hadn’t shown satoru yet.
“oh! i got this one—” you dug your hand in the white plastic bag and pulled out a little snow angel, beautiful and glossy as the angels face blushed and smiled. “at the santa shop!”
“it’s cute baby!” he smiled. “for you?”
you shook your head. “i got it for aki. for the next time we visit her.”
his heart softened, nodding.
you and satoru tried your best to visit her grave as often as you possibly could, sometimes nearing four times a week to pay your respects and chat with her for a little while, filling her in a bit on your lives to bring back the feeling of what it was like to just talk to her in any way you could, like you had the fortune of doing once before.
“it kinda looks like her.. doesn’t it?” he questioned, pointing to the figure.
“it does right!” you expressed. “that’s why i got it… it reminded me of her.”
“she’ll love it.” he grinned, gently running the pad of his finger against your cold cheek before turning his attention back to the road.
you and satoru didn’t mention the kiss again as you were funnily still in shock over it, but the butterflies in your stomachs and the sole memory of it did more than enough as you climbed into bed with an already snoring satoru, him sleeping over for the night (when was he not) as you nudged your way under his arm and cuddled yourself in his chest, his slumbered state pulling you in like muscle memory.
you both only had two more practices left before the international skating union competition. once there, you and satoru had to land a spot in the top three chosen by the national olympic committee to earn an official spot in competing for the olympics, a task that was already vigorous and exhausting and nerve wracking, but one you both were more than ready for.
general admittance to competing in the olympics was essentially fourteen years in the making, one that wouldn’t have been possible in the first place if it wasn’t for akira.
“i think we should add a spin to this lasso lift.” you suggested, you and satoru taking a break from running the routine and standing by the bleachers during practice— watching a recently recorded take of your choreography to point out mistakes that flew under your radars.
“a spin?” he asked. “how sweets.”
“so when you lasso me around into the lift—” you rewinded the video and pointed. “since you’re holding me up over your head and we’re balancing with our hands, i say you maybe push me up to kind of like— propel me to do a triple rotation spin back down.”
“and then from there i catch you?”
“yeah!” you nodded. “and we’re traveling across the ice.”
satoru pursed his lips. “that’s kind of hard… you sure?”
“we’ve done worse toru.” you laughed. “i feel like this would give us more points.”
“oh it definitely would.” he nodded. “okay baby.”
“yay!” you cheered. “let’s practice the lift and propel on the mats first because if not i’m gonna eat shit.”
satoru laughed and sat down on the bleachers with you, quickly taking off his skates before standing and kneeling in front of you, untying your laces and slipping your skates off for you as you cutely smiled, him feeling like your little hero and knight in shining armor even if it was for something so minuscule.
he loved doing things for you.
in the middle of you and satoru practicing the move on the mats, your mother came in through the front doors of the ice rink.
“hi!” she greeted, holding up two wide rectangular boxes. “your costumes came in!”
“oh thank god!” you breathed out, satoru setting you down on your feet before you both ran to see. “i thought they weren’t gonna come in on time!”
“are they cool?!” satoru tumbled out. “do they scream please let me in the olympics?!”
you snorted and shoved his shoulder playfully as you unwrapped your boxes, your eyes shining in delight at the sight of your rhinestoned pale baby blue dress, a shade you purposefully picked out as it matched the color of satoru’s eyes— you lifting it with your fingertips from the box and gushing.
you turned it around and held it up against your frame as satoru pulled his top out— a white, tight long sleeved low cut v-neck button up that you already knew was gonna hug his yummy biceps so good, the thought of it making you bite the inside of your cheek as he checked over his black slacks.
your mother clasped her hands together, holding it to her mouth as her eyes gleamed over the two of you.
“i can’t believe it’s happening now.” she spoke softly, you and satoru diverting your attention to her and smiling. “for so long it was always just a distant thing you know? but now it’s here. actually.”
“fuck i know right.” you responded.
“language, y/n.”
“but i’m twenty!” you whined, pouting as satoru snickered behind you.
your mother rolled her eyes and cupped yours and satoru’s chins under her hands.
“good luck next week, alright? i know you guys will sweep.” she pushed. “make aki proud.”
the smiles on your faces grew, nodding as she squeezed your chins and released.
“oh! satoru—” your mother picked up her jacket and swung her purse over her shoulder. “your mom won’t be home for the night her trip got extended until tomorrow… you can sleep over at our house if you want so you’re not over there alone? or y/n can stay with you?”
“oh okay!” he spoke kindly. “thank you for letting me know!”
she smiled and nodded, hugging you both goodbye before leaving the rink.
your head whipped in his direction.
“toru if i sleep over at your house we can watch horror movies and actually scream as loud as we want without worrying about waking anybody up.”
his eyes bulged open. “oh my god you’re right! dibs i get to choose—”
“fuck!—”
by the end of practice you and satoru mastered the addition you added into the lasso lift, performing it beautifully on the ice over and over again until it was like simple reflex, calling it a day after a while and packing your things up to drive to satoru’s house.
you both took turns stepping in the shower to get rid of the sticky sweat that lingered on your skin, changing into comfy pajamas after as you tiredly settled in satoru’s big comfy bed— him flicking through his selection of horror movies and debating which one to pick.
“do you wanna watch something gory or just horror.”
“gory!” you perked up. “i need to work on not being so queasy.”
“but you seem fine when i throw up?”
“that’s because i’m used to it.” you laughed, head resting on his shoulder as he picked a movie and threw his remote somewhere across the bed, his arm coming to wrap around your tummy and pull you in.
it wasn’t like the selection mattered anyways, because fifteen minutes into the movie you were already falling asleep, hand resting on satoru’s torso as he continued to watch it— for some reason still wide awake even after skating for hours.
your sleepy sudden movements from your hand made him weirdly stiffen and relax every single time, your brows furrowing at the feeling and eyes fluttering open when he wouldn’t stop doing it.
“toru… are you still ticklish?” you mumbled sleepily.
he stiffened again.
“no.” he answered softly. “why..?”
you lazily grinned.
“youuu suureee?”
terror struck him as he sensed exactly what the fuck you were about to do.
“please spare me please spare me—”
you jumped on him and tickled his entire upper body, satoru laughing and gasping as he smacked your hands away and twisted and turned, his strong grip making it hard for you to tickle him at one point as you stubbornly swung a leg over his waist and settled over his lap, attacking him while he yelped and screamed.
“baby!” he gasped. “baby please! have some mercy is this how much i mean to you?!”
you giggled and finally stopped, hands retracting as you settled them on your hips. “that’s what you get for lying to me.”
“i was lying for my safety.”
“uh huh.”
you both grinned, satoru’s eyes occasionally flickering down to you straddling his lap with your pretty plushy thighs and blushing, trying to keep his gaze on yours to refrain himself from doing something a little too mental and weird.
but it was too fucking late, because it took no time at all for the blood to rush to his pathetic dick and harden.
surprisingly though, you were the one that was mental— the feeling of his cock against your clit undeniable as the uncomfortable shifts of satoru’s waist only stimulated it against your little nub and made you bite down hard on your bottom lip, shaky breaths leaving your mouth as it was getting harder and harder for you to restrain yourself from satoru’s godlike existence.
and your body was just not listening as you timidly rolled your hips over his crotch— your short shorts criminally thin as you felt just how big satoru’s length was, mouth watering as your palms timidly settled over his chest for stability, grinding on his cock harder.
satoru’s eyes were blown out as he watched you do something so— so lewd, his mind wandering if you were fully and properly there as something like this was absolutely breaking your unspoken rule, and you were more strict about it than he was.
but he didn’t want you to stop. god no.
at this point, you and satoru were off that metaphorical tight rope and hanging on by two hands— having both failed at keeping each other balanced as you rolled and rolled your hips deliciously on his dick, his chest quickly rising and falling at the feeling of your warm pussy over his groin and at the sight of you using him to get yourself off.
your little needy mewls made his hands tremble as he threw his head back on the pillow, eyes pathetically fucked out over something so simple.
“fuck me..” satoru groaned, hands coming up to rub over his face as his hips lifted to meet your grinding.
him doing that broke you out of your haze and you stiffened, satoru taking his hands away from his face with pinched brows at the sudden halt.
what happened?
“okay!” you laughed nervously, an alarmed expression as you swung your leg off of his lap and scrambled under the covers, pulling it completely over you as you shamefully looked anywhere and everywhere but satoru.
but he was out of it.
undoubtedly out of it now that you did what you did… wanting more, wanting all of you as he snatched the covers off of your frame and you squeaking as a result.
“why’d you stop.” he whispered, thumb raising to trace your bottom lip.
“i don’t— i don’t know what you’re talking about—”
“yes you do—”
“absolutely not—”
“i want you.” he cut you off. “i want you bad and i know you want me too so let’s just— let’s just do this once, okay? once please just to see what it’s like and it’ll never happen again.”
your eyes remained wide as you looked at his desperate frantic ones, his hands already kneading at your waist and thighs.
he was entrancing you into his proposal again, exactly the same way as when you both kissed for the first time at the festival as he leaned down and nibbled at your jaw, slotting himself in between your legs.
“do— do what?”
“fuck.” he mumbled, rolling his hips down on your pussy rough and you gasping at the sensation of his big cock against your clit again.
you whimpered as he rutted into you, hands flying to squeeze his biceps as his wet mouth moved down to your neck, licking and gnawing as he waited for your response.
“but isn’t that—” you stifled a moan. “isn’t that too far toru?—”
“please baby please.” he picked his head up and looked at you. “just once i swear once so we see what it’s like and get it out of our systems and never do it again. i promise.”
he needs to kiss you right fucking now.
your eyes fluttered closed as he continued to hump you, licking your lips as you weakly tried to look into his eyes.
“you swear?” you breathed out. “swear it just once and that’s it—”
“i swear i swear i swear—”
“okay then fuck me toru please—”
satoru nearly cried as he ripped himself away from you to frantically pull off his shirt and pants, him slapping your hands away when you tried to take off your own clothes as he wanted to do it himself— lifting your shirt over your head and downright tearing your shorts in half as he flung them down and across the room, your little pink bra and panties set actually turning him into a complete mess as he hovered back over you and shoved his tongue in your mouth.
you still tasted just as sweet as he remembered.
“been dreaming of—” mmpf— “kissing you since you let me, sweets.”
“yeah?” your lips moved sloppily with his as you snuck a hand in your panties and dipped your fingers in your pussy, collecting your arousal. “you missed me toru?”
“uh huh.” he breathed hotly against your lips, hand coming to slide underneath your bra to cup your bare tit. “every fucking night i’d jerk my dick dry thinking about it.”
his words made your clit twitch as you pushed him off your lips.
“open your mouth.”
satoru did as told without a peep and opened it with his tongue out, your hands coming out from your panties as you reached up and slipped your fingers in his mouth, his lips closing in and sucking everything you had to give him as he salvaged up your arousal.
“fuck—” he released your fingers. “is this from your pussy baby?”
“mhm.” you moaned.
your arousal was even sweeter.
“my god—” he grabbed your wrist and licked a long stripe up your palm. “you dirty fucking thing m’gonna have to taste for myself and see.”
you gasped. “what?”
satoru sat up and pulled your wet panties down your legs, biting down on his tongue hard at the sight of your angelic bare cunt before him, slick and shiny and pretty as you unclasped your bra and spread your legs for him— eager and ready and not a single other thought in your brain besides the one that was screaming for satoru to stick his dick inside you.
“toruuuu!” you whined. “quit staring and fuck me.”
his cock pulsed.
“patience sweets, i wanna taste you first.”
you expected satoru to just lower himself down and shove his head in between your thighs, but you were dead fucking wrong as he stood, grabbed your waist and yanked you high up, sitting you on his shoulders as you squealed and gripped his hair.
“wait toru isn’t this uncomfortable i—”
he scoffed. “fuck no. i’ve been lifting you my whole life baby this is nothing.”
your speech lodged itself in your throat as you felt his tongue lap at your folds and clit, slobbering and filthy as he ate and scarfed you down just like his usual daily sweets, you by far his absolute favorite as he slurped your little pussy up and made you squeal and moan.
satoru walked over to the wall and leaned you up against it, taking your thighs off of his shoulders and placing his hands underneath as he propped you up and spread your legs wider, your jaw dropping at his slimy tongue flicking and him slabbering his mouth side to side rapidly until your legs shook and you saw stars.
“toru—”
he grunted, tongue prodding at your hole and you jumping.
“i think— i think i’m gonna cum and i—” pant “i don’t wanna—”
satoru separated his mouth from your pussy with a squelch and looked up, smiling big.
“too bad!”
“but—”
he spit on your cunt and you gasped.
“i said too bad.”
he dipped back in and fully devoured you as you mewled, messier as he slushed his tongue all over and you’d never experienced something like this, something that felt so fucking good as you started cumming all over his face in record speed regardless of how hard you were trying to hold back.
“yummy.”
he let go and you dropped down as he quickly caught you, turning and throwing you on his bed as he climbed over you— wrapping a hand around his cock and jerking as he kissed and swallowed your lips up again.
“you want me to make love to you or fuck you?” he slopped against your mouth before pulling back, yours and his eyes fluttering open to look at each other.
your legs were still shaking by the eat out he gave you seconds before, finding it hard to get your words together as his handsome deluded face stared at you.
“i— um—”
he placed his lips next to your ear.
“you want me to fuck you like my wife or fuck you like a little slut? or both?”
“both toru please—”
he grinned, coming back up as he parted your legs further open and lined his leaky tip with your hole.
“i can do both!”
satoru pushed himself in and you choked, hands clasping over your mouth as you felt him bully his big cock through and leave you a blabbering crying mess under him— his chest heaving at the warmth and softness and stickiness of your cute gummy walls, his years of imagining and theorizing how you’d feel wrapped around his dick all completely debunking themselves at the real feeling as you whimpered and clenched your hole.
“jesus christ—” he shivered, swallowing thickly as his trembling fingers settled on your waist, him slowly reeling his hips back before pumping in. “you’re— you’re warm.”
you dropped your hands and wiped your cheeks as you hiccuped, the feeling of his dick sliding in and out of your walls incandescently euphoric as you embarrassingly already felt yourself wanting to cum again when he had just stuck his dick inside of you— you wanting to ride out this moment for a bit longer and not finish so quickly like you had done on his mouth.
“am i being too mean pretty?” he huffed, thrusts now quick and curt as he gripped your bouncing tits and pinched your perking nipples, the sight of your little tears shamefully turning him on.
you frantically shook your head and tried to clear your brain. “n—no!—”
“good.” he smiled, a little crazed as he let go of your boobs, placed his hands on the backside of your thighs and pushed your knees up to your chest, picking up speed as you squealed and whimpered, utterly taken aback by how rough satoru was being considering the fact that he was such a goofy and kind and loving person on the daily.
oh… what years worth of pent up sexual frustration can do to a man.
satoru whined as you milked his dick, wheezing as he hammered his hips up and slapped against your skin, your body jolting and bouncing uncontrollably as his bed squeaked loud and obnoxiously.
thank god his mother wasn’t home.
“i’ve wanted this i’ve wanted this i’ve wanted this—” satoru babbled, his critical thinking out the fucking window as he just tumbled out totally random but honest confessions as your ears eagerly drank up every word and made your hole tighten.
“yeah?” pant “f—for how long baby?”
“for so long—” he whined loudly, fucking you faster as your mouth hung open and you gripped his wrists for support. “you’re everything i’ve ever w—wanted—”
“i— i’ve only ever wanted you toru— fuck! you’re big.“ you moaned, loving the way a huge deranged smile spread across his face as his hips pistoned into you and his hands pinned you down.
“cum on my dick baby please cum on my dick i want it i want it—”
your toes curled and you squealed, vision flashing white as you let out a high pitched scream at the intense buzzing feeling, your bodies hot and sticky and wet as satoru leaned over and shoved his lips in your ear.
“can i— can i cum inside?” he choked through gritted teeth as he came close to spilling his seed. “please i wanna cum inside—”
“but m’not on the pill—”
“please please baby i beg you—” hah! “i don’t wanna cum anywhere else—”
your eyes fluttered shut at his words and you quickly nodded, his hand cupping your face as he thrusted in one last time and pumped his cum entirely inside you without an ounce of hesitation for the consequences, his horny mind actually crazed and solidifying that there was no fucking way in hell he was gonna accept just friends from this point forward.
what a stupid thought.
“mmm…” you slowly moved your hips a little, feeling his cum all inside your ravished walls as you licked your lips. “your cum feels hot toru.”
not even warm, hot as it slushed and moved inside you with every movement you made, some of it dribbling and coating your outer folds as you bit your bottom lip into a smile and craned your head up to his neck, nibbling and giving satoru tiny kitten licks as he trembled and struggled to stay afloat and not give out his upper arm strength— trying to prevent himself from squishing you.
satoru pressed a soft tender kiss to your cheek then before sitting up and delicately sliding his dick out, running a soothing hand over your tummy as he did so and giving you a lazy smile.
he suddenly raised his pinky to you.
“birds of a feather?” he murmured, other hand running from your stomach over to your thighs now as he just lovingly felt you up, you smiling with rosy cheeks as you linked your little pinky with his.
“birds of a feather.”
you both kissed your thumbs and locked your promise, deciding then that you should probably shower once more before getting into bed to officially sleep— but deciding to shower together as you softly and steamily made out under the misty hot running water, body and mind relaxed as you just swallowed in the ambience of each other, you both not only holding on to your metaphorical tight rope with one hand now, but it actually on the verge of snapping as a whole and sending you both free falling.
and for the next couple of days, you and satoru were feral.
years and years of doing fucking nothing with pure restraint and fantasizing did a number on you both as any chance you got you were making out on your bed, his bed, and even in satoru’s car after your lectures— your hand teasingly going lower and lower until you’d shove a hand in his pants to pull his dick out and pump, your body leaning across the console and mouth going down to bob and suck as he moaned and pulled your hair into a makeshift ponytail to guide you and your pretty bows and fuck your mouth just to hear the sounds of you choking, eyes from time to time frantically looking around to see if no one was around as you blowed him.
and you did that basically all of the time for the next three days until the final practice just before the international skating union competition, satoru physically unable to leave you alone and unscathed as he constantly pinned you down to eat your pussy or suckle on your soft tits, his hand tightly clasped over your mouth in your room when your moans would get too loud as he fingered you, his long fingers squelching and abusing your cunt until you were finishing all over his hands again and again.
but you two having actual sex didn’t happen again apart from that night— satoru a man of his word since he promised you would only do it once… unfortunately. but that didn’t mean you couldn’t do other things, right?
except by the final practice, satoru was absolutely fucked off at the fact that neither of you had brought up the potentiality of being more than just friends, especially after doing all of those lewd acts.
he was so sick of it.
and so were you, quite frankly, but instead of being completely over it like satoru, you were afraid… afraid of what could happen and the possibility of losing him if you both indulged, if you let yourselves put your freaking careers on the line.
and satoru was the one person you couldn’t bear to lose. not ever.
“we look good sweets!” satoru cheesed, rotating around in the ice rinks dressing room mirrors as you had your costumes on for dress rehearsal and refinements, both of you glittering and shiny and looking like a professional ice skating pair as you examined yourself, readjusting your straps and hugging your torso.
“cold.” you shivered. “maybe i should’ve had it as a long sleeve… shit.”
he laughed and placed his hands on your arms, rubbing up and down quickly to create frictional heat as you smiled at him gratefully. “nah, it’s cute like this! you’ll warm up once we run it a few times on the ice.”
you nodded, the both of you walking out of the dressing room and to the rink, skillfully putting on your skates before pushing yourself on the ice and gliding across.
“can you show me the uh—” satoru looked to the side in thought once he was on the ice in front of you. “the part where we skate in unison and have our arms up in an L? it’s in the chorus of our music—”
“oh!” you nodded and skated a bit away from him to demonstrate.
“i just wanna see if my form matches yours and we look clean.” he smiled. “and then show me the triple axel after that.”
you gave him a cute thumbs up and pushed yourself off, gliding gracefully and smoothly across the ice as satoru was supposed to be watching you to try and fix his form, but finding himself transfixed once again by the way you seamlessly skated with no sense of struggling effort— arms poised and flowy as your dress moved and fluttered with every twist and turn until you gradually propelled yourself up into the triple axel and landed correctly without a slip or wobble.
the level of difficulty and technicality you skated reminded him of akira— but your style, your movement, and the way you carried yourself was entirely your own.
you made figure skating look beautiful.
you were beautiful.
you slowed down on the ice and skated over to satoru.
“were you able to see? did you match me?—”
“you skate just like her.” satoru spoke softly, and you faltered.
he didn’t need to clarify who he was talking about, as you always knew.
“you’re just saying that.” you pursed your lips to keep yourself from smiling, or crying, you didn’t know.
but a compliment like that meant the absolute world to you.
“i’m not.” he shrugged, skating over to you and taking your hands as he glided with you to starting position. “you always have baby. and i know that’s what you’ve always wanted. i’m sorry i don’t say it enough.”
your eyes softened. “toru that’s not something to be sorry about at all…”
satoru was so kind.
you both skated together and ran the choreography a couple of times, spinning simultaneously and satoru lifting you again and again throughout the routine and still performing your lasso spinning lift successfully, arms around his shoulders and faces close as the wind whipped through both of your costumes and hair from traveling across the ice at such a speed before coming to a sudden choreographed halt at the end of your number.
you had slid down satoru’s body to plant your blades back on the ice when he had enough.
“please stick your tongue in my mouth.”
you choked on your spit and slapped a hand over your mouth.
“toru no! absolutely not we can’t anymore okay—”
“what are we.”
you froze.
“huh?”
“what are we.” he repeated, eyes dead locked on yours and hard. “are we together? are we not? are we friends? what are we—”
“we’re— we’re friends toru—”
“oh fuck no.” he let you go and created a little bit of space between you. “don’t give me that shit we’re not friends.”
“w—well we can’t—”
“i’m your man.” he stated firmly. “i’m your man i’ve been your man for years and i’m tired of avoiding this sweets! it sucks!”
“we’re putting everything at risk if we do toru we can’t!”
“i’m your man.”
“no you’re not—”
he cut you off. “your mouth has been on my dick. we’ve had sex. we’ve kissed we’ve made out we’ve told each other i love you if that doesn’t tell you that we’re together then what the actual fuck?!”
“oh my god toru i know i know!” you groaned, hugging yourself as you anxiously looked at him. “what happens if we break up? huh? what do we do?”
he shook his head. “we won’t.”
“you don’t know that.” you laughed bitterly. “if that happens we lose each other satoru understand that. we break birds of a feather, we ruin our careers, and we ruin us.”
“first of all—” he started. “our birds of a feather promise is to stick together, keep each other safe, and not seperate or fight, is it not?”
“it— it is—”
“so do you really think if we continue to keep each other in this fuck ass limbo of friends that we aren’t already breaking that?” he threw his arms out in emphasis. “we have never been just friends. i’ve known you for fourteen fucking years and we have never been just that.”
you blinked back tears.
“i promise you baby—” he slid closer to you and cupped your cheeks. “that we won’t leave each other. i will fight and try every single damn day to make sure that that shit never happens even though i already know it won’t because you’ve been made for me since birth and we haven’t separated since we’ve met.”
satoru wiped your cheeks. “but i also promise you, that if we continue as just friends, we will break. we’re gonna string each other along so fucking much that we’re gonna go absolutely insane and drive each other away. that is for certain.”
“but— skating—”
“i don’t give an ever living fuck.” he spat funnily and you laughed through your tears. “skating is nothing without you. all the trophies and medallions and the god damn olympics itself with that gold medal is nothing without you. i would give that shit up in a heartbeat if it meant keeping you in my life in exchange.”
“and i would do the same for you toru!” you sobbed, his arms immediately wrapping around your shoulders and pulling you in as you sniffled and hiccuped into his chest, him kissing the side of your head repeatedly and soothing a hand down your back.
“don’t cry pretty i didn’t meant to make you cry...” he mumbled, cheek mushed up against your head as your shoulders shook, a huge disgusting pit of guilt in his stomach. “fine it’s okay we can be just friends for a bit longer please don’t cry—”
“no!” you sputtered, pushing him back a little to face him. “i don’t wanna be just friends anymore either toru… it hurts me so much.”
“it does?” he asked softly and you nodded.
“it hurts me too.”
satoru wiped your remaining tears again and fixed the little bows in your hair, a soft liberated smile on his face as he reached down to cup your cheeks and bring your perfect lips to his, kissing you lovingly as the both of you felt like you could finally rest and stop ridiculously hiding your love in the shadows after so many years.
the thin tight rope that you had both been toppling over and rebalancing and holding onto to keep the other from falling, had finally snapped in two, and you and satoru were now in the darkest depths of the truth of what you both were.
except it wasn’t dark at all.
it was light and airy and heavenly, and you wondered why you had been so afraid when there was nothing to be afraid of in the first place, since the one you were falling with was satoru.
silly.
he pulled apart and looked at you, his striking blue eyes and white fluffy hair especially beautiful.
“tomorrow—” he began. “we’re gonna absolutely destroy everyone else there and land a spot in the top three, and then after i’m gonna take you out on a nice dinner and buy every single fucking dessert off the menu, and then i’m gonna ask you to be my girlfriend. okay baby?”
you giggled then, the brightest rosy cheeks on display from the both of you as you eagerly nodded and threw your arms around his neck.
and tomorrow could not come soon enough, because not only were you looking forward to making your dreams a reality and competing against other figure skating pairs from around the world and the olympics itself, but also the thought of officially being satoru’s after years of wishing on little stars and day dreaming about what that would be like for hours on end.
until the moment was here. happening.
the indoor arena was electric and rowdy the minute the competition commenced, you and satoru in absolute awe of the energetic atmosphere as many individuals in the crowd waved their banners or screamed their loved ones names, an ambience very similar to the olympics as you both watched pair after pair perform their hardwork and dedication on the ice, goosebumps on your skin as you fidgeted and jittered.
out of twenty of your countries competing pairs, only three of you would be chosen for the olympics.
and you hoped to god you and satoru would be chosen.
“we’re almost up baby.” satoru patted your head, sitting on a bench in your designated area. “i think it’s two more pairs then it’s us.”
you nodded, nerves closing up your throat as your eyes darted over the rink.
satoru frowned.
“hey.” he placed a hand on your thigh, suddenly wanting to rip your nylon tights off so you could actually feel his skin on yours. “you nervous sweets?”
you nodded again, and he gave you a silly grin.
“don’t be! you’re literally akira the second. we’ll be fine!”
you laughed lightly and leaned your head on his shoulder.
“and even if we don’t land a spot, that’s fine too.” he kissed your head. “it’s our first year anyways… we’ll know the game for next time and we’ll try harder.”
you picked your head up and smiled at him, his words settling your nerves just as soon as the last remaining pair took their places on stage, yours and satoru’s turn right after.
what you didn’t know, was that satoru was just as nervous as you.
but he knew you needed a rock and someone to comfort you— wanting to swoop in like a little hero and save you again… so he kept it hidden.
“fuck i almost forgot!” satoru jumped up and dug into his duffel bag, pulling out a roll of pale baby blue ribbon that matched your dress exactly. “you told me you didn’t have ribbon that matched your costume so i went and tried to look.”
he held it out for you cutely on his palm.
“does this one match?”
you picked up the roll, astonished and mushy inside that satoru actually went out of his way to find this specific ribbon color for you because you had expressed how unhappy you were with the darker shade you had, your eyes looking up at him in complete adoration.
“oh my goodness— thank you toru!”
you quickly undid the bows in your hair and slipped off the former ribbon, digging through your duffel bag for scissors and cutting off pieces from the new ribbon before looping them through your hair and tying, not needing a mirror since you’ve done it for as long as you could remember.
satoru’s cheeks went pink as he looked at your new pretty bows.
“does they look okay?”
“beautiful.” he responded, pecking your lips before taking your hand and leading you to the entrance of the rink.
“okay—” you breathed out. “this is it.”
“what kind of food do you think they’ll have at the dinner place we picked—”
“toru!” you giggled. “not now!”
he smiled sheepishly at you before leaning his forehead against yours.
you stuck your pinky out.
“birds of a feather?”
satoru grinned and looped his pinky with yours.
“birds of a feather baby.”
you both kissed your thumbs and once again, locked your promise.
the announcer over the speakers iterated your names and your country as you and satoru glided across the ice poised and graceful with your arms up, waving at the crowd and giving your mothers a special frantic wave before moving to starting position, unknowing of the way several other pairs and the judges themselves murmured about your reputation and your association with akira.
and you hoped she was watching over you both now. somewhere.
the music begun, contemporary and lyrical as you and satoru slid across the rink, already impressive and entertaining as you performed moves and lifts right off the bat, the sounds of your blades scraping against the ice oddly keeping you in time with your choreography as the number went on.
and you and satoru were feeding off of each other, the chemistry undeniable to a strangers eye that had no idea of your story as you conveyed passion through your expressions, each technical movement bleeding with the fact that you both had been olympic level trained since the age of fourteen and fifteen.
you were halfway through your routine now, the lasso lift coming up next as satoru harbored in his strength so he could properly propel you into that newly added spin.
you skated around him and he lifted you up into the air, the crowd cheering and excited at your beautiful remarkable forms.
except satoru’s hands were slippery.
why?
nerves. he quickly deemed it nerves as he had no time to deliberate since it was almost time to propel you up into the spin, his mind already racing over the fact that the slip in his hands was hindering his strength to keep you up there, and he worried that if he pushed you up, it wouldn’t be enough and you’d come tumbling down— hurting yourself.
but satoru had zero time to decide again as he went with protocol and pushed you up as hard as he possibly could and prayed you would go into your triple axel spin successfully and that he’d catch you.
but the minute that he did, the force yanked him back and his skates flew up in front of him, you falling down and your thigh hitting something sharp before you both went slamming to the ground— sliding apart from each other on the ice.
the crowd screamed and gasped in terror, sounds you were all too familiar with to what you heard three years ago filling both your fuzzy minds as satoru struggled to get back up, his head turning slowly around to see if you were okay and just sore like him—
until he saw your limp body on your side, your back to him with blood slowly pooling out on the ice and staining your pretty blue dress.
satoru scrambled up and skated straightaway in a panic to you before sliding on his knees as he reached you, turning you over and paling as he saw you were unresponsive and out fucking cold.
“baby?“ he shook you. “hey— baby—”
nothing.
why weren’t you answering him? why weren’t you awake?
his brain flashed images of akira’s body the day that she died, suffocating deja vu as the way you looked when he saw you like that on your side was a carbon copy of her from three years ago, his chest picking up speed as you continued to lay limp even after he shook you desperately numerous times like a madman.
and why was there so much blood?
blood that looked sickly bright red against the white ice, blood that stained his sleeves and shirt and hands as he held you up and supported your head, and blood that wouldn’t stop fucking oozing out of your leg as he trembled.
“hey— hey can you hear me?” satoru tapped your cheek rapidly, shaking you gently again with horrified eyes and still not getting a response.
“fuck! why is this happening this isn’t supposed to happen—”
how could he be your hero? how could he stop the blood and wake you up? how could he— how could he fix this how could he take it all back how could he fix this—
“no no no baby please—” he sobbed. “not like aki baby not like her man—”
he shook you again, your head lolling to the side as if— as if you were—
no.
“baby— birds of a feather right? birds of a feather we have to stick together you can’t— you can’t leave right?” he cried, chest heaving and vision blurry and you just felt so cold.
“you’re not leaving you’re not leaving me please not like aki please god—” he cradled you up to his chest in his arms and rocked. “you can’t leave me you’re all i know and i don’t wanna know anything else please baby—”
satoru’s frantic repeated heartbroken wailing echoed throughout the arena as the crowd erupted and moved around in hysteria, him still rocking you in his arms as he turned his head with terrified bloodshot eyes to look at both of your mothers, yours hunched over in a fit of screams and cries as his had her hands in her hair in utter disbelief and tears.
“fuck what do i do!” he sobbed, legs shakily standing as he slipped one arm under your back and the other under your knees, picking your limp body up as he saw a huge group of paramedics run over to him on the ice as he carried you over.
“help—” hic! “h—help me please—”
why couldn’t satoru be your hero when it mattered most?
several of them lowered the stretcher and took you from him, laying your lifeless self on it before hoisting you up and swiftly carrying you away, all of it horrifyingly and painfully similar to akira’s inevitable death.
were you gone?
satoru looked down and saw your baby blue ribbons on the ice, wet and stained with blood, once perfect bows in your pretty hair when he had you awake and breathing.
were you breathing? had you hit your head?
he couldn’t remember.
he couldn’t remember anything but your unresponsiveness, the way your skin was colder than the ice itself as he picked up your ribbons and looked at them in his hands— and the way your blood stretched over for what looked like miles and was still there.
in front of him. taunting him.
was the world so cruel as to take you too?
it wouldn’t. it couldn’t.
you’d never done anything wrong. you’d never treated anybody indifferently as you were sweet and beautiful and talented, always in servitude of others— in servitude of him as you taught him how to ice skate when you didn’t need to at six years old, you already kind and gentle at that young age when you could’ve easily shooed him away like a little bug and told him to fuck off.
and throughout your life too, as he was well aware he was an annoying dramatic piece of shit that whined and cried and ate your stashes of sweets all of the time— but you always just giggling and looking at him with adoration in your eyes, with your cheeky smile, with the little ribbon bows in your hair he loved so fucking much.
oh how he wished he didn’t always take your sweets at that moment. how he wished he wasn’t always an annoying blockhead and made you mad at times with his persistent personality and neediness as he stood there frozen in the rink staring at your blood— dark now and dull, wishing it was him instead of you.
you were knocked out for five days at the hospital.
you and satoru also didn’t make it into the top three at the international skating union competition.
you should’ve, as your score was already higher than any other pair there and only halfway through the routine too— but that’s precisely why you got knocked out.
if you had finished your number, you would’ve landed in the top three, but it ending halfway cut off the opportunity for accumulating more points, and eventually another pair surpassed your halfway score by two points.
but satoru didn’t give a shit. fuck the olympics and fuck the international skating union while your body laid still on the hospital bed for hours on end, him refusing to leave your side as he sat there and stared off into space with nothing in his head but hatred for himself as it was his fault that this happened and his blade that sliced you— eyes red and sunken and tired and refusing to eat or drink.
you had hit your head on the ice, but thankfully the trauma wasn’t anywhere near the severity of akira’s, it only inducing a strong concussion and sending you flying out of consciousness upon impact.
but it was the loss of blood that was the problem.
you had lost so much, too much of it.
it made you weak and frail and unable to do much and satoru worried that that’s what was going to take away your fighting chance of survival.
“you should go home satoru…” your mother sighed, standing by the door of your hospital room, her own eyes red and swollen.
he shook his head no silently.
“she’ll still be here… you need to eat something or sleep please. you look awful.”
satoru smiled weakly and shook his head again.
“m’fine.”
your mother pursed her lips to the side and she sighed again, nodding.
“i’ll come by early in the morning, alright?”
he hummed, giving her a tiny wave as she left and closed the door behind her.
satoru had brought a roll of pink ribbon from your little white box in your room, unrolling the pieces he chose and lifting his hands, taking the ends of your hair and trying to tie little thin bows the way you always did, but huffing softly in irritation when they just looked like shit.
he undid the one he was working on and settled for feeling the material of the ribbon between his thumbs instead.
satoru brought you bouquets everyday too.
sometimes three at a time as he continuously swapped out old flowers and replaced them with new ones, changed their water and poured fresh quantities into each vase to keep them alive, and often picked some more from the hospital garden when he went down to get some fresh air for a minute— the least he could do for nearly killing you.
and satoru had a lot of time to think while he waited for you to wake up— bitter and resentful at the world for letting him sit there healthy while you were out, so much so that he started thinking stupid shit like how he wished you would’ve forgotten him and dismissed his yapping dreams about ice skating when you met so you would’ve been an independent skater instead, so you then wouldn’t have gotten hurt by his idiocy and you wouldn’t be laying in a hospital bed like you were now.
or swapped places. him instead of you so he could beat up the fucks that took akira away and beat up zeus or— or aphrodite or whoever the fuck that was responsible for keeping him from you so he could come back to you… unsure if you were doing the same thing as he stared at your resting face.
you should’ve just left him behind.
but he was sleeping when you woke.
arms propped up and crossed next to you on the hospital bed, his cheek mushed up on them and face to the side as you blinked your eyes open and was straight up confused, not a single memory of the incident flitting through your mind… until it did.
and it hit you bad.
your mind reeled with a pounding headache, tears prickling your eyes at the events that plagued through your mind— a part of you knowing there was absolutely no way you and satoru made top three and gutted about it, feeling shaken from the memory alone of you falling and hitting the ice.. but grateful.
grateful to be alive, for you knew akira wasn’t as lucky.
was it because of her that you had lived? had she pulled some strings to change your fate?
your eyes trailed down to a sleeping peaceful satoru, your gaze softening at how tired and broken he looked, bags dark and purple as he snored away next to you, your hand lifting and delicately settling over his fluffy white hair as you smiled that he was here next to you— caressing.
satoru shot up wide awake then as you jumped and retracted your hand, the both of you alarmed and frantic.
“baby?” he grabbed your hand and felt around it, feeling warmth for once as he stood up straight and shoved back one of the sleeves of his hoodie.
“you’re awake? are you actually?—” he pinched his arm hard over and over and you giggled.
you giggled— the sound filling his ears and lifting an undeniable dark ton off of his shoulders as he relaxed, tears automatically brimming his eyes.
“i thought i fucking killed you sweets.” his voice shook, arms gently coming around you and pulling you into an embrace.
“killed me?” you frowned. “toru what are you talking about—”
“oh god you have amnesia—”
“no!” you laughed. “what do you mean by almost killed me? you didn’t do anything.”
“i did everything.” he spoke flatly. “i fucked up that lasso lift. i pushed you up too hard and we fell. i cut you with my blade i made you bleed—”
“toru that was an accident.” you pulled back and your chest hurt over the devastated look on his face, wiping his tears and kissing his nose. “remember— aki’s partner felt just like this and we had to tell him too it was an accident. you can’t control something like that. at all. it’s just unfortunate circumstance.”
“i know but i still feel like—” he wiped his eyes and swallowed. “i still feel like i could’ve done something different. it should’ve been me and not you and i should’ve—”
“toru don’t even don’t think about things like that.” you shook your head. “there wasn’t anything you could’ve done, baby. and that’s okay.”
you gently scooched over on the bed and patted the spot next to yours, satoru immediately climbing and settling in, clinging on to you as he placed his head on your chest with his arm firm but careful around your waist, suddenly feeling how exhausted he actually was from the days he spent restless.
you couldn’t have imagined the pain satoru must’ve gone through waiting for you to wake up. you didn’t know how he even fucking managed as you would’ve been torn into bits and pieces not knowing if he was going to live or not, looking at his limp bloody body the way he had to look at yours and it reminding you of the event that brought you both the most trauma and grief.
you couldn’t believe you almost went out the same way.
satoru confirmed your thoughts later and filled you in on the results of the international skating union competition, rubbing salt into the wound a little more upon learning that you landed fourth, nearly there as you couldn’t help but cry a bit in your hospital bed when he told you that you could’ve had a spot, satoru hugging you and reassuring you that you’d both have your shot at it in the next four years.
your family was relieved that you were awake, tons of people piling in and giving you sweets and food that satoru hungrily eyed and gawked over, you laughing and passing him the ones he particularly enjoyed most as you conversed with your relatives.
and recovery was thankfully easy— doctors orders being just you taking it light and being careful not to bonk your head against anything, as well as taking care of the laceration on your leg— changing the bandage frequently every morning and night, satoru insisting he help you with that and with many other things that you needed as he tried to make up for what he still thought was his fault.
two weeks had gone by of just rest and peace and no figure skating, thinking you and satoru deserved this break, but also secretly petrified of stepping on the ice again after what had happened— neither of you wanting to hurt the other as you avoided the topic of training for the meantime at all costs.
“maybe we should work at a water park.” you suggested one day, the two of you seated on a park bench through the chilly mid january air as you shared a plate of chocolate drizzled strawberries you got from some nice lady and her fruit stand. “be lifeguards!”
“oh hell no!” he spoke with his mouthful before swallowing, readjusting the black round sunglasses resting on the bridge of his nose. “you think i’m gonna be fine with watching random old men savoring after my wife in her little red bikini while i’m off saving some drowning kid? oh no thank you. let the kid drown.”
“toru!” you laughed, smacking his shoulder. “okay then what else?”
“janitors.”
you shrugged. “i like to clean. sometimes.”
“and your entire body is covered in those jumpsuits no stinky old men looking at—”
satoru’s phone buzzed against his jeans and he paused and pulled it out as you giggled, him barely glancing at the caller i.d before answering.
“hello?”
you mindlessly carried on plopping strawberries in your mouth and chewing.
“this is he…. oh hello! yes! how are you?”
you eyed satoru quizzically at his sudden formal change in tone, his eyes glued to the cement below.
“uh huh… really? o—okay! no yes for sure! thank you so much for the opportunity!”
opportunity?
you slowed your chewing and nudged his shoulder gently, wanting him to give you some kind of sign as to who it was on the other line.
“okay, we’ll keep in touch! thank you again!”
satoru slowly removed his phone away from his ear as the other line went dead, staring at his screen and you curiously leaning over only to see his call history log, a random number at the top.
“holy fuck.”
“what?!” you leaned in closer and tried to catch his eyes with yours, his shocked wide gaze slowly flittering to your face.
“that was the national olympic committee.”
you froze.
“shut the fuck up.” you covered your mouth. “toru what did they say what did they say—”
“one of the pairs that made it in the top three got disqualified.” he spat out quickly, shooting up and digging his fingers into his hair as he walked back and forth slowly in disbelief, spinning to face you. “i— i don’t know why i didn’t ask but we got bumped up.”
silence.
“we—” your chest rose and fell erratically, eyes darting around as satoru knelt down and grabbed your hands.
“baby we made it.” he tightened his grip. “we’re competing in the olympics—”
you squealed and jumped up and down and pulled satoru in, the both of you comically bouncing off the walls as you wailed and cried and blabbered on about how you couldn’t believe it and how a chance like this was even given to you, satoru lifting you and spinning you around but stopping and freaking out and apologizing profusely over your injured leg, you shaking your head and laughing, kissing him in return.
“we can’t avoid skating toru.” you spoke once you and him had settled down. “it’s literally what brought us together… and what brought us to aki. and even from you spinning me around like that it reminded me how much i missed skating with you.”
“i feel the same sweets.” he smiled, big and bright and handsome as he leaned over and kissed your rosy cheek. “i miss lifting you up and catching a glimpse of your ass underneath your—”
“toru!”
even though you and satoru were finally on board and accepting of bringing skating back into your lives, it wasn’t to say at all that the fear itself went away when you tried to do lifts or spins in the air with each other— apprehensive and scared as you practiced on the mats way more than necessary before moving choreography to the ice, satoru multiple times chickening out and needing a moment as he was petrified of hurting you again, and you glued in place at the thought of falling and slamming on the ground when you had just survived mostly unscathed.
but this wasn’t the time to be afraid over that anymore, and if akira were here, you both knew she’d smack you upside the heads and tell you to move… to get on the ice and do the sport you both loved and cherished most.
to finalize your dream and make it a reality.
and throughout the month that you and satoru spent before the commencement of the olympics, you trained like never before— no excuses as you worked tirelessly day and night with sweat literally dripping from your faces until every single goal was met and beyond, until every single throw from satoru was perfected and until every axel from you was delivered.
sometime during this month too, satoru finally got to take you out on that romantic candle lit dinner like he promised and asked you to be his girlfriend, him giddy and grinning the whole time and literally spoiling the moment as he meant to give you a chocolate dessert plate that said ‘will you be mine’ in chocolate syrupy letters, but accidentally eating it and smearing the words when he confused your plate with his, smacking his forehead repeatedly on the dining table as the silverware clattered— muttering about how dark it was and how he couldn’t fucking see, but you laughing so fucking much and clutching your stomach that your makeup smudged up at the corner of your eyes.
satoru was reminded again how much he loved you that day, because anyone else would’ve gotten tremendously annoyed and called him an idiot, but you…
you just giggled. giggled and hiccuped like always while he stared at you softly.
the love you and satoru shared stretched far beyond the concepts of what a platonic and romantic relationship was.
the love you and satoru shared was sacrifice. genuine sacrifice and yearn and absolute unadulterated love as you both without another thought would drop your careers for each other, would swap places if it meant the other would be safe from harm’s way, and would endure years of swallowing and pushing back feelings if it meant just keeping one another in your lives forever.
because that’s what birds of a feather was for to begin with.
a promise to stick together. a promise to keep each other safe.
a concept so pure and devoted that it translated onto the ice like no other pair when it came time for the olympics.
“you ready sweets?” satoru breathed out as you both stood in front of each other by the outside of the rink with interlaced fingers, shaking each other’s jitters out. “no matter what happens, we’ve already come so far and done so much, okay? we’ve done what we needed to do.”
“mhm!” you quickly nodded, satoru leaning down before you both rested your foreheads against each other’s with massive smiles on your faces, thunderous cheers echoing throughout the giant arena totally drowned out in your ears as you stared into satoru’s sparkling blue eyes.
“make aki proud.” you repeated softly, and he nodded, you hoping once again she was watching over you both.
you both stuck your pinkies out at the same time and looped them together.
“birds of a feather?” satoru beamed.
“birds of a feather.”
and you kissed your thumbs before sealing your promise.
you both watched the pair that you were going right after perform their routine, beautiful and difficult as you gnawed at your bottom lip in distress.
“toru…”
“yeah baby?”
“some of these pairs are crazy good…” you spoke over the music. “i’d honestly be happy with getting in the top twenty i don’t know if we can—”
satoru scoffed and shook his head, a sly smile as he looked over the rink with his arms crossed.
“nah, we’d win.”
and just like akira had done in her final olympic year— in her final moments, you and satoru made it known that it was your debut, that you had been hungry and desperate for this moment since the ages of six and seven, that you’d been raised and trained by a four-time olympic gold medalist for a decade as you executed the most technical and intricate moves and turns, you and satoru moving as one on the ice and identical as he took your hands and glided on the ice with you, raw emotion in your expressions that read love so clearly that it was impossible to miss.
with each lift, with each time satoru took you in his arms and spun, and with each time he simply held you close and tenderly to his chest as his blades scrapped across the ice with your pretty bows in his view— were all reminders for the two of you that partner figure skating was nothing without satoru and nothing without you.
the privilege of having another way to convey just how much you loved each other through the language of artistic expression and skates and ice, through the feel of each other’s skin, was one you nurtured and looked after and loved as the wind whipped through you and satoru due to the speed of your skates, performing quadruple axels like nothing while dropping the jaws of other figure skating pairs.
and because of this fact alone, how you both truly appreciated each other’s entities and had the indescribable power to correlate that into competitive sport—
was the reason why you and satoru won gold that day.
you and him, on your knees, gripping and hugging one another so hard and crying tears of joy as you both had come so far and gone through so much to get to where you were now, your dream now a complete and total reality as you stepped up onto that podium during the medal award ceremony just like akira had done— representing your country excellently with a big fat gold medal hung over your necks and a big fat kiss from satoru as he lip locked with you up there, flashings of cameras and bouquets and teddy bears scattered all throughout the ice in dismay.
“i love you!” satoru yelled to you over the roaring as you waved at the crowd, your mothers crying and blowing their noses and taking pictures from the edge of the rink as you and satoru cackled and pointed at them.
“i love you, toru!”
“no like seriously!” he put his waving hand down. “i wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. thank you for recognizing that i have love and dreams too baby and for not forgetting about me even when i’ve been the most annoying dipshit of your life.”
“you’ve never been that to me my god toru! where is this coming from?” he hopped off the podium once you two were given the all clear and he held a helping hand out for you to take, you doing so and carefully stepping down.
“reeaally?” he cheesed, cheeky and silly as his big pearly white smile made your cheeks flush. “so you love me then?”
“i literally would not be with you if i didn’t—”
“hooray!” he cheered, throwing his arms up as flower petals flew from his bouquets and around. “my girlfriend loves me! and we’re gonna have rough passionate olympian sex in our hotel room—”
“toru!—”
the love you and satoru shared wasn’t something silly like ‘i like you, you like me.’
it was call me when you get home.
have you eaten yet?
here, let me help you.
whatever you need.
yours and satoru’s souls were exactly the same— blended, intertwined, and stubbornly knotted together as no amount of tug and pull could unravel you both apart, satoru finding over the years that loving you was like muscle memory from the moment he met you, his nerves and reflexes gravitating him towards you on the ice that first time even when he knew there was a huge chance of him slipping and falling, but not being afraid of it at all as long as he just got to you, convinced he knew you in another life as you just felt so familiar the moment he saw your pretty little face.
and you’re so glad that he did get to you… that he stayed with you.
fourteen years of ice cream trips and sleepovers and horror movies from the moment you were teeny tiny babies to adults, experiencing the hardships of your teenage years of loss and grief, to then adulthood and college as you had the privilege of learning to navigate it with another being that was just like you, two little birds with no sense of direction other than to each other.
and it was all thanks to one woman and one woman alone.
“i honestly believe that if she was there, she would’ve brought one of those confetti poppers with dye in it and set it off.” you commented, you and satoru sitting on the grass at her grave site as you leaned your head on his shoulder and his head on top of yours, having literally just come off the plane from being at the olympics— your countries olympic button up thick jackets adorning your figures as your gold medals gleamed radiantly against the sun.
“i wish she was there.” satoru hummed, and you nodded softly in agreement.
“me too… but i’m sure she was! as a little birdie.”
he chuckled, finding your hand and interlacing your fingers as you stared at her tombstone like you’d done so many times before already… except this time it was bittersweet, you having accomplished what the three of you had strived so hard for at last.
“i miss her.” you murmured. “i miss her cussing.”
your eyes flickered down to her peace offerings, the little snow angel trinket you had gotten her still pretty and glossy and her as it sat happily on her stone platform.
satoru picked his head up and kissed the top of your head, propping his chin up on it.
“i miss her too baby.” he responded softly. “everyday.”
“but— i can’t thank her enough for giving us the bullets to fire with for skating.. y’know..” you ran the pad of your index finger along her tombstone, rough and scratchy as you traced little hearts along the edges.
“and she brought us closer together, did she not?” satoru pointed out.
she did.
a woman who was clumsy and loud and erratic with the biggest potty mouth you had ever heard that was passed down to you and satoru in the blink of an eye… but man did she know what love was as she taught it to you and reminded you both of exactly what it was each and every day.
you and satoru had accepted the fact that your hearts would never be whole again, for akira had taken half of them elsewhere and into the depths of the unknown.
but you were okay with that. completely and utterly okay with that.
for love had no limits.
you wanted her to keep it, as you and satoru stitched the remaining halves of your hearts together to create a new whole, as there was no one else you both would rather have that part of you with them forever besides akira.
and yours and satoru’s stitched up hearts grew increasingly bigger and fonder even after a couple of years later, even after winning three more olympic gold medals, you and him back at the same place in front of akira’s grave like always, sitting and laughing and chatting— but with two little baby toddlers that were half of you and half of satoru as they blubbered on about ‘mama aki’ and her trophies, a delicate twinkling ring on your finger and a golden band around satoru’s as your little family had a picnic over her final resting place.
“papa!” your son exclaimed, satoru immediately turning his attention to him in the midst of scarfing down a turkey sandwich.
“yes my offspring?”
you playfully glared at your husband.
“why do your eyes look scarier in the day?”
“HAH!” you slapped a hand over your mouth to hush your cackling, satoru’s face absolutely taken aback and offended.
“they do!” your daughter giggled. “they do! they do!—”
“baby do something!” satoru whined, shoulders slumping as he threw his head back. “i’m being bullied by five year old’s!”
you giggled and kissed his cheek, his pout quickly turning into a soft little grin as his face flushed pink.
“but your papa’s eyes are pretty you guys! and they match yours!”
“mmm— nope! scary!”
your two twin toddlers giggled uncontrollably as they thought being mean to their dad was the funniest thing in the world, you laughing with them as satoru flopped back dramatically and completely laid down on the grass with his eyes looking straight up at the bright sky.
“s’okay.” he spoke flatly. “if even my pretty little wife thinks my suffering is funny i’ll just burn my eyes to a crisp—”
“toru!” you slapped his knee. “too graphic in front of the kiddies.”
“but my suffering!—”
“mommy mommy!” your daughter tugged at your sleeve and pointed to the top of akira’s tombstone, a cute perfect white and brown bird perched up on the edge and peering curiously at the four of you, the creature not alarmed whatsoever of your children’s sudden movements as they scrambled to get closer to it.
satoru propped himself up with an elbow and stared before you both locked eyes, knowing growing smiles on your faces as he fully sat up— leaning and planting a gentle kiss to your forehead, letting it linger.
aki.
and it was like you and satoru were reminded again of your promise that you still told each other every day.
a promise that consisted of your years together… of your love, of your undying fervor of sticking together, of your need of keeping each other safe…
of birds of a feather.
taglist!! <33 (THANK YOU THANK YOU!):
@cupcaketeddybehr @soobiary @roachfun @waterfal-ling @saebaey @reneinii @luvvmae @cake-with-the-cream @pixie-dix @2ukika @cramelmacchiao @hy3phiren @umemiaa @wil10wthetree @jameinfrau @pancakeszs @drftnzume @k0z3me @k4zivy @dindjarins1ut @starrnai @tinyray-lovesfood @iloveoldermenn @dazqa @applepi25 @aria-chikage @rose-tinted-kalopsia @runfrme @unofficialsapphire
Chapter 7 - The Art of Faking it Too Well
Summary: The campus buzzes with life, but you feel like a shadow slipping through the cracks—unnoticed, unimportant. At home, it’s no better. Your parents dote on your step-sister, the star tennis player, while you’re the afterthought they barely acknowledge. She’s here too, her perfect reputation casting an even bigger shadow over your existence. College was supposed to be your escape, but living at home and walking the same halls as her makes it impossible. Then he shows up—Satoru Gojo, the rich, arrogant engineering major everyone seems to worship. His smug grin and effortless charm are the kind of things you can’t stand, but when a ridiculous twist of fate forces your lives together, you find yourself fake dating the most insufferable man you’ve ever met. It’s just a deal, temporary and harmless—or so you try to convince yourself.
an: rizzler lmao. SMOOCHES 💋💋💋
{chapter 6} ; {next}
taglist: @hanakotateyama @sleepykittyenergy @inthedarkshadows000 @codeseven @byakuya61085 @minzxec @ivydoesit23 @naughteehee @not-aya @bochichi @emlient @gojoprincesss @havingnonamesucks @n1vi @linny-bloggs @sastreclau
࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚
You didn’t expect him to actually be on time.
Satoru’s car pulled into your driveway right at 7, headlights off, like he was trying to make a quiet escape from the awkward suburban hell you called home. You opened the door, heart already racing, not from nerves—but from the knowledge that your family was going to witness all of this. Every second of it.
The second you stepped outside, you heard your sister’s voice float out from the living room.
“Oh? Is that Gojo?” Her heels clicked against the hardwood as she all but slithered toward the door. “You sure you didn’t pay him to show up?”
Satoru stood leaning against the car, all long legs and confidence, dressed in black slacks and a soft blue button-up that brought out his eyes way too well for your comfort. He looked up at your sister’s voice, smile tight.
“Hi,” she purred, stepping beside you like she was the one he was here for. “You look—wow.”
Satoru didn’t even blink. “Thanks. So does your sister.”
You blinked, startled, as he offered you his arm and leaned in like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Ready to go, babe?”
You didn’t say anything—just nodded, letting him lead you down the steps, his hand resting lightly on your back.
Your mom and stepdad stood near the window, watching with forced smiles that barely masked their suspicion. You saw your stepfather open his mouth, but before he could say anything, Satoru glanced up and gave them a polite, “Evening. We won’t be late.”
His tone was calm but cool—formal enough to be respectful, but just detached enough to make it clear he wasn’t here to kiss up to anyone.
As soon as you slid into the passenger seat and shut the door, you sighed. “You didn’t have to say all that.”
“I did,” he said, shifting into reverse. “You looked like you were five seconds away from swinging on your sister.”
“She said I paid you to date me.”
“I know.” He smirked as he turned onto the main road. “But then I remembered I’m expensive. She’s not wrong.”
You groaned and elbowed him lightly. “You’re actually the worst.”
“Maybe. But I look really good next to you.”
You tried not to smile. Failed.
The car ride was warm with music low in the background. He talked too much, teased you too often, and made a point to tell you that the highlighter on your cheeks looked “criminally good.”
When you arrived at the restaurant, you realized it wasn’t the flashy kind of upscale—it was intimate. Dim lighting, candlelit tables, soft jazz playing over the speakers. You felt… out of place. But he looked completely at ease, holding the door open for you with a wink.
“You really committed to the fake boyfriend role, huh?”
“I don’t half-ass,” he said simply. “Plus, I like watching you blush.”
You were seated near the window. He pulled out your chair before sitting down himself.
“So,” he said, glancing over the menu. “What do loners usually eat on fake dates with campus heartthrobs?”
You gave him a look. “Anything that shuts you up for at least ten minutes.”
He grinned. “Spicy. I like that.”
You both ordered, and the conversation veered off into something lighter—music, classes, how he once almost electrocuted himself in a lab and had to bribe a TA to cover it up.
But eventually, the laughter softened, and the pauses between words started to stretch a little longer.
You looked down at the table. “It’s weird. I didn’t think I’d enjoy tonight.”
He tilted his head. “Is that your way of saying you’re having fun with me?”
“No,” you said quickly, and then—after a beat—“…Maybe.”
He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “You really don’t think very highly of yourself, do you?”
The question caught you off guard. You shrugged. “It’s just… easier when you don’t expect much. From people. From family.”
Satoru went quiet. Not uncomfortable, just… thoughtful.
“My parents are always gone,” he said after a moment. “They throw money at me like it’s supposed to feel like love. It doesn’t. So, I pretend it’s all good. I play the part.”
Your eyes met his. For a second, he looked tired. Like the role of Satoru Gojo—Golden Boy, Campus Royalty—was just that. A role.
“We’re more alike than I thought,” you said quietly.
He smiled, a little softer this time. “Told you I’m not just a pretty face.”
Later, after dinner, he suggested a walk.
“Trust me,” he said, grabbing your hand. “You’ll like this.”
You ended up near the beach—quiet, the kind of spot not many students knew about. The moon was full, the water calm, and he stood beside you with his hands in his pockets, looking at you like you were something he couldn’t figure out.
You looked up at the stars, hair dancing in the breeze.
He watched you. “You look pretty when you’re not yelling at me.”
You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t fight the smile tugging at your lips.
You didn’t talk much on the way back. The car was filled with a silence that felt… full.
And then—he parked outside your house. Leaned across the seat. You thought he was going to kiss your cheek, maybe say goodnight.
Instead, his voice dropped low as he whispered in your ear, “Don’t freak out… but we’re being watched.”
Your heart jumped. “What?”
“Someone’s in that car down the street. Been holding their phone up since we got here. Probably sending pics to that gossip page.”
Before you could even process it, he leaned in and pressed you back against the car door. One hand cupped your jaw. The other slid around your waist.
And then—he kissed you.
It wasn’t playful. It wasn’t teasing.
It was full, slow, and hungry.
Your fingers curled into his shirt. You barely had time to react before the kiss deepened, his mouth moving against yours like he’d been waiting to do it all night.
When he finally pulled back, breathless, he didn’t move far.
“Sorry,” he whispered, lips brushing your cheek. “Had to sell it.”
But his eyes said something else entirely.
He walked you to your door, fingers laced with yours until the last second. Your parents were watching again. So was your sister.
So Satoru kissed your forehead and said, “Sleep well, baby.”
Then, with a little smirk just for you, he walked away.
You closed the door slowly behind you, heart pounding. And in your chest—buried under confusion and nerves—was something warm. Something dangerous.
Something that felt a lot like the beginning of something real.
Chapter 6 - Terms and Conditions (Mostly Ignored)
Summary: The campus buzzes with life, but you feel like a shadow slipping through the cracks—unnoticed, unimportant. At home, it’s no better. Your parents dote on your step-sister, the star tennis player, while you’re the afterthought they barely acknowledge. She’s here too, her perfect reputation casting an even bigger shadow over your existence. College was supposed to be your escape, but living at home and walking the same halls as her makes it impossible. Then he shows up—Satoru Gojo, the rich, arrogant engineering major everyone seems to worship. His smug grin and effortless charm are the kind of things you can’t stand, but when a ridiculous twist of fate forces your lives together, you find yourself fake dating the most insufferable man you’ve ever met. It’s just a deal, temporary and harmless—or so you try to convince yourself.
an: I’m doing horrible mentally so here’s another chapter for you guys! I’m probably gonna post Toji today as well hehe. SMOOCHES 💋💋💋
{chapter 5} ; {next}
taglist: @hanakotateyama @sleepykittyenergy @inthedarkshadows000 @codeseven @byakuya61085 @minzxec @ivydoesit23 @naughteehee @not-aya @bochichi @emlient @gojoprincesss @havingnonamesucks @n1vi @linny-bloggs
࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚
Chapter 5 - Tricks, Treats and Terrible Ideas
Summary: The campus buzzes with life, but you feel like a shadow slipping through the cracks—unnoticed, unimportant. At home, it’s no better. Your parents dote on your step-sister, the star tennis player, while you’re the afterthought they barely acknowledge. She’s here too, her perfect reputation casting an even bigger shadow over your existence. College was supposed to be your escape, but living at home and walking the same halls as her makes it impossible. Then he shows up—Satoru Gojo, the rich, arrogant engineering major everyone seems to worship. His smug grin and effortless charm are the kind of things you can’t stand, but when a ridiculous twist of fate forces your lives together, you find yourself fake dating the most insufferable man you’ve ever met. It’s just a deal, temporary and harmless—or so you try to convince yourself.
an: hehe… SMOOCHES 💋💋💋
{chapter 4} ; {next}
taglist: @hanakotateyama @sleepykittyenergy @inthedarkshadows000 @codeseven @byakuya61085 @minzxec @ivydoesit23 @naughteehee @mysteriaqueen @not-aya @bochichi @emlient
࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚
The eyeliner refused to cooperate.
You leaned in closer to the mirror, biting your lip as you dragged the pen across your lid, only for it to smudge—again. Frustration curled in your chest as you reached for a makeup wipe, erasing the mess for what felt like the hundredth time.
“This is ridiculous,” you muttered under your breath, resisting the urge to chuck the whole eyeliner across the room.
You had spent the last hour trying to recreate a Halloween makeup tutorial, and for some reason, it just wasn’t working. Maybe it was your shaky hands, maybe it was the universe conspiring against you—but at this point, you were ready to give up.
And after the day you’d had? This was the last thing you needed to go wrong.
It had started with spilled coffee on your clothes before class, followed by nearly failing a pop quiz. Then, after spending hours at the library, you walked outside to find it pouring rain—without an umbrella. The final insult? Coming home to Brielle gloating about her latest tennis win while your parents showered her with praise.
Now, as you sat in front of your mirror, determined to at least look good for this stupid party, your patience was razor-thin.
You exhaled deeply, steadied your hand, and tried again. This time, miraculously, it turned out perfect. Maybe even great.
Just as you exhaled in relief, your door swung open without warning.
“Wow,” came Brielle’s smug voice. “Didn’t know cops were supposed to look desperate.”
You clenched your jaw and turned in your seat. She was already dressed for the party in—what else—a tennis outfit.
“Can you knock?” you asked flatly.
“Can you not embarrass yourself?” she shot back, arms crossed as she leaned against your doorframe. “Honestly, you’re really going through all this effort? For what? You do know no one’s going to believe that Gojo’s actually into you, right?”
You rolled your eyes. “Leave, Brielle.”
“But I’m curious,” she continued, tilting her head with a fake-sweet smile. “How exactly did you get him to date you? Did you beg him? Threaten to expose some deep, dark secret? Oh! Maybe you paid him.”
You turned back to the mirror, adjusting your police cap. “Shut up.”
Brielle smirked. “You didn’t deny it.”
Before you could fire back, the doorbell rang. Your heart skipped.
Brielle noticed, her smirk widening. “Oh my god, is that him?”
Ignoring her, you pushed past and hurried down the stairs, heart pounding a little too fast. When you swung the door open, you were immediately met with Satoru, looking unfairly attractive.
His inmate jumpsuit was slightly unzipped, revealing a white tank top underneath. Silver handcuffs dangled from one wrist, and his white hair was effortlessly tousled like he’d just rolled out of bed looking perfect.
He grinned. “Well, well. If it isn’t my favorite officer. Are you here to arrest me? Because I’d gladly surrender.”
Behind you, Brielle and your parents watched the exchange with varying levels of curiosity. Brielle, in particular, was staring like she’d just seen a unicorn.
“Oh my god,” she practically purred, stepping forward. “You look so good. You know, if you wanted a matching costume, you could’ve told me. I would’ve made such a good cop.”
He didn’t even glance her way. Instead, he ignored everyone and stepped forward, grabbing your waist and pulling you into a tight hug.
“You look amazing, sweetheart,” he murmured close to your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. Then, before you could process anything, he pressed a lingering kiss to your forehead.
Your brain completely short-circuited.
Brielle looked like she might combust.
Before you could even recover, he pulled back and flashed you a grin. “Ready to go?”
You barely managed a nod before he tugged you toward the door, not sparing your family a second glance.
“You ready for our big debut?” he grinned once you were inside his car.
You exhaled sharply, still recovering. “I hate you.”
He laughed, throwing an arm over your shoulders as he pulled out of the driveway.
The house was packed, the music was loud, and Satoru was making sure everyone saw you two together.
It had started with subtle things—his arm lingering around your waist, leaning in closer than necessary whenever someone looked your way, the occasional forehead kiss that left your skin burning.
Then he turned it up a notch.
He pulled you into conversations with people you didn’t know, introduced you as his girlfriend, and sent pointed smirks at the gossip-prone girls who clearly didn’t believe it.
You barely had time to process any of it before he was dragging you toward another group of people, where an enthusiastic voice called out, “Seven Minutes in Heaven, let’s go!”
Satoru’s eyes lit up. “Oh, we have to play.”
You groaned. “Do we?”
“Obviously. What kind of couple doesn’t?” he teased, giving you a look like he was daring you to say no.
You sighed, letting yourself be pulled into the circle forming in the living room. A few people had already gone, disappearing into the closet or a nearby bedroom to the loud whistles and teasing of the crowd.
And then it was Satoru’s turn.
He grabbed the bottle and spun it with an exaggerated flourish, watching it twirl with that signature shit-eating grin.
It slowed, making a few more rotations before finally landing on—
You.
The room erupted into cheers.
Satoru immediately turned to you, his smirk widening. “Looks like we’re up, babe.”
Your eye twitched at the pet name, but before you could react, he was already tugging you to your feet.
As he led you toward the hall, you caught sight of Toji and his girlfriend standing nearby.
Toji regarded Satoru with a displeased stare, as if his mere existence was an offense to him. But it was his girlfriend who caught your attention—she wasn’t smiling, wasn’t laughing, just watching with an unreadable expression.
For some reason, it made your stomach twist.
Without thinking, you hugged Satoru’s arm a little tighter.
He noticed.
And instead of questioning it, he just smirked and gave your hand a reassuring squeeze.
Then, as you passed, he made sure to dramatically pull you into his room, slamming the door shut behind you.
The second the door clicked shut behind you, Satoru spun around, hands in his pockets, smirking like he had already won something.
“So,” he drawled, tilting his head, “what’s the plan, babe?”
You crossed your arms. “Don’t call me that.”
“Babe. Sweetheart. My beloved.” His grin widened at the way your nose scrunched in irritation.
“You’re insufferable.”
“And you’re avoiding the question.” He flopped onto the bed, propping himself up on his elbows. “We need to make it look real.”
You groaned, running a hand down your face. “We could just sit here and talk. Let time run out.”
“Lame.”
“Realistic.”
Satoru scoffed. “You think my friends wanna open this door and find us having a casual conversation about our majors?” He gave you a look like he was daring you to be smarter than that.
You bit your lip. He wasn’t wrong.
“Okay… then what do you suggest?”
A slow smirk crept onto his lips.
“I have a couple ideas.”
“Absolutely not.”
Your bickering went on for a few more minutes, the occasional knock interrupting your conversation. As Time went on the voices behind the door grew louder and more animated.
Another knock on the door made you both freeze.
“Times almost up, lovebirds!”
Panic flickered in Satoru’s eyes, but then his face shifted into something more determined.
You barely had a second to react before he grabbed you, threw you onto the bed, and buried his face into the crook of your neck.
Your breath caught. “Satoru—”
“Shh, relax. Just making it convincing.”
Then you felt it—his lips on your skin.
Your whole body stiffened. The first press of his mouth was warm, but then—a sharp pull. Teeth. A slow, deliberate drag of his lips.
Your fingers dug into the sheets, eyes going wide.
“Satoru—”
He hummed against your skin, the vibration sending a shiver down your spine.
“Mm, you’re reacting a lot for someone who hates me,” he mused, voice low, teasing.
You wanted to throw him off of you, but you couldn’t move. His lips were still there, sucking, biting, soothing over the mark with his tongue. It was too much, too good, too embarrassing.
A sound slipped out of you before you could stop it—soft, breathy, needy.
Satoru stilled.
Then he grinned against your skin.
“Oh?” His voice dripped with amusement. He pulled back just slightly, lips brushing over your ear. “Did you just moan?”
Your entire face burned.
“I—shut up!”
His laughter was low and smug. “Nah, don’t get shy on me now, sweetheart.” He pressed another slow, taunting kiss over the mark. “Was that your first time getting a hickey?”
You shoved at his chest, hard.
“Get off, asshole!”
Before he could tease you more, the door swung open.
Satoru didn’t even flinch. He just shifted slightly so that he was still half on top of you, turning just right so that the mark on your neck would be visible.
“Yo, Gojo, time’s up—”
Satoru sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes.
“Guys. Seriously?” He let out an exaggerated groan. “I wanna spend some time with my girlfriend if you get what I mean.”
A chorus of whoops and knowing laughter followed.
“Alright, alright, we see you.”
“We’ll leave you two alone.”
Satoru smirked.
They shut the door.
Silence.
You shoved him off of you immediately.
“I hate you.”
“You love me.” He stretched out on the bed like he hadn’t just completely ruined your life. “No need to be shy, princess. You were totally into it.”
Your face felt like it was on fire.
“I was NOT!”
He just grinned. “Sure you weren’t.”
You turned away, flustered, only for your eyes to catch your reflection in his mirror.
The deep, dark mark on your neck stood out way too much.
Your stomach dropped.
“Oh my god.” You grabbed at your neck like it would somehow disappear. “You gave me an actual hickey, you psycho!”
Satoru propped his chin up with one hand, looking very pleased with himself.
“Oops.”
“Oops?!”
He chuckled. “Hey, it’s good. Now people will really believe it.”
You stared at him in horror. “I’m going to murder you in your sleep.”
He grinned. “Joke’s on you, I’m a very light sleeper.”
“I hate you.”
“You said that already.”
“I’ll say it again!”
Satoru just smiled, looking entirely too entertained. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”
You hurled a pillow at his head.
Chapter 4 - False Advertising
Summary: The campus buzzes with life, but you feel like a shadow slipping through the cracks—unnoticed, unimportant. At home, it’s no better. Your parents dote on your step-sister, the star tennis player, while you’re the afterthought they barely acknowledge. She’s here too, her perfect reputation casting an even bigger shadow over your existence. College was supposed to be your escape, but living at home and walking the same halls as her makes it impossible. Then he shows up—Satoru Gojo, the rich, arrogant engineering major everyone seems to worship. His smug grin and effortless charm are the kind of things you can’t stand, but when a ridiculous twist of fate forces your lives together, you find yourself fake dating the most insufferable man you’ve ever met. It’s just a deal, temporary and harmless—or so you try to convince yourself.
an: Inspo Pic for their costume on the last slide! SMOOCHES 💋💋💋
{chapter 3} ; {next}
taglist: @hanakotateyama @sleepykittyenergy @inthedarkshadows000 @codeseven @byakuya61085 @minzxec @ivydoesit23 @naughteehee
Chapter 3 - Fake It Till You Make It
Summary: The campus buzzes with life, but you feel like a shadow slipping through the cracks—unnoticed, unimportant. At home, it’s no better. Your parents dote on your step-sister, the star tennis player, while you’re the afterthought they barely acknowledge. She’s here too, her perfect reputation casting an even bigger shadow over your existence. College was supposed to be your escape, but living at home and walking the same halls as her makes it impossible. Then he shows up—Satoru Gojo, the rich, arrogant engineering major everyone seems to worship. His smug grin and effortless charm are the kind of things you can’t stand, but when a ridiculous twist of fate forces your lives together, you find yourself fake dating the most insufferable man you’ve ever met. It’s just a deal, temporary and harmless—or so you try to convince yourself.
an: JEEZ LOUISEEEE! SMOOCHEEEES 💋💋💋
{chapter 2} ; {next}
taglist: @hanakotateyama @sleepykittyenergy @inthedarkshadows000 @codeseven @byakuya61085 @minzxec @ivydoesit23
࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚
You already knew today was going to be bad, but you hadn’t expected it to be this bad.
It started when you woke up late. Your phone was dead—your stepsister had “accidentally” unplugged your charger overnight, and your alarm never went off. You had exactly ten minutes to get ready, which meant skipping breakfast and throwing on whatever clothes you could grab. In your rush, you stubbed your toe against the corner of your desk so hard that you nearly collapsed.
You tried to shake it off, but things only got worse from there.
By the time you got to campus, the café was out of everything except black coffee, which tasted like burnt disappointment. You tried to force it down anyway, only to spill half of it on your sweater before your first lecture.
Then, your professor—who never acknowledged your existence before—suddenly decided today was the perfect day to call on you. It had to be on the one topic you hadn’t reviewed properly, and when you failed to answer, he sighed and moved on. That one sigh was enough to make the students around you turn and look, some of them exchanging glances, some holding back laughter.
You spent the rest of the class staring at your notebook, trying to disappear.
By the time you reached the library, you were exhausted, but just as you sat down and opened your book, a chair scraped loudly across from you.
Before you even looked up, you already knew who it was.
“Why do you look like someone just ran over your dog?”
Satoru Gojo.
You sighed. “Go away, Satoru.”
“No can do,” he said cheerfully, leaning back in his chair. “Saw you sitting here all alone and thought, ‘Wow, that’s kind of depressing.’ So, here I am. Your knight in shining armor.”
You shot him a flat look. “More like my court jester.”
He gasped, clutching his chest like you’d mortally wounded him. “Ouch. Right in my fragile heart.”
Ignoring him, you turned back to your book.
He didn’t do silence.
“You didn’t answer my question,” he said, tapping his fingers on the table in an annoying rhythm.
“What question?” you muttered, already regretting engaging.
“Why you look like someone just ran over your dog.”
You debated whether answering would make him leave faster. “…Because I had a long day.”
Satoru hummed, tilting his head. “Long day or bad day?”
“Both.”
To your surprise, he didn’t joke. He just nodded, like he actually understood.
For a second, you almost thought you’d get some peace. But then, his smirk returned.
“And here I was thinking you were deep in thought about me.”
Your face deadpanned. “You’re delusional.”
“Maybe.” He leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “But you still haven’t denied it.”
You shut your book. “Gojo.”
“Yes, my dear?”
“I will kill you.”
His grin widened. “That would require effort. And let’s be honest, you don’t strike me as the type.”
He wasn’t wrong, but you weren’t going to tell him that.
Gojo sat there for another ten minutes, occasionally tapping his fingers on the table just to annoy you, before finally stretching and standing up. “Alright, I’ll leave you to your brooding,” he said, adjusting his sunglasses. “But don’t miss me too much.”
You didn’t dignify him with a response.
A Lie That Shouldn’t Have Happened
When you finally got home, all you wanted was a shower and sleep.
But the second you stepped inside, your mother’s voice cut through the air.
“Come to the living room.”
Your stomach sank.
Your stepsister was sitting on the couch, legs crossed, a smug, knowing smile on her lips. Your stepfather sat beside her, looking like he’d just won the lottery.
“We have something to celebrate,” he announced.
You didn’t react.
Your stepsister, on the other hand, was practically glowing. “I got invited to the National Collegiate Tennis Championship,” she said, tilting her head like she wanted to see your reaction.
Your mother sighed, so proud. “She’s worked so hard. It’s an amazing opportunity.”
You forced yourself to nod. You weren’t bitter about your stepsister’s success. It wasn’t her fault she was their favorite. But the way your parents used her as a golden standard—while treating you like you weren’t even worth noticing—never failed to sting.
Your stepfather leaned back in his chair, his expression turning more mocking. “And you,” he said, looking at you expectantly, “what exactly have you been doing?”
“College,” you said, keeping your voice neutral. “Like everyone else.”
“Right,” he scoffed. “But you don’t do anything else, do you? No sports, no clubs. You don’t go out, you don’t socialize.” He smirked. “Do you even have a boyfriend, or are you just wasting your time being forgettable?”
Your stepsister covered her mouth, laughing under her breath. “Dad, that’s mean,” she said sweetly. “She’s just… not really the type to have a boyfriend.”
Your mother sighed like this was the greatest disappointment of all. “She’s always been a bit… invisible.”
That was it. That was the moment.
The exhaustion, the stress, the endless belittling—it all crashed over you at once. Before you could stop yourself, you blurted out, “I do have a boyfriend, actually.”
The room went silent.
Then, they laughed.
Not a chuckle. Not a scoff. A full-blown, gut-wrenching laugh.
“You?” Your stepfather shook his head, smiling. “Oh, that’s rich.”
Your stepsister raised an eyebrow. “Wait, you’re serious?” Her smile widened. “Who is he?”
Your brain short-circuited.
Shit.
“Someone from school,” you muttered.
“Well, obviously,” she said, laughing. “But what’s his name?”
Your heart pounded. “You don’t know him.”
Your stepfather shook his head, amused. “Sure, kid. Whatever you say.”
Your mother didn’t say anything, but the look she gave you said it all—like she didn’t believe you for a second.
Your face burned.
Before they could ask anything else, you turned on your heel and stormed upstairs.
By the time you slammed your bedroom door, reality had settled in.
You had lied.
You had actually lied.
And worse? You had no way of getting out of it without making yourself look even more pathetic.
For the next week, you racked your brain for solutions. You considered telling them you broke up with this mystery boyfriend before they could meet him, but you knew that’d just open the door for more insults, more mockery. You thought about faking a long-distance relationship, but that seemed way too complicated.
Meanwhile, Satoru Gojo was everywhere.
You didn’t know why you kept seeing him—maybe the universe was punishing you—but he popped up in the library, at the campus café, even outside one of your lectures. And every single time, he made sure to annoy you.
“You always look so serious,” he teased one day, leaning against the table you were studying at. “Are you plotting world domination or just thinking about me?”
“Neither,” you muttered, turning the page in your book.
“Sounds fake, but okay.”
He was relentless.
And today, after another long, exhausting day, you just wanted to be alone.
Your safe place was a hidden bench near the lake, tucked away behind the trees where no one ever bothered you. It was quiet, peaceful—exactly what you needed.
But as you sat there, staring at the water, a loud rustling noise came from the bushes.
You tensed.
Then, Satoru Gojo stumbled out.
“Are you serious?” you groaned.
“Oh, hey,” he grinned, “didn’t know you’d be here.”
“This is my spot.”
“I don’t see your name on it.”
You shot him a glare. He sat down anyway.
You considered getting up and leaving, but you were too tired to fight.
For a while, neither of you spoke. The only sounds were the rustling leaves and the soft ripples of the lake.
Then, Gojo broke the silence.
“Alright, spill. What’s wrong?”
You scoffed. “None of your business.”
“Oh, so it’s extra bad.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “C’mon, you’ll feel better if you talk about it.”
You tried to ignore him. But he kept poking, prodding, teasing until finally, you snapped, “Fine! I lied to my family about having a boyfriend, okay?”
He blinked. Then, a slow, mischievous grin spread across his face.
“Oh, this is fantastic.”
“What?”
“I’ll be your boyfriend.”
You stared at him like he’d grown a second head. “Are you insane?”
“Probably,” he admitted cheerfully. “But listen—this works out perfectly. You need a fake boyfriend, and I need a serious girlfriend for my family thing. Boom. Problem solved.”
You gaped at him. “You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious.” He placed his hands on your shoulders, grinning like a lunatic.
Your brain struggled to keep up. Gojo? Pretending to be your boyfriend? This had to be a joke.
“This is ridiculous,” you muttered.
“Ridiculously genius,” he corrected.
He must have seen the doubt on your face because his expression softened slightly. “Hey. It’s just a deal. No strings attached, no weird expectations. Just two people faking a relationship to make their lives easier.”
You hesitated.
You wanted to say no. But… he wasn’t wrong.
“Fine,” you muttered. “But if you make this weird, I swear—”
“No promises,” he sang.
With an annoyed sigh, you pulled out your phone. “We need proof.”
The first selfie was awkward. You sat stiffly on the bench, trying to keep as much space between you and Satoru as possible. He, of course, leaned in way too close, grinning like an idiot as he snapped the first photo.
Click.
You glanced at it. It was bad. You looked uncomfortable, your lips pressed into a tight line, while Satoru, on the other hand, looked effortlessly photogenic—like he wasn’t taking a fake couple’s picture but rather doing a promotional shoot for some high-end brand.
“This is terrible,” you muttered.
Satoru let out a dramatic sigh. “That’s because you look like I’m holding you hostage.”
“You are holding me hostage.”
“Emotionally,” he agreed, scrolling through the photos. “Alright, let’s try again. This time, look at me like you actually like me. Pretend I just said something funny.”
“You’re not funny.”
“Blatant lies.” He placed a hand over his chest, feigning offense. “I’m hilarious. Try to keep up.”
Click.
The second was worse. You tried forcing a small smile, but it came out looking like you were in pain.
Satoru examined it and snorted. “You look like you just swallowed a lemon.”
“I hate this.”
“No, you just suck at it,” he corrected. “Here, let’s make it natural.”
Before you could react, he suddenly threw an arm around your shoulder and pulled you in.
“Hey—!”
Click.
“Much better,” he said, showing you the photo.
It was… convincing. His arm around you, the effortless smirk, the way your faces were close enough to suggest something more. You still looked hesitant, but at least you weren’t grimacing anymore.
“This could work,” he said, sounding pleased.
You shifted uncomfortably. “You’re way too comfortable with this.”
He wiggled his eyebrows. “Natural talent.”
You rolled your eyes. “Whatever. We got the pictures. We’re done here.”
“Not quite,” he corrected. “We need a convincing story. How long have we been dating? How did we meet? What’s your favorite thing about me?”
“Nothing,” you deadpanned.
“Ouch. Okay, my favorite thing about you is—” he tapped his chin thoughtfully before grinning— “how easy you are to mess with.”
You groaned. “This was a mistake.”
“Too late now, babe,” he teased, stretching out the last word obnoxiously. “We’re in this together.”
You sighed, rubbing your temple. “Fine. How did we meet?”
“Obviously, you fell madly in love with me the first time you saw me.”
“Try again.”
“We met in class,” he said, thinking. “I was struggling with my engineering assignments, and you offered to help. We bonded over late-night study sessions, and boom, love blossomed.”
You squinted. “You don’t struggle with engineering.”
“They don’t know that,” he pointed out. “Besides, it makes me sound relatable.”
You sighed. “Whatever. And how long have we been together?”
He grinned. “Long enough to make it believable, short enough that you don’t have to explain why I wasn’t around before. Let’s say… a month?”
You shrugged. “Fine.”
“And my favorite thing about you?” he pressed.
“That you shut up when I tell you to.”
He laughed. “We both know that’s not true.”
You shook your head, stuffing your phone into your pocket. “I’m leaving.”
“Not before you post those pictures,” he reminded you.
You hesitated.
Posting them meant committing to this ridiculous lie. It meant opening yourself up to questions, speculation, and attention—all things you had avoided for so long.
Satoru watched you, head tilted. “Cold feet?”
You exhaled slowly. “No.”
With one last look at the photos, you posted them to your Instagram. Satoru did the same, tagging you with a caption that read:
“Finally got her to admit she’s obsessed with me. Took long enough. ❤️”
Your phone immediately started vibrating.
By the time you got home, the notifications were nonstop.
Messages. Comments. Likes.
And by morning, one thing was clear:
You and Satoru Gojo were now the hottest gossip on campus.
Summary: The campus buzzes with life, but you feel like a shadow slipping through the cracks—unnoticed, unimportant. At home, it’s no better. Your parents dote on your step-sister, the star tennis player, while you’re the afterthought they barely acknowledge. She’s here too, her perfect reputation casting an even bigger shadow over your existence. College was supposed to be your escape, but living at home and walking the same halls as her makes it impossible. Then he shows up—Satoru Gojo, the rich, arrogant engineering major everyone seems to worship. His smug grin and effortless charm are the kind of things you can’t stand, but when a ridiculous twist of fate forces your lives together, you find yourself fake dating the most insufferable man you’ve ever met. It’s just a deal, temporary and harmless—or so you try to convince yourself.
Taglist OPEN!
taglist: @hanakotateyama @sleepykittyenergy @inthedarkshadows000 @codeseven @byakuya61085 @minzxec @ivydoesit23 @naughteehee @not-aya @bochichi @emlient @gojoprincesss @havingnonamesucks @n1vi @linny-bloggs
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Invisible in the Spotlight
Chapter 2 - The Art of Taking an L
Chapter 3 - Fake It Till You Make It
Chapter 4 - False Advertising
Chapter 5 - Tricks, Treats and Terrible Ideas
Chapter 6 - Terms and Conditons (Mostly Ignored)
Chapter 7 - The Art of Faking it Too Well
Chapter 1 - Invisible in the Spotlight
Summary: The campus buzzes with life, but you feel like a shadow slipping through the cracks—unnoticed, unimportant. At home, it’s no better. Your parents dote on your step-sister, the star tennis player, while you’re the afterthought they barely acknowledge. She’s here too, her perfect reputation casting an even bigger shadow over your existence. College was supposed to be your escape, but living at home and walking the same halls as her makes it impossible. Then he shows up—Satoru Gojo, the rich, arrogant engineering major everyone seems to worship. His smug grin and effortless charm are the kind of things you can’t stand, but when a ridiculous twist of fate forces your lives together, you find yourself fake dating the most insufferable man you’ve ever met. It’s just a deal, temporary and harmless—or so you try to convince yourself.
an: Welcome to chapter one guys! Feedback is appreciated as always hehe. Also, the taglists for all of my stories are still OPEN, so make sure to get tagged so you don’t miss out on any new chapters! SMOOCHES 💋💋💋
{introduction} ; {next}
taglist: @hanakotateyama @sleepykittyenergy
࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚 𝜗𝜚 ࣪˖ ִ𐙚
Campus is chaos, as always. The sidewalks are packed with students rushing to their next class or chatting in tight little groups like they’ve known each other forever. It’s the first month of the semester, but it feels like everyone’s already found their place—everyone but you. You walk with your head down, weaving through the crowd as quietly and invisibly as possible. That’s been your strategy for years now. It works. Mostly.
You didn’t think living at home while attending college would feel so… stifling. At first, it seemed like the logical choice: save money, stay close to the familiar, and avoid the pressure of navigating both a new school and a new city. But now you’re not so sure. Sharing a roof with your parents and your step-sister, Mia, is starting to feel like you’re suffocating.
The comparisons never stop. Mia, the perfect daughter with her flawless tennis career and her endless achievements. She’s a campus celebrity in her own right—everyone knows her name, her face, her victories. And then there’s you. The one people glance at for a second before looking past you. The one who never quite measures up.
You pull your hoodie tighter around you as you pass a group of students standing by the fountain. One of them mentions Mia’s name, and you feel your stomach twist. Something about her latest tournament win, how she’s heading to the finals soon. It’s not surprising, but it still stings. She’s everywhere. Even here.
You shake the thoughts away and head toward the coffee shop near the engineering building. It’s your usual escape—a place to grab a moment of quiet before your next class. The line is long when you step in, but the familiar smell of coffee and the soft hum of indie music make it worth the wait. You tug your phone out of your pocket, scrolling mindlessly through messages you’re too tired to respond to.
That’s when it happens.
The force of someone slamming into you from behind nearly sends you tumbling forward. Your bag slips off your shoulder, and your coffee almost flies out of your hands.
“Whoa, careful there,” a smooth voice says, almost lazily, as though you were the one at fault.
You turn around, already annoyed, and find yourself face-to-face with him.
Satoru Gojo.
Of course, it’s him. Because who else would nearly knock you over and then smile at you like you owe him an apology? His snowy white hair practically glows under the fluorescent lights, and his blue eyes—hidden behind those ridiculous round sunglasses—glint with amusement. He’s tall, too tall, and he carries himself with the kind of confidence that only someone who’s never been told “no” can manage.
You’ve seen him around. Everyone has. Satoru Gojo is one of those people you can’t ignore even if you try. He’s an engineering major with top grades, an influential family name, and a reputation that precedes him. Girls throw themselves at him. Guys want to be him. He’s the king of campus—loud, obnoxious, and completely full of himself.
And now, unfortunately, he’s staring right at you.
“I think you dropped something,” he says, gesturing to your bag on the floor.
“No, really? Thanks for pointing that out,” you deadpan, bending down to pick it up.
When you straighten, his grin is still plastered on his face. It’s infuriatingly smug, like he’s thoroughly enjoying this interaction.
“You’re new,” he states, as if it’s a fact.
You glance around the room, hoping the line will move faster. “Why does it matter?”
“Because I know everyone here, and I definitely don’t know you,” he says, leaning casually against the counter like this is the most fascinating conversation he’s had all day.
“Congratulations. You’ve solved the mystery. I’m new.”
There’s a pause, and you can feel his eyes studying you, probably trying to figure out why you’re not falling all over yourself like the others do. “You don’t seem very impressed by me,” he finally says, and there’s a mock pout in his tone.
You can’t help but snort. “Why would I be?”
His grin widens, and for a split second, you see something flash in his eyes. Amusement? Curiosity? You don’t care enough to figure it out.
You step forward as the line moves, eager to order and leave before he decides to keep talking. But, of course, he follows.
“New girl, huh? So, what’s your name?”
“None of your business,” you reply, still not looking at him.
“Ouch,” he says, clutching his chest dramatically. “Cold and mysterious. I like it.”
You roll your eyes and finally make it to the counter, ordering the cheapest coffee on the menu. As you fumble with your wallet, you hear him behind you, ordering something unnecessarily complicated and way too expensive.
When you turn to leave, you catch his gaze one last time. His grin hasn’t wavered. “See you around, mystery girl,” he calls after you.
You don’t bother responding, walking out the door as quickly as you can.
But as you step back into the crowd, you can’t shake the feeling that he’s right.
Because as much as you want to stay invisible, something tells you Satoru Gojo isn’t about to let that happen.
study sheet. nerd bf! gojo satoru x fem! reader
You stand at your desk, staring at the study sheets Gojo just placed in front of you. Each sheet is colorful, neatly organized, and decorated with little hand-drawn hearts in the corner. Gojo smiles at you, his glasses falling down his nose.
“Here, you’ll really need these for your exam this week,” he says lightly.
You take the sheets, a little surprised. “Gojo, you didn’t need to do that… It’s so cute, but I’ll manage, don’t worry.”
He stares at you for a moment, his smile widening. “Are you kidding? I did this for you, not to make you think you could manage without me. We both know you need these sheets… and me.” He let out a small laugh, as if stating the obvious, and winked at you. Is he still the same shy nerd you fell in love with?
You looked at him, pleased but also embarrassed by all the attention. He had put so much care into those cards. It was so simple, and yet so... Gojo. You felt both touched and a little guilty for not helping him even though you didn't know he had done it for you.
"Thanks, nerd. But at this rate, I'm going to send you to the exam instead of me, you're a genius." You laughed lightly, appreciating his gesture.
He shrugged, a casual look on his face. "I don't think I'll pass. You're prettier than me for anyone to think it was you."
You smiled, then without thinking too much, leaned towards him. The kiss you give him is sweet, a little shy, but full of sincerity. Gojo seems surprised for a moment, but he returns the kiss with a tenderness he doesn't usually show.
"You're an idiot," you murmur, pulling back slightly, a tender twinkle in your eyes. "But you're also incredibly cute."
He bursts out laughing, a flash of pride in his eyes. "I know."
He knows everything anyway.
nerd gojo series - masterlist
in class. nerd bf! gojo satoru x fem! reader
The sun shines through the windows of the physics lab, casting beams of light onto the wooden tables. The atmosphere is studious, but a lingering distraction sits right in front of you.
Gojo, still a little too relaxed for a physics class, seems completely absorbed in something other than the equations covering his textbook.
His glasses are a little too low on his nose, a position he clearly doesn't mind. He watches you out of the corner of his eye; you can almost feel his lingering gaze. Every time you look up from your notes to look at him, you catch sight of him, his lips slightly curved in an amused smile.
"Seriously, Gojo, you're not really planning on studying, are you?" you ask, trying to mask the curiosity in your voice.
He straightens slightly and looks at you. His fingers make slow circles on the edge of his textbook, his smile widening. "Oh, I'm studying." "And you're going to explain how?" You raise an eyebrow, amused by his insolence.
He pauses dramatically, as if weighing his words before replying, "Because the only thing I need to understand is why you're so irresistible."
A nervous laugh escapes your lips despite yourself. You shake your head, not wanting to be swept away by his attempts at flirting. "This isn't a time to be romantic, Gojo. You need to be focused, and this is physics we're talking about. You know the complicated stuff we're learning today."
Gojo tilts his head, an exaggeratedly serious expression on his face. "Physics, you say?" He picks up his textbook and turns it over, placing it on the table in front of you, showing a page full of equations and diagrams. "I'm an expert on this subject, baby."
"Of course."
Gojo leans forward, his face almost against yours. "Of course. But my real question is: How do you expect a guy as brilliant as me to focus on that when his girlfriend's beauty shines brighter than any constant?"
Your heart skips a beat, even though you try to remain impassive. He has a way of melting you with his mathematical words. You sigh, trying to stay focused, but he doesn't seem to be letting you.
Suddenly, a commanding voice cuts through the atmosphere. "Gojo, Y/N, please come back down to Earth and focus."
The professor stands in front of you, a piercing gaze directed at Gojo, who seems surprised. "I see your study of the theorem of relativity is taking a rather... personal direction." He raises an eyebrow, a small, wry smile playing on his lips.
Gojo immediately straightens up, brightening up. "Oh, professor, I assure you, we're working. Personally, I'm trying to understand the laws of the universe, and now the universe is telling me that my girlfriend is a fascinating phenomenon."
You blush and cover your face with your hand, but the Professor doesn't seem at all impressed by Gojo's attempt. "You have a test coming up, Gojo. And your constant right now should be studying, not flirting."
Gojo gives him a wide smile. "Of course, of course! You're right, Professor. Don't worry." He then turns his gaze to you, his expression innocent. "But I have priorities, and you, Y/N, are at the top of my list."
The Professor sighs before continuing on his way, his gaze fixed on the rest of the class. "You're incorrigible, Gojo. But I'm sure you'll pass this test without a problem, even if I'm not convinced by your study method."
Gojo waits for the teacher to disappear to the back of the room before turning back to you, a mischievous smile on his face. "See, Y/N? Even the teacher admits I'm a genius."
You shake your head, trying to regain control of the situation. "You're not a genius, Gojo. You're just a nerd who can't concentrate."
He smiles wider, a little softer this time. "A nerd in love with you, and that's an equation I have no intention of solving."
He takes your hand and places a light kiss on your palm, whispering. "And I plan to keep you forever."
"Idiot."
nerd gojo series - masterlist
it’s you? nerd! gojo satoru x fem! reader
The party is buzzing around you, the music crackling in the air and the laughter of students blending with the warmth of the room. You’re making your way through the crowd when your eyes land on him. Gojo.
But this isn’t the Gojo you know, the one who spends his days buried in books with his head deep in impossible equations.
No, tonight, he’s totally different.
His hair is more styled than usual, his glasses almost forgotten at the tip of his nose, and he’s wearing a slightly unbuttoned black shirt, revealing muscles you’ve never noticed before.
He’s no longer the nerd from your quantum physics class, he’s become someone else. He stands by the bar, a drink in hand, observing the room, and when he spots you, a smile curls on his lips.
“So, are you here to enjoy the night or just watch?” he says in a low voice, a glint of mischief in his eyes.
“Gojo? Is that really you?” You raise an eyebrow, a playful smile appearing on your lips.
He bursts out laughing, a deep sound that makes you shiver. “Yeah, it’s me. The nerd you see in class is just a variable. Tonight, I’m a constant… and you know constants are the most important, right?”
You laugh, the mathematical comparison taking you by surprise. “A constant?” you smile. “You talk math even outside of class…”
He laughs and hands you a drink. “Sorry, it’s the nerd Gojo taking over.”
He looks you straight in the eyes, his smile widening. “I’ve calculated everything, by the way. And this evening? It’s going to be… irreducible.”
“So, does that mean tonight, you’re not just a nerd with complicated theories?” You can’t hide the shiver in your voice.
“No,” he says, “Tonight, I’m no longer just a nerd. I’m ready to prove to you there’s more to my life than theorems and equations.” His eyes sparkle with challenge. “And you’ll be the proof that even a simple night can turn into the perfect formula.”
A small laugh escapes your lips. You’ve never seen Gojo like this before. “Alright, I’ll follow you in this equation then. Let’s see if your result is as perfect as you claim.”
Gojo smiles widely, his eyes sparkling. “You’ll see, Y/N.”
nerd gojo series - masterlist
nerd in love. nerd bf! gojo satoru x fem! reader
The library was almost empty at this hour, bathed in dim lighting. Only a few dedicated students remained at the tables, absorbed in their studies. Gojo, however, was absorbed in everything except his coursework.
Sitting across from you, he was staring at you instead of reading his quantum physics textbook. His glasses had slipped slightly down his nose, but he made no effort to push them back up. His chin rested on his palm, and his other hand absentmindedly played with the corner of a page.
“You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?”
You barely looked up from your notes.
“Doing what?”
Gojo let out a long, dramatic sigh and slumped against the table.
“Being this beautiful. How am I supposed to concentrate when my handsome girlfriend is sitting right in front of me?”
A small, amused smile tugged at your lips, but you didn’t respond immediately. You scribbled one last note before setting your pen down and crossing your arms.
“You do realize this is a study session, not a date, right?”
Gojo pouted.
“Why can’t it be both?”
“Because you have an exam tomorrow, and you don’t want to end up crying over your test paper.”
He shook his head, looking mock-serious.
“Wrong. I can ace my exam and flirt with my girlfriend at the same time.”
To prove his point, he adjusted his glasses and proceeded to recite a complicated theorem while maintaining unwavering eye contact with you. When he finished, a triumphant smirk stretched across his lips.
“Impressed?”
You raised an eyebrow, a small smile still playing on your lips.
“A little, I admit. But you do know that doesn’t mean you can stop studying, right?”
Gojo pretended to think for a moment before nodding.
“Yeah, yeah, I know. But I’d rather focus on you. You’re more than just some variable, Y/N. You’re a constant in my heart. That’s way more complex than any mathematical equation. My heart beats irregularly just like a complex curve.”
You sighed, but his nerdy analogies made it impossible to hide your smile.
“You’re such a nerd, Gojo.”
“Correction. A nerd in love with you.”
His smirk softened as he took your hand and pressed a kiss to your knuckles.
“And a nerd who plans to keep you forever.”
Shaking your head, you let out a laugh, knowing there was no escaping Gojo’s antics. He was insufferable, dramatic, and a certified genius. But at the end of the day, he was your nerd. And that was an equation you had no intention of solving.
a/n: I decided to do a series of drabbles on nerd gojo🤓 soo if you want me to tag you let me know.
nerd gojo series - masterlist
This is 💞beautiful💞
MY LIFE BEFORE YOU [ ♡ ]
summary. how jjk men fall in love with single-mom reader.
cw/ tw. fem!reader, fluff, domesticity, brief mentions of pregnancy, mild hurt/ comfort, pining, original child characters, aged-up characters, boss/ employee relationship, mildly suggestive toward the end
featuring. gojo, yuuji, sukuna, megumi, nanami
an. hello, this is an updated repost from my @/satorini blog:3 enjoy! reblogs are appreciated!
✢ GOJO
Being a single mom has its ups and downs, especially when it comes to dating. You can easily recount the times you sat across from a date who looked like they ate something sour after the mention of your daughter, how they paused, spine going stiff—never keen on the type of baggage that comes in small packages.
So it’s only natural to expect the same with Gojo when you tell him on the first date in the back of a coffee shop, wincing internally with a tight grip around your cup. You wait for the awkward laugh, the promise to call you later, even though they never do.
But then he surprises you.
He smiles—that same one that filled your belly with butterflies the first time you ran into him in the elevator at work—his gaze unexpectedly soft, and he asks, “What’s her name?”
You sip your coffee to distract yourself from that fluttery feeling in your chest. “Ma—um, her name’s Mai.”
Your heartbeat doesn’t slow for hours after that date; you admit you hadn’t expected him to take it in full stride.
Almost two years later, sometimes you still can’t believe it—how he fits so effortlessly in your life, that he’s shown you time and time again that he has no problem treating your daughter like his own.
He calls her princess and treats her like one, too. One day, you walk into the living room to find Mai putting clips in Satoru's hair and unicorn stickers on his face, letting her ramble about her day at daycare (because the afternoon reading circle is apparently very eventful for a bunch of four-year-olds).
On the days he’s off work, you have to keep the fridge stocked with food, or else they’ll eat nothing but sweets all day. And when he does cook, he'll have a chair pushed up to the counter for Mai to see and help—though your kitchen is often left a total mess afterward.
It’s after dinner, Mai tucked into bed, his arms curled around your waist while you scrub a pot, a thumb tracing your abdomen—sweetheart, what if we had another?—and you let yourself think about it. Can’t help it.
This time, you won’t be alone in a delivery room, Satoru’s large hands comfortingly wrapped around yours before holding his newborn for the first time, one with Satoru’s smile and maybe your eyes. Another set of small feet running down the hall for cuddles in the morning…
You reach down and cup his hand, despite it being covered in sudsy dishwater, though he doesn’t seem to care.
“I think…I think I’d like that.”
✢ YUUJI
He’s always been your best friend; since that time you fell off the swingset when you were six and after you found out you were pregnant and never heard anything back from the father.
It's possibly the best and worst thing that could have happened to you.
The best because he’s there for you until the twins come screaming into the world; it’s no surprise they’re just as drawn to his sunny personality as everyone else. Yuuji becomes a shadow at your side in the weeks after, becoming somewhat of a quasi-parent even though you never asked him to, which is why it’s the worst.
Those easy smiles are slowly replaced by the feeling of your heart trembling in your chest whenever you catch him hastily tripping up the stairs to the nursery to wake the twins from their nap. Or when he takes the three of you to the park for a picnic and spends the entire time staring at one of the sleeping little boys on your chest as if they’re doing cartwheels.
You try not to think about it too much unless you want to risk losing Yuuji, to crumble whatever solid foundation your friendship sits on. Plus, why would he want to settle with a single mom anyway?
You’ve seen the girls he’s dated, and none of them walk out of the house wearing a sweater covered in baby food stains, pretty, willowy girls who put a little more effort into their appearance than you have in months.
And the sadder, more obvious answer is that there’s no way he feels the same about you—sweet, whole-hearted Yuuji who’s friendly to strangers and always willing to help wherever he’s needed.
You’re no different.
There’s some truth to that, which rapidly disintegrates as the months go on. You can no longer ignore how Yuuji lights up whenever someone accidentally mistakes him for the twin’s father or mentions how cute your family is.
It’s easy to imagine until you’re so wrapped up in thoughts that make you bite back a smile—of coming home to Yuuji napping with the twins on the couch, quiet evenings snuggled up under soft blankets on the couch, kissing him when he leaves for work in the morning—that you nearly miss what he says to the sweet old man who’s been giving Yuuji unsolicited parenting advice, “Maybe she’ll actually say yes when I ask her to marry me someday.”
He’s not looking at you when he says it, but you see how his smile reaches his eyes (soft as if he’s inserted himself into the same future you thought of), and for a moment, you allow yourself to hope.
✢ SUKUNA
He’s never been the type to want kids of his own, and yet he couldn’t turn a blind eye when you call him nearly two months since that night at his brother’s birthday party—hazily remembering you telling him you’re one of Yuuj’s friends before he took you back to his place—to tell him you’re pregnant.
“You don’t have to be there. I just thought you should know,” you say wetly.
“Jesus—” he sighs, scrubbing a hand down his face. He doesn’t think the employee breakroom at the gym is the right place to have this conversation. “Listen, don’t cry. I’ll be there, alright? Whatever you need.”
Sukuna at least thought he’d actually be with the person he has a kid with. Over the next four years, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
There’s a lot that’s undesirable about the situation, like the fact that every time he walks out of his room, he always ends up stepping on Legos because you insist on buying Hana more and leave them at his place, or that he can't eat anything these days without a small hand reaching out for his food.
But the one thing that really makes his blood curdle is whenever he has Hana for the weekend, and she rambles through a mouthful of mac n’ cheese about how you and Yuuji took her to the park, with more stories about Yuuji this and Yuuji that.
He should be grateful his brother is such a doting uncle, yet he grinds his teeth the longer his daughter prattles on.
Out of everything, this is the one thing he chooses to find an issue with: high-school sweetheart Yuuji, pictures of him found in frames all over your house; helpful and supportive, perfectly polite, always-nice-to-be-around-Yuuji who everyone gravitated towards, even you, it seems.
He tells himself it’ll go away eventually, that strange pit of jealousy festering in his chest like an open wound. It doesn’t.
Sukuna spends so much time thinking about it that he’s thoroughly annoyed by the time you stop by to pick up Hana for the week.
“Did you guys have a nice weekend? You seem…” Of course, you’d pick up on his shitty mood. “Upset.”
“I’m fine,” he grumbles, hoping you’ll leave it alone.
You don’t.
“Listen, if this is about Friday, I told you Yuuji’s okay dropping her off.”
“I bet he is,” Sukuna sneers, shoving the last of Hana’s Legos into her bag.
You huff. “What is your problem?”
“Nothing, but I have a feeling you’ll run back to Yuuji and tell him about it anyway.”
“Are you seriously jealous of your brother?”
He scoffs but doesn’t answer.
“If you want to be with me so badly, just say it.” You put your hands on your hips. “Go on, say it.”
Obviously, you’re joking (at least, maybe a little, the unsure smile on your face wavering), but he’s not.
In the end, he breaks first. Wrapping his hand around the back of your neck, he presses his mouth to yours, fingers flexing at your little gasp. When he breaks the kiss, panting a little, he says, “I want to be with you, and I want to raise my fucking kid with you. Happy?”
There’s a scandalized gasp, and he looks down to find Hana standing there with her sandals on the wrong feet, blinking up at him with round eyes.
“Daddy, that’s a bad word.”
“Listen here, brat—” you pinch his side. “Ow.”
✢ MEGUMI
He admits he doesn’t know what he’s doing, not when it comes to being a parent. The best-dad-of-the-year didn’t exactly exist in his household growing up, considering his dad was never really around.
There’s a learning curve when it comes to four-year-olds and what they’re interested in; he discovers this the hard way when he bores your son to sleep by talking about mundane adult topics. He thinks you’re only trying to make him feel better by saying Rin never takes naps for anyone.
It festers, that feeling of inadequacy, between daycare pick-ups and co-parenting with Rin’s father—who happens to be a pediatrician, no less, while Megumi’s been working the same dead-end desk job for almost a decade—until he has his first win on a trip to the beach.
He teaches Rin how to make sand castles the way he and Tsumiki used to when they were kids. That’s apparently enough to win your son over, and he doesn’t know how to react the first time Rin calls him dad—second dad, he tells his teacher at school, but still dad. He thinks he might’ve looked at you in shock while soft giggles escaped your lips.
There’s still that underlying need to prove himself: to you, to Rin. That he can get along with your ex-husband and figure out the ins and outs of being a parent now that another set of feet will be waking him up in the middle of the night.
He would never admit it out loud, but Megumi can’t help the way his heart beats a tattoo into his ribcage at the glimpse of the engagement ring adorning your left hand as you drink your coffee—proof that you are willing to be his for as long as you’ll have him, and that…does something to him. It has him thinking about you holding a bouquet, of you smoothing that same hand over a steadily growing belly.
Every day, it amazes him how something so small—something that used to have no real purpose at the back of his sock drawer until you let him slip it onto your finger—can hold his whole future in its shining stones and delicate silver band.
Sometimes, Megumi can’t wrap his head around the fact that you still want him even though he’s still figuring things out, and his words don’t come out sappy like in those romance novels you enjoy so much—that he isn’t the best with feelings, yet he tries so hard to be a little more vulnerable for you.
It took him so many years to realize that this is what being in love feels like, and he’d be an idiot if he ever let you go.
“Megumi,” you say softly, noticing that he’d stopped making breakfast. “Are you okay?”
He brings his gaze up from your hand to meet your wide doe eyes. So pretty, he thinks, and all his. His mouth quirks into a not-quite smile, helping Rin pour more batter onto the skillet. “Yeah. Better than okay.”
✢ NANAMI
The first time he meets you, one of the associates for his company introduces you as his wife—a fresh-eyed college student who’s more concerned about staring at other women at the business function than the beautiful one on his arm—and he kindly shakes your hand, watching you give such devoted attention to a man undeserving of it.
What would it be like to be loved like that?
A few years trickle by before he sees you again, except this time, there’s no ring on your finger, and you’re in the middle of walking into his office for an interview with a little boy balanced on your hip.
“Sorry, my babysitter called in sick, and I couldn’t find a replacement in time—Oh.” It’s in that small moment between closing the door and hauling a diaper bag up your shoulder that you recognize him, too. “I didn’t realize you were the one doing the interview.”
He arches a brow. “No?”
“Sorry…again. I didn’t mean it like that, and I’m usually not this unprepared.” You set the toddler down on the floor and straighten out your skirt, giving him a shy, pretty smile.
Nanami swallows and gestures to the seat in front of his desk. “He can stay.”
While he asks you questions, your son—Haru, he learns—keeps busy with a coloring book you give him, and before you leave after the interview, he silently proffers Nanami a sheet of paper filled with yellow and green crayon squiggles.
He tacks it to the corkboard wall next to his desk.
When you start working as his office assistant, he never brings up the topic of your ex-husband. It’s obvious the man doesn’t care about his family, anyway—not when you show up most days looking worn out.
It starts to burn in his chest, the way your eyes drop sometimes, the little reassuring nod he’ll catch you giving yourself after what must’ve been a rough morning.
Nanami knows he’s in way over his head when he asks you out for coffee; how surprised he is you say yes, which leads to more dates until he slowly finds that smile of warm devotion aimed in his direction.
Eventually, your things fill the empty spaces in his home, and the spare room in his house becomes a nursery. His once quiet mornings of reading the paper are now pleasantly disrupted by the smell of pancakes and Haru trying to climb into his lap to read with him.
The first time Haru asks for Nanami after a nightmare—rubbing his wet eyes while standing near Nanami's side of the bed in his shark pajamas, sans one sock, until Nanami scoops him up and deposits him between you—he winces (because he doesn’t want it to seem like he’s taking something away from you) before he notices the soft smile curling your mouth.
He can’t pretend to fully understand why you ever agreed to that first date when the odds weren’t terribly in his favor, but he has a long time to learn, and right now, he’s focused on other things.
"Quiet, dove,” he murmurs, kissing your temple. “You're going to wake the baby..."
i was informed it didn't appear in the ff hashtags saur let me try again😓!!
synopsis: in the ethereal world of dance, the white swan glides with grace, her every movement a poem of longing. the human prince, a star on the court, finds solace in her delicate steps, a symphony amidst the chaos of his world. their love blossoms, a forbidden dance between two realms, but as the final act approaches, will their love defy the constraints of their reality, or will they be forever trapped in the melancholy of what could have been?
╰┈➤ pairing: basketball player gojo satoru x fem!ballerina reader
⋆·˚*genre: strangers to friends to more, college au, complicated situationship
˚ ༘⋆warnings: nsfw, suggestive, smoking, self-destructive, mentions of bleeding, fluff, angst, mentions of drowning
⋆.ೃ࿔*:・updates: every other day
word count: 8,958
chapter - iii.
↺go back ⊜ playlist next ≫
🎼chapter: iii. ↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
each inhale pulls the air like tides, drowning in the depths of existence, struggling to resurface with each exhale
that's what you're currently feeling right now, currently in your tights and leotards you felt cold, freezing even
as the sun dipped down below the horizon it casted a warm, golden glow in the school’s studio windows - it was a complete opposite contrast to how you were currently feeling
your lungs felt like they were being filled with deep ocean water, tormenting you against the warm and soft glow of the sun’s fading light
you kept stretching your body’s limits, feeling as if you weren't precise enough, you weren't elegant enough, you weren't doing it right - your body screamed as the aches started to kick in and you couldn't help but relieve in it
the aches served you the reaction you needed out of your body that you're doing just right, that you're already passed your limits
but no matter how much the aches in your body scream and protest you felt as if it was just never enough, you felt yourself drowning in the ocean of perfection you made yourself - with tears, blood, and sweat you spent so much time to make a single tide of your waves
then it happened, your moves were frantic you could feel your body reaching the climax it restricted you to - and you stopped
you could feel it, you could feel your entire body shaking and giving up on the goals and desires you so badly want to accomplish - it didn't help that you stayed later than everyone and it certainly didn't help how you feel like that extra time in was completely useless
you didn't know how you gotten this obsession of trying to perfect every move of your body, or the obsession of trying to be the best in the room when clearly you weren't
sighing at this, you started walking towards your bag before sitting down right beside it and untying your shoes off - you stared at your feet a couple of seconds before the feeling of pity started to kick in
you had a few bandaids attached to your feet because of accidentally falling or scraping them during practice, even though they can't be helped - you started to pack your things up before walking out of the campus
as you started to walk towards your dorm, you pulled out a cigarette out of your bag before frantically looking for your lighter which you clearly didn't have right now
you sighed the need to stabilize your breathing was making you shake, disappointment filling up your bones you continued to hold onto your cigarette before getting cut off by a voice
“need a light?” you turned around and saw Suguru not in his uniforms anymore, you faced your body towards him before gesturing a smile
“yea actually, got one?” you asked in which Suguru took out his lighter out of his bag before handing it to you, thanking him and covering your cigarette - you lit it up before giving it back
“i didn't know you smoked y/n, is it ‘cause of Shoko?” Suguru said as you took a long inhale, before puffing out the smoke away from him
“not exactly right, she did introduce smoking to me but it was ‘cause i asked her about it in the first place” you said smiling, before taking another inhale again finally feeling grounded after that incident earlier
“you should quit you know, they're bad for you and they might mess up your ballet stuff”
“you'd be surprised how many in our studio smoke, i could probably name the last few who doesn't” you said waving away the smoke, Suguru chuckled at this before gesturing towards a car behind him
“i’m actually heading towards our dorm, want a ride?” he asked, you shook your head no before replying
“thanks but my dorm’s quite near here, you be safe though” you said as you waved him bye and started walking towards your dorm
“you know, I overheard our teacher earlier mentioning a solo piece that would be performed in 3 months - maybe they'll set up audition posters today!” you were currently with shoko in your campus’ studio, you both were resting up for the next set of dance pieces you guys have to practice for
you turned to look at her intrigued in what she was gossiping with you about, before replying “wait really? maybe when we're done they'll tell us”
“exactly, the new piece will probably give you a lot of exposure since it'll be a solo” Shoko exclaimed, clearly showing you optimism that you should definitely audition for that role, you widen your eyes before gesturing a smiling towards her
“I don't know if I'll be able to actually get it though, but I will definitely try!” Shoko beamed at this before nodding at you - you were excited, even ecstatic, but then a dark cloud began to overshadow your thoughts
if i fail to grasp this, can i still recover from this disappointment? how will i be able to regain my composure and move on?
tides and waves, powerful and relentless, began to pull you under, threatening to drown you - you were struggling to breath, your body trembled, consumed by one singular thought
‘i need a smoke’
standing outside the campus building, leaning against a wall amidst turmoil and thoughts, you feel calm and peace
the feeling of drowning is long gone once you fill your lungs with another type of waves and air, your mind and body finally one again
you don't see a single dark tide clouding your eyes, no aches haunting you from the aftermath of your doings, no feet hurting from constantly being on your tippy toes
you take one long inhale before exhaling a shaky breath of smoke, feeling your eyes start to see the world a lot more clearly
in the simple act of smoking, you find a brief escape from the chaos around you. The inhale, the exhale—the smoke's rhythm mirrors your own emotions, offering a short break from the turmoil within
amidst the quiet interlude, you allow yourself to simply exist, to be present in your body and in the moment.
it happened again, the wooden boards under your feet felt unfamiliar - your body felt stiff as a board and the aches in your body worsen overtime
you had bad days of course, everyone has, but why was this day so different from the rest? why were you currently looking at your bleeding feet and broken nails? the sight gave you a bitter taste every time you swallow, it felt like your own body was punishing you for all of these
for suddenly tripping over your spin, suddenly slipping during your leap, and not stretching or bending your body enough - it was just not your day at all
you sighed for the nth time this day, you were currently outside the campus building - sitting in a picnic table behind a big oak tree, smoke littered around the air and you felt your shoulder tenser than usual
you wanted to take another smoke break after a painful practice, but you suddenly felt all too aware of the pain in your feet and was shocked to see your feet bleeding
quickly disposing the cigarette, you started to rummage your bag looking for your bandage you always held onto - you've never had a serious injury before hence why the bandage was never opened until now
you didn't have any first aid kit equipment with you, so you decided it would be best to hide the injury from the open air and from getting any more damage than as it is
“why does it smell like smoke back here?” you almost jumped out of your seat, turning to look at the source that frighted you
“Gojo?” you titled an eyebrow at him, he was wearing what you would guess the extra pants and shirt he brought for after practices, sweatpants and a shirt that was showing his collarbones too much - on his arm was his bag that wasn't even properly zipped closed
“hey, i was on my way to see Shoko and stumbled upon you here! but man does seniors really use this hidden area as their smoke corner - the smell is burning my nose” Satoru said covering his nose with his other unoccupied hand, before rolling his eyes
“anyways, what are you doing here?” he added, approaching you before sitting down besides you in a respectable distance away
you turned back to your injured leg before facing him again “trying to bandage up my leg, also i was actually the one smoking my bad” you replied, tying together the last strands of the bandage
“you smoke?” was all he asked before wearing your shoes back on, you nodded at him before throwing your head back staring at the tree covering you from the sun’s light
“yea, actually i do… you gotta do something with the remaining adrenaline somehow” closing your eyes as you felt the smooth breeze brush pass you so tenderly, it almost felt like you were high
“you sound like a drug addict worn-out artist” Satoru stated, making you turn to him before chuckling at the annoyed face he was making
“i’m offended but that made me laugh, so you're forgiven” you cooed at him gesturing a smile, although his expression didn't change it made him look somewhat funnier
“making you offended was my only intentions, seriously I can't even stand the smell” he said waving his hand around trying to swat away the remainings of the smoke,
“why not do something more bearable like eating candies or drinking some energy drink?” he added, you shook your head indicating ‘no’ before replying
“smoking’s the only thing that has been working so far for me, but i only do it when practice’s been hell” Satoru nodded at this before placing placing his hand under his chin, displaying a thinking look
“like when your feet’s all bandaged up and shit?” he asked, you nodded at him before noticing his lips forming a pout
“did you at least treat it properly? it’s starting to bleed through it you know” you widen your eyes at this before looking down and noticing he was right, you didn't even noticed it
“i was planning to treat them once i got home, I don't have anything to take care of it right now” Satoru rolled his eyes before searching through his bag, and pulling out a betadine ointment and some cotton balls - shocked at this you looked at Satoru before asking
“why do you have these?” he scowled at you before placing you feet on top of his lap, making you face him
“athletes tend to get wounds and scars, hence why i bring these - i normally don't get them but Suguru always does” he replied, before untying your bandage off - once he saw the sight he grimaced and hissed through his teeth displaying a hurt expression
“you got beat up real bad, and you were waiting to get home to fix this?” he turned to look at you annoyed, you smiled at him in return before nodding
“the nurse’s office was a building away, my dorm’s a lot more close” you commented trying to brighten up Satoru but, unfortunately failing
silence started to engulf you both, as Satoru was directing all his focus on your open wounds and broken nails trying to be gentle as possible
“next time, when you get hurt try to at least ask someone to help, better yet - ask me” Satoru stared at you, he looked serious yet so gentle at the same time that you didn't know you replied unconsciously, as if agreeing to Satoru Gojo was second nature to you - so easy as if it was breathing
“i will, thank you Gojo”
➥taglist:[OPEN] @sadmonke @purpleguk @kazoomasoo @ritsatoru @lzaj19 @bol0-de-morang0 @aechmea01 @pearlstiare @blognicole @reagan707 @cybrnaya @anthastudios @kareabtu @c0smouche @orphicarchive @misslovingpearl @a1hina @coloredsolos @fandomtrash5092 @bubera974 @gojonegs @kookap
➥names in bold cannot be tagged!
[author’s notes: yay new chapter^•^ also i haven't proofread this I'm sorry]
synopsis: in the ethereal world of dance, the white swan glides with grace, her every movement a poem of longing. the human prince, a star on the court, finds solace in her delicate steps, a symphony amidst the chaos of his world. their love blossoms, a forbidden dance between two realms, but as the final act approaches, will their love defy the constraints of their reality, or will they be forever trapped in the melancholy of what could have been?
╰┈➤ pairing: basketball player gojo satoru x fem!ballerina reader
⋆·˚*genre: strangers to friends to more, college au, complicated situationship
˚ ༘⋆warnings: nsfw, suggestive, contains smut, sexual, excessive smoking details, getting high, self-destructive, mentions of bleeding, scars, fluff, angst, mentions of drowning, commitment issues
⋆.ೃ࿔*:・updates: ON HIATUS
chapter - iii.
↺go back ⊜ playlist next ≫
🎼chapter: iii. ↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
each inhale pulls the air like tides, drowning in the depths of existence, struggling to resurface with each exhale
that's what you're currently feeling right now, currently in your tights and leotards you felt cold, freezing even
as the sun dipped down below the horizon it casted a warm, golden glow in the school’s studio windows - it was a complete opposite contrast to how you were currently feeling
your lungs felt like they were being filled with deep ocean water, tormenting you against the warm and soft glow of the sun’s fading light
you kept stretching your body’s limits, feeling as if you weren't precise enough, you weren't elegant enough, you weren't doing it right - your body screamed as the aches started to kick in and you couldn't help but relieve in it
the aches served you the reaction you needed out of your body that you're doing just right, that you're already passed your limits
but no matter how much the aches in your body scream and protest you felt as if it was just never enough, you felt yourself drowning in the ocean of perfection you made yourself - with tears, blood, and sweat you spent so much time to make a single tide of your waves
then it happened, your moves were frantic you could feel your body reaching the climax it restricted you to - and you stopped
you could feel it, you could feel your entire body shaking and giving up on the goals and desires you so badly want to accomplish - it didn't help that you stayed later than everyone and it certainly didn't help how you feel like that extra time in was completely useless
you didn't know how you gotten this obsession of trying to perfect every move of your body, or the obsession of trying to be the best in the room when clearly you weren't
sighing at this, you started walking towards your bag before sitting down right beside it and untying your shoes off - you stared at your feet a couple of seconds before the feeling of pity started to kick in
you had a few bandaids attached to your feet because of accidentally falling or scraping them during practice, even though they can't be helped - you started to pack your things up before walking out of the campus
as you started to walk towards your dorm, you pulled out a cigarette out of your bag before frantically looking for your lighter which you clearly didn't have right now
you sighed the need to stabilize your breathing was making you shake, disappointment filling up your bones you continued to hold onto your cigarette before getting cut off by a voice
“need a light?” you turned around and saw Suguru not in his uniforms anymore, you faced your body towards him before gesturing a smile
“yea actually, got one?” you asked in which Suguru took out his lighter out of his bag before handing it to you, thanking him and covering your cigarette - you lit it up before giving it back
“i didn't know you smoked y/n, is it ‘cause of Shoko?” Suguru said as you took a long inhale, before puffing out the smoke away from him
“not exactly right, she did introduce smoking to me but it was ‘cause i asked her about it in the first place” you said smiling, before taking another inhale again finally feeling grounded after that incident earlier
“you should quit you know, they're bad for you and they might mess up your ballet stuff”
“you'd be surprised how many in our studio smoke, i could probably name the last few who doesn't” you said waving away the smoke, Suguru chuckled at this before gesturing towards a car behind him
“i’m actually heading towards our dorm, want a ride?” he asked, you shook your head no before replying
“thanks but my dorm’s quite near here, you be safe though” you said as you waved him bye and started walking towards your dorm
“you know, I overheard our teacher earlier mentioning about solo piece - maybe they'll set up audition posters today!” you were currently with shoko in your campus’ studio, you both were resting up for the next set of dance pieces you guys have to practice for
you turned to look at her intrigued in what she was gossiping with you about, before replying “wait really? maybe when we're done they'll tell us”
“exactly, the new piece will probably give you a lot of exposure since it'll be a solo” Shoko exclaimed, clearly showing you optimism that you should definitely audition for that role, you widen your eyes before gesturing a smiling towards her
“I don't know if I'll be able to actually get it though, but I will definitely try!” Shoko beamed at this before nodding at you - you were excited, even ecstatic, but then a dark cloud began to overshadow your thoughts
if i fail to grasp this, can i still recover from this disappointment? how will i be able to regain my composure and move on?
tides and waves, powerful and relentless, began to pull you under, threatening to drown you - you were struggling to breath, your body trembled, consumed by one singular thought
‘i need a smoke’
standing outside the campus building, leaning against a wall amidst turmoil and thoughts, you feel calm and peace
the feeling of drowning is long gone once you fill your lungs with another type of waves and air, your mind and body finally one again
you don't see a single dark tide clouding your eyes, no aches haunting you from the aftermath of your doings, no feet hurting from constantly being on your tippy toes
you take one long inhale before exhaling a shaky breath of smoke, feeling your eyes start to see the world a lot more clearly
in the simple act of smoking, you find a brief escape from the chaos around you. The inhale, the exhale—the smoke's rhythm mirrors your own emotions, offering a short break from the turmoil within
amidst the quiet interlude, you allow yourself to simply exist, to be present in your body and in the moment.
it happened again, the wooden boards under your feet felt unfamiliar - your body felt stiff as a board and the aches in your body worsen overtime
you had bad days of course, everyone has, but why was this day so different from the rest? why were you currently looking at your bleeding feet and broken nails? the sight gave you a bitter taste every time you swallow, it felt like your own body was punishing you for all of these
for suddenly tripping over your spin, suddenly slipping during your leap, and not stretching or bending your body enough - it was just not your day at all
you sighed for the nth time this day, you were currently outside the campus building - sitting in a picnic table behind a big oak tree, smoke littered around the air and you felt your shoulder tenser than usual
you wanted to take another smoke break after a painful practice, but you suddenly felt all too aware of the pain in your feet and was shocked to see your feet bleeding
quickly disposing the cigarette, you started to rummage your bag looking for your bandage you always held onto - you've never had a serious injury before hence why the bandage was never opened until now
you didn't have any first aid kit equipment with you, so you decided it would be best to hide the injury from the open air and from getting any more damage than as it is
“why does it smell like smoke back here?” you almost jumped out of your seat, turning to look at the source that frighted you
“Gojo?” you titled an eyebrow at him, he was wearing what you would guess the extra pants and shirt he brought for after practices, sweatpants and a shirt that was showing his collarbones too much - on his arm was his bag that wasn't even properly zipped closed
“hey, i was on my way to see Shoko and stumbled upon you here! but man does seniors really use this hidden area as their smoke corner - the smell is burning my nose” Satoru said covering his nose with his other unoccupied hand, before rolling his eyes
“anyways, what are you doing here?” he added, approaching you before sitting down besides you in a respectable distance away
you turned back to your injured leg before facing him again “trying to bandage up my leg, also i was actually the one smoking my bad” you replied, tying together the last strands of the bandage
“you smoke?” was all he asked before wearing your shoes back on, you nodded at him before throwing your head back staring at the tree covering you from the sun’s light
“yea, actually i do… you gotta do something with the remaining adrenaline somehow” closing your eyes as you felt the smooth breeze brush pass you so tenderly, it almost felt like you were high
“you sound like a drug addict worn-out artist” Satoru stated, making you turn to him before chuckling at the annoyed face he was making
“i’m offended but that made me laugh, so you're forgiven” you cooed at him gesturing a smile, although his expression didn't change it made him look somewhat funnier
“making you offended was my only intentions, seriously I can't even stand the smell” he said waving his hand around trying to swat away the remainings of the smoke,
“why not do something more bearable like eating candies or drinking some energy drink?” he added, you shook your head indicating ‘no’ before replying
“smoking’s the only thing that has been working so far for me, but i only do it when practice’s been hell” Satoru nodded at this before placing placing his hand under his chin, displaying a thinking look
“like when your feet’s all bandaged up and shit?” he asked, you nodded at him before noticing his lips forming a pout
“did you at least treat it properly? it’s starting to bleed through it you know” you widen your eyes at this before looking down and noticing he was right, you didn't even noticed it
“i was planning to treat them once i got home, I don't have anything to take care of it right now” Satoru rolled his eyes before searching through his bag, and pulling out a betadine ointment and some cotton balls - shocked at this you looked at Satoru before asking
“why do you have these?” he scowled at you before placing you feet on top of his lap, making you face him
“athletes tend to get wounds and scars, hence why i bring these - i normally don't get them but Suguru always does” he replied, before untying your bandage off - once he saw the sight he grimaced and hissed through his teeth displaying a hurt expression
“you got beat up real bad, and you were waiting to get home to fix this?” he turned to look at you annoyed, you smiled at him in return before nodding
“the nurse’s office was a building away, my dorm’s a lot more close” you commented trying to brighten up Satoru but, unfortunately failing
silence started to engulf you both, as Satoru was directing all his focus on your open wounds and broken nails trying to be gentle as possible
“next time, when you get hurt try to at least ask someone to help, better yet - ask me” Satoru stared at you, he looked serious yet so gentle at the same time that you didn't know you replied unconsciously, as if agreeing to Satoru Gojo was second nature to you - so easy as if it was breathing
“i will, thank you Gojo”
➥taglist:[OPEN] @sadmonke @purpleguk @kazoomasoo @ritsatoru @lzaj19 @bol0-de-morang0 @aechmea01 @pearlstiare @blognicole @reagan707 @cybrnaya @anthastudios @kareabtu @c0smouche @orphicarchive @misslovingpearl @a1hina @coloredsolos @fandomtrash5092 @bubera974 @gojonegs @kookap
➥names in bold cannot be tagged!
[author’s notes: yay new chapter^•^ also i haven't proofread this I'm sorry]
synopsis: in the ethereal world of dance, the white swan glides with grace, her every movement a poem of longing. the human prince, a star on the court, finds solace in her delicate steps, a symphony amidst the chaos of his world. their love blossoms, a forbidden dance between two realms, but as the final act approaches, will their love defy the constraints of their reality, or will they be forever trapped in the melancholy of what could have been?
╰┈➤ pairing: basketball player gojo satoru x fem!ballerina reader
⋆·˚*genre: strangers to friends to more, college au, complicated situationship
˚ ༘⋆warnings: nsfw, suggestive, contains smut, sexual, excessive smoking details, getting high, self-destructive, mentions of bleeding, scars, fluff, angst, mentions of drowning, commitment issues
⋆.ೃ࿔*:・updates: ON HIATUS
chapter - ii.
↺go back ⊜ playlist next ≫
🎼chapter: i. ↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺
1 week later
“y/n~ just this once, please hang out with me will you?” you were currently kneeling down on the floor packing up your stuff from the dance studio to head home, when Shoko appeared in front of you pleadingly asking you to go to a new arcade store that opened nearby campus
“Shoko I would but, i still have a lot of scaffolds to work on” you said smiling sympathetically towards her, she pouted before sitting down in front of you
“you always say no anyways, just this once please? i really wanna check it out with you” she said staring at you with her puppy doe eyes, making you smile at her before taking a deep breathe
“i only say no, ‘cause you invite me whenever i have so much to do” you said zipping up your bag, before standing up and holding out your hand towards her
she grabbed your hand standing up as well, before flinging her bag over her shoulder and replying “and when do you never have something to do huh, you wound me you know” making you chuckle
“should i just memorize your life schedule so i’d know when's the best time to invite you out?” she asked before you both started walking towards the door, you smiled “alright, just this once then”
her eyes beamed about to hug you but you both were startled when the door was aggressively opened wide, making you both turn to the source
you were met with those bright blue eyes and white hair yet again, but this time he was accompanied by a guy with a man-bun trailing behind him
“oh, Shoko just the person we're looking for” he said, a wide grin plastered on his features as he started to approach you both
“Satoru, Suguru, what do you two want this time huh?” Shoko replied, placing both of her hands on her hips showing the two an annoyed expression at their unannounced visit
“we have a practice match later with a neighborhood school and we wanted to ask you if you wanted to come - in person by the way, so you wouldn't have any choice but to oblige” his grin impossibly got even wider as the black haired man stood beside him, smiling sweetly at Shoko
“it's against that one dickhead’s school too, so we thought you might want to see his stupid face getting beaten” Suguru added, making Shoko grin
“well that does sound tempting but, too bad me and my new friend have plans so maybe next time~” she said holding onto your elbows as she interlocked them, you turned to her before facing the two men again noticing Gojo’s widen eyes
“oh - y/n nice to see you here, you're actually friends with Shoko?” Satoru said, facing you as he waves his hand at you making both Shoko and the black haired gentleman send him a confused look
“hi Gojo, right we have computer class together I met him a week ago” you said facing Shoko, explaining to her why you knew of her other best friend, this made Shoko nod her head at you before mouthing the words ‘oh’
“mhm, that's right man - i didn't know you were friends with Shoko as well” he said, making you send him a toothless smile before noticing a lightbulb on top of his head
“how ‘bout you both watch our practice match then, it'll be quick really we'll only join the first quarter and you two can leave right after!” he said, placing his clenched right fist on top of his other hand's palm
Shoko faced you making you follow her “If you don't want to watch y/n we won't, but if you’d like then we can always go to that new arcade afterwards” she smiled at you before holding both of your hands, you turned to look at the two men holding their hands out in a pleading manner
“i guess i would like that, sure” you said returning your attention back to Shoko, you noticed the two was ecstatic and shared smug faces between each other
“alright then, you both can watch from the bleachers so you can avoid any flying balls” Suguru said, holding onto Satoru’s shoulder capturing your attention and facing him
“by the way, I'm Suguru Geto - please call me Suguru if you will” he said, smiling sweetly at you making you return the gesture mindlessly “alright, Suguru… you can call me y/n as well”
you and Shoko were currently going up the stairs towards the bleachers area as instructed by Gojo earlier, also this way you can see the game better in this angle - you’ve never watched a game this close in person before you usually were in the top bleachers or in plain tvs even
so to experience watching it this close made you quite excited, you don't really understood much about basketball considering how you've never played before but at the very least you do understand the point system
“you look quite excited this is a first for me, usually you only look like this when our ballet instructor tells us we'll be performing a new piece” Shoko said, sitting down on the very corner of the bleachers near the stairs - you sat right beside her before blinking a couple of times and turning back to the court “i guess it really is exciting to watch a game this close, don't you?”
you saw a hint of white hair jogging around the court approaching your school’s team, making you revert your attention towards them
currently Gojo was huddling along with his fellow teammates, as their coach were giving them reminders of their gameplay - Satoru who was barely paying attention let his eyes wander around the school gym before landing on you two
he waved grinning at you both, before Shoko returned the gesture with her hand waving back making the guy send you guys one last smile before being elbowed by Suguru and getting angry glances from their coach
as the call whistle blew, Satoru and Suguru approached the center of the court - Suguru right in front with the referee holding the ball facing off the opposing team, while Satoru is right behind him with a smug grin before placing his hand on his knee running his other hand through his hair
a few seconds of silence surrounded the court, before bustling whistle blew once again but this time signaling the players to start with the game as the referee tosses the ball up in the air making Suguru jump and tap the ball back giving Satoru possession
as the game began, Satoru effortlessly dribbled the ball down the court, weaving through defenders with grace - his opponents, who are well aware of his reputation, tried to keep their guard up against him
with a swift spin, he evaded a defender and made a pass to his teammate with the jersey number ‘9’ on his back who was avoiding the defenders of the opposing team before tossing the ball towards another player who was in the 2 point line
the player had the number ‘14’ on his back - he took the shot and successfully made the point against the other team
“you know, as much as I like to make fun of Satoru and Suguru they both are very valuable to their team - they're only second years but being able to be in the starting line is quite impressive” Shoko said as you turned to look at her, she was leaning against her chair with her hands in his pant’s pocket
“well of course they aren't the only second years in the starting line, but they're the only two who are in the front-lines in the beginning of the game” she said facing you, as you nod along her words and turning back to the game in front
“have they been playing basketball for a long time?” you asked, as Satoru had possession of the ball again dribbling it against the court before making a jump shot successfully giving their team another 2 points,
"well, they have been playing since freshman year of high school - that's when i met the two, so yeah, they have been playing a long time," she replied, causing you to form an 'oh' shape with your mouth
their team was currently trying to block off the opposing team’s players, who had managed to score a 3 point for their team before Suguru took the ball and started dribbling towards the other side of the court
Satoru, with his back turned to Suguru, positioned himself at the 3-point line, executing a fake-out to confuse the other player marking him, the player seeing through this spun around Satoru moving to block Suguru instead
Sensing the opening, Suguru swiftly passed the ball to Nanami, who dribbled it back to Satoru - with the ball back in his hands, Satoru wasted no time and took the shot, sinking a 3-pointer for their team
home: 42, visitor: 36
you took notice of how nice it was to see other people so focused in their element - you wondered how you looked when you're performing and thought if you looked as passionate as they are right now
which brought you to look at Satoru, he looked so focus yet so carefree at the same time - he never failed to express a smug or a annoyed look whenever the other players managed to block him off or stealing the ball off him, in fact it made you realize how effortlessly handsome he was
you weren't blind and you aren't denying it either, the white haired man was indeed easy in the eyes no one could argue with that - it was probably his own charm that made other people not tear their eyes away from him
you then heard the whistle blew again, seeing the timer the first quarter was officially done making the players return back to their respective benches resting as much as they can and wiping off sweat from their bodies
you heard Shoko stand up and started to gather her things making you do the same, “will you wait for me downstairs y/n, I'll be quick i’ll only inform the two idiots we'll be leaving is that alright?” Shoko asked you, motioning back towards Satoru and Suguru - you smiled and nodded “okay then, tell them my goodbyes too please”
as you waited outside the school gym after Shoko went inside, you stood next to a vending machine leaning against it - when you were suddenly startled by someone standing in front of the machine
you leaned away as you tried to walk towards the gym doors when a voice reached out “you were up in the bleachers earlier right?” you turned back to see a guy with green hair and was wearing the opposing team’s jersey with the number ‘11’
“oh, yea i was” you said raising your brow confusion plastered on your face, as the man bent down to take the drink out from the machine
“so, you go to school here?” he said turning to face you with smirk in his face, making you revert your eyes somewhere else
“yea, i guess i wouldn't be here if i didn't?” You replied, making the man chuckle, and leaned against the vending machine - not long after, you heard footsteps approaching from behind making you turn your head around and seeing Shoko with a displeased expression
“hey Shoko, how’ve you been?” Shoko approaches you holding onto your elbow, “still enjoy playing with balls huh zenin?”
“well aren't you as delightful as ever” the guy replied before walking away from the machine and towards the gym’s doors,
“just wanted to say hi that's all, anyways i'm guessing this is my cue to leave bye~” he said turning his face towards you both and smirking before walking back inside,
“geez, that guy needs a total reality check - oh right come on y/n let's get going as well!” Shoko smiled at you, making you return the gesture before you both started to walk towards the exit
“oh, you mean that guy from earlier? he has this beef against Satoru and at first I didn't hold any grudge against the guy ‘cause well - it's Satoru, but man for the first time I actually understood why Satoru hated that guy” Shoko said trying to shoot as many zombies as she can beside you, the curiosity was eating you up ever since you left the school earlier
“Really, why so?” you asked as you watched Shoko play, holding onto the gun with both of her hands the screen displayed the words next round
“he's misogynistic as hell, and not to mention he keeps sleeping with different women in spite of his ridiculously ugly looks AND personality” she said as she placed the fake gun down on the machine’s table, she then turned towards you
“what’d he say by the way, did he insult you or pester you with anything?” she asked displaying a angry look with her furrowed brows, and pouting lips
“he asked if i was watching the game earlier, and then proceed to ask if i go to our school” you said, sighing making Shoko giggle and raise the toy gun up pointing towards the screen
“he's an idiot isn't he, why would you be there in the first place if you didn't go to our school” she said shooting the zombies on the screen, you let out a giggle as well before agreeing with her
as you continued to wander around the arcade, your attention was suddenly drawn to a familiar sight: a flash of white hair - turning, you found yourself once again face-to-face with Satoru Gojo, standing on the other side of the store's glass window
his bright blue eyes locked onto yours, and a playful grin spread across his face as he waved his hand in greeting as he motioned for Suguru to join him, and together, they approached you
“hey y/n, wanna watch me beat Suguru’s ass out of that punching machine?” Satoru pointed towards the said machine, making Suguru roll his eyes
“you wish, anyways y/n where's Shoko?” Suguru asked, as he took noticed how you were wandering around alone you turned to face Shoko who was still busy with the zombie game, which was probably the reason why she dragged you here
“over there, she's been at it for a couple of minutes already - so i wanted to look around more” you said reverting your eyes towards the two males, the two shared a deep exhale as Suguru started to approach her
“do you wanna look around and see if we can find a claw machine?” Satoru asked you, as you nodded at him before remembering the claw machine you saw earlier
“oh, i saw one actually - i think it was around there” you said starting to approach the said location you pointed to, before finally finding it
“Oh, it has Sanrio characters! y/n pick a character for me real quick” Satoru dropping his bag on the floor before positioning himself right in front of the machine turned to you, making you scan the characters closely
“hm… i like cinnamonroll try catching him” you said, turning to meet his bright blue eyes again - this made the male grin widely before asking you for coins which you gave him all of yours
“thanks! I'll get him for you” he replied before inserting 2 coins in, and the machine started to light up “how many attempts do you think this will get me?”
he asked you as he failed in trying to get the plush doll in the first try, inserting another 2 coins again - you took a look at the remaining coins in his hand before replying
“probably 3 at best, but I'll guess you probably have to get more coins before you can get the doll” he pouted at this trying to angle the claw right above the plushie, and then turning towards you
“watch this-” he said pressing the ok button as the machine actually started to hold onto the doll before releasing it on the prize hole,
you widen your eyes as you watched him bend down to take the doll, wearing a smug look as he shook the plushie with one hand in front of you - taunting you of your doubts
“i’m too good at everything to miss that, and it only took me 2 tries” he said before handing you the plush doll, you smiles at the doll finding it adorable before meeting with Satoru’s eyes again
“you're too smug for your own good, but the doll is indeed adorable so I'll overlook that” you said, making the boy widen his smirk and raising his hand up in front of you
“please hold your applause, it was nothing~” he said shaking his head, making you smile at his playful gesture and sighing
"you know, cinnamonroll kinda looks like you now that I think about it," you said, turning back to the doll in your hands Satoru widened his eyes at you, clearly surprised by the comparison, before straightening up and bending down to pick his bag off the floor
"he does not," Satoru replied with mock indignation, walking back towards Shoko and Suguru "we may have the same color palette, but that's where the similarities end"
you couldn't help but giggle at his theatrics, amused by his playful reaction as Satoru rejoined the others, you returned your attention to the doll in your hands, a small smile tugged at the corners of your mouth
you couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and camaraderie
➥taglist:[OPEN] @sadmonke @purpleguk @kazoomasoo @ritsatoru @lzaj19 @bol0-de-morang0 @aechmea01 @pearlstiare @blognicole @reagan707 @cybrnaya @anthastudios @kareabtu @c0smouche @orphicarchive @misslovingpearl @a1hina @coloredsolos @fandomtrash5092 @bubera974 @gojonegs @kookap
➥names in bold cannot be tagged!
[author’s notes: i finished this in one setting btw... anyways! yay new update - missing my glorious blue eyed king rn:( ]
ᱬ ࣪𖤐 thoughts of cosplayer! satoru while taking a break from vessel satoru (a w.i.p).
g/n! reader and sfw.
as always, reblogs/likes are always appreciated! enjoy! ᱬ ࣪𖤐
word count: 1,498
links: jjk masterlist | masterlist
cosplayer! satoru who is quite a popular person in the community, may or may not have over 4m followers on each platform and gains more by the second.
cosplayer! satoru who is known mainly for cosplaying characters with blue eyes, because let’s face it, he hates the thought of wearing contacts to change his eye colour.
cosplayer! satoru who, despite hating the thought of wearing contacts, will still cosplay other characters and wear them if needed - he’d rather show off his stunning blues.
cosplayer! satoru who spends time and money, which isn’t an issue, on making his own costumes and accessories as well as styling his own wigs. sure he has the money to buy them already made but where’s the fun in that? he needs everyone to admire his hard work and obvious skill. How else will they know him as the best?
cosplayer! satoru who makes sure to book himself into every single convention he can find at a time. that one’s that’s a few months away? check, he’s making plans of who he’s going to go as as he clicks confirm. the one that’s next year easily? he’s already booked into the hotel room and drafting up new cosplay ideas to bring to the table.
cosplayer! satoru who loves to post sneak peeks and previews of his upcoming lineups just so his fans can hype him up even more - this guy loves all the attention.
cosplayer! satoru who receives a ton of fan mail as well as fan art of him as various characters. he has a wall in his office dedicated to the stuff his fans send, they’re one of the main reasons why he loves doing what he does.
cosplayer! satoru who spends the days at cons letting fans take photos, taking part in group photos, showing off his cosplay as well as walking around artist alleys being sure to buy from small businesses because they make the most adorable pieces and he has to add them to his collections.
cosplayer! satoru who is aimlessly scrolling trough his tiktok one day after filming some drafts when he comes across a video from an account he’s sure he hasn’t seen before. he would know everyone he has on his fyp so this video came as a bit of a shock.
cosplayer! satoru who clicks in the comments to see that his friends photographer! suguru and vlogger! shoko have hyped up the person in the video, with comments of thanks and love being replied to them both. just who is this random person?
cosplayer! satoru who taps on the profile to be met with a page full of videos showcasing the various characters they’ve cosplayed over the years. finding that he has quite a few mutuals with the person and may or may not have met you a few times without realising.
cosplayer! satoru who ended up spending a good few hours scrolling through your page, smiling at some of the videos you posted, even your out-of-cosplay ones before scrolling back up to the top and tapping that follow button - receiving a notification a few hours later that you followed him back.
cosplayer! satoru books another con with his friends and posts in the group chat about it, finding out from photographer! suguru and vlogger! shoko that you’ll also be attending with some of your own friends. who ends up suggesting that you should all meet up and spend the weekend together.
cosplayer! satoru who’s smiling brightly when vlogger! shoko pops a message in the chat saying that you’d be more than happy to do that, finding himself added to a new group chat with you and your friends. watching the messages pop up as you all exchange greetings and begin to discuss your lineup for the weekend and what you’d be doing.
cosplayer! satoru who, when the con weekend comes, has a blast with everyone especially you. he had to admit he’d had more fun than any other con with you there, much to the amusement of photographer! suguru and vlogger! shoko who’ve got so much content from the days that they’ll be busy for a week at least sorting everything out.
cosplayer! satoru who messages you one day asking if you ever wanted to collab the next time you both end up meeting up, of course he’s ecstatic when you agree that he ends up spending a good few hours just texting you about the most random things he can think of, smiling like a little kid when you match his energy.
cosplayer! satoru who sees you’ve posted a video you took at the con weekend that has him in, double tapping to love and leaving a comment that he sees you love almost instantly with a reply of “totally didn’t mean to catch a candid background moment of you ha!”.
cosplayer! satoru who finds himself starting to be fanboy! satoru the more he looks over your content, even finding both your public and private instas thanks to a few of your friends, which you accept his follow request on your private before requesting to follow back and following back on your public one.
cosplayer! satoru who sends you a message asking if you would like to meet up one day outside of cosplaying, he wants to get to know you as you and not as a person in a costume who’s quite popular yourself.
cosplayer! satoru who ends up having the time of his life with you at an arcade, winning prizes and being competitive before finishing the night at a burger joint for some food - making sure you’re back home safely before saying goodbye to you.
cosplayer! satoru who posts videos and pictures of your day together on his private insta, making sure to tag you in every post and story he pops up. not that you mind, you’re glad he had fun.
cosplayer! satoru who finds himself duetting/stitching your videos with characters from the same fandoms as you cosplay, making his dream of doing a proper video with you one step closer to coming true.
cosplayer! satoru who one day finds himself at another con with you, being dragged toward your phone as you laugh, selecting a sound before you both start recording a video together, having the time of your lives.
cosplayer! satoru who spends more time with you as the days go on, especially on video calls, as you talk about things happening in your lives. could it be he’s starting to catch feelings?
cosplayer! satoru who confides in photographer! suguru and vlogger! shoko that he’s got all these feelings stirring in him when he’s spending any amount of time with/talking to you, not noticing the way the two of them smirk at the other. they clearly know something he doesn’t.
cosplayer! satoru who ends up finding out that you feel the same about him after he overhears you on the phone to cosplay repairer! nanami one day on the way to a local meet-up for cosplayers in your area. he swears his heart skipped a beat as he knows he has to make this one perfect.
cosplayer! satoru who ends up asking you to be his better half at a con a few months later. you’d both finished recording another video and having some photos taken. of course you said yes, how could you not when he showed up matching the fandom you chose to cosplay from?
cosplayer boyfriend! satoru who posts an almost identical video and photo on his socials with the caption “when you have an excuse to do couple shoots that ooze genuine love now @/itsthemisms” which kind of matches your caption of “can’t wait to let the love flow through the screen with my boo @/blueeyesfordays”.
cosplayer boyfriend! satoru who loves posting you both in and out of cosplay as much as he can. why not when he’s proud to call you his other half, he just has to show the world how much he loves you and how much you love him. couple cosplay photos, videos, and vlogs of daily life? check, you’re both so in love with the other it shows to anyone and everyone around/watching.
cosplayer boyfriend! satoru who will do anything to make sure you’re happy, who'll make sure you’re looked after at cons when he’s not there and travel the world growing your combined fan bases. you’ve both become quite popular as individual cosplayers and as a couple. did somebody say couple goals?
cosplayer boyfriend! satoru who’s just so helplessly in love with you, and the fact you can both support each other in what you do is more than enough for him. you’re so perfect in every way to him.
cosplayer boyfriend! satoru who is so glad that he found you when he did; he can’t wait to make memories to last him in this life and the next, who knows that no matter what, home is where you (and the cosplays) are.
permanent tags;
@ani-net
© springismss 2025 - don’t repost, copy, translate, steal or modify.
ᱬ ࣪𖤐 thoughts of tattoo artist! satoru who ended up tattooing his childhood crush one day. because after seeing a video on tiktok a few weeks ago, this wouldn’t go away.
g/n! reader and sfw
as always, reblogs/likes are always appreciated! enjoy ᱬ ࣪𖤐
word count: 1,262
links: jjk masterlist | masterlist
tattoo artist! satoru who is the most sought after artists of his generation, who’s booked for months in advance because everyone wants at least one piece from him, but who always has spaces for his regulars who supported him since he started out.
tattoo artist! satoru who specialises in neo traditional, new school and minimalist tattoos but will exceed at any type of tattoo his client wants. he didn’t become the best tattoo artist of his age for no reason.
tattoo artist! satoru who has his very own studio alongside some other artists who he trusts and a couple of body piercers because why not? he’s a very social person when he wants to be. Also, did anybody say discounts/free body modifications?
tattoo artist! satoru who loves nothing more than chatting away and popping in on his co-workers when he has nothing to do in between clients or scheduling appointments in his dairy.
tattoo artist! satoru who has a whole other phone purely for his work otherwise he’d hate being on his own personal phone for so long - that way he can take breaks as and when needed.
tattoo artist! satoru who ended up with a cancellation one day and posts to his insta story asking if anyone wants to take the space for a discount - ends up with what felt like a million inboxes asking if they could take it, finally choosing someone with the help of his best friend suguru.
tattoo artist! satoru who starts to get the design ready while he waits for the person to come along, having had what they wanted sent across within minutes of receiving the message they’d been chosen, the sound of choso’s voice alerting him to his client being in the reception area ten minutes later.
tattoo artist! satoru who walks out and tilts his head when he sees said person with their back to him, offering a quick hello before the person turns to face him, only to suck in a breath when he sees that the person is you, someone who he hasn’t seen in quite a long time - you kept yourself hidden in your profile, not caring to show your face.
tattoo artist! satoru who’s suddenly nervous for the first time in a while, trying his best to keep his composure while he leads you back to his private room, away from the gaze of curious eyes who want to know who you are.
tattoo artist! satoru who closes the door behind you both once you enter, watching you as you take off your coat and walk over to where he is, watching as he adds the final details to the piece you wanted.
tattoo artist! satoru who’s takes in a shaky breath before he turns around to face you, signature smile pulling at his lips as he places the stencil on the area you want, checking everything is okay before waiting for the ink to dry as he sets everything else up, asking you to get onto the tattoo bed.
tattoo artist! satoru who begins to get to work on permanently branding the design on your skin, who can feel your gaze follow his hands as best you can as he continues to work, checking in on your now and then to see how you were feeling, noticing the subtle ways the area you were getting tattoo moving to the needle.
tattoo artist! satoru who gives a hum when he’s added the final few bits to your design, giving it a clean and taking some photos/videos before placing a second skin over it to make sure it’s protected. going through his aftercare with you, not taking his eyes off you as you listen closely, nodding along and asking questions where needed.
tattoo artist! satoru who walks you out of the studio all the while shooting daggers at sukuna, who came out of his room after finishing a piercing for his own client asking you for your phone number because he may or may not want to spite the man stood beside you.
tattoo artist! satoru who uploads your piece to his insta, watching the number of likes and comments at the top corner increase before he turned his attention to his personal phone and starts to doom scroll for a while, needing to give his brain a break for a bit.
tattoo artist! satoru who see’s a repost, a mention, a like and a comment from the account you messaged him on - tapping to scroll through your feed, getting lost for a while before noticing a new unread message in his inbox, much to his delight and surprise it’s you.
tattoo artist! satoru who reads your message, goofy smile on his face as you thank him for the session, wanting to book in for your next one with him as soon as you’re healed and he has free space - nearly missing the last few words of your message before doing a double take.
tattoo artist! satoru who finds himself feeling like a child again at the words you wrote - “you really haven’t changed at all, toru, it was nice to see you again”. he can’t help but feel all giddy inside when you call him that nickname you used for him before feeling his heart beat heavily in his chest.
tattoo artist! satoru who’s always happy to make time for you when you want a new piece of art - especially a custom piece you’ve begged him for for weeks now, proud to show off how he’s marking your skin in a way other tattoo artists wish they could - you’re not allowed to go anywhere else for a tattoo, that’s the rule now. the same also applies to piercings - he makes sure to keep his eyes trained carefully on his pink-haired piercer just in case he tries anything.
tattoo artist! satoru comes to realise he hadn’t gotten over the childhood crush, he just never thought he’d see you again after you moved away - much to his delight, you moved back to tokyo a year before you first messaged him. who’s delighted that you’re spending more time around the shop when you’ve got free time, helping him with new ideas for flashes and giveaways, because getting to spend a moment with you feels so damn right.
tattoo artist! satoru who, one day, tattoos a special design on you, only to get a matching one as well - he had to be the one to do them both as he didn’t want the moment to be ruined, everything had to be perfect. so what if it didn’t match the rest of his tattoos or yours?
tattoo artist! satoru who’s always been secret with his personal life, especially to the public, until he makes an insta post about his biggest muse and how he’s never letting them go ever - you. who finally posts your face for the world to see, happy smiles appearing on both your faces in the photo as he looks at you with pure love, you on the other hand offering a wink to whoever looks at the picture.
tattoo artist! satoru who may mark your skin with pieces of art but is also extremely good at leaving other marks littering over pieces of bare and inked flesh. he’s such an insatiable lover, he can’t get enough and he’ll be damned if he lets you go again for as long as you both live.
did anybody ever mention to you how hot he is covered in tattoos and piercings?
© springismss 2025 - don’t repost, copy, translate, steal or modify.
Nerdjo is my favorite flavor of Gojo 😋😩
Should I draw Gojo pregnant next? 😏😈
My art style is very inconsistent
Pov: it's gojo's birthday so you surprised him really good <3
tw: suggestive, really suggestive, moodboard
gojo x slightly stripper!reader
divider credit: @anitalenia
— if you were choso older sister pt1
Paring; gojo satoru x reader ﹗
Warnings; gojo falling in love with reader since day one, marriage thoughts of his ♡ ̆̈, fluff, reader and gojo has a child at the end
He never thought he would fall in love with you since the day he met you, you were you. you love sweets just like he did
He kept thinking that one day he'll marry you one day everyday he thought about the perfect marriage/dates, he got the courage to ask you out and he finally did asked you out on a date it was perfect you were perfect
He did everything to make the date perfect, he took you to an ice cream shop, the park and even the animal pet store it was really perfect you loved animals really! You love cats more than dogs since dogs make more messes than cats and + their really adorable and soft ♡ ̆̈
You thought everything just like he did but you're not gonna know what he thinks he just says out loud
2 years later
You're perfectly happy but you're also married to the sweet ol'gojo never been happier in your life besides meeting him and marrying him the best life but also. . .
a child
Airy Spring
a/n: soooo.. fourth post. I honestly need og ideas. I’m trying so hard to think of things. But I’ll get there! My time is limited because of current events but I’ll be on it. Pls give me inspo im crying. Also! I need more moots. Enjoy ig. 🥀
content: fem view, pregnancy, dad gojo, and fluff!!!!!!
It came to no surprise. Your life was so different. By having a puffy stomach, aching feet, sharp back pains, and a little newborn that filled your ears; you were a new woman.
You remember the fateful afternoon that had you pacing back and forth as your hands clasped onto the long piece of plastic. The very item that made you shriek of happiness (?), anxiety (?), and shock.
You were no where near ready to confess to your husband, Satoru Gojo.
He was a busy man.
You both understood that. And the thought of somewhat impeding his plans made you bite your tongue.
In an attempt to continue the normalcy, you make dinner, turn on the lamps, anxiously do laundry, and try to take a warm bath— but as soon as your dear husband begins to rattle the front door— you pace inside the bathroom.
Oh.. how will he react? He’ll be happy, right? What about his schedule? Maybe he’s not hungry..
“I’m back! Guess who’s the best husband that brought kikufuku?? I am!”
Your hairs stick up at his exclamation, and the few droplets of cold sweat begin to build up on the tip of your nose.
Great.
His innocent teasing is always nerve wrecking.
Satoru’s steps get louder by the second, and when you open the bathroom door, he’s standing outside with a smile.
“You took a bath without me?? And here I was trying to rush back home to you” he says with a teasing pout, before wrapping his arms around you.
“I missed you, baby. Did you miss me?” he asks while pulling back to look at your water kissed face.
There was no way to hide from him. Every reaction and cold shoulder you gave him was a clear indicator that something was wrong. Whether it was him or the bad weather— oh, he didn’t know! He took every bad possibility and ran with it.
He loves his dear wife!
During dinner, he felt that enough was enough. No time was wasted and he asked.
“Are you mad at me? I’m sorry— I came as quick as possible.” Satoru pouts and drops his utensils in an attempt to give you his undivided attention.
You sigh and shake your head.
“I’m just tired.. I cleaned the whole house, ya know?”
“Well.. no one asks you to. I’ve offered a maid before.”
Your quick responses are what save you. At least for a bit.
Satoru’s short trips leave a balance of home time and work. These time intervals give you time on how to confess. Or figure out what to even do.
Before you know it, he’s back from another trip. His slender frame is wrapped around you in your large bed with his hand on your now plush hip. An obvious hint at your body’s accommodation.
“You’re so fluffy now.. you gaining?” he innocently asks as his nose buries itself into your scalp.
Satoru yelps at your pinch.
“Ow! What was that for!?”
“You’re a prick. I don’t know why I bother with you!”
He was just asking..
After fighting yourself, both mentally (anxiety) and physically (morning sickness), you break the news before Satoru steps out for his mission.
“‘Toru.. you’re not gonna eat breakfast?”
“Mm.. nah. My stomach hurts if I eat too early. Maybe I’ll come for dinner tomorrow, ‘kay?”
“Okay..” you mutter as his face leans down to kiss the corner of your mouth.
“What’s with the sad face, hm?”
“I just.. don’t know how to tell you.”
“Tell me what..? You’re divorcing me or somethin’?”
“No.. it feels like I’m lying to you.”
He stays silent. You could basically feel his heartbeat. Stray and loud. He honestly would have loved that breakfast instead of feeling this tension you’ve unknowingly created.
“I’m pregnant. You. Me. We’re pregnant.”
Those passing moments between you both felt like eternal.
Satoru’s sleepy eyes widened and made him freeze.
“What? Ha.. ha-ha.. you’re-“
“I’m sorry.”
“Honey, what? Sorry? Wait, what?”
His words made you more confused. Was he surprised or disappointed?
You looked away. The sun’s rays were shining through the room from the window, but left no warmth to comfort you.
Satoru realized his unintended negligence of comforting you and he quickly wrapped his arms around you.
“I’m sorry, Satoru.”
“Stop saying that.. what are you sorry for?”
“We didn’t want this.. I’m sorry.”
He sighs. His hand cups your cheek and pulls you back to look directly into your eyes.
His blue pearls watched your reactions and counted your every freckle and lash without hesitation.
His wonderful wife had just confessed a life altering situation— and here he was stuttering like a high school boy.
“Who said that, hm? Just ‘cus we didn’t plan it, doesn’t mean I don’t want it. Unless.. you don’t want it?”
You shake your head and he quickly begins to rub your back and whisper sweet nothings into your ear.
It was a done deal.
You carry his sweet baby and get all the rest, take-out, midnight cravings, foot massages, and needy booty-calls you desire, even when he was away on missions.
But this was only on the condition of Satoru keeping his missions to a minimum.
And before you knew it— you’re back home with a baby girl.
Her snow kissed hair illuminated your room. Her hazy blue eyes that made you want to squish her face every time she opened her eyes to curiously watch you. It was all a dream— really, who knew you’d be a mother? And who knew you’d be such a daydream? Not your husband.
Oh, your husband was enamored with you both.
His lovely wife who birthed a whole carbon copy of him and the said carbon copy.
Satoru’s entire time at home was busy with his newborn baby girl.
Your husband would clean up and rub your feet while she slept or fed from you. No wasted time in this household.
Her sweet smell and delicate frame were appreciated by you both.
But especially Satoru. A deep contrast between him and his daughter. He was the strongest and had had to learn being the most delicate. His hands and sharp muscles that destroyed cursed were handling the tiny body that he now loved. Her small wails and yawns softened his sharp gaze. No detail went unnoticed by him. Your daughter’s birthmarks were all caught by Satoru, because he wanted to learn every single thing of your creation.
While being a changed woman, it didn’t feel like a complete new load— you had the help of your husband.
And the only thing you could wait, was for her to grow up.
Oh, how you both dreaded that!
But, as time moved on— it was obvious that your sweet girl was a change that you both needed.
GeGo x Reader Mini Series
Warnings:flirting, adult themes||MDNI
Art: from Pinterest (if anyone knows who drew this please tag them)
Part 2 out now!
“Why couldn’t I just get paired with someone else?” you whine as you throw your head back.
“Just be glad you didn’t end up with Gojo. I think Utahime is the real victim here.” Shoko says while exhaling a stream of smoke from her cigarette.
“But Utahime knows Gojo, I don’t know Geto that well. Something about him makes me nervous.” You admit.
Both Utahime and Shoko stare at you in shock and say, “Geto?”
You roll your eyes at their response. Yes, Geto. The calm, handsome soft spoken guy that sits two rows in front of you in Sociology. You two have only exchanged a few words but ultimately you don’t know each other. Now you’re expected to work as his partner for your class project. You two already arranged to meet up today at 12 and it has you shambles.
“He’s just as childish as Gojo but he hides it a lot better. He knows when to cool it.” Shoko says, putting out her cigarette.
“Exactly, Geto isn’t the obnoxious annoying type unless Gojo brings it out of him so you have nothing to worry about.” Utahime says.
You take a deep breath and say, “Alright, I’ll take both your words for it.”
“Good. You should probably get going, it’s 11:55. Don't want to be late.” Shoko says, looking at the time.
“Shit,” you say under your breath “You’re right. I’ll text you both after. Wish me luck.” You quickly grab your bag and throw it on your shoulder as you take off. You check your phone to remind yourself that you’re meeting him at the water fountain in the middle of the courtyard. You shoot him a quick text to let him know that you might be a few minutes late. He responds immediately saying, ‘no worries.’
You were sure that Geto was a nice person. He never gave you any reason to think that he wasn’t. You just couldn’t read him like you could read other people. He seems more complex and closed off than the average person you encounter, that’s what intimidates you. Hopefully your fears are nothing more than that.
Once you get to the courtyard, you spot him smoking near the fountain. He wore a loose fitting sweater and baggy pants. He sat on the edge of the fountain as he puffs out plums of smoke from his mouth. You slowly make your way over to him, waving as you get closer. He eventually locks eyes on you and smiles.
“Y/N right?” he says as he puts out his cigarette.
“Yeah.” You respond quickly.
“I’m Geto Suguru. It’s nice to officially meet you.” He holds out his hand in front of you, waiting for you to grab it.
You grab his hand and shake it saying, “Nice to meet you, Geto.”
“You have a firm handshake like a general.” He says in his usual soft voice.
You slowly take your hand out of his and say, “Okay?”
What the fuck does that mean and how do I even respond to that? You two stood in awkward silence as he held that closed mouth grin on his face.
“It seems like you're thinking hard about what I just said.” He interjects.
“No, not really. I’ve just never been compared to a general so soon in a conversation.” You say honestly.
He lets out a single laugh as he stands up. You knew he was tall but you didn't realize just how much he towers over you. He had to be at least 6’2.
“Well, it was a compliment.” He says as you both start walking. You weren’t sure where you guys were headed but you followed him.
You flash him a face of doubt and say, “Sure it was. Where are we headed?
“To get food. It’s time for lunch. While we eat we can discuss the topic of our project. Is that cool?” He asks.
“Yea, of course.” You say.
You began your walk to the food court. Geto was surprisingly easy to talk to. He asked you what your major was, why you chose school in Japan, and where you used to live before moving here. He seems like he wanted to know more about you. He questioned you the entire time it took to order the food.
“And what about you? What’s your major?” You ask him as you both take a seat at a table.
“Child Psychology and Development. I enjoy working with kids.” He says as he breaks his chopsticks.
“Really? I wouldn't have guessed that. That’s amazing, Geto. You’re going to make a great psychologist.”
Every feeling of intimidation you had for him melted away the more you got to know him. He was actually so sweet and kind…that is until Gojo arrives.
“Heeyyy, I know you. You’re the foreigner that’s in our Sociology class. Did you two get paired up together?” Gojo asks as he sits down at our table
“Yea, we did. My name is Y/N by the way, not the foreigner.” You snap.
Gojo smiles and says, “Yes ma’am. Miss. Y/N ma’am.”
He salutes to you which causes Geto to hold in his laugh. Great, that’s the second military comparison you've gotten in the last hour. You roll your eyes, pretending that it isn't funny. The joke itself was stupid but you did think it was funny how Gojo and Geto think and say similar things.
“Enough Satoru, don’t pick on her. She has to like me if we’re going to be partners.” Geto says as he stares at you.
“You already know that she likes you. The way she stares at you in class is a dead giveaway.” Gojo says as he too locks eyes on you.
They were putting you on the spot. Your heart began racing as they waited for you to say something. How does he even know that you stare at him? Does he watch you in class?
“That’s a bold assumption to make. How would you know that I stare at him? Are you staring at me during class?” You say turning the tables on the white haired man sitting before you.
Geto draws his attention on Gojo waiting for him to rebuttal. He just smiles and says, “I like this girl, Geto. You got lucky. I’m stuck working with Utahime and she’s no fun unless we’re drinking.” He pouts.
You three spend lunch together, talking about literally everything else but the project. Gojo is to blame for that. Even though no work got done, you were able to get a good sense of who they are. They were exactly how Utahime and Shoko described them but you felt another vibe from them. You couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was but they both seemed very…forward towards you. Gojo left at some point in the conversation, leaving you and Geto alone again.
“Are you doing anything tomorrow tonight?” Geto asks, snapping you out contemplation.
“No, just studying. Why what's up?”
“You should come over to work on the project. Gojo will be at Utahime and Shoko’s place so he won't distract us.”
“Sure, I’ll be there. Should I bring anything?” You ask.
“Just yourself is fine.” He states.
“Okay, I’ll see you then. I’ve got to head to my next class.” You say as you grab your things from the table.
“Have fun. I’ll text you.” He says as he places his headphones on his ears. He waves at you as you make your way to the exit.
*******************************************************
After class, you immediately text Shoko and Utahime in a group chat.
You: hey…. Geto invited me to his place tomorrow night to work on the project and he said that he will text me????
Hime: text you???
Shoko: about what???
You: IDK!! If I'm coming over tomorrow to work on the project why would he need to text me?
Hime: I think Geto is interested in you…
Shoko: yea i second that, he’s not a big texter.
You couldn't believe the messages you were reading. It’s not that you don’t think Geto would find you attractive, it just seems like all of this was coming out of nowhere.
You: I don't know how to respond to this….
You lock your phone and put it in your pocket. In this moment, you had to be honest with yourself. Are you going to be able to control yourself when you go over to his place tomorrow? Gojo was correct about you staring at Geto in class. You did think he was hot, in fact you thought both of them were hot. But you made a promise to yourself that you weren’t getting involved with anymore fuckboys because you tend to get lost in the thrill of it. You love giving fuck boys a taste of their own medcine. You’d fuck them and ghost them just like they’ve done to countless of women. However, you didn’t want to play that game with either of the boys since they are friends with Shoko and Utahime. You weren’t looking to date either considering that you are just here for school.
“Y/N!! You on the way home?” You hear someone yell from behind you.
You turn around to see Gojo walking towards you.
“Yea, I’m done for today.” You answer.
“Sweet, me too. You like boba? I was just going to get some if you wanna tag along?.” he offers.
“Ooo, I love boba. How far is it?”
“It’s like a 20 minute walk away from here.”
“Okay sure! Let's go.”
You should have said no to him but it's too late to change your answer now. You start walking off campus with Gojo.
“Do you think Geto is hot? Be honest! I won’t tell him.” He interjects.
He’s so forward!
“You didn’t answer my question from earlier about you watching me in class. Until you answer that I’m not saying anything.”
“Alright, I’ll bite. I’m an observant guy. I see everything. I’ve even caught youlooking at me from time to time but that was in the beginning of the year. You stopped once you became friends with Shoko and Utahime. Why is that?” He says staring you down through his shades.
You’re caught. Everything he said is true. Out of respect for Shoko and Utahime, your little crush on them diminished. You don’t want them to think you had only become friends with them just to get to Gojo and Geto. But Gojo doesn’t need to know that.
“I thought you two seemed cool and I like the way you both dress. I can’t help but to stare if the fit goes hard.” You partially lie. Everyone knows you love fashion so this wasn’t a bad cover up.
“You sure about that?” He persists.
“Positive.” You stand 10 toes down.
“Well, Geto and I share a lot of things. So uh, don’t be nervous to ask us for anything.” He says with a sly look on his face. “Clothes and accessories, I mean.”
What the fuck is he getting at right now?
This was a cute fluff introduction for what is to come…. And let me just say yall are in for something cute lol
Part TWO out now!!
let me know if you’d like to be added to the taglist in the comments ❤️
Please do not steal or alter my writings ©️
Nerdjo x Reader
Warning: sexual tension, mild smut descriptions|| MDNI
“Ooo, that’s not good.” Gojo says looking at your test grade as you wallow in disappointment at the table.
This is the second math test in a row that you’ve scored a 70/100 on. If you don’t ace the next one, your parents aren’t going to pay for you to go to Osaka this summer.
“Gojo, I don’t know what to do. I literally have perfect grades in every other subject. Why does math have to be so hard?” You whine into the table.
“You shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, prez.” He says as he rolls up your test and hits you on the back of the head with it. You lift your head off the table and sit up, looking up at Gojo’s blue eyes as he stands next to you.
You grab your test from him and say, “I need to start studying for the next test TONIGHT.”
Gojo places his hand on the back of his neck and takes a breath. He wanted to ask you if you wanted him to tutor you, but he was too nervous you’d say no. You are the president of the student council and Gojo is your vice president. You’re pretty popular due to you being so heavily involved with extracurricular activities at your university. Gojo is the smartest in the school but not as popular as you since he kept to himself most of the time. Most people were intimidated by him. When you both got elected, he knew that was the only way he’d get to talk to you. You two often saw each other throughout the week and had lunch together regularly but you’ve never had a conversation outside of student council.
“I….I can help you study. If you want me to. I’m not busy tonight.” He says quietly.
“Would you? You can stay over for dinner and everything!” You exclaimed.
“Yea, sure.” Gojo says trying to be normal about the fact that he’s going over to his crushes house.
“YES! I’m gonna pass for sure this time.” You wrap your arms around his tall frame and frantically say, “thankyouthankyouthankyou.”
The apples of Gojo’s cheeks turn pink at the sudden physical contact with you. You look up at him realizing he was startled by you hugging him and let go.
“Sorry, I should’ve asked first.” You say backing from him.
You didn’t realize his body was so…solid. From that hug alone, you felt how toned his stomach was. Knowing that made you pretty curious.
“N-no, it’s okay.” He says trying to compose himself.
“Cool, do you have any more classes today? If not, we can head over to mine now. I’d hate to just have you over to study.”
“I don’t have anything else today. It'd be fun to finally hang outside of school.” He says as he packs his bag.
“Great! I think this is the beginning of a wonderful friendship, Gojo. Don’t you?” You say knowing damn well it’ll make him blush.
“That is, if we have anything in common.” He teases back to your surprise. You both start walking out of the board room, walking side by side, heading to the train station.
“Of course we do! We’re in the student council together, which means we should have something in common. Do you read manga?”
“Nooope.” He sings.
“Anime?”
“Eh, I used to watch but not since I started college.”
“….music? You have to listen to music…” you say flashing him a face of disgust as you reach the station. You get in front of him to lead him to your train.
“Of course, I listen to music, Y/N. But It wouldn’t be anything you’d like…. I like sweets though.” He says getting out his card to swipe through the gates.
“Eating sweets isn’t a hobby…” you swipe your card to get through the gates. It’s crowded as usual. You grab his hand, making sure you don’t lose him in the sea of people. His hands were big and soft, the tips of his fingers a bit calloused. You rushed on the train holding Gojo’s hand as the doors opened. The crowd of people push you both toward the window.
“Ugh, I can’t believe how cramped this is.” You say trying to adjust yourself not realizing your butt is brushing up against Gojo’s crotch. He couldn’t begin to fathom how this was happening in broad daylight. His face turned bright red.
“Y/N, pl-please turn around. I can’t…” he mumbles in your ear.
You look down, realizing just how close you were to him. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t like how flustered you made him. You never notice him get like this over you but yet again you guys had never hung out. He places his hand against the wall of the train, creating the smallest space for you.
“Ahhh, I’m sorry Gojo.” You say turning to face him.
“It’s fine, not your fault.” He says trying his hardest to play it off.
You two didn’t talk much on the train ride to your place. It was filled with sexual tension though. You two were so close that whenever Gojo looked down, he got a great view of your breasts. When you looked up, you were met with a view of his sharp jawline and collarbones. You hoped the train would make a hard stop so that he would move closer.
“This is my stop, let’s go.” You say leading him off the train.
Once you get off the train and leave the station, you propose that you stop at the convenience store near your place. Gojo agrees and you both head in.
“Get anything you want, I got you.” You say as you look at the shelves.
He nods and starts to look around. You grab a few snacks and drinks and walk up to the counter to check out. Gojo comes up behind you and places his hand full of things on the counter. It was all sweets… damn he was not kidding. You pay for everything and he grabs the bag from the clerk.
“Thanks.” He says as you two start walking to your apartment.
“You're welcome. Thank you for asking to tutor me. My apartment is right up here. I’m on the 4th floor.” You say as you walk up the stairs with him following you.
Once you get to your place, you both take your shoes off at the door and get comfortable in the living room. He spread out all the snacks on the table as if they were all on display.
“Can I get you something to drink? Tea?” You ask.
“Yea, oolong is good. Do you live alone?” He asks, sitting on the ground.
“Yea, I do. My family lives out of the country while I go to school here. I’m sure you know I’m a foreigner by my appearance, that’s not much of a shock.”
“That’s cool. Your place is really cozy. I wouldn’t have imagined it to look like this.” He says as he takes a bite out of whatever snack he chose.
“You’ve imagined what my apartment looks like?” You say.
“You’re the prettiest girl in our graduating class, Y/N. Every guy has thought about what the inside of your apartment looks like.” He says nonchalantly.
You look up from the tea that you’re preparing, shocked that he said that to you. Was this the same guy that was blushing from you giving him a hug earlier? He gets up from the floor and smirks at you.
“Speechless? I don’t know why… you are on every guy's mind right now.” He says as he walks over to the kitchen.
He gets directly behind you, pressing the bulge in his pants on your ass. You couldn’t even pretend to understand where this confidence came from. You bite your lip in anticipation, waiting to see what his next move is.
“I fear that you’ve been on my mind the most.”
Masterlist
Part two
Please don’t alter or steal my writing ©️