Tit for Tat (GojoHime) - Part 1

A Night with Michizane Sugawara

By the time the elevator spat out Nanami Kento in front of his apartment, Gojo's head was at least halfway back to normal. Which was fortuitous, because Nanami looked pissed-off and determined at the same time; that he had cut short his sacred time of leisure to come here was ample reason to expect more than just a mild dressing down.

"Oh look, it's Nanami," Gojo feigned surprise, though the other man knew his energy signature had given him away as soon as he had entered the building, "so nice of you to join my party!"

Nanami was wearing his usual boring business attire, though it was already past 10pm. Gojo was certain that the Grade 1 Sorcerer used Cursed Energy to keep his suits wrinkle free, his tie straight, and his hair parted neatly. That alone wasn't noteworthy, many sorcerers used their powers for vanity's sake, but why in the world did his junior expend energy to look like an unfashionable, dull 50 year old?

"Gojo-san," Nanami bowed. "Congratulations on your birthday. I am honored to see you on such an important day of your life."

Oh pleeeease, Gojo scoffed at the formality. And then he noticed the barely hidden concern in Nanami's eyes when they settled on Utahime behind him and was taken aback by the flash of anger he felt.

Maybe his head wasn't halfway back to normal after all. He just didn't feel like his usual unflappable self, which irritated him greatly.

All day, things had felt... brittle, as if the world of gravity and matter around him was only barely keeping it together, hovering at the brink of dissolving into a shower of atoms if he let his guard down. No, of course he had not fled to Kyto Tech to see Utahime - how could he have expected to meet anyone at this hour? He had teleported there because behind the schools' veils, the swirling chaos of the world dimmed a little and he could breathe more freely.

It was unexpected, but finding her doing overtime had been a huge relief, almost like a physical weight was taken off his shoulders. Going out drinking with Utahime as if there was nothing to worry about was exactly what he needed on this cursed day. She was someone he could trust, she had no designs on him, and wouldn't take advantage of his temporary instability.

The rest that had happened between them was even more unexpected, and he didn't know yet how to feel about it. Recognizing and categorizing emotions was the one thing he wasn't good at, so he tried to avoid trying in general.

"Are you alright, Utahime Senpai?" Nanami asked, his brows drawing together as he took in her slightly disheveled appearance.

"Yes, Nanami-san, not to worry," Utahime stepped forward, throwing Gojo a wide-eyed, spooked look from the side. "I am glad you are here."

Gojo frowned at her. Why was she acting like he was the villain? Had he forced her to do anything she didn't want?

He was the one who felt at a disadvantage. He had not expected Utahime to agree to his suggestion in a million years. She was a woman who was both endearingly transparent with a skin that changed color with every emotion she felt and at the same time brutally honest as long as the rules of politeness allowed it. His suggestion that he would do what she asked for sexual favors from her was an insult to someone as upright as her, deliberately made because Gojo did not like to be manipulated, not by anyone. Naturally, he had expected a hissyfit and an attempt to slap him. He had even considered turning off his Infinity just to give her the satisfaction of actually leaving a mark on his face.

But she had said yes.

Despite his surprise, and despite the immediate certainty that she was not sincere, that she was a smart woman who had easily surmised that his ultimate goal today was to evade his family whatever was offered to persuade him otherwise, he had felt a rush of fluttering excitement. Like a bloody teenager.