the sun in the sky | gojo satoru ✔

continuous fear

The first and only time she had seen Gojo Satoru was when she was cleaning the floors outside his room. She remembered the afternoon sun rays, the ringing crickets, the sound of the koi fish swimming in the pond, dancing harmoniously.

He looked stern when he spotted her, almost bored. He didn't even take a mere second before he looked away again.

She was a maid. She knew that as a maid, she was not worth Gojo Satoru's time.

But that didn't stop her from noticing the freedom and intensity of his eyes.

That was four months ago.

Her hand trembled as she held her knuckles over the door. Just don't mess up. Don't make any mistakes. Don't make any mistakes, and you won't end up with the same fate. You won't crumble like those two, and those before them.

Just don't make a single mistake.

She knocked.

" Y-Young master," it tasted foreign on her tongue. It was the first time she had ever addressed him out loud. "I have," she swallowed. "I have your supper."

The little girl was so, so frightened.

A bitter silence was her answer.

That scared her.

Would repeating it be suffice? Would it be rude? Yes, it would most definitely be rude. I most certainly cannot bicker the young heir.

She clenched the wooden tray, but immediately stopped, fearing that she may harm his meal. She could not. She absolutely could not.

Then, to her surprise but dread, he spoke from inside. "Come in."

When she slid the door open, all she caught of him was a blue of his snow-white hair, his lower body tucked underneath his futon cover, before she looked away. She didn't want to look at him in the eye, not after being assigned to such a risky matter.

After she bowed, she carefully brought the tray over to him. The young girl bowed once again, at his side. She felt small, so dearly small, compared to Gojo Satoru. She couldn't see him— she didn't want to— but his presence was enough to completely shut her down. Stay quiet. Don't make a sound. If you make a mistake, Akiyama-san will not be pleased.

He placed a book down, and it was in her line of sight enough for her to see the book.

It was useless even to look. For the young girl could not read. Not a single word, not a single letter. She never learned. To her, those 'words' looked like random curved and crossed lines.

She wondered, however—was it a joy to read? She heard older maids discuss such novels, talking about them as if they were made of gold. As if it was so fascinating .

Would she, this young, small, nimble girl, also have the delight of such fascination?

There was no way of figuring it out.

Her ears perked up at the sound of something knocking—a small knock. A tapping noise. It didn't sound like eating in her ears.

Her blood ran cold. Was something . . wrong?

"You," she heard him speak. His voice was young, whole but nevertheless intimidating. He froze her blood.

Shakily, she responded. "Y-Yes?"

A pause, then, "Are you ever going to leave?"

She froze. Stupid. Dumb, stupid, dumb, stupid! I'm so stupid!

"O-Of course. I-I apologize." she rushed, trying to level out the fear in her voice. Remember, respect. Her lips parted again, "P-Please enjoy your meal." She bowed at his side before standing up and edging towards the door. Before she closed it on her way out, she bowed once again, eyes closed.

She slowly shut the door.

A few steps away from his room, she collapsed onto her knees.

She was going to have to do this every, single, day.

Maybe for even the rest of her life.