Annoying At Its Finest

fifteen

A week passed by, and Gojo Satoru was still the same. He receives missions through text, but he wouldn't even reply anything. Yaga would just get a report from the ones who called for the sorcerers that it was done.

He was laughing at the tv, but he never really went outside except for missions. After investing time on Utahime, he actually really had an idea why that happened. He took the wrong topic to joke around just like she said. Thinking back, they never really had any serious talks about what they are. They were dating, but that was it. No words were said about whether or not they were serious. Serious serious, not just going on dates. Sure they were sweet, and they have fun, but he realized that there is a need for affirmation.

For eight months being together, closing in on nine, they haven't even said if they like each other. Let alone love.

He sighed and continued watching a baseball game she loves.

His phone beeped with a message. He groaned, thinking it was another mission. But on his lockscreen, Utahime's name flashed on screen.

"I'm in Tokyo," he read aloud.

In a split second, the couch was left alone. He was gone.

He was panting. He wasn't even running. He was breathing quickly because of how nervous he felt as he scanned the crowd in the train station.

A scarred woman finally came into view. Instantly, everyone else's face blurred, and she came in focus. She was wearing her work outfit with her eyes on her phone.

Feeling someone's presence, Utahime looked up, and the weight on his shoulder was lifted. He was wearing his pajamas with cats. He looked quite silly that even if she was mad, she couldn't help but let out a laugh.

With soft, hesitant steps, he walked closer to her.

"Why are you here?" he croaked.

"The principal called me."

"What? They said they wouldn't call you if I did my missions. I did my missions!"

"I'm kidding. Shoko said you were moping."

His head dropped down. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I shouldn't have had joked around too much."

Utahime crossed her arms and said, "And?"

He fidgeted with his fingers. "Fake proposing."

"And?"

"Uh... everything."

"Be specific."

This was hellish.

"I don't know."

"You made me come here, you fool."

"You don't want to be here?" His happiness vanished.

"Yes. You made everyone around you worried."

"If you want to leave, just leave."

"I missed you, you know. I know I'm the one who said we need to break up, but-"

He bawled. "Utahime," he cried. She was taken aback by seeing him in tears. Utahime doesn't want to attract strangers' attention, so she panicked. Her hands tapped his shoulders lightly.

"Hey, we're still in public!"

People all over were glancing at them. It looked like she made him cry.

"I'm sorry," he said while still crying. "I won't ever joke around again."

"Stop crying, people will have the wrong idea!"

"Can't help it!"

He cried louder.

"Hey, hey!"

He woke up. It was a dream.

"Satoru!" Shoko yelled.

"Shoko?"

"What the hell are you doing here? You can't handle alcohol."

Shoko who was driving past a bar caught him entering. She stopped right away and dashed inside. Her eyes landed on a tall, white-haired male who kept staring at a shot glass in front of him.

"I'm playing a game where I try to drink alcohol without getting drunk," he replied.

"That game's award is hungover tomorrow."

"Can't be too bad, right?"

"Last time you drank, you accidentally went out of Japan." She settled her hands on her hips. "And you didn't even teleport, you bought a plane ticket."

"South Korea was a good place, you know. But it has a lot of spicy food."

Shoko sat on the stool beside him, signaling the bartender for a drink. "I assume you're here because of a very dear friend of mine?"

"Nanami?"

"No."

"Mei mei?"

"No."

"Fine."

Silence filled their little spot on the side. It was painfully quiet since they were in a bar.

He cursed. "I'm going to drink." He drank the contents of the shot glass and hissed. "I forgot what alcohol tasted like. You know, she loves this. She told me what it's called. She drank this and clung to me all night. Good times."

It seems that he's talking through the alcohol seeping down his throat.

Her order arrived, and she drank it in one go too. "I don't know what to tell you."

"Don't tell me anything then. If you tell me about her, I'll probably cry."

"This is really not a good color on you."

He chuckled and said, "Maki said the same thing."

"Your students haven't seen you in one week."

"In school. They come over all the time."

She punched his shoulder lightly. "Everyone is worried. This is really new. We don't know how to deal with this version of you."

"Heartbroken version?"

"Wow, you admitted!" she exclaimed, genuinely shocked of how he's very honest. He doesn't mince his words even before, but doing that when he's being emotional was strange.

"Are you trying to move on?" she asked. Glasses kept coming and coming. He seemed to want to forget with every shot, but couldn't, so he tries again.

"I do... not know." He said and hummed. When he's drunk, he gets more shameless. This was a different kinda drunk.

She didn't know what to say, and he didn't know what to hear. But the mere presence of someone he's been friends with through hell and more hellish events was comforting.

After a while, Shoko excused herself shortly to go outside and smoke. With his companion gone, those who have been eyeing him was alerted.

"Hi," a flirty tone of voice came from behind him. He slowly turned and focused his heavy-lidded eyes on who spoke. It was a very blurry image. There was a hint of black and white. His drunk mind immediately thought of her.

"'Hime?" he asked.

Flirty, annoying girl thought it was a pet name and giggled. So maddening.

"Yes?"

"Your voice is high pitched though?"

"Why get so drunk if you can't even recognize people, you idiot!"

"Wow, your voice got back to normal."