Call My Name | 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪

- 13 -

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𝟙𝕒𝕞 𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕤

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A/N: Sorry it took a little bit for me to update again--a month--I hope you enjoy this chapter. All they do is talk pretty much.

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The sun was nearly set by the time Maki returns home. The fading light illuminated the house just bright enough so it wasn't impossible to see. Shadows made by the furniture were long and slowly fading into each other.

She had run the rest of the way because she felt like it, and it helped expel the nervous energy she kept while just interacting with Nobara most of the day. It wasn't a long run, and it helps to get her blood pumping at least a little. She continues to think of Nobara who was probably still on her way back to her house.

It made her angry and concerned when she thinks about how easily Nobara's mother had sent her to walk her home. She seemed to care more about the well-being of a stranger (though Maki could tell the concern was insincere) rather than her own daughter who she didn't think twice about sending out.

She takes off her shoes softly at the mat by the door, one foot on the heel of the other. She doesn't want to notify anyone in the house she just returned. Though there's no real reason why she does it, it's not like there are any real consequences for her returning at this time.

She pulls her phone out right away to text Nobara that she got home making sure airplane mode is off so her texts send. She had turned it on in the first place to conserve battery cause she left her cord at home. It's still around 13% but she'll just send this text, and charge it in a minute. When she does send it, her phone lets texts go through, it seems Megumi had texted her a few times. She shrugs it off surely she'll read it later. Can't have been that important.

Nobara was visibly tired by the time they changed directions, but it's still likely she'll get a reply within ten minutes. She should take a quick shower before then.

Maki:
I just got home, let me know when you do

After putting her phone in her back pocket she turns around, and her body feels as though a quick sharp shock hit her body. Her hand comes up palm squeezing her shirt and eyes widen. She freezes when she sees Gojo in the doorway behind her because she didn't even notice anyone was there. She wouldn't have guessed there was someone on the entire first floor at all.

"Holy shit!" She exclaims, and then, "You scared the living shit out of me."

She takes a deep breath, and brings her hand down almost in relief, she's expecting some kind of petty remark, or something to indicate he was amused, but nothing comes. He looks at her with a completely indiscernible expression on his face, but Maki is just waiting for him to speak because for a second her relief subsides and she feels like this is the moment where he gets sick of her bullshit.

"I don't have any restrictions with you, because I think they actually do the opposite of what they're intended for," He says lifting himself from the doorframe, and she sees his face more clearly. It occurs to her that he doesn't have his glasses on. "Especially with a kid like you."

She doesn't pretend to think she doesn't know what he means by that.

"It would be considerate of you to let one of us know where you were."

Instead of saying a single word, Maki only nods a yes. Then she feels like that's not enough, "Uh yeah, I will next time."

Trying to be nonchalant, as if she didn't but as always he sees right through her. Not that it was even hard this time since she was so spooked from his appearance behind her like a fucking ghost. She's not even angry right now, she knows this confrontation isn't unwarranted. Since she was gone the entire day and didn't tell anyone. But it's not like anyone contacted her, maybe they knew she would come back. Wait...was that what Megumi's texts were about?