𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗔𝗚𝗘

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 - ALONE FOR NOW

Unscathed we returned to the school, side by side we walked under the archway and disappeared from the sight of the considerate window that drove us to the assignments location and back.

"Welcome back! How was it? Any new or cool abilities?" Cheerily greeted by the white haired man I would call my teacher, he situated himself between the two of us. A smile on his prideful face and a arrogant stride in his steps, I could recognize it anywhere. "Nope." Dismay laced my tone and my shoulders fell in a tired unhappiness, weakness painted my careless posture and my eyes grew sorrowful. I was behind on everything, wasn't I?

"Nothing? Not a spark?" He kept asking to be sure of my answer and all I could do was nod in a dismal silence. The ink-eyed boy beside me glanced my way ignoring the downturned atmosphere. "I'm sure she'll figure out her jujutsu soon, I don't have a doubt for that." He looked back to Gojo with a confident tone imbedded in his words, he had faith in me.

"Well I'm just as sure." The man sent me a thumbs up and all I could do was weakly smile at him, my eyes elsewhere. "She looks tired? You didn't make her do your part of the mission did you?" A voice much more strict and an stable than the white haired teachers cheery and lively tone had spoke between our silence.

Maki, striding tally and unamused towards us carried her staff with confidence and accusingly pointed it towards the boy. He flinched back and shook his head quickly, denying her statement with an anxious colour paling him. "No, of course not!" He responded quickly his words tumbling out without a thought. "I didn't make her do anything she didn't — or I didn't want her to do." He told her with a shaky caution but regained his composure quickly. "Missions are dangerous and they should be taken seriously — you've probably said that..."

"It was just a joke." She said unfazed. Yuuta looked at her, freezing in place before blinking a few times in a state of loss. He didn't say more than an apology for his obliviousness, Maki shook her head a little at his defense and rolled her eyes incautiously and let out a huff turning her attention to me briefly.

"(Y/N), you up for a mission?"

"What...?" I turned my head really fast, I could almost feel the pressure build up in my ears from how abrupt and quick I whipped my head to the side. I looked with a anxious curiosity that voice more that my stammered words had."Don't worry it's not that important." Gojo shook his hands as if wiping away my sudden nervousness. It hadn't done much. "I still don't know — " I cleared my throat pausing to think up my next few words of protest. Maki took a step my way and hit the back of my head with her staff,  "Have a little confidence! Stop doubting yourself... I know you're not really good with much, but at least act like it."

"Thanks..." I mumbled at her half-insult, taking a moment to weakly narrow my eyes her way with a sarcastic tone carried in my voice. "It's not today so you have time to take a break — but tomorrow, it's up in early for you!" Gojo quickly added in an attempt to relieve, but it hadn't done anything, really. "You should take up the offer." From beside me, Yuuta spoke with a shrug, his eyes elsewhere briefly. "It'll really do you some good if you're looking to improve..."

Quietly conflicted I debated with a mix of dubious and faithful thoughts. Eventually I let out a huff, "Fine..."

————

I didn't expect the morning to arrive so quickly, and I definitely wasn't very happy with it.

Priorities we're instantly settled on my shoulders, slowly pushing me down until I'd eventually collapse — I just hoped all that wasn't going to happen today, I wasn't exactly looking forward to making a fool out of myself.

For what felt like the trillionth sigh of displeasure I hugged myself in the cool morning weather, the sun rising above the horizon and beginning to paint the sky a cerulean in exchange for the citrusy orange and yellows. I looked back down, keeping my eyes on the ground in a shameful manner, I had stood alone in a thick and awkward silence, unsure of what exactly I should expect. That was until I remembered the words I wasn't so assured of a few days ago. Inconsistence is to be expected, that's the only thing you can truly anticipate.

I narrowed my eyes at the uneasy feeling building up in my stomach. I wanted to turn back and go hide in the room I had enjoyed hiding in for as long as I was permitted to. The comfort of my sheets spread a relaxing warmth through every muscle and bone just before a wave of relief ran up my spine and I'd eventually drift off... rocks slowly dragged across the ground, a plastic, black tire drew across the asphalt road with crunches. A midnight black car pulled up in front of me, able to fit at least five and windows tinted so greatly I couldn't see who was driving. I stared at the car until I remember I was supposed to get in and go on my lonely way... a mission shouting my name until I'd turn to it.

"(L/N)...?" I nodded settling into the backseat with a respectful posture. The man up front nodded back at me before staring back at the road again. He pulled out onto a long black road and continued for quite a while, both of us in silence. I stared solemnly about the window a winding pool of doubt filled my stomach like a lazy river I used to swim in at water parks when I was young. With a blank look I but my lip and watched the many structures pass by as well as the people who lived within them.

Up front, I could hear the clearing of a throat and turned my attention to the front seat. "Alone today?" He asked glancing into the rear-view mirror before back to the long and winding road before us. A journey before us settled itself on the long asphalt roads full of chaotic adventure.

"Yeah, it's just me..."