𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 - zhongli!reader x jjk

𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯

"CAN I ask where we're going?" [name] yawned, just slightly. an archon doesn't need sleep- but ever since she'd faked her death, every once in a while, she could feel her gnosis falter, as if sending her a signal- 'pretend to be mortal, and get some rest.' 

she couldn't. even after xiao offered to watch over her, or bring her some of ganyu's qingxin tea, she just couldn't close her eyes. 

the screams of the people of khaneri'ah would never let her rest. nor would guizhong's bloody, smiling face. 

"we're meeting masamichi-san, [name]-sama." ijichi's voice was squeaky, as he nervously glanced between the road and the rear-view mirror. "i believe you and gojo-san are discussing the best course of action for itadori-kun during the exchange event." 

"exchange event?" her curious eyes locked onto gojo, who was mindlessly scrolling on his phone. "satoru, what is this 'exchange event'?"

"did i not tell you?" gojo replied absentmindedly. [name] pried his phone out of his hands, forcing the lanky man to actually pay attention to her. "once a year, the tokyo branch of jujutsu high meets with its kyoto sister school, and we hold a festival of sorts, where we let the kids compete against each other." 

he huffed childishly, crossing his legs. "yaga probably wants to tell me that letting itadori participate isn't a good idea, since he died once and all." [name]'s eye twitched, remembering the conversation she'd had with sukuna. "but i couldn't agree less. i think yuuji-kun needs to participate in order to advance- he hasn't fought anyone other than cursed spirits and light spars so far. i know the kyoto kids won't take it easy on him." 

[name] hummed in agreement, handing the phone back to gojo, who eagerly clicked it on once more. 

but before he could open a game, he froze for just a second, peering out the window, before sneaking a look at [name], who was already looking back at him. her golden brown eyes made him shiver, but she ignored it, and merely spoke calmly- "'ijichi. stop the car." 

"eh? like- like right here?"

"listen to her, ijichi-kun." gojo backed the archon up, stretching his limbs slightly, and wincing when he heard his back crack. 

"uh... this isn't some sort of trick, is it? if i leave, are you going to chase me down and hit me?!" 

"no, ijichi." [name] smiled gently, opening the door of the car. "i'll make sure he doesn't. go on- head to masamichi-san, and let him know we'll be a bit late." 

ijichi stared at the archon and the sorcerer strangely, but obliged, speeding off into the distance. 

"i guess we're popular targets." gojo whistled, putting a hand on his knee as he stretched some more. 

"don't flatter yourself." [name] replied, tying her hair into its typical low ponytail, "before, it may have been you. but now, be self aware, and just admit that i'm the more popular target between the two of us."