HAVEN || SATORU GOJO

XXVI

VERDANT LEAVES BASKED IN THE GENTLE SUNLIGHT, their edges kissed by a touch of translucence. The interplay of light and shadow created a myriad of subtle shades, from the palest lime to the deepest emerald. The breeze meandered through the leaves, a gentle chorus of whispers ensued, eluding serenity to the space, leaves gently swayed, casting ever-changing shadows upon the ground.

The quiet rustling of leaves and the solace of the summer sun.

There was a light tune of humming as a young girl had chuckled. "They really are hardworking."

"Yo." The laidback and nonchalant brunette had waved, about to light a cigarette but putting it away. "What? Don't let me stop you." Rieka grinned. The second year had only scoffed, but it was a playful one. Shoko Ieiri never was seen with a hateful heart nor a loving one toward anyone.

The closest she had got to the latter were the two boys that were sleeping beside her .. and the upperclassman standing in front.

"Yeah right. But smoking and then eating leaves a bad taste in my mouth." The second year shrugged.

Meanwhile, the third year student had sat herself on the grass, pulling out a box of shrimp chips for her counterpart. It was almost scary how Rieka was able to pick up on each of their likes and dislikes in food, mainly by treating them out for meals as often as she could in between the intervals of time in which they were gone.

Shoko and Gojo had opposite preferences. The girl liked alcohol, smoking and savory things, the boy disliking alcohol and smoking, inclining sweet things to stimulate his brain more.

Meanwhile, Suguru was the easiest, always open to trying new things. Rieka was the same way, more or less the two of them were rather similar.

"Shouldn't you be napping away too?" Rieka raised a brow, nibbling on a Pockey stick.

The pair who proclaimed themselves as the strongest had been slumped ever since they got back from their mission in Shinjuku .. it was also after they were punished for starting a fire that they left behind, failing to extinguish.

Their punishment?

Cleaning the whole main building from the very top, down to the very bottom without the use of cursed energy. It was a very Yaga-like discipline to enforce.

"I heard that you've been interning night shifts. It won't kill to get some shut-eye."

Shoko chuckled. It was light, airy almost. "Next to these two?"

Rieka smiled almost innocently, her ears falling deaf to the rambunctious snoring that the boys behind them exhibited. So loud that it had frightened away any birds or squirrels in the nearby trees surrounding them.

But it was clear they were worn out. Their uniforms were coated in layers of dust and dirt, so much so that the circular sunglasses that Gojo always worn could hardly be peered through as ashen grey dredged the surface.

The slumbering boy had naturally shifted toward Rieka's touch as her knuckle grazed his skin to remove the glasses.

"If not next to them then next to me. Taking a nap by me wouldn't kill you, would it? Or is that too embarrassing to be caught relying on your senpai?" The caramel eyed girl had mused.

Shoko was a very independent student. Not that she couldn't work with her fellow second-years, but rather their desires and goals differed. With the ability that she was born with, the girl wanted to become a doctor. Not for some selfless reason or desire to help others .. but merely to find a fitting purpose in her life.

The medical student, although reluctant had sighed, knowing that Rieka was relentless. Especially with the saintly soft smile that she always wore to get her way.