Unmatched | ᴍᴀʜɪᴛᴏ

Chapter 15

Gojo had once said that I had a "certain spirit" about me. This kept me up many nights and was the content of many of my daydreams. Was this why he was so quick to react to Itadori's request to look out for me?

I tried my best not to think about it for too much because I knew that the longer I thought about it, the more I would have to face how much he had trusted me. I felt like Nanami hadn't trusted me to begin with. He hadn't answered any of my questions, and he had trained me only when he had to. I wondered what he would tell Gojo if I would be gone. If.

I didn't know what to do yet. The closer I got to finding the curse with the patchwork face, the more nervous I got. What if he had no idea what I was talking about? What if I had been so focused on him that I imagined him being behind everything. What if he would kill me?

Summer was slowly coming to an end. The days were shorter but still warm enough to train outside. The more days passed without Sukuna showing himself, the more worried I got that he actually wouldn't come back. Had I ruined my best and only chance of finding answers once and for all?

Against all odds, Itadori was the same. We were the same. The only difference now was that he had asked me to tell him when Sukuna had switched with him. I promised, but it hadn't happened. Itadori kept coming to my room, he had finished his new mangas, I had bought him new ones. We were watching movies, just the two of us or with the other students. Fushiguro was annoyed by both of us and filled his free time with training. Kugisaki took him shopping sometimes, which he hated. Sometimes Itadori joined them, too, and Fushiguro would be fine.

It was a rainy day, so there was little for us to do. Gojo was away again, this time at the Kyoto school. He hadn't told us much. Kugisaki and I were watching a movie when Fushiguro burst into the room, dripping wet. His uniform stuck to his body, and his hair to his face. I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. Before either Kugisaki or I could say anything, Itadori appeared behind Fushiguro, equally wet. But he was wearing the brightest grin.

"Inumaki-senpai is fighting Maki-san," Itadori announced, excited.

Kugisaki and I jumped up. It was a rare occasion to see Inumaki fight anyone, so there was no way we would have missed that. The four of us hurried outside, Kugisaki and Itadori ahead, Fushiguro and I were a little behind. I nudged him in the side with my elbow and gave him a grin.

He rolled his eyes. "He dragged me out there."

"And back inside to tell us," I added mockingly.

Fushiguro grunted. "And back inside," he repeated with a nod.

We followed them to the training field where, indeed, the two second years were fighting in the pouring rain. I loved the rain. I loved the coldness. Maybe that was just a reflection of how I was feeling on the inside. Except for the moments when I was with these idiots. They made me feel warm on the inside. I hated that.

The four of us stood in the rain for quite a while, watching Maki and Inumaki go at each other. They were incredibly good. Not even Panda-senpai dared to interfere. Eventually, all of us were sent inside by Ieiri-san when she saw us. We all took a hot shower and got dressed in our pajamas. Despite the weather today, it was still warm enough for short ones.

Dressed comfortably, Kugisaki and I finished the movie and talked for a while until she got tired and I left. Every time a day came to an end, I could feel disappointment bubbling up inside of me.

I had almost given up hope when, just as I sat down in bed, someone knocked on my door. Itadori came inside and closed the door behind himself, locking it. That was unusual. I raised my eyebrows at him when he sat down next to me and looked at me with a slightly disturbed look.