Into Infinity | Satoru Gojo x Female Reader

Chapter 31

Kiyomo appears before you, yawning in the mist of the dream world. This time the landscape of the domain has changed—expanded.

You see yourself standing at the edge of a small pond, silver mountains in the distance. Kiyomo lies underneath the perceived shade of a translucent willow tree. In actuality there is no sun in this place, the sky seems to be lit by its own inner lightness, but somehow the man lies in a puddle of darkness.

This time Samara is with you. You feel the warmth of the tiger at your side, ready to protect you if it comes down to it.

The sight of Kiyomo's stone impassive face reminds you of the vision of the storm curse's memories—the dark angel was standing amongst all his dead friends with his ever-indifferent expression. You think about the village and all the destruction that was brought upon it, a whole community of people who would have to rebuild their lives again.

You step forward, anger fueling your confidence. "I'm done playing games," you spit. "Tell me everything you know about heart energy, and then I'm finished with you."

Kiyomo's stoic expression doesn't change. "Is that how you talk to someone who just saved your life?" He lifts one perfect eyebrow. "Did you forget? It's thanks to me that you were able to get a pet." His sleepy gaze turns toward the tiger. "Good job, she is looking well..."

You step in front of her protectively. "It's true, you helped me, but this is still your fault. Whatever you did when you were alive left an imprint, and now..." You clench your fists. "At least teach me how to get stronger if I have to keep cleaning up your messes!"

It's bold. You see it in the additional lift of his arched eyebrow.

"My messes? And what part of any of this points to me?"

"Because you... you... that storm cloud was looking for you! It only woke up because it sensed your powers!"

"Oh pish, it's not my fault if someone wants to hold a grudge." He waves it away, and then his grey eyes flicker. Something dangerous enters them. "But that is not what you're really so upset about. You've finally realized your happy-go-lucky attitude has a cost. On top of that, your lack of ability to face reality has caused strains in your relationship. Well sorry, I'm not the one to blame for that. The problem lies in yourself—in how selfish and single-minded you are."

Single-minded!!

"How did it go? You got the thought that the name of an ancestor might help you unlock your powers, and that is exactly what you went and did. You didn't even think of other possibilities or bigger potentials. You didn't think about first consulting your intelligent superior, all because you were worried about looking incapable to the man you were crushing on. And now that you find yourself in a mess created by your own single-mindedness, you decide to blame the one who was just an unplanned result of one of your thoughtless actions. Oh, but only when you realized that thing was an inconvenience, may I add."

Your fists shake, His words... you can't find a rebuttal because he's making sense.

He continues. "How long will it be until you start blaming everyone around you for your own faults? How long until you ostracize the one you say you love? And even if you don't, how long until he decides he is bored with you? It's a predictable story, really, so much so that I don't care to stay around to watch the end. And yet here you are keeping me here, because now you want to get 'stronger', to clean up 'my messes' you say?"

"Just... stop..." The weight of his words crush in on you.

Samara whines at your side. She nudges your hand with your head, but you ignore her.