"𝗕𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲, 𝗜'𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀."
Throughout her entire life, Iwakura Chihaya remained by Itadori Yuji's side. Despite being complete opposites, they had maintained a deep friendship for many years. As they entered high...
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As Chihaya left Yuji and his grandfather Wasuke behind, Chihaya got enveloped in the tranquil glow of the late afternoon. Despite the peaceful ambience, her mind remained consumed by the impending after-school tasks, the ongoing struggle to manage her time lingering heavily on her thoughts.
"Guess it's time to head home, Grandpa," she softly mentioned, sneaking a glance at her watch.
"So soon? Can't you stay a bit longer?" Wasuke's voice held a tinge of longing, wishing for extended moments together.
Though tempted to linger, Chihaya could not ignore the homework waiting for her before the tutoring session. A nervous chuckle betrayed her anxiety about the tasks ahead as she rubbed her palm.
"It's alright, Chi. I get your focus on Tokyo University. Visit whenever you find time," Wasuke sighed, gently patting Chihaya's temple.
As the talk turned to Yuji, Wasuke's demeanour turned stern. His hand swiftly moved toward Yuji, causing the young man to flinch.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Yuji blurted out, visibly flustered.
"Learn from Chihaya! She's dedicated and takes her studies seriously!" Wasuke's voice grew urgent.
Yuji, however, held his ground. "If I focus entirely on school, who'll take care of you?" he retorted, massaging his arm.
"I can manage, Yuji. But you need to start taking care of yourself. Your math skills..." Wasuke paused, choosing his words carefully. "Let's just say they need improvement," he added.
"You're weakening, old man! And my math skills—well, maybe you have a point. But seriously, who needs to be a math genius?" Yuji countered.
"You're already in high school, and you struggle with multiplication!" Wasuke exclaimed in frustration.
Yuji promptly began counting on his fingers from one to ten.
"See!?" his grandfather pointed out.
"A lot of people still struggle!" Yuji replied.
Caught amidst their banter, Chihaya offered an awkward smile, masking the tension. After a moment, she quietly excused herself, leaving the grandfather and grandson engrossed in their ongoing argument.
As she walked outside, the cool breeze momentarily diverted her thoughts from her studies. The late afternoon's golden hues surrounded her for a brief moment of appreciation before her mind returned to the pressing tasks ahead.
"Gosh," she mouthed.
Suddenly, Yuji's voice broke her reverie. "Chi!"
Turning towards him with a smile, she saw Yuji approaching. "Hey, Chi, Chi! Grandpa asked me to accompany you home. Says something about making sure you get back safely," he explained, a playful glint in his eyes.
Chihaya raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh, did he now? I can take care of myself, you know," she teased, a playful smirk on her lips.
Yuji chuckled. "I know you can, but Grandpa insists. Plus, it's an excuse to spend more time together, and I don't want to argue with him all day,"
Walking side by side, Chihaya appreciated the unexpected company. "Well, I suppose I can't argue with that. So, multiplication, huh?" she snorted.
Yuji rolled his eyes. "Grandpa never lets that go, does he? But, hey, I've got my secret weapon – fingers!" He wiggled them playfully, earning a laugh from Chihaya.
Chihaya's laughter echoed as she playfully nudged Yuji. "Save that to your math teacher!"
"He won't care anyway!" Yuji said before imitating his teacher's behaviour towards him.
Continuing their stroll, Yuji, intrigued, shifted the conversation's focus. "Chi, imagine if we ever got separated. What would you do?"
Arching an eyebrow, Chihaya questioned, "Why such a random question?"
"No idea just crossed my mind!" Yuji exclaimed, prompting another chuckle from Chihaya.
Chihaya teased with a playful grin, "I suppose if we ever got separated, I'd track you down until you begged for mercy."
Yuji, a bead of sweat forming on his brow, remarked, "That's kind of scary, you know?"
With a mischievous grin, Chihaya asked, "Is it, though?"
"I think so," Yuji admitted.
Chihaya sighed, shrugging slightly. "You didn't take that seriously, did you?"
"Of course... not! Ha!" Yuji replied, trying to mask his relief with a laugh.
Reaching the bus stop with its simple shelter, Chihaya, catching her breath, playfully accuses, "You're a bad liar, Yuji Itadori."
He chuckled, meeting her eyes under the translucent roof. The slanted sunlight painted a warm hue on their faces. "Guilty as charged," he admitted.
The two friends exchanged glances, the air around them carrying a mix of laughter and unspoken understanding. Chihaya's gaze shifted to the schedule display, a subtle reminder of the passage of time.
"So, see you tomorrow?" Yuji asked, breaking the momentary silence.
"The usuals," Chihaya replied, a nod affirming their routine. As they parted ways temporarily, each heading towards their respective bus stops, the anticipation of another day's adventure lingered in the air.
Boarding the bus, Chihaya found a seat near the window. Leaning against the transparent surface, she gazed outside. "Tomorrow," she murmured, a smile playing on her lips as the vehicle carried her away into the city's bustling rhythm.
