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❝YOU better what?❞
Akira demanded, a hint of irritation in her voice.
Megumi's smirk widened. "Leave it. You can't do what I was going to tell you," he said, deliberately trailing off. He turned his attention to the scenery outside, but not before shooting a quick glance at Akira, who seemed genuinely offended.
Akira's frown deepened. "Who do you think you are, huh?" she snapped. "I'm not scared of anything, got it?"
Megumi cracked his neck nonchalantly, maintaining a poker face. "Oh really?" he said, smirking. "Then... I guess that won't stop you from kissing me, would it?"
Akira's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth slightly agape. "What...?" she stammered, caught off guard, before biting her lip.
"I don't know about the kissing part, but I can surely punch you if you don't get out of my room," Akira replied with a sarcastic tone. Megumi, undeterred, mocked, "Oh... means you're scared."
In an unexpected turn, Akira took a deep breath, grabbed Megumi's collar in one swift move, and left him momentarily stunned. He had anticipated a punch, not what came next. Akira, much to Megumi's surprise, planted a kiss on his cheek. She instantly backed off, folding her arms across her chest and looking away.
"Now get lost," she commanded, her tone a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. Megumi blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift. As he left the room, he patted Akira's head and shot her one last glance.
As the door closed behind him, Megumi's fist met the front wall in a mixture of frustration and confusion. He took deep breaths, his face heating up. Trying hard to hide his reactions in front of Akira had been a success, but now, alone, he couldn't help but be flustered.
Touching the spot where Akira had kissed his cheek, he let out a small groan and whispered to himself, "What the hell are you doing to me?"
★
"Hey there, Shoko," Saike greeted with a warm smile, her vibrant red hair catching the sunlight. Shoko turned around, the subtle curl of a smile playing on her lips as she took the cigarette from her mouth.
"Hey," Shoko responded, her eyes scanning the scenery beyond the balcony. Saike, with an unhurried gait, joined her, leaning onto the pillar with a casual grace.
"How have you been?" Shoko inquired, exhaling a puff of smoke. "You were on your mission for six months."
"Good lately," Saike nodded, elegantly brushing her hair back and gazing downwards. "But nothing's like it used to be," she added, her lips pressing into a thin line. Shoko took a deep breath, a silent acknowledgment of the complexities they both carried.
Sometimes I wish I could, turn back time. Impossible as it may seem, but I wish I could, so bad.
As the city bustled below, Saike spoke, her voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia, "A lot happened while I was gone."
Shoko hummed in understanding, her eyes reflecting a shared history.
"How are Utahime and Mei?" Saike inquired, breaking the brief silence. She cleared her throat, awaiting Shoko's response.
Shoko casually tossed her cigarette, hands slipping into her pockets. "Mei visited last month, but I don't really remember when Utahime visited... I guess 2-3 months?" she shrugged.
"It makes sense because Utahime can't tolerate Gojo," Saike chuckled, and Shoko joined in, the shared laughter echoing their mutual sentiment. "Neither of us can," Shoko remarked, a camaraderie born of shared exasperation with the enigmatic Gojo.
A tranquil hush enveloped the balcony, a haven perched above the bustling world below. The unspoken understanding between the two women resonated in the air, their thoughts dancing through the labyrinth of the past. The memories, once draped in happiness, now carried the weight of the sorcerer's chaotic life.
Shoko, breaking the serene silence with a contemplative sigh, voiced the inevitable truth, "Oh, I have to check you up for treatment, Saike." Her gaze shifted to the red-haired woman beside her. "So that we would know that you're all okay," she concluded.
Saike met Shoko's eyes, her expression one of mild protest. "I'm all fine, okay?" she asserted, flexing her muscles with a confident grin. "I don't need any checkup." The defiance in her tone, however, couldn't mask the concern that lingered in Shoko's gaze.
"Weren't you the one who warned the students to get a checkup every month?" Shoko quirked an eyebrow, her lips curving into a slight smile. Saike chuckled in response, a lightness in the air as she conceded, "Fine, Mom!" The moniker elicited a laugh from both women, a testament to the camaraderie forged through shared trials and experiences.
The balcony, once steeped in the shadows of their thoughts, now echoed with the laughter of two warriors who, despite the chaos of their sorcerer's life, found solace in each other's company.
