Ataraxia 平静 | Gojo Satoru

-'๑'-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑-'๑'-

Struggling to pry open my eyes, I felt as though my head might explode. My hand groped for my phone on the nightstand, its glaring screen assaulting my senses.

7:20 am.

I grunted and buried my face in the pillow.

To say I wanted to die was an understatement.

Yesterday had been an absolute mess, as well as a roller-coaster of emotions. After that brilliant heart-to-heart with Principal Yaga about my 'promotion,' I spent the rest of the day drowning in my own bitterness and rage, lugging boxes to my new quarters.

I was actually expected to work, cooperate, and supposedly tolerate Gojo Satoru.

The Gojo Satoru.

If there were a God, they certainly had a twisted sense of humor.

I rose slowly, the scant sleep from the night before reverberating through my entire being. I wanted to whine, to dive back under the covers and slumber the day away.

But I had to do this. I'm not a child anymore, I reminded myself. I needed to confront things I detest, even if it involved that walking, self-absorbed paintbrush.

By the time I finished getting ready, I was already running late.

"Oh," I muttered between bites of a granola bar before heading out the door.

I was supposed to meet my new students outside the school's perimeter next to a cafè close to the town's center, and accompany them on a low-rank mission. Yaga hadn't given much more detail in the brief text he sent the previous evening.

To my utter dismay.

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The early hour in Tokyo's bustling streets had already drawn a crowd, and after scanning for what felt like ages, I finally spotted a small group of teenagers engaged in casual chatter as they swung their arms around.

Grateful for their distinctive uniforms, I approached, the raven-haired boy among them noticing my arrival while the others remained oblivious. I recognized him immediately and offered a fleeting smile before my attention shifted beyond his slender frame.

And there, standing with an irritatingly confident air of nonchalance, was Gojo Satoru himself. He was impossible to miss, with his striking white hair, towering figure, and that signature smug smile that made it seem like he was forever in on some secret joke. Resentment bubbled within me as our eyes met, despite his blindfold; his hidden gaze held a playful spark that felt more like a challenge.

My jaw tensed involuntarily, but I repressed the urge to scowl. After a deep breath, I positioned myself next to the group of students, deliberately ignoring Gojo's stare.

"Oi, Fushiguro! Did ya hear what I said? You never pay attention to me, goddamnit!" the girl with light brown hair and copper eyes barked at her companion, yanking his cheek in frustration.

He looked so done with everyone.

"I'm hungryyy," the other, pink-haired and visibly deflated, leaned against a streetlight post, whining.

His complaint was met with a quick bonk to the head from the girl, causing him to cover his forehead with an 'ouch'. "Shut up already. You've said it ten times before. We're only stuck here because of Gojo-sensei—"

"Good morning," I finally addressed them, attempting to sound less tense than I felt, bowing politely. "I apologize for being late. My name is Yue Kurayami, and I'll be your new teacher starting today," I forced a smile.