𝕵𝖊𝖆𝖑𝖔𝖚𝖘𝖞 𝕲𝖆𝖒𝖊 | 𝕮𝖍𝖔𝖘𝖔 𝖝 𝕽𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗 |

Chapter 16 | Delayed Reaction

After being scolded by the manager for walking out of the restaurant so abruptly, a kindness in him decided to send you home seeing as you walked back in appearing so distraught. Megumi gave you a sympathetic squeeze on your shoulder before telling you to feel better.

You take your time on the way home, soaking in the fresh night air and allowing the bittersweet aftermath of the conversation to flow through you. Gojo was right, whether you liked it or not, the conversation was needed even if it hadn't gone to plan.

You stop in your tracks, looking up to see the bright neon light of the convenience store shining above you. After a moment of though, you enter, heading towards the liquor aisle just as you did the night that you ran into Choso. You get your hands on that same six pack of beers and head to the register. It's the same person who cashed you out last time.

As per usual, they hand you the pack and then your change, wishing you a good night. You nod at them and tell them the same, heading out the door.

Not able to wait until you get back, you take one of the cans out of the packaging and crack it open. A bit of foam pours over the opening, spilling over your fingers and down onto the pavement of the sidewalk. You take a deep breath, patiently waiting for it to spill over and bubble down. You get back on your way home after taking a long sip, feeling the cold beer rush down your throat.

Once the apartment complex is in view, you notice Choso perched at the top of the staircase, almost as if he was sitting there, patiently awaiting your return. His hair is down now and he holds a newly lit cigarette in between his two fingers. He stays silent with his eyes resting on you as you take your time walking up the steps.

You take a seat next to him, still holding the cold can in your hand. You huff a sigh and gently lean against his shoulder.

"You okay?" He asks after taking a drag of his cigarette, turning his head to blow smoke in the direction opposite of you. You stay silent for a moment, a part of you wants to burst and spill out everything to him.

"He kissed me." You admit quietly, looking down at your shoes.

Choso heaves a heavy exhale, his chest falling as the air leaves him.

"I know." He responds, taking another slow hit of his cigarette, tilting his head back to look up at the sky.

*About an hour earlier*

Choso sits on his couch with a black controller in his hand. His eyes glued to the television as his fingers swiftly move over the buttons and the joysticks. He's playing a fighting game in his free time.

In the middle of a competitive fight with an online player, a heavy knock thuds against his apartment door, taking Choso out of focus. He glances at the door, with plans to finish the fight, he ignores the knocks for a minute.

A minute passes and the knocking has turned into impatient pounding. Choso gets up, frustrated as he puts the controller down, voluntarily throwing the fight. He opens the door to see an unexpected visitor with white hair and blue eyes.

Choso takes one look at him and without saying a word, he just shuts the door. Expecting to hear Gojo's footsteps fading after hopefully making the smart choice of walking away, silence fills the air. With his hand still on the handle, he looks down to see the shadow of Gojo's feet still standing right at his doorstep, unmoving.

Choso sighs throwing his head back in frustration. He twists the knob and opens the door again.

"Chosooo~" Gojo coos at him nervously, hoping his eerily happy attitude will soften the blow of the information he's determined to share.

"I'm assuming you're not here to apologize?" Choso asks with a raised eyebrow.

"No." Gojo blurts and then immediately looks away. "Well, yes. Kinda."

Choso pinches the bridge of his nose, he hesitates before he surprisingly agrees to talk with him. Instead of inviting him in, Choso steps outside, shutting the door behind him.

With Gojo standing at the fence with his arms resting on the top of the railing, Choso stands across from him with his back against the wall. Patiently listening to Gojo explain everything that happened.

"So you kissed her, huh?" Choso mutters, his brow twitches at having to repeat it. But he doesn't snap back at him. Gojo nods slowly, awaiting Choso's response. "And?"

"She turned me down." Gojo confesses, scratching the back of his head with slight embarrassment.

Choso crosses his arms, chuckling as he shakes his head. A small smile crawls across his lips.

"It caught me off guard. She almost kissed me back. But, it looked like she was thinking about you." Gojo continues, his words hitting Choso with the weight and speed of a train.

"Anything else?" Choso asks, sensing that there's something else that Gojo wants to say.

"Well," Gojo looks aside folding his arms over each other. "I thought I'd tell you that I don't regret kissing her."

Choso rolls his eyes at him, heaving a sigh as he starts to question why he even gave Gojo a chance to come clean in the first place. But, the thought of himself on your mind while the lips of another are on yours leaves him feeling a little flattered, if not prideful.

"Okay." Choso's response is terse. He's heard just about enough.

Gojo furrows his brows, leaning off of the fencing, giving a Choso a confused and shocked look. He was expecting more of a reaction.

"That's it??"

"No." Choso replies with a clenched jaw and pushes himself off the wall. He takes a step towards Gojo and before he can even realize what Choso was about to do, Choso lunges forward, swinging his arm at Gojo and lodging a strong upper cut right into his gut.

Gojo stumbles backwards over his feet, his back hitting the railing.

"Fuck!" He coughs clutching at his abdomen. He looks at Choso, glaring at him. "What the fuck was that for?"

"Oh." Choso responds innocently, turning on his heel, waving Gojo off. "Just a delayed reaction."

And with that, Choso went back into his apartment and slammed the door.