Bound In Love's Curse [Gojo Satoru x Female Readers]

60 ~ Sixty

[Y]uta's expression lit up with surprise as Gojo Satoru led him into the beautifully decorated classroom for his farewell celebration.

"Oh, wow," he chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "When did you guys set all this up?"

"It was Gojo's idea," Panda chimed in, detonating a confetti bomb with a grin.

"Salmon," Toge added, standing by your side.

You found the gesture endearing and instinctively reached out to pat Toge's head. But then you hesitated, retracting your hand.

"Tsunatsuna," Toge said cryptically, gently guiding your hand back to rest on his head.

His unexpected action caught you off guard, but you managed a gentle smile as you ruffled his hair.

"Maki, Y/N and I helped too," Gojo announced proudly, flashing Yuta a peace sign.

You chose to ignore his presence, feeling as if he barely registered amidst the lively atmosphere.

"L/N-san helped too?" Yuta inquired, turning to you.

"Mhm," Gojo nodded, grinning widely. His demeanor suggested that whatever had transpired between you earlier was of little significance to him.

In response, you maintained a poker face, your emotions carefully concealed.

Nanami approached you quietly, concern evident in his gaze. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," you assured him evenly, offering a nod. "I suppose I'm just too old for this kind of party."

"Tell me about it," Nanami agreed, adjusting his glasses. "I'd much rather enjoy a quiet moment with a book. But I suppose this isn't so bad."

A faint smirk tugged at your lips. "I'm surprised you even showed up."

"It's because of you," Nanami admitted.

"Hm?" You raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Because of me?"

"You didn't seem yourself earlier. I thought you might need someone to talk to."

"I did," you confirmed with a serene nod. "But after my conversation with... I'm starting to think maybe I'm overreacting. I don't know."

"Gojo Satoru isn't exactly the best person to discuss these things with," Nanami stated bluntly. "He's not known for his emotional intelligence. But he does have other redeeming qualities, I suppose."

"You're quite astute, Nanami-san."

"Mm," he cleared his throat, a faint blush dusting his cheeks as he avoided eye contact. "I just thought it was common sense."

There was a brief lull in the festivities as you watched Yuta, Toge, and Gojo engage in a playful dance, Maki observing them with a faintly queasy expression.

"So, what's been bothering you?" Nanami's voice cut through the silence, causing you to turn towards him.

"I just found out today about Kota-kun," you admitted calmly, your tone devoid of bitterness. "He passed away shortly after we saved him. And apparently, everyone else knew, but no one thought to tell me."

Nanami nodded understandingly. "I see. So that's what's been weighing on your mind."

"You knew too, Nanami-san?" you inquired, feeling somewhat puzzled.

"I did," he confirmed with a nod.

"Then why..." you trailed off, seeking an explanation.

"No one informed you because they didn't want to burden you further," Nanami explained. "You've already been through a lot with your brother's death. They didn't want to add to your pain."

Understanding dawned on you. "So everyone's been worried about me?"

"Yes," Nanami affirmed. "Even though I suspect Gojo probably said something foolish to aggravate you further. He's not exactly adept at handling serious situations, so he resorts to humor as a coping mechanism."

"You speak like an old man sometimes, Nanami-san," you remarked, unable to suppress a chuckle at his serious demeanor.

Another faint blush dusted Nanami's cheeks at your comment. "Um, why do you say that?"

"You're wise beyond your years," you teased gently. "But you're fun to mess with, Nanami-san."

"Don't get too comfortable with teasing me," he warned with a small smile.

In the corner of the room, Gojo paused in his antics, his blindfolded gaze lingering on you with a hint of jealousy.

You seemed pretty relaxed and smiling around Nanami, which was low-key getting on his nerves.

As you and Nanami found a moment of solace in each other's company, his stoic demeanor softened with genuine empathy.

"I'm sorry you had to learn about it like this," he offered, his voice laced with sincerity.

You nodded, appreciating his understanding in. "It's a lot to take in... knowing everyone else knew except me."

"I understand," Nanami replied softly. "But you're not alone. We're all here to support you."

His words were a soothing balm to your wounded spirit, easing some of the burden you carried.

So, you were truly grateful. For him and his support.

"Thank you, Nanami-san," you whispered, a small smile playing on your lips.

Before Nanami could respond, Gojo's familiar voice interrupted, his grin masking a deeper tension.

"Hey there, you two," he chimed in, his tone teasing yet edged with underlying seriousness.

You tensed at his approach, feeling a mix of emotions, torn between wanting to avoid him and longing for his presence.

"Gojo Satoru," Nanami greeted him with a nod, his expression unreadable.

"You two seem so serious. Come on, join the fun!" Gojo teased with his trademark grin, gesturing towards the group.

Ignoring Gojo's attempt at levity, you turned to Nanami. "I think it's time for some cake now," you said, leading the way toward the others without sparing Gojo a second glance.

Gojo's grin faltered at your dismissal, his gaze betraying a hint of hurt as you walked away.

"You never change, do you?" Nanami sighed, shaking his head. "I knew I couldn't count on you."

"What do you mean?" Gojo responded, a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

"You only made things worse," Nanami continued. "Perhaps it's time for an apology."

Gojo's expression shifted, his usual confidence wavering at the suggestion of apologizing. "Err, Apologize? Me?" he muttered, unsure of how to proceed.