© Twisted | gojohime

8. Twisted by tales

Jujutsu Higher-ups Headquarters

KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Come in", a stern voice orders

Utahime takes a deep breath and opens the door. Here again she is, standing in the same room she used to be in 8 months ago. The only difference is that she doesn't feel intimidated like the previous time

Perhaps it's because Utahime is well-prepared for the meeting, as she knows where the conversation is heading from the get go

"You seem to be in good health", the one on her right speaks

"Thank you", she nods

"Shall we get into the talk, Iori?"

"Very well", calm

"You must have known the reason we summoned you here"

"I do"

"It is still not too late"

Utahime clenches her fists, getting the meaning behind their words

"I will not allow any of you to try hurting my child ever again"

"You still haven't got a grasp of the situation yet", they sigh. "This is not about you"

Her jaw tightens, and chest constricts. They are manipulating her into believing this child is a bad omen, but she won't fall for that

"Gojo and I are together now. Not the way everyone might think, but he has been around with me lately"

"Is that what encourages you to keep his child? Because he's got your back?"

"No", Utahime denies. "There are no promises between me and him. Gojo Satoru could walk away from me any time as he pleased", she spits the bitter truth

Everything that happened between them this past few weeks were merely driven by a sense of guilt and fear. They were too overwhelmed by each other's close presence. From this point, Utahime does not and will not expect anything from Gojo again

"But I won't even bat an eye if that happened. I can raise him, and I alone can protect him"

"Once the child is born, many people will be displeased. He will have no place in Jujutsu society, and his safety won't be guaranteed, not even by Gojo Satoru himself", they add

"Then I will die protecting my child", she turns on her heels and walks off

Utahime shuts the door behind her. She grabs on the tomb for support, legs feel like jelly that she can't stand straight

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, out

'You did good,Utahime', she tells herself, proud

She did not fumble, not even stuttering in front of higher-ups. Her protective mode instantly comes on as soon as she walks past the front gate. They won't dare to get near her and the baby again. She warned them, and she meant every word she said. She would die protecting her child because that's what mothers do

"Utahime"

Utahime hesitantly turns her head to the side. She meets Gojo's cold gaze, cutting through her fiercely

"Go— Gojo"

She did not stammer while facing higher-ups. But when it comes to Gojo, that is another story