Ataraxia 平静 | Gojo Satoru

-'๑'-𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟑𝟖-'๑'-

Half an hour had stretched into fifteen minutes more by the time I finally reached the teachers' wing, bracing myself for the impending scolding. Releasing a defeated sigh, I leaned my forehead against the door.

On the other side, the chatter and shuffling of my friends made me cringe internally, the chill still lingering in my bones.

Why did I have to stop and pet that rabbit—

"Get your ungrateful ass in here," Gojo's voice cut through the thick wood.

Curse jujutsu sorcerers and their keen senses.

With a painful shut of my eyes, I swung open the door to the living area.

"Listen, I had to—" I started to defend myself.

Shoko silenced me with a scowl, her hand pressed over my mouth. "We don't wanna hear it," she pointed a finger at me, then tossed a sweater in my face. "Put this on."

Stumbling back slightly, I caught the soft, brown wool, stroking it before draping it over myself. "Thank you," I mumbled.

"Everyone is mad at you," the male voice echoed in the back of my mind.

I stopped myself from jolting in surprise, clenching my jaw. Right. I will just have to ignore him.

"Shitty move, little one," Gojo chimed in at my side, slinging his arm over my shoulders and causing me to slouch. "Shoko and Megumi put in their best efforts to cook for us, and you show up late. . ." he trailed off dramatically.

My fingers curled at my side, but I managed to control my annoyance with a sigh. "It's. . . complicated," I hesitated, peeling his arm off.

He raised a theatrical brow. "It always is, with you," he remarked, a hidden amusement playing at the corners of his lips. "Here," he added, producing a reindeer antler headband and adjusting it on my head.

I winced as the material tugged on my hair, slapping his hand away and fixing it properly. It was then that I lifted my eyes and took in his full appearance. Gojo was sporting a Santa hat atop his unruly hair, complemented by an oversized white shirt and red sweatpants. What really stood out, though, was the worn leather belt hanging messily around his hips.

I couldn't help but snort. He looked ridiculous.

My friends and I had a tradition—since many incidents occurred on Christmas Day and sorcerers were often dispatched, we decided to gather and celebrate on Solstice instead. The catch: each year, we dressed up in a Christmas themed outfit chosen at random. This time, it seemed, Gojo had been appointed Santa Claus. Despite the warmth now flooding my body, I felt a painful tug at my heart.

Ever since Rei's death, Gojo had not joined our meet-ups anymore.

To manage me, I realized, the weight of sadness settling in my chest. I met his gaze, and he must have seen the pain in my expression because he offered me a gentle smile.

"It's fine," he said casually, bending over slightly to add in a half-whisper. "I didn't miss Shoko's cooking anyways."

"Huh?" Shoko beckoned from the kitchen with a ladle in hand, causing us to flinch and duck on instinct. "What was that, Satoru?"

"Nothing, Ieiri-san~" Gojo chirped in an exaggerated, sweet voice.

Suppressing my laughter, I watched a vein twitch on my friend's forehead before she turned back to the kitchen counter. She wore a red mini skirt and matching top, paired with candy cane leggings. Despite the whimsical ensemble, her short hair was pinned back with childish clips, which surprisingly suited her perfectly.