Koi No Yokan (gojo x oc)

Juju Stroll: Anything

"You're going to break that poor boy."

"They're cute when they get all antsy."

Satoru is busy looking at Kaede's full plate. Each time she attempted to take a bite, she'd only give up halfway through. For the past few days, she'd been distant, quieter than normal. "You haven't eaten much."

"I guess I'm not as hungry as I thought." She's not good at hiding her feelings, though. She never has been. Every hint of happiness, sadness, or anger, is written across her face. It's one of the things Satoru loves most about her—the bleeding heart. It takes a different kind of strength to care so much about strangers, he thought. 

Ichiro returns with a plattered cake. "Grandmother told me to bring this out for you."

It's clear Shoko's drunk, "What about your break, Ichiro-kun?"

"It's better if I keep working. I wouldn't want grandmother to notice the missing sake before it's replaced."

"Alright. I suppose that means I have to come back another time by myself." 

Ichiro exerts all his focus keeping his hands steady to set the cake down. He lights the candles and everyone begins to sing. "Happy birthday, dear Kaede! Happy birthday to you!"

They're done, but her eyes are still aimlessly fixed to the table. Satoru doesn't like the glances everyone exchanges, like this is just something normal. "Kaede." 

"Huh?"

"The candle."

Kaede pretends like nothing is wrong, blowing out the candles. They all pretend like nothing is wrong, cheering for her. 

She stands up. "You guys dig in. I'm going to get some air." 

"Okay. Don't stay out too long, though. You'll get cold," Mariko says. The moment the bell of the front door chimes, however, she lowers her voice. "Maybe one of us should go with her. If she zones out again she might get lost." 

"Let her get some air," Shoko says. "That private school mission must have really done a number on her."

"What do you mean, Ieri-chan?"

"There were six hostages," Shoko reveals. "Students that died about an hour before she even arrived. Not an easy autopsy, and that's coming from me."

Many deep sighs are released at the table, but Satoru is particularly frustrated that Shoko is aware of such details and he's not. Why didn't Kaede share these things with him? Why is she always so determined to take on every hardship alone? Wasn't that the point of the promises they made a year ago, to get stronger together? 

"You should check on her, Satoru," Suguru says. "Make sure she's alright."

"Idiot," he scolds himself. Why hadn't he left with her in the first place?

Outside, Kaede's drifted to the edge of the street, hugging herself on a random staircase. Satoru thinks she's crying at first, "You've been gone for a while." 

Her eyes are dry when she lifts her head. Satoru remembers he hasn't seen her cry in some time. Maybe not since Momo-chan. "I lost track of time." 

He sits with her, pushes a hand into her hair. "What's wrong?" 

"Nothing. It was getting stuffy inside."

To say he knows she's lying will end in a fight. "You need a haircut." He wraps his hand around her face, feeling the gauntness of her cheeks. Even her waist feels smaller in his grasp. "And did you lose weight again?" 

"You're so fussy." 

There's too many reservations she holds. Doesn't she know he's the strongest? Does she not think he can handle her burdens too?