𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜

03

THE STAR PLASMA VESSEL was a young girl not any older than fourteen. That, you knew from the beginning of the mission, but to finally see her up close and personal, it somehow turned everything more... real? The girl was unconscious, her lightweighted body held by Gojo Satoru. She was still in her school uniform -- not even a high schooler's uniform, rather a middle schooler's uniform. How young. There was still a whole life ahead of her, that would soon be taken away.

You neared the girl, Amanai Riko, indefinitely, hovering around like an annoying fly. Slowly, your fingers cautiously fixed at her dark blue bangs, a gentle look overtaking you. Some type of instinct was kicking in -- was it pity, concern, sadness? But who were you to feel this way when you killed your enemies without a second thought? Had them stripped of their own years?

You liked to pick and choose, didn't you?

Was it to make yourself feel better about yourself? More empathetic? More humane?

Gojo watched you intently, his gaze still strong despite his shades. "What are you thinking?"

"Nothing," you said hurriedly, stepping back.

He obviously knew it was not nothing, brows raising ever so slowly. However, he knew there was no point in pushing it, as you could be just as stubborn at times. "Should we get her a doctor?"

Geto nodded, on the other side of the room. "I wish I could use reverse cursed energy like Shoko."

"Yeah, that's impossible. I can't understand a word she says about it."

"Maybe because you guys are dimwits," you added, shrugging. "She should teach me next time instead."

Gojo made a face. "You're never going to stop bringing that up, huh."

"Well, someone's gotta give a run of their money."

Before anyone could speak again, a movement had caught your attention. It was the vessel. She was stirring awake, eyes slowly opening up, bewilderment to her expression. Her deep blue irises scanned around the room, looking at Geto, then you, and then eventually to the one currently carrying her -- Gojo.

Gojo realized the same thing. "You're awake."

In the next beat of a second you wished you could've captured it to frame it forever. The girl, with a start, whipped out her hand and landed a sweet, solid slap across Gojo's face. It was hard enough you could see his spit flying and rims shaking. You stared with a slackened jaw, laughter tickling the depths of your stomach. This was show-stopping! Oh, to witness this once in a lifetime, after all those moments of you praying to punch this rat of a man. You were no longer going to complain about being put on this mission. The only shame here was that it wasn't you who had landed the slap but a fourteen-year-old girl.

Amanai Riko jumped out from his arms and got into a defensive stance. "You scum! If you want to kill me, you'll be the one to die first!"

You wiped your tears away from laughing too hard. Gojo, pissed off by the girl, shot you a glare as well. "Not... helping," he seethed, cradling his slapped cheek with a hand. He went on to mumble something under his breath about teaching the brat a lesson.

Geto, being the oh-so-mature one, stood beside Gojo with a gentle smile. "Riko, calm down. We're not with the group that attacked you."

That did everything but calm her. "Liar! You have the face of a liar! Your bangs are weird too!"

Oh dear. Geto was not so mature after all. His bangs should not be taken lightly.

As if Geto and Gojo were synced body and mind, the two of them approached the poor girl, ready to pounce like lions. Geto grabbed her arms while Gojo grabbed her legs, lifting her up horizontally into the air, ignoring her helpless cries. They started to twist her limbs, turning her into a churro. "WAHHH! This is disrespectful!" she yelled out repeatedly. You watched from the sidelines, taking a sip of tea that Geto made earlier.