Cursed Currents | Gojo & Geto

五

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
5
HOME SWEET HOME
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

The train ride home passes far too quickly, the rhythmic clattering of the tracks doing little to soothe the unease tightening in my chest. I can't stop fidgeting with the bracelet Aiko gave me, twisting it around my wrist as if the simple act of touching it could tether me to the comfort of my friends. The colours blur together as I turn it over and over, trying to distract myself from the growing sense of dread that gnaws at my insides.

As the train begins to slow, signaling the approach to my station, a cold pit forms in my stomach. I glance out the window, watching the landscape gradually shift from the bustling outskirts of the city to the more serene, yet oppressive, familiarity of my hometown. The closer I get, the more I feel that old, suffocating weight settle over me—the one I've managed to escape for the past few months at Kyoto Tech.

The train finally comes to a halt, and with a deep breath, I gather my things and step off onto the platform. The air here feels different, heavier, as if it's filled with memories I'd rather forget. I scan the area and immediately spot the familiar black car parked at the edge of the station. It's polished to a high shine, reflecting the midday sun almost blindingly.

Waiting beside the car is the man who's worked for my parents for as long as I can remember. His posture is stiff, formal, and when he sees me, he gives a polite nod of acknowledgment. "Miss Sora," he greets me, his tone as respectful and distant as ever.

I force a small smile and nod back. "Hello, Nishida-san."

Without another word, he opens the car door for me, and I slide into the backseat. The leather interior is cool against my skin, a stark contrast to the warmth I've been carrying with me since I left school. As soon as the door closes, the car begins to move, smoothly gliding away from the station and towards the Kamo estate.

The drive is quiet, almost eerily so. Nishida-san doesn't make small talk—he never does—and I'm left alone with my thoughts. I stare out the window, the scenery flying past in a blur of green and gray. It should be comforting, this familiarity, but all it does is make me feel even more like an outsider returning to a place I no longer belong. To a place where I never belonged.

I absentmindedly start playing with the bracelet again, the feel of the beads grounding me, reminding me that I'm not completely alone. But even that comfort seems distant as we draw nearer to the estate. The fifteen-minute drive feels like it's both too fast and too slow, each turn bringing me closer to the place I've dreaded returning to since the moment I left.

When we finally arrive at the estate, the iron gates swing open smoothly, and the car glides down the long, winding driveway. The Kamo estate looms ahead, its traditional architecture imposing against the backdrop of carefully manicured gardens. It's a place that's meant to inspire awe and respect, but all it does is fill me with a cold sense of duty.

Nishida-san pulls the car to a stop in front of the entrance. As he steps out to open my door, he offers to take my bag, his voice as neutral as always. "Shall I carry your bag, Miss Sora?"

I shake my head quickly, clutching the bag a little tighter as I step out of the car. "No, thank you, Nishida-san. I've got it."

He nods without protest and steps back, allowing me to proceed alone. I hesitate for a moment, my eyes flicking towards the front entrance, half-expecting to see my father waiting there, his stern gaze already filled with unspoken expectations.

But there's no one. Just the quiet, looming presence of the estate.

Relief and anxiety war within me as I start walking towards the house. Each step feels heavier than the last, the weight of my bag almost insignificant compared to the weight of returning to this place. I walk quickly, my eyes scanning the surroundings, hoping—praying—that my father is nowhere nearby. The last thing I want is to face him right now, not when I'm still trying to hold on to the remnants of freedom I've had at school.