Cursed Currents | Gojo & Geto

九

┏━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┓
9
PINKY PROMISE
┗━°⌜ 呪術廻戦 ⌟°━┛

TW: PANICK ATTACK

I climb into the car, every step sending a jolt of pain through my body. I bite down on the inside of my cheek, determined not to let even a whisper of discomfort slip out while my father watches me like a hawk. I know he's waiting for something—a flinch, a tremor—anything that shows weakness. But I won't give him that satisfaction.

Once I'm seated, Nishida starts the car, and I focus on the hum of the engine, trying to drown out everything else. The seat is soft beneath me, but I can still feel the bruises blooming across my back and sides. I keep my gaze fixed on the ceiling, refusing to look out the window, refusing to think about what just happened. My fingers absentmindedly tug at the bandages wrapped tightly around my arms, hidden beneath the loose fabric of my shirt. It's sweltering outside, but I couldn't care less. I'd rather sweat than let anyone see the evidence of last night.

The car bumps along the road, and I clench my teeth to keep from groaning as every little jolt sends another wave of pain through me. My head falls back against the seat, and I stare blankly at the roof of the car, willing myself to relax, to just breathe. But the ache in my chest is relentless, gnawing at me even more than the bruises. It's like a vice tightening around my ribs, making it hard to even think straight.

I let out a shaky breath and close my eyes, trying to focus on the rhythm of the road beneath us. But all I can think about is my father's eyes—so full of contempt, so quick to judge, to find fault. No matter what I do, it's never enough. I squeeze my fists tighter, nails digging into my palms, and I can feel the sting of tears pressing at the edges of my eyes. I swallow them down, refusing to let them fall.

Nishida's driving is smooth, steady, but the silence inside the car feels heavy, suffocating. I feel like I'm holding my breath, just waiting for something to snap. I can't help but wonder what's going to happen when I get back to school.

I shift slightly in my seat, wincing as I do, and force myself to focus on the present. On the passing minutes, on the distance growing between me and that house.

The rest of the trip slips away in a fog of exhaustion and pain. Before I know it, I'm back at Kyoto Tech, standing in the middle of my room. It feels surreal—like I've been ripped out of one nightmare only to be tossed into another. My body feels heavy, aching with every step as I move toward my bag. I bend down to grab a stack of books, but a sharp pain flares in my ribs, making me wince.

I clench my teeth, trying to swallow the pain, but it's no use. My eyes sting, hot tears welling up before I can blink them away. I feel the anger bubbling up alongside the hurt, a mix so raw it burns in my chest. How could he do this? Why doesn't he care? I'm his daughter, his own blood. Shouldn't that mean something?

The books slip from my hands and thud against the floor, but I barely register it. My knees give out, and I sink down, sitting on the cold floor as my breathing starts to hitch. My chest tightens, and I'm gasping for air, but it feels like I can't get enough. Each breath comes out shallow, ragged. I press my hand against my mouth, trying to muffle the sob that breaks free, but it only makes everything worse.

My vision blurs as tears spill over, and I can't stop them now. They fall, hot and fast, streaking down my cheeks while my body shakes with each sob. I feel like I'm crumbling, unraveling from the inside out. My heart pounds in my chest, erratic and too fast, like it's trying to burst free. My hands start to tremble, and I clutch at my shirt, trying to ground myself, trying to hold on to something—anything—but it's slipping away.