Bound In Love's Curse [Gojo Satoru x Female Readers]

90 ~ Ninety

"Oh, look who decided to resurface," Shoko's voice was dry, her tone hovering just above monotone as you walked in. "I was starting to think you got lost in some cursed dimension or something. Haven't seen you around in days."

"Training with, you know, a certain someone," you shrugged, using the same excuse you'd given the students, carefully keeping your face neutral.

No blushing, no stammering—nothing to give you away.

"And today, you're magically free?" Shoko raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat as she glanced at you, though she didn't push further.

"Kind of! I was supposed to train with Gojo, but he's gone AWOL." You tried to sound casual and detached.

"That's not surprising," you heard her mutter, her attention drifting back to the papers on her desk, likely another report waiting to be filed. She didn't seem particularly interested until she added, almost as an afterthought, "He's been more unpredictable lately. Especially since Utahime dropped by."

You blinked, trying to piece together what she was implying. "What do you mean?"

Shoko's gaze met yours, and there was a flicker of something—amusement, maybe a hint of pity. "He probably ditched you to hang out with his old high school flame. That's what I meant."

"Utahime and Gojo?" Their names together hit you with an uncomfortable jolt, a mix of dark feelings and a subtle tightness in your bust.

"Yep," Shoko replied with a casual nod, clearly absorbed in her work. "But I wouldn't expect you to know the backstory. This goes way back to their school days."

"I see," you managed to keep your voice steady and your expression neutral, though it was a struggle to hide.

The realization sank in: this was why Gojo hadn't bothered to show up today and why he had ditched you last night.

You didn't want to come off as clingy or desperate, but Shoko's offhand comment carried enough weight to make you rethink the situation. It all made sense now, and the pieces were falling into place.

If Gojo had gone to meet this 'she,' it probably meant there was some truth to what Shoko was saying.

"Anyway," Shoko said, looking up from her paperwork with a more genuine interest than she'd shown about Gojo's past. "When you're finished here, want to grab breakfast together?"

"Sure," you agreed, the offer a welcome distraction from the uncomfortable realization.
Considering the situation, the revelation about Gojo's past left you feeling slightly uneasy and suspicious.

Trust was crucial in any relationship, but with Gojo's history—like those STI reports you'd come across—his excuse about not wanting to have any weaknesses suddenly seemed like a half-baked cover-up.

***

By lunchtime, the nagging thought of Satoru and Utahime was gnawing at you.

Despite your efforts to shove it aside and act like it didn't bother you, it was consuming more of your thoughts than you cared to admit.

The idea of going official with Satoru had seemed so promising, and now, with this new information, you couldn't shake the feeling of insecurity creeping in.

Finally, unable to ignore the discomfort any longer, you pulled out your phone, ready to send Satoru a text.

Y/N: 'Where are you? It's just not the same without you.'

As you typed, the message seemed to reveal too much vulnerability. You worried it came off as needy or insecure, so you deleted it before tossing your phone aside in frustration.

You'd barely touched your lunch, offering Shoko a quick excuse about needing to catch up on research before retreating to the library.

It was your sanctuary, a quiet place where you could escape and find a bit of peace, away from the chaos and your swirling thoughts.
Determined to clear your mind, you turned inward, focusing intently.

With a deep breath, you began manipulating your curse energy, weaving it with the precision and control Shoko and Satoru had taught you. You concentrated on applying the Reverse Curse Technique, hoping to test it effectively.

At first, the technique seemed promising. Your energy flowed smoothly, and you could almost sense it working as intended.

To truly gauge its efficiency, you knew you needed to apply it to actual injuries. Your gaze shifted to the dagger secured in the scabbard of your shoulder harness, an idea crossing your mind.

Just as you reached for it, intending to act on your thoughts, your phone vibrated on the table.

You grabbed it with surprising speed, your heart racing with anticipation, though you weren't quite sure what you were hoping for.
Your excitement quickly deflated when you saw the message.

It was from Yuki, Shinji's wife, asking if you could meet up soon.

Staring at it, you contemplated the idea.
Meeting up with Yuki could be a good distraction, but Principal Yaga's instructions were clear—you couldn't leave the school premises unescorted.

As if on cue, Nanami walked in, momentarily taken off guard by finding you here. He almost immediately gave you a curt nod, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "Y/N," he greeted. "How are you holding up?"

"Hm? What do you mean?" you asked, frowning slightly, puzzled by his comment.

"I assumed you might need some time to process things," Nanami said, his voice steady but tinged with a hint of awkwardness.

You immediately understood what he was hinting at. The indirect mention of Shinji brought a heavy realization: you had been so caught up in thoughts of Gojo that you had nearly forgotten the gravity of Shinji's death.

The weight of this revelation dampened your mood, and unwanted thoughts of it being your fault began to creep in.

Nanami noticed your change in demeanor and quickly added, "I apologize if I brought up something... painful."

"No, it's alright," you shook your head, trying to brush off the sudden wave of sadness. "With everything going on, it almost slipped my mind."

"I understand. Had I known, I wouldn't have—"

"No need to apologize, Nanami-san," you reassured him with a small smile. "Actually, I was planning to meet Yuki-san. But I'm still figuring out how to manage it since Gojo isn't here to escort me."

Nanami seemed to consider this for a moment before responding, "I could help with that."

"Huh? But I thought you had a mission with Maki-san and Panda-san?"

"Yes, but that's scheduled for this evening," Nanami confirmed, his offer genuine and considerate. "If you need assistance now, I can lend a hand."

"Great, just give me a moment to let Yuki know," you said, pulling out your phone.

Nanami nodded in understanding, and you quickly typed a reply to Yuki, letting her know that you could meet up and that you'd have some assistance with you.