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

97 ~ Ninety-Seven

[Y]ou got a call early in the morning from an unknown number. As you'd expected, it was Sasaki Yuichi, letting you know that his sister had given birth safely. But that left you with a dilemma.

Nanami Kento had been out all night on a mission—probably exorcising some curses. Whether he was back or not was a mystery, and even if he was, you were hesitant to bother him. And as for a certain white-haired sorcerer, he was conspicuously absent. Not that you could contact him easily—you barely had his number anymore.

After freshening up, just as you were about to leave your room and possibly meet with Principal Yaga to discuss your situation, a series of knocks echoed through your bedroom door.

"Who could that be?" you murmured to yourself, not expecting any visitors.

When you opened the door, you were greeted by a familiar tuft of platinum blonde hair, Toge's face nuzzled deep into his blue-green collar. Next to him stood Maki and Ijichi.

"Kelp," Toge greeted in his usual cryptic manner, his tone even.

Maki, acting as the translator for today, rolled her eyes with a smirk. "Toge says hi."

You couldn't help but smile, reaching out to ruffle Toge's hair. "Oh hey, Toge-kun, and everyone else," you said with a hint of warmth. "Glad to see you're all okay. What brings you here this morning?"

"Nanami-san asked us to accompany you to Tokyo today," Ijichi informed you with his usual politeness, though there was a weariness to his tone that didn't go unnoticed.

You raised an eyebrow. "Ijichi, aren't you exhausted? You look like you haven't slept in days."

"I'm fine, Y/N-san," he reassured, though the bags under his eyes told a different story. It wasn't hard to guess that he'd been running errands for Nanami all night.

"Can't Nitta-san take us?" you suggested, trying to be considerate of Ijichi's obvious lack of rest.

"Unfortunately, she's on another errand for Gojo-san and Utahime-san," he explained.

That revelation stirred something in you, something you'd forgotten in the chaos of yesterday. What could Satoru be up to with Utahime that he hadn't even sent you a message?

"I see, that's unfortunate," you replied, your mind briefly wandering. "And I'm truly sorry for bothering you this early, especially when you should be resting."

"No! No worries, Y/N-san. I volunteered," Ijichi insisted with a stammer.

Maki snorted, crossing her arms. "Don't let him fool you. He's been running on coffee and sheer willpower."

You couldn't help but produce a small smile at that, appreciating their dedication. "Alright, let's get going then. I guess I owe Nanami-san a thank you for looking out for me."

As you closed the door to your bedroom and stepped into the hallway, you fell into step with Maki, Toge, and Ijichi.

The silence among the group was almost comforting, a quiet shared understanding. But as you approached the front entrance, something caught your eye—a familiar duo making their way toward the school: Gojo and Utahime, walking side by side.

The sight felt oddly... unsettling.

Utahime's cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, and Gojo, with his usual carefree grin, looked like he didn't have a care in the world. But something in the way they were together, laughing softly, made you feel...off.

"Good morning!" Gojo called out cheerfully, his voice dripping with that playful tone that was unmistakably his.

Utahime offered a brief nod, her gaze sweeping over you before moving on, her expression unreadable.

It was unusual. Normally, Utahime would be the first to engage in conversation with you whenever your paths crossed. But today, she seemed distant, almost aloof.

"Headed somewhere?" Gojo's blindfolded gaze seemed to gleam with curiosity, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Y-yes," Ijichi stammered, uncharacteristically nervous, "I'm taking Y/N and the others to Tokyo."

Gojo's grin widened, but his eyes flickered with something more calculating. "And what about an escort? Where's Nanami?"

Before Ijichi could find his words, Maki interjected, her voice firm. "Nanami asked us to escort Y/N today. He was out all night."

"Ah, makes sense," the strongest mused, his tone casual, almost dismissive. For a fleeting moment, you thought he might volunteer himself, but he simply added, "Well, have fun! Call me if anything interesting happens."

The offhandedness of his response stung, a sharp reminder of the growing distance between you. His lack of interest felt like a subtle rejection, one that made your chest tighten uncomfortably.

Just as you were about to turn away, Gojo's voice broke the silence again, this time directed at Utahime. "You might want to take a shower; you look like you've been rolling around in mud."

Utahime's reaction was immediate, her tone sharp but not entirely without humor. "And whose fault is that?"

Gojo leaned in closer to her, whispering something that made Utahime shove him lightly, a hint of a smile on her lips. The intimacy between them was undeniable, a private joke that left you feeling more isolated than before.

You couldn't stand it anymore. "Let's go," you muttered, forcing yourself to walk toward the car.

The others followed in silence, the tension thick enough to cut through. Even Maki, who usually spoke her mind, kept her thoughts to herself.

As you settled into the car, the ache in your chest deepened, a gnawing feeling that something had shifted, leaving you with a hollow sense of loss.

Ijichi slid into the driver's seat, casting a concerned glance your way. You were seated beside him, leaving the backseat for Maki and Toge. "Y/N-san? You seem a bit off. Are you alright?"

You hesitated, not wanting to worry them but unable to shake the weight of everything. "I'm fine," you muttered, though the words felt hollow. After a brief pause, you added, "Actually, I'm... worried. Anxious, even."

Maki, leaning against the window with her arms crossed, shot you a sidelong glance. "Never thought I'd hear that coming from you, Y/N-san," she remarked, her tone casual but perceptive.

You understood why she said that. You'd always been the one to keep a cool, indifferent facade, even when things got tough.

"Salmon," Toge chimed in from the backseat, his voice calm yet supportive. Despite the unease gnawing at you, you managed a weak smile.

"There's just been so much bad news lately," you confessed, your voice barely above a whisper. "I guess it's starting to get to me." The tightness in your chest made it difficult to breathe, the anxiety and pain mixing into something overwhelming.

Ijichi glanced at you again, his voice soft but reassuring. "I'm sure things will be alright, Y/N-san."

His words didn't erase the ache in your chest, but the sincerity behind them brought a small sense of comfort. You nodded, grateful.