𝑴𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 (𝑺𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒖 𝑮𝒐𝒋𝒐 𝒙 𝑶𝑪)

2.3 Bound by Desire

In the dimly lit atmosphere of a small chic restaurant, Sen sat alone at their table, phone in hand. She scrolled absentmindedly as she waited for Satoru to return from the bathroom. The soft light from the chandeliers reflected off her phone screen, illuminating her concentrated face as she navigated a new app that Shoko had recommended—a dating app. It wasn't really her thing, but after Shoko's encouragement to "socialize a little," Sen had finally downloaded it.

She had categorized her profile under "friendship." Obviously, she couldn't really talk, but she had always found ways to express herself. So, she figured, why not? Maybe she'd meet interesting people with whom she could exchange a few messages.

Suddenly, as she scrolled through profiles, a familiar face appeared in her suggestions. Her heart skipped a beat. There, on her screen, in the middle of the recommendations, was... Satoru Gojo.

She blinked, thinking she'd made a mistake. But no. It was him, her mentor, displayed under the "one-night stand" category. Her mouth fell open slightly, frozen for a moment, her fingers unsure if they should keep scrolling or shut the app completely.

Satoru's profile was accompanied by pictures. The first showed him shirtless, standing in a pool, water dripping down his perfectly sculpted muscles and defined abs. His blindfold was gone, revealing his intense blue eyes, so piercing they seemed to look right through her from the screen. His wet hair fell messily over his forehead, and he wore a seductive, almost insolent smile, as if nothing in the world could touch him.

Sen felt a bright red flush rise to her cheeks, her breath becoming shallow. She instinctively pressed her thighs together, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of embarrassment. But despite her discomfort, her fingers kept moving on the screen. More pictures followed. One showed him lying on a sun lounger, dressed in nothing but joggers, his upper body exposed, revealing the muscles in his arms and chest. In another, he had his blindfold lowered around his neck, his gaze visible and direct, almost piercing.

Sen couldn't tear her eyes away. She had always known Satoru was... attractive, but these pictures? They were on another level. It was beyond anything she had imagined. Her heart raced, and her fingers trembled slightly over the screen.

Just when she thought she could collect herself, a voice far too familiar pulled her out of her inner turmoil.

"What are you looking at, Sen?"

Satoru's smooth voice came from right behind her. He had approached without her noticing. She could feel his presence close to her, his warm breath on her neck as he leaned over her shoulder to take a look at her screen. She jumped, fumbling awkwardly to lock her phone before he could see.

But it was too late. Satoru had already seen enough.

"Oh..." He paused, a predatory smile forming on his lips. "So, that's why you were so focused. You found my profile, huh?"

Sen stiffened, her fingers clutching her phone as if hoping the device would disappear in her hand. But Satoru, ever the provocateur, sat down beside her, his gaze shining with mischief.

"So, you're interested in my pictures, huh?" He teased openly, his voice full of that familiar arrogance. "I guess I'm one of the more interesting suggestions."

Sen, blushing like a tomato, didn't know where to look. She avoided his gaze, trying to calm her racing heart, but it was pounding, and her entire body was buzzing with embarrassment. She desperately tried to signal him that it was all a misunderstanding, but her hands shook too much to form coherent signs.

Satoru, still wearing that mischievous smile, let out a soft laugh before leaning even closer. "You like what you see, don't you?" he murmured, his voice teasing but also incredibly seductive, his piercing eyes hidden behind his sunglasses.