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

145 ~ Hundred And Forty-Five

[A] certain white-haired sorcerer stepped onto the school grounds, an unusual spring in his step, the swagger in his gait even more pronounced than usual.

His sunglasses perched on his nose, hands lazily shoved in his pockets, but there was something else—an eagerness, a spark of anticipation beneath the surface.

Not that he'd ever admit it aloud. No, that wasn't Gojo Satoru's style.

It wasn't the thrill of the mission that had him back so quickly; Gojo lived for the chaos of battle, for the high stakes and adrenaline. But lately, he found himself cutting things short, not because he wanted to be back, but because he needed to be. Needed to feel that familiar hum of cursed energy that lingered like a faint whisper on the edge of his perception. Your cursed energy.

It was subtle, almost like a thread that connected him to you, pulling him back to Jujutsu Tech without fail.

In the past, he'd found it annoying, how the sheer volume of cursed energy in the air would sometimes cause him headaches, his Six Eyes constantly on overload. But now? Now, he welcomed it. Every pulse of your energy was something he could trace, something he could follow.

He liked that about you—you couldn't hide from him here. No matter where you were on the grounds, he'd always know. The Six Eyes were good for something, after all. And today, there was something else fueling his eagerness. He was curious, itching to see your reaction to his latest little gift.

The blockers he'd given you, infused with his cursed energy. His signature. His mark. Only the best for you, right?

The late afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the courtyard as he spotted Nanami approaching, as stiff and formal as ever, his tie perfectly aligned despite hours of hard work. Gojo waved dramatically, a grin splitting across his face as if it had been months since he last saw him.

"Nanami!" he called, his voice loud and full of exaggerated enthusiasm. "The only guy who works harder than a salaryman stuck in a cubicle! So, how was the mission? Got bored without me, didn't you?"

The blonde gave a curt nod, his expression the usual unreadable mask. "Tedious. But no complications. You?"

"Oh, you know me," he smirked, sliding his sunglasses down just enough to meet Nanami's gaze. "Handled it in record time, didn't even break a sweat. Could've stayed longer, but I got... distracted."

There was a pause, a slight shift in his tone, though his grin remained fixed. "Speaking of distractions—have you seen Y/N around? Thought I might find her lurking in your office, trying to avoid me."

He said it lightly, a teasing remark, but the weight behind the question didn't escape the blonde's attention. There was always something different when Gojo mentioned you, a subtle undercurrent in his voice that only those who knew him well could pick up on.

Nanami gave him a measured look. "Haven't seen her since before I left."

The strongest hummed in response, but beneath the mask of playful arrogance, there was a flicker of something more. Something deeper. It wasn't like him to be this invested in someone's whereabouts, not like this.

But you? You were different. You got under his skin in a way that even he wasn't ready to admit.

And maybe, just maybe, that's why he kept searching for you. Even when he knew he shouldn't.

Gojo's smirk faltered for just a fraction of a second as Nanami's response registered.

You weren't in the office? Not lounging around, taking a break like he half-expected. That itch of curiosity turned into a twinge of something else, though he'd never show it outright.

"Huh. Interesting," he mused, stretching his arms above his head lazily, as if brushing off the tension crawling up his spine. "Well, maybe she's hiding somewhere else, then. She does have a habit of disappearing on me."

Nanami, shot him a glance—sharp, but not prying. "You sure it's her that's doing the hiding?"

Gojo chuckled, the sound light, but his fingers twitched in his pockets. "What's that supposed to mean, Nanami? You think I'm not worth hiding from?" He raised a brow, the teasing tone back in place, though now there was an edge to it, like he was daring Nanami to challenge him further.

"Just an observation," the blonde replied coolly, adjusting his tie.

The subtle jab wasn't lost on him. He knew Gojo's evasive tendencies better than most. But before Gojo could respond, they both spotted a familiar figure walking toward them—Shoko, with her usual nonchalant stride, her white lab coat billowing behind her as she puffed on a cigarette.

"Hey, Shoko!" Gojo greeted, his mood brightening at the distraction. "Perfect timing. You haven't seen Y/N, have you? I've been playing hide and seek with her, and she's winning."

Shoko exhaled a cloud of smoke, her gaze flicking between the two men. "Y/N? Oh, yeah." She took another drag, her voice casual. "She's out on a mission."

The playful expression on the strongest's face stilled for a beat. "Mission?" His voice was quieter, the edge of lightness replaced with something colder. "Since when?"

Nanami, too, straightened slightly, though his reaction was more controlled. "I didn't know she was cleared for missions yet."

Shoko shrugged, flicking ash from her cigarette. "Apparently, Yaga sent her out as backup for the kids. No one else was available, so she stepped in. Seemed eager enough to get back in the field."

The shift in Gojo's demeanor was immediate. The lazy, cocky posture vanished, replaced with a barely concealed storm brewing beneath the surface. "The kids?" His jaw clenched, sunglasses sliding down just enough to reveal the steely gaze behind them. "She's with the kids?"

"Relax," Shoko said dryly, waving her cigarette dismissively. "It's a low-risk mission. Nothing she can't handle."

The white-haired sorcerer's lips twisted into a smile, but there was nothing warm about it. "Yeah? We'll see about that."

Without another word, he turned on his heel and started toward Yaga's office, his long strides purposeful, leaving both Shoko and Nanami in his wake. Nanami sighed softly, knowing exactly what was coming.

"Let him burn it out," She muttered, watching Gojo's retreating form. "You know how he gets."

The blonde nodded simply, his eyes narrowing slightly. "She was always going to be a sore spot for him."

***

The door to Yaga's office slammed open with a crash that reverberated through the quiet hallway. Gojo's imposing figure filled the room, a storm of frustration and urgency etched into his features.
"Yaga, we need to talk."

The older man looked up from his cluttered desk, where stacks of paperwork and empty coffee cups formed a chaotic landscape. His face, marked by fatigue and experience, remained impassive as he greeted Gojo's intrusion with a slow, resigned sigh. "Satoru. What's the issue now?"

Ignoring any pretense of politeness, the white-haired sorcerer tossed his sunglasses onto Yaga's desk with a forceful flick. The lenses clattered against the wood, drawing Yaga's gaze. "Why is Y/N on a mission? And with the kids, no less."

Yaga's expression was a blend of weariness and resolve. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest. "There was no choice. An urgent request came in, and she was the only sorcerer available to provide backup."

The strongest's eyes seemed to flare with disbelief. "Available? You're telling me you just sent her off without a second thought?"

"Yes. She was the only one who could be mobilized on short notice. The mission is classified as low-risk, and she's more than capable."

Gojo's anger twisted into something sharper, more... personal. "Low-risk doesn't mean risk-free. She's not ready for this, and you know it. You're putting her in harm's way, and for what?"

The older man's patience was wearing thin. "Listen Satoru, she's a competent sorcerer. I've assessed her abilities and her readiness. She wanted to take this on, and it was a decision made in the best interest of our operations."

Gojo's fists clenched at his sides, knuckles white with the pressure. "She didn't want this. You pushed her into it. What happens if something goes wrong? It's not just about her; it's about everyone she's with."

"If something goes wrong, we handle it. You can't shield her from every danger. She's a grown sorcerer, and she has to take responsibility for her own decisions."

The strongest's gaze was a storm of unresolved tension as he stared at his former sensei. The fact that you hadn't volunteered, but had been sent on this mission, hit him hard, igniting a burning need to protect you from what he saw as a grave mistake.

His jaw tightened, the usual playful glint in his eyes replaced with something darker. He was pissed, but more than that—he was worried. And that unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

Without another word, he turned on his heel, storming out of the office, his mind already racing ahead to where he needed to be.

He was going to find you. And he wasn't going to let anything happen to you.

***

Outside, Nanami stood waiting, leaning against the wall. The moment he saw Gojo's face, he knew how the conversation had gone. "And?"

Gojo's hands were still balled into fists, his voice tight as he replied, "She's out there. On a mission. With the kids."

Nanami's expression softened slightly, understanding the white-haired sorcerer's concern. "Y/N can handle herself. You know that."

"That's not the point," he snapped, running a hand through his hair with unconcealed frustration. "She's still recovering, Nanami. She shouldn't be out there."

"She's a sorcerer, Gojo. This is the life we chose. You can't shield her from every mission, no matter how much you want to."

For a moment, the strongest remained silent, grappling with the weight of Nanami's words. He knew the other sorcerer was right, but the gnawing anxiety in his chest persisted. The thought of you out there, exposed and in potential danger, while he wasn't there to guard you, was nearly... unbearable.

With a swift motion, the strongest retrieved his blindfold from his pocket. "I'm going to find her." Without another word, he was already moving, his strides determined as he mapped out the quickest route to reach you.

Nanami watched his retreating figure, exhaling a weary sigh.

It was clear this wasn't just about the mission or its risks. It was about Gojo's struggle to accept that, for once, he wasn't the one in control. And the thought of you being in jeopardy, with him unable to intervene, was a fear that unsettled him more than any curse ever could.