unlucky charms (yuji x reader)

ch.3 ~ an act of selfishness

Toru's voice floats over with that same playful ease, completely unbothered by the chaos we've just survived. His hand brushes against mine as he hands me a small bag, and for a second, I forget the world around us—the battle, the blood, the constant threat of death.

"Kikufuku from Kikusuian. Trust me, you'll love it," he says, as if this were an ordinary day and not a battlefield.

I take the bag without thinking, frowning. "I thought you were getting mochi."

He stretches his arms behind his back lazily. "Changed my mind. But don't worry, these are even better."

Gumi, his energy still frayed from the fight, turns slowly to Toru, his expression incredulous. "You went out and bought souvenirs while we were here getting our asses kicked?"

Toru grins, shrugging nonchalantly. "Priorities, Megumi. You know how it is." He gestures to the bag in my hands. "Besides, they're not souvenirs. I got them for the ride home. You'll thank me later."

Gumi grits his teeth, muttering something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like moron, but he doesn't press further. I can tell he's too drained to argue, and honestly, so am I. Toru's presence has this way of pulling the tension out of me like a magnet, as if everything that happened moments ago is already distant, already fading. But the weight of Yuji's presence still lingers.

Toru saunters back toward Yuji, his carefree demeanor never faltering. "Now," he begins, his voice more serious but still light enough to suggest he's having far too much fun with this situation, "let's talk about Sukuna."

Yuji blinks. "Sukuna?"

"The curse you ate," Toru clarifies, gesturing toward him.

"Oh. Right." Yuji's brow furrows in thought for a moment before he nods, his tone casual, "What about him?"

Toru taps a finger on his chin, as if considering something far more complex than the current circumstances. "So, can you switch back and forth with him? Like, at will?"

Yuji blinks, momentarily caught off guard. "Uh . . . I think so?"

Toru then squats down in front of him, stretching out his back like we've got all the time in the world. I can't help the small laugh that escapes me. I already know where this is going.

Yuji snaps his head toward me, and for a moment, his eyes lock with mine. There's something searching in his gaze—something deeper than before. It's as if he's trying to figure me out, trying to understand why I'm not more afraid of him after everything that's happened.

I turn away, focusing on Toru, pushing down whatever it is I feel.

Toru straightens, clearly enjoying himself. "Okay, give us thirty seconds. Change into Sukuna and then change right back."

Yuji's eyes flick toward me and Gumi, lingering on our injuries, his worry transparent. I can see it in the way his brow furrows, the way his hands twitch slightly as if he's resisting the urge to apologize again. I can tell he doesn't want to risk hurting us, but Toru waves it off. "Don't worry. I'm way too strong for him."

It's such a simple statement, but the confidence in Toru's voice feels like a blanket wrapping around us, pulling me back from the edge of my anxiety.

Toru straightens up, sauntering back over to me and Gumi. "Love bug," he purrs, clearly testing out another nickname.

I cringe. Gumi groans.

"What, it's not that bad," Toru argues with a mock pout, "You're both exaggerating."

Gumi rolls his eyes, ready to toss another insult, but I step in before he can. "Toru, what happened to just calling me by my name?" I ask, trying to suppress the slight warmth creeping up my neck.