unlucky charms (yuji x reader)

ch. 4 ~ heartstrings and cursed things

I wake up to the soft light of the morning sun filtering through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. For a moment, I lie there, savoring the quietness of the early morning, the peacefulness that comes with it.

But then, my thoughts drift back to Yuji, to the fact that our lives are now intertwined in a way that can't be undone. And with that realization comes a sense of determination. We have to look out for him. We can't let him face this alone.

I stretch, wincing slightly as my muscles protest. The soreness from the fight is still there, but it's a dull ache now, nothing I can't handle. After a few minutes, I get up, get dressed, and head out into the hallway.

As soon as I step into the hall, I see Gumi leaning against the wall near Yuji's door, his arms crossed over his chest in that casual way he has. He glances up as I approach, giving me a small nod.

"Morning," he mutters.

"Morning," I reply, stopping beside him. "How's Yuji?"

"He's still in his room," Gumi says with a shrug. "I think he's still sleeping."

I nod, leaning against the wall next to him, my mind drifting back to the conversation we had last night. "We're really doing this, huh?" I say softly. "Taking him under our wing."

Gumi glances at me, his expression unreadable. "Yeah. We are."

There's a long pause, the silence stretching between us, but it's not uncomfortable. It's the kind of silence that comes with shared understanding, with knowing that we're both on the same page.

Finally, Gumi pushes off the wall, stretching his arms above his head. "Let's get breakfast. We can check on Itadori after."

I nod, following him down the hallway toward the cafeteria. As we walk, I can't help but feel a sense of purpose settling over me. We're in this together now. Yuji's part of our team, and we're going to do everything we can to help him.

No matter what happens next.

── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ──

The morning breeze is cool against my skin as we step off the train and into the bustling streets of Harajuku. It's a bit overwhelming—the bright colors, the loud chatter of tourists and locals, the street vendors calling out to passersby. It's a world away from the curses we fought two days ago, and yet, in its own way, it's a welcome distraction.

Toru leads the way, completely at ease in the chaos around us, his blindfold still on but his presence commanding as always. We're here on a different kind of mission today: meeting the fourth first-year, someone we've never met, but who's about to become part of our strange little team.

"I thought we were training today," Yuji had said earlier, sounding a bit relieved when Toru told us otherwise.

"Oh we still are," Toru had responded with a casual grin. "But this is the best way to get to know your other classmate first. And who knows, you might even get a snack."

Yuji perked up at that, and now, as we weave through the crowd, I can tell he's enjoying the change of scenery. He walks beside me, his new uniform looking slightly different from Gumi's and mine—his jacket has a red hoodie attached to it, adding a casual flair to his look that somehow feels perfectly him. His expression is relaxed, his shoulders less tense than they were yesterday, and for the first time since we met, he looks . . . almost at ease. Like maybe, just for today, he's decided to let himself be a normal teenager.

Gumi walks on my other side, who, true to form, is scanning the streets, his dark eyes taking in every detail as if waiting for something to jump out at us. He's still on edge, always in that protective mode, but I can tell he's a little more relaxed today too.