Star | Jujustu Kaisen

you look so nice (i've been so cold)

"Come on, Fushiguro. You're being so slow!" Kugisaki called out, arms crossed as she stood by the car, her foot tapping against the ground in growing impatience. She flashed a grateful smile at [Name], who had courteously opened the door to Ijichi's car for her, allowing her to slide in effortlessly.

[Name] sighed softly, their gaze shifting back to see Fushiguro approaching at what felt like a snail's pace. Little did they know, Fushiguro was deliberately moving at a slower pace than usual. Every step was carefully measured, and each moment stretched out longer as he kept his expression neutral. The thought of sitting crammed between both Kugisaki and [Name] was enough to send a slight shiver up his spine. He'd rather avoid that altogether.

He knew all too well how that scenario would play out. Kugisaki, already intent on winning over [Name]'s attention, would seize every opportunity to make him feel uncomfortable. And then there was the matter of Kugisaki's earlier "mother-in-law" comment, which still managed to irritate him even now. So, if he could control at least this situation, he'd consider it a minor victory.

"You go in first," Fushiguro finally said when he reached the car, his voice calm but resolute. There was no room for argument. His tone wasn't commanding, but it carried a weight of finality. He had a plan in mind: if [Name] got in before him, they'd naturally end up closer to Kugisaki, and he'd have the option to sit on the opposite end—far enough to keep some distance between himself and the chaos he was sure would ensue.

[Name] paused, clearly about to say something in return. They looked like they wanted to protest, their lips parting as if to insist that Fushiguro should go in first. But one look at the firm expression on Fushiguro's face made them sigh in resignation. There was no point in arguing with him when he got like this.

"Alright, alright," they muttered softly, acknowledging his stubbornness. They nodded and climbed into the car, leaving room for Fushiguro to follow.

"Thank you," Fushiguro whispered under his breath as [Name] settled in. The words were quiet enough that no one else could hear, but they carried a sense of genuine gratitude. With a small, almost imperceptible nod, he stepped into the car, his strategy successfully carried out. At least for now, he had managed to create a buffer zone. A small win, but a win nonetheless.

Meanwhile, [Name] let out a small, resigned sigh as they slid into the car next to Kugisaki, who was fully absorbed in her phone's selfie mode. She was intensely focused, carefully checking her hair and makeup with the precision of a professional stylist. Her lips were pursed, and her brow furrowed slightly as she tilted her head left and right, making sure not a single strand was out of place.

"Thank you for taking us on such short notice, Ijichi," [Name] said warmly, offering a smile toward the front of the car. They caught Ijichi's eye in the rearview mirror, and he seemed to relax a little, shoulders dropping as if a small weight had been lifted.

"Ah, it's no problem at all," Ijichi replied, giving a small, dismissive wave of his hand. "I didn't have any missions lined up for today..." His voice trailed off, and he muttered almost to himself, "Something must be happening later... with that man."

[Name] quirked an eyebrow at Ijichi's barely audible comment, curiosity piqued. They didn't have to think too hard about who Ijichi might be referring to. There was really only one person who could inspire that kind of dread in his voice—Gojo-sensei. [Name] could easily picture their white-haired, sunglasses-wearing mentor wreaking havoc on poor Ijichi's nerves, as well as everyone else's, with his larger-than-life personality and unpredictable antics.

What kind of trouble are you getting into now, Gojo-sensei? [Name] wondered, a mix of exasperation and fond amusement passing through their mind. They shook their head lightly and focused back on fastening their seatbelt. The buckle clicked into place with a reassuring snap, and they glanced back up to see Ijichi adjusting his glasses nervously.