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

186 ~ Hundred And Eighty-Six

[A]s you scanned the shelves, mentally checking off the last of your necessities, Gojo walked beside you like a shadow—silent but with a presence that demanded attention. His usual energy felt muted, his typical carefree aura weighed down by something unspoken.

You didn't need to ask. The sulking was obvious. He'd much rather spend the day in the confines of his apartment, with you wrapped around him, than roaming the aisles of a grocery store.

Makeup, check. Skincare, check. All that remained were the essentials for your period. You were due soon, so this trip to pick up essentials was a given. But as your gaze drifted over the shelves, you found yourself lingering in front of something else: condoms.

Your hand hovered, indecisive. You hadn't been with Gojo long, and letting him finish inside had been reckless. Passionate, yes, but still reckless. And sure, you had already picked up contraceptive pills—Shoko's recommendation—but there was this unspoken weight lingering in the air between the two of you. The kind of weight that made you wonder if you should take extra precautions.

Just as you were about to grab a box, Gojo leaned in, voice low in your ear. "One box isn't enough." The teasing in his voice was light, but there was a possessive edge that made the hairs on the back of your neck prickle.

You swallowed, uncertainty tightening in your throat, as your fingers lightly grazed the edge of the box. "What do you mean by that?"

Without waiting for you to fully process the meaning of his words, he grabbed three boxes, his long fingers curling around them like it was no big deal, tossing them into the basket as if this were as normal as buying milk. "If we're going to do this, let's do it right. Ultra-thin. Perfect fit."

You blinked, slightly taken aback by his confidence. The way he handled the moment was so casual, yet it made warmth crawl up the back of your neck. There was no shame, no awkwardness. Just Gojo being Gojo—always pushing boundaries with that signature arrogance, yet somehow still making you feel like you had the control.

"Three boxes?" you asked, tone steady but laced with a quiet, dark amusement. "Don't you think that's overkill?"

He gave a smirk, his sunglasses shifting slightly as he glanced at you sideways. "Better to be overprepared than to regret it later."

You rolled your eyes but couldn't suppress the faint smirk tugging at your lips. "I thought you wanted five kids?" The words came out as a dry tease, your usual composed tone intact. You weren't serious, of course. Kids weren't even on the radar yet.

He paused, the smirk twisting into something more playful, but with a hint of danger. "I did say five, didn't I? Didn't mention when though. But hey—if that's what you're after..." His voice dipped lower, laced with the kind of teasing edge that sent a shiver down your spine.

Before you could retort, a child's voice from nearby interrupted. "Mom, look! They're wearing matching clothes!"

You stiffened, caught off guard by the innocent observation. The mother glanced over with a knowing smile, eyes twinkling like she was seeing the future before it happened. You could feel the glances from other shoppers now, whispers following you. Suddenly, you were more aware of Gojo's proximity, of how you two must look to everyone else.

The boy's mother smiled at you warmly, as if the two of you were a picture-perfect couple.

Gojo, unfazed as usual, remained focused on you, his blue eyes behind the shades searching your face. His words slipped out quietly, almost an afterthought. "Speaking of kids... I should probably introduce you to one."

Your head snapped toward him. "Introduce me to... who?"

"Megumi," he replied casually, like he wasn't just dropping something monumental in the middle of the snack aisle. "You know, the kid I took in."

"The one you're raising?" Your voice softened.

He nodded, his hand sliding down your arm gently, guiding you toward the next aisle. "He's joining Jujutsu Tech next month, start of April." His tone was lighter now, as if the shift in conversation had eased something between you two.

"Oh..." You processed that, realizing how significant it was. "And you're okay with that?"

Gojo didn't respond right away. Instead, he wandered ahead, scanning the shelves for snacks, but there was a brief flicker in his eyes. Something vulnerable that he tried to cover with a smirk. "It's not about me being okay with it," he finally said, his back still turned to you. "He's stronger than he thinks. He'll figure it out... just like I did."

There was a weight in his words, something deeper than his usual playful bravado. For a moment, it was like seeing through a crack in his armor. You realized this wasn't just about Megumi joining the school. It was about Gojo's own past, the expectations and burdens he carried, and the way he saw pieces of himself in the boy.

You didn't say anything for a long moment, letting the silence stretch between you, heavy but comfortable. Then, you took a step closer, brushing your fingers against his hand in a subtle gesture of solidarity.

"You're a good teacher, Satoru," you murmured, your voice low but sure. "He's lucky to have you."

He looked at you then, something soft flickering behind his shades. "And I'm lucky to have you," he countered, his tone laced with the kind of sincerity that made your heart skip.

A stir of emotion tugged at the delicate threads you had carefully woven around yourself. The warmth creeping up your cheeks was impossible to ignore, so you quickly released his hand and stepped back, striving to regain your composure.

"I'm done here. Time to check out," you declared, attempting to maintain an air of nonchalance as you took the snacks from his hand and walked toward the register. However, his laughter echoed behind you, a playful reminder of the tension that hung between you.

As you neared the counter, you placed the items from your basket down, casting a sidelong glance at the boy behind the register. He shot you a shy look, clearly caught off guard by your presence. You were used to having that effect on people lately, so it didn't bother you much—until it came time to scan the boxes of condoms.

A familiar wave of embarrassment washed over you, making it an uphill battle to maintain a perfectly neutral expression. Still, you managed to conceal the heat rising in your cheeks.

Just then, a voice from the queue behind you broke the tension. "Hey, beautiful? You're looking a bit lonely. Got a boyfriend or something?"

The guy had trouble written all over him, with a cocky grin that practically screamed arrogance. But your focus shifted away from him to the nagging question: Where was Gojo?

You glanced sideways, and your heart sank when you realized he wasn't there.

"I'm taken," you replied coolly, your voice steady, hoping to dissuade his advances.

Instead, he leaned in closer, undeterred. "Come on, pretty. I bet your guy's a total dork. How could he possibly keep up with someone like you?" He gestured dismissively toward the counter, nodding at the boxes.

Your jaw tightened at his implication. "You clearly don't know who you're talking to," you shot back, a hint of danger lacing your words.

But as if on cue, Gojo sauntered back to your side. "What's with all these guys staring at my girl?" His voice cut through the tension, a playful challenge laced with protectiveness. He casually placed a couple of twin popsicles on the counter, leaning slightly forward to rest his chin atop your head.

"Where were you?" you asked, rolling your eyes but unable to hide the relief flooding through you.

"Just getting us some snacks, obviously." He shrugged, a playful grin spreading across his face. You watched him pull out a sleek black card to hand to the cashier, a twinge of surprise hitting you.

Why did he have a black card? You hadn't even asked him to pay.

"I could've managed this on my own," you retorted, a hint of calm annoyance washing over you as your earlier embarrassment faded, the boy in the queue quickly forgotten.

You meant the bill, but Gojo was clearly lost in his own thoughts.

"Could you?" He arched a teasing brow, a smirk dancing on his lips as he turned his attention to the guy still lingering nearby. "Back off, buddy. She's with me."

The confidence radiating from him sent a thrill through you, even as it amused you slightly. The delinquent blinked in surprise, realizing he'd bitten off more than he could chew. He backed off with a huff, muttering something under his breath before turning away.

A smile crept onto your face as Gojo turned his attention back to you, mischief twinkling in his eyes. "Looks like I just saved you from a disaster. That kid was definitely trouble."

"Thanks, I guess," you replied, trying to play it cool. "But I didn't need saving."

"Oh, I'm sure you could've handled it just fine," he commented, leaning closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. "But where's the fun in that? I prefer to make an entrance; you know?"

Your pulse quickened at his proximity. "You really thrive on drama, don't you?"

"It's one of my many talents." He winked, and in that moment, something unspoken passed between you—a shared understanding, a spark of intimacy that deepened with every interaction.

As the cashier finished scanning your items, you took a moment to collect yourself. The warmth in your ears from his words still lingered, but now it was comforting, a reminder of the strange yet thrilling relationship you shared.

Gojo paid, his demeanor casual, yet there was a playful glimmer in his eyes as he stepped aside to let you take the bags. "Ready to go? We can stop by that café you like afterward. You deserve a treat."

"Sure," you shrugged, your heart fluttering at the thought of spending more time with him. But your mind quickly jumped back to the earlier conversation. "And about Megumi..."

"Let's save that for later," he interjected, his tone lightening as if to push the weight of the topic aside. "Right now, I just want to savor this moment with you."