Unbound By Love's Grace [Gojo Satoru x Female Readers]

11 ~ Eleven

[Y]our smile softened the instant you saw him. "Am I in trouble?" The words left your lips, laced with a mix of amusement and affection, the look in your eyes a little softer now.

Sinichi noticed. And so did Mina, who watched silently from the sidelines.

Gojo stopped just a step behind you, dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt with a few top buttons undone and dark pants that hung with casual ease. Somehow, his presence made Sinichi, dressed in nearly identical attire, seem like a shadow that had lost its light. In Gojo's hand, he held two takeout cups, bobas by the looks of them, and a small paper bag dangled from his wrist.

"Oh, you're very much in trouble, lady," he teased, flashing one of those effortlessly charming smiles that made your heart skip a beat. "Imagine my surprise when I woke up and you weren't there. You wound me." He mused with exaggerated drama, but the warmth in his gaze betrayed him.

You reached up, brushing a lock of his hair back as you let your hand linger. "In my defense, I had something to drop off here. Quick detour." You tilted your head, eyes meeting his with a glint. "I mean, it's only fifteen minutes from our hotel."

He hummed thoughtfully, straightening up. "But it couldn't wait until I was awake?" His tone was light, but you knew that glimmer in his eyes.

You chuckled, looking away for a second before letting a soft smile play on your lips. "Let's be real. If you were awake, we wouldn't be having this conversation." You both knew exactly what that meant: staying in, monopolizing each other's time until any errands slipped entirely from your mind. You didn't need to say it aloud; the thought hung in the air between you like a secret only the two of you shared.

"Besides," you continued with a raised brow, "I did leave you breakfast. Did you eat?"

"Nope," he replied, entirely unapologetic. "It's hard to enjoy breakfast without the best part of it."

"Hmm. Spoiled," you murmured, a slight smirk tugging at the corners of your mouth.

"And whose fault is that?" He chuckled, nudging one of the drinks toward you. "Speaking of spoiling, I got you boba. Taro milk tea for you and matcha for me." He gave the matcha cup a wary look, sticking his tongue out. "Not my best choice."

A laugh slipped from you as you glanced down at the drink in his hand. Your eyes flickered to his mouth, almost instinctively. "Mind if I taste it?" The innuendo in your tone wasn't lost on him—his brows rose just a bit, and that familiar, mischievous look sparked in his eyes.

He leaned in, gaze flicking between your lips and your own dark, steady gaze. But instead of closing the distance, you took a sip of his drink through his straw. The matcha was, admittedly, a little bitter for your taste too.

"Yeah, I can see the problem." You reached into your bag and found a couple of sugar packets, ripping them open and adding them to his drink. After stirring it with the straw, you beckoned at him with a satisfied nod.

Gojo lifted the cup, taking a tentative sip, and his eyes brightened with genuine delight. "Perfect," he murmured, his expression enough to let you know you'd nailed it. Just the right amount of sweetness to balance out the bitterness he didn't like.

Turning back to Mina, you gave her a nod, prepared to introduce Gojo. "Anyway, Mina, meet—"

"Y/N's boyfriend." Gojo stepped forward smoothly, cutting you off with a quick wave and an almost casual grin. "Satoru Gojo, pleasure." His gaze was piercing beneath the shades, the slightest bit possessive as he looked over Mina and Sinichi, like he was staking his claim.

You bit back a smile, catching the quick flare of irritation in Sinichi's eyes. Gojo had an almost infuriating knack for commanding any scene, with his easy confidence drawing all eyes to him. It was clear he left no room for doubt about his place beside you.

Mina looked Gojo over, her expression unreadable except for the faintest narrowing of her eyes. "Boyfriend, huh?" She gave Sinichi a sideways look, something almost challenging in her gaze. "Didn't peg Y/N for someone with such... unconventional tastes."

"Unconventional?" Gojo leaned in with that broad, almost lazy grin of his, clearly unfazed. "Trust me, I'm one of a kind."

Sinichi scoffed under his breath, crossing his arms as he met your gaze, his usual arrogant smirk undercut with something sharper. "That's one way to put it," he muttered, his gaze holding a hint of resentment barely hidden behind his nonchalant front.

You chuckled at the exchange, shaking your head slightly as you introduced them. "Satoru, meet Mina Hayashi—Sinichi's late wife's younger sister."

A glint of intrigue flickered in Gojo's eyes as he took in Mina with a quick nod before his gaze slid back to Sinichi, who wore a smirk tinged with sarcasm.

"So you're telling me the joker here is really your boyfriend?" Sinichi's brow arched, the mocking tone unmistakable. "And not some elaborate joke?"

Without missing a beat, you shrugged, letting the faintest hint of a smirk play at the edge of your lips. "Just like he said," you affirmed, voice calm and steady, "he's my man."

There was something distinctly possessive in the way you phrased it—not "boyfriend," but "my man"—a public claim made as effortlessly as Gojo's entrance. Mina's jaw seemed to tighten slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face, but she masked it quickly. Gojo, in typical fashion, seemed more amused than ever, clearly relishing every second of Sinichi's discomfort.

You couldn't blame Mina for staring—Gojo had that kind of effect, an effortless draw. Beauty was meant to be appreciated, after all. Let her look; it didn't bother you. Because you both knew that no one could touch him the way you could, and the quiet certainty of it was enough.

Noticing the attention he was drawing, Gojo's gaze flicked down to meet yours, his expression holding a hint of a smirk. With that familiar playful glint in his eyes, he leaned in just enough to bridge the space between you, his voice low as he murmured, "Seems like we're the center of attention."

He lingered for a heartbeat, his smile widening just slightly as he added, "Think they're just jealous?"

You could feel Sinichi's gaze flick between the two of you, and it was clear he noticed every detail—the way Gojo's gaze lingered, the way you leaned subtly toward him.

Sinichi's jaw ticked as he took in the sight, his usual cool demeanor faltering for just a moment. He wasn't used to seeing you like this—at ease, comfortable, and so completely uninterested in his presence. Back when things had been different, you'd have given him your full attention, meeting his gaze with that same intensity you were giving Gojo now. But those days were long behind you.

"You two seem... cozy," he remarked, a forced casualness in his voice as he eyed Gojo with thinly veiled disdain. "Didn't think you'd go for someone like this, Y/N."

Gojo gave a quiet chuckle, as if amused by Sinichi's transparent attempt to provoke him. "Funny, I get that a lot," he mused, shrugging nonchalantly. "And here I thought you had taste." he added with a wink, brushing off the hostility without a trace of concern.

You almost laughed, resisting the urge to lean further into him. "There's no mystery," you replied smoothly, casting a calm glance Sinichi's way. "He's simply irreplaceable."

The words seemed to land with weight, and Sinichi's expression tightened. For all his arrogance, Sinichi rarely had anyone match his intensity the way you were doing now. He was trying to maintain that facade, the cool detachment he'd always worn, but there was a tension there, an edge to his presence that didn't sit as well on him as it once had.

Mina broke the silence. "Well, we should let you two... lovebirds... get back to whatever you were doing." She glanced from you to Gojo with a quick, assessing look. "I'm sure you both have better things to do than hang around here."

"More than you'd think," Gojo quipped. He gave her a nod of mock politeness, then turned his attention back to you, as if he were dismissing the two of them altogether. He extended his hand, an invitation and a statement all at once.

You slipped your hand into his without hesitation, the quiet possession in the gesture unmistakable. Sinichi's gaze lingered a second too long, a flash of something simmering beneath his calm exterior, like a dangerous undercurrent. He wanted to speak, you could tell, but something held him back, perhaps realizing for the first time that the door between you two was no longer open.

As you turned to Gojo, his hand firm around yours, you leaned in, voice soft but carrying a hint of dark humor. "Since we're in Kyoto... should I go with a dress or a kimono?" You tilted your head, catching his gaze with a calm intensity. "Been a while since I wore one. Thought it might be... entertaining."

You caught Mina's quick, sour expression at the comment. Maybe she'd taken it as a dig, especially after her earlier remark about Sinichi's taste for more traditionally dressed women. But Gojo only gave you a thoughtful once-over, clearly giving it some consideration. Then his lips curved, a spark of mischief lighting up his gaze.

"Oh, you want honesty?" His grin turned suggestive, taking its time to reach his eyes.

"Of course," you replied, your voice smooth.

"Honestly, Kyoto's charm would pale next to you in anything... or nothing at all," he murmured, the words dropping so effortlessly it almost slipped by unnoticed. Almost.

Mina cleared her throat, her eyes darting awkwardly between you both, while Sinichi's mouth twisted, something bitter darkening his expression.

You brushed a hand against Gojo's arm, a quiet reproach wrapped in amusement. "Satoru. Not in public."

His shrug was nonchalant, unbothered. "You asked for honesty." He shot you a grin that was impossible not to return. "Anyway," he continued, "let me take you out for brunch. My treat. You pick the place."

But Sinichi's voice cut in, cool and low. "Since you haven't eaten, why not let me invite you both?" His gaze flicked to you, an old, dangerous familiarity in his eyes. "A chance to catch up. Properly."

Mina rolled her eyes but stayed silent, adjusting the strap of the koto case over her shoulder. The fabric of her kimono sleeve slipped back just enough to reveal a faint, dark marking on her wrist—a tribal insignia, delicate but distinct. Gojo's expression barely changed, but you felt his fingers tense around yours, just for a second, before his grip relaxed.

The message was clear: this was something that needed attention.

"Mina," you noted, keeping your tone even. "Since when did you get tattoos?"

She blinked, brows furrowing as she examined her wrist. Her fingers touched the mark, though from the way she studied it, she had no idea how it got there. Her bewilderment was unmistakable, but you barely spared her a glance, turning to catch Gojo's eyes instead. He gave a faint shrug, his gaze meeting yours from behind his shades with a steady, calm assurance.

"Should I be concerned?" Your voice was measured, but you knew he'd catch your real meaning.

"Depends." His tone was casual, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "Is she important?"

It was Gojo's way of gauging the stakes, and you understood immediately. Whatever the mark meant, it was part of the world you and Gojo shared, a reminder that danger didn't stop for family ties. And Mina—Sinichi's late wife's sister—wasn't to blame, even if she didn't understand what she was caught up in.

"Yes." You nodded, voice steady. "You think you can handle it?"

"For you? Always." He let his hand rest at the small of your back, a promise in the way he held you, as though your question didn't even need an answer.

Mina's frown deepened as she watched your exchange, a hint of unease in her gaze. "Alright," she pressed, visibly impatient, "what exactly are you two talking about?"

You gave her a faint smile, eyes flicking back to Sinichi. "That brunch offer," you continued, "does it extend to Mina too?"

Sinichi's eyes narrowed, catching the undercurrent of the question. He held your gaze, unflinching, then glanced at Mina. "If you don't want her here, Princess," his tone was dry, "just say so."

A small laugh slipped past your lips. "Quite the opposite." You held his gaze with a calm, unwavering intensity. "I'll take the offer... if Mina joins."

The surprise softened her expression instantly, as though she'd braced herself for something harsher. Her shoulders relaxed, and she gave a reluctant nod, looking between you and Gojo with something almost like acceptance, though there was wariness still lurking there.

Shinichi's smirk lingered, his gaze keen and calculating. "Alright, I'll make sure it's somewhere that's worth your while. Let's see if any of my restaurants have something intriguing enough to keep you both entertained."