𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐄 ｡ᵒⁿᵉ ˢʰᵒᵗˢ

yuji itadori. | ordinary days

YUJI let out a sigh as he plopped onto the bench, watching the world move around him. Parents chased after their kids, friends laughed, and couples strolled hand-in-hand—all completely unaware of the unseen battles he faced every day. It was… comforting in a way he hadn’t expected.

“Mind if I sketch you?”

Yuji looked up, blinking at the stranger holding a pencil and a sketchbook in their hands. You had a carefree smile, a lightness that was both foreign and welcoming.

“Uh, sure? Though I can’t promise I’ll look interesting,” he chuckled.

You shrugged, settling beside him and flipping open your sketchbook. “I think everyone has a story worth drawing. You just have to look.”

For the first time in a while, Yuji felt like he was part of something simple, something… ordinary. And he kind of liked it.

Yuji glanced sideways, watching your pencil dance across the paper, capturing the park’s easygoing atmosphere with quick, effortless strokes. Noticing him looking, you paused, offering a playful grin.

“Want to give it a shot?” you asked, holding out the sketchbook.

Yuji raised his hands in surrender. “Oh, I’m probably the last person who should be allowed near anything artistic.”

“Come on,” you nudged, winking, “everyone can draw a stick figure.”

He laughed, a genuine sound he hadn’t heard from himself in a while. Taking the sketchbook, he started with a hesitant line, then a curve, his brows knitting as he tried to shape… something. “I think this might end up looking like a blob,” he admitted, squinting at his messy attempt.

Leaning in to inspect his work, your shoulder brushed against his. “It’s… definitely abstract.” You tried to stifle a laugh, only to let it slip out. “Hey, art is about expression, right?”

Yuji chuckled, handing the sketchbook back. “If that’s the case, I think I’m expressing confusion.’”

Both of you laughed, the kind that comes so easily when two people just click. And in that moment, Yuji almost forgot about the curse-ridden world outside this small bubble.

You both stayed seated, casually watching people pass by. You began making quirky, insightful comments about each one—a businessman glued to his phone, a dog tugging its owner along, an elderly couple holding hands.

“See that kid over there?” you whispered, pointing at a young boy running after a pigeon. “In five minutes, he’ll be back with an ice cream and probably wearing more of it than he eats.”

Sure enough, five minutes later, the boy returned, covered in a sticky mess, much to his mom’s exasperation.

Yuji snickered. “You should get paid for this, you’re spot on.”

You shrugged, eyes sparkling. “People are just… so interesting. You learn a lot just by watching. Most people don’t realize how much they give away.”

Yuji’s smile softened. “I guess I’ve never slowed down enough to notice.”

You turned to him with a thoughtful look. “Why not? You seem like someone who has a lot on his mind.”

For a second, Yuji hesitated. He could feel the weight of all the secrets he held, the curses, the sacrifices… and yet, he didn’t want to dampen this moment with his reality. So he simply said, “Guess life just got a bit… fast.”

You nodded, not prying further. “Well, it’s good to slow down. Gives you time to see the small things that make life worth it.”

Yuji felt something loosen in his chest. Here, with you, he felt a rare kind of peace, a kind he hadn’t realized he missed.