𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐢𝐜

11

THE CITY BRIMMED with everyday civilians, going about their business and days. Families, couples, friends, and workers filled the streets, all in their own little worlds. None of them aware to the nature of curses and what could possibly taint them. So oblivious, frolicking in the fields like mindless sheep. How badly you wished to join them, to be free of the shackles of your responsibilities... and most importantly, to forget the pain in your heart.

Gojo, who was ahead of you and Geto, started stretching his limbs left and right, carefree like the sun. You wondered how he didn't seem as affected by the mission. Were you wrong to assume that Amanai Riko grew on him by the end of it? Or was he perhaps just better at hiding it? Or was he too much of it an egotistical bastard, now that he unlocked more of his powers, to care? He was so difficult to read, more so than Geto even. That facade he held deeply to... you wondered when it would fall.

He spun around, with that familiar lilt of a smile on his face. "What should we do first?"

Though you agreed to coming to Tokyo, now that you were actually here, you didn't know what the hell you wanted to do.

Well, at least your stomach decided for you. A loud rumble caught both of your friends' attention, their eyes zoning to your belly. "Looks like you need some food," Geto pointed out, slightly smiling. Gojo chortled, laughing a little too hard for your liking.

"S-Shut it. It's not my fault I've been bedridden for days," you said, growing warm in the face. You marched past them and headed down the street, so they followed in tail.

"Slow down! With you too far, I won't be able to hear the monster that's your stomach!" Gojo teased.

"Why don't I give your stomach a kick for a rumble?" you barked back.

"Only if you can manage."

His words were fallen into deaf ears, however, when your nose caught sight of a delicious smell. Lined up on the side of the street were food stalls, selling a variety of food, from meats to dessert. There it was...! The delicacy you needed most, with flavors of heaven to bless your tastebuds. You needed it, now.

Dashing off with your vision on the goal, you were a one-track mind. Nothing could stand in between you and the takoyaki. Nothing at all.

So close. You were so close. That was until a flash of shadow appeared in the corner of your eye, hurtling at lightning speed.

"Watch out!"

A swept of arms hurled around you, pulling you out of what could have spelled a disaster. It was Geto, who had just saved you from a reckless biker, who could have hit you. Out of breath, he was clutching you tightly, his expression fearful and frazzled. It wasn't so often you'd see him in this way, especially when unrelated to missions. He watched as the rude biker disappear into the distance, before returning his focus on you. His gentle dark eyes, close and personal, were now stricken in annoyance.

"What were you thinking of, running off so fast?"

"It's okay, some loser biker can't damage me that easily."

"Still, you're healing. Just earlier, you could barely stand on your own two feet."

"You know, you're like a mom... even better than my own mom," you stated, grinning at the realization.

He stared at you, dumbfounded. "Mommy issues...?"

You only grinned harder. "Don't we all. If no family issues, can we even call ourselves sorcerers?"

A snort left his lips, and he shook his head, releasing you from his hold. "Tell me about it." The next thing you knew, he was dusting you off, making sure you were fixed up. Okay, this was a little too much, and in public too. You thought you would mind it, but surprisingly, you didn't. His actions of care branded a fervor in your core, so attentive and unfamiliar. His slender fingers reached your head, tucking in strands of [h/c] behind your ear, delicately, as if you were but a doll.