Shattered | Gojo Satoru

𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭 : 𝒻𝒾𝒻𝓉𝑒𝑒𝓃

The dawn break in soft shades of grey, casting long shadows across the walls of the hideout. It is a new day, but the atmosphere inside felt as if the night had never truly ended. Gojo spends the hours in a state of feverish activity, poring over maps, scribbling notes, and analyzing every potential outcome. Yet despite all his efforts, the same foreboding sense of dread gnaws at him, the captives' ominous words echoing in his mind like a curse.

He has been able to silence every thought except one — the memory of Miyu. The distance that has grown between them in the previous night's confrontation is like a physical ache, a wedge driven deep into his heart. Her silence is a constant, oppressive reminder that something between them has changed. And despite his best efforts, Gojo couldn't shake the feeling that this time, the rift might be too wide to mend.

As the first light of morning begins to filter through the small windows, Gojo made his way to the kitchen. Miyu is already there, sitting at the table with a cup of tea cradles between her hands. The steam rise in gentle swirls, but the tea itself remains untouched, forgotten in the stillness of the moment. Her gaze is fixed on the table before her, her thoughts seemingly miles away.

"Miyu," Gojo begins, his voice soft and careful, as if afraid to shatter the fragile peace that has settled between them. "About last night... I'm sorry."

Miyu looks up slowly, her eyes heavy with a sadness that cut deeper than any blade. "Are you really sorry, Gojo? Or is this just another way to make peace before you leave again?"

The accusation in her voice isn't sharp, but it is there, simmering just beneath the surface. Gojo flinched, knowing that he has no one to blame but himself for the distance between them. He sighs, running a hand through his disheveled hair as he searches for the right words.

"I am sorry, Miyu. Truly. I never wanted to hurt you. But I need you to understand — I'm doing this to protect you. To keep you safe."

Miyu shook her head, her voice trembling with the weight of unspoken emotions. "You keep saying that, Gojo. But what's the point of protecting me if it means pushing me away? We're supposed to be in this together, but you keep shutting me out. It feels like you're protecting me from something that's already gone. You're losing me, Satoru, and you don't even realize it."

Her words hit Gojo with the force of a blow, leaving him momentarily speechless. He has always believed that keeping her at arm's length is the best way to ensure her safety, but in doing so, he has failed to see how it is hurting her — how it is hurting them. The realization twists something deep within him, a pain that he couldn't ignore.

"I know it feels that way," he finally said, his voice thick with regret. "But Miyu, the thought of anything happens to you... I can't bear it. If something were to happen because of me —"

Miyu interrupted him, her voice softer now, but no less pained. "And what about me, Gojo? Do you think it's easy for me to watch you leave, time and time again, knowing that you might not come back? I'm scared too. Scared of losing you. Scared that one day you won't be able to protect yourself, let alone me."

The vulnerability in her words brings a lump to Gojo's throat. He has been so focused on his own fears that he has failed to recognize hers. For the first time, he truly understands the weight of what he is asking of her — the constant waiting, the fear of the unknown, the loneliness that comes with being left behind.

"Miyu, I —" he begins, but she cut him off with a sad, resigned smile.

"I know, Satoru. I know you're doing what you think is best. But I can't keep living like this, waiting for the day when you don't come back. If you can't let me stand by your side, then I'll have to find my own way to protect myself."