love hard
summary. after years of failed dating app matches, you finally hit it off with someone. heās funny, charming, emotionally available⦠and apparently?! not who you thought he was... literally ā because he used his ex-best friend suguru geto as his profile picture! so now, youāre stranded in a foreign country for the holidays, stuck with the real satoru gojo: a digimon-loving, trivia-winning, six-foot-tall nerd who... sure. may have catfished you. but he also might just win your heart.
tags/warnings. fluffy holiday au. nerdjo. light angst. slow burn. eventual smut. long distance relationship (reader is from cali, satoru is from japan). fake dating. one bed trope (yuuuup). found family feelings w/ the jjk cast. lots of dorky humor. alcohol/weed usage. thereās a bit of suguru x reader (also sukuna hits on you a lot bc he wants to piss gojo off). endgame is satoru x reader w/ a happy ending! soft and silly romcom vibes.Ā
author note. merry christmas! this fic is loosely based on the movie Love Hard (w/ my own retelling). it'll be 2 parts! i wanted it to be a oneshot and was rly hoping to finish it before christmas but life got in my way so alas. i'll say more towards the bottom but enjoy this first part for now~ (art by @/leimiruu on x)
main masterlist - part 2 >>>
Love is⦠hard.Ā
NotĀ āhardā like an honest misunderstanding, or a fight you work through with emotional maturity and a seasonallyĀ appropriate HallmarkĀ movie kiss.Ā
No ā āhardā like dodging your fifth unsolicited dick pic of the week while GooglingĀ āhow to spot a narcissist,ā becauseĀ apparently youĀ need a manual now.Ā Like realizingĀ your therapist makes more money off your dating trauma than you ever will.Ā
Which is funny, considering peopleĀ payĀ you to write about it.Ā
āDo I believe in love? No. But IĀ doĀ believe in ad revenue. And trust meĀ āĀ whatĀ youāreĀ writing?Ā Sells.Ā YouāllĀ make it big, darling.Ā I swear.āĀ
Wise words from your boss, Mei-Mei. And by wise, you mean cold, calculated, and unfortunately?Ā Very onĀ brand.Ā
YouāreĀ a columnist forĀ Swipe Right into Hell, and your beat? Disaster dates.Ā Ghostings. Red flags. You write about it all. One guy asked if he could wear his ex-wifeās wedding ring during sex. Another told you heĀ didnātĀ believe in astrology or feminism ā but heĀ didĀ believe in Bitcoin.Ā
So,Ā yeah. If love is a battlefield,Ā youāreĀ theĀ warĀ correspondent. Bulletproof. Jaded. AlwaysĀ packingĀ a pen.Ā
YouādĀ think by now ā after all the swipes, the situationships, the nights replaying bad decisions in bathroom mirrors āĀ youādĀ have cracked the code.Ā FoundĀ the formula.Ā UnlockedĀ the algorithmĀ toĀ realĀ connection.Ā
Mei-Mei certainly thinks you did.Ā
āUghhh.Ā YouāreĀ aĀ genius!Ā I swear, your last column wasĀ chefāsĀ kiss,ā she purred to you on Monday, tapping her lacquered nails against a chart of engagement analytics. āTragically humiliating⦠in aĀ relatableĀ way, of course!āĀ
Tragically humiliating?Ā Ā
Yeah, sure.Ā ThatāsĀ oneĀ way to describe it. Your date dumped you via a Venmo memo when you asked him to split the bill with you.Ā
(āLunch was great.Ā YouāreĀ not. āļøā)Ā
āUh... thanks. I think?āĀ
YouĀ werenātĀ entirely sure if that was praise or exploitation ā because with Mei-Mei, the line was always blurred.Ā
āOfĀ course, baby!āĀ sheĀ cooed.Ā āYour ratings are exceptionally high. But...Ā letāsĀ kick it up a notch, shall we?āĀ And grinningĀ like aĀ cheshireĀ cat, she slidĀ aĀ detailedĀ spreadsheet in front of youĀ encouragingly.Ā
āWe need a storyĀ soĀ massive before Christmas.Ā DonātĀ ask me why, but holiday trauma performsĀ extremelyĀ well. I expect your report by early-December. Get back out there, hm?āĀ
Apparently, loveĀ is dead. Because people liveĀ forĀ drama.Ā ForĀ tragedy.Ā ItāsĀ unfortunate, butĀ itĀ gets theĀ clicks. And despite all the ānew materialāĀ youāreĀ looking for? A part of you still achesĀ āĀ stillĀ yearnsĀ āĀ for love.Ā
So, like a well-trained masochist, you swipe. Again.Ā
| Brett, 27Ā ā Los Angeles, CAĀ |Ā Ā āHey,Ā kitten.Ā IāmĀ Sapiosexual. An INTJ.Ā Love your profile.Ā LetāsĀ chat,Ā yeah?āĀ
Sent a dick pic and textedĀ āU up?āĀ at 3:17 a.m. on a Tuesday.Ā (YouĀ werenāt)Ā
Swipe.Ā
| Colin, 32Ā ā Santa Monica, CAĀ |Ā Ā āSup.Ā IāmĀ just a nice guy.Ā Totally notĀ like other guys.āĀ
Sent a three-paragraph spiral aboutĀ how nice guys finish last due toĀ unrequited love.Ā (With hisĀ childhoodĀ best friend.)Ā
Swipe.Ā
| Naoya, 22Ā ā Orange County, CAĀ |Ā Ā āWhat do you do for fun? BecauseĀ let me set the record straight.Ā I love a woman who knowsĀ their place. Preferably, three steps behind me. Or in the kitchen.āĀ
You reported him. Twice.Ā (Just to be sureā¦)Ā
Swipe.Ā
| Greg, 25Ā ā SanĀ Francisco, CAĀ |Ā Ā āHey.Ā Uh...Ā IāmĀ married btw. ButĀ itāsĀ complicated, u know?āĀ
You almost admireĀ the honesty.Ā (Almost.)Ā
Swipe.Ā
Swipe.Ā
Swipe.Ā
YouĀ wereĀ about five more red flags away from joining a monastery whenĀ suddenly, you gotĀ an idea.Ā Perhaps...Ā itāsĀ just California?Ā YouāveĀ been living here your whole damn life.Ā LetāsĀ tryĀ escapingĀ the endless sea of self-proclaimed āentrepreneursāĀ ā the gym bros, the surfer stoners. TheĀ men who thinkĀ thatĀ being emotionally availableĀ isĀ aĀ liability.Ā Ā
So? You expandĀ your distance radius.Ā
Like...Ā Ā
Way out.Ā Ā
Just to see what would happen.Ā
| Satoru, 26Ā ā Kyoto, JapanĀ |Ā Ā āHey.Ā IāmĀ not here to play games. UnlessĀ itāsĀ Mario Kart. ButĀ donātĀ cry, becauseĀ IādĀ totally win, sweetheart.āĀ
ItāsĀ a miracle. Because for once,Ā thereāsĀ no shirtless mirror selfie.Ā ItāsĀ just a guy onĀ a frontĀ porch,Ā wearingĀ a hoodie.Ā ThereāsĀ a coffee cupped in his hands,Ā withĀ longĀ ravenĀ hairĀ fallingĀ against the violet hue of hisĀ eyes.Ā Ā
He hasĀ gauges, a sleepy smile, and oh my god heāsāĀ
ā¦gorgeous.Ā Ā
AndĀ not the curated, flex-for-attentionĀ kind of gorgeousĀ youāveĀ learned to dodge. No.Ā ThereāsĀ something⦠approachable about him. Soft. Stupidly warm. Like if you sat beside him, heĀ wouldnātĀ talk āĀ heādĀ listen.Ā
~Ā ā” ļøĀ YouāveĀ matched with Satoru Gojo!Ā Ā ā” ļøĀ ~Ā ...typingĀ Satoru:Ā Did you know that the universe is 13.8 billion yearsĀ old?Ā There areĀ billions of galaxies. Trillions of stars. And yet⦠here we are. Matched on a dating app.Ā Satoru:Ā So⦠hi! Satoru:Ā WannaĀ test fate?Ā You: lol š You: well then... You:Ā thatāsĀ one way to say hello!! š Satoru:Ā Yeah... figuredĀ IādĀ lead with existential dread instead of wydĀ š
He was... normal.Ā
Stupidly normal.Ā Maybe aĀ bit nerdy.Ā ButĀ somehow? It worked. HeĀ made you smile.Ā
...typingĀ Satoru:Ā Okayokayokay... but REAL question...Ā Ā Satoru:Ā Do you pour milk before cereal??? 𤨠Or are you a functioning member of society?Ā You: šØšØ You:Ā excuseĀ you!!Ā Ā You:Ā what kind of monster do you think i am???Ā š Satoru:Ā Phew š© Satoru:Ā Just needed to be sure!! People have surprised me beforeĀ
And just like that, you wereĀ hooked.Ā
You talked while brushing your teeth. On your lunch break. In bed, half-asleep,Ā phoneĀ screen dimmed but still open to his thread.Ā Heās gotĀ opinions on everything.Ā
Anime, horror movies, why candy canes are overrated, the superiority of old-school consoles, and the tragic fall of Yahoo Answers.Ā
One day he asked:Ā
...typingĀ Satoru:Ā Are you moreĀ of aĀ saltyĀ girlĀ orĀ aĀ sweetĀ girl?Ā
YouĀ paused,Ā halfway through folding laundry, holding one sock while you reach for your phone.Ā
...typingĀ You:Ā hmmm..... You:Ā are weĀ talkingĀ snacks?? or personalityĀ type?Ā Satoru:Ā š Satoru:Ā Well shit... Satoru:Ā Now IĀ wannaĀ know the answer to both...Ā You:Ā hehehe š You:Ā what do YOU think i am?Ā Satoru:Ā Oh,Ā hell no... Satoru:Ā IāmĀ not falling for that Satoru:Ā Bc if I guess wrong,Ā youāllĀ never let me hear the end of it.Ā You:Ā pshhh...Ā You:Ā thatĀ responseĀ answers for me šĀ You:Ā but hmm... i guess iāmĀ both? You: bc it depends onĀ the day... OR the person.Ā Satoru:Ā Okay cool Satoru: Soooo...Ā IāmĀ either incredibly lucky, orĀ youāreĀ about to ruin my life inĀ a really interestingĀ way. You:Ā ruin you?? You: never!! You:Ā ...you'reĀ one of the few people i actuallyĀ wannaĀ be sweet to ā¤ļøĀ Satoru: ā¤ļøĀ Satoru:Ā Guess it's a good thingĀ that I'mĀ a sweet guy š both snackĀ ANDĀ personality wise Satoru:Ā Which brings me back to the important question... Satoru: Snacks Satoru: Salty or sweet. Answer wisely, sweetheart. You:Ā hmm...Ā Satoru:Ā This data could make or break us 𤨠You:Ā immaĀ saltyĀ kindaĀ girl Satoru:Ā ...Ā You:Ā but iĀ donātĀ dislike sweet things!Ā š Satoru:Ā Siiiiiigh...Ā Satoru:Ā Fine. I respect it Satoru: Even thoughĀ itāsĀ OBJECTIVELY the wrong answer š guessĀ IāllĀ just have to be the sweet one in this relationship
Somehow, it never felt forced. YouĀ didnātĀ have to explain your jokes. YouĀ didnātĀ have to shrink yourself or play dumb orĀ braceĀ for silence. He got it. He gotĀ you. And he made you laugh ā constantly. But more than that⦠he made you feel safe.Ā
It was easy to forgetĀ youādĀ never seen him move.Ā NeverĀ heardĀ hisĀ laugh in real life.Ā
Until you started calling each other.Ā
What started as a five-minute ājust wanted to hear your voiceā spiraled into two hours. Then three. NowĀ itāsĀ just⦠what you do. The sound of his voice has become background music ā familiar and warm, the kind of thing you could fall asleep to. Soft, a little raspy, warm around the edges when he laughs.Ā
He talks fast when he gets excited ā usually about Digimon lore, bad anime dubs, or some absurd theory he read online at 3 a.m. He jumps from tangent to tangent likeĀ heāsĀ chasing thoughts through constellations ā but somehow, never leaves you behind.Ā
And whenĀ heāsĀ really into something, you can hear it. His voice lifts like gravityĀ canātĀ hold it.Ā
āHmm⦠if we were two particles traveling at the speed of light,ā he murmured, ādo you think weād still find each other in another timeline?āĀ
āOh my godā¦ā you smiled against your pillow; voice thick with sleep. āIs this your version of āWould you still love me if I was a wormā Satoru?āĀ
His laugh was soft and breathy, wrapping around your ribs like ribbon.
āPshh⦠no,ā he scoffed, and you could hear the pout in his voice as he shuffled against his own bedsheets. Then, with a huff he drawled. āThis is myĀ scientifically superiorĀ version of that question.āĀ
āMmm⦠I see,ā your hum was sleepy, curling deeper under the blanket. Grinning, your eyes fluttered closed as you murmured. āYes. I think we wouldā
A comfortable silence settled, and you could hear the line crackle softly as he exhaled.
āI wishā¦ā he said after a beat, āā¦we could spend Christmas together. Itās not fair youāre so far away.ā
His voice was quiet, like he was afraid to say it too loud. And somehow, it landed harder than any confession. You pressed your ear closer to the phone, like maybe, if you try hard enough, youāll feel the weight of him on the mattress beside you.
āYeahā¦ā you whispered. āMe too.ā
Youād been talking to Satoru for a month now ā and honestly, every other man you come across canāt hold a candle to him. So, when Mei Mei saunters to your desk December 1st, silk blouse pristine and judgment already locked and loaded, you know sheās not going to like what she finds.
āItās officially December, my dear,ā she hums, lowering herself into the chair across from you, tilting her head in that familiar, patronizing way. āSo. Where are my lines?ā
Your fingers still over the keyboard. Time to come clean.
āI know, I knowā¦ā you say, rubbing at your temples before finally looking up. Your heart thumps harder than it should. āAnd⦠donāt be mad. But⦠just hear me out. What if this year⦠I donāt write about heartbreak?ā
Itās like you might as well have told her you quit. The silence is deafening while she blinks at you, deadpan ā like youāve grown a second head.
āDarling,ā she says coolly, with a bitter laugh. āChristmas is in three weeks. I donāt need pleasantries ā I need pain.ā
āBut thatās just it, isnāt it?ā you push gently, sitting a little straighter in your chair. āChristmas is supposed to feel⦠good. Warm. Like something you lean into, not brace yourself against.ā You gesture vaguely toward the window, the gray sky.
Youāve always been alone for the holidays. No family. No one asking when youāll be home.
āI mean⦠people are⦠tired. Stressed. Lonely. The world already feels cold enough without another reminder that love is awful. Right?ā
Mei scoffs, flipping her hair over one shoulder, repulsed by the suggestion. āThat mushy shit doesnāt sellā¦ā And her eyes sharpen, flicking back to you. āYou sound dangerously sentimental. Very unlike you, darling.ā
Your mouth opens. Closes.
Little does she know⦠this is you. Or at least, the you thatās been kept hidden your entire career ā doing something that feels so⦠empty. Youāre tired. Tired of pretending that love is dead. For once, you want to believe in it. Believe that all this with Satoru ā the potential for love ā could be real.
āā¦I met someone.ā
That gives her pause.
āOh?ā
Her snobbish tone is hard to ignore, but you donāt let it diminish the excitement you feel from the thought of him.
Satoru.
āYeah⦠heāsāā you begin with a breathless laugh, tucking your chin into your palm like it might hide your grin. āUgh. Heās good, Mei. Like⦠really fucking good. Funny⦠smart⦠thoughtfulā¦ā
But Meiās sculpted brow arches as you continue to gush.
āOhmygod and so handsome too,ā you breathe, face lighting up. āLike. Itās unfair how good-looking he is, I swear. Plus, he remembers the little things I say, and he always checks in when Iāve had a rough day. Itās likeā¦ā you pause, breath catching as your heart aches with longing.
āItās like⦠he sees me, Mei.ā
At that, a knowing hum rumbles through your boss.
āI seeā¦ā she nods, lips tugging upward. āWell. Can you show me a picture, then?ā
āOh, sure!ā you chirp, already digging for your phone in your bag. Your heart flutters at the sight of his photo, and after navigating to his profile, you hand the device over to her.
Her eyes narrow, then flick back to you. āThis guy is in Japanā¦ā and you can already hear it, that condescending tone, syrupy sweet. āI wonder⦠have you seen him yet?ā
āW-What?ā you blink, crossing your arms, instantly on guard. āWell⦠no. But itās a sixteen-hour time difference! Itās hard to line up video calls, but we talk all the time andāā
āMm.ā Thatās all she needs. Sheās handing the phone back with a noise youād describe as infuriatingly smug. āNo way heās that perfect,ā she says, already rising to her feet. āI bet heās catfishing you.ā
Your heart drops.
God. Thatād be just your luck.
āWhat?! N-No!ā you argue, unwilling to entertain the idea. āItās real, Mei. Heās real.ā
āMmm. So is Santa Claus~ā
You scoff, brows furrowing.
āNo, seriously. He said he wanted to spend Christmas with me. I was actually thinking of surprising him ā flying out and āā
āOh, that sounds wonderful,ā she interrupts, saccharine and sharp. āFlying to Japan? To meet a man youāve never met?ā a loud pompous laugh bursts out of her lips, making your blood boil. āAhhh⦠what a story! I expect lines, my dear~ā
And as her heels are clicking away, you glare after her, cheeks hot, heart thudding with equal parts embarrassment and fury.
That⦠bitch.
Fine. Youāre going to prove her wrong.
You must.
It hadnāt taken much convincing to get Satoruās address.
You told him you wanted to send a Christmas present. He teased you, of course.
āA present? For little old me?ā he drawled. āAwh⦠what is it? Is it scandalous? Oh!! Is it Digimon related??ā You could practically hear the grin in his voice. And sure enough, a minute later, he sent his address with a laughing āFine. But only if itās Digimon-related, sweetheart.ā
Little does he knowā¦
Itās you youāre sending.
(Though yes, heās still getting something Digimon-related too. You spent two weeks hand-knitting a Gabumon scarf hat ā complete with floppy ears, tiny claws, and a ridiculous little horn. Itās absolutely absurd. You hope heāll love it.)
Kyoto is blanketed in snow when you land ā your breath visible in the air as you drag your suitcase outside the airport, gloved fingers fumbling with your phone. You manage to request a car (thank god for global apps), but the second the driver steps out and starts speaking rapid-fire Japanese, your brain goes static.
āUhā¦. sumimasen?ā
Itās the only word you know that seems remotely polite. That, and arigatou. Oh, and you know, baka, (thanks to Satoruās anime rants about how āsub is superior to dub.ā He swears by it, so naturally, youāve started watching anime. In sub. Maybe because it feels like holding onto a piece of him.)
As you enter the car, you press your face to the frosty window and Kyoto whirls past ā ancient shrines nestled between sleek buildings, power lines framed by snow-laced branches, vending machines glowing like beacons in the dark. The city is beautiful. Foreign. Dreamlike.
But then, the car pulls up to his house ā and suddenly, youāre the one who feels foreign.
Because what the hell.
The place is huge.
Itās walled off with an iron gate, and a winding stone path leading up to a home that looks like a cross between a modern compound and a high-end ryokan. Heād told you his family was well off, but you didnāt realize well off meant a fucking dynasty.
Great. Now youāre standing here with your thrifted suitcase, the handmade gift for him, wrapped in a flimsy bag, wearing your own knitted scarf and a coat you borrowed from your roommate because your own has a busted zipper. Youāre suddenly hyper-aware of every chipped nail, every dollar you donāt have in your bank account.
God. What are you even doing here? This man seems ever more too good to be true. What if heās playing you? What if⦠Meiās right. Does he even want you? Whatāll he do when he sees you? Whatāll he say?
Fuck.
You take a deep breath, tugging your scarf a little higher, gripping his present like a lifeline. Itās fine. Whatever. You came all this way. No turning back now, right?
When you ring the doorbell, a faint chime echoes inside the estate. The air bites at your cheeks while voices murmur on the other side. Footsteps near the entrance and thenā
Click!
The shoji slides open. Youāre grinning nervously ā heart hammering in your chest, steadying yourself as a figure comes into sight. A figure whom isā
A woman.
āćć£ā¦čŖ°ļ¼ä½ććēØć§ććļ¼ā
She stands with one hand on the frame, backlit by the warm glow of the house behind her. Dark hair pulled into a lazy bun, a cigarette balanced between two fingers, smoke curling lazily into the night air. Sheās tall. Cool. Effortlessly poised in a way youāve never been. And she looks⦠young. Maybe your age.
Meiās laugh is echoing in your goddamn ears.
Double fuckā¦
Did Satoru lie? Is this his girlfriend? His wife? A casual fling he forgot to mention? God. Is this why he never video chatted you?
It feels like a kick to the chest.
What the hell were you thinking?? Flying across the world for a guy youāve never met in person?!
Ā āć”ćć£ćØćčććć¦ćļ¼ā
Sheās still looking at you, head tilted slightly, eyes narrowed with vague curiosity ā and you realize with a jolt you havenāt said anything. Not a word.
āOh! Iāuhāsumimasen?ā you stammer, fumbling with the little Japanese you know. āS-Sorry, I⦠I donāt speak Japanese,ā you laugh, awkward and breathless. āI think I have the wrong house, though. I was looking for someone named Satoru butāā with a glance past her, you try not to look desperate.
God. Youāre such an idiot.
āUhhh⦠never mind,ā and clutching your suitcase, you attempt to retreat. āIām so sorry. This was a mistake.ā
Though her hand shoots out, catching your sleeve.
āOh. Satoru? That idiot?ā she says casually, in English this time ā voice smooth, tinged with amusement. She flicks ash off the edge of the porch. āYeah, youāre at the right house. Heās just at the FamilyMart with Yuji right now. Craving strawberry shortcake, apparently.ā
As your brain begins to short-circuit, she takes one last drag of her cigarette, then steps aside, gesturing toward the entryway.
āCāmon. Youāll freeze your ass off.ā
āOiii,ā Shoko calls. āWe have a guest, guys! Say hello toāoh, um⦠sorry, whatās your name again?ā
Before you know it, youāre stepping inside ā toeing off your shoes at the entrance. Your feet pad against the tatami as you round the corner, and youāre greeted with a group of three other men sitting casually around a low table, with an abundance of snacks at the center.
Though, despite how laid-back the room appears, with pillows and drinks and half opened bags ā thereās an underlying tension so thick, you swear it could cut glass.
Theyāre all staring at you with stone faces.
One man is blonde, with a chiseled jawline and a stern demeaner. Another has bubblegum-pink hair and tattoos crawling up both arms, and the third is a teenager with messy black hair who looks like heād rather be literally anywhere else.
Are these Satoruās⦠friends? Family? Heās never mentioned them before.
Shoko takes another drag from her cigarette, unfazed. āIām Shoko, by the way,ā she says lazily, exhaling smoke toward the ceiling. āKnown Satoru for years. Unfortunately.ā She smirks. āThis is Kento, Sukuna, and Megumi.ā
āH-Helloā¦ā you murmur, gripping the handle of your suitcase as you hold a tight, nervous smile. āNice to meet you. Sorry for⦠dropping in like this. I just flew in from America and⦠I was hoping that ā well, Satoru would be here?ā
āGojo?ā Sukuna gruffs, leaning back on one elbow. He plucks a piece of pocky from the snack tray and chews it without breaking eye contact. āAnd who the fuck are you supposed to be? His secret girlfriend or somethinā?ā
The words hits harder than it should.
Girlfriend? Secret?
God, what are you to him?
And now, it dawns on you that they havenāt a clue who you are either. Of course, they donāt. Why would they?
You feel your cheeks heat. āO-oh, no. No, itās not like that,ā you say quickly, waving your hand like itāll brush the embarrassment away. āI mean⦠we talk. Weāve been talking. Butāā
You trail off and theyāre all looking at you with raised brows.
āWe donāt have a label or anything. Weāre just⦠friends.ā
āFriends?ā Sukuna perks up, grin widening. āSo lemme get this straight. You flew twelve hours across the globe for that pretentious dick?ā He scoffs. āAnd he hasnāt even put a label on you?ā
Thereās something dangerously amused in his tone now, and he tosses the half-eaten pocky stick back onto the tray.
āDamn. Lucky bastard.ā
You blink, unsure whether to feel insulted or embarrassed or both.
"Donāt you worry sweet thing. You decide to stay and I can show ya how a real man can take care of ya, hm?"
Kento shifts, cutting him a glance. āSukunaā¦ā
āWhat?ā he says, raising both hands innocently. āThis girl is hot as fuck. And Iām just saying ā if it were me? Iād at least make sure she knew what she was walking into. Or out of. I'm not like that asshole.ā
You blink again.
Is he⦠hitting on you?
āGreat... here we goā¦ā Megumi mutters.
And Kento sighs, removing his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose. āPlease ignore him,ā he tells you, voice calm but firm. āEverything is a pissing contest with Gojo where heās concerned.ā
āOkay, first of all ā fuck you,ā Sukuna snaps, sitting up straighter now, suddenly defensive. āItās not about competition. Iām just not blind. Look at her!ā
You blush subtly, and Megumi mutters, barely glancing up.
āDon't take him seriously... trust me. He says that. But every time Gojo brings a fangirl around, he's always trying to take her home like itās a fucking game.ā
...fangirl?
The word slams into your chest like a hammer. Is that what they think you are? You stiffen, heart dropping. Because that proves it. You shouldnāt be here. Of course someone like him would get dozens of women throwing themselves at him.
What made you think you were any different?
You shouldnāt have come.
āI-Iām sorry,ā you whisper, grip tightening around the suitcase as you fumble to gather your things. āI shouldnāt have⦠I didnāt mean to barge in. Iāll justāā
And bowing your head, you spin on your heel, until suddenly you collide into someone. But it all happens so quickly; you donāt register who. Because with a gasp, you stumble backwards, entirely focused on how your giftbag slipped from your grip, making Satoruās scarf fall to the floor.
āW-What⦠what are you doing here?!ā
āShit, Iām sorry.ā
'Sorry' must be your go to word tonight. Youāre too embarrassed to look up and see more of Satoruās friends judging you. Youāre dropping on your knees, scrambling to gather things with shaking hands mumbling under your breath.
āIām leaving now⦠god, I shouldnāt have come. Please donāt tell Satoru I wasā"
āWHOA, is that Gabumon?!ā a new voice exclaims, bright with curiosity. āHey Gojo, whoās this?ā
At the mention of his name, you freeze.
Your head slowly lifts, eyes tracing up to catch sight of another pink-haired boy, peeking out from behind the man directly in front of you.
But⦠the man doesnāt look like Satoru. Not the Satoru youāve come to know.
No. He has snowy-white tousled hair, tucked beneath a beanie, with bright blue eyes, blinking behind thick-rimmed glasses.
Nothing like his profile pictures.
āSatoru?ā you breathe.
His mouth parts, speechless while heās looking at you like youāre a ghost.
āDude, thatās so cool! Did you make that?ā Yuji asks, eyes sparkling. āGojo sheās a keeper, huh?ā
āMmm⦠clearly.ā Nanami glances over. āBecause since when do you let girls know you like Digimon?ā
āAbout damn time,ā Shoko snorts, already lighting another cigarette like this is the most amusing thing sheās seen all week.
āAnd, she flew here for you,ā Sukuna laughs from the back, sounding far too smug for someone uninvolved. āShit, Iāll marry her if you donāt, asshole.ā
The voices layer over each other ā praise, laughter, awe. But itās too bright, too loud, and youāre frozen in the middle of it. Feeling completely detached from reality while the blatant truth stands directly in front of you.
He lied.
And the worst part? You believed him. You came all this way. Mei Mei was right.
Love is dead.
āUm, actually. IāI left something outside,ā you blurt, shoving the scarf back in the bag and clutching it to your chest, blinking back the tears. āExcuse me a moment.ā
And before anyone can stop you, youāre slipping past them ā out the door, out of breath ā your chest aching with something you canāt yet name. While behind you, footsteps follow as he calls your name.
āWaitāshit. Wait!ā
Satoru knows he fucked up. And by the time he barrels out the front door, youāre already halfway down the street, boots crunching through the snow like youāre marching to war.
He feels like a grade A idiot. Because somehow, against all odds, you ā this ridiculously perfect girl ā came all the way to Japan thinking he was someone worth showing up for.
And now heās watching you walk away.
āWaitwaitwaitwaitā¦ā he groans, jogging after you, breath puffing white in the air. āSlow down and just⦠can you justāfuck. Just stop for a second?!ā
āStop?!ā You whirl around, eyes wet and furious. āWhy should I? Who the fuck even are you? What kind of psycho catfishes someone for months and then just lies to their face?!ā
He blinks, defensive instinct kicking in before his brain can catch up.
āWāWellāwhat kind of psycho flies across the country and shows up on someoneās front lawn?ā he fires back, hands flailing. āIn Japan, might I add!ā
A bitter scoff tears out of you. āYou saidāand I quoteāāI wish you were here with me for Christmas,āā your arms fold tight across your chest like youāre holding yourself together. āWhy the hell would you say that if you didnāt mean it?ā
He backpedals immediately. Because fuck ā he did mean it. Every lateānight call. Every laugh. Every stupid wish whispered into the dark.
But instead of admitting that, panic takes over.
āLāLookāthatās justāsomething people say, okay?ā he rambles. āLike⦠āyour babyās so cute,ā orāumā āmy diet starts tomorrow,ā orāā
Heās waving his hand, scrambling for humor ā something to soften it ā but the words die on his lips when he sees your face drop. You blink hard, like something inside you just broke. And the sight of it makes his stomach twist into knots.
Great. Now he feels like even more of an asshole.
āShit⦠okay,ā he blurts, voice softer now. āThat was... yeah. Um. That was a dick move. I know...ā
āFuck youā¦ā you mutter, turning back around.
āHold up! Please⦠just come inside, yeah? We can talk it out. If you'll just let me explainā"
āI donāt want to talk to you. Ever again.ā
He can hear the hurt underneath the edge of your voice, and he stands there, watching you trudge through the snow ā your figure getting smaller against the snow-washed street. He knows there is no salvaging this. He fucked it up. But still⦠reality slams into him all at once.
You donāt speak the language.
You donāt know the city.
You donāt have a car.
Fuck. Do you even have anywhere to go?
āFuckfuckfuckfuck⦠fuck!ā he breathes, running a hand through his hair as he begins to jog back toward the house, bursting through the door.
āGuys, Iāll be right back!ā he shouts to no one in particular as he grabs his keys off the counter, hands shaking. āShe left something at the airport!ā
Then, heās gone again. Chasing the only girl who ever made him feel seen.
Itās cold. Too cold for someone with no plan and no fucking clue where youāre going. But the cold doesnāt sting as much as your heart does.
You donāt even know how far youāve walked. Five minutes? Ten?Ā Your fingers are numb, your phone battery is nearly dead, and your boots are soaked through.
By pure luck, you stumbled into some sort of Japanese bar. And the kanji on the glowing sign outside might as well be ancient runes, but the warmth spilling through the door felt like something close to safety. Like maybe if you just stepped inside, youād stop feeling so fucking alone.
Because hey, at least the sake tastes good.
You have no Wi-Fi, no plan, not a single ounce of pride left. All you have is the stupid hope that maybe if you drown yourself in enough of this bitter rice wine, itāll burn the ache out of your chest.
The edges of the bar blur slightly. Everythingās warm and loud. Someoneās laughing too hard in the corner.Ā Across the room, beyond the haze, thereās a man with a dark bun and violet eyes, sipping from a bottle with his head tilted back.
Beautiful.
Almost likeā¦
The photos on Satoruās profile?
Are you delusional? Drunk? No... that is him. Right??
Youāre blinking through the blur, trying to make sense of it. But then? The room begins to spin and sure enough, nausea hits.
āShitāā you whisper, grabbing the edge of the bar.
Youāre pushing off your stool, stumbling outside the icy curb, before you double over and hurl into the snowbank.
Great. Fucking perfect. Can this day get any worse?
āHeyāhey! There you are!ā
Oh, yeah. It can.
Tires crunch as a car jerks to a stop beside the curb. The door flies open, left swinging in the cold and Satoru rushes out, barely remembering to throw the gear into park before heās crossing to you, boots skidding slightly on slush.
āJesusāfuck. Are you okay?ā he drops beside you, crouching low. āWhat the hell happenedāā
āDonāt touch me,ā you snap, pushing at him weakly while your body sways. He pulls back like you burned him.
āIām fffine,ā you slur, though your stomach still churns and your face is damp with cold sweat. āGooo away.ā
He sighs, exasperated.
āYouāre not fine. Youāre pale and shaking andāwait. Are you⦠drunk?ā He exhales, brushing his hand through his hair like heās trying not to lose it. āCome on. Let me take you home.ā
āHome?ā you laugh, bitter and sharp, scoffing as you shove at him again. āYou mean your home?ā
āNo. I meant⦠wherever youāre safe. I justācan we not do this right now? Please?ā
You snort, head lolling as you stare at the ground. āYouāre a liarrrr,ā you mutter, voice thick and sloppy. āJusā like everyone else.ā
The words land heavier than he expects. Wind howls between you, carrying the smell of snow and alcohol and regret. Satoru opens his mouthācloses it. For once, he doesnāt have a smart comeback.
āIām gonna stay right here,ā you announce suddenly, sliding down until your back hits the wall. You cross your arms, chin lifting like itās some kind of moral victory. āI donāt need you.ā
āā¦in the snow?ā he asks flatly.
āYup,ā you nod, blinking too hard. āMaybe Iāll meet someone who doesnāt lie for fun.ā
āJesus, womanāā he drags a hand down his face. āYouāre in a foreign country. You donāt speak the language. Youāre drunk off your ass. Iām not just gonna abandon you in an alley behind a bar you canāt even read the name of!ā
āPffft... well I liiike this bar,ā you say bitterly, voice cracking. āS'greeat. They poured the sake fast. And nobody lied to me.ā
Every time you say it, it hurts him even more. Satoru exhales hard, pacing a few steps like if he stops moving, he might actually lose it. But when he turns back, ready with another argument ā another plea ā he freezes.
Because youāre... crying.
Not quiet tears. Not dignified ones. Ugly, shaking sobs that pull from somewhere deep in your chest, shoulders hitching as you scrub at your face with the sleeve of your coat.
āI hate you,ā you mutter, voice wrecked.
His chest tightens. He doesnāt know what to do with that. With this.
āI really liked you,ā you continue, words tumbling out now, unstoppable. āLikeāreally liked you. I donāt do this. I donāt fly across the world for people. I donātāā you hiccup, laughing wetly through the tears. āS'bullshitā¦ā you mutter bitterly.
He blinks, lips pressing in a thin line like heās unsure what to say. The cold wind blows as you sniffle.
āPlus⦠youāre hot as fuck. I donāt get it. Like⦠you didnāt even need to lieā¦ā
You mutter, shifting in the snow. And that one makes him flinch.
āSāstupid⦠you couldāve jus' been you,ā you say, gesturing vaguely at him. āBut no. Instead you make up this whole fake version. Lying about everything. Liarrr. And now I canāt trust you. Betcha lied about liking me too, huh? All of it.ā
He opens his mouth.
Nothing comes out.
Because thatās the cruel part.
He didnāt lie about everything.
He thinks of the way peopleās eyes light up when they recognize his last name. The way conversations shift the second they realize heās that Gojo. He thinks of years spent being wanted for the wrong reasons ā money, status, face value.
And youāre the one person who ever made him feel like itās okay for liking what he liked. The nerdy, cocky, compulsively sarcastic guy who collects Digimon cards and corrects Wikipedia entries in his spare time.
āOh yeah⦠ya know who I saw in there?ā you suddenly say, jerking your thumb toward the glowing doorway behind you. āThat hot guy from yer pictures.ā
Satoru stiffens.
āUh⦠Suguru?ā
āOh,ā you sniff. āSo heās a real guy?ā You laugh again, hollow and dizzy. āFigures. Yāknow what? He looks like he wouldnāt lie. Bet heās honest. Bet he doesnāt make fake profiles and pretend to be someone else.ā
Youāre too drunk to notice the flinch in his jaw, the way he shifts his weight like the words physically hurt.Ā
āMaybe Iāll go back in and see if heāll take me home, huh?ā
You try to shove off the wall and nearly trip again, but Satoru steadies you without thinking ā hands warm and steady under your arms.
āLookā¦ā he murmurs, voice gentler now. āI know youāre mad. And I deserve it. But Iām worried about you.ā
His grip adjusts ā one hand rising to gently cradle your elbow, the other slipping around to the small of your back as he lowers his head to meet your bleary, mascara-smudged eyes.
āItās cold,ā he says, voice pitched just above a whisper. āItās late. Youāre probably jet-lagged out of your mind. Just⦠come back to the house with me, alright? Sleep it off. And if you still hate me in the morningāfine. Iāll even help you hook up with Suguru⦠if you want.ā
Your head jerks back slightly, eyes narrowing. āW-What?ā You squint at him, breath curling white between you. āSeriously?ā
He shrugs with the ghost of a smile, though it doesnāt reach his eyes. āI mean, me and him used to be friends. Iām your best bet.ā
āThatās insane,ā you mutter.
āIām aware,ā he says dryly. Then, more cautiously: āAll Iām asking is that you pretend to be my girlfriend. Just until Christmas is over.ā
You scoff, half stumbling again as you try to push away from him. āWhy the hell would I do that?ā
He hesitates. Then breathes out through his nose, gaze flicking away for a second.
āBecause⦠you saw how excited my friends were to meet you. I donāt have a great relationship with my family, okay? Those guys⦠theyāre all I have. Iāve spent holidays alone more years than I havenāt.ā His voice cracks a little, just a hair. āI donāt wanna ruin this one⦠please?ā
Something in your expression softens. It hits you all at once, stupid and sharp: how close he is. How blue his eyes are. Maybe itās the crack in his voice, or the tired honesty in his face, or the fact that for the first time tonight, he doesnāt look like a liar. He just looks⦠sad.
āā¦okay,ā you whisper. āFine. Letās just⦠go.ā
But when you step forward, you falter slightly, ankle twisting in the snow, and he moves without hesitation ā an arm looping under yours, the other bracing your elbow as he helps you upright.
āShitāokay. Easy, sweetheart. I got you,ā he murmurs, adjusting his grip.
And maybe itās the alcohol, or the heartbreak, or the fact that your guardās been sanded down to nothing. But for a second? You let yourself lean into him. Just a little. Just enough.
He guides you carefully toward the car. The passenger door creaks open. He ducks down to guide you in, one hand braced above your head so you donāt hit it on the frame. His other hand lingers at your lower back. You glance up at him in the doorway.
āDo you⦠really think Suguru would like me?ā
Thereās a flicker in his expression. Then a tight smile.
āI think⦠heād be lucky if he did.ā
You frown, unsure how to read that. But you donāt press.
He closes the door behind you, gently. And as he rounds the car to take his seat, you rest your head against the window ā watching snow dust the windshield like ash.
Itās going to be a long Christmas.
The drive home was quiet. When Satoru glanced through the rearview mirror, he realized you were out cold before he even hit the second red light. Your head was tilted against the window, lips slightly parted, breathing deep and even.
You looked impossibly beautiful.
By the time he pulled into the driveway, the snow picked up again, soft and powdery in the glow of the porch light. Satoru kills the engine and glances at you one more time.
āHey⦠uh. Weāre here?ā
But you donāt wake. And honestly, he canāt find it in his heart to wake you himself. So instead, he sighs, āCāmon, sleeping beautyā¦ā climbing out and circling the car. āRight⦠well. Up and at āem.ā
He lifts you gently, bridal style. And your head lolls against his shoulder, warm breath ghosting across his collar. When he adjusts his grip, you snuggle closer, burrowing into the crook of his neck. And he tries to act like his brain wasnāt short-circuiting.
As he approaches the estateās entrance, the door slides open before he can knock. Yuji stands there with a bag of chips in one hand and a soda in the other.
āWoah. Dude. She okay?ā
āWhat?! Of course!ā Satoru huffs. āSheās fine. Justātired. Long flight. Jet lag hit her hard, yāknow?ā
Yuji nods solemnly. āRIP.ā
Satoru rolls his eyes. āMove. Gotta put her to bed.ā
Yuji moves. Nobody presses further. Satoru doesnāt stop in the hallway, just takes the stairs two at a time, heading straight for his room, nudging the door open with his foot while he eases you inside.
He lowers you onto the bed slowly, like you might break. Your coat bunches beneath you, and he hesitates ā then gently shrugs it off your shoulders, exposing some of your bare skin. You murmur something incoherent, head rolling to the side.
āShhh⦠time to get some rest, sweetheartā¦ā he breathes. āLay back for me, yeah?ā
As you lay back, he slips your boots off next, one at a time, fingers brushing your ankles. And god, your feet are freezing.
But as heās reaching for the blanketā
āMmmph.ā
Your hand fumbles blindly and finds his shirt, tugging him down with you. He stumbles forward slightly, one knee landing on the edge of the bed, catching himself on his palms as you tug him down. Your arms wrap loosely around his waist, burying your face into his chest.
āW-Woahāhey,ā he breathes, voice cracking a little. āYouāreāuh. Kinda clinging there, huh?ā
You donāt answer. You just⦠sigh. Sleepy and content. He lies beside you, unsure where to put his hands, heart racing. Youāre cold. He can feel the way you press into him, like heās the warmest thing in the world. Your fingers bunch his shirt. Your nose nuzzles the fabric.
āMm⦠sātoruā¦ā
His heart flutters, and he knows youāll probably hate him again in the morning, but he doesnāt move.
Because he likes the way you cling to him. Because heās selfish. Because the girl he lied to for weeks is now curled up in his bed, face pressed to his ribs, saying his name like sheās dreamt it a hundred times.
So, he sleeps beside you that night. Pretending, just for now, that none of it was a lie.
āI keep thinking⦠if this is what youāre like over the phone, what the hell am I gonna do if I ever see you in person?ā
Youāre dreaming again.
Of his voice ā that voice. Warm and easy. The one that used to call you at midnight, laughing through the line like it was nothing, like you werenāt slowly losing your mind for a stranger youād never met.
āCause⦠I really love talking to you. Might just get addicted to you, sweetheart.ā
You sigh, stirring slightly against the warmth pressed to you. Itās a heavy, encompassing warmth ā like youāve been swaddled in sunlight and something sweet. Thereās an arm draped languidly around your waist, and a thumb twitching against your lower back.
Dreaming.
āMmphā¦ā
Your thighs are warm, tangled, clinging to something⦠hard. You wiggle your hips as the rhythm of breathing ebbs and flows beneath you. And that movement makes a low, sleepy sound rumble against your chest.
āFffuckā¦ā
The groan isnāt innocent, and your brow furrows with a whimper as something firm twitches between your legs. Beginning to grow. A hand flexes at your back, and you instinctively press your thighs tighter, making him gasp.
āUnngh⦠b-babyā¦ā
As your eyes flutter open, fluttering against his skin, youāre greeted with the slope of his throat, pale in the gray morning light. And the throbbing heat between your legs makes it undeniable now.
This isnāt a dream. This isnāt your bed. This isnāt your blanket. And your thighs are straddling Satoruās hips with his morning wood right there and holy shitā
āS-Satoru?!ā
You squeak. And his brow twitches, snowy lashes fluttering, lips parting on a sleepy inhale. When his hazy gaze focuses, youāre met with that blue. Bluer than the sky, bluer than anything should be this early in the goddamn morning.
But then, awareness sinks in, and he stutters. āH-Huhā¦?ā gaze flicking down to the very compromising position youāre both in.
āShit!ā his voice cracks as you shove at his chest, face molten.
āOh my godāwhy the hell are we sleeping together?!ā you shriek, and heās desperately trying to explain. āIāYouāā he wheezes as you push his again. āOw, okay, damn, donāt commit a felony! You literally pulled me into the bed when you were drunk. And then you passed out on top of me! Iām the victim here!ā
Your hands are still on his chest, mid-push. But you stop. Breath catching. Eyes locking.
You stare at him.
He stares at you.
You both look down at his dick.
āā¦so,ā he mutters, throat bobbing as his eyes flick back up to your faceāvery carefully avoiding your chest, failing miserably. āYou, uh⦠gonna move?ā
āR-Right!ā your cheeks erupt in flames as you scramble off him like heās on fire, nearly tripping over the bed. āShitāsorryāI didnāt mean toā¦ā
āNo, itās uh⦠fine. Totally fine.ā He mumbles with an awkward laugh. āI mean⦠not that Iām complaining⦠but damn. If this is how you serve breakfast in America? I might need to move andāā
āDonāt.ā You snap, making him freeze. āDonāt say thatā¦ā
Your arms are crossed as you stand, pressing your lips together tightly. His expression instantly drops, the humor fading. And god. You want to be mad at him. You should be mad.
But mostly?
Last night comes flashing back ā your drunk, pathetic sob story. And really, you just feel⦠humiliated.
āYou donāt get to make jokes right now,ā your tone trembles as you try to hold it tight. āNot after last night. Not after I flew across the world for someone who doesnāt exist. For some whoāā you trail off, failing to find words that donāt sound even more pathetic. And scoff. āGod⦠Iām such an idiotā¦ā
Thereās a long pause. Satoruās quiet, but then you hear him sigh.
āā¦youāre not. Youāre not an idiot.ā
Your eyes flick over as you watch him shift upright, pushing a hand through his messy hair. His expression softens, vibrant eyes dimming with a tenderness. And for once, it doesnāt feel like heās reaching for some smartass line to soften to blow.
āI told you⦠I shouldnāt have lied. Okay? I know thatā¦ā he scratches the back of his head, knowing thereās no excuse he can give you thatāll make him sound any less pathetic. He exhales, pushing on. āLook⦠just stay until Christmas. Please? Iāll do everything I can to make it up to you. Even⦠hook you up with Suguru, like I said.ā
He hesitates as he says it. But thatās what you want⦠right? After all, you expected him. You expected Suguru.
You blink, mouth parting as your conversation at the bar comes crashing back towards your foggy memory. Youād said it to spite him. You were drunk and stupid and humiliated, and you just wanted to wound him.
Because you liked him.
You really, really wanted it to be real.
Your mouth parts. Youāre about to answer when your phone buzzes.
Mei: Howās Japan, darling? Is he real? I expect those lines~
You stare at the screen. Something twists in your chest ā not quite a laugh, not quite a sob. And with a bitter smile, you tuck the phone away.
āRightā¦ā you mutter, rubbing your arm nervously. āUh⦠sure. I guess Iāll stay.ā
a/n. hello my darlings. merry christmas, i hope you all are enjoying your holiday! i will have pt 2 out before the end of december, lmk if you wanna be tagged. this fic kinda gives me supermodel! gojo vibes? at least with the message it's exploring. hehe. anyways, love you all. thanks for reading š part 2 >>>














