»»— Gojo notices you’re left out (High school AU)
𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍
“Everyone find a partner. No more than groups of three,” the teacher announced after assigning the class a project.
You saw the way that the other kids looked at their friends as the teacher spoke about a project. The way that everyone ran up like they knew exactly who to work with the second the teacher stopped talking. But most importantly, you saw the way that nobody even glanced at you. Like you didn’t even exist.
It wasn’t a surprise. You were the shy, quiet student who sat at the back of class and only spoke if you were forced to.
As you scanned the classroom, you saw everyone click like puzzle pieces. The only person you would’ve considered partnering up with was Nanami. He always seemed nice and responsible. He was the complete opposite of the kid you absolutely hated.
To your right was Satoru Gojo. He was everything you weren’t. He was loud, and popular, and a huge trouble maker. You’d always found Gojo annoying and dislikable. It wasn’t like your opinion of him mattered anyway. Everyone else seemed to love him just fine.
Unfortunately for you, Nanami had already partnered up with his best friend, Haibara. You sighed, mustering up the courage to ask the teacher if you could work alone.
“Hey, stop! I’ll actually do my part this time, I swear!” You heard Gojo promise Shoko and Geto as they formed their little group of three.
“You said that last time, Satoru,” Geto reminded. Shoko and Geto were totally ganging up on him to tease.
The chair squeaked slightly against the tile floor as you stood up, fixing your skirt as you made your way to the teachers desk.
“Mrs. A? Would it be okay if I completed the project by myself?” You asked the teacher, fiddling with your fingers.
She gave you an understanding smile. You knew your teachers liked you. You never caused trouble and always got good grades.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. You can’t work on this one alone. There’s a couple groups of three. Would you like me to find you a partner?” Mrs. A replied sympathetically.
The only thing worse than not having a partner was the teacher forcing somebody to be partners with you against their will.
You knew what it was like when partners were assigned. They’d talk to their friend across the classroom and refuse to do any work because they got partnered with the smart kid that they were embarrassed to even be around.
“That’s okay, I can ask somebody,” you replied softly, fiddling with the hem of your skirt. You turned around and walked back to your seat to think. God, this was terrible. Group projects were something straight out of hell.
You hadn’t known, but Gojo had heard your conversation with the teacher. He watched as you silently made your way back to the part of the classroom where nobody was sitting.
Gojo flipped off his friends as they spoke about how he was a terrible group mate once more. “Fine. Screw you guys, I’ll find a different partner,” he told them before walking away. “Have fun,” Shoko waved goodbye. Geto was left smiling.
Gojo rolled his eyes again, glancing over at you. You’d just sat down, taking out your notebook and acting like you were doing something to stall. You don’t wanna actually ask anybody.
“Hey,” a voice spoke while you dug a pencil out of your backpack.
You looked up at see Gojo. Without saying anything in response, you just went back to looking at your notebook.
There was only one possible reason Gojo would be talking to you right now. You knew how popular kids were. How they felt so cool picking on the kids that never said anything back.
“Really? Not even a reply? That’s cold,” Gojo commented, sitting down on a seat beside you. He sprawled out, putting his feet up on a chair in front of him. “I heard you needed a partner. Turns out, I do too,” Gojo shrugged.
You looked at him like he was crazy. He was one hundred percent picking on you right now. But did you really have a choice?
“Okay,” you replied, opening your computer. “What topic do you wanna do?” You asked, fiddling with a strand of hair.
Gojo shrugged again. “Doesn’t matter to me.”
You nodded in reply. Of course it wouldn’t matter to him. Gojo wasn’t the type of kid who put much effort into schoolwork.
Since he didn’t seem to have an opinion on anything, you chose the topic that seemed the easiest. It had to do with the economic policies of the Japanese government.
You’d gotten to work almost instantly. Gojo just sat near you, tossing a paper ball in the air over and over again.
It was almost like you were the only one actually doing the work in the whole class. Everyone else was just goofing off with their friends. It seemed nice.
“So, how come you’re so quiet?” Gojo finally asked you.
You swallowed, taking a moment to answer. Social skills weren’t your strong suit. “I don’t know. I’m just quiet,” you replied. He didn’t seem too satisfied with that answer.
“But like.. why? What do you get out of it?”
It just wasn’t something a popular kid like Gojo would ever understand.
“I just don’t have anything to say. It’s hard to speak up sometimes,” you explained.
For a moment, your partner didn’t reply. He seemed to be thinking about something.
Then, Gojo caught you off guard by saying the most unexpected thing. “I know how lonely it can feel being by yourself all the time.”
That was the truth. Growing up, Gojo had been raised to be nothing but a weapon. He’d been alone for majority of his life. He understood more than you’d ever expect. Of course, you were oblivious to all of this. Why would you? Gojo seemed perfectly happy and constantly surrounded by others.
At his words, you made a confused face. He decided to elaborate.
“I didn’t really have any friends growing up. Everyone always treated me differently because of my strength.”
Never in a million years did you think you’d relate to the one boy in the classroom you hated the most. Looking back, Gojo had never really made fun of you. It was just his habit of getting himself into trouble that you disliked.
You just stared at him, not knowing what to say in reply. Before you could say anything, the bell rang.
You sighed, closing your computer and packing up your bag. “Don’t worry. I’ll do my part,” Gojo assured, slinging his bag over one shoulder. “…maybe. See ya,” He waved goodbye before catching up to his friends.
You sat there a few moments after Gojo had left, completely stunned. His kindness had been completely unexpected. A pink blush crept up your cheeks. You’d never talked to a boy that way before. Let alone the most popular boy in school.
You snapped yourself out of it before your fantasies went any further.
A few periods later, it was lunch time.
Last night, you’d had a fight with your parents. As a result of that, your mother didn’t end up packing you a lunch today.
You sighed, making your way to the lunch table you always sat at by yourself anyway.
You sat by the window, putting in your earbuds and listening to music. By now, sitting alone at lunch had been routine for you. The bathrooms had been off limits since one of the deans had found you eating lunch in there.
It was peaceful this way. Staring outside and being lost in thought while nobody bothered you. Being lonely wasn’t all bad sometimes.
Today in particular, you were thinking about Gojo. The way he’d talked to you this morning was refreshing. The conversation played over and over again in your mind.
You were shaken out of your own thoughts after feeling somebody tap your shoulder.
Ironically, Gojo was standing by you, signaling for you to take your earbuds out. You did so, waiting for him to speak. It was almost like he knew you’d been thinking about him since this morning.
“Geez, what are you listening to? I called your name like a hundred times!” He complained.
Once again, you had no reply apart from a muttered “sorry.”
“Anyway, me, Shoko, and Geto are gonna go out for lunch at the new sushi place that opened down the street. Wanna come?” Gojo asked.
A look of confusion crossed your features yet again. Why was he acting like this today? Usually, he never acknowledged you. Being invited to go out to lunch was.. it was a foreign concept to you. You were still convinced this was some sort of mean joke.
Regardless, a part of you had hope that maybe he was just being kind. “Would.. would they mind?” You asked.
“Okay,” you agreed hesitantly.
Gojo smiled, grabbing your arm and practically dragging you to his friends. “C’mon guys we gotta go! 30 minutes till class starts!” He insisted.
The three of you had a nice lunch at the sushi place. Gojo had let you order whatever you’d wanted. He’d payed.
Although you didn’t say much, it was nice to just sit with people and even laugh at a few of their jokes.
Gojo noticed your smile. He was glad to have prevented your loneliness. After experiencing isolation himself, Gojo didn’t want anybody else to feel the same way.
For the first time in a long time, you felt seen. You’d enjoyed yourself with other people rather than fearing them.
𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍 𑁍
Lowkey wrote this to cheer myself up bc how tf do you tell ur friends u feel left out without sounding annoying 😣
Also ill prob edit or rewrite this another time bc i see the potential and I refuse to proofread rn so yeah
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