#sukunas

After you knock on the fraternity’s rickety front door, the crisp evening air sends a chill over your skin. Your phone buzzes in your pocket - a message from Toji confirming that he saw you arrive. You and your seven friends huddle under the harsh glow of a nearby streetlamp as its cold light flickers in the growing dusk. The bite of the night’s chill creeps up your arms, the scent of crisp autumn leaves and distant cigarette smoke filling your senses. Without warning, the light next to the door flicks on, bathing the entrance in a warm yellow hue, and the door creaks open. There, framed by the doorway, stands Fushiguro.

"Hey, guys. Come on in," he smiles, beer in one hand, the other pushing the door wider to let you and your friends in. You, being the last of your friends to enter, lag behind to greet your friend.

"Hi, Toji!" you exclaim after he closes the door behind you. You leap at him, wrapping your arms around his torso with such enthusiasm that you almost knock the air out of him. The way you embrace Toji was so full of energy that he barely has time to register. Finding your way of saying hello cute, a snicker escapes the back of his throat while he returns the gesture and squeezes you affectionately.

After a minute, Toji backs away from your embrace and smiles down at you. His eyes, a beautiful, deep jade, soak up your mini dress before finally responding, "Hey, ma. Lookin' good, as always. Gimme a spin." He stretches his arm out to you with a chaste wink, playfully gesturing for you to follow his request.

You take his hand as you comply, twirling swiftly on your heels. Your face grows warm and you giggle, "Thank you! So do you!"

"Want a drink?" he offers with a familiar teasing tone, to which you nod eagerly. "I'll grab you the same one as last time? Your friends are welcome to whatever they want, too."

"That's perfect. Thanks!" you beam, and as Toji walks toward the kitchen, you join Utahime on the plush bean bag in the same living room as last week's afterparty. Utahime, ever the affectionate one, wraps her arms around you, hugs you from behind, and nuzzles into you like a koala.

"I was told you all are welcome to whatever, so don't be shy. There's canned beer in the fridge, much better than keg beer," you offer to your friends.

"Don't mind if I do," Shoko murmurs, standing up and heading straight for the direction of the kitchen. Suguru follows her after asking what everyone's choice drink is.

Toji returns and walks over with your drink, handing it to you. It's unopened, making you happy, because even as much as you trust Toji, you're unsure of drinking from a pre-opened can at a fraternity. Regardless, after he hands it to you he sits on the leather chair beside you and Utahime. His casual posture contrasts the subtle tension that is in the air.

"Have you all met Kong?" Toji casually breaks the silence, gesturing to the man you are just realizing stands beside Toji.

Utahime releases her grip on you at a shockingly fast pace and bounces to her feet. "Yeah! Shiu, how are you?"

"Great, now that you're here," he flirts, his suaveness making Utahime turn bright red.

"Oh wow, that's a classic line," Yu remarks from across the room. A small laugh escapes him, "Pretty smooth."

Shiu pauses, his expression uncertain. "Thanks?"

"It was great, don't worry-" encourages Utahime.

"Wait, is his name Kong or Shiu?" Satoru interrupts from his seat beside Yu. For some reason, he is still wearing sunglasses even with it being dark out and him being indoors.

"Both," the man in question responds. He leans back slightly against the wall behind him, body language translating to unbothered. "First name Shiu, last name Kong. These guys call me King Kong. They think it's funny, or something. But you guys can call me whatever. I've stopped caring."

You lips curve up into a smile at Shiu, the ease of the conversation lightening your nerves that arise with every social situation. Toji's voice suddenly cuts through the atmosphere as he says your name, the deep tone catching your attention. "Yeah?"

"I got someone who wants to meet you. Come with me," he rises from his chair to lead you to another part of the house.

"Who? Why just me?" You stand and hurry to follow behind him and match his pace. A flicker of unease ricochets down your spine at your confusion.

"Special request," he intentionally leaves you on edge, wondering who you are being introduced to. Toji's hand finds yours to help guide you to wherever he is taking you to.

"Why does he want to meet me?" you ask. You struggle to maintain an even tone and keep your cool front.

"I dunno," Toji shrugs nonchalantly, glancing over his shoulder at you with a confident half-smile. "Guess you intrigue him."

"Well, that's comforting," the half-joke escapes you before you can think it over, and it makes the man leading you to your destination (or your demise?) chuckles" "What?"

"Nothin'. He's in here." Toji stops at a random door in a long hallway, away from the rest of the pre-gaming crowd.

"Am I about to be murdered?" you whisper. Your eyes are wide as you stare at the man and his scarred lip.

"No, ma. Don't worry s'much. C'mon," he squeezes your hand reassuringly, then enters a dimly let room, pushing the open door and granting you a better view into the space. Your eyes widen as you glimpse at the intimidating figure inside. The tall man fills a flask of whiskey, and his presence looms over the room like a shadow, lurking in every corner. "Hey, boss."

"Hey," he says without bothering to looking up from his task, voice low and steady like whatever he is doing is second nature. "This her?"

"Yeah," he confirms with a glance toward you. You look at him with a slight furrow in your brow and his lips offer a small smile, theb he introduces you to the president.

At long last, the fraternity's president turns to face you. You are struck by the sight before you - tattoos snake across his exposed skin, marking him with an unmistakable edge. The sharp angles of his face are softened by wild, pink hair that is somehow perfectly tousled. Yet, it is his eyes that demand the most of your attention: deep crimson ones locking with your own, pulling you in with a magnetic force that both intrigues you and frightens you.

"So you're the one I keep hearing about," the president says with a smirk that radiates mischief and a dangerous sort of charm, making you a complicated combination of flattered and wary. The effect he has is magnetic, but unsettles you all the same. "Toji's girl?" he extends a hand toward you, challenging you to shake. "I can't say I'm disappointed. I'm Sukuna. Pleasure to meet you."

As you take his hand, the tattoos on his knuckles shift his grip tightens around yours - not painfully, but firm enough to remind you of his power. His eyes pull you even more into their glow of dangerous fire as his gaze burns into you. It's as if his dangerous allure is wrapped in a subtle layer of charm. Something about his gaze - clearly dangerous, yet strangely reassuring - wraps around you in a cloak of tension that you are unsure is in your head or real.

"Um, yeah... nice to meet you! I didn't realize I was so interesting," you reply, trying to hide your current apprehension as your voice catches up with the marathon your mind is currently racing.

With a knowing wink and a subtle tilt of his head toward Toji, Sukuna grins and responds, "You have no idea."

"Don't scare her off, Sukuna," Toji rolls his eyes. "She's too good for your usual crowd."

"What's the fun in that?" Sukuna grunts in amusement. He takes a slow, deliberate breath as if resetting himself and leans back against the table behind him. "Y'know I'm just playin', right?" he asks, and you nod "Anyway, Toji's protective of you. It's interesting. And I make it a habit to know everyone worth knowing. So welcome to Sigma Pi, sweetheart."

"Oh, yeah," you chuckle lightly, trying to keep a casual tone to hide your nerves. "He's really like a brother to me. But thank you for the warm welcome!"

Sukuna raises an eyebrow at your response, then crosses his arms as he speaks. "Heard from a little birdy you don't like the Zen'in's prized boy much?"

Your stomach tightens at the mention of him, the alcohol in your hand tempting you. "Oh- um, no. He's not my favorite. Kinda tormented me throughout high school, and he made it difficult to avoid him," you say. "But I'm not too worried about him anymore."

"Good. That parasite has more ego than brains," Sukuna grumbles, swirling the contents of his flask before taking a long sip. With a scowl - not at the taste of the expensive whiskey, but at the thought of the conversation's new topic - he continues, "Spoiled little daddy's boy is worse than a cockroach. At least they're useful in some ecosystems."

You nod slightly as the weight of his words linger. However, your curiosity is piqued, and you cannot help yourself from questioning, "Yeah... what did he do to you?"

Sukuna's face hardens for a moment, eyes narrowing as he glares at the floor with a cold intensity. "Fucking rat bothered my little brother. Pisses me off," he says, voice low, like a rumble under the earth's crust. The flicker of anger quickly dissipates as he takes another sip from his flask. You figure that is the most information you'll get out of him.

Regardless, before you can get a word in, he continues, "Tell you what: If Zen'in bothers you, I'll make sure he regrets it. Consider it a personal favor." He abruptly kicks off of the table he leaned against, towering over you for a moment as he pats your shoulder with a surprising gentleness. "I have shit to do now, so gotta go. Enjoy the party, darling."

After he exits, you look to Toji in confusion. “He’s not kidding, y’know,” Toji says quietly, speaking just to you. You feel the weight of his words as each one leaves his mouth. “Sukuna hates that guy. Naoya stepped on the wrong toes freshman year to try and piss me off, and it’s been downhill for him ever since.”

You take a slow sip of your seltzer, letting the carbonation fizzle out on your tongue. “What happened?”

“Bitch Boy thought he could act like a Zen’in with Sukuna’s people." Toji's tone is an odd mixture of disdain and amusement. "Tried to throw his weight around - didn’t go so well. Sukuna doesn’t tolerate cocky rich kids acting like they own the world. Almost ended in a fistfight.”

You raise an eyebrow, surprised. “Almost?”

“Yeah, almost,” Toji replies, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Sukuna’s smarter than that. He’s not gonna get his hands dirty unless it’s worth it. But trust me, he’s been waiting for the right moment.”

"Why is he vowing to protect me? What did I do?" your anxiousness rises to the surface, confused about what just happened and lost as to what it means.

"Don't worry 'bout it, doll. Sukuna does his own thing. He's my best friend, and he confuses me daily," Toji laughs, but you can tell there's something he is holding back. What is it he's not telling you?

Before you can think too much about it, you are silently returned to your friends. Toji lingers with your group, posture relaxed as he stands beside you and leans against the wall. You stand beside him and copy his pose while glancing at your friends scattered about the lounge room. You raise a questioning eyebrow as you notice your replacement, Shiu having taken your spot on the bean bag. She returns your look with her own knowing one - screaming excitement at the boy she is wrapped around.

Mei's eyes twinkle at you with curiosity. She leans forward toward you, desperate for information she is about to dig out of you. "So what was that all about?"

"Just meeting the president, y'know," you wave off her question in an attempt to sound casual. Your friends, however, know you better than that.

Or, maybe, your friends, except for Yu.

"Of the United States? Or...?" Yu stares at you with wide eyes, entirely confused. It's cute how innocent he is; he never fails to make you smile.

Suguru, sitting beside him, groans in frustration. He grabs a pillow from behind him and smacks it against Yu's head, earning a chuckle from Shiu. "Of the frat, dumbass," he mutters.

Your friends are clearly waiting for you to share details of wherever Toji just took you to. Hesitant and looking for another subject to take their attention, your eyes flicker amongst your friends. "Where did Satoru go?" you seize an opportunity to potentially distract them, although you know you are just putting off the conversation.

"Getting me another beer," Shoko answers as she crosses her legs beneath her as she leans back comfortably, always so effortlessly confident.

"Ah, your little minion?" Toji teases, a mischievous grin pulling at his lips.

"Nah, he's more like your girl's minion," Suguru answers, which earns a round of laughter from everyone.

"Guys," you whine, your face flushing. "Stop it! Why does everyone keep calling me Toji's girl?"

"I guess I claimed you," he laughs with a sly grin. "What was that you said about me being like a brother? Did ya mean step-brother?"

The room erupts with laughter, and in a sudden burst embarrassment, you sharply elbow him in the side. "Oh, fuck you."

"Uh-huh, that wouldn't be very sisterly of you," the boy smirks, finding the entire situation amusing. He is clearly loving getting a reaction out of you, though the look in his eyes is fondness directed to you.

"You know what I mean! You've said it too! Seriously, I'm not sure where everyone gets these ideas," exasperated, you raise a palm to your forehead, shaking your head at their jests. You're unsure as why you even bother defending yourself when you know it will make them tease you more. "I don't even know why I try."

"I know, ma," Toji squeezes your shoulder, his expression softening slightly as he smiles down at you. "You know I'm just messing with you.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," you sigh.

Sensing your genuine frustration, Utahime shifts the topic back to the Sukuna conversation. "What's he like?" she asks.

You pause for a second to gather your thoughts. "Definitely... memorable. Intimidating, for sure," you smile at the thought of his unnerving charm. "He definitely has a... presence. Like everyone knows when he walks into a room."

The conversation drifts for a moment before you continue to elaborate, "But he was just asking about Naoya. He seems pretty invested in that whole... situation."

"I'm back! Did you all miss me?" Satoru's voice interrupts, appearing beside you with a couple beers in his hand. He tosses one across the room to Shoko, who catches it effortlessly, immediately reprimands him for his actions that shook the can up.

"You trying to make me kill you?" she asks as she opens it regardless of it's fizziness with a passive-aggressive roll of her eyes.

"Nah, I would only do that to Utahime," he pokes. Utahime is too busy making out with Shiu to respond, but she lifts her middle finger in his direction, making everyone laugh.

Satoru cracks open the other beer for himself. and leans on you, resting an elbow on your shoulder. "Sorry for the hold up, I know you all were waiting for my return," he says ever-so-seriously.

"Oh, for sure," you prod.

"Don't sound so disappointed," he teases back, his voice light and carefree. "I saw you were getting all the attention without me to steal it from you. You're welcome for the fifteen minutes of fame, by the way."

Suguru, laughing, nudges Toji beside him. "Guess she didn't mind the attention. Pretty sure it's mostly from your 'minion' over there, though."

"Minion? I'm no minion!" Satoru whines, going on a tangent about how he is an independent man. "I am free-spirited, and I make my own choices. I don't follow anyone's orders!"

You raise an eyebrow, clearly not buying his ruse. "Yeah, because you totally didn't go get beer because Shoko threatened you and you're lowkey scared of her."

He points at you, mock-serious. "Exactly! You get it. I choose to help her. It's not a job, it's a lifestyle. I am just a philanthropic, giving person."

Shoko looks up at him with a smirk. "Yeah, well, your 'lifestyle' shakes up every can of beer in the process."

"Oh, please. I'm just making sure it's extra fizzy for you," he winks and raises his can in a toast to her.

The group laughs, and the lighthearted teasing continues as Satoru takes another exaggerated swig from his beer.

It's going to be an entertaining night for sure.

-----

The air in the frat’s basement is thick from the sounds of music blaring from the speakers and the hum of chattering voices. The basement has been transformed into a chaotic party zone: neon lights pulse in time with the beat, flashing shades of green, red, blue, yellow, and every other color you can imagine. Forgotten red solo cups litter the tables and floor, the ground sticky and clinging to your shoes. The scent of cheap beer mingles with a faint trace of something stronger. College students spill out into every available space, laughing and moving to the rhythm as someone shouts over the music, trying to rally the crowd for another round of beer pong.

Sukuna stands near the entrance, scanning the scene with an intimidating gaze, looking entirely unfazed by the madness around him. He’s chatting with a few brothers manning the door, ensuring everything is going smoothly.

Toji, who's posture effortlessly cool, is leaning against one of the basement’s concrete pillars, his eyes hidden behind his pointless dark shades, despite the dim lighting. Shiu and another fraternity brother stand beside him, chatting about random things as they people-watch. his arms are crossed as he surveys the room. His ever-watchful gaze, however, seems to soften whenever it lands on you, a subtle, almost imperceptible softness behind the usual cool facade.

Mei is nearby, already indulging in a drink and laughing with Kento. Her voice rings out above the music, easily heard thanks to her loud, infectious laughter. As expected from her extroverted personality, she has already made a few new friends and seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself, currently pulling Suguru into a spontaneous, uncharacteristically animated dance that’s more playful than serious. Yu, of course, is in his element, somehow managing to avoid getting caught up in anything too intense, but having fun regardless. He’s chatting with a classmate he's never talked to before tonight near the punch bowl, a slight flush on his cheeks from whatever jungle juice concoction is in the cup he’s holding.

The bass from the music thuds in your chest as the crowd of students swirl around, their conversations rising and falling in chaotic harmony. You, however, feel oddly detached from the rowdy noise, your attention more focused on the space next to you - Satoru.

As you take a sip of your drink, he leans closer, and his usual carefree expression softens in the low light. "You alright?" he asks, voice barely audible over the pounding bass.

"Yeah, don't worry," you try your best to give him a happy, convincing smile, but from the quirk of his brow, you can tell he doesn't believe you. After a sip from your drink, you continue, "I just.. I guess I just have a weird feeling."

Satoru eyes you for a moment, an almost unreadable expression on his face. The playful demeanor he usually carries melts away as a more thoughtful side of him replaces it. "What kinda weird feeling?" he presses. His head tilts in curiosity as he watches you.

You shrug, unsure of how to respond. You glance around the basement, at the sea of bodies, the noise, and the flashing lights. "I dunno. I feel like something's about to happen. Everything's been going too smoothly for me, y'know? Like... the calm before the storm, or something."

Satoru watches you for a moment, his gaze intense despite the lighthearted vibe of the party you are at. His lips press into a thin line, pensiveness obvious in his brow. His eyes flick to the crowd as you watch him process your words, then return to your face. "Huh," he leans back against the black cinderblock wall behind him, mulling over your words. "It's weird how humans work. When everything seems perfect, and your gut tells you it's gonna go sideways."

You nod, relieved by the comfort of his understanding. "I can feel that," Satoru says after a beat, his tone suddenly more serious. "But hey," he adds, flashing his signature grin that you've grown to admire. "If something's gonna happen, we can handle it. Together, hm?" he bumps his shoulder against yours, an subtle effort to reassure you. "If anything, you'll be the one saving me."

You smile, shaking your head, tension in your chest easing incrementally. "Yeah, right. Because I'm known for being the hero," you roll your eyes and give him an incredulous look.

His grin widens, the familiar cocky edge to his voice returning in full force. "Don't underestimate yourself. You save me from my own stupidity every time you look at me like that" he winks, but there's something about the way he says it - soft, yet teasing - that makes you feel more grounded.

Your heart skips a beat as you study his face, and for the moment, the party fades away into the background. The noise around you is deafening, but with him next to you, and all of his attention on you, it feels like you are in your own little world: just you and Satoru. The weight of the chaotic energy that previously overwhelmed you now feels less oppressive. "You are impossible, Satoru Gojo," you murmur, but there is no real bite to your words.

"Impossible? Nah," Satoru grins widely. "Too charming for my own good? Potentially. But hey, if it makes you feel better, I can keep letting you think you're the one saving me. Keep the little illusion alive for ya."

"Wow, thanks, man. I really believed it for a second there," you say stoically.

Satoru playfully bumps his shoulder into your own again, enjoying the back-and-forth between the two of you. Suddenly, he leans closer, having to bend to reach your ear. As he speaks, Satoru's voice droops lower, just loud enough to hear over the music when he says, "I mean it, though. You have no idea how much you ground me."

You swallow, surprised at the sincerity that keeps slipping through his typically unserious exterior. No jokes, no smart-aleck comments - just honesty.

"I'm just trying to match your vibe. You make it hard to stay serious for too long," you respond, your voice a bit more timid, making Satoru chuckle.

His hand moves to rest against the wall behind you as he leans his body against it, shifting closer and crossing his legs. Your entire body is facing his, his towering stature smirking down at you. "That's kinda my thing. But I can let you win this one time, I guess. Just remember," he bends down even closer, eyes sparkling mischievously, "that you're the one keeping us in check." His words hand in the air, the playful tone exciting you, but his proximity to you making you nervous for some reason.

You shake your head, laughing at how easy it is to fall in rhythm with him. "Mhm. I'm not buying it anymore. You, letting someone else take control? Impossible," you poke his chest, trying to stay lighthearted despire the strange weight in your chest you feel from his words.

He taps your shoulder gently with his beer can, a move both casual and endearing. "You should believe me," he says with a shrug, voice full of unshakable confidence. "Let me put it this way: I'm good at pretending, but you're good at seeing through it. That's what makes you different. It makes me want to be better, more like you. You ground me, and therefore, you ground us. So yes, take the reins, angel."

The words are simple, but they resonate within your mind, and you find yourself lost in their meaning. "Well," you breathe out, "guess we'll keep making each other better, huh?"

Satoru stares at you, his smile returning with something more real behind it. "Together," he softly agrees and nudges you once more.

"Together," you smile. "Now what was that about you pretending?"

"Oh, you know, just gotta keep up the classic Gojo facade," he smiles, but a hint of apprehension is behind it.

"For who?" you ask the question he has asked himself his entire life up to this point.

"For anyone who needs to see the Gojo they expect," he says, a playful edge in his voice. He chuckles softly to himself, then flicks to his wrist as if to dismiss the thought. "People have their assumptions. Expectations, even. My family is historically a... well known one. A lot is expected from me on that end, but also from the world in general. I have a name to live up to. A legacy. And you know me - I like to keep 'em guessing. Piss 'em off for fun."

You study the man in front of you, absorbing his words. Taking the final sip of your drink, you respond, "So, it's all an act then?" It's a genuine question - you're trying to understand where his true self ends and the public persona begins.

You feel a deeper connection forming with the man you speak to, and you wonder if he's ever spoken about this with anyone else. You know he has Suguru, Yu, and Kento, but you are unsure how deep their conversations dive. What if he has been fostering all of these thoughts for decades now with no one to express them too? Just that thought makes you sad; not in a pitiful way, but in an understanding way. How it feels to be alone, to feel hopeless - these are not new feelings for you.

His expression softens as he watches you think. "Not an act," he mutters, almost to himself. "More like... a shield. A way to keep people at a distance. It's easier that way." He looks back at you with a serious gaze. "It's hard to let people in. To let them see everything. So, I keep it light. Keeps it fun, and keeps the pressure off."

"Is that why you wear those glasses all the time, even in dark basements in the middle of the night?" you dig.

"Yeah, I guess. They do say eyes are the window to the soul," he affirms. Satoru takes a deep breath, exhaling through his mouth and continues, "Sometimes, if I'm being honest, I feel like a fraud. I don't deserve my family's legacy, and honestly, I don't want it. But I have no choice, really."

You sense the vulnerability in his words, the quiet admission that's not often seen from him. "You don't always have to keep up the front with me, you know," you say softly, your voice sincere as ever. "You don't have to pretend."

He looks at you for a long moment. "Maybe not, but old habits die hard, I guess." He shrugs, as if the topic itself is too complicated to dive into, but the warmth in his eyes betrays the nonchalant front.

Not knowing how to respond, a brief silence stretches between you two, but it's not an uncomfortable one. If anything, it feels like a quiet understanding has settled, deeper than the usual playful banter that has defined your relationship.

"You know," he adds, smile returning full force. "You're the only one who I can drop the act around and actually mean it. The more I think about it, I've never really had to pretend around you."

The smile on your face is impossible to hide. "I'll take that as a compliment," you tease, and tap his nose in an affectionate gesture. The motion feels softer, more intimate, than any interaction before.

"Take it however you want," he grins, "just know I mean every word."

Suguru suddenly appears beside you. "Sorry to ruin the moment, guys, but Shoko requires you both for a pong tournament." His smile is mockingly apologetic, clearly enjoying his mild disruption. You look across the room to see Shoko staring at you, smiling and giving you a thumbs up.

And with that, the bubble protecting you and Satoru from the rest of the world is popped, and reality is shoved in your face at full force.

Satoru, however, is unbothered like always. His grin shifts into something more playful as he raises his hand in mock surrender. "Guess we're being summoned, eh?" he chuckles. Yet when he glances at you, you see a flicker of something deeper, something unspoken, behind his eyes. And you know that the conversation that abruptly came to its end will stay with him for a while.

Trying to shake off the lingering heaviness, you take a breath to steady yourself. "Guess so," you say, voice uncharacteristically pensive as the meanings behind Satoru's words reverberate in your mind. You almost feel unsteady on your feet, as if the gravity of the conversation and its undercurrents have left you with an odd sense of imbalance.

Satoru giggles, a sound that is more music to your ears than anything the shitty DJs could ever play. Straightening his posture and pushing away from the wall in one fluid motion, his hand brushes against yours in a fleeting, but purposeful, touch, before he bounces toward Suguru playfully.

Shaking your head, you follow them toward the ping-pong table, the sudden noise and energy of the party swallowing you up again. The music grows louder, the chatter around you intensifies, and flashing lights seem more vivid than ever now that you've had a taste of Satoru's inner mind. Even in a room full of people, you feel like there’s a quiet understanding between you two, something that hasn’t been said aloud but doesn’t need to be; it is undeniably there. It’s in the way he looks at you, in the softness that he allows himself around you. It’s a connection, one that feels real amidst all the chaos and is enlightened through subtle, fragile intimacy.

Fuck. You like him. A lot.

-----

The party is chaos indeed: when Shoko and you beat Suguru and Satoru in the most competitive round of beer pong the world has ever seen, Shoko exuberantly stands on the folding table to announce her victory. The sight of her struggling to maintain her balance is, of course, a disaster waiting to happen. Her balance wavers, and she falls backwards in what you swear is a slow motion scene right out of one of those cheesy rom coms - Kento catches her just in time, ensuring a safe landing.

"Sho down! I repeat: Sho is down!" you exclaim dramatically to Mei Mei and Utahime, who sit behind your game, gossiping away, oblivious to the scene in front of them. They burst into laughter at the spectacle.

Clearly delighted by the turn of events, Mei grins widely, but Utahime just shakes her head, her face a picture of exasperation. "Leave it to Shoko," she huffs, but there is a clear warmth in her tone.

As if delivering a grand performence, Satoru smirks and walks around the table to stand beside you. "Nice one, Shoko. Real nice," he says, voice light with amusement.

"Fuck you, I almost died," Shoko cries out. The alcohol has definitely amplified her emotions, and now she is crying into Kento's shoulder. With wide eyes, he stiffly turns his head to you as if to silently beg for help, but you, Mei, and Utahime simply shrug and look the other way. She can be his problem for now, yours back at the suites.

But then, you feel the energy in the room shift. You don't immediately register it - the voices growing louder, as if everyone is simultaneously asking the same question. You do notice, however, the way everyone keeps glancing at the entrance. And when you glance over, you see the one thing you hoped to avoid for the rest of your life.

Naoya Zen'in.

"The fuck is he doin' here?"

Good question, Toji!

₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.

TAGLIST (currently open!):

@kentozwife @inthedarkshadows000 @yoimiya-m @makeshiftproject @frogfishie

@therealanxiety @kaged-kitty @pellucid-constellations @fuckisthatahotghost

@harryzcherry @briezy04764 @ohio-gyatt-mega-sigma-rizzler @babysoo-meu

@sorenflyinn @raquel12 @ermbehindyou @bxnfire @muli-wam

₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.ෆ˟̑̑˟̑ෆ.₊̣̇.

gojo def mews and thinks it s funny as fuck and suguru just looks at him like