#theleo

It all started when you casually said, “Benedict is so my type,” during Shoko’s Bridgerton watch party.

Just a throwaway comment. Fleeting. But not to a certain someone.

Gojo, halfway through shovelling popcorn into his mouth, froze. He pulled his blindfold up, squinting dramatically at the screen.

“Benedict? Hmph.”

The next morning, the first years waited in the classroom for their teacher.

Instead of teaching, Gojo Satoru was hunched over his phone, frowning in concentration.

“‘Which Bridgerton character are you?’ Really, Sensei?” Nobara leaned over his shoulder, reading aloud.

Gojo yelped and snatched the phone away. “No peeking!”

“Sensei... you watch Bridgerton??” Yuji’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Don’t get excited,” Megumi cut in. “He’s trying to become L/N-sensei’s favorite character.”

Gojo gasped. “Megs! I told you that in confidence!”

Eighteen quizzes in, and not a single Benedict result. He didn’t know who this Anthony Bridgerton was, but he was over it.

With a dramatic sigh, he flopped face-down onto his desk.

“I’ll help you, Sensei!” Yuji said with a determined fist-pump.

And help, he did. Yuji read every question, analysed options like a scholar-and finally, it happened.

“BENEDICT BRIDGERTON.”

Gojo screamed.

“Yuji-kun, you is a legend!” he cried, leaping from his seat and bolting out of the classroom

You looked up when Gojo practically kicked your door open.

“Gojo? Is everything okay?”

Geto sipped his tea.

“Satoru, don’t run indoors,” he said flatly as Gojo zoomed in.

He tried to act cool. Leaned against the doorframe. Smiled wide.

“I-hi,” he said. “Guess what?”

You blinked.

He plopped down on the couch like he belonged there. “I just found out… I’m most like Benedict Bridgerton.” He smirked like he just solved world peace.

You laughed. “No, you’re not.”

“What?! But look-” He shoved his phone in your face. “See? It says Benedict! That’s me! Artistic, misunderstood, devastatingly charming-”

“That’s not what I expected,” you said.

“I know, right?” he beamed. “So, we should totally hang out more. You know, now that I’m like cool and all. Coffee?”

You raised a brow. “Sure?”

He puffed his chest proudly, strutting out like he won a trophy.

“He is such a dork,” you murmured, sipping your coffee.

“Yeah,” Geto replied, sipping his own. “He’s been trying since last night to get Benedict.”

You paused. “Wait… what do you mean?”

Geto smirked behind his cup.

“You said Benedict was your type yesterday.”

You blinked.

Oh.

Your eyes dropped to your coffee as your cheeks turned pink.

________________________________________________

Gojo is so obvious-but so oblivious.

Ever since the mission the two of you were assigned to, something changed. The way you fought-calm, focused, unwavering-it struck Gojo in a way he didn’t expect.

He saw a whole different side of you. You weren’t just the classmate who always hung out with Shoko anymore. You were you Y/N and damn, did he not understand this feeling stirring inside him.

In class, while Yaga was teaching, Gojo would just sit there and stare. He even made Geto switch seats with him just to be closer to you. When the four of you went out for ice cream, he'd subtly inch closer, always ending up next to you. And somehow, everyone always ended up with your favorite chocolate flavor.

“It was the only one they had,” he’d shrug with a grin.

He began mirroring the smallest things you said. You once casually mentioned that having a model as a wallpaper was kind of shallow-next thing you know, Gojo’s phone wallpaper was a Digimon. You said you loved curated CDs? He stayed up, roping Geto into helping him make the perfect playlist. You liked people who helped around the school more? Suddenly, Gojo was volunteering for everything-even things no one asked for (Yaga nearly fainted).

“You like her…” Geto smirked.

“What-?” Gojo replied, eyes burning imaginary holes through Nanami, who was, at that moment, standing way too close to you.

“Then why are you staring at her?”

“I’m not.”

“You are. And by the looks of it... seems like Nanami’s winning.” Geto chuckled, just to piss Gojo off.

this is my first post ever please help me get better

Love wasn’t for someone like you. You saw how your parents put you on the sidelines. How all your friends stuck around until they found someone else. How dispensable you were. You spent your entire childhood trying to figure out what it is you did-picking up the pieces of your broken heart-but it was all for naught. That’s when you decided it was enough, and you wouldn’t let anyone else hurt you.

Slowly, you built up the wall… the boundary line. Everyone was outside it-even your siblings, who you grew to love. They still reminded you of what you were. All the friends, and every attempt you made at love.

All you wanted was love, yet it was the one thing that always killed you-inching its sharp edge deeper every second. You kept your distance. Never wanting to hurt but always wanting to love. You made a joke about everything you felt-and when they laughed… damn, did that just ruin you.

You decided love wasn’t for you. You could be anyone in this world… but not a loved one. You can love but not be loved.

Then he walked in. His fluffy hair, his confidence in himself, so loved by the world, by the gods-and so you looked away. But he didn’t.

He saw you. How you were always there but never there. How you did just enough to get by. How you stayed alone. How you never let anyone near. And how you looked at everyone like all you wanted to say was, “Please look at me… see me.”

So, he did.

He talked to you. He made you forget the world, the pain. He made you feel. And he never demanded it back. He let you be. He just showed love.

And when he asked you out… you pushed. But he stayed, looking for a way back in.

He didn’t force you to say anything. He just stayed. All those coffee trips, all those movie nights… all those stickers you never let yourself get-he did them for you.

No matter what you said, slowly, he pushed through those walls.

You got so scared. What if he leaves? What if he meets another person? What if he gets to know me? You were scared… and you stepped back.

Then he showed up at your apartment. He just looked at you with a blank face. You couldn’t read him. That’s it. He’s here to end it, you thought.

And then he said: “I’m scared…” What?

“I’m scared I’m losing you. Please… don’t go. Just… stay.”

He was scared. Of me leaving? Why would I ever leave him?

And then it crept into you- He was not like them.

He wants… to stay?

For the first time in… forever, you felt like… you could be loved.

“Please, Y/N… let me try.”

You just nod.