Chapter Text
|Shoko Ieiri|
“I hate this school and I’m going home the first chance I get!”
Summer’s early humidity clings to your skin, sticky and feverish. A groan leaves your lips as you complain to the poor boy currently harboring your head in his lap. Kento’s lips drawl upward in a sympathetic smile, with a little huff leaving his lips.
Okay so maybe you were being a bit drastic here, but who can blame you? Ever since the fateful day that your upperclassman fell on you from heaven, literally, the resident shitheads known as her friends had not ceased in their little harassment campaign. Seriously, you don’t know how many more of Gojo’s dumb ass full drawn out pauses of silence and side glances mid conversation you can take anymore. Pair his idiocy with Geto’s cocksure grin and shady gaze, seriously fuck your upperclassmen!
A sentiment that Kento agrees with, among his own reasons, therefore he’s been humoring your little vent sessions. Nothing like the hatred of a single person to unite two classmates, huh? Almost a little startling how fast he’d gone from only ever speaking three words to you at a time to being your therapist the moment you expressed distain for Gojo Satoru.
“If you go now, it’d be a waste, your technique’s vital.” Kento’s voice provides logic, as usual. You hate when he’s got valid points, your technique can help a lot of people, especially the people you care about. Uprooting yourself just because of those two, well somehow the idea feels more insulting to your ego then the teasing.
“Must you always ruin my teenage angst with your retiree logic?” A grimace sits on your face, eyes casting a scathing look up at him.
“God, I wish I was retired.” He sighs wistfully.
“Oh my- We’re not even independent sorcerers yet!” You glower, reaching up a hand and poking his face.
His hand bats yours away gently, eyes rolling with a little shake of his head.
“Don’t care; God forbid I yearn to sit on a beach with a fruity drink.” Kento takes on a faraway look, same sliver of a smile darting his expression.
You can’t help the snort you let out, whoops.
“Uh huh, you and fruity wasn’t something I’d seen before, but now that I think about it... I’d call the shade of red you get around Yu fruity, maybe like fruit punch?” A snicker, he rounds on you, shoving you off his lap softly. A clipped ‘oh fuck you’ is heard as he shifts up off the floor.
Good old Kento, you laugh your ass off on the floor as he stomps out.
-
“Hello? Earth to Armstrong? You there Wanderer?” Shoko’s lips purse with faint concern at your dazed state.
“Seriously did a curse finally lobotomize you or something? Hit your head? How many fingers am I holding up here Wander?”
You blink wordlessly, fingers, Shoko has pretty fingers. What? Oh shit, right, right. You open your mouth to answer, but no world’s leave it.
Shoko deadpans, waving a hand Infront of your face.
“Okay keep this up and I’m gonna write you a doctors note requiring you to wear a Disney Princess safety helmet on all your missions...” her vague threat finally snaps you back to reality.
“Oh god please no, your cronies will bully me even more.” An abstract look of terror crosses your youthful features. Grinning deviously, the trainee physician pinches your cheek.
“As cute as you are distracted Wander, I need you present for cognitive assessments. It’s kind of the point, testing your thinking and all of that junk.” Pressing an unlit cigarette to her lips, she leans back against the infirmary desk.
Frowning, you pout towards her “Smoking, in a place of healing?”
“Ueno-Sensei smokes in here religiously, don’t act like it’s sacred.”
“Point taken, I’m surprised he doesn’t have lung cancer, considering his technique isn’t a magic get out of jail cancer free card like yours.”
“Sounds like someone’s salty.” God, the way she talks, her pleased little smile. You are a girl down in the deepest depths for Shoko Ieiri. Wholeheartedly, if Shoko told you to jump off a cliff you absolutely would.
Yep, you have it ludicrously bad for your upperclassman. For everyone else it’s like watching the most awkward highschool GL romance to ever grace the airways. You go from competent jujutsu high student, to repressed obviously closeted lesbian experiencing her first crush the moment your eyes meet the healers.
“I won’t say I’m not, you can do something even Gojo can’t, and he’s like what our industry standard?” A loud blush haunts your cheeks, as you brush her off.
“I’ve never in my life heard someone describe Satoru as jujutsu’s “industry standard” and no I don’t think you can consider the one overpowered brat the average, not fair to us average sorcerers.” You brighten as her unabashed giggles flow through the room.
“You’re not average, he’s just the circuses favorite clown.”
“Nah, he’s the guy taking the bullets for the rest of us, even though he’s obnoxious I’ll admit.” Shoko waves you off, lighting her cigarette.
“I doubt he’d take a bullet for anybody!” You grunt, raising an eyebrow.
Shoko shakes her head, letting out a puff of smoke. The lit cigarette rests between her fingers as she looks off at the wall.
“He would, don’t get me wrong I haven’t known him all that long, but Satoru cares a lot about the few people he likes, anyway.”
Shoko drawls another puff in, exhaling as she continues.
“He’s likes you, same way he likes Nanami and Haibara. You’re his jr, so I suppose he feels like it’s his right to bully you a little. But it’s not outta malice, I guess is what I’m trying to say. You should see the shit he gives Utahime, if you think he’s a bad Senpai he’s an even WORSE kouhai.” She snickers, recalling a recent search and rescue incident.
“When push comes to shove, he’s an annoying dickwad, but he’s a reliable annoying dickwad. Be it to blast off a special grade’s head or heaven forbid love advice he’ll show up...probably.”
You meet her with a unimpressed look, leaning forward to catch the scent of the smoke. It floods your senses, coughing slightly as Shoko raises a brow.
“Okay, that was all you.” She snickers, hand waving the nicotine cloud away from your face.
“You’re distracting.” Grumbling as you continue to hack and sputter, moving up to escape a second-hand buzz.
“Distracting? Oooo is this your way of admitting I’m smoking hot Wander!~”
“You did not just make a pun, what is this, who are you and what have you done with my Senpai you bastard?”
Eyes squinting with amusement, her laugh bubbles up like a fountain, spilling through the room.
“Oh something terrible, I’ve given her Gojo’s sense of humor!~”
With an exasperated sigh, you make for the door before she can torture you with anymore gojo-brand comedy.
-
“I’m going to throttle you.”
“You need to work on your intimidation tactics Wander, because it’s giving angry kitten that just woke up.”
Gojo’s head tilted to one side, drink can balanced precariously between two fingers as he spoke.
You give him the most hateful glare you can mange, and still he remains unmoved to your frustration.
“What’s with the stink eye, eh? Did Sho reject your love confession? It’s okay squirt, your senpais here to support you in your time of emotional devastation!~”
“No, I haven’t told her, for your information, jackass.” Gojo shifts as you plop on the stone stairs next to him.
“Ooooh? And why not?!” Gojo frowns, leaning forward to assault your cheeks with all manners of pokes and pinches.
“You seriously think it’s that easy?!”
“Yes, it literally is. Come onnnn, I’m so bored of watching you turn into a tomato, give me some actionnn!”
“My love life is not your fucking rom-com!”
“You made it so when you let your little secret slip!~”
“Shut up...”
—————-
|Utahime Iori|
It’s seven in the morning, when one Gojo Satoru busts your dorm’s door down like it’s held together with nothing but hot glue and past generations' dreams.
Immediately, you’re over whatever the hell this boy is on as he plops on the twin-sized bed that’s way too small for him.
Where there’s Satoru, Suguru is never far behind. Of course, he’s lingering in the doorway, respectful enough to not directly intrude on your space.
“Satoru, it’s fucking-“ One glance at the alarm clock, “way too early for your shit.” You finish, voice gruff with sleep.
The idiot grins, crawling up the bed like a cat. Outstretches his lanky limbs, making himself comfortable.
“Rejoice Bell! Suguru and I are going to help you get some bitches!~”
“He means a bitch, singular,” Suguru amends. Satoru huffs toward him.
“No, I mean bitches! Multiple bitches!!! Bell here has serious potential, we’ve just got to maximize it!”
“Both of you are ‘bitchless’, so I can’t wait to see where this is going.” Shoko stands behind Suguru, waving toward you with a tired smile.
“Good morning Sho.”
“Morning Bell, see I missed the wake-up call.”
Satoru pouts at the dismissal, stretching out to hug your half-asleep form.
“Come onnnn Bell! We’re 10 weeks into the semester, and you haven’t put the moves on Utahime ONCE!”
“Because I’m not a damn pervert! And it’s Iori—Senpai, you little ingrate!”
Before you can unleash the full capacity of your half-slept rage, Suguru slips in and picks the offending sorcerer up by the collar of his uniform.
“Alright, that’s enough Satoru.”
“Oi?! What are you, my mom?!”
“Pft Mommy Suguru.” Shoko snickers, stepping into your dorm. She at least has the respect to kick her shoes off at the entrance.
Satoru grins manically, “Ohh I like that!~ Mommy Sugu.”
The black-haired sorcerer frowns, his expression taking on a stone-faced quality.
“I hate all of you.”
“Get out of my room!!!”
-
“Mommy, buy me a melon soda PUHLEASE!~”
“Satoru, I swear to god.”
“Yuck, I thought this was about setting up Bell with Utahime, not watching you guys bicker like a married couple.”
An hour later, he showered, dressed, and currently being fed. Your mood has made a complete turn around. Given the rare day off, the four of you ended up loitering in a café.
“Why are you guys so fixated on that? Geez, I just gave her my lunch. It’s not like I have a crush on her.”
Suguru deadpans, clasping his hands together and bringing them to his face.
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“No?”
“Oh god, Suguru, she’s in denial!” Satoru gasped dramatically, hugging Suguru’s bicep like they’re in a cable drama.
“You’re right Satoru, it’s much worse than we thought...”
“I was told I’m getting free breakfast.” Shoko cut in with a yawn.
“Okay, okay woman, I’ll get you your breakfast, but show a little concern, will you!? This is a national emergency!!”
“You’re so loud.” With a groan, your head meets the cool surface of the table.
-
“Okay, okay so, so pretend I'm Utahime!!”
If disappointment took human form, it would be the look you grace him with. Satoru as Utahime?
“There’s a terrifying picture...” Shoko stage whispers to Suguru, who nods.
“Horrifying really, ugly as he is...” That comment earns a snort from Shoko.
Offense burns across Satoru’s cheeks. He raises a fist, shaking as Suguru grins.
“Uhm Hello, Iori-Senpai...” You drawl awkwardly, attempting to play along with Satoru’s nonsense.
His eyes brighten faster than the auto-adjusting setting for phone brightness.
“Well Hellllooo Bell! I’m madly in love with you. Let’s get married and have 200 cats for babies!~”
“... Yeah, this is...eugh.” You grimace, head shaking as you toss your empty soda can at his head.
“Hey! WATCH IT!! You almost damaged the goods!!”
Suguru butts in, “Nothing has been good about you ever though.”
“Here we go....”
Needless to say, both of you left the married couple to bicker in favor of getting more breakfast on Satoru’s dime.
-
“You really ought to ask her on a date though, the guys teasing aside.”
Frown taking root, you let out a long sigh.
“I don’t like her like that, you guys are ridiculous!”
Shoko shrugs you off with a shake of her head.
“I’m just saying here, bell, sorcerers die young, and you and I aren’t those two special grade bastards. You should let yourself love, cause you never know when the opportunity will slip through your fingers.”
“Damn,morbid much Shoko?”
She laughs, tilting her head as she considers you.
“Maybe, but you know I’m right. Sorcerers live shit lives, you might as well share it with someone.”
“Like you share it with those cigarettes?” you poke her cheek, and she nods along.
“Mhm, like my cigarettes.”
“Wow, not even going to deny it?”
“I’m comfortable with who I am, unlike some people,” Shoko snorts, glancing at the boys lingering a ways behind them.
“... Share my shit life with someone...uh huh...thank you for the wise words o great Shoko.“
“Of course, my child.” She plays along, patting your shoulder.
Ask Utahime on a date... Maybe.
_______
|Yuki Tsukumo|
“You’ve been assigned to a new long-term mission.”
“Excuse me what?..” Already the workdays has just begun, and you’re ready to turn around and go straight home.
“You’re being assigned to a-“
“Yes, yes, I heard you, I’m just, you do realize I’m grade two, correct? What use would I be on a ‘long-term’ mission? Those are usually reserved for grade one or higher?” So done, this is what you get for working hard, more work.
Honestly, you want to be mad at the manager telling you this, but he’s just a poor, overworked dog too.
His brow is furrowed, lips in a straight line as he speaks: “Look, all I was told is that you will be assisting a higher-ranking sorcerer who requested your presence specifically, that’s all. Do with that info what you will, here is the overview. Contact HQ if you have any further questions...”
Another day, another manila envelope of doom...
Fingers tracing the file, you flip it open to peek at your newest headache. Immediately, a familiar name becomes apparent.
“Tsukumo?- god dam—“ of course, you meet a special grade one time, and suddenly you’re assigned to work with them?
Tsukumo has a reputation of never even taking missions; so why the hell is she starting now?!
[ Report to #### for debrief—
Scanning over the contents, you note the location as being the same station you’d parted ways from her the last time.
How ironic.
“Great, a special grade, might as well have my death certificate signed already...”
-
Yuki taps her foot, maybe from impatience, mostly from sheer anticipation, probably.
Really, she’s been a little too focused on this painfully cute sorcerer as of late. So much so that she’s having trouble focusing on her efforts at research.
What better way to alleviate withdrawal then to pull some strings and get said cute sorcerer to help her with her research?
Under the guise of it being a 100% completely legitimate mission, after all, headquarters was THRILLED.
‘Finally taking some responsibility Tsukumo-San, we’re glad to see it.’
Jackasses.
Yes, some responsibility.
Tengen had been less amused.
‘Would you quit running away so often?!’
Those two boys had Japan more than covered. Her talents were better used elsewhere, in her opinion.
“Tsukumo-San...”
She knows that weary, half dead shadow!
“Cross!! It’s great to see you!!” Beaming at the insomniac sorcerer infront of her, Yuki pulls you into a side hug.
“Woman, we are not remotely close enough for you to be one calling me anything but my last name and two touching me.”
Ouch, you’d almost be terrifying if she didn’t have raging cute aggression right now!
“Lighten up, won’t ya?” She clicks her tongue, kind enough to at least give your personal space back.
“I’ll lighten up once you explain what the hell a special grade possibly needs my help for!!” Slightly fed up with being in the dark, you snap at her.
Yuki takes it in stride, waving you off with a hand.
“I needed a research assistant, someone good at taking notes and that kind of thing,” Yuki supplies, hands slipping into her pockets.
“... You requested me to be your assistant.” Eyes narrowed, she almost sweats at the intensity of your gaze.
“Yes, yes I did, deal with it, Assistant of mine.” With a relaxed grin, she claps a hand on your shoulder.
“Think of it as a paid, mostly non-life threatening vacation Cross!! Who doesn’t love PTO??”
“This is not PTO, this is detrimental to my mental health, and you will be receiving an invoice from my therapist.”
Yuki snorted at your sour face, leaning to wrap an arm around your shoulder fully.
“Duly noted, my dear assistant!”
There goes your already stressed peace of mind...