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Gojo Satoru does not believe in love.
He does not believe that love is necessary for a person such as himself--a human which has a status close to that of a god. Because, as the strongest, Satoru thinks no one will ever become close to being his equal.
(He had one once, his best friend, but now he was dead and resting in peace)
He does not need such emotions either. As he has seen firsthand how love can destroy rather than heal far more often. He has conjured up a personal theory that love is the most twisted curse after all.
So no. Satoru does not need, nor will he ever need love.
Or so he thinks.
He hadn’t meant for it to happen. Probably because it just did.
She wasn’t really anything special, well-- not at first, especially when they first met. She was just another sorcerer who he had been working with on some occasions. She was weak and he made fun of her for this because truthfully, that was his honest first impression (as most the cases anyway) but the way she reacted to him was so fun to look at that he couldn’t help himself but to tease her every time.
And eventually, it became their routine.
He would tease and she would retort back.
It was fun banter and he knew there was nothing more to it.
Then comes the respect.
The first time Satoru had seen her in a different light was when they met after she had gotten her scar on her face. She was visiting the Tokyo school for a mission and he had teased her about it. Relating the scar to her weakness and how it was scary to see. But the way she reacted was different, no angry retort but silence, and then she spoke, head held up high, as she stared straight at him
“I am proud of this scar for it is the symbol of my bravery. Of how I survived and will continue to do so. No matter how hard it may be.”
She walked away after that.
(The way her fingers trembled and how the last word subtly shook didn’t go pass him)
But for the first time since they had met, Satoru thought that she was beautiful. He had now seen her in a new light.
Not long after, he had heard the story of how she had gotten the scar and he smiled to himself.
There were only a few people Satoru gave his respect to and, in that moment, she had earned it.
Next comes the trust.
After Suguru defected, Satoru’s goal in changing how the jujutsu society system works simply became his motivation. And for that he needed people, as the realization that even being the strongest, he couldn’t do it alone.
The faculty meeting had ended pretty early and to relax for a bit, they all collectively agreed in having dinner, maybe a karaoke.
They were sitting side by side when the topic of their students came up. Of how sometimes, she hated that the jujutsu world took much of the children's youth (and in some extreme cases, their life) when it shouldn’t have been. Her face was solemn and wistful, a worried frown maring her features.
“Well, the jujutsu world has always been unforgiving, no matter who and what you are.” He had answered.
“I know.” she replied.
“But sometimes it wouldn’t hurt to let them be children as well from time to time.”
“Heh, tell that to the higher ups”
She had looked at him with a glare but from the way she sighed, he knew that at some degree, she thought he was right.
This was the moment he realized he could trust her with his goals and dreams as well.
Last comes the unfamiliar feeling in his chest.
They have been paired up on a mission to retrieve information about a cursed object in Hokkaido. It seems simple enough and in less than a day, they have completed their mission. With their remaining time, Satoru deems it safe to just stroll and tour the area looking for sweets as she is being dragged along with him. He forces her to taste them even though he knows she hates sweets, but the way her face scrunches up cutely as she lets the flavor sink in on her tongue is too good to not take advantage of.
By the time they visited the third bakery, the sky was darkening into a light hue of purple.
They rest upon the available seats in the bakery as they munch on the food that they ordered. He is minding his own business when suddenly the woman sitting in front of him makes a sound.
She’s chuckling.
He looks at her to see she has been staring outside the window, watching the kids dance a silly number. He has never seen her so carefree even when they knew each other for a long time now. The golden glow of the bakery lights makes her seem so ethereal and he asks himself if she always did look like that.
(He is starting to think that maybe he should look at her more. Deeply. Because maybe his Six Eyes couldn't see everything the first time)
It is at this moment he realizes, maybe, just maybe...gods do need love after all. Scratch that, maybe, at the end of the day, he is still a human who can love and want love.
He doesn’t mean for it to happen.
It just does.
And maybe it already started from way back. He just didn’t know it yet.
He doesn’t know how she did it but like a dandelion, she grew her place in the crevices of his heart.