Archive of Our Own

Maki arrived at Tokyo Jujutsu High tired and dirty. Her left arm was aching and she was sure that some bruises would appear over time. Not to mention the ones that were already appearing. She knew she was stronger than a grade four sorcerer usually was, but there were way stronger cursed spirits, such as the one the girl had just exorcized with Inumaki and Panda. They were all great enough for a grade two situation, but life wasn’t easy.

They all met the first-year students, who were just chatting on the outside. It was basically Fushiguro listening to Nobara and Itadori fighting over something. Daily routine. This time they were discussing what to order for the movie night they would have later that day. If Maki didn’t promise anything to them, she would just cancel and go to bed, but the kouhais seemed excited about. Especially Nobara.

Actually, Itadori and Nobara probably were equally in the mood for it, but the Zenin girl was more focused on the redhead-haired friend’s will. Not that she didn’t care about Itadori. Of course she did, but he wasn’t the one she wanted to spend more time with.

The second-year student knew what was happening. Even if she could hide it. At least she thought she could. Maki wasn’t much of expressing herself. She was the type of girl who said what was necessary and wasn’t loud or very expressive like Nobara. And, although sometimes the kouhai needed to be held (sometimes literally), she loved that about her. The girl never seemed scared of what would come next.

Oh, and the fact that she was always so dedicated to support Maki? That was something. They got closer rapidly and it was usual to see Nobara willing to help her achieve her dream of becoming the head of the Zenin clan. No matter how little she should do in a given scenario, she would do it. For some reason, she genuinely loved Maki.

Maki never received that kind of affection. Panda, Inumaki and Yuuta were her friends and supported her, helped her, but Nobara’s words of affirmation made everything more intense. Not that this was actually needed, but Maki truly saw a pure and genuine positive feeling of the kouhai towards her. Because, despite her confidence and determination, her life was basically a tortuous road to prove herself to her family, who always thought that she and Mai were unworthy. A lifetime with only this kind of idea at some point fixed it at Maki’s heart. But Nobara never cared about the fact that she needed to wear glasses to see cursed spirits and things like that. She knew Maki was powerful and good, and always made sure to show how she admired her senpai.

And all of that, understandably made Maki sees Nobara differently. She wanted to be around her more, and touch her more, shoulder to shoulder, hand to hand, and talk to her more. And she didn’t know what to do about it. The girl didn’t know how Nobara felt and didn’t want to ruin everything. She might even have other feelings about the girl growing up inside her, but she also loved her friendship and didn't want to lose it. And Nobara was just always nice to her. Since the beginning. The first-year student never changed her behavior. Therefore, Maki didn’t know what to think.

What she knew it was that she had to think of what do to with those two. Nobara and Itadori still were arguing and trying to prove why their option was better, always calling the senpais’ names for support.

“Why don’t we just ask both of the options?” Panda asked “I don’t think it’s that hard.”

“Haaaa?” They said surprised. Maki never saw a duo as chaotic as two of her kouhais.

“Won’t we have stomach ache later?” Itadori asked.

“Since when you care about this?” Fushiguro finally opened his mouth.

“Fine! Sushi and pizza, then. Whatever that kind of combination is.” Nobara said before her friend could answer “Are you in Maki-san?”

“Huh? Yes. It’s okay for me.” Zenin answered. See how she is?, the girl thought.

“Maki-senpai, your nose is bleeding.” Fushiguro said suddenly.

Maki reached two fingers to her nose and saw them getting red “Oh great!” She said exhaling “I’ll be in my dorm.”

“Wait. Let me help you.” Nobara said before Maki could turn around.

“Oh, it’s no big deal.” Maki replied, trying to keep composure. She was actually waiting for this, but still…

“Come on. Let’s goooo.” She said, with the word go becoming longer while she took the green-haired girl arm to pull her.

The girls left and headed to Maki’s dorm. Maki was walking slower than usual because she was tired. In fact, she only wanted to throw herself on her bed and sleep for at least twelve hours in a row.

On the meantime, Nobara was still holding her arm and pulling her as if she didn’t know where to go. Maki didn’t protest. Even if she wanted to, it would be useless. The kouhai wasn’t an easy person to fight against. Good thing Maki never planned to do that.

They arrived and Zenin intended to go to the bathroom to clean herself, but Nobara stopped her and told her to sit on her bed, which she did.

Kugisaki went to the bathroom herself and grabbed some toilet paper for Maki’s nose, who thanked her and cleaned the area where the blood was. She came back and grabbed some clean towels and asked if Maki had a med kit, who nodded in confirmation and pointed where it was.

“You know, I’m not that bad.” Maki said, raising an eyebrow.

“I trust that you kicked that motherfucker’s ass, Maki-san. And that you will do that again with the next one. And because of that, you need to be one hundred percent.” Nobara replied concentrated on picking up everything she needed to clean and use on her senpai “You’re wearing something under your uniform, right?” She asked, finally staring Maki.

“Yes. Why?” The girl answered confused.

“Take this off, then. Your sleeve is stained with blood.” Nobara said and Maki was pretty sure that she turned her look away or gulped. Or both. Why, though?

Maki nodded and ended up only with her white t-shirt. Her left arm indeed bled, but it already had stopped. Nobara was quick to clean it and clean the rest of it. She was carefully rubbing the towel against the green-haired girl’s skin. Quiet. Focused. Meanwhile, Maki was just staring at the floor, thinking about nothing but Nobara’s touch. A touch that was warm and caring. Completely innocent and with the only intention of making her better.

“Maki-san?” Kugisaki said, interrupting Maki’s thoughts.

“Yeah?” She answered. Her voice was low.

“You don’t have band aids.” Her hands left Maki’s arm and she got her posture right, while turning her gaze to her friend.

What the actual-?, Maki thought.

“Oh… I guess o forgot to restore them.” She shrugged “It’s fine, though. But thank you, Nob-”

“I’ll be right back.” Nobara said leaving the bed and the room before Maki could understand she was actually doing it.

The girl stayed there waiting for her friend to come back. She always found cute the way Nobara cared about her. Again, Maki never had that kind of love in her life — the one she shared with Mai during their childhood was different. She knew she could trust Nobara, even if they didn’t know each other that long. And the fact that they met not long ago and Maki was already realizing the changes of her feelings was scary. She never felt that way before. For anyone. Actually, the Zenin girl never had time to think about this. Her life goal was to become the head of the Zenin Clan, and nothing could distract her from that. Anything or anyone.

And yet, at some point some ray of sunshine showed up in her life.

Maki didn’t consider Nobara a distraction. She would never even think about consider that. But she was also surprised and not knowing how to deal with this new factor. Of course, her intentions were to live her life like every day before the day she met Nobara, to try to let these feelings go, but it wasn’t easy. And at the same time, she didn’t want to let it go.

Before Maki realized, Nobara was back with a box of band aids and already taking one off to put on her. A blue band aid with cute kittens on it.

Classic Nobara.

“I will let the rest of them with you, in case you forget to buy yourself more. Again.” She said while opening the one she had in her hands and putting it onto Maki’s arm “There you go.” Nobara smiled caressing her it with her thumbs to make sure it was fixed. Slowly. With both of her hands holding the part of the senpai’s arm where she put it.

“Thank you, Nobara.” Maki answered, which made Nobara get out of the reverie that she didn't even know the girl was.

Nobara raised her head and her eyes met Maki’s “You’re welcome, Maki-san. Don’t forget to change it. There are more colors for you to choose. Maybe try pink for next one.”

The senpai giggled “Sure. Thanks!”

*******

Later that night, everyone came into Maki’s dorm, who only agreed with “lending” her room because she lost on odds or evens against Fushiguro, since everyone said they were the ones who never let things happen in their bedrooms.

Not long after they arrived, the food arrived as well and they put some random action movie to watch. Itadori begged them not to put a horror movie. Not after several days watching nothing but this film genre.

Everything was calm. As far as possible. Of course, Nobara and Itadori were talking during some scenes, basically reacting to all of them, and sometimes discussing theories about it (and provoking each other), while Maki’s cousin was quiet by Itadori’s side and sometimes just answering some of Itadori’s speculations.

They were on the ground in front of Maki’s bed, where she and Nobara were located together. Panda was more in a corner, just enjoying his meal and serenely doing the same as Fushiguro. And Inumaki was on the other side of Maki’s bed, quiet. As usual. But also excited. The Zenin girl knew that her friend loved action movies. He was so peaceful and silent (not only because of his cursed technique), and yet explosions and shootings, and stuff like that amused him.

Despite Maki knew what everyone was doing and how they were, she was trying to enjoy the company of the girl next to her as much as she could. They were sharing a blanket because the weather was getting cold. Nobara’s blanket, to be more specific. Hey, Maki-san. I know you have your own blanket, but I brought my own for us to share. Her words. Completely unaware of what that caused to Maki. Such as every other little things she said and did.

Maki couldn’t stop wondering how her kouhai was feeling about that. Did she like Maki was well? Was she just that nice? Did anyone notice something on Maki’s behavior? Was Nobara as nervous as her? Too many questions without answers. And the green-haired girl didn’t know what to do about them.

Suddenly, she noticed Nobara covering herself more with the blanket, but it didn’t seem enough. Surely it was colder than fifteen minutes ago. And fortunately, Maki was already wearing something for that.

“Itadori-kun” Nobara said tugging her friend’s head with her toes before Maki could check on her.

“Haa? What is this?” Itadori said turning around.

“How do you feel about going into my dorm to get one of my coats?”

“I don’t feel it.” He said already moving to his previous position, but Nobara tugged him harder “Hey!”

“Pretty please…” She pouted and gave him pity eyes.

“You can have one of mines instead of leaving the room.” Maki said.

Kugisaki looked at her and her mouth was threatening to smile “For real?”

“Sure. Why not?” Maki smiled softly and pointed to her wardrobe “Go ahead.”

“Thank you, Maki-san!” She said and hugged Maki out of nowhere, who made an effort not make an obvious expression “If it was for you I would froze to death.” The redhead-haired girl said to Itadori, before getting up and slapping his head, who protested but didn’t do anything about it.

The thought of Nobara wearing one of Maki’s clothes was beyond comprehension for her. She looked good in everything and Zenin was sure that she would look good wearing her… Cardigan. Of everything there (not even close of the amount of clothes her friend had), Nobara chose the oversized cardigan. It was one of Maki’s favorites piece of clothing. It was comfortable and good to wear anywhere. And it seemed that Nobara also liked it.

She came back after putting it on and sat by Maki’s side again. They stayed there quiet for a few more minutes until the senpai noticed Nobara getting closer. At some point, their arms were touching.

“Hey. I know you not the kind of fashion enthusiast…” She whispered. They weren’t looking at each other, just paying attention on the TV “But this one is a really good one. It’s stylish and comfortable.”

“Good. I’m glad you like it.” Maki whispered back “It’s one of my favorites, by the way.”

“You have good taste, Maki-san. That’s one of the many qualities I appreciate about you.” Nobara finally stared at Maki with her eyes glowing and smiled. Maki looked back and returned it.

I do have good taste and you have no idea wh-

Maki’s thoughts were interrupted — again — by Nobara crossing her right arm with the green-haired girl’s left arm. This movement made they got even closer, if it was possible. And Zenin did nothing but let Kugisaki do whatever she intended to. She felt electricity running through her veins, an entire garden blooming inside her, a mix of nervousness and tranquility in her head.

Their hands weren’t touching, but their little fingers were. Somehow, both of them had the same thought, which was crossing them as well. They weren’t holding hands but it felt much more intimate and cozy than that. The two sorcerers decided to do this at the same time. She tried to see Nobara’s face without showing it, and what she could see was the girl quiet and concentrate, as if something had suddenly taken her thoughts. This could mean anything, but Maki turned around and pressed her lips to avoid a smile. A smile that if showed up it wouldn’t be easy to take it off.

And if that wasn’t already enough, she felt Nobara’s head reaching her shoulder. The girl just lied down her head on Maki’s left shoulder. Without a word or any kind of warning. She didn’t care, though. Definitely didn’t care.

Although the second-year student was nervous and processing everything, she was feeling warm in a way that not even a thousand blankets could make her feel. They were in a group, but somehow it seemed that only the two of them were there. That thought made Maki take her right hand up to Nobara’s arm, who also let her do it.

“By the way” Maki whispered softly “It looks good on you.”

“Oh. Thanks.” Nobara answered. Maki could swear that she felt the girl smile.

“Also, you can’t see it, but I put a pink one after showering.”

“Nice.” The smile was probably still there “Did you like it?”

“More than I thought I would.”

________________________________________

Day one

Nobara woke up inhaling deeply. Scared. Disoriented. The people around focused their attention on her. Itadori and Fushiguro. Or at least what she could see of them.

Her vision was still blurred, getting used to the light, and it seemed like the girl was able to see only half of the room. Then she remembered. Her left eye. Mahito. Fragments of something that happened god knows how long ago. Hours? Days? More?

“Kugisaki-san, are you okay?” Itadori said calmly while Nobara lifted her hand to where her left eye was supposed to be. She pressed her lips and gulped.

Having one less eye all of a sudden would scare anyone. Her sense of perspective wasn’t the best right now. She was feeling weak and confused. What happened? Is everyone okay? Did we win? Is Gojo alive? Is Mahito alive? Where are the others?

Then her chest got heavier and she wide her eye. Where is Maki-san?

“Itadori-kun, Fushiguro-kun… Is everyone okay?” She asked weakly, but nervously “Where is she? Where is Maki-san?”

Megumi and Yuji looked at each other and turned to her “They will be fine… I hope…” The black-haired boy answered “And Maki- she is… Alive.” He continued trying to look at Nobara’s eye as much as he could “Shoko or Nitta will come here soon to explain properly what happened to you.”

“But long story short, you died. For hours.” The other boy said not even a second after their friend finished. His face was full of remorse and sadness. He got closer to Nobara “I’m sorry, Kugisaki-san. I should’ve done better to help you. I-”

“It’s fine.” Nobara interrupted him and held his hand. She gave him a corner of a smile, but her eye and her body language were saying something else. Not for Itadori though. “I’m alive now, right? Where’s Maki? I wanna see her.”

“She’s not awake. Her body is severely injured because of the burns made by that stupid vulcan head curse.” Itadori answered.

“And you’re not on position to leave this bed, Kugisaki-san.” Fushiguro started. His face was serious as usual “We are better than you and according to Shoko we also need to rest.”

“I’m perfectly fine!” She countered and tried to move, but her every part of her hurt and she groaned because of the pain. Her only reaction was to sigh and close her eye “Please-” Nobara looked at her friends with tears threatening to come “Let me see her.”

Day four

Waking up and seeing only half of the things she was used to see still wasn’t easy, but Nobara was more familiar with this new reality. There was nothing left but a hole there surrounded by bandages. Shoko or Nitta came in every few hours to clean her wound and give her some exercises so the first-year girl’s vision and perspective could improve as soon as possible and as much as possible.

Also, Kugisaki was also physically better. She had some pretty bad bruises, but she didn’t break any bone, which was good. Her body was stronger. Still pretty fragile because of the fights she had been into, but now Nobara was able to get on her feet without other people’s help. And she couldn’t wait for this to happen, because now she finally got to see Maki on her own.

Everyone came up with an excuse to make her stay on her bed. You’re too weak. Maki is not awake. You should get better first. But the only thing on her mind was the green-haired girl who was somewhere near Nobara’s room.

The sorcerer got up and looked for something on her suitcase because she felt cold. The boys had brought some clothes for her, since the healers still wanted to monitor her cursed energy and whatever happened to her. So, Kugisaki couldn’t do anything but stay there and let them take care of her. Even though it was stressing. She couldn’t go shopping or at least leave that place. Only had some moments to take some air, but nothing far from there.

Suddenly, the redhead-haired girl stopped and stared what her eye caught and her hands touched. Maki’s oversized cardigan. The same she wore when they were together in her senpai’s dorm. The same she wore when she was cold and had nothing to wear and Maki said to borrow one of her clothes. The same she wore when slept by Maki’s side after the movie night and woke up feeling the smell of the girl that somehow made her nervous with her presence. In a good way. Why was that simple outfit — that Itadori and Fushiguro probably thought it was hers, even though they were there when she borrowed it from Maki — was making her so emotional? Kugisaki remembered how her entire body felt when she first tried the cardigan. How she felt her cheeks burn when her friend simply said It looks good on you. Oh, how good that made her feel. She never felt that way with the boys or the Kyoto students when she wasn’t stressed out with them. Things were more natural with Maki. Nobara couldn’t be more grateful for that friendship. Someone she always wanted to be around and could listen for hours. Even though she was the talker.

And all of that just made even harder to even think about the possibility of not having Maki there anymore.

She put the cardigan on and stayed still there for a few seconds, reminding of Maki’s arm touching hers. That moment between then where they remained silent with Nobara’s head lied down on her senpai’s shoulder during the rest of the movie. Precious minutes where she didn’t care about the cold anymore, because she was focused on how comfortable she was on that position.

Those thoughts made her let a tear escape. The kouhai never fully understood what that was. For her, that was just another representation of how she loved having Maki as a friend. Someone who had always marveled her. Someone she had always been so proud of. Someone she wanted to be like.

Someone who she would love to have for a lifetime.

Nobara put herself together and walked outside her bedroom. Her body was taking her to Maki’s, trying to remember the directions Shoko pointed after she begged and annoyed the doctor for hours to tell her.

It didn’t take long for Kugisaki to get there. Although it felt like a long, long way, it didn’t even take a minute.

The first-year student stopped by the opened door as soon as she saw Maki on the bed. Her whole body was bandaged and she still hadn’t awoken. Mai was quiet in a chair by her twin’s side and noticed the new presence there. She looked like she hadn’t slept for days. Her face was pale and her gaze was empty, like nothing was in her head. It was understandable. After all, the Kyoto student was seeing her own sister on that state. At that moment, none of their rivalry mattered. There was no hate on Mai’s eyes, only pain and worry.

“How is she?” Nobara asked approaching Maki’s bed, where her feet were located. She still was getting used with that image.

“Alive. But barely. Breathing. But barely.” Mai said without looking at Nobara.

“How long until she wakes up?” She asked again.

“I don’t know.”

“How long until she doesn't need these things anymore?”

“I don’t know.”

“How are h-”

“Do I look like I fucking know anything, Kugisaki?” Mai interrupted her harshly.

Nobara crossed her arms and lowered her head down, but didn’t take her eye of Maki “I’m sorry.”

Mai sighed and finally looked at the girl “No. I’m sorry. It’s just- She’s been here for days and nothing. Not even a finger moving.”

“It’s fine. She will be fine.” Kugisaki walked again and placed her hand on Mai’s shoulder “Maki-san is way stronger than you think. Perhaps even than I think. She just needs time.”

And despite Nobara trusted her words about Maki’s strength, she wasn’t sure how confident she was about her friend's current situation. This was more of a cry for a miracle than anything else.

Day ten

“When was the last time you ate anything?” Nobara raised her head after listening to Shoko’s voice. She was sitting in a chair with her head positioned on Maki’s bed and her hands holding Maki’s right hand. And she was lost in a nap that started… Well, two minutes ago? Two hours ago? She didn’t know and didn’t care.

“I- I think…” Nobara started confused. She was blinking and trying to remember so she could give a sincere answer to Shoko.

“Here.” Shoko discontinued Nobara, reaching her hand closer to her. The woman was holding a cereal bar. Not Nobara’s type of food, but she took it anyway.

“Thanks, I will try to eat it later. How is she?”

“You tell me. How is she?” Shoko asked while taking off some of Maki’s bandages. She was now with less. Parts of her body were able to be seen and her face was more visible was well.

Because of that, Nobara noticed that most of her friend’s hair was burned. It was even shorter than Mai’s. In fact, it was a mess, she would have to go to a hairdresser to fix that.

Also, her skin was in a way that Nobara never seen before. Shoko was able to make a lot of wounds get better. If it was a normal hospital, Maki surely would have several scars through her body. To be more precise, all of her body would be made of scars. But, thanks to Shoko, only some of them would be part of Maki’s life. Nothing weird for a jujutsu sorcerer.

But even with her body becoming better every day, Maki was still unconscious. Never gave the smallest of the signs that she was still there. And that worried everyone. Not only Nobara, her friends, the Kyoto students and the teachers, but also Shoko, who was doing the possible and impossible to help her.

“Maki-san hasn't given any answers yet.” Nobara replied. Her eye was focused on Maki’s face and her one of her thumbs was caressing Maki’s hand “I talk to her and do everything you and the internet say… But she’s still just… You know…”

Shoko sighed “I see. Yeah, the usual then.” She noticed the girl’s sad look towards her friend and knew the girl wanted more answers “I’m sorry I don’t have much to tell you.”

“It’s okay, I guess. I’ll be waiting.”

“But…” Shoko finished what she was doing on Maki and approached Nobara. The girl turned her look at the doctor, who touched her shoulder “First of all, please, don’t get me wrong, okay? But have you ever considered the possibility of Maki-san not wanting to fight anymore?”

That question felt like one thousand knifes crushing every inch of Nobara’s being. What?, she thought. This was impossible. Maki-san? Of everyone in the world, literally everyone, why would Maki-san be the one who gave up on a fight?

“What?” She raised from the chair and walked away from Shoko as much as she could “No! Not at all! Why would you say that, Shoko-san?”

“You see…” Shoko carefully sat on the bed, keeping a safe distance from Maki “I’m doing literally everything I can and the reverse technique is working perfectly. But Maki-san still decided not to wake up. I’m doing my part of the job, but this” she pointed to Maki and then to her “This needs to be mutual.” The doctor sighed again and looked down before turning to Nobara again “I know her story. The reason why she’s a sorcerer and all that. I’m not saying I will stop what I’m doing or that I don’t believe she will open her eyes, but- don’t you think all of this is exhausting and that now she has a chance to achieve peace?”

Nobara didn’t even try to contain her tears. She swallowed and closed her hands hard. Shoko’s words made sense. The girl didn’t want to believe that, but in a matter of fact, it made sense. She had no idea how hard it was to be Maki, even with all the support she gave to her. But the first-year student just couldn’t accept that. No. Not at all. It wasn’t fair.

She held the sleeves of Maki’s cardigan. She never took it off. Every time Kugisaki washed it, she quickly made sure that it was dry to wear it again. It was the only thing that it was theirs.

And then she cried more. She sobbed and covered her face with her hands. Her mouth wasn’t able to say a single word. Her mind wasn’t able to think about anything. And her body wasn’t able to stand still. So, Shoko hugged and held her tight. Nobara didn’t hug the woman back, but not because she didn’t want to. She was just feeling too weak to make such action. But the girl gave in on Shoko’s arms. She allowed herself to feel the only comfort she could have at that moment.

Please, Maki-san. Wake up.

Day seventeen

Nobara was using her phone on Maki’s bedroom. Her new routine was to spend the day there waiting for anything, literally anything. She changed shifts with Mai, who came and went from Kyoto almost every day to stay with her sister for a few hours. The girl didn’t want to skip classes, so Utahime agreed that she could train every other day. In fact, if it depended on the teacher, Mai would not need to go in any classes and trainings, and would spend as much time as she needed in Tokyo, but the student said she needed something to clean her head. And the only reason Nobara left the place for a few hours it was to respect Mai’s wishes to have a moment alone with her twin.

Also, unfortunately, she wasn’t like Mai. She wasn’t participating of her classes or trainings. She tried, though. Really did. At least the ones the girl’s body was strong enough to participate of. But her head was just too full of worries to pay the least of attention.

The readhead-haired girl took her phone down and looked at Maki again sighing. Her senpai was already way better. Physically, at least. Shoko was able to make most of the scars disappear and her body was getting stronger every day. Her face was now visible, despite one or another bandage. Long story short, the burns weren’t as bad as before (they didn’t heal as fast as normal burns, since they were made by a special grade cursed spirit) and the other wounds were healing as well.

But there was only one problem.

Maki was still unconscious.

Nobara got closer to her and held Maki’s hand with both of hers. Just as she got used to do every day. She pressed it carefully and stared at her senpai’s face. She already had memorized every single detail of it. And she knew she would memorize every single detail when Maki got rid of all those bandages and wounds. Indeed, Maki looked peaceful. No more worries about the Zenin Clan. No more worries about curses. Not even more worries about her and Itadori fighting over something stupid.

Damn, she wished that at that very moment Maki was trying to control her on account of something stupid.

“Maki-san.” Nobara whispered “It has been almost a month that you are sleeping. Unconscious. In a coma. Call it as you want. I came here dead and stayed that way for hours until Shoko and Nitta get a heartbeat. Then I stayed in the same state as you for two days. We arrived at the same time and I was worse than you. I was literally dead... But here I am and there you are.” She paused, doing the best she could not to cry “Well, you already know literally all of this. I talk to you every day. I’m sorry if it annoys you. It’s the last thing I'd like to do. But at this point I don’t know what to say. Mai and I tell you stories, talk to you about silly memories, tell you jokes that would make you roll your eyes. And there you are.” The girl sniffed and pressed Maki’s hand harder. Still carefully, though “I know it's inevitable to lose people in our reality, but I don’t want to lose you. I can’t think about a world without the most badass and amazing, and beautiful, and-” She exhaled and looked down for a second. Then she turned again to the second-year student with tears already rolling down her cheeks “I know you’re strong and I know you’re able to achieve literally everything you want. And I love you for that and for countless other things. And I would love to spend more time with you and learn from you. And steal more of your clothes.” Nobara giggled weakly “Sorry about that, by the way. I wanted to return it, but… I didn’t want to. I wanted a piece of you with me. I don’t know why exactly, though. But you didn’t ask it back, so I pretended I forgot about it.” Her face was serious again and she took a break to clean her tears “Anyway… You’re all of that and I want all of this… And there you are. So, if you want to do what Shoko-san said last week, I- I will be fine. I mean, I will find a way to deal with it, okay? I promise. If you feel the need to go, I will respect it and support you. I will always support your happiness, Maki-san.”

Nobara wanted to say more, but her body didn’t let her to. Her throat was making her sob and the tears were coming more violently. The girl didn’t want to leave Maki and didn’t want Maki to leave her.

“But-” She tried to say. The words were coming slowly and with difficulty. At this point, her head was down and Nobara was crying over Maki’s hand “If there's at least a one percent chance you want to wake up… Please, do it. I will do anything to make that one percent worthwhile. I promise. I promise, Maki-san. I want you to stay alive and well. I love you, okay? Please- come back. Just fight a little bit more.”

She didn’t have strength to move, so the Tokyo student remained her head and her hands there for a while. It wasn’t the first time she talked to Maki and cried, but she always hoped it was the last one.

It never was.

Kugisaki was tired, getting hopeless, even if she didn’t want to show it to Shoko, Mai and everyone else. But she was. What could the girl do? Pretend that Maki would wake up on the next second? Stare at her 24/7 while holding a “get better soon” balloon? There was nothing to do but wait. And the waiting was getting longer and longer.

But there was still a light of hope inside Nobara’s heart. This light that was going out leisurely, but that Nobara was doing everything she could to keep it alive. It was her own fight. Her duty. She wouldn’t give up on Maki.

And then, all of a sudden, something weird happened.

The sorcerer lifted her head so fast that it made her dizzy and her eyepatch almost left its place. She looked all over the room to see if there was anyone else there with her and Maki. But there wasn’t.

“What was th-” Nobara thought out lout, but it was interrupted by a very light pressure on her hands.

Maki-san!

She wide her eye and got up without thinking twice “Maki-san?!” Her breath got heaver and her body suddenly was like a machine almost short-circuiting “Maki-san?!” She asked again.

Then Nobara sat again and stared at Maki’s hand. She stopped pressing it and make sure that all her attention was turned to it.

And it happened for the second time. The lightest of the squeezes.

The redhead-haired girl made an excited noise and chuckled. Then she got up — again — and gave tiny little jumps to celebrate.

“Maki-san, are you there? Are you really there? Can you hear me?” Nobara asked louder. She was crying again, but this time it wasn’t because she was sad.

And then, for the third time, Maki squeezed Nobara’s hands.

Day twenty

After that event, Maki never did anything again. Didn’t make a sound. Didn’t press Nobara’s hands. Nothing. Nothing at all. But what had happened three days ago was the only thing in Nobara’s mind.

Also, this cheered Mai as well, who took the week off to stay in Tokyo hopefully waiting for her sister to do anything else, even if it was another small squeeze.

This situation made her and Nobara to get closer. They weren’t necessarily friends, but their interactions weren’t based on the kouhai wanting to slap Mai’s face. The girls were there with the sole goal of making sure that Maki was fine. And they were getting along well. Not that the sorcerers talked much, but they were more and more okay in each other’s company.

And talking about Mai, she had left a few minutes ago to buy something for them to eat. Now they were spending more time there, if before wasn’t enough. Nobara didn’t need to be there anymore as a patient, even though Shoko checked on her sometimes, but it felt like she never left. Actually, she basically never left. Her dorm in Jujutsu Tech was more a place where she went to pick clothes. Same as Mai, who was placed in one of the guest rooms, but spent most of her time with Maki.

While she was there, she made sure that Maki was comfortable enough. Nobara kept changing every detail in response to her anxiety. Maki could wake up at any moment now.

Also, Nobara was spending more time watching the girl’s face. Her real face. Without most of the bandages. She had a few new scars. Not only there but also going down her neck, and well, probably on the rest of her body. But Nobara didn’t care. Looking at Maki made her feel good. None of that marks mattered. Maki’s hair didn’t matter. Nobara found her exceptionally gorgeous the way she was. Before and now.

She gently touched Maki with her fingers, caressing her forehead where her hair began and going down through her cheeks. Slowly and cautiously. Making sure that she didn’t hurt her. She couldn’t wait for the girl’s eyes to open. For them to finally leave that place and be who they were. Do the things they did. Hoping for those things made Nobara smile.

“Maki-san…” Kugisaki said sitting in the chair “I can see more of your skin now. And more important, your face. They’re not the way they used to be, but that’s fine, okay? To me you’re still the most beautiful girl in the world. And you know how much I love my own appearance.” She chuckled “I will take you to a hairdresser or try to fix your hair for you if you like. And I know you’re used to have long hair and that this will be a huge change on you, one that you didn’t plan, so I can make mine shorter too. I think I would look great, don’t you? And we would be matching hairstyles. How nice is that?” Nobara sighed and placed her head near Maki’s hand, one of her thumbs were cuddling it, making different ways and draws on that same hand that she was hoping her friend would move again.

The sorcerer closed her eyes. She was tired. The wait was tiring. But she wouldn’t dare to leave. Her thumb was still there and her face was basically touching Maki’s hand as well.

Then all of a sudden, Nobara’s thumb wasn’t cuddling Maki’s hand anymore. But it was Maki’s hand cuddling Nobara’s cheek.

Kugiaski opened her eye and tried not move. The second-year student’s fingers were weakly and softly caressing her. Making slow moves that seemed the warmest touch and sensation Nobara ever felt in her entire life.

“You-” A weak sound left Maki’s mouth, who was struggling a little “You don’t have to cut your hair, Nobara.”

Nobara had almost the same reaction she had when Maki pressed her hand. Almost because now it was more intense and louder. She approached her friend with the chair and lifted her head, but held Maki’s hand in a way that it was still touching her cheek.

“Maki-san!” She yelled.

“Hi.” Maki did her best to smile. Despite the fact that her body was better, she wasn’t on her best. Also, she had just woken up. Didn’t say a single word or moved for nearly a month.

“Hi!” Nobara answered. She started crying again and there was the biggest and purest of the smiles on her face “You’re awake!”

“I am.” Maki chuckled. Her laugh came mixed with a cough.

“Should I call Shoko? Should I call Mai? Oh, I can call everyone!” Nobara said already leaving the chair, but stopped when felt Maki holding her hand tighter.

“For now, I think you’re fine.” She replied calmly “Just you, Nobara. No one else.”

“Okay.” The redhead-haired girl replied with her voice low “Oh, Maki-san. There’s so much to tell you! I’m so glad you woke up and-” Nobara was interrupted by her own sobs “Sorry. I-I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Maki replied, cleaning some of the girl’s tears while holding her owns “Thank you for staying here during all this time. This is weird, but I kind of listened and felt you. And Mai, and Shoko, and the others. But the fact that you were here really helped me.”

“Really? How so?” She was getting calmer.

“As you said almost every day, we still have a lot to live together.” Maki smiled and Nobara smiled back “By the way, I’m sorry about that.” She delicately touched Kugisaki’s eyepatch.

“It’s okay. It’s true that I miss my eye, but I’m getting used to it.” The kouhai replied “And I’m pretty sure that now Itadori-kun is more scared of me. So it’s a win.”

Maki giggled again and they stayed there just looking at each other’s eyes. They were finally letting all the negative feelings go. Nothing mattered anymore. The senpai was awake and now time would work more. The girls caught up themselves doing nothing but enjoying each other’s presence, such as the day they were in the dorm during the movie night and other moments they had together.

Nobara’s heart was beating so fast that in a different situation she would have to check on it. But not now. Because now every inch of her body was taken by happiness and calmness. And she felt that the girl in front of her was feeling the same way.

“By the way” Maki whispered softly “It still looks good on you.” Then she pointed to her cardigan with her head.

“Oh. Thanks.” Nobara answered.

And this time, Maki actually was able to see the girl next to her smile.