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The noise didn't immediately die down upon the teacher's entrance. Since everyone was too busy shouting, fighting and throwing papers all across the room, no one from the class even noticed the greenette adult strutting her way to the teacher's table until she slammed a stack of books above the desk.
That and a shriek of surprise from their class president, Miwa, caught their attention. They finally noticed the teacher's arrival and shut their petty mouths up. Maki looked as intimidating and proper as ever but it seemed like the students were already used to that.
"Don't look too shocked. I stood by the doorway for 5 minutes and none of you brats even noticed me." Maki sarcastically remarked.
Although there were still some students brave enough to cackle at her statement, as if they weren't just being disrespectful, Maki tried to be optimistic and see the greater good around.
The weather was exceptionally good that day. The curtains were drawn, letting the warm sunshine vividly pass through the windows. It wasn't too humid nor too hot—just the right temperature between summer and autumn.
For the first time that week, there wasn't anything smelly in the classroom and the corners looked like they had been cleaned except for the bundled quiz papers recently thrown by the students.
Noticing the little things around her was enough. It was a great day. Maki felt light, better and blessed. She felt like something good would happen to her that day.
I hope they'll raise my salary this month.
Maki rearranged her blouse, fixed the glasses on her nose, before she spoke, "Alright, settle down and get back to your seats. Be quiet. Especially you, Inumaki. Don't eat on the floor, I can see you. Sit on the chair or I'll make you leave."
The boy, with his mouth obviously stuffed with tuna rice balls, hurriedly nodded and complied with his teacher's order. Whenever Maki-sensei made someone leave, it never meant they'd only leave the classroom—they would also have to leave the school and get marked as absent for the day too. Inumaki certainly didn't want that.
The other kids who were loitering around also sat back to their proper seats. Though some were hardheaded and didn't back down without a little fight, the teacher simply shut them down with a threat. After that, no questions were longer asked.
Once everyone had mildly settled, Maki nodded affirmatively and began her morning reminders. She started jotting down the list she had to do inside her head and remembered something important—probably the very first thing she should've done the moment she stepped inside the room.
"Ah, but before that, we have a new blood joining our class."
The students who were once wreaking havoc in their own classroom froze and looked at her in disbelief. They were in the middle of a term, why would their school accept a transferee?
The one courageous enough to always pick a fight with the teacher raised his hand, "Really?"
"Yes, Gojo. Really." Maki couldn't help but facepalm, "Didn't I tell you that yesterday?"
A bob-head, brunette girl beside one of the big classroom windows stood up defensively, "You didn't!"
"Well, I did now. Sit back down."
Nobara gritted her teeth. She looked like she wanted to say, or ask, something more but shut herself up in the end. She sat back down with a huff and let their adviser continue what she was saying.
"It's a 'he', and he is here. Treat him nice. Get along." Maki paused and turned towards the door, "New transferee, come in!" She called out.
The classroom door creaked. The knob turned and the piece of wood opened in such a timid manner. The space created in between showed a tall, tanned teenage boy who had his hair styled upwards… but no one was really paying attention to that—to him in general. Unfortunately, once Maki had finished talking, they all went back to their own businesses.
The new student didn't mind that though. He focused his eyes straight and kept walking in front of the class. He stepped by the front row, looked around and was about to steal a nice seat at the furthest back of the room when he was stopped by the teacher in the process.
Maki held the new student's collar from behind and dragged him back in front of the class. Judging by the appearance of the student—open buttons, black inner-shirt, piercings and lazy posture, she was sure that the new guy would be in a lot of trouble.
"Introduce yourself."
The transferee kept his face indifferent, somehow seeming annoyed at his teacher's action, and gave her an 'are you serious?' look.
"Yes." Maki patted his back. She wanted to look supportive but she wasn't even smiling. "Go ahead."
No choice, huh. "Tch, good morning… to everyone." The new student started but quickly stopped because none of those 'everyone' was even listening to him. He was sure his teacher could notice that, so he simply turned to her again and sighed, "Can't you just give me a seat?"
Dear lord, another brat. Maki could only feel her head ache in thought of having another bratty kid joining her class.
"Nothing good will come out of that attitude, brat." Maki folded her arms across her chest, sighing, yet nodded in understanding, "Whatever, sit down beside Itadori. See that pink hair? On his left."
The new student didn't bother giving a response. He shifted the bag he was carrying behind his back and began walking through the noisy, clumsy chairs. He stopped when he reached a certain pink boy pointed out by the teacher. The enthusiastic-looking boy smiled and waved a hand at him.
"Hi! Good morning to you too. I'm Itadori, sit here." He pointed at the chair beside him.
'To you too?'... so someone was listening.
He's my seatmate for this term. I hope he doesn't fucking talk much like the rest of these assholes.
The transferee simply gave Itadori a nod and sat down to his new chair. They were situated, second row from the back—not by the window and not too close from a wall. It wasn't that bad.
"You didn't get to introduce yourself earlier. I'm sorry about that. This class tends to be rather… special." The pinkette continued even when his seatmate's attention was already at their teacher's lecture. "Anyway! I grew up in Sendai City and my name's Yuuji Itadori. You can call me Yuuji. You are?"
Ahh… he's a chatterbox too. Damn. But Sukuna thought he had to put up with it or it would be freshman hell all over again. He didn't want any wrong impressions to ruin him and his whole year like it did the previous grade.
"Sukuna."
Yuuji hummed and eagerly nodded like a puppy. His eyes sparkled as if he wanted Sukuna to say something more.
"Aaand…?" His voice came out like a sing-song.
Do I really have to answer him? Sukuna groaned, turning his torso further away from the other in hopes that the pinkette could understand his body language.
Without giving Yuuji a second glance, he sighed, "I don't really care. I'm from Main Street, Tokyo. Been here since birth. Name's Sukuna—
Sukuna Ryoumen."
The moon hovered over them, reflecting the sun's light perfectly on its surface, as it shyly lit the sand around the couple.
The beach was peaceful that night, leaving the two pinkettes the privacy and serenity they had been yearning for. They sat on the cozy grains of sand as Yuuji sat in between his lover's thighs. The waves crashed the shore like a lullaby, sending cold breezes towards the pair that only gave Sukuna another reason to lock and wrap his arms tighter around Yuuji.
The couple felt safe—protected in each other’s embrace. It didn’t seem like 'the calm before a storm'; rather, it went on like a happy ending song during the final movie credits.
"Ahh, this feels like deja vu."
Yuuji turned to his 9 years boyfriend, Sukuna, curiously, "What is?"
The latter smiled and momentarily closed his eyes, "The sky. This light. This night. I don't know. I feel like I've seen this before."
Yuuji couldn't help but think how sincere and innocent Sukuna's thoughts were. He only hugged his boyfriend softer and gave him a smile. He was delighted that Sukuna was comfortable enough to show a side he would never dare show someone else. His gentle and dreamy side.
"How about the stars?" Yuuji asked.
"Especially the stars. See that one?" Sukuna nodded and pointed at a one west star, twinkling from white to red, "It annoys me to look at that one."
Yuuji turned to the other strangely, saw Sukuna’s eyebrows coming together, and carefully nuzzled his head on his lover's firm arms. "Why? What did it do to you?"
"I don't know. I feel like it's looking back at me."
"Like picking a fight?"
"Exactly like it's picking a fight. Fucker." Sukuna cursed at the sky.
Yuuji grinned, biting his lower lip to suppress a chuckle, "It doesn't even have eyes, Kuna."
“My fucking bad then. I didn't graduate as a valedictorian.”
The two erupted into silly laughter. They knew they looked stupid for mocking their own foolishness, but who gave a shit about that? They were the only living humans at the beach that night. They have all the time to engross themselves in each other’s scent, and the whole wide world seating on top of their palms. They were happy, in love, and that was all that mattered.
"Well, that's not impossible. Half of our everyday life is spent during the night. I'm sure you've seen this scenery before."
"Yeah…" Sukuna sheepishly reached for his nape and patted it.
Sukuna wasn't a very emotional guy. Even if he was, he did his best to conceal it. They were supposed to lie low and relax for the day, but for some reason, Sukuna couldn't help but feel each moment with Yuuji deep within his bones. Each second passed with his boyfriend suddenly felt so precious to him.
"Yeah…" He spoke once again, as if to affirm himself that experiencing deja vu was alright. Deja vu wasn't a bad omen. "Yuuji."
"Mhm?" Yuuji hummed upon the utterance of his name. He kept his sight straight at the dark horizon of the ocean while he continued to stroke Sukuna's skin lovingly.
"I love you."
When Yuuji whipped his head behind to look at Sukuna, he found him already looking back at him—a fond smile displayed on his face.
The shorter pinkette could feel his heart beating, irking to jump out of his chest. He suddenly wanted to hug Sukuna, kiss him, cheer him up, care more for him and give him everything. It wasn't a topic for debate; Yuuji didn't even give it a second of a doubt. He loved Sukuna.
"But not as much as I do right now." Yuuji responded with his cheeks bright red and his eyes beaming with life, "I love, love, love—love! You and only you, Sukuna."
Sukuna grinned. He knew. He knew Yuuji loved him. But hearing it directly from his lover felt like a bunch of spears killing his lungs and stomach. It had been a decade since they started their relationship but Sukuna still felt like he was going to die, out of nausea or lack of fucking oxygen, just from hearing those disgustingly sweet three words from Yuuji.
He loved that feeling.
"That's a lot." Sukuna teased, "Do you mean it?"
In return, Yuuji playfully pinched Sukuna's thumb and smacked his bicep. He pouted, "I do. Every word of love."
Yuuji paused to proper his posture on the sand, leaning back delicately on Sukuna's chest, before his voice came back with more melancholy.
"You know, there are times when I'm like this. Like right now. Whenever I see you, feel you, I feel like my chest is going to explode. It's like I held these feelings for so long," Yuuji's voice suddenly hitched, his eyes fighting a few unshed tears, "-and it all just came pouring down. Sometimes, I don't know what to do and I—"
Sukuna was quick to cut him off and cover Yuuji's eyes with his palm. It was to let Yuuji know he didn't have to cry—but if he really wanted to, Sukuna would be there to conceal his tears.
He knew too well how Yuuji never wanted to seem weak in front of him. That was why in times like this, Sukuna would always try his best to remind his boyfriend, with a touch, that he'd still be there at his weakest point. That was how they would comfort one another.
It took a minute before the shaking of Yuuji's shoulder stopped. Although the latter's eyes were still stained with red veins and tears, Sukuna cuddled Yuuji back and made him nestle on his shoulder.
"Fine," Sukuna rubbed a finger on Yuuji's cheekbone while he kissed his exposed right ear, "I'll let you win this minute. Just know I don't like losing though."
"Huh?"
Yuuji heard a sigh before he was forced to listen to words that would make him cry again.
"I'll just love you more the next minute. Then more for an hour and tomorrow. Then the next day. Until next week. And next year. Next decade. Even century. I'll make sure to love you more a lot of days than you can ever do."
The way Sukuna sounded so sure, so confident, pained Yuuji. He knew Sukuna had already bet and sacrificed a lot of things for the past twenty years, they went to hell and back just to come to terms with their love for each other, yet here he still was. He was still willing to give Yuuji more—and more than what he had that very second. Yuuji owed a lot of things to Sukuna.
"Isn't that unfair?"
"No love is fair," The taller pinkette answered, "There will be days that you'll love me more than I do, and days when I'll love you more than you love me. But that's alright."
The way those syllables left Sukuna's mouth made it hard for Yuuji to retort. He simply received, accepted and understood everything Sukuna was telling close to his ears.
"What we'll we do if that happens?" Yuuji asked.
"Nothing. Loving someone less than they're giving you doesn't equal not loving that someone at all. As long as the love continues, at its lowest or highest degree, so long as it perseveres, we do nothing…
Or maybe a hug?" Sukuna concluded, giving Yuuji a look before he stretched his arms wide behind his lover.
"I would like a hug." Yuuji giggled and hurriedly turned his body around to give Sukuna a dead-aching embrace of his life.
Sukuna returned the hug back with a groan and kissed the top of Yuuji's crown fondly. "Then we'll hug."
They spent the next minutes plainly hugging. The time went by with just the two hugging each other like they'd never have the chance for another again. It was silent for a moment until Yuuji heard a grumble from Sukuna's throat.
His boyfriend suddenly talked and proposed, "Can we change it to a kiss?"
The chuckle that came out of Yuuji was a bliss to Sukuna's ears. He wished he could hear that laugh forever, and ever, and ever. He'd give all of him to the gods just to make Yuuji laugh like that forever.
"I would like a kiss."
Yuuji turned his head up to meet Sukuna's lips with his. They shared a bubbly kiss that didn't involve tongues and sucking. Just a deep yet simple touch that reminded them how their bodies perfectly match each other—like they were a replica of one another. The kiss ended quicker than it usually did but it was pleasing and satisfying enough to make the couple blush and smirk afterwards.
While Sukuna's bum stayed rooted on the sand, Yuuji pulled away and kneeled in front of Sukuna. That way, they would be face to face with each other.
Yuuji's feet curled when he noticed Sukuna's gaze not leaving the pupils of his eyes. They were already so close to each other but it seemed like Sukuna was still checking his lover out.
Yuuji almost tripped on his own words when he tried to think of something to say, just anything to calm down the vibrations inside his heart.
"What if one moment, we equally love each other. What then?"
Sukuna didn't expect Yuuji to continue asking about that. Sukuna knew he wasn't a shoujo-romantic type of guy so he actually ran out of hearty shit to say. He was aware that the only thing left to say we're those words.
Maybe it was a sign: the way he remembered to bring that thing with him that night, the blurry memories, such creepy deja vus, the support of the clear sky and the light from the broken moon. The moment Yuuji talked to him about love and future together, and how his heart clenched in such a painful but heavenly manner—it's all there.
Sukuna knew he didn't have to wait for destiny anymore. He didn't have it in him to wait for whatever the deities planned for Yuuji anymore. The place where they were happily looking at each other, the peaceful silence of solitude, the smell of night seashells, and the way they promised to cherish each other for as long as they could—Sukuna knew he could do it now.
"Then you'll have to say, 'Yes, Kuna, I do. I'll marry you.' Like that. Then we’ll proceed to plan the church and the reception. You like lanterns, right? We’ll get those too."
Yuuji comically laughed at his lover's declaration. Sukuna looked smug, his upper lip pouting towards him. The shorter pinkette was about to retort something funny about the wedding and proposal until his giggles were forced to crumble down by the sight of a red box suddenly appearing in the middle of Sukuna's palm.
"K-Kuna. Sukuna." Yuuji didn't want to expect anything but it was there. A box was waiting for him. "Sukuna Ryoumen!"
There were bashful tears once again—but now in both of their eyes. Yuuji didn't catch how it happened. He couldn't understand how Sukuna transferred to their school in the middle of a term and the next day, they were friends. He couldn't grasp how it took them more than 8 years to admit their feelings to each other, always fleeing from one's comforting warmth and sleeping with someone else.
Yuuji might not understand how he could bear so many feelings towards Sukuna, but he wanted it to stay like this—overflowing inside him. And despite all the good and bad memories they had with each other, his lover still wanted to make thousands with him. Sukuna wanted to build a life with Yuuji.
Yuuji didn't see it coming. He couldn't, but fuck, he was glad. He was so goddamn glad it happened. He was glad he met Sukuna.
He was glad he could meet Sukuna over and over again until they could finally see a future with each other.
"You know, I'm not good with sweet, cheesy words but I'll try anyway." Sukuna started, "I don't have any idea how fate and timing works but something tells me that if I want to do and prove something to you, the only right time is now.
This may sound too much and heavy... but I don't want to waste another breath apart from you anymore. I did in the past, I fucked around and let you go; it was still the worst decision I made in my entire life. It felt like I was suffocating under the weight of the world. I won't make the same mistake again. I don't want to regret anything. I don't want to lose the happiness we have right now.
I want to love you forever, and ever! And ever!"
Yuuji attempted to shut his lover’s confession in spite of the teary smile on his face, "Sukuna you're so loud!"
"—And ever, and ever! Forever! In every world, in every universe, in every state line. I will always be yearning for you. I want and I will always find you. You are a part of me and I want everyone in this whole damn country to know that.
What do you think, Yuuji? Last minute, you said you loved me more but this time, I'm positive I love you the most."
Sukuna slowly unveiled the box on his palm, presenting a twinkling diamond shaped to fit on a ring, a very beautiful ring that matched the orbs of Yuuji's eyes, "If you feel like you love me the most right this second too then—Yuuji Itadori,
Will you marry me?"