Chapter Text
Rain is pouring by the time Satoru arrives back in Tokyo late afternoon, having completed his mission out of the country early. It’s when he walks out of a shop after buying more sweets that he spots it, nearly dropping his delicacies when he does.
He can’t believe his eyes, the sheer absurdity of the sight before him stopping him dead in tracks, doing a double take and even squinting, of all things, to see better. He can’t believe his eyes, yet it is undeniable what he sees—
—a kid hiding away in between two buildings across the street from him, soaking wet in a white patient gown, shoeless and wide-eyed, is—
“Yuuji?”
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Yuuji is on his way to Principal Yaga’s office, a bit anxious and another bit curious on why he’d been called. For a second, he briefly wonders if the execution suspension has been canceled before he shuts the thought down; as long as Gojo is around, they won’t be so hasty in eliminating him—at least, not so openly.
He’s not as stupid as people like to believe him to be. He knows that mission he was sent on for the first time was intentionally misranked, a terrible “accident” that resulted in his demise. Hell, they even tried to kill him again during the Goodwill Event as soon as they got the chance. They hate him as much as they fear him—fear of what he harbors, of what he himself might become.
He rolls his shoulders and straightens his back when he reaches the office door. He gives it one knock before pulling the door open and walking in. Before he can even open his mouth to greet Principal Yaga, the words die in his throat and he damn near chokes when he sees the kid sitting in a chair against the wall.
“What the fuck —”
“Yuuji-kun! So nice of you to join us!”
His eyes immediately snap to Gojo's standing form. He’s smiling at him but Yuuji knows it’s a fake one. “Am I… am I seeing things or is there an actual mini-me sitting over there?”
Gojo's grin falters. “Mmm, nope. That is, in fact, a mini you sitting in gloom over there.”
Yuuji eyes little him as he slowly walks closer to him. He stops immediately when he sees little him tense up and instead looks to his teacher then principal. “So, uhh, what’s going on and why is there another me?”
Principal Yaga sighs and glances at little Yuuji before looking back at Yuuji. “We don’t know, you—he— little you won’t tell us anything except that he thinks he’s been sent forward in time. Little you won’t tell us why or how or anything.”
Gojo pipes up then. “So until we find a way to send Mini Yuu back, we have been tasked with watching him. Though, we think Mini Yuu will tell himself, well, you why he’s here. If we find out the why, we can probably figure out the when, then the how to send little ol’ Yuu back to his time.”
Yuuji tilts his head a bit back as he squints up at Gojo. “You’re enjoying the wordplay, aren’t you?”
Gojo smirks at him. “Perhaps.~”
Yaga rubs his temples and sighs. “Alright, enough. Just take the kid and go.”
Yuuji slowly reaches his hand out towards Mini Yuu, noting that he hadn’t reacted other than tensing up around him. Seconds pass with his hand held out and just when he’s about to pull his hand back thinking Mini Yuu won’t take it, a small hand timidly reaches for his own. He gives Mini Yuu a small smile and ruffles his hair gently, leading him out the door. He squeezes Mini Yuu's hand a little to reassure him that it'll be alright.
Yuuji looks over his shoulder at Gojo. "So where are we going, Gojo-sensei?"
Gojo is following along behind them, staring intently at Mini Yuu before inclining his head slightly as though he’s now looking at Yuuji. "It'll probably be best if you two stay with me until this is all sorted out. Be easier to watch over Mini Yuu and protect him with the both of us there."
Yuuji looks down at small Yuu clutching his hand. He still hasn't said a word. "Hmm, yeah, makes sense."
Yuuji runs his thumb along Mini Yuu's hand and smiles softly when the boy looks up at him. He doesn’t know why Mini Yuu has come here—doesn’t even remember there ever being a point in his life where he would look like a lab rat escapee—but should any harm befall this child, there will be hell to pay.
For a good minute, he’d wondered why Gojo-sensei didn’t just teleport them to his house, but then he realized such an overzealous sudden move might frighten Mini Yuu. “Did you call Mr. Ijichi to come pick us up?"
"Nope, I'll be driving. It might not be a good idea to bring so many unfamiliar people around Mini Yuu before he gets used to being here."
"Ah, smart, smart," Yuuji mumbles more to himself as Gojo walks ahead of them when they exit the building.
Gojo leads them to his car and Yuuji slides into the backseat with Mini Yuu. He slowly taps his finger on his thigh repeatedly as he stares at his younger counterpart’s clothes—or rather, the garb he has on. A bit more staring and he notices Mini Yuu tapping a finger idly as well, though he isn't sure if it's a tick formed out of anxiousness or if he's lost in thought.
Yuuji looks away and faces forward. “Hey, Gojo-sensei, we should probably get him some clothes to wear.”
Gojo hums as he makes a turn before looking back for a second to smile at them. “Worry not, for I believe I still have some of Megumi-kun’s old clothes put up somewhere. Mini Yuu can wear some of them until we go buy him something tomorrow. I doubt any clothing store is still open at this time of night.”
Yuuji glances at Mini Yuu once again to see if he heard what he said, considering how deep in thought his kid self appeared to be when he last looked at him. What he sees instead is Mini Yuu barely able to keep his head up as he fights to stay awake.
Yuuji can’t help but grin a little as he reaches out to gently coax the kid into leaning on his shoulder to sleep. He feels Mini Yuu tense a little, eyes widening a bit before he relaxes and lets himself fall asleep against him.
He ruffles Mini Yuu’s hair softly and some minutes later he finds himself dozing off as well.
As such, he misses the soft look Gojo gives them through the rear view mirror.
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Yuuji wakes to Gojo calling his name.
“Huh…?” he mumbles then looks out the window. “Oh, we’re here!”
He turns to find Mini Yuu still asleep against his shoulder and he gives him a gentle nudge while Gojo gets out of the car to unlock the front door.
“Hey, hey, we’re here, bud.”
Instantly, his younger counterpart sits up swiftly then scoots away while looking around wildly, eyes roaming around and head turning every which way as though he doesn’t know where he is or who he’s with.
Yuuji raises his hands in a placating manner. “Whoa, whoa, it’s okay. You’re safe.”
The kid is still wide-eyed and startled, eyes glazed over and Yuuji frowns as he clasps his younger self’s shoulder. “I didn’t mean to startle you, sorry,” Yuuji says while trying to get Mini Yuu to calm down.
When it doesn’t work, he sighs then pulls him into a hug. It causes Mini Yuu to tense up so extremely that Yuuji can’t even feel him breathing against his chest.
He holds him against his chest regardless, grounding the kid to the present (or should he say future?), murmuring reassurances until he feels the tension gradually seeping out of him.
Yuuji runs his fingers through the kid's uncut hair when Mini Yuu makes no move to pull away, then looks out the window to see Gojo waiting for them at the door. "We have to get out now, okay?"
Mini Yuu pulls away and gives him a small nod and Yuuji flashes a small smile in return, holding the kid's hand as they get out of the car.
Gojo opens the door and lets them walk in first before following, shutting the door and locking it. As soon as they step in, Yuuji and Gojo watch as Mini Yuu stares around in bewonder as well as a look of confusion mixed with curiosity.
"Welcome to my not so humble yet not so grand home! So, would you two rather share a room or sleep separately?"
Yuuji glances down at Mini Yuu, regarding him for a moment before giving his hand a firm squeeze. "Share a room."
If this kid has more in common with him than just looks, Yuuji knows he himself would soak up all the comfort he can get.
(Even if he is unworthy of it.)
"Alright, well, I'll go grab a change of clothes for him first, then show him the bathroom so he can wash up," Gojo says as he heads down the hallway.
When he gets back, Yuuji ruffles Mini Yuu's hair and lets his hand go. Mini Yuu looks back at him in utter confusion and slightly startled when Yuuji nudges him forward a bit.
Yuuji smiles at him, reassuring when he says, "Go with him, okay? He's not gonna hurt you, not ever."
When Mini Yuu turns back around to stare up at Gojo, Yuuji catches Gojo's eyes and mouths out, "Smile."
Yuuji swears he saw him pout a bit before smiling at the kid.
Mini Yuu finally walks up to Gojo and takes his hand, and Yuuji smiles, endearing, when Gojo lets him.
They may not have a clue as to what happened—what may happen in the future, even—but Yuuji knows it'll be alright.
He won't let any further harm befall his younger counterpart, he knows Gojo won't either.
And if he staggers and struggles along the way, that's okay, because Gojo will be there to support him.
And should Gojo struggle as well, that's okay too. Because, despite being the strongest, at the end of the day… Gojo is only human too.