Work Text:
Finally, it was time. The bus was nearing the high school, he was able to return back to what he knew and to those he’s missed. All he could think about was sharing a laugh with Panda, playing video games with Inumaki and showing Maki just how much better he’s gotten at sparring. A part of him wondered if they missed him just the same, an even smaller part of him wondered if he crossed Maki's mind from time to time.
Only a backpack travelled with him and he grabbed it just as the bus came to a stop near the bottom of the trail that would eventually lead him to the building. He saw not a soul from where he was standing. Could it be that they are on a mission? Is everything okay? These were the things that ran through his mind as he made his way through the doors until the obnoxious noise of blow horns and a few yelling “WELCOME BACK!” startled him enough to make him trip over his own feet and fall on his bottom. He smiled, however, realizing it was those he left behind that were there to greet him.
A hand stretched out to him and when he locked eyes with whom it belonged to a heat immediately pooled at his cheeks.
“Hey, you.” Was all she said as he accepted the help up. Yuuta's smile broadened.
“Hey, Maki, long time no see, huh? Is that a new haircut?”
He noticed she was more serious than usual before she gave him a nod.
“And a new pair of glasses. You, on the other hand, look the same.”
A lie. It was hard for her to admit that his face has changed, the once fragile, easily shattered, boy was no longer there. From his expressions to his build— far more muscular than before— and perhaps even his voice dropped an octave. Was this really the same Yuuta?
“It's good to see you're okay.”
He scratched the back of his head, a nervous habit.
“I hadn’t thought I changed much either! You look as great as always, Maki-chan.”
The compliment slipped and just as it did he took note of the fact that this seemed to annoy her rather than make her smile, as he intended. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, probably to yell at him, he felt his feet pick up off the floor and soon surrounded by a furry embrace.
“Let him say hi to the rest of us, geez, Maki!” Panda teased, knowing just how to get under her skin. From the corner of his eyes he noticed she crossed her arms, bothered at his remark.
“Y…ou’re squeezing m….e.” He managed, catching his breath as he felt the the arms around him loosen.
“We’re just happy to see you!”
“Salmon.” Toge said while waving. Yuuta returned the wave with a smile knowing he, too, was happy to see him.
All of this was unexpected and it overjoyed him to know he was genuinely missed. He hadn’t noticed until now all of the decorations around the room, the balloons, the sweets and what he loved the most, the smiles.
“There he is.” A voice he was all too familiar with. Gojo-sensei. “Good to have you back, Y-u-u-t-a.”
The white haired male made his way over to him and gave him a pat on the back. “I can sense you’ve gotten stronger. Perhaps my idea wasn’t so bad, after all, hm?”
“It was.. different, hard, but I certainly learned a lot!”
“That’s good, kid. There are some things that can’t be taught without the exposure to other settings.”
He was right. There was so much to learn outside of what was Japan. So much to see. Even the curses were different but right now he didn’t want to play the ‘spot the difference’ game. He wanted to go back to Maki, who he just saw walk out, more than likely heading back to her dorm.
“I’m so happy to be back, guys. Thank you for setting this up for me, really. Let me go put my things in my room then I’ll come back.”
And with that, he truly did head to his dorm, which just so happened to be nearby Maki’s. He caught her just before she reached her door.
“Turning in for the night so soon?”
“I’m tired from the day. Nothing to do with you.”
She didn’t look at him which he found odd.
“It would be nice if you stayed up with us, we can all catch up and you guys can fill me in on what I’ve missed.”
She thought about it.
“I’m really tired, Yuta. I’m happy you’re back but—“
“Maki?”
She didn’t continue speaking, instead she tried putting her key in the door. Yuuta gently placed a hand on her shoulder, getting her attention before she managed to turn the knob.
“Maki. What’s going on?” His tone was rather firm laced with concern.
He was met with silence. One he knew all too well. It reminded him of the times she’d ignore him when he was new to Jujutsu High, but he was no longer that timid kid and perhaps Maki didn’t realize that.
Without thinking much about it and instead of turning her around, he got in front of her, blocking her from making another attempt at going inside. Dark eyes gazed down at her.
“Talk to me.”
“Move.”
“If that’s what you really want, then you know I’ll do it. I would do anything you asked me to. But, that isn’t the case, is it?”
“What would you know? It’s not like you bothered to keep in touch.”
There it was. The root of it all. The cause of her frustration.
“Maki. . .” Was all that succeeded in coming out. He straightened his posture, looking down at her a bit more firmly now.
“You know I couldn’t do that”
“Oh, you couldn’t do that but you certainly felt brave enough to kiss me just before leaving then have me without hearing a word from you until now. Pay-phones exist, you know.”
He inhaled a deep breath, feeling like the asshole she was making him out to be. She wasn’t wrong. There were other forms he could have kept in touch. Mail. A random email. A strangers phone. A pay phone but, it’s a little too late now to be thinking of this, though. Wasn't it?
“You’re right, Maki. I apologize. You know I am not that kind of man.”
With the last ounce of confidence he had left, a single hand reached towards her precious face and cupped it, the warmth of her cheek spreading a fire within every inch of his skin.
“Let me make it up to you.” A plead, almost.
Through a heavy set of dark eyelashes, their eyes met. For a moment and as cheesy as it may sound, time truly did stand still for Yuuta. It was like he was looking upon her for the first time. She was just as captivating as when he left, no matter the subtle changes.
Another deep inhale.
“Yuuta?” The way she said his name broke him from the spell, his attention immediately coming back to the present. “Let’s talk inside. I would hate if Panda, or worse, Gojo, got a glimpse of this.”
She was right, yet again. They would never hear the end of it. The hand that once held her cheek so tenderly quickly felt the warmth fade as she moved him aside to unlock her door. As he made his way inside he realized he had never before set foot in her dorm, let alone another girls dorm. He shook his head, cutting off his thoughts as soon as they began. This wasn’t like him.
“You said you’d make it up to me, right?”
Her voice carried a darker tone, one with sinister intent. He swallowed. “Yes.”
It was like she was waiting precisely for that answer. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of him only mere inches away. A chill ran up his spine. There was no way of telling what she was thinking. He’s been a witness to her rage, to her anger but this was nothing of the sort. He couldn’t put a finger on it. There was an edge to her gaze and before he could react to her approaching, he was pushed back, his knees bending at the edge of her bed pinning his body to the mattress.
“Maki?” Was all he could say, her name a constant on his tongue.
She replied with a low hum letting him know she hears him but nothing more. He felt a new weight over him as she straddled him, his eyes widening in surprise— and a newfound exhilaration. His hands couldn’t help but trace circles up her exposed thigh, she let him but only briefly before grabbing both wrists and placing them above his head.
“No touching!”
He squirmed, uncomfortably excited. “But—“
“You're going to know what it's like to long for something.”
The grip on his wrists tightened but this time they were only held up by one of her hands, her other one was trailing down his chest, stopping just above his navel. His heart was pounding in his ears as he exhaled shakily, he bit down onto his own tongue to combat the growing lack of self control. His thoughts were turning carnal, overwhelmed by a sudden need for her.
“What do we have here, hm~?” Without warning, she purposely pressed her body down harder onto him, tantalizing the growing bulge.
“I’ve barely touched you.”
“Maki—“ Again, her name like a mantra on his lips. “What are you doing?”
She leaned down, her nose now grazing his. “I've already told you.~” She teased, well aware of the affect she is having on him. Her free hand found its way under his shirt and his stomach involuntarily flinched at the sudden touch. He could tell she was enjoying this by the smirk that tugged at her lips.
There was a growing heat in his gut, one that, if left ignored, could pose an issue. He then felt teeth graze the delicate skin of his neck. He shuddered as her tongue toyed around with the sensitive area until she ultimately sunk her teeth in. The sensation was-- mesmerizing. Addicting. He was beginning to realize he wanted Maki in more ways than one. He wanted all of her.
He used their proximity as an opportunity to whisper a low gutteral ‘You're so cruel.’ into her ear. It had the affect he intended but instead of reacting she rose up to look down at him, seemingly admiring the new bruise she probably just formed on his neck. Branding him.
So much for not wanting other's to notice.
"You look so pretty right now, Yuuta. So helpless. So desperate."
Slowly, she starts removing her top, her eye contact never wavering. He was left without words, his face showcasing his amazement. Her uniform usually hugged her curves nicely, so much so that he hated when that idiot Todo from Kyoto commented on it, but this was incomparable. There was something intoxicating about being the only one with the honor of seeing her like this.
He swallowed.
"You're even more incredible than I could have imagined." The compliment rolled off his tongue naturally and without thought.
It was one he felt strongly about. To him, she was the most beautiful thing in the world, no matter her temper or the reinforced walls she always had up. However, he must've said the right thing because of the new shade of pink beginning to scatter across her cheeks. Never in his life did he think he would be a witness to a blushing Maki which led him to believe she wasn't expecting his reaction.
Her eyes softened, almost as though snapping out of this elated trance she began with. Without a word, she let go of the grasp she originally had on his wrists which then prompted Yuuta to sit up with her still facing him on his lap. He knew it was okay to move now, snaking his arms around her hips and pulling her in closer placing a series of kisses that stemmed from her jaw traveling down to her chin until he placed the final one on her lips.
"I'm sorry for not having reached out, but I missed you more than words could ever describe." He leaned back to look at her, moving a piece of hair that was misplaced, putting it back in place. "I mean it, and if I have to make up for it everyday, I will."
Her head came down and rested upon his shoulder, taking note that this was yet another side of Maki. A vulnerable one. Once he noticed she was comfortable he placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"Nothing will take me away from you again, okay?"
"You better mean it." Was all she said. A threat, he knew better than to spout out meaningless words.
"But, I must say, I'm not against your punishing styl------"
Before he could even finish his sentence, he felt a blow to left his side. She struck but not with her usual force, a warning to shut up. He managed a chuckle and hugged her tighter.
"That's my girl."
Then, as if on cue, there was a loud pounding on the door.
"MAKI, WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT HOGGING YUUTA!?"
Their faces drained of color as they looked at each other, Maki rolling her eyes in annoyance. She grabbed her shirt from the bed and got up from his lap to put it back on. She opened the door and, without warning, hit Panda over the head. A vein could be seen on her forehead.
"Speak word of this to anyone and I'll kill you!"
She walked on ahead leaving Panda behind with Yuuta as he rubbed the forming bump that will, without a doubt, swell.
Yuuta laughed and Panda let out a chuckle of his own before the both of them walked back towards the others in a comfortable silence.
Nothing has changed.