Chapter Text
~2014~
“Shoko, I know that’s my kid.”
Shoko was back in town after five years of studying medicine abroad. She had attempted to work in normal hospitals, but the work environment and restrictions on using Reversed Cursed Technique killed her. It wasn’t her calling. So here she is, back in Tokyo, now working at her old high school—the place she did everything to run from. (At least the pay was that of a private surgeon.)
“Gojo, listen-”
Satoru, unable to contain his curiosity, had called her the moment she set foot in Tokyo, inviting her to a cafe under the pretense of ‘catching up.’ His suspicions were confirmed.
“Don’t even think about denying it,” he said, his voice laced with a mix of anger and hurt. “I can see it with my eyes. Why did you keep this from me?”
It was the night after their high school graduation, a night filled with both celebration and uncertainty. Shoko, caught up in the euphoria, had picked up a beer to mark the occasion. Satoru was just following in with the heat of the moment. She was too wasted to think clearly the next day. The reality of her situation hit her as the weeks went by, and the signs of her pregnancy became more apparent.
So, she fled.
With a baggy sweater and suitcase, she just left without any warning prior to Satoru. He was left conflicted. Did she leave because she regretted what they did? Did she just straight-up hate him? She never called, texted, and even blocked all his social media. He’d text her just to check up on her throughout the years, but the most he got was an emoji (and that was one time).
“I didn’t tell you because I couldn’t. ”
~2011~
It is rare these days that Satoru is sent on a mission abroad. Given his last one, he loved the beaches of Vietnam so much that he stayed for an extra two weeks. Yaga was pissed. The strongest isn’t allowed to take breaks. And so, he was stoked when the opportunity to go to the UK came up.
The city of London is an awe-inspiring sight. After Satoru successfully completed his mission without any hassle, he took some time to soak in the city's beauty and explore its numerous tourist attractions. As the sun began to set on the final night of his stay, Satoru felt an irresistible urge to indulge in one of the pastries he developed a liking for while he was here—scones. So, he decided to head to the nearby grocery store to satisfy his craving.
“Sorry, sir!” A little girl bumped into his leg. He quickly smiled at her and said it was all good, but he froze at the sight of her crystal blue eyes. As the child ran off, he tried to brush off his thoughts.
As he headed to the bakery aisle, he encountered the little girl again. This time sitting in a shopping cart’s baby seat, while chatting up a storm with her mother. Satoru dropped the bag of pastries he was holding in his hand. “Shoko…?” He whispered under his breath.
The woman was holding a loaf of bread, putting it in the cart. She had that pretty face he loved so much, and long brown hair that shows the years that have gone by. Her daughter had the same hair and facial features as her mother, the only difference being her striking eyes.
It couldn’t be. It shouldn’t be.
Satoru wanted to run up to her, hug her, kiss her, and ask her why she left and who this child that she seemed so fond of was. He wanted to tell her how much he missed her yet he was still angry at her for not even shooting him a text. He even wanted to apologize for whatever he did to make her ghost on him. He wanted her to come back home.
As the woman pushed the cart away, his doubts started to take over. Maybe it wasn’t her. How could that even be possible? Sure, he heard them conversing in Japanese and her voice was just how he remembered it, but there was always the possibility he could be wrong.
But if he isn’t…then at least she’s happy. Right?
~2014~
“I didn’t want to mess things up. You’re already tied up as the most important sorcerer. And, I never wanted my kid to be connected to Jujutsu Society.”
“Mess up things? It doesn’t affect me or me as a sorcerer at all. Did you seriously think I would run away from this responsibility? I’m sorry if I ever made you believe that I wouldn’t step up as a father, but that is not true. It never was.” His voice showed frustration, “Look, three years ago, I was in London.”
“What?”
“I was in London for a mission. I was at the grocery store when a little girl with blue eyes and long brown hair bumped into me. Then I saw you with her, and I already had a feeling. But I doubted myself then, and I sure wish I hadn’t. I would’ve been here sooner…I just really wish you said something.”
Shoko knew that she was in the wrong the moment she left. She was only nineteen and scared shitless. “...I’m sorry. You’re right. I should’ve told you ages ago.”
“You should’ve told me the minute you found out you were pregnant.”
“How could I have, though? We were both so young.”
“I– we would’ve worked something out.”
“You were the biggest idiot I knew. How could I be so sure that you wouldn’t be mad or run away?”
She was right. He was an asshole back then. “I know I was a dumbass teenager as well, but I wouldn’t have left my best friend hanging. Not then, not now. Just…just put that aside for now. I want to meet my kid. Get to know her—everything I’ve missed out on. At least tell me her name.”
“Sayaka. Gojo Sayaka.”
“She took my surname?”
“Had a feeling this would catch up with me someday, so the least I could do was allow her to be connected to a wealthy clan.”
~~~
Shoko watched intently as Satoru tried to bond with his daughter. He bought her a mountain of expensive toys and clothing, yet she still seemed a little shy around the man. “So…what do you like to do?” He asked, hoping he could have a conventional conversation with a five-year-old
“I like to play with Barbies…and, uh, draw.” Sayaka pried at a plastic box containing a new doll.
“Here, let me help you with that.” Satoru tore it open and handed it back to her. When he was shopping for her, he had no idea what to buy exactly, so he started just sweeping the toy aisle clean with his arm into the cart.
“So, sir, who are you exactly?”
“Ah, right. You don’t know. I’m Satoru. Gojo Satoru, but you can call me Dad. Or whatever tickles your fancy.” He chuckled awkwardly.
~~~
“She’s awfully smart for her age. You raised her well. I think I love her already.” Satoru sat down on a stool at the kitchen island, “But I’m curious, how have you been?”
Living abroad was rough, especially when you’re a mom in medical school. There were so many sleepless nights as if midterms weren’t already enough. Money was tight since she dropped out of the sorcerer gig and lived off savings and waiting tables. The language barrier was tough initially, but Shoko picked up English in a few months. “Fine. You?”
“Five years and all you can say is ‘fine?’ Come on, tell me more than that. What’s new? What’d I miss?”
The minute Satoru saw Shoko again in person after five years, he could tell life had taken a toll on her. Her hair grew out, she looked ten times thinner than she did in high school, and her eye bags were alarming. Only Shoko Ieiri still managed to look gorgeous despite all that.
“Well, I’m a doctor now. Picked up English and dated a bunch of assholes.” Shoko opened her freezer and grabbed a tub of ice cream, “Ice cream? It’s your favorite flavor. I usually don’t eat it, but I always have it on hand now because of Sayaka. She’s got your sweet tooth.”
Sitting across from each other, the two ate from a tub of New York Strawberry cheesecake-flavored ice cream with spoons, specifically the Haegan-Daz brand. It was just like how they used to share everything as teenagers. After all these years, Shoko still remembered the little details about him.
“You remembered.”
“Yeah, well, hate that you're so remarkable. It’s also Sayaka’s favorite flavor. Bought chocolate once for a change, ended up tossing it a month later because she refused to eat it. Now tell me, what have you been up to?”
“Oh, just work. Missions, but I’m also a teacher at Jujutsu High now.”
She laid a dollop of ice cream on her tongue, “That’s all? Any traveling? New Hobbies?”
He thought for a moment, “A couple of years ago, I had a mission in Vietnam. I loved it so much I might retire there. It’s always hot aside from rain, and their coconuts are no joke.”
“Sounds like a dream.”
“Sure was. Last summer, I also spent three months in Indonesia.”
“Really? Doing what?”
“Don’t laugh cause I know you’re gonna want to.” He paused, then spoke, “I guess I just went on a spiritual journey and tried to ‘find myself.’ Meditated and inhaled a lot of incense. The only thing I found was that I should stick what I’m best at—exorcising.”
“Oh. So you became a hippie? That’s hard to imagine.”
“You always find an insulting way to put things. But yes, I’m a little bit of a hippie now. I know we already went over this, but seriously, why did you never call? Not even a text.”
“I wanted to leave everything behind. So I had to be strict about it, funny how I did everything to leave this place behind but I ended up back where I started.”
“Funny, yes. Life has a tendency to do that.” They were halfway through the tub of ice cream now, “So, how are we gonna arrange Sayaka between us two now?”
“I was thinking I get her weekdays, and you get her weekends.”
He pouted, “Not fair. You’re getting more of her. But fine, that can work. Speaking of which…did she ever have any form of father figure in her life?”
“Nah. I dated a couple of people but only got serious with two. I stopped dating eventually because I didn’t want to bring a new guy home every week around Sayaka.”
“And what happened with those two?”
She answered bluntly, “One wasn’t a fan of kids, so instant dealbreaker. Second one had a weird thing for Japanese girls in magical girl outfits. Asked me to dress up as one before sex. So yeah, just been me and her.”
He snorted and changed the subject. “How’s your mental state?” Her change in appearance had been bothering him this entire time. She looked pale and tired. Where was the lively Shoko he knew five years ago?
Shoko shrugged. It was no lie that she was stressed, and moving back and having to resettle in just added to it. “I’m doing alright, just tired. It’s not easy being a mom.”
“True. How’d you handle it all? Being a single mom. Did you at least have someone with you when you gave birth?”
“I just have tough skin. I gave birth alone, but some friends dropped by with gifts after I delivered, so that was nice. Which also means Sayaka’s legally a UK citizen, but the documents for moving back haven’t been anything difficult.” She reached for the cigarette box that had been sitting in the corner of a kitchen counter, stuck one in her mouth, and lit it.
“You still smoke?”
“No. I quit a while ago, but I feel like this occasion calls for it.”