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You found Gojo’s bobbing figure amusing, like watching one of those bendy inflatables. He sluggishly clung to whoever was nearest, face colored red from drinking and his head lolled side to side between conversation. The first victim of the night, Nanami, could only handle his drunk antics for so long before he slid out of the booth and left the white-haired sorcerer moping and making grabby hands to anyone whose name he could drunkenly sound out.
Normally, Gojo composed himself when out for drinks. He stuck to soda or a mocktail while acting the biggest fool among other drunks. How he let himself go tonight made no sense to the rest of you, nor were you that concerned. He acted no different to any other day, albeit a little clingier. Gojo was always loud.
"He's an idiot," Shoko said when you stared too long at his bobbing head. You turned your attention to her as she filled your glasses for the third round. "I doubt he even had two drinks."
"Yeah." You laughed to yourself, shifting in your booth seat. "It's kind of funny." You looked back at him when he toyed with the tiny umbrella in his drink. His mouth dropped in a pout with the overhead light reflecting off of his shades. "I don't think I've ever seen him drunk."
"Enjoy it while it lasts. He's not going to drink again after this."
You hummed. "Guess he really is a lightweight."
"Nice bracelet," Shoko said. You looked down to where she pointed at the shiny bangle on your wrist. "Where'd you get it?"
"I got it as a present from my mom." You twisted your wrist a little to show it off. "Between this or the fuzzy socks I got from her and the fountain pen from my dad, this one seemed appropriate for tonight."
"Would have loved to see you in your fuzzy socks." Shoko rested her chin in her hand.
"Yeah, I guess." You set your wrist down and shrugged. "I don't know. It feels like we're not close anymore."
"Are you going home for New Year's?"
You shook your head. "No point in trying."
She narrowed her eyes. "I get it." She sighed and took a drink from her glass. "It's a tough job with tough hours."
"Sometimes, I wonder if I should have taken my cousin's advice and worked an office job." You pouted. "Then again, that's a whole different hell."
"No rest for the wicked."
"No." You sighed and sank deeper into your chair.
An arm quickly slung around your shoulder. At the same moment, they tugged, dragging you down into someone's chest. You floundered and stabilized yourself before you could fall out of the booth. Your hands gripped the table for purchase. Your heart raced from the jolt
"Why the long face?" Gojo chastised you, bending his knees. "It's Christmas Eve. You should be happy!"
You frowned at him. "Gojo!"
"Satoru!" He cheered with a big grin.
"Why aren't you at your booth?" You attempted to look over his shoulder at the long-abandoned booth, but Gojo pulled you closer.
"I got lonely. Nobody would sit with me." He leaned closer to look at both you and Shoko. "But that's fine because I got you two lovelies."
"Count me out." Shoko slipped out of her side of the boot and grabbed her drink. "I don't need a headache this early in the night."
You watched her helplessly. "Shoko."
"Take care." She half-heartedly waved before weaving around the bar to a different group.
You tried to follow her with your eyes, hoping she'd feel the heat of your stare, but Gojo wedged himself into the seat beside you clumsily with his arm still around your shoulders. He laughed boisterously and set his drink with the tiny umbrella on the table beside yours. Every move he made only jostled you.
"What's up!"
You frowned and tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn't let you. "Gojo..."
"Have I ever told you how pretty your eyes are?" He tilted his head down, correcting it when it started to roll.
"Yes." You looked away flustered. "Many times."
"It's cute when you play hard to get."
The alcohol burned your cheeks. "We're dating."
"You don't act like it." He absentmindedly blew air into your face.
"That's-" You were at a loss.
He wasn't wrong. The two of you started dating four months prior, after his constant and incessant flirting. Contrary to popular belief, you were the one to ask him out. It took small deliberation on his part before he agreed to be your boyfriend, only after you swore it didn't have to be serious. He didn't like serious. You accepted that.
So, the sudden personality flip this past month embarrassed you to no end. He was touchy and affectionate like no tomorrow. You struggled to keep up with this change. It happened out of nowhere. From casual dates and hookups to him being everything he agreed not to be. You worried you'd find a heart box of chocolates on your counter tomorrow morning for Christmas.
"What, you don't like me?" He pouted and leaned closer.
"I like you," you assured, placing your hand on his chest to keep him from falling onto you. "I'm just- you're drunk and you won't remember this tomorrow. So, I don't see why we should discuss it now."
"I'll remember." He pulled away to pout more. "I'm not going to forget what you said."
"Gojo." You sighed and started over. "Satoru-"
He hummed in content and fell into you, burying his face in your neck. "Yeah?"
"Why are you so...different?"
He slumped against your shoulder. "What do you mean?"
"You weren't like this a month ago." You tried to pull away to look at him, but he wrapped his arm around your waist, keeping you locked in place. "You're really touchy."
"I'm your boyfriend," he answered breezily, if a little slurred. "I want to be a good boyfriend."
Your stomach twisted into a knot. "Satoru-"
"I love you," he muttered. He buried himself into your neck more. "Is that what you want to hear?"
Your heart dropped into your stomach. You lost your breath, trying to decide if what you heard was real. It was a mistake. He mumbled and you misheard.
"What?"
He nuzzled your neck. "I love you," he said with more clarity.
"Satoru." You managed to nudge him away so you could look at him properly. You pushed his shades up to his hairline and saw his eyes for the first time that night. Red-rimmed and shiny with unshed tears. You inhaled softly. "Satoru, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I love you." He turned you to him and held you by the shoulders. "That's enough, right?"
The look in his eyes told you he wasn't all there. As if he was looking right through you. You ignored the rest of the noise from the bar and focused on Satoru. Even if he weren't drunk, you would be worried.
"Yes. Of course, that's enough." You nodded your head.
"You don't have to love me back," he said, pulling you into a hug as he buried his head in your shoulder. "It's okay. Don't leave."
"I won't." You returned the hug. Was this moving too fast? Were you ready for the next step in your relationship? Would he feel the same way in the morning? Would you? It didn’t matter."And I love you too."
He laughed breathlessly into your shirt. "Can I kiss you?"
"You don't have to ask."
He pulled away slightly to bring his mouth to yours. It was slow and hesitant, the way he hovered. In the long second he hesitated, you wondered what would come of this. He stared into your eyes for a long moment before he closed his eyes and relinquished himself to the kiss. You reciprocated with ease, relaxing your body and melting into him.
When he broke the kiss, he buried his face in your shoulder again. "I love you, Suguru."
Your heart stopped beating.
Satoru nuzzled you closer. "Don't leave this time."
You swallowed dryly.
He slumped against you. "I love you."