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"The usual spot?" Gojo proposed, popping another strawberry-flavoured soft candy in his mouth as they walked outside their school.
Their progress in their career in jujutsu sorcery was fast. With both having incredibly strong and convenient curse techniques, and their classification as special grade sorcerers, both of them were in-demand for exorcism requests. Killing curses here and there. Yet, the scarcity of sorcerers with high grades made the two always have stretched-out schedules, almost having little to no time to catch a break. It was currently 11 PM when they got another set of requests from the higher-ups. It made Gojo’s blood boil, complaining that it was unfair, even for them, yet eventually agreed thanks to Geto’s coaxing–not without mumbling curses before they got kicked out of the office.
"Sure." Geto responded, before furrowing his eyebrows in the thought, "But, isn't your destination far from here?"
The blue orbs are now boring holes to Geto's as he mutters, "Do you think that I," he dramatically points at his chest "am that slow, Geto-kun?" Gojo's hand is now positioned to his waist, slightly pissed that his pride was trampled "Are you challenging me to a speed test?"
"It's not like that, Satoru." The other replied, exhaled loudly through his nose then combed his hair with his hand and tied his signature half-bun. "I know you can even teleport, but remember that it's a convenient store. People will piss in their pants if they see a person suddenly popping out of thin air." Suguru reasoned, styling his bangs next as a finishing touch.
"Nah, they'll be fine. Besides, to save them from having a heart attack, I can just teleport somewhere nearby instead." Gojo replied, emitting a sound of disappointment when he didn't have any of his treats left. He then stepped in front of Geto, a familiar smirk on his face. "Maybe someone is afraid of losing in a simple game." Poking his cheeks, he continued, "But I believe you're not. Right, Suguru~?"
The way that Satoru dragged the last letter of his name under his breath made Suguru's eye twitch. He knows that he's just getting playful, an attempt in adding a kick of spice to their boring, and repetitive missions. However, Gojo also knows what buttons and when to press it to elicit a desired response from the other.
"That's not the point." Suguru defends, sighs and attempts to walk past the blue haired man but Satoru is not having it.
"I guess I'm right then," Gojo's fluffy white hair follows his motion when he brings down his head as an act of fake sadness. "I'm the only one who is and deserved to be called the stronge-"
"Hold your tongue, Satoru." Although he is not directly facing him, his wide smile is visibly imprinted to Geto’s mind. It doesn't help avoiding the situation because he immediately replied to his comment. An obvious sign that Satoru was successful in dragging him into his trap.
"Alrighty then!" Satoru cheered, putting his hand to his partner's shoulder, "The one who loses will treat the other." Patting him once more, he teleported away. Not forgetting to say his name again in a teasing tone.
Suguru only sighed in return, already feeling defeated because he was forcibly– it's not – dragged to a useless competition. He summoned his cursed creature and went to his destination.
It looks like an argument, even a childish play to some. But can you blame them? Everyday they are faced with danger that they cannot turn a blind eye on. Tiredness must not hinder their prowess. These kinds of exchange are their silent ways to ease themselves, and to bid goodluck to the other.
Suguru only smirked in thought, feeling the cold breeze caress his cheeks.
"Oh, Suguru!" Satoru waved his hand to him the moment he spotted the black-haired man. He is currently sitting outside of their usual place after missions: a convenience store near their school.
"You are…" dragging the 'e' sound for emphasis, raising his arm to check the time on his Rolex "20 seconds late, Suguru~" Gojo clapped his hands happily, "So, you're the lucky spender today!" He announced as he followed Geto’s movement towards their table.
"Urk, such defeat!" Suguru faked a pained reaction, gripping his uniform in his chest area to reenact a heartache. Satoru only patted his back to show care, and to mock the other, of course.
They laughed after their small play. "I guess, the usual?" Geto concedes defeat and is already fishing his pocket for his wallet. "You do know me well, Suguru." Satoru led the other to the store entrance "Good luck on your mission, my dearest!"
Suguru only managed to chuckle before opening the door. The first time they went to this convenience store was after their first nighttime joint mission. They were slightly pissed before because they only wanted to have some drink but the place was also plagued with low grade curses. Being kind of obligated to make peace, they wiped out the place with curses (without the higher-ups knowing their actions). The spot now became their go-to place after missions. Both for practicality and nostalgic reasons.
They always buy the same thing, that he can mindlessly grab items into the basket. A basket filled with desserts and treats (with a side of other food) to be punched at midnight is a sight that the cashier knows very well as they get his orders done quietly.
Geto put his membership card back to his wallet before handing the payment. I unironically get benefits from this, he thought.
After that, he was greeted by a grinning Satoru whose hands were stretched, waiting to dig into the plastic bag. Geto gave it to him and situated himself on the other seat of a 2-person table.
"Thank you so much, my love!" Not forgetting to add a mocking tone to press his victory, Gojo fishes out his sweets first, then gives the drink and onigiri to Suguru. The other only rolled his eyes before taking his own food.
"How's the mission?" Gojo asked, sparking a conversation between them. This is their– well, internally concur way of checking on each other after being separated for lone tasks.
"Same old, same old." Geto replied, taking a bite to his onigiri and opening his canned soda. "The curses are mere second grade, so no sweat. I absorbed them in the end because I found them useful." He cleared his throat and looked at his companion. "How about yours?"
"Pssh, those are nothing." He opened another packet and popped the treat into his mouth.
"You are getting boastful, Satoru."
"Is it a bad thing to tell the truth, Suguru?" Tilting his head to the side and locking eye contact with Geto, the blue-eyed man waited for a response.
"... I guess it's not."
"Exactly, I know my actions can catch up to my words." Satoru replied. "Trust in me for a bit~" He poked Suguru’s cheeks playfully.
"Yeah, yeah." He responded, tilting his head to the side to avoid the increasingly painful pokes.
They continue eating in comforting silence after. It seems to be the end of them catching up on each other. Yet, one of them had been hiding something but the other had a keener eye.
Satoru, knowing Suguru more than anyone, had been intently observing the moment Geto came to the store. Suguru's short responses, ragged voice, and his constant motion of clearing his throat were telltale signs of exhaustion. Those attempts in hiding fatigue do not escape from his blue irises – no assistance needed from his six eyes to assess the other's current situation. Yes, Gojo will admit that they're both tired from taking care of missions after their classes. As he whines about the seemingly unfair treatment they got on every chance that he gets. Dragging their feet late in the evening and waking up before sunrise. But, knowing the inconveniences of Geto's cursed technique (specifically the part where he will absorb cursed spirits), made him kind of bothered. Satoru doesn't belittle his abilities, but he also knows how the other hates the sensation and taste of cursed spirits in his mouth, and repeatedly doing the same process these days will surely take a toll on Suguru.
Geto's eyes popped wide when Gojo suddenly got up from his seat. "What's the matter?" He asked.
"Do you think that those," Satoru pointed at his empty packets of food "are enough for me?"
"Yes, it's not enough for you. Now, go." Suguru waved his hands, shooing Satoru off. Both of them are aware of Satoru's fixation on sweets. The purple eyed man looked at the disappearing image of his companion before he wheezed out a cough. That gave him temporary relief before he continued eating in silence.
"You're quick, Sator-ugh!" Suguru just wanted to greet the other when Satoru put something in his mouth the moment he got out of the store. Geto, unknowingly chewing on the food that Gojo inserted, widened his eyes in surprise.
"Relax." The man is now seated, taking out his mochi from the bag. "It's just a chocolate-filled marshmallow. They're not too sweet."
"What for?" Geto munches and receives the treat on the package. He silently thanked him as the mild sweetness is successful in removing the nasty taste of cursed spirits to his throat. He didn't get vocal about his appreciation yet, tasting every bit of the candy to find something funny inserted into his food. Watching out for the other's antics.
"Not even a 'thank you'? You hurt my feelings, Suguru." He commented, munching already on his second pack of mochi. Is he that fast? Sometimes, Suguro wondered if Satoru already mastered reverse cursed technique so that he didn't worry about his organs or ever gets fed up with those insane sugar intakes.
"You said that curses taste shit, right? So, take a bit of sweet to, at least, tone it down." Satoru beamed his smile to him. Well, Suguru confirmed that he did not prank on his food and Gojo's soft face was proven innocent.
"Wow, decent advice and a kind action. Is that really you?" Geto puts his hand to Gojo's forehead to check his temperature. "You seem fine to me."
"Hey, I'm always nice!" Gojo swats the other's hand and pouts, Geto responds with an eye roll. "Yeah, alright."
After their short banter, Suguru takes his second intake of the treat. Now closing his eyes to fully taste the sweetness cleanse his taste buds of that nasty taste of cursed spirits. His teeth pierced through the soft marshmallow to reach the chocolate filling in the middle. The familiar and sweet taste of chocolate makes him sigh in content. Having to swallow many at a speedy rate can make him feel like shit. Geto considered himself lucky since he can still taste the onigiri after those consequent missions.
Suguru opened his eyes after he finished that bite, hazy eyes looking for the ocean blue ones. When their eyes met, he smiled, "Thank you, Satoru."
"You're welcome." The man grinned, "That would be 500 yen."
"Bastard."
They laughed.