Work Text:
寄り添う
❝ ─𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘶𝘱
𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘮𝘦
𝘏𝘺𝘱𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥
𝘉𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘐'𝘮 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 ❠
—𝐶𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑑𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐾𝐴𝑅𝑅𝐴
๋࣭ ⭑ ⩇⩇:⩇⩇ ⭑
๋࣭⭑ ꜱɴᴜɢɢʟᴇ ᴜᴘ .𖥔 ݁ ˖
┄
"Gojo sensei!" The pink haired teen burst open the door of his teacher's office. "Huh? He's not here." He looked over his shoulder at his companions. "He's probably sleeping inside. Move kid. Lemme see." The ginger head pushed passed her friend, almost making him fall as he stumbled backwards. His other companion held him by his arm to support him. "Thanks Fushiguro." He shoot a charming smile at him and peeked inside the office where the ginger head had disappeared. "Entering people's place in their absence is bad manners, Kugisaki." He yelled from the threshold as if he hadn't just opened the door himself. Nevertheless, his words fell on deaf ears. Sighing in defeat, he entered in as well.
The office was dimly illuminated by the light that seeped through the glazed window of the office. A shelf covered the wall behind the desk filled with books, files and ... a LOT of Digimon merch. The office was a good combination of modern and tradition interior. The office table was filled with several opened files, a laptop, stationary holder, a cabinet and in the corner, a chair which was designed by Mies van der Rohe for an exposition in 1929. Don't know how this man got it. And a step style Tansu attached to the wall beside it.
"Kugisaki! Get off. Let's get out of here before we get scolded." He grabbed his friend's arm trying to pull her off the expensive looking chair. "You're just jealous you didn't got to sit here, aren't you?" The ginger head fought back. "Asking Ieiri-san about Gojo-sensei's whereabouts would be better, don't you think?" The two stopped and glanced at their friend who stood in the threshold with his arms crossed and face filled with annoyance. The two glanced back at eachother then sprinted out to race till the healer's infirmary. Megumi sigh and closed the door before following them with his hands in his pockets.
Shoko was peacefully doing her work. A pile of reports laid on her arm as she put the reports in the upper cabinet neatly. Or tried to. Her heels weren't helping her here and she had to stood on her tiptoes. Or maybe the fact that she was exhausted today and wasn't in a mood for some parkour. The door opened with a thud. Still the loud sound didn't made her flinch. Used to it. She looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at the panting first years. Megumi joined in a few seconds later. "I won!" "I touched the door first!" "I stepped in first!" Leaving the two bickering, Megumi made his way towards Shoko and took the pile of reports from her hands. He easily put the reports in the cabinet and locked it before handling the keys to her.
"Why don't you ask Gojo-sensei to put his things in his office? The lower cabinets are occupied with his stuff when he could've put it in the upper ones." Shoko chuckled and ruffled his hairs affectionately. A tiny act that always puts a smile on his face wether he wants it or not. "What brings you three here? Did someone got hurt?" She asked, quickly running her eyes down them to spot any injury. "Nah, we're fine." Yuji assured her with a wide grin. "Do you know where Gojo-sensei is? He told us yesterday that he'll take a test. He wanted us in his classroom at 4 pm sharp. We waited for 10 mins and went to his office to call him when he didn't came. The office is empty."
"It's Friday isn't it? He's probably in the city to buy his favourite sweets." The friends blinked and looked at eachother. "FUSHIGURO! YOU DIDN'T KNEW?!" "I'm not his wife!" The sun was about to set. It casted a warm glow around the bustling city of Tokyo, making it even more majestic. Street lights along with LED banners and colourful lights of different shops illuminated the area. The rain had made the road slightly wet. People walked around going about their buisness. The door bell of the shop rang when the door was opened. The old grandpa smiled when he noticed the usual costomer. "You're on time again, Gojo-sama." The tall albino flashed a cheerful grin at the owner. "Can't miss my weekly dose of dopamine now, can I?"
The old man pulled out a plastic bag and began packing the fresh Kikufuku. Gojo payed for his sweets, gave a last smile to the old man and left the shop. Reaching back to Jujutsu tech, he went straight towards his office. He settled down on his expensive chair with content and opened the package of sweets. He sniffed, taking in the delicious aroma of his favourite sweets. Taking one from the pile, he put it in his mouth, savouring the taste with a contented look. Shoko entered the office and made a bee line to his cabinets. "Ah, Shoko! Perfect timing. Care to join me in my weekly ritual of sugar overload?" Shoko ignored him, leaving him yaping about how delicious the sweets are. She opened a cabinet and moved the stuff aside as if she was looking for something.
Satoru sat there munching on his sweets. "Looking for something in particular?" He popped another Kikufuku in his mouth. "Or, disz you jush came to grasz me wish yo lovely presses." He said even though the Kikufuku in his mouth barely let him talk. "Where's my cigarette?" Shoko looked over her shoulder with a death glare. He have a habit of hiding her packs of cigarettes for God knows why. He swallowed the sweet and wiped his mouth with a tissue. "Should've known you'll be here for your damn cigarettes." He took a bite off another Kikufuku. "No smoking around my sweet little Kikufuku's. If the taste gets ruined, I'll replace all your cigarettes with sweet flavoured once." Watching her staring at him with crossed arms and that annoyed expression, he sigh in defeat and got up. Approaching her, he opened the very top cabinet where she couldn't reach and retrieved a pack of cigarettes.
Shoko reached out to take it but he raised his hand higher, keeping the pack out of her reach. She gave him a dirty look. "No smoking near my Kikufuku." "Hand it over before I kick your dick." He laughed throwing his head back and tossed the packet in air. She jumped to grab it but failed miserably. He caught the packet again and smiled down at her. "I'll pass out if I didn't took it!" Groaning dramatically, she reached to grab the packet but he held it high again. She winced and let her head fall on his chest with her arms dangling to her sides. Her exhaustion finally catching up to her. "My, my, Shoko. If you wanted a hug, all you had to do was ask." Gojo's mischievous grin molded into a small smile. He put the cigarette back in the cabinet and wrapped his arms around her. "...I'm going to..." Her sentence remained incomplete because of a yawn. Her eyes were already half lided.
She yelp when the ground was swept from under her feet and she found herself in his arm. Not over his shoulder or under his arm surprisingly. She relaxes as fast as she had got startled and rested her head on his shoulder. Almost immediately she succumb to her tiredness. She slept soundly. Gojo sat back on his chair with her in his arm. On his lap. It always amazed him how tiny she looks compared to him. Tiny enough that he could crush her with a little squeeze. That thought alone made his hold gentler. As if he was holding a precious thing that's so valuable that he'll get executed if a scratch where to appear on her. It's not a new thing for him to watch her sleep. But it always feels surreal to do so. Gojo looked down at the woman asleep in his lap, her head resting gently against his chest.
Shoko Ieiri, always so composed and resilient, how she looks incredibly vulnerable when she's asleep. Her sharp eyes closed, framed by long, dark lashes that fluttes when she stirs. Her face, softened, reveals a tranquility he only saw in such moments during their hectic days at Jujutsu High. Her hairs, normally kept behind her back neatly or in a ponytail, messy with strands falling softly around her face. It shimmered faintly in the dim light of his office. She seemed smaller, curled up against him, her body providing warmth and comfort even without her consciousness. Gojo's gaze traced the gentle curve of her lips, slightly parted as she exhaled, and the way her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. He felt a desire to shield her from the world that demanded so much from them both.
Always felt that sudden urge to hide her from this whole jujutsu world whenever she becomes this vulnerable. Which is rare during her consciousness. He shifted slightly, adjusting his hold to ensure she remained comfortable, marveling at how peaceful she looked. It was a stark contrast to the exhaustion that had clouded her features just moments ago. Or her usual stoic face. Gojo found himself smiling softly. There was something profoundly intimate about watching someone sleep, a silent testament to trust and vulnerability. He brushed a stray hair from her face, his touch feather-light, not wanting to disturb her. It's not the first time she had fallen asleep in his arms. And he's so used to it that he knows her sleeping habits and patterns.
He knows how she always started off curled up tightly before gradually relaxing as she drifted deeper into sleep. How her hands would be loosely clasped together, tucked close to her body, a habit she had from years of holding onto a pillow or blanket. How her breathing slows dowm, becoming soft and even. How her lips, slightly parted, would sometimes form the faintest hint of a smile. How he would gently brush her hair strands aside, knowing it would otherwise tickle her awake. She always sighed softly at his touch, a sound he had grown fond of. How she would wrap her arms around him when they're cuddling. And how she'll push herself against him practically sleeping on top of him.
He was intimately aware of her sleeping habits, how she would sometimes mumble softly in her sleep, words too quiet to decipher but endearing all the same. On particularly exhausting days, she would sleep more deeply, her body completely relaxed and she wouldn't wake up even if he burns down the kitchen. Gojo had come to treasure these moments, not just for the peace they brought him, but for the rare sense of tranquility they afforded him as well. Watching over her, feeling the warmth of her body against his, he found a calm that eluded him in the chaos of their daily lives. Gojo held Shoko close, marveling at the familiarity of it all. He smiled softly, content in the simple act of watching over her. Eventually his eyelids felt heavy too. He leaned back with a contented sigh and closed his eyes as well. He felt content just being there, savoring the rare, tender moment they shared.
The quietness of the office, the soft glow of the setting sun filtering through the window, and the gentle rhythm of Shoko’s breathing all combined to create a cocoon of serenity. That serenity was abruptly shattered tho. By the office door crashing open. “Gojo-sensei!” Yuji’s voice boomed through the room as he barged in, followed closely by Nobara and Megumi. Gojo's eyes snapped open, instantly alert. Shoko stirred slightly but didn’t woke up, her head shifting slightly against his chest. "We were looking fo- Aah!" Yuji froze mid-step, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. Nobara bumped into his back, muttering a complaint before she too fell silent, her jaw dropping to the ground followed by Yuji's. Megumi sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to ward off a headache. Like they had walked up on his parents kissing and his friends witnessed it too.
“What’s going on in here?” Nobara asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and amusement as she took in the sight of her teacher and school doctor in such an intimate position. Gojo, always quick on his feet, brought a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence. “Shh, you’ll wake her,” he whispered. Yuji’s expression softened, his angry face giving way to a small smile. “Sorry, sensei,” he whispered back, tiptoeing closer to get a better look. Nobara shook her head and switched to her angry face again. She folded her arms intimidatingly. “You said you'll take our test today, didn't came and made us wait. We were worried, looking for you around the school and even made Ijichi-san drive us to city while you were strolling in the city and buying snacks?!” She uttered in one breath. Gojo grinned, his usual playful demeanor back in full force. “I’m full of surprises,” he said quietly, adjusting his hold on Shoko to make sure she stayed comfortable.
Yuji reached out to take the half empty pack of Kikufuku from the table nearby. Gojo noticed and tried to grab it back but Nobara slapped his hand away. She leaned forward with that angry face of hers and her hands on her hips. "This is for your behaviour. If Ieiri-san wasn't sleeping so peacefully right now, I would've stick you on the wall with my cursed nails." She whispered and angrily bite one Kikufuku to show him that it wasn't an empty threat, then stomped towards the door. "Thank you for the sweets, sensei!" Yuji rushed after her with an apologetic smile. Megumi didn't said anything as he walked back silently. Nobara couldn’t resist one last comment and so she peeked in the office with a devilish smirk. “This is so going in the gossip circles of the school.” The door closed behind them, and Gojo relaxed again, glancing down at Shoko to ensure she was still asleep. She was, her peaceful expression unchanged despite the brief intrusion. He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Kids these days."
As if he wasn't a menace back in his highschool years.
ᯓ ᡣ𐭩