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Satoru doesn't feel good.
He's sprinting down the hallway, mulling over how he forgot his lunch, even if he's narrowly five seconds from being late as he slides into his chair. The side of it tilts upwards, then bangs against the hard floor. Suguru startles, his head jerking up with a late reaction to Satoru racing into the classroom, but flinches even worse with the noise. He clears his throat to counter Shoko’s giggling.
Suguru's purple-tinted irises meet his, back to their casual and sharp look. “You don't have your glasses?”
“No,” Satoru huffs, leaning at his desk and stretching his feet.
Suguru hums. “Will you be alright?”
“I'll be fine, I'll be fine!” he boasts, waving his hand around dramatically, lolling his head onto the back of the seat.
“Okay. Tell me if you need anything.”
Satoru feels his cheeks heating up—he can never dismiss how he feels when Suguru talks like that. Comforting and deeply kind. His ears are probably red right now, he realizes with a jolt, adjusting his hair to conceal them. Satoru will be fine today, though, because they're going to watch a nature documentary in class. One of his favorite pastimes is to watch cute animals navigating the wilderness and tearing up at crazy events.
Everyone adjusts their posture when Yaga enters the classroom. The few students stand and bow, then sit as Yaga begins reading a chicken scratch worth of handwriting on crumpled paper. His voice drones into Satoru's ears and out the other, until he hears the golden words—nature documentary! Satoru's heart gives an excited pound. He wiggles in his seat, eyes brightening a smidge.
“Unfortunately, we must cancel watching the documentary, because too many of you are behind. We'll use part of today as a catch-up day for those of you who have work to turn in. Training should not be your sole priority, Jujutsu Sorcerers need academics, too,” he says, fingers tapping the podium.
Satoru raises his hand, despite his limbs suddenly feeling like a century-old machine, all the energy draining like a whirlpool. Yaga points at him and he tries to keep up the confident facade. “When will we watch it though?” he pries with a desperate tone.
“Next Tuesday.”
“What?” Satoru mumbles to himself, dropping his head into his hands. He stomps his feet to release some of the frustration building in his core, the kind that wraps around his lungs like a snake. He releases an inaudible groan, rubbing his face.
Satoru turns to Suguru. “Do you have anything due?” he interrogates, finding himself unable to remain still in his chair.
“No,” Suguru responds coolly.
“Really?”
“Yep.”
Satoru can't even remember what he has to do. He stands and goes to Yaga's desk, his entire body vibrating. “Um… Sensei?”
“Yes, Satoru?”
“What—” he takes a fast breath, “—what do I have due?”
“You should know this, Satoru,” Yaga says in a mildly stern voice. “I'll tell you again. Will you keep track this time?”
Satoru nods solemnly. “I will. “
Yaga's eyes soften. “Look, if anything's wrong, you can tell me. I just want the best for you and your future.”
Satoru takes a singular step back. He feels his eyes beginning to burn, and he knows it’s not from six eyes starting to act up. The stupid thing does on its own anyway and barely ever helps him. Well, it certainly has saved him from being literally stabbed multiple times and probably blown through a forest by a powerful curse.
He nods and bows. “I understand, Sensei.”
“Good. Go sit down. You know you can come up here if you need help. I’ll print you out a small sheet so you can see what you’re missing.”
“Thank you,” Satoru replies, sounding a little lost in his head.
He walks back towards his seat with vacant eyes and doesn’t notice Suguru shifting, even going to stand. Satoru's skin prickles when it detects a flare of cursed energy, intensifying the barrier between him and the world—infinity. His body feels lighter, like his mind is in mild bliss as another inch separates him from the world.
“Satoru,” Suguru murmurs. Satoru doesn't flinch.
He's transported back to his last mission, back to where he had a close call with a curse that nearly permeated his infinity due to its unknown ability. He wasn't told about that in the paperwork… or he skimmed the entire thing. Satoru remembers the wind slicing through, ruffling his clothes and hair, and stirring terror in his stomach. That was an unbelievable instance, something nearly touching him. He could have died, maybe he had a brush with death and wasn’t aware of it at the time. The curse must’ve put something in his brain or some kind of residual poison so his cognitive processes will decrease over time and then he’s going to die—
“Satoru!” a frantic voice calls.
He finally jerks into reality, gasping, stumbling to his feet. He tilts too far, and then the world spins in the opposite direction it should. He doesn’t register the sensation of being caught by the ground, or anything for that matter, he’s busy prying his searing eyes open. He tries to angle himself to see what’s under, if it’s the curse getting through his infinity again. Of course, he never told anyone about it.
A face is in his blurred vision. He resists releasing a broken whine, or the choked sob that tries to pry its way through. He’s okay. He’s here in his classroom. He catches a glimpse of black hair, Suguru, a place of safety. Labored breathing rips through the silent classroom and he swallows, his entire body quaking.
“Satoru, it's Suguru. Can you repeat that for me? Suguru . ”
“S-Suguru— ” he whispers, just wanting to inhale without being on the verge of tears.
“Good, you're doing great,” Suguru praises, but Satoru doesn't sense the vibrations of his voice where it's usually on his shoulder during times of comfort. “Can you lower infinity for me, please? You're safe.”
“No,” Satoru whimpers, climbing higher onto Suguru without truly making contact. He gets vertigo when Suguru adjusts himself, not used to holding onto something with the barrier of air surrounding it.
Suguru sighs slowly, calmly. “You’re safe. Do you know that? Repeat it if you understand,” he directs, a common method he uses to calm Satoru after particularly hectic missions, a way to make him focus on the task at hand.
Satoru’s pupils drift away. “M’safe.” He still sees the blobs standing around them, their concerned classmates and principal. His body squeezes closer to Suguru as much as it allows.
There’s some random muttering that Satoru doesn’t care about because it’s not Suguru talking—and the temperature of the room changes dramatically.
“M’safe, M’safe,” Satoru mumbles, over and over.
Soft hushing sounds come from Suguru, comforting, slowing his heart and breathing. The solid sensation of a bench registers underneath him, so he gasps lightly, arms jerking toward his chest to protect his vital organs. His breathing picks up and his eyes dart everywhere in a desperate attempt to find an escape route.
“Relax, you’re okay. You’re just lowering infinity. You’re fine,” Suguru soothes, “We’re in the school hallway. You’re safe here.”
“The hallway?” Satoru says shakily. His face feels… cold. He involuntarily hiccups, and then sniffles. He can not cry. Hell no.
Suguru pulls him into a side hug, and Satoru feels him tense slightly when he buries his face into Suguru’s chest. Suguru relaxes and holds him protectively, rocking them both. “You're okay, Satoru, it's okay…”
A strained keen and a sudden sob bursts from his chest, and he dissolves into nearly wheezing cries. Suguru keeps a hand in his hair and another on his back, making sure his breathing stays somewhat steady.
“Let it out. Let it all out,” he says, body shaking with the sheer force of Satoru's sobs. “I've got you, shh, shh, shh.”
Many, many minutes pass until Satoru can choke out words. “C-Can we go to y-your dorm?”
Suguru's eyes widen at the question. “Okay—yeah, okay. I've got you. I'm so glad you feel safe with me. Good job for telling me what you need,” he responds, lifting Satoru with strong arms.
A kiss is placed on his hair as Suguru begins walking.