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You don't know why it hurts.
Gojo shrugs like he always does, his lips upturning just enough to show a sliver of a smirk. "Let's go. It'll die on its own."
You stay silent, nodding along like you agree, like your stomach isn't twisting. You stare at it until you turn the corner away.
"Alright, now listen up. This place should be pretty clear thanks to us. I'm going to head back. You tell Fushiguro to take one last look around before heading out, okay?" he hums like every other mission.
But the second he's out of sight, you turn back the way you came with your heart pounding in your chest.
The tiny creature is still where you left it, curled up in the shadows, barely breathing. Its small, trembling body is covered in rough patches of fur, ears twitching at every sound. It looks up at you with bloodshot eyes, and your heart clenches.
It's afraid. No shit.
You drop to your knees beside it and press a hand against its frail side.
"Y/N, what are you doing? Don't waste your time with that thing."
You jump, turning to find Fushiguro standing a few feet away with his hands stuffed into his pockets. His face is unreadable as always while his gaze flickers between you and the curse.
"I can't just leave it," you shake your head.
"Yes you can. It's practically dead anyway. Soon, it won't even be a problem," he answers coldly.
"You're incredible," you scoff. "I mean, how could you say that?"
"You're turning into Itadori," he rolls his eyes.
"And so what?"
"It's making you too emotional," he replies flatly. "Emotions will only get in the way and make you weak."
You glare at him. "So what? Since when is that a crime?"
Fushiguro exhales a long, slow breath that sounds like he's already regretting what he's about to say. "Fine, then let's go."
You blink. "Wait-"
"Before someone sees us." He nods down the hall of the building. "Come on."
You're not about to question your luck. You pick up the cursed creature- which is even lighter than you thought it'd be and small enough to fit in your arms. It lets out another weak whimper, its thing tail curling slightly. Every time it moves, your chest aches a little more.
Somehow, you make it outside the building and to the treeline of the forest not too far off.
"This should be good," Fushiguro says.
You let the curse on the ground as the two of you kneel beside it.
"Not sure how long it'll last, though," he says honestly.
Your throat tightens. "I just... I couldn't let it die there. Alone. Like it didn't matter."
Fushiruo's quiet for a second. Then his gaze meets yours. "Yeah. I know."
Your eyebrows knit together as you look at him. His expression is softer now, though still serious. Like he understands exactly what you mean- like he has felt this way before, the same helplessness, the same stubborn refusal to accept something just because someone else decided it was inevitable.
"I'll stay with it. Just for a while to make sure nothing else finds it like this. You go back so you can make your report to Gojo. Just tell him I went to town for something."
You stare at him. "You'd do that?"
He shrugs, but his ears are a little red. "You're already breaking the rules. Might as well not let it go to waste."
For the first time tonight, you let yourself smile. It's small, barely there, but it's read. "Thanks, Fushiguro."
He looks away. "Just don't make this a habit."
As you stand up and brush the dirt from your knees, you realize that if this does happen again, he'd be right there beside you.
"I owe you one."
"Mmm. Just go before I change my mind."