Chapter Text
Finally, you're getting closer to the end of your senior year of college. You let it sink in, marinating in the bittersweetness of it all. Being in the second term meant your studies were starting to ramp up--which also meant you stayed constantly busy.
For you, though, that wasn't a big deal. You never cared much for social nuances, so your schedule was wide open. Burying yourself in books came naturally, even if your friends teased you for it. They begged you to let loose at least once in your life, but you always laughed it off, knowing your academics were far more important.
Without good grades and success, what was the point of any of this anyway? Otherwise, it was just a waste of time and money--and this was the last thing you thought was a waste.
So, like every other night, you sit down at your desk. It's decorated with clutter, figurines, and motivational notes all neatly placed in there respectable positions. Pulling a textbook from your bag, you set it on the desk and begin jotting notes into the notebook in front of you.
You lose yourself easily, hours slipping away as you study. Eventually your focus is broken, being torn away by the buzzing of your phone vibrating against the wooden desk. The screen lights up with a picture of a girl smiling brightly, her short brown hair framing her face. The name Nobara flashes across the top.
Sighing, you grab your phone and answer. "Hey." You fake a bit of cheerfulness, though you're slightly irritated to have your study session interrupted.
"Hey!" Her voice is so lively you can practically see her grin. "I know you're probably studying--" she shutters, quickly continuing before you can object. "But I have a much better idea."
Rolling your eyes, you reply, letting your annoyance slip through. "Like what?" You cringe, knowing you sound harsher than you meant.
"God!" She groans your name. "Can't you at least pretend to be a little curious? Anyway, the frat boys on campus are throwing a huge party--y'know, since we're about to graduate."
"Sounds amazing," you say dryly, words dripping with sarcasm.
"Come on! Please go just this once! All you ever do is study. It has to get boring at some point," she pleas.
"Maybe I like studying. Ever thought about that."
"Boring." She drags out the word, groaning.
Running a hand through your hair, you finally give in, hoping she'll stop pestering you. "Fine! But only this once, and only if you promise to quit bugging me."
"Deal!" She bursts into laughter. "I knew I'd break you. Only took what? Almost four years--worth it!"
"I'm hanging up on you now."
"Whatever--be there in twenty!" She couldn't even hold her excitement in, your irritation completely lost on her.
The call ends. You leave your books open on the desk, not even bothering to lose them. You'll be back soon anyway; you never promised how long you'd stay out.
A huge part of you dreads this, wishing you had stood firm instead of caving. But a tiny part--though you'd never admit it--is almost excited. Doing something new, something you've never tried before... maybe it could be fun.
You rummage through your dresser, digging past countless outfits. What do you even wear to parties? Groaning, you can already feel yourself regretting your decision. This was already much more of a hassle than you signed up for.
Eventually, you settle on a cute short-skirt and an oversized sweater. It's not like you're trying to impress anyone, after all. By the time you finish fixing your hair and pulling the outfit together, the door bell rings.
Of course, she's on time for this--but anything else? Never.
Dragging yourself to the door, you open it to see the biggest grin spread across your friend's face. You groan instinctively. "You hate me."
She only smiles brighter. "No, I love you. That's why I'm getting you out of your little dungeon," she jokes, waving around at your apartment.
"You're already making me regret this. Let's just get it over with."
She grabs your hand and eagerly pulls you toward her car. Fidgeting with your fingers, you can't help but feel anxiety coil in your stomach. You know this is going to be the biggest step outside of your comfort zone ever.
Her eyes flick over to you, catching your nervous fidgeting. "You'll be fine," she reassures with a small smile. "Worst comes to worst, we just leave early." She shrugs before continuing, "But let's at least get there first." She then pauses before adding, "Plus, once we get some alcohol in your system and you see all the cute boys..." She trails off, wiggling her eyebrows.
You slump further into your seat. "I've never met a cute boy in my life. The only cute boys that exist are fictional."
She rolls her eyes. "You never go out either."
"Shut up." You groan, wishing the car ride would be over soon.
The drive lasts only a few more minutes before you finally arrive at your destination. The frat house is packed, evident from the lines of cars parked everywhere--from the huge house to all the way down the street. Music booms from inside, the bass so heavy you can feel its vibrations even from outside the frat house. You see colored lights flash from the upper windows, spilling into the night, and clusters of people linger outside with red cups in hand, laughing all too loudly. The smell of beer and smoke already hangs thick in the air, and you can feel the energy of the place before you even step out of the car.
"Yep, definitely a mistake," you mumble under your breath.
Nobara only rolls her eyes. She might've not caught what you said, but she knew you well enough to know it wasn't anything positive.
You both make your way toward the house, and the closer you get, the denser the crowd becomes. Soon, you're weaving through people, muttering polite apologies that no one bother to acknowledge.
Somehow, you manage to slip inside. And you swear, as you cross the threshold, you spot your professor standing out front greeting people--Satoru Gojo. You do a double take, eyes widening. Isn't that completely against the rules for a professor?
Nobara notices your expression and bursts into a fit of laughter. "Oh, he's always here. Don't worry about it."
"Um--isn't that our professor?!" You blurt, unable to hide the shock in both your voice and face.
She laughs even harder, her eyes crinkling. "That's Mr. Gojo. He can get away with anything."
You decide not to press further, but you can still hear him over the music, showing off and making a group of girls laugh.
Inside, the music is even louder than it was outside, so deafening that people have to shout just to be heard in the main living space. Nobara weaves through the crowd, eventually pulling you into the kitchen, where an ungodly amount of alcohol is crammed on the island counter.
"Preference?" She asks, holding up a bottle of tequila in one hand and vodka in the other.
"Whichever is strongest." Normally, that wouldn't be your first choice, but you already know you'll need it to survive the night.
She laughs, "Damn girl!"
You take the shot from her, unable to stop the smile tugging at your lips. The liquid burns as you down the tequila, and you make a face as it goes down. "Shit, this is strong." You let out a small cough.
Finding way too much humor in the situation, your friend just cheers you on as she takes her own shot without flinching.
From behind you, a husky voice chuckles. Turning around, you see a man taller than you, with black hair. He looks familiar, though you can't quite place why.
"Oh, hey, Megumi!" Your friend lights up.
"You guys seem to be having fun." A smirk sneaks onto his face. "Haven't seen you around before." He tilts his head towards you.
And then it clicks, you recognize him. He's part of some college sports team--you're not sure which--and you remember he's friends with that pink-haired guy. You can't recall his name, but you do know he's pretty annoying, and you're not too fond of him.
"Yea, not really my scene, I guess." You shrug nonchalantly. "But there's a first time for everything, right?"
His eyes crinkle as he lets out a small laugh. "Guess you're right."
Eyeing Nobara, you notice she's starting to act a little strange around him. You quickly catch onto some weird tension between the pair.
"So... I guess I'll leave you guys alone." Your eyes continue to shift between them, "And there is an entire party left to explore." You say, trying to come up with any excuse to leave them alone.
You grab another shot, downing it and praying the liquid courage will help you get through this on your own. As much as you feel your friend should be staying with you--after all she is the one who dragged you here--the guilt in your stomach stops you from acting on it. You can tell she likes Megumi, and you don't want to ruin that for her.
She just smiles at you, mouthing a silent thank you and sorry. Returning her smile, you leave.
The heat from the alcohol starts to radiate through your body, making you warm. Your cheeks flush from the sensation. Starting to feel a little brave, you begin to explore the different areas of the house.
You come across people loitering in different spots. Most are standing off to the side, having conversations--they all seem to be having fun, carrying on without any regard for the people around them. Everyone looks completely at ease, like they belong here.
Then, as you turn your head, you spot a group of people dancing--some together, others alone. Grinding, making out, or just letting completely loose. You grimace, shrinking back a little.
This really isn't your scene.
Your shoulders tense as you take it all in. The music feeling louder here, the energy heavier, like you've suddenly stepped onto a stage you didn't ask to be on. You fidget with the hem of your skirt, feeling all too aware of yourself now--of your arms, your expression, the way you're standing. Like someone might look over and immediately clock you as someone who clearly doesn't fit in.
A nervous flutter stirs in your chest, and you take small step back, scanning the room for somewhere to retreat.
But before you can move to leave, you feel a hand slide up behind you. It snakes gently around your waist, sending a jolt of surprise through you. You flinch causing you to snap your head around, looking to see who it is.
Towering above you is a man with pink hair and a devilish smirk plastered on his face. He looks belligerently drunk and his eyes are locked onto you.
"Hey, gorgeous," he slurs, the words rolling off his tongue as he stares down into you eyes. Looking way too cocky.
It's him--the guy you can't stand. Doing exactly what you would expect from him. Always showing off, always flirting, and now he's looking at you like you're just another one of those girls.
Still... it's not like you're ever going to see him again. And maybe it's the alcohol talking, but he does look a hell of a lot better than you remember. Not that you'd ever admit that sober.
You tilt your head, pretending to not recognize him. "Do I know you?"
He leans in with a sly smirk, his voice dropping low and husky. "Nah," he drawls, "but I wouldn't mind changing that. It's Yuji."
The hand around your waist tightens gently, sending a flutter through your stomach. "Are you this flirty with everyone?"
For a moment, he just studies you, his sly smirk lingering. "Only with pretty girls."
Heat rushes to your cheeks--this time not from the alcohol. You've never had a man call you pretty before. You never thought of yourself as unattractive, but compliments like that just wasn't part of your norm.
All you can manage is a small nod, words slipping away from you. It stings, knowing that you can't muster a quip. He can't--this guy can't--have that much of an effect on you.
His eyes stay locked on yours, brimming with confidence and something darker. The smug curve of his mouth tells you he knows exactly how flustered you are.
You stand frozen, unsure what to say as he leans in closer. "A shy girl?" he hums, his lips brushing against your ear. "Not usually my type."
Finally, you snap out of your thoughts, leaning back slightly. "Not usually your type?" you ask, narrowing your eyes.
He smirks, closing the distance again, daring to challenge him. "I like girls who keep me guessing."
You bite your lip, trying to stop a small laugh from escaping. Is he serious? Your cheeks heat up despite the alcohol. Why is he so irritatingly... charming?
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" You manage to ask, trying not to laugh at his attempts to flirt.
His eyes shine with a glint of mischief as he shrugs slightly, pulling you closer. "Depends on if you like being complimented."
Your mind races. You aren't sure if the alcohol is making this better... or worse.
Fidgeting with the hem of your sweater, you run a hand through your hair. You shouldn't like this--not with a man like him. Yet your eyes keep flicking from his gaze down to his lips, your breath catching in your chest.
It feels like he can see right through you as he closes the distance. His eyes drift to your lips; your noses brush.
Your brain, even fogged with alcohol, screams at you to move, to push him away. But your body refuses to listen. Instead, you lean closer, hands rising to cup his face. His lips curl into a slow, knowing smile, eyes shining with lust--and something else you can't quite place.
Just as your lips are about to meet, someone calls your name, walking toward you. You pull away from Yuji, turning to be met with the face of your friend.
Nobara grabs your hand, which you had hastily lowered to your side. "Oh my god! I thought I'd lost you!" she exclaims.
"Not exactly like I could leave," you stumble over your words, nervously laughing.
Before she can say anything else, she glances between you and Yuji, her expression shifting from shock to a sly, knowing look as her eyes dart back and forth.
Yuji wraps his hand around your waist once more, leaning in to whisper in your ear, "Guess we’ll have to finish this later… don’t think you’re getting away that easily." With a wink, he’s gone.
Your face is now definitely red. You look at Nobara, bracing yourself for her reaction—because you know she won’t hold back.
"Girl, what the actual fuck are you doing?" she says, eyes wide in disbelief. "You’re telling me I let you out of my sight for a few minutes, and you were about to get tongued down by Yuji Itadori?!"
"I wouldn't say that's what was happening..." you trail off, knowing it was just as bad as it looked.
A mischievous glint appears in her eyes. "Actually… what was that you were saying on the way here? You only like fictional men?"
You roll your eyes, groaning. "It wasn't even what it looked like."
She just shakes her head, grinning with amusement. "I finally get you out of the house and go from shy nerd, to trying to make out with the campus man slut."
You tug at your sweater, unable to meet her eyes. "I wasn't... it wasn't..."
She laughs, grabbing your hand and tugging you along. "Sure, sure. Right. Anyways, how about you stick with me before you end up sleeping with Gojo." She nods toward him, still flirting with a group of girls.
You follow, not having much of a choice, cheeks still burning, your mind refusing to stop drifting back to Yuji’s lips that were so close to yours.
As you two weave your way through the crowd, the music still pounding in your ears, Nobara makes her way toward a group of people. You don’t know who they are, but she effortlessly steals the spotlight, chatting away.
You can’t help sneaking glances toward where Yuji had been. Your stomach tightens every time, thinking about the way he looked at you, his touch, his words. But then you remind yourself—it's just the alcohol talking.
Eventually, Nobara pulls you into a quieter corner. "See? Not so bad. You’re surviving… making it through the night just fine."
You gulp and nod. "Yeah… surviving." Your eyes drift past her as you see Megumi and Yuji walk into the kitchen to grab more drinks. You glance back at your friend. "So… you and Megumi, huh?"
She blushes, biting her lip. "Shut up! It’s not like that… well, maybe just a little."
You nudge her shoulder, laughing. "Wait, so you like Megumi, and I almost kissed Yuji?"
She laughs along with you. "Okay, so you admit it—you were about to kiss Yuji!"
You give her a mock glare, still laughing. "Maybe… but you like Megumi too. And let's be honest, they have the same energy."
She rolls her eyes but can't hide her grin. "Ugh, I hate that you're not wrong."
You both laugh a little longer, letting the noise of the party fade into the background. "Let's just get this night over with. I think this alcohol has completely wrecked my senses."
She giggles, her voice softening as she says your name, "And promise me one thing—no more almost-kisses tonight. I don’t want to come rescue you again."
Playfully hitting her shoulder, you retort, "You're the one who was so hell-bent on dragging me to a party and meeting cute boys."
She turns her nose up, humor still sparkling in her eyes. "Yuji was not what I had in mind."
You shrug. "Don't worry, it’s just the alcohol anyway."
She grins. "Good. Now come on, we’re getting drinks, and then we’re going to let loose and dance. Don’t tell me you’re too scared for that."
You shake your head, feeling a mix of dread and excitement. "Definitely. Going to need more than a few drinks, but after that I'm all in!"