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Yuuta isn’t that talkative of a person when it comes to divulging his secrets.
And that is totally fine with Gojo. Not like his own closet and basement are free for all to even know the existence of. They add layers, add levels of depth and they have worked quite well so far in the twenty plus years Gojo Satoru has lived. But isn’t there something that people write about being glued to your phone?Something about wellness and posture? He didn’t read it; he scrolled past it and added it to the ever-growing bookmarks of ‘interesting and might be important’ articles he keeps finding.
“I don’t know,” Maki had shrugged when he tried nudging. “He’s probably chatting with online mutuals or like that.”
“And you think it’s safe?” Gojo smiled.
She looked at him as if he was trying to be special. “No, not my problem,” she wiped her glasses. “Besides, he looks like he’s having fun, so I don’t see why it’s a big deal.”
“What if it’s someone trying to take advantage of him, Maki-chan?”
“Yuuta can take care of himself and he’s smart,” she said and that was the end of it.
Asking Inumaki and Panda are the same. Well, Panda is more specific that it is just a chat in LINE but he doesn’t peek at the name. Only that, and Gojo quotes, they use “lotsa emojis and images like they’re talking in special hieroglyphs”. Inumaki just shakes his head, mentioning how Okkotsu giggled once before catching himself.
Which just further pushes his curiosity. (His nosiness, really).
So, he starts standing closer, sitting closer, and practically hovers closer. Enough to peek, enough not to be truly noticed - Yuuta is trusting, you see. And he doesn’t have that privacy screen protector which is great. He often snaps pictures when nobody’s looking. Of the sky, the can of cola he is holding or the trees he’s waiting under – anything counts, and Gojo has now noticed him taking pics of his own fingers doing the peace sign. No selfies though, and whomever is on the other end of the line (ha!), they don’t send those either. Their profile picture is just some obscure movie poster and considering Yuuta’s own is just a full black, Gojo loses hope on that department.
Though as he observes more, the things the others told him are, frankly, beginning to look like an understatement.
Because Yuuta smiles softly whenever he types, he chuckles to himself and whenever he sends something, he’s waiting. The chat must be on mute since Gojo doesn’t hear shit, but Yuuta’s reflex is fast and he seems to have a sixth sense on exactly the second it pings. Now, Gojo is familiar with the mooning and swooning and saccharine touchy feely of a teenager – this, however, is both astronomically sweet and underwhelming at the same time.
Yuuta taps his foot, biting his lips and hunches over his phone, yet he’s incredibly nonchalant whatever post-bliss he’s had had that sometimes Gojo wonders if he looks too deep into it or the kid just has a mightily scary switch to hide that crush.
And it is a crush. Gojo knows, even without Six Eyes, he just knows. He’s good like that. Yuuta is a romantic. (Case in point – that special grade cursed spirit, Rika). A bleeding one at that. His love fuels him, his love strengthens him and it’s perhaps one of the most volatile ways a power could be made to heel. It leaks out of him, masking and intertwining with his own cursed spirit and it is this thing that always spikes and fluctuates like a heartbeat whenever that person replies to Yuuta’s messages.
Actually, now that Gojo thinks about, it has gotten lighter. Lighter but worse – releasing Rika freed Yuuta, and thus, freed that energy more into becoming whatever this is. This brightening of his mien, the widening of his smile, and the dreamy quality to his sigh like he’s holding a perfumed calligraphy letter instead of a gadget in hand.
Interesting, yes, but the anonymity remains.
It gets him even more curious.
(Even more nosy, but Gojo does take professional responsibility for his all his students).
===
Then comes the packages and it’s often something heavy. No sender address, but the receiver is Okkotsu Yuuta, with its content varying but limited to some snacks, a few clothing, several books sometimes and tea. And Yuuta does share, but he will always be the one holding it. One time, Gojo offered to carry it, and the boy just floundered – making up half assed excuses that he can carry it, don’t worry, sensei, I’m strong – despite the katana slung over a shoulder and a duffle bag hanging off an arm.
It takes a few more tries before he manages to find a pattern.
Most of the stuffs seem to come from Sendai. Yuuta’s hometown.
Well, that minimizes his search significantly, now, doesn’t it? Family members perhaps, but that would be creepy with how Yuuta’s reception is, so perhaps, the most obvious assumption afterwards, is of course, a friend. A very, very close friend. Because no normal person (well, this is a conjecture since nobody in this school is goddamn sane which is exactly what Gojo wants) would have those sighs and almost ritualistic gaze whenever he brews the tea or takes a deep breath before wearing the new jacket. It’s odd and it’s amusing.
“Gojo-sensei,” Yuuta tilts his head before Gojo catches himself from staring too much. The kid is sharp, he knows when he does that despite the blindfold. “Do you want some?” He offers the crackers.
They’re not his favourite flavour, but he takes it. Leaning forward, he rummages the bag and… There. He sees the chat and as he squints (what is wrong with youth these days in using small font size?), he finally catches the name.
“Thanks,” he says, shoving the crackers into his mouth.
Yuuta smiles but quickly, he focuses back to the screen.
===
He asks during one of the easier (boring) missions.
“Who’s Yuuji?”
And Yuuta almost misses his mark. Almost. Rika leaps and crushes it before disappearing. Purple blood sprays out, but Yuuta doesn’t step away. It stains his shirt and he just stares at Gojo. Face flushed hot. Mortified.
“Ah, uh,” he stutters and it’s that boy at the sealing room again, “I… Uhm… Well, he is…”
Gojo grins. “A friend? A boyfriend?” He teases because it’s actually fun to see this kid actually flustering outside his blank gaze. (Also, he’s bored. Bored. This special grade is nothing and the only reason he even went is for Yuuta to learn and practice).
Red flashes across Yuuta’s cheeks, but there's that wisp of guarded look too, something defensive. Protective. It only pushes Gojo to keep staring until Yuuta spills it. Because this is a depth which he rarely shows, a glare with fangs underneath the bruised eyes, sweet kid appearance he wears on his sleeve. Yuuta is wincing and hunching that even Rika reappears, assuming threat with her head looking around, scanning Gojo up and down before snapping back to Yuuta.
“Yuutaaa… danger where?”
“No! No danger, Rika, it’s fine,” he rubs his face and pats her head. “Nothing, sensei is just asking something. It’s fine,” he repeats.
She regards Gojo. “Ask what?”
“About Yuuji,” Gojo replies, putting out the bait.
Like a switch, she squeals and floats. “Yuujii? Oh, Yuuji? Is he here? Where?”
“Ah, so you also know him.”
Rika nods. Childish and girlish in her giggle. “Yuuji is my friend, and Yuuta’s too. He misses him sooo much.”
Yuuta squeaks again and covers her skull. “R-Rika, I think you should go. Erm, I got it from here, please?” He is begging and still red on the nape.
“But you miss him, Yuuta,” Rika coos, pouting. “You should visit him!”
“Yes! You’re right,” Yuuta nods frantically, “Later. Okay? We’re still a bit busy…”
“Hmph,” Rika sulks yet in the end, she disappears eventually. Ever obedient to Yuuta and only him. A very hissy cat and a protective one.
When it’s only the two of them again, Yuuta doesn’t meet his eyes. He’s staring hard at a faraway point. It’s quiet. Gojo decides to take pity.
“A friend?” He asks once more, no more teasing tone. That’s enough for now. Or else, the poor kid is going to combust and Gojo would lose the only student who respects and likes him.
A sigh, then Yuuta murmurs, “Yes. We were… well, there were three of us. Younger than me and Rika, but we get along.”
“So, he knows about her?” Gojo gestures in the air.
Yuuta nods and he’s cleaning his katana now. “Yes,” he bits his lips, “I kept my distance because of her, but he kept coming back.”
“Did he know you’re here?”
“He knows now,” Yuuta sheathes the katana with a clack. “I made him worry a lot. One of these days, I should…” He tapers off and Gojo sees it for what it is. Sadness. Guilt. Missingness.
A friend, he said. Huh.
“A good friend, I guess?” Gojo pushes himself off the fence he’s been leaning against.
Yuuta blushes still. “Yes, he’s…” He closes his mouth and deflates the next, the blush persevering.
Do not tease him, do not tease him. Gojo shrugs and pulls out his phone. “Well, you can go this weekend, you know, if you really miss him.”
“But, the school and the missions.”
“Your classmates can handle those,” Gojo waves him off. “Extracurricular lessons.”
There is brightness blooming in the way Yuuta asks, “Is it really okay? I really don’t want to complicate matters.”
Awe, this student of his is sweet. He ruffles his hair and Yuuta lets him.
“It’s the weekend, Yuuta,” he presses. “If it helps, I would write you a permission slip.”
He is still just a kid. The kind who is mooning and crushing and lovesick. It’s just kids being kids. Gojo isn’t Nanami, but he, like everyone else, had been this young before. Had known this kind of feeling. He knows it well. Besides, Yuuta deserves the break, and creating distance between the newly minted special grade sorcerer and the higher-ups is something Yaga would also approve. Nobody gets to order his beloved student around no matter what and they won’t be able to observe him too closely.
“So, go, go,” Gojo nudges him forward gently, “I think you have a lot to make up for, hm?”
He wonders if it would be like those dramas. With tears and snots and late-night talks. Or maybe a romantic like Yuuta would take this Yuuji on a date and splurge on cinema tickets and crank machine game. If the impression that he stays as a friend all these years is anything to go by, then this one is loyal. Loyal and special to Okkotsu Yuuta. Kind enough to pass Rika’s judgement and animosity. Perhaps also equally just as bad as Yuuta in missing each other. (The packages is a weekly occurrence, after all, and the chatting is practically by the minute. There’re the letters too alongside the former, complete with stickers and long written notes. Not to mention the euphoric look Yuuta makes whenever an item is specifically, seemingly, just as he wished for). Perhaps, he’s actually worse than Yuuta. Or at least, more so than Rika.
Perhaps. Who knows. Yet.
“Thank you, sensei,” Yuuta says then, and his smile is incredibly happy. “I’ll be back before Monday, I promise.”
His cursed energy is trembling. Brimming with excitement. Were he to possess a tail, it would be wagging hard.
“Just make sure to bring back souvenirs,” Gojo walks down the street.
He knows Yuuta is already planning to.
===
“What did you do to your student?” Shoko asks him when he got back. “He was packing up and gone the next,” she peers at him over the can of cola.
Gojo pops open his own, ignoring her cringing as he also eats a puff pastry alongside it. “Giving him the weekend off back to his hometown.” He eats both in front of her because he loves her like that. “I think that’s a really sympathetic and wise decision on my part.”
“Is it now?” She leans away. “Why?”
He grins.
“It’s a reunion, Shoko,” he sits down and pats the empty spot beside him. “Let me tell you about it.”
Today is a rare kind of day where she truly has nothing better to do. Nobody needs her to look over anything, her paperwork is all done, and the morgue is empty. She joins him and rests her cheek on her palm, gesturing for him to go on.
Reuniting lovebirds, Gojo thinks. Yes, that is exactly what he is doing. Hopefully, it would lift the cloud hanging over Yuuta whenever he sighs forlornly like a sailor’s wife on top of the watchtower.
It’s a good thing. He’s done a good thing, no? He’s so patting himself on the back for this.
Maybe he would ask Yuuta to take a selfie of them both as formality, he listens to Gojo, after all – he would do it without questioning much.
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(Yuuta does send it without much of a fuss. A very special treatment, Gojo knows. And he sees at first is how pink the other is.
They look good together, Gojo muses and once more pats himself on the back.)
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(The thing is, however, he doesn’t expect to actually, you know, meet Itadori Yuuji just a year afterwards.
And this…
… Gojo won’t pat himself on the back.)
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(Oh my.
Yuuta is going to kill Sukuna, isn’t he?)