Chapter Text
Men... Their beautiful creatures.
Their chiseled jaw, their hunter eyes... God even their bed eyes. Their obliques, their biceps, their abs. God their abs... Their man boobs.
"Y/n?"
Their deep voice.
"Y/n?!"
"Huh?" You mumbled as you slowly snapped out of your trance. You finally recall your surroundings. Weights clashing with mats, the sound of metal hitting metal, men grunts from their ego lifting, and your friend heaving and panting.You glance down at him. His noodle arms are shaking, no surprise, considering you’d subconsciously leaned your weight into the bar instead of helping him rack it.
"Shit!" You cursed under your breath as you helped him lift the weight safely onto the rack.
He heaves a sigh of relief, clutching his chest as he sat up. Compared to the other men in this gym, he were scrawny and fragile, more girlish if anything. "Sorry Kirara," you nervously chuckled.
He glares up at you, you knew what was coming. "Jesus Y/n, can't you go a day without a man distracting you?"
You scoff, arms folded. You took his words personally because they aren't true... "Thats not true, you're overreacting."
"Really now?" His brows raise with doubt. He then smirks, you knew all too well he's going to challenge your denial. "How about last week you failed your driving test because you were oogling a guy jogging by shirtless."
"That is not true!" You protest. "I was staring at the dog he was walking."
He rolls his eyes. "Right, the dog-" he air quotes. "What about the time you nearly drowned at the beach because you wanted to get a closer look at a guys biceps."
Ok... You concede, he has a point, your addiction to observing the male anatomy isn't very subtle and has put your life and now your friend's life in danger. Should you stop? "Sue me, I love men anatomy." You admit.
Kirara is your good friend since you moved to this town 10 years ago. Though he is alot younger than you, 8 years to be exact. Yea you know, why are you friends with a 12 year old?
Better question why were you friends with a 2 year old?? You were lonely ok. Most kids in this town are mean... Really mean, and well whenever his mom came over to hang with yours, you were stuck playing patty cake and ipad with him. To be honest your love for him is more brotherly than friendship, you practically took care of him, babysit him for free, had sibling feuds. He kind of reminded you of your friendship with Gojo. It was quite similar to your dynamic with Kirara.
Speaking of Gojo, you wondered how he was doing, what he's doing with his life at age 21. You'll be going the same university as him starting next week, though studying something else.
You heard from his mom he's studying sports ed or something like it. Kind of unlike him. You thought he'd end up studying about history, or business economics, or something nerdy. He was kind of a dweeb when you were a kid. Nose in a book, gaming, anything that involves staying inside really.
He hated how people would poke and probe at him like he's some undiscovered species
because of his albino features. He felt like a freak from how people treated his bright blue
eyes and white hair like he belonged in a museum to be observed closely, so he found refuge in his home.
___________________________________
You pack the rest of your belongings into boxes and pack them into Gojo's mom trunk. She offered to help you move your things to your dorm since your mom would be busy, and it was on the way for her anyways. She planned to drop off some of Gojo's belongings while she's there.
You glance at the beaming woman beside you in the driver's seat seeming excited to see Gojo. She isn't really his mom, more his Nanny, but you basically call her his mom since she been the most present in Gojo's life when it came to parental duties.
Gojo's parents were non existent in his life. After his birth they carried on with their carefree lives, partying and travelling while they pushed all parental duties onto his nanny. Weirdly it didn't affect the way he was raised despite having never seen his parents in person.
"He has grown into a fine young man these past few years." She gosh. "He's a ladies man now, I worry for him sometimes. But with you there i won't have to worry too much."
Several questions were swimming in your head. For one is what she meant by "with you
there I won't have to worry too much", second is whats this about him being a ladies man.
"How would I help with his popularity with women?" You asks while air quoting the words popular.
"I mean with you around him like you used to back when you were kids, the women will think he's taken, you know." She said so casually, too casual for your liking.
What made her think you would be spending most your time with that dweeb? You already have your plans when you arrive, and its to find the most physically well built man there to worship and oogle all day. You'll become like them crazed K-pop fans... Except far worse. Far far worse. Gojo can deal with his own problems, he's a big boy now.
____________________
You and his mom moved the boxes to your dorm, but moving all these boxes up those stairs were tedious and tiring you both. As you lift another box from her car she suddenly pulls out her phone and starts dialing a number.
You froze, curious who's she calling. You overhear a deep playful tone on the other end, music booming in their background. "Can you be a dare and meet me infront the girls dormitory, Y/n needs assistance with moving."
You hear a long annoyed groan in the background which earned an eye roll from Gojo's nanny. You wonder if she's talking to Gojo, who else can she even call to help you on campus other than him.
"Gosh, don't you want to see Y/n, you haven't seen each other in so long, aren't you curious how much she has grown into a woman?"
Your mouth slightly agapes at her words, is she trying to sell you to Gojo? Now her excitement makes sense, shes trying to play match makers.
With a scoff you picked up another box and pile it onto the already heavy one you were about to carry.
"No need to force the guy aunty, if Satoru doesn't want to help me, i can manage just fine." With that you confidently walked back inside with your stuff.
You heave and pant as you slowly climb the stares with two heavy boxes. You finally give into exhaustion and placed the boxes down as you hunch over them, hands on your knees for support. You rub the sweat off your brow with the back of your sleeve already regretting trying to play miss independent by carrying an extra box to prove your point to Gojo's mom.
Suddenly you hear heavy footsteps approaching behind you. You don't even look to see who's approaching, you simply moved aside with your boxes waiting for the person to pass...
Except they never do, infact you don't even hear their footsteps for a few moments now. You glance over your shoulder and see a douche bag with bright platinum white hair, shades, a white baggy tshirt and moving boxes in his hands.
"Who's douche bag looking boyfriend is this?" You thought to yourself as you notice him obviously checking your ass out. Well you think he is, hard to tell with those glasses on, but maybe thats why he wears them, to get away with staring at women assets. You made sure to note this technique for future muscle viewing.
You turn your body, your backside now pressed against the wall as you made obvious gestures for him to go ahead and walk past you. The douche smirks then walks past you, eyeing you as he passes. You eye him back, for both sassy reason, and scientific observation.
"He has a nice broad back and forearms for a pasty dude." You mumbled to yourself.
You eventually reached your dorm an exhausted sweaty mess, the door to your dorm wide open, you hear a male and female's voice coming from within.
You peer inside seeing the male from earlier intimately flirting with a beautiful figured, obviously a cheerleader during her high school years woman, his hands lazily held her hips, grinning through his flirty words. You roll your eyes at the display.
You pray she isn't your roommate, she already looks like the type to invite men over despite the obvious rule about men at the women's dorm after certain hours.
"You're so kind, to help your old friend move in." She says as she looks up at him with fuck me eyes. "Can you help me move my stuff next? Since I'm staying in this room too, it won't be a out of the way for you." She's caressing his forearms, you grit your teeth with envy. God you'd kill to be in her position. To have nice veiny muscular hands on you.
Well looks like she is your roommate after all, but what she meant by he's helping a friend move into here? Is there a third person? Or perhaps another dorm room and they decided to use your room to chat.
"Sure, if I'm free, maybe i can help with more than just-"
"AHEM!!" You rudely interrupted him. "Sorry, but can I help you two?" You ask, an obvious way of indirectly asking them what is there business in your dorm room.
The girl turns to you with a tight friendly smile, as she approaches you. She's eyeing you, almost sizing you up even. Perhaps to debate whether or not you'll be a threat for any man she brings over. "Omg, so you're my roommate. I'm Fumiha, and you?" She asks, a hand outstretched to yours. When you dont accept her hand, she grabs it anyways and roughly shake your hand, masking it with enthusiasm.
You subtly shake your hand free not making your displeasure too obvious. "Y/n."
The male immediately perks up from his bored expression, he approaches, eyeing you like he doesn't believe you exist. "Y/n... That really you?" He asks.
You can see Fumiha smile faltering as the hot males attention is now on you. "Sorry, should I know you?" You questioned.
"Satoru, did you forget to come for the rest of the boxes?" Said Gojo's nanny through laboured breath.
You, Fumiha and the silver hair male looked in the direction of the voice. Shes leaned against the door frame, several boxes on the ground haphazardly.
"Shit, sorry." The silver hair male quickly apologizes, he rushes to Gojo's mom side gathering the boxes.
"S-Satoru?" Your voice shake as you said his name. Not for any emotional reasons, simply from shock. This tall, flirtatious, who once hated leaving the comfort of his room, this, this... This male that practically ooze fuckboy energy, this extravert... This pervert who couldn't stop boldly eyeing your ass on the stair case is SATORU???
What happened to the shy boy? The nerdy boy, the fragile boy? What happened to him????
_______________________
"Holy shit, you haven't grown much since I last saw you!" Said Gojo as he kept messing with your hair and patting the top of your head like you're some kid.
Fumiha watched you, his mom, and Gojo catch up with each other while she unpacked her things. She clearly hated that you had a head start on Gojo's pants.
"But damn, you surprised me with this rocking body of yours. I never imagined you would show up looking like... Well, a woman. Somehow, I still imagined you'd still be tiny, skinny, dorky-looking. Y'know- ow!" Gojo groans as he rubs his side where his nanny elbowed him.
"Be respectful, gosh, I raised you better than this, Satoru!" She said.
Gojo starts squeezing your cheeks together, then tugging at them. He kept repeating that, watching you groan in annoyance as he made you make weird faces. Was Gojo always this playful? Was he hiding this side of himself from you, or are you senial?
"Can you quit that?" You swat his hand away. "I've seen you changed, and not for the better." You said as you rubbed your cheeks, they were now red.
"So how was life without me in it? Boring right? Bet you missed me? Were you friendless without me?" Gojo questions, throwing questions one after the other, not giving you a chance to reply. "Wouldn't doubt it, you do have this bully me, tease me face."
Gojo's nanny looked between you nervously. She was hoping for a heart-warming reunion, not Gojo's taunts and teases.
Her matchmaking plan is clearly falling through.
Suddenly, a very interuptive sound could be heard behind Gojo. You and Gojo glance behind him to see a ticked-off Fumiha. "I'm heading downstairs now, to carry very heavy boxes on my own, Gojo." She said while batting her long, likely fake eyelashes up at him. Her arms folded perfectly under her huge tits to help emphasize them.
Gojo licks his suddenly dry lips. He then turns to you and pats the top of your head. "Talk to you later, stink bug, already promised my attention to someone else." With that said, he chases after Fumiha, who now has a smug grin on her face as she leaves your shared dorm room.
You gasp, not believing he still remembers that shitty nickname he gave you back when you were 7. You got that nickname because, somehow, you angered the gods, and for a whole week, several stink bugs would randomly appear in your school bag, and because you always flung your bag around like the kid you are, most of the bugs would die and leave a horrible scent. It got so bad that your teachers stopped taking your notebooks from you for correction.
"I can't believe he still remembers that stupid nickname." You mumbled under your breath.
____________________________
The new semester hasn't begun and this roommate of yours is already pissing you off. She leaves her dirty dishes everywhere, she hugs the bathroom with her skin care products, and
she's always inviting her man toys over, being very vocal as they destroy her uterus. I mean they have to be, considering how loud she's screaming for the lord.
And don't get you started on Gojo's nanny, aka his nanny. She kept texting you or calling, asking how things are with you and Gojo. Truth is you haven't seen the guy since he helped move your stuff in. Even fumiha is asking you about his whereabouts. Tch not like you dating the guy, whatever he does is his own business.
"Hey, do you have any lotion" Fumiha asks after barging into your room in just her panties, tits out and swinging, hair wrapped in a towel.
She so rudely interrupted your inner monologuing. "No, i don't." You replied teresly.
"God, no wonder your legs always look so ashy. Are you even a woman?" With that said she leaves your room, slamming the door behind her.
"Break my door while you're at it!" You yelled out.
Your phone pings on your night stand earning your attention. You turn in your bed to grab your phone, you see a message from an unknown number. "Get ready in 10 minutes, I'm almost there🏃"
The heck? Must be a wrong number or something, you don't recall having any plans for the day.
You turn back in your bed, going back to your inner monologuing, your imagination far more entertaining than any show you've watched.
You slowly drift to sleep, your body relaxing, your mind ceasing your racing thoughts. Just as sleep claims you, BAM! Your door pushed open hard enough that its slammed into your
wall.
"What the, i told you I'll be here in 10, why are you still in bed?" Said Gojo with an exasperated expression.
You sit up confused by your surroundings, you never did well when waking up, you'd look like someone who just survived a bomb, ears ringing, mouth dry, eye closing one after the other, hair a mess.
"Huh, what, when?" You mumbled while glancing around for water. You're pretty sure you only closed your eyes for 1 minute, yet your brain treats it like you now awake from a coma.
"I don't have time for this, I'm already late and my Nanny is on my ass about my punctuality."
Said Gojo as he rips the covers off you. You were just in your panties and big t-shirt. He
looks you over and shrugs. "It will have to do." He mumbles as he grabs your arm and starts dragging you out your room.
"W-where are we goin?" You questioned as you try to keep up. "Did school start already?"
As Gojo approached his sports car, his mood further dampens, a girl dressed in a short tight dress, make up exaggeratedly done, and hair styled happily approaches Gojo, ignoring your hunched confused form beside him.
"Gojo, I'm ready." She said, her tone beaming with contained excitement. "i hope your mom loves me, i even picked out my most modest dress." She gives Gojo a 360.
You peer at her from behind Gojo. If thats her most modest dress, you fair what sexy is. Nude???
"What? Who is you?" Question Gojo, his impatience can be heard in his voice.
The girl expression immediately fell. "We had sex yesterday? After a party." She says, her voice trembling. "T-today, y-you texted me to get ready to meet your mom?" She claims while showing Gojo her phone with the texts.
Gojo then glance at you, then back at the phone. "shit, wrong Y/n." Mumbled Gojo as he eyes the messages once more. "I was wondering why you would send me a panty shot of all people, then again, my handsome looks makes women want to casually send nudes to me."
You roll your eyes, finally sobering up. Gojo pushed aside the girl ignoring her hurt expression as he continues to drag you by the arm to his car. He practically shoves you into the passenger side like you're a rag doll, then heads to the drivers side.
As you sat up in the seat, gathering yourself, you felt something soft at your bare feet, you
glance down and see a wig and someone lingerie at your feet. "What the fuck Satoru!!!" You screamed.
The panties were still damp which meant moments ago he was getting freaky with someone in this very seat. You immediately climb into the back seat. You doubt its any safer, but atleast whatever passed tryce happened in the back must have dried up by now.
"Over some panties?" Gojo rolled his eyes.
"Over some panties??? Over some still wet panties???? Are we deadass??? You're so
gross!!!" You retort. "You change and for the worse. I prefer the dweeb version of you any day, than this, this mess."
Gojo hands tighten on the wheel. He seems upset... Maybe even sad by your comment, then again maybe it was his date that has him like this, he did come for you seeming in a bad mood.
Suddenly his phone rings, he answers the phone, his tone a forced calm. "Hello?... Yes... Y/n was still getting ready... Yea... Got it." With that he hangs up the phone then changed directions.
He stops at a target near by. He glances at you, eyes you from head to toe, even staring at your feet, he tells you to stay as he leaves the car, not like you can go anywhere, you're in just panties, a big t-shirt and bare foot, you also still have no idea where he's taking you.
Once he's left you're suddenly very aware of your state. No matter your history with Gojo, he's still a guy... A very sexual active guy. You tug down your tshirt and fix your hair. You felt naked without your phone to distract you or call for help.
You glance around his car, the expensive leather felt intimate against your skin. Surprisingly it doesnt smell like sex in here, you decide to snoop cause why not. You climb over and reach into his glove box.
Inside there is several boxes of condoms, some fill, some empty. "Jesus," you mumbled as you pushed them aside to further investigate.
Further down there is random pieces of paper with numbers and names, there is also a plastic bag and scrap book. You take out the plastic bag and find hang over pills, weed and a... Picture? A worn out picture of you and him dressed in matching peanut butter and jelly Halloween costumes. You smile at the picture, remember the good old days. You wondered what could've made him change... Made him like this.
You put the bag aside and open the scrap book. Inside were pictures of you and him, clearly taken by his mom, aka his nanny.
Some were random, some were planned. It made you gosh about your childhood. It were great days, slowly the picture stopped including you and Gojo appear older in these pictures, there is two new people occupying the spaces without you. A long black haired male with slender eyes, and a girl with short brown hair, seeming to always be sucking on a loli but as the pictures progress to them getting older, the loli is replaced with a cigarette.
Were these Gojo's new friends?
Suddenly the car door opens and you scramble to hide the stuff beneath the seats. Gojo enters the car with a bag and hands it to you. "Change into that, you can't show up..." He eyes you from head to toe, he smirks. "Like that."
"You still haven't told me where you're taking me." You said as you take the bag from him. You peer inside and there is a modest pastel flower pattern long sleeved dress, some cute brown slippers, a brush and hair tie. There was also a bra that is suspiciously your correct size, a little too close to your size. With all the times he has seen the female anatomy naked, with one glance he can tell the size they'd wear in clothes, shoes and underwear... Thats a little creepy and amazing.
You mean, imagine if he were your boyfriend, you'd feel a little special if your boyfriend can tell what size you wear in anything with just one glance, but outside of that... Its kind of creepy... And pervy. And thats coming from you.
"Uh, home..." He teresly says, his attention mostly in his phone.
You take out the clothing from the bag, not believing how easily you're letting this guy kidnap you.
As you grab the hem of your oversize tshirt you glance up at Gojo expectantly, his eyes down in his phone. You cough loudly to get his attention. He glance over his shoulder to look at you. "Are you going to leave?" You questioned.
He raise a brow, "what for?"
"Um privacy?" You said like its the most obvious thing.
"I see women naked daily, yours isn't anything special." He states so casually. He then glance at you one more time and smirks. "Maybe a bit special, if thats the words you want to hear."
You scoff. You seriously never met someone so arrogant. Its such a waste of good looks. "Leave! Or I'm not changing."
Even though his eyes are covered by his glasses you can still sense the hard eye roll he was giving you in the rare view mirror. He finally leaves the car.
Once he leaves you change into the clothes. The dress fits surprisingly well, he really got your size right. The sleeves were translucent, and you didn't expect it to be a wide deep V neck, yet somehow it seems alot more appropriate compared to that girl from the parking lot that shared your same name. You can still look sexy yet modest.
You lower the window just enough to tell him he can come back in. "Come out, i want to see how it fits." He says.
"You'll see it properly when we get to the location." You replied, a hint of sass in your tone. You're still upset that he's dragging you around to god knows where is home, and without so much an apology or proper explanation.
"Aweee come on. I'll die of curiousity before we get there." He sighs.
"Good, that will teach you to kidnap me."
"Come on Y/n, we go way back, we even had bathes together, no need to be shy." He says grinning like his words are innocent.
"No!!!"
He sighs dramatic. "God you're a prude." With that said he enters his car.
Considering we've been driving for 45 minutes and still haven't arrive you're assuming home is back in your old neighbourhood. His house.
You decided to distract yourself with questions. "So how was life without me? Clearly miserable since you've turned to alcohol and Hedonism." You questioned, throwing back his own cockiness back at him.
"Yes I was sooo miserable without you that you're the reason I've become a troubled youth." He says sarcastically.
"But jokes aside. What really happened." Your tone shifting from playfulness to serious.
"I just grew tired of being inside. Needed some fresh air."
You raise a brow, arms crossed. "If by fresh air, you mean inhaling coochie like their going out of style?"
Gojo chuckles. "Looks like I'm not the only one that changed. You're so blunt with your words. I never met someone so straightforward-" Gojo stops mid sentence thinking. "Uh, well that chick from last week was pretty straightforward... So was that double d chick... And-"
"Damn, i get it, you get all the hoes."
He grins. "Anyways, speaking of hoes, you got any? Or still too shy."
You roll your eyes. Truth be told you haven't had any. Haven't tried sex, kiss anyone, dated. You were just happy admiring men from afar. But you'll be damned if you admit that.
"Wouldn't you love to know." You teased hoping he doesnt pry further cause you're still trying to think of a convincing story of some hot guy you're dating.
"Yes i would. Kind of curious what your type is."
"Its not you Satoru."
"Thats because you haven't had a taste of me yet." He teased. "But for real though. Who are you dating."
You bit your lip, thinking still what convincing story you can give him, but all that comes to mind is, "His name is Kirara." You lied.
"Is he treating you well?" He questioned.
“Um… yeah. He looks out for me,” you said, your mind drifting back to the time Kirara had pointed out a guy who was exactly your type when you picked him up from school.
The conversation fizzled out almost immediately. Maybe he hadn’t really cared whether you had a boyfriend or not, it felt more like something to pass the time than anything meaningful.
Before you could dwell on it, a massive mansion came into view.
Luxury cars lined the lawn like a display, their polished surfaces catching the light. Guests milled about in outfits that looked red carpet ready, tailored suits, glittering dresses, effortless wealth. A quiet discomfort settled in your chest.
You were underdressed.
Gojo’s nanny came hurrying toward the car, her usual composure replaced with visible panic. You turned to Gojo, only to find his expression had hardened, shadows settling behind his eyes. Whatever this was, he wasn’t happy about it.
Without a word, he shut off the engine and stepped out.
From inside the car, you watched him approach her. Even through the tinted windows, you could see it, that tight, practiced smile stretched across his face. The kind that never reached his eyes. You didn’t need to hear him to know his voice carried an edge.
Their exchange was brief.
Too brief.
Gojo brushed past her, barely sparing a glance for the guests who eagerly called out to him. He moved fast, almost like he was trying to outrun something, and disappeared into the house.
The nanny lingered for only a second before composing herself and walking around to your side. She opened the door, offering you a strained smile.
“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” she said softly, helping you out. Her hands moved quickly, smoothing your hair, adjusting your outfit, small, nervous gestures. Then she linked her arm with yours, guiding you forward. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”
“What’s going on?” you asked, lowering your voice as you stepped into the crowd.
She hesitated, drawing in a quiet breath. “Gojo’s parents wanted to see him today, but somehow it turned into…” Her words trailed off as she gestured subtly to the spectacle around you.
The laughter. The chatter. The audience.
“So… why am I here?”
“They wanted to meet his close friends too,” she explained. “You know how they are, they’ve been absent his whole life, and now…” She didn’t finish.
She didn’t have to.
Understanding settled heavily in your chest.
This wasn’t a reunion.
It was a performance.
And Gojo...
Gojo was the main attraction.
Your gaze drifted toward the entrance he’d disappeared through, your stomach tightening. No wonder he’d been tense. No wonder his smile had looked so… wrong.
Anyone would be furious.
To have your parents walk back into your life only to turn your first meeting into a spectacle, something to parade in front of their peers, to earn admiration, approval…
Brownie points.
Your jaw tightened slightly.
Yeah.
You’d be angry too.
________________
You wandered through the living room, surrounded by laughter that belonged to people who had probably never held loose change in their lives.
Despite the suffocating, polished atmosphere… you were enjoying yourself.
Why?
Men in suits, of course.
Who wouldn’t?
Broad shoulders straining against tailored fabric, muscles subtly outlined beneath crisp shirts. Veins tracing along their hands as they held delicate wine glasses, fingers flicking just enough to reveal iced-out watches checking the time, sure, but really just flaunting wealth. Perfectly groomed hair, deep voices that rumbled low enough to make your insides tremble.
It was… distracting.
One man, in particular, caught your attention.
Long black hair pulled back into a sleek tie, a suit worn just loose enough to look effortless. The first few buttons of his shirt were undone, exposing a hint of skin. His eyes narrow, observant, paired with lips that curved into a relaxed, knowing smile.
There was something about him.
Familiar.
You frowned slightly, staring a little too long. You knew that face, you had to, but no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t place it.
So lost in thought, you didn’t notice the server behind you.
He was struggling under the weight of a tall stack of expensive china.
Until he collided with you.
The crash was deafening.
Porcelain shattered against the floor, pieces scattering in every direction as the room fell silent. All eyes turned toward you.
A sharp sting cut across your ankle, but you barely registered it.
Because the look on the server’s face-
Pure terror.
Like his entire life had just crumbled alongside those plates.
“Oh God, I’m so sorry, I-”
Your apology died in your throat.
A sharp, commanding voice sliced through the silence, accompanied by the distinct click of expensive heels.
“What in tarnation is all this noise?”
The room parted for her.
She stood there like she owned not just the house, but the air within it. A coat draped elegantly over her shoulders, a deep blue silk dress hugging her frame, ruby-red heels clicking softly against the floor. Her lipstick matched, bold, precise, contrasting beautifully against her flawless skin. Her hair was styled to perfection.
Doll like.
Elegant.
And unmistakably-
Gojo.
His mother.
The server snapped upright. “I’m so sorry, miss! This lady bumped into me and caused all the china to fall!” he rushed out, words tumbling over each other as he shoved the blame onto you.
Your guilt evaporated instantly.
Oh, absolutely not.
The woman’s gaze flicked downward to the shattered porcelain, then to you, then back to the server.
Silence stretched.
When she didn’t respond, he began rambling again, digging himself deeper, painting you as the problem.
She cut him off with a single look.
“It’s just plates,” she said coolly. “There’s no need for all this chaos. I can always buy more.”
Relief flooded his face-
Too soon.
“But,” she continued, her voice dropping just enough to send a chill through the room, “I don’t take kindly to staff blaming my guests for accidents whether it’s their fault or not.”
The air shifted.
“You’re fired. Have your manager, or whoever writes your checks pay you for the hours you’ve worked.”
She dismissed him with a flick of her hand.
A few guests chuckled as the man scrambled away, replaced almost instantly by other staff who began cleaning the mess like it had never happened.
Then her attention landed on you.
“You…” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You look familiar.”
She tapped a manicured nail against her lip in thought.
“Linda.”
Gojo’s nanny appeared at her side almost immediately.
“Do I know her?”
Linda smiled warmly, something almost proud in her expression. “Yes. This is Satoru’s childhood friend, Y/N.”
The shift was subtle.
But you felt it.
Her lips relaxed from a polite smile into something more neutral, more assessing. Her gaze dragged over you from head to toe, taking in everything.
Judging.
“Well,” she said lightly, amusement curling in her tone, “it’s good he surrounds himself with the middle class. Builds character. Teaches humility.”
Soft laughter rippled through the nearby guests.
Your face burned.
The words hit harder than you expected, sharp, humiliating. To be reduced to… that. A lesson. A prop.
You caught Linda mouthing a quiet sorry.
Gojo’s mother’s gaze dropped to your ankle, where blood had begun to trickle down your skin. Her lips pressed into a thin line.
“Have someone clean her up. She’s dirtying the floors.”
“I’ll do it.”
The voice cut in smoothly.
You turned-
It was him.
The man from earlier. Why?
Linda blinked in surprise as he stepped forward, beating her to it.
“Oh! And this is Suguru, Gojo’s current best friend,” Linda added quickly.
Recognition clicked.
You’d seen him before.
In photos. Tucked between pages of Gojo’s scrapbook that you found in his car. Note to self, return it back into the glove box.
Suguru stepped closer, completely composed, as if this entire situation hadn’t just unfolded. He took Gojo’s mother’s hand with practiced ease and gave a polite shake.
“Hello, ma’am. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
There was a brief pause. Then-
“Oh,” she said, a hint of approval slipping through, “I like him.”
Of course she did.
Linda gently guided her away, thanking Suguru as she left. “Please take care of her ankle.”
And just like that, the tension shifted again.
Leaving you alone... With him.
_____________________
Suguru led you through the halls with quiet confidence, like he belonged here.
Then again… maybe he did.
He moved without hesitation, turning corners effortlessly, navigating the mansion far better than you ever could. To be fair, you’d only been here a handful of times back when you and Satoru were inseparable, when everything felt simpler.
Now?
This place felt foreign.
You glanced at him, your thoughts tangling over themselves.
Should you ask why he was helping you?
Or how he’d managed to win over Gojo’s mother so easily with nothing more than a polite greeting and a brush of his lips against her hand?
Should you have done the same?
Get on all fours and kiss her feet, maybe?
Yeah… no.
No amount of money was worth your self-respect.
…Now, if abs and pecs were part of the deal...
“Wait here. I’ll get a first aid kit.”
His voice cut cleanly through your thoughts, grounding you.
You blinked, caught off guard.
Before you could respond, before you could even nod, he was already gone, slipping out of the room like a shadow.
You exhaled, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, the silence settling around you.
There wasn’t much to say anyway.
Your gaze drifted toward the door he’d disappeared through, your mind circling back to him.
Suguru.
Compared to Satoru, loud, obnoxious, impossible to ignore, you couldn’t quite piece together how the two of them worked as best friends.
Then again…
For all you knew, Suguru was just as bad.
Just packaged differently.
Not loud chaos...
But the quiet, dangerous kind.
The type that didn’t need to try.
The type that already knew.
____________________
Suguru returned a moment later, his suit jacket gone, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his forearms, veins faintly visible beneath his skin.
…Jesus.
He knelt in front of you like it was the most natural thing in the world.
One hand gently cupped your ankle as he carefully slipped off your sandal, his touch steady, unhurried.
“Are you usually this kind to strangers?” you asked, watching him closely.
Him on his knees in front of you?
Yeah… that was a very good look. A dangerous one.
A low chuckle slipped from his throat, deep enough that you felt it more than heard it.
“Is there any reason I shouldn’t be?” he replied, easily turning your question back on you.
You pursed your lips, caught.
“…Fair,” you admitted. “It’s just... People don’t usually do things like this without a reason.”
He said nothing at first.
Instead, he soaked a piece of cotton with alcohol and pressed it gently against the cut. You hissed at the sting.
His thumb brushed lightly over your skin in response, slow, soothing.
Too gentle... Suspiciously gentle.
“My reason,” he said calmly, wiping away the dried blood, “could be as simple as kindness.”
You tilted your head slightly, watching him.
“Or…” you dragged out, a hint of teasing slipping into your tone, “you could be a playboy playing the long game to get into my pants.”
That got a reaction.
A small smirk tugged at his lips as he placed the bandage carefully over your ankle, his touch lingering just a second longer than necessary.
“You’re assuming a lot,” he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Would you want me to?”
Your breath hitched just slightly.
He looked up at you then, eyes steady, unreadable. His thumb traced absentmindedly over the edge of the bandage, never breaking eye contact.
Your stomach flipped.
Oh.
He was dangerous.
Not like Satoru, loud, obvious, unapologetic.
Suguru was different... Quieter... Sharper. The kind of man who didn’t chase.
The kind who made you lean in first.
The kind who could make you believe there was something more, something real, only to pull the ground out from under you when you were already too far gone.
Yeah... This made perfect sense. Of course he was Gojo’s best friend. One wore his red flags like a warning.
The other?
Wrapped his in silk and handed them to you gently.