Chapter Text
“Dear Ms. Tachibana,
Please consider this the official termination of our contract. Your full payment for this month has already been transferred. As I have found a substitute for your position, no longer do you need to come tomorrow.
Couldn’t say it’s been a pleasure working with you.
Best.
Gojo Satoru.”
Gojo sighed as he pressed send. Though he lied a bit about having found her substitute, at least he had the decency to terminate the contract professionally, unlike Miss Party B over there.
“Isn’t that like the third one this month already?” inquired Geto sarcastically, counting his fingers in the most obnoxious manner possible.
Gojo was ready to hurl an office chair at his smug face.
“This one almost groped me while fixing dinner for Megumi,” he fake cried, voice high and accusing, “I’m the victim here, Suguru.”
Geto raised an unimpressed eyebrow, sarcastic retort ready on his lips but decided against it.
“Besides,” Gojo added, leaning back on his leather chair and kicking his long legs up to rest on the pristine office desk, “I can’t help being so damn irresistible.”
Geto needn’t glance at his direction to tell that Gojo had had this pompous, assholey smirk on his face. The man chuckled, “Yeah, you can take all that irresistibility to make little Megumi eat his broccoli, alright?”
He got up to leave, and Gojo sprung out of his chair, already blocking the door in two hasty strides. Damn his long legs.
“Wait! Wait wait wait wait Suguru-kun,” sing-songed Gojo as he pushed him back down on the sofa, “you need to help a friend out of this predicament here!”
“Satoru, I don’t even know why you’re asking me of all people for help.” Geto sat back and observed his friend as he continued, “I’m a young bachelor in my prime. I don’t have any kids. Why would I know anything about babysitters?”
Gojo’s exaggerated eye-roll was anticipated.
“Okay one, he’s not my kid. I’m taking him in under Yaga’s order, so we have a strictly business relationship.”
Geto snorted.
“Two, I know you know a lot of people, so chances of you knowing a decent candidate is fairly high. And three,” he continued, “I too am a young bachelor in my prime.”
“But…?” Geto prompted.
“No buts, I just like stating that ‘cause you also did.”
Geto briefly wondered if the scowl on his brows would become a permanent thing if he hung around Gojo for too long. But he guessed seven years would be far enough for permanent damage.
“Satoru dear, wouldn’t you think my social circle will mainly consist of other bachelors and bachelorettes in their prime? And therefore have zero babysitting background and experience?” Geto said calmly, enunciating his words like talking to a child. Gojo Satoru obviously qualifies as one.
“I’m at my wits end,” Gojo threw his hand into the air, exasperated, “the damn nanny company thinks I’m the problem client and refused to delegate a new one, while their babysitters were the one propositioning me!”
“Ah, suffers from success.”
“I would laugh if my situation isn’t so direly unfunny,” Gojo sighed the fifth time that afternoon, defeated, “if I have to wash that gremlin’s ass with my own hands, I will set the entire house on fire, and then myself.”
“Wouldn’t you be on fire already if your entire house is burning?” Geto retorted. And before the smartmouth could answer, he added, “And Megumi-kun doesn’t seem too bad. Isn’t he a nice kid?”
“If by ‘nice kid’ you mean ‘have-the-judgemental-attitude-of-a-teenage-girl-and-moodiness-of-an-edgy-adolescent-boy then yes, he’s a nice kid.”
“He’s eight, Satoru.” Geto deadpanned.
“My point exactly!” Gojo snapped, voice vindicated, “he’s eight and he judged me for leaving bell peppers out of my pizza.”
“He’s not wrong, you should eat more vegetables.”
Gojo looked betrayed, as if Geto had said something royally scandalous.
“You take that back right now!” he said dramatically, and Geto knew all too well his theatricals.
“Anyways,” he stood up from the sofa, patting the crease on his slacks, “I’ll get back now as I’ve got a meeting in,” he checked his watch, “9 minutes.”
Before the ridiculous manchild in front of him could let out a whine, Geto said, “But I’ll make some calls and pull some strings for you. Will let you know at 5.”
Gojo faked swooning, with his hand resting on his forehead, silver eyelash fanning at Geto and everything, “Oh I love it when you pull your strings for me, Suguru.”
Geto suppressed an eyeroll. “Get back to work, Gojo sir.”
He drew out the last word and left, the door clicking quietly behind his back. What ridiculous CEO their company has had the privilege of having.
.
From sugu-kyun
So I have good news and bad news.
4:59 PM
From me
waddup
5:00 PM
From sugu-kyun
Good news is I’ve found a new babysitter for you.
5:01 PM
From me
and d bad news?
5:04 PM
From sugu-kyun
It’s my distant aunt’s recommendation. Her daughter studies in Early Childhood Education.
5:05 PM
From me
oh hell no im not gonna employ ur cousin twice removed or whatev to be my babysitter
5:05 PM
From sugu-kyun
Obviously not, my cousin’s family is loaded. But she might know a friend who would take you up on an offer.
5:07 PM
From me
hmmm
5:08 PM
From me
alright
5:08 PM
From me
tell that kid im willing to pay handsomely (haha get it) as long as i dont have to take care of the gremlin
5:09 PM
From sugu-kyun
Tell them yourself. [Attached image]
5:15 PM
Gojo clicked on the image to make it bigger, but the entire thing was just a screenshot of a contact: name and phone number, probably forwarded from Geto’s long lost cousin.
Itadori Yuuji.
080 ### ### ###
Gojo debated on texting or calling the kid, but ultimately decided that calling would be a much better option, as he might need this Yuuji to start first thing tomorrow.
He punched in the numbers and pressed the sleek black screen of the phone against his cheek. The line rang one, twice and came a voice young and energetic.
“Hello?”
“Hello, is this Yuuji-kun?”
“Yes, may I ask who this is?”
“Gojo Satoru, I called because I have a job offer for you, Yuuji-kun.”
“Oh shit,” Gojo heard the boy blurted out and a sound similar to one slapping their own mouth. He snorted before Yuuji continued, “Sorry! I mean, um, this is unexpected.”
“Yes, I understand” Gojo put on his best diplomatic tone, “and I apologize for the abruptness, but would you be open to being a babysitter for an 8 year-old boy. Your job will include picking him up from school, sometimes he has clubs, make sure he has dinner and bath and all that before getting him to sleep. I will pay you 50 dollars per session but if your rate is higher-”
“Yes I’ll do it.”
“-I’ll be willing to. Wait, huh?”
“I said I’ll do it. But I, uh, don’t exactly have a lot of experience in babysitting even though I am studying early childhood care-”
“Fear not, Yuuji-kun,” interrupted Gojo, a ghost of a smile on his lips, “We all start somewhere.”
Gojo imagined this Yuuji-kun smiling sheepishly on the other end of the line.
“Speaking of which,” the man continued, “would you be able to meet tomorrow? I wouldn’t ask you to start right away. Just meeting me and the kid and talking a bit more before we officialize everything, sounds good?”
It might have been a suggestion, but the tone of his voice has a finality that didn’t allow for any further debate.
“Y-yes, sir, Gojo, sir,” the boy on the other end finished lamely, and Gojo found the stuttering earnestness honestly quite endearing.
“I’ll text you a list of locations for our meet-up tomorrow. Choose one and a preferred time for you.”
“Um, yes, okay.”
“See you tomorrow, Yuuji-kun. It’s been a pleasure.”
Gojo hung up before he could catch the hitch in Yuuji’s voice. He promptly sent the list of coffee shops that he frequents for casual-business meets to Yuuji, then looked up the number for the burger place Suguru told him last week.
One big order of 4 burgers with extra bacon and cheesy fries later, Gojo received a text from a newly added contact.
From Yuuji-kun
This location at 8AM tomorrow would be most convenient for me. Unless you are busy then we can totally reschedule.
5:48 PM
From me
nah thats fine by me. See u there at 8.
.
The next morning found Gojo Satoru sitting crossed-leg at a table by the window of their agreed location. The place Yuuji chose was one of his favorite café. Noroi was a classy coffee shop close to downtown Tokyo, secluded enough so it wasn’t always bustling with corporate bros lining up for their morning caffeine fix or young trendy ladies having impromptu photoshoots against the chic background.
The whitehaired man leaned back on his chair, sipping on his caramel macchiato with extra sugar and caramel syrup. He was aware of the effect this establishment had on him: the sleek white walls and flawless marble tabletops did wonders to compliment the silver of his hair and the celeste hue of his eyes. He was wearing a simple turtleneck and plain black slacks, threw in a gray coat and a pair of round-rimmed sunglasses. Gojo Satoru knew he looked stunning, so might as well put on a show.
The man checked his watch, 7:55 AM, Yuuji should be arriving soon.
It wasn’t like Gojo to be early, believe it or not. But this morning he had to take the little scoundrel to school himself, much to his dismay, so he might as well treat himself with a double shot macchiato.
His gaze drifted to the scenery outside the window, overlooking the gate and the little courtyard lined with vines and greenery leading to the coffee house. Out of the corner of his eyes, Gojo saw a mop of cherry blossom hair, pacing nervously just outside the gate. The young man was wearing a peach pink hoodie to match the shade of his hair, and against the elegant background of Noroi, he stuck out like a sore thumb.
Gojo continued to observe the jittery boy outside the window, with his non-stop pacing and checking of his phone, checking the name of the street and the sign of the shop. The vibration of his phone snapped Gojo from his little trance.
From Yuuji-kun
I’m here. But I don’t know if I got the right address.
7:59AM
Gojo bit back a chuckle. He might have a hunch on who the cherry blossom hair outside was.
From me
go inside, im sitting by the window on d right. ill wave when i see u.
8:00 AM
Gojo took another sip of his caramel treat as he watched the supposed Yuuji-kun making his way inside the coffee shop. The boy was clearly nervous, his eyes were flicking from table to table, window to window, hands clung tight to the strap of his brown messenger bag.
Deciding it was time to put the boy out of his misery, Gojo got up and waved. The reaction in Yuuji’s eyes was instant: widened with relief but simultaneously replaced with a different kind of nervousness.
“Yuuji-kun, isn’t it?” Gojo flashed a smile, and offered his hand. Yuuji nodded and shook his hand before sitting down on the opposite chair. Up close, Itadori Yuuji was a normal college kid, with bright hazel, kind eyes that somehow felt familiar despite this being his first time seeing them.
“You must be Gojo-san?”
“The one and only,” he grinned as the waitress put a menu down in front of Yuuji. “What would you like to drink, Yuuji-kun? My treat.”
Yuuji looked ready to protest, but he caught Gojo’s eyes and quickly diverted his focus on the drink menu, his cheeks turning the shade of his hair. Adorable.
The boy settled for a peach tea, and Gojo bit back a comment about how it suits him. Instead, he cut to the chase and briefed Yuuji on his upcoming babysitting job.
“The thing is I’m in desperate need of a babysitter. If you choose to take the job, your duty will consist of taking the br-,” he hesitated, “Megumi-kun to school in the morning and maybe take care of his breakfast if you’re up for it. You will pick him up in the afternoon, the hours may vary depending on his club schedule. After school, I’ll need you to stay with him until 7 or 8 as I might work late. You can help yourself to any takeout restaurant to order dinner for both you and him. Megumi should be able to shower himself and go to sleep at designated time, so you are dismissed once I’m home and dinner and his homework is taken care of.”
Yuuji listened intently, nodding and humming short responses to make known that he understood.
“As for schedule,” Gojo started as he watched Yuuji whip out a small notebook, “Megumi’s class starts at 8 AM, but he likes to be early for god knows why. He should be at school at 7:45. Pick-ups will be at 4 in the afternoon, except on Tuesday and Thursday when he has baseball club, which will finish at 5.”
“Um,” Yuuji interrupted nervously, fingers picking at his pen gnawingly, “I have morning classes on Thursday and Friday, and they start at 7:30…” The boy trailed off, but Gojo knew what he meant.
Gojo contemplated for a second, then he smiled reassuringly, “No worries, Yuuji-kun. I can take Megumi to school on those 2 days. Anything else?”
Yuuji checked his notes and schedule a second time, then flashed Gojo a smile so bright it caught him off guard. In his world, rarely does he see smiles that are genuine and reach all the way to one’s eyes.
“I think we’re good. Megumi-kun’s schedule works out well with the rest of my timetable. I hope you don’t mind if I work on my homework while Megumi and I wait for you.”
“Not at all,” he laughed, “knock yourself out. Later I’ll take you to his school to get your caregiver access card, and then back to our place to get you a security card to my apartment as well?”
Yuuji nodded and sipped on his peach tea. And Gojo delightfully observed as the boy seemingly melted at the bitter sweetness of his drink. The rest of the morning went smoothly with Gojo pulling Yuuji along, introducing him as Megumi’s new babysitter and showing him around. Despite having done this procedure several times at this point, Gojo found it fairly enjoyable and refreshing with Yuuji as his companion. The boy was earnest to a fault, with virtually no filter on his reaction. And Gojo often found himself smiling along with him throughout the morning.
They finished up at 10, parting because Yuuji needed to get ready for his class. Gojo waved the boy goodbye before closing the door of his car. Tomorrow should be fun.