Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Suguru!” Gojo’s voice called down the hallway, followed quickly by hastened footsteps. Geto paused, almost frozen, at hearing the familiar voice calling his name. Slowly, he turned around, giving a white-haired boy a confused look.

”I thought you were on a mission.” Geto said and faced him, placing one hand into his pocket.

”Yeah, but I managed to finish early and got back in time to see you.” Gojo explained with a smile as he rubbed his neck. Geto remained silent for a moment, which Gojo took as an invitation to continue. “I know you have a mission, but can we talk for a moment? I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a while, I’ve just been so sucked up in training and missions that I haven’t had any time to focus on really anyone or anything else.” Training and missions? It felt like just an excuse.

”Satoru, I can’t. I have to get ready to go-“ Geto tried to turn away in an attempt to dismiss Gojo, but he was quickly forced into a nearby classroom by Gojo’s Limitless. “Satoru, you can’t just-!” His argument was quickly cut short when he saw the concerned look on Gojo’s face.

”Can we just… talk for a minute? I’m seriously concerned, Suguru.” Gojo pleaded, “you look like you’ve lost weight, and you almost look as pale as I naturally am.”

”In all honesty, I’m shocked you’ve even noticed-“ Geto replied, his voice cold as he turned away.

” What? ” Gojo quickly retorted, his face changing into one of shock and offence.

”With how self-centred you’ve been for the past year or so.” Geto finished, with a fraction of all the bite and jealousy that had been building in him for the past year.

”Self-centred?!” Gojo exclaimed in a shocked tone, “what are you on about?!”

”Satoru, I know for a fact you’ve had the free time to come and talk to me when you’re not training or on a mission. Hell, you could have even texted or called me when you can’t come to me directly. Perhaps even organised a time with me to actually talk. But you’ve barely even acknowledged my existence outside of class, nevermind communicate with me.” Geto couldn’t help the fact that his eyes glared cold daggers into the boy opposite him.

”Suguru, I haven’t- I’m not… me?! Self-centred?” Gojo laughed at the sheer ridiculousness of the statement, but it was forced.

” Yes. ” Geto replied, his eyes narrowing. “You always have been, it just seems to have gotten worse since you gained that god complex of yours.”

Gojo didn’t know how to respond. His best friend, his partner, his boyfriend had outright stated he was being self-centred and having a god complex. It’s not like he could even deny it, he knew that much.

Geto let out a sigh and rubbed his eyes, before starting to walk away when he sensed that Gojo had nothing else to say.

”If that’s all, then I’m leaving. This ‘conversation’ was useless.” Gojo’s internal panic alarms started to blare.

”Wait, Suguru.” He said quickly and took a step forward towards the man, causing the black-haired man to stop dead in his tracks in annoyance. “Just… will you talk to me after the mission? Please…?” Geto took a few moments to respond.

”Yeah… sure.” Gojo could hear the dismissal in his tone.

”Turn around and… and promise me… promise me that you will actually talk to me about what’s wrong when you’re back- and you better come back!” 

Geto listened, his brows furrowing. He didn’t respond immediately, more taking the time to process Gojo’s desperate tone and plea.

“Suguru!” Gojo pleaded, having a really bad feeling. Geto finally turned around and gave Gojo a facsimile of the smile he used to give the boy.

”I promise.” 

And with that, Geto left. Gojo watched him walk away, feeling almost helpless to do anything despite the fact he could do everything to prevent something bad from happening.

”What’s this?” Geto asked, staring at the two small girls trapped in what almost looked like a jail cell.

”What does it look like?! They’re the cause of everything that’s been happening here!” The old man exclaimed.

”No, they’re not.” Geto stated coldly and simply. “I already dealt with the cause.” He dismissed the accusation outright.

The following words that came out of the man and womans’ mouths almost blurred in his head as he stared at the young girls, raking over how to deal with the situation in his head. He shut his eyes tightly as he tried to focus his thoughts, but they only seemed to become more disorganised as multiple things flashed through his mind; the clapping of those damned monkeys, his conversation with Yuki, the taste of cursed spirits, and Gojo… Gojo… Gojo Satoru. The boy who had surpassed Geto in so many ways that they weren’t on equal playing fields anymore. The boy who had widened and kept on widening the ever-growing distance between them. Gojo Satoru, Gojo Satoru, Satoru, Satoru! Gojo Satoru!

”Promise me… promise me that you will actually talk to me about what’s wrong when you’re back- and you better come back!”

Geto’s eyes almost snapped open as Gojo’s desperate words rang through his head. 

After a moment of contemplation, Geto turned around and smiled at the adults.

”How about we take this outside?”

”HUH?!” Gojo exclaimed.

”How do I put this…” Geto said with a nervous smile, avoiding Gojo’s confused gaze as he reached up to rub his neck.

”You were supposed to exorcise the curse! Not bring back two kids with you!” Gojo almost yelled, but noticed the two girls hide behind Geto.

”I didn’t exactly have a choice, Satoru.” Geto looked at Gojo as he firmly stood his ground to defend his decision. “They would have been killed, or worse, if I hadn’t taken them with me. They didn’t have any parents or family that cared for them, and they’re twins.” 

”Wait until Yaga finds out about this, then you’ll be in serious trouble.”

”Wait until I find out about what?” Yaga said simply as he came into the room.

”Yaga!” Gojo exclaimed and practically spun around, quickly using his infinity to push the girls back and close the door behind Geto. The two girls let out a small yelp, immediately revealing themselves (as if the door slamming shut quickly wasn’t suspicious enough). Geto looked at Gojo then behind himself, confused.

”Welcome back, Geto. I trust you dealt with the problem swiftly.” Yaga said as he walked over to them.

”Yes, I did. However, there’s one other issue. There were two young girls, twins in fact, who had promise as future Jujutsu Sorcerers. However, they were unfortunately being blamed and ridiculed for the disasters. I talked with the villagers and promised to take the girls off their hands and deal with them… so I brought the girls here, to Jujutsu High.” Geto opened the door and revealed the two young girls. “They’re called Nanako and Mimiko; twin girls.” 

Gojo just hid his face in second-hand embarrassment, meanwhile Yaga looked down at the girls with a stern look on his face.

”I can take care of them.” Geto told Yaga, “I’m sure my parents would be willing to help out if I explain the situation to them.”

”You’re saying you’re willing to adopt these girls?” Yaga asked and turned to Geto.

”That is what I’m suggesting, yes. But only when I am able to.” Geto said with a smile, but noticed the way Gojo looked at Geto with almost panic before shaking his head and raising his hands.

”Nope, I’m out of here. You guys can talk about that between yourselves. I’m going to my room.”

”I’ll see you soon then, Satoru.” Geto called after him, almost as if he was indirectly fulfilling his end of the deal they made.

”Bye.” Gojo simply replied with a simple wave of his hand.

“I cannot believe you brought back two young girls and said you were going to adopt them.” Gojo almost whined when Geto entered his own room; Gojo sitting on his bed.

”I wasn’t expecting you to take on any responsibility in helping me raise them, Satoru. Besides, I said that I would adopt them.” Geto explained as he started to get changed into PJs.

”Yeah, but I’m your boyfriend so it sorta makes me feel like I’m immediately getting responsibility forced onto me when I didn’t even want to be involved in the lives of some kids I’ve never even met.” Gojo explained, but Geto only gave him a strange look.

”You’re the only one putting that responsibility onto yourself.” Gojo rolled his eyes and laid back, a small thud coming from where his back hit the bed. “Besides, it's not like Yaga even knows about our relationship… speaking of which.” Geto crossed his arms and faced his bed to look Gojo directly in the eyes.

”Hm?” Gojo looked at him, lifting his hand to take off his glasses.

”It doesn’t exactly feel like we have been a couple this past year, considering everything that’s happened…” Gojo sighed and sat back up, putting his glasses back on.

”Put a shirt on before you start lecturing me.” Gojo grumbled and sneered a little, “or don’t. I don’t mind either way.” Gojo quickly added, raising his hands in a mocking surrender. Geto only rolled his eyes as Gojo chuckled at his own comment, putting on his shirt as he walked over, before sitting down on the bed.

The room fell awfully silent. Gojo didn’t know where to start, and Geto didn’t know where to continue from where he left off.

”Ever since that day…” Geto started, hunched over and not even looking at Gojo as he held himself up with his arms on his legs, “it only feels like we’ve been drifting apart. You have continued to get stronger and stronger, meanwhile I’ve only remained stagnant. Exorcise, absorb, exorcise, absorb, exorcise, absorb. Over and over and over again.” Geto clenched his fists, and Gojo could easily see how bitter that made him just from the way Geto’s shoulders tensed up. “The same every mission, the same every time, and with no way of improving myself. But you… you ascended, and you’ve only continued to get stronger, and stronger, and stronger. The distance between us keeps on getting larger and larger, and I have no idea how to close that gap. And with no one there… being left to my own devices, being left without a voice to fill the void but my own internal monologue…? It had almost driven me to insanity.”

”Had…?” Gojo questioned, his voice quiet, almost timid. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

”I had a conversation with Tsukumo Yuki,” Geto started as he looked up and towards the door, “the special grade sorcerer.  She told me she wanted to create a world where cursed spirits no longer exist, and she brought up two different ways of doing so. Either by removing everyone’s cursed energy, like with what happened with Fushiguro.” Geto could almost feel the tension rising in the room without even looking at Gojo by just mentioning that name. “Or turning everyone into sorcerers… But neither of those were really realistic paths. And then I thought of an alternative path… by killing every non-sorcerer, and forcing them to either become sorcerers for their own protection, or die scared. At the time, I didn’t know whether that was truly the path I wanted to go down, or to listen to the part of me that rejected the idea as a whole. The idea sounded plausible to me, although immoral…”

”And that path sounded realistic to you?” Gojo remarked snarky, but Geto only ignored him and sat up to straighten his back as he looked up towards the ceiling

”And then in the village… with the twins… a man and a woman were telling me that they were the cause, that they should just be killed… and that was almost the point where I snapped…” Geto paused for a moment and looked back down, rubbing his face, “but then your words came back to me… a promise- or rather, you making me promise to talk to you once I came back. A promise to you that I would come back. So many things ran through my head in that singular moment; my grief over Riko, the…” Geto paused as he considered his words, his eyebrows only furrowing and his eyes only narrowing for just a moment, “the non-sorcerers celebrating our failure, how far the distance between us had grown and how much you had gotten stronger.” Geto took a moment to collect his thoughts and rubbed his face.

“But that one promise two days ago… it broke through the chaos, and helped me at least realign my thoughts. I cleared my head, and decided that taking the young girls away from the village, bringing them back to Jujutsu High, would be the best course of action.”

”If I never spoke to you that day, then you would’ve…” Gojo said in disbelief, almost barely above a whisper.

”Yeah… I would have killed that whole village.” Geto admitted, and Gojo grit his teeth.

”Bullshit! You can’t seriously sit there and tell me that that’s what you would have done! What you have become!” Gojo exclaimed, shaking so violently and his body so filled with anxiety from Geto’s words that he felt nauseous. He wanted to refuse that reality; refuse that it could have become reality. He wanted to refuse that this person, this man , that he loved had changed so drastically as to seriously consider mass murder.

”Satoru, it is the truth!” Gojo’s eyes widened then softened, hearing the clear pain in that first sentence. “The past year has been eating away at me. It has been eating at every fibre of my being; every fibre of my psyche. It has changed me, and not in a way I’m entirely proud of.” Gojo almost couldn’t figure out what Geto’s tone was meant to be. He sounded mournful, regretful, but he also sounded almost apathetic; like he didn’t care that that was the truth. A great contrast to the first sentence of what Geto told him at that moment.

Silence fell once again upon the two boys, neither one of them knowing what to say or how to continue. On top of that, Gojo was trying his best to process that the past year, maybe even his own actions, had caused the very person he cared the most about to drift away and become someone entirely different. Someone he didn’t even recognise outside of the voice, face, and name. Was this truly Geto Suguru? Was this truly the boy he had known since April 2005? The boy he had become so close to that they would start a relationship only Shoko knew about? Was this really the same person he had grown to care about? Love, even?

Geto once again broke through the silence, but Gojo was only half listening.

”Ever since that day…” Geto started, but paused and then started again, “I have been thinking about that scene… almost every day for the past year. I had asked Riko if she wanted to… to stay… and she said she wanted to, but then she…” Geto practically choked out the words, “she was dead before I could even process what had happened…” Geto furrowed his eyebrows and rubbed his eyes, “maybe if we hadn’t… maybe if we just did things differently… she would still be here… maybe if-“

”Maybe if I hadn’t failed.” Gojo practically whispered, and Geto finally turned around with wide eyes and saw Gojo had his head on his arm, which was being propped up by his knees. 

“Satoru-“

”Maybe if I just… maybe if I had just left Limitless on for a little bit longer. Maybe if I had stayed more cautious. Maybe if I had tried harder. Maybe if I had been stronger!” Gojo’s volume rose as he continued to speak, but his body became tense as he gripped onto his sleeves desperately, “maybe Riko wouldn’t have died! Maybe she would have been absorbed into Tengen! Maybe she would still be here, with us, to smile and laugh! But I failed, Suguru! I nearly died! You nearly died! And Riko was killed! I can never let a failure like that happen ever again! It’s why I have to keep training, it’s why I can’t take a break!” Gojo looked up at Geto with a pleading look on his face as he took off his glasses, “I can’t let another person die ever again because of my failure! I will keep training and training, forcing my body to its limits, until no one can even touch me- until no one can die unless I say they can die!” 

Geto watched the tears fall from Gojo’s eyes, perplexed. It was such raw emotion that he didn’t even remember the last time he had seen Gojo this emotionally vulnerable.

The next sentence that came out of Gojo’s mouth almost broke Geto, and forced him to reevaluate what he had been thinking the entire last year.

”You’re the only person who could ever understand that, Suguru… You’re the only person who could ever understand how that feels…” Gojo’s head fell back onto his arm as he almost curled in on himself, letting his sunglasses go and fall between his legs.

Geto stared at Gojo, feeling… conflicted. On one hand, Geto felt almost guilty for assuming Gojo had been so self-centred. He had neglected to even consider how lonely Gojo might have been feeling; that that day had been the entire cause as to why Gojo had been so isolated and focused on his training. On the other hand, however, Geto almost felt no sympathy. Gojo had power, Gojo had strength, Gojo had the ability to do whatever he wanted just with a single hand wave, and Gojo could never understand how Geto had been affected. But maybe their own overwhelming, consuming guilt about Riko’s death had caused them both to go down a path of isolation and maybe even self-centredness. Had Geto been just as self-centred as Gojo? Was he too consumed in his own thoughts to even consider Gojo’s own feelings? To even consider that Gojo was just as traumatised as him from that experience they alone shared together?

Geto tried to reach out towards Gojo, but found his hand was stopped by Gojo’s Limitless. His eyebrows furrowed and he looked up at Gojo. Thinking back, Geto had noticed Gojo had stepped forward towards Geto. Perhaps he had gone to grab Geto when he was trying to speak to him, but seemed almost hesitant. But he knew that couldn’t really be anything to do with Limitless… right? Gojo could touch whatever he wanted, it was just that other things or people couldn’t touch him.

”You’re right, though…” Gojo wiped away his tears and spoke after another few moments of silence, his head hung low, “I was wrong for pushing you away, I could have talked to you. I was just scared of allowing myself to be vulnerable, to put my guard down for even just a moment… it’s stupid, and it doesn’t make how I’ve acted okay. And yeah, I keep making everything about myself. And yeah, I do have a god complex, and yes, I am self-centred… but I do truly care about you, Suguru. I wouldn’t be who I am today without you. Even if our power levels have distanced us greatly, I still consider you my equal…” Gojo slowly reached forward and placed his fist gently against Geto’s shoulder as his head continued to hang low, “even if you don’t; even if we’ve grown too far apart for you to even consider the possibility of us being equal in power. I just… being the strongest is lonely…”

”Satoru…” Geto mumbled slowly.

”I know… I know I am the strongest…” Gojo removed his hand from Geto and crossed his arms along his knees and rested his chin on his arms, “is it because I’m Gojo Satoru? Or am I Gojo Satoru because I’m the strongest? I don’t know, and I never will. But if I didn’t exist? Then you would be the strongest, Suguru, and I’m not just saying that to make you feel better. Curse manipulation is a broken technique, especially if you get a hold on a special grade curse. Or who knows? Multiple special grades. You shouldn’t compare yourself to me, Suguru. I would say it will only drive you to madness, but you’re only two steps away from that point.” Gojo let out a small huff of saddened amusement at his own comment, but Geto only continued to stare sadly. “Comparing yourself to me is paramount to comparing yourself to a god.”

”What…?” Geto muttered as his face immediately changed to a grossed out one, but Gojo only continued as if Geto hadn’t interrupted him.

”It’s futile, in the end, and it has only stagnated you. Instead of trying to get stronger in your own right, you set me as this unachievable goal that you could never hope to gain the heights of.”

”Hearing you call yourself a god is enough to make me want to punch you.” Geto grumbled and rubbed his eyes to the bridge of his nose, before brushing his hand over his hair.

”Shut up,” Gojo chuckled and rubbed his eyes again. He reached down between his legs and picked up his sunglasses, putting them back on and looking back up at Geto. “I make a good point, don’t I? You won’t ever be able to surpass me in raw power, no one could. But I know you can get stronger if you set yourself on the right path.” Gojo smiled at him, but Geto didn’t know whether to feel insulted or thankful. Maybe a mix of both?

”How do you always have a way of making something sound both extremely sincere and insincere?”

”Huh?” Gojo quickly sat up, and gave him a confused and offended look.

”Nothing.” Geto waved his hand and looked away. “I’m glad we were able to have this talk. It really helped put things into perspective.” Gojo stared quietly at him, not responding, but Geto only smiled at him. “However, I think we should put some ground rules into place.”

”Alright?” Gojo grabbed Geto’s pillow and hugged it lengthwise-up, placing his chin on the top of the pillow.

”I think, to prevent any further misunderstandings like this that could lead to me nearly going insane or you feeling you’re burdening everything on your shoulders, we should talk to each other when stuff comes up. And if we can’t do it at the relevant time, we set aside a time to talk properly.”

”And it doesn’t have to exactly be about stuff in relation to the other, more just what’s on our mind or bothering us?”

”Yes, exactly.” Geto finished, and Gojo smiled.

”I’m okay with that. I think it would help.” Gojo reassured Geto, “especially if “a talk” was all that it took to make sure you didn’t kill a whole village!” Gojo smiled and laughed softly, and Geto smiled back softly.

”Good… now get back to your own room, I would like to sleep.” Geto stood up and stretched. Gojo placed the pillow back and stood up.

”Yeah, yeah. You need it too.” Gojo teased and Geto looked at him, confused.

”Excuse me…?”

”I know for a fact you’ve been losing sleep on top of losing weight, I could tell just by looking at your face, nevermind how thin you’ve visibly gotten. You know I’ve got good eyes,” Gojo explained and pulled down his glasses slightly with a smirk, I could tell just by looking at ya, I didn’t need to see you undress to tell from that.” Gojo pointed at Geto as he moved his” finger up and down. Geto gave him an unimpressed look. “Hey! Don’t look at me like that! Oh yeah, I forgot to ask.” Gojo pushed back up his glasses. “What are you going to do with the twins?”

”My parents agreed to take them.” Geto started as he fixed his bed up. “I will adopt them, which I am perfectly happy to do, but I can’t be taking care of them all the time. They also can’t be here at the school either.”

”You’re also 17, meaning you can’t do shit until quite literally next year, since your birthday’s in February.” Gojo said bluntly, placing a hand on his hip.

”Exactly. So they will be in my parents’ custody until I can take them myself.” Geto looked at Gojo, who now looked deep in thought with a hand on his chin. “What is it now?”

”I was just wondering… How exactly am I going to fit into all this?”

”Only time will tell. Besides, putting the point back onto you, you are only 17 so I’m not about to expect you to make a decision like that when you don’t even have the responsibility to take care of them.”

”Technically, neither do you.” Gojo quickly retorted and pointed at Geto.

”Yes, but I have made my decision already. Village or no village, I would have taken those girls in as my own.” Geto explained simply, crossing his arms.

”I really don’t like the implication of “or no village”.” Gojo muttered, but Geto only laughed. “You, my good fellow, need therapy. Quickly and desperately.”

”If I am getting therapy, you are as well.” Geto smirked.

”In my defence, I didn’t nearly wipe out an entire village!” Gojo exclaimed with a smirk as he backed away towards the door.

”Go to bed, Satoru.” Geto said dismissively with a gentle smile.

“Goodnight, Suguru.” Gojo replied before quickly leaving.

Geto sighed heavily, laying back on his bed. The night’s events replayed in his head. Geto’s admission of nearly going insane, Gojo calling himself a god and admitting his self-centredness, Gojo’s tears.

Gojo’s tears.

When was the last time Geto had seen Gojo cry? Has he ever seen Gojo cry? Has he ever seen Gojo that vulnerable before? The white-haired man was always dismissing any concerns, he had always been playful or sarcastic and never took anything too seriously. But tonight, he saw Gojo finally… finally cry. He finally got to see how much Riko’s death had affected Gojo. Geto knew he should have seen this coming, but perhaps he was too wrapped up in his own guilt and trauma to even recognise that Gojo’s training and isolation from others was a trauma response, and not simply a result of ascending. 

Of course it was a trauma response. They were 16. 

They were 16 and let the most important child die.

They were 16 and failed to keep the most important child alive.

They were 16 and were expected to be the strongest.

They were 16.

They were only 16.

They were only 16 and had the weight of the world on their shoulders.

They were only 16.

Gojo was only 16 and was expected to be the strongest.

Gojo was only 16 and was expected to do the impossible.

Gojo was only 16 and almost died.

Gojo was only 16.

Of course it was a trauma response. 

How could he have been so stupid?

Chapter Text

”I was just wondering… How exactly am I going to fit into all this?” Gojo looked at Geto with a concerned look

”Only time will tell. Besides, putting the point back onto you, you are only 17 so I’m not about to expect you to make a decision like that when you don’t even have the responsibility to take care of them.”

”Technically, neither do you.” Gojo quickly retorted and pointed at Geto.

”Yes, but I have made my decision already. Village or no village, I would have taken those girls in as my own.” Geto explained simply, crossing his arms.

”I really don’t like the implication of “or no village”.” Gojo muttered, but Geto only laughed. “You, my good fellow, need therapy. Quickly and desperately.” 

”If I am getting therapy, you are as well.” Geto simply replied, his back to Gojo, but Gojo could almost hear the smirk.

”In my defence, I didn’t nearly wipe out an entire village!” Gojo exclaimed with his own smirk as he backed away towards the door.

”Go to bed, Satoru.” Geto said dismissively and smiled back gently at Gojo.

“Goodnight, Suguru.” Gojo replied before quickly leaving, closing the door behind himself.

Gojo stared slightly at the wall in front of him, thinking over their conversation, once he had closed the door and simply stood in front of it. He let out a heavy sigh and rubbed his face, almost knocking off his sunglasses by accident. If he knew at least one thing coming from that, it was that Geto was serious when he told Gojo that he nearly killed that whole village. And in all honesty? Gojo couldn’t entirely blame him. He had nearly done the exact same thing back on that day . Back then, Geto was the one to talk Gojo out of it, telling him that there would be no point. But to Geto? There would have been a point, even if it was nonsensical and ridiculous. Gojo wouldn’t have even been able to talk Geto out of it, even if he tried so desperately to. He just felt relieved that the promise is what made Geto reconsider and return without any blood being spilt by his hand.

Gojo simply just sighed heavily and went to his room down the hallway, thinking it was just best to sleep off the anxiety and worries instead of thinking about the what-ifs until he made himself sick.

”Wait- you’re telling me you just brought two little girls back from the village without even considering for a moment what you’d do afterwards?!” Shoko scolded in exclamation, staring baffled at Geto. “Not to mention without even contacting anyone, not even your parents nor Gojo - who is, may I remind you, your fucking BOYFRIEND , to tell them that you would be bringing two whole ass children back with you?! Have you gone insane, Suguru!” Shoko finally finished her rant that left her panting, but her final sentence caused Gojo, who had been covering his mouth and looking away to mask his second-hand embarrassment, and Geto, the man in question, to look at each other with furrowed brows and knowing looks.

”I think you’ll find the answer to your question there is-“ Gojo started, putting his hands together and looking away from Geto but not towards Shoko either. Geto’s face immediately riddled with panic as Gojo started speaking. “Yes, he’s definitely gone insane.” Geto almost felt relief at the sheepish smile and half-lie that came from Gojo, but he also felt absolute befuddlement that Gojo had almost revealed to Shoko the information Geto had entrusted to him in the privacy of his own room.

”Fantastic.” Shoko grumbled and rubbed her eyes, looking down. Geto looked back at Shoko and put on a small, but anxious, smile and waved a hand.

”It’s fine, my parents agreed to take the twins in until I could take them into my care.” Geto explained, but Shoko only gave him a blank stare before silently turning her eyes to the white-haired boy standing right next to him.

”You know exactly what I’m going to say, don’t you?” Shoko told Geto with a raised eyebrow.

”I do.” Geto replied simply.

”We…” Gojo looked over at Geto before turning back to Shoko, “we talked about it last night.”

”Gojo doesn’t have to have anything to do with the twins at all. It’s his decision to make whether he gets involved in their lives or not.” Geto explained simply.

”Mm, good luck with that.” Shoko mumbled before going silent for a short second in thought. “They’re two girls, right?”

”Yes?” “Yeah.”

”If you ever need my help, I’ll be happy to provide.” Shoko told Geto simply, giving him a reassuring smile that caused Geto to smile back as she crossed her arms.

”Glad to hear it.” Geto told her.

”You’ll get to be Auntie Shoko!” Gojo teased with a shit-eating grin, causing Geto to laugh and Shoko to roll her eyes in annoyance.

A week had passed since then. But then a week turned into a month. And a month turned into three. And suddenly, Gojo was 18. 

Gojo had still been so wrapped up in missions and training that by the time he had any free time for himself, he just went straight to his room and slept. He had barely talked to Geto, feeling more like a zombie than an actual functioning human with social capabilities. Half the time Geto would message him, he would say he was too tired to talk. And if he didn’t say that, he just straight up blanked him by complete accident; usually by falling asleep before he could even manage to find the energy to respond. He wasn’t even aware of the amount of times Geto had opened the door to check on Gojo, only to find him fast asleep on top of his bedsheets in his uniform.

”Satoru.” Yaga called as he caught Gojo down the hallway.

”Huh?” Gojo looked at Yaga, looking almost visibly annoyed and apprehensious. “I don’t have another mission to go out on, right? I just got back from the previous one,” Gojo drawled out, standing up straight and rubbing his face to try and clear the still-present sleepiness from his eyes.

”No, no. I just managed to catch you and thought it would be best to say happy birthday. So… happy birthday.” Yaga explained simply, walking down the hallway to him.

”Huh…?” Gojo stared at him tiredly, before the neurons connected a few seconds later, and he quickly bowed, “thank you, Sensei!” But this sudden reaction caused Yaga to pause and stare at the boy in confusion.

”Don’t tell me you forgot your own birthday…” Yaga grumbled as Gojo stood back up straight.

”If I’m being honest, sir, I didn’t even realise it was December already.” Gojo laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck with his eyes closed paired with a sheepish smile, before pausing and opening his eyes. “Wait- I don’t have any missions today?”

”You have been on them pretty much back to back for the past year or so. I made sure that unless it was an emergency, you should just be left alone for the next week. But still make sure to do your training and catch up with class work!” 

With that, Yaga left and Gojo almost felt himself melt with how happy he was that he was finally being given a break. And then a realisation struck him. When was the last time he spoke to Geto…?

Geto managed to happen across a pretty frazzled Gojo, who seemed to be in a panic about something.

”Satoru, are you-“ Geto started, but was immediately caught off guard and was startled when Gojo’s neck almost snapped from the sheer speed at which he turned his head, before which he teleported in front of Gojo and bowed.

”Suguru, I am so sorry I haven’t spoken to you for nearly 3 months!” Gojo nearly yelled, clearly very ashamed of himself by how low his bow was, and also how loud he yelled his apology.

”Satoru…” Geto mumbled and blinked in shock before smiling, “it’s alright, seriously. Stand up.” Gojo slowly rose and looked at Geto, regret and guilt in his bright blue eyes; hidden behind the black shades.

”Really…? Because the last time I didn’t speak to you for an extended period of time, you nearly…” Gojo slowly explained, his stomach in knots at the thought, but Geto only laughed and gave Gojo a warm smile.

”I think you’re forgetting the exact circumstances in which that almost happened. Besides, you have been swamped the past year, nevermind the last three months.” Geto instinctively reached out to try and physically comfort Gojo, but was quickly reminded that that was impossible right now. 

“But…” Gojo gulped and stared at him, anxiety painted on his face.

”It’s alright, really. Were you even aware that it’s your birthday today?” Gojo’s eyes peering away and sheepish smile immediately gave the answer away. “Right… come on, let’s go to your room… or my room, whichever works for you.” Geto turned, and Gojo very quickly lit up with a bright and genuine smile returning to his face at last.

”How have the twins been?” Gojo asked, sitting curled-up on his bed with a controller in his hand as he watched Geto close the door behind himself with a medium-sized bag in hand. But Geto only huffed in amusement at his question, and replied as he walked over to the bed.

”We haven't talked for three months and the first thing you ask me about is them?” He only laughed more and smiled at Gojo’s pale face turning a bright shade of red as he started to stumble over his words in an attempt to defend himself. “They’re okay. I try to see them when I have the time. I actually showed them around Jujutsu High last week when you were out on that Special Grade mission.”

”Oh? Do they like the school?” Gojo watched him before peering slowly at the bag Geto placed down next to Gojo before sitting down next to the bag, putting the bag between the two boys.

”They like the school, they definitely like Shoko and the first years. But everyone else is a little too scary for them right now. However, when I asked if they would like to attend and become Jujutsu Sorcerers in the future, they immediately beamed and said yes.” Geto explained with a proud smile, and Gojo only smiled more with a warm chuckle.

”Who knows? Maybe I could even teach them in 10 years time!” Gojo announced proudly and happily.

“What?” Geto looked at Gojo with a look of surprise and question, but Gojo simply responded with a brighter smile as his eyes lit up.

”I want to become a teacher at Jujutsu High! I think there’s some real potential in training and nurturing the abilities of the next generation. I want to take that talent and desire, and actually turn it into something; creating more and more powerful Jujutsu Sorcerers in the future, just like us!” Gojo explained so proudly that he was waving his hands (and the controller) around as he spoke. Geto could only stare at Gojo in mere surprise, however he couldn’t remain silent for too long before he smiled fondly and laughed softly. “Huh? What are you laughing for?” Gojo asked, his excitement faltering a little.

”I’m sorry, I just…” Geto continued to laugh before claiming himself down and smiling lovingly at Gojo, “if you told me a year and a half ago that you, Gojo Satoru, wanted to be a teacher at Jujutsu High, I would have asked you if you were pulling my leg. It’s hard to believe how much you have changed from the arrogant 16 year old who was too full of himself for his own good.”

Neither of them needed to state how much that day had changed them, but Geto could never have seen it affecting Gojo to the level that he would end up changing so drastically as a person to the point that he would want to become a teacher. Or maybe Gojo had always felt this way? Geto felt like that was impossible, given the way Gojo once was in the past.

”You say that like it’s a bad thing…” Gojo smiled nervously, looking at Geto with some apprehension.

”No, no. It’s a good thing. It’s a nice change,” Geto reassured him as he crossed his legs and gestured to the bag, “you can look in the bag, by the way. They’re presents. I still have some extra things but I’m keeping those until Christmas, so don’t get any funny ideas.”

”I won’t, don’t worry.” Gojo chuckled as he opened the bag and started to pull things out and unwrap them. Geto watched silently as Gojo pulled out the presents and lit up with each one.

”Suguru, I forgot to mention.” Gojo started as he was putting away and organising the presents Geto had gotten for him. 

“Oh?”

“You look healthier.” Gojo smiled at Geto. “It’s nice to see that you’ve gained some weight.”

”I didn’t even notice.” Geto mumbled and looked down at his hand.

”I um… besides that, though…” Geto looked back up at Gojo fast enough to see the boy’s face redden before he had quickly looked away, “I was wondering maybe if you wanted to… go out… maybe tomorrow or the day after…? Yaga said my schedule should be full unless there’s an emergency, so… what do you say?” Gojo looked at Geto with a nervous smile, and his cheeks bright red. Geto could almost laugh at how cute he was being.

”Are you attempting to ask me out on a date?” Geto leaned forward, smiling so fondly and lovingly at the white-haired man.

”Maybe.” Gojo felt almost giddy asking, which felt almost utterly ridiculous considering they had been dating since near the end of their first year. He had known this man for 2 and ⅔ of a year. So despite how long and how close they had been, he still felt so nervous asking his partner officially out on a date for the first time in a year. Maybe even longer? Had they ever officially gone out on a date before? And yet, despite all the twists and knots that formed in Gojo’s stomach from the question, he watched Geto’s smile turn even sweeter and happier.

”I would be delighted to go out on a date, Satoru.” Geto told him gently.

”Great!” Gojo threw his hands up in the air in triumph, smiling brightly. “Uh- I mean-“ Gojo quickly paused but it was too late, Geto was already laughing at his reaction, smiling so hard that his cheeks had started to hurt. “Stop laughing!” Gojo blushed brightly, but Geto also blushed.

”You’re so cute sometimes,” Geto told Gojo between laughs.

”Shut up…” Gojo also laughed and walked over, sitting next to him. He went to reach for Geto, but stopped himself and instead grabbed his own sleeve.

”It’s a date then.” Gojo stated, smiling happily. Geto look back at him and nodded, mirroring Gojo’s smile.

”It’s a date.”