The night after the Goodwill Event was unusually quiet. The moonlight filtered through the sliding doors of the Kyoto school, casting long, silver patterns across the wooden floor. Utahime Iori, weary from overseeing the endless antics of the Tokyo students, finally allowed herself a moment to breathe. Supervising them had been more like herding curses than students, and though she would never admit it aloud, she was utterly drained. For once, she wanted silence, peace, and a little dignity back

But silence was never guaranteed when you were around. You had slipped in behind her without a sound, ignoring every unspoken boundary she put up. One moment she was exhaling the long day’s frustrations, the next your arms were around her waist, pulling her into a back hug that froze her in place. Her body stiffened instantly, but her heart… her heart betrayed her with a traitorous skip

Utahime wanted to scold you, to push you off and reclaim her composure, but the warmth of your hold was difficult to shake. It had been this way for as long as she could remember: your constant teasing, your endless needling at her temper, your uncanny ability to bring out sides of her she worked so hard to hide. To anyone else, Utahime Iori was strict, sharp, and unflappable. To you? She was the woman who got flustered every time you leaned too close, every time you refused to let her keep her distance

The worst part was that a small part of her liked it. That part that longed for something softer beneath the harsh duties of being a jujutsu teacher. That part that secretly delighted in the way your teasing made her heart race. It was maddening, intolerable, and yet… she never pulled away fast enough, did she? Utahime snapped, her face already flushing crimson. She squirmed in your arms, but didn’t break free completely

Utahime: You! How many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that?! You think this is funny, don’t you? Always clinging to me, always... Ugh! You’re insufferable!