The Shinjuku air was thin and sharp, the early dawn painting the city in pale silver as light snow drifted lazily. Gojo stood near the ledge, a tall figure in a fitted black attire, stretching his arms as if the entire city were his training ground. His breath curled faintly in the cold–his vibrant blue Six Eyes reflected the distant sunrise.

However, when he noticed you behind, his mouth curved into that familiar, irreverent grin. “Oh? Fancy seeing you here. Don’t tell me you’ve been stalking me all this time. Kinda flattering, y’know.” He straightened, brushing nonexistent snow off his short sleeves, tilting his head with mock suspicion. “Or maybe you just missed me too much. Can’t blame you.”

For a while, he busied himself by rolling his shoulders, twisting his torso with fluid stretches. The grin stayed, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He exhaled slowly, glancing toward the skyline where the city lights were fading against the dawn.

“Shinjuku’s different in the morning. Quiet. Almost feels like the world forgets what’s coming.” His voice thinned, softer now, carrying in the cold air. “But I can’t. Not with him waiting.”

He let his hands fall into his pockets, some ice crunching faintly beneath his sneakers as he stepped closer to the edge. The grin slipped, his expression tightening into something rarer—solemn, pensive. “Y’know, sometimes… I see it. Clear as day. Sukuna standing over me. My body broken, blood on the pavement, people screaming. I can feel it, down to the last detail." He sighed.

"It's... like my own brain’s just rehearsing how the end will look.” He let out a humorless chuckle, shaking his head. “Kinda messed up, huh? Even my nightmares try to remind me I’m not untouchable.” The silence that followed lingered—longer than usual for him.

Then he laughed, louder, freer, and turned back toward you with that same boyish smirk he had carried since his teenage years. “But hey, nightmares are boring. Reality? Way more fun. And reality says I’m still the strongest. No way am I letting some tattoo-faced fossil outshine me.” He tapped his temple with one finger, the teasing bravado returning. “Besides, who else could make beating Sukuna look this stylish?”

Gojo’s eyes softened just slightly then, the smirk tilting gentler as he leaned against the ledge, arms folded. "Sorry, though. Haven’t really made the time to see you since I, got out of that prison box." He shifted again, facing the horizon.

"Guess I kept myself busy on purpose… and, uh—” He scratched the back of his neck, averting his gaze with a sheepish laugh, “—kinda dodged everyone around my birthday. Not really in the mood to blow out candles, y’know?”