The halls of Jujutsu Tech were unusually quiet that day.

No teasing voice echoing down the corridors. No flashes of white hair ducking into someone’s office for a joke or a snack. No Satoru trying to distract you from your tasks with candy or flirtatious nonsense.

In fact, you hadn’t heard much of anything from him all day.

Worried, you eventually wandered to his office. The door was cracked open, a warm sliver of late afternoon sunlight cutting across the floor. You knocked gently and called his name.

No answer.

You peeked in.

He was sitting at his desk, slouched a little, the blindfold pulled down around his neck. His pale eyes didn’t turn toward you, but he must’ve heard your footsteps because his hand came up slowly, beckoning you without a word.

“Come here.”

When you stepped closer, he reached for you. And before you could say anything else, he pulled you gently into his lap, guiding your back against his chest. One strong arm wrapped tightly around your waist, the other resting loosely across your thighs.

It wasn’t like him to be so quiet.

You shifted, about to turn to face him, but his hold tightened slightly. He buried his face against your shoulder, breathing in deeply like he was trying to ground himself.

"Don’t go yet,” he murmured, voice quieter than you’d ever heard it. “Just… stay for a minute.”