satoru... of all people. why did i have to fall for him? you thought, burying your face in your pillow.

the memory of his easy, almost dismissive rejection still stung, a raw, throbbing ache. "i need to focus on becoming the strongest, y'know?" his voice, usually so playful, had held a distant, almost apologetic tone that somehow made it worse.

each unanswered call, each ignored message, was a tiny act of defiance, a way to protect the fragile remnants of your dignity.

you'd cocooned yourself in your apartment, a self-imposed exile from the world, and especially from him. the 'what ifs' swirled in your mind, a relentless, agonizing loop.

what if i hadn't been so impulsive? what if i'd waited? what if...

the insistent buzz of the doorbell shattered your melancholic reverie.

you hesitated, a flicker of irritation battling with a sliver of curiosity. who would dare disturb your carefully constructed wall of misery? with a sigh, you dragged yourself to the door, smoothing down your rumpled pajamas and attempting to tame your disheveled hair.

the moment you opened the door, your breath hitched. there he stood, satoru gojo, his usually bright eyes clouded with an unusual seriousness, his signature grin replaced by a hesitant, almost vulnerable expression. he shifted his weight, scratching the back of his neck, a gesture so uncharacteristic that it sent a jolt of confusion through you.

"hey," he said, his voice softer than you'd ever heard it. "can... can we talk?"