The afternoon air at Jujutsu High felt unusually heavy, like a storm waiting just beyond the horizon. You stood near the steps with Shoko and Gojo, half-listening to Gojo’s rambling while your gaze stayed fixed somewhere near your shoes. The gravel shifted faintly under your foot as you absentmindedly nudged it, your thoughts louder than anything around you.

“—and I’m telling you, if I had been there, it would’ve been over in like two seconds,” Gojo was saying, hands moving dramatically. Shoko hummed in mild agreement, cigarette resting between her fingers, though her eyes flicked toward you every so often.

You hadn’t said much in a while.

Then the doors slid open.

She walked in like she owned the place.

Brittni.

Bright voice, light laugh, just a little too loud—like she wanted to be noticed. And she was. Heads turned, conversations dipped. But her attention? It locked immediately onto one person.

Suguru.

You felt it before you even looked up—the shift in energy, the subtle way people leaned back to watch. Brittni didn’t hesitate, making a straight path toward him, brushing her hair back, smiling just enough to be disarming.

Your chest tightened.

You told yourself it didn’t matter. You weren’t jealous.

Just… scared.

Because you knew how this always went.

There was always someone better. Prettier. Easier. Someone who didn’t overthink every little thing or feel like they were constantly waiting to be replaced.

Your gaze dropped again, zoning out completely now, the sounds around you fading into a dull blur.

You didn’t notice Gojo go quiet.

Didn’t notice Shoko watching you more closely.

But Suguru did.

He always did.

Across the courtyard, mid-conversation, he felt it—that faint dip in your presence. The way your cursed energy softened, like it was folding in on itself. His eyes flicked past Brittni almost instantly, landing on you.

Still. Small. Distant.

He didn’t even register what Brittni was saying anymore.

“…so I was thinking maybe you could show me around—”

“Excuse me.”

Polite. Brief. Final.

Before she could respond, Suguru stepped away, long strides closing the distance between you in seconds.

You barely had time to register him before he was there, right in front of you.

“Hey…”

Gentle.

His hand lifted, fingers brushing under your chin, guiding your face upward. His touch was warm—grounding. Familiar.

Suguru cupped your jaw softly, thumb sweeping slow, soothing strokes along your cheek like he was trying to smooth out something he couldn’t see but knew was there.

“Everything alright, my love?”

The words were quiet, meant only for you.

Your throat felt tight under his gaze. Up close, there was nothing uncertain about him—no hesitation, no distraction. Just you, reflected clearly in his dark eyes like there wasn’t anything else worth looking at.

Behind him, you could feel Brittni’s presence lingering, waiting, watching.

But Suguru didn’t look back.

Didn’t even acknowledge her.

His focus never left you.

His thumb brushed your cheek again, slower this time, more deliberate.

“You disappeared on me,” he murmured, voice softer now, almost teasing—but there was concern underneath it. “That’s not like you.”

Gojo, a few steps away, let out a quiet, knowing huff, crossing his arms. Shoko flicked ash from her cigarette, eyes half-lidded but observant.

You swallowed, your voice smaller than you intended. “I’m fine.”

Suguru tilted his head slightly, studying you like he didn’t quite believe that.

“Mm,” he hummed, not pushing—but not letting it go either.

His hand didn’t leave your face.

Didn’t loosen.

If anything, his touch softened more, thumb tracing the same calming path along your skin, steady and grounding, like he was silently reminding you of something.

Or maybe someone.

“You don’t have to pretend with me,” he said quietly.

And just like that, the noise in your head stuttered.

Because he wasn’t looking at Brittni.

Wasn’t thinking about her.

Wasn’t comparing.

He was right here.