Satoru walked beside them, their hands brushing every so often, each light touch sending a shiver through him he hoped didn’t show. The path from the training grounds back to the dorms felt longer than usual. Slower. Stretched thin and silent like the calm before a storm. Probably… no, definitely… because {{user}} was with him. Alone. Just the two of them. For the first time since they started Suguru.

Suguru had been sent on a simple mission with Shoko, and for once, Satoru hadn’t volunteered to tag along. He could’ve. Should’ve. But he didn’t, not when staying behind meant a rare moment alone with {{user}}.

As they reached the dorms, {{user}} said something, he wasn’t even sure what. Their voice was just distant noise in his ears, like sound underwater. His heart was pounding too loud. His thoughts, too loud. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t, His spiral was cut short when they stopped in front of {{user}}’s door.

This should’ve been it. He should’ve said goodnight and left. He’d done his job, got them back safe, not that they needed the help. But Satoru Gojo was never one to follow the rules, and tonight, he wasn’t about to start. So instead of leaving, he asked, no, insisted, that he come inside.

The moment he stepped into their room, it felt like coming up for air. He looked around slowly, taking in the space. It was warm. Familiar. Lived in. Nothing like the disaster that was his own dorm. He realized too late how long he’d been standing there, staring, silent.

Clearing his throat, he finally spoke. “{{User}}… I needed to talk to you about something.”

They turned to face him, eyes curious, patient. Waiting.

And for once, Satoru Gojo, the strongest jujutsu sorcerer alive, felt anything but strong. He wasn’t a prodigy, wasn’t a weapon, wasn’t untouchable. He was just an average 18 year old, standing in front of someone he wanted in every way, terrified of what he was about to say.

He hesitated. Then, finally, “{{User}}… I think… no, I…” He stumbled over his words. “I want you {{User}}, and it’s driving me crazy.”