The Anomaly || JJK

The Anomaly || JJK

Chapter 14: Right and Wrong, pt. 3

summary : In which you're isekai'd from your (own) parallel Jujutsu Kaisen universe to the canon universe.

wordcount : 2.2k

Pairing: Jujutsu Kaisen X Reader, mostly platonic, you're really just part of the story

Masterlist | Next

" Oh.." 

You, Yuuji and Megumi's eyes are wide as Nobara spills her cup of coffee on Gojo sensei's blouse. You don't doubt that it was most probably unnecessarily expensive.

" Shoot." 

" You've done it now, Kugisaki. This is Gojo sensei's, right? " 

Yuuji's words are not very helpful as he holds the blouse, a sweatdrop on the side of his head as he inspects the stain.

Nobara stares down at it, seemingly thinking about what to do.

A moment later, she's drawing on the white board, some kind of explanation going on.

" On one hand, we have Ijichi, who entrusted us with this freshly dry cleaned blouse-" 

You blink at her words, leaning your head down on your palm.

Where exactly was she going with this?

"- And then there's me who spilled coffee on it. Who's really at fault?"

" You."

All three of you speak at the same time, causing Nobara to pout.

" Really Y/N? I thought at least you'd have my back in this." 

You give her an embarrassed smile. Usually, in any other  situation, you would. But this really was her fault. You couldn't possibly defend her from this.

" Let her be. Don't pressure her because of your mistake." 

You, Yuuji and Nobara blink at Megumi in surprise.

Yes, you were aware that this universe Megumi seemed to be fond of you, but now he was even standing up for you! ( He doesn't even do that for Yuuji.) 

He glances at all three of you in an annoyed manner.

" What?" 

All three of you simply blink in response, not elaborating.

Moments later, all four of you are working to get the stain out of Gojo sensei's blouse.

" You gotta dab it like this. Dab. Dab." 

" That's what I'm doing!" 

It's not working. Roughly 20 minutes later, you're all staring at the blouse, which is positively ruined.

" Does anyone have Dasty? We might be able to get it out with that if we soak it for a bit and then throw it in the laundry again." 

Yuuji blinks at your words.

" Really?" 

You shrug,

" It works for most stains. I'm not a coffee drinker though so I've never had to fix a coffee stain before."

Nobara appears to not be listening, her eyes fixated on the shirt before she suddenly speaks.

" You think it could pass for a Marimekko design?"

" That would be an insult to fashion." 

Nobara huffs, before turning to Megumi with a smirk.

" C'mon, I'm sure it's cheap anyway. Fushiguro, look up the brand." 

You cringe.

" I wouldn't be so sure about that, Nobara." 

It's kind of what you expected, but somehow even more expensive.

Megumi doesn't look surprised as he shows the price tag, seemingly unbothered by it. Nobara and Yuuji both wear grave expressions, while you bite your lip.

¥ 250,000 That's a lot of money for a blouse.

Ouch.

" A-after tax?" 

" Before. Does it even matter?" 

Nobara sighs, before hardening her expression.

" Fine. I'll put in ¥ 90,000. You guys can put in a little more than  ¥ 53,000 each." 

" Hue?!" 

You agree with Yuuji.

However, right at that moment, you hear the doors of the classroom open.

Your eyes widen, before you take the blouse and shove it in Megumi's face.

" Quick, hide it in your zip up!" 

" What?! Why can't you hide it in yours?!-" 

" You're taller! Gojo sensei's here already!" 

To your utter surprise, he actually does it.

You didn't expect him to listen.

" Morning! Ijichi said you guys had my shirt?-" 

Gojo sensei's smile slips off his face, his blindfolded gaze on Megumi.

You pretend to look innocent, while Nobara and Yuuji are working hard to hold their laughter. 

" What's the matter, Megumi?" 

He's shoved the blouse in his zip up so quickly, that it's caused a huge bump to form.

" It's nothing." 

He looks mildly annoyed as he speaks, but he's still not pulling out the blouse just yet.

Both Yuuji and Nobara break out in laughter, and Yuuji can't explain in any other way but to pull out the blouse from Megumi's collar. Their dynamic causes you to grin. Even if Megumi is irritated by what's happening.

-

And now, Nobara is dead.

Tears are streaming down your face as you find yourself rooted to the ground, unable to move.

" Kugisaki..." 

Yuuji is on the verge of panicking, of giving up, of calling it quits. And Sukuna knows. 

However, he finds himself unable to move. The marked boy is stood rooted to the ground, one arm still tight around your waist. You're not calling out to him, but he knows that he's the only thing keeping you grounded right now. The only thing keeping you from collapsing completely.

He wants to help Yuuji. He knows he has to, but he fears he's powerless. The Sukuna of this universe is merciless, a true evil. In Yuuji's eyes, Itadori Sukuna is nothing but a bad reminder of the monster who lives inside him. He doesn't recognize him as the asshole brother he is.

Death rarely shakes Sukuna. It was something that has always been that way. Sukuna always seemed to have some kind of error. He didn't have the emotions other people had. He truely cared about very few people, yet didn't mind going out of his way to help another. Yuuji and you are one of the very few people whose death he would actively mourn if it were to happen.

Nobara, one of your best friend's, is dead. But this wouldn't hit Sukuna until he had proper time to sit down. And even when he did, it was a true question whether he'd mourn her.

Sukuna swallows, before softly shaking you. He's toughing up for the two of you. he doesn't know this cursed spirit, doesn't know what's going on in this universe, but if he doesn't step up, Yuuji will get his ass beat and you'll be stuck in your head in a cycle. 

There's no time for that.

Sukuna's eyes widen as the curse, Mahito, closes in, it's focus on Yuuji and Yuuji alone.

" Y/N." 

He continues shaking you, trying to catch your attention. You blink through your tears, trying to regain your attention.

Yuuji gets hit with black flash by the curse. Sukuna shakes you more feverishly, trying to wake you from your numbness.

You finally snap back to Sukuna when Yuuji gets thrown into a wall.

" I need Light Fury." 

Your eyes are wide, taking in the scene, taking in what's happening.

" He needs you.." 

You're back, fully aware again, finally out of your shocked state.

Sukuna shakes his head, his hold on you loosening, before his arm fully slips off you.

He sighs as he faces you, wiping your tears with his thumb.

Sukuna's neutral expression was intimidating, but you have always been able to see through the way he carries himself, has always seen him as him.

And Sukuna knows he could never bring himself to be mean to you when you're crying like this.

Leaning down, he presses a short kiss to your forehead.

" I know. We can't allow their deaths to be in vain. Get me Light Fury, sweetheart. Focus on healing nobara as far as you can. I refuse to believe she dies easy."

You nod, glancing up at him. You're so glad he's here. So glad he's come to save you. So glad you're not alone in this mean universe.

You reach out beside you, focusing on your reverse cursed energy. Some kind of portal opens up behind you, the hilt of a white katana visible. Just like Megumi's shadow follows him everywhere, water is in the very air surrounding you as well. Light Fury is a weapon capable of killing special grade curses. It's loaded on reverse cursed energy. It was originally a regular weapon before Yuta brought it to you with the idea.

Sukuna rips it out of the small portal, allowing it's energy to attract Mahito's attention.

The two of you split up. You take a deep breath before focusing, drawing your ring of water with every last drop you can physically find around you as you drop to your knees besides Nobara's body.

Sukuna was right. Your best friend is tough, You couldn't accept her death just like this. She was too stubborn for that. 

You focus, really focus, finally. Your eyes close as you focus on her vitals, on keeping her alive, or forcefully keeping her body going.

Meanwhile, Sukuna joins the fight.

Mahito seems impressed, avoiding Sukuna's newfound blade with an interested expression in it's eyes.

" Oooeh, you wanna join in on the fun? Found a new toy?" 

Sukuna doesn't react, his eyes sharp on Mahito as he calls out to Yuuji.

" Yuuji. Get up. Stop crying. We need you. We don't have time for that." 

Sukuna could never be soft with Yuuji. Not during training, and not while they might be fighting to their deaths either.

Yuuji shakes his head. He's completely given up. Completely gone. Sukuna would be one of the last people who can save him.

" You should leave. You and Y/N both. I already almost accidentally killed her. This isn't your universe. Go home." 

Sukuna rolls his eyes in annoyance, a vein popping in his head. Did he really have to act all depressed now?  (  Yes, Sukuna, was nowhere near soft on Yuuji. Ever.)

he doesn't need to fight Mahito long. Within seconds, he's suddenly moved to a completely different spot, his place taken by what appears to be a loose rock.

He only knows one asshole with that technique. Todo.

Meanwhile your nose has started bleeding. You're really demanding a lot from your body today, demanding a lot from both your curse energy and reversed curse energy. At this point, you're fighting to stay awake. 

You're exhausted. You don't even know if Nobara is dead or alive anymore. You're fully focusing on healing her, even if it proves to be aimless. You've reached a point where your head hurts, your energy is reaching it's limits, and you can't feel her vitals.

" I- Are you okay?" 

Nitta Arata is both amazed and terrified. You're surrounded by reverse cursed energy, as is Nobara's body.

His call to you makes you blink. Your vision is already hazy.

" Huh?  Who are you?" 

" My name is Nitta Arata. I'm here to help. My technique can stop injuries from getting worse.-" 

Nitta stops talking as you collapse. The ring of water is completely gone, dissipated in Nobara's skin and the air surrounding you. Nitta watches it happen with wide eyes before rushing over. He treats you first, before deciding to apply his technique to Nobara as well. He doubts she's alive, but you had been too focused to not do that. Nitta glances at you one last time before leaving.

That was without doubt the most powerful reverse cursed technique he's seen in his entire life.

Moments later, he arrives at Todo's side.

" I've finished treating the girls over there. One's probably dead though." 

Sukuna's eyes widen as Light Fury dissipates.

Had you collapsed?  

Todo opens his mouth as he takes a good look at Sukuna, and behind him Nitta tenses up as well.

" I'm from Y/N's universe. I'm not going to bother explaining. We have shit to do, get to work." 

Sukuna's eyes are sharp as he passes by Todo, their heights matching. 

Todo can feel this Sukuna is not a threat. He has no cursed energy after all. He respects him as he passes by. Sukuna's brown eyes flit over Nitta hotly for a second, but he doesn't say anything. Moments later, he finds you, seemingly sound asleep near Nobara's side.

He huffs, leaning down and picking you up with ease. He notes the blood that seemed to have run down from your nose. You must have gone beyond your limit.

" Always getting into fucking trouble. Now I have to go find a stupid nasty Shibuya river again." 

He grumbles, complaining to himself as he carries you out of the metro station, taking one last look at Nobara before sighing.

He doesn't want to leave her body behind, but he has no choice.

He glances down at your sleeping form in his arms, before shaking his head, and finding his way outside.

" So much trouble for such a little shit." 

Yuuji is better off in Todo's hands.

[ A/N: Slow updates from now on bc I've got internship, school & work from now on.]

The Anomaly Taglist:

@luxylucylou @kalulakunundrum @strxbxrrylover @aethersslave @jenniferrvsesi @hanatsuki-hime @betizda @sh0uk1 @nymphsdomain

little mouse

{toge inumaki x f!reader}

summary: toge inumaki, the barista at your local campus coffee shop, is the cutest man to ever cross your life— the both of you clicking fast and becoming the best of friends as the years flew by together… but you were in love. uncertain of crossing that line between friendship and lovers as you focused mainly on trying to see if he even liked you back. but as for toge? he was focused on trying not to burden you for the rest of your life because of his inability to speak, wanting you and only you, but juggling and tormented over his labored silent existence, hurting you in the process.

warnings: MDNI. afab!reader, college!au, FLUUUFFFF SO MUCH, pet names, TOGE LOVES YOU BROOO, angst!!! but with comfort!!, happy ending, SMUTTTT, p in v sex, fingering, creampie, doggy hehe, mentions of alcohol and drinking, sorority party, toge is a barista ouuu, cursing, best friends to lovers trope, reader and toge argue, all characters are aged up.

word count: 15.2k

authors note: YEEEOOOOWWWWW this fic was originally NOOTTTT supposed to be 15k but i’ve said it once and i’ll say it again I CAN NEVA STOP YAPPING MY GOD??? i hope you guys love this one as much as i do though it is SOOOOOO CUTEEE man :(( thank you SO SO MUCH for your love and support as ALWAYS, AND I LOVE YOUUUU AHHH MWAH MWAH HAVE A GOOD DAY OKAY <333

anyone that was a regular at the shop knew toge inumaki didn’t really ever speak.

and it was something you found out on your first day of college, running to the nearest coffee shop at eight-thirty in the fucking morning looking for something to snack on and wake you up before lecture, choosing to go to the one just around the corner from campus through a recommendation of a friend— but not knowing at all that you were about to run into the cutest man to ever plague your god damn existence, as well as your bestest friend in the entire world.

toge was the main barista and cashier at the shop, his mixology skill incomparable as no one else on the floor could replicate it successfully without errors the way he did— ringing customers up while simultaneously throwing coffee bases and syrups in a blender, topping each corresponding one with whipped cream on various orders before sliding it over to the pick up counter, all without even breaking a sweat through the times that you’ve shamefully watched him work from your little table before or after classes.

the first time you met him, you thought he was just having a bad day… and that he also hated you.

you had politely told him your order while at the same time ogling his handsome face— a small and simple sweet vanilla cold brew drink with a little blueberry scone on the side— when toge didn’t even spare you a glance and just tapped in your order on the screen, turning the tablet over to showcase the total before moving to the back to get started on your drink, not a single word leaving his scarf covered mouth as you silently paid and got a table.

it’s not like you were expecting anything out of it, but you hoped you would at least catch the color of his eyes before you had to leave.

and it went on like that for a total of four days— you saying the exact same order but just switching up the little pastry depending on your mood (it only consisting of your usual three— blueberry scone, cake pop, and cheese danish), toge’s eyes never leaving the register or drinks he made as you waited, and him sliding over your order in record time as he got started on attending the next customer.

on the fifth day, toge finally looked up.

the way he took your order didn’t change, but when it came to placing it over the pick up counter where you stood, your eyes widened when you noticed he was already looking at you, a grin on his face as he personally handed you your drink instead of sliding it over.

his eyes were purple.

and you just about fucking screamed, your days of hopelessly coming in to try and ridiculously take longer peeks at his face whenever you could finally paying off in that moment— and not expecting whatsoever to see the sides of his mouth marked with tattooed snake eyes either.

that day was also the day you noticed toge knew sign language.

most of the time toge took orders quickly without a word and punched in requests, but from time to time when a customer had a question about a menu item or what the passcode to the bathroom was, he always had a little whiteboard next to him with a black marker to scribble out what he needed to say— regulars already knowing how he communicated and not batting a single strange eye.

but on that day, a new customer came in that you didn’t recognize to be a regular, signing to one of the confused employees at the cash register until the employee turned around and tapped toge on the shoulder, pointing and saying words you couldn’t really hear before he quickly nodded and put down the blender he was holding, going over to sign.

you were mesmerized by it, the way his hands and fingers came together and away from each other to form different words and sentences completely unknown to those who didn’t understand the language, something that was beautiful to you and made you want to actually learn so you could potentially have the liberty to talk to him some time in the future if you could.

the next time you came into the shop early in the morning, toge was at the register. and upon seeing you walk in, he smoothly looked down and started typing away already on the screen, seemingly not listening and leaving you standing there confused.

“um—” you stammered. “can i…”

you trailed off as you watched him pick up his whiteboard and uncap the marker, scribbling.

‘i remembered your order.’

you froze, your heart doing enormous leaps considering this was the first time toge actually spoke to you apart from getting your order down and smiling at you.

“oh! really?” you laughed nervously. “…do i come in here too often then?”

he gave you a friendly grin and shook his head, erasing what he had before writing again.

‘do you want a blueberry scone, cake pop, or cheese danish?’

your eyes bulged. “you know that too?!”

he laughed, the sound making your hands clammy as you giggled along with him shyly.

“i’ll do a cake pop today!” you smiled. “i’m running a little late and that’s— easy to eat.. you know—”

he gave you a thumbs up and nodded, signaling with his head for you to wait by the pick up counter as he scribbled another few words, turning the whiteboard around.

‘i’ll see you tomorrow :)’

your cheeks flushed pink.

“y—yeah!” you spoke gingerly. “i’ll see you toge.”

the next few times after that toge would absolutely beam whenever you came into the shop, having already scribbled down your three choices of your usual pastries before having it ready for you at the pick up counter once you chose, even every now and then asking you a simple thing or two about your classes and major from the register as you sat by your table, him propping his little whiteboard up for you to see.

and ever since you saw that toge knew sign language, you wanted to know too, your desire to communicate with him more efficiently a silly priority on your mind as you signed up for entry level sign language courses at your college, trying to learn as much as you possibly could so it’d be easier for him not always having to step back and write.

“wait wait!” you put your hands out one slow morning upon arriving at the shop, toge stopping mid tap on the screen just as he was about to input your order, eyeing you.

your fingers shook a little as you slowly signed your order and choice of pastry for the day, trying to remember and grasp what you practiced repeatedly the night before, hoping your efforts would successfully come across and that you didn’t look like a fucking idiot.

but his focused eyes followed your movements, carefully watching you sign with pinched brows until you eventually finished— a slow pearly white smile spreading across is face as his gaze flickered to yours before writing on his whiteboard, turning it.

‘you know sign language?’

“barely!” you sputtered. “i um.. i started taking classes a couple of months ago but i’m not very good… did you— get it though? what i said?”

he quickly nodded.

‘it was a little choppy but good! good job y/n :)’

you breathed out a sigh of relief, a hand over your hammering chest as you swallowed.

“oh thank god.” you breathed. “i was worried i looked stupid or was accidentally telling you something weird.”

he laughed and waved you off, a slight tint to his cheeks as he wrote.

‘how’s learning it overall?’

“hard as fuck.” you mumbled, but peering up at him with a smile. “i’m trying though! i really love the language and i love learning it… it’s just hard because my professor kind of sucks and teaches it too fast.”

he hummed, moving around in the back while preparing your order before coming around through the little swinging door and over to your usual table, you standing dumbfounded at the register still as he stood there with your pastry and his whiteboard.

toge pointed to your seat.

“oh!” you gasped, walking over and taking a seat, smiling gratefully once he placed your coffee and cheese danish down for you, but stiffening once he scooched the chair out across from you and sat, your cheeks ablaze again.

“you wanna—” you looked at him with furrowed brows. “you wanna sit with me?”

he laughed a little and nodded.

“but the…” you pointed to the cash register.

he uncapped his marker and wrote, turning the board over.

‘it’s a slow day. if someone comes in i’ll just go.’

“oh— okay!” you breathed out nervously, wringing your fingers together as you kept them on your lap.

your thoughts were speeding across every corner of your mind, not knowing exactly why toge chose to sit with you right now but hanging on to the moment anyways, you anxiously trying to come up with things to say to get to know him a little better.

“i like your um..” you pointed to the corners of your mouth. “—your tattoos. did they hurt?”

he smiled and wrote.

‘thanks :) and not really, my throat hurts more than the tattooing itself hehe.’

your eyes snapped up to his.

“your throat?” you asked softly. “is it okay?”

‘oh it’s fine!’ he wrote. ‘well no but it just hurts a lot when i talk so i just don’t.’

you hummed in understanding, the missing puzzle as to why exactly toge never spoke out loud to anyone in the first place finally clicking into place.

“i’m sorry toge…” you expressed sweetly. “have you tried— well i assume you have but… like getting it checked out? or maybe honey with lemon or—”

he turned his board around.

‘yeah :P nothing really works. L for me.’

you giggled, and he pulled his bottom lip between his teeth in a smile.

‘can you show me what else you know in sign language?’

“ohhh this is it.” you swallowed. “you’re about to laugh in my face and think i’m stupid.”

he laughed and gave you a look.

‘you’re silly. just show me.’

you huffed before timidly showing him very basic simple phrases that you managed to pick up from class out of the millions that were shown— short choppy kiddy words that didn’t even serve to get by in a quick conversation, but enough for simple one worded responses.

“oh! and i like this one the most!—” you put the bases of your palms together and rubbed a little.

toge let out a squeaky cute laugh as he watched you before quickly picking up his marker and writing.

‘cheese? your favorite thing to sign is cheese?’

“yeah!—” you giggled shyly. “it’s funnn! and i never fuck it up.”

he nodded with a gleam in his eye.

‘i could teach you sign language if you want.’

you froze, eyes wide as you looked at him.

“seriously?” you quickly leaned forward. “are— are you sure? you definitely don’t have to at all toge… i don’t want to burden you or anything.”

his eyebrows furrowed and he shook his head.

‘not burden at all.’ he wrote. ‘i’m a lazy fart i don’t do much besides this so it’s fine.’

you giggled and nodded excitedly, a hopeful shine in your eyes as you looked at him.

“o—okay!” you agreed. “i’d like that a lot… thank you toge!”

he was so nice.

and just as he was about to write something else, a customer came through the doors and up to the cash register, toge quickly scribbling something down before standing and showing you, walking backwards.

‘i’ll talk to you later little mouse :)’

you laughed loudly, a hand flying over your mouth as you did.

that nickname stuck.

“bye toge!” you responded kindly, gathering your things before heading out for the day with your coffee and pastry.

unfortunately for you, midterm season came and knocked the absolute shit out of you for a week, you unable to go back to the coffee shop to see toge until it was all fucking over, your heart heavy over the fact that you literally failed your sign language test, but giddy and excited nonetheless to finally see him after a while and go back to your usual happy routine.

and as for toge, he was left utterly confused.

was he too forward? did you think it was weird when he called you little mouse? did you think he was weird?

was it something he did? why had you stopped coming into the shop after going in continuously for like weeks at this point?

and he had just gotten the courage to look you in the eye too.

toge literally had your order ready every single day with your three pastries warmed up and toasted if need be, your sweet vanilla cold brew drink ready to go the moment you walked through those doors at any given point and time… but you just didn’t come. him leaning on the register counter bored out of his mind and dejected over the disappearance of the pretty nice girl that always came in and talked to him at his work, ending up always drinking the coffee he made for you silently and munching on the three pastries you chose between when it was time to close.

but when you finally came in, early in the morning like you always did and looking forward to seeing him again— toge was hunched over the counter with his chin propped up on his hand like he had been for the past week, you unknowing of that as you walked over with a smile.

“hi toge!”

he shot up, eyes wide with his palms flat on the counter.

“y/n!—”

he spoke.

toge spoke and he immediately cowered over in a fit of painful sounding coughs that racked through his body, his mouth shoved into his elbow as he quickly pushed through the doors and walked to the back, leaving you there wide eyed and completely fucking shocked.

he said your name.

“toge..?” you called softly, timidly as you leaned over the counter to try and catch a look at him from inside the employee break room, still hearing faint coughing. “hey— are you okay?”

he returned to the floor chugging back a bottle of cough syrup like nothing before tossing it into the nearest bin and swallowing, snatching his marker to write on the mini whiteboard, holding it up.

‘where the fuck have you been?’

you looked at him with an apologetic little face, your eyes soft.

“i’m sorryyy!” you whined. “i’m so sorry it was midterm week for me and i was grinding so hard and i just didn’t have time to come in… it was torture.”

you guiltily bit your lip. “…are you mad at me?”

he shook his head slowly, his shoulders visibly relaxing at the confirmation that it wasn’t anything he did that could’ve potentially put you off.

‘not at all mouse :P.’ he wrote before reaching to the side and sliding over your already made coffee and three pastries, lined up.

and surprise crossed your face.

“you had it ready?” you gasped. “toge! thank you!”

you quickly opened your book bag and he placed a hand over your arm, stopping you and shaking his head ‘no.’

“no?” you asked softly. “what do you mean? i’m just gonna pay.”

toge only shook his head again with a small smile, nudging his head over for you to sit at your usual table.

your shoulders slumped. “now what would you do if i just burst out crying right now.”

he laughed loudly and let go of your arm to write, leaving a burning fuzzy feeling on your skin in return.

‘cry? why?’

“because you’re so nice!” you whined. “please let me pay. i already feel bad not coming in for a week… especially after you offered to teach me sign language.”

‘go sit down mouse. i’ll sit with you in a little bit.’

you begrudgingly stood in place before nodding and taking your drink with your bag of pastries, walking over to the side and plopping down on a seat.

toge had a bit of a rush in and couldn’t join you for nearly an hour, him constantly shooting you apologetic looks and you frantically waving him off and reassuring him that it was okay, you astronomically thankful that you didn’t have class that day until later in the evening.

but when the rush was eventually over, toge dropped down on the seat across from yours with a big tired sigh and his whiteboard, head down.

you gently poked his arm then, and he looked up.

“is your throat okay?” you asked, face serious. “and you?”

he nodded, giving you a warm smile before grabbing his marker.

‘it happens sometimes, i just slipped up. L for me again.’

you smiled sadly and retracted your hand from across the table to settle back over your lap.

“i like your voice… if that makes you feel any better.” you spoke shyly, looking down at your fingers.

toge bit the inside of his cheek and smiled cheekily.

‘thanks mouse… but i know something that’ll make me feel even better hehe.’

“what?” you asked curiously.

he wrote.

‘give me your number before you disappear on me again you little rat.’

“hey!” you whined. “i thought i was a mouse..”

he chuckled cutely and nudged your foot gently from underneath the table, erasing and writing again.

‘i’m just kidding. we need to set up those sign language lessons soon though :D.’

and at the reminder of that you groaned, body slumping over the table as toge eyed you confusedly.

“you’re gonna laugh. or be mad. or disappointed. or all three..” you mumbled, voice slightly muffled.

he poked your head repeatedly and you lifted it, chin resting lazily on the table as he looked at you expectantly.

“i failed my sign language midterm.”

toge snorted but quickly slapped a hand over his mouth, and you whined again before shoving your face back down as he quickly shook you by the shoulders, trying to get you to look up again.

“no no no i’m a disgrace i’m a failure i studied so fucking hard for nothing it’s over i’m not cut out—”

he kept shaking and delicately pinching you before you finally looked up again.

“what.” you mumbled, eyes dragging to his propped up whiteboard.

‘i’m sorry i laughed… but don’t worry you’ll pass the next one. you’ll be okay.’

“and how do you know.” you grumbled.

‘because now you have delicious me, duh :P’

you giggled softly and lifted yourself from the table, leaning back against your chair.

he gave you a warm knowing smile before writing again.

‘cheer up mouse… i promise i’ll help you.’

a slow cutesy grin spread across your face, one that made him swallow hard as you looked at him through your lashes.

“thank you toge… do you— do you work tomorrow?”

his gaze flickered up in thought before he shook his head, eyes landing back on yours.

“maybe we could start… tomorrow? if you’re free? and if— if it’s okay of course!” you stammered nervously, gnawing at your bottom lip as you waited for his response.

his cheeks fluttered pink a little before quickly nodding.

“okay!” you breathed excitedly. “great! we could do it here? or—”

he frantically shook his head no and uncapped his marker.

‘my dickhead manager will pull me to work if i’m here on my day off.’

you laughed and nodded. “okay not here then.. where? we can try my place but i already know my parents are gonna be annoying about bringing a guy over so..”

he smiled and looked down to write.

‘we can do my apartment mouse. i live alone.’

your eyes widened. “you have your own place? really?”

he slowly nodded.

“that’s so cool toge! oh my goodness i can’t wait to see it now!”

you bounced enthusiastically in your seat and he chuckled, perplexed as to why you would ever be excited to see something like that, but choosing not to question it.

‘it’s kind of small, and i mainly just sleep and be lazy if i’m not working or streaming.’

you tilted your head. “streaming..?”

he pursed his lips and looked down again to scribble, an embarrassed undertone to his face before propping the whiteboard up.

‘i play games and stream to earn extra money on the side like a little loser.’

you giggled, your eyebrows slightly furrowing before relaxing. “why would that make you a little loser toge? you’re making money while doing something you like… i think that’s really fun!”

an eager attractive grin ran across his face before quickly writing again.

‘i’m glad you think so :) but give me your number neow.’

“oh that’s right!” you beamed, taking his offered whiteboard and marker before quickly writing down your number with a heart in the corner, passing it back.

“just text me whenever and we can set a time for tomorrow okay?”

he nodded, his eyes trained to the heart you drew.

for the rest of his shift, toge spent it bouncing around between your table and back to the cash register to take orders and make drinks, seemingly finishing each beverage ten times fucking faster than usual just so he could come over and talk to you before you had to leave again for your evening class.

but you didn’t want to leave whatsoever, and you even juggled the possibility of skipping class to stay longer with toge, but the next class happened to be sign language, and you didn’t want to fail another fucking midterm by not showing up and missing material.

you threw your trash away before grabbing your book bag and slinging it over your shoulder once it was time, you slowly and timidly trying to get toge’s attention as you walked to the exit.

your shy raised hand caught his eye in between him blending and pouring drinks, toge quickly putting everything down and reaching for the whiteboard from the register, erasing whatever he had from a previous customer to write and flipping it over with a silly smile.

‘bye mouse!’ it read. ‘i’ll see you tomorrow! :P.’

and that was nearly two and a half years ago, the heart you drew in the corner of his whiteboard still there to this day as he answered questions, responded, or scribbled directions in any given situation with it no matter if it was in or outside of work— always wanting to have a little part of you with him wherever he went.

toge also kept his promise and taught you sign language, you trying so so fucking hard every waking day you spent with him at his cute little studio apartment— learning phrases and properly constructing it into sentences that actually made sense as you both sat sprawled on the floor for hours on end, him patient and kind as he watched you shakily sign and accept his gentle corrections with an open mind.

but although your sentences were continuously choppy and a little off at that point in time, they were definitely in way better condition than when you tried to study and learn it on your own… and toge was unsurprisingly a really good teacher— ten times more helpful than your literal freaking licensed professor whom you had started with, as toge would actually take the time to write and explain each concept in the best way he possibly could for you to understand.

now you were comfortable enough with it to respond in very simple sentences and phrases, but stronger at understanding it whenever toge signed to you, a plus when he clumsily forgot his whiteboard somewhere or when he just didn’t want to use it.

and ever since that first day you went over to his place to learn and study, you literally never went a day without going back again, your cute routine with him being going to his apartment every second of the day to hang out with him or do the things that you needed to do— some that could easily be done in your own space and home and room, but you refusing to for the sole purpose of wanting to be with toge all of the time, him feeling the exact same way and going as far as to giving you a copy of the key to his apartment.

(toge :D): MOUSE

(toge :D): MOUSE

your phone buzzed repeatedly just as you were walking up the steps to toge’s floor, you nearly dropping it over the uncontrollable buzz.

(toge :D): LITTLE MOUSE

(you): YES <3

(toge :D): ouuu a heart?? i didn’t know we were married :P

you let out a giggle and quickly typed a response, your face hot.

(you): mmm i don’t know my ring finger is quite literally bare right now :/ maybe next time!

(toge :D): YOOOOO

(toge :D): it’s because it’s gonna be under your pillow

(toge :D): like from the tooth fairy

(toge :D): a big shiny cock

(toge :D): I MEAN ROCK

(toge :D): ROCK I MEANT ROCK SORRY

you burst out laughing as you readjusted your book bag on your shoulder and turned the corner, nearing his apartment number.

(toge :D): …please still come over

(toge :D): oh wait that’s why i texted you! :P

(toge :D:) WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU

(toge :D): YOU’RE LATE MOUSE

(you): LMFAAOOO

(you): IM COMMINGGGG i’m literally down the hall sir

(you): but now that you yelled at me HMMMM i don’t feel like going today <//3

(toge :D): NO

(toge :D): i’m sorry i’m on my knees

(toge :D): i’m begging

(toge :D): i even brought you a blueberry scone from work

(toge :D): and i’ll buy you whatever you want

(toge :D): FUCK COME OVER NOOOWWWWW

(you): SAY PLEASE AND ADDRESS ME CORRECTLY

(toge :D): PLEEEAASSEEE MOUUSEE

you bit your lip in attempts at suppressing your giddy smile, it not really fucking working as you arrived at his door, pulling your keys out from your bag and shuffling through them to find his— one that had a tiny onigiri design on it.

(you): coming!! <33

(toge :D): so you’re saying we’re married again :P

the door clicked open upon you twisting the key in, stepping inside before closing it behind you while juggling your textbooks and locking it, toge seated on his little gaming chair when he swiveled around and waved at you with a big smile, standing.

“toge!” you gasped exhaustedly, stepping over to him. “you have got to help me please my god—”

he grabbed the textbooks from your arms and walked over to his desk, setting them down before turning back around and giving you a curious look.

‘what’s wrong?’ he signed.

“everything! everything is wrong sign language two is not for the weak oh my goodness gracious—”

you flopped down with your back flat on his bed, eyes shut in agony as he watched you amusedly.

“my professor’s teaching us grammar now and it just gets harder! i don’t know where to properly put anything or— or sign anything.”

he giggled softly and you peeked an eye open, looking at him.

‘i’ll help you mouse.’ he signed, stretching a hand out and you taking it, letting him pull you up to sit as you lazily did so.

“but i ask you too much.” you pouted. “and i feel bad every time i do, especially when you’re playing.”

he snorted, going over to his little dining table and pulling out a chair, lifting it over to his desk gaming set up area and placing it down before ushering you over with his hand.

“nuh uh.” you shook your head.

toge gave you a half lidded look and sat on the dining chair, him always saving his big comfy gaming chair for you whenever you sat with him at his desk since the first time you came over— his eyes expectant.

you deeply sighed and stood, trudging over to his gaming chair before plopping yourself down.

“you don’t have to toge… it’s okay.” you spoke gently. “you’ve been teaching me for like— two years already. my new year’s resolution was to stop bothering you about it and let you live.”

he slid his little whiteboard over and erased what he previously had, uncapping his marker and writing.

he showed you.

‘i’ll always help you and you know that :( and it doesn’t bother me you rat, i do it because i want to.’

or because he’s in love with you. either or.

you giggled and lifted your hand, your index finger erasing over the word ‘rat.’ “—it’s mouusee toge. it’s like you get off on abusing and hurting your bestest mestest friend.”

he laughed boyishly and put down his whiteboard, sliding over one of your textbooks from across the table to him and flipping through several pages, reading to try and see exactly where you were at by the sticky notes you left behind in the margins.

“don’t you have to stream today though?” you asked timidly. “like right now?”

he simply shrugged, turning a page as he reached over to write again on his board.

‘i can stream later tonight—’

he quickly turned it around again to add something just as you had finished reading, him flipping it back over.

‘—with you asleep on my bed. because you’re sleeping over. and that’s FINAL.’

you laughed loudly while leaning forward, your cheeks brewing up a little flush at the request even though you’ve slept over at his place plenty of times before— the thought of him actively wanting you to making your heart bounce around erratically in your chest.

“fuck i don’t know…” you feigned concern. “i’m not sure if i can toge i’m sorry.”

he slumped, eyes so sad that it made you almost sick to your stomach as you struggled to commit to the small bit.

‘why not?’ he signed.

“because i’m missing something.” you pouted.

‘missing?’ he signed again. ‘missing what?’

you snickered.

“my ring!” you extended your hand to him and wiggled your little fingers, you poking the tip of your tongue out to the side cutely. “the one you promised me over text.”

toge breathed out a laugh and nearly dropped dead at your cute expression, him mimicking you and sticking his tattooed tongue out before picking up his whiteboard from his lap to write.

‘i told you the tooth fairy has it :D you have to be patient little mouse.’

you giggled and put your arm down, giving him a stern silly look.

“kayyy thennn!” you dragged, sitting up in your chair and looking over your textbook. “i’ll be expecting my big shiny rock under my pillow in the morning sir.”

he saluted you and you grinned, the rest of the time being spent with toge trying to teach you as best as he could with you hopelessly following along, feeling like the dumbest bitch alive and embarrassed whenever you got something wrong.

but toge never minded, not one single bit— even when you made the same grammar mistake literally three times in a row and him correcting you each freaking time the same exact way, no sign of annoyance or frustration on his face as he worked with you.

and that’s one of the biggest reasons as to why you loved toge so much. since the moment you met him all he wanted to do was just help you, regardless of the fact if you were a stranger or not as he generously always put the things he needed to do aside for you— making sure you were always okay and getting the things you needed no matter how many times you told him he didn’t need to worry, you feeling special and appreciated whenever you were with him no matter what.

you hoped to god he felt the same… and you hoped you weren’t being straight delusional when you noticed the way he looked at you a little longer than he should have at times, or when you read too much into the casual little pecks on your head from him, or when you had told him how much you loved just studying on the floor beside him while he streamed but made a joke that sometimes you couldn’t see because it was so dark in his apartment, toge literally the next day buying you a little flower lily lamp to set and prop up right next to you so you could comfortably study, him laughing and wiping your tears when you ridiculously cried over his consideration.

so did that mean he loved you too?

“toge…” you murmured in the midst of him fixing a signage error of the word ‘before’ with his fingers.

he pointed to your hands so you could take note of the alteration he made, waiting for you to carry on then.

you smiled softly in gratitude before continuing.

“have you ever—” you pursed your lips. “have you ever um… well— actually nevermind—”

he blinked before slowly lifting his hands.

‘have i ever what?’ toge signed, and you quickly shook your head.

“nevermind! it’s okay.”

he gently nudged your foot with his, beckoning you to tell him as his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

fuck.

okay if he kisses your head right now then you’ll tell him.

“i forgot toge.” you lied. “that’s why i said nevermind… oopsie!”

he laughed and leaned forward, pecking your forehead before reaching a hand up to ruffle up your hair.

fuck!

no you take it back you can’t do it you can’t—

‘silly.’ he signed, turning his attention back to your textbook and flipping a page.

he wondered what it was, but figured it would come back to you eventually and you’d tell him soon after.

by the end of the day, it was like there was an actual fucking light at the end of the tunnel for you and your sign language two class— you going from being over a thousand percent sure that you were about to pathetically fail the entire course, to having a shiny little sliver of hope because of toge’s ability to get anything through your big head and make you understand, feeling eternally grateful for him in many ways than one.

and you wanted him, so fucking bad, ever since you saw him at the coffee shop, that you thought in that moment while toge set up his bed for you to sleep in while you sat on his desk chair, dressed in his big white t-shirt and pajama pants, that if you just— maayybee tested the waters and crossed the line a little bit without it being too drastic, that you’d get your answer.

but did you want to know? what if he didn’t love you back? what the fuck were you supposed to do then?

cry and wither away, that’s what. you don’t think you’ve ever loved someone as much as you loved toge.

you hear the familiar squeaks of his black marker streaking against his little whiteboard, the sound pulling you from your thoughts and you looked up.

‘you’re so spacey today pretty. are you still worried about your class? :(‘

pretty.

“oh!” you stood. “no toge i feel a lot better about it actually because of you… thank you.”

he grinned, nodding before walking and leaning over his pc to set up his streaming session, mouse clicking away.

“toge—”

he looked over at you with his gorgeous purple eyes and you froze, cheeks heating up as your wobbly lips struggled to come together and fucking speak.

“nevermind nevermind—”

his eyes narrowed, snatching his whiteboard and quickly writing.

‘you did this earlier today too. tell me what’s wrong.’

“no.”

‘no?’ he signed. ‘tell me y/n.’

“no! not my name!” you dived dramatically on his comfy blanket filled bed and groaned. “you only call me by my name when you’re mad and i don’t like it.”

he sat next to you on the edge of the bed and pulled on your shoulder slightly, you fully turning around on your back and looking at him anxiously.

toge wished he could continuously beg you and ask you what was wrong so you’d just tell him— him at times sick of constantly having to pause and make you wait so he could get his point across, a painful fact that never left his mind and made him feel like the biggest burden in your life.

that’s why he never wanted to cross that line you both always seemed to lean over without meaning to. the line that’s kept you both on this limbo of half best friends and half more as he sometimes hugged you a lot longer or snuck in a couple of self indulgent cheek and hand kisses to your skin… but that’s as far as he’d really let himself get. toge didn’t want to permanently have you drag him along in your life no matter how much he wanted to be in it as something way more.

you deserved noise, you deserved loud love, you deserved someone who could actually speak to you— things he mourned over that he could never give you.

and he knew this. he’s known from the moment you walked into the coffee shop the very first time even though you swore up and down that he noticed you later, you unaware that he actually saw you right off the fucking bat on the first day and couldn’t bring himself to look you in the eye— knowing you were going to be the biggest heartbreak of his life and ruin him if he so managed as to let you in when you kept coming back.

but toge was selfish, and he couldn’t help himself.

so he tried to compromise.

there’s nothing wrong with being just friends… right? a casual conversation between two people while he was at work? to then bid goodbye and say hello to every now and then?

except a quick conversation with you turned into ones that lasted almost his entire shift sometimes, and then casual meet ups turned into sleepovers at his apartment when he offered to teach you sign language, and then little hugs of farewell and hello’s turned into him kissing you practically fucking everywhere that wasn’t your mouth with the tightest embraces, him completely going against what he swore he wasn’t going to do and damning himself for life.

and even more so when you had joked about wanting a ring that one day, him actually going out the next day and buying you matching ones even though he didn’t even know if he was strong enough to actually give yours to you.

but toge was still freaking selfish.

because as you looked at him now, your gorgeous face anxious and thought-filled about things he wished you would tell him without worry, the outline and shape of your plush soft lips burning his pupils in such a way that it felt like a privilege, your body in his clothes—

made him want to speak the three worded phrase he was only allowed to say in his sleepy dreams if he was lucky.

“what toge?” you spoke softly, reaching a hand up to delicately card through the front pieces of his pale blonde hair, soft and silky as the outline of his tattooed snake eyes made you a little fuzzy.

he slowly shook his head, a far off look in his eye as he leaned over you, his face close and strained that your eyebrows pinched a little at his expression.

your hand proceeded to gently smooth down from his hair to the side of his cheek, cupping it and caressing over it with your thumb so lovingly that he nearly broke his oath.

if you said that you loved him… he wondered if he would crack. if you confessed and told him that you felt the same way, he juggled the possibility of ruining his own life by giving in and letting you take on the burden of his existence just to have you like he’s always wanted—

“i love you.” you told him.

toge’s big wide afraid eyes stared back at you as you smiled sheepishly, his breath caught in his throat.

“i—” you hesitated, playing with the hem of his shirt. “i really love you. like in the way where i want you to like— kiss me and stuff in your free time…”

he huffed a shocked breath, his face still just alarmed and strained and you started to believe that maybe you actually were delusional and misinterpreted things, his lack of anything making you second guess.

“i’m sorry.” you blurted. “i’m sorry i thought—”

and toge was still selfish as he let his lips fall down and crash against yours, moving so feverishly and hungrily that you couldn’t keep up as he dug his arms underneath you and around before pulling you up flush against his body, wanting you as close to him as humanely fucking possible incase he never got to do this again with you, the possibility horrifyingly still there.

“does this mean—” you spoke in between kisses, breathless. “does this mean you love me too—”

toge broke apart momentarily and quickly nodded, eyes ditzy and clouded as he panted against your lips, drunkenly lowering his head and linking his wet lips with yours again as he sloppily kissed you, laying you back down while you wrung your arms around his neck, you giddy and absolutely fucking enamored with him and that he was finally yours.

except he technically wasn’t… yet…

even when three full weeks had passed.

you still visited toge at work in the coffee shop in the mornings or the afternoon like you always did, ordering the same thing and going in to chat as he wrote his responses on his whiteboard— except now whenever rush hour would conclude, toge would greedily sneak in kisses with you at your table or hold the back of your hand to his cheek as you talked about your classes and your plans for the weekend, his conflicted mind putting his oath on the back burner for now as he tried to relish in the love he’s been wanting for so long.

and you were a little confused as to why toge hadn’t taken the initiative that night and asked you to be his girlfriend, but you didn’t complain, you too caught up in the moment when he would make out with you at his apartment in between study or streaming breaks with his hands literally all over you like a man starved, groping and squeezing at anything he could but never going over that last jump to do something intimate with you, your lovesick mind too in it to care at the moment.

that was the next compromise he made.

if you both just— just stayed this way. no official title no matter how much it pained him just so that he could continue doing these lovely lovely things with you whenever you both wanted, his mind thinking that since you both weren’t technically together that he wasn’t burdening you for life just yet, wanting to keep it this way for as long as he possibly could because toge didn’t fucking know what he was going to do when the time came for making it official.

well yes— he did know. but what he wanted to do and what he should do were two completely different things.

“togeee!” you bounded into the shop one morning, thankful that it was empty as you quickly leaned over the counter and pressed a sweet kiss to his cheek, him smiling wide with a flush to his face in response.

‘hi mouse :) <3’ he wrote on his whiteboard. ‘have you had something to eat yet?’

“i’m good im good! wait i haven’t ate but im good!” you spoke excitedly. “i come with newwsss. really fun news!”

he hummed and nodded, motioning for you to continue as he moved around in the back to get and warm up a breakfast sandwich for you.

“one of my friends from sign language told me she’s throwing a party at her sorority house and invited meee!” you beamed, hearing a little oven ping and then following him to your usual table so the both of you could sit.

toge gently slid your sandwich over upon scooting his chair up, warm and yummy as it sat pretty on a little pastel green plate and him signing ‘eat please’ as you grinned.

“and i know you told me once that you’ve never been to a college party, so i was wondering if you wanted to maybe.. come with me?”

he smiled softly.

‘when?’ toge signed.

“tomorrow night!” you responded, taking a bite out of your breakfast sandwich.

he nodded, thinking a little in his head before sliding his whiteboard over to write.

‘of course ill go mouse but it might be better without me.’

you faltered, swallowing. “without you? why?”

he erased and wrote again.

‘because i can’t talk. your friends might think it’s a little odd.’

“no they won’t.” you countered. “and that’s totally okay, toge. just bring your whiteboard.”

he snorted, shaking his head.

‘i’m not bringing my whiteboard silly that’s even worse.’

“but you’ll be with me.” you reasoned. “and i don’t really talk to anyone at school either besides her so it’s literally just you and i hanging out.”

you wiggled your brows. “and drinkinggg ehh?”

he laughed and eventually nodded, reaching across the table and taking your hands in his as he agreed to go, caressing his fingers over your wrists.

the familiar scent of coffee beans and vanilla— a scent you’ve come to know for almost three years now wafted and swirled around through your nose comfortingly, it permanently reminding you of toge and the time that you’ve spent with him.

he let go of your wrists to write.

‘how was sign language yesterday? are you still good?’

you swallowed the bite you were chewing on and held back a grimace.

“oh i’m doing horrendously again… but it’s all good! ignorance is bliss and i’m choosing hardcore ignorance right now.”

toge’s jaw dropped before he laughed in disbelief and picked up his marker.

‘you’re sleeping over at my place again so i can help you no exceptions sorry about it :p’

you giggled and nodded— saluting him, a mannerism you picked up on from him as he smiled brightly.

“but i do know this!” you exclaimed excitedly as you pressed the bases of your palms together and rubbed, signing the word ‘cheese’— your favorite.

toge laughed cutely and signed the same word back, unable to do much else as the doors chimed to the shop then and a group of students came in, toge’s chair scraping against the floor as he stood before giving you a quick kiss and a ruffle to your hair, his whiteboard in hand as he started making his way to the back.

‘i love you.’ he signed and you bit your bottom lip in a smile, your heart swelling obnoxiously as you watched him shuffle on and tap a few things into the register, nodding along to the groups order as you soon after gathered your things for your afternoon class.

and that night after toge taught you a little more sign language and helped you work on the things you were struggling with, you fell asleep rather earlier than usual on his bed— him reaching for one of his fluffy blankets and draping it over your sleeping gorgeous self and staring, slowly leaning down and pressing the softest kiss ever to your little warm cheek— his chest twisting and contorting with the desire to just fucking give in and stop his stupid ridiculous suffering, to just be selfish one last time and ask you to be his.

and maybe he could.

maybe toge could allow himself this one tiny thing— the most important pretty thing of all, he felt.

just once.

“toge?” you murmured sleepily, eyes pinching a little as you lazily reached out for him.

but what if you grew tired of him? of the silence?

he delicately took your outstretched hand and hummed in question.

“come sleep.” you mumbled. “with me.”

his eyes softened, the corners of his mouth curving as he carefully tapped his index finger against your cheek repeatedly, you straining your eyes open.

‘look under your pillow.’ he signed.

your groggy eyes narrowed in confusion, barely making out what he was signing in the dark but catching key words.

“under my pillow?”

he nodded, pointing.

you breathed in and propped yourself up on your elbow, lifting the pillow you were laying on and suddenly snapping the fuck awake.

a ring.

you shot up, sitting up fully as you looked at him.

he stood and reached over for his whiteboard and marker, uncapping it and writing for a moment before flipping it around and showing you.

‘i got us matching bestest mestest friends but also in love at the same time rings :]’

you picked it up, a dainty thin silver banned ring with a milky white heart in the middle, iridescent as it glowed against the moonlight streaming through his open window.

“toge—” you breathed out. “you actually… you actually got me a ring?”

he wrote, a sly little grin on his face.

‘the tooth fairy did mouse.’

you giggled then, a vibrant pink glow to your cheeks and still a little shocked as he took the jewelry piece from you and gently grabbed your hand, sliding it over your ring finger smoothly, his ring finger already having his shiny silver band on.

he put your hand down and grabbed his whiteboard again.

‘that ring is me promising to help you and love you and kiss you until i die.’ he wrote. ‘okay?’

you quickly nodded, absolutely cheesed as you threw your arms around his neck and pulled toge in— feeling so so happy and fresh and loved, like everything was officially falling into place after nearly three years of semi crossing lines and stolen glances and unanswered questions about what exactly you both were for the longest.

your pretty pretty face had toge in a daze as you looked at him like he carried the world on his shoulders, his mouth slowly coming closer and closer to yours before softly pressing against them— slow and tender as you tugged him down to you by his shirt until he climbed in and was in between your thighs.

each kiss exchange was sensual and a mouthful as you helped toge tug his shirt off over his head, your palms running over his bare skinned chest and back as he deepened his kisses, your hands quickly pulling your shirt off and his eyes bulging at the sight of your puffy tits snug and pretty in your bra.

you were desperate for him and didn’t even have to think twice about something like this as you reached and tugged a little at his jeans, signaling him to take them the fuck off—

‘baby.’ he signed shakily, not even sure why he was asking since he doesn’t think at this point he could stop, but needing to check in with you first. ‘are you sure?’

“fuck yeah i’m sure.” you whispered quickly and unzipped his pants, toge smiling big as he kicked his pants and everything else off, carefully helping you do the same until you were bare and vulnerable in front of him.

toge moved to place a hand on your thigh and you squeaked, suddenly bashful as you shyly covered your arms over your chest and squeezed your thighs together.

he leaned down and placed gentle soft kisses on your cheeks, patting a comforting hand over your head.

‘it’s okay mouse. you’re okay.’ he signed.

you nodded, comfort washing over you as you slowly let your thighs spread and your arms reveal you, his spit catching in his throat at the sight of your gorgeous fucking body beneath him, his dick embarrassingly already leaking a little bit of cum as you watched him pump it a few times.

‘you’re beautiful.’ he signed, and you blushed.

he drooled some spit over his fingers and slid it gently in between your folds, your bottom lip coming in between your teeth as you tried to hold back your moans, his digits prepping you while slipping through your hole deeming it fucking hard as he was completely lost in it, unaware of the way he was riling you up and already building up that familiar sensation in the pit of your tummy.

“t—toge—” your pussy clenched at the way he was fucking you with his fingers, keeping your thighs apart with his other arm as he was completely drowned in the gushy sticky sounds of your hole.

“you’re gonna make me cum and i—” you panted, cute whines slipping from your lips as he looked up at you. “—i wanna cum when you’re inside—”

his cock spasmed and a drop of cum drooped out at your yummy plea, his breathing trembling as he quickly nodded and squeezed your thigh endearingly, slowly slipping his fingers out and stuffing them into his mouth to suck your juices as he pumped his cock while lining it up with your hole.

toge sunk in his dick then, the both of you groaning at the way he filled you up so fucking nice and stretched you, your pussy literally grabbing his cock and sucking him inside easily as you gripped his shoulders tight.

“mmm!—” you whimpered, toge now slowly pumping his cock inside of you as he leaned over and propped himself up by his arms, hips tenderly and deliciously rolling in as he panted and softly whined in your ear.

you were so god damn tight, his throat literally closing at the lock you had around him as he fucked you slow and breathless, one of his hands coming down to grip your waist to try and keep himself grounded and from snapping his hips into yours brutally— him wanting to make love to you and not do that just yet.

toge ducked his head down and licked over a perky tit, your breath hitching and subconsciously spreading your legs wider as he closed his lips around your nipple— suckling and laying a flat tattooed tongue over it as you moaned.

“faster—” pant! “faster please baby—”

with a mouthful of your tit he snapped his hips up, you choking as he started going a lot quicker than you anticipated as your hand flew to your mouth to keep your moans in, your tits bouncing with every fuck.

“oh my god oh my god—”

toge suddenly pulled out and threw you over, tummy to the bed as he hauled your ass up and lined himself at your entrance again, wasting no time in pushing in and screwing you in the same pace he had before.

but this new position was an absolute delicacy as you drooled over his sheets at the way he rammed his cock, the recoil of your ass sending a shiver up his spine and roughly gripping your hips and ass in anyway he could, you screaming and whining into his pillow as a series of slaps to your ass cheeks from him echoed through his little studio.

toge was about to dump the biggest fucking load in you that it was embarrassing.

you reached a hand behind you and he quickly grabbed it, his thumb running over your skin soothingly as he pistoned roughly into your cunt, him groaning and whimpering over the squelching and leaking of your hole as he felt his dick harden— his cum on the brink of release.

“fuck fuck fuck—” you hiccuped into his pillow. “baby i’m gonna cum i’m gonna cum hah!—”

he gripped your hand harder and leaned down over you, rutting into your pussy as he heaved and pressed his lips up against your ear, choking out the word ‘cum’ so softly that it bypassed the confines of his situation, your eyes squeezing shut as the hardest fucking orgasm you had ever had in your life hit you like brick.

you felt toge’s hips snap up and still as his hot milky cum spilled through your walls with a grunt, gooey and slimy as it filled you up and left you squirming at the weight of it.

his breath fanned against your hair as he tried to calm it, his hand moving soothingly up and down your back as you weakly tried to gain back some consciousness, the both of you sweaty and spent with his softening dick sliding out slowly.

toge carefully nudged you back over and kissed you tenderly, his hands traveling from your back over to your tummy and smoothly caressing every part of you down to the sides of your thighs, eyes swelling in utter worship over you as he leaned back to look at you.

‘i love you baby.’ he signed, and you beamed.

and just as toge had finally decided to ask you to be his girlfriend then, to officially let go of the fears he had and let himself have you— there in your arms as you peppered sweet cute kisses all over his face and over his tattooed markings on the corners of his mouth, pulling him further in to rest and sleep?

toge had a horrendous day the following morning that threw it all away.

horrendous.

it started in the morning when he left your sleeping figure quietly with a kiss to your head for his shift at work that day, excited and in a never ending state of bliss from the night before as he drove to the shop.

except he had forgotten his whiteboard at home.

toge had realized when he was already fucking halfway into the drive, a full fledged twenty five minute one that he didn’t have time to go back and repeat as he pulled up to the parking lot— cursing himself for being such a dumbass and wondering how the fuck he was gonna answer specific questions from customers, especially since he was the only one really working today.

he figured he should be fine… right? usually the people that come in already know what to get and they just read it out to him.

but there’s always a few every single day without fail that ask questions toge needed his whiteboard for. and you didn’t have class that day— so the means of you coming down there were for nothing, at least not until the party later that night.

and he didn’t want to ask anything of you…

but he really needed it.

(toge :D): hi pretty mouseee i know you’re asleep i’m sorry but is there anyway you could come to the shop when you wake up and drop off my whiteboard please? i left it on the desk like a stupid fucking idiot EL OH EL

“inumaki.”

toge froze on his walk to open the shop and looked up from his phone, eyes blowing wide.

there his manager stood, who was also the owner of the coffee shop itself, a stern look on his face with crossed arms as they both stood in front of a shattered door and windows, shards of glass twinkling on the floor.

“did you lock up last night?”

toge nodded, eyebrows furrowed as he scanned the ground.

“everything?”

he went to nod again, but stopped.

he did… he did truly he did—

…oh.

he forgot to lock up and cash in the register.

toge quickly stepped over the glass and swung open the shattered door and over to the front counter, sure enough finding the register wide open and battered with not a single fucking penny left inside.

he groaned, his hands shooting up and digging the bases of his palms into his eyes as he leaned back, lips in a thin line at how utterly fucking stupid he was for forgetting to lock up the register and take in the money— the number one thing he was always supposed to do.

“what happened?” his manager asked, hands out. “have you been not locking it up?”

toge scrambled for his phone and pulled it from his back pocket, the thought of his job literally on the line because of this sending him for a fucking ride.

‘i always lock it up, honestly.’ he typed and showed his phone. ‘but i stupidly forgot last night and i can’t express enough to you how sorry i am.’

his manager sighed deeply and dropped his hands, looking over at the open register.

“you’ve consistently been one of my best.” he spoke. “but a mistake like this isn’t something small like forgetting to properly close and wipe down everything or put up the chairs.”

toge nodded understandingly, arms tightly crossed over his chest as he shamefully looked to the side, feeling like the biggest pathetic loser for doing something like this that could’ve been entirely avoided if he just did his damn job correctly.

“it’s alright.” his manager reached and patted a heavy hand to his shoulder. “it happens. it’s just unfortunate that we got broken into right when it did.”

toge looked at him.

“we can’t open today because there’s glass everywhere… so if you can stay and call up the insurance for the shop—” he pointed to the wall, their number amongst others typed and labeled. “—and file an insurance claim in any way you can for me that’d be great. i’m gonna go down to the police station and report.”

toge quickly nodded, typing again on his phone before showing him.

‘okay sounds good. i’m really really sorry and this won’t happen again.’

his manager waved him off with a smile. “don’t sweat, inumaki. i’m pretty sure i did this too when i was working except it was my works safe and not the register…”

softly chuckling, toge nodded once more and gave his manager a tiny wave as he patted his shoulder again before stepping around the glass, leaving.

regardless of being lucky enough to have such an understanding boss, toge still felt like complete and utter shit as he stood behind the counter slumped over after, on hold with the insurance company for thirty minutes now as he stared at the broken shards and the register.

you had gotten toge’s text the minute you woke up and quickly got up to get ready, not even bothering to change into anything different as you left with his pajamas on you and his little whiteboard, hopping into your car and speeding off knowing how much he needed it for work sometimes.

and when you pulled into the shops parking lot, confusedly already noticing scattered glass on the concrete walking up, you froze in front of the coffee shop upon seeing the windows and doors completely shattered— toge propping his forehead up with his palm on the counter solemnly.

“toge?”

he looked up.

“what happened?”

his shoulders dropped in relief and he slowly came around the counter, opening his arms a little and pulling you in as he buried his face into your hair, sighing.

you hugged him back. “are you okay? did this happen right now?”

he shook his head and stepped back, taking the whiteboard from you.

‘someone broke into the shop last night. but i forgot to lock up the register and cash in the money so they stole that too.’

“oh my god!” you gasped, hands flying over your mouth. “fuucckkkk was your manager mad? don’t tell me he fired you—”

toge erased and wrote before flipping the board over.

‘no just disappointed. but i still feel like such a fucking moron for forgetting and i hate that i did.’

“toge..” you sighed sadly, running your hands over his upper arms. “it’s okay you’re human baby. these things happen so don’t feel like that please..”

he nodded a little before ducking down and pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

you smiled and looked around.

“seeing the shop like this is nuts.”

he hummed in agreement.

toge stuck around for a little while, you next to him behind the counter still waiting on hold with the insurance company, feeling awfully bad for keeping you here when he knew you wanted to go shopping for a dress for the party, but him stupidly forgetting again that he couldn’t speak— too caught up in trying to make it up to his manager for his fuck up to think about how exactly he was going to talk to the insurance company on the other line, you demanding to help him.

sometime down the line when the insurance claim was filed, toge’s manager told him that if he wanted to open up the shop for the day he could, and to just sweep up the glass a little from the ground and fix up the place a little so it didn’t look like they just got robbed.

and because toge was still in his self dreaded state of guilt and shame over what happened, he immediately agreed to, trying to make up for his mistake and see if he could double the shop’s earnings for today.

“i could stay toge let me stay.” you pushed, but he only shook his head and sent you off to do the things he knew you needed to do with a pat on the head and a kiss on the cheek, telling you he’d see you at his place to get ready for the party.

but maybe toge was better off telling his manager a bit fat no and going home with you, because it was like everybody that came into the shop following that had eaten a big bag of dicks and salvaged the biggest fucking attitudes out of it to spit back in his face.

no one was understanding him. no one. not a single soul. even when he used his whiteboard to explain everything that certain customers needed, for some reason the extra effort of them having to just read putting them off and yelling and making toge’s shift a living hell.

and it’s not like he’s never managed shifts on his own either— never having an issue and still putting in and preparing orders efficiently like he was supposed to, but he figured the debacle from this morning was setting him off since he couldn’t do anything right at the moment, the attitude he was getting from literally every single fucking customer leaving him wishing he at least had one more person on the floor with him.

but toge was still blaming himself.

why couldn’t anyone understand him? why couldn’t he just speak? his life would be so much easier if he could… and you would’ve been his a long time ago.

so as toge sat there tiredly after work with his eyes closed on a stool next to you in his bathroom, you applying the finishing touches to your hair and makeup— you could practically feel toge’s exhaustion, frustration, and sadness seeping into your skin and insides over the shift he told you he had, your eyebrows pinching anxiously.

“we don’t have to go baby…” you murmured, looking down and playing with the rings on your fingers. “i would much rather stay here with you so you can relax for a little…”

he slowly peeled his eyes open, the sight of you standing there in front of him— so fucking beautiful in your dress and heels and dolled up in the way that you were, made his cheeks buzz pink as he slumped forward and mushed his cheek up against your tummy, wrapping his arms around you and shaking his head.

“are you sure?” you asked gently, running your fingers over his soft hair. “i don’t mind what we do toge… as long as with you i’m okay.”

his heart jumped as he looked up and gave you a cute smile, nodding.

you’d decided to meet in the middle and just go home early so toge could have enough rest for his shift tomorrow, him driving you both to the sorority house and parking a bit down the street amongst dozens of other cars, a little nervous and apprehensive and wondering what he was gonna do if any of your friends came up to talk to him— but the desire to make you happy and accompany you to something that you were so excited for far, far greater.

the night went smoothly for the most part, you in no time at all spotting your friend that initially invited you through the crowd along with some of your other friends that you had no idea were coming in the first place, introducing toge to each one and him giving a small smile and wave in response as he interlaced your fingers and gladly let you lead him to wherever you wanted through the dark and blue lit house, taking sips occasionally of the tequila orange liquor mix from his red solo cup and funnily from yours too— since you had gotten a different punch like flavor that he liked better.

“y/n? i didn’t know you were coming!”

your head snapped to the voice just as you were talking to toge, your eyes widening and a huge smile spreading across your face.

“oh hey! i didn’t know you were either!” you quickly turned to toge. “he’s in my sign language class the one i told you about that teaches us how to cuss—”

your friend laughed, “you talk about me y/n? interestinggg.”

toge quirked a brow.

“not like that—” you slapped his shoulder. “i talk about you so i can build up the stamina to rat you out.”

he gasped dramatically. “says the one who bothered me last class to teach her how to sign the word cunt.”

“no i didn’t— wait actually i did.”

your friend laughed again but diverted his attention momentarily to someone pulling on his arm a bit.

toge nudged you gently and you turned.

‘i’m gonna go get a drink mouse.’ he signed.

“okay!” you nodded. “i’ll wait for you here.”

he nodded, kissing your head before leaving— the kitchen not too far from where you both were originally at as he walked and threw away the drink he had initially and scanned the counter, looking for the fruity punch one you got before spotting it and picking one up from the rows of others, the smell of alcohol filling his nostrils.

“hey sorry to bother, which flavor is that?”

toge froze and looked over, a girl standing there and pointing at his cup.

oh shit.

toge pointed to his cup.

“yeah, which flavor is that one? i’ve tried the others but not that one yet.”

oh fuck.

why couldn’t he just talk?

the girl quirked a brow at his silence, and just when she was about to say something else, someone came through the kitchen.

“i think that one’s tutti frutti but i could be wrong.”

she turned to the other person and nodded, giving toge an awkward look before walking around him to get a cup for herself.

toge covered his eyes with a hand in complete fucking mortifying embarrassment, cheeks warm as he leaned against the kitchen sink in the lowest low he had ever lowed.

or so he thought.

because the sound of your loud pretty laughter had him slowly looking up and taking his hand away, you conversing so— so openly and freely with your friend from sign language triggering a hint of jealousy and bitterness in his chest. bitter as to why he was cursed to deal with something like this, bitter over the loser that was blatantly obviously flirting with you… but jealous of him that he was able to open his mouth and speak to you in whatever words and phrases he wanted, syllables flying out without any sort of pain or blood as a paying price like he had to.

that’s what you needed… that’s what you should have. not him.

not his inevitable silence and whiteboards and constant pauses, his lack of being able to tell you how much he loved you and how much you meant to him whenever, wherever… without being tied down to a marker or a phone.

his mixup from this morning, his customers not understanding him, everybody else not understanding him, has led him to believe that someone as beautiful as you shouldn’t carry the burden of even trying to.

toge knew from the very first time you came into the coffee shop that you were going to unknowingly break his heart if he let you in because of his situation… and fuck did he let you in.

and now he had to break yours so you could find and be with what you deserved.

toge walked over to you then, head down with his jaw tight and mind fogged over as you doubled over in laughter over something your friend said.

“wait—” you gasped. “wait toge he just told me that—”

“is he your boyfriend?” you friend asked, pointing to him.

well, toge still hadn’t really asked you… but he gave you a promise ring, and you were both wearing them tonight so—

your eyes snapped to toge, who was shaking his head no.

…no?

your brows furrowed.

“oh! i thought you guys were together, my bad.”

toge twitched over the way your friend sounded relieved, but you didn’t notice a thing, still looking at him with the most gutting look that made him want to scream.

“yeah.. my bad too.” you mumbled, your friend not catching it as he then got pulled by the shoulder to a different crowd, him calling over that he would come find you later on in the night.

“no?” you repeated to him.

‘come with me outside.’ he signed before slowly walking and leading you back to the kitchen and through the backyard doors, the chilling cold night air a refreshing break from the stuffiness inside.

“if this is a joke it’s not that funny toge.” you mumbled, hugging yourself as you closed the door behind you.

he looked at you sadly.

‘you shouldn’t be with me mouse.’ he signed.

“what?” you breathed out. “what are you talking about?”

‘i can’t give you what you need.’

“what i need?”

he nodded. ‘it won’t work. you and me.’

“toge—” your chest picked up speed, tears prickling a bit at your eyes. “you’re telling me all of this yet no answers— why won’t we work.”

‘you should be with someone that can talk to you and tell you that they love you and say anything without all of this baggage—’

“wait wait slow down i can’t—” you put your hands out. “you’re signing too fast i can’t understand you—”

you couldn’t understand him.

and toge realized that the reasoning he had would be something that you would counter and fight for, and something he would more than one hundred percent give in to you winning just so he could have you again.

he needed to make you hate him so it would be easier for you to move on.

toge dropped his arms, a defeated look on his face as he shoved a hand in his pocket for his phone, typing out a message to you.

you received it on the other end, your phone illuminating your face as you opened it.

(toge :D): i realized after we confessed that this isn’t what i want anymore and im sorry

your jaw dropped, eyes narrowing as you looked up at him.

“what the fuck do you mean.”

his thumbs shook as he typed, his heart pulling and screaming at the muscles and nerves tied to them for him to stop.

(toge :D): we’re better off as just friends. i’m really sorry that i realized after the fact. you deserve someone better anyways and i just don’t think it’s with me.

you let out a sob that ripped him to shreds, hand coming over your mouth in disbelief as you stared at the blurry screen in your grasp.

he realized this after the fact? after messing around with you for almost three years? after confessing to you and saying he loves you? after being intimate?

you felt fucking used.

“you’re realizing this now?” you shook your head. “toge— you realize we’ve been flirting like this for as long as we’ve known each other and all of a sudden you’re pulling back? after you got your fucking fill? after kissing me and telling me that you love me, and— and after—”

you ran an exasperated trembling hand through your hair. “toge we had sex and you’re telling me this isn’t what you want?”

god this is everything he wants.

but toge bit his tongue, him strained all over with a locked painful jaw as you yelled at him, his eyes glossy over how much he was hurting you as he stiffly nodded.

you stepped closer, jabbing a finger to his chest. “look at me in the eyes right now and tell me if our entire fucking friendship before leading up to our bullshit confessions was all a lie. tell me right now if this—” you held your hand up, the promise ring he gave you shimmering under the fairy lights of the backyard. “—was a lie when you promised me that you would always help me and love me.”

toge breathed in and out shakily, swallowing thickly as he slowly nodded, his entire body in absolute detriment.

holy fucking shit.

how long had you been this stupid for you to not realize the kind of person he actually was?

but— but it didn’t make any sense. this wasn’t toge. this wasn’t toge at all you didn’t know who the fuck you were yelling at right now because toge would never do this to you.

“do you know why i’m learning sign language in the first place?”

toge blinked back tears, shaking his head no.

“i started taking sign language for you, asshole!” you sobbed. “when i was stupidly crushing on you at the shop before we talked for the first time, i noticed you knew sign language and i signed up for you so it’d be easier for you to communicate with me without always having to use your whiteboard.”

he felt a pang to his heart, harshly wiping his eyes.

“but even then i don’t fucking care toge! you could have absolutely nothing to talk to me with and i’d still love you and do anything for you because that’s how much i’m in love you!”

you sobbed as your shoulders shook violently, hands covering your eyes.

“glad to know the feelings not mutual.”

oh he takes it back.

he takes it all back.

toge reached for your hands and you pushed him away.

“you’re so full of shit toge.” you sniffled. “if this is what you want then fine. take this fucking—”

you slipped the ring off from your finger and threw it at him, the feeling of it thudding against his chest and clinking to the ground beneath his feet close enough to a damn bullet.

he shook his head frantically, picking up your ring and following you up the steps of the porch, grabbing your hand and pulling you back, but you only shaking it off and trudging on forward.

“mouse—” he spoke. “please stop—”

the sound of his rare voice made you freeze in place, unmoving and feeling guilt pool in your stomach at the sound of him reeling over and coughing violently as a result.

he spoke to you… but his dreaded words from earlier still lingered in your mind, betrayal etched into your chest like a tattoo.

“don’t call me that.” you mumbled over your shoulder, swinging the door open to the kitchen and slamming it shut.

toge heard nothing from you for four weeks.

even through all of the calls and texts he sent you, he started to conclude that you actually blocked his number the moment you left him that night, unable to see his actual explanation through the masses of messages he sent you and still continued to even after confirming the thought that you had blocked him.

he couldn’t believe himself. he couldn’t believe he actually hurt you and drove you away like that.

and toge had never felt so much self hatred, missing you like fucking crazy throughout those weeks— it reminding him of that one time when you first started getting to know each other where you disappeared for a week, except far far worse now that you had both built so much together over the years.

his life felt empty now that you weren’t in it.

and funnily enough, his job— something he had gotten before you, now solely reminding him of you as he tried to work without throwing something over the random flashbacks he’d have of that night, blending and serving drinks and sliding them over the pickup counter all meaningless if you weren’t there at your usual table to give him a cheeky smile and sign the word ‘cheese’ to make him laugh on the other side.

his little mouse.

and toge silently cried almost every night at his desk, him clutching your ring.

you were basically the same way as him, if not fucking lower as you were the one that was practically presumably dumped and used, you unable to sleep for hours on end in your bed and your parents wondering what the hell happened between the two of you as they tried to console your tears through your restless nights, you half in denial that this was your reality and toge was out of your life.

after some time, you realized that you had left nearly half of your things in toge’s apartment, it settling into your mind how much time you actually spent with him and not at your own house as you constantly found yourself needing things but couldn’t have them because they were over there— one of those things unfortunately being your freaking sign language textbook.

there was absolutely no way you could get it, and you opted to borrowing your friends for the longest time… but by the time you reached the beginning of the fifth week without toge, you started feeling really bad for continuously bothering your friend for her book when you could just suck it up and get yours.

so you made your jumbled mind up and reached for your phone one day after your morning class, going to toge’s contact number and unblocking him before texting.

(you): hi. sorry to bother but i left some things in your apartment that i need. i was wondering if i could come by today to get them.

toge nearly jumped out of his skin at your pretty name flashing across his phone while he was lazily and depressingly laying in bed, scrambling to type back not even a minute later.

(toge): yes of course

(toge): i’m home right now if you want to come

(toge): and you’re never a bother

you pursed your lips, a lump building in your throat.

(you): okay. i’ll be there in a few minutes.

toge flung his scattered clothing inside his closet or literally anywhere that was out of eyesight, trying to turn his rut of a room back to how it looked like when you were always here, shaking out a big garbage bag and throwing all of his trash in there (along with all of the cake pop, cheese danish, and blueberry scone wrappers…), opening the blinds and straightening out his sheets.

you pulled into his apartment complex parking lot and parked not too long after, your hands drenched in sweat and your body rigid as you came up to his floor and over to his apartment number, knocking even though you had the key.

you almost turned back to leave once you heard his padded footsteps, but decided against is as he was already opening the door.

and my god, seeing him hurt a lot more than you thought it would.

his eyes were soft as they looked at you, and red like yours, him quickly stepping to the side to let you in and you doing so with your head down, not saying a single word.

“i think—” you shakily spoke, eyes already watering as he closed his door with a click. “i think i’m just gonna get my sign language textbook for now i’ll come back some other time for the rest—”

you felt a little tug at your hand, and you turned, his shoulders slumping at your teary eyes, stray droplets slipping down your cheeks already.

‘please don’t cry.’ he signed. ‘i’m so sorry for everything.’

you snorted, shaking your head as you reached behind you to get your textbook.

“sorry for stringing me along and using every part of me until you were bored? sure.”

he frantically shook his head no, panic rising in his chest as he watched you step around him and head for the door.

he couldn’t let you leave.

because he had a feeling if he did, he actually would never see you again.

toge quickly grabbed your wrist and tugged you back around.

“what toge—”

‘stay for a bit.’ he shakily signed. ‘please just stay and let me explain.’

you followed his signage, and your eyes narrowed. “explain what? there’s nothing to explain—”

toge swiped his phone from his bed and opened it, going to your contact to type out a message.

you hesitantly pulled yours out and waited, your phone vibrating against your hand once he sent it over.

(toge): i lied about absolutely everything i said that night. i don’t think any of those things at all. i’ve wanted you so fucking bad from the start y/n, i’ve been ready to be with you i don’t think for a second we’re better off as friends i want more with you always and for the rest of my life.

what?

he sent another message.

(toge): i said what i said because throughout our friendship i told myself like a fucking idiot that i couldn’t let you all the way in because i can’t talk. i kept thinking that you needed someone who you can talk to you whenever you want without having to always step back and read or write like you have to with me. i didn’t want you to carry that baggage and deal with me and i just felt like a burden, and i love you so fucking much that i wanted better for you.

you sniffled and wiped your cheeks, you rubbing away lonesome tears that landed on your phone screen.

(toge): but i’m selfish baby i’ve BEEN selfish. i said those horrible things to you so it’d be easier for you to move on and im so sorry. none of them are true. i don’t want you to move on from me. i didn’t use you i could never and that night we had sex was the most meaningful experience of my life. i love you more than anything in my life, and im gonna be selfish again and please ask you to come back to me. you’re my best friend and more, and i still believe that you need someone better and that can give you more than i can, but i just can’t let you go man i’ve been physically sick for four weeks without you.

you cried still and he typed again.

(toge): i’m selfish and i’m in love with you mouse. i’m sorry.

“toge!” you cried and chucked your phone to his bed, flinging your arms around his neck and pulling him in a tight embrace— the weight completely lifting off both of your shoulders at the feeling of your bodies pressed against each others like a perfect little key in a lock, toge hugging you back so so fucking tight with his face in your neck that he practically squeezed the air out of your lungs entirely.

“i love you.” he spoke, his words incredibly powerful in your ear even though it couldn’t have been more than a mere whisper, the sound and depth of his voice ringing through your head and one you wanted to remember forever and ever, feeling so incredibly loved over the fact that he’d use his voice for you even when it hurt him so much.

but he really didn’t need to. you just wanted him.

and you’ve never been so happy to hear someone tell you that they lied.

toge pulled back a bit and turned his head to the side, stuffing his mouth into the crook of his elbow and coughing.

you pressed your cheek against his once he was done, kissing it a few times beforehand and him closing his eyes at the feeling of your lips on his skin after so long.

“you okay?” you murmured softly, and he nodded.

“i love you too, toge.” you tightened your arms around his neck. “please don’t ever think that you’re a burden or giving me baggage to carry. i’ve never ever felt that way and neither should you.”

you stepped back and cupped his cheeks.

“i need you, baby. i don’t need anything or anyone else but you. someone that has the ability to talk can’t give me even ten percent of what you’ve been giving me. i’m happy with you. the happiest i’ve ever been is when i’m with you… okay?”

toge grinned, huge and shiny as he nodded and leaned forward and captured your lips in a kiss— the both of you utterly deprived as your mouths smacked and moved in haste, his hands running and squeezing over your body with labored breathing between the two of you.

he pulled apart for a second and you stopped.

“what baby?” you breathed, watching as he raised his arms.

‘please be my girlfriend mouse.’ he signed. ‘or i’ll die.’

you giggled cutely and a blush rose on both of your sore cheeks from smiling so much, you happily nodding and roughly pulling him back in to continue.

and how lucky was toge to have such a sweet little mouse that cared for him this much? for someone who couldn’t even speak? who had the greatest level of patience and not once ever complained about the burden she had to carry?

you learned sign language for him. solely for him. the reasons he was thinking about how he’d be baggage to you, was amazingly the total opposite on your end, as you didn’t want to be baggage to him when it came down to communication with you— as if something like that were ever even possible.

and you learned sign language for him— a totally beautiful and different and complex language that was iterated through the feeling of arms and body, to be read across with purposeful moving hands and symbols and diligent fingers— somehow looking even more beautiful when it was you that was doing it.

silence was toge’s greatest form of love… one that you received with open arms and acceptance without a twinge of judgement in your heart, and one that toge only ever wanted you to receive.

you.

his little mouse.

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The Anomaly || JJK

Bonus Chapter: Nobara Kugisaki

summary : In which you're isekai'd from your (own) parallel Jujutsu Kaisen universe to the canon universe.

wordcount : 1.9k

Pairing: Jujutsu Kaisen X Reader, mostly platonic, you're really just part of the story

Masterlist | Next

You smile, grinning as you pull Sukuna along by hand, your fingers interlaced with his.

" Can you believe it, Sukuna?! We're accepted! We're going to be strong and protect people!"

Sukuna grumbles behind you, rolling his eyes.

" Ehh, who cares. Who are the other first years anyway?"

" Well, there's me-"

" Obviously there's you, Yuu'. If I'm there then why wouldn't you be?"

Sukuna is pretending to be tough, like he dislikes that fact, but both you and Yuuji know better.

Yuuji grins, sharing glances with you.

" Y'know, you can act all tough as you want, but we both know you'd miss me if I wasn't around!" 

Yuuji's grinning, and so are you.

" Yeah! Remember back when we were looking for crabs on the beach and you couldn't find Yuuji and panicked?-"

" Y/N, I was 7, give it a rest. He's stupid, I genuinely thought he'd drowned."

" There's no way the three of you are the other first years."

All three of you blink at the new voice which has joined the conversation.

" Megumi! You look great!"

" You I can accept. But really, sensei? Kamo and Sukuna?"

You scoff at Megumi, crossing your arms over one another as you playfully glare at him.

" You should consider yourself lucky actually-"

" Why aren't you in Jujutsu Tech Kyoto? Isn't Kamo Noritoshi there as well?"

" Yeah, well, for that exact reason. The clan doesn't want us to be close, so they figured that I shouldn't go to Jujutsu Tech at all.- Gojo sensei helped me out actually-"

" You condone her being here? She's reckless!-"

You scoff at Megumi's words, also turning to your teacher.

" Hey! I'm fine. I'm fun even, unlike you-"

You glare shortly at Megumi. 

" Glad to see you all like each other. We'll have to get going though, there's another first year we're about to meet."

Yuuji, Sukuna and you blink at him. It seems like Megumi already knows.

About an hour later, you find yourselves in Harajuku, waiting on yet another student.

Yuuji, Sukuna and you are from the country side. You've only been to Tokyo a handful of times, so everything looks cool to you. So far, you've only spent your money on a crepe that looked delicious. ( It was too.) Yuuji has gone all out, looking much like a tourist. Sukuna had gotten a crepe too, but he's also been sneaking bites from your own, and Megumi hasn't been engaging in anything. Because, (in your opinion), he's boring.

It takes a few.moments before you notice a familiar uniform,and your eyes twinkle as you notice something.

It's another girl!

Finally, you're not the only one between these idiots anymore. (Sukuna included.)

It takes a few moments, but finally, she notices your group too.

You bow formally as her eyes flit over you, before approaching her in excitement, taking her hands in your own like she's some kind of miracle.

" Hi! I'm Kamo Y/N, but call me Y/N! It's so nice to finally have another girl on the team!- Oooeh, your skin is beautiful, what's your skin care routine? That man had no taste, honestly, you look great! Maybe it was your age he was uncomfortable with, perhaps he-"

" Hey little shit, you're rambling again."

You blink turning around to face your best friend, letting go of Nobara's hands.

" And Who're you?"

" Hello! I'm Itadori Yuuji, and this is my twin. We're all from Sendai! Y/N included."

" Sukuna."

" Fushiguro Megumi."

You can pretty much feel Nobara's chain of thoughts as she judges the three boys. Eventually, she glances at you.

" Soo, you've been around these three how long exactly?"

You blink, deeply thinking about it.

" Uhm, not sure, actually.- Our dads hit it off at a grocery store one day and we've just been hanging out ever since?"

You're not even sure how long you know all know each other, Megumi included.

Nobara hums apologetically.

" And you've been stuck with these dudes ever since? You must have lost so many braincells.- Don't worry though, I'm here now!" 

You smile, and both your and Nobara's hands clap together as the two of you jump around.

Gojo grins, happy the two of you are getting along. Yuuji is quick to engage in conversation too. Megumi and Sukuna only exchange glances with one another. They pretty much don't care.

It doesn't take long for Megumi to speak up, eager to either go home or do something useful instead of watching his two classmates gossiping.

" Are we going somewhere from here?"

" We do have all the first year students together. And two* of you only recently arrived from the country side. So of course, we're going on a tour of Tokyo!" 

You and Sukuna exchange glances while Megumi looks about done for the day. 

Last time Gojo said something like that, he abandoned you and Sukuna at Nanami's feet.

Truefully, that was years ago, but still. Your trust issues come from this man and this man alone.

" TDL! Let's go to TDL!"

" Idiot, TDL is in Chiba! Let's go to Chinatown!"

" Chinatown is in Yokohama! "

" Yokohama is in Tokyo! You know what? Why don't you go look at a map-"

Megumi is just looking at Yuuji and Nobara while they argue over options like it hasn't already been chosen.

You and Sukuna both blink, lowkey expecting what could be coming.

" I will now announce our destination-"

Both Yuuji and Nobara make it a show to get down on their knees.

" Roppongi."

Oh. You think to yourself.

That's not so bad.

-

You blink at the building in front of you. Yeah, you should've seen this coming.

beside you, Yuuji and Nobara are complaining.

" There's a curse here."

You send Megumi an annoyed glance. Thanks Megs, we hadn't noticed that yet.

Sukuna blinks.

" There is?"

Ah right. Can he see curses? Yes. Can he see cursed energy? No.

After Nobara had a moment to realize Yuuji only very recently joined and didn't know a thing yet, Gojo started speaking. 

" I wanna see what you guys are capable of. Just see this as a field test. Nobara, Yuuji, the two of you will go in and excorsize the curse in that building."

Megumi, Sukuna and you turn to him in mild disappointance nd surprise.

" What about us?"

" I've already got a general of idea what the three of you are capable of."

You pout. Megumi seems mildly annoyed by it too.

" Hey Yuu', don't die." 

Sukuna's sweet call causes his twin to turn around with a grin.

" Awe, you'll miss me?"

" No. But you have a lock on your suitcase, which is where the Wii is." 

Yuuji pouts.

You snort.

Soon enough the two of them enter the building, and you, Megumi and Sukuna are left with Gojo outside.

After sitting down on a curb, Gojo turns to you.

" So, you and Megumi? Since when have you had this rivalry going on?" 

You and Megumi blink on one another.

" He stole my bowl of noodles 3 winters ago."

Your words are solemn, dark, like you're talking about a grave crime scene.

Gojo blinks.

He remembers that day. Was that where the arguing started?

Wasn't it Sukuna who had slurped all your noodles?

" I've told you, it wasn't me!"

Megumi sends you an annoyed look, a vein popping the side of his head.

" I know it was you! Who else would it be?!"

The two of you start bickering again, oblivious to Sukuna's amused expression and Gojo's knowing smile.

There are only a few people who can get Megumi worked up like that after all.

-

" Huh, why are you all empty handed?" 

Both you and Nobara blink at your schoolmates as you approach with Nobara's suitcase and your sportsbag filled with clothes sling over your shoulder.

Sukuna raises a brow.

" You two going somewhere?"

" What are you two even doing with all that luggage?"

Panda's pointing a finger at the both of you.

" What do you mean? Aren't we heading to Kyoto?"

" For the exchange school event in Kyoto?" 

" The exchange school event with our sister school from Kyoto, which will be held here in Tokyo."

You and Nobara exchange glances.

You face palm.

 Maki gives the two of you a pointed look.

" No wonder our conversation have been a little off all this time."

" I know right?"

" Salmon." 

" Y/N should've known, considering her cousin will be here in a few minutes."

" Right? She mentioned she was excited to see him."

" Are you kidding me?! Then what did I make all these preparations for? "

You blink while Nobara bursts out, causing you to blink again.

" The event is held at the school which won last year, which was Tokyo." 

Poor Panda is getting all shaked up by Nobara, who is currently rambling.

You're about to put your hand on her shoulder and calm her down, when Sukuna wraps an arm around you shoulder.

" Don't stop her, this is amusing."

Rolling your eyes, you nudge him off you, stopping one of your newfound best friends instead.

" Hey, you two, cut it out. They're here."

You blink at Maki, pointing to yourself.

" What did I even do?"

" Ah, well, look at that. Everyone from Tokyo together. Is this the welcoming party? How disappointing."

Mai. You've never spoken to her before, but you heard about her from Nobara, who seemed to have a violent run in with her a few weeks ago, when she unnecessarily showed up.

" I don't see Okkotsu anywhere."

Todo Aoi. 

Several of your schoolmates banter in comments for a moment, while Noritoshi sends you a close eyed smile.

" Good to see you, Y/N. I hope you've gotten stronger. You might've been able to beat me before, but you won't be able to do so now."

You grin at him.

" Bet. Try me."

Before anyone can get too heated, Utahime joins the scene.

-

Currently, Nobara is scrolling through her phone on her bed, her face mushed in her pillow. 

She misses you, undeniably so.

She was missing you when you had been missing, and was fearing you were dead, she was glad to hear that you are lost instead. That doesn't mean that things got easier on her side. She feels like she misses you more now, scrolling through random photos in memory of you. Many were taken at the mall or in shopping districts, others with your classmates. 

She just hopes that wherever you are, that you would be okay.

-

Meanwhile, you stare in horror at her body which is now lying lifeless on the floor.

You hope your best friend is alive and well in your own universe.

* I mentioned 2 earlier bc Sukuna and mc have already been to tokyo (dumped at Jujutsu tech lol)

The Anomaly Taglist:

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In which you meet for the first time.

Arranged marriage au.

In which the first years find out you're engaged, and to whom.

An arranged marriage.

You're stunned. But annoyed all the same. 

You're surprised too, even though you know that it's odd and useless to feel that way.

As a member of the L/N clan, you of course would've been forced to be married off sooner or later.

Thankfully, the actual marriage won't happen until years later, when you're grown up, an actual adult.

You're only 13 now.

You can't help the scowl on your face as you enter the room your supposed future 'fiance' is in.

Your eyes are quick to connect with a beautiful pair of purple eyes.

You have to admit, he's cute. If you would have seen him across your school, you might've been interested in him. 

You'd never dare to make a move on him though, not if you had been in the same school or would have seen him elsewhere. And especially not with these circumstances

Currently, the grudge you hold against him due to this arranged marriage is clouding your judgment. You dislike him even when he hasn't spoken a word to you just yet.

Your eyes stray to the symbols on the side of his mouth. Ah right, his family's technique was cursed speech. Powerful, admittedly. You have a vague idea of how it works, but you can't help but wonder if it affects casual speech too.

" L/N Y/N." 

Your introduction is basic.

The boy across from you blushes.

He looks sweet. You shake the thought off.

" Inumaki Toge."

You nod. An awkward silence overtakes the two of you for a few moments.

You don't know what to say.

Your mother had all but shoved you in this room, without further directions or whatsoever.

You awkwardly sit down on the couch in the sitting room, your hands tapping your thighs nervously for a moment.

" Kelp."

You blink as he sits down on a chair across from you, a small coffee table between the two of you.

" What?" 

What was that supposed to mean?

He frowns, searching his pockets before pulling out his phone and typing away.

Great. So he's ignoring you now.

" So, uhm, what's your opinion on our situation-"

You pause as he turns the phone to you.

' Sorry, due to my cursed speech technique I can only talk in Onigiri ingredients to avoid accidentally cursing those around me.'

" Oh." 

You exclaim softly, understanding him better now.

He turns the phone back to himself, typing away again.

" I don't know how to feel about our situation yet. I always knew I have a chance of ending up in an arranged marriage due to my hereditary technique. I understand if you feel different though. I hoped we could see how things go. We can always fight it if either of us dislike it. I won't force you into marriage with me.'

Your eyes widen at his consideration. This was not what you had expected at all.

The only other person you've met who has a hereditary technique is Naoya Zen'In, and you hate that guy with a passion.

You blush softly at Toge's words, smiling as you nod in agreement.

" I have to admit that I thought more negatively about the situation. But you seem nice. Maybe we should see how things go."

Toge blushes slightly as well, smiling softly as he nods.

It was an uncomfortable, odd situation for the both of you. You're only thirteen, and yet both of your parents have already decided that your lives are to be spent with one another.

He takes his phone back, and for a moment, the two of you are silent again.

" Uhm... What's your favorite onigiri ingredient?"

He smiles at you.

" Tuna Mayo."

Before you even realize it, the two of you are talking, (well, mostly you. He's mostly typing, or answering in Onigiri ingredients when it's a yes or no question), getting to know one another.

At the end of the day, you are nowhere near certain about eventually being married to him, yet you have to admit that you enjoyed spending time with him.

And that you looked forward to the next time you're seeing each other again.

[ A/N: Decided to do a small drabble collection of their marriage in little scenarios. Just for the heck of it. Requests about this specific trope are welcome (no guarantee that I'll accept though) ]

— cottagecore / dark academia headers + dividers

[original dividers here] | [tap and open before saving!]

Here's some others that might fall under these themes as well:

— Alchemy

— Forest-themed

— Maroon/Purple Witch

— Misty Forests

[Free] Masterlist Headers & Dividers!

Please consider liking or reblogging if you use 💕

The Anomaly || JJK

Chapter 12: Right and Wrong

summary : In which you're isekai'd from your (own) parallel Jujutsu Kaisen universe to the canon universe.

wordcount : 2.3k

Pairing: Jujutsu Kaisen X Reader, mostly platonic, you're really just part of the story

Masterlist | Next

Sukuna finds himself walking aimlessly along the streets of Shibuya. You're in his arms, your eyes closed, fast asleep. For now, you're breathing, and that's enough. He hopes you hold on. He hopes you're using your technique subconsciously to keep yourself alive.

He's in search of a water source, a big one. A simple tap won't do anymore. He needs something bigger. Preferably a pond or a river. 

The city is dead silent. A result of their Sukuna.

His carbon copy.

Who's sharing a body with Yuuji.

It makes his mind spin. Loads of questions rising to his brain. Why were Yuuji and him one? Why was his carbon copy so set on killing you? What even was going on in Shibuya? Where was that dork Gojo when you need him? Where were his classmates? Will Megumi be alright? He looked pretty roughed up against that wall after all.

Sukuna closes his eyes, taking a deep breath. 

Aimless questions weren't going to solve this.

Thanks to the silence, he can finally hear a stream. Opening his eyes, he walks to the other side of the street, noting that it caves into a passage way for water. It's less clean than he'd like, but it's the only way you'll heal. 

You've healed yourself on a mission in Kyoto before. He'd laid you in a bed of water back then as well, and found out your body will heal in it's subconscious too. You'll simply have to do it again.

He climbs over the fence, carefully sliding down the area, on his knees as he holds your body securely, half of it dipped in the cold water.

He can't help but blame himself that this had happened. Ever since that mission in Kyoto, where you nearly died as well, he swore to himself that he would get stronger.

Your entire life, people had been looking down on you when they were supposed to look up at you. Your clan elders cast you aside, claiming you were a blemish in their clan due to your half foreign roots and your appearance when you were only a child. The rest of the clan had been mean to you, rude to you for a long time. And when you finally developed your cursed technique, they still wouldn't accept you.

Sukuna had seen it all happen. And he hated it. First cast aside for your blood, then cast aside for your cursed technique, whilst also remaining cast aside because the friendships you held outside of the clan.

It didn't make any sense. You're a great, kind person. But all they seemed to want was weapons in the form of people.

He doesn't remember when, but he vividly remembers promising to himself that he'd be there for you. Whatever you need. He'll make sure you'll never have to be alone as long as he's alive. (He once admitted this to Yuuji, a few days back. His twin had laughed at him, and had called him a simp- Sukuna punched him.)

He doesn't realize he's lost in thought until you stir, your reverse curse technique having apparently worked it's magic.

You cough as you slowly get up in his arm, your hand pressing itself against his chest in order to stabilize yourself.

" Kuna'?-"

Sukuna releases a sign of relief, grateful that you're alive. He holds your body the slightest bit tighter, pulling you closer to him.

" You little shit. Finally, I find you, and you just go around nearly dying. Honestly, what were you thinking?"

You smile at his words, his worry concealed poorly in his words.

" I missed you too."

His hold on you is still gentle, and you melt in his warm embrace like you've done countless times before, hugging him to yourself. He relaxes, returning the gesture. Suddenly, you tense again, pulling away from him.

" Where's Yuuji?"

Sukuna raises a brow.

" I didn't know what to do or how to act, I left him to gather his thoughts."

Your eyes widen.

" Kuna! He must feel like a monster when he's innocent, we have to go join him!-"

You're quick to get out of his arms, up the ledge, looking behind you, obviously expecting him to follow.

He raises a brow, though he does follow you.

" Hold up- I have questions. What the fuck just happened? I nearly killed who I thought to be myself and he turned out to be Yuuji. What is that all about?"

You bite your lip. 

Right, you should've expected that question.

" Things are a little odd, different here-"

" What? Tell me everything."

" I was getting there, You impatient nut.- Anyway, among the oddest things here there's Yuuji's situation. In this world, you were a sorcerer a thousand years ago. The most powerful one of all, you were given the name Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses. Your technique is rumored to be slicing. I didn't want to take chances in the fight we just had.."

Sukuna's eyes are wide as he looks blankly at the street in front the two of you, taking in everything you're saying.

He's never been particularly fond of Jujutsu sorcerers. Knowing that he was one in this universe a thousand years ago gives him mixed feelings. Because ew, he was a sorcerer. But also, he was the strongest one around.

You walk closer to him, linking your arm with his while you walk. You've missed walking like this, with him. It was comforting to finally have someone of your own universe again.

" Which is why you resorted to manipulating Yuuji's blood."

You nod in confirmation. You hate doing that.

" Yeah.. Ryomen Sukuna was put in 20 separate cursed objects because they couldn't kill him all those years ago. 20 fingers. Yuuji eats them and inherits his cursed energy that way. I'm not sure how many he's had so far- Either way, Ryomen Sukuna is a lunatic. He wants to kill everyone as far as I'm concerned.."

You fall silent for a moment, judging his reactions.

" What else is different here?"

" Oh. Uhm, I'm not in this universe. Megumi is nice to me and uhh... I'm not sure. That's all I think."

He hums, nodding. For a moment, it's silent between the two of you as you walk. Obviously, he's deep in thought, taking in everything you just shared with him.

" ... What would you do if this happened again?"

You glance at him, raising a brow in question.

" What?"

" When Yuuji turns into me again.... I know what Jujutsu regulations ask."

" I'm not killing him, if that's what you're asking. I don't care what regulations state. And if he ends up killing me... Well, so be it."

Sukuna hums, having expected that answer.

" What about you?"

" ...I don't think I could kill him even if I wanted you. He's my brother. "

You hum, understanding his words.

-

Nanami Kento is alive.

Sort of. 

For now.

He's stepping into the metro station, his thoughts completely elsewhere.

He's always wanted to go to Malaysia. Build a cabin, spend the rest of his life away on a beach, in a cottage he might even build himself, reading away the many books he had gotten, but never had a chance to read, leaving them lying around.

Kuantan would be perfect.

Perhaps he'd invite you over.

Kamo Y/N.

Curious person. Curious cursed technique.

He couldn't help but wonder, was your cursed technique meant for killing? It was much too beautiful for that, in his opinion. He's seen you use your reverse cursed technique. 

The world of Jujutsu isn't meant for you, or is it? Perhaps, you too belong on a beach, surrounded like the ocean. For some silly reason he can't explain, he feels like he knows you. Perhaps your time in his universe was meddling memories from his other life into his own, the one in your universe. He can swear he's been to places with you. That you've hung out together, like friends. 

He has questions he wants to ask you. Questions about your cursed technique. Questions about your world. Questions about the him you might know. Questions about what things are like in your universe. He hasn't even gotten the chance to ask you anything yet.

However, he's tired. Exhausted even. 

At this point, he's just aimlessly ripping through curses left and right.

Meanwhile, you and Sukuna find yourselves entering the metro station from another side.

" You hear that?" 

You raise a brow at your best friend. 

" Hear what?" 

" Oh right.-" 

Sukuna tends to forget that his heavenly pact increases his senses.

" There's a fight going on, a few meters in front of us.- How much cursed energy do you have left?" 

" Uhm, barely anything. " 

" How much reverse cursed energy?" 

" More than enough to survive." 

He nods, glancing around, he spots bathrooms, his eyes widen at the opportunity.

" Y/N, come." 

He's tugging you along towards the bathrooms before you can resist, heading straight towards the men's restrooms.

" Woah, hold up. Ain't no way I'm going in there. I'm a woman!" 

" Y/N, no one's in here. let's just fill up your water skins and go. That way you can still make use of your last bits of cursed energy." 

Ignoring your complaints, he successfully tugs you in the men's restrooms. The two of you are quick to fill up your water reserves. Soon enough, to ones on your hip are full, and the one Sukuna carries with him is full as well.

Soon enough, the two of you continue on your way, only just in time to witness a horrid scene.

" You're here?" 

About twenty meters in front of you, Nanami Kento is stood. Half of his body is completely charred, angry red due to the burns he suffered. Behind him, the patchface curse is stood, it's hand ghosting over his back.

You spot Yuuji's red hood on the other side of the hallway.

" Yup, this whole time. " 

Both you and Sukuna move immediately.

" Kuna'! Don't let it touch you!"

Sukuna doesn't ask you to elaborate. Instead, he takes out his Chain out, the end hidden behind his back as he throws it at the curse. You don't remain still either. Focusing on the last remaining bits of your cursed energy, you focus on Nanami's blood, intending to pull his body away from the curse's touch.

Your heart stops as Nanami sighs, seemingly haven given up on himself already.

Sukuna's heart breaks as he notices the guy he recognizes as his twin brother call out softly for the other man, also rushing to the scene.

Finally, you're in range, Nanami's body swaying as you take control, at the same time, Sukuna's chain wraps around the curse's neck, about to pull him back.

" Itadori, you take it from here."

You're too late. Too slow. Perhaps both.

The curse gets flung to the side, straight into the wall by Sukuna's Chain. Nanami sways your way, but you stare in horror as his body convulses, his blood stream shattering as his skin turns blue, exploding.

For a moment, everyone is silent. Nanami's lower half falls to the floor in front of you, his blood splattering over your body. You stare at it in shock. Sukuna's eyes are wide too. One of the people he looks up to in his own universe, gone. Just like that.

The both of you get shaken out of your thoughts as Yuuji starts screaming.

" What the hell are you, Mahito?!" 

" I can hear you just fine without you yelling at me! Itadori Yuuji!" 

Both Yuuji and Sukuna charge at him.

Sukuna grasps at his belt loops, noticing he's missing something.

Fuck, where did his Inverted Spear of Heaven go? He doesn't linger too long on it. He'll search the streets of Shibuya later. Obviously, Yuuji has beef with this cursed spirit-man-being-thing, which means he has been with it too. Pulling his chain back, he makes way for Yuuji to break through. 

However, the curse throws something Yuuji's way, a small object. It creates a wall, avoiding him from being able to reach the curse.

" Now, who are you two?" 

The curse has turned to both you and Sukuna.

Sukuna's glare sharpens. 

From the corner of his eye, he notices you still completely in shock over what just happened, silent tears streaming over your face as you stare blankly in front of you.

" Y/N, focus. We have to mourn later. We have to kill this thing first." 

You blink, tears had already been streaming down your face, but he's right. You'll have to mourn later. Your expression hardens, and Mahito grins.

" Ah whatever. I want a real fight. You're not important because you don't even have cursed energy. And I don't know you." 

Shrugging, it turns around, focusing it's full attention on Yuuji.

You glance around you, noting the situation, a new kind of stillness overtaking you.

So much blood. So many innocent people who have died at the hands of this cursed spirit.

" Sukuna. Help Yuuji. There's something I have to try." 

Sukuna barely nods, and soon enough, he's closing in on the curse, Mahito, as well.

You turn around, running to opposite direction, deeper into the metro station. Perhaps, there are still people left to save,

You refuse to let Nanami Kento's death be in vain.

| Bonus Chapter: Nanami Kento

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