Chapter Text
In the aftermath of casting out two Special Grade Curses, Gojo had decided to take a few days off and spend some time at one of his favorite holiday destinations. He knew Yuji, Megumi, and Nobara were in good hands with Ijichi and Nanami, and for the first time in a while, he felt comfortable enough to spend time away from his students.
After a good hour of strolling barefoot on the lukewarm white sand, the evening was approaching, and a cool breeze ruffled his white hair. He dipped his feet into the tepid water, sighing in content as he adjusted his pitch-black sunglasses.
The Strongest Sorcerer focused his attention on the upcoming sunset, remembering how much he loved the sea and the dusk.
The dusk reminded Satoru of a time long gone and the joy of a true friendship with someone who understood him. The sea stirred up memories of a person who he had loved and who was no longer present in his life, a soul whom he couldn’t afford to lose and had to leave behind.
He clicked his tongue as his mind began to wander, shaking his head at himself as he let out a scoff and placed his hands in the pockets of his cream-tinged pants.
The Strongest Sorcerer hated being nostalgic.
He picked up a few small rocks and threw them far away, watching as they disappeared under the blue depths. He breathed in and out, tuning out the bittersweet memories.
All of a sudden, a foreboding force lifted the hairs on the back of his neck, his turquoise eyes gradually widening as he perceived an amount of Cursed Energy comparable only to the one he sensed around Yuta Okkotsu.
He angled his head to one side, and his gaze caught a group of children playing in front of the resort. He swiftly realized that the source of the intense energy was coming from there, and he immediately began walking towards the assembly of kids.
His heart was pounding as he neared the beach playground of the resort, beads of sweat popping out of his forehead while something or somebody was carrying with themselves such a powerful energy that almost threatened to break through his own shatterproof Infinity.
Satoru swallowed hard as he approached the crowd of playful youngsters, who were indifferent to his inner turmoil just like anyone else staring at his celestial appearance.
His nerves tingled as he stopped just a few steps away from what he was sure to be the source of the Cursed Energy.
He didn’t see anything at first.
He couldn’t because his Six Eyes refused the possibility.
Then it hit him. His stomach began to twirl like a rowboat caught in a seismic sea wave as he spotted a small head of white hair playing at the center of the assembly of kids.
They had to be related to Michizane Sugawara as he was, right?
Satoru Gojo wasn’t the only one with white hair in his family.
"Hiro-chan, come here to Mama!"
His eyes widened, and his mouth went dry as he heard a familiar voice calling out for the white-haired child. Gojo’s entire body stiffened as his legs refused to move from the spot, and he glanced sideways, anchoring his attention on the kid running in the direction of his mama, who was gradually coming into view.
No, no, no, no... it can not be. It just can not be.
That was not happening. It was not possible.
All the safeguards were in place, all the safety measures he took for—
You.
His heart was pounding in his ears as he watched you cheerfully pick up the chatting little one in your arms, shielding him with your body as if the kid wasn’t the one who was quite literally extending his Infinity to protect the pair of you.
To protect you. To guard Mama. To shelter one and the other.
With white hair and lashes like Gojo but with your eye color, the child was projecting his Infinity to envelop both of you in a dome of security.
He had a son.
Satoru blinked, a floodtide of emotions overwhelming the rational part of his brain as his vision blurred.
What was the last time tears welled up in his eyes?
After he had told you that you were weak and that he couldn’t be The Strongest and protect you simultaneously.
After he had told you that any affection he had for you was fleeting, and it was going to end soon, just like the season that was coming to an end.
After he had told you that back then, he couldn’t commit to one person.
After he had told you that if he was ever going to commit to someone, he needed a partner who matched his strength, and you weren’t the one.
After he had rejected you.
He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling bilious as he recalled everything he had said to you to drive you away and forget what you had known about him.
The great Gojo Satoru had been nothing but a coward who put up an invisible curtain to prevent you from going after him and one to discourage him from knowing and seeing what you had been up to.
You. The one who The Strongest Sorcerer had never deserved. Someone good and normal who was the opposite of what he was. A woman who he had called weak and who ended up bringing up a child who was just as bright and powerful as his father.
Despite the shades protecting his blurred stare, Satoru couldn’t open his eyes.
How much do you hate him for casting you aside like that?
How much do you hate him for not even giving you a chance to tell him about your pregnancy?
How much do you hate him for not being there for you and the child?
He hopes you don’t hate him too much.
No, scratch that.
He hopes you hate him for treating you as if you weren’t worthy of him when he was the one who was not deserving of your love.
"Satoru?"
God. Even with his eyes closed, he could still feel the trembling of your lower lip and the desperation in your voice as you called out for him before he warped and disappeared from your life.
"Satoru?"
He gulped over the knot in his throat and finally opened his eyes, his watery gaze landing right on your figures.
You were standing just a few meters away from him, with Hiro in your arms. Both of you were gaping at him, the child in wonder and awe, and you...
You were just in a complete and utter state of shock, blinking owlishly as if you were trying to figure out if your former lover’s presence was real or not.
Gojo took a deep, shaky breath and then spoke your name, watching as a single, silent tear dampened your cheek. Neither of you said anything as you gazed at each other, regret in his eyes and sorrow and disbelief in yours.
Then, your son Hiro spoke up. "Mama..." he trailed off, eyeing his father’s white hair as he tugged at the Yukata you were wearing. "I thought you said Dad had disappeared before I was born."