Chapter Text
Miyuki sat on a bench surrounded by dewy grass, her slender fingers playing idly with the soft blades. The morning air was cool and refreshing, carrying the faint scent of blooming sakura trees. Her chosen outfit for the day, a pristine white blouse and navy blue skirt, was a stark contrast against the emerald carpet beneath her. The park around her was eerily quiet, very different to the usual pattern of laughter and chatter that filled it.
A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves above, casting dappled shadows on her pale skin. The world felt like it was holding its breath, as if waiting for something to happen. Miyuki's eyes remained closed, her mind adrift in a sea of chaotic thoughts. Her once vibrant spirit had been slowly ebbing away, leaving behind nothing but worry and anxiety. She took a deep breath, holding it in an attempt to calm her racing heart. Several long seconds passed before she exhaled, but the unease lingered. She sighed again, resigned.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. The crunch of gravel grew louder, and she could feel the presence of someone standing near her. She didn't need to look up to know who it was. His voice was as familiar to her as her own heartbeat—deep, warm, and slightly amused. "Aww, did my poor baby fall asleep waiting for me?"
Miyuki's eyes snapped open, locking onto the figure above her. The sky couldn't compare to the sight before her now. A pair of arms wrapped around her from behind, a comforting weight settling on her shoulders. She tilted her head back further to see his face fully. His eyes, a piercing shade of blue hidden behind his usual darkened glasses, sparkled with mischief.
"Afternoon to you too, Satoru," she managed to say, her voice a little more than a whisper. The smile that spread across her face was involuntary, a warm glow that seemed to melt the grey veil she had been shrouded in. He chuckled lightly, the sound resonating in her chest, and bent down to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. Her heart, already racing, skipped a beat at the contact, sending a warm tingle down her spine.
"Sorry I'm late. The lesson ran over today. My students just couldn't bear to leave me!" He slumped dramatically over her shoulders, suffocating her under his weight. She laughed, trying to shrug him off to no avail. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his upper body and patted his back.
"There, there, Satoru. It must be so hard being the greatest teacher, huh?" She felt him nod against her shoulder. She giggled softly and stroked his head. "Then it's a good thing you don't have that burden!"
Satoru's grip on her tightened, and she could feel his laughter rumble through his chest. "Baby, not you too! I've taken so much abuse today, I can't handle it from you too!"
"Oh shush. You bring it on yourself, and you know it!"
His pout instantly shifted back to his beaming grin as he winked at her, his arms still around her. "Alright, alright. I'll let you off the hook this time." He kissed her forehead again, a gentle peck that made her cheeks flush.
He walked around the bench where Miyuki sat and offered his hand for her to stand. Miyuki took his offered hand, and as she stood, she found herself once again caught in the warmth of his gaze. Her own eyes drifted down his face, noting his chiselled features, flawless skin, and perfect lips. Gojo Satoru was perfect, and he knew it. As her eyes rose to meet his again, she felt her resolve waver. Today was a day she didn't want to exist because today was the day she left this perfect man.
They began to walk side by side through the park, their steps in sync with each other. Satoru spoke about his day, his students, and the usual mischief they got into. His stories painted a picture of a man who loved his work, who found joy in the simplest of moments. Yet, she knew there was a heaviness to his heart that she could never share. He was the strongest, the one everyone turned to when they were in need. And she knew that burden didn't leave him, not even in moments like these, when they were supposed to be just a couple.
Miyuki felt a twinge of sadness at the thought of leaving him. Satoru had been her rock, her guiding light through the darkest of times. But she had made a promise to herself, a promise she knew she had to keep. Her decision to leave was one she had agonized over for months, but she knew it was for the best. She couldn't be the one to hold him back from his duty but she certainly couldn't bear to watch him risk his life for the sake of others every single day.
Miyuki knew this all too well. She knew he had a job that would always demand him, a job only he could do. He once told her that when he was born, the earth shifted, and after spending so much time with him, she believed it. Gojo Satoru was a wondrous man, and she knew that just being in his life was a blessing.
Yet, Miyuki also knew the rare parts of him that weren't perfect. The times his happy-go-lucky attitude shifted into something darker, so quickly she sometimes thought she imagined it. Moments when his honeyed words manipulated those around him, making them act like unknowing puppets while he pulled the strings. It was never malicious—at least, she didn't think so. Those moments were easy to forget because they were so rare. Most of the time, he was the usual Satoru—carefree, charismatic, charming, and cocky. But no matter what, you couldn't help but love him.
Their journey through the park grew more silent as her thoughts grew heavier. The cherry blossoms fluttered in the breeze, a soft pink confetti that danced around them, a stark contrast to the weight in her heart.
Her reasons were selfish, but she couldn't fight her feelings. She wasn't a jujutsu sorcerer. Though she could see curses, she had no curse technique or combat skill. She didn't even know what the things she saw were until she met Satoru.
He had swept her off her feet, much like one of those romantic clichés she read in her favourite manga. The moment their eyes met, she felt a jolt—like a spark igniting a flame deep within her soul. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, and she was certain she never would again. His confidence, his charm, his power—it was all so intoxicating. And when he revealed to her that he knew her secret, that he could see the same curses she did, she felt like she had found her other half.
They met up several times for coffee, where he patiently informed her of his world, the history of jujutsu sorcerers, and the existence of another world. Miyuki listened like a child at a campfire story, hanging on his every word. She became familiar with the terms and routines, understanding the role and importance of sorcerers. Her eyes grew wide with wonder at the tales of battles against cursed spirits, and she found herself nodding along as he explained the intricacies of the cursed energy that flowed through them.
But amidst the excitement and awe, she couldn't shake the fear that clung to her. The fear of losing him. The fear of waking up one day to the news that Gojo Satoru, the man she had come to love, had fallen in battle. Each time he left for a mission, she felt as if she were watching him walk into the jaws of a dragon, knowing that she could do nothing but wait and hope for his safe return. Despite his constant reassurances that he was the strongest, her normal human mind couldn't fend off the negative thoughts.
It wasn't unusual for Satoru to disappear for several days, leaving no trace of his whereabouts. The first few times it happened, she had called him, texted him but all she received was silence. Her heart had hammered in her chest like a caged animal, desperate for any sign of life. Eventually, she'd receive a nonchalant text, "Back, baby. Nothing to worry about," and he'd be standing in front of her as if he had never left.
But four weeks? That was a new level of anxiety she hadn't prepared for. Each tick of the clock had echoed through the emptiness of her apartment, taunting her. Her work had suffered, her appetite had disappeared, and her once vibrant smile had become a rare sight. Even her closest friends had noticed the change, their concern etched into their faces as they offered her comfort and encouraged her to eat. But the only food that had appealed to her was the cold, hard truth that she might never see him again.
The silence had been a deafening symphony, playing a tune of doubt and fear that she couldn't muffle no matter how loud she played her favourite songs. She had lain in bed, her phone clutched in her hand, her eyes glued to the screen, waiting for the buzz of a notification that never came. She had started to believe that the universe was playing a cruel joke on her. Her heart had felt as though it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, the pain so intense it was almost physical.
Then, the sweetest sound had broken through the silence—his ringtone. She had jumped up, her heart racing so fast she thought it might just break free from her chest. She had answered the call, her voice trembling, "Satoru?"
The line was filled with his laughter, "What's wrong, baby? Did you miss me?"
Tears had immediately welled up in her eyes, and she couldn't stop them from spilling over. "Satoru, I thought—I thought something happened to you," she sobbed into the phone, her voice cracking with each word.
"Ah, Miyuki, you really are too much." His laughter was light and carefree, a stark contrast to the turmoil she had been through. "You know I'm the strongest. Nothing can touch me, especially not some weak curses."
The problem was that she did worry, and he couldn't comprehend that.
The feeling of his warm hand squeezing her own brought her mind back to the present. She took a deep breath, trying to ignore the ache in her chest. She knew he didn't mean to be callous, but his words stung like a thousand needles. Her mind looped constantly in a never ending cycle replaying the conversation over and over.
She had started to realise that they just came from world’s that were too different. He could never understand how she perceived the world and she could never understand his. She acknowledged long ago that she cared deeply for him, but she often wondered if it was reciprocated. He was always so jovial that it was hard to gauge his sincerity. She worried because she loved him, and he just laughed in her face.
Miyuki had thought that she needed to make a change. She had to find a way to bridge the gap between their worlds. Maybe if she could see what he saw, feel what he felt, she could help support him and understand him. The jujutsu world was as mysterious to her as it was fascinating. She knew that it was filled with danger and darkness, but she was willing to brave it if it meant being closer to Satoru.
One evening, after his return from a particularly gruelling mission, she had worked up the courage to ask again. "Satoru, can I go with you next time?" she had asked, her voice hopeful.
He had looked at her, his eyes unreadable for a moment before a sad smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Miyuki, you don't know what you're asking for."
The words had stung, but she had pushed ahead. "But I want to understand," she insisted, her voice shaking with a mix of excitement and determination. She had joked and asked why not? After all, if she was with “humanity’s strongest”, surely there was no real danger, right?
His mood had suddenly turned sour as his face became stone. He looked to one side and paused before answering. "You can't, Miyuki," he said, his voice firm and unyielding. "This isn't a game. The things I face out there... you wouldn't be able to handle it." The weight of his words settled over her like a heavy blanket. She could see the seriousness in his gaze, the lines of tension around his mouth that hadn't been there moments ago.
"But why?" she protested; her voice small. "I want to help. I want to be with you."
Satoru's eyes searched hers, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. "You can't," he repeated, his tone softer this time. "And it's not because I don't want you to. It's because you're not a sorcerer, Miyuki. You're not built for this world. Besides, no one wants to see that life. Hell, most sorcerer’s dream of having never been a part of it. Seems kinda insensitive to want to force your way into it.”
Miyuki felt a lump form in her throat. He was right, she wasn't a sorcerer. She didn't have the power to fight alongside him, to face the horrors that he did. But she was tired of being left in the dark, of being the one who waited at home while he faced those horrors. She wanted to be his equal, to stand by his side, to share his burdens in any way she could.
"I know it's not a joke," she said quietly, looking up at him with earnest eyes. "And I know it's dangerous. But I want to understand you better. I don't want to be just the girl who waits for you to come home."
Satoru gave her a small smile. "You don't need to understand everything about me to love me, Miyuki," he said, his thumb brushing her cheek. She heard him chuckle softly. “It’s all good! We work hard so that you don’t know these things, you know?”. She felt his hand tilt her chin up. “So just let us take care of the things that go bump in the night, okay? Leave the big stuff to us”. His smile had returned and he finished with a wink. She had just nodded and smiled. What else could she do?
The rest of the day had passed by in a blur of laughter and light-hearted banter. They had visited the amusement park, rode the Ferris wheel and shared a soft serve cone that melted in the sun. He had won her a giant teddy bear at the shooting game, and she had watched him with a mix of amusement and awe as he demonstrated his unparalleled aim. But even as she giggled and took photos with her new plush companion, her mind kept drifting back to the conversation. That divide between them felt like a chasm she could never cross. The memory left a bitter sweet taste in her mouth.
As they made their way to the park exit, Miyuki took a deep breath. She knew she had to be strong, for both of them. And so, as she looked up into his eyes once more, she watched as his head tilted to one side as he looked at her. Her heart hammered in her chest, but she felt a resolve she hadn't known she had. This was it. This was the moment she had been dreading but also preparing herself for.
Today was the day she would leave Gojo Satoru.