Chapter Text
What's the worst that could happen?
Usually this question is the best trigger for an infinite number of situations that are, in fact, the worst that could happen.
Ask Gojo Satoru and he will tell you about two things: Setting and Geto Suguru.
Spoiler, he is currently under the great torment of both.
Shoko's specialty drink is a strong enough combo to make her forget about his first problem, but no amount of vodka can erase Geto from the equation.
Meiji's volleyball ace had been present in every molecule that has ever surrounded Gojo since he was born.
School mutual bullies, highschool enemies and now college rivals.
Satoru always knew the boy would be trouble, that doesn't mean he could foresee that at 21 they would be still at eachother throats but also for him to be the cause of his early downfall in life.
Not even blackout drunk he can take him out of sight like a damn highschooler with a crush. All the party revolves around him like moths to a flame, the attention Gojo wished for in his best dreams came to his greatest rival like a birth right, it drove him crazy at best.
However he can't seem to care in this wonderful Saturday night because gojo's aim is batting eyelashes at him (or he things so, not that he sees much). It's needed just a few minutes of meaningless conversation for their lips to crash together.
See Suguru? You are not the only catch in this party.
Nanami's reflexes are not fast enough to stop the white haired boy to collide face first against the wall, getting both a kiss and a bloddy nose in courtesy of a life sized picture of suguru's grandmother.
"Im not telling you again, tune it down."
"Kento, arguing more won't lead to anything," sighed Haibara softly, always the mediator "He had already said he is sorry like...a million times?"
Shoko hummed in agreement, slumped over her desk. The tangled mess of brown hair that had been a flawless blowout now sticking in all directions and hiden her from prying eyes.
Satoru Gojo, on the background and with the most violent, outrageous and soul draining hangover, just lets out pained groans from time to time. Nanami's scolding was nothing against the harmer that seemed to be hitting his skull nonstop since he opened his eyes this morning.
Suguru's parties were a blast, even Satoru couldn't deny that. And he was the boy's biggest hater so the thought wasn't in vain. Meiji's ace was an absolute dickhead that only knew his way around two things: Volleyball and parties. This last one still going strong even with the upcoming exam period.
Every player on the college league had at least wished for academic stress to make Suguru forget how to block a ball but none of them got that lucky.
With his sunglasses on, Satoru cursed silently every little decision that had lead him to go out on a Wednesday night. Double cursed to the ones that had got him blackout drunk, having now to drag his heavy exahusted body from class to class, not even having the strenth to swallow his lunch just chewing mindlessly.
Kento scoffed everytime he breathed, how this two had been bestfriends for decades now? No idea. "Of course you say that, you are not the one with puke all over his car. Im not offering to drive you all again, you will start appreciating me once you have tried taking the bus while drunk."
"You also said that last time," Commented Shoko, taking a long sip of water, her throath felt on fire from singing her lungs out all night "And the one before that."
Satoru giggled earning another wave of nausea.
"You shut up, dont you dare- I hope that video leaks all over campus."
"Making out with a painting of Suguru's granny..." Chuckled Haibara, the reminder wasn't really needed, it had been the highlight of the night.
Satoru made a dismisive gesture with his hand, sighing exahusted "It should have been a constitutional sin to give birth to that bastard..."
"Capital sin."
"Comme çi, comme ça, Haibara, who cares."
Kento sighed to himself, surely something like "dolt" or "blockhead", rolling his eyes at the sight, and it wasn't gojo's stupid face this time.
"Talking of the King, he is early for tea." Shoko looked to Suguru and his entourage of little flies entering the cafeteria. Smirked to herself when Utahime pulled her gaze away as soon as their eyes found, she guessed the dirty tiles of the floor must really be entretaining.
She didn't mention it tho, she had no intention of dragging the girl out of the closet, even if Utahime's drunk flirting and dancing all night hadn't already been obvious enough.
Suguru's group walked by to a nearby table, not by choice but of need on the cramped cafeteria. Mei's presence made a daily sneaky comment mandatory. "Hello there, milf enjoyer."
Gosh that laugh, it reminded Gojo of an evil fox overdosed on cough syrup. "Greetings you little prissy whiny b-"
"Good morning." Geto's voice interrupted him, as smooth and soft spoken as always. It drove Satoru nuts, because he knew, 𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸, how he was on the inside even when he appeared all proper and paceful on the outside.
Always saying the correct words and doing the correct things, if people only knew the snake he trully was!
What an stupid fool Satoru had been when he thought Suguru changing colleges would stop him from seeing him around. He swore he even showed up more than usual in purpose just to annoy him. Being as famous as he was around teachers and students why hadn't he go to...I don't know, Sendai? Something far away, not just a bus ride from here.
"Good morning..." Repeated Satoru with a mocking voice, of course Suguru didn't even looked at him just settled to eat in sepulcral silence a few tables far away, like a monk mid meditation.
Whatever, screw him.
"𝘐𝘮 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴."
Yaga Sensei's words roamed around Gojo's head nonstop. They had been living there for ages now.
He tried to ignore them of course. Satoru is excelent at pretending things aren't there till they end up eating him alive, leaving nothing but the bones.
During his first college years it was easy, winning matches was natural as the Sun coming out on the mornings. The team was all together and the world kept spinning at it's usual peace. Till Kento went away, thats when Gojo lost sense of balance.
Nobody saw it like a big deal, at first.
Guess they were happy, the eldest of the team had finally got his desired (and hard earned) corporative job and secured one of the few places at the most coveted master's degree at college, schoolarship incluided. It was only natural he would quit volleyball, a pretty much expected progresion.
However Gojo felt like if a ball had hit his stomach right where it takes the air out of your lungs.
He knew this would happen. Hell, he was Kento's bestfriend, he had spent countless years of his life hearing him ramble about his perfectly planned life. Still he hoped the day the world would move he would be part of the movement too, not just a rock stuck in place.
Nanami's departure left the setter spot empty, and later on, a well digged grave for Gojo to rest in.
Now on present time, Satoru tries to remain oblivious at the sharp pain on his right knee, little stabs as he walk, same feeling as being buried pebble by pebble.
With a deep shaky breath he enters the gymnasium. And grins as big as he can.
Gakuganji Yoshinobu is here today, once coach of the Tokyo team, now coach on Meiji's, same person who convinced Suguru to enjoy the rival team months before the championship would start.
Because, yes, Suguru and Satoru used to be teamates. And yes, this is other of the many things he likes not to think about.
Apparently Yaga hadn't opposed when Yoshinobu expressed his offer of taking his best middle blocker away, neither when Suguru accepted. Back then, the news had tasted more bitter than Gojo had expected to and had left him with more questions than answers.
Satoru tries to concentrate on the present.
He is Tokio's captain and the All Japan Intercollegiate Volleyball Championship is no joke, given his actual state could probably mean his last chance to prove he is still a funcional athlete. Valuable.
Pushing the hangover away but the headache of watching Haibara failed attempts of saving a single ball was just as bad. He can't help but think "I would have ace it", not as a negative thought about the new libero, just as a reminder that he used to enjoy playing before all of this went to shit.
"Haibara, for the Lord's sake, its called a pancake for a reason, a pancake- gosh, use the back of your hand," He whined for the hundred time, maneuvering the boy like a rag doll all over the court.
"I must admit the boy has courage," Commented Yoshinobu, who chatted privatly with Yaga Sensei as they watched over the court from afar. Certain mock on his voice "Or I wonder if he just doesn't know when to leave."
"His injury is healing well." The other man simply said, narrowed eyes as his gaze followed the white haired player.
"As well as a broken knee can heal."
Yaga just switched the topic, same course of conversation as whenever the man that had also once been his own coach visited. "How's Suguru doing? The boys have told me he comes to visit from time to time."
"As expected, he adapts quickly. Guess they both are decent enough at that." Answered Yoshinobu with a dismisive srugh, like if it was already obvious enough.
Yaga hummed, his attention mostly on Gojo. It was always an unsettling feeling to see the most promising libero he had trained on his whole career setting balls absmently and limping around.
When Yoshinobu finally left, Satoru pretended not to hear his farewell neither looked at him at the face once, he gave him the creeps. Plus, the old geezer had made his life hell during college first year so he wasnt getting any "Goodbye, see you soon" from him.
"Just keep working", he muttered to himself. His fingertips tender and shoulders heavier than usual.
"I still dont get how you could enjoy it,"
The boys' shared room was dark as always, with some "relaxing whale's sounds" shit faintly playing in the background. Nanami had ordered that annoying device online ages ago and now it haunted Gojo every night. He had tried to turn it off while the other man slept but he would just simply notice and wake up to play it again from the start, like if he had a radar or something. "Its giving nothing. Its boring, its bland..."
"Satoru, is at the lowest volume just go to sleep, annoying bastard." Cursed Kento against his pillow, his tie hanging from the bed edge. Working and studying at the same time had him living like a zombie.
"I mean being a setter, you stupid shit." Gojo whined once more, giving him a side eye even tho they could barely see anything. "Its the most boring thing on earth. Being a libero is cool, the movement, the adrenaline...even the shirt! And setting is just a ton of crap." He sentenced, hating himself for the childish pout he couldnt control, reminding him how easy his eyes could get all watery. Gojo would shove it down till he was sure Nanami was sleeping.
Kento sighed softly even if the boy drove him crazy he knew better than anyone else the hell Gojo had been through since his knee injury. After all, no other but him had had to deal with his crying and mood swings for a year and a half. "I guess it's a matter of perspective. Maybe once you have grown used to it you see it under a different light."
"I hate it anyways, I want my position back..." Aware of how childish it sounded Gojo swallowed a sniffle, the darkness of the room hidding his shameful tears "I want my life back."
Last time Gojo checked his phone was past 3AM, same old left on red messages he never answered. He didn't knew why he had done it, why would he expect anything new anyways? Just because he had greet him today? Simply stupid.
3 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘑𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘗𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘴 𝘰𝘯
1 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘨𝘰
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘣 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘶
17 𝘥𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘐 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘐𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦
𝘓𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣: 𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧
Satoru swallowed the lump on his throath, turned the volume of the whale's sounds higher to muffle his own sobs.
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘵.
"𝘐𝘮 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦'𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴."
That moment would come, for sure. Someday.